To evaluate the results of AcrySof toric intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon) implantation to correct preexisting astigmatism in patients having cataract surgery. Ophthalmology Service, Donostia Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain. This prospective observational study included 30 eyes of 15 consecutive patients with more than 1.00 diopter (D) of preexisting corneal astigmatism having cataract surgery. Bilateral implantation of the AcrySof toric IOL was performed after phacoemulsification. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), residual refractive sphere, residual keratometric and refractive cylinders, and toric IOL axis were measured. The UCVA was 20/40 or better in 93.3% of eyes and 20/25 or better in 66.6%. All eyes achieved 20/25 or better BCVA. The mean refractive cylinder decreased significantly after surgery from -2.34 D +/- 1.28 (SD) to -0.72 +/- 0.43 D (P<.01). Vector analysis of attempted versus achieved correction showed that 100% of eyes were within +/-1.00 D and 80% and 93.9% were within +/-0.50 D for J(0) and J(45), respectively. The mean toric IOL axis rotation was 3.63 +/- 3.11 degrees, with rotation less than 10 degrees in 96.7% of eyes. The results indicate that phacoemulsification and posterior chamber AcrySof toric IOL implantation is an effective option to correct preexisting astigmatism in cataract surgery. The AcrySof toric IOL showed good rotational stability.

To compare toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with paired opposite clear corneal incisions (OCCIs) for astigmatism correction in patients having cataract surgery. Ophthalmology Service, Donostia Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain. This randomized prospective clinical study comprised eyes with more than 1.00 diopter (D) of preexisting corneal astigmatism. One group had AcrySof toric IOL implantation and the other, paired 2.75 mm/3.20 mm OCCIs in the steep axis with spherical IOL implantation. Uncorrected (UCVA) and best corrected (BCVA) visual acuity, refraction, corneal and total higher-order aberrations (HOAs), photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity, and toric IOL axis were measured 3 months postoperatively. Forty eyes (40 patients) were evaluated. In the toric group, 95% of eyes achieved 20/40 or better UCVA and 70%, 20/25 or better. In the OCCI group, 80% of eyes achieved 20/40 or better UCVA and 50%, 20/25 or better. All eyes achieved 20/25 or better BCVA. Mean refractive cylinder decreased significantly from preoperatively to postoperatively (-1.75 +/- 0.71 to -0.62 +/- 0.46 D, toric group; -1.61 +/- 0.67 to -0.97 +/- 0.51 D, OCCI group) (P<.01). In the toric group, 95% and 100% of eyes were within +/-0.50 D for J(0) and J(45), respectively. In the OCCI group, the percentages were 70% and 100%, respectively. No significant differences in HOA were found between groups (P>.1). Contrast sensitivity was similar except at the highest spatial frequency, being better in the toric group (P<.01). Toric IOL implantation achieved a slight enhanced effect over OCCIs in treating preexisting astigmatism.

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) affect an estimated 1 in every 2000 people, this corresponding to nearly 2 million cases worldwide. Currently, 270 genes have been associated with IRDs, most of them altering the function of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium. Gene therapy has been proposed as a potential tool for improving visual function in these patients. Clinical trials in animal models and humans have been successful in various types of IRDs. Recently, voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna^®) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of biallelic mutations in the RPE65 gene. The current state of the art in gene therapy involves the delivery of various types of viral vectors into the subretinal space to effectively transduce diseased photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium. For this, subretinal injection is becoming increasingly popular among researchers and clinicians. To date, several approaches for subretinal injection have been described in the scientific literature, all of them effective in accessing the subretinal space. The growth and development of gene therapy give rise to the need for a standardized procedure for subretinal injection that ensures the efficacy and safety of this new approach to drug delivery. The goal of this review is to offer an insight into the current subretinal injection techniques and understand the key factors in the success of this procedure.

Syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the result of several mutations expressed in rod photoreceptors, over 40 of which have so far been identified. Enormous efforts are being made to relate the advances in unraveling the pathophysiological mechanisms to therapeutic approaches in animal models, and eventually in clinical trials on humans. This review summarizes briefly the current clinical management of RP and focuses on the new exciting treatment possibilities. To date, there is no approved therapy able to stop the evolution of RP or restore vision. The current management includes an attempt at slowing down the degenerative process by vitamin supplementation, trying to treat ocular complications and to provide psychological support to blind patients. Novel therapeutic may be tailored dependant on the stage of the disease and can be divided in three groups. In the early stages, when there are surviving photoreceptors, the first approach would be to try to halt the degeneration by correction of the underlying biochemical abnormality in the visual cycle using gene therapy or pharmacological treatment. A second approach aims to cope with photoreceptor cell death using neurotrophic growth factors or anti-apoptotic factors, reducing the production of retino-toxic molecules, and limiting oxidative damage. In advanced stages, when there are few or no functional photoreceptors, strategies that may benefit include retinal transplantation, electronic retinal implants or a newly described optogenetic technique using a light-activated channel to genetically resensitize remnant cone-photoreceptor cells.