Confirmation of the biological effectiveness of new ophthalmic preparations introduced in the market is an important element in maintaining the safety of using this type of medications. This study aimed to investigate the activity of Ozodrop^® on human corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells, as well as its antibacterial and antifungal activity. Cytotoxicity analyses of ocular surface epithelial cells were performed in vitro by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) and Neutral Red uptake assays. The level of nitric oxide released by the cells was assessed by the Griess method. The reduction of the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical by the tested formulation was analyzed. Microbiological tests were also performed. It was found that the Ozodrop^® preparation exhibited biological activity, but was less active than the reference antibiotics and the anti-yeast agent. The cytotoxic activity of the Ozodrop^® formulation was dependent on the time of cell exposure to it. No toxic effect was observed in the short-term, for up to 3 h. It appeared after 24 h of exposure of the cells to the preparation. The drops showed antioxidant activity in the specified concentration range. They also stimulated the release of nitric oxide, mainly by corneal epithelial cells. The Ozodrop^® formulation exhibits biological activity that can be considered useful in the treatment of infections in the front part of the eye.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with cataract surgery for primary rhematogenous retinal detachment (RD) using a three-dimensional (3D) viewing system and a conventional microscope (CM). Methods: Medical reports of 82 patients were retrospectively reviewed: 26 patients were operated on with 3D and 56 patients were operated on with CM. The main outcome measures were visual acuity, duration of the surgery, and the rate of postoperative complications. Results: No statistically significant differences in pre- and postoperative visual acuity were found between both groups. There was significant improvement in the visual acuity in both groups. The best postoperative visual acuity was achieved with SF6 gas tamponade, followed by C3F8 gas and silicone oil in both groups. The duration of the surgery (60 min vs. 55 min) and the rate of postoperative complications (15% vs. 14%) were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The similar postoperative visual acuity and rate of complications detected using 3D and CM indicate that the 3D viewing system may be advantageous in the treatment of rhematogenous RD with PPV combined with cataract surgery, i.e., a complex procedure involving both anterior and posterior segment manipulations.

Objectives: The purpose was to quantitatively examine brain structures using 7 Tesla MRI in the presence of visual loss caused by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) related to retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene pathogenic variants. Methods: Twelve male patients with RP (mean visual acuity 0.4) related to confirmed RPGR pathogenic variants and fifteen healthy volunteers were examined with 7 Tesla MRI of the brain. Measures of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) volume were performed manually by three independent investigators (radiologists) using ITK-SNAP (Insight Segmentation and Registration Toolkit) software. Other brain structures were evaluated using the open-source automated software package FreeSurfer. Prior to the 7 Tesla MRI, patients underwent an ophthalmic examination and a 1.5 Tesla MRI. Results: The mean LGN volume (right—100 mm³, left—96 mm³) and left lingual gyrus volume (6162 mm³) were significantly lower in RPGR patients in comparison to the control group (129 mm³, 125 mm³, and 7310 mm³, respectively), whilst some brain regions related to other sensory information such as the left isthmus cingulate (3690 mm³) and entorhinal cortex (right—1564 mm³, left 1734 mm³) were significantly or almost significantly higher in the RPGR group than in the control group (2682 mm³, 960 mm³, and 1030 mm³, respectively). Moreover, compared to the control group, the RPGR group’s thalamus-to-LGN ratio was substantially higher. Conclusions: The use of the 7 Tesla MRI revealed numerous structural abnormalities of the visual pathway in patients with RPGR-related RP. The reorganization of the structures of the brain demonstrated in patients with RPGR-related RP reveals a certain degree of plasticity in response to visual loss. These findings may help improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for RP patients and contribute to the development of precision medicine.

Neuroplasticity is a complex process that is heightened during time-sensitive periods of pre- and postnatal brain development. It continues, albeit to a lesser extent, throughout adolescence and young adulthood. Congenital visual deprivation is well-known and explored in human-model behavioral research. In this study, we review existing research on neuroadaptations and neuroplasticity of the visual pathway as a result of inherited retinal diseases (IRD), focusing on data concerning congenital bilateral visual deprivation in humans published in PubMed in the past 5 years, including 18 articles. We highlight evidence about the anatomical and behavioral aspects of neuroplasticity as different brain responses to different types of visual deprivation. We also focus on various very interesting aspects of the cross-modal functional reorganization of the visual and auditory cortex as an example of brain plasticity due to combined visual and auditory loss. Our study shows that central nervous system magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) advancements have allowed researchers to report previously elusive anatomical evidence. Patients with a known mechanism of IRD—examined with high magnetic field MRI and functional MRI—have been proven to be adequate models to explore neuroadaptations of the visual pathway due to bilateral, early, and late visual deprivation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the anatomical and functional outcomes in the surgical treatment of retinal detachment (RD) in pediatric patients suffering from Marfan (MFS) and Stickler syndrome (SS). Material and methods: Retrospective consecutive case series of eight eyes of four patients with SS and MFS. Retinal reattachment and visual acuity, as well as complications of surgical procedures have been evaluated during the follow-up period. Results: Total RD was reported in five of the eight eyes of these patients. In one patient, it was bilateral. As a surgical treatment, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil was performed in four eyes. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was the reason for the secondary PPV in three eyes. Scleral buckling was conducted in two eyes of bilateral RD. Laser treatment was performed as prophylaxis in all fellow eyes. The visual acuity in eyes with RD ranged from light perception to 0.1 in two cases. The retina was finally attached in all cases. Imaging with OCT-A in a patient with SS revealed a reduced vascular density in the eye after PPV compared to the eye treated with laser. Conclusions: Multiple surgical procedures are needed to attach the retina in patients with SS and MFS. However, despite the improvement of anatomical conditions — reattachment of the retina, the visual acuity after RD surgery is not satisfactory in patients suffering from SS and MFS. Background: The purpose of this study was to report the anatomical and functional outcomes in the surgical treatment of retinal detachment (RD) in pediatric patients suffering from Marfan (MFS) and Stickler syndrome (SS). Material and methods: Retrospective consecutive case series of eight eyes of four patients with SS and MFS. Retinal reattachment and visual acuity, as well as complications of surgical procedures have been evaluated during the follow-up period. Results: Total RD was reported in five of the eight eyes of these patients. In one patient, it was bilateral. As a surgical treatment, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil was performed in four eyes. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was the reason for the secondary PPV in three eyes. Scleral buckling was conducted in two eyes of bilateral RD. Laser treatment was performed as prophylaxis in all fellow eyes. The visual acuity in eyes with RD ranged from light perception to 0.1 in two cases. The retina was finally attached in all cases. Imaging with OCT-A in a patient with SS revealed a reduced vascular density in the eye after PPV compared to the eye treated with laser. Conclusions: Multiple surgical procedures are needed to attach the retina in patients with SS and MFS. However, despite the improvement of anatomical conditions — reattachment of the retina, the visual acuity after RD surgery is not satisfactory in patients suffering from SS and MFS.

Purpose To establish a clinically applicable dark-adapted 15 Hz flicker electroretinogram (ERG) for sensitive detection of functional changes in the fast and the slow retinal rod pathways. Methods The study consisted of two parts. In the first part, the paradigm of the previously demonstrated “null-effect” of stimulus luminance on ERG-amplitudes for 15 Hz flicker stimuli with duration of 2.5 s was reexamined. In the second part an optimized faster protocol designed for routine clinical use was tested and compared with the results from the first part and data published in the past. The 15-Hz flicker ERG protocol included 12 steps with different intensities ranging from 0.00019 scot cd.s/m² to 0.05 scot cd.s/m² and was obtained from 15 normally sighted subjects. Stimulus flashes were presented in blue (448 nm) and white, alternating in each luminance step after 20 min of dark adaptation. A shorter version containing only 7 steps was selected with intensities ranging from 0.00031 scot cd.s/m² to 0.005 scot cd.s/m². Additionally, the stimulus paradigm included noise measurement to properly estimate the signal-to-noise ratio. Results The results from the first protocol showed a U-shaped amplitude vs. luminance response curve at 15 Hz, consistent with previously published results. Using the new, shortened protocol, we also obtained similar results, but with a much shorter recording time. Based on the signal-to-noise ratio from these measurements a reliable measurement can be obtained in only 2.5 min which presents a considerable time reduction necessary to record a 15 Hz response curve in a clinical setup. Conclusion The new protocol is suitable for integration into a daily clinical environment, offering short and well-balanced protocols to address complex retinal network interactions.