Aim: To define the clinical profile of patients with unilateral optic neuritis (ON) presented to our clinic and to identify baseline clinical features and demographic data associated with one-month visual acuity (VA) outcome. Methods: Patients with suspected ON referred to our clinic were consecutively assessed for inclusion between February 2017 and November 2019. VA was measured using Snellen charts. Clinical and demographic, baseline and after one-month follow-up data were analyzed in a multivariate model. Results: Overall, 71 patients were included, of which six were considered lost to follow-up. The median age was 50 years old (interquartile range 37-57 years old) and the female to male ratio was 3:1. 14.1 % had a severe attack and 83.1 % recovered completely one month after the diagnosis. Multivariate analysis of data from 65 patients showed that baseline VA of the affected eye (P=0.011) and fellow eye (P=0.015) were factors associated with VA of the affected eye at follow up. Conclusion: Our cohort was older, had a higher female to male ratio and on average, a less severe ON clinical presentation compared to reports from other countries. Baseline VA of both the affected and fellow eye are predictors of one-month VA recovery

Background and Objectives: Iris-based biometric identification is among the most accurate personal recognition technologies in routine use today. Cataract remains the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and surgical removal of the opacified lens is the most frequently performed ophthalmic operation globally, inevitably involving mechanical and thermal manipulation of the anterior segment, where the iris resides. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the effect of ultrasound phacoemulsification (PHACO) and conventional extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) on iris-based identification; (2) to determine whether the vital dye trypan blue, used during phacoemulsification of mature cataracts, independently impairs biometric accuracy; and (3) to quantify associations between key intraoperative parameters and post-operative recognition performance. Materials and Methods: This prospective, non-randomised comparative cohort study enrolled 120 participants assigned to four parallel cohorts (n = 30 each) (clinically allocated by surgical indication rather than randomised; group comparability with respect to age, cataract severity and case complexity was not guaranteed, and findings should therefore be interpreted as observational associations rather than causal effects) according to clinical indication: PHACO (uncomplicated phacoemulsification), PHACO-DYE (phacoemulsification with trypan blue 0.6 mg/mL for mature cataracts), ECCE (conventional extracapsular extraction for complex cataracts), and a healthy Control group. Standardised iris photographs were acquired on the day before the surgery and one month after surgery using a semi-professional digital camera under controlled lighting. Images were processed by a custom Java-based iris recognition platform that performed boundary detection, polar normalisation into 65 discrete iris sectors, and sector-by-sector comparison using a dual-threshold matching rule: sectors with 100% identity, or with a residual difference below 2%, were scored as direct matches; all others were scored as indirect, non-matching elements. The primary outcome was the percentage of correspondence (match %) between pre- and post-operative templates. Intraoperative parameters, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), phaco time, and estimated fluid used, were recorded for all phacoemulsification cases. Results: All three surgical groups showed significantly lower match percentages than controls (median 91.0%, IQR 86–96; Mann–Whitney U test, all p < 0.001). Median match % was 85.0% (IQR 71–89) for PHACO, 78.5% (68–85) for PHACO-DYE, and 44.0% (29–61) for ECCE. ECCE differed significantly from both phacoemulsification groups (Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001 each); no significant difference was found between PHACO and PHACO-DYE (Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.210, not statistically significant). Only CDE differed significantly between PHACO and PHACO-DYE (Mann–Whitney U test, p = 0.026, statistically significant). All three intraoperative parameters showed significant negative correlations with match % (Pearson correlation coefficient), with estimated fluid used showing the strongest association (PHACO: r = −0.88; PHACO-DYE: r = −0.71; both p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this non-randomised cohort, surgical group was associated with postoperative match reduction, with ECCE showing markedly greater reduction than phacoemulsification; however, residual confounding by cataract severity, case complexity and baseline age differences limits causal interpretation. No significant unadjusted difference in match % was found between PHACO and PHACO-DYE, indicating that this study could not demonstrate an independent effect of trypan blue, though it also cannot exclude one, since dye use was itself linked to more complex, mature cataracts. Estimated intraoperative fluid use showed the strongest unadjusted negative correlation with match %; whether it is an independent predictor requires multivariable analysis that this study, as designed, was not powered to perform. These preliminary, hypothesis-generating findings support considering postoperative biometric re-enrolment after cataract surgery and further, adequately powered and adjusted studies before firm clinical or algorithmic recommendations can be made.

Background and Objectives: Corneal ulcers in patients with lagophthalmos due to facial nerve palsy pose a significant therapeutic challenge. Topical insulin has emerged as a promising adjuvant therapy for enhancing corneal re-epithelialization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of insulin drops compared with lipid-based artificial tears, and to compare the corneal healing rate in achieving complete epithelialization within 30 days in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case–control study included 32 patients with facial nerve palsy and lagophthalmos who developed an exposed corneal ulcer, of whom 20 received topical insulin and 12 received lipid-based artificial tears. The primary outcome was complete epithelialization at day 30. Additional variables included age, sex, and baseline defect characteristics. Results: By day 30, complete epithelialization was achieved in 18 of 20 patients (90%) in the insulin group compared with 5 of 12 (41.7%) in the control group. Binary logistic regression analysis confirmed significantly higher odds of healing with insulin treatment (OR = 10.8; 95% CI 1.8–63.9). No systemic adverse events or signs of hypoglycemia were observed. Conclusions: Topical insulin significantly accelerates corneal epithelialization in patients with facial nerve palsy and exposed ulcers, offering safe and effective adjuvant therapy for a high-risk population. Despite promising results, the study’s limitations—including small sample size, single-center design, and retrospective nature—highlight the need for larger, multicenter prospective studies to confirm efficacy, optimize dosing, and further evaluate long-term safety.