Purpose: To compare the effect of trehalose 3%/hyaluronic acid 0.15% vs hyaluronic acid 0.15% eyedrops in reducing ocular surface inflammation after cataract surgery. Setting: Perugia, Italy. Design: Randomized, prospective study. Methods: Patients with healthy ocular surface were enrolled. Tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) were performed preoperatively and at 1 months, 4 months, and 8 months postoperatively. Patients were randomly assigned to receive trehalose 3%/hyaluronic acid 0.15% eyedrops (Group A), hyaluronic acid 0.15% eyedrops (Group B), or no treatment (Group C). Results: 98 patients were randomized as follows: 33 in Group A, 33 in Group B, and 32 in Group C. Schirmer test increased at 1-month follow-up in Group A and unchanged in Groups B and C. TBUT and CFS increased at 1-month follow-up in Group A and after 8 months in Groups B and C. OSDI score decreased at 1-month follow-up in Group A and at in Groups B and C. IVCM showed a reduction in the number of nerve fibers of the subbasal nerve plexus at 1 month in all groups and progressively increased to preoperative levels at 4 months in Group A, and at 8 months in Groups B and C. Tortuosity and reflectivity of subbasal plexus progressively decreased to became significant at 4-month follow-up in Group A whereas increased at 1-month follow-up and become normal at 8-month follow-up in Groups B and C. Langerhans cells and activated stromal keratocytes were higher in Groups B and C throughout the follow-up with a significantly lower density of hyperreflective stromal cells in Group A. Conclusions: Trehalose 3%/hyaluronic acid 0.15% eyedrops were effective in reducing inflammation and dry-eye symptoms.

Introduction: The most common intracranial neoplasm diagnosed in adults are brain metastases (BrM). The benefit in terms of clinical control and toxicity for stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) has been investigated for patients with low load of BrM. Aim: The aim of this single-institution experience was to investigate the best dose schedule for five-fraction SRT (FFSRT). Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients treated for BrM with different dose schedules of FFSRT was performed. Local control (LC) and clinical outcomes were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging at 3, 6, and 9 months. Toxicity data were also collected. Results: A total of 41 patients treated from November 2016 to September 2020 were enrolled in the analysis. Non-small cell lung cancer (51.2%) and breast cancer (24.3%) represented the most frequent primitive tumors. Treatment was performed on 5 consecutive days with prescribed dose ranging from 30 to 40 Gy, prescribed to the 95% isodose line that covered at least 98% of the gross tumor volume. Statistically significant differences (p = 0.025) with higher LC rates for dose schedules >6 Gy for fractions. Toxicity rates were not found to be higher than G1. Conclusion: The results of this retrospective analysis suggest that FFSRT for BrM seems to be safe and feasible. Our results also underline that a total dose lower than 30 Gy in 5 fractions should not be used due to the expected minor LC.

Background/Objectives: Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD) is a common corneal dystrophy characterized by recurrent corneal erosions and visual impairments due to surface irregularities and opacities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of alcohol-assisted delamination (ALD) of the corneal epithelium in patients with EBMD affecting the visual axis, who experience decreased vision quality due to higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and irregular astigmatism. Methods: Eleven eyes of nine patients (four males and five females) were treated with ALD, with a mean age of 51.3 ± 19.7 years. All patients underwent refraction, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessment, a comprehensive slit-lamp examination for EBMD pattern identification, anterior segment imaging with and without fluorescein, tear break-up time (BUT) testing, corneal topography, corneal aberrometry (Zernike coefficients ($Z_n^m$) were calculated for a 5.0 mm simulated pupil), and anterior segment optical coherence tomography preoperatively and at 1-day, 14-day, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month intervals. Results: All patients demonstrated improvements in BCVA and visual quality, ocular comfort, and BUT results. The mean root mean square (RMS) value of total corneal aberrations decreased from 1.72 ± 0.90 μm to 0.90 ± 0.62 μm, while the mean RMS value of HOAs reduced from 0.92 ± 0.48 μm to 0.53 ± 0.28 μm. Astigmatism and trefoil were the aberration components that exhibited the most significant reductions. Conclusions: Alcohol-assisted delamination of the corneal epithelium is a safe and effective treatment for central EBMD patients experiencing visual quality deterioration. Astigmatism and trefoil appear to be the primary aberrations contributing to visual disturbances in this patient population.