The elemental composition of the vitreous humor may reflect physiological and pathological processes occurring in the eye. The objective of this study was to provide a complex multielemental analysis of human vitreous humor. Vitreous humor samples (n = 57) were collected post-mortem during autopsies. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to quantify micro-, trace-, ultra-trace, and toxic elements. The study showed the occurrence of elements at the ppm (Na, K, P, Ca, Mg), ppb (Al, Rb, Zn, Fe, Sr, Cu), and ppt (Ce, La, Nd, Tb) levels. Hierarchical clustering using Ward’s method and k-means analysis revealed four distinct clusters, including two major clusters representing the baseline macro- and microelement profile characteristic for the studied population. Correlations between elements revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive and negative correlations between elements with (I) chemical similarity Ce-La, Cs-Rb, Rb-K, Ca-P, Zn-Cu, and Cs-K; (II) a possible common environmental origin, Cd-P, and Rb-P; (III) involvement in similar biological processes as K-P; and (iv) a common geochemical origin and similar biological functions, i.e., Se-Zn. The study identified several quantitative trends in the demographic and medical characteristics of the participants. Alcohol users had significantly higher Zn concentrations than non-alcohol users; women had significantly higher Ca concentrations than men; higher BMI correlated positively with Cs and negatively with Be and Cr levels; and Cu, Sb, Cd, Se, and Ca concentrations increased with age. The presence of several toxic and potentially toxic elements was identified in the vitreous body: Al (>10 ppb); Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn; and Ba (<10 ppb); As, Hg, Sb, Tl, Bi, Be (<1 ppb). The study showed that, within a given geographic region, the accumulation profiles of toxic metals are quite homogeneous, indicating common sources of exposure.

Purpose: To analyze the structural changes in the brain related to combined hearing and vision loss in patients with Usher syndrome (USH) obtained by 7 Tesla MRI. Methods: Twenty patients with a diagnosis of USH and fifteen normal age- and gender-matched subjects were included in this study. USH patients underwent ophthalmological examination. All subjects underwent 7 Tesla MRI of the brain in two sequences: 3D BRAVO T1-weighted and 3D MT-weighted SILENT sequence. Results: Mean values of LGN volumes (right 95.65 mm³, left 88.61 mm³) are significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the USH group than in the control group (right 126.64 mm³, left 120.37 mm³). The average volumes of the left cuneus (4102.85 mm³), right parsorbitalis (2133.95 mm³), and right rostralanteriorcingulate cortex (ACC) (1727.60 mm³) in the patient group are significantly (p = 0.03673, 0.02434, and 0.04204, respectively) lower than in the control group (4673.73 mm³, 2485.13 mm³, and 2060.00 mm³, respectively). Mean lengths of the left lingual cortex (1.99 mm) and right pericalcarine cortex (1.84 mm) in the patient group are significantly (p = 0.02449 and 0.03153, respectively) smaller than in the control group (2.09 mm and 2.0 mm, respectively). Average lengths of the right insula (2.74 mm) in the patient group are significantly (p = 0.00041) greater than in the control group (2.49 mm). Conclusions: Parts of the brain engaged in the visual processing as LGN, pericalcarine cortex, lingual gyrus, and cuneus, are decreased, as well as those involved in hearing and language processing, such as parsorbitalis and ACC. The insula, a higher-order brain area possessing a crucial role in olfactory processing, is increased in USH patients. Our findings enhance the understanding of structural brain abnormalities related to combined hearing and vision loss and suggest complex adaptive changes that should be considered in the development of new visual rehabilitation and restitution strategies in USH patients.

Background: Posterior segment eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are preeminent causes of vision loss worldwide. Effective drug delivery to the retina poses an ongoing therapeutic difficulty due to the presence of the anatomical and physiological barriers. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems represent a promising strategy to overcome those limitations. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, covering publications published between 2020 and 2026. Publications evaluating nanoparticles for the treatment of the vitreoretinal disorders, including pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies, were analyzed. Results: Nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and lipid-based systems, established improved drug bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery. The analyzed systems facilitate sustained drug release and potentially reduce the prevalence of invasive intravitreal injections. The nanocarriers’ effectiveness is primarily influenced by their physicochemical properties, such as particle size, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. Nonetheless, the production costs and safety aspects, including cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, remain as significant limitations. Conclusions: Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems serve as an auspicious therapeutic approach for posterior segment eye diseases. However, further standardized preclinical and clinical research is required to assure long-term safety, and enable successful clinical transition.

Background/Objectives: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is the fourth most common retinal disorder. Subthreshold micropulse laser therapy (MPLT) is a promising option. The study aimed to evaluate whether a novel panmacular MPLT strategy leads to significant long-term functional and structural improvement in acute (aCSC), chronic (cCSC), and recurrent (rCSC). Methods: This retrospective, non-comparative study included CSC patients (n = 41) and healthy controls (n = 14). Participants underwent panmacular subthreshold MPLT. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal sensitivity (RetSens), central choroidal thickness (CCT), and pachyvessel diameter were measured at baseline and at 24 months post first treatment. The mean post-intervention observation time (from the last treatment to the final follow-up) was 24.0 months for the aCSC group and 18.6 months for the cCSC and rCSC groups. Treatment required a mean of 1 session in the aCSC group (range 1–3) and a mean of 2.8 sessions in the cCSC and rCSC groups (range 1–8). Results: Complete subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution was achieved in 100% of aCSC cases, 86.66% of cCSC, and 63.63% of rCSC. Non-resolution/recurrence occurred in 13.33% of cCSC (2/15), and 36.37% of rCSC (4/11). After two years BCVA significantly improved across all groups (e.g., aCSC: improved from 0.74 ± 0.05 to 0.98 ± 0.02, p = 0.005). RetSens significantly improved in aCSC (increased by 5 dB, p = 0.001) and cCSC (increased by 3.8 dB, p = 0.046) CCT, CRT and pachyvessel diameter significantly decreased post-treatment in all CSC groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Panmacular MPLT is a safe and effective therapy for CSC, providing significant long-term functional and structural improvement, particularly in acute and chronic cases. The therapeutic effects were weakest in the rCSC group, which showed the poorest functional outcomes and a higher burden, suggesting that a recurrent disease course may be a primary negative prognostic factor.

Background: Posterior segment eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are preeminent causes of vision loss worldwide. Effective drug delivery to the retina poses an ongoing therapeutic difficulty due to the presence of the anatomical and physiological barriers. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems represent a promising strategy to overcome those limitations. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, covering publications published between 2019 and 2026. Publications evaluating nanoparticles for the treatment of the vitreoretinal disorders, including pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies, were analyzed. Results: Nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and lipid-based systems, established improved drug bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery. The analyzed systems facilitate sustained drug release and potentially reduce the prevalence of invasive intravitreal injections. The nanocarriers’ effectiveness is primarily influenced by their physicochemical properties, such as particle size, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. Nonetheless, the production costs and safety aspects, including cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, remain as significant limitations. Conclusions: Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems serve as an auspicious therapeutic approach for posterior segment eye diseases. However, further standardized preclinical and clinical research is required to assure long-term safety and enable successful clinical transition.

Background/Objectives: To investigate the volume of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: Nineteen patients with advanced RP (mean age 52 years and mean duration of illness 357 months) and twenty-one age-matched normal subjects have been examined using 7 Tesla MRI of the brain. Brain segmentation was carried out with the “recon-all” function in the FreeSurfer software (version 7.4.1) package. Results: The volumes of the left and right LGN were significantly smaller in those patients with RP, in comparison to the controls. We found a significant positive correlation between the volume of the left LGN and the right eye best-corrected visual acuity in the RP group. Conclusions: Late-stage RP leads to a significant reduction in LGN volume, as measured with 7 Tesla MRI. The volume of the left LGN was correlated with the visual function of the right eye in patients with late-stage RP. The statistical power of the results is limited by there being a low number of RP patients included in this study, which is due to the low prevalence of this rare eye disease.