Background and Objectives: Early diagnosis of the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is very important for a timely first treatment, which is directly related to the preservation of functional visual acuity over a long period. The goal of this paper was to examine the correlation between the double-layer sign (DLS) and the presence of non-exudative macular neovascularization (MNV). Materials and Methods: Our research included 60 patients with AMD, exudative in one eye and non-exudative in the other eye. We analyzed only the non-exudative form using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). The patients were classified into three groups, depending on the duration of the disease (5 years). The onset of the disease was deemed the moment of establishing a diagnosis of exudative AMD in one eye. We defined the presence or absence of a DLS using OCT and the presence of non-exudative MNV using OCT-A, both on 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm sections. DLS was used as a projection biomarker for non-exudative MNV, with the aim of establishing a rapid diagnosis and achieving early treatment of the disease. Results: We found that there was a statistically significant correlation between the DLS diagnosed using OCT and non-exudative MNV diagnosed by OCT-A for both 3 × 3 mm (p < 0.001) and 6 × 6 mm (p < 0.001) imaging. There was a statistically significant difference between the frequencies of both DLS and MNV in Groups I and III on both 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm imaging. A statistically significant difference was also noted in the frequencies of DLS and MNV on 6 × 6 mm imaging, but not on 3 × 3 mm imaging, between Groups I and II. No differences were found between the frequencies of DLS and MNV between Groups II and III. Conclusions: The DLS on OCT can be used as a projection biomarker to assess the presence of a non-exudative MNV.

Background and objectives: The aim of the research was to investigate the differences in the concentrations of IL-12, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in tears after LASIK and PRK procedures. Materials and methods: The study included 68 myopic eyes up to −3.0 D refractive spherical equivalent, divided into two groups: Group 1 LASIK (n = 31) and Group 2 PRK (n = 37). Three tear samples were taken from each eye: immediately before the procedure (t₀), 1 h after the procedure (t₁), and 24 h after the procedure (t₂). The concentrations of IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the tear samples were determined by flow cytometry. Participants were not taking anti-inflammatory therapy 24 h after the procedure. Results: IL-4 levels 1 h after treatment did not differ between LASIK and PRK (p = 0.990), while 24 h after PRK there was a significant decrease in IL-4 levels (p < 0.05), but not after LASIK (p = 0.476). In both the LASIK (p < 0.05) and PRK (p < 0.05) groups, there is an increase in IL-10 concentrations 1 h after treatment, which persists 24 h after LASIK (p < 0.05) but not after PRK (p = 0.081). There is an increase in IL-12p70 concentration 1 h after treatment in both the LASIK (p < 0.001) and PRK groups (p < 0.001). There is also an increase in IL-12p70 concentration 24 h after PRK (p < 0.005), but not after LASIK (p = 0.775). Conclusions: IL-4 concentration shows a significantly higher value in the LASIK group than in the PRK group after 24 h. IL-10 and IL-12p70 levels increase one hour after surgery in both groups. After 24 h, the IL-10 levels remain elevated in the LASIK group, and the IL-12p70 levels remain elevated in the PRK group. Thus, LASIK and PRK procedures show different inflammatory dynamics.

Background/Objectives: The goal of this study was to show the consistency between the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response in the early postoperative period after corneal refractive surgery (LASIK and PRK), represented by the levels of specific cytokines in the tear film. Materials/Methods: A total of 68 myopic eyes (31 in the LASIK and 37 in the PRK group) had 3 samples of tear film taken, one before surgery (t₀), another 1 h after surgery (t₁) and the third 24 h after surgery (t₂). The tear samples were then analyzed by flow cytometry in order to determine the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). Results: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the concentrations of all pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and all anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), respectively, for both t₁ and t₂ in the group of eyes that underwent LASIK. In the PRK group, there was a statistically significant positive correlation for all cytokines (pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory) at t₁; however at t_2, there was no correlation between IL-1β and IL-10, IL-6 and IL-10, IL-8 and IL-10, and IFN-γ and IL-10. In contrast, for other correlations between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the same observation time (t₂), a positive correlation was observed. Conclusions: There is a consistency between the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in the early postoperative period after refractive surgery, which persists longer after LASIK compared to PRK. This difference may explain the different clinical courses in patients after undergoing these procedures.