A case of idiopathic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) is described in a 17-year-old female patient. On initial examination her vision was counting fingers at one meter in the left eye (OS) and Fluorescein angiography showed a well-defined hyperfluorescent area corresponding to the CNVM. Intravitreal bevacizumab was injected into OS, and at a five-week follow-up visit, visual acuity improved to 20/100 OS. This case is unusual, in that the CNVM developed in a young lady with no significant past medical history and with the absence of a choroidal or retinal pigment epithelial disease process that may be associated with a CNVM.

Purpose: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is a well-known surgical procedure for managing corneal endothelial diseases. However, the applicability of DMEK across different populations remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of DMEK in patients from Saudi Arabia and compare them with international standards. Patients and Methods: This retrospective record review evaluated the medical records of 12 patients who underwent DMEK at King Abdulaziz University Hospital from October 2022 to December 2023. Postoperative outcomes, including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), graft attachment, and rates of rejection and re-bubbling, were evaluated at the 1-month follow-up visit. Results: Of the 12 patients, 10 were included in the final analysis (mean age, 65.5 ± 8.69 years; men, n = 3, 30%; women, n = 7, 70%). The most common indications for DMEK were pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (50%) and Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (40%). Postoperatively, the median best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.5 (range, 0.5– 1) to 0.1 (range, 0.1– 0.3) (P = 0.039). The median IOP remained stable, with no significant change observed postoperatively. None of the patients experienced graft rejection or failure; however, 20% required re-bubbling. The mean central corneal thickness significantly decreased from 676 ± 103.71 μm preoperatively to 506.2 ± 27.57 μm postoperatively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that DMEK provides effective visual improvement with low complication rates in patients from Saudi Arabia, comparable to the findings obtained in international studies. These findings may encourage wider adoption of DMEK among corneal surgeons in Saudi Arabia.

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia that results in substantial visual impairment and imposes a significant functional and psychosocial burden on affected individuals. Despite evidence suggesting earlier onset and a potentially more aggressive disease course of keratoconus in Saudi populations, there is a significant lack of region-specific data evaluating vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in Riyadh. This cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, evaluated VRQoL in individuals with keratoconus using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Data were obtained from January to March 2025 through an online, structured, self-administered questionnaire. A total of 1007 participants were included, of whom 299 (29.7%) reported a diagnosis of keratoconus. The mean composite NEI-VFQ-25 score among participants with keratoconus was 61.0 ± 15.8, reflecting moderate impairment in VRQoL. Reduced VRQoL was significantly associated with eye-rubbing behavior, including both frequency (p = 0.027) and method (p = 0.026). The results highlight the importance of early detection and the relevance of eye-rubbing behavior in relation to reduced VRQoL, while supporting the need for longitudinal research to further clarify these associations.

Background: Eye cosmetic use is widespread, but its link with ocular surface health is still poorly understood. We investigated the relationship between eye cosmetic practices and dry eye disease (DED) severity measured by the ocular surface disease index (OSDI). Materials and Methods: We ran a cross-sectional, self-administered online survey of 634 adults who used at least one eye cosmetic product. The questionnaire covered demographics, cosmetic practices, hygiene habits, awareness, and ocular symptoms. The 12-item OSDI classified DED severity as normal (0–12), mild (13–22), moderate (23–32) or severe (33–100). Chi-square, Pearson correlation and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests were run in IBM SPSS v27.0, with P < 0.05 taken as significant. Results: Mean age was 30.79 ± 9.78 years, and 277/634 (43.7%) participants were in the severe DED group. Applying eyeliner or mascara near the lash line ( P < 0.001) and sharing eye makeup ( P < 0.001) showed the strongest links with OSDI severity. Storing contact lenses in water instead of a proper solution was also associated with worse scores ( P = 0.036). Self-reported eye comfort correlated negatively with OSDI ( r = −0.567 and r = −0.545, both P < 0.001). Mean age rose across OSDI categories, with a 7.24-year gap between the severe and normal groups ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Several eye cosmetic habits, especially lash-line application and product sharing, are associated with more severe dry eye. Clinicians should ask about cosmetic use during dry eye assessment, and public education should focus on safer practices. Prospective studies with objective ocular surface measures and better control for screen time and hormonal factors are needed to confirm these associations.

Background/Aim: Recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) syndrome is characterized by recurrent corneal epithelium detachment, and patients with RCE usually experience sudden onset unilateral ocular pain upon awakening from sleep. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of risk factors and clinical course of RCE syndrome. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, focusing on RCE patients. The study included 28 individuals who met the inclusion criteria, ensuring a comprehensive examination of RCE cases. Data collection was meticulous using the Phoenix system and Microsoft Excel data sheets, and the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Twenty-eight patients with RCE were included in the study. The causes of RCE varied and included trauma, map dot fingerprint dystrophy (MDF), fingernail-related issues, and other unknown factors. The number of RCE recurrences ranged from 1 to 4 times, and the duration of recurrence ranged from 1 to 48 months. Treatment modalities included superficial keratectomy, photorefractive keratectomy, phototherapeutic keratectomy, antibiotic eye drops and ointments, and hyaluronic acid eye drop substitutes. There was no significant difference ( P > 0.05) in patients’ clinical profiles between trauma-related and MDF-related cases. Furthermore, no significant ( P > 0.05) correlation was observed between RCE recurrence duration and other factors, including gender, position of RCE, past ocular history, past medical history, initiating causative factors, and treatment approaches. Conclusion: Trauma, including fingernail injuries and MDF, was the most important and prevalent causative/risk factor. However, a nonsignificant correlation was observed between recurrence duration and risk factors.