To compare anterior segment measurements and morphology of 2 optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Department of Ophthalmology, District Railway Hospital, and the Nursing Department and Social Medical Issues, Health Care Division, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland. In normal eyes and in eyes with corneal and trabecular-iris angle disorders, the central corneal thickness (CCT), trabecular-iris angle, and angle-opening distance at the nasal and temporal angles were measured 3 times during 1 visit using the Visante time-domain OCT system and the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain corneal anterior module OCT system. Anterior segment morphology was assessed and compared. Fifty-four eyes were evaluated. The mean values (+/-SD) by time-domain OCT and Fourier-domain OCT were, respectively, automatic CCT, 535 +/- 33.07 microm and 538 +/- 31.82 microm; manual CCT, 545 +/- 30.91 microm and 542 +/- 30.57 microm; nasal trabecular-iris angle, 34.7 +/- 9.5 degrees and 35.2 +/- 8.9 degrees; temporal trabecular-iris angle, 35.3 +/- 8.5 degrees and 35.5 +/- 9 degrees; nasal angle-opening distance, 435 +/- 95 microm and 444 +/- 98 microm; and temporal angle-opening distance, 443 +/- 103 microm and 452 +/- 99 microm. There was no significant difference between mean values, and they were highly correlated. On morphologic analysis, time-domain OCT had lower resolution; however, all anterior chamber structures were visible on 1 image. Fourier-domain OCT provided precise information about small areas of the anterior chamber. Fourier-domain OCT provided accurate anterior eye segment measurements that agreed with those obtained with time-domain OCT.

The aim of this study was to analyze the corneal morphology features and define mutations in the UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing 1 (UBIAD1) gene in patients with Schnyder corneal dystrophy from a Polish population. Five affected and 15 unaffected members originating from 3 families with Schnyder corneal dystrophy were included in the study. Phenotype analysis consisted of visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy with photography, time domain optical coherence tomography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and confocal microscopy. Three patients underwent a penetrating keratoplasty. Corneal buttons obtained from the penetrating keratoplasty were processed for light microscopy. A novel mutation I245N of the UBIAD1 gene was revealed in 1 proband and associated with the phenotype without central corneal opacities. The analysis of the other patients showed the N102S mutation. In vivo corneal morphology analysis using optical coherence tomography and confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of multiple crystalline corneal deposits in all affected corneas. The histological examination revealed multiple empty widenings of the corneal lamellae that could represent lipids removed from the specimen. N102S may also be a mutation hotspot in the Polish population, as in other previously reported populations. Corneal crystals formed a characteristic pattern on optical coherence tomography scans.

Despite the significant impact of retinal diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), there is a limited understanding of how these conditions are managed in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). To provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical and economic burden of wAMD and DME in CEE and the status quo associated with their management. A narrative literature review was undertaken to identify existing data on wAMD and DME, including epidemiology, economic burden, clinical guidelines, and available and reimbursed treatments. Data were collected from relevant sources such as PubMed, ophthalmology associations, national statistical offices, and government agency websites; practical viewpoints were provided by local ophthalmologists and healthcare economics experts in CEE. Epidemiological data on wAMD and DME are limited in CEE, and intercountry comparison is difficult because of differences in data collection methodologies. There are effective treatment options for wAMD and DME, and international guidelines advocate the use of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections as first-line therapy. Local expert organizations broadly support these recommendations; nevertheless, no clinical practice guidelines exist on the treatment of wAMD and DME in CEE. Access to and reimbursement of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents vary significantly in the region and, as a result, many patients remain untreated or inadequately treated. There is an urgent need for the creation of a wAMD/DME treatment program in CEE to ensure that patients have timely access to the most appropriate treatments.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the main causes of visual impairment in patients of working age. DME occurs in 4% of patients at all stages of diabetic retinopathy. Using a subthreshold micropulse laser is an alternative or adjuvant treatment of DME. Micropulse technology demonstrates a high safety profile by selectively targeting the retinal pigment epithelium. There are no standardized protocols for micropulse treatment, however, a 577 nm laser application over the entire macula using a 200 μm retinal spot, 200 ms pulse duration, 400 mW power, and 5% duty cycle is a cost-effective, noninvasive, and safe therapy in mild and moderate macular edemas with retinal thickness below 400 μm. Micropulse lasers, as an addition to the current gold-standard treatment for DME, i.e., anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), stabilize the anatomic and functional retinal parameters 3 months after the procedure and reduce the number of required injections per year. This paper discusses the published literature on the safety and application of subthreshold micropulse lasers in DME and compares them with intravitreal anti-VEGF or steroid therapies and conventional grid laser photocoagulation. Only English peer-reviewed articles reporting research within the years 2010–2022 were included.

This paper describes a method for automatic analysis of the choroid in OCT images of the eye fundus in ophthalmology. The problem of vascular lesions occurs e.g. in a large population of patients having diabetes or macular degeneration. Their correct diagnosis and quantitative assessment of the treatment progress are a critical part of the eye fundus diagnosis. The study analysed about 1’000 OCT images acquired using SOCT Copernicus (Optopol Tech. SA, Zawiercie, Poland). The proposed algorithm for image analysis enabled to analyse the texture of the choroid portion located beneath the RPE (Retinal Pigment Epithelium) layer. The analysis was performed using the profiled algorithm based on morphological analysis and texture analysis and a classifier in the form of decision trees. The location of the centres of gravity of individual objects present in the image beneath the RPE layer proved to be important in the evaluation of different types of images. In addition, the value of the standard deviation and the number of objects in a scene were equally important. These features enabled classification of three different forms of the choroid that were related to retinal pathology: diabetic edema (the classification gave accuracy ACC ₁ = 0.73), ischemia of the inner retinal layers (ACC₂ = 0.83) and scarring fibro vascular tissue (ACC₃ = 0.69). For the cut decision tree the results were as follows: ACC ₁ = 0.76, ACC ₂ = 0.81, ACC ₃ = 0.68. The created decision tree enabled to obtain satisfactory results of the classification of three types of choroidal imaging. In addition, it was shown that for the assumed characteristics and the developed classifier, the location of B-scan does not significantly affect the results. The image analysis method for texture analysis presented in the paper confirmed its usefulness in choroid imaging. Currently the application is further studied in the Clinical Department of Ophthalmology in the District Railway Hospital in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Poland.

Aim The aim of this study was to analyse corneal morphological organisation and identify mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6) in patients with macular corneal dystrophy originating in a Polish population. Methods Macular corneal dystrophy was diagnosed in 24 patients based on the slit-lamp exam, confocal microscopy, 1310 nm time domain and 840 nm spectral domain optical coherence tomography. 10 corneal buttons obtained from penetrating keratoplasty were processed for light microscopy. Genetic analysis of the CHST6 gene was performed, followed by a study of the sequencing results. Results Highly reflective, diffuse corneal deposits and a general increase in reflectivity were revealed with optical coherence tomography and confocal microscopy. The deposits extended from the Bowman layer to the Descemet membrane and correlated with the Alcian blue-positive granular-filamentous material into and around the stromal keratocytes confirmed by structural analysis of the corneal buttons. The genetic analysis of the blood samples identified the following mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms: novel P64L (heterozygous), Y110C (homozygous), R162G and L200R, and M1L (heterozygous and homozygous). Conclusions Genetic mutation heterogeneity was revealed. No phenotype heterogeneity was revealed among patients with in vivo corneal morphology assessment or histological analysis.