SCLERAL LENSES FOR TREATING DRY EYE

Abstract from Current Opinion in Ophthalmology:

Purpose of review: Dry eye syndrome can be difficult to manage in severe or refractory cases. In patients in whom traditional treatments have limited efficacy, alternative treatments may be considered for dry eye syndrome, including scleral lenses. The present review summarizes the evidence regarding scleral lens use in dry eye syndrome.

Recent findings: Scleral lenses have become a viable option for severe dry eye syndrome, and have been shown to be efficacious and well tolerated, with most reports citing improved visual acuity and relief of symptoms. Currently, there are 18 manufacturers of scleral lenses, although published reports on scleral lenses primarily focus on the BostonSight PROSE and the Jupiter Lens.

Summary: Scleral lenses are efficacious and well tolerated for use in severe dry eye syndrome. Further research is needed to compare different sizes and types of lenses, and to standardize outcome measures.

VITAMIN D AND DRY EYE

From Eye:

We demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency decreases the TBUT and Schirmer test values and may be associated with dry-eye symptoms in non-Sjögren syndrome.

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND POSTERIOR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT

From Clinical Ophthalmology:

Vitamin D levels for most PSC patients fell below the 30 ng/mL calcium homeostasis threshold. Some comorbidities and non-ophthalmic interventions are associated with the development of PSC at less depressed levels of 25-OH D. In this series, vitamin D deficiency was associated with PSC cataract, suggesting that raising the level of vitamin D intake may reduce PSC incidence.

VITAMIN D AND GLAUCOMA

From the European Menopause Journal:

Decreased serum Vitamin D concentration was associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). There was no Vitamin D difference between moderate and severe POAG.

SLEEP DURATION AND MYOPIA

From Acta Ophthalmoligica:

This study provides the population-based, epidemiologic evidence for an inverse relationship between sleep duration and myopia in a representative population of Korean adolescents.

METFORMIN MAY REDUCE RISK OF OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA

from JAMA: 

Metformin use is associated with reduction in risk of developing OAG, and risk is reduced even when accounting for glycemic control in the form of glycated hemoglobin level. Other diabetes medications did not confer a similar OAG risk reduction. This study suggests that metformin may be affecting OAG risk on multiple levels, some involving improved glycemic control and some involving mechanisms outside glycemic control such as neurogenesis, inflammatory systems, or longevity pathways targeted by caloric restriction mimetic drugs. If confirmed by prospective clinical trials, these findings could lead to novel treatments for this sight-threatening disease.