Sodium hyaluronate combined with rhEGF contributes to alleviate clinical symptoms and Inflammation in patients with Xerophthalmia after cataract surgery

Trauma-induced corneal epithelial defects may lead to persistent epithelial defects exacerbated by prolonged use of bandage lenses

ObjectiveTo investigate the causes of corneal epithelial defects (CEDs) due to mechanical trauma and analyze the risk factors for progression to persistent epithelial defects (PEDs).MethodA retrospective analyze 241 patients (241 eyes) with CEDs caused by mechanical ocular trauma. All patients received initial treatment as outpatients at our hospital. Data collected included patients' basic information, injury causes, use of adjunctive treatments, improvement in symptoms and adverse reactions before and after treatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between the causes of injury, the use of adjunctive treatments, and the occurrence of persistent corneal epithelial defects.ResultsThe study involved 241 patients: 164 males (68.1%) and 77 females (31.9%), averaging 38.06 ± 17.88 years old. The most common age groups were 31-40 years (24.1%), 41-50 years (19.9%), and 51-60 years (18.2%). The top five causes of injury were finger pokes (20.4%), impacts from plastic objects (14.6%), branch strikes (13.3%), paper cuts (8.8%), and metal scratches (8.3%). 164 patients used recombinant human growth factor (rhEGF) eye drops with an average healing time of 3.2 ± 1.3 days, while 77 did not use these drops, averaging 7.4 ± 2.2 days. Continuous use of bandage lenses was a risk factor for persistent epithelial defects (P < 0.001).ConclusionTreatment of CEDs caused by mechanical trauma should focus on managing ocular surface inflammation. The use of rhEGF eye drops can be an effective supplement treatment for CEDs. However, caution is needed regarding the use of bandage lenses.

Efficacy of moisture chamber goggles combined with fluorometholone eye drops on visual function and oxidative stress in patients with dry eye disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of Moisture Chamber Goggles combined with Fluorometholone eye drops on visual function and oxidative stress in patients with dry eye disease.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 patients with dry eye disease treated at Ninghai First Hospital from January 2021 to May 2023. Patients were divided into a combination group (n=40, receiving Fluorometholone eye drops and Moisture Chamber Goggles) and a monotherapy group (n=40, receiving Fluorometholone eye drops alone) based on treatment regimens. Outcomes compared between the groups included subjective symptom scores (VAS), tear film stability parameters, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress indicators, and adverse reaction rates before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Post-treatment, the combination group showed significantly longer tear breakup time (BUT) and higher Schirmer's test values compared to the monotherapy group (both P<0.05). Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and metalloproteinase-2 were significantly lower in the combination group (P<0.05). Additionally, the combination group had significantly lower VAS scores, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores, and conjunctival hyperemia grades, as well as higher tear meniscus height and National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) scores (all P<0.05). No significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions were observed between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The combination of Moisture Chamber Goggles and Fluorometholone eye drops significantly improves subjective visual quality, promotes tear secretion, stabilizes the tear film, and reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with dry eye disease, while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

Sodium hyaluronate and pranoprofen improve visual function and reduce inflammation in patients with dry eye

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical use of sodium hyaluronate (SH) combined with pranoprofen in treating patients with dry eye.

METHODS

A total of 117 patients with dry eye who were treated in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Kunshan from March 2020 and May 2022 were included. According to the therapy approaches, they were treated with SH (SH group), pranoprofen (pranoprofen group), and SH combined with pranoprofen (joint group) (n = 39).

RESULTS

The effective rates of dry eye were 79.49%, 74.36% and 94.87% in the SH group, the pranoprofen group and the joint group, respectively (p < 0.05). After treatment, the tear BUT and SIT in the joint group were all prominently increased than those in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The corneal fluorescein staining and dry eye symptom scores in the joint group after treatment were dramatically lower than those in the other two groups (p < 0.001). After treatment, the visual contrast sensitivity (12 c/d, 18 c/d and 24 c/d) in the joint group was markedly higher than those in the other two groups (p < 0.001). The CPR, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β levels in the joint group were notably decreased than those in other two groups (p < 0.001). After treatment, the VRQOL quality-of-life scores in the joint group were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SH combined with pranoprofen showed clear therapeutic benefit in treating dry eye, and the curative effect was more favorable than with either medication alone.

Observations of the efficacy of the artificial lens cushion plate technique in hard-core cataract surgery

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of intraocular lens (IOL) cushion plate technology in reducing corneal endothelial cell loss during hard-core cataract surgery compared with conventional ultrasonic emulsification.

Methods

Seventy-six patients with hard-core cataracts who underwent surgery at our institution from April 2019 to June 2022 were included. The patients were divided into an observation group (IOL cushion plate technology, 38 patients) and a control group (conventional ultrasonic emulsification, 38 patients). Surgical outcomes, including the corneal endothelial cell loss rate, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central corneal thickness (CCTc), were compared between the two groups.

Results

Preoperative patient characteristics were similar between the groups. Postoperatively, both groups demonstrated similar BCVA and CCTc values on days 7 and 30. However, compared with the observation group, the control group presented a significantly greater rate of corneal endothelial cell loss on postoperative days 7 and 30 (p < 0.05). Intraoperative complications and postoperative complications were notably greater in the control group (p < 0.05). The observation group had reduced ultramilk time and total energy consumption (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

IOL cushion plate technology offers advantages in preserving corneal endothelial cells during hard-core cataract surgery, potentially improving surgical safety and efficacy.

Efficacy of recombinant human epidermal growth factor plus sodium hyaluronate eye drops in diabetic dry eye post-cataract surgery

BACKGROUND

Dry eye syndrome (DES) after diabetic cataract surgery can seriously affect the patient's quality of life. Therefore, effective alleviation of symptoms in patients with this disease has important clinical significance.

AIM

To explore the clinical effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) plus sodium hyaluronate (SH) eye drops on DES after cataract surgery in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 82 patients with diabetes who experienced DES after cataract surgery at Tianjin Beichen Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nankai University between April 2021 and April 2023. They were classified into an observation group (42 cases, rhEGF + SH eye drops) and a control group (40 cases, SH eye drops alone), depending on the different treatment schemes. The thera-peutic efficacy, dry eye symptom score, tear film breakup time (TFBUT), basic tear secretion score [assessed using Schirmer I test (SIt)], corneal fluorescein staining (FL) score, tear inflammatory markers, adverse reactions during treatment, and treatment satisfaction were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Therapeutic efficacy was higher in the observation group compared with the control group. Both groups showed improved TFBUT and dry eye, as well as improved SIt and FL scores after treatment, with a more pronounced improvement in the observation group. Although no marked differences in adverse reactions were observed between the two groups, treatment satisfaction was higher in the observation group.

CONCLUSION

rhEGF + SH eye drops rendered clinical benefits to patients by effectively ameliorating dry eye and visual impairment with favorable efficacy, fewer adverse reactions, and high safety levels. Thus, this treatment should be promoted in clinical practice.

Effects of Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor Eye Drops Combined with Phacoemulsification on Short- and Long-Term Visual Acuity Recovery and Related Dry Eye Complications in Patients with Senile Cataract

Objective

To investigate the effects of recombinant human epidermal growth factor eye drops combined with phacoemulsification on short- and long-term visual acuity recovery and related dry eye complications in patients with senile cataract.

Methods

Sixty patients with senile cataract cured from January 2019 to January 2021 were enrolled in our hospital. The patients in the control group were arbitrarily assigned into the control and the research group. The former group received phacoemulsification, and the latter group received recombinant human epidermal growth factor (RhEGF) eye drops combined with phacoemulsification. The curative effect, the incidence of xerophthalmia, short-term and long-term vision improvement, changes of corneal endothelial cells, serum factors, and life quality scores were compared.

Results

The effective rate of the research group was 90.00%, and the effective rate of the control group was 66.67%; the curative effect of the research group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of dry eye in the research group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The short-term and long-term visual acuity improvement effect of the research group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the density of corneal endothelial cells in the research group was higher than that in the control group, while the proportion of hexagonal cells and the coefficient of variation of corneal endothelial cells in the research group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, IL-6 and TNF-α in the research group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the physical function, psychological function, social function, and healthy self-cognition scores of the research group were all lower (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world. With the continuous improvement of cataract phacoemulsification technology, the incidence of some serious complications has gradually lessened. Xerophthalmia is one of the most obvious and predictable complications after cataract surgery and may affect the recovery of postoperative visual acuity. Recombinant human epidermal growth factor eye drops can effectively enhance the visual acuity of patients, promote the curative effect, and strengthen the life quality.