Researchers conducted a prospective, paired-eye, investigator masked study in 30 children with myopia (-1.25D to -4.00D; ages 10 to 14 years) to test the efficacy of a novel multifocal orthokeratology (MOK) lens compared with conventional orthokeratology (OK) in slowing axial eye growth. The MOK lens molded a center-distance multifocal surface onto the anterior cornea, with a concentric treatment zone power of +2.50D. Children wore an MOK lens in one eye and a conventional OK lens in the fellow eye nightly for 18 months. Eye growth was monitored with non-contact ocular biometry.

Over 18 months, MOK-treated eyes showed significantly less axial expansion than OK-treated eyes (axial length change: MOK 0.173mm less than OK), and inner axial length (posterior cornea to anterior sclera change: MOK 0.156mm less than OK). The reduced elongation was constant across different baseline progression rates (range, -0.50D/year to -2.00D/year). Visual acuity was less in MOK vs. OK-treated eyes (e.g., at six months, MOK: 0.09 ± 0.01 vs. OK: 0.02 ± 0.01 logMAR).

Researchers conclude that MOK lenses significantly reduced eye growth compared with conventional OK lenses over 18 months.

Intraocular pressure is the main risk factor for glaucoma; however, additional risk factors may also matter. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to summarize the evidence regarding the association of cholesterol parameters (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] levels) and glaucoma. Four electronic databases were searched for all publications containing “glaucoma” and one of various forms of “cholesterol” or “lipoprotein.” Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and potentially full texts of identified articles for eligibility. Risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to investigate the differences in total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels between patients with and without glaucoma.

Overall, 29 observational studies and 26 reported quantitative were included in the systematic review to investigate differences in cholesterol parameters between patients with glaucoma (n=7196) and patients without glaucoma (n=350441). Patients with glaucoma had significantly higher total cholesterol levels than patients without glaucoma (mean difference (MD) 7.9 mg/dl, 95% CI: 3.3 to 12.5, p=0.001) and lower mean HDL levels (MD -2.0 mg/dl, 95% CI: -3.1 to -0.9, p=0.001). Patients with glaucoma had higher mean LDL levels than patients without glaucoma, albeit not statistically significant (MD 6.1 mg/dl, 95% CI: -4.3 to 16.4, p=0.251).

This systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies found an association of glaucoma and high total cholesterol and low HDL levels, respectively. Although this supports the hypothesis that lipid levels pose an additional risk for glaucoma development, heterogeneity was substantial and causality cannot be presumed from identified observational studies.

This is descriptive cross-sectional study of 476 patients with dry eye disease (DED) was conducted to estimate the prevalence of depression among individuals with a DED in Saudi Arabia using two questionnaires—Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5)—and explore potential factors implicated in the development of depression among the DED population. The questionnaires were merged and distributed using Google Forms through various social media platforms targeting the Saudi population. After data collection, the data was revised, coded and fed to statistical software IBM SPSS version 22 (SPSS, Chicago).

Depression was diagnosed among 200 participants (42%) of the cases with dry eyes, of which 5.7% had mild depression, 13.9% had moderate depression, 12.6% had moderately severe depression and 9.9% had severe depression. A female predominance was noticed; 44.7% of the females with dry eyes had depression compared to 32.4% of males with recorded statistical significance. Depression was detected among 55% of those who were less than 20 years old compared with 27% of those who were 30 years or older. Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), prolonged electronic device usage and contact lens wear were reported as risk factors associated with an increase in dry eye symptoms. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between contact lens wear and depression among dry eye disease patients.

Researchers wrote that suffering from DED is a possible risk factor for developing depression, as DED was associated with depression of greater severity. Depression among DED patients was found to be significantly more prevalent among females and the young adult population rather than older adults.