Ophthalmology Overview: Addressing Dry Eye in Sjogren Syndrome, Chronic Uveitis Treatment, and More

Highlighting the latest ophthalmology-related news reported across MJH Life Sciences^™.

Leveraging Autoantibodies to Improve Screening of Dry Eye in Sjogren Syndrome

Although Sjogren syndrome (SS) is an underdiagnosed autoimmune disease that can take years to diagnose, research findings presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology indicate that one of the condition’s chief symptoms, dry eye, could serve as a starting point in improving diagnosis.

As reported by Ophthalmology Times®, researchers note that by including data on autoantibodies related to SS in screening patients who present with dry eye, earlier diagnosis could be improved. Although there are traditional SS antibodies, researcher Kennedy Johnson, a clinical research coordinator at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said these may not be specific to SS.

Emerging research has indicated that antibodies to salivary protein, parotid secretory protein, and carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI (CA-6) may be novel markers for SS that can be utilized to screen patients with dry eye for the condition. Screening may not be feasible for all patients due to the high prevalence of dry eye, noted Johnson, but she said that the autoantibodies could also help detect patients with SS with more severe disease.

Chronic Uveitis Treatment Offers Effective Long-term Option for Patients

In real-world study results examining the FDA-approved fluocinolone acetonide 0.18 mg intravitreal implant, sold as Yutiq, for treatment of chronic noninfectious uveitis, the therapeutic option was found to be effective over the long term in patients.

An article by Ophthalmology Times® covering the study indicated that corticosteroids remain the standard of care for patients with chronic noninfectious uveitis, which is a significant cause of visual loss. In the previous POINT trial, it was shown that patients who underwent the implant exhibited a significant reduction in the recurrence rate of uveitis at 6 and 12 months compared with sham, but had significantly higher incidence rates of cataract and intraocular pressure.

In conducting the largest study to date to assess the implant outside of a clinical trial, findings of the retrospective chart review showed that the therapeutic option is a convenient and effective adjunctive treatment for chronic uveitis. Investigators said they are continuing to study the short- and long-term efficacy, as well as adverse events associated with the therapy.

Topography-Guided Treatment for Irregular Corneas

In an article by Ophthalmology Times®, topography-guided treatment for irregular corneas was noted to improve patients’ best-corrected visual acuity and was easy to plan and perform.

Supported by software to conduct the calculations, topography-guided treatments may provide a customized approach for eligible patients with irregular corneas, whose current standard of treatment through transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy, is often advised against by surgeons due to the lack of consistent outcomes.

Topography-guided treatments work by allowing restoration of the cornea, softening the irregularity of the cornea, and producing good refractive results, said researchers. Further explaining the procedure, it was cited to be short, but with a potentially uncomfortable postoperative recovery period in the first 2 days due to the removal of the epithelium.