Background: Chloroquine (CQ) evokes the sensation of itch by exciting peripheral sensory neurons. Results: CQ not only directly excites a diverse population of sensory neurons but also strongly modulates ion channels involved in pain and itch transduction. Conclusion: CQ exerts widespread actions on peripheral sensory neurons. Significance: Our results increase our understanding of the action of CQ on sensory neurons.

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PurposeDry eye syndrome (DES) causes significant morbidity. Trials of blood-derived products in treatment of the condition show promising results. However, their production is expensive and time-consuming. We investigate fingerprick autologous blood (FAB) as an alternative low-cost, readily accessible treatment for DES.Patients and methodsProspective, non-comparative, interventional case series. In total, 29 eyes of 16 DES patients (2 males and 14 females) from two NHS sites in the United Kingdom. Patients instructed to clean a finger, prick with a blood lancet, and apply a drop of blood to the lower fornix of the affected eye(s), 4 times daily for 8 weeks then stop and review 4 weeks later. Follow-up visits occurred ~3 days, 2, 4, 8 weeks into therapy, and 4 weeks post-cessation. At each visit, visual acuity, corneal staining, Schirmer's test, tear break-up time (TBUT), and ocular comfort index (OCI) were measured, and photographs taken. Results were analysed using Student's paired t-test.ResultsAt 8 weeks, there was improvement in mean Oxford corneal staining grade (3.31 to 2.07 (P<0.0001)), TBUT (5.00 to 7.80 s (P<0.05)), visual acuity (0.08 to 0.01 LogMAR equivalent (P<0.05)), and OCI score (56.03 to 39.72 (P<0.0001)). There was no statistically significant change in Schirmer's test results. Four weeks post-cessation versus immediately after completion of FAB therapy, mean staining grade worsened from 2.07 to 2.86 (P<0.0001). OCI score worsened from 39.72 to 44.67 (P<0.05).ConclusionsIn our limited case series FAB appears to be a safe and effective treatment for DES.

A 73-year-old woman with bilateral previous radial keratotomies (RK) and symptomatic cataracts was referred. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.24 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) in the left eye and 0.32 logMAR in the left eye. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery calculator for eyes with previous RK was used for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation. The dominant left eye had uneventful cataract extraction with monofocal IOL implantation. For the nondominant right eye, a small-aperture posterior chamber IOL with the highest available power was used; this was followed by planned secondary piggyback sulcus IOL implantation for the expected residual refractive error. The UDVA after the primary procedure was 0.50 logMAR in the right eye and 0.10 logMAR in the left eye. After the planned secondary procedure, the UDVA was -0.10 logMAR in both eyes with a -0.50 diopter spherical equivalent and the patient did not require spectacles for near, intermediate, or distance vision.