Atypical angiogenesis is one of the major symptoms of severe eye diseases, including corneal neovascularization, and the complex nature of abnormal vascularization requires targeted methods with high biocompatibility. The targeting of VEGF is the most common approach for preventing angiogenesis, and the LPPR peptide sequence is known to strongly inhibit VEGF activity by binding to the VEGF receptor neuropilin-1. Here, the LPPR epitope is presented on a peptide amphiphile nanofiber system to benefit from multivalency and increase the anti-angiogenic function of the epitope. Peptide amphiphile nanofibers are especially useful for ocular delivery applications due to their ability to remain on the site of interest for extended periods of time, facilitating the long-term presentation of bioactive sequences. Consequently, the LPPR sequence was integrated into a self-assembled peptide amphiphile network to increase its efficiency in the prevention of neovascularization. Anti-angiogenic effects of the peptide nanofibers were investigated by using both in vitro and in vivo models. LPPR-PA nanofibers inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, tube formation, and migration to a greater extent than the soluble LPPR peptide in vitro. In addition, the LPPR-PA nanofiber system led to the prevention of vascular maturation and the regression of angiogenesis in a suture-induced corneal angiogenesis model. These results show that the anti-angiogenic activity exhibited by LPPR peptide nanofibers may be utilized as a promising approach for the treatment of corneal angiogenesis.

Purpose: To present the results and complications of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy in adults with open-angle glaucoma using our different approaches during and after surgery. Method: A retrospective comparative study was designed. Patients with regular 12-month follow-up history were included. Two groups were defined: group 1 comprised patients with open-angle glaucoma who underwent gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy surgery alone; group 2 included patients with open-angle glaucoma who underwent combined gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy and cataract extraction. A 30% reduction in preoperative intraocular pressure or postoperative intraocular pressure below 18 mm Hg was considered as surgical success. The success rate, alteration in intraocular pressure, alteration in best-corrected visual acuity, alteration in the need for antiglaucomatous medications, surgical complications, and the need for additional glaucoma surgery were evaluated and compared between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to show the association between the surgical success and possible prognostic factors. Results: A total of 37 eyes fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this study. An overall mean decrease in intraocular pressure of 11.3 ± 9.3 mm Hg was shown at 12 months (p < 0.001). The medication-free surgical success rate was 37.8% (14/37), and the surgical success rate with medication was 91.8% (33/37) at 12 months. Surgical outcomes were similar between patients who underwent gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy alone and those who had combined gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy and cataract extraction (p > 0.05). The most common postoperative complication was hyphemia (89.1%). There were no complications that threatened best-corrected visual acuity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed one significant association between the presence of blood in Schlemm’s canal and surgical success (odds ratio = 1.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.25–1.68; p = 0.047). Conclusion: This study showed that the gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy procedure is an effective and minimally invasive form of glaucoma surgery. Its effect was related to intraoperative blood in Schlemm’s canal.

IFNα2a therapy is an effective alternative for Behçet uveitis patients where conventional combination therapy fails.

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The macular choroidal thickness-not only in amblyopic eyes but also in non-amblyopic fellow eyes-was significantly thicker than in the healthy subjects. The thick choroid in amblyopic and non-amblyopic fellow eyes may indicate bilateral delay of emmetropization, which probably means amblyopia affecting the visual feedback of both eyes.