A recent review article investigated the importance of hyaluronic acid chain lengths in eye drops for the physical as well as physiological performance of the drops. The classification according to average molecular weight was proposed: LMW HA (low molecular weight hyaluronic acid: < 1.5 MDa), MMW HA (medium molecular weight hyaluronic acid: 1.5 – 2.3 … Continue reading Hylan A supports the growth of corneal nerves in patients suffering from severe dry eye disease
Category: Blog
Why chain length of hyaluronan in eye drops matters
The chain length of hyaluronan (HA) determines its physical as well as its physiological properties. Results of clinical research on HA eye drops are not comparable without this parameter. In a recent article methods for the assessment of the average molecular weight of HA in eye drops and a terminology for molecular weight ranges are … Continue reading Why chain length of hyaluronan in eye drops matters
Tearfilm oriented dry eye therapy
In 2017 the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) published the results of the second Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS II) in a number of consensus papers on the definition, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of dry eyes. DEWS II defined dry eye as “a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis … Continue reading Tearfilm oriented dry eye therapy
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment
Five decades after its first description by Gass and despite improved technology for retinal imaging and therapeutic options such as the injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, AMD is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment. As the population continues to age, the number of patients with neovascular AMD are projected to rise. … Continue reading Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment
Glaucoma: current status of neuroprotective strategies
The retina is processing the optical image of our environment within the eye. Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are the output cells which transport through their axons the results of the image processing from the retina to the brain. These cells are not able to regenerate after optic nerve injury, resulting in permanent visual loss. In … Continue reading Glaucoma: current status of neuroprotective strategies
Corneal nerves in health and disease
The corneal surface is the body’s most densely innervated tissue. Nevertheless, until recently the ocular innervation has not taken too much attention, because most sight-threatening diseases like glaucoma, cataract or retinal pathologies occur and progress without pain. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Socienty (TFOS) has established a working group on ocular surface pain and … Continue reading Corneal nerves in health and disease
Antibiotic resistance among ocular microorganisms
Ideally, in any ocular infection, identification of the causative microorganisms and determination of their antibiotic resistance should precede initiation of antibiotic therapy. However, in practice bacterial cultures are only performed for vision-threatening ocular infections, whereas, cultures are rarely performed for routine infections. Penny Asbell and colleagues recently published the antibiotics resistance of 6091 isolates received … Continue reading Antibiotic resistance among ocular microorganisms
Hyaluronan supports wound healing in diabetes
The application of high molecular weight hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) eye drops is likely to be indicated before and after any ocular surgery in diabetic patients. In 2011 Galeano et al. reported that the skin of diabetic mice contains one third less hyaluronan than that of non-diabetic mice of the same race (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443911000676?via%3Dihub). It was known … Continue reading Hyaluronan supports wound healing in diabetes
Dr. Mueller-Lierheim 