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Life
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Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
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Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3917

Editor

Dr. Joanna Dolar-Szczasny

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of General and Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: retinal diseases; macular diseases; age-related macular degeneration (AMD); intravitreal injections; retinal surgery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vision is one of our most vital senses, yet ocular diseases continue to threaten sight and quality of life for millions of people worldwide. The growing prevalence of retinal degenerations, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and corneal disorders highlights the urgent need for innovative strategies to improve early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. While remarkable progress has been made in surgical techniques, imaging, and pharmacotherapy, many unanswered questions remain, and new approaches are needed to address unmet clinical challenges.

This Special Issue of Life, entitled “Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies”, invites researchers, clinicians, and innovators to contribute their latest work to advance our understanding of eye disease and push the boundaries of current practice. We welcome submissions across a wide range of topics, including the following:

  • Cellular and molecular mechanisms driving ocular pathology;
  • Novel diagnostic biomarkers and next-generation imaging technologies;
  • Gene- and cell-based therapies, pharmacological interventions, and drug delivery innovations;
  • Advances in surgical procedures, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering;
  • Personalized and precision approaches to patient care in ophthalmology.

Our goal is to create a vibrant forum where cutting-edge discoveries and translational insights converge, offering fresh perspectives that will shape the future of ocular health. By sharing your work in this Special Issue, you will join a community dedicated to advancing vision science and improving outcomes for patients worldwide.

We warmly encourage you to submit your latest findings and be part of this important endeavor.

Dr. Joanna Dolar-Szczasny
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • molecular mechanisms of eye disease
  • oxidative stress and inflammation
  • neurodegeneration in vision
  • ocular biomarkers
  • pharmacological therapies
  • gene therapy
  • stem cell and regenerative approaches
  • precision/personalized ophthalmology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 731 KB  
Article
Impact of Preoperative Ocular Hypotony on Refractive Predictability After Phacovitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
by Ayana Kurobe, Kairat Ruslanuly, Sugao Miyagi, Fumito Akiyama, Akira Machida, Masafumi Uematsu, Akbala Dautaliyeva and Akio Oishi
Life 2026, 16(6), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16061009 - 16 Jun 2026
Viewed by 232
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is a vision-threatening condition often treated with combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy, but accurate postoperative refractive prediction may be difficult when ocular anatomy is altered by preoperative hypotony. This retrospective comparative study evaluated the effect of preoperative ocular [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is a vision-threatening condition often treated with combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy, but accurate postoperative refractive prediction may be difficult when ocular anatomy is altered by preoperative hypotony. This retrospective comparative study evaluated the effect of preoperative ocular hypotony on refractive predictability and visual outcomes after combined phacovitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Materials and Methods: Electronic medical records from Nagasaki University Hospital from 2010 to 2022 were reviewed. Among 731 eyes that underwent combined phacovitrectomy with sulfur hexafluoride gas tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, 17 eyes with preoperative ocular hypotony (intraocular pressure ≤ 7 mmHg) that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Thirty-four eyes with normal intraocular pressure were selected as controls in a 1:2 ratio. Refractive outcomes were assessed through spherical equivalent and mean absolute error, and visual outcomes were evaluated through best-corrected visual acuity at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Mean absolute error was significantly higher in eyes with hypotony than in normotonic eyes (1.46 ± 0.95 diopters vs. 0.70 ± 0.81 diopters; p = 0.002; mean difference, 0.76 D; 95% CI, 0.21–1.31; Hedges’ g = 0.87). Target postoperative refraction within ±0.5 diopters was achieved in 23.5% of hypotonic eyes and 50.0% of normotonic eyes (p = 0.07), the corresponding proportions within ±1.0 D were 35.3% and 76.5%, respectively (p = 0.006). Best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in both groups, but final visual acuity at 6 months was worse in hypotonic eyes (0.35 ± 0.31 vs. 0.09 ± 0.17 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Preoperative ocular hypotony in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was associated with greater refractive prediction error and worse visual outcomes after phacovitrectomy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies)
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13 pages, 440 KB  
Article
Postoperative Pain and Functional Limitations After Corneal Cross-Linking for Keratoconus: A Patient-Reported Outcome Study
by Ruta Jaruseviciene, Gintare Kirkickaite and Saulius Galgauskas
Life 2026, 16(4), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040694 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Background: Keratoconus is a progressive corneal condition that leads to visual impairment and is primarily managed with corneal cross-linking (CXL), a procedure designed to halt its progression. However, while the clinical outcomes of CXL are well-documented, its impact on patient well-being, including postoperative [...] Read more.
Background: Keratoconus is a progressive corneal condition that leads to visual impairment and is primarily managed with corneal cross-linking (CXL), a procedure designed to halt its progression. However, while the clinical outcomes of CXL are well-documented, its impact on patient well-being, including postoperative pain and recovery, remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative pain, functional limitations, visual recovery, and patient-reported outcomes following corneal cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus. Methods: A structured survey was conducted among 31 patients who underwent CXL for keratoconus. The survey assessed postoperative pain using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and collected information on visual recovery, functional limitations, and the socioeconomic effects of the procedure. Clinical data, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and keratometry, were also recorded before and after CXL to evaluate the procedure’s efficacy. Results: The study found that postoperative pain was moderate, with a mean pain score of 6.06 ± 1.82, typically lasting 1–3 days. Nearly 54.8% of patients reported significant disruption to daily activities, including missing work or studies, and 77.4% experienced some degree of functional limitation. A statistically significant correlation was observed between postoperative pain intensity and quality-of-life impairment (Spearman’s ρ = 0.503, p = 0.004). Despite these challenges, 93.5% of participants reported improvement in vision, with most recovering within a week. Objective clinical data supported the effectiveness of the procedure. Conclusions: Corneal cross-linking is associated with favorable clinical outcomes; however, the early postoperative period is characterized by moderate pain and functional limitations, highlighting the importance of patient-centered care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies)
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16 pages, 2432 KB  
Article
The Clinical Significance of the Early Screening of Keratoconus and Its Impact on Maintaining Quality of Life
by Mimoza Ismaili
Life 2026, 16(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010124 - 14 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1276
Abstract
Background: This study focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus in the early stage and aims to identify the environmental and risk factors that contribute to its progression. Methods: This retrospective investigation was carried out at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo [...] Read more.
Background: This study focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus in the early stage and aims to identify the environmental and risk factors that contribute to its progression. Methods: This retrospective investigation was carried out at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) and comprised 131 patients newly diagnosed with keratoconus (KC). All procedures adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki, and the University of Pristina ethics committee approved this study before its initiation (Ref.Nr.104/2023). The confidentiality and anonymity of the surveyed patients were respected. The patients’ data consisted of gender, age, and race. Results: There were significant differences in the K1 distribution between groups, as the normal group (41.4 ± 0.5) was significantly lower than the suspect group (45.0 ± 3.2) and the degree of keratoconus (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in K2 between the groups, as the normal group (44.7 ± 5.1) was significantly lower than the suspect group (47.1 ± 2.8) and the other grades of keratoconus (p < 0.001). There were significant differences between groups regarding Kmax, as the normal group (44.5 ± 3.1) was significantly lower than the suspect group (46.9 ± 1.6) and the other grades of keratoconus (where p < 0.001). Statistically meaningful differences were detected between the groups with respect to subtlety, as the normal group (504.0 ± 27.6) was significantly higher than the suspect group (499.0 ± 48.1) and the other degrees of keratoconus (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Disease progression can significantly affect vision; therefore, early screening enables timely treatment (CXL). The evolution of this technique has contributed to preventing and slowing disease progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies)
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Review

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13 pages, 694 KB  
Review
Nanocarrier-Based Ocular Drug Delivery Systems for Retinal Diseases: Therapeutic Potential
by Dominika Skarbek, Alicja Sochocka, Oliwia Sidło, Aleksandra Sapiaszko, Agnieszka Drab, Jacek Baj, Robert Rejdak and Joanna Dolar-Szczasny
Life 2026, 16(5), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16050810 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 672
Abstract
Background: Posterior segment eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are preeminent causes of vision loss worldwide. Effective drug delivery to the retina poses an ongoing therapeutic difficulty due to the presence of the anatomical and physiological barriers. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery [...] Read more.
Background: Posterior segment eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are preeminent causes of vision loss worldwide. Effective drug delivery to the retina poses an ongoing therapeutic difficulty due to the presence of the anatomical and physiological barriers. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems represent a promising strategy to overcome those limitations. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, covering publications published between 2019 and 2026. Publications evaluating nanoparticles for the treatment of the vitreoretinal disorders, including pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies, were analyzed. Results: Nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and lipid-based systems, established improved drug bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery. The analyzed systems facilitate sustained drug release and potentially reduce the prevalence of invasive intravitreal injections. The nanocarriers’ effectiveness is primarily influenced by their physicochemical properties, such as particle size, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. Nonetheless, the production costs and safety aspects, including cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, remain as significant limitations. Conclusions: Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems serve as an auspicious therapeutic approach for posterior segment eye diseases. However, further standardized preclinical and clinical research is required to assure long-term safety and enable successful clinical transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies)
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