Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Life Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editor
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A Special Issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729) belonging to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2027 | Viewed by 4956

Share This Special Issue

Editor

Dr. Jeong-Min Hwang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Ophthalmology, Strabismus & Pediatric Ophthalmology Center, Kim's Eye Hospital, 136, Yeongsin-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07301, Republic of Korea
Interests: strabismus; pediatric ophthalmology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

“Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions” is a specialized scientific domain focused on understanding the biological, molecular, genetic, and physiological mechanisms underlying ocular and visual system disorders. The aim is to advance knowledge that supports the development of effective diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and clinical interventions for a broad spectrum of eye conditions—from common refractive errors and cataracts to complex neuro-ophthalmological and retinal diseases.

The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Pathophysiological mechanisms of eye diseases;
Innovative therapeutic approaches, including pharmacological treatments, gene and cell-based therapies, and surgical techniques;
Translational and clinical research bridging laboratory discoveries with patient care;
Advances in imaging and diagnostic technologies;
Neuro-visual integration and visual processing disorders.

This field brings together researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals across ophthalmology, neuroscience, optometry, pharmacology, and biomedical engineering, with the shared goal of preserving and restoring vision.

Dr. Jeong-Min Hwang
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

mechanism
treatment
eye
vision

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

12 pages, 456 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Early Real-World Experience of Switching to Faricimab for Macular Oedema Secondary to Vein Occlusion

by Muiz Musadiq, Emer Chang, Abison Logeswaran, Matthew Azzopardi, Mohammed Musadiq and Yu Jeat Chong

Life 2026, 16(7), 1183; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16071183 - 16 Jul 2026

Viewed by 479

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the real-world effectiveness, durability, and safety of faricimab 6 mg in eyes with treatment-refractory retinal vein occlusion (RVO)-associated macular oedema (MO) in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods: This was a retrospective, single-centre observational study of eyes with RVO that were switched to faricimab after prior treatment with previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. Baseline demographics, treatment history, pinhole visual acuity (VA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers, and injection intervals were recorded. Eyes were treated using a treat-and-extend regimen without a loading phase. Functional, anatomical, durability, and safety outcomes were assessed over follow-up. Results: A total of 22 eyes from 22 patients were included, with a mean (SD) age of 67.9 (11.9) years and a mean (SD) RVO duration of 201.4 (153.1) weeks. Eyes had received a mean (SD) of 20.8 (16.9) prior anti-VEGF injections. The mean (SD) follow-up was 45.7 (15.8) weeks, with a mean (SD) of 5.9 (2.3) faricimab injections. There was no significant change in pinhole VA (53.5 (18.5) vs. 55.0 (18.8) letters, p = 0.08). The central subfield thickness (CST) reduced from 407.6 (102.1) to 377.0 (186.5) µm, and the maximum central retinal thickness from 483.6 (103.1) to 442.2 (187.2) µm, although these changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The proportion of eyes with subretinal fluid (SRF) decreased from 18.2% to 4.5%, and intraretinal fluid (IRF) from 100% to 81.8%. Injection intervals between the first and second faricimab injections increased significantly from 4.9 (1.4) to 7.7 (3.4) weeks (final injection interval, p = 0.004). Six eyes (27.3%) discontinued faricimab, with three (13.6%) requiring an intravitreal dexamethasone implant following a suboptimal response. One eye (4.5%) developed transient intraocular pressure elevation; no cases of intraocular inflammation or endophthalmitis were observed. Conclusions: In this heavily pre-treated, chronic RVO cohort, switching to faricimab without a loading phase resulted in stable visual acuity, modest but non-significant anatomical improvements, and a significant extension in treatment intervals. These findings suggest that faricimab may provide durability benefits and disease stabilisation in treatment-refractory RVO, although functional gains may be limited in chronic disease. Further prospective studies are required to define optimal switching strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2246 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Preoperative Refractive Status and Postoperative Outcomes Following Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy

by Jiunn-Liang Chen and Kai-Ling Peng

Life 2026, 16(6), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16060997 - 13 Jun 2026

Viewed by 393

Abstract

Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) offers superior re-epithelialization and visual recovery. This study evaluates the impact of preoperative refractive status on clinical outcomes and identifies prognostic factors across varying myopic severities. This retrospective observational study included 125 eyes [64 patients; age > 20 years; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥ 20/25] that underwent Trans-PRK between March and December 2022. Patients were stratified into low myopia (LM: > −5.0 D), moderate-to-high myopia (MHM: −5.0 D to −8.0 D), and extremely high myopia (EHM: ≤ −8.0 D) groups. Analysis focused on preoperative refraction, intraoperative parameters, postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and corneal conditions of superficial punctate keratitis (SPKs) and haze. The mean age was 30.20 ± 6.34 years, with a mean initial manifest sphere (MS) of −6.42 ± 2.27 diopter (D) overall and −3.73 ± 0.15 D, −6.28 ± 0.13 D, and −9.17 ± 0.15 D in the LM, MHM, and EHM groups, respectively. At a mean follow-up of 6.69 ± 3.73 months, the overall mean final manifest spherical equivalent (MSE) was −0.12 ± 0.73 D, and the mean final UCVA was 0.01 [Snellen equivalent (SE), 205/200] ± 0.08 logMAR. Predictability was 94.4%, 88.88%, and 94.3% for the final MS ≤ −1.0 D, final MSE ≤ −1.0 D, and UCVA 0.8, respectively. In the LM and MHM groups, cycloplegic and subjective refractions showed the highest concordance with emmetropia, whereas initial manifest refractions were most accurate for the EHM group. Corneal SPK incidence declined from 32.2% (1 month) to 1.6% (6 months), primarily localized to EHM eyes. Corneal haze peaked at 28.2% at three months before receding to 9.4% by 6 months. Refractive and visual stability were achieved by the third month for the LM and MHM groups, whereas the EHM group (mean MSE: −9.59 ± 0.15 D) required six months to reach both refractive and visual plateaus. Despite transiently higher rates of corneal SPKs and haze in EHM eyes, final visual outcomes remained excellent, achieving a mean UCVA of 18/20. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2188 KB

Open AccessArticle

Myopic Progression Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic in Korean Children with Myopia Using 0.01% Atropine Eyedrops

by Dong Hyun Kim, Jihae Park, Jeong-Min Hwang and Hee Kyung Yang

Life 2026, 16(3), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030407 - 3 Mar 2026

Viewed by 848

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on myopic progression defined in terms of refractive change and axial length elongation in Korean children with myopia using 0.01% atropine eye drops. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on the medical records of 73 children aged 4 to 15 years with a baseline myopia of −0.50 diopters (D) or more who had used 0.01% atropine eye drops for more than 12 months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. The rate of myopic progression was compared between two periods: the pre- and post-pandemic eras, the latter of which was defined by the initiation of remote schooling in March 2020. At each visit, cycloplegic autorefraction and axial length were measured using a Zeiss IOL Master. Patients answered a questionnaire regarding their time spent on near work (computer, smartphone, reading, homework, after-school workbooks, drawing, etc.) and outdoors. Results: During the pandemic, in terms of refraction, myopia progressed at an average rate of −0.45 D/y, which was significantly faster than before the pandemic of −0.22D/y (p = 0.037). In contrast, axial length elongation was 0.22 mm/y and 0.19 mm/y before and after the pandemic, respectively, which was not significantly different (p = 0.546). Time spent on using computers, smartphones, and other near work significantly increased, while outdoor time had significantly decreased after the pandemic (paired t-test, all p < 0.001). The change in annual refractive myopic progression rate during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period did not significantly correlate with changes in computer time, smartphone time, or other near work time (p = 0.134, 0.210, 0.863, respectively). However, the change in outdoor time showed a negative correlation with the change in annual myopic progression rate (r = −0.239, p = 0.041). Conclusions: Among Korean children aged 4 to 15 years receiving 0.01% atropine, the rate of myopic progression increased significantly in terms of refraction during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period, whereas axial length progression did not change significantly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 695 KB

Open AccessArticle

Altered Ocular Surface Temperature in Congenital Aniridia with PAX6 Pathogenic Variants: Impact of Age, Salzmann Nodules and Ocular Surgery

by Orsolya Németh, Annamária Náray, Mária Csidey, Klaudia Kéki-Kovács, Krisztina Knézy, Mária Bausz, Andrea Szigeti, Anita Csorba, Kitti Kormányos, Ditta Zobor, Zoltán Zsolt Nagy, Marta Cortón, Eszter Jávorszky, Kálmán Tory, Erika Maka, Timo Eppig, Achim Langenbucher and Nóra Szentmáry

Life 2026, 16(2), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020238 - 2 Feb 2026

Viewed by 959

Abstract

PAX6 haploinsufficiency-related congenital aniridia is frequently associated with ocular surface disease, including meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), dry eye, limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK), and inflammation. This study measured ocular surface temperature (OST) at the corneal center and four paracentral points (2 mm from center) in patients with congenital aniridia and examined factors influencing OST. Forty-five eyes from 26 aniridia patients (55.6% female; 26.29 ± 17.78 years) with PAX6 pathogenic variants and 47 eyes from 25 controls (68.1% female; 24.81 ± 4.73 years; p = 0.1639) were included. Body temperature, OSDI, and OST (TG-1000) were recorded; clinical assessment evaluated MGD, LSCD, AAK, iris malformation, epithelial defects, Salzmann nodules, glaucoma and previous ocular surgery. Body temperature and OSDI did not differ in aniridia and controls (p ≥ 0.606). LSCD was mainly Grade 2 (46.7%) or Grade 4 (40.0%), and AAK Grade 1 (33.3%) or Grade 2 (31.1%). MGD affected 51.1%, Salzmann nodules 22.2%, epithelial defects 2.2%, glaucoma 60.0%, and previous ocular surgery 35.5%. Superior OST was higher in aniridia (34.98 ± 0.55 °C vs. 34.75 ± 0.47 °C; p = 0.012). Exploratory univariate analyses identified that higher AAK grade correlated with lower inferior OST (p = 0.030), iris malformation with reduced central/paracentral OST (p ≤ 0.029), and Salzmann nodules with lower OST overall (p ≤ 0.011). However, in a multivariate model, age, Salzmann nodular degeneration, and prior ocular surgery emerged as key determinants of OST. OST may serve as a noninvasive biomarker in congenital aniridia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

18 pages, 799 KB

Open AccessReview

Beyond Screen Time: A Measurement Framework for Behavioral Exposures in Childhood Myopia

by Jeong Jun Park, Gwi Eun Yeo, Youra Kim and Joonhyung Kim

Life 2026, 16(7), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16071178 - 16 Jul 2026

Viewed by 545

Abstract

Childhood myopia is increasingly discussed in relation to digital device use, yet total screen duration is biologically nonspecific (not tied to a single biological cause) and may combine outdoor-light deficit, near work intensity, educational routines, and sleep/circadian timing. This critical narrative review used structured database searches to support transparent source identification, not systematic completeness, quantitative pooling, or formal risk-of-bias grading. We narratively appraised evidence by design, exposure specificity, outcome specificity, temporality, and clinical directness, then derived a measurement framework. Outdoor light exposure has the strongest support for preventing incident myopia. Near work and the visual demands of schooling are important, but they are measured in inconsistent ways. Sleep and circadian timing remain biologically plausible, albeit lower-certainty modifiers. Digital device metrics are best interpreted as contextual measurement markers that can recover timing, bout structure, task context, substitution, and adherence, rather than as standalone causal surrogates (stand-ins for a true cause). The proposed framework prioritizes direct measurement of outdoor light, near work intensity, sleep/circadian timing, and axial-growth outcomes, using device-related behavior only when it clarifies daily exposure patterns. This is a narrative review of previously described behavioral factors; it does not identify new risk factors or propose a novel causal model. For measurement, it groups these behaviors by how they occur together across a single day and separates substitution, mediation, interaction, and temporal clustering as distinct estimands (the specific quantities to be estimated). Its purpose is to improve exposure measurement and hypothesis testing, not to establish digital device use, sleep timing, or clustered routines as independent causal risk factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

34 pages, 584 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Interventions for Visual Field Loss After Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

by Naiara Díaz-Marín, Carmen López-de-la-Fuente, Yolanda Marcén, Jorge Pérez-Rey, Carmen Bilbao and María José López-de-la-Fuente

Life 2026, 16(8), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16081275 - 31 Jul 2026

Viewed by 434

Abstract

Acquired brain injury (ABI) frequently results in visual field loss, a disabling condition that negatively affects visual exploration, reading, mobility, activities of daily living, and quality of life. This systematic review aimed to synthesise current evidence on the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for visual field loss following ABI. The review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD420261359820). Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest) were searched for studies published between January 2015 and May 2026. Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria, including randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and case series. Interventions were classified as compensatory, substitutive, or restorative, the latter including neuromodulation techniques. Compensatory interventions provided the most consistent evidence of benefit, improving visual exploration, reading, mobility, activities of daily living, and vision-related quality of life. Restorative interventions produced more variable findings, with some studies reporting improvements in visual field sensitivity and stimulus detection, whereas evidence for substitutive approaches was limited because few eligible studies were identified. Overall, functional improvements were reported more consistently than objective visual field expansion. Current evidence supports visual rehabilitation as an important component of ABI management, although further high-quality research using standardised protocols and outcome measures is needed to establish the most effective interventions for different patient populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Mechanisms and Treatment of Eye and Vision Conditions

Share This Special Issue

Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

Research

Review

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI