Agreement Analysis on Angle Characteristics With Automated Gonioscopy.

Prcis: Automated gonioscopy is a recent method of recording angle pictures. Our study shows that agreement between observers is moderate in most categories used in clinical practice, underlying its clinical usefulness but also room for improvement.

Introduction: Iridocorneal angle (ICA) imaging methods have been recently developed to record gonioscopic images.

The influence of electromagnetic radiation on the measurement behaviour of the triggerfish® contact lens sensor.

Background: To assess a possible signal drift, noise and influences of electromagnetic radiation on the measurement behaviour of the Triggerfish® contact lens sensor, which might be mistaken as IOP fluctuations.

Methods: Contact lens sensors (Triggerfish®, SENSIMED AG, Lausanne, Switzerland) were fixed in a water bath. To reduce any external electromagnetic impulses, all plugs were removed from the sockets, no lights were switched on and no electronic devices, except a temperature logger were left in the test room.

[Do We Perform Glaucoma Surgery too Late?].

As glaucoma specialists, we often ask ourselves why patients are referred so late for surgery. Usually the patient is referred in a far advanced stage of the disease after long-term conventional treatment with topical medications. By that time, substantial morphologic damage is present and the patient is disabled by far advanced visual field defects.

Measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, Fas ligand, interleukin-1α, and interleukin-1β in the aqueous humor of patients with open angle glaucoma using multiplex bead analysis.

Purpose: Various cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Fas ligand (FasL), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), contribute to the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The present study was set to measure these cytokines in the aqueous humor of patients with POAG and in control subjects using multiplex bead analysis.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with POAG and 29 control subjects were enrolled in this case-control study.

Accuracy of matching optic discs with visual fields: the European Structure and Function Assessment Trial (ESAFAT).

Purpose: To determine the ability of ophthalmologists across Europe to match stereoscopic optic disc photographs to visual fields of varying severity.

Design: Evaluation and comparison of 2 diagnostic tests.

Participants: A total of 109 of 260 invited ophthalmologists in 11 European countries.

Role of interleukin 6-174G>C polymorphism in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: In addition to its proinflammatory effects, interleukin (IL)-6 also possesses antiapoptotic properties. Recently, IL-6 has been reported to protect retinal ganglion cells from pressure-induced apoptosis, indicating a possible role in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). A common polymorphism in the promoter region of IL-6 gene at position -174 characterized by a substitution from G to C has been found to decrease transcription rate of IL-6.

Changes in intraocular lens surface roughness during cataract surgery assessed by atomic force microscopy.

Purpose: To analyze the changes in optic surface roughness before and after injection of various intraocular lens (IOL) models using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Settings: Departments of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, General Hospital Linz and University Hospital Basel; Upper Austria University, School of Applied Health and Social Sciences, Linz, Austria.

Design: Experimental study.

Role of cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase gene polymorphism (rs754203) in primary open angle glaucoma.

Purpose: The enzyme cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase (Cyp46A1) is responsible for the conversion of cholesterol to its more polar metabolite 24S-hydroxycholesterol, thereby enabling the intracerebral elimination of cholesterol. An intronic single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene CYP46A1 (IVS2 -150 T>C; rs754203) has recently been associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). This association, however, lacks confirmation in other studies.

Role of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms of MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 in open angle glaucomas.

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an essential role in the turnover of the extracellular matrix and cellular behavior. MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 have previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and open angle glaucoma secondary to exfoliation syndrome (XFG), respectively. Functional gene polymorphisms of these MMPs such as MMP1 -1607 1G/2G (rs1799750), MMP2 -1306 C/T (rs243865), MMP2 -1575 G/A (rs243866), and MMP9 Q279R (rs17576) are thus plausible candidates as risk factors for open angle glaucomas.

Clinical assessment of stereoscopic optic disc photographs for glaucoma: the European Optic Disc Assessment Trial.

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of judging optic disc photographs for glaucoma by ophthalmologists.

Design: Evaluation of diagnostic test and technology.

Participants: A total of 243 of 875 invited ophthalmologists in 11 European countries.

Positive influence of hyaluronate on cell vitality of human conjunctival cells after alkali injuries.

Background: To analyse the influence of hyaluronate (HA) on the cell vitality of human conjunctival cells after chemical injuries from NaOH or alkali-containing household cleaners.

Methods: Human conjunctival cells (Chang cells) were incubated either with NaOH solutions or dilutions of household cleaners. HA (0.

TNF-alpha -308 G>A and -238 G>A polymorphisms are not major risk factors in Caucasian patients with exfoliation glaucoma.

Purpose: TNF-alpha has been suggested to participate in the pathogenesis of exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). The purpose of the present study was to investigate a hypothesized association between two common functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene (TNF-alpha -308 G>A, rs1800629, and TNF-alpha -238 G>A, rs361525) and the presence of XFG in a Caucasian population.

Methods: The present case-control study comprised 408 participants (204 patients with XFG and 204 control subjects).

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G gene polymorphism and primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: Alterations of the plasmin system have been suggested to participate in the multifactorial pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The main physiological inhibitor of the plasmin system is plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which leads to decreased degradation of extracellular material. Interestingly, elevated PAI-1 levels in the aqueous humor of patients with POAG have been reported.

Determination of uric acid concentrations in human tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum.

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to assess and compare levels of uric acid in human tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum in cataract patients in order to obtain information about uric acid-dependent antioxidative status.

Methods: Reflex tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum were obtained from 103 cataract patients (52 women, 51 men). Uric acid was determined by a reversed phase chromatographic method with electrochemical detection.

Lysyl oxidase-like protein 1 (LOXL1) gene polymorphisms and exfoliation glaucoma in a Central European population.

Purpose: Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is characterized by an accumulation of abnormal extracellular material in the anterior part of the eye that frequently leads to increased intraocular pressure and glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Recently, two non-synonymous polymorphisms (rs1048661 G>T and rs3825942 G>A) of lysyl oxidase-like protein 1 (LOXL1), a monoamine oxidase that catalyzes the polymerization of tropoelastin to elastin, were found to be associated with increased risk for XFS and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of these LOXL1 variants in a Central European cohort of Caucasian patients with XFG.

[Myopia and glaucoma].

The question is whether there is an increased risk to develop glaucoma in co-existing myopia. The different kinds of glaucoma dealing with this problem are described. The highly myopic eye with increased axial length shows many structural changes.

Efficacy of contact lens storage solutions against different acanthamoeba strains.

Purpose: This study was undertaken in order to determine the susceptibility of acanthamoebae to various contact lens disinfecting systems, with respect to type of disinfectant and exposure time.

Methods: Ten contact lens solutions, including one new system, were tested for their effectivities against cysts of three Acanthamoeba strains. Of main interest was an incubation time of 8 hours (overnight disinfection) and cyst quantities of 10 and 10, respectively.

Methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase (MTHFR) 677C>T polymorphism and open angle glaucoma.

Purpose: Increased plasma homocysteine levels have been found in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and glaucoma secondary to pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEXG). A common polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase (MTHFR 677C>T) leads to moderately elevated plasma homocysteine levels particularly under conditions of impaired folate status. It was the aim of this study to investigate a hypothesized association between this polymorphism and the presence of either POAG or PEXG.