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.

[Current Status of Electronic "Continuous" Eye Pressure Measurements].

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is generally measured at individual points and usually only once, but rarely more often, during office hours and with various different instruments. This is probably inadequate for diagnosis, assessment of progression, and therapeutic decision making, since the IOP is not a static measurement, but rather one that is subject to greater or lesser fluctuations over shorter or longer periods. This has prompted the desire for more regular or even continuous measurements.

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.

[Transient visual deterioration by exposure to cold, phacic anterior chamber lens and forme fruste keratoconus. How can this be explained?].

This article reports on a 41-year-old male patient with forme fruste keratoconus and intolerance to contact lenses. An iris-supported intraocular lens was inserted in this eye with initially satisfactory results. During wintertime the patient coached a team of biathletes even in very low temperatures and/or windy conditions and after 2-3 h experienced a deterioration of vision in this eye.

[Validity and reproducibility of sensor contact lens profiles in comparison to applanation tonometry in healthy eyes].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to check the validity of the profiles gained by a sensor contact lens in one eye. We compared these values with measurements done by applanation tonometry in the other eye. The measurements were done in different body postures and head positions.

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.

[Transient myopia].

Although transient myopia is an extremely rare symptom, systemic diseases which can also lead to a life-threatening condition should also be considered in cases of sudden deterioration of vision. Therefore, the initial diagnosis in an ophthalmological clinic or practice plays a decisive role.

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.

[Continuous 24 h monitoring of changes in intraocular pressure with the wireless contact lens sensor Triggerfish™. First results in patients].

Background: For many years researchers have been striving for a non-invasive 24 h continuous method of ambulatory intraocular pressure monitoring. A wireless device with a contact lens sensor is now on the market for clinical use, which is not a quantitative measurement of the intraocular pressure but is at least a recording of qualitative changes. These changes of corneal curvature due to changes of the intraocular pressure result in a distinct profile which gives information about fluctuations of the intraocular pressure, the behaviour during supine sleeping time and the 24 h efficacy of glaucoma therapy.

[Corneal melting in both eyes after simultaneous corneal cross-linking in a patient with keratoconus and Down syndrome].

Corneal cross-linking is one of the options for treatment of progressive keratoconus. Following the published standards regarding indication and treatment schedules, it seems to be a highly safe and effective operation. Only a very few severe complications, such as stromal scarring and bacterial keratitis, have been reported.

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.