Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha for retinal diseases: current knowledge and future concepts.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by macrophages and T-cells. It plays an important role both in inflammation and apoptosis. In the eye, TNF-α appears to have a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory, edematous, neovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.

MFGE8 does not influence chorio-retinal homeostasis or choroidal neovascularization in vivo.

Purpose: Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor VIII (MFGE8) is necessary for diurnal outer segment phagocytosis and promotes VEGF-dependent neovascularization. The prevalence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in MFGE8 was studied in two exsudative or "wet" Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) groups and two corresponding control groups. We studied the effect of MFGE8 deficiency on retinal homeostasis with age and on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice.

[Practical significance of critical fusion frequency (CFF). Chronological resolution of the visual system in differential diagnosis].

The value of measuring the critical fusion frequency (CFF) as part of ophthalmological diagnostics is examined. The relevant literature on changes of the CFF concomitant with refraction errors, media opacity, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and various other opticopathies is discussed regarding the relevance of CFF for the differential diagnosis. Various methods and instruments for measuring the CFF are presented.