Diabetic retinopathy and visual impairment in a Norwegian diabetic coast population with a high dietary intake of fish oils. An observational study.

Purpose: To present retinal and visual findings in a Norwegian west coast diabetic population and to elucidate the effect of dietary intake of marine polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: In an eye practice in an archipelago of 314 km², serving a population of about 40 000, we recorded the prevalence of visual impairment and DR in a referred diabetic population. 510 consecutive patients were included, 238 females and 272 males.

Novel quantitative pigmentation phenotyping enhances genetic association, epistasis, and prediction of human eye colour.

Success of genetic association and the prediction of phenotypic traits from DNA are known to depend on the accuracy of phenotype characterization, amongst other parameters. To overcome limitations in the characterization of human iris pigmentation, we introduce a fully automated approach that specifies the areal proportions proposed to represent differing pigmentation types, such as pheomelanin, eumelanin, and non-pigmented areas within the iris. We demonstrate the utility of this approach using high-resolution digital eye imagery and genotype data from 12 selected SNPs from over 3000 European samples of seven populations that are part of the EUREYE study.

Complement factor H genetic variant and age-related macular degeneration: effect size, modifiers and relationship to disease subtype.

Background: Variation in the complement factor H gene (CFH) is associated with risk of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous studies have been case-control studies in populations of European ancestry with little differentiation in AMD subtype, and insufficient power to confirm or refute effect modification by smoking.

Methods: To precisely quantify the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs1061170, 'Y402H') with risk of AMD among studies with differing study designs, participant ancestry and AMD grade and to investigate effect modification by smoking, we report two unpublished genetic association studies (n = 2759) combined with data from 24 published studies (26 studies, 26,494 individuals, including 14,174 cases of AMD) of European ancestry, 10 of which provided individual-level data used to test gene-smoking interaction; and 16 published studies from non-European ancestry.

Evidence of association of APOE with age-related macular degeneration: a pooled analysis of 15 studies.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of incurable visual impairment in high-income countries. Previous studies report inconsistent associations between AMD and apolipoprotein E (APOE), a lipid transport protein involved in low-density cholesterol modulation. Potential interaction between APOE and sex, and smoking status has been reported.

DNA-based eye colour prediction across Europe with the IrisPlex system.

The ability to predict Externally Visible Characteristics (EVCs) from DNA, also referred to as Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP), is an exciting new chapter in forensic genetics holding great promise for tracing unknown individuals who are unidentifiable via standard forensic short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. For the purpose of DNA-based eye colour prediction, we previously developed the IrisPlex system consisting of a multiplex genotyping assay and a prediction model based on genotype and phenotype data from 3804 Dutch Europeans. Recently, we performed a forensic developmental validation study of the highly sensitive IrisPlex assay, which currently represents the only validated tool available for DNA-based prediction of eye colour in forensic applications.

Variations in apolipoprotein E frequency with age in a pooled analysis of a large group of older people.

Variation in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) has been reported to be associated with longevity in humans. The authors assessed the allelic distribution of APOE isoforms ε2, ε3, and ε4 among 10,623 participants from 15 case-control and cohort studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in populations of European ancestry (study dates ranged from 1990 to 2009). The authors included only the 10,623 control subjects from these studies who were classified as having no evidence of AMD, since variation within the APOE gene has previously been associated with AMD.

Visual impairment and quality of life in the older European population, the EUREYE study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in populations 65 year or older from six European countries and describe the association with vision-related quality of life. VI was defined according to WHO as best corrected visual acuity <6/18/log MAR >0,48 (World Health Organization (1992): International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revised ed. Vol 1.

Implantation of scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses in adults.

Purpose: To report the results of transscleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in adults.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 91 eyes of 81 patients who underwent implantation of posterior chamber lenses with transscleral sutures between 1997 and 2006. The mean age of the patients was 62 years (range 19-94 years).

Refraction, axial length and age-related maculopathy.

Purpose: To study the relationship between age-related maculopathy (ARM)/age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and phakic refraction and between ARM/AMD and axial length.

Methods: The study was a point prevalence study that included 663 randomly selected persons aged over 65 years. We measured axial length and refraction.

Refraction, axial length and age-related maculopathy.

Purpose: To study the relationship between age-related maculopathy (ARM)/age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and phakic refraction and between ARM/AMD and axial length.

Methods: The study was a point prevalence study that included 663 randomly selected persons aged over 65 years. We measured axial length and refraction.

[Optic neuritis--diagnosis, treatment and follow up].

A national group of neurologists and ophthalmologists have evaluated guidelines and recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow up of optic neuritis based on clinical experience and a review of relevant literature. Optic neuritis is a common, well characterised condition that appears as an isolated syndrome or as a manifestation of multiple sclerosis. Several other diseases must be considered for a differential diagnosis.

[Age-related macular degeneration].

Age-related macula degeneration is the most common cause of visual disability in the industrialised world. The disease can be diagnosed as a maculopathy in 10-20% of the population over the age of 65. About 25% of these will have degeneration with reduced vision.