Artificial intelligence improves accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of a handheld infrared eccentric autorefractor for adult refractometry.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of a handheld infrared eccentric autorefractor (hICA) with artificial intelligence (AI) by comparing its refraction measurements to those recorded using hICA and a clinical table-mounted automatic refractor (TAR).

Methods: A cross-sectional study using three optometers, including hICA with or without AI and TAR, for refractometry of adults (aged 19-49 years old) with no signs of ocular disease or trauma in the absence of cycloplegia. Right and left eye refraction data were recorded, including the spherical equivalent (SE), diopter of spherical power (DS), diopter of cylindrical power (DC) decomposed into vectors J0 and J45, and measurement times.

Axial length/corneal radius of curvature ratio and refractive development evaluation in 3- to 4-year-old children: the Shanghai Pudong Eye Study.

Aim: To measure and analysis axial length (AL)/corneal radius of curvature (CRC) ratio and other refractive parameters, provide a medical reference range for refractive development evaluation and earlier visual impairment screening of 3 to 4y kindergarten students.

Methods: Between April and June 2017, a total of 4350 participants aged 3- to 4-year-old (8700 eyes) from 10 cluster random sampling kindergartens in Shanghai, Pudong District were involved. According to the measurement and analysis of the unaided visual acuity (VA), AL, CRC, AL/CRC ratio, astigmatism and other refractive parameters, the data distribution and reference range were obtained.

Comparison of the efficacy of anti-VEGF monotherapy versus PDT and intravitreal anti-VEGF combination treatment in AMD: a Meta-analysis and systematic review.

Aim: To compare the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy versus photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anti-VEGF combination treatment in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: A computerized online search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Studies that compared anti-VEGF monotherapy with PDT and anti-VEGF combination treatment of AMD and were designed as randomized controlled trials were included.

Exogenous NAD(+) decreases oxidative stress and protects H2O2-treated RPE cells against necrotic death through the up-regulation of autophagy.

Increased oxidative stress, which can lead to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death by inducing ATP depletion and DNA repair, is believed to be a prominent pathology in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the present study, we showed that and 0.1 mM nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) administration significantly blocked RPE cell death induced by 300 μM H2O2.

Four-port bimanual 23-gauge vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment.

Purpose: Four-port bimanual vitrectomy is a surgical technique that facilitates removal of epiretinal membranes in severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). As the illumination is held by the assistant through the fourth scleral incision, fibrovascular membranes are removed by bimanual manipulation techniques. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of four-port bimanual 23-gauge vitrectomy for patients with tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in severe PDR.

Erythropoietin therapy for early diabetic retinopathy through its protective effects on retinal pericytes.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of acquired blindness among the people at working age. Although remarkable advances have been made in the treatment of the proliferative form of DR, there is still no effective treatment for the most prevalent early form of DR. The exact etiology and molecular pathogenesis of the early DR are not fully understood, but the selective loss of pericytes is believed to play a major role in the pathological process of DR.

Erythropoietin is increased in aqueous humor of glaucomatous eyes.

Purpose: To determine the aqueous concentration of erythropoietin (EPO) in patients with and without glaucoma.

Methods: Prospective, comparative control study. Concentrations of EPO in the aqueous humor were measured using ELISA kits from 75 patients, of whom 55 had glaucoma (14 primary acute angle-closure glaucoma, PAACG; 26 primary chronic angle-closure glaucoma, PCACG; 11 primary open-angle glaucoma, POAG; 4 neovascular glaucoma, NVG), and 20 had cataract only as control.

Elevated erythropoietin in vitreous of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Aim: Our purpose was to determine the vitreous erythropoietin (EPO) level in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Methods: The levels of EPO in vitreous were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit from 64 patients, of whom 40 had RRD, 13 had PVR and 11 had idiopathic macular hole as control.

Results: The mean levels of EPO in the RRD group (54.

Erythropoietin as a novel therapeutic agent for atrophic age-related macular degeneration.

The purpose of this article is to propose a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly population (over 60 years of age) in developed countries. Although recent advances have been made in the treatment of the neovascular form of ARMD, there is still no effective treatment for the most prevalent atrophic form of ARMD. Although the exact etiology and molecular pathogenesis of the atrophic ARMD are not fully understood, it is believed that oxidative stress and local inflammation play a major role in the pathologic processes and that the disease is triggered by dysfunction in the retinal pigment epithelia, leading to the degeneration of macular photoreceptor cells, followed by irreversible loss of vision.