An Ophthalmic Rating Scale to Assess Ocular Involvement in Juvenile CLN3 Disease.

Purpose: Juvenile CLN3 disease, the most prevalent form of Batten disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting from mutations in the CLN3 gene. The objective of this study was to design an ophthalmic rating scale for CLN3 disease in order to quantify disease progression.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Retinal hyperreflective foci in Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked inherited storage disorder caused by deficiency of lysosomal alpha-Galactosidase A. Here we describe new retinal findings in patients with FD assessed by Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and their possible clinical relevance.

Methods: 54 eyes of 27 FD patients and 54 eyes of 27 control subjects were included.

Predicting Surgical Success in Patients with Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Using the Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Segmentation Module for Single Retinal Layer Analysis.

Introduction: Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a proliferation of cells formed on the internal surface of the retina and may cause a slow decrease in visual acuity (VA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the individual layers of the retina by optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and after vitrectomy with ERM peeling in order to refine surgical decision-making.

Methods: Forty-seven eyes of 45 patients (aged 55-87 years) with ERM were enrolled retrospectively from a tertiary referral center.

Refractive predictability in eyes with intraocular gas tamponade - results of a prospective controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: To determine the postoperative refractive error in eyes with intraocular gas tamponade in combined phacovitrectomy using a Z-haptic intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: This prospective non-randomized case-control study compared patients with combined phacovitrectomy with or without intraocular gas tamponade to cataract surgery-only. The main outcome measure was the IOL power prediction error (PE).

Retinal toxicity after cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with germ cell cancer.

Purpose: Visual impairment represents an infrequent form of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity; however, visual deterioration has been reported in several studies. To evaluate potential morphological and functional retinal alterations in patients with germ cell cancer (GCC) treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CBC).

Methods: Multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional study design.

The German ROP Registry: data from 90 infants treated for retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: The German retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) Registry collects data on treated ROP in a multicentre approach to analyse epidemiology and treatment patterns of severe ROP.

Methods: Nine centres entered data from 90 treated ROP infants (born between January 2011 and December 2013) into a central database. Analysis included incidence rate of severe ROP, demographic data, stage of ROP, treatment patterns, recurrence rates, relevant comorbidities and ophthalmological or systemic complications associated with treatment.

Visual recovery after retinal detachment with macula-off: is surgery within the first 72 h better than after?

Aims: To investigate the influence of lag time between the onset of central visual acuity loss and surgical intervention of macula-off retinal detachment.

Methods: This retrospective case series examined all consecutively treated eyes with primary macula-off retinal detachment at the University Hospital Hamburg (Germany) from February 2010 to February 2015. Records of 1727 patients operated by six surgeons were reviewed.

A Case of a Bilateral Cicatricial Upper Eyelid Entropion After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I.

Minor eyelid abnormalities are commonly encountered in mucopolysaccharidosis, but only rarely leading to a clinically relevant situation. The authors report a clinical case of severe bilateral cicatricial entropion of the upper eyelids, leading to recurrent conjunctival infections, corneal erosion, persistent epiphora, and a major decline in life quality in a 7-year-old boy with mucopolysaccharidosis type I who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at 1.6 years old.

Postoperative refractive error after phacovitrectomy for epiretinal membrane with and without macular oedema.

Purpose: This study was initiated to investigate whether the presence of macular oedema influenced intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in eyes with epiretinal membrane.

Methods: The files of patients undergoing combined phacoemulsification were retrospectively reviewed. Two groups were defined according to presence of macular oedema.

Ocular ultrasound as an easy applicable tool for detection of Terson's syndrome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Introduction: Intraocular hemorrhage in patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is known as Terson's syndrome and is an underestimated but common pathology. We therefore designed a prospective single-blinded study to evaluate the validity of ocular ultrasound compared to the gold standard indirect funduscopy in the diagnosis of Terson's syndrome.

Material And Methods: Fifty-two patients (104 eyes in total) suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were enrolled in this study.

Neural stem cell-based intraocular administration of ciliary neurotrophic factor attenuates the loss of axotomized ganglion cells in adult mice.

Purpose: To analyze the neuroprotective effect of intravitreally grafted neural stem (NS) cells genetically modified to secrete ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on intraorbitally lesioned retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in adult mice.

Methods: Adherently cultivated NS cells were genetically modified to express a secretable variant of mouse CNTF together with the fluorescent reporter protein Venus. Clonal CNTF-secreting NS cell lines were established using fluorescence activated cell sorting, and intravitreally grafted into adult mice 1 day after an intraorbital crush of the optic nerve.

Terson syndrome in subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury.

This prospective trial was designed to evaluate the incidence of Terson syndrome in patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or traumatic brain injury and whether consequences necessarily derive from the intraocular hemorrhage itself. Two ophthalmologic examinations were performed to identify patients with Terson syndrome. Data on initial Glasgow Coma Scale, Hunt and Hess and Fisher grades, aneurysm site and diameter, and volume of hemorrhage in intracerebral hemorrhage patients were correlated to the location and course of Terson syndrome.

Dose-response-relationship between number of laser burns and IOP reduction in cyclophotocoagulation: an animal study.

Purpose: The relationship between number of laser burns of cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction is unknown. This animal model was established to reveal a possible dose-response-relationship between the number of applied laser burns and the IOP lowering effect.

Methods: 30 chinchilla bastard rabbits were divided into 5 groups and treated with either 1, 5, 10, 20, or 30 CPC burns, respectively.

Vascular dysfunction in ocular blood flow regulation: impact of reactive oxygen species in an experimental setup.

Purpose: Glaucoma is associated with an altered blood flow and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reactive oxygen species can have opposing influences on the tone of a vessel; depending on the condition and type of the vessel, ROS can induce vasodilation or vasoconstriction. In the present study, we investigated the impact of ROS on the tone of rat ophthalmic arteries under various conditions and present data on the underlying mechanisms.

Terson's syndrome--rate and surgical approach in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective interdisciplinary study.

Objectives: To analyze the need for surgical intervention in Terson's syndrome (TS) and the rate of TS, as well as the effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, complications, correlations between TS and sex, and the influence of the severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) expressed by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and Hunt and Hess grade on the occurrence of TS.

Design: Prospective, uncontrolled, interdisciplinary study.

Participants: A total of 102 patients with SAH over a period of 24 months.

LASIK versus photorefractive keratectomy for high myopic (> 3 diopter) astigmatism.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy, safety, predictability, and vector analysis indices of LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correction of high cylinder of greater than 3 diopters (D) in myopic eyes.

Methods: The efficacy, safety, and predictability of LASIK or PRK performed in 114 consecutive randomly selected myopic eyes with an astigmatism of greater than 3 D were retrospectively analyzed at the 2- to 6-month follow-up visits. Vector analysis of the cylindrical correction was compared between the treatment groups.

The effect of reactive oxygen species on the myogenic tone of rat ophthalmic arteries with and without endothelium.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of various ocular diseases. ROS can induce vasodilation or vasoconstriction depending on the species, the tested vessel bed, and the condition of the vessel. This study investigates the effect of different dosages of ROS on the tone of rat ophthalmic arteries.

Subjective pain, visual recovery and visual quality after LASIK, EpiLASIK (flap off) and APRK - a consecutive, non-randomized study.

Introduction: Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is superior to surface ablation techniques (SAT) such as alcohol photorefractive keratectomy (APRK) or Epi-LASIK (EpiK) in terms of visual recovery and postoperative pain. This study compares subjective symptoms and visual recovery of two different SATs with LASIK.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty seven patients were operated using one of the three techniques.

Progress in the development of vision prostheses.

Degenerative retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration are among the most common causes of blindness worldwide. Electronic visual prostheses represent a potential therapeutic option of increasing importance in otherwise incurably impaired patients. Based on extensive animal experiments, several devices are now being tested in clinical trials.

Radial optic neurotomy in central retinal vein occlusion does not influence ocular hemodynamics.

Purpose: radial optic neurotomy (RON) is used for the treatment of central retinal vein occlusion. Its effects on visual acuity differ substantially between patients. Our study aims to evaluate if RON has an impact on ocular microcirculation and if analysis of ocular microcirculation might serve as a predictor for surgical success.

Long-lasting endotamponades in vitreoretinal surgery.

In modern vitreoretinal surgery, a variety of long-lasting endotamponades is available. These endotamponades differ in physical and chemical properties and their usage is based on certain pathological and surgical considerations. With modern endotamponades the treatment and prognosis for some severe diseases of the posterior segment was improved.

Neuronal activity influences hemodynamics in the paraoptic short posterior ciliary arteries: a comparison between healthy and glaucomatous subjects.

Purpose: Perfusion of the retina adapts to metabolic demand by neurovascular coupling. The present study was an investigation of the presence of neurovascular coupling in the anterior part of the optic nerve in healthy subjects and patients with glaucoma.

Methods: Retrobulbar blood flow velocities were determined by color Doppler imaging (CDI).

Protective effects of nebivolol on oxygen free radical-induced vasoconstrictions in vitro.

Background: Disturbed ocular hemodynamics and vasospasms might be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. On a clinical level there are indications for an optimization of ocular perfusion parameters in hypertensive glaucoma patients by switching a beta-adrenoceptor-antagonist therapy to nebivolol. Aim of the present study is to investigate vasoactive properties of nebivolol on ocular vasculature in vitro.