Predicting recurrences of macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

Purpose: To determine the predictive factors for recurrent macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) during intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) monotherapy.

Methods: Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed for 65 patients (mean age 66.5 years, 65 eyes) who were diagnosed with macular edema due to BRVO and treated with IVR monotherapy for 12 months at the Medical Retina Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University Hospital between October 2013 and August 2017.

Dynamic changes in choroidal conditions during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

We defined the relationships between initial choroidal conditions and their dynamics and exudative changes during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). One hundred treatment-naïve eyes of 100 patients with PCV treated for 24 months at Keio University Hospital with intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept monotherapy (three injections and PRN thereafter) were retrospectively analyzed. Wet macula risk after three induction injections, which affected visual prognosis, was predicted by initial pachyvessels in the choroid (foveal greatest vertical choroidal vessel diameter [CVD] ≥180 μm) and pachychoroid (central choroidal thickness [CCT] ≥220 μm) recorded by optical coherence tomography.

QD laser eyewear as a visual field aid in a visual field defect model.

Visual field defects interfere with free actions and influence the quality of life of patients with retinitis pigmentosa; the prevalence of this disease is increasing in aging societies. Patients with progressive disease may require visual aids; however, no such devices are currently available. We utilized a retinal projection eyewear system, QD laser eyewear, which includes a projector inside the spectacle frame, to draw the image taken by a connected portable camera with a wide field lens.

Benefits of aflibercept treatment for age-related macular degeneration patients with good best-corrected visual acuity at baseline.

Currently, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is treated while patients exhibit good best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). However, previous clinical trials only include patients with poor BCVA. We prospectively analyzed the benefits of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) treatment for AMD patients exhibiting good BCVA at baseline.

Predictive factors of better outcomes by monotherapy of an antivascular endothelial growth factor drug, ranibizumab, for diabetic macular edema in clinical practice.

Intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) has been approved for treating diabetic macular edema (DME), and is used in daily clinical practice. However, the treatment efficacies of IVR monotherapy in real-world clinical settings are not well known.The medical records of 56 eyes from 38 patients who received their first IVR for DME between April 2014 and March 2015, and were retreated with IVR monotherapy as needed with no rescue treatment, such as laser photocoagulation, were retrospectively reviewed.

Lutein acts via multiple antioxidant pathways in the photo-stressed retina.

Lutein slows the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in ageing societies. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we evaluated lutein's effects on light-induced AMD-related pathological events.

Non-responsiveness to intravitreal aflibercept treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: implications of serous pigment epithelial detachment.

The prognosis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been improved by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments, including intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) treatment. However, many patients remain incurable. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated non-responsiveness to IVA monotherapy at 12 months in 133 eyes of 133 AMD patients.

Neuroprotective effect of activated 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase on cone system function during retinal inflammation.

Background: Retinal inflammation can cause retinal neural disorders. In particular, functional disorder in the cone photoreceptor system influences visual acuity. However, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood.

Distinct Responsiveness to Intravitreal Ranibizumab Therapy in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy With Single or Multiple Polyps.

Purpose: To understand the prognosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by evaluating the responsiveness to intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) monotherapy according to the presence of a single or multiple polyps.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: We included 48 treatment-naïve eyes of 48 patients who received IVR monotherapy at the Medical Retina Division Clinic, Keio University Hospital between March 2009 and January 2013 and attended the clinic for at least 12 months.

The Neuroprotective Effect of Rapamycin as a Modulator of the mTOR-NF-κB Axis during Retinal Inflammation.

Purpose: The determination of the molecular mechanism underlying retinal pathogenesis and visual dysfunction during innate inflammation, and the treatment effect of rapamycin thereon.

Methods: The endotoxin-induced uveitis and retinitis mouse model was established by injecting lipopolysaccharide. The mice were subsequently treated with rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor.

Wickerhamomyces anomalus fungal keratitis responds to topical treatment with antifungal micafungin.

We describe a 91-year-old woman who suffered from fungal keratitis after corneal transplantation. The causative organism was identified as Wickerhamomyces anomalus (formerly Pichia anomala or Hansenula anomala) on the basis of morphological characteristics and the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene. The patient was successfully treated with topical micafungin (MCFG) only.

AMPK-NF-κB axis in the photoreceptor disorder during retinal inflammation.

Recent progress in molecular analysis has revealed the possible involvement of multiple inflammatory signaling pathways in pathogenesis of retinal degeneration. However, how aberrant signaling pathways cause tissue damage and dysfunction is still being elucidated. Here, we focus on 5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), originally recognized as a key regulator of energy homeostasis.

Decreased proteasomal activity causes photoreceptor degeneration in mice.

Purpose: To study the retinal degeneration caused by decreased proteasomal activity in β5t transgenic (β5t-Tg) mice, an animal model of senescence acceleration.

Methods: β5t-Tg mice and age-matched littermate control (WT) mice were used. Proteasomal activities and protein level of poly-ubiquitinated protein in retinal extracts were quantified.

Neuroprotective effects of lutein in the retina.

Although a large variety of pharmaceutical therapies for treating disease have been developed in recent years, there has been little progress in disease prevention. In particular, the protection of neural tissue is essential, because it is hardly regenerated. The use of nutraceuticals for maintaining the health has been supported by several clinical studies, including cross-sectional and interventional studies for age-related macular disease.