Regional Disparities in Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Cataract Surgical Coverage and Ocular Findings in Adults 50 Years and Older in Brazil: A Comparative Analysis between Two Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys Performed Within a 10-Year Interval.

Purpose: To investigate disparities in the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness, cataract surgical coverage, and ocular findings in older adults from two Brazilian geo-socio-demographic areas, São Paulo and Parintins cities.

Methods: Data from two population-based studies including participants 50 years and older from the cities of São Paulo (São Paulo Eye Study - SPES, 2004) and Parintins (Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey - BARES, 2014) were aggregated.

Results: A total of 5318 participants (3677 from SPES;1641 from BARES) were included.

Impact of pterygium on central corneal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography in older adults.

Purpose: To measure the central corneal thickness (CCT) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in older adults with and without pterygium from the Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey (BARES).

Methods: BARES is a population-based epidemiological cross-sectional study conducted in Parintins city. Participants were residents ≥45 years of age identified through a door-to-door interview.

Population-Based Cataract Surgery Complications and Their Impact on Visual Status in the Brazilian Amazon Region.

Purpose: To investigate cataract surgery prevalence, complications, visual outcomes, and coverage in a population of older adults from the Brazilian Amazon region.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Methods: Individuals ≥45 years of age from urban and rural areas of Parintins City, Brazil, were identified by cluster random sampling.

Regulation mechanisms of retinal pigment epithelial cell migration by the TGF-beta superfamily.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of specific receptors, signal transducers and the effect of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) migration and proliferation.

Methods: Human RPE cell line D407 was used in all experiments. The effect of TGF-beta on migration and proliferation were studied using a wound healing model and [3H]-thymidine incorporation, respectively.