Impact of Diabetic Retinopathy on Sleep, Mood, and Quality of Life.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with retinal neuronal and vascular damage. DR has previously been shown to affect the photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs). PRGCs are essential for the entrainment of circadian rhythms; thus, DR progression could lead to worsening sleep quality and mood.

Pharmacokinetics of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs in vitrectomized versus non-vitrectomized eyes.

The review aims to discuss effects of vitrectomy on pharmacokinetics of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, and attempt to provide treatment guidance. Areas covered: An Embase search was conducted using the terms 'anti-VEGF', 'pegaptanib', 'ranibizumab', 'bevacizumab', 'aflibercept', 'pharmacokinetics', 'half-life', 'clearance', 'metabolism', 'vitrectomy', 'vitrectomized'. Published data regarding the pharmacokinetic properties of the above drugs and the effect of vitrectomy in animal and human eyes was reviewed.

Comparing Macular Thickness Measurements in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema with the Optos Spectral OCT/SLO and Heidelberg Spectralis HRA + OCT.

The aim of this study was to compare measurements of macular thickness, obtained from patients with diabetic macular edema, using two spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) devices. These were the Spectralis Heidelberg Retina Angiograph + Optical Coherence Tomography (HRA + OCT) (Heidelberg Engineering), which is often considered the gold-standard for OCT measurement, and the Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography/Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (OCT/SLO) (Optos plc), which can additionally perform microperimetry, a useful measure of visual function. In this prospective observational study, each eye had SD-OCT performed with both devices on the same day by the same investigator.

Factors affecting reading speed in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with laser photocoagulation.

Purpose: To study the factors that may affect reading speed in patients with diabetic macular edema previously treated with laser photocoagulation.

Methods: Consecutive patients with type II diabetes treated with laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema (DME) at least twelve months previously, with best corrected visual acuity of better than 65 letters (approximately 20/40) measured with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts were included in this study. Patients previously treated with pan-retinal photocoagulation, vitrectomy, intravitreal steroid or anti-VEGF therapy were excluded.

Optimization of in vivo confocal autofluorescence imaging of the ocular fundus in mice and its application to models of human retinal degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and to identify sources of experimental variability of quantitative and qualitative fundus autofluorescence (AF) assessment in mice.

Methods: Blue (488 nm) and near-infrared (790 nm) fundus AF imaging was performed in various mouse strains and disease models (129S2, C57Bl/6, Abca4(-/-), C3H-Pde6b(rd1/rd1), Rho(-/-), and BALB/c mice) using a commercially available scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Gray-level analysis was used to explore factors influencing fundus AF measurements.

Systemic complement activation in age-related macular degeneration.

Dysregulation of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement cascade has been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. To further test the hypothesis that defective control of complement activation underlies AMD, parameters of complement activation in blood plasma were determined together with disease-associated genetic markers in AMD patients. Plasma concentrations of activation products C3d, Ba, C3a, C5a, SC5b-9, substrate proteins C3, C4, factor B and regulators factor H and factor D were quantified in patients (n = 112) and controls (n = 67).

Estimation of systemic complement C3 activity in age-related macular degeneration.

Objectives: To determine the role of systemic complement activation in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration and to examine whether serum C3a des Arg reflects systemic complement activation, independent of individual complement component levels.

Methods: Plasma complement C3a des Arg levels and a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 402 of the complement factor H gene (CFH) were determined in 3 groups of subjects: 42 subjects with early age-related maculopathy, 42 subjects with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration, and a control group of 38 subjects with no clinical evidence of age-related changes at the macula.

Results: The median (range) of plasma complement C3a des Arg levels in the age-related maculopathy and neovascular age-related macular degeneration groups were 52.

Serum elastin-derived peptides in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Elastin is a fibrous protein constituent of the ECM, degradation of which may be detected by the presence of serum elastin-derived peptides (S-EDPs) in circulation. This study was undertaken to estimate levels of S-EDPs in patients with AMD compared with age-matched control subjects.