[Hughes' operation and combined procedures].

Background: The Hughes procedure is a standard and widely used technique for lower eyelid reconstruction. This paper presents the results of 55 patients who underwent reconstruction of the anterior and posterior lamella with the Hughes procedure at the University eye clinic in Salzburg between 2002 and 2012.

Patients And Methods: This study included 55 patients who underwent lower eyelid reconstruction performed with the Hughes procedure including a full skin graft.

Profiles of intraocular pressure in human donor eyes during femtosecond laser procedures--a comparative study.

Purpose: To compare four different femtosecond laser devices (IntraLase FS, Zeiss VisuMAX, and Ziemer Femto LDV, and a prototype Schwind SmartTech Nanolaser) in human donor eyes with regard to their effects on IOP during femtosecond laser flap cutting. In order to get cuts parallel to the corneal surface, the cornea has to be forced into a defined shape and current femtosecond laser devices either use a flat or a curved patient interface design to achieve applanation.

Methods: IOP was measured in enucleated eyeballs (n = 46) not suitable for keratoplasty by direct cannulation of the vitreous body.

Iris color and visual functions.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate if iris color is associated with differences in visual functions such as intraocular straylight (IOSL), contrast sensitivity (CS), or best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, which is a subgroup analysis of a large prospective trial about visual impairments in European car drivers, we included 853 persons between 20 and 80 years of age and without a history of ocular surgery or any eye disease including cataract. Subjects participated in an ophthalmological examination, grading of lens opacity, and the measurement of visual functions such as IOSL, CS, and BCVA.

Mitochondrial haplogroups and control region polymorphisms in age-related macular degeneration: a case-control study.

Background: Onset and development of the multifactorial disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are highly interrelated with mitochondrial functions such as energy production and free radical turnover. Mitochondrial dysfunction and overproduction of reactive oxygen species may contribute to destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium, retinal atrophy and choroidal neovascularization, leading to AMD. Consequently, polymorphisms of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) are postulated to be susceptibility factors for this disease.

[Biological and physical aspects of intraocular pressure].

A thorough understanding of intraocular pressure homeostasis is the biological foundation for the development of new strategies to treat patients with elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma. However, investigations on the physiology of intraocular pressure homeostasis are also important to gain more comprehensive insights into the pathogenesis of glaucoma and other diseases with associated alterations of intraocular pressure. The present review intends to give alternative insights into the biological and physical aspects of intraocular pressure regulation.

Complement factor H Y402H gene polymorphism and response to intravitreal bevacizumab in exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine whether different complement factor H (CFH) genotypes play a role in treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with intravitreal bevacizumab.

Methods: In this prospective study, we included 197 patients with exudative AMD and treated with 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab at 6-week intervals until choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was no longer active.

Cataract and pseudophakia in elderly European drivers.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence and association of different types and severities of cataract or pseudophakia with visual impairments in older European drivers.

Methods: In this prospective European multicenter study, 2211 active drivers, 45 years of age and older, participated in an ophthalmologic examination, the measurement of visual functions, and were asked to fill in the NEI-VFQ-25 and another questionnaire about driving habits, driving difficulties, and self-reported accidents.

Results: Prevalence of moderate and severe forms of cataract in an active driving population is lower than that in the general population, but could be found in both eyes in 20% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16%-25%) and 17% (95% CI:13%-21%) of subjects 75 years of age and older.

Prevalence of impairment of visual function in European drivers.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of impairment of visual function amongst European drivers.

Methods: A total of 2422 drivers from five European countries underwent a battery of visual function tests, including tests for visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF), contrast sensitivity, straylight (glare sensitivity) and useful field of view (UFOV). Subjects belonged to the following age categories: 45-54 years; 55-64 years; 65-74 years, and ≥ 75 years.

Association of lens opacities, intraocular straylight, contrast sensitivity and visual acuity in European drivers.

Purpose: To study the relationship between lens opacity and intraocular straylight, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

Methods: We investigated 2422 drivers in five clinics in different European Union (EU) member states aged between 20 and 89 years as part of a European study into the prevalence of visual function disorders in drivers. We measured visual acuity [Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart], contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson chart) and intraocular straylight (computerized straylight meter).

Straylight effects with aging and lens extraction.

Purpose: To assess possible gains and losses in straylight values among the population to consider straylight as added benefit of lens extraction.

Design: In this cross-sectional design, data from a multicenter study on visual function in automobile drivers were analyzed.

Methods: On both eyes of 2,422 subjects, visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] in steps of 0.

Ocular involvement in anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid.

Purpose: To report an anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) patient with severe ocular involvement and to provide a practical approach to distinguishing AECP patients from those with other subepidermal blistering diseases.

Methods: Techniques included direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blot and immunoprecipitation studies, as well as interdisciplinary examinations of mucous membranes and skin.

Results: This study describes a patient with clinical features of cicatricial pemphigoid, circulating anti-basement membrane zone IgG antibodies, and subepidermal blisters.

[Driving habits of patients with glaucoma].

Background: Central visual field defects due to glaucoma are common, increasing with old age. Impaired visual processing, for instance caused by glaucoma, may play a role in the aetiology of car accidents involving older drivers which can result in personal injury. Mandatory eye exams with assessment of the visual field in elderly people holding a driving licence will become more and more important, especially in a continuously ageing and increasingly mobile population.

Measurement of stray light and glare: comparison of Nyktotest, Mesotest, stray light meter, and computer implemented stray light meter.

Aim: To evaluate the properties of devices for measuring stray light and glare: the Nyktotest, Mesotest, "conventional" stray light meter and a new, computer implemented version of the stray light meter.

Methods: 112 subjects, divided in three groups: (1) young subjects without any eye disease; (2) elderly subjects without any eye disease, and (3) subjects with (early) cataract in at least one eye. All subjects underwent a battery of glare and stray light tests, measurement of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, refraction, and LOCS III cataract classification.