Metronidazole-Induced Irreversible Optic Neuropathy.

Metronidazole-induced optic neuropathy is a rare complication. Most patients have excellent visual recovery. In this study, we report a patient who presented with a sudden onset of severe visual loss after a 1-week course of metronidazole.

Factors associated with retinal screening among patients with diabetes in Taiwan.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the factors associated with having a diabetic retinopathy exam (DRE) during the past 2 years among patients with diabetes.

Methods: Patients visiting the eye clinic at Shin-Kong Memorial Hospital in Taipei were enrolled in this study from January to June 2009. A total of 313 patients participated in this study.

Knowledge of medications among patients with glaucoma in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: To investigate the knowledge and learning ability of glaucoma patients regarding their anti-glaucoma topical medications.

Methods: Patients on regular follow-up at the Glaucoma Clinic at Hsin-Chu General Hospital were recruited. After detailed ocular examinations, the participants were asked to recall and identify their glaucoma eye drops.

Age and axial length on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography in nonglaucomatous Taiwanese participants.

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of age and axial length (AL) on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: Healthy patients visiting an eye clinic at a county hospital were recruited. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations, and their retinas were scanned using 3D OCT-1000.

A nine-year population-based cohort study on the risk of multiple sclerosis in patients with optic neuritis.

Patients with optic neuritis (ON) are at an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), an illness that may result in physical dysfunction and short life expectancy. Information on the conversion rate to MS of patients with ON is essential in determining the impact of ON on the incidence of MS. Previous Taiwanese studies on the risk of MS in patients with ON were all hospital based, thereby limiting the generalizability of the findings.

Anterior chamber depth, iridocorneal angle width, and intraocular pressure changes after phacoemulsification: narrow vs open iridocorneal angles.

Objective: To determine the association of changes in anterior chamber angle and anterior chamber depth (ACD) with intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after uncomplicated phacoemulsification.

Methods: In this prospective study, subjects underwent phacoemulsification with foldable lens implantation. Anterior chamber angle grading of 2 or less (Shaffer grading) in 3 or all quadrants was considered narrow angle (NA).

Simvastatin upregulates Bcl-2 expression and protects retinal neurons from early ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat retina.

Simvastatin has been shown to enhance the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury by mediating the expression of stress proteins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of simvastatin on retinal neurons and the expression of apoptotic proteins in a rat IR model. Wistar rats received intravitreal injection of simvastatin immediately after retinal reperfusion.

Glaucoma and clinical characteristics in Vietnamese Americans.

Purpose: To assess the proportions of glaucoma types and clinical characteristics in Vietnamese Americans in a single-center, retrospective study.

Methods: Medical charts of Vietnamese-American patients who visited a single private practice in Northern California from 1998-2007 were reviewed. The main outcome measures included the distribution and characteristics of glaucoma types, and clinical parameters associated with the presence of various glaucomas.

A Comparison of Optic Neuritis in Asian and in Western Countries.

Acute demyelinating optic neuritis is a common optic neuropathy in young adults. There is usually satisfactory visual recovery. However, some patients convert to multiple sclerosis (MS) with potential sequelae of neurological disability.

Pharmacological preconditioning by low dose cobalt protoporphyrin induces heme oxygenase-1 overexpression and alleviates retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Purpose: Retinal ischemia-induced neuronal death plays a crucial role in certain severe visual impairment diseases. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of low dose cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), an inducer of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), on the retina of rats against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.

Methods: Retinal IR was achieved in rats by raising intraocular pressure for 60 min.

Long-term outcomes of laser iridotomy in Vietnamese patients with primary angle closure.

Background/aims: To investigate the long-term outcomes of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) on controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) and progression of angle closure in Vietnamese.

Methods: Medical charts of Vietnamese patients who were diagnosed as having primary angle-closure suspect (PACS), primary angle closure (PAC) or primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), and who had received LPI at least 10 years prior, in a single private practice were reviewed. The main outcomes included use of further treatments after LPI, progression rate to another classification category and ocular characteristics associated with progression.

Dietary deficiency of vitamin E aggravates retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma of rats.

Purpose: Investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E (Vit E) on the retinas of a rat model of induced glaucoma, in which surgically induced elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species.

Methods: Rats were fed a standard chow, Vit E-supplemented diet, or Vit E-deficient diet and subjected to surgically induced IOP elevation (or sham surgery) for five weeks. The retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were subjected to retrograde fluorescent tracer labeling.

Optic disc size and other parameters from optical coherence tomography in Vietnamese-Americans.

Purpose: To investigate the optic disc parameters by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in Vietnamese with various types of glaucoma.

Patients And Methods: Medical charts of Vietnamese and White patients within a single practice were reviewed. Disc and rim areas by OCT were compared among nonglaucoma controls, different types of glaucoma, and glaucoma suspect.

Giant cell (Temporal) arteritis with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a biopsy-proven case in Taiwan.

Giant cell arteritis with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy has rarely been diagnosed in Taiwan. Recently, we encountered a 76-year-old Taiwanese patient who presented with right visual impairment and marked pale swelling of his right disc. He also suffered body weight loss, general malaise and many typical manifestations of giant cell arteritis, such as jaw claudication, a tender, non-pulsating engorgement of his temporal arteries, and a highly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level.

Effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on rat retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve axotomy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in axotomized eyes and the pathways related to its action. Wistar rats received intracranial optic nerve (ON) axotomy 2 mm behind the globe in left eyes, whereas right eyes received sham operations. EGCG was administrated via intraperitoneal injection 30 min before and 4 days after axotomy.

Nerve fibre layer thinning in patients with preclinical retinopathy.

Objective: To compare retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) between patients with preclinical diabetic retinopathy (DR) and healthy subjects.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: Ninety-nine type I or II diabetic patients with no visible funduscopic retinal alteration and 77 healthy subjects were included in this study.

Bevacizumab is not toxic to retinal ganglion cells after repeated intravitreal injection.

Purpose: The cytotoxicity of single and repeated administration of bevacizumab to retinal ganglion cells was studied in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: Rats received single or repeated injections of 125 microg of bevacizumab into the vitreous cavity of the left eye, while saline was injected into the right eye as a control. In the repeated injection group, bevacizumab was injected at the same concentration once per week for 4 weeks.

Novel role for the delta-opioid receptor in hypoxic preconditioning in rat retinas.

Delta-opioid receptor (DOR) is an oxygen-sensitive protein whose function in the rat retina is unknown. We examined whether DOR is involved in hypoxic preconditioning (HPC)-mediated retinoprotection following intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. Rats were exposed to intermittent hypoxia (10% oxygen) to induce HPC.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography in non-glaucomatous Taiwanese.

Background/purpose: Assessment of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) is essential for neuroretinal diseases, especially for early prediction of glaucomatous damage. The purpose of this study was to measure RNFL thickness by Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal Taiwanese subjects according to age group.

Methods: The thickness of the RNFL around the disc of normal subjects was obtained, after pupil dilation, by means of 3.

Haem oxygenase-1 gene transfer protects retinal ganglion cells from ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

RGC (retinal ganglion cell) death following ischaemic insult is the major cause of a number of vision-threatening diseases, including glaucoma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of HO-1 (haem oxygenase-1) in the retina against IR (ischaemia/reperfusion) injury. Adenovirus-mediated HO-1 gene transfer (Adv-HO-1) was carried out by injection into the vitreous body to induce HO-1 overexpression.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate reduces retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression and activity.

Retinal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury causes profound tissue damage, especially retinal ganglion cell death. The aims of the study were twofold: (1) to investigate the benefits of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin found in tea, after IR challenge, and (2) to elucidate the mechanism of EGCG inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression. Wistar female rats were divided into four groups: normal control, EGCG with sham operation, retinal IR, and EGCG with IR groups.