[Association between age and chorioretinal hemodynamics in normal volunteers examined with laser speckle flowgraphy].

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between age and chorioretinal hemodynamics in normal volunteers examined with Laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG-NAVI).

Subjects And Methods: 107 eyes of 107 healthy volunteers aged from 21 to 78 years old were included. Laser speckle flowgraphy measurements of relative blood velocity (mean blur rate: MBR), skewness in the wave of blood velocity (Skew) and blowout score (BOS), which indicates ease of blood flow, were obtained as parameters of chorioretinal hemodynamics.

Intravitreal injection of erythropoietin protects against retinal vascular regression at the early stage of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

A single intravitreal injection of erythropoietin (EPO) (50 ng/eye) or phosphate-buffered saline was administered to 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats at the onset of diabetes mellitus (DM) to determine and evaluate the protective effect of EPO on retinal microvessels. DM was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg body weight). Morphological changes in microvessels in flat retinal preparations were evaluated during the subsequent 4 weeks by three-dimensional imaging of all blood vessels stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated tomato lectin, following immunofluorescence techniques.

Choroidal detachment after uncomplicated small incision cataract surgery.

Background And Purpose: Angioedema is a well-recognized side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, but is rarely associated with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB). Here, we report the first case of a patient on ARB therapy (telmisartan) for hypertension who developed serous choroidal detachment localized to the posterior pole after sub-Tenon anesthesia for small incision cataract surgery.

Methods And Results: An 82-year-old Japanese woman who received oral medications for hypertension underwent cataract surgery with sub-Tenon anesthesia using 2% Xylocaine(®) on her left eye.

Use of the laser speckle flowgraphy in posterior fundus circulation research.

Objective: To review articles aiming to present an overview of the principles, progress, uses and limitations of laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) in posterior fundus circulation research.

Data Sources: The data used in this review was obtained mainly from the studies reported in PubMed using the key terms "laser speckle", "ocular blood flowmetry" and "retinal imaging".

Study Selection: Relevant literatures on studies of LSFG were selected.

Multicenter randomized clinical trial of retinal photocoagulation for preproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of selective photocoagulation (S-PC) for nonperfusion areas (NPA) in preproliferative diabetic retinopathy (PPDR).

Subjects And Methods: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of 69 patients with PPDR showing NPA comparable to or larger than those on reference photographs. The patients were assigned to 2 groups; one was treated with S-PC (PC group: 32 patients), while the other did not receive S-PS (non-PC group: 37 patients).

Macular microcirculation in patients with epiretinal membrane before and after surgery.

Background: To investigate blood flow velocity (BFV) in the perifoveal capillaries before and after vitreous surgery for patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods: Twenty-one eyes in patients with ERM and 16 eyes in healthy subjects were involved in this study. Fluorescein angiography was performed using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and BFV was analyzed by the tracing method.

Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and inflammatory factors in macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To investigate relationships among vitreous fluid levels of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular edema or patients with idiopathic macular hole.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Setting: Tokyo Women's Medical University and Eguchi Eye Hospital.

Chronic refractory uveitis in a patient with childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia.

We report a rare case of chronic refractory uveitis in a patient with childhood-onset cyclic neutropenia (CN). A 19-year-old woman, who had a history of CN beginning at age 2, presented with bilateral chronic nongranulomatous uveitis, complicated cataract, retinal vasculitis, cystoids macular edema, and vitreous hemorrhage. She had recurrent episodes of oral ulcers, tonsillitis, genital ulcers, and folliculitis during neutropenic nadir.

Vitreous inflammatory factors in macular edema with central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients who had CRVO with macular edema and 16 patients with non-ischemic ocular diseases (control group) participated. Retinal ischemia was evaluated by measuring the area of capillary non-perfusion with fluorescein angiography and the public domain Scion Image program.

[Long-term outcome of vitrectomy combined with internal limiting membrane peeling for idiopathic macular holes].

Purpose: To elucidate the long-term outcome of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on visual function during vitrectomy for idiopathic macular holes using scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) microperimetry.

Design: Prospective uncontrolled study.

Patients And Methods: We studied 31 eyes (29 patients) with idiopathic macular holes.

Vitreous levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in macular edema with central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To investigate whether pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) influences macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Materials And Methods: In 27 patients who had CRVO with macular edema and 21 patients with nonischemic ocular diseases (control group), retinal ischemia was evaluated by measuring the area of capillary nonperfusion on fluorescein angiography and macular edema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Vitreous fluid samples were obtained during pars plana vitrectomy.

Influence of macular microcirculation and retinal thickness on visual acuity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema.

Purpose: To investigate perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity and retinal thickness at the central fovea in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular edema and to assess their relation with visual acuity and visual prognosis.

Methods: Eighteen patients with BRVO and 16 healthy volunteers were compared. Perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity was measured on fluorescein angiograms with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope by the tracing method.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in branch retinal vein occlusion with macular edema.

Background: We investigated whether pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) influence macular edema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). This investigation aimed to clarify the influence of PEDF in the vitreous fluid on retinal vascular permeability in patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO. The findings were expected to be useful for the treatment of macular edema in BRVO patients.

[Pathogenesis of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion and strategy for treatment].

We summarize the pathogenesis and the treatment strategy for macular edema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), focusing on the role of the cytokines. Various cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema associated with BRVO. When BRVO occurs, it leads to retinal ischemia that induces the production of cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by retinal cells such as glial cells and vascular endothelial cells in the occluded region affected by anoxia.

[Case of traumatic chiasmal syndrome].

Background: Traumatic neuropathy of the optic chiasm is a rare finding which occurs after severe blunt head trauma. It is often accompanied by dysfunction of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus and called traumatic chiasmal syndrome. We report a patient with traumatic chiasmal syndrome caused by a severe traffic accident.

[Strategy for treatment of diabetic retinopathy].

This paper conducts an analysis and discussion of the pathogenesis and treatment strategies for diabetic retinopathy, a major cause of blindness. Histological examination of experimental and biopsied material found that the pericyte necrosis and basement membrane thickening were responsible for sclerosis of retinal microvessels. The macrophages were noted in the pathogenesis of retinopathy.

Association between macular microcirculation and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with macular edema and retinal vein occlusion.

Background: In patients who have macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, the role of vasoactive molecules such as growth factors and the influence of molecules related to leukocyte adhesion need to be investigated further.

Methods: A prospective study was performed to investigate the relations between perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity and the vitreous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in patients with macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Undiluted vitreous specimens were obtained from 11 eyes of 11 patients with macular edema (nine had branch retinal vein occlusion and two had central retinal vein occlusion).

[Five years of changes in diabetic eye notebooks].

Purpose: To compare 5 years transition of recognition, utilization, and purpose accomplishment in a diabetic eye notebook.

Methods: A questionnaire survey regarding the diabetic eye notebook was conducted with ophthalmologists and physicians in 10 prefectures of 9 areas in 2003 and 2008.

Results: The reply ratio of the questionnaire survey was 26% for ophthalmologists and 26% for physicians.

Aqueous humor levels of vasoactive molecules correlate with vitreous levels and macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: Aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are associated with the severity of macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). We investigated whether aqueous and vitreous levels of these molecules were correlated in CRVO patients.

Methods: Aqueous and vitreous samples were obtained during cataract surgery and vitreous surgery from 17 patients (17 eyes) with CRVO and macular edema.

Macular microcirculation before and after vitrectomy for macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Background: The changes of perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity (BFV), visual acuity, and retinal thickness after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) have been unclear in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular edema.

Methods: In a prospective study, PPV was performed on six eyes of six consecutive BRVO patients with macular edema (two women and four men; mean age: 66.3 +/- 5.

Increase of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in the aqueous humour of patients with macular oedema and central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) influence macular oedema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients with unilateral CRVO and macular oedema were studied, along with eight age- and sex-matched patients without ischaemic ocular disease. Retinal ischaemia was evaluated from capillary non-perfusion on fluorescein angiography.