Factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in older people in Europe: the EUREYE study.

Background/objectives: We aimed to describe serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations in older Europeans and to investigate associations between 25OHD and lifestyle factors, including dietary intake and supplement use.

Subjects/methods: Men and women aged ≥ 65 years were recruited from seven centres across north to south Europe. Serum 25OHD and 25OHD concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in 4495 samples and total 25OHD (25OHD + 25OHD) was adjusted for season of blood collection.

Macular Edema of Choroidal Origin.

Macular edema is most often clinically defined as an accumulation of serous fluid within the neurosensory retina with increased thickness of the central retina. In exudative age-related macular degeneration the leakage of fluid from the choroidal new vessels may be the origin of macular edema. Their abnormal permeability and the inflammatory reaction are mechanisms involved in this accumulation of fluid, which occurs in all layers.

Macular Edema: Definition and Basic Concepts.

Macular edema is the result of an accumulation of fluid in the retinal layers around the fovea. It contributes to vision loss by altering the functional cell relationship in the retina and promoting an inflammatory reparative response. Macular edema may be intracellular or extracellular.

Novel quantitative pigmentation phenotyping enhances genetic association, epistasis, and prediction of human eye colour.

Success of genetic association and the prediction of phenotypic traits from DNA are known to depend on the accuracy of phenotype characterization, amongst other parameters. To overcome limitations in the characterization of human iris pigmentation, we introduce a fully automated approach that specifies the areal proportions proposed to represent differing pigmentation types, such as pheomelanin, eumelanin, and non-pigmented areas within the iris. We demonstrate the utility of this approach using high-resolution digital eye imagery and genotype data from 12 selected SNPs from over 3000 European samples of seven populations that are part of the EUREYE study.

Associations between Serum Vitamin D and Genetic Variants in Vitamin D Pathways and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the European Eye Study.

Purpose: To study associations between early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and neovascular AMD (nvAMD) with serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and genetic variants in vitamin D pathway genes.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study in a random sample aged 65 years or older from 7 European countries.

Participants: Of 4753 participants, 4496 (2028 men and 2468 women), with a mean age of 73 years, provided a blood sample; 2137 had no signs of AMD, 2209 had early AMD, and 150 had late AMD, of whom 104 had nvAMD.

Association Between Myopia, Ultraviolet B Radiation Exposure, Serum Vitamin D Concentrations, and Genetic Polymorphisms in Vitamin D Metabolic Pathways in a Multicountry European Study.

Importance: Myopia is becoming increasingly common globally and is associated with potentially sight-threatening complications. Spending time outdoors is protective, but the mechanism underlying this association is poorly understood.

Objective: To examine the association of myopia with ultraviolet B radiation (UVB; directly associated with time outdoors and sunlight exposure), serum vitamin D concentrations, and vitamin D pathway genetic variants, adjusting for years in education.

Mediterranean Diet Score and Its Association with Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The European Eye Study.

Purpose: To examine associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in countries ranging from Southern to Northern Europe.

Design: Cross-sectional, population-based epidemiologic study.

Participants: Of 5060 randomly sampled people aged 65 years or older from 7 study centers across Europe (Norway, Estonia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, and Spain), full dietary data were available in 4753.

Follow-up after surgery for hemorrhagic AMD.

Introduction: The long-term functional results of macular hematoma (MH) surgery in exudative AMD are often limited. The goal of this study was to compare visual outcomes of monthly versus bimestrial follow-up in these patients.

Methods: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Evaluating the impact of summer vacation on the visual acuity of AMD patients treated with ranibizumab.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of traditional French summer vacation on visual acuity and spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of Wet AMD patients being treated with intravitreal Ranibizumab.

Methods: This was a consecutive, comparative, single-centre, prospective analysis. All patients who were being treated with intravitreal injection of 0.

Occurrence of macular hematoma after ranibizumab treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To report the occurrence and study the characteristics of macular hematoma after ranibizumab (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injection for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: The charts of 6000 patients treated with ranibizumab (0.5 mg) for exudative AMD were reviewed.

[Fluocinolone acetonide (ILUVIEN®) micro-implant for chronic diabetic macular edema].

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a frequent complication of diabetic retinopathy and may cause severe visual loss. In this article, we examine the pathophysiology of DME and review various treatment options, such as laser photocoagulation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor antibodies, and steroids including ILUVIEN(®), which is a new sustained-release, non biodegradable, injectable, intravitreal micro-implant containing fluocinolone acetonide. The results of the FAME (Fluocinolone Acetonide in Diabetic Macular Edema) studies, conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ILUVIEN(®) in DME, are discussed.

Retreatment with Ozurdex for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To review the current practice of retreatment with Ozurdex injections in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and to recommend simple guidelines for Ozurdex reinjection in management of RVO.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study of patients who received more than 2 Ozurdex injections for the treatment of ME in RVO. Recorded parameters included percent of patients with a 15-letter gain, visual acuity (VA) improvement from baseline, change in central macular thickness (CMT), time to reinjection, and occurrence of any complications.

SD-OCT stages of progression of type 2 macular telangiectasia in a patient followed for 3 years.

Purpose: To describe the natural course of type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia (MT) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods: Analysis of the different stages of progression of type 2 MT during a period of 3 years using multimodal imaging, including SD-OCT correlated with angiographic and autofluorescence images. The analysis of the different steps was obtained initially from the first eye, then successively from the fellow eye when progressive changes appeared.

Association analysis of CFH and ARMS2 gene polymorphisms in a Brazilian cohort with age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the association between the CFH and ARMS2 gene polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Brazilian cohort.

Methods: We examined 163 individuals with AMD and 154 controls recruited at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, at the Instituto da Visão, and at the Centro Especializado em Olhos, in Brazil, between 2007 and 2012. Genotyping for CFH rs1061170 and ARMS2 rs10490924 single-nucleotide polymorphisms was performed.

ARMS2 increases the risk of early and late age-related macular degeneration in the European Eye Study.

Objective: To study associations between severity stages of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and genetic variations in age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) and complement factor H (CFH) and to investigate potential interactions between smoking and ARMS2.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional European Eye Study in 7 countries in Europe.

Participants: Four thousand seven hundred fifty participants, 65 years of age and older, recruited through random sampling.

Factors associated with serum/plasma concentrations of vitamins A, C, E and carotenoids in older people throughout Europe: the EUREYE study.

Purpose: To report on plasma/serum levels of antioxidant vitamin and carotenoids in older adults resident in multiple countries in Europe and examine relationships with potential modifiers.

Methods: Population-based cross-sectional European Eye Study in 7 centres from northern to southern Europe. In total, 4,133 participants aged 65 years or over, collected by random sampling, were recruited.

Sustained delivery fluocinolone acetonide vitreous inserts provide benefit for at least 3 years in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Objective: To assess long-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal inserts releasing 0.2 μg/d (low dose) or 0.5 μg/d (high dose) fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion: correlation between optical coherence tomography, angiography and visual acuity.

To analyze the characteristics and the course of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine correlations between clinical, tomographic and angiographic data, in particular including retinal ischemia. In this retrospective study, 53 consecutive patients with CRVO were included. At each follow-up visit, patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT.

Optical coherence tomography in tadalafil-associated retinal toxicity.

Purpose: Tadalafil (Cialis) is a potent phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor that is widely used to treat erectile dysfunction. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have long been recognized to cause temporary and minor visual changes.

Methods: We report for the first time a case of visual disturbances due to reversible damage to the parafoveal photoreceptors following the use of tadalafil.

Complement factor H genetic variant and age-related macular degeneration: effect size, modifiers and relationship to disease subtype.

Background: Variation in the complement factor H gene (CFH) is associated with risk of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous studies have been case-control studies in populations of European ancestry with little differentiation in AMD subtype, and insufficient power to confirm or refute effect modification by smoking.

Methods: To precisely quantify the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs1061170, 'Y402H') with risk of AMD among studies with differing study designs, participant ancestry and AMD grade and to investigate effect modification by smoking, we report two unpublished genetic association studies (n = 2759) combined with data from 24 published studies (26 studies, 26,494 individuals, including 14,174 cases of AMD) of European ancestry, 10 of which provided individual-level data used to test gene-smoking interaction; and 16 published studies from non-European ancestry.

[Efficacy of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab compared to visudyne phototherapy in myopic choroidal neovascularization associated with high myopia].

Introduction: Myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the first cause of CNV in young patients. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intravitreal injections (IVT) of ranibizumab with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in this indication.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective comparative study analyzing the visual acuity (VA) outcomes of CNV myopic patients treated with either IVT or PDT.

Clinical and laboratory factors associated with the severity of proliferative sickle cell retinopathy in patients with sickle cell hemoglobin C (SC) and homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease.

Proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSCR) is the most frequent vision-threatening complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). We investigated the relationship between the severity of sickle cell retinopathy in heterozygous (SC) or homozygous (SS) adult SCD patients and the clinical and laboratory data obtained during visits to a national SCD referral center. This retrospective longitudinal analysis included 942 SCD patients (313 patients with SC and 629 with SS disease) with ophthalmologic evaluations who were followed over a 19-year period by a multidisciplinary team in a referral center.

Associations between aspirin use and aging macula disorder: the European Eye Study.

Objective: To study associations between aspirin use and early and late aging macula disorder (AMD).

Design: Population-based cross-sectional European Eye Study in 7 centers from northern to southern Europe.

Participants: In total, 4691 participants 65 years of age and older, collected by random sampling.