Photodynamic therapy combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for pachychoroid neovasculopathy.

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the 1-year treatment outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). A total of 42 eyes of 42 patients with treatment-naïve PNV who were treated with PDT combined with intravitreal injections of an anti-VEGF agent (ranibizumab or aflibercept) for 1 year. All eyes showed exudative and/or hemorrhagic changes that affected the fovea at baseline.

Results of switchback from ranibizumab to aflibercept in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs has become standard therapy for patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, some patients do not exhibit sufficient response to the drugs for suppression of choroidal neovascularization activity. We investigated the efficacy of switchback from ranibizumab to aflibercept in patients with AMD who could not achieve further benefit beyond initial therapy of aflibercept injection.

Three-year results of a modified photodynamic therapy procedure (Ironing PDT) for age-related macular degeneration patients with large lesions.

Background: To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a modified procedure on exudative age-related macular degeneration having been conventionally difficult to treat.

Methods: The medical records of eight consecutive patients (eight eyes) with age-related macular degeneration treated with modified PDT were reviewed retrospectively. Modified PDT was used for the lesions that could not be covered by conventional use of PDT, either because the lesion was too large or too close to the optic disc.

Initial non-responders to ranibizumab in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Background: Patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who did not respond to ranibizumab at the induction phase were assessed and referred to as initial non-responders.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 215 patients (218 eyes) with exudative AMD. For the initial treatments, patients received three intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (IVR) every 4 weeks.

Characteristics of age-related macular degeneration in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Retrospective, consecutive case series. Twenty-six eyes of 25 Japanese patients were studied.

Improvement of the topographic parameters of the optic discs after trabeculotomy in two patients with developmental glaucoma.

Changes in the optic discs before and after trabeculotomy were evaluated with the Heidelberg retina tomograph (Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) in two patients with developmental glaucoma. The topographic parameters of each optic disc improved considerably compared with adult patients in previous reports. This improvement may have been the result of the elasticity of the histologic structure of the optic disc in younger patients.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction by latanoprost in Japanese normal tension glaucoma patients over a five-year period stratified by presenting IOP.

Purpose: We examined the effectiveness of latanoprost for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in Japanese patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) over a 5-year period.

Design: Prospective interventional case series. The patients were classified into 2 groups based on mean IOP.

[Evaluation of cases of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy showing classic choroidal neovascularization in their natural course].

Background: Some cases of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in their natural course develop into classic choroidal neovascularization(CNV) as shown by fluorescein angiography (FA) findings.

Subjects And Method: We evaluated 8 eyes of 8 PCV patients showing classic CNV by FA findings, using indocyanine green angiography (IA) and optical coherence tomography(OCT).

Result: All patients showed subretinal grayish exudates, which were considered fibrinous.

[Optical coherence tomographic findings of the retinal pigment epithelium tear in macular area preserving good visual acuity].

Purpose: It has been reported that the visual outcome of retinal pigment epithelial tear (RPE tear) in the fovea is worse than that of RPE tear sparing the fovea. We report optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of 3 cases with RPE tear in the fovea who preserved good visual acuity.

Patients: All patients had serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment involving the macula.

Retinopathy in monkeys with spontaneous type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes occurs spontaneously in rhesus monkeys and shows an extraordinary similarity to human diabetes in clinical features and relative time course. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinically and histopathologically the ocular changes in these monkeys.

Methods: Ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed on aged normal and diabetic monkeys.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: incidence, demographic features, and clinical characteristics.

Objective: To clarify the incidence, demographic features, and clinical characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Japanese patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients with presumed neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who met the eligibility criteria were examined between January 1, 1999, and October 31, 2001. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination and fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography.

Mechanisms for sickle red blood cell retention in choroid.

Purpose: Although sickle (SS) red cell-mediated vaso-occlusion in retina and resultant retinopathy is well documented, the effects of SS red cells on choroidal vasculature are poorly understood. The intent of this study was to determine, using a rat model, the conditions under which retention of sickle erythrocytes in choroid occur and if that retention can be inhibited.

Methods: Sickle red cells were density separated into high density (SS4) or normal density, reticulocyte-enriched fractions (SS2).

Effective transfection of a cis element "decoy" of the nuclear factor-kappaB binding site into the experimental choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the gene transfer of a double-stranded phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (ODNs), called a "decoy", against the NF-kappaB binding site into cells of an experimentally-induced choroidal neovascularization.

Methods: FITC-labeled decoy was injected into the subretinal space of rat eyes by the HVJ-liposome delivery system, and 3 days later, choroidal neovascularization was induced by laser photocoagulation. The eyes were removed and the transfected cells were detected by fluorescence microscopy and also detected by immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemical staining and morphometric analysis of the monkey choroidal vasculature.

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for staining non-human primate choroidal blood vessels for combined whole mount and histologic analysis. Ten monkey eyes were used in this study. Diabetic and non-diabetic aged rhesus monkeys ranging in age from 16 to 31 years were killed and eyes were obtained immediately after death.

Quantifying changes in RPE and choroidal vasculature in eyes with age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: An image-analysis technique was developed to quantify changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choriocapillaris in eyes of deceased donors with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Both eyes of two donors with AMD and of one normal control donor were used to develop this technique. After removal of the anterior segments, the eyecups were hemisected through the macula, with the disc included in one half of the eyecup.

Expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor in normal adult rat eye and experimental choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a protein produced by the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Recent studies have implicated PEDF in activities that are inhibitory to angiogenesis. In this study, the expression of PEDF was investigated in normal rat eyes and in eyes with experimentally induced choroidal neovascularization and compared with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Pathologic features of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced retinopathy in the nonhuman primate.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent ischemia-upregulated angiogenic protein that has been implicated in diabetic retinopathy. Intravitreal VEGF injections have not previously been shown to produce preretinal neovascularization. The purpose of this study was to further characterize the angiopathic changes that occur after intravitreal injections in a nonhuman primate and determine if preretinal neovascularization develops.