Impact of symptomatic vitreous degeneration on photopic and mesopic contrast thresholds.

Clinical Relevance: Contrast thresholds under photopic and mesopic luminance conditions are compromised in subjects with vitreous degeneration. A plausible explanation is needed for the visual discomfort expressed by patients suffering from symptomatic vitreous degeneration.

Background: The current study investigates the effect of symptomatic vitreous degeneration on photopic and mesopic contrast at high spatial frequencies.

Assessing the adherence behavior of glaucoma patients to topical eye drops.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the adherence of glaucoma patients to their topical glaucoma medication. Furthermore, the relationships between the adherence behavior and the patients' demographic data, clinical characteristics, and their knowledge about glaucoma were evaluated.

Methods: This was a prospective study of 123 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who were given two standardized questionnaires.

Macular pigment optical density measured by heterochromatic modulation photometry.

Purpose: To psychophysically determine macular pigment optical density (MPOD) employing the heterochromatic modulation photometry (HMP) paradigm by estimating 460 nm absorption at central and peripheral retinal locations.

Methods: For the HMP measurements, two lights (B: 460 nm and R: 660 nm) were presented in a test field and were modulated in counterphase at medium or high frequencies. The contrasts of the two lights were varied in tandem to determine flicker detection thresholds.

Perioperative and postoperative risk factors for corneal graft failure.

Purpose: In this study, we assessed the outcome of penetrating keratoplasties using organ-cultured corneal tissues at the University Eye Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. The goal was to identify perioperative and postoperative risk factors that may affect graft survival.

Patients And Methods: The medical records of 377 patients who underwent a penetrating keratoplasty between 2001 and 2011 were reviewed.

Donor-related risk factors and preoperative recipient-related risk factors for graft failure.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of penetrating keratoplasties, at the University Eye Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany, using organ-cultured donor corneas and to identify preoperative risk factors, which may influence the event of graft failure.

Methods: In this study, 377 medical records of patients, who underwent penetrating keratoplasty between 2001 and 2011, were reviewed. Organ-cultured donor corneas were obtained from the eye bank, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.

Factors affecting the use of antioxidant supplements in patients with late AMD.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of oral antioxidant supplements in patients with late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to identify influencing factors that may affect the use of such supplements.

Methods: The study included 47 patients with late AMD. Using a questionnaire, the patients were asked for their demographic, ophthalmologic, and systemic data, their source of recommendation of antioxidant use for AMD, and/or their reasons for nonuse.

Intensity of side effects of topical glaucoma medication and its influence on adherence behavior in patients with glaucoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the intensity of side effects that patients attribute to their topical glaucoma medication and their relationship to adherence behavior.

Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study of 123 glaucoma patients at a university eye clinic in Erlangen, Germany. An initial questionnaire asked about patient demographic data, the treatment plan, and intensity of side effects, and included Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale 2 (ARMS2) and visual analog scale (VAS-AD) scores.

Factors influencing self-reported use of antioxidant supplements in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Aim: The goals of the present study were to evaluate the current use and accuracy of dose-taking prescription among patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to detect potential factors influencing the use or non-use of oral antioxidant supplements.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of 65 patients with AMD of Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) category 3 (intermediate AMD) or category 4 (unilateral advanced AMD). Self-report data were obtained from a structural clinical interview in clinic.

Evaluation of intraocular pressure elevation after multiple injections of intravitreal ranibizumab.

Background: We wanted to determine whether multiple injections of intravitreal ranibizumab was associated with an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This retrospective study examined 53 patients with neovascular AMD treated with multiple injections of intravitreal ranibizumab. The main outcome measure was the difference in IOP between the frequently-treated study eyes (≥15 injections) and the unfrequently-treated fellow control eyes (≤ five injections).

Constitutive expression of HCA(2) in human retina and primary human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Purpose/aim: HCA2, a receptor of β-hydroxybutyrate and niacin, has recently been described in mouse retina and immortalized human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell lines. As HCA2 might be a pharmacologic target, e.g.

Vitamin E reduces TGF-beta2-induced changes in human trabecular meshwork cells.

Aim: To determine the effects of vitamin E on transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-β2)-induced cellular changes in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells.

Materials And Methods: Human TM cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of vitamin E. Afterwards, cells were exposed to 1.

Antioxidants reduce TGF-beta2-induced gene expressions in human optic nerve head astrocytes.

Purpose: The goal of the present study was to investigate whether the antioxidants vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B1 can reduce the transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-β2)-induced gene expressions in cultured human optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes.

Methods: Cultured human ONH astrocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B1 and then exposed to 1.0 ng/ml TGF-β2 for 24 hr.

Biological effects of cigarette smoke in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

The goal of the present study was to determine whether treatment with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induces cell loss, cellular senescence, and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in primary human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Primary cultured human RPE cells were exposed to 2, 4, 8, and 12% of CSE concentration for 24 hours. Cell loss was detected by cell viability assay.

Human anterior lens capsule serving as a substrate for human trabecular meshwork cells cultivation.

To investigate if human anterior lens capsule is a suitable substrate for the culture of primary human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells. Trabecular meshwork cells derived from four human donors were seeded on anterior lens capsules that were prepared from the lenses of donor eyes. Cell morphology and viability were examined at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days.

TGF-β(2)- and H(2)O(2)-induced biological changes in optic nerve head astrocytes are reduced by the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid.

Background/aims: The goal of the present study was to determine whether transforming growth factor-β(2) (TGF-β(2))- and oxidative stress-induced cellular changes in cultured human optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes could be reduced by pretreatment with the antioxidant α-lipoic acid (LA).

Methods: Cultured ONH astrocytes were treated with 1.0 ng/ml TGF-β(2) for 24 h or 200 µM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) for 1 h.

Common genetic determinants of intraocular pressure and primary open-angle glaucoma.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a highly heritable risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma and is the only target for current glaucoma therapy. The genetic factors which determine IOP are largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study for IOP in 11,972 participants from 4 independent population-based studies in The Netherlands.

TGF-{beta}2 induces senescence-associated changes in human trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose: Recent studies have revealed an accumulation of senescent cells in the outflow pathways in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 is thought to be involved in the pathologic changes of the trabecular meshwork (TM) of POAG eyes. The goal of this study was to determine whether TGF-β2 triggers senescence-associated changes in human TM cells in vitro.

Vitrectomy does not increase the risk of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension--a 5-year follow-up.

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the development of late onset open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension after vitrectomy in phakic and pseudophakic eyes.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, the records of 441 patients who had undergone vitrectomy in one eye by a single surgeon were reviewed. The development of OAG or ocular hypertension in the vitrectomized and fellow control eyes was compared.

The prostaglandin transporter OATP2A1 is expressed in human ocular tissues and transports the antiglaucoma prostanoid latanoprost.

Purpose: Latanoprost, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) analogue, has become one of the most widely used medications for the treatment of glaucoma. The authors hypothesized that organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) are responsible for the uptake of latanoprost into ocular tissues and, hence, that they contribute to the interindividual differences in drug concentrations and effects.

Methods: Expression of prostaglandin (PG) transporters (OATP2A1, OATP2B1) in human ocular tissues was determined using real-time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence.

Connective tissue growth factor induces extracellular matrix deposition in human trabecular meshwork cells.

The major structural change in the human trabecular meshwork (TM) of eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is an increase in extracellular matrix (ECM) in the juxtacanalicular region of the TM. There is evidence that treatment with TGF-beta2 causes an induction of ECM deposition in cultured human TM cells and that TGF-beta2 is causatively involved in the JCT ECM increase in POAG. In the present study, we investigated the effects of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on the biology of cultured human TM cells.

Optimizing the deswelling process of organ-cultured corneas.

Purpose: During deswelling of organ-cultured human corneas, endothelial cell loss occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize the deswelling time and achieving an optimal central corneal thickness (CCT) of approximately 550 microm at the same time. We investigated the minimal deswelling time necessary and analyzed endothelial cell loss.

Subtoxic oxidative stress induces senescence in retinal pigment epithelial cells via TGF-beta release.

Purpose: The goal of the present study was to determine whether oxidative stress and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta induce cellular senescence in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

Methods: Cultured human RPE cells were exposed to 50 to 150 microM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) for 1 and 2 hours or treated with 1.0 ng/mL TGF-beta1 or -beta2 for 12, 24, and 48 hours.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation induces CTGF and PAI-1 in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by thickening of Bruch's membrane due to the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). This finding could be related to hypoxia of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In the present study, we investigated the effects of hypoxia and reoxygenation on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), collagen type IV (Col IV) and fibronectin (Fn) in cultured human RPE cells.

Biological effects of native and oxidized low-density lipoproteins in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and artherosclerosis share common characteristics in their pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of lipoproteins like native (n)-LDL, oxidized (ox)-LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on advanced senescence, extracellular matrix accumulation, cell loss, and transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) expression in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Primary human RPE cells were incubated with 10-100 microg/ml n-LDL, ox-LDL, and HDL for 24h.