Recent Advances in Imaging Macular Atrophy for Late-Stage Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. In late-stage AMD, geographic atrophy (GA) of dry AMD or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of neovascular AMD eventually results in macular atrophy (MA), leading to significant visual loss. Despite the development of innovative therapies, there are currently no established effective treatments for MA.

Incomplete Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada in a 14-year-Old African American female with bilateral disc edema.

Purpose: To report an unusual case of incomplete Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) in a 14-Year-Old African American female.

Observations: Here we present a 14-Year-Old African American Female with incomplete VKH who presented to the emergency department with a one-month history of malaise, fever, bilateral decreased vision and temporal headaches. At the time of presentation, she was found to have bilateral anterior uveitis and disc edema.

Bilateral optic nerve and retinal infiltration as an initial site of relapse in a child with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: To describe a case of leukemic infiltration of bilateral optic nerves and retina as a site of relapse in a child with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Observations: We report a 7 year old female who presented one year following initial treatment for T-Cell ALL with visual acuity impairment, bilateral optic nerve infiltration and infiltration of the retina of both eyes. OCT demonstrated subretinal fluid in both eyes, which eventually resolved, and perivascular hyperreflectivity within the inner retinal layers.

Optical coherence tomography findings of bilateral foveal leukemic infiltration.

We report a case of a 59-year-old man with a history of atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia who presented with a several-week history of decreased vision in both eyes. His clinical examination revealed bilateral foveal infiltration, which was also demonstrated on optical coherence tomography. After a failed induction with imatinib (Gleevec(®)), he was treated with omacetaxine (Synribo(®)) with an appropriate hematologic response.

Prevalence and factors predictive of intraocular fungal infection in patients with fungemia at an academic urban tertiary care center.

Objective: To report the prevalence and to identify factors predictive of intraocular infection in patients with fungemia receiving prophylactic antifungal therapy.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received prophylactic antifungal therapy and a dilated fundus examination at an academic urban tertiary care center from 2000 to 2007. Basic demographic information, fungal species grown, antifungal agent(s) used, number of positive blood culture specimens, visual acuity, visual symptoms, and known risks of disseminated candidiasis were noted.

Infrared imaging enhances retinal crystals in Bietti's crystalline dystrophy.

Infrared imaging dramatically increased the number of crystalline deposits visualized compared with clinical examination, standard color fundus photography, and red free imaging in patients with Bietti's crystalline dystrophy. We believe that this imaging modality significantly improves the sensitivity with which these lesions are detected, facilitating earlier diagnosis and may potentially serve as a prognostic indicator when examined over time.

Human ciliary epithelium as a source of synthesis and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in neovascular glaucoma.

Importance: Retinal ischemia-induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leads to endothelial proliferation of the anterior segment, resulting in neovascular glaucoma.

Objective: To investigate the ciliary epithelium as a possible source of VEGF in human eyes enucleated for intractable neovascular glaucoma.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this proof-of-concept, laboratory-based study, 16 human enucleated eyes (8 with neovascular glaucoma and 8 as controls) were investigated.

Lutein protects retinal pigment epithelium from cytotoxic oxidative stress.

Context: Lutein (LUT) and zeaxanthin (ZEA) are currently under investigation in clinical trials as prophylactic nutritional agents for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, dose used in these trials is empirical and not been investigated in in vitro studies.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the dose-response effect of LUT and ZEA in protecting retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from oxidative stress, a common underlying pathology in AMD.

Infrared imaging and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings correlate with microperimetry in acute macular neuroretinopathy: a case report.

Introduction: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings in a patient with acute macular neuroretinopathy, and correlation with functional defects on microperimetry, are presented.

Case Presentation: A 25-year old Caucasian woman presented with bitemporal field defects following an upper respiratory tract infection. Her visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and a dilated fundus examination revealed bilateral hyperpigmentary changes in the papillomacular bundle.

Evaluation of modified retinopathy of prematurity screening guidelines using birth weight as the sole inclusion criterion.

Purpose: The purpose was to determine if birth weight (BW) alone can be the sole criterion for screening infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective, observational case series, 208 infants were screened for ROP using the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Guidelines (1997). Variables examined included gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and a composite variable BWGA Index [(grams × weeks)/1000], which takes into consideration both the birth weight and gestational age of the infant.

Comparative in vitro safety analysis of dyes for chromovitrectomy: indocyanine green, brilliant blue green, bromophenol blue, and infracyanine green.

Purpose: Vital dyes such as infracyanine green (IfCG), brilliant blue green (BBG), and bromophenol blue (BPB) have been used as an alternative to indocyanine green (ICG) during chromovitrectomy. We compared the in vitro toxicity of IfCG, BBG, and BPB with ICG on the retinal pigment epithelial cells and retinal ganglion cells at various concentrations to optimize the safe dose and duration of exposure.

Methods: Cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) and human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were exposed to 2 concentrations (0.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography features of multiple subfoveal retinal pigment epithelial tears after intravitreal bevacizumab.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear has been described to occur spontaneously, after laser photocoagulation and in recent times, after intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. In the latter case, the rapid contraction of the choroidal vascular membrane underneath a serous RPE detachment is believed to be the underlying cause. Preservation of good visual acuity after the occurrence of RPE tear with continued use of intravitreal VEGF agents has been reported.

Bevacizumab neutralizes the protective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on retinal ganglion cells.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is well known for its role in pathologic neovascularization, including wet age-related macular degeneration. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that VEGF is also neuroprotective of non-vascular cells in various animal models through reduction of oxidative stress. In light of the widespread use of intraocular anti-VEGF therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we evaluated the impact of anti-VEGF agents on the neuroprotective effect of VEGF on retinal ganglion cells.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography features of hypotonous maculopathy after successful retinal detachment surgery.

Purpose: To describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography features in a patient with an atypical presentation of hypotonous maculopathy after successful retinal detachment surgery.

Methods: A 64-year-old man underwent scleral buckling with pars plana vitrectomy for the repair of retinal detachment. Postoperatively, the retina was attached but he had poor recovery of vision.

Evaluation of choroidal endothelial cell proliferation after exposure to varying doses of proton beam radiation.

Purpose: Focal epiretinal radiation has emerged as a promising tool in the management of choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration. However, the dosages tested are not backed by cell culture studies used in the clinical setting empirically.

Methods: Choroidal endothelial cells (RF6A) were maintained in a log scale and exposed to a single fraction of 2, 4, 8, and 12 cobalt gray-equivalent of proton radiation with an internal control.

In-vivo high resolution imaging of optic nerve head drusen using spectral-domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

Background: Optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) are white calcareous deposits, seen either superficially on the optic nerve head or buried within it. Diagnosis of ONHD is made by one or more ways: clinical exam, autofluorescence, ultrasound of the optic nerve, CT scan and/or visual field examination. The present study describes features of ONHD based on another diagnostic modality, the spectral-domain OCT (Spectralis).

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography guided photodynamic therapy for choroidal hemangioma: a case report.

Introduction: Circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas are vascular tumors associated with secondary changes in the overlying retinal pigment epithelium and neuro-sensory retina. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, a recent advancement in fundus imaging techniques provides high resolution images of the retina. We describe spectral domain Optical coherence tomography findings in a case of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma which was successfully treated with photodynamic therapy.

Evaluation of ultraviolet light toxicity on cultured retinal pigment epithelial and retinal ganglion cells.

Purpose: Our study is aimed at evaluating the role of UVB light in inducing cytotoxicity in an in vitro model.

Methods: RGC-5 and ARPE-19 cells were exposed to different time periods of UVB light: 0, 15, 30, and 45 min. They were subsequently examined for changes in cell morphology, cell viability (neutral red uptake assay), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of bax, bcl-2 and cytochome C by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively.

Foveal structure defined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography correlates with visual function after macular hole surgery.

Purpose: To study the correlation between final visual acuity after successful anatomic macular hole repair and features on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods: Retrospective review of charts of patients who underwent macular hole surgery. Data collection included pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield foveal thickness (CSFT), and presence or absence of inner segment-outer segment (IS-OS) line changes on SD-OCT.

Fundus autofluorescence and spectral domain optical coherence tomography in early detection of Plaquenil maculopathy.

Purpose: To report fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in a patient with early hydroxychloroquine maculopathy.

Methods: A 50-year-old man presented with complaints of ring-like shadows in front of his eyes. He had been on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) 400 mg orally twice daily for 10 years (5.

Evaluation of differential toxicity of varying doses of bevacizumab on retinal ganglion cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and vascular endothelial growth factor-enriched choroidal endothelial cells.

Purpose: To evaluate in vitro the effects of bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody, on retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) and retinal ganglion cells (RGC), at doses that were inhibitory to VEGF-enriched choroidal endothelial cells (CEC).

Methods: Monkey CEC (RF6A), human RPE cells (ARPE-19), and rat RGC (RGC-5) were exposed for 24 h to increasing doses of bevacizumab. Cell numbers were quantified with WST-1 assay.

Comparison of retinal thickness in normal eyes using Stratus and Spectralis optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is an advancement over time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) in the imaging of retinal disorders. Retinal thickness measured by SD-OCT differs from that measured by TD-OCT because the delineation of the outer boundary of the retina differs in the two instruments. The present study aims to evaluate this difference by comparing macular thickness, as obtained by Stratus and Spectralis OCT, in subjects without any known retinal disease.

Functional microperimetry and SD-OCT confirm consecutive retinal atrophy from optic nerve pit.

A congenital anomaly, optic nerve pit is often associated with serous retinal detachment involving macula. Long standing serous detachment leads to outer retinal atrophy and decrease in visual sensitivity. Recently, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been reported to demonstrate a communication between the optic nerve sheath and the subretinal space.