Hyperactivity of the medial thalamus in patients with photophobia-associated migraine.

Objective: To examine cerebral functional alterations associated with sensory processing in patients with migraine and constant photophobia.

Background: Migraine is a common headache disorder that presents with photophobia in many patients during attacks. Furthermore, some patients with migraine experience constant photophobia, even during headache-free intervals, leading to a compromised quality of life.

Evaluation of Steroid Pulse Therapy Responsiveness in Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Positive Optic Neuritis.

Purpose: Myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-positive optic neuritis (MOGON) is usually responsive to the steroid, but, for some patients, steroid pulse therapy alone may be inadequate. This study aimed to investigate the factors predicting the response to steroid pulse therapy in MOGON.

Methods: This study included 17 patients (24 eyes) with MOGON, who received single steroid pulse therapy as initial treatment.

A Japanese Case of Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy with the m.13051G>A Pathogenic Variant.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is one of the hereditary optic neuropathies and is principally caused by three frequent mitochondria deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) pathogenic variants (m.11778 G>A, m.3460 G>A, and m.

A Case of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus With Multiple Delayed Ocular Complications.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) presents a variety of ocular complications, most of which occur simultaneously as skin lesions. We report a case of HZO with delayed onset of multiple ocular complications. A 72-year-old man developed HZO, blepharitis, iritis, and conjunctivitis in the left eye, which resolved after topical ocular treatment and systemic acyclovir administration.

Clinical Features of Crowded Orbital Syndrome on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

We have previously reported strabismus due to mismatch of orbital volume and globe as 'crowded orbital syndrome' (COS). In this study we have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate its clinical features. This has revealed that a globe with a similar axis occupies a larger volume in the orbit in patients with COS than in controls without strabismus.

Glucose hypometabolism in the visual cortex proportional to disease severity in patients with essential blepharospasm.

Essential blepharospasm (EB) causes difficulty in eyelid opening because of involuntary movements of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Patients with EB have functional visual loss due to sustained eyelid closure. We examined cerebral glucose metabolism in 39 patients with EB (12 men and 27 women; mean age, 52.

Clinical Characteristics of Anti-aquaporin 4 Antibody Positive Optic Neuritis in Japan.

To investigate the clinical characteristics and the effectiveness of maintenance therapy of anti-AQP4 antibody positive optic neuritis in Japanese patients, medical records from 69 patients (103 eyes) were retrospective reviewed. The status of relapse in patients who received maintenance therapy following acute therapy was compared with that before maintenance therapy in patients who started maintenance therapy ≥6 months after acute therapy. In Japan, anti-AQP4 antibody positive optic neuritis was characterized by older onset age and poor visual outcome.

Blepharospasm in Japan: A Clinical Observational Study From a Large Referral Hospital in Tokyo.

Focal dystonia is regarded as a characteristic feature of blepharospasm. However, patients do not always present with motor symptoms. To clarify the clinical features of blepharospasm in Japan, we conducted a retrospective observational study involving a large population of patients from a single institution.

Visual prognosis better in eyes with less severe reduction of visual acuity one year after onset of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy caused by the 11,778 mutation.

Background: Patients with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) have a progressive decrease of their visual acuity which can deteriorate to <0.1. Some patients can have a partial recovery of their vision in one or both eyes.

Nationwide epidemiological survey of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Japan.

Background: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited optic neuropathy that leads to central loss of vision, predominantly in young males. Most LHON cases have one of three primary point mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The annual incidence and prevalence of LHON in Japan are not known.

[Designation criteria for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy].

Designation criteria for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) have been established by a working group for retino-choroidal and optic atrophy funded by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan in collaboration with the Japanese Neuro-ophthalmology Society. The criteria are composed of three major symptoms and three ancillary test findings. According to the number and the combination of these symptoms and findings, subjects are classified into definite, probable, and possible LHON cases and asymptomatic carriers.

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with transient cerebral dyschromatopsia, prosopagnosia, and lack of stereopsis.

A 20-year-old woman suffered from anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis and was treated with removal of an ovarian teratoma and retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma in addition to immunotherapy. She was incapable of face recognition, had difficulty with object recognition, and lacked color sensation and stereo perception during recovery. These symptoms were transient and completely resolved over 4 months.

Glucose hypermetabolism in the thalamus of patients with drug-induced blepharospasm.

We examined the difference in cerebral function alterations between drug-induced blepharospasm patients and essential blepharospasm (EB) patients by using positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Cerebral glucose metabolism was examined in 21 patients with drug-induced blepharospasm (5 men and 16 women; mean age, 53.1 [range, 29-78] years), 21 essential EB patients (5 men and 16 women; mean age, 53.

A case of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy associated with uveitis.

Introduction: Here, we describe a patient who presented with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) and subsequently developed uveitis.

Case: A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital and initially presented with best-corrected visual acuities (BCVA) of 20/40 (right eye) and 20/1000 (left eye) and relative afferent pupillary defect. Slit-lamp examination revealed no signs of ocular inflammation in either eye.

Adverse periocular reactions to five types of prostaglandin analogs.

Purpose: We investigated the appearance frequency of eyelid pigmentation and eyelash bristles after the use of five types of prostaglandin (PG) analogs.

Methods: This study included 250 eyes from 250 patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were treated with either latanoprost, travoprost, tafluprost, bimatoprost, or isopropyl unoprostone for >3 months in only one eye. Photographs of both eyes were obtained, and the images were assessed by three ophthalmologists who were masked to treatment type.

Three-month evaluation of dorzolamide hydrochloride/timolol maleate fixed-combination eye drops versus the separate use of both drugs.

Purpose: To investigate the ocular hypotensive effect and safety of dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 34 patients with either primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were being concomitantly treated with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % eye drops and timolol maleate 0.

New-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positive optic neuritis associated with type 1 interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

A 60-year-old woman developed type 1 diabetes mellitus and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positive optic neuritis during type 1 interferon therapies for chronic hepatitis C. The diabetes mellitus was elicited by interferon-α plus ribavirin therapy, while the optic neuritis was induced after interferon-β treatment, followed by interferon-α and ribavirin therapy. It is possible that type 1 interferons lead to the onset of the two autoimmune diseases by inducing disease-specific autoantibodies.

Effects of BAK-free travoprost treatment for 3 years in patients with normal tension glaucoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of benzalkonium (BAK)-free travoprost monotherapy administered for 3 years on intraocular pressure and visual field performance.

Methods: The intraocular pressure of 76 patients with normal tension glaucoma was monitored every 1-3 months. A Humphrey visual field test was performed every 6 months after treatment and compared with the results before treatment.

Deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus caused by 5 types of prostaglandin analogs.

Purpose: Upper eyelid sulcus deepening has recently been reported as an adverse effect of prostaglandin (PG) eye drop use. However, no data are available regarding the frequency of upper eyelid sulcus deepening caused by different types of PG eye drops. We used 5 types of PG eye drops in Japanese subjects and examined the frequency of appearance of upper eyelid sulcus deepening in these subjects.

Efficacy and safety of a switch to latanoprost 0.005% + timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination eyedrops from latanoprost 0.005% monotherapy.

Background: The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect and safety of latanoprost 0.005% + timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination eyedrops, now available in Japan.

Assessment of ocular hypotensive effect and safety 12 months after changing from an unfixed combination to a latanoprost 0.005% + timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination.

Background: Latanoprost 0.005% + timolol maleate 0.5% combined eyedrops were recently made available in Japan.

Ocular hypotensive effect and safety of travoprost 0.004%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination after change of treatment regimen from β-blockers and prostaglandin analogs.

Introduction: Travoprost 0.004%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination eye drops are available in Japan.

Glucose hypermetabolism in the thalamus of patients with hemifacial spasm.

The purpose of this study was investigate functional alteration in the brains of patients with hemifacial spasm using positron emission tomography (PET). We studied cerebral glucose metabolism using PET with (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose in 13 patients with right lateral hemifacial spasm and 13 with left lateral hemifacial spasm. All patients underwent 2 PET scans before treatment (active state) and after treatment (suppressive state) with the botulinum neurotoxin type A.

Iris and periocular adverse reactions to bimatoprost in Japanese patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Purpose: To prospectively investigate adverse reactions to bimatoprost in Japanese patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. We also examined patient attitudes to adverse reactions via a questionnaire.

Methods: Fifty-two Japanese patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension were enrolled.