Time-course of the visual Impact on presbyopes of a low dose miotic.

Purpose: To examine the pupil and visual impact of a single early morning drop of a low concentration miotic.

Methods: Pupil size, refraction, visual acuity (VA), near reading performance and intraocular pressure were monitored for 8 h at a wide range of light levels following bilateral instillation of single drops of 0.1% brimonidine tartate in 19 early presbyopes (40-50 years) and 11 mature presbyopes (>50 years).

Glaucomatous visual fields and neurocognitive function are independently associated with poor lane maintenance during driving simulation.

Background: Driving simulators are a safe alternative to on-road vehicles for studying driving behavior in glaucoma drivers. Visual field (VF) loss severity is associated with higher driving simulator crash risk, though mechanisms explaining this relationship remain unknown. Furthermore, associations between driving behavior and neurocognitive performance in glaucoma are unexplored.

Relative gene expression analysis of human pterygium tissues and UV radiation-evoked gene expression patterns in corneal and conjunctival cells.

A sight threatening, pterygium is a common ocular surface disorders identified by fibrovascular growth of the cornea and induced by variety of stress factors, like ultraviolet (UV) exposure. However, the genes involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease is not well studied. Herein, we identified the gene expression pattern of pterygium and examined the expression of pterygium-related genes in UV-B-induced human primary cultured corneal epithelial cells (HCEpCs), telomerase immortalized human corneal epithelial (hTCEpi), primary conjunctival fibroblast (HConFs) and primary pterygium fibroblast cells (HPFCs).

Spatial agreement between Goldmann visual field defects and fundus autofluorescence in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy.

Background: The purpose of this paper is to study the spatial agreement between visual field defects and ultra-wide field (UWF) fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR). The study is a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of a university uveitis practice. Eight (8) eyes of five (5) patients with BSCR were included.

Variation of choroidal thickness and vessel diameter in patients with posterior non-infectious uveitis.

Background: Choroidal thickness (CTh) and choroidal vessel diameter (VD) in the Haler's layer were evaluated as markers of inflammatory insult in non-infectious uveitis (NIU). Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering Inc.) scans were acquired from 23 normal subjects (39 eyes - group 1), 7 subjects with high myopia (14 eyes - group 2), and 19 patients with NIU (23 eyes - group 3).

Combined systemic and ocular chemotherapy for anterior segment metastasis of systemic mantle cell lymphoma.

Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that rarely metastasizes to the iris and the anterior segment. Blastic/pleomorphic morphology is thought to have an adverse effect on prognosis in MCL. MCL is resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic regimens with a tendency for multiple relapses.

Therapies in Development for Non-Infectious Uveitis.

Uveitis represents a spectrum of diseases characterized by ocular inflammation that leads to significant visual loss if left untreated. Adequate, long-term control of inflammation with minimal systemic and local adverse effects is the preferred strategy for treating patients with uveitis. Pharmacotherapy for uveitis consists mainly of corticosteroids in various formulations such as topical, local, intraocular and systemic.

Assessment of Retinal Structural and Functional Characteristics in Eyes with Autoimmune Retinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the thicknesses of individual retinal layers, and the correlation between structural changes and functional loss using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans and electroretinograms (ERG), in eyes with autoimmune retinopathy (AIR).

Methods: SD-OCT raster scans of 12 eyes from 6 patients serologically diagnosed with AIR were evaluated. Retinal layers were segmented along a 5 mm horizontal scan passing through the fovea.

High-resolution adaptive optics findings in talc retinopathy.

Talc retinopathy is a recognized ocular condition characterized by the presence of small, yellow, glistening crystals found inside small retinal vessels and within different retinal layers. These crystals can be associated with retinal vascular occlusion and ischemia. Different diagnostic modalities have been used previously to characterize the retinal lesions in talc retinopathy.

Systematic review and mixed treatment comparison of intravitreal aflibercept with other therapies for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Background: This was an indirect comparison of the effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) 2 mg every 8 weeks after 5 initial monthly doses (or if different periods, after an initial monthly dosing period) (2q8) and other diabetic macular edema (DME) therapies at doses licensed outside the USA.

Methods: A comprehensive search was undertaken to source relevant studies. Feasibility networks were prepared to identify viable comparisons of 12-month outcomes between IVT-AFL 2q8 and therapies licensed outside the USA, which were assessed for clinical and statistical homogeneity.

Retinal sensitivity is a valuable complementary measurement to visual acuity--a microperimetry study in patients with maculopathies.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in macular sensitivity, as measured with microperimetry, among patients with maculopathy and stable visual acuity (VA).

Methods: Macular sensitivity was assessed using the Spectral OCT/SLO™ microperimetry (OCT/SLO, Optos Plc., Dunfermline, UK) in 25 eyes (16 patients) with maculopathy and stable VA (<5 letters change in ETDRS score) at two consecutive clinic visits.

Blood pressure control for diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness. Research has established the importance of blood glucose control to prevent development and progression of the ocular complications of diabetes. Simultaneous blood pressure control has been advocated for the same purpose, but findings reported from individual studies have supported varying conclusions regarding the ocular benefit of interventions on blood pressure.

Surgical interventions for primary congenital glaucoma.

Background: Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) manifests within the first few years of a child's life and is not associated with any other systemic or ocular abnormalities. PCG results in considerable morbidity even in developed countries. Several surgical techniques for treating this condition, and lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with it, have been described.

Emerging therapies for noninfectious uveitis: what may be coming to the clinics.

Corticosteroids along with other immunomodulatory therapies remain as the mainstay of treatment tor all patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU). However, the systemic side effects associated with the long-term use of these drugs has encouraged the development of new therapeutic agents in recent times. This review article discusses upcoming therapeutic agents and drug delivery systems that are currently being used to treat patients with NIU.

The Stochastic Component of the Postural Sway Variability is Higher in Children with Balance Impairments.

Children with balance impairments have an increased amount of variability in the sway of the center of pressure (COP) during standing. Limited efforts have been made to quantify the nature of the variability. This exploratory investigation examined the deterministic and stochastic features that comprise the time-dependent postural sway variability during standing.

Pre- and post-synaptic effects of manipulating surface charge with divalent cations at the photoreceptor synapse.

Persistence of horizontal cell (HC) light responses in extracellular solutions containing low Ca2+ plus divalent cations to block Ca2+ currents (ICa) has been attributed to Ca2+-independent neurotransmission. Using a retinal slice preparation to record both ICa and light responses, we demonstrate that persistence of HC responses in low [Ca2+]o can instead be explained by a paradoxical increase of Ca2+ influx into photoreceptor terminals arising from surface charge-mediated shifts in ICa activation. Consistent with this explanation, application of Zn2+ or Ni2+ caused a hyperpolarizing block of HC light responses that was relieved by lowering [Ca2+]o.

Calcium-dependent inactivation and depletion of synaptic cleft calcium ions combine to regulate rod calcium currents under physiological conditions.

L-type Ca2+ currents (I(Ca)) in rod photoreceptors exhibit Ca2+-dependent inactivation. Perforated-patch whole-cell recordings were obtained from isolated rods of the tiger salamander using 1.8 mm Ca2+ in the bathing medium to determine the extent of Ca2+-dependent inactivation of I(Ca) with physiological [Ca2+] and endogenous buffering.

Differential modulation of rod and cone calcium currents in tiger salamander retina by D2 dopamine receptors and cAMP.

Synaptic transmission from vertebrate photoreceptors involves activation of L-type calcium currents (ICa). Dopamine is an important circadian neuromodulator in the retina and photoreceptors possess D2 dopamine receptors. We examined modulation of ICa by dopamine and cAMP in retinal slices and isolated cells of larval tiger salamander.

Anion modulation of calcium current voltage dependence and amplitude in salamander rods.

Hofmeister anions were used to investigate the ability of Cl(-) replacement to produce inhibition and a hyperpolarizing activation shift in L-type Ca(2+) currents (I(Ca)) of rod photoreceptors. Inhibition of I(Ca) largely followed the Hofmeister sequence: Cl(-)=Br(-) View Article and Find Full Text PDF