Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor-A165a in human retinal and endothelial cells in response to glyoxal.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is effective and safe for patients with diabetes, proteinuria, and dyslipidemia. Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by ocular microvascular complications like retinal neovascularization or diabetic macular edema. These are leading causes of blindness and can be mediated by abnormal vessel growth and increased vascular permeability due to elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diabetic patients. In this study, we established methods to study the expression of different VEGF isoforms in human retinal and endothelial cells. The VEGF-A165a isoform is much higher expressed in retinal cells, compared to endothelial cells. Stimulation with glyoxal as a model of oxidative stress under diabetic conditions lead to a pronounced induction of VEGF-A165a in human retinal and endothelial cells. These data suggest that diabetes and oxidative stress induce VEGF-A isoforms which could be relevant in regulating the ingrowths of novel blood vessels into the retina in diabetic patients.

Reliability of Orbscan II topography measurements in relation to refractive status.

PURPOSE: To investigate the reliability of corneal topography measurements using the Orbscan II topography system (Bausch & Lomb) not only referring to a normal cohort but also to different refractive conditions. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. METHODS: Eighty patients (mean age 46.4 +/- 19.0 years) were assigned to 4 refractive groups (Group A: emmetropia (n=20); Group B: astigmatism (n=20) (-1.98 +/- 1.77 diopters [D]); Group C: hyperopia (n=20) (+4.84 +/- 1.6 D); Group D: myopia (n=20) (-9.64 +/- 3.79 D). Three measurements were performed in a series. Thirteen defined, standardized points of the entire cornea (apex, 3.0 mm, 5.0 mm, and 7.0 mm zone) were evaluated for 3 different maps (anterior elevation, pachymetry, keratometry). RESULTS: In all 80 patients, the following mean values were found in relation to analyzed zones: with regard to the anterior elevation map, the values decreased from 5.53 microm (center) to -6.52 microm (7.0 mm zone), the corneal thickness increased from 549.41 microm to 638.63 microm peripheral and the keratometry from 43.86 D (apex) to 45.4 D (7.0 mm zone), respectively. Analysis of the 3 different maps in all 4 refraction groups showed a tendency toward an increase in SD from the center to the 7.0 mm zone for anterior elevation and pachymetry maps. For keratometry, however, the lowest SD was found in the 7.0 mm zone. In particular, patients with hyperopia showed significant differences (P<.01), compared with emmetropic patients; the SD was higher with regard to anterior elevation as well as keratometry in peripheral zones. Group B (astigmatism) showed significantly higher SD for anterior elevation in zones 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 mm when compared with emmetropic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The repeated Orbscan II measurements showed SD in the micrometer range for anterior elevation and pachymetry but values between 0.48 D and 0.97 D for keratometric data. Patients with astigmatism and especially hyperopia showed significantly higher SD values in peripheral zones for anterior elevation and keratometry, indicating a lower reliability, compared with the emmetropic cohort. However, the different ages of the patients could also be a possible explanation for these findings. Therefore, the Orbscan II seems to be a predictable and useful device for measuring corneal topography.

Performance of the 1CU accommodating intraocular lens in relation to capsulorhexis size.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) size and visual outcomes in patients with an accommodating intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: Heidelberg IOL and Refractive Surgery Research Group, Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. METHODS: Nineteen eyes had phacoemulsification and implantation of a 1CU accommodating IOL (HumanOptics AG). Three months after surgery, the uncorrected and best corrected distance and near visual acuities and the distance corrected near visual acuity were measured. Retroillumination photographs were taken to assess CCC size and centration and the amount of overlap between the CCC and IOL optic. The photographs were analyzed using Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification system software. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years (range 30 to 73 years). The mean uncorrected distance acuity improved from 0.05 preoperatively to 0.70 at 3 months and the best corrected near acuity, from 0.30 to 0.94. The mean postoperative distance corrected near acuity was 0.5 (range 0.1 to 1.0), which improved to 0.9 with near correction. The mean CCC size (4.3 mm) and amount of CCC decentration (0.35 mm) did not correlate with visual outcomes. However, there was a correlation between the amount of CCC-optic overlap (mean 35%; range 16% to 55%) and distance corrected near acuity (r = 0.641, P = .003). Distance corrected near acuity was better with less overlapping; that is, with a larger CCC. CONCLUSIONS: A larger capsulorhexis with less CCC-optic overlapping gave better near visual outcomes. Results indicate that an overlap between 25% and 35%, which correlates with a CCC between 4.5 mm and 5.0 mm, provides the best capsule strength without compromising accommodation with the single-piece 1CU IOL.

Anterior chamber depth in relation to refractive status measured with the Orbscan II Topography System.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anterior chamber depth (ACD) according to refractive status, assess the reliability of repeated ACD measurements using the Orbscan II Topography System (Bausch and Lomb), compare Orbscan II and IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) ACD measurements, and investigate the correlation between refraction, axial length (AL), and ACD. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. METHODS: In this clinical study, 60 patients with a mean age of 43.8 years +/- 18.74 (SD) were assigned to 1 of 3 groups of 20 patients each according to refraction: emmetropia group; hyperopia group (mean +4.84 +/- 1.60 diopters [D]); myopia group (mean -9.64 +/- 3.79 D). Using the Orbscan II system, 3 consecutive ACD measurements (apex and 3.0 mm zone) were performed. The IOLMaster was used to measure ACD and AL. RESULTS: The mean ACD (from epithelium) with the Orbscan II and IOLMaster, respectively, was 3.61 +/- 0.24 mm and 3.61 +/- 0.24 mm in the emmetropia group, 3.03 +/- 0.21 mm and 3.06 +/- 0.24 mm in the hyperopia group, and 3.72 +/- 0.26 mm and 3.73 +/- 0.23 mm in the myopia group. The standard deviation of the repeated Orbscan II measurements increased from 13 to 15 microm from the apex to the 3.0 mm zone. The difference between the apex and 3.0 mm zone of the cornea in all groups ranged from 0.1 to 0.12 mm. The mean AL was 23.52 +/- 0.82 mm in the emmetropia group, 22.14 +/- 0.64 mm in the hyperopia group, and 27.44 +/- 1.67 mm in the myopia group. There was a significant correlation between the spherical equivalent and AL (r = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly lower ACD values were found in the hyperopia group than in the other 2 groups. There was no difference in ACD between the emmetropia and myopia groups even though the AL in the myopia group was 4.0 mm longer. No statistical difference in ACD measurements was found between the Orbscan II and IOLMaster.

Quantification of posterior capsule opacification with round and sharp edge intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively evaluate and compare intraocular lenses (IOLs) with a round or sharp optic edge design for posterior capsule opacification (PCO). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective comparative observational case series. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS: Photographs from 174 eyes were analyzed for PCO at the Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Part I: 121 eyes of 121 patients were analyzed for quantification of PCO. IOLs evaluated were Corneal ACR6 (n = 21), Alcon Acrysof (n = 20), Allergan AR40 (n = 27), Pharmacia 811 one-piece polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) IOL (n = 24), and Pharmacia 911A silicone IOL (n = 29). Mean follow-up was 14.01 +/- 2.81 months; mean patient age was 73.2 +/- 7.3 years. The morphologic PCO formation was evaluated for the entire optic and in the central 3-mm zone. Part II: In 53 eyes of 46 patients aged 73.4 +/- 10.8 years with an Alcon Acrysof IOL, PCO formation and capsulorrhexis/optic overlapping were analyzed 34.2 +/- 4 months after cataract surgery using EPCO Software. RESULTS: Part I: The PCO values of the entire optic were for Corneal ACR6, 1.93 +/- 0.62; PMMA, 0.64 +/- 0.63; AR40, 0.55 +/- 0.28; Alcon Acrysof, 0.145 +/- 0.27; and 0.161 +/- 0.181 for the Pharmacia 911A IOL (P < 0.01). The PCO values of the central 3-mm zone were for Corneal ACR6, 1.64 +/- 0.96; PMMA, 0.49 +/- 0.39; AR40, 0.22 +/- 0.32; Alcon Acrysof, 0.08 +/- 0.21; and 0.06 +/- 0.11 for the Pharmacia 911A IOL (P < 0.01). Part II: Average overlapping of capsulorrhexis and Acrysof IOL optic was 40.5% +/- 12.4%. There was a significant correlation between PCO values and overlapping (r = -0.69, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The sharp-edge IOL types (Alcon Acrysof and Pharmacia 911A silicone IOL) resulted in statistically significantly lower PCO values for analysis of the entire optic area and central 3-mm zone. There was no statistically significant difference in PCO values between the two sharp-edge optic IOLs. An overlapping of capsulorrhexis rim and the anterior IOL optic surface of more than 20% resulted in significantly lower PCO values with the Acrysof IOL.