Density-Functional Theory for Strongly Correlated Bosonic and Fermionic Ultracold Dipolar and Ionic Gases.

We introduce a density functional formalism to study the ground-state properties of strongly correlated dipolar and ionic ultracold bosonic and fermionic gases, based on the self-consistent combination of the weak and the strong coupling limits. Contrary to conventional density functional approaches, our formalism does not require a previous calculation of the interacting homogeneous gas, and it is thus very suitable to treat systems with tunable long-range interactions. Because of its asymptotic exactness in the regime of strong correlation, the formalism works for systems in which standard mean-field theories fail.

[Neovascular invasion of the endothelio-descemetic interface occurring after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty]. / Invasion néovasculaire de l'interface endothélio-descemetique au décours d'une kératoplastie lamellaire antérieure profonde.

INTRODUCTION: The endothelio-descemetic interface (EDI) of a deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) may become the locus of a neovascular proliferation. Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an antiangiogenic alternative available for curative treatment in deep corneal neovascularization. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 49-year-old woman who had received two arcuate relaxing incisions for high astigmatism after DALK. She developed graft rejection associated with significant neovascular stromal invasion in the EDI of the graft-host interface. Two subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab 1 month apart as well as thermocauterization of the feeding vessel were necessary and effective. No recurrence has been observed after 2 years of follow-up. DISCUSSION: Corneal neovascularization can be a cause of DALK rejection. A combination of anti-antiangiogenic and physical methods may abort graft rejection and permanently restore graft function.

[Epidemiological aspects of keratoconus in children]. / Aspects épidémiologiques du kératocône chez l'enfant.

PURPOSE: To study the epidemiological aspects of keratoconus in children. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with keratoconus diagnosed prior to age 15 or after age 27. Age, gender, reason for consultation, ethnicity, personal and family history, allergic history, eye rubbing, optical and surgical treatment, and educational and professional background were identified. Data from each group were compared by Chi(2) testing. RESULTS: Forty-nine children and 167 adults were studied. The majority of patients were Caucasian. Children were more frequently male (P=0.0386) and allergic (67.35% versus 47.31% in adults, P=0.0136). Eye rubbing was found in 91.84% of children and 70.06% of adults (P=0.002). In total, 12.24% of children had a family history of keratoconus versus 14.97% of adults (P=0.6324). Totally, 68.09% of children were fitted with rigid contact lenses versus 15.66% of adults (P=0.0909). In all, 80.5% of surgically treated children underwent corneal collagen cross-linking versus 30% of adults. DISCUSSION: Younger patients are more often male, with women being older at time of diagnosis. Allergy is a frequent association. However, 25% of children in the general population display allergies. In any event, eye rubbing is a common feature, whether due to itching or induced ametropia. CONCLUSION: In order to detect the disease early, corneal topography could be performed routinely in all young, allergic boys with a history of eye rubbing and recent-onset corneal astigmatism.

[Decreased visual acuity in young patients; Javal's ophthalmometer is still contributing]. / Baisse de l'acuité visuelle du sujet jeune ; l'ophtalmomètre de Javal est toujours contributif.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to recall the advantages of the Javal ophthalmometer in screening keratoconus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In three young patients with progressive visual loss, optic neuropathy was strongly suspected by their ophthalmologist despite a strictly normal neuro-ophthalmology record. The patients underwent an ophthalmic clinical examination at the Bordeaux University Hospital, which guided the paraclinical examination with corneal videotopography (Orbscan II(®), Bausch and Lomb) and the biomechanical properties of the cornea with the ocular response analyzer (ORA(®), Reichert). RESULTS: Visual acuity improved in all patients on the pinhole visual acuity test. The videotopography concluded in keratoconus in all three patients. The biomechanical parameters were abnormal. The patients were equipped successfully with hard contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Despite the latest technologies including videotopography and ORA(®), examination of the cornea with the Javal ophthalmometer remains a landmark of the eye examination and can assist in screening some keratoconus conditions and avoiding diagnostic uncertainties as well as inappropriate and expensive paraclinical examinations.

Nutrition and age-related eye diseases: the Alienor (Antioxydants, Lipides Essentiels, Nutrition et maladies OculaiRes) Study.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, degenerative eye diseases (age-related maculopathy (ARM), cataract, glaucoma) are the main causes of visual impairment and blindness, which contribute to disability in the elderly. Mainly three types of nutritional factors are investigated for their potential protection against eye ageing: antioxidants; lutein and zeaxanthin (carotenoids which accumulate specifically in the eye); omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Few epidemiological studies have been conducted in this field, particularly in Europe. OBJECTIVE: The Alienor (Antioxydants, Lipides Essentiels, Nutrition et maladies OculaiRes) Study aims at assessing the associations of eye diseases with nutritional factors, determined from plasma measurements and estimation of dietary intakes. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were recruited in Bordeaux (France) from the ongoing population-based 3C study. In 2006-2008, 963 subjects from the 3C Study, aged 73 years or more, had an eye examination and will have follow-up eye examinations every 2 years. MEASUREMENTS: Vascular, genetic and nutritional factors were assessed at baseline (1999-2001) and follow-up examinations of the 3C Study. Eye diseases were classified according to international classifications. RESULTS: Nutritional status and vascular disease and risk factors were similar between participants and non participants, except for a slight difference in plasma triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol. As expected, the prevalence of eye diseases was high: early and late ARM (28.4 % and 5.6 %, respectively), open-angle glaucoma and treated ocular hypertension (4.8 % and 10.0 %, respectively), cataract extraction (45.2 %), retinopathy (8.4 %), retinal vein occlusion (1.1 %), epiretinal membrane (3.9 %), current use of artificial tears (17.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high prevalence of eye diseases in the elderly. Its main strength is the combination of nutritional, vascular and genetic information, collected over a 7 year period of time before the first eye examination. It may help design future interventional studies, which might be common with other age-related disorders, because of common nutritional factors.

[Study and prevention of contact lens-related microbial keratitis with a standardized questionnaire]. / Utilité d'un questionnaire standardisé dans la prise en charge et l'étude épidémiologique des kératites infectieuses sous lentilles de contact.

INTRODUCTION: microbial keratitis is a significant health concern for the one million wearers of contact lenses and their ophthalmologists, with some potentially modifiable risk factors. The number of risk factors for contact lens-related microbial keratitis has been described, but many of them still remain assumed or unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: a multicenter prospective case-control study was conducted in 12 French university hospitals (Besançon, Bordeaux, Dijon, Fort-de-France, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Nancy, Nantes, Paris, Marseille and Strasbourg) beginning in July 2007 on contact lens wearers presenting with microbial keratitis and on healthy contact lens wearers. Patients and healthy wearers were interviewed using a 51-item anonymous standardized questionnaire to determine subject demographics and contact lens wear history. RESULTS: two hundred and fifty-six patients with microbial keratitis were included. One hundred and thirteen healthy contact lenses wearers were surveyed. Cosmetic contact lens wear highly increased the relative risk (RR) of microbial keratitis (RR, 16.5). Time since the last visit to an ophthalmologist longer than 1 year (RR, 3.4) or prescription by someone other than an ophthalmologist (RR, 7.6) also increased the risk of microbial keratitis. Education on lens care and handling was deficient (hand washing: RR, 2.2; rub and rinse: RR, 2.7). DISCUSSION: a standardized questionnaire is a powerful tool to determine risk factors for contact lens-related microbial keratitis, but also to analyze individual mistakes in contact lenses use and care.

[Contact lens fitting after keratoplasty for keratoconus]. / Adaptation des lentilles de contact sur greffe de cornée pour kératocône.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of contact lens fitting after corneal graft for keratoconus. Contact lens types, visual acuity and complications were examined. METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review from patients admitted to Pellegrin Hospital at CHU Bordeaux, between January 2001 and December 2006, for contact lens fitting after keratoplasty for keratoconus. RESULTS: This retrospective study involved 39 eyes of 29 patients with an average age of 34.3 years and an average follow-up of 31.3 months. The mean time between grafting and contact lens fitting was 50.9 months. Large-diameter rigid gas permeable contact lenses were the most frequent lenses used. Average visual acuity after contact lens fitting was 8/10. Intolerance to contact lenses was observed in 8 eyes (20.5%) eyes and the complications associated with their use responded well to medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients with keratoconus must be alerted to the possible necessity of fitting contact lenses after corneal graft. They can play an important role in the improvement of visual function without significant complications.

[Practical measures. Contact lenses after glaucoma surgery]. / Attitudes pratiques. Lentilles de contact après chirurgie du glaucome.

New soft therapeutic contact lenses after glaucoma surgery provide good results, both in terms of tolerance and efficacy (60% pressure increase in a personal series of ten patients with the Trabeculens contact lens). Indicated for moderate immediate postoperative leakage, their use remains transitory and they should be removed as soon as intraocular pressure is (rapidly) corrected. After glaucoma surgery, wearing contact lenses can be discussed if there are no contraindications and 6-12 months after the intervention in a compliant patient. Evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio is important. Gas-permeable, small-diatmeter hard contact lenses, bi- or trifocal spherical or posterior toric - the most stable - should be favored. Soft contact lenses can also be used, but because of their presence on the conjunctiva, notably in the filtration zone, they are less frequently recommended. Contact lens wear should in all cases be strictly limited to the daytime.

[Bilateral infectious keratitis in a patient wearing cosmetic soft contact lenses]. / Kératite infectieuse bilatérale chez une patiente porteuse de lentilles souples cosmétiques.

We report a case of an immunocompetent 20-year-old woman, wearing planocosmetic contact lenses to change the color of her eyes, with no contact lens hygiene regimen. She developed a bilateral infectious keratitis. Acanthamoeba and Fusarium solani were isolated in both eyes. Bilateral penetrating keratoplasty was needed because of bilateral corneal perforation. Three months later, bilateral simultaneous phacoemulsification was performed because of a dense cataract and a severe decrease in her vision. Six months after surgery, her best corrected visual acuity was 0.7 in the right eye, and 0.6 in the left eye. Cosmetic contact lenses expose the wearers to the same potential ocular complications as other contact lenses. Wearers must be informed of such complications, which may be sight-threatening. Based on this case, we strongly recommend that all cosmetic contact lens wearers be examined and followed as if they were standard contact lens wearers.

Ocular surface changes induced by contact lens wear.

PURPOSE: To evaluate subclinical inflammation and mucus production of the conjunctiva in asymptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers, and to obtain an estimation of the chronologic variations in each group. METHODS: Eighteen eyes fitted with rigid CL (RCL) and 28 eyes with soft CL (SCL) worn daily were compared with 10 eyes from five healthy non-CL wearers. Impression cytology (IC) specimens were collected after clinical examination and were analyzed by flow cytometry using antibodies directed to HLA DR and intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1) (CD 54), as inflammatory markers, and to the peptidic core of the conjunctival mucin (M1/MUC5AC) for mucus and goblet cell detection. The percentage of positive cells was calculated, and levels of fluorescence expression were quantified and compared between each group. RESULTS: A significant increase of HLA DR and ICAM-1 was observed in the SCL group in comparison with the control group. The two inflammatory markers were highly positively correlated with each other. Mucin detection with M1/MUC5AC did not find a significant difference between each group in terms of percentage of positive cells, but analyses of mean levels of fluorescence showed a significant decrease in the two CL groups. Evolution in time was different for each group, with a regular low level of inflammation in the RCL group in the first 10 years in comparison with the SCL group. In the SCL group, inflammation seemed to be higher before 2 years and after 10 years of wear. Mucin expression was variable in time, but without significant difference at any time. CONCLUSION: This study confirms difference in expression of subclinical conjunctival inflammation in asymptomatic CL wearers, with lower levels for RCL than SCL wearers with daily or extended wear. The mucin system is also modified by this low but chronic aggression of the ocular surface, with a tendency to decrease with time in the RCL and SCL groups.

INTACS inserts for treating keratoconus: one-year results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of INTACS micro-thin prescription inserts (Kera Vision, Inc., Fremont, CA) for the treatment of keratoconus. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized (self-controlled) comparative trial. PARTICIPANTS/INTERVENTION: Ten patients from our prospective clinical study who had completed 12 months of follow-up were evaluated. All patients had keratoconus with clear central corneas and were contact lens intolerant. After reviewing corneal pachymetry and topography of individual patients, INTACS inserts of 0.45-mm thickness were placed in the inferior cornea to lift the cone and INTACS of 0.25-mm thickness were inserted superiorly to counterbalance and flatten the overall anterior corneal surface. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences between preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, and keratometry values were statistically assessed. Changes in corneal ectasia were evaluated by reviewing corneotopographic maps. RESULTS: No intraoperative complications occurred in this series of patients. Spherical equivalent error and refractive astigmatism were reduced with INTACS inserts treatment. Postoperative month 12 uncorrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] mean, 0.35, standard deviation [SD], 0.16 [approximately 20/50, approximately 2 lines]) was significantly better than preoperative (logMAR mean, 1.05; SD, 0.33 [approximately 20/200, approximately 3 lines]; P

[An observational, retrospective two-year cost study in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in newly diagnosed patients]. / Etude observationnelle rétrospective de coûts des deux premières années de traitement dans le glaucome primitif à angle ouvert et l'hypertension oculaire en France.

PURPOSE: To investigate the different treatment strategies in France and the direct costs for patients with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who have started treatment with beta-blockers, and to estimate the total direct cost for two years of treat. MATERIAL: and methods: We analyzed 225 medical charts retrospective in eleven academically and office-based centers in France over the first two years after diagnosis. Standard costs for each resource in current medical practice were determined from the French Social Security perspective. RESULTS: The vast majority of patients (90%) had a diagnosis of primary, open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in both eyes. In 60% of the patients we found a moderate or severe defect in their visual field or optic nerve. Intraocular pressure before treatment was 23.9+4.7mmHg and 17.5+4.2mmHg after two years of treatment. Over the first two years, 25% of visits led to a change in therapy (medical or surgical), involving 64% of the patients. Two-thirds of the changes occurred during the first year of treatment and in around 80% of cases for low intraocular pressure at check-up. Laser surgery or surgical intervention was performed in 25% of the patients. Total direct costs for two years were 5698F.F. The intraocular pressure before treatment was positively correlated (p<0.01) with treatment costs, while the initial intraocular pressure-lowering effects of treatment were negatively correlated with two-year costs. CONCLUSION: After two years of treatment, the mean intraocular pressure decreased from 24 to 17.5mmHg. The higher the basal intraocular pressures is, the more intensive the treatment and the higher the costs. The more efficient the treatment to decrease baseline intraocular pressure is, the earlier the costs will be reduced.

Correcting keratoconus with intracorneal rings.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential of intrastromal corneal ring technology (Intacs, KeraVision) to correct keratoconus without central corneal scarring. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Brest University Hospital, Brest, France. METHODS: In this prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series, Intacs segments were implanted in 10 keratoconic eyes with clear central corneas and contact lens intolerance after corneal pachymetry was checked. Segment thicknesses varied based on corneal topography analysis. RESULTS: No intraoperative complications occurred. The mean follow-up was 10.6 months. Postoperative results revealed a reduction in astigmatism and spherical correction and an increase in topographical regularity and increased uncorrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Intacs technology can reduce the corneal steepening and astigmatism associated with keratoconus.

Myopic photorefractive keratectomy in eyes with atypical inferior corneal steepening.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual and refractive results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in eyes with atypical inferior corneal steepening (AICS). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Morvan, University of Breast, France. METHODS: Using videokeratopography, we screened 310 eyes that had PRK from November 1992 through November 1993 and found that 35 eyes exhibited topographic patterns consistent with AICS with no clinical findings. The results at 6 months and 1 year were compared with those of 185 eyes with normal topography treated concurrently. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in mean spherical equivalent, mean uncorrected visual acuity, and mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity 6 months and 1 year after PRK. CONCLUSION: After 1 year, PRK in eyes with AICS appeared to give results similar to those in eyes with normal topography. Further follow-up is needed.

Inferior steepening is associated with thinning of the inferotemporal cornea.

PURPOSE: Videokeratography has enabled detection of inferior steepening patterns in patients thereby designated as keratoconus suspects. Since no information about the corneal thickness of these eyes is available, we studied several patients with such patterns, and compared the corneal thickness of their eyes with that of normals. METHODS: Three groups of patients who had undergone videokeratography were studied with ultrasonic pachymetry centrally and in four quadrants at the 3-mm clear zone: 44 eyes with true keratoconus, 23 eyes of individuals with inferior steepening of the cornea who were family members of patients with keratoconus; and 44 normal eyes never fitted with contact lenses. The corneal thickness of the eyes in the first two groups was then compared with that in the third using ANOVA and Student's t test. RESULTS: Corneal thickness in the normal eyes and in those with inferior steepening was similar in all except the inferotemporal quadrant. In this quadrant, the corneas of the eyes with inferior steepening were thinner than those of the normal eyes: 544 +/- 32 microns vs 581 +/- 30 microns (p < .05) CONCLUSION: Eyes with inferior steepening on videokeratography have thinner inferotemporal corneas than normal eyes.