Testing mechanisms of DNA sliding by architectural DNA-binding proteins: dynamics of single wild-type and mutant protein molecules in vitro and in vivo.

Architectural DNA-binding proteins (ADBPs) are abundant constituents of eukaryotic or bacterial chromosomes that bind DNA promiscuously and function in diverse DNA reactions. They generate large conformational changes in DNA upon binding yet can slide along DNA when searching for functional binding sites. Here we investigate the mechanism by which ADBPs diffuse on DNA by single-molecule analyses of mutant proteins rationally chosen to distinguish between rotation-coupled diffusion and DNA surface sliding after transient unbinding from the groove(s). The properties of yeast Nhp6A mutant proteins, combined with molecular dynamics simulations, suggest Nhp6A switches between two binding modes: a static state, in which the HMGB domain is bound within the minor groove with the DNA highly bent, and a mobile state, where the protein is traveling along the DNA surface by means of its flexible N-terminal basic arm. The behaviors of Fis mutants, a bacterial nucleoid-associated helix-turn-helix dimer, are best explained by mobile proteins unbinding from the major groove and diffusing along the DNA surface. Nhp6A, Fis, and bacterial HU are all near exclusively associated with the chromosome, as packaged within the bacterial nucleoid, and can be modeled by three diffusion modes where HU exhibits the fastest and Fis the slowest diffusion.

MACULAR DEHISCENCE-ASSOCIATED EPIRETINAL PROLIFERATION IN EYES WITH FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE.

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics of the macular dehiscence-associated epiretinal proliferations (EPs) in eyes with full-thickness macular holes (MHs). METHODS: The presence of EPs and the integrity of the retinal microstructures in eyes with MHs were determined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography in 390 eyes of 379 patients (29-89 years). The clinical findings, closure of the MH, the preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, and the microstructural changes were compared between eyes with and without EPs. RESULTS: Epiretinal proliferations were detected in 31 of 390 eyes (7.9%). The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity and duration of reduced vision were not significantly different in the group with and without EPs (P = 0.09, P = 0.28). The axial lengths were significantly longer (P = 0.001), MH stage more advanced (P = 0.006), and the incidence of epiretinal membranes (P < 0.001) and intraretinal splitting (P < 0.001) were higher in eyes with EP. The EP was significantly correlated with the length of the ellipsoid zone defects (P < 0.001) and medium-reflective bridging tissue over the closed MH (P < 0.001). The closure rates and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.99, P = 0.99). CONCLUSION: The presence of EP was correlated with retinal microstructural changes and may support postoperative visual improvements with medium-reflective bridging tissue over the closed MH.

Intrinsically disordered domain of tumor suppressor p53 facilitates target search by ultrafast transfer between different DNA strands.

Intersegmental transfer (IST) is an important strategy in the target search used by sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins (DBPs), enabling DBPs to search for targets between multiple DNA strands without dissociation. We examined the IST of the tumor suppressor p53 using ensemble stopped-flow and single-molecule fluorescence measurements. The ensemble measurements demonstrated that p53 exhibits very fast IST, whose rate constant was ∼108 M-1 s-1. To determine the domains of p53 responsible for IST, two mutants with deletions of one of its two DNA binding domains were generated. The mutant lacking the disordered C-terminal (CT) domain (the CoreTet mutant) abolished IST, whereas the mutant lacking the structured core domain (the TetCT mutant) maintained IST, clearly demonstrating the importance of the CT domain. Single-molecule fluorescence measurements further demonstrated the transfer of p53 between two tethered DNA strands. The pseudo-wild-type p53 and the TetCT mutant showed significant transfer efficiencies, whereas the transfer efficiency for the CoreTet mutant was zero. These results suggest that ultrafast IST might be promoted by four copies of the CT domain, by binding to two DNA strands simultaneously. Such ultrafast IST might be important to avoid nearby-bound DBPs during the target search process of p53 in nucleus.

Vascular Density of the Anterior Segment of the Eye Determined by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Slit-Lamp Photography.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the vascular density of the anterior segment (AS) of the eye from optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images and slit-lamp photographs. METHODS: A swept-source OCTA (Plex Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss) device modified with a +10-diopter lens was used to record the vasculature of the AS. Twenty eyes, including 4 eyes of 4 healthy subjects and 16 eyes of 12 patients scheduled for cataract surgery or combined vitrectomy and cataract surgery, were studied. The slit-lamp photographs of the AS were acquired concurrently with the AS-OCTA images. The vascular density was measured preoperatively and postoperatively in the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrants after binarization with ImageJ software. RESULTS: Acceptable AS-OCTA images were obtained of 65% (superior), 80% (nasal), 70% (inferior), and 80% (temporal) of the eyes. The percentage of acceptable images was significantly lower in the superior quadrant among the AS-OCTA images than among the AS photographs (100%; p = 0.004). The vascular density determined by AS-OCTA was higher than that determined in the AS photographs in all quadrants (p = 0.011 to <0.001). The AS-OCTA B-mode images showed that vascular flow was identified mainly between the conjunctiva and sclera but not in the ciliary body. The vascular density increased significantly after cataract surgery in the superior quadrant, which was significantly correlated with the location of the surgical incision (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: AS-OCTA can obtain images with higher vascular density of the conjunctiva and sclera than slit-lamp photographs, and AS-OCTA images can show a postoperative increase in vascular density.

How p53 Molecules Solve the Target DNA Search Problem: A Review.

Interactions between DNA and DNA-binding proteins play an important role in many essential cellular processes. A key function of the DNA-binding protein p53 is to search for and bind to target sites incorporated in genomic DNA, which triggers transcriptional regulation. How do p53 molecules achieve "rapid" and "accurate" target search in living cells? The search dynamics of p53 were expected to include 3D diffusion in solution, 1D diffusion along DNA, and intersegmental transfer between two different DNA strands. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy enabled the tracking of p53 molecules on DNA and the characterization of these dynamics quantitatively. Recent intensive single-molecule studies of p53 succeeded in revealing each of these search dynamics. Here, we review these studies and discuss the target search mechanisms of p53.

Alterations of Foveal Architecture during Vitrectomy for Myopic Retinoschisis Identified by Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: To determine the changes in the foveal architecture before and after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with and without fovea-sparing ILM peeling (FSIP) during vitrectomy for high myopic retinoschisis by intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT). METHODS: Qualitative assessments were made of the alterations of the retinal architecture imaged by iOCT following complete ILM peeling (peeled group) or fovea-sparing ILM peeling (FSIP group). A microscope-integrated real-time iOCT device was used to analyze the retinal architectures. The alterations included a worsening of the retinoschisis, development of a foveal detachment, and development of a full thickness macular hole. The changes in the retinal architecture, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The medical records of 15 eyes of 15 patients were studied. Complete ILM peeling was performed on 9 of 15 eyes, and 8 of the 9 eyes (89%) showed a worsening of the retinal architectures following the ILM peeling. FSIP was performed on 6 of the 15 eyes, and none of these eyes developed any retinal architectural changes in the iOCT images. The mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in eyes that underwent FSIP (20/38) was significantly better than that of preoperative BCVA (20/128; p < 0.05), although the differences in the preoperative BCVA (20/87) and postoperative BCVA (20/55) in the cases that underwent complete ILM peeling were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of alterations of the foveal architecture and significant improvements in the BCVA after FSIP indicate that FSIP peeling should be considered for eyes with retinoschisis. We recommend that iOCT be used to monitor the retinal architecture during intraocular surgery involving the retina.

INVERTED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP TECHNIQUE FOR TREATMENT OF MACULAR HOLE RETINAL DETACHMENT IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of vitrectomy with inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap to complete removal of the ILM for the treatment of macular hole (MH) retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy with inverted ILM flap technique (16 eyes; inverted group) or with the complete removal of the ILM (16 eyes; removed group) was performed in patients with high myopia with MH retinal detachment. The rate of retinal reattachment and MH closure, the best-corrected visual acuities, and the integrity of the foveal microstructures in the optical coherence tomographic images were compared. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes (81%) in the inverted group and 15 eyes (93%) in the removed group had retinal reattachment after the initial surgery (P = 0.30). The MH was closed significantly more often in the inverted group (75%) than in the removed group (25%; P = 0.006). The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was significantly better in the inverted group (P = 0.04). The number of eyes with outer nuclear layer, external limiting membrane, and ellipsoid zone lines at the closed MH was not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The inverted ILM flap technique with the presence of bridging tissue over the MH is effective in closing the MH and improving the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity in eyes with MH retinal detachment by bridging tissue over the MH.

One-Dimensional Search Dynamics of Tumor Suppressor p53 Regulated by a Disordered C-Terminal Domain.

Tumor suppressor p53 slides along DNA and finds its target sequence in drastically different and changing cellular conditions. To elucidate how p53 maintains efficient target search at different concentrations of divalent cations such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, we prepared two mutants of p53, each possessing one of its two DNA-binding domains, the CoreTet mutant having the structured core domain plus the tetramerization (Tet) domain, and the TetCT mutant having Tet plus the disordered C-terminal domain. We investigated their equilibrium and kinetic dissociation from DNA and search dynamics along DNA at various [Mg2+]. Although binding of CoreTet to DNA becomes markedly weaker at higher [Mg2+], binding of TetCT depends slightly on [Mg2+]. Single-molecule fluorescence measurements revealed that the one-dimensional diffusion of CoreTet along DNA consists of fast and slow search modes, the ratio of which depends strongly on [Mg2+]. In contrast, diffusion of TetCT consisted of only the fast mode. The disordered C-terminal domain can associate with DNA irrespective of [Mg2+], and can maintain an equilibrium balance of the two search modes and the p53 search distance. These results suggest that p53 modulates the quaternary structure of the complex between p53 and DNA under different [Mg2+] and that it maintains the target search along DNA.

The Disordered Linker in p53 Participates in Nonspecific Binding to and One-Dimensional Sliding along DNA Revealed by Single-Molecule Fluorescence Measurements.

The tumor suppressor p53 is a multidomain transcription factor that can quickly bind to its target DNA by sliding along the DNA strand. We hypothesized that the intrinsically disordered and positively charged linker of p53 regulates its search dynamics first by directly interacting with DNA and second by modulating hopping of the core domain. To test the two hypotheses, we prepared five variants of p53 in which the length and charge of the linker were modulated. The affinity for and sliding along nonspecific DNA of p53 were altered by the charge of the linker, but not by the linker length. In particular, charge neutralization significantly reduced the affinity, suggesting that the linker directly contacts the DNA. Charge neutralization eliminated the slow mode of sliding, in which the core domain was assumed to contact nonspecific DNA. In contrast, the affinity of p53 for the target DNA was not affected by linker mutations. These results demonstrate that the linker participates in a target search of p53 by contacting nonspecific DNA and recruiting the core domain to contact DNA.

DURATION OF PRONE POSITIONING AFTER MACULAR HOLE SURGERY DETERMINED BY SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To compare the closure rate of macular hole closure and duration of the prone positioning after macular hole (MH) surgery with two protocols for halting the prone positioning. METHODS: The authors studied 129 eyes of 125 consecutive patients with MH who had undergone vitrectomy. In 60 eyes of 59 patients, the prone positioning was halted after detecting an MH closure in the swept-source optical coherence tomographic images (SS group). In 69 eyes of 66 patients, the prone position was halted by the surgeon's decision (conventional group). The MH closure rate and duration of the prone positioning were compared. RESULTS: Clear images of the MH were recorded in the SS group on postoperative Day 1 in 58 eyes (97%). In the SS group, MH closure was detected on postoperative Day 1 in 47 eyes (78%) and Day 2 in 4 eyes (7%). The MH was closed in 58 eyes (97%) in the SS group and 69 eyes (100%) in the conventional group (P = 0.21). None of the eyes had a reopening of the MH. The duration of prone positioning in the SS group was 1.8 ± 2.5 days, which was significantly shorter than that in the conventional group at 8.4 ± 4.2 days (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The SS-OCT protocol can significantly decrease the duration of the prone positioning without a reopening of the MH.

Effects of optical diameter of intraocular lenses with intrascleral fixation on higher-order aberrations.

BACKGROUND: Intrascleral fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL) is used in eyes that lack capsular support. The aim of the study is to determine whether a larger optical diameter IOL will decrease the higher-order aberrations (HOAs) when the haptics are extended for intrascleral fixation than a smaller diameter IOL. METHODS: Three-piece acrylic IOLs with 6.0 mm optics (X-60, VA-60BBR) and 7.0 mm optics (X-70, VA-70 AD) were fixed at lengths of 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17 mm. A wavefront analyzer was used to measure the HOAs within the central 3.0 and 5.2 mm optic diameter. RESULTS: The astigmatic aberration within the central 5.2 mm was greater than that within the central 3.0 mm for all IOLs. The HOAs increased significantly with an extension of the IOLs with both optical diameters (P < 0.001). The coma aberration within the central 5.2 mm was greater than that within the central 3.0 mm but it did not increase with an extension of the haptics. The astigmatic aberration of the X-60 IOL was significantly greater than that of the X-70 only at an extension of 17 mm. The astigmatic aberration of the VA-70 AD was not significantly different from that of the VA-60BBR. The cylindrical power changed from 0.047 D in the X-60 to 0.118 D in the VA-70 AD when the IOLs were extended from 13 to 17 mm. CONCLUSION: When three-piece IOLs are highly extended for intrascleral fixation, the astigmatic aberration increases significantly. However, IOLs with 7 mm optics do not have less astigmatic and coma aberrations than IOLs with 6 mm optics.

The Effects of Limiting Instructions about Emotional Evidence Depend on Need for Cognition.

Although limiting instructions are provided for specific evidence that may have a negative impact on jurors' decision-making, there may be individual differences in the effectiveness of the instructions. The individual predisposition towards the enjoyment of cognitive activity is called need for cognition (NFC), and individuals high in NFC tend to seek out and engage in cognitive activity spontaneously. The present study examined the influence of NFC and limiting instructions about emotional evidence on mock jurors' legal decision-making. The results showed that mock jurors who were lower in NFC were more likely to render a guilty decision than those higher in NFC, and that the tendency was more salient when the limiting instructions were presented compared with when they were not presented. Similar results were found in regard to sentencing decisions and arousal of anger. A partial mediation effect of anger was found between NFC and verdict decisions. The influence of NFC on the limiting instructions and legal decision-making as well as the effect of anger on the decision is discussed in relation to these results.

The effect of the feeling of resolution and recognition performance on the revelation effect.

The fact that engaging in a cognitive task before a recognition task increases the probability of "old" responses is known as the revelation effect. We used several cognitive tasks to examine whether the feeling of resolution, a key construct of the occurrence mechanism of the revelation effect, is related to the occurrence of the revelation effect. The results show that the revelation effect was not caused by a visual search task, which elicited the feeling of resolution, but caused by an unsolvable anagram task and an articulatory suppression task, which did not elicit the feeling of resolution. These results suggest that the revelation effect is not related to the feeling of resolution. Moreover, the revelation effect was likely to occur in participants who performed poorly on the recognition task. The result suggests that the revelation effect is inclined to occur when people depend more on familiarity than on recollection process.

ELLIPSOID ZONE MAPPING AND OUTER RETINAL CHARACTERIZATION AFTER INTRAVITREAL OCRIPLASMIN.

PURPOSE: To assess outer retinal architectural alterations after intravitreal ocriplasmin with a novel automated ellipsoid zone (EZ) mapping algorithm. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective, consecutive case series of image analysis was performed. Quantitative assessment of EZ status imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was performed before and after single intravitreal injection of 0.125 mg of ocriplasmin (Jetrea, Thrombogenics). A novel EZ mapping algorithm was used to assess the EZ retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) central area, EZ-RPE macular volume, and en face EZ integrity based on the percentage of sampling areas with 20 µm or greater EZ-RPE thickness. Longitudinal assessment of these changes with custom optical coherence tomography reading software was completed. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared with these retinal changes. RESULTS: Nineteen eyes were included in this study. The retinal volume between EZ and RPE was significantly reduced at 1 week after ocriplasmin (P = 0.0036). Seven of 19 patients (36.8%) complained of color abnormalities or brightness reduction after injection. All of these seven patients had increased subretinal fluid after ocriplasmin and EZ attenuation. The EZ-RPE volume was reduced at 1 week (P = 0.0036), 1 month (P = 0.015) after ocriplasmin, and restored by 3 months. The area with EZ-RPE thickness below 20 µm was increased at 1 week (P = 0.046) after ocriplasmin and recovered with time. CONCLUSION: Mapping of EZ is feasible to assess EZ-RPE volume and overall EZ integrity with en face thickness mapping. Alterations in EZ occur in a significant proportion of eyes after ocriplasmin therapy. The EZ-RPE volume and the EZ-RPE central foveal area typically recover to baseline by 3 months. This effect appears to be panretinal and associated with subjective symptoms.

Effect of the Antioxidant Supplement Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt (BioPQQ™) on Cognitive Functions.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a quinone compound first identified in 1979. It has been reported that rats fed a PQQ-supplemented diet showed better learning ability than controls, suggesting that PQQ may be useful for improving memory in humans. In the present study, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study to examine the effect of PQQ disodium salt (BioPQQ™) on cognitive functions was conducted with 41 elderly healthy subjects. Subjects were orally given 20 mg of BioPQQ™ per day or placebo, for 12 weeks. For cognitive functions, selective attention by the Stroop and reverse Stroop test, and visual-spatial cognitive function by the laptop tablet Touch M, were evaluated. In the Stroop test, the change of Stroop interference ratios (SIs) for the PQQ group was significantly smaller than for the placebo group. In the Touch M test, the stratification analyses dividing each group into two groups showed that only in the lower group of the PQQ group (initial score<70), did the score significantly increase. Measurements of physiological parameters indicated no abnormal blood or urinary adverse events, nor adverse internal or physical examination findings at any point in the study. The preliminary experiment using near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) suggests that cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex was increased by the administration of PQQ. The results suggest that PQQ can prevent reduction of brain function in aged persons, especially in attention and working memory.

[Clinical Characteristics of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Highly Myopic and Phakic Eyes].

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in high myopic and phakic eyes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The subjects were 1174 eyes of phakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment detected in 1199 eyes that underwent initial vitreoretinal surgery between April 2006 and March 2011. Eyes with macular hole retinal detachment or secondary retinal detachment were excluded. The 486 eyes with high myopia (spherical equivalent ≤ -6.0 D or axial length ≥ 26.5 mm) and the 688 eyes with non-high myopia were compared. RESULTS: The mean age was significantly younger in the high myopia group (42.7 ± 14.2 years old, p < 0.001) with a single peak of higher incidence in 40 years old. The retinal detachment caused by retinal hole was significantly frequent in the high myopia group (p < 0.001) and that caused by retinal tear was less frequent (p = 0.021). The initial retinal attachment rate and the final attachment rate were not significant. In the fellow eye of the high myopia group, the incidence of retinal detachment and lattice degeneration were more frequent (16.7%, 20.4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of the retinal detachment in younger age and those caused by retinal holes were higher in the high myopia group. Higher incidence of retinal detachment and lattice degeneration in the fellow eyes of the high myopia group indicated that careful observation also in the fellow eyes was recommended.

[The effect of suggestibility on eyewitness identifications: A comparison between showups and lineups].

There are two types of eyewitness-identification procedures: showups and lineups. Although the false-identification rate of showups was considered to be higher than that of lineups, experimental research has not always supported the superiority of lineups. Further, suggestibility of showups is believed to produce higher false-identification rates, but no experimental study has manipulated suggestibility. In this study, we manipulated suggestibility; 258 participants performed photo identification in a showup or lineup. The results revealed that the correct-identification rate was higher in the showups than the lineups, and the rate of dangerous false identification for the innocent suspect did not differ between showups and lineups. In lineups alone, the false-identification rate of the high-suggestibility.condition was marginally higher than that of the low-suggestibility condition. The results indicate that suggestibility, which results from the preconception that the perpetrator must exist in the photos, increases false identifications in relative judgments, such as in lineups.

Macular retinoschisis associated with glaucomatous optic neuropathy in eyes with normal intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings, and surgical outcomes of eyes with macular retinoschisis associated with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and normal intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: In this retrospective interventional observational study, 11 eyes of 11 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for macular retinoschisis and glaucomatous optic neuropathy were studied. All eyes had a vertical cup-to-disc ratio of ≥ 0.7 and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was <21 mmHg in all eyes, and there was no presence of congenital optic disc pits or high myopia in any eyes. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the appearance of the fundus and OCT images were evaluated. RESULTS: The retinoschisis extended from the optic disc to the macula in all 11 eyes, and foveal detachment was present in 10 eyes. OCT showed vitreous adhesions near the RNFL defects and over the retinal vessels. The retinoschisis in the RNFL resolved immediately after the vitrectomy, and the BCVA improved significantly (p = 0.004). Macular retinoschisis resolved or decreased in all cases, although it required an average of 11 ± 3 months. The optic disc cup and RNFL defects were more clearly visible after resolution of the retinoschisis. CONCLUSIONS: Macular retinoschisis can develop from vitreous traction near the RNFL defect in eyes with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and normal IOP. We suggest that the traction on the structurally fragile RNFL contributed to the retinoschisis.

Correlation between foveal interdigitation zone band defect and visual acuity after surgery for macular pseudohole.

PURPOSE: To determine the correlation between the integrity of the foveal microstructures and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after pars plana vitrectomy for a macular pseudohole. METHODS: Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with a macular pseudohole underwent vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal. The foveal area was examined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and postoperatively. The correlations between the BCVA and the lengths of the photoreceptor interdigitation zone (IZ), the ellipsoid zone, and the external limiting membrane band defects, and central foveal thickness were determined. RESULTS: The BCVA improved significantly and the length of the IZ band defect decreased significantly after the surgery. Simple linear regression analyses showed that the BCVA was significantly correlated with the length of the IZ band defect preoperatively and also at 1 to 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.001 for all). The BCVA was not significantly correlated with the length of the ellipsoid zone, external limiting membrane band defect, and the central foveal thickness. CONCLUSION: The significant correlation between the length of the foveal IZ band defect and the BCVA preoperatively and postoperatively indicates that the foveal IZ band is related to the visual recovery in patients with macular pseudohole.

[Comparison of Retinal Detachment Associated with Atopic Dermatitis with that of a Blunt Trauma].

PURPOSE: Retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis has been reported to have several similarities to retinal detachment with blunt trauma both in location and types of retinal breaks. To clarify the difference between these two types of retinal detachment, the clinical features of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis to those with blunt trauma were compared. METHOD: Among phakic eyes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment which underwent surgery in our clinic between 2006 and 2011, 51 eyes of 41 cases of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis (Atopy group) and 53 eyes of 51 cases of retinal detachment with blunt trauma (Trauma group) were compared. RESULTS: In the Atopy group, the patients were younger, and the incidence of cataracts and bilateral detachment were more frequent. In the Trauma group, the occurence was more frequent in men and associated vitreous hemorrhage and iritis were more frequent. Shallow retinal detachments and ciliary breaks located at the superotemporal quadrant were more frequent in the Atopy group and bullous detachments and retinal breaks located at the superonasal quadrant were more frequent in the trauma group. Oral dialysis and ciliary breaks were frequent in both groups. The initial retinal reattachment rates were similar between both groups but the final reattachment rate was worse in the trauma group. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis had many similarities to the detachment with blunt trauma in types of retinal breaks. However, it was distinct in featuring higher incidence of bilateral retinal detachment, cataracts, and ciliary breaks at the superotemporal quadrant.