Anisomyopia and orthokeratology for myopia control - Axial elongation and relative peripheral refraction.

PURPOSE: To investigate axial elongation (AE) and changes in relative peripheral refraction (RPR) in anisomyopic children undergoing orthokeratology (ortho-k). METHODS: Bilateral anisomyopic children, 7-12 years of age, were treated with ortho-k. Axial length (AL) and RPR, from 30° nasal (N30°) to 30° temporal (T30°), were measured at baseline and every 6 months over the study period. AE, changes in RPR and changes in the interocular AL difference were determined over time. RESULTS: Twenty-six of the 33 subjects completed the 2-year study. The AE of the higher myopic (HM) eyes (at least 1.50 D more myopia than the other eye) (0.26 ± 0.29 mm) was significantly smaller than for the less myopic (LM) eyes (0.50 ± 0.27 mm; p = 0.003), leading to a reduction in the interocular difference in AL (p = 0.001). Baseline RPR measurements in the HM eyes were relatively more hyperopic at T30°, N20° and N30° (p ≤ 0.02) and greater myopic shifts were observed at T20° (p < 0.001), T30° (p < 0.001), N20° (p = 0.02) and N30° (p = 0.01) after lens wear. After 2 years of ortho-k lens wear, temporal-nasal asymmetry increased significantly, being more myopic at the temporal locations in both eyes (p < 0.001), while AE was associated with the change in RPR at N20° (ß = 0.134, p = 0.01). The interocular difference in AE was also positively associated with the interocular difference in RPR change at N30° (ß = 0.111, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Ortho-k slowed AE in bilateral anisomyopia, with slower growth in the HM eyes leading to a reduction in interocular AL differences. After ortho-k, RPR changed from hyperopia to myopia, with greater changes induced in the HM eyes, and slower AE was associated with a more myopic shift in RPR, especially in the nasal field of both eyes.

Crocetin protects mouse brain from apoptosis in traumatic brain injury model through activation of autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is recognized as a promising therapeutic target for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Crocetin is an aglycone of crocin naturally occurring in saffron and has been found to alleviate brain injury diseases. However, whether crocetin affects autophagy after TBI remains unknown. Therefore, we explore crocetin roles in autophagy after TBI. METHODS: We used a weight-dropped model to induce TBI in C57BL/6J mice. Neurological severity scoring (NSS) and grip tests were used to evaluate the neurological level of injury. Brain edema, neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation and autophagy were detected by measurements of brain water content, TUNEL staining, ELISA kits and western blotting. RESULTS: Crocetin ameliorated neurological dysfunctions and brain edema after TBI. Crocetin reduced neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation and enhanced autophagy after TBI. CONCLUSION: Crocetin alleviates TBI by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation and activating autophagy.

Higher-Order Aberrations and Visual Performance in Myopic Children Treated With Aspheric Base Curve-Designed Orthokeratology.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of aspheric base curve (BC)-designed orthokeratology (ortho-k) (AOK) lenses on higher-order aberrations (HOA) at different pupil diameters and visual performance. METHODS: This prospective clinical study included subjects randomized to wear spherical BC-designed ortho-k (SOK) or AOK lenses. The Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP) questionnaire was completed before and after 3 months of lens wear. The Strehl ratio (SR) and root mean square of ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs), spherical aberration (SA), coma, and trefoil were measured under 4-mm, 5-mm, and 6-mm pupil diameters at baseline and 3-month visits. Corneal topography, uncorrected low-contrast (LC) visual acuity (VA), and high-contrast (HC) VA were measured at baseline and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 month follow-ups. RESULTS: Sixty-five participants completed the study. After 3 months with the ortho-k lens, there were no significant differences in ocular HOA, SA, coma, or trefoil between the SOK group and AOK group at 4-mm, 5-mm, and 6-mm pupil diameters (all P>0.05), except for a significant increase in SA in the AOK group (P=0.01). Stratified analyses showed that the AOK group exhibited greater HOA and SA at 5-mm and 6-mm pupil diameters in the lower myopia subgroup and greater SA at 6 mm in the higher myopia subgroup (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in SR, HC VA, LC VA, or PREP scores (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Aspheric BC-designed ortho-k lenses produced a significantly greater SA than SOK lenses, with more significance at lower diopters, without sacrificing subjective visual performance.

Virtual reality-based vision therapy versus OBVAT in the treatment of convergence insufficiency, accommodative dysfunction: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality is being increasingly applied in vision therapy. However, the differences in effectiveness, optimal treatment cycle, and prognosis between virtual reality-based vision therapy and traditional therapies remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality-based vision therapy and office-based vergence/accommodative therapy in young adults with convergence insufficiency or accommodative dysfunction. METHODS: The patients were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality-based vision therapy group or the office-based vergence/accommodative therapy group. The vision therapy lasted 12 weeks (1 h/week) in both groups. Binocular visual functions (vergence and accommodation) were measured and a subjective questionnaire-based assessment was performed at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of therapy. RESULTS: In total, 33 patients with convergence insufficiency and 30 with accommodative dysfunction completed the study. After 12 weeks of treatment for convergence insufficiency, the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey score (F2,31 = 13.704, P < 0.001), near point of convergence (F2,31 = 21.774, P < 0.001), positive fusional vergence (F2,31 = 71.766, P < 0.001), and near horizontal phoria (F2,31 = 16.482, P < 0.001) improved significantly in both groups. Moreover, the monocular accommodative amplitude (F2,25 = 22.154, P < 0.001) and monocular accommodative facility (F2,25 = 86.164, P < 0.001) improved significantly in both groups after 12 weeks of treatment. A statistically significant difference was observed in monocular accommodative facility (F1,25 = 8.140, P = 0.009) between the two groups, but not in other vergence and accommodative functions (0.098 < P < 0.687). CONCLUSION: Virtual reality-based vision therapy significantly improved binocular vision functions and symptoms in patients with convergence insufficiency and accommodative dysfunction, thereby suggesting its effectiveness as a new optional or additional treatment for young adults with these conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry on 16/04/2019 (identifier: ChiCTR1900022556 ).

Factors determining the myopia control effect of an orthokeratology lens: A two-year multi-level model.

PURPOSE: A multi-level model was used to analyse factors, including environmental factors, affecting the controlling effect of orthokeratology on myopia progression. METHODS: A 2-year prospective study was conducted in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Age, sex, height, baseline spherical equivalent refraction, choroidal thickness, axial length and other biometric ocular parameters were collected. Additionally, data on the following environmental factors were obtained: near-work distance and time, sleep time and time spent outdoors. After the baseline measurements, participants were followed up every 3 months for 2 years of lens wear. The primary outcome measure was axial length elongation over 2 years of orthokeratology. All variables were included in a univariate, three-level analysis model with inclusion in the final multivariate multi-level model if statistically significant. RESULTS: Thirty-three participants (average age 9.73 ± 1.55 years) were included in this study. During the 2-year period of lens wearing, binocular changes in axial length increased significantly from the ninth month and continued until the end of the follow-up. Changes in axial length after 2 years of lens wearing were 0.44 ± 0.30 mm and 0.37 ± 0.26 mm in the right and left eyes, respectively (both p < 0.001). Based on the 2-year multi-level model, age, sex, baseline spherical equivalent refraction, flatter keratometry meridian and near-work time influence the effect of orthokeratology. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to use a multi-level model to analyse factors, including environmental factors, that affect myopia control using orthokeratology. These results showed that younger age, being female, having lower myopia at baseline, a steeper flattest keratometry meridian and no more than 5 h of near work per day were associated with better myopia control effect using orthokeratology over a 2-year treatment period.

Prevalence of myopia in 3-14-year-old Chinese children: a school-based cross-sectional study in Chengdu.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of myopia among children in Chengdu is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of myopia in 3- to 14-year-old Chinese children in Chengdu. METHODS: This study was a school-based cross-sectional study in children aged 3-14 years. Visual acuity (VA), spherical equivalent error (SER) with noncycloplegic autorefraction, axial length (AL) and corneal radius (CR) were measured. RESULTS: A total of 19,455 children were recruited for this study. The prevalence of myopia was 38.1 %; the prevalence of low myopia was 26.6 %, that of moderate myopia was 9.8 %, and that of high myopia was 1.7 %. The prevalence of myopia and SER increased with age from 6 years old. The prevalence of myopia was higher, and the SER indicated more severe myopia in the girls than in the boys (40.1 % vs. 36.2 %, χ2 = 30.67, df = 1, P < 0.001; -0.93 D ± 1.75 D vs. -0.84 D ± 1.74 D, t = 3.613, df=19,453, P < 0.001). The girls had a higher prevalence of myopia and myopic SER than did the boys aged 9 years and older (P < 0.05). Among the myopic children, the rates of uncorrected, undercorrected and fully corrected myopia were 54.8 %, 31.1 and 14.1 %, respectively. AL and AL/CR increased with age from 6 years old, but CR remained stable after 4 years old. The AL was longer, and the CR was flatter in the boys than in the girls aged 3 to 14 years old (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of myopia, AL and AL/CR increased, and the SER became more myopic with age from 6 years old. The girls had a higher prevalence of myopia and myopic SER than did the boys, but the boys had a longer AL, flatter CR and higher AL/CR ratio than did the girls. The rate of uncorrected myopia was very high in the myopic children. More actions need to be taken to decrease the prevalence of myopia, especially uncorrected myopia in children.

[Prospective Study on Corneal Safety Evaluation of Children/Adolescents with Low and Moderate Myopia after Long-Term Orthokeratology].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the possible changes in the integrity of the cornea and corneal endothelial cells of children/adolescents with low or moderate myopia after long-term wearing of orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses, as well as the time when the relevant changes occur, so as to evaluate the safety of long-term wearing of ortho-k lens and to provide a reference for the safety evaluation of subjects wearing ortho-k lenses. METHODS: Subjects were recruited in the Contact Lens Clinic, West China Hospital, Sichuan University for a three-year prospective study. Ortho-k of the same brand was matched for the subjects. The central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), and hexagonal cell ratio (HEX) were measured prior to the wearing of ortho-k lenses and after wearing ortho-k lenses for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and every 3 months until 36 months. The results of corneal fluorescence staining were recorded during each follow-up. When corneal staining was observed, the Efron grading standard was used for grading and corresponding treatment was given. RESULTS: A total of 33 (66 eyes) myopic patients were included in the study. 15 cases (46.2%) reported having binocular foreign body sensations and tearing within the first week of wearing the lenses. After the subjects became adapted to wearing the lenses, the symptoms disappeared without intervention. During the follow-up period, 31 cases (93.94%) of binocular corneal staining were observed, of which, 24 cases (72.73%) were graded as G0, receiving no treatment, 5 cases (15.15%) were graded as GⅠ, and 2 cases (6.06%) were graded as GⅡ. Corresponding clinical treatment for corneal staining was given to the GⅠ and GⅡ subjects. This study found that the corneal ECD was inversely proportional to age ( r=－0.380, P=0.002). During the three-year follow-up period, the subjects' left eye ECD decreased from the baseline at 24 months and the right eye ECD decreased from the baseline at 27 months ( P<0.05). The CCT results in the subjects showed that CCT became thinner at 1 month after wearing the lens ( P<0.05), but the follow-up CCT showed a stable trend. CONCLUSION: After three years of long-term follow-up, no serious corneal complications occurred in children/adolescents with moderate and low myopia after long-term wearing of ortho-k lens. The corneal ECD of both eyes started decreasing 24 months after wearing the ortho-k lenses and the CCT decreased 1 month after wearing the lenses.

[The Influence of Short-term Orthokeratology on Tear Film in Adult Myope].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of tear film after short-term overnight orthokeratology wearing in adult myope. METHODS: Fifty adult myope aged 18 to 38 years old were enrolled in this study. The patients wore orthokeratology 6-10 h every night during this study. Data such as non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT), fluorescent tear break-up time (FTBUT), lower tear meniscus height (LTMH), corneal fluorescent staining as well as ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire score were measured at baseline, 1 d, 7 d, 14 d, 30 d and 90 d. RESULTS: Forty-four subjects completed the follow-up study. Tear break-up time (TBUT) decreased and became stable at 14 d after overnight orthokeratology wearing. LTMH sustained decreased and there was a difference after 90 d overnight wearing （ P<0.05）. Compared with baseline, the grade of corneal staining increased at all time points （ P<0.05）. As for the OSDI score, there was no difference at all time points. CONCLUSION: After overnight orthokeratology wearing, tear film stability and tear secretion decreased. Adult myope seems easily to suffer corneal injury after overnight orthokeratology wearing.

The effectiveness of disc synoptoscope on patients with abnormal binocular vision: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: We performed a prospective cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of disc synoptoscope on binocularity in patients with abnormal binocular vision. METHODS: 39 eligible subjects were recruited for visual therapy with disc synoptoscope in treatment group and 38 were just observed as control. RESULTS: Simultaneous perception in treatment group was better than controls at 6-month visit (p < 0.05). Fusional amplitude improved in treatment group but decreased in control group at 3- and 6-months visits (p < 0.001). Near and distance stereopsis in treatment group were better than controls at 3- and 6-months (p < 0.05). The improvements of monocular and binocular acuity in treatment group were better than controls at 3- and 6-months (p < 0.05). Postoperative recurrence rate in treatment group was lower than controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Visual therapy with disc synoptoscope is effective in improving short-term binocular vision for the patients with abnormal binocular vision; disc synoptoscope could serve as an effective home-based visual therapy instrument.

The effects of base curve aspheric orthokeratology lenses on corneal topography and peripheral refraction: A randomized prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses with aspheric and spherical base curve designs on corneal refractive power (CRP) and peripheral refraction. METHODS: Children aged 8 to 12 years with myopia between -0.75 D to -4.00 D, astigmatism ≤1.00 D, and corneal astigmatism ≤1.50 D were randomly assigned to the base curve aspheric (BCA) and base curve spherical (BCS) ortho-k lens groups. CRP was assessed for the central 8 mm cornea along horizontal and vertical meridians, and peripheral refraction was measured at 10°, 20°, and 30° along the nasal and temporal retina. Primary measurements included relative corneal refractive power change (RCRPC) and relative peripheral refraction change (RPRC). RESULTS: The 3-month results of the 33 and 29 subjects (right eye only) in the BCA and BCS groups, respectively, were obtained. Nonsignificant differences were found in the baseline data between the two groups (p > 0.05). At the 3-month follow-up visit, the mean RCRPC in the BCA group (2.08 ± 0.65 D) was significantly greater than that in the BCS group (1.32 ± 0.81 D) (F1,51 = 25.25, p < 0.001). The BCA group (-1.82 ± 0.65 D) exhibited a larger absolute RPRC than the BCS group (-0.98 ± 0.54 D) (F1,57 = 33.73, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the BCA ortho-k lens resulted in a more aspheric treatment zone and a more myopic relative peripheral refraction (RPR) along the horizontal meridian. The more myopic RPR was contributed by a more hyperopic central refraction and a more myopic peripheral refraction in the BCA group.

Retinal fundus image enhancement with image decomposition and visual adaptation.

Retinal fundus photography has been widely used to diagnose various prevalent diseases because many important diseases manifest themselves on the retina. However, the quality of fundus images obtained from practical clinical environments is not always good enough for diagnosis due to uneven illumination, blurring, low contrast, etc. In this paper, we propose a simple yet efficient method for fundus image enhancement. We first conduct image decomposition to divide the input image into three layers: base, detail, and noise layers; and then illumination correction, detail enhancement and denoising are conducted respectively at these three layers. Specifically, a simple visual adaptation model is used to correct the uneven illumination at the base layer and a weighted fusion is employed to enhance details and suppress noise and artifacts. The proposed method was evaluated on public datasets (DIARETDB0 and DIARETDB1), and also on some challenging images collected by us from the hospital. In addition, quality assessments by ophthalmologists were implemented to further verify the contribution of the proposed method in helping make diagnosis. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms other related methods and can simultaneously handle the tasks of illumination correction, detail enhancement and noise (and artifact) suppression.

Changes in serum virus-specific IgM/IgG antibody in asymptomatic and discharged patients with reoccurring positive COVID-19 nucleic acid test (RPNAT).

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated the diagnostic efficiency of antibody testing in COVID-19 infection. There is limited data on the IgM/IgG changes in asymptomatic and discharged patients with reoccurring positive nucleic acid test (RPNAT). This study aims to investigate these IgM/IgG changes. METHODS: There were 111 patients with positive nucleic acid test (NAT) and 40 suspected patients enrolled in the study. The serum SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM/IgG antibody levels were retrospectively analysed with the disease progress in asymptomatic and RPNAT patients. RESULTS: The best overall performance was found by combining the IgM, IgG, and CT; 95.1% sensitivity and 75% specificity. This was tested in 111 RT-PCR positive cases. The median IgM and IgG levels were lower in the asymptomatic group compared to the symptomatic group (p < .01). Among 15 RPNAT cases, the IgM levels of the RPNAT group at the time of discharge (IgM2.79, IQR: 0.95-5.37) and retest (IgM 2.35, IQR: 0.88-8.65) were significantly higher than those of the non-reoccurring positive nucleic acid test group (Non-RPNAT) (IgM on discharge: 0.59, IQR: 0.33-1.22, IgG on retest: 0.92, IQR: 0.51-1.58). CONCLUSION: Serum SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM/IgG antibody levels remained at a low level during hospitalisation for asymptomatic patients. Elevated IgM levels may have implications in the identification of RPNAT patients before discharge. Key messages This study determined the IgM/IgG changes in asymptomatic and RPNAT patients. The rate of serum SARS-CoV-2 specific IgM/IgG antibody levels increase in the asymptomatic group was lower than in the symptomatic group during hospitalisation. The IgM level did not decrease significantly at discharge in the RPNAT patients, and was higher than that of the Non-RPNAT group on discharge. These results highlight the importance of timely monitoring of IgM levels to identify RPNAT patients before discharge.

Risk factors associated with contamination of orthokeratology lens cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk factors associated with contamination of lens cases in a group of orthokeratology (ortho-k) lens wearers. METHOD: Ortho-k patients attending the Contact Lens Clinic of the Hospital were required to complete a checklist about their routine daily care and handling of lens cases. Their cases were then collected for analysis. Contamination was evaluated by determining the optical density (OD) of crystal violet stained biofilm present in the cases. OD values were divided into three groups, lower, middle, and upper tertiles, and associations between risk factors were determined by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 194 subjects were recruited. Twenty-five subjects used cylindrical lens cases (CC), 98 flat cases with ridges (FCR), and 71 flat cases without ridges (FC). FCRs were the most heavily contaminated and CC showed least contamination (FCR > FC, OR 2.16, CI 1.11-4.18, p =  0.023; FCR > CC, OR 8.86, CI 2.97-26.44, p <0.001; FC > CC, OR 2.33, CI 1.35-12.45, p =  0.013). Replacing lens cases monthly significantly reduced the risk of high contamination (OR 0.013, CI 0.06-0.30, p <  0.001), compared to those used for three months. Cases that were not rinsed (OR 3.44, CI 1.50-7.86, p =  0.003) or rinsed by other methods (OR 4.07, CI 1.67-9.92, p =  0.002) had significantly more contamination, compared to those rinsed with multipurpose solution. Lens cases, which were not dried (OR 11.36, CI 2.06-62.93, p =  0.005) or air-dried (OR 8.71, CI 1.16-65.56, p =  0.036), showed more contamination compared to those wiped with tissue daily. CONCLUSION: Case design (cylindrical), monthly replacement, daily rinsing with MPS, and wiping with tissue daily can effectively reduce biofilm formation in contact lens cases.

Temporal frequency discrimination in amblyopia.

The present study aimed to explore temporal frequency discrimination in amblyopia, and the influence of attentional load on amblyopic temporal cognition. Twenty anisometropic amblyopes, 20 strabismic amblyopes and 20 normal subjects were recruited. A flickering disk was used for visual stimuli. A two-alternative, forced-choice staircase paradigm was used to measure the temporal frequency discrimination thresholds of amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes and normal dominant eyes under reference temporal frequencies of 5, 10 and 20 Hz. The just-noticeable differences data were analyzed statistically. In addition, the temporal frequency discrimination thresholds of the subjects were measured under different conditions of attentional load. The changes in temporal frequency discrimination thresholds were compared between amblyopic and normal eyes when attention was loaded. At the reference temporal frequencies of 5 and 10 Hz, temporal thresholds of amblyopic eyes were significantly increased compared with fellow eyes (P<0.05). Regarding strabismic amblyopia, temporal thresholds of fellow eyes were increased compared with normal eyes (P<0.05). However, no correlation was identified between the temporal-frequency discrimination thresholds and the LogMAR visual acuities in amblyopic eyes. In addition, higher attentional load caused greater changes in temporal thresholds in amblyopic eyes, but the situation was not the same for lower attentional load. In conclusion, in the present study a deficit of temporal frequency discrimination in amblyopic eyes and the fellow eyes of strabismic amblyopes was identified. Furthermore, the influence of attentional load on temporal frequency discrimination in amblyopic eyes was increased compared with normal eyes.

Cognitive processing of orientation discrimination in anisometropic amblyopia.

Cognition is very important in our daily life. However, amblyopia has abnormal visual cognition. Physiological changes of the brain during processes of cognition could be reflected with ERPs. So the purpose of this study was to investigate the speed and the capacity of resource allocation in visual cognitive processing in orientation discrimination task during monocular and binocular viewing conditions of amblyopia and normal control as well as the corresponding eyes of the two groups with ERPs. We also sought to investigate whether the speed and the capacity of resource allocation in visual cognitive processing vary with target stimuli at different spatial frequencies (3, 6 and 9 cpd) in amblyopia and normal control as well as between the corresponding eyes of the two groups. Fifteen mild to moderate anisometropic amblyopes and ten normal controls were recruited. Three-stimulus oddball paradigms of three different spatial frequency orientation discrimination tasks were used in monocular and binocular conditions in amblyopes and normal controls to elicit event-related potentials (ERPs). Accuracy (ACC), reaction time (RT), the latency of novelty P300 and P3b, and the amplitude of novelty P300 and P3b were measured. Results showed that RT was longer in the amblyopic eye than in both eyes of amblyopia and non-dominant eye in control. Novelty P300 amplitude was largest in the amblyopic eye, followed by the fellow eye, and smallest in both eyes of amblyopia. Novelty P300 amplitude was larger in the amblyopic eye than non-dominant eye and was larger in fellow eye than dominant eye. P3b latency was longer in the amblyopic eye than in the fellow eye, both eyes of amblyopia and non-dominant eye of control. P3b latency was not associated with RT in amblyopia. Neural responses of the amblyopic eye are abnormal at the middle and late stages of cognitive processing, indicating that the amblyopic eye needs to spend more time or integrate more resources to process the same visual task. Fellow eye and both eyes in amblyopia are slightly different from the dominant eye and both eyes in normal control at the middle and late stages of cognitive processing. Meanwhile, abnormal extents of amblyopic eye do not vary with three different spatial frequencies used in our study.

Lower prevalence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in elderly onset patients with diabetes.

AIMS: To assess diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevalence between elderly onset and younger onset diabetes with similar diabetes duration and evaluate the association between DR prevalence and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. METHODS: A total of 1787 patients with diabetes were enrolled between January 2010 and November 2015. Fundoscopy examination was performed. Patients were divided into three groups by age of diagnosis (<45, 45-64, and ⩾65years) for the analysis of the prevalence of DR. Among them, 150 patients underwent serum IGF-1 measurement. The serum IGF-1 level was compared between patients <65years and ⩾65years. RESULTS: Among 1787 patients, 779 (43.6%) had DR, in which proliferative DR (PDR) 229 (12.8%) patients. For similar diabetes duration, DR prevalence was lower in elderly onset patients. Patients ⩾65years at diagnosis had significantly lowest PDR prevalence of the three groups for similar diabetes duration. IGF-1 levels were lower in patients ⩾65years than in patients <65years (104.89±49.91ng/mL vs. 141.73±62.04ng/mL, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly onset patients with diabetes have lower prevalence of PDR than those younger onset patients for similar diabetes duration, which may relate with lower serum IGF-1 levels in older patients. Thus, less stringent glycemic control in older onset patients with diabetes may not increase the prevalence of PDR.

Rigid gas-permeable contact lens related life quality in keratoconic patients with different grades of severity.

PURPOSE: The aim was to compare the impact of rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses on vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in keratoconic patients with different grades of severity. METHODS: This comparative study was conducted from December 2012 to September 2013 on 46 patients with bilateral keratoconus. Patients were divided into three groups according to the average of the steep keratometry (K) readings in the two eyes of each patient. Main outcome measures included binocular visual acuity (VA), lens wearing time, the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), foreign body (FB) sensation, comfort and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: Patients with severe keratoconus showed significantly reduced wearing time compared with the other two groups (4.8 ± 2.5 hours per day). Regarding the subjective criteria, there was no significant difference on NEI-VFQ-25 scores, foreign body sensation, comfort and overall satisfaction between mild and moderate keratoconus groups but scores in the group with severe keratoconus were significantly lower than the other two groups. Binocular VA strongly correlated with NEI-VFQ-25 scores; however, NEI-VFQ-25 scores had no significant correlations with different disease severities. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate correction with RGP lenses contributes to good VR-QOL for keratoconic patients; however, as the disease progresses to a steep keratometric value of more than 52 dioptres (6.50 mm), RGP lenses did not guarantee a relatively good VR-QOL. Other lens options with new designs might bring better life quality for these patients with severe keratoconus.