ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stargardt's disease (STGD) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) are inherited retinal degenerations that may be affected, in opposite way, by diet. METHODS: Dietary profile was assessed in 24 patients with STGD and in 56 patients with RP. We documented in only 6 out of 24 (25%) STGD patients a daily intake of vitamin A within the recommended range while 14/24 (58.3%) reported a high daily intake and 4/24 (16.7%) showed a low daily intake. With regard to RP, 4/56 (7.1%) reported to be within the recommended range, 37/56 (66.1%) reported high daily intake and 15/56 (26.8%) showed low daily intake of vitamin A. RESULTS: Interestingly, STGD patients with low vitamin A intake (<600 µg RAE/day) showed significantly better visual acuity with respect to those introducing higher intake of vitamin A. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests insuitable nutrient intakes among patients with STGD and RP, especially for daily intake of vitamin A. The results may be used to provide tailored nutritional interventions in these patients.
Subject(s)
Diet , Feeding Behavior , Macular Degeneration/congenital , Nutrition Assessment , Retinitis Pigmentosa/physiopathology , Vitamin A/administration & dosage , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diet Surveys , Energy Intake , Female , Humans , Macular Degeneration/diagnosis , Macular Degeneration/diet therapy , Macular Degeneration/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Retinitis Pigmentosa/diagnosis , Retinitis Pigmentosa/diet therapy , Stargardt Disease , Visual Acuity , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback (BF) microperimetric rehabilitation in patients with Stargardt disease (STGD). â© METHODS: Eighteen patients with STGD with unstable fixation located in the superior retina and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between 20/100 and 20/320 in the better eye were recruited. All the patients underwent Nidek MP-1 microperimetry and fixation analysis. Twelve patients underwent 8 consecutive BF training sessions of 10 minutes each, performed once a week in the better eye. Six patients did not receive any training and were used as controls. In both groups, BCVA, reading speed, contrast sensitivity, bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA), and retinal sensitivity were evaluated in the better eye at baseline and after 10 weeks. Paired and unpaired t tests were used as appropriate. â© RESULTS: In the control group, after the follow-up period, fixation pattern did not show any modification and the other parameters worsened or remained unchanged. On the contrary, the BF group showed significantly improved stabilization of fixation (mean BCEA 68.2% from 5.63°2 to 1.58°2), improved mean BCVA (from 34.00 to 37.67 letters), higher mean reading speed (from 66.67 to 84.00 words/min), higher contrast sensitivity (from 16.33 to 18.75 letters), and improved retinal sensitivity (from 10.68 to 12.29 dB). The comparison of the results obtained in the 2 groups was statistically significant for all the considered parameters except for retinal sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback rehabilitation with the MP-1 increases quality of vision in patients with STGD, leading to a stabilization of fixation and a consequent improvement of patients' visual function and reading abilities
Subject(s)
Biofeedback, Psychology/instrumentation , Fixation, Ocular/physiology , Visual Fields/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Contrast Sensitivity/physiology , Female , Humans , Macular Degeneration/physiopathology , Macular Degeneration/rehabilitation , Male , Middle Aged , Retina/physiology , Stargardt Disease , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine rabbit cornea thermal tolerance and evaluate the effects of ultrasound (US) on this tissue after applying defined US heat doses. SETTING: Eye Clinic; Anatomy Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. METHODS: Hyperthermia was induced in rabbit corneas using US, simulating a phacoemulsification procedure. The US power was set at 100% in continuous mode, and temperature values were reached within 10 seconds of the onset of US treatment. Corneal surface temperatures were continuously monitored and recorded by thermographic registration. The eyes of 16 rabbits were examined: 4 controls, 8 treated at 40 degrees C for 10 seconds, 8 treated at 50 degrees C for 10 seconds, and 12 treated at 60 degrees C for 10 seconds. All 32 corneal buttons were removed and prepared for light microscopic evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin staining, trichromic staining, and zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide solution. The 12 corneas treated at 60 degrees C for 10 seconds were also processed for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Corneas at 40 degrees C for 10 seconds were grossly and histologically normal and were not different from control corneas. Corneas at 50 degrees C for 10 seconds showed initial stromal damage with collagen disorganization, mild stromal edema, and initial signs of keratocyte damage. Half of the corneas at 60 degrees C for 10 seconds were examined at time 0 and the other half after 1 week. At time 0, massive corneal damage with epithelial cell edema, collagen disorganization, severe stromal edema, intrastromal vacuole formation, plump keratocyte nuclei, and endothelial cell detachment were found, as was a severely impaired nerve plexus. At 1-week follow-up, corneas showed persistent stromal and endothelial cell edema with an increase activated keratocytes and mitotic features in the stroma and the epithelial layer. CONCLUSIONS: Rabbit corneas showed a considerable tolerance to US damage up to 50 degrees C. Higher thermal doses produced severe histological damage, even though corneas showed a considerable plasticity due to their regenerative capacity.