Disinhibition of intrinsic photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in patients with X-linked congenital stationary night blindness.

PURPOSE: To assess the pupil light response (PLR) to chromatic stimulation in patients with different types of X-linked congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB). METHODS: Eight patients with CSNB due to CACNA1F and NYX mutations were exposed to blue and red light stimuli, and PLR was evaluated using infrared video pupillography. Pupil responses were compared between CSNB patients and healthy subjects (n = 34) at baseline, at maximum of constriction, for post-illumination pupil responses (PIPR) and the slope of redilation using Cohen's d. A subgroup comparison was performed descriptively between CACNA1F and NYX associated CSNB patients using the same parameters. RESULTS: In CSNB, smaller baseline pupil diameters compared to healthy subjects were measured both before blue and red light stimulation (d = 1.44-1.625). The maximum constriction to blue light stimuli was smaller for the CSNB group compared to healthy subjects (d = 1.251) but not for red light stimuli (d = 0.449). Pupil response latencies were prolonged in CSNB for both light stimuli (d = -1.53 for blue and d = -1.011 for red stimulation). No relevant differences were found between the CSNB group and healthy subjects for PIPR (d = 0.01), but the slope of redilation was smaller for CSNB patients (d = 2.12). Paradoxical pupil constriction at light offset was not seen in our patients. CONCLUSION: A reduced redilation and smaller baseline pupil diameters for patients with CSNB indicate a disinhibition of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells due to affected post-photoreceptor transduction via bipolar cells and can explain the pupillary behavior in our patient group.

Electroretinographic assessment of retinal function during acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia.

BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to investigate retinal function during exposure to normobaric hypoxia. METHODS: Standard Ganzfeld ERG equipment (Diagnosys LLC, Cambridge, UK) using an extended ISCEV protocol was applied to explore intensity-response relationship in dark- and light- adapted conditions in 13 healthy volunteers (mean age 25 ± 3 years). Baseline examinations were performed under atmospheric air conditions at 341 meters above sea level (FIO2 of 21 %), and were compared to hypoxia (FIO2 of 13.2 %) by breathing a nitrogen-enriched gas mixture for 45 min. All subjects were monitored using infrared oximetry and blood gas analysis. RESULTS: The levels of PaCO2 changed from 38.4 ± 2.7 mmHg to 36.4 ± 3.0 mmHg, PaO2 from 95.5 ± 1.9 mmHg to 83.7 ± 4.6 mmHg, and SpO2 from 100 ± 0 % to 87 ± 4 %, from baseline to hypoxia respectively. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) was found for saturation amplitude of the dark-adapted b-wave intensity-response function (Vmax), dark-adapted a- and b-wave amplitudes of combined rod and cone responses (3 and 10 cd.s/m(2)), light-adapted b-wave amplitudes of single flash (3 and 10 cd.s/m(2)), and flicker responses (5-45 Hz) during hypoxia compared to baseline, without changes in implicit times. The a-wave slope of combined rod and cone responses (3 and 10 cd.s/m(2)) and the oscillatory potentials were significantly lower during hypoxia (p < 0.05). A isolated light-adapted ON response (250 ms flash) showed a reduction of amplitudes at hypoxia (p < 0.05), but no changes were observed for the OFF response. CONCLUSIONS: The results show significant impairment of retinal function during simulated normobaric short-term hypoxia affecting specific retinal cells of rod and cone pathways.

Artificial vision with wirelessly powered subretinal electronic implant alpha-IMS.

This study aims at substituting the essential functions of photoreceptors in patients who are blind owing to untreatable forms of hereditary retinal degenerations. A microelectronic neuroprosthetic device, powered via transdermal inductive transmission, carrying 1500 independent microphotodiode-amplifier-electrode elements on a 9 mm(2) chip, was subretinally implanted in nine blind patients. Light perception (8/9), light localization (7/9), motion detection (5/9, angular speed up to 35 deg s(-1)), grating acuity measurement (6/9, up to 3.3 cycles per degree) and visual acuity measurement with Landolt C-rings (2/9) up to Snellen visual acuity of 20/546 (corresponding to decimal 0.037° or corresponding to 1.43 logMAR (minimum angle of resolution)) were restored via the subretinal implant. Additionally, the identification, localization and discrimination of objects improved significantly (n = 8; p < 0.05 for each subtest) in repeated tests over a nine-month period. Three subjects were able to read letters spontaneously and one subject was able to read letters after training in an alternative-force choice test. Five subjects reported implant-mediated visual perceptions in daily life within a field of 15° of visual angle. Control tests were performed each time with the implant's power source switched off. These data show that subretinal implants can restore visual functions that are useful for daily life.

Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation Dose-Dependently Slows the Visual Field Loss in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Purpose: To assess whether transcorneal electrical stimulation (TcES) current-dependently slows progressive loss of visual field area (VFA) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: Data from 51 patients with RP who received monocular TcES treatment once weekly over 1 year in an interventional, randomized study have been analyzed a posteriori. Current amplitudes were 0.1 to 1.0 mA in the TcES-treated group (n = 31) and 0.0 mA in the sham group (n = 20). VFA was assessed in both eyes (semiautomatic kinetic perimetry, Goldmann targets V4e, III4e). Annual decline rate (ADR) of exponential loss and model-independent percentage reduction of VFA at treatment cessation were correlated to current amplitude. Results: For V4e, mean ADR was -4.1% in TcES-treated eyes, -6.4% in untreated fellow eyes, and -7.2% in placebo-treated eyes; mean VFA reduction in TcES-treated eyes was 64% less than in untreated fellow eyes (P = 0.013) and 72% less than in placebo-treated eyes (P = 0.103). Individual VFA reductions correlated with current amplitude (P = 0.043) and tended toward zero in patients who received 0.8 to 1.0 mA. For III4e, there was a marginally significant current-dependency of interocular difference in reduction (P = 0.11). ADR and VFA reduction did not significantly correlate with baseline VFA. Conclusions: Loss of VFA (V4e) in patients with RP was significantly reduced in treated eyes compared to untreated eyes by regular use of TcES in a dose-dependent manner. No dependence of effects on the initial extent of VFA loss was found. Translational Relevance: TcES provides potential for preservation of visual field in patients with RP.

Assessment of "non-recordable" electroretinograms by 9 Hz flicker stimulation under scotopic conditions.

To refine methods of electroretinographical (ERG) recording for the analysis of low retinal potentials under scotopic conditions in advanced retinal degenerative diseases. Standard Ganzfeld ERG equipment (Diagnosys LLC, Cambridge, UK) was used in 27 healthy volunteers (mean age 28 ± SD 8.5 years) to define the stimulation protocol. The protocol was then applied in clinical routine and 992 recordings were obtained from patients (mean age 40.6 ± 18.3 years) over a period of 5 years. A blue stimulus with a flicker frequency of 9 Hz was specified under scotopic conditions to preferentially record rod-driven responses. A range of stimulus strengths (0.0000012-6.32 scot. cd s/m² and 6-14 ms flash duration) was tested for maximal amplitudes and interference between rods and cones. Analysis of results was done by standard Fourier Transformation and assessment of signal-to-noise ratio. Optimized stimulus parameters were found to be a time-integrated luminance of 0.012 scot. cd s/m² using a blue (470 nm) flash of 10 ms duration at a repetition frequency of 9 Hz. Characteristic stimulus strength versus amplitude curves and tests with stimuli of red or green wavelength suggest a predominant rod-system response. The 9 Hz response was found statistically distinguishable from noise in 38% of patients with otherwise non-recordable rod responses according to International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision standards. Thus, we believe this protocol can be used to record ERG potentials in patients with advanced retinal diseases and in the evaluation of potential treatments for these patients. The ease of implementation in clinical routine and of statistical evaluation providing an observer-independent evaluation may further facilitate its employment.

GDF-15: a novel serum marker for metastases in uveal melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND: About 50% of patients with uveal melanoma (UM) develop metastases during the course of their disease. We analyzed serum levels of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15), with the aim of identifying patients with early metastases. METHODS: GDF-15 concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 188 UM patients (170 patients without metastases; 18 patients with clinically detectable metastases) and 18 healthy control individuals. Data were analyzed with respect to differences between patients with and without clinically detectable UM metastases. GDF-15 serum levels were further analyzed with regard to significant patient and tumor characteristics as revealed by histology and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to determine chromosome 3 copy number. GDF-15 expression in UM was investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Patients with clinically detectable metastases had significantly higher GDF-15 serum levels compared to those without clinically detectable metastases as well as to healthy individuals (ANOVA; p < 0.001). GDF-15 concentrations in UM patients with overt clinically detectable metastases were significantly higher than those in UM patients with a second malignancy in remission but without clinically detected UM metastases (ANOVA; p < 0.001). No association between serum concentration of GDF-15 and clinical, pathological, and genetic features was observed. GDF-15 protein was only expressed in a minority of UM cells in most tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that GDF-15 can be used as a serum marker for the diagnosis of metastases in UM patients. Further data collection and analysis are necessary to evaluate a possible prognostic role of GDF-15 in predicting early metastases.

Tempol protects against intravitreous indocyanine green-induced retinal damage in rats.

PURPOSE: Indocyanine green (ICG) has been widely used as a vital dye for macular surgery. However, ICG can be toxic to retinal cells. Here we evaluate whether tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl), a free radical scavenger, can protect against ICG-induced retinal damage in rats. METHODS: Brown Norway rats received intravitreal injections of ICG 0.5 % or BSS as controls. Tempol (20 mg/kg BW) or PBS as a control was administered intraperitoneally 24 h and 30 min before ICG and once daily for 7 consecutive days. Tempol was detected in the retina using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. One week after ICG injections, the effects of tempol on retinal toxicity were assessed by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) back-labeling and by light microscopy. Electroretinography (ERG) was performed after 1 and 2 weeks. RESULTS: ICG administration reduced RGC numbers by 17 % (1,943 ± 45 vs. 2,342 ± 31 RGCs/mm(2)). Tempol treatment rescued RGCs in a significant manner (2,258 ± 36, p < 0.01) and diminished morphological changes detected by light microscopy. ICG-injected eyes showed a significant reduction of ERG potentials only in PBS-treated animals (V(max) 530 ± 145 µV vs. 779 ± 179 µV, p = 0.0052), but not in the tempol-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Tempol significantly attenuates ICG-induced toxicity in rat retinas and may therefore be considered for further evaluation as accompanying treatment in ICG-assisted chromovitrectomy.

In vivo imaging reveals novel aspects of retinal disease progression in Rs1h(-/Y) mice but no therapeutic effect of carbonic anhydrase inhibition.

PURPOSE: X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is the most common juvenile maculopathy in men and is caused by mutations in the gene encoding retinoschisin (RS1). Evidence in the literature on the therapeutic effect of carboanhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) to treat schisis formation in the retina has remained equivocal. Here, we evaluate the effect of the CAI dorzolamide on the structural and functional disease progression in the mouse model for XLRS (Rs1h(-/y)). METHODS: Rs1h (-/y) mice were treated unilaterally with dorzolamide eye drops (Trusopt(®) 20 mg/mL) every 12 h for 2 weeks starting on postnatal day 14 (n = 27). Changes of retinal structure were monitored by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography 12 h, 14 days, 4 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months after completion of the treatment. RESULTS: Schisis formation (peak at 3 months) preceded photoreceptor degeneration and hyper-fluorescence (peak at 7 months). Structural pathology was most severe in the superior hemi-retina with previously unreported hyper-fluorescent lesions. Quantitative analysis showed no significant differences regarding the inner or outer retinal thickness of the treated vs. untreated eyes 12 h after the completion of treatment (IRT(12 h) = -1.29 ± 1.89 µm; ORT(12 h) = 0.61 ± 2.08 µm; mean ± 95%CI) or at any later time point. CONCLUSION: Time line analysis after short-term treatment with CAI failed to show short-, intermediate-, or long-term evidence of structural improvement in Rs1h(-/y) mice. Schisis formation in the inner retina peaked at the age of 3 months and was followed by photoreceptor degeneration predominantly in the superior hemi-retina. Previously unreported hyper-fluorescent lesions co-register with structural retinal pathologies.

Chromatic Full-Field Stimulus Thresholds in Patients with Treatment-Naive Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate retinal sensitivity using chromatic full-field stimulus thresholds (FST) in patients with treatment naive exudative age-related macular degeneration (e-ARMD) before and during the first intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After general ophthalmological examinations to diagnose patients with e-ARMD the FST, the central foveal thickness (FCt) and the visual acuity were assessed in 20 eyes of 20 patients during this prospective study. Examinations were performed before and during the first treatment series with three intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. Normal values for FST were assessed in 19 eyes of 19 healthy subjects. Results were analyzed using Student's two-tailed t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients between all functional parameters. RESULTS: At baseline and before the 1st intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment, a moderately significant negative correlation between VA and FCt was found in the e-ARMD group (p = 0.02, r = -0.45 and p = 0.03, r = -0.45), respectively. After the 2nd intravitreal anti-VEGF injection, no significant correlation between VA and FCt was found (p = 0.12). However, a significant correlation between FCt and blue FST was evident (p = 0.04, r = 0.4). After the 3rd intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment, there was no correlation evident between VA and FCt (p = 0.31) but a high significant correlation between FCt and FST using red (p = 0.01, r = 0.53), green (p = 0.002, r = 0.6) and blue light (p = 0.007, r = 0.66). CONCLUSION: During anti-VEGF treatment in patients with e-ARMD, the FST test showed higher significant correlations with the morphology measured by FCt, as it is the case for VA. These findings support that the FST test might serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for monitoring patients with e-ARMD and enhance functional assessment of retinal function under treatment with anti-VEGF.

Long-Term Biocompatibility of a Highly Viscously Thiol-Modified Cross-Linked Hyaluronate as a Novel Vitreous Body Substitute.

Purpose: In surgical ophthalmology, the treatment of complicated retinal and vitreous diseases is one of the central challenges. For this purpose, the vitreous body is removed as part of the standard therapy and replaced by a temporary tamponade to stabilize the position of the retina. Since the tamponading properties of previous materials such as silicone oils, gases, or semi-fluorinated alkanes are a combination of their surface tension and their buoyancy vector, they cannot completely fill the vitreous cavity. The aim of this work was to test in vivo a novel vitreous body substitute (ViBos strong) based on cross-linked hyaluronic acid for its compatibility. Methods: A pars plana vitrectomy with posterior vitreous detachment was performed in the right eye of 18 pigmented rabbits, with subsequent injection of ViBos strong. Follow-up examination included slit-lamp examination, funduscopy, intraocular pressure measurements (IOP), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electroretinogram (ERG) measurements. The rabbits were sacrificed at three different time points (1, 3, and 6 months; each 6 animals) and examined macroscopically and prepared for histological examination (HE staining) and immunohistochemistry (Brn3a and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)). Results: ViBos strong demonstrated good intraoperative handling and remained stable for at least 1 month and degraded slowly over 6 months. IOP was within clinical acceptable values at all follow-up examinations. Retinal function was well preserved after instillation of the hydrogel and comparable to the untreated eye after 6 months in OCT, ERG, and histological examinations. An increase in the GFAP expression was found in the surgery eyes, with a peak in the 3-month group. The Brn3a expression was not significantly affected by vitrectomy with ViBos strong. Conclusion: Highly viscously thiol-modified cross-linked hyaluronate showed a good biocompatibility in rabbit eyes over 6 months after vitrectomy, making it a promising potential as a vitreous substitute.

In vivo toxicity testing of methyl blue and aniline blue as vital dyes for intraocular surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the biocompatibility of methyl blue and aniline blue as vital dyes for vitreoretinal surgery in an in vivo rat model and to evaluate the effect of these dyes on retinal structure and function. METHODS: Adult Brown-Norway rats received intravitreal injections of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 2% methyl blue or aniline blue dissolved in balanced salt solution with balanced salt solution serving as a control. Retinal toxicity was assessed 7 days thereafter by means of retinal ganglion cell counts, light microscopy, and electroretinography. RESULTS: No significant decrease in retinal ganglion cell counts at concentrations up to 0.2% was observed. At 2%, however, a significant retinal ganglion cell loss was detected with both dyes (more pronounced for aniline blue). Light microscopy showed no structural changes in the central retina for concentrations up to 0.2%. Electroretinographies detected no adverse effects of methyl blue or aniline blue on rod- or cone-driven responses at concentrations up to 0.2%. CONCLUSION: Methyl blue and aniline blue are very biocompatible and may, therefore, be usable for intraocular surgery. Further testing with other animal models will be necessary to confirm this. The safety margin of methyl blue is possibly higher than that of aniline blue.

Effect of Ocriplasmin on objectively assessed retinal function after treatment of vitreomacular diseases.

BACKGROUND: The scope of the study was the functional assessment of possible effects of intravitreally injected ocriplasmin using electroretinographical (ERG) examinations. METHODS: Seven subjects suffered from pathologies within the label of ocriplasmin (Jetrea® ) were examined in the study. An extended international society for clinical electrophysiology of vision ERG protocol was used for baseline recordings (before treatment) and was repeated for comparison 3 months after treatment with intravitreally injected ocriplasmin. All subjects were examined using 6 steps and a 9 Hz flicker protocol as scotopic flicker response under dark-adapted conditions. Under light-adapted conditions, two single-flash responses (standard flash and On/Off protocol) and a 31 Hz flicker response was used for functional assessment. RESULTS: A significant reduction of amplitudes was found for the lowest stimulation intensity (0.0001 cd.s/m²) under dark-adapted conditions after treatment (p = 0.027). All other parameters were not significantly different after treatment including the scotopic flicker response. Under light-adapted state, the a- and b-wave amplitudes were not significantly altered after treatment for single-flash and flicker responses. The On- and Off-responses were not significantly different between baseline and after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: One single significant difference of all examined parameters mirrors a difference due to chance, even if a negative effect of proteolytic enzymes on laminin and fibronectin of retinal cells cannot be entirely excluded. Nevertheless, this result should be respected in order to ensure a safe use of ocriplasmin for patients with vitreoretinal disorders.

Decreased contrast sensitivity at high altitude.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate a change in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (CS) during high altitude exposure in healthy subjects due to the effects of hypobaric hypoxia. This study is related to the Tübingen High Altitude Ophthalmology study. METHODS: Visual acuity and Weber CS were tested monocularly using the Freiburger Visual Acuity and Contrast Test under standardised conditions in 14 healthy subjects at high altitude at the Capanna Margherita (4559 m, Italy) and compared with baseline measurements in Tübingen (341 m, Germany). Intraindividual differences between baseline and follow-up examinations were calculated by multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures. Clinical parameters of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) as well as scores for acute mountain sickness (AMS) were correlated to psychophysical tests by Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A significant decrease in CS with a mean effect size of -0.13 logCS was found for Weber CS (day 1=-0.16±0.22, p=0.01; day 2=-0.10±0.2, p=0.049; day 3=-0.12±0.19, p=0.03) at high altitude compared with baseline. Visual acuity remained unchanged. Decreased CS correlated with SpO2 (r=0.53, p=0.046) but not with HR (r=- 0.16, p=0.59) and occurred irrespective of AMS at high altitude. CONCLUSION: High altitude exposure leads to decreased CS. Changes occur independent of AMS. This finding is of clinical importance to trekkers and mountaineers exposed to high altitude as visual processing in particular under mesopic conditions at dusk and dawn is altered. Furthermore, it provides novel insight into hypoxia related changes in CS function.

Macular sensitivity in patients with congenital stationary night-blindness.

AIM: To evaluate and correlate mean light sensitivity thresholds (MLST) in patients with congenital stationary night-blindness (CSNB) in comparison with healthy subjects using microperimetry (MP1). METHODS: Eleven patients with CSNB and 13 healthy subjects were compared. In all subjects, static threshold perimetry was performed using MP1 evaluating the central 6 mm of the retina. This central retinal area was divided into three rings through using the ETDRS grid algorithm with an innermost (1 mm), inner (3 mm) and outer ring (6 mm). The MLSTs were acquired in nine sectors of the ETDRS grid. A comparison of MLST was performed between both groups using a t-test (significance level p<0.005). RESULTS: A significant reduction of MLST in the fovea (innermost ring, 1 mm) was observed for patients with CSNB (7.2±3.90 dB) in comparison to healthy subjects (19.7±0.75; p<0.0001). Similarly, comparison of MLST in all other sectors (superior/inferior/temporal and nasal) within the inner and outer ring revealed a statistically significant reduction in patients with CSNB compared with healthy subjects (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Examination of macular retinal sensitivity intensity using MP1 revealed for the first time a significant reduction of MLST within the central 6 mm of the retina in patients with CSNB compared with healthy subjects. This finding supports MP1 as an additional diagnostic tool when examining patients with retinal dysfunctions such as CSNB.

Optic nerve oedema at high altitude occurs independent of acute mountain sickness.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The study aims to investigate changes in the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) at high altitude and to assess correlation to optic disc oedema (ODE) and acute mountain sickness (AMS). This investigation is part of the Tübingen High Altitude Ophthalmology study. METHODS: Fourteen volunteers ascended to 4559 m for 4 days before returning to low altitude. Ultrasonography of ONSD, quantification of optic disc parameters using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope and fluorescein angiography were performed at 341 m and at high altitude. Pearson's coefficient was used to correlate changes in ONSD with the optic disc and AMS. Assessment of AMS was performed using the Lake Louise (LL) and AMS-cerebral (AMS-C) scores of the Environmental Symptom Questionnaire-III. All volunteers were clinically monitored for heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2). RESULTS: The mean ONSD at high altitude (4.6±0.3 mm, p<0.05) was significantly increased compared with baseline (3.8±0.4 mm) and remained enlarged throughout high-altitude exposure. This change in ONSD did not correlate with AMS (AMS-C, r=0.26, p=0.37; LL, r=0.21, p=0.48) and high-altitude headache (r=0.54, p=0.046), or clinical parameters of SpO2 (r=0.11, p=0.72) and HR (r=0.22, p=0.44). Increased ONSD did not correlate with altered key stereometric parameters of the optic disc describing ODE at high altitude (r<0.1, p>0.5). CONCLUSION: High-altitude exposure leads to marked oedema formation of the optic nerve independent of AMS. Increased ONSD and ODE reflect hypoxia-driven oedema formation of the optic nerve at high altitude, providing important pathophysiological insight into high-altitude illness development and for future research.

Efficacy of two different thiol-modified crosslinked hyaluronate formulations as vitreous replacement compared to silicone oil in a model of retinal detachment.

The efficacy of two novel artificial vitreous body substitutes (VBS) consisting of highly biocompatible thiolated cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels in comparison to silicone oil in a model of retinal detachment was investigated. Pars plana vitrectomy (23G) was performed in the right eye of 24 pigmented rabbits. Retinal detachment of two quadrants was induced by creating a small retinotomy near the vascular arcade and injecting balanced salt solution (BSS) subretinally. The retina was reattached by injecting air, which was followed by increasing the infusion pressure, and the retinal tear was treated by endolaser photocoagulation. At the end of the procedure, the eye was filled either with 5000-cs silicone oil (after fluid air exchange) or the respective hydrogel (with two different viscosities). Follow-up examination included slit lamp examination, funduscopy, intraocular pressure measurements (IOP), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and electroretinogram (ERG) measurements. After a maximum follow-up of four weeks both eyes were removed, examined macroscopically, photographed, and prepared for histology. Of the eight rabbits that received silicone oil, seven (87.5%) developed a recurrent retinal detachment with pronounced proliferative vitreoretinopathy within the first two weeks after surgery. In contrast, in the hydrogel treated eyes, the retina stayed attached in the majority of the cases (73.3%). IOP and retinal morphology were normal as long as the retina remained re-attached. In conclusions, this model of retinal detachment, both thiolated crosslinked hyaluronate hydrogels showed superior efficacy when compared to silicone oil. These hydrogels have a promising potential as novel vitreous body substitutes.

Effect of High Altitude Exposure on Intraocular Pressure Using Goldmann Applanation Tonometry.

Willmann, Gabriel, Kai Schommer, Maximilian Schultheiss, M. Dominik Fischer, Karl-Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt, Florian Gekeler, and Andreas Schatz. Effect of high altitude exposure on intraocular pressure using Goldmann applanation tonometry. High Alt Med Biol. 18:114-120, 2017. AIMS: The aim of the study was to quantify changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) during exposure to 4559 m using the state-of-the-art method of Goldmann applanation tonometry for IOP measurement and to detect correlations between IOP and acute mountain sickness (AMS) in a prospective manner. METHODS: IOP was measured using a Goldmann applanation tonometer AT 900® (Haag-Streit, Switzerland) and central corneal thickness (CCT) with the anterior segment module of a Spectralis™ HRA+OCT® device (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) at baseline and high altitude. Assessment of AMS was performed using the Lake Louise and AMS-C questionnaires, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for association between IOP and AMS. RESULTS: Raw IOP values at high altitude were not significantly changed compared to baseline. IOP adjusted to the increase in CCT at high altitude, which is known to alter IOP levels, showed a significant reduction for corrected IOP values on day 3 of exposure (morning -2.1 ± 1.2 mmHg; evening -2.3 ± 1.1 mmHg; p < 0.05). No correlation of IOP with AMS or clinical parameters (heart rate and SpO2) at high altitude was noted. CONCLUSIONS: IOP showed a significant reduction of IOP levels when corrected for increased CCT values at high altitude. Furthermore, the prospective measurement of IOP is not useful in diagnosing AMS or for the prediction of more severe high altitude related illnesses as the decrease in IOP and symptoms of AMS do not correlate during altitude exposure.

Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation for Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Prospective, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Follow-up Study Over 1 Year.

Purpose: After promising results of an exploratory study, this study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) over 1 year in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: We included 52 RP patients in this prospective, randomized, partially-masked study which was done in accordance with rules of good clinical practice. Transcorneal electrical stimulation by Okustim was applied monocularly for 30 minutes per week for 52 consecutive weeks. Patients were assigned randomly to the groups: sham, 150%, or 200% of individual electrical phosphene threshold (EPT). Visual acuity (retroilluminated Snellen charts), visual field (VF; Octopus 900), electroretinography (ERG), rod and cone full-field stimulus threshold, EPTs and IOP were assessed. Primary outcome measures were VF area; secondary outcome measures were development of ERG parameters. Results: The application of TES was tolerated well. Dry eye symptoms (31 of 52 patients) were registered as the main adverse event. Throughout the study period, the VF area showed only a trend for prevention of VF loss in the 200% group (P = 0.24). A significant improvement of light-adapted single flash b-wave was noted for the 200% (P < 0.0001) and 150% (P = 0.006) groups compared to the sham group. Tendencies of improved function were observed for scotopic b-wave amplitude for the 200% group (P = 0.097). Other examination methods did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The safety and acceptable tolerability of weekly TES self-administered by patients at home was confirmed over the course of 1 year. Objectively measured improvements in retinal function with ERG provide support for the potential benefits of TES for RP patients.