Ocular findings in patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity.

AIM: To evaluate ocular findings, contrast sensitivity, color perception, and macular and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included a group of 37 patients aged 6-16 years diagnosed with combined ADHD and a healthy control group of 37 children. The participants underwent an ophthalmological examination. Color vision testing was administered using the Ishihara plates test. Contrast sensitivity test was performed using the Functional Acuity Contrast Test. Macular thickness and RNFL thickness were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the patient and control groups with regard to ocular findings, color vision, and convergence insufficiency (p > 0.05). Contrast sensitivity level was significantly lower at four out of five spatial frequencies (1.5, 3, 12, and 18 cpd) in the patient group compared to the control group. The RNFL thickness in nasal quadrant and macular thickness was significantly higher in the healthy control group compared to the ADHD group. CONCLUSION: Contrast sensitivity levels and the nasal quadrant RNFL thickness were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group. Based on the findings of the study, we suggest that the level of contrast in the tools used by ADHD patients in daily life settings should be enhanced.

The influence of post-fixation on visualising vimentin in the retina using immunofluorescence method.

BACKGROUND: Post-fixation of sections is especially required for cryostat sections of fresh frozen tissues. Vimentin is an intermediate filament in both fibrillary and non-fibrillary form, expressed in Müller's cells and astrocytes of the retina. Our aim was to determine the best post-fixation method for visualising vimentin in archival mouse eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used an archival mouse eye, slightly pre-fixed with paraformaldehyde and stored at -80°C for 4 years. We tried three fixatives (pa-raformaldehyde [PFA], alcohol/acetic acid [AAA] and methanol) for post-fixation of eye sections. RESULTS: We showed that post-fixation alters the labelling properties of vimentin expressed in the retina. In the sections with no post-fixation, vimentin positivity was observed in and around the nuclei in non-fibrillary form. In PFA post-fixed sections, the vimentin in the retina was not observed as fibrils. Positivity was observed in the nuclei and in perinuclear regions of the cells. In AAA post-fixed sections, positive labelling was observed around the nuclei as fibrils. In methanol post-fixed sections, labelling was observed around the nuclei as fibrils. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that post-fixation with AAA is more convenient for immunofluorescent labelling of vimentin in the retina for slightly PFA pre-fixed and long-term stored retina. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 246-252).

An overlap of Coats and Eales diseases or a Coats variant?

OBJECTIVE: To report an association between Coats and Eales diseases, an uncommon presentation. CASE: A 21-year-old male presented with gradual visual impairment of two years duration in his left eye. The slit-lamp examination of the affected eye revealed +2 vitreous cells. The other findings were peri-papillary fluid accumulation and extensive macular lipid exudate deposition. Small white vessels were coursing over the macula. The major veins were dilated and tortuous and massive sheathing of both arteries and veins was forming a common sheath. In the mid-periphery and periphery of the retina, discrete hard exudates, tiny superficial retinal hemorrhages and massive vascular sheathing were present. In the inferotemporal region, two intra-retinal macrocysts were located distal to the retinal vasculature. Fluorescein angiography (FA) of the left eye highlighted numerous aneurysmal dilatations throughout the posterior pole. Fluorescein angiography also showed para-foveal telangiectasia and tiny telangiectatic vessels on the optic disk that led to late staining of the macula and optic disk. Hyperfluorescent patches of deep choroiditis were present in the early phases. There was segmental but no diffuse staining of the retinal veins which showed massive sheathing on fundoscopy. In the periphery, segmental venous staining and choroidal leakage to a lesser extent were observed. In the infero-temporal quadrant, a clear-cut zone of non-perfusion and vascular abnormalities (micro-macro aneurysms, veno-venous shunts, venous beading) at the junction between the perfused and non-perfused zones were present. The findings were reminiscent of both Coats and Eales diseases. CONCLUSION: Though known as two distinct entities, both retinal pathologies may present in a single form.