Increased incidence of acute primary angle closure during the COVID-19 outbreak in China: A retrospective analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of acute primary angle closure (APAC) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China. This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with APAC in a glaucoma clinic over a 5-year period. We compared the number of APAC cases during the COVID-19 outbreak (December 7, 2022 to January 7, 2023) with those during the same period in previous years and 2 months prior to the outbreak. We also collected data on the demographic and clinical features of APAC patients, such as age, sex, disease course, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and lens opacity. We included 95 eyes of 88 patients with APAC were included. Of these, 65 were female and 23 were male. The mean age was 68.0 ±â€…8.1 years. The median disease course was 10.8 ±â€…9.5 days. There was a significant increase in the number of APAC cases during the COVID-19 outbreak compared with the same months over a 5-year period (44 vs 51, P < .001). A higher proportion of women developed APAC during the outbreak period than during the non-outbreak period (P < .001). Eyes with APAC in the outbreak period had a lower mean IOP than those in the preceding 6 months (40.5 ±â€…8.8 mm Hg vs 46.1 ±â€…10.1 mm Hg; P = .043). No significant differences were observed in disease duration, lens opacity, or bilateral or unilateral onset between the 2 groups. Our study suggests a potential correlation between APAC and COVID-19, marked by a significant surge in APAC cases concurrent with the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the underlying mechanisms and preventive strategies remain to be elucidated.

Direct observation and measurement of circumlental space and its relation to anterior chamber angle characteristics in iridotomized phakic eyes with primary angle closure disease.

Primary angle closure disease (PACD) is a major cause of blindness worldwide. It has a high prevalence in East Asia, especially in China, which leads to a higher incidence of blindness than open-angle glaucoma. The aim of this study was to directly observe the circumlental space (CLS) in laser peripheral iridotomized eyes with PACD and to determine whether this structure plays a role in the pathogenesis of PACD. Fifty eyes of 50 patients with PACD, who had received laser peripheral iridotomy performed with neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet were recruited from glaucoma clinics from March 2021 to May 2022, including 17 primary angle closure suspect (PACS), 16 primary angle closure (PAC) and 17 primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). They were classified into two groups based on whether the ciliary process and the crystalline lens equator were in contact using slit-lamp photograph: the attached group and the unattached group. The demographic, clinical characteristics and anterior segment parameters measured from ultrasound biomicroscopy were compared between the attached group and the unattached group. Thirty-three eyes were assigned to the attached group and 17 eyes belonged to the unattached group. In the unattached group, the mean CLS was 0.10 ± 0.07 mm. No significant differences were identified between the different diagnosis groups in age, sex, best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, white-to-white, axial length, central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, flat keratometry, steep keratometry or iridotomy diameter (p > 0.05). The unattached group had shorter trabecular-ciliary process distance (p = 0.021) and larger ciliary process area (p = 0.001) compared with the attached group. Small CLS and its potential effect (partial ciliary block) might be considered as one of the mechanisms of PACD.

Unilateral pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy with acute angle-closure glaucoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy (PPRCA) is an uncommon fundus disease characterized by perivenous aggregations of pigment clumps and retinochoroidal atrophy distributed along the retinal veins. We report a Chinese female case of unilateral PPRCA with acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG). CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old Chinese female presented with vision loss and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in the right eye and then underwent trabeculectomy. She referred to our clinic for further evaluation and treatment. The funduscopic examination revealed grayish retinochoroidal atrophy and osteocyte-like pigment clumping lesions along the retinal veins and peripapillary preretinal hemorrhage in the right eye. The patient also presented with AACG in the same eye on the basis of past medical history of acute attack, shallow anterior chamber depth (ACD), narrow angle showed by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and glaucomatous neuropathy identified by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Other examinations like fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), electroretinogram (ERG) and electrooculography (EOG) all confirmed the aforementioned diagnose. CONCLUSION: PPRCA is a rare disease, uncommon in females and symmetrical in both eyes. We present a rare case of unilateral PPRCA accompanied with AACG.

Semaphorin 3A Inhibits Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induced by High Glucose in Müller Cells.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effect of the Semaphorin3A (Sema3A)/Neuropilin-1 (Nrp-1) pathway on Müller cell activities and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by high glucose (HG) in vitro. METHODS: The primary Müller cells of C57BL/6J mice were isolated and cultured in normal or high glucose medium. The expression of endogenous Sema3A and its coreceptor Nrp-1 was measured by Western blot. Müller cells were incubated with exogenous recombinant Sema3A protein or transfected with lentiviral vectors expressing small hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knock down the expression of endogenous Sema3A. The proliferation of Müller cells was detected by CCK-8 assay and EdU staining. The migratory ability was detected by the Transwell migration assay. The level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was analyzed through the detection of GRP78/BiP, IRE1α, phosphorylated IRE1αS724 (p-IRE1αS724), and the splicing rate of XBP1 (XBP1s/XBP1) by using immunofluorescence, Western blot or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: HG induced the upregulation of endogenous Sema3A and Nrp-1 receptors in Müller cells. The expression of GRP78/BiP and IRE1α was upregulated by HG, with an increased splicing rate of XBP1. Exogenous Sema3A inhibited HG-induced Müller cell proliferation, migration, and GRP78/BiP-IRE1α-XBP1 axis activation. Knockdown of Sema3A promoted proliferation, migration, and ER stress induced by high glucose in Müller cells. CONCLUSION: Sema3A inhibited the increased proliferative and migratory activities induced by high glucose by attenuating ER stress in Müller cells.

Novel Discoveries of the Relationship Between the Vitreous Zonule and the Anterior Segment Characteristics in Eyes With Primary Angle-Closure Disease.

Purpose: To investigate the presence of the vitreous zonule (VZ) in different subtypes of primary angle-closure disease (PACD) and to explore the relationship between VZ and anterior chamber angle characteristics. Methods: Patients with clinical diagnoses of acute primary angle-closure (PAC)/PAC glaucoma (APAC[G]) or chronic PAC/PAC glaucoma (CPAC[G]) and healthy subjects were enrolled. A total of 300 eyes of 180 subjects were included. Anterior segment parameters and the presence of the VZ were assessed by ultrasound biomicroscopy. The presence of VZ was compared among different subtypes of PACD. Anterior segment parameters were compared between eyes in vitreous zonule group (VZG) and no vitreous zonule group (NVZG). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with the presence of VZ. Results: APAC(G) eyes had lower VZ presence compared to the fellow eyes of APAC(G) (P < 0.001). VZ was more likely to be seen in the eyes of healthy subjects and PAC suspect than in the eyes of PAC and PAC glaucoma (PACG) (P < 0.05). NVZG had shorter angle opening distance 500/750 (P < 0.001), smaller trabecular iris angle 500/750 (P < 0.001), smaller trabecular-iris space area 500/750 (P < 0.001), smaller trabecular-ciliary angle (P = 0.009), smaller iris area (P = 0.010), and greater lens vault (P = 0.004) compared to VZG. Greater lens vault (LV) was independently associated with absence of VZ (odds ratio = 0.253; 95% confidence interval, 0.109-0.586; P = 0.001). Conclusions: VZ was less likely to be observed in PAC/PACG eyes. PACD eyes with less VZ had narrower angle, more anteriorly rotated ciliary body, and greater LV.

The Outcomes of XEN Gel Stent Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: XEN gel stents are used for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG), including primary and secondary glaucoma that are uncontrolled by previous medical therapy and cases with previous failed surgery. Our aim was to systematically review of the clinical data of currently published ab-interno XEN gel stents with an emphasis on intraocular pressure (IOP), antiglaucoma medication outcomes, and safety profiles. METHODS: We analyzed all of the publications (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) on the ab-interno XEN gel stent to evaluate the reduction in IOP and antiglaucoma medications following the procedure. The primary outcomes measured for the meta-analysis were reduction in IOP and anti-glaucoma medications. The secondary outcome were adverse events. For each study, we used a random effects analysis model to calculate the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals for the continuous results (reduction in IOP and antiglaucoma medications) using the inverse variance statistical method. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-seven articles were checked and 56 studies were found to be relevant with a total of 4,410 eyes. There was a significant reduction in IOP as well as in the number of medications required in patients treated with ab-interno XEN implant either alone or combined with cataract surgery. This new treatment for various types of glaucoma reduced the IOP by 35% to a final average close to 15 mmHg. This reduction was accompanied by a decrease in the number of antiglaucoma medications in all the studies, approximately 2 classes of medication at the price of more needlings. The overall complete success rate was 21.0-70.8% after 2 years using strict criteria originally designed to record success rate in filtration surgery. The incidence of complications vision-threatening was low at <1%. CONCLUSIONS: XEN gel stent was effective and safe for primary and secondary OAG. Further studies should be performed to investigate the impact of ethnicity on the success and failure rate after XEN implantation.

Risk factors of persistent subretinal fluid after half-dose photodynamic therapy for treatment-naïve central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic factors on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) associated with incomplete subretinal fluid (SRF) absorption in treated-naïve eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) after the half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT). METHODS: Patients with CSC who underwent half-dose vPDT with a follow-up period of more than 3 months were included in this retrospective study. Logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors associated with the SRF persistence at 3 months after the treatment. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients with 150 eyes were enrolled in this study (102 male and 41 female patients). The rate of complete SRF resolution was 82.7% at 3 months for all cases. The duration of symptoms > 6 months (odds ratio [OR] = 3.135, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] (1.147-8.573), p = 0.026), larger SRF area with base diameter > 3 mm (odds ratio (OR) = 4.051, 95% CI: 1.336-12.284, p = 0.013), and larger flat irregular pigment epithelium detachment (FI-PED) area with base diameter > 1 mm (OR = 3.311, 95% CI: 1.249-8.780, p = 0.016) on OCT B-scans were risk factors for incomplete SRF absorption after half-dose vPDT, while outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness was not significantly associated with the anatomical outcome (OR = 1.015, 95% CI: 0.995-1.036, p = 0.145). CONCLUSION: The duration of symptoms, baseline SRF, and FI-PED base diameter on SD-OCT were important predictors for the anatomical outcome at 3 months after half-dose vPDT. Further studies are needed to establish a better therapeutic strategy for patients with poor response to half-dose vPDT.

Anterior Segment Parameter Changes after Cataract Surgery in Open-Angle and Angle-Closure Eyes: A Prospective Study.

Background: To investigate the anterior segment parameters before and after cataract surgery in open-angle eyes and different subtypes of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) eyes and to further explore the potential relationship between the anterior rotation of the ciliary process and crystalline lens. Methods: An observational, prospective study was performed on 66 patients who had cataract surgery including 22 chronic PACG patients, 22 acute PACG patients, and 22 open-angle cataract patients. Anterior segment parameters including the trabecular-ciliary process distance, ciliary process area, trabecular-ciliary angle (TCA), maximum ciliary body thickness (CBTmax), and so on, were measured using ultrasound biomicroscopy preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Results: After the surgery, there were significant increases in TCA (p < 0.001) and CBTmax (p < 0.05) in all three groups, while there was no significant change in the trabecular-ciliary process distance (p > 0.05) in all three groups. No significant difference in the changes of ciliary process area, TCA, and CBTmax (p > 0.05) pre- and postoperatively among the three groups were identified. Conclusions: Extractions of crystalline lenses played similar roles in terms of decreasing the anterior rotation of ciliary processes in open-angle eyes and angle-closure eyes. A natural anatomical abnormality may be a more important factor in the anterior rotation of ciliary processes in PACG patients.

Novel Discoveries of Anterior Segment Parameters in Fellow Eyes of Acute Primary Angle Closure and Chronic Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the biometric differences of anterior segment parameters between fellow eyes of acute primary angle closure (F-APAC) and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (F-CPACG) to get information about differences between APAC and CPAC. Methods: Patients with F-APAC and F-CPACG without prior treatment were enrolled from glaucoma clinics. Parameters were measured on ultrasound biomicroscopy images, including pupil diameter, lens vault (LV), anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber width, iris area, iris thickness (IT 750 and 2000), angle-opening distance (AOD 500 and 750), trabecular-iris space area (TISA 500 and 750), trabecular iris angle (TIA 500 and 750), trabecular-ciliary angle, and ciliary process area. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the most important parameters associated with F-APAC compared with F-CPACG. Results: Fifty-five patients with APAC and 55 patients with CPACG were examined. The anterior chamber depth, IT 750, AOD 750, trabecular iris angle 750, and trabecular-ciliary angle were smaller, and LV and ciliary process area were greater in F-APAC as compared with F-CPACG (P ≤ 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression showed that thinner IT 750, smaller AOD 750, and larger LV were significantly associated with F-APAC (P < 0.01). IT 750 (area under the curve, 0.703) performed relatively better than AOD 750 (area under the curve, 0.696) in distinguishing F-APAC from F-CPACG, with the best cutoff of 0.404 mm and 0.126 mm, respectively. Conclusions: Compared with F-CPACG, F-APAC had thinner peripheral iris, narrower anterior chamber angle, shallower anterior chamber depth, greater LV, larger and anteriorly positioned ciliary body. IT 750, AOD 750, and LV played important roles in distinguishing eyes predisposed to APAC or CPAC.

Efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification plus goniosynechialysis and trabectome in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, goniosynechialysis (GSL), and trabectome in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Twenty patients (22 eyes) of PACG treated with combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, GSL, and trabectome between September 2017 and September 2020 were included in this case series study. The intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Successful surgery was defined as IOP < 21 mmHg with or without IOP-lowering medications. IOP was decreased significantly from 22.07 ± 6.62 mmHg at baseline to 15.06 ± 3.39 mmHg at 12 months' follow-up (p = 0.001). The number of glaucoma medications was significantly reduced from 2.68 ± 1.17 preoperatively to 0.78 ± 0.73 at 12 months' follow-up (p < 0.01). The rate of successful surgery was 88.9% at 12 months. The reduction in IOP showed a positive correlation with baseline IOP (p < 0.001), and the reduction in number of glaucoma medications was positively correlated with baseline number of glaucoma medications (p < 0.001). There were no vision-threatening complications intraoperatively or postoperatively. Combined phacoemulsification, IOL implantation, GSL, and trabectome were effective and safe in PACG patients in this study. These combined surgical techniques may be useful in PACG patients, especially those with long term and extensive peripheral anterior synechiae.

Changes in the Foveal Outer Nuclear Layer of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Patients Over the Disease Course and Their Response to Photodynamic Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between foveal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and the natural course of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), as well as the thickness change after photodynamic therapy (PDT), exploring the PDT timing for CSC. METHODS: This retrospective consecutive case series included 358 CSC patients between January 2014 and December 2019. All patients were divided into four groups depending on disease duration: Group A: ≤1 month; Group B: >1 and ≤3 months; Group C: >3 and≤6 months and Group D: >6 months. Foveal ONL thickness of the CSC eye and the clinically healthy fellow eye were measured and compared in all patients. Fifty-six patients were successfully treated with half-dose of PDT, showing complete subretinal fluid absorption, were followed up for more than 6 months and further investigated. The recovery of foveal ONL thickness was analyzed in the affected eyes of patients with different disease duration. RESULTS: No significant reduction was found in CSC foveal ONL thickness (µm) compared to the fellow eye in patients with disease duration less than 1 week (112.3 ± 12.2 vs. 116.7 ± 15.3, P = 0.268). Patients with longer disease duration had varying degrees of ONL thinning compared to the contralateral eye (all P < 0.05) and this difference was more pronounced in patients with disease duration greater than 6 months (75.8 ± 12.9 vs. 113.0 ± 11.5, P < 0.001). At 6-month follow-up after PDT, foveal ONL thickness of patients with <1 month disease duration recovered significantly from onset (97.3 ± 18.2 to 113.6 ± 8.7, P < 0.001) and became similar to that of the healthy fellow eye. Foveal ONL thickness of patients with duration>1 and≤3 months recovered significantly (88.5 ± 11.5 to 95.8 ± 11.3, P = 0.012) but remained thinner than that of the healthy fellow eye. Foveal ONL thickness did not improve significantly in cases with disease duration longer than 3 months (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Foveal ONL thinning was positively associated with disease duration prior to treatment suggesting that longer disease duration limits scope for foveal ONL recovery. CSC patients should be treated with PDT as soon as possible to prevent disease development and reduced visual function.

Different Types of Hyperfluorescence Observed in Post Anti-VEGF Fluorescein Angiographic Patterns in Retinopathy of Prematurity Patients.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate that the demographic and treatment characteristics of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) eyes showed different types of hyperfluorescence in fluorescein angiography (FA) initially treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. METHODS: A consecutive case series of ROP treated with anti-VEGF agents was retrospectively studied. All the patients underwent FA examinations at least 6 months later after treatment. The demographic and treatment characteristics of eyes with or without hyperfluorescence in FA were analyzed. The different types of hyperfluorescence were divided into three groups, including vascular leakage, fibrous membrane, and vascular abnormality. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-two eyes of 123 patients with treatment-required ROP were included. Hyperfluorescence was defined in 51/242 eyes, and 2.08 ± 1.11 injections were performed for them, while the eyes without hyperfluorescence received 1.65 ± 0.80 injections (P = 0.013). Vascular leakage was defined in 26/51 hyperfluorescence eyes. The postmenstrual age (PMA) of first injection for the hyperfluorescence group was 38.56 ± 3.24 weeks, which is earlier than that of infants without hyperfluorescence (P = 0.011). More additional treatments were performed in eyes with hyperfluorescence (23.53 vs. 3.66%, P = 0.000). Among them, the eyes with vascular leakage required more additional treatment than eyes without vascular leakage (42.31 vs. 4.00%, P = 0.004). For the 26 eyes with vascular leakage, 11 eyes of 8 patients received further treatments during further follow-up. No significant difference of refractive errors can be defined between different groups. CONCLUSION: Eyes with persistent hyperfluorescencein FA after treatment required more anti-VEGF and additional treatments, including laser and PPV. Not all hyperfluorescences were vascular leakage and required additional treatment.

Comparison of the outcomes of photodynamic therapy for central serous chorioretinopathy with or without subfoveal fibrin.

BACKGROUND: To compare the outcomes of half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) with or without subfoveal fibrin. METHODS: One hundred seventy-three cases of CSCR treated with half-dose vPDT between September 2008 and February 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and classified into two groups: CSCR with subfoveal fibrin (fibrin group) and without subfoveal fibrin (no-fibrin group). The changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline and in central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded at 1, 3, and 6 months after the treatment. RESULTS: Forty-eight eyes were included in the fibrin group and 125 eyes in the no fibrin group. There were no statistical differences in the baseline characteristics including age, gender, duration of symptoms, and CMT between the groups. The baseline mean BCVA of the fibrin group was significantly worse than that of the no fibrin group (0.47 ± 0.32 versus 0.32 ± 0.31 in logMAR; p = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the improvement of BCVA at each follow-up point (1 month: p = 0.069; 3 months: p = 0.111; 6 months: p = 0.172, respectively) and in the reduction of CMT (1 month: p = 0.367; 3 months: p = 0.767; 6 months: p = 0.496, respectively). In the fibrin group, the rates of complete resolution of the subretinal fibrin at 1, 3, and 6 months after vPDT were 72.9%, 95.8%, 95.8%, respectively. The SRF resolution rate at 1, 3, and 6 months was 72.9%, 89.6% and 91.7% respectively in the fibrin group and was 62.4%, 83.2% and 84.0% in the no fibrin group. There was no significant difference of SRF resolution rate between the two groups at 1 month (p = 0.216), 3 months (p = 0.350), and 6 months (p = 0.228). No ocular adverse event was encountered in both groups. CONCLUSION: Half-dose vPDT was effective and safe for CSCR patients with subfoveal fibrin.

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY-GUIDED PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR ACUTE CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To compare the anatomic results of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-guided half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) versus indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)-guided PDT in eyes with acute central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: This study is a prospective, single-center, noninferiority, double-masked, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Fifty-one eyes of 45 patients with acute central serous chorioretinopathy were recruited, and randomized to an ICGA-guided group and an OCTA-guided group. The primary outcome measures were the rates of complete subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution at 1 month and 3 months. RESULTS: Forty-six eyes of 40 patients finished the follow-up and were analyzed. In the OCTA-guided group, the SRF was completely resolved in 13 (56.5%) eyes within 1 month and in 21 (91.3%) eyes within 3 months. In the ICGA-guided group, the SRF was resolved in 16 (69.6%) of the eyes within 1 month and in 22 (95.7%) of the eyes by 3 months. Optical coherence tomography angiography-guided PDT was demonstrated noninferior to ICGA-guided PDT for SRF resolution rate at 3 months (P = 0.016), but not at 1 month (P = 0.311) for acute central serous chorioretinopathy patients. Subretinal fluid did not recur in any of the eyes in the OCTA-guided group, but did recur in 2 eyes (8.7%) of the ICGA-guided group during the 3-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography angiography-guided PDT seemed to be noninferior to ICGA-guided PDT for resolution of SRF at 3 months in eyes with acute central serous chorioretinopathy.

Foveal structure, function and microvascular morphology in school-age children with laser-treated retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to evaluate the relationship between foveal structure, function, microvascular morphology and visual acuity in school-age children with laser-treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: Foveal structural parameters, including the central foveal thickness (CFT), inner retinal thickness (IRT) and outer retinal thickness (ORT), were measured on B-scans using an Optovue XR Avanti optical coherence tomography device. Foveal microvascular parameters, including the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), superficial capillary plexus-vessel density (SCP-VD) and deep capillary plexus-vessel density (DCP-VD), were measured on optical coherence tomography angiography with a scan size of 3 × 3. The P1 amplitudes and P1 implicit times were recorded by a multifocal electroretinogram with 61 elements. RESULTS: Fifty-five eyes (26 eyes of school-age ROP children and 29 eyes of full-term controls) were analysed. The ROP children manifested a significantly smaller FAZ, higher SCP-VD and higher DCP-VD than the controls (p < 0.001). The CFT (p < 0.001), IRT (p < 0.001) and ORT (p = 0.001) were significantly increased in the ROP group. The P1 amplitudes in all five-ring retinal regions were significantly smaller in the ROP group (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis indicated that best-corrected visual acuity was positively correlated with post-menstrual age (PMA) and negatively correlated with SCP-VD and CFT (R2 = 0.529, p < 0.001, 0.043 and 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSION: The foveal structure, function and microvascular morphology are affected in school-age children with laser-treated ROP. PMA, foveal structural anomalies and microvascular changes in ROP children were associated with impaired visual function.

Plasma metabolomic profiling of central serous chorioretinopathy.

Our study aimed to investigate metabolites alterations in the blood plasma of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients and to identify the key biomarkers to increase the understanding of the mechanism of CSC at the molecular level. Quantitative and targeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LCMS, Biocrates P500) assays were performed on plasma samples from the 42 subjects(CSC patients = 30, control = 12) enrolled at the Department of Ophthalmology of People's Hospital Peking University. A total of 61 altered metabolites were distinguished between CSC patients and controls. Taurine was selected as a candidate biomarker for CSC among 6 potential metobolites: taurine, glutamic acid, sarcosine, lactic acid, glutamine and C18_1. The P values of these potential metabolites were 1.01E-06, 7.35E-08, 1.27E-24, and 1.85E-10, 1.02E-05 and 8.59E-08, and the areas under the curve for them were 0.926, 0.991, 1.000, 0.900, 0.897 and 0.841, respectively. This study is the first to identify that taurine may be a biologically relevant biomarker for CSC and to provide a novel understanding of CSC.

Association between CFH single nucleotide polymorphisms and response to photodynamic therapy in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the complement factor H (CFH) gene and response to PDT in patients with CSC. METHODS: 103 eyes from 93 patients with CSC were enrolled from Department of Ophthalmology of the People's Hospital Peking University. Genotyping for selected SNPs in the CFH gene was performed, and multivariate linear analysis was used to identify factors influencing PDT treatment outcomes. Genetics associations between SNPs in the CFH gene and response to PDT in patients with CSC were analyzed. RESULTS: None of the seven SNPs examined in this study (rs800292, rs1061170, rs3753394, rs3753396, rs2284664, rs1329428, and rs1065489) showed significant associations with 1-month outcomes after PDT in patients with CSC (P > 0.05). Baseline BCVA changed at 1 month after PDT (P < 0.001), and baseline retinal thickness was associated with changes in retinal thickness at 1 month after PDT (P < 0.001). Age was significantly associated with resolution of SRF at 1 month after PDT (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant associations between SNPs in the CFH gene and 1-month outcomes after PDT in patients with CSC. However, baseline BCVA, baseline retinal thickness, and age were significantly associated with response to PDT in patients with CSC. Larger studies with more power are necessary to further determine whether an association exists between SNPs in the CFH gene and PDT in patients with CSC.

Association between endogenous cortisol level and the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy: a Meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess the association between endogenous cortisol level and the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: Case-control studies were systematically searched on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for publishes between January 1990 and July 2017 to assess the association between endogenous cortisol level and CSC. The main endpoints were serum cortisol level at 8 a.m. and 24-hour urine 17-hydroxysteroids level. We assessed pooled data using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Of 86 identified studies, 5 were eligible included in our analysis. The 5 studies included a total of 315 participants, of whom 187 had CSC. Statistically significant association was observed between serum cortisol level (summary SMD=0.77, 95%CI=0.55-0.99), 24-hour urine 17-hydroxysteroids level (summary SMD=0.95, 95%CI=0.61-1.30), and the risk of CSC. CONCLUSION: Endogenous cortisol level is associated with an increased risk of CSC. Combined treatment targeting the serum cortisol level at 8 a.m. and 24-hour urine 17-hydroxysteroids level can be a potential preventive strategy for individuals who are at risk of CSC and therapeutic strategy for patients with CSC.