Relationship between Eye Frailty and Physical, Social, and Psychological/Cognitive Weaknesses among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan.

This study investigated the relationship between eye frailty and physical, social, and psychological/cognitive weaknesses among older adults in Japan. The participants were 192 community-dwelling older adult women. We measured handgrip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass; additionally, their physical, social, and psychological/cognitive frailties were surveyed using questionnaires. Eye frailty self-checks were used to assess eye frailty. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to verify the validity of the eye frailty self-checks. Eye frailty prevalence and related factors were investigated by conducting a binomial logistic regression analysis, with eye frailty as the dependent variable. The factor analysis results showed that a model could be constructed with the two factors of visual acuity or contrast and visual field. The model's goodness of fit was acceptable, supporting the validity of the self-checking construct. The Kihon checklist was the only variable with a significant relationship to eye frailty. Regarding the relationship between eye frailty and subordinate items of the Kihon checklist, social withdrawal [odds ratio (OR) 2.437, 95% confidence interval 1.145-5.188], cognitive function (OR 2.047, 95%CI 1.051-3.984), and depressed mood (OR 1.820, 95%CI 1.163-2.848) were significant. Eye frailty can be considered a factor reflecting the existence of social and psychological/cognitive frailties.

Benefits of consulting a certified orthoptist in a pediatric vision screening program.

In Japan, all 3-year-old children undergo a three-step municipal vision screening that includes home-based screening, secondary screening at a health center, and comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, if warranted. We investigated whether screening by a certified orthoptist (CO) could improve the detection of visual dysfunctions, including amblyopia. Three-year-olds in Nobeoka City were invited to undergo primary and secondary screenings from April 2008 to March 2011. COs performed the secondary screening tests; children with a positive secondary screening received a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination. Of the 3,303 eligible children, 98 were positive on detailed examination. Of these, 25% were classified as false-negatives. Eight children with amblyopia in the false-negative group accounted for 24% of all 33 amblyopia cases detected on detailed examination.

Rho-kinase, but not protein kinase C, is involved in generation of the spontaneous tone in the resting phase of the isolated pig iris sphincter muscle.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the role of Rho-kinase and/or protein kinase C in the resting tension of the isolated pig iris sphincter muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The motor activity of the isolated pig iris sphincter muscle was measured isometrically. RESULTS: EGTA, a chelator of extracellular Ca(2+), significantly reduced the resting tension. Y27632, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, significantly reduced the resting tension in a concentration-dependent manner. The resting tension diminished by Y27632 was significantly recovered by the addition of calyculin A, a myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) inhibitor, in a concentration-dependent manner. GF109203X, a protein kinase C inhibitor, had no effect on the resting tension. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, in the isolated pig iris sphincter muscle, Rho-kinase plays an important role in the generation of spontaneous tone in the resting phase via the inhibition of MLCP activity.