Comparison of Disposable Goldmann Applanation Tonometer, ICare ic100, and Tonopen XL to Standards of Care Goldmann Nondisposable Applanation Tonometer for Measuring Intraocular Pressure.

PURPOSE: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements by Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), disposable Goldmann applanation prism, ICare, and Tonopen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 74 patients with varying glaucoma status were examined in our outpatient clinic and IOP was measured with 3 tonometers. The disposable Tonojet prism (dGAT), Tonopen XL, and ICare ic100 were compared with the GAT. RESULTS: There were good intraclass correlation coefficients between IOP measurements by GAT and dGAT (0.95), Tonopen (0.83), and ICare (0.77), all P<0.001. The IOP mean differences between dGAT and GAT were mean 0.80 mm Hg; 95% limits of agreement: -3.35 to 4.96 mm Hg. For Tonopen and GAT: mean, -1.67 mm Hg; limits of agreement, -8.55 to 5.21 mm Hg. For ICare and GAT: mean, 0.44 mm Hg; limits of agreement, -8.18 to 9.06 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: The most reliable modality, with good correlation with the Goldmann tonometer values, was the GAT with dGAT, followed in descending order by the Tonopen XL and ICare. There was good interdevice agreement and consistency between all devices. On subgroup analysis, all 3 modalities were found to be less reliable at extreme IOP values (<10 and >24 mm Hg). These disposable modalities should be avoided in extreme IOP ranges outside the normal range.

Directed therapy for exfoliation syndrome.

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is an age-related disorder of the extracellular matrix that leads the production of abnormal fibrillar material that leads to elevated intraocular pressure and a relatively severe glaucoma. Exfoliation material is deposited in numerous ocular tissues and extraocular organs. XFS is associated with ocular ischemia, cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease and cardiovascular disease. Current modalities of treatment include intraocular pressure lowering with topical antihypertensives, laser trabeculoplasty and filtration surgery. The disease paradigm for XFS should be expanded to include directed therapy designed specifically to target the underlying disease process. Potential targets include preventing the formation or promoting the depolymerization of exfoliation material. Novel therapies targeting trabecular meshwork may prove particularly useful in the care of exfoliative glaucoma. The systemic and ocular associations of XFS underscore the need for a comprehensive search for neuroprotective agents in its treatment.

Iris morphologic changes related to alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor antagonists implications for intraoperative floppy iris syndrome.

PURPOSE: To identify iris structural alterations associated with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) in patients using systemic alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor antagonists (alpha-1ARA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS: Twenty-nine patients with current or past treatment with any systemic alpha-1ARA and 22 untreated controls. METHODS: Consecutive eligible patients underwent slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography in a masked fashion under standardized lighting conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Iris thickness at the dilator muscle region (DMR; measured at half of the distance between the scleral spur and the pupillary margin) and at the sphincter muscle region (SMR; 0.75 mm from the pupillary margin), the ratio between the DMR/SMR (to compensate for possible intersubject variability), and pupillary diameter. RESULTS: Most treated patients were on tamsulosin (27/29). Mean age was similar in study and control groups (70.6+/-7.6 vs 67.1+/-9.1 years; P = 0.061). Photopic pupil diameter was reduced in the study group (2.06+/-0.5 vs 2.5+/-0.6 mm; P = 0.001). The SMR was similar between groups (P = 0.53). Significantly lower values were found in treated subjects for the DMR and the DMR/SMR ratio (P<0.001). These differences remained significant after adjusting for pupil diameter (P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that a longer duration of alpha-1ARA treatment correlated to a reduced DMR/SMR ratio (P = 0.001; r = 0.47). Age and eye color were not significant in this model. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using systemic alpha-1ARA have significantly lower values of DMR thickness and DMR/SMR ratio and smaller pupil diameter when compared with age-matched controls. These differences seem to be related to the duration of drug exposure and provide evidence of structural alterations to the iris dilator muscle from this class of agents in IFIS. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Directed Therapy: An Approach to the Improved Treatment of Exfoliation syndrome.

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is an age-related, generalized disorder of the extracellular matrix characterized by the production and progressive accumulation of a fibrillar extracellular material in many ocular tissues and is the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma worldwide. Exfoliation syndrome plays an etiologic role in open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, cataract, and retinal vein occlusion. It is accompanied by an increase in serious complications at the time of cataract extraction, such as zonular dialysis, capsular rupture, and vitreous loss. It is associated systemically with an increasing number of vascular disorders, hearing loss, and Alzheimer's disease. Exfoliation syndrome appears to be a disease of elastic tissue microfibrils. Directed therapy simply means devising specific treatments for specific diseases. There was little incentive to attempt to distinguish between various open-angle glaucomas if the treatments were essentially the same. However, this view also prevented the application of directed therapy in those instances in which such was available and applicable. Pilocarpine has multiple beneficial actions in eyes with XFS. Not only does it lower IOP, but by increasing aqueous outflow, it should enable the trabecular meshwork to clear more rapidly, and by limiting pupillary movement, should slow the progression of the disease. Theoretically, miotics should be the first line of treatment. Pilocarpine 2% q.h.s. can provide sufficient limitation of pupillary mobility without causing these side effects. In 2007, two common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the coding region of the lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) gene located on chromosome 15 were specifically associated with XFS and XFG. LOXL1 is a member of the lysyl oxidase family of enzymes, which are essential for the formation, stabilization, maintenance, and remodelling of elastic fibers and prevent age-related loss of elasticity of tissues. LOXL1 protein is a major component of exfoliation deposits and appears to play a role in its accumulation and in concomitant elastotic processes in intra- and extraocular tissues of XFS patients. This discovery should open the way to new approaches and directions of therapy for this protean disorder.

Photodynamic therapy for focal retinal pigment epithelial leaks secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report the use of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin as a treatment for patients with focal retinal pigment epithelial leaks secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). DESIGN: Noncomparative, nonrandomized, retrospective interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Nine eyes of 9 symptomatic patients with acute focal retinal pigment epithelial leaks secondary to CSC, confirmed with fluorescein angiography, evaluated at 1 of 3 referral retina practices. METHODS: Patients were treated with photodynamic therapy using verteporfin. Best-corrected visual acuity (VA) was recorded at presentation and follow-up visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of neurosensory detachment, status of fluorescein leakage, and VA. RESULTS: Neurosensory detachment and fluorescein leakage resolved in all patients within 1 month. Visual acuity improved from 1 to 6 lines in 7 eyes and remained unchanged in 2. At 6 months, there was a statistically significant improvement in mean VA (P = 0.012, Wilcoxon signed ranks test), and mean VA improved from 20/80 to 20/40. No patient lost vision or suffered any treatment-related complications. CONCLUSION: The treatment of acute CSC with photodynamic therapy may result in prompt resolution of neurosensory detachment and fluorescein leakage, which can be associated with rapidly improved vision. Although this case series is limited in follow-up and number of patients, the encouraging results and lack of visually significant complications suggest that further investigation is warranted.

Cardiac arrest following anaesthetic induction in a world-class bodybuilder.

This is a report of a 41-year-old professional male bodybuilder with a history of active anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse and a normal echocardiogram two years prior to admission who experienced a near-fatal arrhythmia during anaesthetic induction for elective orthopaedic surgery. The patient had severe concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis, decreased ejection fraction and inducible monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. A single-chamber cardioverter/defibrillator was inserted.

HIV-associated retinopathy in the HAART era.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in restoring immune function in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has led to changes in the incidence, natural history, management, and sequelae of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated retinopathies, especially cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. METHODS: The medical literature pertaining to HIV-associated retinopathies was reviewed with special attention to the differences in incidence, management strategies, and complications of these conditions in the eras both before and after the widespread use of HAART. RESULTS: In the pre-HAART era, CMV retinitis was the most common HIV-associated retinopathy, occurring in 20%-40% of patients. Median time to progression was 47 to 104 days, mean survival after diagnosis was 6 to 10 months, and indefinite intravenous maintenance therapy was mandatory. Retinal detachment occurred in 24%-50% of patients annually. Herpetic retinopathy and toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis occurred in 1%-3% of patients and Pneumocystis carinii choroiditis, syphilitic retinitis, tuberculous choroiditis, cryptococcal choroiditis, and intraocular lymphoma occurred infrequently. In the HAART era the incidence of CMV retinitis has declined 80% and survival after diagnosis has increased to over 1 year. Immune recovery in patients on HAART has allowed safe discontinuation of maintenance therapy in patients with regressed CMV retinitis and other HIV-associated retinopathies. Immune recovery uveitis (IRU) is a HAART dependent inflammatory response that may occur in up to 63% of patients with regressed CMV retinitis and elevated CD4 counts and is associated with vision loss from epiretinal membrane, cataract, and cystoid macular edema. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence, visual morbidity, and mortality of CMV retinitis and other HIV-associated retinopathies have decreased in the era of HAART and lifelong maintenance therapy may safely be discontinued in patients with restored immune function. Patients with regressed CMV retinitis, however, may still lose vision from epiretinal membrane, cystoid macular edema, and cataract secondary to IRU.