Repeatability of contrast sensitivity testing in patients with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract.

PURPOSE:: To analyze the intrasession and intersession repeatability of contrast sensitivity (CS) measurements in patients with glaucoma, cataract, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and healthy controls. METHODS:: CS measurements were performed using the OPTEC-Functional Vision Analyzer (FVA), which uses a standardized and closed (view-in) system. Measurements for patients with glaucoma, cataract, or AMD and healthy controls were repeated within 30 minutes (intrasession) and during two sessions (intersession), separated by one week to one month. Test-retest reliability and correlation were measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of repeatability (COR). RESULTS:: Ninety subjects (90 eyes) with visual acuity of 0.17 logMAR or higher in the cataract group or 0.00 logMAR in the other groups were included. During the first session, the ICC values were 0.87, 0.90, 0.76, and 0.69, and COR values were 0.24, 0.20, 0.38, and 0.25 for the control, glaucoma, cataract, and AMD groups, respectively. The reliability scores significantly improved during the second session, except in the glaucoma group. There was an acceptable floor effect and no ceiling effect at higher frequencies in the glaucoma and AMD groups. CONCLUSION:: In subjects with good visual acuity, the FVA system is useful for evaluating CS and demonstrates good repeatability, as shown by ICC and COR. Because there is no ceiling effect, this system is beneficial for evaluation of early changes in CS, particularly in patients with glaucoma or AMD.

Repeatability of contrast sensitivity testing in patients with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract / Reprodutibilidade dos escores de sensibilidade ao contraste em pacientes com degeneração macular relacionadas à idade, glaucoma e catarata

ABSTRACT Purpose: To analyze the intrasession and intersession repeatability of contrast sensitivity (CS) measurements in patients with glaucoma, cataract, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and healthy controls. Methods: CS measurements were performed using the OPTEC-Functional Vision Analyzer (FVA), which uses a standardized and closed (view-in) system. Measurements for patients with glaucoma, cataract, or AMD and healthy controls were repeated within 30 minutes (intrasession) and during two sessions (intersession), separated by one week to one month. Test-retest reliability and correlation were measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of repeatability (COR). Results: Ninety subjects (90 eyes) with visual acuity of 0.17 logMAR or higher in the cataract group or 0.00 logMAR in the other groups were included. During the first session, the ICC values were 0.87, 0.90, 0.76, and 0.69, and COR values were 0.24, 0.20, 0.38, and 0.25 for the control, glaucoma, cataract, and AMD groups, respectively. The reliability scores significantly improved during the second session, except in the glaucoma group. There was an acceptable floor effect and no ceiling effect at higher frequencies in the glaucoma and AMD groups. Conclusion: In subjects with good visual acuity, the FVA system is useful for evaluating CS and demonstrates good repeatability, as shown by ICC and COR. Because there is no ceiling effect, this system is beneficial for evaluation of early changes in CS, particularly in patients with glaucoma or AMD.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a reprodutibilidade intrassessão e intersessão das medidas de sensibilidade ao contraste (CS) em pacientes com degeneração macular relacionada à idade (AMD), glaucoma e catarata. Método: As medidas de CS foram feitas pelo OPTEC-Funcional Visão Analyzer (FVA), que utiliza um sistema padronizado e fechado de avaliação da acuidade visual. Medidas em pacientes com AMD, glaucoma, catarata e nos controles saudáveis foram repetidas no prazo de 30 minutos (intrassessão) em duas visitas (intersessão), separadas por uma semana a um mês. A confiabilidade e correlação teste-reteste foram calculados por meio do coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC) e coeficiente de reprodutibilidade (COR). Resultados: Noventa olhos de 90 indivíduos foram recrutados com acuidade visual de 0,17 logMAR ou melhor em catarata e 0,00 logMAR nos outros grupos. A confiabilidade da CS na primeira visita dos grupos normal, glaucoma, catarata e AMD foram, respectivamente, ICC 0,87; 0,90; 0,76; 0,69, e COR 0,24; 0,20; 0,38; 0,25. Os índices de confiabilidade foram significativamente melhorados nas segundas visitas, exceto no grupo glaucoma. Houve um efeito chão aceitável e nenhum efeito teto em frequências mais altas nos grupos glaucoma e AMD. Conclusões: Em indivíduos com boa acuidade visual, o sistema FVA de avaliação da CS é útil e apresenta boa confiabilidade, como mostrado pelas análises de ICC e COR. Por não apresentar efeito teto, este sistema parece ser benéfico para a avaliação das alterações precoces de CS, especialmente no glaucoma e AMD.

Intraocular lens explantation or exchange: indications, postoperative interventions, and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To analyze the indications for explantation or exchange of intraocular lenses (IOLs), which were originally implanted for the correction of aphakia during cataract extraction. METHODS: All cases that involved intraocular lens explantation or exchange in one institution between January 2008 and December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, 93 eyes of 93 patients were analyzed. The median time interval between implantation and explantation of the anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOL) and posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOL) was 83.40 ± 83.14 months (range: 1-276 months) and 55.14 ± 39.25 months (range: 1-168 months), respectively. Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (17 eyes, 38.6%) and persistent iritis (12 eyes, 27.8%) in the AC IOL group and dislocation or decentration (30 eyes, 61.2%) and incorrect IOL power (nine eyes, 18.4%) in the PC IOL group were the most common indications for explantation of IOLs. The mean logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly from 1.30 preoperatively to 0.62 postoperatively in the PC IOL group (p<0.001) but did not improve significantly in the AC IOL group (p=0.186). CONCLUSIONS: The primary indication for IOL explantation or exchange was pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in the AC IOL group and was dislocation or decentration in the PC IOL group. PC IOL explantation or exchange is safe and improves visual acuity.

Blood gas analyzer utility in evaluating oxygen kinetics of the aqueous humor.

PURPOSE: To measure the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and carbon dioxide (PCO2) and the pH of aqueous humor (AH) and arterial blood samples from rabbits using a blood gas analyzer. METHODS: Twenty New Zealand rabbits were anesthetized intramuscularly with ketamine and xylazine and were then allowed to breathe room air. Using a gas blood analyzer, arterial blood and AH samples were analyzed for PO2, PCO2, and pH. RESULTS: The mean arterial blood pressure was 87.14 ± 15.0 mmHg. The mean blood and AH PO2 were 95.18 ± 11.76 mmHg and 88.83 ± 9.92 mmHg, the mean blood and AH PCO2 were 25.86 ± 5.46 mmHg and 29.50 ± 5.36 mmHg, and the mean blood and AH pH were 7.38 ± 0.06 and 7.33 ± 0.09, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The blood gas analyzer was easily employed to evaluate the aqueous humor in rabbits. When comparing the results of studies evaluating aqueous PO2, care should be taken to determine the methods used in these studies.

Quercetin protects the retina by reducing apoptosis due to ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin on apoptotic cell death induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat retina. METHODS: Twenty-four rats were divided into four equal groups: control, ischemic, solvent, and quercetin. I/R injury was achieved by elevating the intraocular pressure above the perfusion pressure. Intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg of quercetin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were performed in the quercetin and solvent groups, respectively, immediately prior to I/R injury, and the researchers allowed for the retinas to be reperfused. Forty-eight hours after injury, the thicknesses of the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL), inner nuclear layer (INL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were measured in all groups. Moreover, the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end-labeled [TUNEL (+)] cells and caspase-3 (+) cells in both INL and ONL were evaluated in all groups. RESULTS: The administration of quercetin was found to reduce the thinning of all retinal layers. The mean thickness of INL in the quercetin and ischemic groups was 21 ± 5.6 µm and 16 ± 6.4 µm, respectively (P<0.05). Similarly, the mean thickness of ONL in the quercetin and ischemic groups was 50 ± 12.8 µm and 40 ± 8.7 µm, respectively (P<0.05). The antiapoptotic effect of quercetin in terms of reducing the numbers of both TUNEL (+) cells and caspase-3 (+) cells was significant in INL. The mean number of TUNEL (+) cells in INL in the ischemic and quercetin groups was 476.8 ± 45.6/mm2 and 238.72 ± 251/mm2, respectively (P<0.005). The mean number of caspase-3 (+) cells in INL of ischemic and quercetin groups was 633.6 ± 38.7/mm2 and 342.4 ± 36.1/mm2, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of quercetin may be beneficial in the treatment of retinal I/R injury because of its antiapoptotic effect on the retinal layers, particularly in INL.

Quercetin protects the retina by reducing apoptosis due to ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model / Quercetina protege a retina reduzindo a apoptose consequente à lesão por isquemia e reperfusão em um modelo de rato

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin on apoptotic cell death induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat retina. Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four equal groups: control, ischemic, solvent, and quercetin. I/R injury was achieved by elevating the intraocular pressure above the perfusion pressure. Intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg of quercetin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were performed in the quercetin and solvent groups, respectively, immediately prior to I/R injury, and the researchers allowed for the retinas to be reperfused. Forty-eight hours after injury, the thicknesses of the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL), inner nuclear layer (INL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were measured in all groups. Moreover, the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end-labeled [TUNEL (+)] cells and caspase-3 (+) cells in both INL and ONL were evaluated in all groups. Results: The administration of quercetin was found to reduce the thinning of all retinal layers. The mean thickness of INL in the quercetin and ischemic groups was 21 ± 5.6 µm and 16 ± 6.4 µm, respectively (P<0.05). Similarly, the mean thickness of ONL in the quercetin and ischemic groups was 50 ± 12.8 µm and 40 ± 8.7 µm, respectively (P<0.05). The antiapoptotic effect of quercetin in terms of reducing the numbers of both TUNEL (+) cells and caspase-3 (+) cells was significant in INL. The mean number of TUNEL (+) cells in INL in the ischemic and quercetin groups was 476.8 ± 45.6/mm2 and 238.72 ± 251/mm2, respectively (P<0.005). The mean number of caspase-3 (+) cells in INL of ischemic and quercetin groups was 633.6 ± 38.7/mm2 and 342.4 ± 36.1/mm2, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion: The use of quercetin may be beneficial in the treatment of retinal I/R injury because of its antiapoptotic effect on the retinal layers, particularly in INL. .

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é investigar o efeito da quercetina, contra a morte celular por apoptose induzida por lesão consequente à isquemia-reperfusão (I/R) na retina de ratos. Método: Vinte e quatro ratos foram divididos em quatro grupos iguais: controle, isquêmico, solvente e quercetina. O modelo lesão por I/R foi realizado por meio da elevação da pressão intraocular acima da pressão de perfusão, em todos os grupos. Injecções intraperitoneais de 20 mg/kg de quercetina ou sulfóxido de dimetilo (DMSO) foram realizadas nos grupos quercetina e solvente, respectivamente, imediatamente antes da lesão por I/R, permitindo que as retinas fossem reperfundidas. Quarenta e oito horas após a lesão, as espessuras de camada de células ganglionares da retina (RGCL), camada nuclear interna (INL), camada plexiforme interna (IPL), camada plexiforme externa (OPL), e a camada nuclear externa (ONL) foram medidas em todos os grupos. Além disso, o número de células TUNEL (+) e caspase-3 (+) tanto na camada nuclear interna quanto na camada nuclear externa foi avaliada em todos os grupos. Resultados: A administração de quercetina diminuiu o afinamento de todas as camadas da retina em comparação com o grupo isquêmico. A espessura média da camada nuclear interna nos grupos quercetina e isquêmico foi de 21 ± 5,6 µm e 16 ± 6,4 µm, respectivamente (p<0,05). A espessura média da camada nuclear externa no grupo quercetina e isquêmico foi 50 ± 12,8 µm e 40 ± 8,7 µm, respectivamente (p<0,05). O efeito anti-apoptótico de quercetina em termos de redução do número de células TUNEL (+) e caspase-3 (+) foi significativa na INL. O número médio de células TUNEL (+) da camada nuclear interna no grupo isquêmico e quercetina foi 476,8 ± 45,6/mm2 e 238,72 ± 251/mm2, respectivamente (p<0,005). O médio número de células de caspase-3 (+) na INL do grupo isquêmico e quercetina foi 633,6 ± 38,7/mm2 e 342,4 ± 36,1/mm2, respectivamente (p<0,001). Conclusão: A utilização ...

Blood gas analyzer utility in evaluating oxygen kinetics of the aqueous humor / Utilidade de um analisador sanguíneo de gás para a avaliação cinética do oxigênio no humor aquoso

Purpose: To measure the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and carbon dioxide (PCO2) and the pH of aqueous humor (AH) and arterial blood samples from rabbits using a blood gas analyzer. Methods: Twenty New Zealand rabbits were anesthetized intramuscularly with ketamine and xylazine and were then allowed to breathe room air. Using a gas blood analyzer, arterial blood and AH samples were analyzed for PO2, PCO2, and pH. Results: The mean arterial blood pressure was 87.14 ± 15.0 mmHg. The mean blood and AH PO2 were 95.18 ± 11.76 mmHg and 88.83 ± 9.92 mmHg, the mean blood and AH PCO2 were 25.86 ± 5.46 mmHg and 29.50 ± 5.36 mmHg, and the mean blood and AH pH were 7.38 ± 0.06 and 7.33 ± 0.09, respectively. Conclusion: Conclusions: The blood gas analyzer was easily employed to evaluate the aqueous humor in rabbits. When comparing the results of studies evaluating aqueous PO2, care should be taken to determine the methods used in these studies. .

Objetivo: Medir a pressão parcial de oxigênio (PO2) e dióxido de carbono (PCO2), e o pH de humor aquoso (AH) e de amostras de sangue arterial de coelhos. Método: Vinte coelhos New Zealand foram anestesiados por via intramuscular com cetamina e xilazina, em seguida, foram liberados a respirar o ar ambiente. Utilizando um analisador sanguíneo de gás, amostras de sangue arterial e AH foram analisadas para PO2, PCO2, e pH. Resultados: A pressão arterial média foi de 87,14 ± 15,0 mmHg. A PO2 média do sangue e AH foi 95,18 ± 11,76 mmHg e 88,83 ± 9,92 mmHg; a PCO2 média do sangue e AH foi de 25,86 ± 5,46 mmHg e 29,50 ± 5,36 mmHg; o pH médio do sangue e AH foi 7,38 ± 0,06 e 7,33 ± 0,09, respectivamente. Conclusões: O analisador de gases no sangue foi facilmente empregadas para avaliar o humor aquoso em coelhos. Quando se comparam os resultados de estudos que avaliaram PO2 do humor aquoso, deve ser tomado cuidado para determinar os métodos utilizados nestes estudos. .