Complementary Approaches to Retinal Health Focusing on Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetes mellitus affects carbohydrate homeostasis but also influences fat and protein metabolism. Due to ophthalmic complications, it is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The molecular pathology reveals that nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) has a central role in the progression of diabetic retinopathy, sharing this signaling pathway with another major retinal disorder, glaucoma. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches can be elaborated to decelerate the ever-emerging "epidemics" of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma targeting this critical node. In our review, we emphasize the role of an improvement of lifestyle in its prevention as well as the use of phytomedicals associated with evidence-based protocols. A balanced personalized therapy requires an integrative approach to be more successful for prevention and early treatment.

Three Major Causes of Metabolic Retinal Degenerations and Three Ways to Avoid Them.

An imbalance of homeostasis in the retina leads to neuron loss and this eventually results in a deterioration of vision. If the stress threshold is exceeded, different protective/survival mechanisms are activated. Numerous key molecular actors contribute to prevalent metabolically induced retinal diseases-the three major challenges are age-related alterations, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. These diseases have complex dysregulation of glucose-, lipid-, amino acid or purine metabolism. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on possible ways of preventing or circumventing retinal degeneration by available methods. We intend to provide a unified background, common prevention and treatment rationale for these disorders and identify the mechanisms through which these actions protect the retina. We suggest a role for herbal medicines, internal neuroprotective substances and synthetic drugs targeting four processes: parainflammation and/or glial cell activation, ischemia and related reactive oxygen species and vascular endothelial growth factor accumulation, apoptosis and/or autophagy of nerve cells and an elevation of ocular perfusion pressure and/or intraocular pressure. We conclude that in order to achieve substantial preventive or therapeutic effects, at least two of the mentioned pathways should be targeted synergistically. A repositioning of some drugs is considered to use them for the cure of the other related conditions.

Effect of steroid therapy on intraocular pressure / A szteroidterápia hatása az intraocularis nyomásra

Glucocorticosteroids are key anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of ophthalmic and systemic inflammatory diseases. However, prolonged use may result in an increase in intraocular pressure followed by a potentially vision -threatening ocular complication as glaucomatous neuropathy ultimately leading to blindness. Steroid therapy can increase intraocular pressure not only with ophthalmic preparations, but also with other routes of administration such as inhalational, intranasal and systemic. The aim of this paper is to provide a summary of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for steroid-induced iatrogenic glaucoma, based on key literature findings and our own clinical experience, with a detailed comparison of different corticosteroid treatments. The application of steroid therapy can be avoided in a small number of medical fields, so it is crucial that where prolonged steroid therapy is required, all physicians should consider the intraocular pressure-enhancing effects of steroids. The intraocular pressure-increasing effect of steroids depends on the type of active substance, the route of administration and the time of administration. Regardless of the application of a certain medical field, regular ophthalmic examination is necessary, especially with a history of glaucoma, as persistent elevations in intraocular pressure can cause irreversible damage to ganglion cells and optic nerve fibers, ultimately leading to blindness. The difficulty in recognizing the complication is exacerbated by the fact that the intraocular pressure usually rises asymptomatically and painlessly. When steroid therapy cannot be avoided, the least possible intraocular pressure-increasing agent should be selected for the shortest possible dosage at the lowest possible dose. If the increase in intraocular pressure cannot be controlled conservatively, a surgical solution may be considered.

Reliability and clinical applicability of a novel tear film imaging tool.

PURPOSE: The aim of our research was to investigate the reliability and clinical applicability of a modern tear film imaging tool by comparing the inter- and intragrader difference. The further goal was to compare the non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) measured with the LacryDiag® device with traditional tear film break-up time (TBUT). METHODS: Comprehensive ophthalmological examination was performed, including LacryDiag® (Quantel Medical, France) (lower tear meniscus height measuring (LTMH), superior and inferior eyelid meibography (MeibS MeibI), interferometry (INT), NIBUT), slit lamp examination, and TBUT. Two independent, well-trained graders selected and analyzed the LTMH, MeibI, MeibS, and INT. The second grader reanalyzed the data 1 month later. Intra- and inter-examiner reliabilities were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), while for categorical variable, Cohen's kappa statistics were provided. The Bland-Altman plot was used for visualization of the agreement between measurements. RESULTS: Fifty healthy volunteers were examined. For LTMH both the inter- and intragrader variabilities were excellent. Between two graders, the ICC of MeibI was poor; however, between two graders, the ICC of MeibS was good, and the intragrader variability in MeibI and MeibS was excellent. For the INT, both intra- and intergrading were in fair and moderate agreement, although the intragrader agreement was higher. Comparing the NIBUT and TBUT, the agreement was slight. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, examination of a patient during follow-up should be performed by the same examiner, because of the slight agreement. The LacryDiag® is a non-invasive, easy-to-use device, which can examine the tear film and save the recordings for easier follow-up.