[Clinical approach for solid intraocular metastases]. / Klinisches Vorgehen bei soliden intraokulären Metastasen.

BACKGROUND: Intraocular metastases arising from solid tumors are found in approximately 2% of patients with metastatic tumor diseases and are therefore more frequent than originally assumed. They often affect the uvea and are associated with a poor prognosis. Due to the difficult diagnosis and an inconsistent treatment regimen, ophthalmologists have a special responsibility here. OBJECTIVE: This article gives a summary of the various types of intraocular metastases with respect to clinical features, diagnostics, treatment and prognosis as well as recommendations for follow-up care. METHODS: A selective literature search was carried out on the topic of intraocular metastases using PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: Intraocular metastases most frequently affect the uvea, specifically the choroid. In most cases the underlying disease is breast or lung cancer, but other rarer primary tumors have also been reported in the literature. Metastatic lesions can show very different morphological manifestations but can be distinguished based on the corresponding structure of manifestation in the eye and with the aid of targeted staging, thus providing valid information on the type of primary tumor. The treatment is partly experimental and usually depends on the primary tumor and leading symptoms of the patient. A differentiation between a curative or palliative treatment situation must always be made. CONCLUSION: Intraocular metastases are the most frequent intraocular tumor and are usually associated with a poor prognosis. Accurate diagnostics for finding the treatment as well as interdisciplinary collaboration and the presentation of the patient on the tumor board are essential.

Autologous platelet concentrate in epiretinal membrane surgery: A single-centre prospective comparative non-inferiority study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare the anatomical and functional results including reading ability after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery in patients with and without the use of autologous platelet concentrate (APC). METHODS: Design: Prospective, comparative non-inferiority series. SETTING: Institutional. PATIENTS: 51 eyes of 51 patients, who underwent pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) for ERM surgery. 29 eyes additionally received intraoperative APC, 22 eyes underwent standard procedure without APC use. OBSERVATIONS: anatomical and functional outcome parameters (central retinal thickness (CRT), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and reading ability (RA)) were compared between the two groups at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Subjective assessment of visual acuity and reading ability was also analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BCVA, RA and CRT. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant CRT reduction and RA improvement, while BCVA improvement was significant only in eyes with intraoperative APC use during the follow-up time of 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference between CRT reduction, BCVA and RA improvement between the groups. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative APC use for ERM surgery results in similar anatomical and functional outcomes compared with standard ERM surgery without APC use.

Visual acuity prediction on real-life patient data using a machine learning based multistage system.

In ophthalmology, intravitreal operative medication therapy (IVOM) is a widespread treatment for diseases related to the age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the diabetic macular edema, as well as the retinal vein occlusion. However, in real-world settings, patients often suffer from loss of vision on time scales of years despite therapy, whereas the prediction of the visual acuity (VA) and the earliest possible detection of deterioration under real-life conditions is challenging due to heterogeneous and incomplete data. In this contribution, we present a workflow for the development of a research-compatible data corpus fusing different IT systems of the department of ophthalmology of a German maximum care hospital. The extensive data corpus allows predictive statements of the expected progression of a patient and his or her VA in each of the three diseases. For the disease AMD, we found out a significant deterioration of the visual acuity over time. Within our proposed multistage system, we subsequently classify the VA progression into the three groups of therapy "winners", "stabilizers", and "losers" (WSL classification scheme). Our OCT biomarker classification using an ensemble of deep neural networks results in a classification accuracy (F1-score) of over 98%, enabling us to complete incomplete OCT documentations while allowing us to exploit them for a more precise VA modelling process. Our VA prediction requires at least four VA examinations and optionally OCT biomarkers from the same time period to predict the VA progression within a forecasted time frame, whereas our prediction is currently restricted to IVOM/no therapy. We achieve a final prediction accuracy of 69% in macro average F1-score, while being in the same range as the ophthalmologists with 57.8 and 50 ± 10.7 % F1-score.

[Medicamentous Therapy of Malignant Eyelid Tumors]. / Medikamentöse Therapie von malignen Lidtumoren.

INTRODUCTION: Although surgical therapy is often the first-line treatment for malignant eyelid tumors, pharmacological treatment approaches can also be included and pursued in the treatment plan. METHODS: Narrative review with a selective literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: Various pharmacological therapeutic principles are currently available. One option is the local application of agents within the tumor area. This can be achieved through cytostatically active drugs such as 5-fluorouracil for superficial basal cell carcinomas and precursors of squamous cell carcinomas, or through mitomycin C in specific cases of sebaceous gland carcinoma. Another form of pharmacological local therapy is local immunomodulation using Imiquimod for superficial basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratosis, and Bowen's disease. Furthermore, there are systemic pharmacological therapies like chemotherapies, for example in sebaceous cell carcinoma, or systemic immunomodulation using checkpoint inhibitors for example in basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Additionally, targeted therapies offer yet another treatment modality that exploits the molecular biological characteristics of various tumor entities. Examples of this include Hedgehog inhibitors for basal cell carcinomas, EGFR inhibitors for squamous cell carcinomas, or BRAF inhibitors for melanomas. This review addresses these treatment options for malignant tumors of the eyelid and systematically organizes them for the reader. CONCLUSION: Even though the data on these eye tumors is still limited, the reported case studies using systemic therapies for malignant eyelid tumors demonstrate the potential of this treatment modality. However, the need for further research is high especially concerning the combination of different therapy principles for increasing the effectiveness of eyelid tumor therapy.

Postoperative RNFL-Changes after Successful Trabeculectomy: 2-Year Outcomes. / Zwei-Jahres-Ergebnisse postoperativer RNFL-Entwicklung nach erfolgreicher Trabekulektomie.

BACKGROUND: The most important tool in glaucoma therapy is to lower the intraocular pressure to slow down the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. Trabeculectomy (TE) is considered the gold standard in glaucoma surgery. The aim of this study was to analyse the postoperative changes in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after TE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 40 patients naïve to prior glaucoma surgery retrospectively, who received a TE for medically uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Intraocular pressure (IOP), IOP-lowering medication, mean deviation of perimetry, visual acuity and peripapillary RNFL-thickness using OCT were evaluated during the first 24 month after TE. RESULTS: In total 40 eyes from 40 patients were treated with TE. Mean IOP decreased from 25.0 ± 0,9 to 13.9 ± 0.6 (p < 0.01), and the mean number of IOP-lowering eye drops from 3.3 ± 0.2 to 0.5 ± 0.2 (p < 0.01). Visual acuity and mean deviation in perimetry remained stable while mean global RNFL-thickness decreased from 67.8 ± 2.9 to 63.7 ± 2.9 (p < 0.01) and 63.4 ± 2.9 µm (p < 0.01) 12 and 24 months after TE. CONCLUSION: The TE is an effective method to reduce the IOD and the amount of IOP-lowering medication. Nevertheless, a significant further loss in RNFL thickness was observed in the first 12 months after TE. Thus, RNFL changes seem to stabilise only after a protracted period.

ASYMPTOMATIC OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF ACERULOPLASMINEMIA IN TWO ADULT WHITE SIBLINGS: A MULTIMODAL IMAGING APPROACH.

PURPOSE: To report ocular manifestations of aceruloplasminemia in two adult White siblings. METHODS: The ocular findings were investigated using a multimodal imaging approach including color fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, autofluorescence imaging, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: A 43-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man were diagnosed with aceruloplasminemia based on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, liver biopsy, and genetic examination of the ceruloplasmin gene confirming the homozygotic mutation G708S. Both patients had no ophthalmologic symptoms, unremarkable anterior segment, and visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes. Indirect ophthalmoscopy of the fundus revealed subtle yellowish color with punctate inhomogeneous pigmentation in the whole retina. The autofluorescence images demonstrated remarkable punctate hyperfluorescence involving the central and peripheral retina. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images showed normal retinal structure in the macular area with intact outer retinal layers. Fluorescein angiography showed a slightly inhomogeneous pattern of hypofluorescence and hyperfluorescence from the early until late angiography phase. CONCLUSION: We describe two adult cases of ocular manifestations of a rare hereditary condition with systemic iron overload. Retinal degeneration in aceruloplasminemia might be overlooked on a routine ophthalmic examination and requires at least an autofluorescence image because initial damage at the level of retinal pigment epithelium is not always visible on ophthalmoscopy.

Early Onset of Neovascular Glaucoma After Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Possible Complication?

Purpose: To report on four cases of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis with early onset neovascular glaucoma in the further disease course. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of six consecutive patients treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis for CRAO of which four developed neovascular glaucoma. Results: All six patients were diagnosed with acute CRAO and treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis 4.5-6 hours after symptom onset. The patients had no significant carotid artery stenosis and unremarkable ophthalmic history. No visual improvement could be achieved after treatment. Four to seven weeks after CRAO onset, four of these patients developed severe painful neovascular glaucoma. Conclusion: Early onset of aggressive neovascular glaucoma following intra-arterial thrombolysis for CRAO might be a complication of CRAO itself, still possible association with intra-arterial thrombolysis in our patients should be discussed.

Unusual initial manifestation of choroidal melanoma in a 46-year-old adult with rapid growth over 9 months.

Purpose: To report a case with unusual initial manifestation of uveal melanoma in a 46-year-old adult. Observations: A 46-year-old man demonstrated a mid-peripheral temporal partially hyperpigmented lesion in his left eye. Initial clinical appearance as well as multimodal imaging approaches were similar to a chorioretinitic disease. Over the course of 9 months, a massive tumor growth and exudative retinal detachment could be observed. The diagnosis of choroidal melanoma was histopathologically confirmed after endoresection. Conclusions and importance: Classical choroidal melanoma manifest as pigmented, prominent tumors with >2 mm tumor thickness, exudative retinal detachment, and orange pigment. In our case, none of these classical clinical characteristic signs of melanoma were present at initial presentation, but the tumor underwent progressive development with significant tumor growth and exudative retinal detachment during the following 9 months.

Foveal crack sign as a predictive biomarker for development of macular hole in fellow eyes of patients with full-thickness macular holes.

To investigate the prevalence and predictive value of the foveal crack sign (FCS) in fellow eyes of patients with full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) regarding future macular hole (MH) formation. In a retrospective observational case series, 113 fellow eyes of 113 patients with FTMH have been observed during a mean follow-up time of 21 months. According to baseline SD-OCT images, patients were divided into 4 separate groups: patients with FCS and vitreous adhesion, patients with FCS and vitreous detachment, patients without FCS with vitreous adhesion, patients without FCS with vitreous detachment. Progression rate to MH formation, predictive value of FCS and of vitreous interface status were calculated and compared across the four groups. FCS was observed in 19 of 113 fellow eyes (17%) of patients with FTMH, 10 of them with progression to MH during the mean follow up time of 21 months. 2 other eyes with progression to MH showed no FCS at baseline. Progression rate was shown to be 77% (10 of 13 eyes) in patients with FCS and vitreous adhesion, 0% (none of 6 eyes) in patients with FCS and vitreous detachment, 4% (2 of 48 eyes) in patients without FCS with vitreous adhesion, 0% (none of 46 eyes) in patients without FCS with vitreous detachment. FCS had sensitivity of 83.3% (95% CI 50.9-97.1%) and specificity of 91.1% (95% CI 83.3-95.6%) in predicting MH formation, positive predictive value of FCS was 52.6% (95% CI 29.5-74.8%) and negative predictive value 97.9% (95% CI 91.8-99.6%). Having simultaneously FCS and vitreous adhesion showed 83.3% (95% CI 50.9-97.1%) sensitivity and 97.1% (95% CI 91.1-99.2%) specificity in predicting macular hole formation; positive predictive value was 76.9% (95% CI 46.0-93.8%) and negative predictive value was 98.0% (95% CI 92.4-99.7%). Fellow eyes of patients with FTMH with foveal crack sign are at a very high risk (77%) of FTMH development, as long as posterior vitreous adhesion is present.

Hyperreflectivity of Inner Retinal Layers as a Quantitative Parameter of Ischemic Damage in Acute Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the reflectivity changes of inner retinal layers in acute retinal vein occlusion (RVO) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to correlate these values with other known parameters of acute ischemic damage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective and observational case series, 230 eyes from 115 patients with acute RVO (central or branch) were categorized as ischemic or non-ischemic depending on fluorescein angiography (FA) images at baseline. Thickness and reflectivity of selected retinal layers were measured from SD-OCT images at baseline. Reflectivity values were correlated with other parameters of acute ischemic damage (best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal thickness, extent of macular edema, ischemic area on fluorescein angiography). The data were compared with contralateral eyes (controls). Prominent middle limiting membrane sign (p-MLM) was also registered. RESULTS: RVO reflectivity values differed significantly in all retinal layers compared to controls (P<0.001). Ischemic RVO eyes had higher optical intensity values for the innermost retinal layer (IMRL; P=0.008) and inner retinal layer (P=0.019) compared to non-ischemic cases. For all RVO eyes as well as central RVO, severity parameters like BCVA, central and total retinal thickness showed a strong correlation with the IMRL reflectivity. In branch RVO, BCVA remained significantly correlated with the IMRL reflectivity, while the thickness values showed significant correlation only for central foveal thickness in non-ischemic branch RVO type. The p-MLM was seen on OCT in 94% of the ischemic and in 66% of the non-ischemic RVO cases. CONCLUSION: Acute RVO leads to increased reflectivity of inner retinal layers with significantly higher values in the ischemic vs non-ischemic type. Increased inner retinal layers' reflectivity correlated significantly with BCVA, retinal thickness of separate retinal layers, as well as ischemic area on FA. Quantitative non-invasive measurement of inner retinal layers' reflectivity might be used to determine the extent of acute ischemic retinal damage in RVO.

Efficacy of combining intravitreal injections of ranibizumab with micropulse diode laser versus intravitreal injections of ranibizumab alone in diabetic macular edema (ReCaLL): a single center, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate if a combination therapy with micropulse diode laser (MPL) shows non-inferiority on visual acuity (BCVA) within 12 months in comparison to standard therapy, i.e. intravitreal injection of ranibizumab alone. SETTING: Institutional. Prospective randomized single-center trial. METHODS: Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) received three intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab during the upload phase and were then randomised 1:1 to receive either the same dosage of ranibizumab (0.5 mg) injections pro re nata alone (IVOM-Group; n = 9), or with two additional treatments with micropulse diode laser (IVOM+Laser-Group; n = 10). The primary endpoint was change in BCVA after 12 months. Secondary endpoints were change in central macular thickness and overall number of ranibizumab injections. RESULTS: BCVA increased significantly in both groups (IVOM: + 5.86, p < 0.001; IVOM+Laser: + 9.30; p < 0.001) with corresponding decrease in central macular thickness (IVOM: - 105 µm, p < 0.01; IVOM+Laser: - 125 µm; p < 0.01). Patients with additional laser treatment had better visual improvement (group comparison p = 0.075) and needed fewer ranibizumab injections (cumulative proportion of injections 9.68 versus 7.46 in IVOM-Group and IVOM+Laser-Group, respectively). CONCLUSION: Non-inferiority of combination therapy in comparison to standard therapy alone could be demonstrated. Patients with additional laser therapy needed fewer ranibizumab injections. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered 10 February 2014 on ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02059772 .

To Peel or Not to Peel: Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Macular Membrane Peel in Eyes with Abnormalities of Vitreomacular Interface and Coexisting Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of macular surgery with ILM- and epiretinal membrane peel associated with significant dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as defined by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Institutional. Retrospective case-control study. A total of 42 pseudophacic eyes of 39 patients (7 with full thickness macular hole and 35 with epiretinal membrane) with coexisting dry AMD underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal membrane peel. Preoperative and postoperative data including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), AMD grade according to AREDS, central retinal thickness (CRT), development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and central retinal atrophy have been evaluated. Twenty-eight fellow eyes with dry AMD of the included 39 patients served as a control group. RESULTS: A significant improvement in the visual acuity could be observed after surgery (initial BCVA 0.47±0.31 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) vs 0.33±0.29logMAR 9 months postoperatively; p=0.006). CRT decreased significantly after surgery (p<0.001). In the surgery group, there were 4 eyes (9.5%) with CNV and 1 eye (2.5%) with new central retinal atrophy development after surgery. All these eyes had preoperative AREDS 3 (4 eyes) or AREDS 4 (1 eye) AMD category. In the control group, there was 1 eye (4%) with CNV and 4 eyes (14%) with new central retinal atrophy development during the follow-up of 9 months. These eyes had initially AREDS 2 (1 eye), AREDS 3 (3 eyes) or AREDS 4 (1 eye) AMD category. CONCLUSION: Eyes with dry AMD of AREDS 3 and AREDS 4 with coexisting VMI abnormalities improve significantly after PPV with membrane peel. While there is a higher risk of CNV development after surgery (9.5%) in these eyes, the vitrectomy does not seem to accelerate central retinal atrophy progression compared to the fellow eyes course.

ACUTE RETINAL ISCHEMIA IN CENTRAL VERSUS BRANCH RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION: Changes in Retinal Layers' Thickness on Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Different Grades of Retinal Ischemia.

PURPOSE: To compare changes in thickness of separate retinal layers between acute central and branch retinal artery occlusion (RAO) regarding the severity grade of retinal ischemia using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Design: retrospective, observational case-control series. SETTING: institutional. PATIENTS: 114 patients with acute RAO. Examinations were conducted with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at the first visit (baseline). OBSERVATIONS: RAO was categorized as branch (43 patients) or central RAO (71 patients) clinically. Retinal artery occlusion was categorized into the 3 grades "incomplete," "subtotal," and "total," based on optical coherence tomography findings. Thickness of several retinal layers was evaluated on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images. Obtained data were compared between the 3 grades and between central and branch RAO. The contralateral eyes were used as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: thickness of selected retinal layers. RESULTS: Thickness of selected inner retinal layers and central foveal thickness increased statistically significant according to the severity grade (healthy = incomplete < subtotal < total). In each severity grade, there was no significant difference in retinal layers' thickness between branch and central RAO, except for central foveal thickness. CONCLUSION: Thickness increase of selected retinal layers follows-except for central foveal thickness-the same pattern in central and branch RAO. Retinal layers' thickness increases significantly with the higher ischemia grade in both central and branch RAO.

Bleb Morphology After Mitomycin-C Augmented Trabeculectomy: Comparison Between Clinical Evaluation and Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: The main aim of this article was to study the longitudinal correlation between the clinical, morphological appearance of filtering blebs with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the early postoperative period. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 30 glaucoma patients scheduled for first-time trabeculectomy with 0.02% mitomycin-C were consecutively enrolled. The filtering blebs were evaluated clinically according to a grading system and with AS-OCT at day 1 and weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12 following surgery. Bleb wall thickness (BWT) and bleb cavity height (BCH) were analyzed by means of horizontal and vertical AS-OCT scans. RESULTS: Nineteen eyes (63%) had functioning blebs without any further surgical intervention. intraocular pressure changed from 18.4±1.3 mm Hg with preoperatively applied glaucoma medication to a mean of 9.75±1.4 mm Hg at all follow-ups postoperatively without medication. Mean BWT during follow-up was 575±47 µm; mean BCH was 295±72 µm. Nine filtering blebs (30%) showed encapsulation requiring a bleb needling. This was recognized clinically at week 3 in 4, and at week 4 in 5 cases. The tendency towards encapsulation was seen much earlier with AS-OCT, already showing a statistically thinner BWT (P=0.036) at week 1 and a higher BCH (P=0.005) at week 2 postsurgery, compared with the group with functioning blebs. As of week 3, intraocular pressure increased and was statistically significantly higher (P=0.016) compared with the group with functioning blebs. Two patients (7%) showed early scarring. CONCLUSION: AS-OCT allows an analysis of the clinically invisible deeper layers of the filtering bleb. Characteristics of encapsulation, like higher blebs with thinner bleb walls, are sooner recognized than the clinical appearance. This might benefit the management of the postoperative period after trabeculectomy and the long-term outcome.

Retinal Changes in Different Grades of Retinal Artery Occlusion: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

Purpose: To investigate layer-by-layer changes in retinal thickness and reflectivity regarding the severity grade of acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: This study is a retrospective, observational case-control series that took place in an institutional setting and included 148 eyes from 74 patients diagnosed with acute RAO (central or branch). SD-OCT examinations were taken at baseline. Based on OCT findings, RAO was categorized into three grades (incomplete, subtotal, total). The thickness and reflectivity of selected retinal layers were measured from SD-OCT images. The data were compared across the three grades and against the contralateral eyes (controls). The main outcome measures were thickness and reflectivity of selected retinal layers. Results: The thickness of the inner and middle retinal layers differed significantly across the three RAO groups (P < 0.001), whereas the outer retinal layer thickness remained not significantly different. Reflectivity values showed statistically significant differences in the inner, middle, and outer retinal layers, but not in the vitreous body (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The reflectivity changes of selected retinal layers differ significantly regarding different grades of RAO. SD-OCT reflectivity measurement may be used as a noninvasive method to estimate the grade of retinal ischemia in RAO.

Nocturnal blood pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping-pattern in patients with manifest primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to find possible associations with the severity of visual field damage. METHODS: A number of 314 patients suffering from POAG were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional hospital-based study. Each patient had diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, 24-hr BP monitoring and computerized perimetry with the Humphrey 30-2 sita Standard program. Inclusion criteria were a mean IOP of less than 15 mmHg with fluctuations of less than 5 mmHg and a visual acuity of at least 20/40. One eye was randomly selected. Based on the night-day BP ratio, a mean arterial nocturnal BP drop of less than 10% was considered as non-dipping, between 10% and 20% as physiological dipping and of more than 20% as over-dipping. RESULTS: Glaucoma patients with daytime systemic normotension on the average had more visual field loss in the over-dipper group (MD = - 16.6 dB, IQR = -18.9 to -2.7 dB) than glaucoma patients with daytime systemic hypertension, who had less visual field defects in the over-dipper group (MD = -3.9 dB, IQR = -6.2 to -1.9 dB) (p = 0.004). This result was also found taking age, glaucoma duration, visual acuity, gender, systemic and topical medication as covariates into account. CONCLUSIONS: To judge the nocturnal BP situation of an individual patient, it is important to do this in relation to the daytime BP level. Twenty-four-hour BP evaluation might be important for all patients with POAG, as nocturnal BP could be a modifiable risk factor for glaucoma severity and progression.

Central retinal venous pulsation pressure in different stages of primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the central retinal venous pulsation pressure (CRVPP) in patients with intraocular pressure (IOP)-controlled early, moderate and advanced open-angle glaucoma and a healthy control group. METHODS: CRVPP was measured with a contact lens dynamometer calibrated in mm Hg (Meditron GmbH, Voelklingen, Germany) in 34 patients with IOP-controlled open-angle glaucoma who were selected consecutively and according to the stage of their visual fields and 27 age-matched healthy controls. If a spontaneous venous pulsation was seen, CRVPP was considered to be equal to IOP. Visual fields were tested with the Humphrey 30-2 SST programme. The ocular perfusion pressure was conventionally calculated as OPP1=2/3MAP - IOP (MAP=systemic mean arterial blood pressure) and, using the measured CRVPP in the formula, as OPP2=2/3MAP - CRVPP. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Median CRVPP was 14.0 mm Hg (IQR 12.0-16.0) in controls, 15.0 mm Hg (IQR 14.0-17.0) in early, 38.9 mm Hg (IQR 29.9-48.4) in moderate and 34.6 mm Hg (IQR 23.9-51.0) in advanced glaucoma cases. The conventionally calculated OPP1 was 49.8 mm Hg (IQR 42.7-57.6) for controls, 56.9 mm Hg (IQR 55.3-58.8) for early, 56.6 mm Hg (IQR 51.2-64.4) for moderate and 59.3 mm Hg (IQR 53.9-61.6) for advanced cases. OPP2 was equal to OPP1 in the control group, 56.1 mm Hg (IQR 54.5-57.9) in early, 25.1 mm Hg (IQR 15.7-38.6) and 34.2 mm Hg (IQR 20.4-47.5) in moderate and advanced cases. This difference was statistically significant for moderate (OPP2 lower; p=0.003) and advanced (OPP2 lower; p=0.002) cases. CONCLUSIONS: In more advanced cases of glaucoma, CRVPP seems to be much higher than previously thought. This might further compromise the perfusion pressure in the prelaminar region of the optic nerve head and be of clinical importance, especially in IOP-controlled more advanced cases. This should be considered as a possible risk factor for progression. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01503996.

Comparison of normal- and high-tension glaucoma: nerve fiber layer and optic nerve head damage.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the nerve fiber layer and glaucoma-induced structural optic nerve head (ONH) damage in patients with normal- (NTG) and high-tension (HTG) glaucoma. METHODS: In this retrospective pair-matched comparative study, 22 NTG and 22 HTG eyes were matched according to the same glaucomatous damage based on rim volume, rim area and disk size, as measured by Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT III). Visual fields (VF) were assessed by Humphrey perimetry, and nerve fiber layer thickness was determined both by scanning laser polarimetry (GDxVCC) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Comparisons of all measured parameters were made between NTG and HTG groups. RESULTS: Based on HRT results, both NTG and HTG eyes displayed comparable structural damage to the ONH (NTG/HTG, mean: disk area, 2.30/2.31 mm(2), p = 0.942; rim area, 1.02/0.86 mm(2), p = 0.082; rim volume, 0.19/0.17 mm(3), p = 0.398). NTG eyes had significantly less VF damage than HTG eyes (NTG/HTG, mean deviation: -4.23/-12.12 dB, p = 0.002; pattern standard deviation: 5.39/8.23 dB, p = 0.022). The inferior nerve fiber layer of NTG patients was significantly thicker than that of HTG patients (NTG/HTG, mean: GDx inferior: 53.5/46.3 µm, p = 0.046). SD-OCT revealed a significantly thicker nerve fiber in NTG compared with HTG patients in all quadrants (NTG/HTG, total mean: 72.72/58.45 µm, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: At comparable glaucomatous stages, nerve fiber loss was more advanced in HTG patients compared with NTG patients.