[Influence of corneal curvature and peripheral thickness on tonometry readings]. / Vliyanie krivizny i perifericheskoi tolshchiny rogovitsy na rezul'tat tonometrii.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the influence of peripheral corneal thickness (PCT) and its curvature on tonometry readings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 49 patients (49 eyes) who were indicated for glaucoma surgery. Using bidirectional applanation tonometry, the following parameters were obtained: IOPcc, IOPg - intraocular pressure (IOP) corrected for corneal compensation, taken as the most reliable indicator; IOP converted to Goldmann measurement, taken as the result of applanation tonometry, ΔIOP (IOPcc-IOPg), CH and CRF (corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor). During corneal topography, the corneal thickness was studied in the center, PCT at 1.5; 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm from the center in four meridians, as well as ΔPCT (PCT 3 mm - PCT 1.5 mm), the curvature of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea and the depth of the anterior chamber. Aberrometry was used to obtain refractometry data and the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea. The influence of the studied parameters on ΔIOP was evaluated. RESULTS: ΔIOP correlated with CRF (r= -0.652), CH (r= -0.873), central corneal thickness (r= -0.293), PCT at all distances except 5 mm (r= -0.297; -0.287; -0.302; -0.303), with the strong and weak meridians of the anterior surface of the cornea (r=0.328; r=0.315), with the strong and weak meridians of the posterior surface, as well as the average curvature of the posterior surface (r=0.307; r=0.332; r=0.328). After step-by-step selection of the above parameters for creating a linear regression model for ΔIOP calculation, CH, CRF and PCT1.5mm remained in the model. The model describes ΔIOP with high accuracy (R2=0.974). CONCLUSION: Biomechanical parameters of the cornea are the leading factor of applanation tonometry error. Individual linear dimensions of the cornea (thickness, curvature) have a lesser effect.

[Physiotherapeutic methods in ophthalmic rehabilitation of patients with glaucoma and cataract]. / Fizioterapevticheskie metody v oftal'moreabilitatsii patsientov s sochetannoi glaukomoi i kataraktoi.

The authors analyzed scientific data on physiotherapeutic measures in the treatment of combined glaucoma and cataracts as one of the main causes of blindness and low vision.

[Antioxidant nutraceuticals for glaucoma]. / Antioksidantnye nutritsevtiki pri glaukome.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only proven modifiable risk factor for POAG. IOP-independent mechanisms contributing to the development of glaucomatous neurodegeneration include oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired ocular blood flow. In this regard, there has recently been growing interest in the use of various antioxidant dietary supplements as neuroprotective therapy for glaucoma. The issue of the effectiveness and safety of these biologically active additives is an urgent scientific problem reflected in numerous studies. This article reviews current concepts of oxidative/nitrosative stress, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen (Nr) and their participation in the development of POAG, as well as experimental models and clinical studies using essential fatty acids, natural compounds and a number of other antioxidant substances that can counteract oxidative stress in glaucoma.

[Effect of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept on the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with concomitant neovascular age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma]. / Vliianie intravitreal'nykh in''ektsii ranibizumaba i aflibertsepta na sloi nervnykh volokon setchatki pri sochetanii neovaskuliarnoi vozrastnoi makuliarnoi degeneratsii i glaukomy.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of ranibizumab and aflibercept on the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 62 patients (62 eyes) with nAMD and comorbid POAG. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the anti-VEGF treatment. The first group included 42 patients (42 eyes) who received injections of ranibizumab. The second group consisted of 20 patients (20 eyes) who received aflibercept. All patients received three injections of ranibizumab or aflibercept with one-month intervals. In addition to standard ophthalmic examination, patients underwent optical coherence tomography of the macular area and peripapillary RNFL. RESULTS: After anti-VEGF treatment, patients of both groups exhibited improvements expressed in reduced macular edema, increased visual acuity and absence of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes, as well as no statistically significant changes in the width and depth of excavation. There was a statistically significant decrease of peripapillary RNFL thickness in the temporal quadrant after treatment. CONCLUSION: The decrease of peripapillary RNFL thickness in the temporal quadrant occurs due to resorption of macular edema. In the absence of statistically significant changes in IOP, width and depth of excavation, intravitreal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept can be considered safe treatment options for patients with concomitant nAMD and POAG.

[Anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma]. / Anti-VEGF-preparaty v lechenii neovaskuliarnoi glaukomy.

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is the most frequently occurring type of secondary glaucoma characterized by significant decrease in visual functions. Its pathogenesis consists mainly of ischemia of the posterior segment, which is often secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy or ischemic central retinal vein occlusion. Development of neovascularization in the eye is associated with processes that change homeostatic balance between proangiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) and antiangiogenic (pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF)) factors. The aim of the therapy is to reduce the production of aqueous humour. Application of antiangiogenic preparations in patients with NVG as adjuvant therapy is the method of choice for both prevention and treatment of the disease. The article reviews literature on current possibilities of using anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of NVG.

[Electrophysiological study of the visual pathway in anti-VEGF therapy of neovascular age-related macular degeneration combined with glaucoma]. / Élektrofiziologicheskoe issledovanie zritel'nogo puti pri anti-VEGF-terapii neovaskuliarnoi vozrastnoi makuliarnoi degeneratsii v sochetanii s glaukomoi.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of intravitreal administration of anti-VEGF drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept on the functional state of the visual pathway in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using the method of recording visual evoked potentials (VEP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 patients (54 eyes) with nAMD and POAG were examined. The control group consisted of 39 healthy patients (39 eyes). The study included 24 patients (24 eyes) with stage IA POAG, 23 patients (23 eyes) with stage IIA POAG, 7 patients (7 eyes) with stage IIIA POAG. All patients with nAMD and POAG were given intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drug: 35 patients received ranibizumab, 19 patients received aflibercept. Injections were performed monthly for 3 months. Ophthalmologic examination included visometry, biomicroscopy, retinal OCT using SPECTRALIS tomograph ('Heidelberg Engineering GmbH', Germany). VEP were recorded on EP-1000 Multifocal ('Tomey', Germany). All ophthalmologic studies were performed prior to administration of the anti-VEGF preparation and after the 3rd injection. RESULTS: After the third intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased to 0.46±0.1 (p=0.001). According to OCT, central retinal thickness decreased by an average of 110.6 µm, the total volume of the retina decreased by 1.3 mm3, total thickness RNFL - by 3.8 µm (p<0.05). A decrease in the peak latency and an increase in the amplitude of the component P100 of VEP were noted. Statistically significant differences in indicators of VEP between antiangiogenic drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept were not detected (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal administration of anti-VEGF drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept has no negative influence on the functional state of the visual pathway in patients with nAMD and POAG. Intravitreal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept can be considered a safe treatment option for patients with nAMD and POAG.

[Influence of vascular endothelial growth factor on angiogenesis and neurogenesis]. / Vliianie faktora rosta éndoteliia sosudov na angiogenez i neirogenez.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as a key mediator of angiogenesis, but there is also evidence of its broad significance in neurogenesis and neuroprotection. Cytokines of the VEGF family affect neovascularization and neural development in the brain, particularly during cerebral ischemia, in which there is a coordinated interaction of angiogenesis and neurogenesis that contributes to rapid functional recovery. This review examines the involvement of VEGF family members and their receptors in physiological and pathophysiological processes as well as the relationship between VEGF-A plasma levels and ischemic stroke.

[Evaluating the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration and concomitant glaucoma].

AIM: to evaluate the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 117 patients (117 eyes) with exudative AMD and concomitant non-operated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). All patients were divided into several groups depending on their intraocular pressure (IOP) and stage of POAG. Hypotensive therapy included carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, beta-adrenergic antagonists (beta blockers) and alpha(2)-adrenergic agonists (alpha-2 mimetics). Lucentis (ranibizumab) was intravitreally injected thrice at monthly intervals. All patients underwent a standard ophthalmic examination, fluorescent retinal angiography, and optical coherence tomography. IOP was measured before the first and after the last injection by means of Icare PRO reboud tonometer. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between groups Ia, IIa, Ib, and IIb in terms of IOP elevation. Glaucoma IIc and IIIa patients showed just a moderate increase in IOP that did not require regimen adjustment. There was, however, a single IIIb case of persistent IOP elevation, in which one-step penetrating trabeculectomy with intravitreal ranibizumab injection was later performed. Resolution of macular edema was achieved in all patients. Visual acuity (VA) varied between the groups demonstrating a tendency toward improvement in glaucoma Ia patients (p = 0.062) and stabilization in glaucoma IIa (p = 0.61), Ib (p = 0.07), and IIb (p = 0.29) patients. In some cases of low vision at baseline and subretinal fibrosis, VA changes were of no clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ranibizumab therapy proved effective in exudative age-related macular degeneration with concomitant glaucoma. Timely treatment of both AMD (i.e. before the development of subretinal fibrosis) and glaucoma contributes to therapeutic success in these patients.

[Age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma: intraocular pressure monitoring after intravitreal injections].

In recent decades the problem of low vision and blindness in elderly people became major and socially significant issue. The number of patients having age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in association with glaucoma grows all over the world that attaches medical and social value to this problem. 102 patients with AMD were under follow-up, 7 of them had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Three consecutive injections of ranibizumab resulted in visual acuity increase from 0.21 +/- 0.17 till 0.37 +/- 0.12. The mean retinal thickness in foveal zone decreased from 289.36 +/- 88.73 till 230.47 +/- 88.02 microm. Ocular hypertension within 12 hours after procedure was observed in 13 (12.7%) of 102 patients. In all cases intraocular pressure (IOP) returned to preoperative values in 3 days after hypotensive medical treatment. In one case trabeculectomy was performed simultaneously with ranibizumab intravitreal injection, the next two injections were performed in a month intervals. So the problem of IOP increase after intravitreal injections remains unsolved. Glaucoma is not an absolute contraindication to intravitreal injections in treatment of exudative AMD although patients with associated conditions need individual approach in terms of both IOP compensation and number of ranibizumab injections.