Vision status, ophthalmic assessment, and quality of life in the very old / Visão, avaliação oftalmológica e qualidade de vida em longevos

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the vision status, ophthalmic findings, and quality of life among the very elderly. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of individuals aged 80 years and above. A comprehensive ophthalmic exam was performed with mea surement of both the presenting (PVA) and best-corrected visual acuity. The Quality of Life Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) were also administered. Results: A total of 150 non-institutionalized participants were assigned to three age groups: 80-89 years (n=70), 90-99 years (n=50), and 100 years and older (n=30). PVA and best-corrected visual acuity were normal (≥20/30) in 20 (13.3%) and 37 participants (24.7%), respectively. Regarding PVA, mild visual impairment (<20/30 to ≥20/60) was found in in 53 (35.4%), moderate visual impairment (<20/60 to ≥20/200) in 50 (33.3%), severe visual impairment (<20/200 to ≥20/400) in 8 (5.3%), and blindness (<20/400) in 19 (12.7%) participants. Regarding best-corrected visual acuity, mild, moderate, and severe visual impairments were present in 55 (36.7%), 38 (25.3%), and 5 (3.3%) participants, respectively, and blindness was present in 15 (10%). The main causes of visual impairment/blindness were cataract (43.8%), refractive errors (21.5%), age-related macular degeneration (17.7%), and myopic degeneration (3.8%). SF-36 scores were worse in those with low visual acuity, while VFQ-25 domain scores were poorer in those with vision impairment/blindness. Conclusion: Vision impairment and blindness was present in three-quarters of this sample, but it was notable that adequate correction with spectacles improved visual acuity. This reinforces the need for regular ophthalmic care in elderly patients to improve their quality of life by optimizing vision.

RESUMO Objetivos: Determinar a visão, achados oftalmológicos e qualidade de vida em longevos. Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal em indivíduos com idade entre 80 anos ou mais. Realizado exame oftalmológico com medida da acuidade visual apresentada e da acuidade visual melhor corrigida. Foram administrados os questionários: Qualidade de Vida Forma Curta - 36 (SF-36) e Qualidade de Função Visual (VFQ-25). Resultados: Total de 150 indivíduos não-institucionalizados foram estudados, divididos em três faixas etárias: 80 a 89 anos (n=70); 90 a 99 anos (n=50) e 100 anos ou mais (n=30). Acuidade visual apresentada normal (≥20/30) foi encontrada em 20 (13,3%) participantes; deficiência visual leve (<20/30 a ≥20/60), em 53 (35,4%); deficiência visual moderada (< 20/60 a ≥20/200) em 50 (33,3%); deficiência visual grave (<20/200 para ≥20/400) em 8 (5,3%) e cegueira (<20/400) em 19 (12,7%). A acuidade visual com a melhor correção aumentou para 37 (24,7%) indivíduos normais; deficiência leve aumentou para 55 (36,7%); deficiência visual moderada diminuiu para 38 (25,3%); deficiência visual grave foi reduzida para 5 (3,3%) e cegueira foi reduzida para 15 (10%). As principais causas de deficiência visual/cegueira foram: catarata (43,8%) erro refrativo (21,5%), degeneração macular relacionada à idade (17,7%), e degeneração miópica (3,8%). A pontuação no Questionário de Qualidade de Vida foi pior naqueles com baixa visão para perto. No questionário VFQ -25 os domínios com menor pontuação ocorreram nos indivíduos com baixa visão/cegueira. Conclusão: Deficiência visual/cegueira mostrou-se presente em três quartos desta amostra de longevos. A prescrição de óculos adequados proporcionou melhora da acuidade visual, reforçando a necessidade de atendimento oftalmológico regular desses pacientes para assegurar a qualidade de vida e de visão.

Physiological and lifestyle factors contributing to risk and severity of peri-orbital dark circles in the Brazilian population

AbstractBACKGROUND:Peri-orbital dark circles are a cosmetic concern worldwide, and have been attributed to hyperpigmentation from allergy or atopic dermatitis, blood stasis, structural shadowing effects, and a thin epidermis/dermis under the eye. It is of interest to better understand lifestyle and demographic risk factors and the relative impact of melanin, blood and epidermal/dermal factors on the severity of Peri-orbital dark circles.OBJECTIVE:To compare by non-invasive imaging the impact of biological factors to a visual grading scale for Peri-orbital dark circles, and test the correlation of various demographic factors with Peri-orbital dark circles.METHODS:Subjects completed a lifestyle and health survey, and Peri-orbital dark circles severity was evaluated using standardized photographs. Hyperspectral image analysis was used to assess the contributions of melanin, blood volume, degree of blood oxygen saturation, and dermal scattering.RESULTS:Family history was the most significant risk factor for Peri-orbital dark circles. The average age of onset was 24 years, and earlier onset correlated with higher severity scores. Asthma was significantly associated with Peri-orbital dark circles scores, but self-reported allergy was not. In this study, sleep was not correlated with Peri-orbital dark circles scores. Hyperspectral imaging indicated that melanin was the dominant correlate for Peri-orbital dark circles severity, while oxygen saturation was secondary. The difference between under-eye and cheek measurements for ΔL*and ΔE* were the most significant instrumental parameters correlated with visual assessment of Peri-orbital dark circles severity.CONCLUSION:Although typically associated with lack of sleep, risk of Peri-orbital dark circles is primarily hereditary. The main factors contributing to the appearance of Peri-orbital dark circles are melanin and (deoxygenated) blood.

Profile of ocular and systemic characteristics in Möbius sequence patients from Brazil and Italy / Perfil de características oculares e sistêmicas de pacientes com a sequência de Möbius do Brasil e da Itália

PURPOSE: To compare the profiles and clinical findings of a series of patients with Möbius sequence from Brazil with a series from Italy. METHODS: This is a multicenter study, which includes 46 Möbius sequence patients from Brazil and 20 from Italy. Socio-demographic, gestational, and neonatal profile characteristics were collected from interviews with the guardians of the Möbius sequence patients and compared. The Möbius sequence patients were submitted to an ophthalmologic examination and systemic malformations were also evaluated. RESULTS: Misoprostol was used in the first trimester of pregnancy by 26 (56.5%) of the mothers of the Möbius sequence patients in the Brazilian series and was not used by any of the Italian mothers. The mean age of the Brazilian Möbius sequence patients was 89.95 ± 7.79 months and the mean age of the Italian patients was 102.6 ± 22.94 months (P=0.6105; Mann-Whitney test). Brazilian mothers had a significantly lower education level (P=0.0002; Fisher's exact test) and Italian mothers had significantly more stable relationships (p=0.0002; Fisher's exact test). The frequency of ocular and systemic abnormalities was similar in both series. CONCLUSION: Adverse events during pregnancy varied between both groups. A history of misoprostol use during early pregnancy was present only in Brazilian mothers, who had lower levels of education and less frequent stable marital statuses. Clinical findings were similar between both groups of patients.

OBJETIVO: Comparar o perfil de características oculares e sistêmicas de uma série de pacientes com sequência de Möbius do Brasil com uma da Itália. MÉTODOS: Esse estudo multicêntrico incluiu 46 pacientes com sequencia de Möbius do Brasil e 20 da Itália. As características dos perfis sociodemográfico, gestacional e neonatal foram coletadas a partir de entrevistas com os responsáveis dos pacientes e comparadas. Os pacientes foram submetidos a um exame oftalmológico e malformações sistêmicas foram avaliadas. RESULTADOS: O misoprostol foi usado no primeiro trimestre da gestação por 26 (56,5%) mães brasileiras e por nenhuma italiana. A média de idade dos pacientes brasileiros com sequência de Möbius foi de 89,95 ± 7,79 meses e dos italianos 102,6 ± 22,94 meses (P=0,6105; teste de Mann-Whitney). Mães brasileiras tinham significantemente menor escolaridade (P=0,0002; teste exato de Fisher) e mães italianas tinha relacionamentos estáveis mais frequentemente (P=0,0002; teste exato de Fisher). A frequência de anormalidades oculares e sistêmicas foi semelhante entre as séries. CONCLUSÃO: Eventos adversos durante a gestação variaram entre os grupos. O uso de misoprostol pelas mães precocemente na gestação foi relatado apenas por mães brasileiras, que tinham menor escolaridade e status conjugal estável menos frequentemente. Achados clínicos foram semelhantes entre os grupos.

Estudio de compromiso ocular en pacientes con rosácea / Ocular involvement in patients with cutaneous rosacea

La rosácea cutánea (RC) es una enfermedad crónica relativamente común que puede presentarse con afectación ocular. La rosácea ocular es considerada una enfermedad bilateral, manifestándose en la mayoría de los casos en forma simultánea al compromiso cutáneo. El objetivo del estudio es determinar el compromiso ocular de pacientes portadores de RC comparados con un grupo control y la asociación de severidad entre el compromiso cutáneo y el ocular. Se analizó un total de 112 pacientes; un primer grupo de 70 pacientes portadores de RC en un período de dos años, y el segundo constituido por 42 controles sanos. Observamos que en nuestros pacientes con RC hay una alteración de la función lagrimal y no existe relación estadísticamente significativa entre la severidad del compromiso cutáneo y el compromiso ocular. Debido a que el compromiso ocular en la RC es subestimado, es importante la evaluación de síntomas oculares en los pacientes con RC para continuar un manejo bidisciplinario entre dermatólogos y oftalmólogos.

Cutaneous rosacea (CR) is a relatively common chronic disease that can occur with ocular involvement. Ocular rosacea is considered a bilateral entity that usually manifests simultaneously with cutaneous disease. The objective of this study is to determine ocular involvement in CR patients, compared with a control group, and to establish the association between severity of cutaneous and ocular involvement. 112 patients were analyzed; a first group of 70 patients with a two year story of CR, and the second group consisting of 42 healthy controls. At the end of the study, we observed that patients with CR had tear dysfunction and there was no statistically significant relationship between the severity of cutaneous and ocular involvement. Since eye involvement in CR is underestimated, we consider it important to investigate ocular symptoms in patients with CR and maintain multi-disciplinary management between dermatologists and ophthalmologists.