Olfactory Dysfunction and Glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction is a well-known phenomenon in neurological diseases with anosmia and hyposmia serving as clinical or preclinical indicators of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Since glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease of the visual system, it may also entail alterations in olfactory function, warranting investigation into potential sensory interconnections. METHODS: A review of the current literature of the last 15 years (from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2023) was conducted by two different authors searching for topics related to olfaction and glaucoma. RESULTS: three papers met the selection criteria. According to these findings, patients with POAG appear to have worse olfaction than healthy subjects. Furthermore, certain predisposing conditions to glaucoma, such as pseudoexfoliation syndrome and primary vascular dysregulation, could possibly induce olfactory changes that can be measured with the Sniffin Stick test. CONCLUSIONS: the scientific literature on this topic is very limited, and the pathogenesis of olfactory changes in glaucoma is not clear. However, if the results of these studies are confirmed by further research, olfactory testing may be a non-invasive tool to assist clinicians in the early diagnosis of glaucoma.

Bilateral Angle Recession and Chronic Post-Traumatic Glaucoma: A Review of the Literature and a Case Report.

Ocular trauma affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of secondary glaucoma. Angle recession is the main cause of post-traumatic glaucoma after blunt eye trauma, and it is usually unilateral. The aim of this paper is to investigate the possible causes of angle recession with a bilateral presentation. Airbag activation during traffic accidents is a likely cause to be ruled out, along with repeated head or eye trauma, due to contact sports or a history of physical abuse. These aspects can aid in early detection, appropriate management, and improved outcomes for patients with ocular trauma. Finally, we report the case of a 75-year-old Caucasian man who developed a bilateral angle recession after an airbag impact, with advanced glaucoma in the right eye and ocular hypertension in the left eye. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature of chronic post-traumatic glaucoma probably caused by an airbag.

From Bedside to Diagnosis: The Role of Ocular Fundus in Systemic Infections.

In this comprehensive review, we delve into the significance of the ocular fundus examination in diagnosing and managing systemic infections at the bedside. While the utilization of advanced ophthalmological diagnostic technologies can present challenges in bedside care, especially for hospitalized patients confined to their beds or during infection outbreaks, the ocular fundus examination often emerges as an essential, and sometimes the only practical, diagnostic tool. Recent discussions have highlighted that the role of an ocular fundus examination might not always be advocated as a routine diagnostic procedure. With this context, we introduce a decision tree tailored for assessing the ocular fundus in inpatients with systemic infections. We also present an overview of systemic infections that impact the eye and elucidate key signs detectable through a bedside ocular fundus examination. Targeted primarily at non-ophthalmology clinicians, this review seeks to offer a comprehensive insight into a multifaceted approach and the enhancement of patient clinical outcomes.