The assessment of multifocal ERG responses in school-age children with history of prematurity.

PURPOSE: The authors examined macular function in preterm-born children, using multifocal ERG (mfERG). Possible alterations in P1 amplitudes, P1 amplitudes density and P1 implicit time between school-age children with history of prematurity and their peers were researched. The correlations between parameters of mfERG responses and birth weight, gestational age, macular volume and central macular thickness were verified. METHODS: A group of 18 preterm-born school-age children were analyzed (mean age 10.18 ± 1.21 years). The study group was compared to the group of 15 peers born appropriate for gestational age (mean age 10.8 ± 1.52 years). The mfERG was evaluated in all children. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences for P1 amplitudes from ring 1 (p = 0.0001) and P1 amplitudes density from ring 1 (p = 0.0001). Calculating the correlation coefficients, we receive significant results for P1 amplitudes from ring 1 versus gestational age (r = 0.54; p = 0.026), birth weight (r = 0.54; p = 0.026) and central macular thickness (r = -0.62; p = 0.008), and for P1 amplitudes density from ring 1 versus central macular thickness (r = -0.51; p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that P1 amplitudes and P1 amplitudes density vary in preterm-born children in comparison with their peers born appropriate for gestational age, which might suggest discreet macular dysfunction. The correlation between low birth weight, early gestational age, central macular thickness and mFERG components from ring 1 might evidence that decreased bipolar cells density caused by premature birth is the result of altered development of central retina reflecting in structural anomalies of the fovea.

Traumatic hyphema in children and adolescents ­ aetiology and treatment.

Purpose: Retrospective analysis of patients with traumatic hyphema, including type of injury, treatment and visual outcome. Material and methods: We analysed a cohort of patients after blunt trauma, who were examined and treated between 2011­ ­2015. In each case, the baseline and ultimate visual acuity was determined, followed by slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement, indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy of the fundus, ultrasound scan and OCT Visante. The type of treatment as well as duration of inpatient treatment and late complications were assessed for each case. Results: 45 patients (45 eyes) with traumatic hyphema due to blunt ocular trauma were enrolled. 42 of them were boys (93.3%), and 3 were girls (6.7%). The age range was 2.5­17.5 years (mean age of 11.92 ± 3.75 years). Upon admission, 10 (22.2%) children had full visual acuity (1.0). The most common injuries concomitant with hyphema included iridodialysis, corneal oedema, mydriasis and corneal erosion. Secondary hemorrhage occurred three days following injury in only one (2.2%) patient. The mean duration of inpatient admission was 4.3 days (ranged from 2 to 8 days). At the last follow-up visit, 36 (80%) patients had a full visual acuity of 1.0. Conclusions: Visual outcomes improve with earlier treatment commencement. Conservative management was sufficient to resolve traumatic hyphema in reported cases

Central nervous system tumour diagnosis in pediatric population ­ the role of an ophthalmologist and the utility of visual evoked potentials.

Objective: To determine possible alterations of P100 and P1 amplitudes and latencies in school-aged children with a history of a central nervous system tumour. Material and methods: The pattern visual evoked potential and flash visual evoked potential testing was performed in 42 school- -aged children: 15 patients with a history of the central nervous system tumour (mean age of 13.44 ± 2.41 years and 13.75 ± 2.29 years, respectively) and 27 healthy subjects as a control group (mean age 11.84 ± 1.44 years, and 14.78 ± 4.26 years, respectively). Results: P100 amplitudes of pattern visual evoked potentials were statistically decreased in the study group as compared to the control group. The only statistically signifcant difference between the study group and the controls was latencies recorded from O1 in 15-minute stimuli. P2 amplitudes of flash visual evoked potentials were decreased and latencies were increased in the study group, however, the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Visual evoked potential alterations can be a sign of functional disturbances of the visual system in patients with any central nervous system tumour. Therefore, a diagnostic process of a central nervous system tumour should include a thorough ocular exam, even in patients with normal visual acuity.

An Influence of Birth Weight, Gestational Age, and Apgar Score on Pattern Visual Evoked Potentials in Children with History of Prematurity.

PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to examine a possible influence of gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score on amplitudes and latencies of P100 wave in preterm born school-age children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the following group of school-age children: 28 with history of prematurity (mean age 10.56 ± 1.66 years) and 25 born at term (mean age 11.2 ± 1.94 years). The monocular PVEP was performed in all children. RESULTS: The P100 wave amplitudes and latencies significantly differ between preterm born school-age children and those born at term. There was an essential positive linear correlation of the P100 wave amplitudes with birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar score. There were the negative linear correlations of P100 latencies in 15-minute stimulation from O1 and Oz electrode with Apgar score and O1 and O2 electrode with gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: PVEP responses vary in preterm born children in comparison to term. Low birth weight, early gestational age, and poor baseline output seem to be the predicting factors for the developmental rate of a brain function in children with history of prematurity. Further investigations are necessary to determine perinatal factors that can affect the modified visual system function in preterm born children.

Immune recovery uveitis: pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, and treatment.

IRU is the most common form of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV-infected patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Among patients with CMV in the HAART era, immune recovery may be associated with a greater number of inflammatory complications, including macular edema and epiretinal membrane formation. Given the range of ocular manifestations of HIV, routine ocular examinations and screening for visual loss are recommended in patients with CD4 counts <50 cells/µL. With the increasing longevity of these patients due to the use of HAART, treatment of IRU may become an issue in the future. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature concerning immune recovery uveitis. The definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical findings, complications, diagnosis, and treatment are presented.

Citrate usage in the leading causes of blindness: new possibilities for the old metabolite.

INTRODUCTION: Citrate is an old metabolite which is best known for the role in the Krebs cycle. Citrate is widely used in many branches of medicine. In ophthalmology citrate is considered as a therapeutic agent and an useful diagnostic tool-biomarker. OBJECTIVES: To summarize the published literature on citrate usage in the leading causes of blindness and highlight the new possibilities for this old metabolite. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of the scientific literature about citrate usage in ophthalmology up to January 2018. The reference lists of identified articles were searched for providing in-depth information. RESULTS: This systematic review included 30 articles. The role of citrate in the leading causes of blindness is presented. CONCLUSIONS: Citrate might help inhibit cataract progression, in case of questions confirm glaucoma diagnosis or improve cornea repair treatment as adjuvant agent (therapy of ulcerating cornea after alkali injury, crosslinking procedure). However, the knowledge about possible citrate usage in ophthalmology is not widely known. Promoting recent scientific knowledge about citrate usage in ophthalmology may not only benefit of medical improvement but may also limit economic costs caused by leading causes of blindness. Further studies on citrate usage in ophthalmology should continuously be the field of scientific interest.

Plasma citrate concentration: a possible biomarker for glaucoma in children.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the present study was to examine a possible role of plasma and urine citrate levels as glaucoma indicators in school-aged children with glaucoma diagnosis. PATIENTS: 34 school-aged children with a glaucoma diagnosis (mean age 15.69±1.86 years) were qualified for the study group and 34 patients with no ophthalmological ailments were qualified for the control group (mean age 16.1±1.98 years). Plasma and urine citrate levels in the study and the control group (Kruskal-Wallis test) were compared. RESULTS: Plasma citrate levels in the study (16.33±4.51 mg/L) and the control group (19.11±3.66 mg/L) were different; the statistical significance (p=0.0036). Plasma citrate concentrations were significantly lower in the study group in comparison with the control group. There were no statistically important differences between the study group (291.12±259.13 mg/24 hours; 275.82±217.57 mg/g) and the control group (434.88±357.66 mg/24 hours; 329.81±383.27 mg/g) including urine citrate level (p=0.052) and urine citrate to creatine ratio (p=0.4667). CONCLUSION: Plasma citrate concentration might be considered as glaucoma biomarker in paediatric population.

Evaluation of corneal endothelium in adolescents with juvenile glaucoma.

Purpose. To evaluate the endothelial cell density (ECD) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in adolescents with juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) and ocular hypertension (OH) and to investigate the influence of topical antiglaucoma medications on ECD and CCT in adolescents with JOAG. Methods. ECD and CCT were investigated in 66 eyes of 33 adolescents with JOAG. Depending on the topical treatment the eyes were classified into 4 groups: (1) topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, (2) prostaglandin analogs, (3) beta-blocker, and (4) CAI-beta-blocker combination. ECD and CCT were also checked in 24 adolescents with OH and in control group (33 persons). Results. ECD was significantly lower in eyes with JOAG (2639.5 cells/mm(2)) compared with ECD in eyes with OH (2924.5 cells/mm(2)) and in control group (2955.5 cells/mm(2)). CCT was 0.554 mm in eyes with JOAG, 0.55 mm in eyes with OH, and 0.544 mm in control group. ECD in patients with JOAG was 2730 cells/mm(2) (1 group), 2773.5 cells/mm(2) (2 group), 2539.5 cells/mm(2) (3 group), and 2551 cells/mm(2) (4 group). CCT was 0.556 mm in 1 group, 0.558 mm in 2 group, 0.532 mm in 3 group, and 0.544 mm in 4 group. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that JOAG and OH did not affect CCT, but JOAG has influence on ECD in adolescents. There were no significant differences between ECD and CCT of eyes treated with different kinds of antiglaucoma medications.

Fundus albipunctatus: review of the literature and report of a novel RDH5 gene mutation affecting the invariant tyrosine (p.Tyr175Phe).

Fundus albipunctatus (FA) is a rare, congenital form of night blindness with rod system impairment, characterised by the presence of numerous small, white-yellow retinal lesions. FA belongs to a heterogenous group of so-called flecked retina syndromes. This disorder shows autosomal recessive inheritance and is caused mostly by mutations in the RDH5 gene. This gene encodes the enzyme that is a part of the visual cycle, the 11-cis retinol dehydrogenase. This study is a brief review of the literature on FA and a report of the first molecular evidence for RDH5 gene mutation in a Polish patient with this rare disorder. We present a novel pathogenic RDH5 gene mutation in a 16-year-old female patient with symptoms of night blindness. The patient underwent ophthalmological examinations, including colour vision testing, fundus photography, automated visual field testing, full-field electroretinography (ERG) and spectral optical coherent tomography (SOCT). The patient showed typical FA ERG records, the visual field was constricted and fundus examination revealed numerous characteristic, small, white-yellowish retinal lesions. DNA sequencing of the RDH5 gene coding sequence (exons 2-5) enabled the detection of the homozygous missense substitution c.524A > T (p.Tyr175Phe) in exon 3. This is the first report of RDH5 gene mutation that affects the invariant tyrosine, one of the most conserved amino acid residues in short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs), crucial for these enzymes' activity. The location of this substitution, together with its predicted influence on the protein function, indicate that the p.Tyr175Phe mutation is the cause of FA in our patient.