1: Ophthalmologica. 2012 Jan 20; [Epub ahead of print] 

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Large Choroidal Melanoma after
Primary Treatment with Enucleation or Proton Beam Radiotherapy.

Mosci C, Lanza FB, Barla A, Mosci S, Herault J, Anselmi L, Truini M.

Ocular Oncology Center, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy.

Purpose: To evaluate survival and clinical outcome for patients with a large
uveal melanoma treated by either enucleation or proton beam radiotherapy (PBRT).
Procedures: This retrospective non-randomized study evaluated 132 consecutive
patients with T3 and T4 choroidal melanoma classified according to TNM stage
grouping. Results: Cumulative all-cause mortality, melanoma-related mortality
and metastasis-free survival were not statistically different between the two
groups (log-rank test, p = 0.56, p = 0.99 and p = 0.25, respectively). Eye
retention of the tumours treated with PBRT at 5 years was 74% (SD 6.2%). In
these patients at diagnosis, 73% of eyes had a best-corrected visual acuity
(BCVA) of 0.1 or better. After 12 and 60 months, BCVA of 0.1 or better was
observed in 47.5 and 32%, respectively. Conclusion and Message: Although
enucleation is the most common primary treatment for large uveal melanomas, PBRT
is an eye-preserving option that may be considered for some patients. Copyright
(c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22269846  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

2: Ophthalmologica. 2012 Jan 20; [Epub ahead of print] 

Inflammatory Factors in Major and Macular Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Noma H, Funatsu H, Mimura T, Eguchi S, Shimada K.

Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women's Medical
University, Chiba, Japan.

Concentrations of inflammatory factors were measured in 40 patients with macular
edema due to major branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or macular BRVO who were
treated by pars plana vitrectomy. Vitreous fluid levels of vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and
pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) were determined. Visual acuity and
central macular thickness were significantly improved at 6 months in both
groups. Vitreous fluid levels of VEGF and sICAM-1 were higher in the major BRVO
group than the macular BRVO group, while the PEDF level was lower in the major
group than the macular group. The mean visual acuity and central macular
thickness at 6 months were not significantly different between the macular and
major groups. In conclusion, patients with major BRVO had higher vitreous levels
of inflammatory factors and lower vitreous levels of anti-inflammatory PEDF.
Accordingly, regulating inflammatory factors might be more important in major
BRVO than macular BRVO. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22269605  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

3: Ophthalmologica. 2012 Jan 19; [Epub ahead of print] 

Reproducibility and Repeatability of Cirrus HD-OCT Peripapillary Retinal Nerve
Fibre Layer Thickness Measurements in Young Normal Subjects.

Carpineto P, Nubile M, Agnifili L, Toto L, Aharrh-Gnama A, Mastropasqua R, Di
Antonio L, Fasanella V, Mastropasqua A.

Section Sciences of Vision, Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences,
University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.

Purpose: To assess the reproducibility and repeatability of peripapillary
retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measurements using a spectral-domain
optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) device in healthy subjects. Methods: In
this observational study, 68 young Caucasian healthy volunteers (68 eyes) were
subjected to Cirrus high-definition (HD) OCT (Zeiss) peripapillary RNFL
thickness measurements by two experienced examiners in two different sessions.
Average, 4-quadrant and 12-clock-hour sector RNFL thicknesses were analysed. For
each option, intra-observer, intrasession repeatability and interobserver,
intersession reproducibility were tested. To assess the repeatability of
measurements, the Bland and Altman plots were used and the coefficient of
repeatability was calculated. Interobserver and intersession reproducibilities
were analysed by means of concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs). Results:
The sample age ranged from 21 to 39 years (mean 29.09, standard deviation
+/-5.21). The average RNFL thickness ranged from 90.97 to 91.46 and from 91.34
to 91.78 mum, for the first and the second operator, respectively. The highest
repeatability and reproducibility were obtained for average RNFL thickness with
coefficients of repeatability of 5.30 and 6.05 mum for the first and the second
operator, interoperator CCCs of 0.95 and 0.96 for the first and the second
session, and intersession CCCs of 0.96 and 0.97 for the first and the second
operator, respectively. Conclusions: Cirrus OCT peripapillary average RNFL
thickness measurement in young healthy subjects showed high interoperator and
intersession reproducibility. Intrasession repeatability as tested by
coefficient of repeatability was next to the device resolution, with very
similar results between the two operators. When analysing quadrant and clock
hour sector RNFL thickness measurements, both repeatability and reproducibility
tend to decrease. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22261709  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

4: Ophthalmologica. 2012 Jan 19; [Epub ahead of print] 

Anterior Segment OCT-Based Diagnosis and Management of Descemet's Membrane
Detachment.

Zhou SY, Wang CX, Cai XY, Liu YZ.

State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center at Sun
Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Aims: To evaluate anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the
diagnosis and treatment of Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) with severe
corneal edema. Methods: Nine eyes of 7 consecutive patients with suspected DMD
with severe corneal edema due to different causes were imaged with the AS-OCT
system. Configuration of Descemet's membrane (DM) was delineated before and
after treatment, and quantitative analysis was performed. An appropriate
treatment was chosen based on the imaging findings. Results: DMD was
demonstrated as being present in all eyes via AS-OCT. Different statuses of the
DM including planar/nonplanar detachment, local/extensive detachment, and
rupture was documented using AS-OCT images. Two eyes were treated with
conservative therapy, 6 eyes with intracameral air/gas tamponade and 1 eye with
penetrating keratoplasty. One of the air tamponade treatments failed and all the
other treatments were successful. Conclusion: AS-OCT is a valuable tool in the
diagnosis of DMD both in terms of selecting the appropriate treatment, and
monitoring treatment outcomes when corneal edema is present. Copyright (c) 2012
S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22261666  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

5: Ophthalmologica. 2012 Jan 19; [Epub ahead of print] 

Potential Preventive Effects of a New Visual Intervention for Accommodative
Insufficiency and Asthenopia due to Sustained Near Task.

Iwasaki T, Nagata T, Tawara A.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Background: The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate
whether a new visual intervention with optical and binocular vergence demands
prevents accommodative insufficiency and asthenopia after sustained periods of
visual task. Methods: Fourteen female students were given the intervention with
optical and binocular vergence demands for 1.5 min immediately after 20 min of a
sustained task on a three-dimensional display. Before and after the trial, their
ocular functions were measured and their symptoms assessed. A new type of
intervention was developed that can vary optical and binocular vergence demands.
For control, the subjects rested with eyes closed for 1.5 min after the task
instead of the intervention. Results: In the control group, accommodative
contraction time (from far to near) and accommodative relaxation time (from near
to far) was delayed from 1.13 to 1.68 s and from 1.36 to 1.60 s, respectively,
and the symptom of asthenopia increased after rest. In the intervention group,
however, changes in those functions were smaller than those in the control
group. Conclusions: These results suggest that the new intervention with optical
and binocular vergence demands is effective for the treatment of accommodative
insufficiency that follows sustained periods of visual task, and consequently,
the symptom of asthenopia induced by accommodative insufficiency may decrease.
Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22261636  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

6: Ophthalmologica. 2012 Jan 3; [Epub ahead of print] 

Effect of Decentration on the Optical Performance in Multifocal Intraocular
Lenses.

Soda M, Yaguchi S.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Showa, Fujigaoka Rehabilitation
Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.

Aims: To evaluate the influence of decentration on optical performance in
multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) using eye models. Methods: This study
evaluated 4 types of multifocal IOLs (ReSTOR SA60D3, Alcon; TECNIS Multifocal
ZM900, AMO; ReZoom, AMO; SFX-MV1, Hoya). The evaluations were based on
measurements of the near and far modulation transfer function (MTF) and
visualized actual near images (newspaper) using eye models with the IOL
horizontally displaced 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mm from the center. Results:
For the diffractive ReSTOR the near MTF decreased with increasing decentration.
The near images (newspaper characters) became difficult to distinguish at a
decentration of 1.0 mm. For the diffractive ZM900, the near and far MTFs
gradually decreased with increasing decentration. For the refractive ReZoom and
SFX-MV1, we observed almost no change in the near MTF from a decentration of
0-1.0 mm. However, the far MTF clearly decreased starting at a decentration of
1.0 mm for ReZoom and 0.75 mm for SFX-MV1. Conclusion: The MTFs and near images
are affected to a different extent depending on the design of multifocal IOLs;
clinically relevant effects are not to be expected up to a decentration of 0.75
mm. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22222365  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

7: Ophthalmologica. 2011 Dec 28; [Epub ahead of print] 

Reply.

Oliveira CM.

Critical Health SA, Coimbra, Portugal.

No abstract available. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22212215  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

8: Ophthalmologica. 2011 Dec 28; [Epub ahead of print] 

Response to 'Improved Automated Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy' by Carlos M.
Oliveira et al.

Fleming AD, Olson JA, Sharp PF, Goatman KA, Philip S.

University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.

Publication Types:
    LETTER

PMID: 22212182  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

9: Ophthalmologica. 2011 Dec 29; [Epub ahead of print] 

Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Kim M, Yu SY, Kim ES, Bae SH, Park JH, Yu HG, Kwak HW.

Departments of Ophthalmology, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Background/Aims: To investigate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab
treatment for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and
the relationship between spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)
findings and visual outcome after successful resolution of ME. Methods: Forty
consecutive eyes with ME secondary to branch RVO (BRVO; 29 eyes of 29 patients)
or central RVO (CRVO; 11 eyes of 11 patients) were included in a prospective
study and treated with 3 initial intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab
at monthly intervals. Retreatment was based on visual acuity changes and OCT
findings. Patients with complete resolution of ME were classified into two
groups according to final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of better than
0.30 logMAR (group 1) or poorer than 0.30 logMAR (group 2), and SD-OCT findings
were analyzed at baseline and at 12 months. Results: In patients with BRVO, mean
BCVA at 12 months (0.19 +/- 0.18) was significantly better than that at baseline
(0.76 +/- 0.37; p = 0.000). The mean number of injections was 4.4 +/- 1.2. In
patients with CRVO, the mean BCVA at 12 months (0.39 +/- 0.23) was slightly
improved from that at baseline (0.84 +/- 0.68), but the difference was not
significant (p = 0.063). Patients with CRVO received a mean number of 6.1 +/-
1.4 injections of ranibizumab. Baseline SD-OCT more frequently detected the
foveal inner/outer segment (IS/OS) line and external limiting membrane (ELM) in
group 1 (p = 0.003) than in group 2 (p = 0.012). Preservation of the foveal
IS/OS line (odds ratio = 5.400; p = 0.036) and ELM (odds ratio = 7.312; p =
0.016) at baseline correlated with good final visual outcome. Conclusion:
Intravitreal ranibizumab injections effectively treat ME secondary to RVO. Good
visual outcome was associated with preservation of the foveal IS/OS line and ELM
at baseline. Copyright (c) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 22212151  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]