Optometry Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Optometry, including details on myopia, optometric practice, therapy.

CHANGES IN RETINAL SENSITIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AFTER SYSTEMIC BEVACIZUMAB (AVASTIN) THERAPY.

Prager F, Michels S, Simader C, Geitzenauer W, Schmidt-Erfurth U, Simader C

From *the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; and †the Department of Ophthalmology University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate changes in central retinal sensitivity in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration after systemic bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) therapy. METHODS:: For all eyes, the central 12 x 12 degrees visual field was recorded using the MP 1 Microperimeter (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan) at baseline and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after initial treatment. Patients received systemic anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy with three initial bevacizumab infusions at 2-week intervals. Retreatment during follow-up was performed only in cases of choroidal neovascularization recurrence. Seven patients (12 eyes) received bevacizumab infusions at a dose of 5 mg/kg, and 7 patients (9 eyes), at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg. RESULTS:: Of 41 stimulation points, a mean absolute scotoma of 15 missed stimulation points was measured at baseline, which decreased to 10 missed stimulation points at month 3 (-5; P = 0.005) and to 11 stimulation points at month 6 (-4; P = 0.106). The mean absolute scotoma size (in % of total tested area) decreased from 33% to 22% (-11%; P = 0.011) at month 3 and to 23% (-10%, P = 0.123) at month 6. Mean differential light threshold increased significantly throughout the observation period from 3.8 dB at baseline to 5.5 dB (+1.7 dB; P = 0.012) at month 6. CONCLUSIONS:: Systemic bevacizumab therapy induced a significant increase in mean retinal sensitivity at month 6 of follow-up and a significant decrease of mean absolute scotoma size at month 3. The MP 1 Microperimeter proved to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of functional benefits and retinal safety of anti-VEGF therapy with systemic bevacizumab.

Published 8 May 2008 in Retina, 28(5): 682-688.
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Articles on Optometry published 8 May 2008:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing Signal Molecules Induce IL-8 Production by Human Corneal Epithelial Cells.   Eye Contact Lens, 34(3): 179-81.

OBJECTIVES.: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the quorum-sensing molecules of Pseudomonas aeruginosa could induce the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells in vitro. METHODS.: A confluent monolayer of immortalized HCE cells was treated with 12.5 to 50 muM n-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (OdDHL) or n-butanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (BHL) for 18 hours, or challenged with a wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1 and its quorum-sensing mutants ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Adaptation Mechanisms, Eccentricity Profiles, and Clinical Implementation of Red-on-White Perimetry.   Optom Vis Sci, 85(5): 309-317.

PURPOSE.: To determine the visual adaptation and retinal eccentricity profiles for red flickering and static test stimuli and report a clinical implementation of these stimuli in visual perimetry. METHODS.: The adaptation profile for red-on-white perimetry stimuli was measured using a threshold vs. intensity (TvI) paradigm at 0 degree and 12 degrees eccentricity and by comparing the eccentricity-related sensitivity change for red and white, static, and flickering targets in young normal ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Fimbrolide-Coated Antimicrobial Lenses: Their In Vitro and In Vivo Effects.   Optom Vis Sci, 85(5): 292-300.

PURPOSE.: To examine the ability of contact lenses coated with fimbrolides, inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing, to prevent microbial adhesion and their safety during short-term clinical assessment. METHODS.: A fimbrolide was covalently attached to commercially available high Dk contact lenses. Subsequently Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, or Acanthamoeba sp. were added to the lenses and control uncoated contact lenses. Lenses plus microbes were incubated ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Optometry published 6 May 2008:

Binocular adaptation to near addition lenses in emmetropic adults.   Vision Res, 48(10): 1262-9.

Near addition lenses are prescribed to pre-presbyopic individuals for treatment of binocular motor problems such as convergence excess and to control the progression of myopia. To date, no investigation has looked at the complete sequence of binocular motor responses during a period of near work with +2D lenses. This investigation evaluated changes to accommodation and vergence responses when young adults sustained fixation at 33cm with +2D addition lenses. In addition, the effect of the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Optometry published 2 May 2008:

Agreement and repeatability of the sonogage ultrasound pachometer compared with a mitutoyo micrometer.   Optom Vis Sci, 85(5): 359-63.

PURPOSE.: The agreement and repeatability of the Sonogage ultrasound pachometer was tested by comparing it with a Mitutoyo micrometer. METHODS.: The thickness of five polymacon disks with thickness and ultrasonic properties similar to the human cornea and corneal epithelium were measured using both instruments. The mean values obtained using both instruments were compared and analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance, Bland-Altman analysis, and coefficient of variation. RESULTS.: The ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Exploring ocular aberrations with a schematic human eye model.   Optom Vis Sci, 85(5): 330-40.

PURPOSE.: Advances in ophthalmic technologies now offer both the measurement and reduction of ocular aberrations by surgically or otherwise honing refraction in the anterior eye. Ocular aberrations, however, are known to change with a multitude of factors, including field position, accommodation level, and age. Thus, although static correction of aberrations provides some vision improvement, this may be less than expected. METHODS.: In this article, we use an aspheric, variable-focus, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Wavelet Analysis in Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome: Limitations and Abilities.   Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.

Objectives. To investigate the proper usage of wavelet analysis in Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome (INS) and determine its limitations and abilities. Materials and Methods. We analyzed data obtained from accurate eye-movement recordings on INS patients. Wavelet analysis was performed to examine the foveation characteristics, morphological characteristics and time variation in different INS waveforms. We also compared the wavelet analysis and the eXpanded Nystagmus Acuity Function (NAFX) analysis ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Optometry published 25 April 2008:

The Phototoxicity of Aged Human Retinal Melanosomes.   Photochem Photobiol, 84(3): 650-657.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an age-related increase in photoreactivity of human retinal melanosomes (MS) can cause phototoxicity to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. MS were isolated post mortem from young (20-30 years, young human melanosomes [YHMs]) and old (60-90 years, old human melanosomes [OHMs]) human eyes and from young bovine eyes (bovine melanosomes [BMs]). Confluent cultured ARPE-19 cells were fed equivalent numbers of OHMs or BMs and accumulated similar ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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