Contrast Sensitivity and Inner Retinal Layer Thickness Analysis of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Without Retinopathy

Purpose@#To compare the contrast sensitivities of type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy and healthy subjects, and to assess the risk factors associated with a change in contrast sensitivity in diabetes. @*Methods@#A total of 75 (diabetic patients without retinopathy) and 41 (healthy subjects) eyes were reviewed from the medical records. The threshold of contrast sensitivity was measured at 6.3°, 4.0°, 2.5°, 1.6°, 1.0°, and 0.64° under scotopic and photopic states. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness in diabetic patients. @*Results@#Diabetic patients showed a lower threshold of contrast sensitivity at all degree measures than did the controls under both scotopic and photopic states. In subgroup analyses, diabetic patients with abnormal contrast sensitivity showed a longer duration of diabetes, decreased total retinal thickness, and decreased average GC-IPL, superior RNFL, superior GC-IPL, and temporal GC-IPL thicknesses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the duration of diabetes and total retinal thickness were significant predictive factors of decreased contrast sensitivity (odds ratio = 1.117 and 0.942, respectively). @*Conclusions@#As the duration of diabetes increased, the contrast sensitivity decreased in type 2 diabetic patients. Neuroretinal degeneration changes both the inner retinal thickness and total retinal thickness and affects contrast sensitivity. Therefore, for longer-term diabetic patients, it is necessary to consider the changes in contrast sensitivity and retinal thickness on OCT evaluation, even if the patient presents with normal fundus findings.

A Study on the Relationship between Eye Disease and Nutrient Intake in Korean Adults: Data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015, 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the differences in nutrient intakes on the onset of eye disease in the ophthalmic disease group vs. the normal group. The analysis method of this study was performed by adjusting age and gender. The daily caloric intake was 1,672.1±26.4 kcal in the ophthalmic disease group which was significantly lower than the 2,041.5±13.6 kcal intake in the normal group (P=0.006).The intake of proteins (P=0.015) and carbohydrates (P=0.000) was significantly lower in the ophthalmic disease group than in the normal group. The incidence of eye diseases was found to decrease by about 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74∼0.83) times as the NAR index of protein was increased, followed by 0.79 (95% CI: 0.64∼ 0.98) times with an increase in niacin consumption. In this study, income, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, and quality of life were considered as the confounding variables related to eye disease, along with age and gender, but did not lead to show significant results. It was found that the ophthalmic disease group had an unbalanced nutritional intake compared to the normal group. Therefore, we conclude that nutrition education is necessary to ensurebalanced eating habits for management and prevention of degeneration after the onset of eye diseases.

Contrast Sensitivity and Inner Retinal Layer Thickness Analysis of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Without Retinopathy

Purpose@#To compare the contrast sensitivities of type 2 diabetic patients without retinopathy and healthy subjects, and to assess the risk factors associated with a change in contrast sensitivity in diabetes. @*Methods@#A total of 75 (diabetic patients without retinopathy) and 41 (healthy subjects) eyes were reviewed from the medical records. The threshold of contrast sensitivity was measured at 6.3°, 4.0°, 2.5°, 1.6°, 1.0°, and 0.64° under scotopic and photopic states. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness in diabetic patients. @*Results@#Diabetic patients showed a lower threshold of contrast sensitivity at all degree measures than did the controls under both scotopic and photopic states. In subgroup analyses, diabetic patients with abnormal contrast sensitivity showed a longer duration of diabetes, decreased total retinal thickness, and decreased average GC-IPL, superior RNFL, superior GC-IPL, and temporal GC-IPL thicknesses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the duration of diabetes and total retinal thickness were significant predictive factors of decreased contrast sensitivity (odds ratio = 1.117 and 0.942, respectively). @*Conclusions@#As the duration of diabetes increased, the contrast sensitivity decreased in type 2 diabetic patients. Neuroretinal degeneration changes both the inner retinal thickness and total retinal thickness and affects contrast sensitivity. Therefore, for longer-term diabetic patients, it is necessary to consider the changes in contrast sensitivity and retinal thickness on OCT evaluation, even if the patient presents with normal fundus findings.

A Study on the Relationship between Eye Disease and Nutrient Intake in Korean Adults: Data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015, 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the differences in nutrient intakes on the onset of eye disease in the ophthalmic disease group vs. the normal group. The analysis method of this study was performed by adjusting age and gender. The daily caloric intake was 1,672.1±26.4 kcal in the ophthalmic disease group which was significantly lower than the 2,041.5±13.6 kcal intake in the normal group (P=0.006).The intake of proteins (P=0.015) and carbohydrates (P=0.000) was significantly lower in the ophthalmic disease group than in the normal group. The incidence of eye diseases was found to decrease by about 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74∼0.83) times as the NAR index of protein was increased, followed by 0.79 (95% CI: 0.64∼ 0.98) times with an increase in niacin consumption. In this study, income, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, and quality of life were considered as the confounding variables related to eye disease, along with age and gender, but did not lead to show significant results. It was found that the ophthalmic disease group had an unbalanced nutritional intake compared to the normal group. Therefore, we conclude that nutrition education is necessary to ensurebalanced eating habits for management and prevention of degeneration after the onset of eye diseases.

Both Ocular Perforation Caused by Periocular Acupuncture Therapy

Purpose@#To report a case of both ocular perforation due to periocular acupuncture therapy with vitrectomy in the right eye andbarrier laser photocoagulation without vitrectomy in the left eye.Case summary: A 58-year-old female presented with ocular pain and decreased visual acuity in both eye. She had received periocularacupuncture therapy 4 days earlier. Dilated fundoscopy revealed vitreous hemorrhage. B-scan ultrasonography revealedvitreous opacity. Thus, at the request of the patient, vitrectomy was performed in only the right eye, and did not performed in theleft eye. Intraoperatively, we identified retinal laceration in the temporal and inferior retina. In the left eye, the sites of retinal hemorrhagewere observed in the temporal and inferior retina in the fundus examination, and a barrier laser photocoagulation wasperformed around the lesion. At the three-month postoperative follow-up, the patient’s visual acuity was 0.5 in the right eye withoutmacular edema. In the left eye, visual acuity was 0.01 with macular edema observed on optical coherence tomography. @*Conclusions@#Authors present a case of a patient with vitreous hemorrhage and ocular perforations caused by periocular acupuncturetherapy in both eye, able to compare the results of eyes that performed vitrectomy and that did not performed vitrectomyin a same patient. The recovery of visual acuity in eye that performed vitrectomy was better than eye that did not performedvitrectomy. Therefore, we consider performing vitrectomy in patients with eye perforation.

Measurement of Ophthalmic-arterial Blood-flow Velocity Using Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography in Patients with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

PURPOSE: To measure and compare the ocular blood-flow velocity of ophthalmic artery in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC); affected eyes, asymptomatic fellow eyes, and CSC resolved eyes using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. METHODS: A total of 31 patients (age 20-52 years) with CSC were evaluated using power motion mode Doppler 150 digital transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), peak diastolic velocity (PDV), and resistance index (RI) were measured in the ophthalmic artery of both affected and asymptomatic fellow eyes. After 2 months, 23 patients with resolved serous retinal detachment underwent repeated measurement of the above hemodynamic indices. RESULTS: The PSV and PDV of the ophthalmic artery were 30.05 ± 5.34 cm/sec and 14.07 ± 2.90 cm/sec in affected eyes and 33.03 ± 2.00 cm/sec and 17.17 ± 2.76 cm/sec in asymptomatic fellow eyes, respectively. Both indices were significantly lower in affected eyes (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, respectively). The RI was 0.52 ± 0.08 in affected eyes and 0.43 ± 0.04 in fellow eyes, a significant difference (p < 0.001). After 2 months, in 23 eyes with resolved CSC, the PSV and PDV were 32.94 ± 6.24 cm/sec and 15.54 ± 2.88 cm/sec, respectively. Both indices were significantly higher than at baseline (p = 0.031, p = 0.045, respectively). However, RI was 0.48 ± 0.04 and was not significantly different (p = 0.073). CONCLUSIONS: The CSC-affected eyes showed lower ocular blood-flow velocity and higher RI than the asymptomatic fellow eyes. The ocular blood-flow velocity was increased as CSC was resolved. These findings provide insights into the ophthalmic arterial vascular factors related to the pathogenesis of CSC.

Comparison of Anterior Chamber Depth and Central Corneal Thickness Measured Using Different Devices

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy and clinical usefulness of different devices by measuring anterior chamber depth (ACD) with three devices and central corneal thickness (CCT) with four devices. METHODS: In 180 eyes of 90 healthy subjects, ACD was measured using A-scan, Lenstar LS900®, Pentacam®, and CCT was measured using ultrasound pachymetry (USP), Lenstar LS900®, Pentacam®, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: The average ACT measurements using Lenstar LS900®, A-scan, and Pentacam® were 3.27 ± 0.35 mm, 3.26 ± 0.36 mm, and 3.25 ± 0.36 mm, respectively. The measurements were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) but without statistically significant difference (p = 0.017). The Bland-Altman plots showed a low degree of agreement. The average CCT measurements using Pentacam®, USP, Lenstar LS900®, and OCT were 553.31 ± 25.23 µm, 547.26 ± 23.83 µm, 541.38 ± 24.49 µm, and 531.40 ± 22.33 µm, respectively. The measurements were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) and statistically significantly different (p < 0.05). The Bland-Altman plots showed a low degree of agreement. CONCLUSIONS: ACD and CCT measured using different devices were highly correlated, but the ACD measurements were not statistically different; however, the CCT measurements were statistically different, and agreement was low between both measurements.

Tear Meniscus Evaluation Using Optical Coherence Tomography in Dry Eye Patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tear meniscus in aqueous tear-deficient dry eye patients using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and to investigate the clinical usefulness of tear meniscus values. METHODS: The present study included 79 aqueous tear-deficient dry eyes and 50 normal eyes. Tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) were imaged using FD-OCT and measured with computer calipers. Schirmer's test, tear break-up time, and corneal fluorescein staining were also performed and the correlations between the tests were analyzed. Additionally, the diagnostic power of tear meniscus values was compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). RESULTS: Tear meniscus values were significantly decreased in the aqueous tear-deficient dry eye group (p < 0.05). TMH, TMD, and TMA were positively correlated with Schirmer's test and tear break-up time (p < 0.05), and TMH and TMD were negatively correlated with corneal fluorescein staining in the aqueous tear-deficient dry eye group (p < 0.05). The AUROCs of TMH, TMD, and TMA were 0.978, 0.788, and 0.957, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tear meniscus values measured using FD-OCT were significantly lower in aqueous tear-deficient dry eyes and were correlated with Schirmer's test, tear break-up time, and corneal fluorescein staining. Tear meniscus measurements obtained using FD-OCT can be useful clinical parameters for the diagnosis and treatment of aqueous tear-deficient dry eye.

Short-Term Clinical Results and Safety of Ultra Q Laser Treatment for Vitreous Floaters

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term clinical results and safety of Ultra Q neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser treatment for vitreous floaters. METHODS: The present study included 31 eyes of 31 patients with symptomatic floaters lasting more than 3 months. The vitreous floaters were photodisrupted using Ultra Q Nd:YAG laser. Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual activity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure, change of the floater, patient satisfaction and postoperative complications were analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative BCVA and intraocular pressure (p > 0.05). Vitreous floaters were not found in 9 eyes (29.03%), decreased floaters were observed in 19 eyes (61.29%) and definite change of floaters was not observed in 3 eyes (9.68%). Patient satisfaction after the laser treatment was very satisfied in 11 eyes (35.48%) and satisfied in 20 eyes (64.58%). Satisfaction in Weiss ring type of the floater was the highest, very satisfied in 6 of the 8 eyes (75%) and vitreous floaters were not observed in 7 of the 8 eyes (87.50%). Postoperative complications were not observed during a follow-up period of at least 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra Q Nd:YAG laser was an effective and safe treatment for the vitreous floaters in this short-term study.

Reliability and Usefulness of Refractive Measurements by PlusoptiX S09 in Children

PURPOSE: To compare the refractive measurements obtained using a photorefractor (PlusoptiX S09, PlusoptiX GmbH, Germany) with those obtained using cycloplegic refraction in children. METHODS: We assessed the refractive status of 268 eyes in 134 children. The values acquired via photorefraction with a PlusoptiX S09 device were compared with those obtained by cycloplegic retinoscopy. Hyperopia (> or =+3.5 D), myopia (> or =-3.0 D), with the rule or against the rule astigmatism (> or =-1.5 D), and oblique astigmatism (> or =-1.0 D) were set as diagnostic criteria for refractive amblyopia risk factors (RARFs). The difference in the detection of RARFs by the two methods was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: The average spherical refractive power was -0.81 +/- 1.68 D for PlusoptiX S09 versus -0.26 +/- 2.00 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference -0.54 +/- 0.61 D; p < 0.001). The average spherical equivalent was -1.20 +/- 1.62 D for PlusoptiX S09 versus -0.64 +/- 1.94 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference -0.56 +/- 0.62 D; p < 0.001). The average cylinder power was -0.79 +/- 0.93 D for PlusoptiX S09 versus -0.76 +/- 0.94 D for cycloplegic retinoscopy (average difference -0.03 +/- 0.33 D; p = 0.135). Even though cycloplegic retinoscopy is considered the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting RARFs with the PlusoptiX S09 were 88.0% and 96.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PlusoptiX S09 is a relatively useful method for detecting RARFs, but the device tends toward myopic shift compared to cycloplegic refraction, and hyperopia is underestimated.

Comparison of the Stability Between Three-piece and Single-piece Aspheric Intraocular Lenses

PURPOSE: The goal of the present study was to compare the stability of the 3-piece (Tecnis ZA9003) and single-piece (AcrySof IQ) aspheric intraocular lenses (IOL) by testing decentration, tilt, anterior chamber depth, and refraction. METHODS: The subjects of this study consisted of 101 eyes who had undergone cataract surgeries with a 3-piece aspheric IOL (54 eyes) and with a single-piece aspheric IOL (47 eyes). The decentration, tilt, anterior chamber depth, and refraction were measured on postoperative day 1, 1 month, and 2 months, using an anterior eye segment analysis system (EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the decentration on the postoperative day 1 (p = 0.04). However, there was no statistically significant difference on postoperative 1 month (p = 0.15) and 2 months (p = 0.13). There was no statistically significant difference in the tilt on postoperative day 1, 1 month, and 2 months. There was no statistically significant difference in the anterior chamber depth on postoperative day 1, 1 month, and 2 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the refraction on postoperative day 1 (p = 0.03). However, there was no statistically significant difference on postoperative 1 month (p = 0.07) and 2 months (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in the decentration, anterior chamber depth, and refraction between the 3-piece and single-piece aspheric IOL. Therefore, there is no difference between the 3-piece and single-piece aspheric IOL in the capsular bag stability until 2 months postoperatively.

The Efficacy of Multi-Zone Cross-Cylinder Method for Astigmatism Correction

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of the multi-zone cross-cylinder method as compared with the single method for astigmatism correction using LASIK. This prospective study enrolled 40 patients (52 eyes) who underwent the cross-cylinder method using LASIK, and 52 patients (60 eyes) who underwent the single method using LASIK: all patients were given a diagnosis of complex myopic astigmatism from the department of ophthalmology of this hospital between January 2002 and July 2003. Preoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent refraction was .3.85 +/- 1.13 D in the cross-cylinder group and .4.05 +/-1.20 D in the single method group (p = 0.23). The mean cylinder was .2.05 +/-1.58 D in the cross-cylinder group and .1.95 +/-1.12 D in the single method group (p = 0.31). 6 months after treatment the results were a mean spherical equivalent refraction of .0.26 +/-0.30 D in the crosscylinder group and -0.34 +/-0.35 D in the single method group (p = 0.13). The mean cylinder was .0.38 +/-0.29 D in the cross-cylinder group and .0.45 +/-0.30 D in the single method group (p = 0.096). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The mean BCVA was not different from mean preoperative BCVA in both groups (i.e., 0.98 +/-0.10, 0.96 +/-0.25, p = 0.86). Postoperatively, patient complications that included night halo, glare and corneal haze were not noted in either group. In conclusion, the results of cross-cylinder method are no different from the single method for the correction of a complex astigmatism. In the future, studies will have to be conducted to assess the efficacy of the cross-cylinder method in consideration of those factors that can affect the postoperative outcome.

The Effect of Revision Endoscopic Dacryorhinostomy (EDCR)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of revision endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) and the causes of postoperative failure after primary endoscopic DCR in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 32 patients (32 eyes) who had undergone revision of endoscopic DCR with the diagnosis of obstruction of nasolacrimal system after primary EDCR between October 1997 and February 2003. RESULTS: The most common cause of revision operation after primary EDCR was granuloma, followed by membranous obstruction and common canalicular obstruction. The success rate of the cases with granuloma was 69.2%, and that with membranous obstruction was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Revision EDCR success rate can be improved by reducing the frequency of granuloma as this was the most common factor for revision EDCR. The effect of antimetabolites in revision EDCR success rate is to be further evaluated.