Effects of Glaucoma Medication on Dry Eye Syndrome and Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma

Purpose@#To investigate ocular surface diseases and changes in the quality of life of patients using glaucoma medications. @*Methods@#Participants were divided into the normal (31 individuals, 62 eyes) and glaucoma medication (30 patients, 60 eyes) groups. Changes in tear break-up time, lipid layer thickness (LLT), corneal and conjunctival staining scores, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25) score were assessed for 1 year. @*Results@#The change in mean LLT was lower in glaucomatous eyes than in control eyes (p = 0.019) after 1 year. The results of OSDI deteriorated (p’ = 0.008), but conjunctival staining and Schirmer test results showed improvement in glaucomatous eyes compared to those in control eyes (p’ =0.035 and 0.009, respectively). The average LLT decreased at 6 and 12 months, but there was no change at 24 months. In pairwise analysis, the decrease in LLT over the first 6 months was statistically significant (p < 0.001) and remained unchanged until 24 months. Among the VFQ items, scores for near activity and social function deteriorated over 1 year in the medication group (p’ = 0.033 and 0.015, respectively). However, there was no difference in the total VFQ score. @*Conclusions@#Significant reduction in LLT and deterioration of OSDI were observed in the medication group compared to the control group. However, this deterioration was observed only in the first 6 months. There was no significant difference in the VFQ total score. Nonetheless, there were significant differences in near activity and social function between the control and medication groups. Therefore, the results of this study showed that although glaucoma medication worsened eye dryness, the change was limited and did not worsen the quality of life. Glaucoma medication should be used with the consideration that they can limit near activity and social functioning.

Long-Term Culture of Organotypic Hippocampal Slice from Old 3xTg-AD Mouse: An ex vivo Model of Alzheimer's Disease

OBJECTIVE: Conventional methods for organotypic hippocampal tissue slice culture (OHSC) have shown several disadvantages or limitations regarding age of animals used, duration of culture and difficulty using neurodegenerative models. Therefore, we tried to establish OHSC from old 3xTg-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mice for longer period (over 4 weeks) and to validate utility of this system as a valid platform for translational neuroscience of AD. METHODS: OHSC was performed with old 3xTg-AD mice (12–14 months), old wild type mice (12–14 months) and young 3xTg-AD mice (2–4 months) using serum-free medium for 4 weeks. Hippocampal structure was evaluated by 4’, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) intensity and neuronal metabolism was measured by Alamarblue assay. Pathologic characteristics of AD were also investigated; β-amyloid levels by ELISA, amyloid plaque deposition by Thioflavin-S staining, and glial activation by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Following 4-week culture in serum-free media, hippocampal cells and layers were well preserved in cultured slices from old AD mice as was in those from young AD and old wild type mice. On the contrary, excessive regression of total visible cells was observed in conventional serum-containing medium regardless of genotype of mice. In parallel with this well preserved structure, major pathologic characteristics of AD were also well manifested in hippocampal slices from old AD mice. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that long-term OHSC from old 3xTg-AD mouse can serve as a promising ex vivo system for studies on pathophysiology of AD, especially with the minimum number of sacrifice of experimental animals.

Side Effects after the Use of Cyclopentolate for Cycloplegic Refraction

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of side effects due to the use of cyclopentolate for cycloplegic refraction. METHODS: For 4 months, temperature change and adverse effects in 157 children who visited the pediatric ophthalmology clinic of a university hospital for cycloplegic refraction using cyclopentolate were observed. Topical 1% cyclopentolate was instilled 5 times at 5 minute intervals and temperature measured before and after administration using a tympanic thermometer. Side effects such as facial flushing, skin rash, and central nervous system disorders were recorded while cycloplegic refraction was performed. RESULTS: The mean temperature was increased 36.67 +/- 0.10degrees C to 36.90 +/- 0.09degrees C, but no fever exceeded 38degrees C. Seventeen (10.83%) patients experienced side effects including facial flushes (n = 6), temperature change (n = 5), abnormal central nervous system symptoms (n = 4), and a visible skin rash (n = 2). No patient experienced more than 1 side effect and long term adverse effects were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of side effects due to cyclopentolate instillation for cycloplegic refraction was 10.83% in children. Although side effects due to cyclopentolate disappeared without any treatment, cafeful monitoring for their occurrence is necessary.

A Case of Orbital Organizing Hematoma Presenting as a Chalazion

PURPOSE: Organizing hematomas (hematic pseudocysts) of the orbit are usually the consequence of direct blunt trauma and are important in the differential diagnosis of orbital cystic lesion. Herein, we report a case of orbital organizing hematoma masquerading as a chalazion. CASE SUMMARY: A 12-year-old female visited our clinic complaining of left lower eyelid swelling. CT scan and MR imaging showed a mass detected in the inferomedial space of her left orbit, which did not invade the adjacent tissue. Excisional biopsy of the orbital mass was performed. Histological examination showed the accumulation of blood-breakdown products within a thick fibrous capsule without epithelial or endothelial lining. The mass was diagnosed as an organizing hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: An orbital organizing hematoma can present, although rare, as a chalazion-like eyelid mass. Careful clinical and radiological examinations can help in making a differential diagnosis.