Combined influence of illness duration and medication type on visual sensitivity in schizophrenia

Objective: Patients with schizophrenia have visual processing impairments. The main findings from the literature indicate that these deficits may be related to differences in paradigms, medications, and illness duration. This study is part of a large-scale study investigating visual sensitivity in schizophrenia. Here we aimed to investigate the combined effects of illness duration and antipsychotic use on contrast sensitivity function. Methods: Data were collected from 50 healthy controls and 50 outpatients with schizophrenia (classified according to illness duration and medication type) aged 20-45 years old. The contrast sensitivity function was measured for spatial frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 20 cycles per degree using linear sine-wave gratings. Results: Patients with an illness duration > 5 years had more pronounced deficits. Differences in the combined effects of illness duration and antipsychotic use were marked in patients on typical antipsychotics who had been ill > 10 years. No significant differences were found between typical and atypical antipsychotics in patients with an illness duration < 5 years. Conclusion: Visual impairment was related to both long illness duration and medication type. These results should be tested in further studies to investigate pharmacological mechanisms.

Chlorogenic Acid Supplementation Improves Multifocal Electroretinography in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

To evaluate the effect of chlorogenic acid supplementation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, we evaluated objective change in visual function with multifocal electroretinography, along with visual acuity, visual field, standard electroretinography, and contrast sensitivity. Eighteen patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa were enrolled in this prospective, non-comparative, single-arm study. Multifocal electroretinography, best-corrected visual acuity in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, total point score on visual field examination with Humphrey Field Analyzer II, electroretinography, and contrast sensitivity were measured and repeated after 3 months supplementation with chlorogenic acid. The amplitude of ring 5 was significantly higher on multifocal electroretinography after 3 months of chlorogenic acid supplementation (7.2 +/- 9.5 vs 8.3 +/- 10.8 nV/deg2, mean +/- standard deviation, P = 0.022). There were no significant changes in the best-corrected visual acuity, total point score on Humphrey Field Analyzer, 30 Hz flicker amplitude on standard electroretinography, or contrast sensitivity. Chlorogenic acid may have a beneficial effect on the peripheral area at the margins of retinal degeneration, and should be considered as an anti-oxidant for the management of retinitis pigmentosa.

effect of nutririon and supplements on ocular health

Nutrition is a subject of interest in many fields of medicine. So ophthalmologists have also attempted to find possible ways to preserve vision through diet and supplements. Ocular disorders such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma are the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in the world, so most of the studies have focused on these major disorders and nutritions containing antioxidant such as vitamin C and E. Zexanthin/luteins and omega 3 have been the main substances studied in this relation. Although benefits of the regimens with high amounts of antioxidants were observed in reducing progression of cataract, agerelated macular degeneration and so on, as many of these studies have been observational, the cause and effect relationship cannot be definitely concluded and multiple cohort prospective studies will be desired to evaluate the exact role of nutrition. Somehow, a healthy diet which means the diet which increases our health can be achieved in regimens with low saturated fatty acids and rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and fish. On the whole, even though they may not affect disease progression, they are generally good for overall health

effect of antimony on the vision, intraocular pressure and hair growth in a sample of Yemenis with myopia

Clinical trials were performed on a sample of twenty-six Yemenis with myopia to study the effect of antimony eye definer [painter] on vision and intraocular pressure [IOP]. In the first trial each patient applied traditional eye definer containing lead daily for three months, in the second trial each patient applied antimony eye definer daily for three months. Vision parameters including the IOP were measured before and after each trial, and a washout period of one month was kept between the two trials. The results showed that antimony eye definer did not change the power of spherical lenses in both eyes, while it significantly improved the power of cylindrical lenses by 20% in the right eye and 23% in the left eye. Moreover it lowered the IOP by 9% in both eyes, these results were statistically significant. The traditional eye definer containing lead did not change these parameters in the patients. Another trials were formed to the study the effect of antimony ointment 5% on human scalp hair growth, in another sample of healthy volunteers, the results revealed that this ointment has stimulated hair growth by 56%, while the standard trichogenic agent minoxidil 5% solution improved hair growth by 62%. In rabbits the effects were more dramatic, where antimony cream stimulates hair growth by 97%, while the standard trichogenic agent minoxidil 5% solution improved hair growth by 78%. Finally antimony did not show antibacterial effects when tested on streptococci [gram+ve] and E coli [gram-ve]

The efficacy of topical administration of brimonidine to reduce ischaemia in the very early stage of diabetic retinopathy in good controlled type-2 diabetes mellitus.

It is now proved that diabetic micro-angiopathy is caused by ischaemia at the capillary bed of retina due to reduced capillary blood flow in long standing type-2 diabetes mellitus. Deranged metabolic process due to chronic hypoxia at the tissue level produces visual and vascular dysfunction. Brimonidine tartrate, an alpha-2 agonist which is commonly used in glaucoma to protect retinal ganglion cells from pressure related ischaemia induced cell apoptosis, is administered in very early stage of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy to reduce ischaemia at the capillary bed of retina. Improved visual acuity and decreased micro-aneurysm formation, which indicate elimination of ischaemic stimulus at the tissue level, are seen in long standing type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Uso de los glucocorticoides en el tratamiento de la neuritis óptica / Use of glucocorticoids in optic neuritis treatment

Se presenta una síntesis del estudio multicéntrico de tratamiento de la neuritis óptica efectuado en varios centros de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Se presentan las características clínicas de la neuritis óptica de este grupo de pacientes. Además se informa de los hallazgos neurológicos en el examen inicial, la incidencia de esclerosis múltiple, los hallazgos de la resonancia magnética cerebral y finalmente el valor terapéutico de los corticoides