Analysis of Fall Events, Physical Fitness, and Gait Speed According to Fall Risk in Older Korean Women.

The present study aimed to investigate the associations between fall risk and previous fall events, physical fitness, and gait speeds on flat ground and during obstacle avoidance in older adult women in Korea. Data were analyzed for 148 women over 65 years of age, divided into low (n = 52) and high Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score groups (n = 96). Physical fitness was assessed using arm curl, chair stand, 2 min step, chair sit-and-reach, timed up-and-go, and single-leg stance tests. Gait speed was measured on flat ground and during obstacle avoidance (5 cm, 10% of height, 30 cm). The incidence of falls was 18.2% lower among participants with BBS scores above the mean than in those with scores below the mean (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the two groups exhibited significant differences in the chair stand, chair sit-and-reach, timed up-and-go, and single-leg stance test results. The upper BBS group appeared faster at all four gait speeds, and participants in the upper BBS group were less likely to exhibit lower physical fitness in each test, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 0.227 to 0.447. The upper BBS group was also less likely to exhibit lower gait speed in most conditions, with ORs ranging from 0.327 to 0.516. Further studies should consider exercise programs that promote balance, muscular strength, and proprioception to lower the risk of falling in older adults.

Visualization of Changes in the Choriocapillaris, Choroidal Vessels, and Retinal Morphology After Focal Laser Photocoagulation Using OCT Angiography.

PURPOSE: To utilize optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) to describe alterations in the retinal and choriocapillaris vasculature following remote laser photocoagulation. Lesions are classified on the basis of choriocapillaris alteration as evaluated on en face OCTA. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzing 28 laser photocoagulation scars from 8 patients treated for diabetic macular edema. All eyes were analyzed using a combination of OCTA, en face and cross-sectional OCT, and fundus photography. Two masked readers scored images for alterations at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), choroid, and choriocapillaris. Laser photocoagulation lesions were classified as deep if choriocapillaris alteration was present on OCTA; lesions were classified as superficial if no choriocapillaris alteration was present on OCTA. RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography angiography was found to be useful for evaluation of choriocapillaris alteration underlying regions of laser scarring. Of the 28 analyzed laser scars, 13 were classified as superficial and 15 were classified as deep. CONCLUSIONS: Optical coherence tomography angiography can be used to visualize choriocapillaris alterations associated with focal laser photocoagulation treatment.

Wideband Electrically-Pumped 1050 nm MEMS-Tunable VCSEL for Ophthalmic Imaging.

In this paper, we present a 1050 nm electrically-pumped micro-electro-mechanically-tunable vertical-cavity-surface-emitting-laser (MEMS-VCSEL) with a record dynamic tuning bandwidth of 63.8 nm, suitable for swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) imaging. These devices provide reduced cost & complexity relative to previously demonstrated optically pumped devices by obviating the need for a pump laser and associated hardware. We demonstrate ophthalmic SS-OCT imaging with the electrically-pumped MEMS-VCSEL at a 400 kHz axial scan rate for wide field imaging of the in vivo human retina over a 12 mm × 12 mm field and for OCT angiography of the macula over 6 mm × 6 mm & 3 mm × 3 mm fields to show retinal vasculature and capillary structure near the fovea. These results demonstrate the feasibility of electrically pumped MEMS-VCSELs in ophthalmic instrumentation, the largest clinical application of OCT. In addition, we estimate that the 3 dB coherence length in air is 225 meters ± 51 meters, far greater than required for ophthalmic SS-OCT and suggestive of other distance ranging applications.