Effect of ripasudil after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C: a multicentre, randomised, prospective clinical study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate if there are improvements in trabeculectomy outcomes supporting filtration bleb formation caused by Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre, randomised, open-label clinical study examined open-angle glaucoma patients who underwent trabeculectomy or trabeculectomy combined with cataract surgery followed by 3-month postoperative ripasudil treatments. After randomly allocating patients to ripasudil-ROCK inhibitor (ripasudil) or without ripasudil (non-ripasudil) groups. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) changes, success rate, and number of eyedrops were compared for both groups. RESULTS: A total of 17 and 15 subjects dropped out in the ripasudil group and non-ripasudil group, respectively. At baseline, the mean IOP was 16.8±5.0 mm Hg in the ripasudil group (38 patients) and 16.2±4.4 in the non-ripasudil group (52 patients). The IOP decreased to 11.4±3.2 mm Hg, 10.9±3.9 mm Hg and 10.6±3.5 mm Hg at 12, 24 and 36 months in the ripasudil group, while it decreased to 11.2±4.1 mm Hg, 10.5±3.1 mm Hg and 10.9±3.2 mm Hg at 12, 24 and 36 months in the non-ripasudil group, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the number of IOP-lowering medications after trabeculectomy in the ripasudil group versus the non-ripasudil group at 24 (p=0.010) and 36 months (p=0.016). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for the 3-year cumulative probability of success. CONCLUSION: Although ripasudil application did not increase the primary trabeculectomy success rate, it did reduce IOP-lowering medications after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C.

Altered Feedback-Related Negativity in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Feedback-related negativity (FRN) is electrical brain activity related to the function of monitoring behavior and its outcome. FRN is generated by negative feedback input, such as punishment or monetary loss, and its potential is distributed maximally over the frontal-central part of the skull. Our previous study demonstrated that FRN latency was delayed and that the amplitude was increased in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). As mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to be a prodromal stage of AD, we speculated that FRN would also be altered in MCI, as in AD. The aim of this study is to examine whether MCI patients showed changes in FRN during a gambling task. METHODS: Thirteen MCI patients and thirteen age-matched healthy elderly individuals participated in a simple gambling task and underwent neuro-psychological assessments. The participants were asked to choose one out of two options and randomly received positive or negative feedback to their response. An EEG was recorded during the task, and FRN was obtained by subtracting the positive feedback-related activity from the negative feedback-related activity. RESULTS: The reaction time to probe stimuli was comparable in the two groups. The group comparisons revealed that the FRN amplitude was significantly larger for the MCI group than for the healthy elderly (F(1,24) = 6.4, ηp2 = 0.22, p = 0.019), but there was no group difference in the FRN latency. The FRN amplitude at the frontocentral electrode positively correlated with the mini-mental state examination score (Spearman's rhopartial = 0.41, p = 0.043). The finding of increased FRN amplitude in MCI was consistent with the previous finding in AD. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that monitoring dysfunction might also be involved in the prodromal stage of dementia.

Does overnight duty affect vascular endothelial function?

BACKGROUND: The reactive hyperemia index (RHI), which is obtained from the measurement of peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), is highly associated with the percentage change in the end-diastolic arterial diameter (%flow-mediated dilatation) at reactive hyperemia. Low RHI is reported to be a mortality risk in patients with a high risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. CV events are thought to be induced by physical and mental stress, including long-term fatigue and lack of sleep. However, the relationship between fatigue, lack of sleep, and endothelial function has not yet been established. METHODS: Healthy hospital workers (n = 13, 6 men and 7 women) with an average age of 31.6 years were assigned to this study after they provided written informed consent. During the study period, we conducted 72 measurements of reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) in the morning before or after their duty. At each measurement of the RH-PAT, we recorded the participants' hours of sleep and evaluated their degree of fatigue using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Although the VAS was significantly less (36 ± 16% and 64 ± 12%, p < 0.001) and the hours of sleep were longer (6.0 ± 1.1 h and 2.3 ± 1.0 h, p < 0.001) before duty compared to those after duty, the RHI was comparable between them (2.12 ± 0.53 vs. 1.97 ± 0.50, p = 0.21). The VAS score was significantly higher in participants with low RHI (< 1.67) than in those with normal RHI (≥ 2.07) (59 ± 13% and 46 ± 21%, respectively, p < 0.05). However, binary logistic regression showed no significant association between low RHI and the VAS when adjusted for systemic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate variability (HRV). In a simple regression analysis, the RHI was significantly correlated with the VAS score but not with sleep duration. A multiple linear regression analysis also showed no significant association between the RHI and VAS scores after adjustment for SBP and HRV. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular endothelial function was not associated with overnight duty, hours of sleep, or degree of fatigue in healthy young adults. Since the RHI may be decreased in severe fatigue conditions through autonomic nerve activity, one should consider the physical and mental conditions of the examinee when evaluating the RH-PAT results.

Assessment of primary open-angle glaucoma peripapillary and macular choroidal area using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: The current study investigated differences in the peripapillary and macular choroidal areas between patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and healthy controls because the choroid may potentially play a role in glaucoma pathophysiology. METHODS: We assessed 57 healthy controls and 42 POAG patients in a cross-sectional comparative study. We used enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and then converted the luminal and interstitial areas to binary images using the Niblack method to obtain peripapillary and macular choroidal images. The relationship between the choroidal area and demographic and ocular characteristics were determined with univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Regarding the peripapillary choroidal area, no significant differences were noted between healthy controls and POAG patients (1,836,336 ± 605,617 µm2 vs. 1,775,566 ± 477,317 µm2, respectively, P = 0.60). There were also no differences found for the macular choroidal area (controls: 347,220 ± 115,409 µm2, patients: 342,193 ± 104,356 µm2, P = 0.83). Multivariate regression analysis in the POAG patients revealed there was a significant relationship between the macular choroidal area and age (ß = -0.525, P = 0.002) and axial length (ß = -0.458, P = 0.005). In contrast, no correlation was found between peripapillary choroidal areas and various attributes in the POAG patients. CONCLUSIONS: EDI-OCT showed no differences in the peripapillary or macular choroidal area in healthy individuals compared to POAG patients.

Effect of trabeculectomy on corneal endothelial cell loss.

AIM: To investigate changes in corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) after trabeculectomy. METHODS: This prospective, observational study followed 117 eyes of 117 patients for 2 years after trabeculectomy. The central cornea was examined by corneal specular microscopy prior to and at every 6 months after the surgery. Survival analysis of patients who exhibited a 10% or less reduction of the postoperative CECD compared with preoperative levels was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate prognostic factors for decreasing CECD. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean CECD was 2420±357 cells/mm2, while at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery, the mean CECD was 2324±373 cells/mm2 (p<0.001), 2276±400 cells/mm2 (p<0.001), 2290±398 cells/mm2 (p<0.001) and 2267±446 cells/mm2 (p<0.001), respectively. At 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery, the results of the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the 10% loss of CECD from baseline were 91%, 85%, 83% and 77%, respectively. Uveitic glaucoma was a significant prognostic factor for decreasing CECD (p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: CECD significantly and continuously decreased after trabeculectomy.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Progression after Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in Glaucoma Patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of the steep Trendelenburg position surgical procedure on the retinal structure and function during robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) in glaucoma patients. METHODS: At 1 month and 1 day before and at 1 and 2 months after the RALP operation, 10 glaucoma patients underwent standard automated perimetry and optical coherence tomography. After placing patients in a supine position, intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured at 5 min after intubation under general anesthesia (T1), at 5 discrete time points (5, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min; T2-6) and at 5 min after returning to a horizontal supine position (T7). The Guided Progression Analysis software program was used to assess serial retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses and visual field progression. RESULTS: Eight additional patients were newly diagnosed in addition to the two previous glaucoma patients. Average IOP (mmHg) at each time point was as follows: T1 = 11.2 ± 3.8, T2 = 19.0 ± 4.4, T3 = 23.3 ± 6.3, T4 = 25.1 ± 4.3, T5 = 25.5 ± 5.1, T6 = 28.3 ± 4.8, and T7 = 22.6 ± 5.4. IOP significantly increased during RALP. RNFL thickness progressed in two eyes of two patients after the surgery, even though there was no progression of the visual field. CONCLUSIONS: Two eyes of two patients exhibited significant RNFL thickness progression. Since an increased IOP during the surgery was the probable cause of the changes, ophthalmologic examinations should be performed before and after RALP, especially in glaucoma patients.

Peripapillary and macular choroidal area in patients with normal-tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate normal and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) eyes for differences in peripapillary and macular choroidal area measurements. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study enrolled 52 normal subjects and 35 NTG patients. Peripapillary and macular choroidal images were recorded by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), with conversion of the luminal and interstitial areas to binary images performed using the Niblack method. RESULTS: While there was a significant difference between normal subjects and NTG patients for the peripapillary choroidal area (1,853,672 ± 626,501 µm2 vs. 1,606,448 ± 418,214 µm2, P = 0.047), there were no significant differences between the normal subjects and NTG patients observed for the macular choroidal area (345,365 ± 119,248 µm2 vs. 316,442 ± 85,732 µm2, P = 0.23). In the NTG patients, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between the macular choroidal area and the axial length (ß = -0.345, P = 0.04). Furthermore, there was also a significant correlation between the peripapillary choroidal area and the age of the NTG patients (ß = -0.469, P = 0.004). In addition, there was no relationship between the glaucoma severity and the peripapillary and macular choroidal areas in the NTG patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between the peripapillary choroidal area and glaucoma severity in NTG patients, even though the area was smaller in these patients.

Changes in corneal endothelial cells after trabeculectomy and EX-PRESS shunt: 2-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: To compare trabeculectomy and EX-PRESS device implantation procedures for treating glaucoma and evaluate changes in corneal endothelial cell density (CECD). METHODS: This study prospectively evaluated changes in the CECD in 60 eyes of 60 patients who underwent trabeculectomy and 50 eyes of 45 patients who underwent EX-PRESS device implantation. Baseline patient data recorded included age at surgery, sex, type of glaucoma medications, and lens status. Using a noncontact specular microscope, corneal specular microscopy was performed preoperatively at the central cornea and then at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery. CECD before and after surgery was compared using a paired t-test. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the IOP and number of antiglaucoma medications in both groups after the surgery. The mean CECD in the trabeculectomy group was 2505 ± 280 cells/mm2 at baseline, while it was 2398 ± 274 cells/mm2 (P < 0.001), 2349 ± 323 cells/mm2 (P < 0.001), 2293 ± 325 cells/mm2 (P < 0.001), and 2277 ± 385 cells/mm2 (P = 0.003) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. However, the CECD in the EX-PRESS group was 2377 ± 389 cells/mm2 at baseline, while it was 2267 ± 409 cells/mm2 (P = 0.007), 2292 ± 452 cells/mm2 (P = 0.043), 2379 ± 375 cells/mm2 (P = 0.318), and 2317 ± 449 cells/mm2 (P = 0.274) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to trabeculectomy, EX-PRESS device implantation appears to be a safer procedure with regard to the endothelial cell loss risk.

Changes in choroidal area after intraocular pressure reduction following trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes of the macular and peripapillary choroidal areas after trabeculectomy. METHODS: This prospective and interventional study examined 74 eyes of 74 patients with glaucoma uncontrolled by medical therapy. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) recorded macular and peripapillary choroidal images at 1 day before trabeculectomy and at 2 weeks after surgery. The Niblack method was used to covert luminal and interstitial areas to binary images. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 17.6±6.3 mmHg, while it was 6.5±2.9 mmHg after trabeculectomy (P < 0.001). Increases were observed for the macular choroidal area after the surgery, with the total area increasing from 317,853±95,728 µm2 to 368,597±104,393 µm2, while the luminal area increased from 210,355±73,650 µm2 to 249,464±77,195 µm2, and the interstitial area increased from 107,498±27,613 µm2 to 119,133±31,811 µm2 (all P < 0.001). Increases were also observed after the surgery for the peripapillary choroidal area, with the total area increasing from 1,629,440±460,429 µm2 to 1,974,289±500,496 µm2, while the luminal area increased from 920,141±328,690 µm2 to 1,179,843±357,601 µm2, and the interstitial area increased from 709,299±153,179 µm2 to 794,446±169,029 µm2 (all P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the ratio of the luminal to choroidal area in the macular area (67.2%) and in the peripapillary area (59.1%). Factors associated with the changes in the peripapillary choroidal area included decreases in the diastolic blood pressure and IOP. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the IOP after trabeculectomy led to increases in the macular and peripapillary choroidal areas. Observed changes in the choroidal area after trabeculectomy are primarily due to increases in the luminal areas.

The Effect of Steep Trendelenburg Positioning on Retinal Structure and Function during Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Procedures.

PURPOSE: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has become a standard treatment choice for localized prostate cancer. RALP requires a steep Trendelenburg position, which leads to a significant increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). This study evaluated the effect on the retinal structure and function in patients undergoing RALP. METHODS: Standard automated perimetry (SAP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in 20 males scheduled for RALP at 1 month and 1 day before the operation and at 1 and 3 months after the operation. IOP measurements were made in the supine position at 5 min after intubation under general anesthesia (T1), at 6 discrete time points (5, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min; T2-7), and at 5 min after returning to a horizontal supine position (T8). Serial retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses and visual field progression were assessed using the guided progression analysis software program. RNFL thickness progression and visual field progression were evaluated by event analysis. RESULTS: Average IOP (mmHg) for each time point was as follows: T1 = 12.3 ± 2.6, T2 = 20.4 ± 4.2, T3 = 23.3 ± 3.8, T4 = 24.0 ± 3.2, T5 = 24.3 ± 3.4, T6 = 27.1 ± 7.2, T7 = 29.8 ± 8.7, and T8 = 20.1 ± 4.4. During RALP, IOP significantly increased. There was no progression of the visual field and RNFL thickness after surgery or any other ocular complications found. CONCLUSIONS: Although IOP significantly increased during RALP, there were no significant changes in the retinal structure and function between the pre- and postoperation observations.

Influence of Disc Size on the Diagnostic Accuracy of Cirrus Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To examine the influence of optic disc size on the diagnostic accuracy of optic nerve head (ONH) parameters determined by Cirrus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD-OCT). METHODS: A total of 51 eyes of 51 normal participants and 71 eyes of 71 glaucoma patients were examined. ONH imaging was obtained by Cirrus HD-OCT. Sensitivity at a fixed 90% specificity along with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for continuous parameters were analyzed. We also examined the coefficients of variation (CoV) for sensitivity estimates, as these have been used to test and quantify the influence of optic disc size on diagnostic accuracy. The influence of optic disc size on the glaucoma diagnosis was assessed by the likelihood ratio chi-square test. RESULTS: Among the continuous parameters, the best diagnostic accuracy was seen for the average rim area, which had an AUC of 0.96. The most reliable factor across the disc size groups was the rim area (CoV, 2.8%). The diagnostic accuracy of the rim area did not appear to be influenced by optic disc size (P = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: The high diagnostic accuracy of the rim area demonstrated by Cirrus HD-OCT for the quantitative assessment of the ONH was not significantly affected by disc size in this study.

Gene expression changes in the retina after systemic administration of aldosterone.

PURPOSE: Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss associated with thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer without elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) occurs after the systemic administration of aldosterone. Since it is important to determine the mechanism of cell death independent of the IOP, we examined gene expression changes in the retina after the systemic administration of aldosterone. METHODS: Following subcutaneous implantation of an osmotic minipump into the mid-scapular region of rats, we administered an 80 µg/kg/day dose of aldosterone. Differences in the gene expression in the retina between normal rats and aldosterone-treated rats were investigated using microarrays. Real-time PCR was used to confirm the differential expression. RESULTS: Analysis of the microarray data sets revealed the upregulation of 24 genes and the downregulation of 24 genes of key apoptosis-specific genes. Real-time PCR revealed 4 genes (Cdkn1a, Tbox5, Pf4, Vdr) were upregulated while 12 genes (Acvr1c, Asns, Bard1, Card9, Crh, Fcgr1a, Inhba, Kcnh8, Lck, Phlda1, Ptprc, Sh3rf1) were downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Significant increases and decreases were noted in several genes after the systemic administration of aldosterone. Further studies will need to be undertaken in order to definitively clarify the role of these genes in the eyes of animals with normal-tension glaucoma.

Evaluation of autonomic functions of patients with multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease by head-up tilt test.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the autonomic neural function in Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) with head-up tilt test and spectral analysis of cardiovascular parameters. This study included 15 patients with MSA, 15 patients with PD, and 29 healthy control (HC) subjects. High frequency power of the RR interval (RR-HF), the ratio of low frequency power of RR interval to RR-HF (RR-LF/HF) and LF power of systolic BP were used to evaluate parasympathetic, cardiac sympathetic and vasomotor sympathetic functions, respectively. Both patients with PD and MSA showed orthostatic hypotension and lower parasympathetic function (RR-HF) at tilt position as compared to HC subjects. Cardiac sympathetic function (RR-LF/HF) was significantly high in patients with PD than MSA at supine position. RR-LF/HF tended to increase in MSA and HC, but decreased in PD by tilting. Consequently, the change of the ratio due to tilting (ΔRR-LF/HF) was significantly lower in patients with PD than in HC subjects. Further analysis showed that compared to mild stage of PD, RR-LF/HF at the supine position was significantly higher in advanced stage. By tilting, it was increased in mild stage and decreased in the advanced stage of PD, causing ΔRR-LF/HF to decrease significantly in the advanced stage. Thus, we demonstrated that spectral analysis of cardiovascular parameters is useful to identify sympathetic and parasympathetic disorders in MSA and PD. High cardiac sympathetic function at the supine position, and its reduction by tilting might be a characteristic feature of PD, especially in the advanced stage.

Oxygen venular saturation correlates with a functional loss in primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether there are differences in retinal oxygen saturation in upper and lower visual field hemispheres in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: This study enrolled POAG and NTG patients exhibiting differences between the upper and lower total deviation (TD) that were either more than 10 or <5 dB. Retinal oxygen saturation measurements in these patients with glaucoma were performed by a non-invasive spectrophotometric retinal oximeter. The Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Evaluations of the worse and better hemifields in the patients with POAG who exhibited differences in the upper and lower hemifield TD that was <5 dB (n = 25) showed that there were no statistically significant differences for the retinal venous saturation of oxygen (SaO2 ). However, there was a higher mean SaO2 in the worse (57.0 ± 7.5%) versus the better (54.3 ± 7.0%) hemifield in the patients with NTG (n = 22; p = 0.007). Evaluations of the patients with more than a 10-dB difference in the upper and lower hemifield TD showed statistically significant differences for the retinal venous SaO2 in the venous vessels between the POAG (n = 19) and the NTG (n = 26) patients. CONCLUSION: Although there was no significant difference in retinal SaO2 in the venules between the better and worse hemifield when the difference between the better and worse hemifield in the patients with POAG was <5 dB, there was a higher SaO2 in the venous vessels in the worse hemifield in the patients with NTG.

Visual acuity and corneal higher-order aberrations after EX-PRESS or trabeculectomy, and the determination of associated factors that influence visual function.

PURPOSE: This study investigated postoperative visual acuity and corneal higher-order aberrations following EX-PRESS or trabeculectomy. METHODS: Out of 56 eyes of 56 patients analyzed, 30 eyes were treated using trabeculectomy, while 26 eyes were treated with EX-PRESS. Visual acuity and corneal higher-order aberrations were analyzed in both groups before and at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months after the surgeries. Risk factors that could potentially influence corneal higher-order aberrations were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant reductions in the IOP were observed at 3 months after the surgery in both groups. Although a significant decrease in the visual acuity (logMAR) was observed at 2 weeks after the surgery in both groups, at 1 month after the surgeries, there were no significant differences found for the vision as compared to the baseline. At each study visit in the trabeculectomy group, significantly higher corneal higher-order aberrations compared to baseline were noted. In the EX-PRESS group, however, these aberrations were no longer significantly different from the baseline at month 2 (P = 0.36). Analysis of the risk factors indicated that hypotony could influence corneal higher-order aberrations after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal higher-order aberrations were significantly increased at 1 month after EX-PRESS treatment, with levels returning to baseline by 2 months. After trabeculectomy, however, corneal higher-order aberrations remained significantly increased at 3 months after the procedure.

Enhanced Feedback-Related Negativity in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, results in the impairment of executive function, including that of performance monitoring. Feedback-related negativity (FRN) is an electrophysiological measure reflecting the activity of this monitoring system via feedback signals, and is generated from the anterior cingulate cortex. However, there have been no reports on FRN in AD. Based on prior aging studies, we hypothesized that FRN would decrease in AD patients. To assess this, FRN was measured in healthy individuals and those with AD during a simple gambling task involving positive and negative feedback stimuli. Contrary to our hypothesis, FRN amplitude increased in AD patients, compared with the healthy elderly. We speculate that this may reflect the existence of a compensatory mechanism against the decline in executive function. Also, there was a significant association between FRN amplitude and depression scores in AD, and the FRN amplitude tended to increase insomuch as the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was higher. This result suggests the existence of a negative bias in the affective state in AD. Thus, the impaired functioning monitoring system in AD is a more complex phenomenon than we thought.

Vision-related quality of life following glaucoma filtration surgery.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) following glaucoma filtration surgery. METHODS: A total of 103 glaucoma patients scheduled to undergo glaucoma filtration surgery. Prior to and at three months after glaucoma filtration surgery, trabeculectomy or EX-PRESS, all patients completed the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). A total of 48 patients underwent combined cataract and filtration surgery. The clinical data collected pre- and postoperatively included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP). RESULTS: The IOP decreased significantly from 19.0 ± 8.1 mmHg to 9.7 ± 3.9 mmHg (P < 0.001). Preoperative VFQ-25 composite score (65.8 ± 15.6) was similar to the postoperative score (67.8 ± 16.6). A significantly improved VFQ-25 composite score (pre: 63.2 ± 17.1, post: 67.7 ± 17.8; P = 0.001) was observed in the patients who underwent combined cataract and filtration surgery. There was a significant association between the BCVA changes in the operated eye and the changes in the VFQ-25 composite score (r = -0.315, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Although glaucoma filtration surgery by itself did not decrease the VR-QOL in glaucoma patients, there was significant improvement in the VR-QOL after the patients underwent combined cataract and glaucoma filtration surgery.

Retinal oxygen saturation before and after glaucoma surgery.

PURPOSE: This study compared retinal vessel oxygen saturation before and after glaucoma surgery. METHODS: Retinal oxygen saturation in glaucoma patients was measured using a non-invasive spectrophotometric retinal oximeter. Adequate image quality was found in 49 of the 108 consecutive glaucoma patients recruited, with 30 undergoing trabeculectomy, 11 EX-PRESS and eight trabeculotomy. Retinal oxygen saturation measurements in the retinal arterioles and venules were performed at 1 day prior to and at approximately 10 days after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using a Student's t-test. RESULTS: After glaucoma surgery, intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from 19.8 ± 7.7 mmHg to 9.0 ± 5.7 mmHg (p < 0.001). Although oxygen saturation in retinal arterioles remained unchanged before and after surgery (104.7 ± 10.6% before and 105.4 ± 9.3% after surgery, p = 0.58), the oxygen saturation in the venules increased from 54.9 ± 7.4% to 57.4 ± 5.7% (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Intraocular pressure (IOP) decreases caused by glaucoma surgery had an effect on the retinal venous oxygen saturation.

Additive Intraocular Pressure Lowering Effects of the Rho Kinase Inhibitor, Ripasudil in Glaucoma Patients Not Able to Obtain Adequate Control After Other Maximal Tolerated Medical Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to investigate the additive intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects and safety of the selective Rho kinase inhibitor, 0.4% ripasudil, in patients with glaucoma not adequately controlled by other maximal tolerated medical therapies. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 92 glaucoma patients who received ripasudil as an additive glaucoma treatment. In spite of receiving prior maximal tolerated medical therapies, all patients had uncontrolled glaucoma before receiving ripasudil. IOP was recorded at all follow-up dates. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 43 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 28 normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), ten secondary glaucoma, seven exfoliation glaucoma, and four developmental glaucoma patients. After ripasudil administration, there was a significant decrease in the IOP. The mean pre-administration IOP and % IOP reduction at the last follow-up were 19.7 ± 4.9 mmHg and 6.5 ± 17.0% for POAG, 15.5 ± 2.0 mmHg and 2.3 ± 10.4% for NTG, 22.8 ± 8.3 mmHg and 19.1 ± 13.5% for secondary glaucoma, 22.5 ± 4.4 mmHg and 2.1 ± 14.5% for exfoliation glaucoma, and 20.2 ± 8.9 mmHg and 11.4 ± 23.1% for developmental glaucoma, respectively. Side effects led to ripasudil discontinuation in 13 patients, with five exhibiting an allergic reaction, six developing blepharitis, and two having a burning sensation. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ripasudil as an adjunctive therapy resulted in lowering of the IOP. Ripasudil was well tolerated. FUNDING: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan (26462689).

Estimating the rate of retinal ganglion cell loss to detect glaucoma progression: An observational cohort study.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between glaucoma progression and estimates of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) obtained by combining structural and functional measurements in patients with glaucoma.In the present observational cohort study, we examined 116 eyes of 62 glaucoma patients. Using Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT), a minimum of 5 serial retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements were performed in all eyes. There was a 3-year separation between the first and last measurements. Visual field (VF) testing was performed on the same day as the RNFL imaging using the Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm Standard 30-2 program of the Humphrey Field Analyzer. Estimates of the RGC counts were obtained from standard automated perimetry (SAP) and OCT, with a weighted average then used to determine a final estimate of the number of RGCs for each eye. Linear regression was used to calculate the rate of the RGC loss, and trend analysis was used to evaluate both serial RNFL thicknesses and VF progression.Use of the average RNFL thickness parameter of OCT led to detection of progression in 14 of 116 eyes examined, whereas the mean deviation slope detected progression in 31 eyes. When the rates of RGC loss were used, progression was detected in 41 of the 116 eyes, with a mean rate of RGC loss of -28,260 ±â€Š8110 cells/year.Estimation of the rate of RGC loss by combining structural and functional measurements resulted in better detection of glaucoma progression compared to either OCT or SAP.