Relationship between compliance with ophthalmic examinations preoperatively and visual outcome after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between compliance with ophthalmic examinations before vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and postoperative vision. METHODS: The clinical findings and visual acuity in 128 eyes of 94 patients who had undergone vitrectomy for PDR were reviewed. The patients were divided into the never-examined group with no previous ophthalmic examination until the first visit when vitrectomy was prescribed, the noncompliant group with a history of missing ophthalmic examinations over a 1-year period, and the compliant group with ophthalmic examinations at least once a year before the vitrectomy. RESULTS: Compliance with general medical examinations in the never-examined group (19 %) and in the noncompliant group (26 %) was significantly lower than that in the compliant group (100 %; P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The mean glycosylated hemoglobin in the never-examined group (8.9 %) was significantly higher than that in the compliant group (7.6 %; P = 0.047). The postoperative visual acuities at 6 months and at the final visit were significantly better in the compliant group than in the never-examined group (P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with preoperative examinations significantly affects vision after vitrectomy for PDR. Low compliance with ophthalmic examinations was significantly associated with low compliance with general medical examinations and high blood glucose levels.

[Analysis of the transplanted corneas at Santa Casa de São Paulo Eye Bank]. / Análise das córneas do Banco de Olhos da Santa Casa de São Paulo utilizadas em transplantes.

PURPOSE: To identify the donors' profile and evaluate the factors influencing the quality of the donated corneas in Santa Casa Eye Bank, from July, 2000 to January, 2004. METHODS: Data from the charts of 151 patients submitted to penetrating keratoplasty, registered in Santa Casa Eye Bank, from July, 2000 to January 2004 resulted in 180 surgeries. RESULTS: Mean age of the donors was 57.57 +/- 19.74 years old (varied from 9 months to 97 years old) and 54.44% were male. The cause of death was predominantly cardiovascular (50.55%), followed by consumptive diseases (17.77%), trauma (14.44%) and others (17.22%). Considering the quality of the cornea, there was no statistically significant difference among the three main groups of cause of death (p=0.527) and time from death to corneal preservation (p=0.053). There was a statistically significant difference between quality of donated corneas above 61 years old and other ages (p=0.037). CONCLUSION: The most frequent cause of death was cardiovascular, followed by pulmonary diseases and trauma. We could also note that factors inherent to donor like age (>60 years old) predisposed to a worse anatomical quality of the cornea and factors like cause of death and time between death and preservation did not influence the quality of the cornea.

Análise das córneas do Banco de Olhos da Santa Casa de São Paulo utilizadas em transplantes / Analysis of the transplanted corneas at Santa Casa de São Paulo Eye Bank

Objetivo: Traçar o perfil do doador de olhos e avaliar os fatores que influenciam na qualidade das córneas captadas pelo Banco de Olhos da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (SCMSP), no período de junho de 2000 a janeiro de 2004. Métodos: Foram estudados os dados dos prontuários de 151 pacientes submetidos a transplante penetrante de córnea, cadastrados no Banco de Olhos da SCMSP, no período entre junho de 2000 e janeiro de 2004, totalizando 180 operações. Resultados: A média da idade dos doadores foi de 55,57 ± 19,74 anos (variando de 9 meses a 97 anos de idade), sendo 54,44 por cento dos pacientes do sexo masculino. As causas mortis predominantes foram as cardiovasculares, com 50,55 por cento, seguidas das doenças consumptivas 17,77 por cento, traumáticas 14,44 por cento e outras, que somadas representam 17,22 por cento. Em relação à qualidade da córnea, não houve diferença estatística significativa em relação aos quatro grupos causas mortis p=0,527), e o tempo decorrido entre o óbito e a preservação (p=0,053). Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a qualidade das córneas de doadores da faixa etária acima de 61 anos de idade em relação às outras faixas etárias (p= 0,037). Conclusão: As causas mortis mais frequentes foram as cardiovasculares, seguidas das causas pulmonares, outras e traumáticas. Observamos também que entre os fatores inerentes ao doador, a faixa etária acima de 60 anos, predispôs à pior qualidade anatômica das córneas, e fatores como a causa mortis e o tempo decorrido entre o óbito e a preservação, não influenciaram na qualidade das mesmas.

Purpose: To identify the donors' profile and evaluate the factors influencing the quality of the donated corneas in Santa Casa Eye Bank, from July, 2000 to January, 2004. Methods: Data from the charts of 151 patients submitted to penetrating keratoplasty, registered in Santa Casa Eye Bank, from July, 2000 to January 2004 resulted in 180 surgeries. Results: Mean age of the donors was 57.57 ± 19.74 years old (varied from 9 months to 97 years old) and 54.44 percent were male. The cause of death was predominantly cardiovascular (50.55 percent), followed by consumptive diseases (17.77 percent), trauma (14.44 percent) and others (17.22 percent). Considering the quality of the cornea, there was no statistically significant difference among the three main groups of cause of death (p=0.527) and time from death to corneal preservation (p=0.053). There was a statistically significant difference between quality of donated corneas above 61 years old and other ages (p=0.037). Conclusion: The most frequent cause of death was cardiovascular, followed by pulmonary diseases and trauma. We could also note that factors inherent to donor like age (>60 years old) predisposed to a worse anatomical quality of the cornea and factors like cause of death and time between death and preservation did not influence the quality of the cornea.

Additive intraocular pressure reduction effect of fixed combination of maleate timolol 0.5%/dorzolamide 2% (Cosopt) on monotherapy with latanoprost (Xalatan) in patients with elevated intraocular pressure: a prospective, 4-week, open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the additive effect of dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination in patients under monotherapy with latanoprost. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, 4-week, randomized, open-label controlled clinical trial, patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, which presented at least 15% intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after a minimum period of 15 days of monotherapy with latanoprost and whose IOP level was considered above the established target-IOP level were randomized to receive fixed combination of timolol/dorzolamide twice daily in one of eyes. The fellow eye was kept under monotherapy and was included in the control group. A modified diurnal tension curve (mDTC) followed by the water drinking test were performed in the baseline and week 4 visits to evaluate IOP profile between groups. RESULTS: Forty-nine per-protocol patients were analyzed. After latanoprost monotherapy run-in period, IOP levels were significantly reduced (P<0.001) in both control and study groups to 15.34+/-2.96 mm Hg and 15.24+/-2.84 mm Hg (30.8% and 32.2% IOP reduction, respectively; P=0.552). At week 4, mean baseline diurnal IOP levels were 15.60+/-3.09 and 14.44+/-3.03 (7.4% difference; P=0.01). Mean baseline IOP modified diurnal tension curve peak after latanoprost run-in period were 17.47+/-3.68 mm Hg and 17.02+/-3.35 mm Hg (control and study eyes, respectively; P=0.530). At week 4 visit, mean water-drinking test peaks were significantly reduced in the study eye group in comparison with the control group: 19.02+/-3.81 mm Hg and 20.39+/-4.19 mm Hg, respectively (6.7% reduction; P=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination as add-on therapy in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension under monotherapy with latanoprost with IOP already in mid-teens levels may further enhance pressure reduction.

Choroidal expansion during the water drinking test.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between intraocular pressure (IOP) rise, ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), and choroidal thickness (ChT) during the water drinking test (WDT). METHODS: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients were submitted to the WDT followed by serial IOP measurements using dynamic contour tonometry (DCT), Goldman tonometry (GAT), and ChT measurements using ultrasonographic A and B-scan (USG). A control group not submitted to the test was also evaluated using DCT, GAT, and USG. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated in the control group in order to assess the reproducibility of measurements. Spearman's coefficient (rho) was used to assess the correlation between the variables. RESULTS: Thirty eyes were included in the study. There was a significant IOP rise during the WDT using both GAT and DCT (p < 0.001). The OPA and ChT measurements also increased significantly (p < 0.001). Spearman's correlation between the OPA values and ChT measurements was significant and moderate (rho = 0.40, p = 0.005). The average increase of OPA and ChT measurements occurred 15 min before the IOP rise. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase of OPA and ChT measurements followed by an IOP rise during the WDT. Increased choroidal volume due to hemodynamic forces may be enrolled in the mechanism of IOP elevation during this stress test.

Intraocular pressure profile during the modified diurnal tension curve using Goldman applanation tonometry and dynamic contour tonometry.

The aim of this study was to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) profile during the modified diurnal tension curve (mDTC) using Goldman applanation tonometry (GAT) and dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) in treated glaucomatous eyes. Eligible subjects were submitted to the mDTC using GAT and DCT in this sequence. IOP measurements were performed at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.. Central corneal thickness was measured using ultrasound pachymetry in the morning. Statistical analysis was performed using paired Student's t test and Bland-Altman plot. The mean difference between DCT and GAT measurements was 0.9 mmHg. The mean +/- SD IOP measurements during the mDTC were 19.68 +/- 4.68, 17.63 +/- 4.44, 17.25 +/- 5.41, and 17.32 +/- 4.25 mmHg using GAT and 19.97 +/- 4.75, 18.79 +/- 4.61, 19.53 +/- 5.30, and 19.43 +/- 5.45 mmHg using DCT. IOP measurements were higher in the morning (8 a.m.) and decreased throughout the day using both tonometers. The difference between IOP measurements using GAT and DCT was smaller in the morning and increased throughout the day. The IOP variability using GAT was higher than using DCT. Corneal biomechanical properties might help explain our findings.