Risk Factors for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) Progression: A Study Ruled in Torino.

PURPOSE: Aim of this retrospective, observational study is to describe features of a population sample, affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in order to evaluate damage progression on the basis of the emerged individual risk factors. METHODS: We included 190 caucasian patients (377 eyes), evaluating relationship between individual risk factors (explicative variables) and MD (Mean Deviation) of standard automated perimetry. We also considered the dependent variable NFI (Neural Fiber Index) of GDx scanning laser polarimetry. Progression has been evaluated through a statistic General Linear Model on four follow up steps (mean follow up 79 months). RESULTS: Factors reaching statistical significance, determining a worsening of the MD variable, are: age (P<0.0001), intraocular pressure (IOP) at follow up (P < 0.0001), female gender (P<0.0001), hypertension (P< 0.0001) and familiarity (P = 0.0006). Factors reaching statistical significance, determining a worsening of the NFI variable, are only IOP at follow up (P = 0.0159) and depression (P = 0.0104). CONCLUSION: Results of this study confirm and enforce data coming from most recent studies: IOP remains the main risk factor for glaucoma assess and progression; age and familiarity are great risk factors as underlined in the last decades; female sex can be an important risk factors as emerged only in the last years; arterial hypertension should always be evaluated in timing of our clinic follow up.

Surgical anatomy of the orbital region, local anesthesia and general considerations.

Orbital region may be divided into four sectors: medial canthus, lateral canthus, lower lid and upper lid. A vertical section of a lid shows 5 layers: skin, subcutaneous tissue with orbicularis muscle, fibrous layer (tarsus-aponeurosis), plain fibers muscle layer (Muller's), conjunctiva. The first two layers form the "anterior lamella" and the other ones the "posterior lamella", divided by the grey line. In this review Authors describe with all details the orbital region and the eyelid layers, considering the most important concepts for surgery. Finally they resume basics of local anesthesia in ophthalmoplastic surgery.

Eyelid benign and malignant tumors: issues in classification, excision and reconstruction.

In the orbital region the variety of tumors is so vast that even an expert oculoplastic surgeon may be deceived. The various tumors may be classified as benign, precancerous and malignant. Approximately 5-10% of all skin cancers occur in the eyelids. Incidence studies indicate that basal cell carcinoma is the most frequent malignant eyelid tumor, followed by squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Malignant neoplasms represent the leading cause of plastic reconstruction in orbital region, followed by cicatricial retraction, post-traumatic loss of tissue, congenital colobomas. Aim of this review is to classify benign and malignant lesions; to consider the surgical removal approach to the lesion (Mohs micrographic surgery, frozen sections, biopsy, immediate removal and reconstruction with permanent sections) and finally to consider reconstruction techniques with grafts and flaps.

Ectropion, entropion, trichiasis.

Aim of this review was to describe ectropion, entropion and trichiasis and their therapy. These eyelid pathologies are characterised by common symptoms (redness, excessive tearing and irritation of the eye) and by altered balance of the anterior and posterior lamellae of the eyelids. They involve more frequently the inferior eyelid and the therapy is mainly surgical. Parasurgical therapy may play a role as a temporary measure.

Blepharoptosis.

Blepharoptosis of the upper eyelid is a common condition among patients presenting for oculoplastic surgery. Although there are many types of ptosis, the two most frequent clinical cases are simple congenital ptosis in young patients and senile ptosis in adults. Patient examination is important to distinguish these from other more infrequent types of ptosis, such as those neurogenic, myogenic and posttraumatic. These latter cases may require specific therapeutic strategies. Ptosis can usually be corrected surgically. The article discusses guidelines for the choice of intervention. Various different surgical techniques are also presented, together with results and complications.

Blepharoplastic: essential review.

In the periorbital the major aging changes are a drooping of the brow (brow ptosis), excessive accumulation of skin in the upper lid (dermatochalasis), and a prolapse of orbital fat, in the upper and lower lids caused by weakening of the septum and orbital connective tissues. The specific anatomical abnormalities of each individual patients should be identified and the relationship between each other should be identified in order to determine a correct surgical plan. In this review we will analyze different surgical techniques.

An internal medicine perspective review of risk factors for assessing and progression of primary open angle glaucoma.

Aim of this review was to resume risk factors for the assess and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), particularly considering systemic risk factors that can be associated with glaucomatous damage. If intraocular pressure is the main risk factor, we must consider carefully familiarity, age, gender and possible associations with diabetes, hypertension, vascular autoregulation disorders, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, hypo- and hyperadrenalism, sleep apnea syndrome, corticosteroids therapies and other suspected factors cited in literature. Glaucoma's etiology remains unknown, its physiopathology is poorly understood and its diagnosis is often difficult. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and it is the real "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision often occurs gradually over a long period of time, and symptoms only occur when the disease is quite advanced. Cost-effectiveness analyses for POAG screening are weighted by the degree of uncertainty that glaucoma screening can be effective and reliable achieved. Addressing patients to an ophthalmologic investigation on the basis of the identified risk factors is a fundamental preventing measure.