Foveal sensitivity and visual acuity in macular thickening disorders.

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between foveal sensitivity and visual acuity in eyes with macular disorders exhibiting macular thickening. METHODS: We studied the relationship between foveal sensitivity, obtained as the "foveal threshold" by use of Humphrey perimetry, and best-corrected visual acuity, converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), for 117 eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM), 197 eyes with retinal vein occlusion associated with macular edema (RVOME), and 158 eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). RESULTS: Foveal sensitivity and logMAR correlated significantly for the eyes with ERM, RVOME, and CSC. Although mean foveal sensitivity was no different among the three diseases, mean logMAR was lower in eyes with CSC, i.e., visual acuity was better, than in those with ERM or RVOME (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Light sense (foveal sensitivity) is related to spatial resolution (logMAR) at the center of the fovea, in eyes with ERM, RVOME, and CSC at different strengths depending on the disease. Less pronounced reduction of visual acuity compared with foveal sensitivity in eyes with CSC could explain the tendency of these patients to complain of dimness rather than acuity loss.

Systemic arterial stiffness in glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate systemic arterial stiffness in glaucoma patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty glaucoma patients and 121 control subjects were enrolled in the study. Among these subjects, 51 glaucoma patients [normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), 31; primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (POAG/OH): 20] and 61 control subjects without glaucoma, who presented with no risk factors for arteriosclerosis, were extracted for further analysis of systemic arterial stiffness by glaucoma type. Subjects presenting with risk factors for arteriosclerosis were classified into group A, and those presenting with no risk factors were classified into group B. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of systemic arterial stiffness, was determined with a volume-plethysmographic apparatus. The correlation between baPWV and mean deviation obtained from Humphrey Field Analyzer program 30-2 test was compared between 13 each of age-matched and sex-matched NTG and POAG/OH patients. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in baPWV between groups A and B [P<0.0001; 1748+/-393 cm/s (group A) and 1467+/-282 cm/s (group B)]. The baPWVs of control, NTG patients, and POAG/OH patients with no risk factors showed no significant difference. baPWV was positively correlated with age in all the 3 groups, but there were no significant differences among the 3 groups. baPWV tended to be negatively correlated with mean deviation in NTG patients (r2=0.25, P=0.08); in contrast, no correlation was observed in POAG/OH patients. CONCLUSION: Systemic arterial stiffness seems not to be strongly associated with glaucoma.

A prospective study of iridial pigmentation and eyelash changes due to ophthalmic treatment with latanoprost.

PURPOSE: To conduct a 12-month prospective study on the occurrence of latanoprost-induced iridial pigmentation and eyelash change in Japanese patients with glaucoma METHODS: Seventy-five patients (75 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Photographs of the iris and eyelashes were taken under identical conditions before and after treatment. Three glaucoma specialists assessed the iridial pigmentation/eyelash change independently with no knowledge of patient data. The effects of age, sex, concomitant medication, and type of glaucoma on iridial pigmentation/eyelash change were investigated, and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and iridocorneal angle pigmentation before and after latanoprost treatment were compared between patients with iridial pigmentation/eyelash change and patients without these changes. RESULTS: The incidence of iridial pigmentation was 6.3% at 1 month, 15.7% at 3 months, 37.8% at 6 months, and 56.5% at 12 months. The incidence of eyelash change was 0% at 1 month, 33.8% at 3 months, 44.4% at 6 months, and 46.2% at 12 months. Latanoprost did not affect IOP reduction or iridocorneal angle pigmentation. No significant relationship between iridial pigmentation and eyelash change was observed. None of the investigated parameters except age affected the iridial pigmentation/eyelash change. CONCLUSION: Iridial pigmentation and eyelash change occurred at a high frequency in long-term treatment with latanoprost in Japanese glaucoma patients.