Evaluation of Ganglion Cell-Layer Complex and Macular Vessel Density in Amblyopic Eyes with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare and quantify the ganglion cell complex (GCC), macular thickness, and vessel density (VD) in amblyopic eyes and their corresponding fellow eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 32 unilateral amblyopic patients, examining both of their eyes. The study assessed parameters such as GCC thickness, macular thickness (total, inner, and outer layers), and VD in the optic nerve and macular region using spectral-domain OCTA. Results: This study analyzed data from 30 unilateral amblyopic patients with a mean age of 28.7 ± 18.3 years. Amblyopic eyes had lower mean best-corrected visual acuity compared with healthy eyes. However, no significant differences were found in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, GCC thickness, and overall retinal thickness between amblyopic and fellow eyes when accounting for factors such as axial length and signal strength index. In patients older than 30 years, amblyopic eyes had a higher global loss volume (GLV) compared with fellow eyes (p = 0.02). In addition, blood VD within the optic disc and superficial/deep capillary plexuses in different macular regions were significantly lower in amblyopic eyes compared with fellow eyes. Conclusions: This study found significant differences in VD and the GLV index between amblyopic eyes and healthy eyes, particularly in older patients. However, there were no notable differences in macular thickness and RNFL thickness. Further research is needed to determine the clinical relevance of these findings.

Do any kinds of perceived stressors lead to hypertension? A longitudinal cohort study.

Stress has been suggested as a contributing factor in the etiology and progression of hypertension in prior investigations. For a more comprehensive understanding of this concept, in this study, we aim to evaluate different domains of perceived stress and their possible contribution to the development of hypertension (HTN). This is a secondary analysis of the Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS). We used data from 2007 and 2013. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Stressful Life Events Questionnaire (SLEQ) were used to evaluate psychological distress and perceived stress in subjects, and a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to assess their association with HTN. Psychological distress had a significant positive relation with HTN that remained after full adjustment for other covariates. Individuals with high stress levels were 38% more likely to develop HTN (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.18, 1.59). After full adjustment, total perceived stress was significantly associated with a 15% increase in HTN development (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.29). Domains of perceived stress that were significantly associated with HTN independent of sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates were job conflict, job security, personal conflict, sexual life and daily life in both genders and financial problems in males (P < 0.01). The findings from this study underline the importance of identifying the effect of different sources of perceived stress to organize community-based strategies for the management of hypertension and help health professionals prioritize and efficiently allocate their resources for interventions.