1,721,000 research outputs found
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
No full textPurpose: To evaluate the rate of adherence to prescribed nutritional supplementation in patients affected by age-related macular degeneration, in an Italian tertiary referral tertiary center. Methods: Patients with age-related macular degeneration, age-related eye disease study Categories 3 and 4, were recruited and underwent an 11-item questionnaire. Results: The study included a total of 193 patients meeting the age-related eye disease study nutritional supplementation criteria (174 patients with age-related eye disease study Category 4 and 19 with Category 3). Seventy-seven (40%) were taking oral supplementation, 70 of whom (90%) 1 tablet/day. Oral supplementation was recommended by the personal ophthalmologist in 85 patients (44%), including all those currently receiving it. Eight patients of 85 (9.4%) rejected supplementation despite it being recommended, mostly because they were already taking other medicines. Ninety-four patients (48%) claimed they had not received any information from their ophthalmologist. Conclusion: Our data reveal that Italian patients with age-related eye disease study Categories 3 and 4 have a low adherence to nutritional supplementation. In 65% of cases, patients were not adequately informed by their ophthalmologist of the potential benefits of oral supplementation for age-related macular degeneration; indeed, 108 patients (56%) were not even aware such nutritional treatments are available. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the importance of giving advice to persons with age-related macular degeneration regarding the benefits of oral supplements
Optical coherence tomography and pathological myopia: an update of the literature
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to give an updated review of the last clinical entities in pathological myopia proposed by means of new generation optical coherence tomography (OCT), including enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT) and swept source OCT (SS-OCT). PubMed and Google engine search were carried out using the terms "pathological myopia" associated with "coherence tomography," "enhanced depth imaging," and "swept source OCT." Latest publications up to Jan 2015 about myopia-related complications, including open-angle chronic glaucoma, peripapillary retinal changes, acquired macular diseases, and choroidal neovascularization, have been reviewed. New OCT technologies have led to a greater insight in pathophysiology of high-grade myopia. However, further investigation is needed in order to prevent irreversible visual loss and optic nerve damage
Rate and associations of inner retinal thinning in eyes with retinal vein occlusion and regressed macular edema
No full textA comprehensive overview of diagnosis, imaging and treatment of vitreoretinal lymphoma
Full text linkVitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare B-cell intraocular neoplasia characterized by poor long-term prognosis and lack of effective therapies. It mainly involves the vitreous humor, the retina, and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), although anterior segment involvement can occur. VRL is classified as a lymphoma of immune privileged sites, along with testis lymphoma and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). VRL and PCNSL are strictly connected indeed: 80% of VRL develop PCNSL, while 20% of patients with PCNSL present VRL during natural history of lymphoma. Due to the lack of worldwide consensus about diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up timing, VRL represents one of the most challenging ocular affections. VRL commonly masquerades as a posterior uveitis, and misdiagnosis often occurs because of partial response to top- ical steroids. Gold standard for diagnosis is cytological analysis of vitreous humor. However, this technique lacks sensitivity and supplemental molecular analyses can improve the diagnostic process. Multimodal imaging allows ophthalmologists to empower their clinical suspicion and a comprehensive examination can highlight typical features of VRL and justify further invasive procedures. There is no consensus about VRL therapy, and none of the therapeutical scheme has demonstrated to prevent cerebral involvement and improve patient’s overall survival. Intravitreal injections of chemotherapeutics drugs, ocular radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy can be considered in the treatment of VRL. Once cerebral involvement occurs, sys- temic chemotherapy must be included in the treatment as a life-saving therapy. Further multicentric studies are required to find out the best treatment of patients with VRL
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VISUAL OUTCOMES AND TREATMENT BURDEN OF MYOPIC NEOVASCULARIZATION OVER 10 YEARS
No full text
Macular Ganglion Cell Complex and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Comparison in Different Stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration REPLY
No full textEndometrial preparation with estradiol plus dienogest (Qlaira) for office hysteroscopic polypectomy: randomized pilot study
No full textStudy Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of Qlaira for endometrial preparation in women undergoing hysteroscopic polypectomy in the office setting. Design: Randomized clinical pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: Academic research environment. Patients: Seventy-four cycling women undergoing hysteroscopic polypectomy (polyp size <1.5 cm). Interventions: Women were randomized to be operated on during the proliferative phase (cycle day 5-7) of a spontaneous cycle (group A) or after 9 to 11 days of Qlaira intake (group B). Polypectomy was performed by using forceps and bipolar electrodes when required. Measurements and Main Results: The quality of visualization of the uterine cavity during the procedure (visual analog score [VAS] 0-5, bad to optimal), total surgeon satisfaction (VAS 0-5, very difficult to easy to perform), and total patient satisfaction (VAS 0-5, severe pain to no pain) were compared. Endometrial thickness before and at the end of the procedure was significantly less in women in group B. Mean duration of interventions was shorter in group B than in group A. In addition, vision quality, and surgeon and patient satisfaction rates were significantly higher in women in group B. Conclusions: At 10 days before surgery, administration of Qlaira is effective for preparation of the endometrium for hysteroscopic polypectomy in the office setting. With preoperative administration of Qlaira, the surgical procedure can be performed more easily and faster, and both surgeon and patient satisfaction rates are improve
Vitamin D Supplementation for Premenstrual Syndrome-Related Mood Disorders in Adolescents with Severe Hypovitaminosis D.
No full textSTUDY OBJECTIVE syndrome (PMS) might become severe enough to interfere with normal interpersonal relationships. This study was planned to assess whether administration of vitamin D (200,000 IU at first, followed by 25,000 IU every 2 weeks) for a 4-month period might lessen the appearance and the intensity of mood disorders associated with PMS in young girls with severe hypovitaminosis D. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One hundred fifty-eight young girls (15-21 years old) with PMS-related severe symptoms of the emotional and cognitive domains and low serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D) levels (≤10 ng/mL) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups and treated for 4 months with vitamin D (group 1; n = 80) or placebo (group 2; n = 78). Clinical and hormonal effects were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS:
In patients from group 1, levels of vitamin D reached the normal range (35-60 ng/mL) after the first month and remained stable throughout the whole study. At the end of treatment, anxiety score decreased from 51 to 20 (P < .001 vs baseline); irritability score declined from 130 to 70 (P < .001 vs baseline). Crying easily and sadness decreased by a score of 41 and 51 to a score of 30 and 31, respectively (P < .001). For disturbed relationships, the score decreased from 150 to 70 (P < .001). Conversely, no appreciable changes were noted in symptom intensity from patients of group 2. The frequency of adverse events (nausea and constipation) was not different between participants of group 1 and group 2.
CONCLUSION:
On the basis of the present findings, vitamin D therapy can be proposed as a safe, effective, and convenient method for improving the quality of life in young women with severe hypovitaminosis D and concomitant mood disorders associated with PMS
Changes in Macular Function after Ozurdex for Retinal Vein Occlusion
No full textPurpose. To investigate changes in macular function after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods. Nineteen treatment-naive patients with RVO-related ME were treated with intravitreal Ozurdex and followed up to 6 months to evaluate functional outcomes, by means of best-corrected visual acuity, microperimetry, and multifocal electroretinography, and their correlations with morphological parameters by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Results. Nineteen eyes of 19 patients were included for analysis. At 1 month, mean best-corrected visual acuity, retinal sensitivity, and central macular thickness (CMT) improved from 0.50 +/- 0.34 LogMAR, 10.51 +/- 4.31 dB, and 762 +/- 259 mu m (baseline) to 0.38 +/- 0.34 LogMAR (p = 0.043), 12.28 +/- 5.06 dB (p = 0.025), and 385 +/- 191 mu m (p = 0.001), respectively. At 3 months, improvement of mean retinal sensitivity and CMT was still significant (11.62 +/- 5.05 dB [p = 0.047] and 518 +/- 251 mu m [p = 0.006]). Multifocal electroretinography measurements also showed (nonsignificant) improvement. No significant changes in choroidal thickness were recorded. Improvements recorded during the first 3 months were no longer significant from month 4. At each time point, we found a negative significant correlation between CMT and retinal sensitivity. Interestingly, 7 eyes did not undergo retreatment of less than 6 months; these eyes showed a significantly better baseline retinal sensitivity than eyes requiring retreatment of less than 6 months (12.27 +/- 3.52 dB vs. 9.48 +/- 4.53 dB [p = 0.038]). Conclusions. In eyes with ME secondary to RVO, intravitreal dexamethasone implant provides functional benefits as soon as 1 month after treatment. In most cases, the optimum retreatment interval is less than 6 months from first intravitreal Ozurdex. Microperimetry is a very useful tool to characterize macular function. Baseline macular sensitivity may predict the need for early (<6 months) retreatment.Purpose. To investigate changes in macular function after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods. Nineteen treatment-naive patients with RVO-related ME were treated with intravitreal Ozurdex and followed up to 6 months to evaluate functional outcomes, by means of best-corrected visual acuity, microperimetry, and multifocal electroretinography, and their correlations with morphological parameters by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Results. Nineteen eyes of 19 patients were included for analysis. At 1 month, mean best-corrected visual acuity, retinal sensitivity, and central macular thickness (CMT) improved from 0.50 +/- 0.34 LogMAR, 10.51 +/- 4.31 dB, and 762 +/- 259 mu m (baseline) to 0.38 +/- 0.34 LogMAR (p = 0.043), 12.28 +/- 5.06 dB (p = 0.025), and 385 +/- 191 mu m (p = 0.001), respectively. At 3 months, improvement of mean retinal sensitivity and CMT was still significant (11.62 +/- 5.05 dB [p = 0.047] and 518 +/- 251 mu m [p = 0.006]). Multifocal electroretinography measurements also showed (nonsignificant) improvement. No significant changes in choroidal thickness were recorded. Improvements recorded during the first 3 months were no longer significant from month 4. At each time point, we found a negative significant correlation between CMT and retinal sensitivity. Interestingly, 7 eyes did not undergo retreatment of less than 6 months; these eyes showed a significantly better baseline retinal sensitivity than eyes requiring retreatment of less than 6 months (12.27 +/- 3.52 dB vs. 9.48 +/- 4.53 dB [p = 0.038]). Conclusions. In eyes with ME secondary to RVO, intravitreal dexamethasone implant provides functional benefits as soon as 1 month after treatment. In most cases, the optimum retreatment interval is less than 6 months from first intravitreal Ozurdex. Microperimetry is a very useful tool to characterize macular function. Baseline macular sensitivity may predict the need for early (<6 months) retreatment
- …
