No abstract available.
Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Endothelin-1/*biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*pharmacology

The relationship between visual acuity, the level of visual field impairment, visual functioning, and the quality of life was evaluated in Korean patients with glaucoma. Forty-three consecutive glaucoma patients from the glaucoma service at Severance Eye and Ear Hospital were included in this study. Each subject underwent a vision-specific functional status questionnaire (VF-14), a modified VF-14 (VF'-14) and general quality-of-life questionnaires of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Items Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The visual acuity and visual field measurements with a Humphrey automated perimeter were taken within one month of the initial visit. The mean age of the subjects was 57.9 +/- 17.8. Among these patients, there were 23 males and 20 females. The mean deviation (MD) and the corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD) by the automated perimeter in the eye with the better visual acuity were -5.87 +/- 5.16 dB and 3.92 +/- 2.74 dB respectively. The VF-14 and SF-36 scores were 41.28 +/- 14.56 and 52.39 +/- 6.61 respectively. There were significant correlations between the VF-14, VF'-14, and the MD of the better eye (p < 0.05). In Korean patients with glaucoma, the VF-14 and VF'-14 have significant relationship with the MD of the better eye in the visual field.
Female ; Glaucoma/physiopathology/*psychology ; Health Surveys ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life/*psychology ; Questionnaires ; Visual Acuity/*physiology ; Visual Fields

The diurnal variation of intraocular pressure(IOP) was measured by a Goldmann applanation tonometer in 60 eyes of 30 nromal Korean volunteers, in order to find out the amount of diurnal variation of IOP and the time interval at which the hightst and the lowest IOP were checked. We also checked the diurnal variation of IOP once a week for three weeks to study whether it changes. 1) The mean diurnal variation of IOP was 3.82 +/- 1.83 mmHg, and the diurnal variations of three weeks were 3.87 +/- 1.79 mmHg, 3.78 +/- 1.90 mmHg and 3.78 +/- 1.80 mmHg, respectively. The mean coefficient of variation of diurnal variation was 0.10. 2) In the distribution of high and low points on the diurnal intraocular pressure curve in 60 normal eyes(% of total number of observation), at the optimum IOP 8:00 was the highest(43.9%) and 20:00 was lowest(5.0%); at the lowest IOP 20:00 was the hightest(21.2%) and 8:00 was the lowest(6.7%). There was no time change at which the highest pressure was checked in 55 eyes and at which the lowest pressure was checked in 56 eyes among the 60 eyes.
Intraocular Pressure* ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: Goggles are frequently worn in the sport of swimming and are designed to form a seal around the periorbital tissue orbit. The resultant pressure on the eye may have the potential to affect intraocular pressure and blood flow of the optic nerve head. This study evaluates the influence of wearing swimming goggles on intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood flow of the ocular nerve head (ONH) in normal subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy participants took part in this study. The IOP of each participant was measured using a Goldmann tonometer. Measurements were taken immediately before putting on swimming goggles, at 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after putting on swimming goggles, and then immediately after taking off the goggles. Blood flow of the ONH was measured using the Heidelberg retinal flowmeter. RESULTS: The average IOP before, during and after wearing the swimming goggles were 11.88 +/- 2.82mmHg, 14.20 +/- 2.81 mmHg and 11.78 +/- 2.89mmHg, respectively. The IOP increased immediately after putting on the goggles (p < 0.05) and then returned to normal values immediately after removal (p > 0.05). Blood flow of the ONH was 336.60 +/- 89.07 Arbitrary Units (AU) before and 319.18 +/- 96.02 AU after the goggles were worn (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A small but significant IOP elevation was observed immediately after the swimming goggles were put on. This elevated IOP was maintained while the goggles were kept on, and then returned to normal levels as soon as they were taken off. Blood flow of the ONH did not change significantly throughout the experiment. These facts should be considered for safety concerns, especially in advanced glaucoma patients.
Adult ; Eye Protective Devices/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Optic Disk/*blood supply ; Regional Blood Flow ; *Swimming ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: Though there are many reports regarding the structure-function relationship in glaucoma, they are too complicated to apply to the routine clinical setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct relationship between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field (VF) severity indices computed by standard automated perimetry. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study included 104 glaucomatous patients and 59 healthy subjects. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured by spectral domain (SD) and time domain (TD) OCTs. Four glaucoma VF severity indices, including mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS) VF score, and Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) VF score, were calculated using standard automated perimetry. The Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) between the average and quadrants of peripapillary RNFL thicknesses and the four VF severity indices were calculated. RESULTS: In glaucomatous eyes, the r value between the average RNFL thickness measured by SD OCT and each VF severity index were 0.562, -0.514, -0.577, and -0.567 for the MD, PSD, CIGTS VF score, and AGIS VF score, respectively (all p < 0.001). Among each quadrant, the inferior RNFL thickness showed the largest r value; 0.587, -0.552, -0.613, and -0.598 for the MD, PSD, CIGTS VF score, and AGIS VF score, respectively (all p < 0.001). Measurements by TD OCT showed similar strengths of association with SD OCT. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate correlation was identified between peripapillary RNFL thicknesses measured by SD/TD OCT and glaucoma VF severity indices. Among each quadrant, the inferior RNFL thickness showed the greatest association with glaucoma VF severity indices. There was no significant difference according to the type of VF severity index or the type of OCTs.
Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Optic Nerve/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnostic imaging/physiopathology ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods ; Visual Field Tests/methods ; Visual Fields/*physiology ; Young Adult

Surgical outcomes of phacoemulsification only and phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy were compared in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Clinical records of 41 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed, and there was no difference in best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure preoperatively and at the final follow-up in both study groups. Regarding the number of anti-glaucoma medications, it was higher in the phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy group preoperatively than the phacoemulsification only group (p = 0.045), but both groups were taking similar quantities of medication at the final follow-up (p = 0.6). In addition, postoperative hypotony (two cases) occurred only after phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy, but not after phacoemulsification only. In one case after phacoemulsification only, a second operation was needed. There were no additional postoperative complications. In conclusion, both phacoemulsification only and phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy showed good surgical outcomes in PACG patients. Both procedures might be equally effective in treating patients with PACG.
Aged ; Female ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Trabeculectomy/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of axial length on the age-related peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational comparative case series included 172 eyes from 172 healthy Korean subjects. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured using an Optic Disc Cube 200 x 200 scan of spectral domain Cirrus HD OCT and the axial length was measured using IOL Master Advanced Technology. In age groups based on decade, the normal ranges of peripapillary RNFL thickness for average, quadrant, and clock-hour sectors were determined with 95% confidence intervals. After dividing the eyes into two groups according to axial length (cut-off, 24.50 mm), the degrees of age-related RNFL thinning were compared. RESULTS: Among the eyes included in the study, 53 (30.81%) were considered to be long eyes (axial length, 25.04 +/- 0.48 microm) and 119 (69.19%) were short-to-normal length eyes (axial length, 23.57 +/- 0.60 microm). The decrease in average RNFL thickness with age was less in long eyes (negative slope, -0.12 microm/yr) than in short-to-normal length eyes (negative slope, -0.32 microm/yr) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Age-related thinning of peripapillary RNFL thickness is attenuated in long eyes compared to short-to-normal length eyes.
Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eye/*anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration/*epidemiology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; *Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody on the survival of retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-5 cells differentiated with staurosporine under oxidative stress. METHODS: We used real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to confirm the expression of VEGF, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2 in RGC-5 cells differentiated with staurosporine for 6 hours. The differentiated RGC-5 cells were treated with 800 µM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 24 hours to induce oxidative stress. Then, the survival rate of RGC-5 was confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase assay at each concentration (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg) using bevacizumab as the anti-VEGF antibody. The expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 were all expressed in differentiated RGC-5 cells. When RGC-5 cells were simultaneously treated with bevacizumab and 800 µM H₂O₂, survival of RGC-5 decreased with bevacizumab concentration. VEGF expression in RGC-5 cells increased with increasing concentration of bevacizumab. Similar patterns were observed for VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, but the degree of increase was smaller than that for VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: When bevacizumab was administered to differentiated RGC-5 cells, the cell damage caused by oxidative stress increased. Therefore, given these in vitro study results, caution should be exercised with bevacizumab treatment.
Bevacizumab ; Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Growth Factors* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; In Vitro Techniques ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Oxidative Stress ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Retinal Ganglion Cells* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Staurosporine ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

PURPOSE: To evaluate the parameters of optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with large cup/disc ratio (CDR) and normal neuroretinal rim configuration who have normal perimetry (physiologic large cups, LC) and to compare these parameters with those of the normal and early glaucoma patients. METHODS: Using Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), 30 patients with LC, 29 normal subjects, and 31 early glaucoma patients were examined. One eye from each subject was randomly selected. RESULTS: Significant differences between LC and glaucomatous eyes (GE) were found in parameters indicating loss of nerve fibers, such as rim area, rim volume, and mean RNFL thickness. However, there was no difference between LC and normal eyes (NE) in RNFL thickness, rim area, and rim volume. LC was able to be defined as a normal central excavation with a large disc and large CDR with a normal rim area. CONCLUSIONS: HRT ONH parameters and RNFL thickness obtained with OCT may be useful for differentiating between glaucoma and LC eyes.
Retina/*pathology ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Middle Aged ; Humans ; Glaucoma/*pathology ; Adult ; Adolescent

PURPOSE: To compare the short-term surgical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implant with a surface area between 96 mm2 and 184 mm2. METHODS: The outcomes of thirteen eyes of 13 patients with refractory glaucoma who had undergone 96 mm2-sized Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation were compared with those of 13 eyes of 13 patients with 184 mm2-sized Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. RESULTS: Average age and preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) were statistically indistinguishable between the two groups (p=0.54 and 0.40, respectively). Average follow-up period and final IOP were also statistically similar (p=0.15 and 1.00, respectively). Comparing the overall IOPs and the numbers of antiglaucoma medications, the IOP of postoperative day 1 with the 184 mm2-group was only relatively lower (p=0.07). The 2-year success rates were 18.0% for the 96 mm2-group and 69.2% for the 184 mm2-group (Ed-there is no respective comparison here) with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (p=0.0018). The rates of complications and re-operation were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The average postoperative IOPs were not statistically different between the two groups. However, the success rate was better in the 184 mm2-group than in the 96 mm2-group.
Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure