PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of Mitomycin C (MMC) applied by different methods, on corneal healing after excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in rabbits. METHODS: PTK was performed on 34 eyes of 17 New Zealand white rabbits. The control group underwent PTK alone, while the experimental groups underwent PTK with intraoperative application of either annular or discoid filter paper soaked with 0.02% MMC for 2 minutes. At postoperative 4, 12, and 24 weeks, the degree of corneal haziness was determined using a slit lamp biomicroscope, and the proliferation of keratocytes was observed histologically. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, the degree of corneal haziness was significantly lower in both MMC-treated groups than in the PTK-alone group (P<0.001). The two MMC-treated groups also showed decreased corneal haziness at 12 and 24 weeks, although the change was not statistically significant. In addition, the MMC-treated groups showed less proliferation of keratocytes at 4 and 12 weeks. At 24 weeks, the group that received annular application of MMC showed a significant decrease of keratocytes compared with the control group(p=0.026), while the group with discoid application showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that the annular application of MMC after PTK not only shows similar effect on wound healing but also reduces the side effects of MMC by minimizing the application surface.
Cornea* ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Mitomycin* ; Rabbits ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To study the effect of spherical lens induced aniseikonia on stereopsis and fusion. METHODS: One hundred subjects, with normal binocular function without any ophthalmic disease or surgery history, were examined. The aniseikonia was induced with spherical lenses in 1 diopter (D) stepwise manner from -2 D to +2 D. The amount of aniseikonia was measured by Awaya's New Aniseikonia Test. Stereopsis and fusion were determined with Titmus Stereo Test and fusion card of major amblyoscope respectively. RESULTS: As the amount of aniseikonia was increased, the stereopsis and fusion were decreased. The change was statistically significant (ANOVA, p<0.001). Aniseikonia was more correlated to fusion than stereopsis. A significant decline in the stereopsis was detected when the size of aniseikonia changed from 1% to 2%. A significant decline in fusion was noticed when aniseikonia changed from 2% to 3% (Independent t-test, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that binocular function can be disturbed by experimentally induced aniseikonia in normal subjects and that stereoacuities and fusional amplitude can be decreased as the degree of aniseikonia becomes larger.
Aniseikonia* ; Depth Perception ; Telescopes*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of OCT retinal mapping in determining the configuration of a vitreomacular adhesion and selecting a meridian for entry into the subhyaloid space in patients with vitreomacular traction syndrome. METHODS: Six consecutive patients (6 eyes) with vitreomacular traction syndrome underwent vitrectomy with peeling of posterior hyaloid. Ocular coherence tomography (OCT) retinal mapping was performed preoperatively. Access to the subhyaloid space was made by creating an opening with a 25 gauge needle at a location where the detached posterior hyaloid membrane was farthest from the retinal surface. The location was selected based on six preoperative meridional OCT scans. The posterior hyaloid was then gently peeled off in a circular fashion around the fovea with a micropick. Visual acuity and foveal thicknesses were measured before the operation and 3 months afterwards. RESULTS: After the operation, visual acuity improved and central macular thicknesses were reduced significantly in all six patients. The best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.4 to 0.75 with a mean increase by 3.5 lines on a Snellen chart 3 months after the operation. The mean foveal thickness was reduced from 406 micrometer to 241 micrometer. The restoration of foveal pit was observed in five patients. Neither intraoperative nor postoperative complications were observed during the follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: An OCT retinal mapping program is a valuable diagnostic tool in understanding the configuration of vitreomacular adhesion and planning the surgical approach for operating on vitreomacular traction syndrome.
Aged ; Eye Diseases/diagnosis/etiology/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Diseases/diagnosis/etiology/*surgery ; Syndrome ; Tissue Adhesions/etiology/surgery ; *Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy/*methods ; Vitreous Body/pathology/*surgery ; Vitreous Detachment/complications

Purpose: To investigate the genetic characteristics of patients with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) analyzed at a single institution. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 63 patients clinically diagnosed with non-syndromic RP who underwent genetic testing. The clinical features of patients exhibiting the most common mutations, EYS and USH2A, were further assessed through routine ophthalmic examinations. Results: Of the 63 patients, 22 (34.9%) exhibited significant mutations. Notably, EYS and USH2A mutations were each found in 5 patients (7.9%); RP1 mutations were found in 4 patients (6.3%). The average ages at diagnosis were 38.8 years for EYS mutations and 41.8 years for USH2A mutations. The average best-corrected visual acuities were logMAR 0.08 for EYS mutations and logMAR 0.51 for USH2A mutations. Both mutation types showed a decrease in the normal macular area in fundus photographs with increasing age. In USH2A mutations, optical coherence tomography revealed a more pronounced reduction in central macular thickness and central foveal ellipsoid length compared with EYS mutations. Visual field tests indicated a reduction within the central 10° in 40% of EYS mutations and 60% of USH2A mutations. Electroretinography showed non-detectable responses in 2 individuals with EYS mutations and 4 individuals with USH2A mutations (40% and 80%, respectively). Conclusions EYS and USH2A mutations represented 45% of the genetically identified cases; affected patients typically were diagnosed in their 40s. EYS mutations tended to preserve retinal function and central foveal structure better than USH2A mutations.

Purpose: To investigate the genetic characteristics of patients with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) analyzed at a single institution. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 63 patients clinically diagnosed with non-syndromic RP who underwent genetic testing. The clinical features of patients exhibiting the most common mutations, EYS and USH2A, were further assessed through routine ophthalmic examinations. Results: Of the 63 patients, 22 (34.9%) exhibited significant mutations. Notably, EYS and USH2A mutations were each found in 5 patients (7.9%); RP1 mutations were found in 4 patients (6.3%). The average ages at diagnosis were 38.8 years for EYS mutations and 41.8 years for USH2A mutations. The average best-corrected visual acuities were logMAR 0.08 for EYS mutations and logMAR 0.51 for USH2A mutations. Both mutation types showed a decrease in the normal macular area in fundus photographs with increasing age. In USH2A mutations, optical coherence tomography revealed a more pronounced reduction in central macular thickness and central foveal ellipsoid length compared with EYS mutations. Visual field tests indicated a reduction within the central 10° in 40% of EYS mutations and 60% of USH2A mutations. Electroretinography showed non-detectable responses in 2 individuals with EYS mutations and 4 individuals with USH2A mutations (40% and 80%, respectively). Conclusions EYS and USH2A mutations represented 45% of the genetically identified cases; affected patients typically were diagnosed in their 40s. EYS mutations tended to preserve retinal function and central foveal structure better than USH2A mutations.

Purpose: To investigate the genetic characteristics of patients with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) analyzed at a single institution. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 63 patients clinically diagnosed with non-syndromic RP who underwent genetic testing. The clinical features of patients exhibiting the most common mutations, EYS and USH2A, were further assessed through routine ophthalmic examinations. Results: Of the 63 patients, 22 (34.9%) exhibited significant mutations. Notably, EYS and USH2A mutations were each found in 5 patients (7.9%); RP1 mutations were found in 4 patients (6.3%). The average ages at diagnosis were 38.8 years for EYS mutations and 41.8 years for USH2A mutations. The average best-corrected visual acuities were logMAR 0.08 for EYS mutations and logMAR 0.51 for USH2A mutations. Both mutation types showed a decrease in the normal macular area in fundus photographs with increasing age. In USH2A mutations, optical coherence tomography revealed a more pronounced reduction in central macular thickness and central foveal ellipsoid length compared with EYS mutations. Visual field tests indicated a reduction within the central 10° in 40% of EYS mutations and 60% of USH2A mutations. Electroretinography showed non-detectable responses in 2 individuals with EYS mutations and 4 individuals with USH2A mutations (40% and 80%, respectively). Conclusions EYS and USH2A mutations represented 45% of the genetically identified cases; affected patients typically were diagnosed in their 40s. EYS mutations tended to preserve retinal function and central foveal structure better than USH2A mutations.

PURPOSE: To investigate 12-month treatment outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in eyes with typical exudative age-related macular degeneration with good baseline visual acuity. METHODS: This retrospective observational case series included 18 eyes (18 patients) with typical exudative age-related macular degeneration with a baseline best-corrected visual acuity of 20 / 25 or better. Patients were treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy during the 12-month follow-up period. Baseline visual acuity and central foveal thickness were compared to the values at 12 months. RESULTS: Patients received an average of 4.4 +/- 1.3 intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections. The mean logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.08 +/- 0.04, 0.08 +/- 0.07, 0.12 +/- 0.09, and 0.16 +/- 0.11 at baseline, three months, six months, and 12 months, respectively. Visual acuity at 12 months was significantly worse than the baseline value at diagnosis (p = 0.017), and the mean central foveal thickness at the defined time points was 270.2 +/- 55.6, 204.4 +/- 25.4, 230.1 +/- 56.3, and 216.8 +/- 48.7 microm, respectively. The central foveal thickness at 12 months was significantly less than the baseline value at diagnosis (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Deterioration in visual acuity was noted in eyes with typical exudative age-related macular degeneration with good baseline visual acuity, suggesting the need for close patient monitoring and prompt treatment even in patients with good baseline visual acuity.
Aged ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Bevacizumab/therapeutic use ; Choroidal Neovascularization/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ranibizumab/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors ; Visual Acuity/*physiology ; Wet Macular Degeneration/*drug therapy/physiopathology

PURPOSE: To investigate the development of new choroidal neovascularization in fellow eyes of patients treated for unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Three hundred fourteen patients who were first diagnosed with unilateral exudative AMD and treated with intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: New exudative AMD developed in 7.0% of fellow eyes after 1 year, 10.8% after 2 years and 13.7% after more than 2 years. According to the subtype of exudative AMD, there were no significant differences between classic CNV, occult or minimally classic CNV, and PCV in the incidence of new exudative AMD. After 2 years, a higher conversion rate was found in the bevacizumab-treated group than the ranibizumab-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative incidence of involvement in fellow eyes with exudative AMD was 13.7% over 2 years.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization* ; Eye* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Macular Degeneration* ; Bevacizumab ; Ranibizumab

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) are new anticancer agents that act by inhibiting EGFR signaling transduction pathways, thus decreasing tumor growth. They have made anti-cancer treatment more tolerable and have also reduced systemic side effects. However, they have many cutaneous side effects. Alopecia is an uncommon cutaneous side effect of EGFRIs, and cicatricial alopecia has been reported more rarely. A 59-year-old woman presented with itching and hair loss on the scalp, which started 2 months ago. She had been taking gefitinib for 7 months. A physical examination revealed localized erythematous hairless patches with scattered thick crusts on the scalp. Histopathologic examination showed a decreased number of hair follicles with perifollicular lymphocytes infiltration and perifollicular fibrosis, consistent with a scarring alopecia. We report a rare and interesting case of cicatricial alopecia after using the EGFRI, gefitinib.
Alopecia ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Cicatrix ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Physical Examination ; Pruritus ; Quinazolines ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Scalp

BACKGROUND: Triangular alopecia, previously known as temporal or congenital triangular alopecia, is a kind of alopecia typically observed in infants and children. Triangular alopecia is rarely reported, and little is known about its histopathology and response to treatment. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and histopathological features, as well as response to treatment of triangular alopecia in Korean patients. METHODS: A total of 15 patients, diagnosed at our department from 2000 through 2012, were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were presented with a triangular or oval, skin colored hairless patches on the frontotemporal sutureline, except one patient who had hairless patch on the occipital sutureline. Average age of onset was 4.13 years old and there was no sexual predilection. The histopathologic features were similar in all patients with a few vellus hairs, no terminal hair and without any abnormalities at the epidermis and dermis. Ten out of 15 patients were treated with topical minoxidil solution and 2 patients showed mild improvement. CONCLUSION: Some cases of triangular alopecia are recognized at birth; however, other cases appear to develop during the first three or four years of life. These later development can be best explained as a result of hair miniaturization leading to vellus hair formation.
Age of Onset ; Alopecia ; Child ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hair ; Humans ; Infant ; Miniaturization ; Minoxidil ; Skin