Neuronal injury in glaucoma persists despite effective intraocular pressure (IOP) control, necessitating neuroprotective strategies for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective role of the γ-hydroxybutyrate analog HOCPCA in a glaucoma model, focusing on its effects on CaMKII signaling, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammatory responses. Retinal tissue from high IOP animal models was analyzed via proteomics. In vitro mouse retinal explants were subjected to elevated pressure and oxidative stress, followed by HOCPCA treatment. HOCPCA significantly mitigated the RGC loss induced by oxidative stress and elevated pressure, preserving neuronal function. It restored CaMKIIα and β levels, preserving RGC integrity, while also modulating oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory responses. These findings suggest that HOCPCA, through its interaction with CaMKII, holds promise as a neuroprotective therapy for glaucoma.
Animals ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/metabolism* ; Glaucoma/pathology* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Disease Models, Animal ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/drug therapy* ; Neuroprotection/drug effects* ; Male ; Intraocular Pressure/drug effects*

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of ocular diseases in infants visiting the ophthalmology department of a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the department of ophthalmology, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, from January 2015 to May 2016. The study included 377 infants ranging in age from 1 day to less than 1 year who were, selected by a nonprobability consecutive sampling technique. A detailed history was taken, and a complete ocular examination was performed. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the mean and standard deviation for age. Frequencies were calculated for ocular diseases along with the percentages. Outcome variables included various congenital and acquired diseases such as conjunctivitis, congenital cataract, glaucoma, nasolacrimal duct blockage, squint, trauma, and fundus abnormalities. RESULTS: The mean age of infants was 5.0 ± 3.7 months. There were 196 (52%) males and 181 (48%) females. The sample included 330 (87.5%) full term infants. Acquired ocular diseases occurred in 230 (61%) infants; and congenital diseases, in 147 (39%). The most common ocular disease was conjunctivitis, which occurred in 173 (46%) infants, followed by congenital blocked nasolacrimal duct, which occurred in 57 (15 %) infants. Conjunctivitis was more common among neonates than infants. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired ocular diseases were more common than congenital ocular diseases. The most common ocular pathology was conjunctivitis, followed by congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, in infants. Conjunctivitis was more common in neonates than infants.
Cataract ; Conjunctivitis ; Female ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Ophthalmology ; Pathology ; Strabismus ; Tertiary Healthcare

PURPOSE: To assess whether the asymmetry in the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness between superior and inferior hemispheres on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful for early detection of glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient population consisted of Training set (a total of 60 subjects with early glaucoma and 59 normal subjects) and Validation set (30 subjects with early glaucoma and 30 normal subjects). Two kinds of ratios were employed to measure the asymmetry between the superior and inferior pRNFL thickness using OCT. One was the ratio of the superior to inferior peak thicknesses (peak pRNFL thickness ratio; PTR), and the other was the ratio of the superior to inferior average thickness (average pRNFL thickness ratio; ATR). The diagnostic abilities of the PTR and ATR were compared to the color code classification in OCT. Using the optimal cut-off values of the PTR and ATR obtained from the Training set, the two ratios were independently validated for diagnostic capability. RESULTS: For the Training set, the sensitivities/specificities of the PTR, ATR, quadrants color code classification, and clock-hour color code classification were 81.7%/93.2%, 71.7%/74.6%, 75.0%/93.2%, and 75.0%/79.7%, respectively. The PTR showed a better diagnostic performance for early glaucoma detection than the ATR and the clock-hour color code classification in terms of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) (0.898, 0.765, and 0.773, respectively). For the Validation set, the PTR also showed the best sensitivity and AUC. CONCLUSION: The PTR is a simple method with considerable diagnostic ability for early glaucoma detection. It can, therefore, be widely used as a new screening method for early glaucoma.
Area Under Curve ; Color ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Glaucoma/diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening/methods ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/pathology ; ROC Curve ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retina/pathology ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To compare changes in corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) after Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation and trabeculectomy. METHODS: Changes in corneal endothelium in patients that underwent AGV implantation or trabeculectomy were prospectively evaluated. Corneal specular microscopy was performed at the central cornea using a non-contact specular microscope before surgery and 6 months and 12 months after surgery. The CECD, hexagonality of the endothelial cells, and the coefficient of variation of the cell areas were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Forty eyes of 40 patients with AGV implantation and 28 eyes of 28 patients with trabeculectomy were studied. Intraocular pressure in the AGV implantation group was significantly higher than that in the trabeculectomy group (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in other clinical variables between the two groups. In the AGV implantation group, the mean CECD significantly decreased by 9.4% at 6 months and 12.3% at 12 months compared with baseline values (both, p < 0.001), while it decreased by 1.9% at 6 months and 3.2% at 12 months in the trabeculectomy group (p = 0.027 and p = 0.015, respectively). The changes at 6 months and 12 months in the AGV implantation group were significantly higher than those in the trabeculectomy group (p = 0.030 and p = 0.027, respectively). In the AGV implantation group, there was a significant decrease in the CECD between baseline and 6 months and between 6 months and 12 months (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). However, in the trabeculectomy group, a significant decrease was observed only between baseline and 6 months (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Both the AGV implantation group and the trabeculectomy group showed statistically significant decreases in the CECD 1 year after surgery. The decrease in CECD in the AVG implantation group was greater and persisted longer than that in the trabeculectomy group.
Cell Count ; Endothelium, Corneal/*pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma/diagnosis/physiopathology/*surgery ; *Glaucoma Drainage Implants ; Humans ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Prosthesis Implantation/*methods ; Time Factors ; Trabeculectomy/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To investigate the use of ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, as measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography, to detect central visual field (VF) progression. METHODS: This study included 384 eyes from 384 patients (219 preperimetric and 165 perimetric glaucomatous eyes; average follow-up, 4.3 years). Photographic assessment of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and serial VF analysis were performed to detect glaucoma progression in the central (within 10°) area. Study inclusion required at least five serial spectral domain optical coherence tomography exams at different visits. The long-term test-retest variability of average GC-IPL thicknesses was calculated in 110 stable preperimetric glaucomatous eyes. The sensitivity and specificity of GC-IPL measurements for the detection of central VF progression were calculated in an event-based analysis using the calculated variability as a cut-off and were compared with those of central RNFL photographic assessment. RESULTS: The intersession test-retest variability, defined as the 95% confidence interval, was 1.76 µm for average GC-IPL thickness. The sensitivity and specificity of the average GC-IPL thickness for detecting central VF progression were 60.7% and 78.9%, respectively. Among six sectors, the inferonasal GC-IPL sector showed the highest sensitivity (53.6%). The sensitivity of the ≥1 sector GC-IPL to detect central VF progression was significantly higher than that of central RNFL photographic progression (p = 0.013). Other GC-IPL parameters showed comparable sensitivity and specificity to detect central VF progression compared with RNFL photographic progression. CONCLUSIONS: Serial GC-IPL measurements show comparable performance in the detection of central glaucomatous VF progression to RNFL photographic assessment.
Disease Progression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Macula Lutea/*diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods ; *Visual Fields

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the progression of medically treated primary open angle glaucoma according to the baseline intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: This study included a total of 345 eyes from 345 patients (mean follow-up period, 4.5 years). Eyes were classified into either conventional normal tension glaucoma (cNTG, < or =21 mmHg) or conventional high-tension glaucoma (cHTG, >21 mmHg) groups according to the conventional cut-off value of the IOP. Additionally, the median IOP (15 mmHg) was used to create two other groups (median NTG [mNTG] < or =15 mmHg and median HTG [mHTG] >15 mmHg). Using these values, 306, 39, 153, and 192 eyes were assigned to the cNTG, cHTG, mNTG, and mHTG groups, respectively. Glaucoma progression was determined either by optic disc/retinal nerve fiber layer photographs or serial visual field data. RESULTS: Mean reduction of IOP after medical treatment and of central corneal thickness was lower in the cNTG group, while the prevalence of disc hemorrhage and baseline visual field mean deviation did not differ between the cNTG and cHTG groups. A mean reduction in the IOP was observed after medical treatment, and central corneal thickness was lower in the mNTG group; disc hemorrhage was more frequent in the mNTG than in the mHTG group. Among the 345 analyzed eyes, 100 (29%) showed progression during the follow-up period. In the cHTG group, a higher baseline IOP (hazard ratio, 1.147; p = 0.024) was associated with glaucoma progression. Disc hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 15.533; p < 0.001) was also strongly associated with progression in the mNTG group. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline IOP was a significant risk factor for glaucoma progression in cHTG patients (10% of our total participants), while disc hemorrhage showed the strongest association with progression in the mNTG group, indicating that a cut-off value other than the conventional 21 mmHg is required to define true low-tension glaucoma in populations where NTG predominates among all glaucoma patients.
Aged ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*diagnosis ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Low Tension Glaucoma/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/pathology ; Optic Disk/pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnosis ; Photography/standards ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Tonometry, Ocular ; Vision Disorders/diagnosis ; Visual Field Tests/standards ; Visual Fields

This study was done to report the epidemiologic characteristics of medical retirement from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army due to visual impairment and to suggest a practical screening system for the draft. The medical records of 423 eyes of 301 patients who retired from the ROK Army due to visual impairment were reviewed retrospectively between January 2010 and December 2014. The patients were grouped by the presence of trauma, and each group was subdivided by military rank. We analyzed demographic and ophthalmic data, including the etiology of ophthalmologic disease. The etiology was classified into 5 anatomical categories (ocular surface, lens, retina, optic nerve and extraocular visual pathway, and extraocular muscle and orbit), which were then subdivided into the type of disease. The mean age was 24.5 years, and non-traumatic mechanisms accounted for 81.1% (343/423 eyes) of medical retirements. Visual acuity was better in patients without trauma. In enlisted soldiers, disease in the optic nerve and extraocular visual pathway was the most common anatomical category (40.5%), and primary open angle glaucoma (30.8%), retinal dystrophy (18.3%), congenital cataract (14.5%), and retinal detachment (9.7%) were the four most common diseases. Most medical retirements due to visual impairment resulted from non-traumatic mechanisms, even though patients were young. The fundus examination and visual field test would be more useful tools than a conventional vision test for large-scale draft screening for the most common two disease types: primary open angle glaucoma and retinal dystrophy.
Adult ; Cataract/epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retinal Dystrophies/epidemiology ; *Retirement ; Retrospective Studies ; Vision Disorders/epidemiology/*pathology ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Chronic use of topical hypotensive agents induces several side effects caused by preservatives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of prostaglandin analogs with varying concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), preservative-free (PF), and alternative preservatives on mouse corneal tissue. METHODS: Thirty-five, 8- to 10-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (five mice for each group) were used for this study. To the control group, we applied normal saline, and to each drug-treated group we applied 0.02% BAC, bimatoprost 0.01% (with BAC 0.02%), latanoprost 0.005% (with BAC 0.02%), travoprost 0.004% (with 0.001% polyquad) or tafluprost 0.0015% with/without 0.001% BAC, once a day (9 p.m.) for 4 weeks. Corneal fluorescein staining was evaluated in all groups. After harvest, the corneal tissues were embedded in paraffin and then Hematoxylin-Eosin stain was performed for histopathological examination. Immunofluorescence staining was done against TNF-alpha, IL-6, HLA DR, pJNK, and pAkt. RESULTS: In corneal fluorescein staining, severe punctate epithelial keratitis was seen in the groups of 0.02% BAC, 0.02% BAC containing bimatoprost 0.01% and latanoprost 0.005%. The surface desquamation, irregular surface, loss of cell borders, anisocytosis and stromal shrinkage were observed in the groups of BAC-containing eye drops. Moreover, the groups treated with BAC-containing eye drops have high inflammatory markers, significantly decreased cell viability-related signal, pAkt, and higher apoptosis-inducing signal, pJNK, than the control group. On the other hand, travoprost 0.004% and PF tafluprost 0.0015% have less cellular morphologic changes, lower inflammation, and higher cellular viability than BAC-containing formulations. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal damage, increased inflammation and apoptosis and low cell viability were observed in BAC-containing groups. PF or alternatively preserved glaucoma medications seem to be a reasonable and viable alternative to those preserved with BAC.
Animals ; Cell Survival ; Conjunctiva/drug effects/*pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelium, Corneal/drug effects/*pathology ; Female ; Glaucoma/*drug therapy/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical ; Prostaglandins, Synthetic/*administration & dosage

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical characteristics of unilaterally progressing glaucoma (UPG) and simultaneously bilaterally progressing glaucoma (BPG) in medically treated cases. METHODS: Primary open angle glaucoma patients were classified as having UPG or BPG according to an assessment of optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer photographs and visual field analysis. Risk factors including the presence of systemic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular accident, migraine, and dyslipidema) were compared between the UPG and BPG groups. Baseline characteristics and pre- and post-treatment intraocular pressure (IOP) were compared between the progressing eye (PE) and the non-progressing eye (NPE) within the same patient in the UPG group and between the faster progressing eye and the slower progressing eye in the BPG group. RESULTS: Among 343 patients (average follow-up period of 4.2 years), 43 were categorized into the UPG group and 31 into the BPG group. The prevalence of all analyzed systemic diseases did not differ between the two groups. PEs in the UPG group had more severe pathology in terms of baseline visual field parameters than NPEs (mean deviation -6.9 ± 5.7 vs. -2.9 ± 3.9 dB, respectively; p < 0.001). However, baseline IOP, mean follow-up IOP, and other clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the PE and the NPE in the UPG group. The progression rate was significantly higher in the faster progressing eye in patients with BPG than in the PE for patients with UPG (-3.43 ± 3.27 vs. -0.70 ± 1.26 dB/yr, respectively; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of systemic diseases between the UPG and BPG groups. Simultaneously bilaterally progressing patients showed much faster progression rates than those with a unilaterally progressing eye.
Disease Progression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure/*physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Retina/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Visual Fields/*physiology

PURPOSE: We compared the abilities of Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT), Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) to detect the progression of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) in patients whose eyes displayed localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect enlargements. METHODS: One hundred four NTG patients were selected who met the selection criteria: a localized RNFL defect visible on red-free fundus photography, a minimum of five years of follow-up, and a minimum of five reliable SAP, Stratus OCT and HRT tests. Tests which detected progression at any visit during the 5-year follow-up were identified, and patients were further classified according to the state of the glaucoma using the mean deviation (MD) of SAP. For each test, the overall rates of change were calculated for parameters that differed significantly between patients with and without NTG progression. RESULTS: Forty-seven (45%) out of 104 eyes displayed progression that could be detected by red-free fundus photography. Progression was detected in 27 (57%) eyes using SAP, 19 (40%) eyes using OCT, and 17 (36%) eyes using HRT. In early NTG, SAP detected progression in 44% of eyes, and this increased to 70% in advanced NTG. In contrast, OCT and HRT detected progression in 50 and 7% of eyes during early NTG, but only 30 and 0% of eyes in advanced NTG, respectively. Among several parameters, the rates of change that differed significantly between patients with and without progression were the MD of SAP (p = 0.013), and the inferior RNFL thickness (p = 0.041) and average RNFL thickness (p = 0.032) determined by OCT. CONCLUSIONS: SAP had a higher detection rate of NTG progression than other tests, especially in patients with advanced glaucoma, when we defined progression as the enlargement of a localized RNFL defect. The rates of change of the MD of SAP, inferior RNFL thickness, and average RNFL thickness differed between NTG patients with and without progression.
Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure/*physiology ; Low Tension Glaucoma/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retina/*pathology ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods ; Visual Field Tests/*methods ; Visual Fields/*physiology