Choroidal hemodynamic changes during isometric exercise in patients with inactive central serous chorioretinopathy. (49/183)

PURPOSE: Imaging studies suggest that the choroidal vasculature may be altered in central serous chorioretinopathy. Little is known, however, about the regulation of ocular blood flow in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). The hypothesis for the present study was that choroidal blood flow changes during an increase in ocular perfusion pressure induced by isometric exercise may be altered in CSC. METHODS: An observer-masked, two-cohort study was performed in 14 nonsmoking patients with chronic-relapsing but inactive CSC and in 14 healthy nonsmoking volunteers. Both groups were matched for age and sex. Subfoveal choroidal blood flow (CBF) was assessed with laser Doppler flowmetry, and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) was calculated from mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intraocular pressure (IOP). Changes of CBF during isometric exercise over a period of 6 minutes were measured. RESULTS: Whereas the increase of MAP, the pulse rate, and the OPP were comparable between the two study groups, subfoveal CBF increased significantly more in the group of patients with CSC (P < 0.001). IOP remained unchanged in both groups during isometric exercise. At an 85% increase in OPP, subfoveal CBF was approximately twice as high in the patients with CSC compared with the healthy control group. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate an abnormal subfoveal CBF regulation in patients with relapsing CSC compared with age-matched, nonsmoking, healthy volunteers during isometric exercise.  (+info)

Sclerochoroidal calcification associated with Gitelman syndrome and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition. (50/183)

Sclerochoroidal calcification is an uncommon condition. Metabolic evaluation and clinical examination are important to exclude associated systemic conditions such as the Bartter and Gitelman syndromes. It has been suggested that the lesions seen in sclerochoroidal calcification are calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals. This report describes the first documented case in the UK of sclerochoroidal calcification associated with Gitelman syndrome and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition.  (+info)

Ocular changes after photodynamic therapy. (51/183)

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the changes in the primate visual system after a single session of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in an intact nonhuman primate retina. METHODS: As part of a larger study, PDT (wavelength 689 nm, 50 J/cm2, 600 mW/cm2, 83 seconds, 4-mm spot size) with verteporfin (6 mg/m2 intravenous infusion) was performed in one eye each of two cynomolgus monkeys. Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICG), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) were performed at baseline and 12 time points (1-283 days) after PDT. In addition, retinal histopathologic findings were evaluated at 9 months. RESULTS: Various morphologic changes, including whitening of the treated area, RPE proliferation, closure of the choroidal vasculature, and subretinal edema (followed by foveolar thinning) were observed. Most of the changes persisted and were detectable in histopathologic evaluation at 9 months. Reductions of the mfERG amplitude, followed by varying degrees of recovery from the treated and the border regions, were observed. This was accompanied by progressive delay of P1 peak time up to 3 months after treatment, followed by complete recovery at 9 months. In addition, the nontreated area showed amplitude and timing mfERG deficits, which underwent gradual (but not complete) recovery. CONCLUSIONS: In a primate model, under standard clinical parameters, a single PDT treatment resulted in various dynamic morphologic and functional retinal changes detectable for up to 9 months after treatment. The significance of the observed changes and possible ways of pharmacologic interference with PDT adverse effects are discussed.  (+info)

Acute and chronic brain infarcts on MR imaging in a 20-year-old woman with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy. (52/183)

A 20-year-old woman recently diagnosed with acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy developed headaches, weakness, and paresthesias. MR imaging of the brain revealed an acute infarct (demonstrated by diffusion-weighted images) in the head of the right caudate nucleus, a chronic infarct with encephalomalacia in the body of the corpus callosum, and multiple foci of abnormal signal intensity in the white matter of the centrum semiovale.  (+info)

Optical coherence tomography of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. (53/183)

PURPOSE: To characterize cross-sectional images of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: A cross-sectional and retrospective study was performed involving 28 eyes with PCV and 112 eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration. The frequency and dimensions of the retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED) with attenuation of internal reflectivity on optical coherence tomographic (OCT) examination were compared in both diseases. RESULTS: OCT showed the RPED with attenuation of internal reflectivity corresponding to the polypoidal structure in the indocyanine green angiogram in 75% of eyes with PCV, which was significantly more frequent than in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (3.6%). In lesions suspicious of exudative age-related macular degeneration or PCV, the RPED with attenuation of internal reflectivity on OCT images strongly supported PCV diagnosis with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 94%. The base diameter (p=0.010) and base diameter times height (p=0.028) of RPED were smaller in PCV than in exudative age-related macular degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: An RPED with attenuation of internal reflectivity in OCT examination is a highly sensitive and specific finding which characterizes PCV. Recognition of this RPED appearance, as well as the evaluation of its size, aids in the diagnosis of PCV.  (+info)

Angiographic characteristics of acute central serous chorioretinopathy in an Asian population. (54/183)

INTRODUCTION: Acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) afflicts young middle-aged males in the Western population. We aimed to analyse patient demographics and to determine the angiographic characteristics of acute CSCR in an Asian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all patients presenting with acute CSCR who had fundal fluorescein angiograms performed within a 4-year period (between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2001). RESULTS: The fluorescein angiograms of 128 patients were analysed. The majority were male (109/128) with a male-to-female ratio of 5.7:1. The age range of patients was 26 to 60 years, with a mean age of 41 years. The majority of patients (84%) were aged 30 to 50 years. With regard to racial distribution, 83% were Chinese, 6% were Malays and 11% were Indians or of other races. Unilateral disease was found in 74 patients (58%) and 52 had bilateral disease. The macula was the most common site of fluorescein leakage and was found in 97 patients (76%). Almost half the patients (44%) had more than one site of disease involvement (i.e., multifocal). The inkblot leakage pattern was found in 103 patients (80%). CONCLUSIONS: The patient demographics of acute CSCR in our population were compared to that reported in the West. The gender ratio was similar, with males being afflicted 6 to 10 times more compared to females. There was no racial predilection found for acute CSCR in the local population. We also found a significant proportion of patients with bilateral and multifocal disease compared to the West. The inkblot pattern of leakage was the most common pattern seen on angiography. There were a significant number of cases with bilateral and multifocal involvement, exceeding those reported in non-Asian populations.  (+info)

Safety enhanced photodynamic therapy with half dose verteporfin for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: a short term pilot study. (55/183)

AIM: To evaluate short term safety of an enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol with half dose verteporfin for treating chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: 20 eyes of 18 patients with symptomatic chronic CSC underwent PDT using 3 mg/m2 verteporfin. Verteporfin was infused over 8 minutes followed by indocyanine green angiography guided laser application 2 minutes later. Serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) recordings were performed before PDT, at 4 days, 2 weeks, and 1 month after PDT. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), OCT central retinal thickness, and mean mfERG response amplitudes and peak latencies were compared longitudinally. Subgroup analysis was further performed for eyes with or without pigment epithelial detachment (PED). RESULTS: At 1 month after PDT, the median BCVA improved from 20/40 to 20/30 (p = 0.001). The mean central retinal thickness also reduced from 276 microm to 158 microm (p < 0.001) and 17 (85%) eyes had complete resolution of serous retinal detachment and/or PED. MfERG showed no significant changes in the mean N1 and P1 response amplitude and latency for all eyes. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that eyes without PED had a significant increase in the mean central mfERG P1 response amplitude with reduction in P1 peak latency at 1 month post-PDT. For eyes with PED, transient reduction in the mean central P1 response amplitude was observed at 4 days post-PDT. CONCLUSIONS: The modified safety enhanced PDT protocol with half dose verteporfin appeared to be a beneficial treatment option for patients with chronic CSC, especially in eyes without serous PED. Further controlled study is warranted to demonstrate the long term safety and efficacy of this treatment option.  (+info)

Choroidal detachment in perforated corneal ulcers: frequency and management. (56/183)

AIMS: To determine the frequency of choroidal detachment (CD) in eyes with non-traumatic corneal ulcer perforation and, also, to assess the efficacy and safety of cyanoacrylate glue in sealing corneal perforations. METHODS: 18 eyes of 17 patients were studied. Inclusion criterion was any patient with a non-traumatic perforated corneal ulcer. All patients had a thorough history taken and complete ophthalmic examination including B-scan ultrasonography. Patient demographics, presence of CD, and efficacy of corneal gluing were assessed. RESULTS: Eight of the 18 eyes (44%) were documented to have a CD. Among perforations of >2 mm2, six eyes (75%) were documented to have CD compared with two eyes (20%) with perforations of +info)