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Abstract

PurposeTo examine the prevalence and risk factors for epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in a sample Japanese population.MethodsIn 1998 a cross-sectional community survey was conducted among residents of Hisayama. A total of 688 men and 1087 women living in Hisayama, Japan, aged 40 years or older consented to participate in the study. Each participant underwent a comprehensive physical examination that included an ophthalmic examination. The presence of ERMs was judged from grading based on fundus examination using indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp examination, and color fundus photographs. This study used non-stereoscopic 45° fundus photographs to grade ERMs, whereas the other population-based studies used 30° stereoscopic fundus photographs, which might explain some differences in prevalence of ERMs. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on the cross-sectional data to determine the risk factors for ERMs. The following ten possible risk factors were used: age; gender; hypertension; diabetes; serum cholesterol; serum HDL cholesterol; serum triglycerides; smoking habits; alcohol intake; and body mass index.ResultsThe prevalence of ERMs was 4.0%, and increased with age. The ERMs were more prevalent in women (4.3%) than in men (3.5%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age and serum cholesterol significantly associated with ERMs.ConclusionsThis study suggests that ERMs are less common in the Japanese population than in similar populations in Western countries, and that hypercholesterolemia is a relevant risk factor for ERMs.

Purpose:To determine the effect of a triamcinolone-assisted pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on the visibility of hyaloid during surgery and the postoperative clinical outcome. Methods:Thirty-one patients with proliferative retinal disease [8 with diabetic macular edema (DME), 10 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), 13 with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)] underwent PPV, where the vitreous body was visualized by the intravitreal injection of triamcinolone solution during the operation. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), tamponade, corneal pathology, after-cataract, vitreous hemorrhage, and necessity of reoperation, were thereafter examined for at least 3 months after surgery. The anterior chamber laser flare cell meter was used on postoperative day 8 in DME eyes with triamcinolone-assisted PPV and with routine PPV to evaluate the breakdown of the blood–ocular barrier. Results:The vitreous body was clearly seen by means of triamcinolone during surgery, which greatly helped us to perform a posterior hyaloid resection safely and thoroughly. Six of 8 DME eyes, 8 of 10 PDR eyes, and 5 of 13 PVR eyes showed an improvement in their vision postoperatively. No eye except one experienced IOP elevation above 21 mmHg for 7 days. Six eyes had vitreous hemorrhage. The DME eyes which received triamcinolone-assisted PPV showed significantly less breakdown of the blood–ocular barrier than those with routine PPV (Mann–Whitney U-test, P<0.01). Conclusion:Triamcinolone improved the visibility of the hyaloid and the safety of the surgical procedures during PPV and also inhibited the postoperative breakdown of the blood–ocular barrier. Although the long-term effects are still unknown, this method appears potentially useful as an improved treatment for proliferative retinal diseases.

To examine the prevalence and systemic associations of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) in a Japanese population.

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