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BackgroundMetabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster-like occurrence of conditions such as hypertension, hyperglycaemia, elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or triglycerides (TG) and high visceral fat. Metabolic syndrome is linked to the build-up of plaque within the artery, which leads to disorders of the circulatory, nervous and immune systems. A variety of treatments target the regulation of these conditions; nevertheless, they remain dominant risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which affect 26.9% of the US population. Management and intervention strategies for improving cholesterol and/or TG are worthwhile, and recent studies on hydrogen treatment are promising, particularly as molecular hydrogen is easily ingested. This study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering effects and quality of life (QOL) improvement of hydrogen-rich coral calcium (HRCC) in patients with metabolic syndrome.MethodsThe patients, all Taiwanese, were randomly assigned to 3 different doses (low, medium, and high) of HRCC capsules. The primary outcome was the adverse effects/symptoms during this 4-week use of HRCC capsules. The secondary outcome was lipid profile changes. Complete blood count, inflammatory biomarkers, and QOL were also measured before and after the course of HRCC.ResultsSixteen patients with metabolic syndrome completed this study (7 males, 9 females; mean age: 62 years; range: 32–80). No obvious adverse effects were recorded. Only changes in blood TG reached significance. The baseline TG value was 193.19 μL (SD = 107.44), which decreased to 151.75 μL (SD = 45.27) after 4 weeks of HRCC (p = 0.04). QOL showed no significant changes.ConclusionThis study is the first human clinical trial evaluating HRCC capsules in patients with metabolic syndrome. Based on the safety and potential TG-lowering effects of short-term HRCC, further long-term investigations of HRCC are warranted.Clinical trial registration[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05196295].

Purpose: To investigate the repeatability of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in participants with different severities of glaucoma., Methods: Subjects with open-angle glaucoma were enrolled prospectively and categorised into mild (mean deviation [MD] of 24-2 visual field test ≥ -6 dB), moderate to advanced (-6 > MD ≥ -20 dB) and severe glaucoma groups (MD < -20 dB). OCTA was performed three times within a single visit to obtain superficial and deep macular vessel density (VD) and peripapillary vessel and capillary density. The association between the coefficient of variation (CoV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of these OCTA parameters and glaucoma severity (MD, the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer and the ganglion cell complex) was analysed, along with factors associated with the CoV of OCTA parameters., Results: A total of 57 mild, 92 moderate to advanced and 39 severe glaucomatous eyes were included. CoV for superficial (p < 0.001) and deep macular VD (p < 0.001) and peripapillary VD (p = 0.004) increased with glaucoma severity. Greater CoV for superficial and deep macular VD and peripapillary VD was associated with worse MD and scan quality index in multivariable analysis. The association between a higher CoV of superficial and deep macular VD and worse MD was only noticeable in participants with a scan quality index <7. The relationship between the CoV of peripapillary VD and MD was consistent across varying image qualities., Conclusion: The intrasession variability of OCTA parameters was greater in glaucoma participants with advanced disease, especially in those with suboptimal scan quality., (© 2025 College of Optometrists.)

Topical atropine has been widely used for controlling myopia progression in children, yet its long-term efficacy and safety, including potential intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, are still being studied. The mydriasis and cyclopegia induced by atropine may reduce traction on the trabecular meshwork, together with pigment released into anterior chamber due to the friction between the iris and lens during pupil dilation, may obstruct and reduce the trabecular outflow. This review first explores postdilation IOP changes across different groups - healthy individuals, glaucoma patients, and children. The response to pupil dilation varies widely, with IOP potentially increasing or decreasing. Glaucoma patients, whether with open or closed-angle glaucoma, may experience more significant IOP rises postdilation. The second section examines IOP effects in children using topical atropine for myopia, where most of the 25 reviewed studies showed nonsignificant IOP changes, although slight increases were observed in a few. In addition, no alterations in the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were found. However, the research on children's IOP under topical atropine is constrained by small sample sizes, cross-sectional studies, brief follow-ups, and often lacks control groups or pretreatment IOP measurements. Given the extended atropine use for myopia and the significant individual variation in IOP response, we recommend routine IOP monitoring for children receiving topical atropine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this paper., (Copyright: © 2024 Taiwan J Ophthalmol.)

Background: To compare the characteristics and treatment responses of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) between highly myopic and non-highly myopic eyes., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with PCV at the clinic of National Taiwan University Hospital between 2013 and 2019. The diseased eyes were grouped per refractive error and axial length at diagnosis. Imaging data were used to retrieve the PCV characteristics, and electronic medical records were used to retrieve the treatment responses., Results: Among 116 eyes with PCV, 11 eyes of 10 patients were highly myopic; seven of these patients were women. All highly myopic eyes showed a thin subfoveal choroid, while three eyes had a pachychoroid phenotype with significant focal choroidal thickening. After treatment with either intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections, photodynamic therapy (PDT), or both, best-corrected visual acuity was better in the high-myopia group at 1 year. Visual acuity at presentation and the presence of feeder vessels were found to be predictors of the visual outcome., Conclusions: In this study we reported, to the best of our knowledge, the largest cohort of PCV in highly myopic eyes to date. Female predominance, lower incidence of subretinal haemorrhage, and a thin choroid with a focal pachychoroid phenotype were found to characterise PCV in highly myopic eyes. Visual acuity transiently improved after either anti-VEGF monotherapy or combination therapy with PDT., (© 2022. The Author(s).)