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Optic nerve head drusen are benign acellular calcium concretions that usually form early in life, just anterior to the lamina cribrosa. Improving imaging using optical coherence tomography suggests they are common and may be present in many clinically normal discs. These drusen may change in appearance in early life, but are generally stable in adulthood, and may be associated with visual field defects, anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, or rarer complications. Based on long-term clinical data and optical coherence tomography, we propose a refined hypothesis as to the cause of optic disc drusen. Here we summarise recent findings and suggest future studies to better understand the forces involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract Background: To determine the effect of scleral flap size on the medium-term intraocular pressure control and complication rates after augmented trabeculectomy. Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Participants: Glaucoma patients undergoing primary trabeculectomy. Exclusion criteria included previous ocular surgery apart from cataract surgery, secondary glaucoma and age under 18. Methods: Patients were randomized to either standard trabeculectomy (4 × 4 mm scleral flap) or microtrabeculectomy (2 × 2 mm scleral flap), both with adjustable sutures and antimetabolites. Bleb needling was performed as required. Patients were evaluated at day 1, weeks 1, 3, 6 and months 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 postoperatively. Main Outcome Measures: Vision, intraocular pressure, complications and failure (intraocular pressure ≥ 21 mmHg or not reduced by ≥20% from baseline, intraocular pressure ≤ 5 mmHg, repeat glaucoma surgery and no light perception vision). Results: Forty-one patients were recruited; 20 had standard trabeculectomy, and 21 had microtrabeculectomy. At 2 years, the mean intraocular pressure and cumulative probability of failure was 12.4 ± 4.6 mmHg and 0.28 for standard trabeculectomy, and 11.5 ± 3.6 mmHg and 0.27 for microtrabeculectomy ( P = 0.50 and 0.89, respectively). One patient in each group required Baerveldt device implantation. Vision reduced ≥2 Snellen lines in 15% in the standard trabeculectomy group and 25% in the microtrabeculectomy group, mainly from cataract ( P = 0.48). Conclusion: Both trabeculectomy techniques achieved good intraocular pressure reduction and had similar complication rates. Scleral flap size had no significant effect on medium-term intraocular pressure control and complication profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Regular exercise is a healthy lifestyle choice with numerous benefits to general health. Ophthalmologists may face questions of the benefits or risks of exercise to eyes. Here the effects of acute exertion and regular physical activity on ocular physiology and disease are reviewed. Intraocular pressure is transiently reduced by dynamic exercise. For the great majority of patients exercise is beneficial to the eyes by reducing risk of central retinal vein occlusion and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, and by improving control of systemic hypertension and diabetes. Ophthalmologists should be advocates of regular exercise with appropriate eye protection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: To assess the efficacy of Celecoxib, a cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, as prophylaxis for cystoid macular oedema after routine cataract surgery. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 69 hospital patients undergoing cataract surgery. Celecoxib 200 mg twice daily or placebo was given immediately after surgery for 14 days. Optical coherence tomography was used to quantify macular thickness before surgery and on day 1, week 2 and week 6 after surgery. Results: Sixty-nine patients were enrolled, of which 33 received placebo and 36 received active drug. Clinically apparent cystoid macular oedema occurred in four of the treatment group and two of the placebo group ( P = 0.68). No difference in best-corrected visual acuity was seen at 6 weeks ( P = 0.37). Covariate analysis of the results at 2 weeks and 6 weeks showed a macular thickness of 3% less in the treatment group compared with placebo ( P = 0.050). Conclusion: Celecoxib may decrease macular thickening following routine cataract surgery at 2 and 6 weeks after surgery as measured by Stratus OCT III. No difference in best-corrected visual acuity or clinically apparent cystoid macular oedema was seen. Further investigation of COX-2 inhibitors in a larger prospective randomized trial is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on electronic health record of patients with primary angle closure (PAC)who underwent laser iridoplasty (LI) for persisting iridotrabecular contact after peripheral iridotomy. Topics discussed include use of glaucoma medications; and information that LI can provide long-lasting opening of the iridocorneal angle for the medium term; and an information that lens extraction is a permanent cure for most PACs.

Purpose: To evaluate visual field (VF) changes in glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes after transient elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Design: Prospective experimental study. Participants: One hundred subjects (38 with glaucoma, 62 glaucoma suspects and controls). Methods: Intraocular pressure elevation was induced in the right eye of all subjects with a modified LASIK suction ring. Intraocular pressure was elevated to an average of 64 mmHg for <30 seconds. Humphrey Matrix perimetry 24-2 threshold tests were performed before and after the procedure. A cohort of patients who demonstrated significant deterioration in postprocedural perimetry was recalled for further testing. Main Outcome Measures: Mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) from Humphrey Matrix perimetry. Results: A significant decline in MD of the right eye could be observed on immediate postprocedural perimetry amongst glaucoma and control patients, whereas no significant changes in PSD were seen in either group. Forty-five of 47 patients, whose immediate postprocedural perimetry showed a loss of MD > 2 decibels, attended for repeat perimetric testing with a median follow-up of 6 days. Both eyes among 28 control patients and the left eye among 17 glaucoma patients showed statistically significant improvement in MD. Similar improvement was seen in the right eye of glaucoma patients, but this failed to reach statistical significance. Six patients from the glaucoma group demonstrated deterioration in MD upon recall, compared with 3 in the control group (P = 0.046). These 6 patients were significantly younger than the rest of the group, but no other defining characteristics were identified. Conclusions: Transient elevation of IOP in adult eyes with and without glaucomatous optic neuropathy did not lead to functional optic nerve change, as measured by Matrix perimetry, in the short term for the majority of patients. It is possible that a small cohort of patients with preexisting glaucomatous optic neuropathy may be more susceptible to transient increase in IOP, although the result is inconclusive. Prominent learning effects may have masked subtle worsening of visual function in our subjects; corresponding structural analyses of the optic nerve and longer-term follow-up may provide further information. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]