Search

Introduction: Assess the clinical application of multifocal electroretinogram in the early detection of retinal dysfunction in patients treated with chloroquine (CQ) or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Material and methods: In 13 female patients – 15 eyes (9 – CQ, 6 – HCQ) mean age: 51 years, range: 35–66 years, treatment mean time (CQ – 8.3, HCQ – 10.4 years) with normal results of routine ophthalmological examination, retinal sensitivity (AVF – 10-2, W-W), macular structure (spectral-domain optical coherent tomo- graphy – SD-OCT) multifocal electroretinogram – mfERG (ISCEV standard) was performed. MfERG results were compared with 13, mean age 51 years, range: 34–66 years, and refractive error matched healthy females (15 eyes). Results: In the group taking CQ and HCQ, a statistically significant reduction in P1-wave response density was observed in rings 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This reduction was accompanied by abnormal ring ratios (R1/R2, R1/R3, R1/R5) compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.016). The most prominent dysfunction of the cone system was registered in the parafoveal region (R2) and perifoveal region (R3), as well as in the mid-peripheral retina (R5) (p < 0.000). In patients treated with CQ, a significantly higher retinal dysfunction in rings 3 and 6 was detected (p ≤ 0.039). The P1-wave response density in each ring was characterized by high sensitivity and specificity values, with the highest values found in ring 2 (sensitivity and specificity – 0.93, AUC = 0.98; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In patients treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, bioelectrical dysfunction of the cone system was observed without typical retinal signs of drug toxicity. Multifocal ERG examination demonstrated significant utility as a screening test to detect premaculopathy stages of CQ/HCQ retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The approach to cataract surgery procedures in Poland has changed significantly over the past few years. The authors outline the current principles of perioperative care in cataract surgery [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG-associated optic neuritis (ON) is a new subset of demyelinating optic neuropathy. Case Report: This study presents a case of a 49-year-old woman with MOG-IgG-positive ON, who reported to the ophthalmic emergency room with decreased visual acuity, retrobulbar pain and red color desaturation in her left eye. Abnormalities in the ophthalmological examination were: decreased Snellen's distance best-corrected visual acuity (DBCVA) to 0.04 in her left eye, slightly elevated optic nerve disc in the left eye confirmed by increased peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in SD-OCT, abnormalities in pattern visual evoked potentials in both eyes. The preliminary diagnosis was demyelinating optic neuritis left for observation. However, two weeks after the first symptoms, treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone was initiated due to a decrease in DBCVA to no light perception. Intravenous steroids were followed by oral prednisone and later also by mycophenolate mofetil. The patient experienced slow but gradual improvement. One year after the occurrence of the initial symptoms, DBCVA was 0.5 in the left eye, however partial atrophy of the optic nerve developed, confirmed by macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness and RNFL atrophy in SD-OCT, while visual pathway function improved. Conclusion: All atypical cases of ON should be primarily considered for cell-based assays. MOG-IgG-positive ON usually responds well to steroid drugs and delaying immunosuppressive treatment may cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroboscopic training enhances perceptual cognition and motor skills; however, neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this adaptation are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-week stroboscopic training program on the conductivity of the visual pathway in elite handball players, specifically related to their visual processing of retinal location and viewing conditions. The study included 22 handball players who were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. Both groups performed handball-specific in-situ tasks, but only the experimental group underwent stroboscopic training. Participants were assessed three times using visually evoked potential recordings measured by P100 implicit time and amplitude under three viewing conditions (dominant eye, nondominant eye, and binocular) and two retinal locations (extra-foveal and foveal vision) before and after the six-week training period, and again four weeks later. The results showed a significant TIME vs. GROUP effect of P100 implicit time for the dominant eye in extra-foveal vision (F2,40 = 5.20, p = 0.010, ηp2 = 0.206), extra-foveal binocular viewing (F2,40 = 3.32, p = 0.046, ηp2 = 0.142), and dominant eye foveal vision (F2,40 = 4.07, p = 0.025, ηp2 = 0.169). Stroboscopic training significantly improved early visual processing by reducing the P100 implicit time for the dominant eye and binocular vision, particularly in extra-foveal vision. The improvements were more noticeable in the short compared to the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to explore the functional impairments and related factors in older adults with moderate to advanced stages of glaucoma. Nineteen patients with glaucoma and 19 participants with no ocular disease performed step test and balance control tasks with analysis of overall stability index and fall risk index. Monocular and binocular Humphrey Visual Field tests were used to estimate visual field defect severity. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure physical activity level. Patients with glaucoma showed poorer values for most of the mobility and balance control parameters with medium and large effect sizes (0.3–0.5). Mobility scores in patients were partly associated with their monocular visual field defect (rs =.507, p <.05). Low physical activity was identified as a risk factor for falls (rs = −.453, p <.05) and postural instability (rs = −.457, p <.05). Functional declines in dynamic tasks were not related to glaucoma severity. Older adults with glaucoma display impairment with mobility and balance control compared to controls, associated with the degree of monocular visual field loss and lower daily physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose To asses the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) function measured by EOG testing in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Our preliminary EOG results suggested dysfunction of the RPE in individuals with NF-1. In order to confirm our initial results we performed EOG examination on a larger group of NF-1 patients. Patients Studies were performed on 36 patients with clinically diagnosed NF-1 and compared to normal healthy controls. Methods Standard EOG recordings were performed in accordance with the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standards. Results In NF-1 patients the Arden indexes of the EOG test were significantly higher primarily due to the lower values of dark troughs. Supernormal EOGs (exceeding the value of the mean + 2 SD from the control group) were present in 58% of NF-1 patients. Conclusions Dysfunction of the RPE is a characteristic feature of individuals with NF-1.

Background. Major depression (MD) is the one of the most debilitating diseases, affecting millions of people all around the world. Objectives. To establish visual pathway function in untreated individuals with MD. Materials and methods. In 29 untreated, newly diagnosed, ophthalmologically asymptomatic individuals (58 eyes) with MD (mean age: 47.3 years) and in 29 (58 eyes) of age-, sex- and refractive error-matched healthy controls (mean age: 46.8 years), the following examinations were performed: 1) best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA); 2) intraocular pressure (IOP); 3) and 4) biomicroscopy of anterior and posterior segment of eye; 5) macular structure (SD-OCT-Zeiss); and 6) pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) measurements according to the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standard (ISCEV-standard PVEPs). An analysis of correlation between the parameters of PVEPs and the depression severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)) was performed. To estimate the diagnostic power of PVEPs test, a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used. Data were analyzed with the significance level of p < 0.05. Results. In the study group and in healthy control, the clinical results and macular structure were normal and not different. In the MD group, in PVEPs test (check size: 1°4'and 0°16'), a significant decrease of amplitudes of P100 (AP100), associated with prolonged P100 peak time (PTP100; check size: 0°16', p < 0.004) were detected. The most frequent abnormality in PVEPs examination in the MD group was AP100 reduction (in 69% of individuals) detected using stimulation check size 0°16'. The statistically significant positive correlation between PTP100 (check size: 0°16') and HAMD score was found in severe MD (p = 0.03). The analysis of ROC curve revealed the highest sensitivity of 0.759 and specificity of 1.0 for AP100 (0°16'). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.841 (p < 0.001). Conclusions. In individuals with newly diagnosed, ophthalmologically asymptomatic and untreated MD, a dysfunction of visual pathway is present without other signs of ocular pathology. The visual pathway dysfunction measured with ISCEV PVEPs has a potential value to be an objective biomarker of MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]