Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize macular microvasculature and structural retinal layers using magnification-corrected optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images in children with amblyopia. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 22 children with unilateral amblyopia (4–11 years of age) receiving spectral-domain OCTA. Vessel densities in foveal and parafoveal regions of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were measured in amblyopic and fellow eyes using a customized image analysis program correcting the scale of retinal image with axial length. Iowa Reference Algorithms (Iowa Institute for Biomedical Imaging) were used to measure mean thickness values of 10 intra-retinal layers rescaled for image size correction. Results: Foveal and parafoveal vessel densities in amblyopic eyes were lower than that of the fellow eyes in the SCP (fovea: P = 0.006 and parafovea: P = 0.003) and the DCP (P = 0.024 and P = 0.025, respectively). Amblyopic eyes had significantly smaller foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area than fellow eyes (P < 0.001). There were significant differences in retinal layer thickness between paired eyes, particularly in the inner retina in both foveal and parafoveal regions; retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) (P = 0.024 and P = 0.095, respectively), ganglion cell layer (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008), inner plexiform layer (IPL; P = 0.12 and P = 0.037), inner nuclear layer (P = 0.005 and P = 0.005), and outer plexiform layer (OPL; P = 0.02 and P = 0.057), except in the foveal IPL, the parafoveal RNFL, and OPL. Conclusions: Unilateral amblyopic eyes demonstrate reduced macular vessel density and thicker inner retinal layers compared with fellow eyes even after correcting for image magnification. Changes in macular microvasculature and structural layers may offer valuable insights in the development of amblyopia.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of educational pressure on myopia. A less-intense school curriculum was introduced nationally in Japan beginning in 2012 based on a pressure-free education policy. In this retrospective observational study, a total of 1025 Japanese medical students of Asahikawa Medical University underwent measurements of the cycloplegic refractive error and axial length (AL), from 2011 to 2020. The spherical equivalent (SE) and AL were correlated significantly with the fiscal year of births (p = 0.004 and p = 0.034, respectively) only during enforcement of the system of high-pressure education. The SE and AL regression rates during the two educational approaches differed significantly (p = 0.004 and p = 0.037, respectively). The prevalence of high myopia was correlated significantly (p < 0.001) only during the system of high-pressure education. The regression of the prevalence rate of high myopia during the two education approaches differed significantly (p = 0.010). The progression rates of myopia and increased prevalence of high myopia were observed only during high-pressure education, suggesting that not only ophthalmologists but also educators and the government should work on together to control the progression of myopia.
1 June 2021 in American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports
To report a case of external ophthalmoplegia due to an uncommon form of amyloidosis exclusively affecting the lateral rectus muscle, and to discuss the clinical manifestation, diagnostic challenges, and management pitfalls of isolated amyloidosis in the extraocular muscle. A 64-year-old woman presented with diplopia in her left gaze lasting for six months. She had orthophoria in the primary position and abduction limitation in the left eye. Routine laboratory examinations were unremarkable. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging showed fusiform enlargement of the left lateral rectus muscle, without tendon involvement. Extraocular muscle biopsy was recommended to make a diagnosis, which revealed amyloid deposition in the lateral rectus muscle. A systemic work-up showed no evidence of systemic amyloidosis. Therefore, a diagnosis of primary isolated amyloidosis was made. Orthophoria in the primary position and diplopia in the lateral gaze persisted at the six-month follow-up. Atypical extraocular muscle enlargement should alert clinicians to the need for tissue biopsy to identify uncommon etiologies, such as amyloidosis. There are no pathognomonic or radiological features to distinguish localized from systemic amyloidosis. Therefore, if amyloidosis of the extraocular muscles is diagnosed, a systemic work-up is needed to rule out systemic amyloidosis, which is potentially life-threatening.
Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate factors associated with outcomes after 3 months of instructed usage of hand-held digital devices (DD) in patients with acquired comitant esotropia (ACE). Methods and analysis: This prospective multicentre observational study included patients with ACE, aged 5–35 years, who used DD within 1 year of onset and were followed up for clinical findings and instructed use of DD. The outcomes were classified into four groups: cured, improved, unchanged and worsened. After the analysis of group differences in the clinical and DD use-related factors by univariate analysis, we used ordinal logistic regression models to identify factors associated with favourable outcomes. Results: Of 156 patients (mean age (SD): 16.4 (7.4) years), 10 (6%), 58 (37%), 67 (43%) and 21 (14%) were classified into the cured, improved, unchanged, and worsened, respectively. In the univariate analysis, consultation within 3 months of onset, small-angle strabismus at distance and good stereoacuity were associated with good outcomes. Ordinal logistic regression analysis on adjusting for age with stereoacuity or successful DD-use time halving showed that small-angle strabismus at distance (OR: 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.03, p=0.023), good stereoacuity (OR: 1.31; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.56; p=0.003) and successful halving of DD-use time (OR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.92; p=0.016) influenced favourable outcomes. Conclusion: Patients with small-angle esotropia, good stereoacuity on consultation and success in halving DD-use time had a higher chance of recovery through instructional DD usage. Further studies using objectively measurable systems are needed to ensure the accuracy of DD-use time.
1 September 2017 in American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports
To report a case of inferior rectus muscle hypoplasia with esotropia, which was treated successfully by resection and anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle. A 1-year-old boy presented with esotropia. He had esotropia of 15-30° and intermittent left hypertropia. At the age of 3 years, the alternate prism cover test showed esotropia of 35Δ and left hypertropia of 25Δ. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit revealed left inferior rectus muscle dysgenesis. Strabismus surgery was performed and a hypoplastic left inferior rectus muscle was identified. We performed bilateral medial rectus muscle recession, and resection and anterior transposition of the left inferior oblique muscle. Nine months after the surgery, the patient had esotropia of 8Δ and left hypertropia of 6Δ. Resection and anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle is useful for hypoplasia of the inferior rectus muscle accompanied by horizontal strabismus.
To investigate the clinical factors influencing the prism adaptation response of acquired non-accommodative comitant esotropia (ANAET) and evaluate the surgical outcomes.Retrospective observational...