Purpose. To assess the reproducibility of the ocular response analyzer (ORA) in nonoperated eyes and the impact of corneal biomechanical properties on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements in normal and glaucomatous eyes. methods. In the reliability study, two independent examiners obtained repeated ORA measurements in 30 eyes. In the clinical study, the examiners analyzed ORA and IOP-Goldmann values from 220 normal and 42 glaucomatous eyes. In both studies, Goldmann-correlated IOP measurement (IOP-ORAg), corneal-compensated IOP (IOP-ORAc), corneal hysteresis (CH), and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were evaluated. IOP differences of 3 mm Hg or greater between the IOP-ORAc and IOP-ORAg were considered outcome significant. results. Intraexaminer intraclass correlation coefficients and interexaminer concordance correlation coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.93 and from 0.81 to 0.93, respectively, for all parameters. CH reproducibility was highest, and the IOP-ORAg readings were lowest. The median IOP was 16 mm Hg with the Goldmann tonometer, 14.5 mm Hg with IOP-ORAg (P < 0.001), and 15.7 mm Hg with IOP-ORAc (P < 0.001). Outcome-significant results were found in 77 eyes (29.38%). The IOP-ORAc, CH, and CRF were correlated with age (r = 0.22, P = 0.001; r = −0.23, P = 0.001; r = −0.14, P = 0.02, respectively), but not the IOP-ORAg or IOP-Goldmann. conclusions. The ORA provides reproducible corneal biomechanical and IOP measurements in nonoperated eyes. Considering the effect of ORA, corneal biomechanical metrics produces an outcome-significant IOP adjustment in at least one quarter of glaucomatous and normal eyes undergoing noncontact tonometry. Corneal viscoelasticity (CH) and resistance (CRF) appear to decrease minimally with increasing age in healthy adults.
29 March 2018 in Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
Introduction: Dry eye disease (DED) is characterized by an alteration of the tear film with ocular inflammation and neurosensory abnormalities. The main clinical signs of this condition are tear instability and ocular damage. Although DED has gained significant attention in the past few years, limited prescription treatment options are available for patients. Areas covered: The current manuscript summarizes the pre-clinical and clinical development of tivanisiran, a novel small interfering oligonucleotide of RNA (siRNA) used for the treatment of DED. Tivanisiran was designed to silence Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1); herein the chemistry and mechanism of action of this new compound is also described. Expert opinion: Drugs currently on the market mostly target the inflammatory component of the disease and show only partial efficacy. New compounds addressing other aspects of the disease would provide significant advantages and contribute to a more personalized treatment of the disease. Tivanisiran has been designed to reduce ocular discomfort and pain, and was shown to improve ocular hyperemia and tear quality in human and animal models. Consequently, if the results of the ongoing and future clinical trials meet their study endpoints, tivanisiran could be submitted to obtain approval for the treatment of DED.
1 January 2010 in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) evaluation using Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Stratus OCT in glaucoma diagnosis. One hundred thirty normal and 86 patients with glaucoma were included in this prospective study. The signal strengths of the OCTs were evaluated. The sensitivities and specificities of global RNFL average thickness were compared in the four quadrants and in each clock hour sector. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, areas under the ROC (AUC), and the likelihood ratio (LR) were plotted for RNFL thickness. Agreement between the OCTs was calculated by using the Bland-Altman method and kappa (kappa) coefficient. Twenty-three percent of all cases examined with Stratus OCT and 1.9% examined with Cirrus OCT had a signal strength below 6 (P = 0.01). In cases with signal strengths > or =6, the mean signal strength was higher with Cirrus OCT than with Stratus OCT (P = 0.01). The RNFL measurements by Cirrus were thicker than those of Stratus OCT (P < 0.05). The AUCs were 0.829 for Stratus and 0.837 for Cirrus OCT (P = 0.706) for global RNFL average. LRs were similar in both OCTs in global RNFL classification but varied in quadrants. The widths of the limits of agreement varied between 42.16 and 97.79 microm. There was almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.82) in the average RNFL classification. Cirrus OCT has better scan quality than Stratus OCT, especially in glaucomatous eyes. In cases with good-quality scans, the sensitivity and specificity, and AUCs were similar. The best agreement was in the global average RNFL classification. The widths of limits of agreements exceed the limits of resolution of the OCTs.
Smoking is a serious global public health concern that has been related to many chronic diseases. However, the effect of smoking on eye disorders has been less studied. The aim of this cohort study was to assess the association between current tobacco smokers and the risk of developing glaucoma and furthermore to evaluate the relationship between passive or former smokers and glaucoma.In this prospective and dynamic cohort, 16,797 participants initially who were found not to have glaucoma were followed up for a median of 8.5 years. Validated data on lifestyle, including tobacco consumption, were assessed at baseline. Information about new diagnosis of glaucoma was collected by follow-up questionnaires every 2 years. The outcome was the incidence of self-reported glaucoma during the follow-up. A subsample was used to validate the glaucoma diagnosis.During the 8.5 years of follow-up, 184 new glaucoma cases were identified. Current smokers had a significantly higher risk of glaucoma compared to participants who had never smoked after controlling for potential confounders (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.88 [95% coefficient interval (CI): 1.26-2.81]; P = 0.002). A nonsignificant increased risk was found among former smokers (HR 1.27 [95% CI: 0.88-1.82]; P = 0.198). When we assessed the exposure as per the number of cigarette pack-years, a dose-response relationship between pack-years and the risk of glaucoma was found (HR for the 5th quintile versus the 1st quintile: 1.70 [95% IC: 1.10-2.64], P for trend, 0.009). However, no relationship was found between passive smokers and glaucoma. (HR 0.67 [95% CI: 0.37-1.21]; P = 0.189).Our results suggest a direct association between current smokers and the incidence of glaucoma. In particular, this association was related to the number of pack-years, which was not found in the case of former smokers nor in the case of passive smokers.
Uveitic glaucoma (UG) typically is associated with very high intraocular pressure (IOP) and more intense optic nerve damage than other glaucoma types. This secondary glaucoma requires an early diagnosis and adequate management of both uveitis and glaucoma. It is mandatory to identify the mechanisms of IOP elevation that in many eyes have multiple combined mechanisms. Management of these patients commonly requires an interdisciplinary approach that includes a glaucoma specialist and rheumatologist to control the inflammation and IOP. Glaucoma surgery is required early in these patients due to the high IOP usually present and is less successful than in primary open-angle glaucoma. Recurrent uveitic episodes, multiple mechanism, and the complications associated with uveitis make surgical management of UG challenging. In this review, the management and treatment of UG are updated to clarify the pathogenesis and prevent optic nerve damage.
1 October 2003 in Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
To assess the frequency of glistenings in eyes that had phacoemulsification and implantation of AcrySof intraocular lenses (IOLs) (Alcon) and to evaluate the clinical factors related to the glistenings. Departamento de Oftalmología, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. A consecutive series of 129 eyes of 94 patients was prospectively evaluated. All patients had cataract surgery and implantation of an MA30BA AcrySof IOL by the same surgeon using the same technique. The operating surgeon examined patients for the presence of glistenings. The frequency and intensity of glistenings were assessed in relation to 14 clinical factors. The effect of glistenings on postoperative Snellen best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was also evaluated. Glistenings, which occurred in 38 cases (29.5%), were slight in 15 eyes, moderate in 18, and intense in 5. The frequency of the glistenings was related to the time between surgery and evaluation (P =.0001), the IOL dioptric power (P =.01), postoperative inflammation (P =.01), and phacotrabeculectomy (P =.01). The intensity of the glistenings was related to the time after surgery (P =.01) and presence of postoperative inflammation (P =.004). No relation between glistenings and Snellen BCVA was found. The frequency and intensity of glistenings in AcrySof IOLs increased with time after surgery and were higher when postoperative inflammation was present. Glistenings developed more frequently in cases of phacotrabeculectomy but not after combined phacoemulsification and deep sclerectomy. Glistenings did not result in decreased Snellen BCVA.