Eccentric viewing spectacles in everyday life, for the optimum use of residual functional retinal areas, in patients with age-related macular degeneration

Item does not contain fulltex

Longitudinal analysis of varicella-zoster virus DNA on the ocular surface associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus

PURPOSE: Longitudinal analysis of varicella-zoster virus DNA on the ocular surface of patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. METHODS: Clinical specimens were obtained from the bulbar conjunctival surface with a cotton-tipped swab at weekly intervals for 6 consecutive weeks from 21 patients with acute ophthalmic zoster with a skin rash duration of less than 7 days. All patients received oral valacyclovir 1000 mg three times daily for 10 days without additional corticosteroids. The swabs were analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction for the presence of varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA. Conjunctival swabs were also obtained from a control group of 20 patients with cataract. RESULTS: On inclusion, varicella-zoster virus DNA was present on the ocular surface of 19 of the 21 patients. Six varicella-zoster virus DNA-positive patients had no signs of ocular inflammation. All control swabs were negative for both varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus DNA. The duration of varicella-zoster virus DNA detection from rash onset varied from 2 to 34 days. The number of days between the onset of herpes zoster skin rash and the latest positive varicella-zoster virus DNA test was significantly longer in patients whose age was equal to or above the median age of 66 years than in the younger patients (Mann-Whitney test: P = .0004). At 6-week follow-up, all conjunctival swabs were negative for varicella-zoster virus DNA. However, at that time, the eyes of seven patients were still inflamed. CONCLUSION: The duration of varicella-zoster virus DNA shedding in herpes zoster ophthalmicus is highly variable and age dependent, and is probably related to the host immune respons

Outcomes of low-vision services using optometric and multidisciplinary approaches : a non-randomized comparison

Consecutive patients (n = 215) who were referred to optometric (55%) or multidisciplinary (45%) low-vision services and above 50 years of age were recruited from four hospitals in the Netherlands. They completed two vision-related quality of life questionnaires, the Vision Quality of Life Core Measure (VCM1) and the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL), before their first visit with low-vision services and 1 year later. At follow-up, patients referred to multidisciplinary low-vision services had lower scores on the mobility subscale of the LVQOL than patients referred to optometric low-vision services [5.3 points; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-10.5]. Paired sample t-tests for the two groups of patients taken together show improvement for the VCM1 (3.1 points; 95% CI: 0.6-5.6) and deterioration for the basic aspects of vision (3.5 points; 95% CI: 1.1-5.9) and the mobility (6.6 points; 95% CI: 3.7-9.5) subscales of the LVQOL. In conclusion, people referred to optometric services showed less deterioration in mobility than those referred to multidisciplinary services. No differences were observed for any of the other subscales of the LVQOL and the VCM1. Future research in this field should include randomized controlled designs comparing low-vision services with no treatment or placebo. © 2006 The College of Optometrists

Effect of oral acyclovir after penetrating keratoplasty for herpetic keratitis: a placebo-controlled multicenter trial.

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: To determine the prophylactic effect of oral acyclovir on the recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease after penetrating keratoplasty. DESIGN: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight consecutive patients (68 eyes) with corneal opacities due to herpetic eye disease who underwent penetrating keratoplasty. INTERVENTION: Oral acyclovir 400 mg twice daily or placebo tablets for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The recurrence rate of herpetic eye disease-related events and rejection episodes, proven by viral cell culture or polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: During the 2-year follow-up period, there were 3 culture-proven herpetic eye disease recurrences in the acyclovir group and 9 in the placebo group. Lifetime survival analysis of the probability of remaining free from recurrence revealed a significantly reduced risk of recurrent herpetic disease in the acyclovir-treated group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that oral acyclovir effectively prevents herpes-related recurrences after penetrating keratoplasty in herpetic eye disease

Disability glare in the aging eye. Assessment and impact on driving.

AbstractPurposeTo compare different methods for the assessment of disability glare sensitivity in the elderly, to arrive at an objective assessment of the condition of the eye. To delineate the importance of straylight values in vision.MethodsThree groups of subjects were studied: 1) Young subjects without any eye disease, 2) elderly subjects without any eye disease and 3) elderly subjects with (early) cataract in at least one eye. All subjects underwent 2 glare tests, 2 straylight tests, ETDRS visual acuity test, Pelli Robson contrast sensitivity test, refraction, LOCS III cataract classification. Straylight was quantified by means of the straylight parameter s.ResultsRepeatability, discriminative ability, and added value as compared to visual acuity were low for the glare tests and good for the straylight measurements. For young normal subjects, with log(s)=0.9, the standard glare situation with low beams gives a contrast reduction of 1.3, whereas for the healthy 77 year olds this increases to 2. With cataract hardly affecting visual acuity, log(s) can be as high as 1.8, resulting in a contrast reduction of 3.4.ConclusionStraylight measurement is of relevance for the assessment of the glare-related hindrance during driving, and can be used to objectify complaints and aid in the decision-making regarding cataract surgery