Selective Gene Transfer to the Retina Using Intravitreal Ultrasound Irradiation

This paper aims to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal ultrasound (US) irradiation for green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid transfer into the rabbit retina using a miniature US transducer. Intravitreal US irradiation was performed by a slight modification of the transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy system utilizing a small probe. After vitrectomy, the US probe was inserted through a scleral incision. A mixture of GFP plasmid (50 μL) and bubble liposomes (BLs; 50 μL) was injected into the vitreous cavity, and US was generated to the retina using a SonoPore 4000. The control group was not exposed to US. After 72 h, the gene-transfer efficiency was quantified by counting the number of GFP-positive cells. The retinas that received plasmid, BL, and US showed a significant increase in the number (average ± SEM) of GFP-positive cells (32 ± 4.9; n = 7; P < 0.01 ). No GFP-positive cells were observed in the control eyes (n = 7). Intravitreal retinal US irradiation can transfer the GFP plasmid into the retina without causing any apparent damage. This procedure could be used to transfer genes and drugs directly to the retina and therefore has potential therapeutic value

Quantitative evaluations of vortex vein ampullae by adjusted 3D reverse projection model of ultra-widefield fundus images

The purpose of this study was to determine the number and location of vortex vein ampullae (VVA) in normal eyes. This was an observational retrospective study. Montage images of one on-axis and two off-axis ultra-widefield images of 74 healthy eyes were enhanced, and reverse projected onto a 3D model eye. The number and distance between the optic disc to each VVA in the four sectors were compared. The significance of correlations between these values and age, sex, visual acuity, refractive error, and axial length was determined. The mean number of VVA was 8.10/eye with 1.84, 2.12, 2.19 and 1.95 in upper lateral, lower lateral, upper nasal, and lower nasal sectors, respectively. The mean number of VVA/eye was significantly greater in men at 8.43 than women at 7.76 (P = 0.025). The mean distance between the optic disc and VVA was 14.15 mm, and it was 14.04, 15.55, 13.29 and 13.66 mm in the upper lateral, lower lateral, upper nasal and lower nasal sectors, respectively (all P < 0.05). The number and location of VVA can be obtained non-invasively, and the number was significantly higher in men than women. This technique can be used to determine whether these values are altered in a retinochoroidal disease

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in 314 Japanese Patients with Bacterial Endophthalmitis : A Multicenter Cohort Study from J-CREST

Bacterial endophthalmitis is an intraocular infection that causes rapid vison loss. Pathogens can infect the intraocular space directly (exogenous endophthalmitis (ExE)) or indirectly (endogenous endophthalmitis (EnE)). To identify predictive factors for the visual prognosis of Japanese patients with bacterial endophthalmitis, we retrospectively examined the bacterial endophthalmitis characteristics of 314 Japanese patients and performed statistics using these clinical data. Older patients, with significantly more severe clinical symptoms, were prevalent in the ExE group compared with the EnE group. However, the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was not significantly different between the ExE and EnE groups. Bacteria isolated from patients were not associated with age, sex, or presence of eye symptoms. Genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus were more prevalent in ExE patients than EnE patients and contributed to poor final BCVA. The presence of eye pain, bacterial identification, and poor BCVA at baseline were risk factors for final visual impairment

Background Factors Affecting Visual Acuity at Initial Visit in Eyes with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion : Multicenter Study in Japan

Purpose: To determine the baseline characteristics of patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) that were significantly associated with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the initial examination. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study using the medical records registered in 17 ophthalmological institutions in Japan. Patients with untreated CRVO (≥20-years-of-age) who were initially examined between January 2013 and December 2017 were studied. The patients’ baseline factors that were significantly associated with the BCVA at the initial examination were determined by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: Data from 517 eyes of 517 patients were analyzed. Univariate analyses showed that an older age (r = 0.194, p < 0.001) and the right eye (r = −0.103, p < 0.019) were significantly associated with poorer BCVA at the initial visit. Multivariate analyses also showed that an older age (β = 0.191, p < 0.001) and the right eye (β = −0.089, p = 0.041) were significantly associated with poorer BCVA at the initial visit. Conclusions: The results indicate that an older age, a known strong factor, and the right eye were significantly associated with poorer BCVA at the initial visit to the hospital. These results suggest that functional and/or anatomical differences between the right and left eyes may be involved in these results

Recent Advances and Clinical Application of Color Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

Scanning laser ophthalmoscopes (SLOs) have been available since the early 1990s, but they were not commonly used because their advantages were not enough to replace conventional color fundus photography. In recent years, color SLOs have improved significantly, and the colored SLO images are obtained by combining multiple SLO images taken by lasers of different wavelengths. A combination of these images of different lasers can create an image that is close to that of the real ocular fundus. One advantage of the advanced SLOs is that they can obtain images with a wider view of the ocular fundus while maintaining a high resolution even through non-dilated eyes. The current SLOs are superior to the conventional fundus photography in their ability to image abnormal alterations of the retina and choroid. Thus, the purpose of this review was to present the characteristics of the current color SLOs and to show how that can help in the diagnosis and the following of changes after treatments. To accomplish these goals, we will present our findings in patients with different types of retinochoroidal disorders

Additional file 1: of Minification of fundus optical coherence tomographic images in gas-filled eye

Representative images of optic disc in a gas-filled eye and a fluid-filled eye. (JPG 154 kb

Three-year changes in sex judgment using color fundus parameters in elementary school students.

PurposeIn a previous cross-sectional study, we reported that the sexes can be distinguished using known factors obtained from color fundus photography (CFP). However, it is not clear how sex differences in fundus parameters appear across the human lifespan. Therefore, we conducted a cohort study to investigate sex determination based on fundus parameters in elementary school students.MethodsThis prospective observational longitudinal study investigated 109 right eyes of elementary school students over 4 years (age, 8.5 to 11.5 years). From each CFP, the tessellation fundus index was calculated as red/red + green + blue (R/[R+G+B]) using the mean value of red-green-blue intensity in eight locations around the optic disc and macular region. Optic disc area, ovality ratio, papillomacular angle, and retinal vessel angles and distances were quantified according to the data in our previous report. Using 54 fundus parameters, sex was predicted by L2 regularized binomial logistic regression for each grade.ResultsThe right eyes of 53 boys and 56 girls were analyzed. The discrimination accuracy rate significantly increased with age: 56.3% at 8.5 years, 46.1% at 9.5 years, 65.5% at 10.5 years and 73.1% at 11.5 years.ConclusionsThe accuracy of sex discrimination by fundus photography improved during a 3-year cohort study of elementary school students

Effect of photodynamic therapy on choroid of the medial area from optic disc in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose To explore the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the choroid of medial area from optic disc and factors correlated with treatment outcomes, we evaluated choroidal changes using ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) after PDT for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods In this retrospective case-series, we included CSC patients who received a standard-dose of full-fluence PDT. UWF-OCT were examined at baseline and 3 months after treatment. We measured choroidal thickness (CT), classified into central, middle, and peripheral sectors. We examined CT changes after PDT by sectors and treatment outcome. Results Twenty-two eyes of 21 patients (20 males; mean age 58.7 ± 12.3 years) were included. CT reduction after PDT was significant in all sectors, including peripheral areas: supratemporal, 330.5 ± 90.6 μm vs. 237.0 ± 53.2 μm; infratemporal, 240.0 ± 89.4 μm vs. 209.9 ± 55.1 μm; supranasal, 237.7 ± 59.8 vs 209.3 ± 69.3 μm; infranasal, 172.6 ± 47.2 μm vs. 155.1 ± 38.2 μm (P Conclusions Whole CT decreased after PDT, including in medial areas from optic disc. This may be associated with the treatment response of PDT for CSC