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Up-to-date aspects of ocular changes in systemic atherosclerosis are reviewed. At the present time despite of wide use of current methods of ocular blood circulation and retina examination there are no papers that allow to estimate dynamics of impairment of visual functions from different viewpoints (clinical, functional, blood flow, morphological etc.) in initial isolated ocular atherosclerosis. Etiology, pathogenesis and ideas about potential effect of systemic atherosclerosis on the eye are discussed. Features of blood flow in optic nerve head compared to retinal vessels are described. According to the last data correlation between the degree of reduction of a-wave of scotopic electroretinogram and deterioration of haemodynamic parameters exists.

The paper gives the comparative results of infrared exposure, drug and multimodality treatment in partial optic nerve atrophy of varying degrees, as evidenced by Doppler, electrophysiological, and morphometric studies.

This paper presents an analytical survey of the Russian and foreign literature dealing with the current idea on the pathology of a glaucomatous process and methods for the early diagnosis of glaucoma. It gives data on the impact of intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness and ocular biomechanical properties on the pathogenesis of primary open-angle and normotensive glaucoma. The results of electrophysiological, psychophysiological, ultrasound, and morphometric studies were assessed in the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma.

The paper gives the results of electroretinography (ERG) in 38 patients (73 eyes) with type 2 diabetes mellitus at different stages of diabetic retinopathy (including in diabetic macular edema). The reductions in the macular ERG (M-ERG) amplitude parameters and in the retinal density of bioelectrical activity and the decreased amplitude and longer latency of multifocal ERG (mfERG) N1 and P1 components evidence the involvement of the retinal macular region into the pathological process and the magnitude of these changes depends on the presence of imaged macular edema. Despite the certain limitations of mfERG, assessment of the topography of retinal bioelectrical activity in the central field of vision is an important supplement to M-ERG results and may be a prognostic criterion for the development of a pathological process and its extent.

The paper presents a procedure and conditions for recording multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG), its origin, and factors influencing small-signal ERG. The optimal conditions of ERG extraction using the existing method are appraised and indications for its use in ophthalmological care defined. The results of comparing the new types of electrodes developed in Russia for ERG recording and a DTL electrode included in the ISCEV guidelines are presented.

On the basis of the ISCEV standards and the author's experience, the paper describes theoretical prerequisites for multifocal electroretinography and its methodology. The variants of assessing the results, failure causes, and terminology of multifocal analysis of electroretionographic evidence are considered.

The paper describes the first experience in using multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). In the latter, thrombogenesis is mosaic in most cases so the techniques providing a spatial imaging of the pathological process is of interest in the examination of patients with this disease. These techniques include mfERG. The quadrant mfERG analysis that reveals pathological changes in relation to the vascular involvement area is of the greatest informative value in patients with APS-associated retinal vascular occlusions.

Based on the analysis of the data of a multifocal electroretinography FOK response and the retinal thickness in 38 patients with suspected glaucoma, the paper shows the inhibition of the external retinal biopotential and the lower retinal thickness in the posterior ocular pole. There is a correlation of these changes with light sensitivity alterations, as evidenced by quadrant analysis. It is stressed that monitoring of patients with suspected glaucoma must comprise a morphofunctional assessment using the current techniques.

Macular drusen are known to be a major risk factor of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) of the retina. The use of laser coagulation of macular drusen to prevent the progression of a dystrophic process remains to be disputable question so far. This paper presents the clinical and functional results of laser coagulation of macular drusen in 30 patients with bilateral retinal ARMD. The routine ophthalmological study, photorecording, fluorescence angiography of the fundus of the eye, optic coherent tomography, and electrophysiological studies indicated macular drusen regression, increased visual acuity, and better electrophysiological parameters. Choriodal neovascularization and exudative complications did not develop in both the early and late follow-up periods.

The paper presents the results of studies made in patients with different stages of primary open-angle glaucoma, by using oscillatory potentials (OP). A significant inverse relationship was established between the OP index and the intraocular pressure; the OPI index was decreased in progressive glaucoma. The findings suggest that neuronal relationships are impaired in the proximal retina in glaucoma due to its ischemic processes.

There have been recent data on an important role of the rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) and its major effector--angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. The treatment for diabetes mellitus with ACE inhibitors (ACEI) has received wide recognition. By lowering blood pressure, ACEI improves endothelial function, positively affect carbohydrate metabolism, and exerts a nephroprotective effect. However, the role of ACEI in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains to be studied. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive clinicofunctional study of 36 patients with preproliferative DR before and after treatment with the ACEI perindopril. The agent has been found to have a positive effect on visual functions, retinal electrogenesis, and the state of the blood-retinal barrier.

The paper describes the current types of electroretinography, the origin of electric retinal activity and its role in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and monitoring of retinal diseases of various origin. It presents the electroretinographic symptoms typical of pathology of the retinal cone and rod system in some hereditary diseases whose genes have been mapped and cloned to date and whose pathogenesis specified. The current concepts of retinal remodeling in its dystrophic changes are produced and emphasis is laid on the necessity of using the progress of vision biology and physiology in ophthalmological practice.

The paper deals with new clinical forms of ophthalmoclamidiosis involving lesions to the choroids, retina, optic nerve and cornea. Uveitis and scleritis were found in 73.5% and 26.5%, respectively. Iridocyclitis and paneveitis prevailed in cases of uveitis. Forty-two patients, aged 3 to 53, were followed up. Bilateral ocular lesions were registered in 67% of them. The progression, clinical course and outcomes of the disease were investigated by using the up-to-date laboratory-and-immunologic methods. Direct immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction, when used alongside with serological examinations, were found to be most informative. A combination of ophthalmoclamidiosis with urogenital pathologies was registered in 76% of patients.

An analysis of complications resulting from a long-term administration of chloroquinine derivatives is presented in the paper. The efficacy of chloroquinine derivatives for patients with rheumatological and dermatological pathologies was demonstrated. However, the remote results showed, after the administration of the above preparations, highly serious complications in different organs and primarily in the organ of vision. As for our practice, complications of various severity degrees were found in 6 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who received the preparations in question, such complications were classified as highly severe in 1 patient. Taking into consideration that the chloroquinine derivatives have been widely used, while many doctors are not aware of the complications caused by them. We found it advisable to compile a literature survey and to enlarge it with our own observations. Eventually, we concluded that the pathogenesis of disorders in visual functions could be explained by a toxic effect produced by the chloroquinine derivatives not only on the retina but also on the optic nerve and chiasm. Our opinion is that a thorough and differentiated approach is needed to patients with the mentioned pathologies while using the chloroquinine derivatives for treatment.