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Purpose Disappointing results from clinical studies assessing the efficacy of therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for the treatment of pterygia suggest that other angiogenic mediators may also play a role in its development. We therefore explore the relative contribution of VEGF, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α (the transcription factor that regulates VEGF expression in ocular neovascular disease), and a second HIF-regulated mediator, angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), to the angiogenic phenotype of pterygia. Methods Expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and ANGPTL4 were examined in surgically excised pterygia, and in immortalized human (ih) and primary rabbit (pr) conjunctival epithelial cells (CjECs). Endothelial cell (EC) tubule formation assays using media conditioned by ihCjECs in the presence or absence of inducers/inhibitors of HIF-1 or RNA interference (RNAi) targeting VEGF, ANGPTL4, or both were used to assess their relative contribution to the angiogenic potential of these cells. Results HIF-1α and VEGF expression were detected in 6/6 surgically excised pterygia and localized to CjECs. Accumulation of HIF-1α in was confirmed in ihCjECs and prCjECs, including stratified prCjECs grown on collagen vitrigel, and resulted in expression of VEGF and the promotion of EC tubule formation; the latter effect was partially blocked using RNAi targeting VEGF mRNA expression. We demonstrate expression of a second HIF-regulated angiogenic mediator, ANGPTL4, in CjECs in culture and in surgically excised pterygia. RNAi targeting ANGPTL4 inhibited EC tubule formation and was additive to RNAi targeting VEGF. Conclusions Our results support the development of therapies targeting both ANGPTL4 and VEGF for the treatment of patients with pterygia.

We present a case of a patient with resolved central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in the left eye with persistent mild visual alterations 4 years after the resolution of the disease. Left eye exam revealed a best corrected visual acuity of 20/25 and a slight change of macular pigmentation. Optical coherence tomography revealed only minor irregularities in the topography of retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane. Adaptive optics (AO) optics demonstrated lower density, spacing, and changes in the photoreceptor mosaic pattern in the left eye than in the right eye, suggesting that CSC may cause damage to cones after clinical recovery. We conclude that AO can provide additional information to assist in the treatment and follow-up of patients with CSC or other macular pathologies. RESUMO Apresentamos o relato de caso de paciente com coriorretinopatia serosa central (CSC) cicatrizada em olho esquerdo e queixa de discreta alteração visual, mesmo após quatro anos da resolução do quadro. O exame do olho esquerdo apresenta melhor acuidade visual corrigida de 20/25 e discreta alteração de pigmentação macular. Tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) apresentou apenas pequenas irregularidades em topografia de EPR e Bruch. Foi realizado exame com Adaptive Optics (AO), evidenciando valores inferiores de densidade, espaçamento e alterações no padrão de mosaico dos fotorreceptores em olho esquerdo quando comparado com olho direito, sugerindo que a CSC pode causar danos em cones, mesmo após uma recuperação considerada satisfatória. Concluímos que o AO é uma tecnologia que traz novas informações para auxiliar o tratamento e seguimento dos pacientes com CSC ou outras patologias maculares.

We report retinal functional and structural changes of a 40-year-old man diagnosed with occult macular dystrophy. Comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation was performed, followed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OC - Heidelberg) and image acquisition using an adaptive optics (AO) camera (RTX1, Imagine Eyes) for photoreceptor density analysis. Functional tests included full-field ERG (ERG) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) (Diagnosys, LLC) and microperimetry with scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) fixation controlled (MAIA, CenterVUE). OCT revealed a line of discontinuity corresponding to cone outer-segment photoreceptors associated with a loss of cone density, highlighted by a dark blue spot on the AO co ne-density map on the fovea in both eyes. Loss of central sensitivity was revealed using microperimetry; ERG was within the normal range, although the mfERG showed a reduced central response amplitude. RESUMO Relatamos exames de função e estrutura retiniana de paciente masculino, de 40 anos, com diagnóstico clínico de Distrofia Macular Oculta (DMO). Avaliação oftalmológica completa foi seguida por tomografia de Coerência Óptica (SD-OCT - Heidelberg) e exame com câmara de fundo de olho com tecnologia "Adaptive Optics" (AO - RTX1, Imagine Eyes) para análise da densidade de fotorreceptores. Os exames funcionais incluíram: Eletroretinografia de campo total (ERG) e multifocal (mfERG) (Diagnosys - LLC) e microperimetria com controle de fixação (MAIA - CenterVUE). Os exames revelam descontinuidade da camada de fotorreceptores na região central da fóvea em ambos os olhos pelo SD-OCT em associação com perda de densidade no mosaico cones, representado por mancha azulada no mapa do AO. Os exames de função apresentam diminuição da acuidade visual (20/80; 20/50), redução de sensibilidade central na microperimetria. Como esperado, o ERG está dentro da normalidade, mas há redução da amplitude das respostas centrais do mfERG em ambos os olhos.