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Purpose: To evaluate the ability of new Swept source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to detect changes in retinal and choroidal thickness in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD)., Design: Observational case-control cross sectional study, developed from January to May 2016., Methods: In total, 50 eyes from 50 patients diagnosed with PD and 54 eyes of 54 healthy controls underwent retinal and choroidal assessment using SS DRI Triton OCT (Topcon), using the 3D Wide protocol. Total macular thickness and peripapillary data (retinal, ganglion cell layer [GCL+, GCL++] and retinal nerve fiber layer [RNFL] thickness) were analyzed. Macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness was evaluated (Figure 1)., Results: Significant peripapillary retinal thinning was observed in PD patients in total average (p = 0.017), in the nasal (p = 0.038) and temporal (p = 0.004) quadrants and in superotemporal (p = 0.004), nasal (p = 0.039), inferotemporal (p = 0.019), and temporal (p = 0.003) sectors. RNFL and GCL ++ thickness showed a significant reduction in the inferotemporal sector (p = 0.026 and 0.009, respectively). No differences were observed in macular retinal thickness between controls and patients. Choroidal thickness was found to have increased in all sectors in PD patients compared with controls, both in the macular (inner nasal, p = 0.015; inner inferior, p = 0.030; outer nasal, p = 0.012; outer inferior, p = 0.049) and the peripapillary area (total thickness, p = 0.011; nasal, p = 0.025; inferior, p = 0.007; temporal, p = 0.003; inferotemporal, p = 0.003; inferonasal, p = 0.016) Conclusion: New SS technology for OCT devices detects retinal thinning in PD patients, providing increased depth analysis of the choroid in these patients. The choroid in PD may present increased thickness compared to healthy individuals; however, more studies and histological analysis are needed to corroborate our findings.

Purpose: To evaluate the thickness of the 10 retinal layers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a new segmentation technology of the Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine whether the thickness of specific layers predicts neurodegeneration or AD severity., Methods: Patients with AD (n = 150) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 75) were analysed using the segmentation application prototype to automatically segment all retinal layers in a macular scan. Thicknesses of each layer were compared between patients with AD and controls, and between patients with disease durations of less than or at least 3 years. Associations between retinal layer thicknesses, disease duration and AD severity were evaluated., Results: Patients with AD had reduced thickness in the retinal nerve fibre, ganglion cell, inner plexiform and outer nuclear layers (p < 0.05). The inner retinal layers were more affected in patients with long disease duration. Ganglion cell and retinal nerve fibre layer thicknesses were inversely correlated with AD duration and severity. Ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers thicknesses were predictive of axonal damage., Conclusions: The segmentation application revealed ganglion cell and retinal layer atrophy in patients with AD compared with controls, especially in the inner layers of patients with long disease duration. Ganglion cell layer reduction was associated with increased axonal damage and may predict greater disease severity., (© 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To test the diagnostic ability of spectral domain optical coherence tomography for the detection of Parkinson disease using retinal nerve fiber layer and retinal thickness parameters. Retinal pigment epithelium produces levodopa., Methods: Patients with Parkinson disease (n = 111) and healthy subjects (n = 200) were enrolled. The Spectralis optical coherence tomography was used to obtain retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and retinal measurements. Two linear discriminant functions (LDFs) were developed, one using retinal nerve fiber layer parameters and another using retinal thickness. A validating set was used to test the performance of both LDFs. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and compared with the standard parameters provided by optical coherence tomography for both LDFs. Sensitivity and specificity were used to evaluate diagnostic performance., Results: The Retinal LDF combines only retinal thickness parameters and provided the best performance: 31.173 + 0.026 × temporal outer - 0.267 × superior outer + 0.159 × nasal outer - 0.197 × inferior outer - 0.060 × superior inner + 0.049 × foveal thickness. The largest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.902 for Retinal LDF. The Retinal LDF yielded the highest sensitivity values., Conclusion: Measurements of retinal thickness differentiate between subjects who are healthy and those with advanced Parkinson disease.

PurposeTo demonstrate axonal loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to evaluate the ability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect RNFL degeneration and retinal thinning in these patients.MethodsPD patients (n=100) and healthy subjects (n=100) were included in the study and underwent visual acuity, color vision, and OCT examinations using two next-generation Fourier-domain devices (Spectralis and Cirrus). Differences in the RNFL thicknesses were compared between patients and controls.ResultsRNFL thicknesses were significantly reduced in PD patients compared with healthy subjects, especially those obtained using the Spectralis OCT, in the inferotemporal quadrant (155.6±16.5 μm in healthy eyes vs 142.1±24.9 μm in patients, P=0.040) and in the superotemporal quadrant (142.6±20.9 μm in healthy eyes vs 132.77±18.6 μm in PD patients, P=0.046). Significant differences were observed between controls and patients in relation to mean macular thickness (P=0.031), foveal thickness (P=0.030), and inferior outer thickness (P=0.019).ConclusionPD is associated with RNFL loss and retinal thinning, which is detectable by Fourier-domain OCT measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate visual dysfunction and its correlation with structural changes in the retina in patients with Parkinson disease ( PD). Methods Patients with PD (n = 37) and controls (n = 37) underwent visual acuity ( VA), color vision (using the Farnsworth and L´Anthony desaturated D15 color tests), and contrast sensitivity vision ( CSV; using the Pelli Robson chart and CSV 1000E test) evaluation to measure visual dysfunction. Structural measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer ( RNFL), and macular and ganglion cell layer ( GCL) thicknesses were obtained using spectral domain optical coherence tomography ( SD- OCT). Comparison of obtained data and correlation analysis between functional and structural results were performed. Results VA (in all different contrast levels) and all CSV spatial frequencies were significantly worse in PD patients than in controls (P < 0.05). Color vision was significantly affected (p < 0.05) based on the L´Anthony color test. Macular thinning was detected in the central, outer (inferior and temporal), and superior sectors (p < 0.05), and the RNFL had significant thinning in the temporal quadrant (p < 0.05). Significant GCL loss was observed in the superior and superonasal sectors and the GCL + minimum inner plexiform layer (p < 0.05). CSV was the functional parameter most strongly correlated with structural measurements in PD. Color vision was associated with most GCL measurements. Macular thickness was strongly correlated with macular volume and functional parameters (r > 0.70, p < 0.05). Conclusion Patients with PD had visual dysfunction that correlated with structural changes evaluated by SD- OCT. Macular and GCL measurements may be reliable indicators of visual impairment in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We present the progressive improvement of a surgical procedure for suprachoroidal (sc) administration of drug, as an alternative route for drug administration to the posterior segment of the eye. Methods 25 New Zealand albino rabbit eyes were used in the study. Fifty microliters volume of different increasing viscosity formulations were tested: balanced saline solution ( BSS), 0.5% sodium hyaluronate solution ( SH) and a formulation with patent to be register. Catheters of several gauges (25Gs, 27 Gs and 22 Gs) and different materials: metal cannula or flexible intravenous catheter were tested. Different architecture of the scleral-sc pocket were assayed: large quadrangular area with sutures, rectangular area with small port without stitch and conic with small entrance without stitch. Results Following items were analyzed: (1) Reflux post-administration: depending on the formulation; BSS and SH 0.5% (100%) versus Formulation (73.33%), on the surgical instrument for administration; 25G and 27G (100%) vs 22G (20%), and on different pocket architecture; quadrangular and rectangular (100%) vs conic pockets (73.33%). (2) Signs of ocular irritation: higher grades of hiperemia and secretion were observed in pockets with stitches (3) Ocular perforation: 1 eye in quadrangular pocket with stitch. (4) Surgical time: longer in sutured pockets. Conclusions The possibility of perform a sc pocket with a large conic area, small port and without stitches, permits us to use it as a receptacle for high viscosity formulations or implants for sustained drug delivery, avoiding the risks of intravitreal devices and allowing an easier removal of the implant in case of adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]