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The eye area is the first part of the body to reveal visible evidence of fatigue, stress, unhealthy lifestyle, and aging. Dark circles, crow's feet and dull skin are widely perceived to be telltale signs. As a result, many consumers are seeking safe and easy-to-use products that can protect their eye contours and limit these facial skin problems. Innovators at BASF have developed a new bioactive ingredient rich in fucoidan that is clinically proven to fight dark circles, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and enhance skin luminosity around the eyes within the first week of application. Its name is Seanactiv™ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parameters correlated with age and mortality in Drosophila melanogaster include decreased negative geotaxis and centrophobism behaviors, decreased climbing and walking speed, and darkened pigments in oenocytes and eye. Cessation of egg laying predicts death within approximately 5 days. Endogenous green fluorescence in eye and body increases hours prior to death. Many flies exhibit erratic movement hours before death, often leading to falls. Loss of intestinal barrier integrity (IBI) is assayed by feeding blue dye ("Smurf" phenotype), and Smurf flies typically die within 0-48 h. Some studies report most flies exhibit Smurf, whereas multiple groups report most flies die without exhibiting Smurf. Transgenic reporters containing heat shock gene promoters and innate immune response gene promoters progressively increase expression with age, and partly predict remaining life span. Innate immune reporters increase with age in every fly, prior to any Smurf phenotype, in presence or absence of antibiotics. Many flies die on their side or supine (on their back) position. The data suggest three mechanisms for death of Drosophila . One is loss of IBI, as revealed by Smurf assay. The second is nervous system malfunction, leading to erratic behavior, locomotor malfunction, and falls. The aged fly is often unable to right itself after a fall to a side-ways or supine position, leading to inability to access the food and subsequent dehydration/starvation. Finally, some flies die upright without Smurf phenotype, suggesting a possible third mechanism. The frequency of these mechanisms varies between strains and culture conditions, which may affect efficacy of life span interventions., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 Tower.)

Abstract: Changes in splicing patterns are a characteristic of the aging transcriptome; however, it is unclear whether these age‐related changes in splicing facilitate the progressive functional decline that defines aging. In Drosophila, visual behavior declines with age and correlates with altered gene expression in photoreceptors, including downregulation of genes encoding splicing factors. Here, we characterized the significance of these age‐regulated splicing‐associated genes in both splicing and visual function. To do this, we identified differential splicing events in either the entire eye or photoreceptors of young and old flies. Intriguingly, aging photoreceptors show differential splicing of a large number of visual function genes. In addition, as shown previously for aging photoreceptors, aging eyes showed increased accumulation of circular RNAs, which result from noncanonical splicing events. To test whether proper splicing was necessary for visual behavior, we knocked down age‐regulated splicing factors in photoreceptors in young flies and examined phototaxis. Notably, many of the age‐regulated splicing factors tested were necessary for proper visual behavior. In addition, knockdown of individual splicing factors resulted in changes in both alternative splicing at age‐spliced genes and increased accumulation of circular RNAs. Together, these data suggest that cumulative decreases in splicing factor expression could contribute to the differential splicing, circular RNA accumulation, and defective visual behavior observed in aging photoreceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dorota Raczyńska, Leopold Glasner, Ewelina Serkies-Minuth, Magdalena A Wujtewicz, Kamila Mitrosz Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland Abstract: Extending life expectancy is a human achievement. It does however entail problems. Ophthalmic treatments are widely recognized as having a low risk of general complications. A classic example is cataract surgery, considered to be one of the safest and most frequently performed surgical procedures in the world. However, advanced age brings with it risks that should be considered before surgery. Eye operations, as with procedures on other organs, are largely dependent on the quality of surgical tissues. Therefore, the elderly are at increased risk of complications. Improved general health and postoperative follow-up with the use of noninvasive technologies such as optical coherence tomography translate into lower intraoperative risk and better postoperative prognosis. In this review, we discuss the impact of general health on operational prognosis, therapeutic problems, and technical difficulties which a surgeon and anesthesiologist may encounter in the process. We also consider new technology and strategies specifically aimed at treating eye conditions in the elderly. Keywords: eye surgery, eye aging, anesthesiology in ophthalmology, cataract, glaucoma, vitrectomy, age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: There is some controversy whether or not saccades change with age. This cross-sectional study aims to clarify the characteristics of reflexive saccades at various ages to establish a normative cohort in a standardized set-up. Second objective is to investigate the feasibility of saccadometry in daily ophthalmological practice. Methods: One hundred healthy participants aged between 6 and 76 years underwent an ophthalmologic examination and saccadometry, using an infrared video-oculography device, sampling at 220 Hz. The reflexive saccades were evoked in four directions and three target displacements each (5°/15°/30° horizontally and of 5°/10°/20° vertically). Saccadic peak velocity, gain (amplitude/target displacement) and latency were measured. Results: Mean peak velocity of saccades was 213°/s (± 29°/s), 352°/s (± 50°/s) and 455°/s (± 67°/s) to a target position 5°, 15°and 30° horizontally, respectively, and 208°/s (± 36°/s), 303°/s (± 50°/s) and 391°/s (± 71°/s) to a target position 5°, 10° and 20° vertically. The association between peak velocity and eccentricity proved to be present at any age in all four directions. We found no relevant effect of age on peak velocity, gain and latency in a fitted linear mixed model. However, latency becomes shorter during childhood and adolescence, while in adulthood it is relatively stable with a slight trend to increase in the elderly. Saccades are more precise when the target displacement is small. Isometric saccades are most common, followed by hypometric ones. All children and elderly were able to perform good quality saccadometry in a recording time of approximately 10 minutes. Conclusion: The presented data may serve as normative control for further studies using such a video-oculography device for saccadometry. The means of peak velocity and the gain can be used independently from age respecting the target displacement. Latency is susceptible to age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To measure corneal epithelial thickness (CET) in healthy adults and to investigate its variation with age by use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: A total of 210 healthy individuals were enrolled and divided into four, almost equally sized groups on the basis of age: 18-29 years (group 1), 30-44 years (group 2), 45-59 years (group 3), and 60-80 years (group 4). The CET and total corneal thickness in the central area (diameter 6.0 mm) of each patient were obtained by Fourier-domain OCT, and the regional thickness and topographic variability were compared among the age groups. In addition, the correlations between the CET and age, gender, and refractive status were analyzed using partial correlation tests and multiple regression analysis. Results: The CET of the central segment (diameter 2 mm) in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 53.74 ± 3.82, 54.48 ± 3.33, 53.89 ± 3.73, and 53.30 ± 3.36 µm, respectively, demonstrating no significant change with age ( P = 0.416). In most of the paracentral and all of the midperipheral zones (annuli 2-5 and 5-6 mm from the center, respectively), the CET differed significantly among the four groups. Correlation analysis suggested that the CET is greater in men than in women and that the CET of both the paracentral and the midperipheral zones is inversely correlated with age. Topographic variability was also inversely correlated with age. Conclusions: The CET became thinner with age in the paracentral and midperipheral zones, while the central CET seems to remain constant. Gender differences should be considered in the assessment of CET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinal pigment epithelial ( RPE) cells are central to retinal health and homoeostasis. Dysfunction or death of RPE cells underlies many age-related retinal degenerative disorders particularly age-related macular degeneration. During aging RPE cells decline in number, suggesting an age-dependent cell loss. RPE cells are considered to be postmitotic, and how they repair damage during aging remains poorly defined. We show that RPE cells increase in size and become multinucleate during aging in C57 BL/6J mice. Multinucleation appeared not to be due to cell fusion, but to incomplete cell division, that is failure of cytokinesis. Interestingly, the phagocytic activity of multinucleate RPE cells was not different from that of mononuclear RPE cells. Furthermore, exposure of RPE cells in vitro to photoreceptor outer segment ( POS), particularly oxidized POS, dose-dependently promoted multinucleation and suppressed cell proliferation. Both failure of cytokinesis and suppression of proliferation required contact with POS. Exposure to POS also induced reactive oxygen species and DNA oxidation in RPE cells. We propose that RPE cells have the potential to proliferate in vivo and to repair defects in the monolayer. We further propose that the conventionally accepted 'postmitotic' status of RPE cells is due to a modified form of contact inhibition mediated by POS and that RPE cells are released from this state when contact with POS is lost. This is seen in long-standing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as overtly proliferating RPE cells (proliferative vitreoretinopathy) and more subtly as multinucleation during normal aging. Age-related oxidative stress may promote failure of cytokinesis and multinucleation in RPE cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complement membrane attack complex (MAC) shows increased abundance in the choriocapillaris during normal aging and is especially prevalent in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While perivascular MAC accumulation occurs in the choroid, it is not well understood whether similar deposition occurs in other aging tissues. In this study we examined the abundance of MAC across multiple human tissues. For studies on fixed tissues, paraffin sections were obtained from six human donor eyes and a commercially available tissue array containing 19 different tissues. Immunohistochemical labeling was performed using antibodies directed against the MAC and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), as well as the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I). The choriocapillaris was the only tissue with high levels of the MAC, which was not detected in any of the 38 additional samples from 19 tissues. ICAM-1 was abundantly expressed in the majority of tissues evaluated, and UEA-I labeled the vasculature in all tissues. A second experiment was performed using unfixed frozen sections of RPE-choroid and 7 extraocular tissues, which confirmed the relatively limited localization of the MAC to the choriocapillaris. In comparison to other tissues assessed, the restricted accumulation of MAC in the choriocapillaris may, in part, explain the specificity of AMD to the neural retina, RPE and choroid, and the relative absence of systemic pathology in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: To describe age-related changes of different corneal layers using a quantitative analysis of in vivo corneal confocal microscopy. Design: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 108 healthy corneas of 108 subjects, distributed in four age categories, underwent in vivo corneal confocal microscopy. The effect of aging on the main features of corneal epithelium, sub-basal nerve plexus, stroma, and endothelium was investigated. Results: Mean diameter of superficial epithelial cells increases with age (0.05 μm per year; p < 0.0001). Mean cell density of basal epithelium does not change with age ( p = 0.37). The sub-basal nerve plexus fiber number, density, and the number of beadings do not statistically change with age ( p = 0.14, p = 0.10 and p = 0.17, respectively). Keratocyte density significantly reduces with age in each stromal layer ( p < 0.0001). Endothelial cell count decreases by 10.92 cells/mm per year ( p < 0.0001). Endothelial polymegathism index and pleomorphism index do not change with age ( p = 0.79 and p = 0.39, respectively). Conclusions: Corneal confocal microscopy allows a non-invasive examination of the living cornea, analyzing the microstructure of each corneal layer. Aging significantly influences the corneal confocal microscopy parameters of individual corneal layers, except sub-basal nerve plexus and basal epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sirtuins are a highly conserved family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent histone deacetylases that helps regulate the lifespan of diverse organisms. The human genome encodes seven different sirtuins (SIRT1-7), which share a common catalytic core domain but possess distinct N- and C-terminal extensions. Dysfunction of some sirtuins have been associated with age-related diseases, such as cancer, type II diabetes, obesity-associated metabolic diseases, neurodegeneration, and cardiac aging, as well as the response to environmental stress. SIRT1 is one of the targets of resveratrol, a polyphenolic SIRT1 activator that has been shown to increase the lifespan and to protect various organs against aging. A number of animal studies have been conducted to examine the role of sirtuins in ocular aging. Here we review current knowledge about SIRT1 and ocular aging. The available data indicate that SIRT1 is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells forming all normal ocular structures, including the cornea, lens, iris, ciliary body, and retina. Upregulation of SIRT1 has been shown to have an important protective effect against various ocular diseases, such as cataract, retinal degeneration, optic neuritis, and uveitis, in animal models. These results suggest that SIRT1 may provide protection against diseases related to oxidative stress-induced ocular damage, including cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and optic nerve degeneration in glaucoma patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the increased discernment and appreciation for the role of volume deflation in the aging periorbital area. It discusses the introduction of a more tailored, complementary approach of surgical and nonsurgical treatments which include injectable fillers, neurotoxins and skin rejuvenation procedures such as chemical peels and laser resurfacing. Also explained are the techniques and complications involved with hyaluronic acid fillers.

The article discusses the surgical procedures and related devices for the treatment of presbyopia., a visual disability of the aging eye. The KAMRA inlay by AcuFocus Inc. is used to treat presbyopia which is perhaps the furthest along in development and the regulatory process of the current generation of corneal inlays. The Raindrop corneal inlay was developed for the treatment of plano presbyopia. Information on the Flexivue Microlens is also offered.

Abstract: This study examined age-related changes in biomechanical behaviour in the anterior, equatorial and posterior regions of the human sclera (white of the eye). Circumferential strip specimens were extracted from areas close to the limbus, equator and posterior pole in 45 donor scleras ranging in age between 51 and 84 years. The strips were subjected to cycles of uniaxial tension loading at a strain rate of 8% per minute while monitoring their load-deformation behaviour. All specimens demonstrated nonlinear behaviour with an initially low tangent modulus (a measure of material stiffness) increasing under higher stresses. The average ratios between the tangent modulus at a high stress of 1MPa and that at a low stress of 0.05MPa were 11.2±1.7, 12.0±1.7 and 12.4±1.5 for anterior, equatorial and posterior specimens, respectively. Stiffening was observed with age in all regions, but it was statistically significant only in the anterior region (P<0.01). Anterior specimens showed the largest stiffness growth with advancing age in both the initial, matrix regulated phase of behaviour (0.32MPa/decade), and the final, collagen regulated phase (3.97MPa/decade), followed by equatorial (0.27 and 2.15MPa/decade) then posterior specimens (0.14 and 0.26MPa/decade). The stress–strain behaviour of scleral tissue exhibits increasing stiffness with higher age. In addition to a regional variation of material stiffness, the rate of stiffness growth with age also varies between regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tear trough deformity is a major concern in a lot of individuals seeking periorbital rejuvenation. A prominent tear trough deformity is characterised by a sunken appearance of the eye that results in the casting of a dark shadow over the lower eyelid, giving the patient a fatigued appearance despite adequate rest, and is refractory to attempts at cosmetic concealment. The tear trough deformity is a natural consequence of the anatomic attachments of the periorbital tissues. A variety of techniques have evolved to address this cosmetic issue. Traditional techniques relied on surgical excision of skin, muscle, and fat as well as chemical peels. Treatment is now tailored towards specific anatomic abnormalities and often employs multiple modalities including surgery, botulinum toxin, and replacement of volume. Various original research articles, text book publications and review articles were studied. Data specific to the historical aspect and anatomy of tear trough have been enumerated. Techniques of different authors were analysed and their results and complications have been summarised. The technique of the author has also been described here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proteins of the human eye are highly susceptible to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) from the reaction of sugars and carbonyl compounds. AGEs progressively accumulate in the aging lens and retina and accumulate at a higher rate in diseases that adversely affect vision such as, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. In the lens AGEs induce irreversible changes in structural proteins, which lead to lens protein aggregation and formation of high-molecular-weight aggregates that scatter light and impede vision. In the retina AGEs modify intra- and extracellular proteins that lead to an increase in oxidative stress and formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which promote vascular dysfunction. This review outlines recent advances in AGE research focusing on the mechanisms of their formation and their role in cataract and pathologies of the retina. The therapeutic action and pharmacological strategies of anti-AGE agents that can inhibit or prevent AGE formation in the eye are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages can be polarized to exhibit either pro-inflammatory M1 or pro-angiogenic M2 phenotypes, but have high phenotypic plasticity. This pilot study investigated macrophage polarization in the macular retina and choroid of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and non-AMD subjects, as well as in AMD choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM). All specimens were evaluated for routine histopathology. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for representative M1 ( CXCL11) and M2 ( CCL22) transcripts were performed on macular choroidal trephines (MCT) of 19 AMD and nine non-AMD eye bank eyes, on the microdissected macular retinal cells from the archived slides of five geographic atrophic AMD, five exudative/neovascular AMD, and eight normal autopsied eyes, and on microdissected inflammatory cells from two surgically removed CNVM that did not respond to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. High M2-chemokine transcript and a low ratio of M1 to M2 chemokine transcript were found in aging non-AMD MCT. Advanced AMD maculae had a higher M1 to M2 chemokine transcript ratio compared to normal autopsied eyes. Macrophages in the two CNVM of patients unresponsive to anti-VEGF therapy were polarized toward either M1 or M2 phenotypes. The number of M2 macrophages was increased compared to M1 macrophages in normal aging eyes. A pathological shift of macrophage polarization may play a potential role in AMD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The optical properties of the lens are dependent upon the integrity of proteins within the fiber cells. During aging, crystallins, the major intra-cellular structural proteins of the lens, aggregate and become water-insoluble. Modifications to crystallins and the lens intermediate filaments have been implicated in this phenomenon. In this study, we examined changes to, and interactions between, human lens crystallins and intermediate filament proteins in lenses from a variety of age groups (0–86years). Among the lens-specific intermediate filament proteins, filensin was extensively cleaved in all postnatal lenses, with truncated products of various sizes being found in both the lens cortical and nuclear extracts. Phakinin was also truncated and was not detected in the lens nucleus. The third major intermediate filament protein, vimentin, remained intact in lens cortical fiber cells across the age range except for an 86year lens, where a single ~49kDa breakdown product was observed. An αB-crystallin fusion protein (maltose-binding protein-αB-crystallin) was found to readily exchange subunits with endogenous α-crystallin, and following mild heat stress, to bind to filensin, phakinin and vimentin and to several of their truncated products. Tryptic digestion of a truncated form of filensin suggested that the binding site for α-crystallin may be in the N-terminal region. The presence of significant amounts of small peptides derived from γS- and βB1-crystallins in the water-insoluble fraction of the lens indicates that these interact tightly with cytoskeletal or membrane components. Interestingly, water-soluble complexes (~40kDa) contained predominantly γS- and βB1-crystallins, suggesting that cross-linking is an alternative pathway for modified β- and γ-crystallins in the lens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Eye movement recordings are useful for assessing neurological disorders, the prevalence of which increases with age. However, there is little rigorous quantitative data on describing oculomotor changes that occur during healthy aging. Here, we measured the ability of 81 normal elderly subjects (60–85 years) to perform two saccadic eye movement tasks: a pro-saccade task, requiring an automatic response to look towards a stimulus and an anti-saccade task, requiring inhibition of the automatic response to instead initiate a voluntary saccade away from the stimulus. Saccadic ability decreased with age: the oldest subjects were slower to initiate saccades and they made more direction errors (i.e., erroneous pro-saccades) in the anti-saccade task. Intra-subject variability in reaction time also correlated positively with age in both saccade tasks. Voluntary saccade control, as assessed by the anti-saccade task, was far more affected by aging than automatic control, as assessed by the pro-saccade task, suggesting that the mechanisms driving voluntary and automatic saccade performance deteriorate at different rates in the aging brain, and therefore likely involves different neural substrates. Our data provide insight into deficits due to normal brain changes in aging as well as a baseline to evaluate deficits caused by neurological disorders common in this age range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

By 2030, there will be approximately 71 million Americans over age 65. An age-related change in the crystalline lens of the eye affects the ability of the older individuals to see colors at lower saturations such as pastels, and to discriminate between colors. How older adults perceive color effects their morale, appetite and overall sense of well being. This study focuses on the subjective impressions of saturation based colors made by a sample of elderly. Sixty elderly subjects (65- 90years) participated in an experiment that examined how the aging eye, with its visual limitations, perceives four colors (red, green, blue and purple), of different saturation (high, medium, low), under 2 light sources (warm white and cool white) in terms of subjective evaluative impressions. In this study 'subjective impression' is assessed as the perceptual experience of 4 dimensions (like, pleasant, beautiful and satisfying). Results indicate that across all hues the subjects rated colors at the highest saturation as the 'most liked, 'most pleasant', 'most beautiful' and 'most satisfying'. Also, results indicate that the elderly perceive high saturation colors as more pleasing and beautiful compared to low saturation colors, generally. Results also reveal that in instances where a significant relationship was observed between light and saturation-based color level, subjects ranked colors at the highest saturation level most favorable under cool white light and ranked colors at the middle saturation level most favorably under warm white light. Practitioners—designers, architects, environmentalist, and gerontologist can consider the results of this study and make informed decisions about appropriate color specifications for elderly clients to create interior environments such as health care, nursing homes, adult daycare and retirement homes that are nurturing and aesthetically pleasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental study examined the effects of interior light sources on saturation based color contrast by older subjects with normal vision. As people age, their ability to discriminate color is negatively affected especially in the less saturated colors of green, blue, and violet. This occurs mainly due to the yellowing and thickening of the lens, which blocks the shorter wavelengths of color (blues, greens, and violets) from reaching the optic nerves. If elderly perceive color incorrectly, the negative consequences could include accidents, loss of productivity and disorientation. Sixty elderly subjects (65- 90years) from three senior citizen centers located in an urban setting in the US participated in an experimental study. Each subject evaluated 4 color pallets-red, green, blue and purple simultaneously in each of the saturation levels (low, medium, and high) and rated them on dimensions of color contrast. When colors were presented in high saturation, blue received the highest rating of good visual contrast followed by green. When colors were presented in low saturation, purple and red received high acceptability while blue received the lowest rating. Practitioners can consider the results of this study and make informed decisions about appropriate color specifications for elderly clients in interior environments such as health care, nursing homes, adult daycare and retirement homes. The findings of this study will enable elderly negotiate the interior environments and make visually informed choices about objects and scenes in the environment with confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Much previous work on how normal aging affects visual enumeration has been focused on the response time required to enumerate, with unlimited stimulus duration. There is a fundamental question, not yet addressed, of how many visual items the aging visual system can enumerate in a ''single glance'', without the confounding influence of eye movements. Methodology/Principal Findings: We recruited 104 observers with normal vision across the age span (age 21-85). They were briefly (200 ms) presented with a number of well- separated black dots against a gray background on a monitor screen, and were asked to judge the number of dots. By limiting the stimulus presentation time, we can determine the maximum number of visual items an observer can correctly enumerate at a criterion level of performance (counting threshold, defined as the number of visual items at which ≈63% correct rate on a psychometric curve), without confounding by eye movements. Our findings reveal a 30% decrease in the mean counting threshold of the oldest group (age 61-85: ~5 dots) when compared with the youngest groups (age 21-40: 7 dots). Surprisingly, despite decreased counting threshold, on average counting accuracy function (defined as the mean number of dots reported for each number tested) is largely unaffected by age, reflecting that the threshold loss can be primarily attributed to increased random errors. We further expanded this interesting finding to show that both young and old adults tend to over-count small numbers, but older observers over-count more. Conclusion/Significance: Here we show that age reduces the ability to correctly enumerate in a glance, but the accuracy (veridicality), on average, remains unchanged with advancing age. Control experiments indicate that the degraded performance cannot be explained by optical, retinal or other perceptual factors, but is cortical in origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Changes in the physiological properties of senescent V1 neurons suggest that the mechanisms encoding spatial frequency in primate cortex may become more broadly tuned in old age (Zhang et al., European Journal of Neuroscience, 2008, 28, 201–207). We examined this possibility in two psychophysical experiments that used masking to estimate the bandwidth of spatial frequency-selective mechanisms in younger (age ≈22years) and older (age ≈65years) human adults. Contrary to predictions from physiological studies, in both experiments, the spatial frequency selectivity of masking was essentially identical in younger and older subjects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the effect of ageing on the neural gain control in the short-wavelength opponent channel. In order to tackle specifically postreceptoral changes, we determined the effect of ageing on transient tritanopia, a paradoxical and transient reduction of short-wavelength sensitivity after the presentation of a long-wavelength adapting light. The results demonstrate an unexpected and significant increase of transient tritanopia with age, which cannot be explained by a general decline of short-wave sensitivity or the selective reduction of retinal illumination. Instead, our data imply that ageing affects also short-wavelength gain control at the site of chromatic opponency or beyond. Age-related changes of adaptation processes should therefore be considered an important factor influencing the visual performances of the elderly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Five measures of temporal order judgments were obtained from 261 participants, including 146 elder, 44 middle aged, and 71 young participants. Strong age group differences were observed in all five measures, although the group differences were reduced when letter discriminability was matched for all participants. Significant relations were found between these measures of temporal processing and several cognitive and sensory assays, and structural equation modeling revealed the degree to which temporal order processing can be viewed as a latent factor that depends in part on contributions from sensory and cognitive capacities. The best-fitting model involved two different latent factors representing temporal order processing at same and different locations, and the sensory and cognitive factors were more successful predicting performance in the different location factor than the same-location factor. Processing speed, even measured using high-contrast symbols on a paper-and-pencil test, was a surprisingly strong predictor of variability in both latent factors. However, low-level sensory measures also made significant contributions to the latent factors. The results demonstrate the degree to which temporal order processing relates to other perceptual and cognitive capacities, and address the question of whether age-related declines in these capacities share a common cause. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Volumetric rejuvenation of the periorbital region is based on an analysis of the aesthetics of the attractive youthful eye contrasted with the typical characteristics of aging. Traditional rejuvenation techniques emphasized fat and skin removal leading to "done" appearing results. The incorporation of volume with these techniques based on the specific analysis of volume loss produces more natural appearing true rejuvenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful management of the aging upper eyelid region in the Asian patient requires a unique skill set and clinical experience. The surgeon must exhibit a thorough understanding of the unique anatomy of the Asian eyelid and its variations and of the cultural expectations of the patient and must possess a unique set of surgical skills such as de novo creation of the supratarsal crease as well as complementary procedures such as fat transfer used for volume augmentation of the periorbital region. The modern approach outlined here summarizes the key elements necessary to restore the youthful appearance of the upper eyelid region in a natural and ethnically consistent fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rejuvenation of the periocular region, specifically the lower eyelid region, can be performed with a variety of methods. One finding of the aging lower eyelid region is the "Y-deformity." Elevation of the midface is a powerful tool that can significantly improve the appearance of the lower eyelid. This article addresses the elevation of the midface through two approaches: the meloplication and the subperiosteal midface-lift. In addition to midface elevation, a short discussion on canthopexy is included. Although the lower eyelid can be addressed in a variety of ways, rejuvenation of the periocular region from above should be considered in all patients, as these approaches yield good results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Low molecular weight (LMW) peptides, derived from the breakdown of the major eye lens proteins, the crystallins, accumulate in the human lens with age. These LMW peptides are associated with age-related lens opacity and cataract, with some shown to inhibit the chaperone activity of α-crystallin. However, the mechanism(s) giving rise to the production of these peptides, as well as their distribution within the lens, are not well understood. In this study, we have mapped the distribution of these crystallin-derived peptides present in human lenses of different ages using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). Our data showed that most of these LMW peptides emerge in the lens at early middle-age, with peptides greater than 1778 Da in mass being confined to the water insoluble fractions, and to a lesser extent the water soluble fractions of older lenses. MALDI-IMS analyses showed that four peptides, derived from αA-, αB- and γS-crystallins, were confined to the lens nuclear fibre cells upon emergence during early middle-age, but were present in both the cortex and nucleus of old lenses. In contrast, another major peptide, derived from the C-terminal breakdown of βA3-crystallin, was present in the cortical and nuclear regions of both young and old lenses. A comparison between age-matched cataractous and non-cataractous lenses showed no distinct differences in LMW peptide profiles, indicating that although cataract may be a potential consequence caused by the emergence of these peptides, it does not contribute directly to the peptide-generating process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the role of pharmacologic vitreolysis in health and disease. It explains the causes and occurrence of anomalous posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in aging individuals. Specialists expect that pharmacologic vitreolysis will replace surgery by preventing the molecular changes that trigger vitreous abnormality, and cause improvement in intraocular physiology and metabolism. The article mentions that the drug, microplasmin, has been tested for efficacy and may soon be approved for use in clinical pharmacologic vitreolysis.

Abstract: Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGE) have been reported to contribute to aging and cataract formation in the lens. In the present study, AGE immunoreactivity in human serum samples of normal senile subjects (n=31), senile diabetic patients without cataract (n=33), senile diabetic patients with cataract (n=30), senile nondiabetic with cataract (n=30), and normal young subjects (n=31) was investigated. Methods: A noncompetitive ELISA with polyclonal anti-AGE antibody was performed. The patients were selected on clinical grounds from Eye Ward, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. Results: Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum fructosamine were estimated. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, and serum fructosamine levels were significantly (P<.001) increased in senile diabetic patients with and without cataract as compared to nondiabetic senile patients with cataract and senile control subjects. However, the serum AGEs were found to be significantly (P<.001) increased in senile diabetic patients with cataract and senile nondiabetic patients with cataract followed by the diabetic patients without cataract as compared to senile control and young control subjects. In contrast to all four senile groups, the serum AGEs were significantly (P<.001) lower in young control subjects. Conclusions: The AGE distribution in the senile groups corroborates the hypothesis that the advanced glycation process might have a role in cataract formation, which in diabetic patients occurs vigorously as compared with nondiabetic cataract patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Iron is necessary for life, but excess iron can be toxic to tissues. Iron is thought to damage tissues primarily by generating oxygen free radicals through the Fenton reaction. Methods: We present an overview of the evidence supporting iron''s potential contribution to a broad range of eye disease using an anatomical approach. Results: Iron can be visualized in the cornea as iron lines in the normal aging cornea as well as in diseases like keratoconus and pterygium. In the lens, we present the evidence for the role of oxidative damage in cataractogenesis. Also, we review the evidence that iron may play a role in the pathogenesis of the retinal disease age-related macular degeneration. Although currently there is no direct link between excess iron and development of optic neuropathies, ferrous iron''s ability to form highly reactive oxygen species may play a role in optic nerve pathology. Lastly, we discuss recent advances in prevention and therapeutics for eye disease with antioxidants and iron chelators. General significance: Iron homeostasis is important for ocular health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To investigate the facial cues that are used when making judgments about how old or tired a face appears. Design: Experimental study. Participants: Forty-seven subjects: 15 male and 32 female participants, ranging from age 18 to 30 years. Methods: Forty-eight full-face digital images of “normal-appearing” patients were collected and uploaded to an eye-tracking system. We used an Applied Science Laboratories (Bedford, MA) Eye Tracker device associated with gaze-tracking software to record and calculate the gaze and fixation of the participants'' left eye as they viewed images on a computer screen. After seeing each picture, participants were asked to assess the age of the face in the picture by making a selection on a rating scale divided into 5-year intervals; for fatigue judgments we used a rating scale from 1 (not tired) to 7 (most tired). Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measure was gaze fixation, as assessed by tracking the eye movements of participants as they viewed full-face digital pictures. Results: For fatigue judgments, participants spent the most time looking at the eye region (31.81%), then the forehead and the nose regions (14.99% and 14.12%, respectively); in the eye region, participants looked most at the brows (13.1%) and lower lids (9.4%). Participants spent more time looking at the cheeks on faces they rated as least tired than they did on those they rated as most tired (t = 2.079, P<0.05). For age judgments, the eye region (27.22%) and then the forehead (15.71%) and the nose (14.30%) had the highest frequencies of interest; in the eye region, the brows and lower lids also had the highest frequencies of interest (11.40% and 8.90%, respectively). Participants looked more at the brows (t = −2.63, P<0.05) and glabella (t = −3.28, P<0.01) in those faces they rated as looking the oldest. Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that age and fatigue judgments are related to preferential attention toward the eye region. Consequently, these results suggest that aesthetic or functional surgery to the eye region may be one of the most effective interventions in enhancing the appearance of an individual. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To elucidate the contribution of environmental versus genetic factors to the significant losses in visual function associated with normal aging. Design: A classical twin study. Participants: Forty-two twin pairs (21 monozygotic and 21 dizygotic; age 57–75 years) with normal visual acuity recruited through the Australian Twin Registry. Methods: Cone function was evaluated by establishing absolute cone contrast thresholds to flicker (4 and 14 Hz) and isoluminant red and blue colors under steady state adaptation. Adaptation dynamics were determined for both cones and rods. Bootstrap resampling was used to return robust intrapair correlations for each parameter. Main Outcome Measures: Psychophysical thresholds and adaptational time constants. Results: The intrapair correlations for all color and flicker thresholds, as well as cone absolute threshold, were significantly higher in monozygotic compared with dizygotic twin pairs (P<0.05). Rod absolute thresholds (P = 0.28) and rod and cone recovery rate (P = 0.83; P = 0.79, respectively) did not show significant differences between monozygotic and dizygotic twins in their intrapair correlations, indicating that steady-state cone thresholds and flicker thresholds have a marked genetic contribution, in contrast with rod thresholds and adaptive processes, which are influenced more by environmental factors over a lifetime. Conclusions: Genes and the environment contribute differently to important neuronal processes in the retina and the role they may play in the decline in visual function as we age. Consequently, retinal structures involved in rod thresholds and adaptive processes may be responsive to appropriate environmental manipulation. Because the functions tested are commonly impaired in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration, which is known to have a multifactorial etiology, this study supports the view that pathogenic pathways early in the disease may be altered by appropriate environmental intervention. Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To assess the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) developing after cataract surgery. Design: Cohort study. Participants: Four thousand five hundred seventy-seven participants (8050 eyes) from a multicenter, controlled, randomized clinical trial, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). Methods: Development of advanced AMD, either neovascular (NV) AMD or geographic atrophy (GA), was evaluated with annual fundus photographs, and history of cataract surgery was assessed every 6 months. Cox proportional hazard models with time-dependent covariates were conducted for NV AMD and GA separately. Main Outcome Measures: Neovascular AMD, GA, and central GA (CGA; involving the center of the macula). Results: The Cox proportional hazards model of right eyes showed nonsignificant hazard ratios of 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82–1.75) for NV AMD, 0.80 (95% CI, 0.61–1.06) for GA, and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.64–1.18) for CGA. Similar results were obtained for left eyes: 1.07 (95% CI, 0.72–1.58) for NV AMD, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.71–1.25) for GA, and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.63–1.19) for CGA. For participants with advanced AMD in 1 eye (AREDS category 4), the hazard ratios for fellow eyes were 1.08 (95% CI, 0.65–1.72) for NV AMD and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.64–1.49) for CGA. Conclusions: The AREDS results showed no clear effect of cataract surgery on the risk of progression to advanced AMD. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oxidative stress occurs when the level of prooxidants exceeds the level of antioxidants in cells resulting in oxidation of cellular components and consequent loss of cellular function. Oxidative stress is implicated in wide range of age-related disorders including Alzheimer''s disease, Parkinson''s disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington''s disease and the aging process itself. In the anterior segment of the eye, oxidative stress has been linked to lens cataract and glaucoma while in the posterior segment of the eye oxidative stress has been associated with macular degeneration. Key to many oxidative stress conditions are alterations in the efficiency of mitochondrial respiration resulting in superoxide (O2 −) production. Superoxide production precedes subsequent reactions that form potentially more dangerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) species such as the hydroxyl radical (ogen peroxide (H2O2) and peroxynitrite (OONO−). The major source of ROS in the mitochondria, and in the cell overall, is leakage of electrons from complexes I and III of the electron transport chain. It is estimated that 0.2–2% of oxygen taken up by cells is converted to ROS, through mitochondrial superoxide generation, by the mitochondria. Generation of superoxide at complexes I and III has been shown to occur at both the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane and the cytosolic side of the membrane. While exogenous sources of ROS such as UV light, visible light, ionizing radiation, chemotherapeutics, and environmental toxins may contribute to the oxidative milieu, mitochondria are perhaps the most significant contribution to ROS production affecting the aging process. In addition to producing ROS, mitochondria are also a target for ROS which in turn reduces mitochondrial efficiency and leads to the generation of more ROS in a vicious self-destructive cycle. Consequently, the mitochondria have evolved a number of antioxidant and key repair systems to limit the damaging potential of free oxygen radicals and to repair damaged proteins (Fig. 1). The aging eye appears to be at considerable risk from oxidative stress. This review will outline the potential role of mitochondrial function and redox balance in age-related eye diseases, and detail how the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) protein repair system and other redox systems play key roles in the function and maintenance of the aging eye. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This review article covers all aspects of iron metabolism, which include studies of iron levels within the eye and the processes used to maintain normal levels of iron in ocular tissues. In addition, the involvement of iron in ocular pathology is explored. In each section there is a short introduction to a specific metabolic process responsible for iron homeostasis, which for the most part has been studied in non-ocular tissues. This is followed by a summary of our current knowledge of the process in ocular tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Age-related maculopathy (ARM) remains the most common cause of blind registration in people aged 50 years or over in the developed world, and its prevalence continues to rise. Although effective new treatments have become available in the recent past, these are expensive and cumbersome to the healthcare provider and to the patient, and many cases remain resistant to such therapy. There is a biologically plausible rationale whereby macular pigment, which is entirely of dietary origin, may prevent or delay the onset, or ameliorate the clinical course, of ARM. In this article, we review this rationale, and critically appraise the current evidence base germane to the use of supplements containing the macular carotenoids in patients with, or at risk of developing, ARM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maillard reaction plays an important role in eye lens aging and cataract formation. Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a metabolic dicarbonyl compound present in the lens. It reacts with arginine residues in lens proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGEs), such as hydroimidazolones and argpyrimidine. α-Crystallin, comprising αA- and αB-crystallin, is a major protein of the lens and it functions as a chaperone protein. We have found that upon reaction with MGO, human αA-crystallin becomes a more effective chaperone. Modification of specific arginine residues to AGEs appears to be the reason. Mutation of these arginine residues to alanine mirrors the effect of MGO, suggesting neutralization of the positive charge on arginine residues as a cause for improved chaperone function. Reaction with MGO also blocks the loss of the chaperone function of αA-crystallin caused by nonenzymatic glycation by ascorbate and ribose. These findings suggest that low levels of MGO might help the lens remain transparent during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brow ptosis occurs as part of the aging process, and as a complication of facial nerve paresis. The article addresses the options available for correction of brow ptosis. The direct brow lift is effective for medial and central brow ptosis, and additional lift laterally may occasionally be needed. This is achieved with either a temporal external lift or an internal lift combined with blepharoplasty. The direct brow lift is suitable for any degree and pattern of brow ptosis, usually in males. It is also suitable for older females as well as male patients with facial paresis or marked involutional brow ptosis. The trans-blepharoplasty brow lift is suitable for relatively small degrees of brow ptosis affecting mainly the lateral two-thirds of the brow in any age group. It is often combined with upper lid blepharoplasty and is performed through the same incision. Complications associated with the direct brow lift include a cosmetically disturbing scar, granuloma formation due to the use of braided absorbable sutures rather than monofilament sutures, and the brow descending again. There may be temporary patches of reduced sensation in the forehead which normally recover in a few months. Complications associated with the trans-blepharoplasty brow lift include less lift than desired, and sutures causing dimpling of the skin. These two techniques are useful additions to the approaches for patients with brow ptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of age-related changes within the Bruch membrane on the gene expression profile of the RPE. Immortalized human ARPE-19 cells were seeded onto acellular human Bruch membrane from younger and older donors and harvested 72 hr later; total RNA was isolated and the gene expression profile was determined using the Affymetrix Human Genome U95A gene chip. Twelve genes were upregulated and 8 genes were downregulated with Bruch membrane aging; RT-PCR confirms that Bruch membrane aging upregulates genes in RPE cells encoding for transforming growth factor alpha and downregulates genes for vitronectin and the membrane transporter ABCC5. The role of these changes in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases such as macular degeneration remains to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to characterize covalent multimers with molecular mass of >90 kDa in the waterinsoluble (WI) proteins of aging human lenses. The experimental approach was to first separate the multimers (molecular mass >90 kDa) as individual spots by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and next analyze compositions of each multimers by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization.time of flight and electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric (ES-MS/MS) methods. The WI proteins from lenses of 25- and 41-year-old subjects showed distinct 5- and 16-multimer spots on two-dimensional gels, respectively, but the spots from 52- and 72-year-old lenses were non-descript and diffused. ES-MS/MS analyses showed two types of covalent multimers in 25- and 41-year-old lenses, i.e. the first type composed of fragments of eight different crystallins (i.e. αA, αB, βA3, βA4, βB1, βB2, γS, and γD), and the second type of α-, β-, and γ-crystallins (possibly fragments) and two beaded filament proteins (phakinin and filensin). The most commonly identified species in the complexes of 41-year-old lenses were: αA-fragment (C-terminally truncated, residues 1-157), αB-fragment (residues 8390), βB1-crystallin (residues 60-71), βA3 (residues 3344), βA4 (residues 106-117), filensin (residues 78-90), and phakinin (residues 77-89). Three post-translational modifications (i.e. oxidation of Met and Trp, conversion of Ser to dehydroalanine, and formulation of His) were observed in αA-crystallin fragment, and the first two modifications could cross-link proteins. Together, the results suggested that covalent multimers appeared early in life (i.e. 25 years of age) and increased in number with aging, and the two beaded filament proteins form covalent complexes with crystallin fragments in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with the failure of U.S. public policy and programs to support aging-related sensory impairments. Structure of the federal state rehabilitation system as of March 2003; Discussion on progress in obtaining health insurance coverage for vision rehabilitation services; Consequences of somatosensory impairment.

Background: Ocular microtremor (OMT) is a high-frequency tremor of the eyes. It is present in all individuals and is related to brainstem activity. The OMT signal appears as an irregular oscillatory movement with intermittent burst-like components. The clinical interest in OMT has centered on its use in the assessment of the comatose patient, with broad agreement among authors of its prognostic value. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in OMT activity related to aging.Methods: OMT was recorded from 72 normal healthy subjects using the piezoelectric strain gauge technique. The subjects ranged in age from 21 to 88 years (54.22 +/- 20.43 years, mean +/- SD).Results: Our results show that the overall frequency and frequency content of the bursts falls with age (p < .002 and p < .001, respectively). There is a highly significant drop in all three frequency parameters of OMT (p < .0001) in subjects older than 60 years of age.Conclusions: These results suggest that different values of normality should operate for subjects over 60 years of age when considering the clinical application of OMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on age-related issues with vision impairment and the importance of follow-up care from a psychosocial perspective. Psychological implications at the time of injury; Definition of visual impairment; Services and approach to rehabilitation offered by the American Optometry Association.

Examines whether long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) enrichment of infant formula has beneficial effects on maturational events of the visual system. Basis for essentiality; Effects of essential fats on growth and neurodevelopment; Preterm infant studies.