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Purpose: To evaluate the intra-session repeatability of keratometric measurements obtained in healthy eyes with the Verion image-guided system (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) as well as the interchangeability of such measurements with those obtained with an optical biometer (Aladdin, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). Methods: A total of 53 eyes of 53 patients (age 31–67 years) were enrolled in the study. All eyes received a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination including an analysis with the Verion image-guided and Aladdin systems. Three consecutive measurements of keratometry were obtained with the Verion system to assess the intra-session repeatability. Within-subject standard deviation (Sw) and intraobserver precision (± 1.96 × Sw) were calculated. Bland–Altman analysis was used for the interchangeability analysis. Results: Mean Sw was 0.26, 0.24 and 0.10 D for the keratometric power in the flattest meridian (K1), keratometric power in the steepest meridian (K2) and astigmatism, respectively. Mean Sw was 4.29° for the axis of the flattest corneal meridian (AX1). Statistically significant but clinically acceptable differences were found in K1, K2 and keratometric astigmatism among systems (p < 0.01). In contrast, differences among systems in AX1 were not statistically significant (p = 0.385) but clinically relevant (mean difference: 15.74°; limits of agreement: −30.93 to 62.41°). Conclusions: The Verion system provides consistent measurements of keratometric parameters, with measurements of AX1 that are not interchangeable with that provided by the optical biometer Aladdin, especially in cases of low and oblique astigmatism.

Purpose: To evaluate preliminarily and compare the level of plasmatic biomarkers of vascular risk in patients with and without exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and to relate it to vascular resistance alterations in the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), posterior temporal ciliary artery (PTCA), and posterior nasal ciliary artery (PNCA). Methods: Color Doppler imaging of the OA, CRA, PTCA, and PNCA was performed in 30 eyes of 30 cataract patients (control group) as well as in 30 eyes of 30 patients with naive exudative ARMD (study group), measuring the peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and Pourcelot resistive index (RI). Likewise, in both groups, a blood test was performed to determine the plasmatic levels of homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), B12 vitamin, and folic acid. Results: A positive and significant correlation was found between the level of CRP and RI of the OA in the ARMD group (r = 0.498, P = 0.005), with an increased RI in all arteries compared to controls, although differences only reached statistical significance for the PTCA (P = 0.035). Likewise, a significantly lower EDV for the CRA was found in ARMD eyes compared to controls (P = 0.041). In the study group, significantly higher plasmatic levels of homocysteine (P = 0.042) and CRP (P = 0.046) were found. In contrast, no significant differences were found between groups in the levels of folic acid (P = 0.265) and B12 vitamin (P = 0.520). Conclusion: The decrease of the choroidal perfusion related to hyperhomocysteinemia, and increase in the CRP plasmatic levels may play an etiological role on the exudative ARMD. This should be investigated in future studies with larger samples of patients. The author J.V. Segura has been partially supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, MTM2014-56233-P.