Search

J Jorge,1 JL Rosado,2 JA Díaz-Rey,1 JM González-Méijome11Clinical and Experimental Optometry Research Laboratory, Center of Physics (Optometry), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, 2Opticlinic, Lisboa, PortugalBackground: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of the new Sirius® Scheimpflug anterior segment examination device for measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) with that of CCT measurements obtained by ultrasound pachymetry and ACD measurements obtained by ultrasound biometry, respectively.Methods: CCT and ACD was measured in 50 right eyes from 50 healthy subjects using a Sirius Scheimpflug camera, SP100 ultrasound pachymetry, and US800 ultrasound biometry.Results: CCT measured with the Sirius was 546 ± 39 µm and 541 ± 35 µm with SP100 ultrasound pachymetry (P = 0.003). The difference was statistically significant (mean difference 4.68 ± 10.5 µm; limits of agreement −15.8 to 25.20 µm). ACD measured with the Sirius was 2.96 ± 0.3 mm compared with 3.36 ± 0.29 mm using US800 ultrasound biometry (P < 0.001). The difference was statistically significant (mean difference −0.40 ± 0.16 mm; limits of agreement −0.72 to 0.07 mm). When the ACD values obtained using ultrasound biometry were corrected according to the values for CCT measured by ultrasound, the agreement increased significantly between both technologies for ACD measurements (mean difference 0.15 ± 0.16 mm; limits of agreement −0.16 to 0.45 mm).Conclusion: CCT and ACD measured by Sirius and ultrasound methods showing good agreement between repeated measurements obtained in the same subjects (repeatability) with either instrument. However, CCT and ACD values, even after correcting ultrasound ACD by subtracting the CCT value obtained with either technology should not be used interchangeably.Keywords: Scheimpflug corneal tomography, ultrasound biometry, ultrasound pachymetry, limits of agreement

Posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation is a common option for correcting moderate-to-high ocular refractive defects. Because this pIOL is implanted on ciliary sulcus, the distance between the back surface of the pIOL and the anterior surface of the crystalline lens, that it is known as vault, should be measured in different conditions to ensure the technique's safety. Cyclopentolate is a drug that dilates the pupil and relaxes accommodation (cycloplegia). It is often used for different ocular examinations and for other medical purposes. However, there is no evidence of the effect of this drug on vault. This study quantified central vault changes associated with cyclopentolate instillation. We measured the vault under normal conditions (pre-cycloplegic instillation) and after instilling cyclopentolate on 39 eyes of 39 patients with implanted pIOL. Our results suggest that cyclopentolate instillation may induce changes to vault in eyes with implanted pIOL. These changes seem safe and are mainly associated with vault under normal conditions, but also with anterior chamber depth, pupillary diameter and pIOL size.

The multifocal electroretinogram (mERG) is a valuable non-invasive tool used by clinicians for studying both the local physiology of the normal human retina, as well as retinal function affected by disease. However, the neural basis of the major components of the mERG is not well understood. Computational modeling of neural circuits has lead to important insights into the structure and workings of nervous systems. A better understanding of the different neural factors that contribute to the retina function and progression of the pathology can help in developing an effective clinical intervention. In this paper, we propose a minimal computational model as an analysis tool for inferring the relationship between mERG data of the human retina and its underlying neural activity and interpreting the data in terms of the specific neural features that contribute to it. In this preliminary study, the rigor of this analysis technique was assessed by fitting the model with a genetic algorithm (GA) to collected mERG data from ten healthy patients.

This work is an analysis of the application of the generalized Monod kinetics model describing human corneal oxygen consumption during soft contact lens wear to models previously used by Chhabra et al. (J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, 2009a;90:202-209, Optom Vis Sci 2009b;86:454-466) and Larrea and Büchler (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2009;50:1076-1080). We use oxygen tension from in vivo estimations provided by Bonanno [Bonanno et al., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002;43:371-376, and Bonanno et al 2009]. We consider four hydrogel and six silicone hydrogel lenses. The cornea is considered a single homogeneous layer, with constant oxygen permeability regardless of the type of lens worn. Our calculations yield different values for the maximum oxygen consumption rate Q c,max , whith differents oxygen tensions (high and low p c ) at the cornea-tears interface. Surprisingly, for both models, we observe an increase in oxygen consumption near an oxygen tension of 105 mmHg until a maximum is reached, then decreasing for higher levels of oxygen pressure. That is, when lowering the pressure of oxygen, the parameter Q c,max initially increases depending on the intensity of the change in pressure. Which, it could be related with the variation of the pH. Furthermore, it is also noted that to greater reductions in pressure, this parameter decreases, possibly due to changes in the concentration of glucose related to the anaerobic respiration. The averaged in vivo human corneal oxygen consumption rate of 1.47 × 10 -4 cm 3 of O 2 /cm 3 tissue s, with Monod kinetics model, considering all the lenses studied, is smaller than the average oxygen consumption rate value obtained using the Larrea and Büchler model. The impact that these calculations have on the oxygen partial pressure available at different depths in the corneal tissue is presented and discussed, taking into consideration previous models used in this study. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 2269-2281, 2017., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the potential of a novel custom-designed rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens to modify the relative peripheral refractive error in a sample of myopic patients., Methods: Fifty-two right eyes of 52 myopic patients (mean [±SD] age, 21 [±2] years) with spherical refractive errors ranging from -0.75 to -8.00 diopters (D) and refractive astigmatism of 1.00 D or less were fitted with a novel experimental RGP (ExpRGP) lens designed to create myopic defocus in the peripheral retina. A standard RGP (StdRGP) lens was used as a control in the same eye. The relative peripheral refractive error was measured without the lens and with each of two lenses (StdRGP and ExpRGP) using an open-field autorefractometer from 30 degrees nasal to 30 degrees temporal, in 5-degree steps. The effectiveness of the lens design was evaluated as the amount of relative peripheral refractive error difference induced by the ExpRGP compared with no lens and with StdRGP conditions at 30 degrees in the nasal and temporal (averaged) peripheral visual fields., Results: Experimental RGP lens induced a significant change in relative peripheral refractive error compared with the no-lens condition (baseline), beyond the 10 degrees of eccentricity to the nasal and temporal side of the visual field (p < 0.05). The maximum effect was achieved at 30 degrees. Wearing the ExpRGP lens, 60% of the eyes had peripheral myopia exceeding -1.00 D, whereas none of the eyes presented with this feature at baseline. There was no significant correlation (r = 0.04; p = 0.756) between the degree of myopia induced at 30 degrees of eccentricity of the visual field with the ExpRGP lens and the baseline refractive error., Conclusions: Custom-designed RGP contact lenses can generate a significant degree of relative peripheral myopia in myopic patients regardless of their baseline spherical equivalent refractive error.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between measures of light distortion and retinal straylight in normal and post-LASIK subjects., Design: Cross-sectional, non-randomized, masked observational case series, Setting: Clinica Oftalmologica Novovision, Madrid, Spain., Methods: Thirty eyes from 30 healthy subjects (mean age 33.9 ± 8.3 years old; mean spherical equivalent (MSE) -2.06 ± 1.40 D) and thirty six eyes from thirty six refractive surgery patients (mean age 36.1 ± 7.7 years old; mean preop MSE -3.43 ± 2.23 D) were examined with the Starlights and the C-Quant straylightmeter in a case-control study., Results: The age of both treated and control groups was not statistically different (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences between controls and post-LASIK eyes were found for luminous distortion index (LDI), but not for retinal straylight. Correlation analysis yielded significant correlation between retinal straylight Log(s) values and BCVA measures (r = 0.379, p = 0.002). Control subjects showed significant correlation between MSE and retinal straylight Log(s) values (r = -0.650, p < 0.001), while post-LASIK eyes showed a significant correlation between LDI and Log(s) values (r = 0.338, p = 0.044) and between Log(s) values and BCVA (r = 0.460, p = 0.005). Correlation between measures obtained by both methods was higher after LASIK than in control eyes, although values were quite scattered in any case., Conclusion: Light distortion phenomena and retinal straylight measures are correlated in both normal and postsurgical eyes. Both parameters are increased in LASIK subjects compared to control non-operated subjects.

Purpose: To study the utility of high-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography (HR SOCT) in imaging the contact lens (CL) to cornea relationships with advanced CL designs for ecstatic corneas and corneal refractive therapy., Methods: Copernicus HR SOCT (Optopol Technology SA, Zawiercie, Poland) was used to evaluate different lens materials and designs in situ and for the preliminary assessment of the materials and corneal response to hypoxic situations., Results: SOCT is capable of highlighting very subtle and interesting features of the CL-cornea relationships in a wide range of applications such as in rigid gas-permeable corneal and semiscleral lenses, in corneal refractive therapy and application of CLs in ocular pathology, and in the evaluation of the physiological response of the cornea., Conclusions: HR SOCT is a powerful tool capable of providing sharp images of the anterior ocular surface highlighting the relationship between lens and cornea with great detail. This methodology has several applications to enhance fitting modeling with modern designs for advanced CL treatments.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of agreement of measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP) taken by a rebound tonometer (IOPen®), in comparison to a reference Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) in a glaucomatous population. Both eyes from 60 patients were assessed with the two tonometers, the induction tonometry was performed first by an experienced optometrist, and the GAT by an ophthalmologist. In this study, statistically significant differences were found when comparing the IOPen® tonometer with the GAT tonometer (p < 0.001), mean differences were -4.81 ± 4.31 and -4.76 ± 5.76 mmHg (mean ± S.D.) for the right eye and left eye respectively These values represent an underestimation in the present population by the IOPen® when compared with the GAT. Frequency distribution of differences demonstrated that in more than 71.6% of the measurements the IOP readings differed by more than 3 mmHg between the two tonometers. These results suggest that IOPen® should be used with great caution in the determination of IOP., (© 2010 The Authors. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics © 2010 The College of Optometrists.)

This study proposes to evaluate the level of accuracy of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements of a second generation rebound tonometer (IOPen, taking as references the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT) and the iCare rebound tonometer. The right eyes of 101 consecutive clinical patients were assessed with the three tonometers. The IOPen and iCare measurements were taken by two different optometrists and the GAT by an ophthalmologist. In this study, statistically significant differences were found when comparing the IOPen tonometer with the other two tonometers (p < 0.001). The IOPen underestimated the IOP value when compared to the GAT and the iCare (mean differences were 2.94 +/- 4.65 mmHg and 3.20 +/- 4.72 mmHg (mean +/- S.D.), respectively). The frequency distribution of differences demonstrated that in more than 55% of measurements the IOP readings differed by more than 3 mmHg between the IOPen and the GAT. Based on the present population study, these results suggest that IOPen measurements should be interpreted with caution.

Purpose: To describe a method to measure corneal volume from topography and pachymetry, and test its clinical use on a sample of healthy human subjects and a case of circumscribed posterior keratoconus., Methods: Corneal curvature (PCT 200 corneal topography system; Optopol Technology SA, Zawiercie, Poland) and ultrasonic topographic pachometry on 25 points (Ophthasonic A-Scan/Pachometer III; Teknar Inc., St Louis, MO, USA) were measured on each of 12 young healthy corneas and one cornea suffering from circumscribed posterior keratoconus. Topography and pachymetry data were used to calculate the coordinates for the corresponding points on the posterior surface of the cornea. TableCurve 3D software (Systat Software Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to fit a surface to those points measured. Integration of the surface fitted to the data points, corresponding to the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, was used to calculate the volume underneath each of them. Subtraction of volumes underneath anterior and posterior surfaces, taking into account an axial offset equal to the central corneal thickness, rendered corneal volume for the central 6 mm of the cornea., Results: Central corneal thickness ranged from 520 to 630 mum for the healthy corneas. Corneal volumes for this sample analyzed averaged 18.66 +/- 1.15 mm(3) (range 17.25-20.53 mm(3)). For the posterior keratoconic cornea, the affected area was located at about 1.5-2 mm from the corneal center on the 135 degrees hemimeridian of the right eye, observed through topographic pachymetry. Calculated corneal volume for the central 6 mm was 16.072 mm(3), noticeably lower than those found in the sample without pathology, but within the range for corneas presenting with keratoconus., Conclusions: Corneal volume is a useful parameter for characterising dystrophic corneas and can aid in the detection of rare anomalies which are hardly detected with corneal topography and/or central corneal thickness evaluation. A potentially useful measure of corneal volume can be calculated from anterior corneal topography and topographic pachymetry data. Values obtained are in good agreement with previous studies using corneal tomography techniques. The methodology has been shown to have potential for retrospective analysis of data, or where no access is available to tomographical techniques.

A comparative population-based cross-sectional study design was used to examine the prevalence of wavefront patterns in two different ethnic groups, and the relationship of these patterns with ocular biometrics and gender. The Shin-Nippon SRW5000 open field autorefractor, the Wavefront Analysis Supported Customized Ablation (WASCA) wavefront analyser and the IOLMaster were used to determine wavefront aberrations, mean spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error and axial length (AL). Seventy-four eyes from 74 young healthy subjects (44 British Asians, 30 Caucasians; 36 men, 38 women; mean age 22.51 +/- 3.89 years) with mean SE averaging -1.90 +/- 2.76 D (range -10.88 to +2.19 D) were examined. Relationships between ethnicity, gender, AL and SE, against the wavefront high-order root mean square, and aberration components up to the fifth order, were assessed by using multiple regression and correlation analysis. AL on its own accounted for 4.7% of the variance in trefoil component Z(-3)(3) (F(1,72) = 4.602; p = 0.035), 13.7% of coma component Z(1)(3) (F(1,72) = 12.536; p = 0.001), 6.1% of trefoil component Z(3)(3) (F(1,72) = 5.705; p = 0.020) and 9.8% of coefficient Z(-2)(4) (F(1,72) = 8.908; p = 0.004). A significant model emerged (F(2,71) = 6.164; p = 0.003) for ethnicity and axial length, accounting for 12.4% of variance in primary spherical aberration with ethnicity accounting for 8.4% of that variance. For Caucasian subjects, a significant correlation was found between axial length and (Pearson's correlation coefficient -0.500; p = 0.005) and Z(0)(4) (Pearson's correlation coefficient -0.423; p = 0.020). For British Asian subjects, AL was only correlated with coefficient Z(-2)(4) (Pearson's correlation coefficient -0.358; p = 0.017). Ethnicity is a factor to be considered in the variability of wavefront aberration, particularly spherical aberration. Relationship between AL and wavefront aberrations seems to vary between ethnicities. If higher order aberrations play a role in the emmetropization process, this may be different for different populations.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of two tinted contact lenses (CL) designed for outdoor sports activity on the psychometric determination of retinal straylight using the compensation comparison method., Methods: Thirteen emmetropic subjects were randomly fitted with two different tinted Nike Maxsight (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA) CL in one eye, while the contralateral eye was fitted with a clear lens made of the same material (Optima 38, Bausch & Lomb). Three valid straylight measurements were taken on each eye before and a few minutes after lens insertion, when lens stabilization had occurred., Results: The subjects' mean straylight values were 0.90 +/- 0.09 at baseline and 0.95 +/- 0.10 with the clear Optima 38 CL. Straylight values were 0.97 +/- 0.10 and 1.0 +/- 0.10 log units with the amber and grey-green tinted CL, respectively. Differences in straylight between baseline (without CL) and with the clear CL in place were neither statistically significant (p = 0.066) nor was there a significant difference between baseline and the amber CL (p = 0.052). However, the grey-green CL showed a statistically significant difference from baseline (p = 0.006). Differences in straylight with the clear CL compared with the grey-green CL were also statistically different from zero (p = 0.002) showing an increased straylight value for the tinted CL. These differences were variable, but consistent for each subject, thus those showing higher or lower changes with one tinted lens tended to show the same trend with the second lens (r(2) = 0.736)., Conclusions: Despite increases having been found in straylight values with tinted contact lenses, those changes are not likely to induce clinically significant changes in visual function under photopic conditions, even for the grey-green CL, which seems to increase straylight values more significantly than the amber CL. This difference between the tinted CL could suggest a wavelength dependence of straylight values, although this should be investigated further by controlling for pupil size and subjects' pigmentation, as well as by using neutral density filters.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) using a new induction/impact rebound tonometer (ICare) in comparison with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (AT). The left eyes of 46 university students were assessed with the two tonometers, with induction tonometry being performed first. The ICare was handled by an optometrist and the Goldmann tonometer by an ophthalmologist. In this study, statistically significant differences were found when comparing the ICare rebound tonometer with applanation tonometry (AT) (p < 0.05). The mean difference between the two tonometers was 1.34 +/- 2.03 mmHg (mean +/- S.D.) and the 95% limits of agreement were +/-3.98 mmHg. A frequency distribution of the differences demonstrated that in more than 80% of cases the IOP readings differed by <3 mmHg between the ICare and the AT. In the present population the ICare overestimates the IOP value by 1.34 mmHg on average when compared with Goldmann tonometer. Nevertheless, the ICare tonometer may be helpful as a screening tool when Goldmann applanation tonometry is not applicable or not recommended, as it is able to estimate IOP within a range of +/-3.00 mmHg in more than 80% of the population.