Search

While neurodegeneration underlies the pathological basis for permanent disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), predictive biomarkers for progression are lacking. Using an animal model of chronic MS, we find that synaptic injury precedes neuronal loss and identify thinning of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) as an early feature of inflammatory demyelination-prior to symptom onset. As neuronal domains are anatomically segregated in the retina and can be monitored longitudinally, we hypothesize that thinning of the IPL could represent a biomarker for progression in MS. Leveraging our dataset with over 800 participants enrolled for more than 12 years, we find that IPL atrophy directly precedes progression and propose that synaptic loss is predictive of functional decline. Using a blood proteome-wide analysis, we demonstrate a strong correlation between demyelination, glial activation, and synapse loss independent of neuroaxonal injury. In summary, monitoring synaptic injury is a biologically relevant approach that reflects a potential driver of progression.

BackgroundEnamel is highly transparent at short wavelength infrared imaging (SWIR) wavelengths allowing the detection of dental decay without the need for ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study was to use SWIR imaging methods including cross polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT), occlusal transillumination (SWIR-OT), proximal transillumination (SWIR-PT), and occlusal reflectance (SWIR-R) to image interproximal lesions in vivo and compare the sensitivity with radiography.MethodsParticipants (n = 30) aged 18-80 each with a radiopositive interproximal lesion scheduled for restoration were enrolled in the study. Studies have shown that the opposing proximal surfaces across the contact will likely also have lesions. SWIR images were acquired of the adjoining teeth at each contact with an interproximal lesion scheduled for restoration. Lesion presence and depth were assessed on each side of the contact for radiography and each SWIR imaging method. Lesions on radiographs and in CP-OCT images were identified by a single examiner while lesions in SWIR images were identified by a contrast threshold via semi-automatic image segmentation.ResultsAll SWIR imaging methods had significantly higher sensitivity (P

Multiple scattering poses a fundamental limitation in deep imaging, especially for high-resolution optical imaging methods. The amalgamation of reflection matrix measurements and optical coherence tomography (OCT) has afforded significant advantages for deep imaging through highly scattering media. To empirically exhibit the superior performance of reflection matrix OCT (RMOCT), this study proposes a unique method to ascertain the actual resolutions at each imaging point. In contrast to conventional theoretical lateral resolutions, these resolutions are derived by applying time-reversal decomposition to the time-gated reflection matrix. Moreover, the concept of contribution rate, which quantifies the imaging contributions for each point, is introduced by considering the local imaging point itself and its neighboring points. The contribution rate provides a quantitative evaluation of the imaging quality afforded by a system. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the comprehensive assessment of the practical performance of RMOCT in terms of actual resolving power and imaging quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral microvascular dysfunction is a promising area for research into the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Despite the scientific and clinical potential of studying microvascular dysfunction, progress in this area has long been hampered by the lack of methods to study microvessels intravitally. The aim of the present study was to search for potential optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCTA) biomarkers of BD and MDD. One hundred and five consecutive patients with a current depressive episode were enrolled in the study (39 – BD and 66 – MDD). In addition, forty-one generally healthy subjects were enrolled as a control group. Only the right eye was examined in all subjects. Structural OCT and OCTA scans with signal strength ≥7 were included. Structural OCT measurements showed no significant differences between the groups. OCTA measurements of foveal avascular zone (FAZ), area and skeleton density showed a decrease in the retinal capillary bed in BD patients, whereas OCTA values in MDD patients did not differ from the control group. Several significant differences were found between the BD and control groups. In the BD group, the FAZ of the deep capillary plexus was increased, reflecting a reduction in capillary perfusion in the central subfield of this plexus. OCTA measurements of FAZ, area and skeleton density showed a decrease in the retinal capillary bed in BD patients, whereas OCTA values in MDD patients did not differ from the control group. • Characteristics of the retina may be potential biomarkers for mood disorders • Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) provides in vivo imaging of the retinal vasculature • Bipolar disorder is associated with reduced foveal avascular zone area and skeletal density in the retinal capillary bed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography are used with increasing frequency for the care of coronary patients and in research studies. These imaging tools can identify culprit lesions in acute coronary syndromes, assess coronary stenosis severity, guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and detect vulnerable plaques and patients. However, they have significant limitations that have stimulated the development of multimodality intracoronary imaging catheters, which provide improvements in assessing vessel wall pathology and guiding PCI. Prototypes combining 2 or even 3 imaging probes with complementary attributes have been developed, and several multimodality systems have already been used in patients, with near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound–based studies showing promising results for the identification of high-risk plaques. Moreover, postmortem histology studies have documented that hybrid imaging catheters can enable more accurate characterization of plaque morphology than standalone imaging. This review describes the evolution in the field of hybrid intracoronary imaging; presents the available multimodality catheters; and discusses their potential role in PCI guidance, vulnerable plaque detection, and the assessment of endovascular devices and emerging pharmacotherapies targeting atherosclerosis. [Display omitted] • Novel hybrid intracoronary devices overcome limitations of standalone imaging for plaque characterization and PCI guidance. • The use of multimodality imaging may improve outcomes following interventional treatment in challenging clinical scenarios. • Large-scale studies are needed to determine the role of hybrid intracoronary imaging in guiding revascularization, vulnerable plaque detection, and cardiovascular risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rickettsial disease has been commonly associated with retinitis, retinal vasculitis, and optic nerve involvement, but the development of retinal neovascularization has been very rarely reported. We herein describe a case of rickettsial retinitis complicated with the development of sea-fan retinal neovascularization documented with multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, SS-OCT, fluorescein angiography, and SS-OCT angiography. Case presentation: A 26-year-old female with a history of fever one week earlier presented with sudden decreased vision in the left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/2000 and the patient was diagnosed with rickettsial retinitis along the superotemporal retinal vascular arcade associated with serous retinal detachment and retinal hard exudates. The indirect immunofluorescence test was positive for Rickettsia conorii, and the patient was treated with oral doxycycline (200 mg/day) and oral prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day, with gradual tapering). Four weeks after presentation, the retinal infiltrate and associated serous retinal detachment had resolved, but retinal hard exudates had increased. A large sea-fan preretinal fibrovascular neovascularization became apparent along the superotemporal retinal vascular arcade, but there was no associated retinal ischemia on fluorescein angiography. The patient received an adjunctive single intravitreal injection of 1.25 bevacizumab. Sequential follow-up examinations showed shrinking of sea-fan retinal neovascularization, a complete resolution of retinal hard exudates, and the development of a self-limited vitreous hemorrhage. On last follow-up, 30 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injection, BCVA was 20/25. Conclusion: Patients with rickettsial retinitis may develop a sea-fan retinal neovascularization, with subsequent vitreous hemorrhage, putatively through inflammatory mechanisms. Multimodal imaging including OCT, fluorescein angiography, and OCT-angiography, is highly useful for accurate diagnosis and reliable monitoring of the evolution of retinitis, retinal neovascularization, and other retinal changes. The use of a combination therapy with oral doxycycline and corticosteroids and intravitreal anti-VEGF can improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This review aims to summarize the latest application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in oral mucosal diseases, promoting an accurate and earlier diagnosis of such disorders, which are difficult to be differentiated. Subjective and Methods: References on the application of OCT in oral mucosal diseases were mainly obtained from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases, using the keywords: "optical coherence tomography and 'oral mucosa/oral cancers/oral potentially malignant diseases/oral lichen planus/oral leukoplakia/oral erythroplakia/discoid lupus erythematosus/oral autoimmune bullous diseases/oral ulcers/erythema multiforme/oral mucositis'". Results: It is found that OCT is showing a promising application potential in the early detection, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, monitoring of oral cancer and oral dysplastic lesions, as well as the delineation of tumor margins. OCT is also playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of oral potentially malignant disorders, oral mucosal bullous diseases, oral ulcerative diseases, erythema multiforme, and the early detection of oral mucositis. Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography, as a novel optical technique featured by real‐time, noninvasive, dynamic and high‐resolution imaging, is of great use to serve as an adjunct tool for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, monitoring and therapy evaluation of oral mucosal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate quantitative and qualitative changes in retinal structure using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and their associations with systemic or other risk factors in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study, OCT images were obtained during study years 25–28 (2019–2022) in 937 participants; 54% and 46% were from the original intensive (INT) and conventional (CONV) glycemic management treatment groups, respectively. RESULTS: Average age for participants was 61 years old, diabetes duration 39 years, and HbA1c 7.6%. Participants originally in the CONV group were more likely to have disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) (CONV 27.3% vs. INT 18.7%; P = 0.0003), intraretinal fluid (CONV 24.4% vs. INT 19.2%; P = 0.0222), and intraretinal cysts (CONV 20.8% vs. INT 16.6%; P = 0.0471). In multivariable models, sex, age, smoking, mean updated systolic blood pressure, and history of "clinically significant" macular edema (CSME) and of anti-VEGF treatment were independently associated with changes in central subfield thickness, while HbA1c, BMI, and history of CSME and of ocular surgery were associated with DRIL. Visual acuity (VA) decline was associated with significant thinning of all retinal subfields except for the central and inner nasal subfields. CONCLUSIONS: Early intensive glycemic management in T1D is associated with a decreased risk of DRIL. This important morphological abnormality was associated with a history of macular edema, a history of ocular surgery, and worse VA. This study reveals benefits of intensive glycemic management on the retina beyond features detected by fundus photographs and ophthalmoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acne scarring is a common sequela of acne vulgaris, which seriously affects facial esthetics. The treatment options for acne scars vary depending on the development stage, color, type, and location of scarring. The objective and precise assessment of acne scars is a prerequisite for treatment, and it is also an important means of monitoring the treatment effect. The traditional methods to evaluate the types and severity grade of acne scars are primarily based on subjective assessment by physicians, which lacks objectivity and accuracy. Novel noninvasive skin imaging techniques, such as skin surface imaging analysis systems, dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and multiphoton tomography (MPT), provide new tools for the rapid and objective assessment of acne scars. This article reviews the progress of skin imaging techniques in the diagnosis, classification, and efficacy evaluation of acne scars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the first epidemic of Rift Valley Fever retinitis in Rwanda and to report novel imaging findings and a possible role for corticosteroids. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients who presented with presumed Rift Valley Fever retinitis at the Rwanda Charity Eye Hospital over a period of 4 months in 2022. Multimodal images are reviewed including optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, color, infrared, red-free, and autofluorescence photography. Results: The newly identified arciform hyporeflective pattern on infrared imaging was present in 100% of patients. Out of 9 patients treated with oral corticosteroids, 7 (78%) experienced a visual acuity increase of at least 0.2 during follow-up, in comparison to only 4 (28%) out of 14 of untreated patients. Out of four patients treated with a subtenon corticosteroid injection, only one (25%) reached this threshold. Post-hoc pairwise comparison with Bonferroni correction revealed a significant difference in average visual acuity improvement (p = 0.034) between patients receiving oral corticosteroids (0.35 ± 0.07) versus no treatment (0.11 ± 0.04). Conclusion: The identified arciform hyporeflective pattern on infrared imaging appears to be characteristic of Rift Valley Fever retinitis and should be known to clinicians working in endemic regions. Compared to a historical cohort and to untreated patients in this non-randomized study, there appears to be a benefit of treatment with oral corticosteroids. ARTICLE SUMMARY STATEMENT: This is the first reported outbreak of Rift Valley Fever retinitis in Rwanda, demonstrating a characteristic arciform peri-macular pattern on infrared imaging not previously published and a possible treatment effect of oral corticosteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the frequent multimodal imaging features in posterior syphilitic uveitis. Purpose: Syphilis infection has re-emerged as a global health problem. Multimodal imaging approach has been proposed for diagnosis and follow-up; there are not previous reports dedicated to the anatomic and visual outcomes in patients diagnosed with ocular syphilis and concomitant HIV infection. Methods: All demographic information was recovered; a complete ophthalmological examination and multimodal imaging evaluation (retinal fluorescein angiography (FA), autofluorescence (AF), optical coherence tomography (OCT)) were performed on initial visit and 1 month after antibiotic therapy. Results: 18 eyes of 9 patients were included. The most frequent features observed were: Hyperfluorescence on optic disk on FA, Hyperautofluorescence punctate pattern on AF, Vitritis on SD-OCT. After treatment, there was a functional and anatomical improvement. Conclusion: Ocular syphilis represents a diagnostic challenge. Multimodal imaging approach allows identification of structural changes, follow-up and early detection of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide (SCS-TA) injections were recently approved to treat macular edema secondary to noninfectious uveitis. However, its use in managing posterior scleritis has not been reported. We report the first case of SCS-TA used in the treatment of posterior scleritis. A 67-year-old woman with posterior scleritis complicated by exudative retinal detachment, diagnosed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scan (OCT), presented with pain, decreased vision, and redness in the left eye for 8 months. She was previously prescribed topical prednisolone and oral prednisone with minimal improvement. She also had a history of rheumatoid arthritis treated with multiple systemic immunosuppressive agents. After SCS-TA, the patient's pain resolved and visual acuity improved. OCT demonstrated significant reduction in sclerochoroidal thickening. Via its novel delivery method, SCS-TA may be an effective treatment for posterior scleritis. Further studies are needed to establish long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite having 20/20 vision, a 17-year-old Emirati female presented with central visual changes in her left eye. These changes were attributed to a dull foveal reflex with pigmentary alterations. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) mottling at the macula level, attenuating the ellipsoid zone, and a hyper-reflective line connecting the RPE to the outer nuclear layer was observed through spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of the left eye. In the presence of negative results from laboratory evaluations, the patient was started on oral prednisolone. The medication induced an increased reflectivity of the inner layers on SD-OCT, which turned into a full-thickness macular retinitis with vitreous inflammation, causing a visual decrease to 20/80. A vitreous tap confirmed a positive result for HSV-1, and the patient was prescribed oral valacyclovir 3 g. This treatment led to a resolution of the retinitis and a restoration of the patient's vision to 20/25. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze radial peripapillary capillaris (RPC) and intra-papillary capillaris (IPC) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in acute retinal necrosis (ARN) with good outcome. Methods: RPC and IPC were analyzed by OCTA in patients diagnosed with ARN and treated with pharmacotherapy alone without surgery at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Results: A total of 13 patients were studied. Ophthalmoscopic examination showed no abnormality in the optic disc in 12 of the 13 patients. However, OCTA findings of the affected eye compared with the unaffected fellow eye revealed morphological abnormalities in RPC in nine cases (69%) and decrease in capillary network in RPC or IPC in eight cases (62%). Conclusion: In ARN, RPC and IPC were impaired even in eyes that were healed with medical treatment only without requiring surgical intervention and had no abnormal findings on ophthalmoscopic examination. This result suggests the presence of some degrees of optic neuropathy even in mild cases with good visual prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To study the changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness during and following uveitis flares. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with uveitis diagnosed in the ophthalmology service of Torrevieja hospital. We analyzed RNFL thickness during and after the acute episode. Results: We included 29 patients. Most patients (55.2%) had anterior uveitis; followed by posterior, intermediate and panuveitis. Mean RNFL thickness was significantly higher during the flare (132.17±35.54μm vs 107.66±17.10μm). RNFL thickness had no difference between groups with or without macular edema. Conclusions: The RNFL thickens during flares in most patients with uveitis. It can be measured by optical coherence tomography in a non-invasive way, representing an objective marker of inflammation. This can favor earlier detection of flares, resolution, and recurrence of uveitis. More studies are needed to determine the evolution of RNFL over time and in different types of uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) as the term suggests is recognized as necrotic inflammation of retina, in contrast to toxoplasma retinochoroiditis where involvement of choroid can be appreciated as choroidal thickening on optical coherence tomography scan during active stage. Secondly, sequelae of ARN, such as chronic anterior uveitis and cystoid macular edema, could be challenging to manage as steroid use in various forms poses a risk of virus reactivation. We present a case of ARN caused by varicella zoster virus with an initial confusing clinical picture with toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, documented with choroidal involvement. The patient also developed a chronic anterior uveitis with macular edema after resolution of ARN which was treated with topical interferon (IFN) alfa 2b therapy with successful outcome. This report supports the recently described choroidal involvement in ARN and suggests topical IFN as a novel treatment in management of chronic macular edema post ARN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report a rare case of atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) presenting with bilateral corneal panni associated with limbal inclusion cysts in the left eye. Materials & Methods: Retrospective case report. Results: A 19-year-old female with AKC presented with bilateral corneal panni and limbal inclusion cysts in the left eye. Anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography showed bilateral hyperreflective epicorneal membrane and a lobulated cystic lesion in the left eye. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated a dense membrane overriding the cornea in both eyes and hyporeflective spaces separated by medium reflective septa in the cyst. The patient underwent excision of the limbal inclusion cyst and pannus in the left eye. Histopathological examination revealed subepithelial cystic lesion surrounded by non-keratinizing epithelium; areas of acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and hyperplasia in the epithelium of the pannus; as well as inflammation, fibrosis, and increase in vascularization in the stroma. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case of corneal pannus associated with limbal inclusion cysts in AKC. Surgical excision was done to establish the diagnosis as well as to improve vision in our case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral exudative retinal detachments and panuveitis in a patient with multiple myeloma (MM). Case Report: A 54-year-old patient with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy was referred with blurred vision and scotomas in both eyes (OU). Three months prior to the onset of ocular symptoms, he was diagnosed with systemic MM and was receiving chemotherapy. Clinical examination revealed best-corrected visual acuities of 20/80 OU, rare anterior chamber cell, 2+ vitreous cell, diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages, and exudative retinal detachments (RD). Optical coherence tomography of the macula showed central subretinal fluid with cystic intraretinal fluid OU. The findings were consistent with panuveitis and exudative RD in the setting of MM. He reported symptomatic improvement after plasmapheresis and oral prednisone initiation. Conclusion: Extensive, bilateral exudative RD and panuveitis are rare but potentially sight-threatening findings in patients with MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of self-limiting and frequently neglected diseases exist in the literature like Rickettsial disease, Malaria, Dengue fever, Chikungunya, West Nile virus infection, Rift Valley fever, Bartonellosis, or Lyme disease which are poorly understood due to lack of proper diagnostic testing. Currently, multimodal imaging has become a critical modality in the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is one such remarkable imaging modality in the field of ophthalmology providing high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the retina and choroid with the recent advances such as enhanced depth imaging and swept source OCT. Additionally, OCT angiography (OCTA) has further revolutionised dynamic imaging of retinal and choroidal vasculature non-invasively. This review article highlights the OCT and OCTA biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of the aforementioned neglected diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To quantify retinal ischemia following presumed rickettsial retinitis (RR). To compare outcomes between initial treatment with Doxycycline (Group 1) versus steroids (Group 2). Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with presumed RR was done. ImageJ software was used to obtain %area of ischemia on swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). Results: Eleven eyes of 8 patients belonged to Group1 and 6 eyes of 3 patients belonged to Group 2. The BCVA improved from logMAR 0.8 ∓ 0.7 to logMAR 0.06 ∓ 0.08 (p < 0.002) and central foveal thickness (CFT) changed from 479μ ∓ 341.3μ to 163.5μ ∓ 20.5μ (p < 0.005) after a median of 5 weeks in Group 1. In Group 2, BCVA improved from logMAR 1.03 ∓ 0.05 to logMAR 0.23 ∓ 0.23 (p < 0.004) and CFT changed from 286.5μ ∓ 158.8μ to 177.5μ ∓ 25.9μ (>0.05) following a mean of 11 weeks. Mean %area of ischemia was 4.6 ∓ 1.5 in Group 1 and 13.9 ∓ 4.1 in Group 2. Conclusion: Analysis of flow deficit on SS-OCTA confirms that treatment with Doxycycline in presumed RR results in less ischemia and quicker recovery than initial treatment with steroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a prevalent rheumatic disorder, and its pathogenesis includes genetic, neuroendocrine, and autonomic abnormalities, which may impact ocular structures. The aim was to conduct a comparative analysis of the ophthalmic vasculature and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness between FMS and control groups using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included 43 FMS patients and 40 healthy controls recruited from a tertiary education and research hospital between January 2024 and May 2024. All patients satisfied the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria for FMS and consented. OCT and OCTA were used to assess the RNFL thickness and the retinal microvasculature structure. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was performed to evaluate disease severity. Results: The study found significantly higher total retinal parafoveal thickness and foveal density in FMS patients (p = 0.017 and p = 0.044, respectively). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences among the groups concerning total retinal foveal thickness, foveal avascular zone characteristics, superficial and deep capillary plexus densities, choriocapillaris flow area, and outer retinal flow area values (p > 0.05). The RNFL thickness in all quadrants did not reveal significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between FIQ scores and OCTA parameters or RNFL thickness values (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed slight differences in retinal parafoveal thickness and foveal density in FMS patients, but no substantial vascular or neurodegenerative alterations were observed compared to healthy controls. These data indicate that FMS may not substantially affect ocular structures, contrary to earlier hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Highly myopic macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) is often associated with a poor prognosis, and there is currently no optimal treatment. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous blood product, has been shown to promote tissue regeneration. This prospective, randomized, controlled study investigated the efficacy of conventional internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling versus PRF membrane transplantation in highly myopic MHRD. Methods: Eyes with highly myopic MHRD were randomly assigned to either a conventional ILM peeling group (IP group, n = 19) or a PRF membrane transplantation group (PMT group, n = 21). The study followed participants for a period of 6 months. The primary outcome measure was macular hole (MH) closure assessed using optical coherence tomography. Secondary outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), superficial vascular density (SVD), deep vascular density (DVD), rate of retinal reattachment, and any complications encountered. Results: MH closure was achieved in a significantly greater proportion of eyes in the PMT group (21/21, 100.00%) compared to the IP group (15/19, 78.95%) (P = 0.042). Retinal reattachment was accomplished in all patients (100.00%) within both groups. Except for an insignificant difference in BCVA observed at 1 week post-surgery in the IP group, significant improvements in BCVA and CRT were documented in both groups across all other post-operative time points. Final BCVA (P = 0.040), CRT (P = 0.002), SVD (P = 0.002), and DVD (P = 0.013) were all significantly higher in the PMT group compared to the IP group. No serious complications were identified in either group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the superiority of PRF membrane transplantation compared to conventional ILM peeling in promoting MH closure and enhancing retinal vascular density in patients with highly myopic MHRD. Additionally, PRF membrane transplantation effectively restores retinal reattachment, improves visual function, and increases retinal thickness without introducing additional complications. Trial Registration Number: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT06200727. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to explore the possible correlations between the anterior segment parameters derived from anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography (AS-SS-OCT) with the surgically induced corneal astigmatism (CSIA) calculated from total keratometry (TK) measured by AS-SS-OCT. Methods: Seventy-one eyes of 67 patients with age-related cataract who underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation with 2.2-mm incision were included. The CSIA values were calculated from anterior keratometry (CSIAKant) and TK (CSIATK) measured by AS-SS-OCT, respectively. Hotelling's T2 test was used to evaluate the difference. The correlation of CSIA with various parameters derived from AS-SS-OCT was tested with the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: The centroid of CSIAKant and of CSIATK were 0.31 ± 0.55 D @ 54° and 0.41 ± 0.59 D @ 51°, with no significant difference (F = 1.283, p = 0.281, Hotelling's T2). The mean absolute CSIAKant and CSIATK were 0.58 ± 0.24 D and 0.65 ± 0.28 D. Spearman test showed that the magnitude of CSIAKant was negatively correlated with preoperative peripheral corneal thickness (PCT, p = 0.045) and the magnitude of anterior keratometry (p = 0.044). The magnitude of CSIATK was negatively correlated with preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT, p = 0.003) and preoperative PCT (p = 0.015). Conclusions: The increased thickness of the peripheral cornea is correlated with the decrease in the magnitude of the CSIA. The correlation we identified between the corneal thickness and the CSIA indicated that certain preoperative parameters should be considered for the prediction of CSIA for a more precise refractive outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physicians need an accurate understanding of diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity to optimally manage patients. The aim of this prospective study is to correlate the severity of macular and peripheral retinal vascular abnormalities seen on widefield (WF) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with DR grading based on WF fundus photography. Methods: The study included 150 eyes from 82 patients with treatment-naïve DR. All patients were imaged with WF fundus photography and swept-source WF OCTA. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size and shape, and measurement of capillary nonperfusion (CNP) areas, were performed from the OCTA images. The mixed-effects model was used to compare the DR grading from WF photography with the vascular changes seen on WF-OCTA, and Bonferroni correction was applied to the gradings. Results: The mean [± standard deviation (SD)] age of patients was 55.5 (± 9.4) years. The WF-OCTA showed that an increasing size of the FAZ (from 0.442 (± 0.059) µm to 0.933 (± 0.086) µm) correlated with increasing severity of the DR (as determined with WF photography). The deep capillary plexus, FAZ size, and CNP areas in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) differed from those with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (p < 0.001). Most eyes with severe nonproliferative DR were found to have CNP in four quadrants [superficial capillary plexus (SCP) 60%, deep capillary plexus (DCP) 50%]. The WF-OCTA detected subtle neovascularization of the disc (NVD) in 7 eyes (10%) and neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) in 13 eyes (18%) that had been diagnosed with only moderate NPDR on WF photography. Conclusions: FAZ and CNP areas as measured by WF-OCTA correlate with DR severity. WF-OCTA can also detect subtle NVE and NVD that cannot be seen with fundus photography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary article delves into the transformative role of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in diagnosing and managing a wide array of eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions, and white dot syndromes. Developed in 2005, OCTA has emerged as a non-invasive, high-resolution imaging technique that offers advantages over traditional fluorescein angiography (FA), providing quicker and safer monitoring of ocular conditions with similar diagnostic accuracy. In diabetic retinopathy, OCTA has been instrumental in early identification of retinal changes, offering quantifiable metrics including perfused capillary density (PCD) for assessing vascular alterations. For age-related macular degeneration (AMD), OCTA has deepened our understanding of non-exudative neovascular AMD, allowing for more effective monitoring and potential earlier initiation of treatment. In cases of retinal vein occlusions, OCTA can reveal specific microvascular features and allow for depth-resolved measurements of the foveal avascular zone, providing significant prognostic implications. OCTA has also been invaluable in studying rare white dot syndromes, enabling nuanced differentiation between conditions that often present similarly. Emerging research also suggests that OCTA can have potential utility in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, where retinal vascular patterns could offer diagnostic insights. While OCTA is revolutionizing ophthalmic care, further clinical trials and standardization are needed for its broader adoption into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to analyze the thicknesses of the retinal sublayer and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) without lupus retinopathy. Methods: Thirty-six patients with JSLE (36 eyes) and 30 control subjects (30 eyes) were included retrospectively. Demographic data, disease duration, and clinical manifestations were recorded. Optical coherence tomography was used to examine the macula and optic disc. The thicknesses of the retina, ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and pRNFL were measured. The correlation between the thickness of retina and disease duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were investigated. Results: The retinal thicknesses of I3 and T3 were thinner in the JSLE group than in the control group (P = 0.019, P = 0.043, respectively). The thicknesses of the I3 and S6 sectors of the GCL decreased significantly (P = 0.013, and P = 0.022, respectively). The thickness of the S6 sector of the IPL was reduced in the JSLE group compared with the control group (P = 0.047). The JSLE group showed significant decrease in the thickness of the central sector of the ONL (P = 0.034). No statistically significant differences in INL, OPL, RPE, and pRNFL thicknesses were found. The retinal thicknesses of I3 (r = -0.386, P = 0.020) and T3 (r = -0.384, P = 0.021) presented negative associations with ESR, but had no significant correlations with disease duration. Conclusions: Retinal thinning was observed in patients with JSLE without lupus retinopathy, and this change was more pronounced in the inner layer. Key Points • Retinal thinning occurs in JSLE patients without lupus retinopathy. • Changes in retinal thicknesses are related to the ESR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myopia is a serious threat to eye health and can even cause blindness. It is important to grade myopia and carry out targeted intervention. Nowadays, various studies using deep learning models based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images to screen for high myopia. However, since regions of interest (ROIs) of pre-myopia and low myopia on OCT images are relatively small, it is rather difficult to use OCT images to conduct detailed myopia grading. There are few studies using OCT images for more detailed myopia grading. To address these problems, we propose a novel attention-based multi-scale feature fusion network named AMFF for myopia grading using OCT images. The proposed AMFF mainly consists of five modules: a pre-trained vision transformer (ViT) module, a multi-scale convolutional module, an attention feature fusion module, an Avg-TopK pooling module and a fully connected (FC) classifier. Firstly, unsupervised pre-training of ViT on the training set can better extract feature maps. Secondly, multi-scale convolutional layers further extract multi-scale feature maps to obtain more receptive fields and extract scale-invariant features. Thirdly, feature maps of different scales are fused through channel attention and spatial attention to further obtain more meaningful features. Lastly, the most prominent features are obtained by the weighted average of the highest activation values of each channel, and then they are used to classify myopia through a fully connected layer. Extensive experiments show that our proposed model has the superior performance compared with other state-of-the-art myopia grading models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes which may lead to blindness. Early diagnosis can effectively prevent the deterioration of the disease and enable timely treatment. Ophthalmologists diagnose DR by observing ultra-wide optical coherence tomography angiography (UW-OCTA) images, which visualize unprecedented detail of DR lesions. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end task-specific network (TSNet) for joint DR grading and lesion segmentation of UW-OCTA images. Specifically, we design task-specific attention block to generate task-specific feature maps for respective segmentation and classification tasks. Furthermore, we devise task-specific fusion block to fuse the original task-specific feature map and augmented task-specific feature map for the following segmentation and classification decoders to generate DR lesion predictive mask and DR grading predictive result. Experiments on a public-available UW-OCTA dataset demonstrate that our model outperforms state-of-the-art (SOTA) multi-task models and achieves promising results on both DR lesion segmentation and DR grading classification tasks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar retinopathy, resulting from solar eclipse exposure, poses risks to visual health. This study explores acute and chronic phase findings using clinical examinations and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) with a focus on longitudinal assessment. Seven eyes with a history of unprotected solar eclipse exposure were included. Clinical examination, fundus photography, OCT, and OCT-A imaging were performed at initial assessment, as well as at one-month and six-month follow-up intervals. Data analysis included descriptive statistics. The cases, exposed without protection, underwent assessments, revealing variable visual acuity, outer retinal layer, and Henle fiber layer changes during follow-up. Regression of hyperreflectivity within the outer retinal and Henle fiber layers was observed over time in all eyes, although persistent microdefects within the outer retinal layer were noted in specific cases. OCT-A imaging revealed a larger foveal avascular zone, which persisted over a six-month period in select cases. Additionally, affected eyes exhibited a decrease in superficial vascular density, with subsequent improvement noted during the six-month period. Solar retinopathy can result in visual impairment, accompanied by alterations observed in the Henle fiber layer using OCT. Additionally, OCT-A findings indicate possible vascular involvement. This study underscores the significance of adopting protective measures during solar eclipses and emphasizes the value of employing longitudinal multimodal imaging techniques to comprehend the pathophysiology of the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the choroidal retinal microvascular system in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) subjects and furnish additional proof for the early authentication and treatment of VKH suffers. From the beginning to July 2023, a comprehensive search for issued articles on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) among VKH sufferers was implemented in Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. This meta-analysis included 9 eligible studies. Primary endpoints included four kinds of vascular densities, such as superficial capillaris plexus (SCP), deep capillaris plexus (DCP), and choriocapillary (CC). In addition to these, there were foveal avascular zone (FAZ), central retinal thickness (CT), best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA log MAR), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT). SCP and DCP vessel densities in maculas were both smaller in VKH sufferers in the active stage than those normal and remission examinees (SCP vessel density, p < 0.00001, DCP vessel density, p < 0.00001). Compared to remission, CC vascular density was lower during the active phase. (p < 0.00001). SFCT and CT in the active phase exceeded those in normal and remission examinees (all of them p < 0.00001). In terms of the patients with remission, their FAZ was bigger than that in normal subjects. (MD =0.04, p < 0.0001). Retinal and choroidal microvasculatures are characteristically changed in active VKH patients, which suggests that OCTA can be used as a tool for VKH follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the associations between physiology and demographics, non‐ocular pathology and pharmaceutical drug use against peri‐papillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (pRNFL T) and other optical coherence tomography (OCT) inner retinal measures in normal, healthy eyes. Methods: A retrospective, cross‐sectional study of 705 consecutive participants with bilateral normal, healthy optic nerves and maculae. PRNFL Ts, vertical cup/disc ratio (CDR), cup volume and macular ganglion cell layer‐inner plexiform layer (GCL‐IPL) Ts were extracted from Cirrus OCT scans, then regressed against predictor variables of participants' physiology and demographics (eye laterality, refraction, intraocular pressure [IOP], age, sex, race/ethnicity, etc.) and non‐ocular pathology and pharmaceutical drug use according to the World Health Organisation classifications. Associations were assessed for statistical significance (p < 0.05) and clinical significance (|β| > 95% limits of agreement for repeated measures). Results: A multitude of non‐ocular pathology and pharmaceutical drug use were statistically and clinically significantly associated with deviations in standard OCT inner retinal measures, exceeding the magnitude of other factors such as age, IOP and race/ethnicity. Thinner inner retina and larger optic nerve cup measures were linked to use of systemic corticosteroids, sex hormones/modulators, presence of vasomotor/allergic rhinitis and other diseases and drugs (up to −29.3 [−49.88, −8.72] μm pRNFL T, 0.31 [0.07, 0.54] vertical CDR, 0.29 [0.03, 0.54] mm3 cup volume and −10.18 [−16.62, −3.74] μm macular GCL‐IPL T; all p < 0.05). Thicker inner retina and smaller optic nerve cup measures were diffusely associated with use of antineoplastic agents, presence of liver or urinary diseases and other diseases and drugs (up to 67.12 [64.92, 69.31] μm pRNFL T, −0.31 [−0.53, −0.09] vertical CDR, −0.06 [−0.11, 0] mm3 cup volume and 28.84 [14.51, 43.17] μm macular GCL‐IPL T; all p < 0.05). Conclusion: There are a multitude of systemic diseases and drugs associated with altered OCT inner retinal measures, with magnitudes far exceeding those of other factors such as age, IOP and race/ethnicity. These systemic factors should at least be considered during OCT assessments to ensure precise interpretation of normal versus pathological inner retinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Autostereoscopic displays have become increasingly common, but their impact on ocular dimensions remains unknown. We sought to identify changes in the crystalline lens dimensions induced by autostereoscopic three‐dimensional (3D) viewing. Methods: Forty young adults (age: 22.6 ± 2.0 years, male/female: 15/25) were consecutively enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (3D and two‐dimensional [2D] viewing groups) to watch a 30‐min movie clip displayed in 3D or 2D mode on a tablet computer. The lens thickness (LT), diameter, curvature, decentration and tilt were measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography under both non‐accommodating (static) and accommodating conditions. Results: In the static condition, the LT decreased by 0.03 ± 0.03 mm (p < 0.001) and the anterior radius of curvature (ARC) increased by 0.49 ± 0.59 mm (p = 0.001) post‐3D viewing. In contrast, following 2D viewing, the ARC decreased by 0.23 ± 0.25 mm (p = 0.001). Additionally, the increase in the steep ARC post‐3D viewing was greater in high‐myopic eyes than low to moderate myopic eyes (p = 0.04). When comparing the accommodative with the static (non‐accommodative) condition, for 3D viewing the lens decentration decreased (−0.03 ± 0.05 mm, p = 0.02); while for 2D viewing, the posterior curvature radius (−0.14 ± 0.20 mm, p = 0.006) and diameter (−0.13 ± 0.20 mm, p = 0.01) decreased. Conclusions: Viewing with the autostereoscopic 3D tablet could temporally decrease the thickness and curvature of the lens under non‐accommodating conditions. However, its long‐term effect requires further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of retinal and choroidal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT‐A) indices among healthy children and compare it to healthy young adults. Methods: This prospective study captured 3 mm × 3 mm and 6 mm × 6 mm macular OCT‐A scans including superficial and deep retinal layers, choriocapillaris and deep choroid over two visits, 1 week apart at approximately the same time of day, for 22 healthy adults (18–30 years) and 21 children (6–15 years). Magnification and projection‐artefact corrected indices extracted using a custom image analysis program and individual biometry were compared between visits using Bland–Altman analysis and intraclass correlation (ICC). Retinal indices included foveal avascular zone metrics, perfusion and vessel density and choroidal indices included choriocapillaris flow deficit metrics and deep choroid perfusion density, in the foveal, parafoveal and perifoveal regions. Repeatability between adults and children was compared with F‐test. Results: Bland–Altman analysis showed that the mean differences between repeated OCT‐A indices were not significantly different from zero for either of the zones, layers and scan sizes in the two age groups (p > 0.05) except for foveal vessel density and foveal avascular zone perimeter (p = 0.04 for both) of 6‐mm‐deep retinal layer scans. The ICC ranged between 0.67 and 0.99. Significantly higher variability between visits (p < 0.05) in the indices was noted among adults than children, especially for choroidal indices of larger scan size. Conclusion: The retinal and choroidal OCT‐A indices in the foveal, parafoveal and perifoveal zones were repeatable in healthy children except for the foveal vessel density and foveal avascular zone perimeter of the 6‐mm‐deep retinal layer, which exhibited statistically borderline differences between visits. The adult group showed more variability between visits compared to children, especially in the larger scan size for choroidal OCT‐A indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish a methodology for objectively estimating the Lens Equatorial Plane (LEP) from clinical images, comparing LEP with dilated versus non‐dilated pupils. Methods: A cohort of 91 eyes from 60 patients undergoing preoperative assessments for cataract surgery was evaluated. Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS‐OCT) images were analysed under conditions of pharmacologically induced pupil dilation versus a non‐dilated pupil. Geometrical parameters, including LEP, intersection diameter (ID), lens thickness (LT), anterior and posterior lens thickness were automatically calculated by applying standard image processing techniques to clinical AS‐OCT images. Results: Significant differences in lens parameters, including LEP, were observed between dilated and non‐dilated conditions (all p < 0.001). A strong linear correlation was found across all geometrical variables under both conditions (r[LEP] = 0.64, r[ID] = 0.78, r[LT] = 0.99, all p < 0.001); enabling reliable correction of these differences. Conclusion: The study introduces an objective methodology for LEP calculation, emphasising the need to consider the eye's physiological state during preoperative measurements. Incorporating LEP into future intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas and replacing the habitual effective lens position may potentially improve the accuracy of IOL power estimation and thus postoperative visual outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: To utilize ultra‐widefield multimodal imaging (Optos PLC) to describe novel findings in degenerative retinoschisis. Methods: This retrospective, non‐comparative case series of degenerative retinoschisis received a waiver of consent from Advarra IRB, Protocol 00066379. Initial ultra‐widefield pseudocolour, colour‐separated, autofluorescence, and peripheral OCT imaging were analysed for characterizing features. Results: In total, 139 eyes were included. A hyporeflective reticular pattern associated with retinoschisis was seen on pseudocolour images in 39% of cases, but visible in 53% on green‐separated images. Fine hyper‐reflective foci were observed in 49%. In 27%, retinoschisis was confirmed with OCT. Conclusions: Ultra‐widefield pseudocolour and green‐separated images are valuable for the diagnosis and characterization of degenerative retinoschisis. The findings described may prompt the evaluation of subtle retinoschisis with peripheral OCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)–Bruch's membrane (BrM) complex volume associations in monozygotic twin pairs. Methods: In this study, 106 elderly twins (53 twin pairs) from the Finnish Twin Cohort study were recruited. Each participant underwent dilated 35‐degree digital colour fundus photography (CFP), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and replied to a structured study questionnaire. The CFPs were graded according to the Age‐Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) classification. The OCT images were segmented and volumetric data of the RPE‐BrM complex volume was calculated with the Orion™ software. The worse eye according to AREDS classification was used for the analysis. Results: Twenty‐nine (55%) of the twin pairs were discordant with regard to AREDS classification. Fourteen (26%) pairs were discordant with one twin participant having AMD (AREDS 2–4) and the other being unaffected (AREDS 1). Four (8%) pairs had one twin participant with intermediate or late AMD (AREDS 3–4) versus the other being unaffected (AREDS 1). The within‐pair polychoric correlation for AREDS was 0.605 (95% confidence interval 0.418–0.792). In multivariate analysis intermediate and late AMD as well as age associated with RPE‐BrM complex volume. RPE‐BrM complex volume showed a within twin pair correlation, r = 0.430 (95% confidence interval 0.172–0.688, p < 0.01). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of monozygotic twin pairs are discordant with regard to age‐related macular degeneration phenotype. RPE‐BrM complex volume associated with age and intermediate and late AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the phenotype of Danish patients with genetically verified achromatopsia (ACHM) with special focus on signs of progression on structural or functional parameters, and possible genotype–phenotype correlations. Methods: Forty‐eight patients were identified, with disease‐causing variants in five different genes: CNGA3, CNGB3, GNAT2, PDE6C and PDE6H. Longitudinal evaluation was possible for 11 patients and 27 patients participated in a renewed in‐depth phenotyping consisting of visual acuity assessment, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence, colour vision evaluation, contrast sensitivity, mesopic microperimetry and full‐field electroretinography. Foveal morphology was evaluated based on OCT images for all 48 patients using a grading system based on the integrity of the hyperreflective photoreceptor band, the inner segment ellipsoid zone (ISe). Signs of progression were evaluated based on longitudinal data and correlation with age. Results: We found a statistically significant positive correlation between OCT grade and age (Spearman ρ = 0.62, p < 0.0001) and we observed changes in the foveal morphology in 2 of 11 patients with ≥5 years of follow‐up. We did not find any convincing correlation between age and functional parameters (visual acuity, retinal sensitivity and contrast sensitivity) nor did we find correlation between structural and functional parameters, or any clear genotype–phenotype correlation. Conclusions: Some patients with ACHM demonstrate signs of progressive foveal changes in OCT characteristics with increasing age. This is relevant in terms of possible new treatments. However, functional characteristics, such as visual acuity, remained stable despite changing foveal structure. Thus, seen from a patient perspective, ACHM can still be considered a non‐progressive condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are at increased risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mechanisms behind this are not fully understood, but microvascular alterations have been documented in retinal arterioles and venules. The aim of this study was to use non‐invasive retinal imaging to investigate the structural and functional properties of arterioles, venules and capillaries in this patient group. Methods: We examined 27 women with previous HDP and 23 controls at 3 years postpartum. The retinal microvasculature was assessed by vessel calibre measurements, retinal oximetry and optical coherence tomography angiography. Differences were analysed using non‐parametric tests and multiple regression analyses, adjusted for age and body mass index. Results: Median arteriolar oxygen saturation (SaO2; 94.2% vs. 93.0%), venular oxygen saturation (SvO2; 60.1% vs. 62.4%) and arteriovenous saturation difference (AV‐difference; 32.8% vs. 32.3%) were similar across groups. Capillary vessel density (VD; 46.2% vs. 46.3%), skeletonised VD (VSD; 21.3 vs. 21.1 mm/mm2) and vessel diameter index (21.65 vs. 21.86) were also comparable. In the HDP group, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was positively correlated with AV‐difference (R2 = 0.209) and negatively correlated with arteriolar diameter (CRAE; r2 = 0.382). Conclusions: Structural microvascular alterations appear not to be key biomarkers for CVD risk after HDP as early as 3 years postpartum in otherwise healthy women. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether such changes occur later in life. MAP was associated with AV‐difference only in the HDP group, suggesting specific mechanisms affecting functional microvascular properties in these women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a certain failure rate in traditional glaucoma surgery because of the lack of depth information in microscope images. In this work, we present a digital microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography (MIOCT) system and several custom-made OCT-compatible instruments for glaucoma surgery. Sixteen ophthalmologists were asked to perform trabeculectomy and canaloplasty on live porcine eyes using the system and instruments. After surgery, a subjective feedback survey about the user experience was taken. The experiment results showed that our system can help surgeons easily locate important tissue structures during surgery. The custom-made instruments also solved the shadowing problem in OCT imaging. Surgeons preferred to use the system in their future practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related neuronal adaptations are known to help maintain function. This study aims to examine gross age-related in vivo retinal functional adaptations (using electroretinography) in young and middle aged C57BL/6J and Thy1-YFPh mice and to relate this to in vivo retinal structure (using optical coherence tomography). Electroretinography responses were generally larger in Thy1-YFPh mice than in C57BL/6J mice, with similar in vivo retinal layer thicknesses except for longer inner/outer photoreceptor segment in Thy1-YFPh mice. Relative to 3-month-old mice, 12-month-old mice showed reduced photoreceptor (C57BL/6J 84.0±2.5 %; Thy1-YFPh 80.2±5.2 %) and bipolar cell (C57BL/6J 75.6±2.3 %; Thy1-YFPh 68.1±5.5 %) function. There was relative preservation of ganglion cell function (C57BL/6J 79.7±3.7 %; Thy1-YFPh 91.7±5.0 %) with age, which was associated with increased b-wave (bipolar cell) sensitivities to light. Ganglion cell function was correlated with both b-wave amplitude and sensitivity. This study shows that there are normal age-related adaptations to preserve functional output. Different mouse strains may have varied age-related adaptation capacity and should be taken into consideration when examining age-related susceptibility to injury. • Photoreceptor and bipolar cell function decline in middle aged mice. • Compensatory increase in bipolar cell sensitivity to light occurs in 12-month-old mice. • Increase inner retinal gain (ganglion cell function) up to 12 months of age. • Age-related functional differences can differ in transgenic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia is the property of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)