Hyperbaric Oxygen Effects on Contrast and Macular Light Sensitivity in Dry Type Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients

This study was to compare the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on contrast and macular light sensitivity improvement in dry type age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. The subjects were eyes that had been diagnosed with dry type AMD which met inclusion criteria. The subjects were divided into two groups. The first group was given antioxidants and HBOT. The second group was given only antioxidants. Contrast and macular light sensitivity test were done using MARS contrast sensitivity chart and Humphrey Field Analyzer-3 for three times, pre-therapy, day-1 and 14 post- therapy. This study found that 25 eyes were included for analysis, 14 subjects in first group, and 11 subjects in second group. Statistical analysis results showed that there were significant increase on contrast sensitivity in intervention group between one-day post-therapy with pre-therapy, P = 0.003 (P <0.05), and between 14-days post-therapy with pre-therapy, P = 0,015 (P <0.05). From pre- and post-analysis, there were no significant difference found on contrast sensitivity in control group and macular light sensitivity in intervention group. In control group, there were significant increase on superotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal area between one-day post-therapy and pra-therapy with P = 0.004, P = 0.013 and P = 0.008 (P <0.05), respectively, and there was significant decrease on inferonasal area between 14-days post-therapy and one-day post-therapy, P = 0.003 (P <0.05). In conclusion, patients with AMD who were subjected to HBOT achieved improvement in contrast sensitivity in cases considered as having low prognosis. HBOT should be considered as promising intervention for AMD management adjuvant and further research are needed to find optimal dosage.

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Increased levels of circulating CD34+ cells in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: relation with clinical and OCT features

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.5301/ejo.5001012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 80-86

Author(s):

Caner Kara ◽

Pınar Ç. Özdal ◽

Emrullah Beyazyıldız ◽

Nurgül E. Özcan ◽

Mehmet Y. Teke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

Purpose: To investigate the levels of circulating CD34+ stem cells in patients with neovascular type age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its relation with clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. Methods: The study consisted of 55 patients: 28 patients (18 male and 10 female) with neovascular type AMD as a study group and 27 patients (12 male and 15 female) scheduled for cataract surgery as a control group. The level of CD34+ stem cells was measured by ﬂow cytometry. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Results: The mean ages of patients in the study and control groups were 71 ± 8 and 68 ± 6 years, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, sex, or systemic disease association between study and control groups. However, smoking status was significantly higher in the study group (67.9% vs 37.0%; p = 0.02). Stem cell levels were significantly higher in the study group (1.5 ± 0.9 vs 0.5 ± 0.3; p<0.001), but there was no relation between stem cell levels and clinical and OCT findings. Conclusions: Increased circulating CD34+ stem cell levels were observed in patients with choroidal neovascular membrane associated with AMD, but no significant relation was found between cell levels and clinical and OCT findings.

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Profiling Cognitive Performance and Sleep Quality Measures in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

10.31235/osf.io/ksc9e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amirsaeid Moloodi ◽

Hooman Rezaie ◽

Behzad Khademi ◽

Mohammad Nami

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

And Control

Objective: This study aimed at profiling cognitive functions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Method: This cross-sectional investigation enrolled 45 patients with AMD and 45 age- and sex-matched controls. The overall cognitive performance in AMD sufferer versus control subjects was asses using the Persian version of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination battery (ACE-R). Subjects’ sleep quality was also evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The mean global assessment and subscale scores were statistically compared between groups.Results: The mean global scores for ACE-R in AMD and control groups (80.4±12.3 and 86 ± 9.6, respectively) were found to be statistically different (p=0.018). On the other hand there was no significant difference (p=0.793) between the AMD and control groups in terms of PSQI scores (9.7±2.8 and 9.8±2.8, respectively). Conclusion: AMD patients seem to have cognitively underperformed in memory and verbal fluency domains compared to the control group. Evidence on cognitive impairments in patients with AMD may possibly herald neurocognitive insufficiencies and have common pathological mechanisms with dementias.

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Use of the King-Devick Variable Color Contrast Sensitivity Chart to differentiate stages of age-related macular degeneration

BMJ Open Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000451

Author(s):

Shaun Ittiara ◽

Anya S Hariprasad ◽

Leonard V Messner ◽

David J Tresley ◽

Danielle Leong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Color Contrast ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Clinical Practices ◽

Exudative Amd ◽

Colour Contrast ◽

Age Related

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine which colour contrast sensitivity differences exist in early to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and examine the potential utility of the King-Devick Variable Color Contrast Sensitivity Chart in detecting AMD severity.Methods and analysisA total of 85 participants (144 total eyes) were recruited from multiple clinical practices and enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 57 healthy eyes. The non-exudative AMD (NE-AMD) group consisted of 45 eyes. The exudative AMD (E-AMD) group consisted of 42 eyes. In a single study visit, monocular best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 40 cm with 100% black contrast was determined for each eye. Using the BCVA line, the number of letters correctly identified (out of 10) was recorded for various colour presentations (red, green, blue and yellow) and at decreasing contrast levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%).ResultsOur results show worse visual performance under various colour contrast settings in E-AMD patients compared with healthy controls and NE-AMD. Colour contrast performance using blue and yellow differentiated more advanced stages of disease in E-AMD from earlier NE-AMD disease. Blue and black colour contrast performance more accurately identified the E-AMD group from healthy controls and the NE-AMD group.ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrate that colour contrast, particularly with black, blue and yellow, is impaired in E-AMD suggesting the potential for colour contrast measures to serve as an adjunctive clinical tool in identifying subtle altered visual function as well as the potential for detecting disease severity.

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A comparative analysis of the course of wet age-related macular degeneration in eyes with incipient cataract and in eyes after phacoemulsification

Ophthalmology journal ◽

10.17816/ov2014427-32 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 27-32

Author(s):

Yuriy Sergeyevich Astakhov ◽

Nikita Yur’yevich Dal’ ◽

Natal’ya Viktorovna Chistyakova

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Retinal Thickness ◽

Treated Group ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Central Retinal Thickness ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Wet Amd

Many patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) also have a cataract in the same eye. Because there is a theoretical risk of progression of the degenerative processes in the macular area after surgical lens removal, this raises some ethical, clinical and economical questions for ophthalmologists. The purpose of the study was to compare the course of wet AMD in eyes with incipient cataract and the course in eyes after surgical cataract removal. Materials and methods: 135 eyes with wet AMD, 48 eyes - treated group - were subjects to phacoemulsification during the study, 87 eyes - control group - with incipient cataract without indications for surgery. Regular visits every 1.5 months during 2 years of follow-up with visual acuity testing, central retinal thickness analysis by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Anti-VEGF injections were performed according to a PRN regimen. Results: there was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity, central retinal thickness, intravitreal injection frequency between both groups during the study period. Conclusions: No influence of phacoemulsification on the wet AMD course was found.

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A Randomized Study of Nutritional Supplementation in Patients with Unilateral Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041253 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1253

Author(s):

Alfredo García-Layana ◽

Sergio Recalde ◽

Maria Hernandez ◽

Maximino J. Abraldes ◽

João Nascimento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Fatty Acid Profile ◽

Differential Effect ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Relevant Effect ◽

Age Related

The purpose of this study is evaluate the efficacy and safety of medicinal products containing the original Age-Related Eye Disease group (AREDS) formulation at doses approved in Europe (EU, control group; n = 59) with a product that adds DHA, lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol and hydroxytyrosol to the formula (intervention group; n = 50). This was a multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded trial conducted in patients aged 50 years or older diagnosed with unilateral exudative Age related Macular Degeneration AMD. At month 12, the intervention did not have a significant differential effect on visual acuity compared with the control group, with an estimated treatment difference in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) of −1.63 (95% CI −0.83 to 4.09; p = 0.192). The intervention exhibited a significant and, in most cases, relevant effect in terms of a reduction in some inflammatory cytokines and a greater improvement in the fatty acid profile and serum lutein and zeaxantin concentration. In patients with unilateral wet AMD, the addition of lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, hydroxytyrosol and DHA to the AREDS EU recommended doses in the short-term did not have a differential effect on visual acuity compared to a standard AREDS EU formula but, in addition to improving the fatty acid profile and increasing carotenoid serum levels, may provide a beneficial effect in improving the proinflammatory and proangiogenic profile of patients with AMD.

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Circular vection in patients with age-related macular degeneration

Journal of Vestibular Research ◽

10.3233/ves-1999-9406 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 287-291

Author(s):

Hiroaki Fushiki ◽

Satoru Takata ◽

Yasunori Nagaki ◽

Yukio Watanabe

Keyword(s):

Visual Field ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Matched Control ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Central Visual Field ◽

Matched Control Group ◽

Circular Vection ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference

We have used optokinetic stimulation in patients with unilateral age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and central scotoma to investigate the possible contribution of the central visual field to circular vection (CV). Six patients aged 42–73 years with unilateral AMD and an aged-matched control group of nine elderly adults aged 47–75 years were examined. Monocular visual field defects were verified with the Goldmann perimeter by kinetic perimetry. The device used to induce CV was a random dot pattern projected onto a hemispherical dome with a radius of 75 cm. The pattern was rotated horizontally at a constant acceleration of 1 deg/s 2 . Monocular stimuli were randomly repeated two to three times in both temporal-nasal (T-N) and nasal-temporal (N-T) directions. The latency of onset of CV was measured for each stimulus presentation. In the age-matched control group the CV latencies varied from 4.2 to 72.0 s. In each case, however, the CV latencies were stable. No significant differences in CV latencies were found between right and left eyes in both stimulus directions ( p > 0.05). In patients with AMD, no statistically significant difference in CV latency was found between the affected and unaffected eyes ( p > 0.05). Marked central visual field loss in AMD does not significantly impair peripherally induced CV. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that the peripheral retina dominates CV.

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Association between NF-kB polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration in a high-altitude population

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0251931 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0251931

Author(s):

Yan Xin ◽

Kang Zefeng ◽

Li Ling ◽

Guan Ruijuan

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Lipid Level ◽

Allele Frequencies ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

Objective To investigate the association between the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) gene polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a high-altitude population. Methods Fifty-five patients with AMD and 57 control subjects were recruited from the Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood sample of each participant. Four NF-kB polymorphisms (rs3774959, rs3774932, rs3774937, and rs230526) were genotyped using a MassARRAY system. The genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the case and control groups using the chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test. Results There was no significant difference in sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, blood lipid level or smoking and drinking status between the AMD and control groups (P > 0.05). The genotype distributions of four NF-kB polymorphisms were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control group (P > 0.05). The frequencies of genotype AA of rs3774932 and genotype CC of rs3774937 were nominally significantly higher in the AMD group than in the control group (P = 0.046 and 0.023, respectively), although these associations did not survive the Bonferroni correction (corrected P > 0.05). Genotype distributions of rs3774959 and rs230526 were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.08 and 0.16, respectively). No significant difference in the allele frequencies of the four polymorphisms was found between the AMD and control groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions Genotype AA of rs3774932 and genotype CC of rs3774937 in NF-kB might be risk factors for AMD.

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The impact of saffron (Crocus sativus) supplementation on visual function in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration

Italian Journal of Medicine ◽

10.4081/itjm.2016.758 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Abbas Riazi ◽

Yunes Panahi ◽

Ali Agha Alishiri ◽

Mohammad Ahmad Hosseini ◽

Ali Akbar Karimi Zarchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Visual Function ◽

Low Vision ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Crocus Sativus ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Related ◽

The Impact

The aim was to evaluate the impact of saffron supplementation on visual function in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Fifty-four participants, 23 male and 31 female, with dry ARMD were assigned to one of the following two groups. The treatment group (n=29) consumed 50 mg saffron daily during a 3- month period, while 25 subjects served as the control group. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and retinal thickness were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Quality of life was evaluated using the Melbourne Low Vision Index (MLVI) before and after treatment. Significant increases in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were found in the saffron group but not in the control group. Changes in macular thickness were not statistically different between the two groups. Short-term consumption of saffron may slow down the progression of disease and improve visual function, especially contrast sensitivity, in patients with dry ARMD.

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Correlation between Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness and Disease Activity in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab109.003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Aya Raafat Abouelregal ◽

Alaa Fathy Mahmoud ◽

Tamer Fahmy Eliwa ◽

Karim Magdi Naguib

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Choroidal Thickness ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Spectral Domain ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Neovascular Amd ◽

Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe irreversible visual impairment worldwide. The disease has a deep impact on the quality of life of affected person and represents a major socioeconomic challenge. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a rapidly progressing disease which impacts central vision. It is responsible for 90% of cases of AMD associated severe vision loss. Choroidal thicknening is hypothesized to occur in the active phase of neovascular AMD. On the other hand, multiple studies reported progressive choroidal thinning in nAMD. Aim to study the correlation between choroidal thickness, and the activity of choroidal neovascularization in cases of neovascular (wet) Age related macular degeneration using Spectral domain Ocular coherence tomography. Methodology Our study included 33 eyes of 30 participants subdivided into neovascular AMD group (23 eyes of 20 patients), and age matched control group (10 eyes of 10 participants). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Avanti RTVue XR AngioVue OCT (Optovue Inc, Fremont, USA) was used to measure central foveal thickness (CFT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after conduction of complete ocular examination and history taking. Results Our study shows a significant decrease in subfoveal choroidal thickness in neovascular AMD group (157.82 + 68.67 µm) when compared to the age matched control group (266.9+ 48.37 µm) with (P value <0.001). But, we found no clinically significant difference in SFCT between active CNV (179.23 + 64.36 µm) and inactive CNV groups (136.4 + 72.97 µm) (P value = 0.19). Conclusion there is a significant thinning of choroid in nAMD in comparison to control. But no statistically significant difference in SFCT between active and inactive choroidal neovascular groups.

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