Purpose. To investigate the effects of subfoveal choroidal neovascularizzation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on macular functional parameters quantified with an automatic fundus perimeter.Methods. 118 eyes of 98 consecutive patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were evaluated. Best corrected visual acuity (ETDRS charts), fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography were performed. Microperimetry (fundus-related perimetry) was used to quantify macular sensitivity and fixation pattern (location and stability).Results. Of 118 eyes: 26 (21.9%) had central, 18 (15.1%) poor central and 74 (63.0%) eccentric fixation; 31 (26.0%) had stable, 42 (35.6%) relatively unstable and 45 (38.4%) unstable fixation. In 75 eyes (63.4%) a dense central scotoma was found. Angiographic classification of subfoveal CNV (occult versus classic) was not significantly related to fixation pattern (location: P = 0.274; stability: P = 0.385), and presence of dense scotoma (P = 0.41).Conclusion. Microperimetric quantification of macular sensitivity and fixation pattern in eyes with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD offers new data about the impact of visual impairment in these eyes. Moreover, microperimetry improves the functional evaluation of subfoveal CNV in AMD.

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PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of corneal confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of morphologic damage of the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in diabetic patients and to correlate corneal confocal microscopy fi ndings with peripheral diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Corneal sub-basal nerve plexus parameters were quantifi ed by corneal confocal microscopy in 42 diabetic patients and 27 age-matched controls. The parameters quantifi ed were the number of fi bers, the tortuosity of fi bers, the number of beadings, and the branching pattern of the fi bers. Peripheral neuropathy was also quantifi ed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. RESULTS: The number of fi bers, number of beadings, and branching pattern of fi bers signifi cantly decreases in diabetic patients versus control subjects (PϽ.0001; PϽ.0001; P=.0006, respectively), whereas nerve tortuosity signifi cantly increases (PϽ.0001). The same corneal sub-basal nerve plexus parameters show a statistical trend, suggesting progression of corneal neuropathy with peripheral diabetic neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal confocal microscopy represents a new tool in the diagnosis, clinical evaluation, and follow-up of peripheral diabetic neuropathy. This study found that diabetes damages corneal nerves, particularly the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus. This damage may be easily and accurately documented using corneal confocal microscopy. [

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term corneal safety of topical mitomycin C (MMC) used during photorefractive keratectomy to prevent haze formation in highly myopic eyes.Methods: Twenty-eight patients with bilateral high myopia underwent photorefractive keratectomy. One eye was randomly assigned to intraoperative 0.02% MMC and the fellow eye to conventional treatment. Each eye was checked at baseline and at 5 years after surgery using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy.