ObjectiveTo evaluate early retinal microvascular abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) via optical coherence tomography angiography.MethodsA cross‐sectional study. Two hundred patients with CKD stage ≧3 were enrolled in the CKD group, and 50 age‐matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the control group. Main outcome measures were the differences in parafoveal vessel densities in the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP) between the CKD and control groups.ResultsThe mean ages were 62.7 ± 10.1 in the CKD group and 61.9 ± 9.7 (P = 0.622) in the control group. The CKD group had reduced parafoveal vessel densities in SVP (46.7 ± 4.3 vs 49.7 ± 2.9, P < 0.001) and DVP (50.1 ± 4.1 vs 52. 6 ± 2.9, P < 0.001) when compared to those of the control group. In multiple linear regression models, age, diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and use of anti‐hypertensive drugs were factors associated with vessel density in SVP, whereas age, diabetes, and smoking were factors associated with vessel density in DVP.ConclusionPatients with CKD had reduced vessel densities in parafoveal SVP and DVP, as compared to that of control subjects. Microvasculature in the different retinal layers may be affected by different systemic factors.

Diabetes mellitus increased the risk of HCC development in HCV-infected patients and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with or without HCC.

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 753–758 Abstract. Purpose:  This study aimed to examine the correlation between glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level and macular volume in diabetes patients without diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Methods:  We carried out an observational, cross‐sectional study. Patients who had diabetes mellitus (DM) of ≥ 10 years duration without DMO were included. Only one eye of each patient was selected for analysis. Eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were excluded. Central subfield thickness (CST), central subfield volume (CSV) and total macular volume (TMV) were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Chronic HbA1c level was defined as the mean HbA1c value in the year prior to enrolment. Results:  We included 97 eyes from 97 patients (47 women, 50 men; mean age 62.2 years). They included eight type 1 and 89 type 2 DM patients. The mean duration of DM was 15.5 years. Forty‐two (43%) eyes had no diabetic retinopathy and 55 (57%) eyes had non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In statistical analysis, CST (mean 188.80 ± 27.64 μm; r = 0.220, p = 0.030), CSV (mean 0.149 ± 0.021 mm3; r = 0.213, p = 0.036) and TMV (mean 6.497 ± 0.715 mm3; r = 0.299, p = 0.003) positively correlated with chronic HbA1c level (7.95 ± 1.29%). The linear regression model showed that chronic HbA1c level (standardized coefficient 0.253; p = 0.013) and age (standardized coefficient − 0.206; p = 0.040) were factors significantly related to TMV. Conclusions:  Chronic HbA1c level positively correlates with macular thickness and volume in patients with DM of ≥ 10 years duration without DMO. Our results suggest that subclinical macular volume and thickness changes may occur before DMO becomes clinically evident. Early tight glycaemic control prior to the onset of DMO may play an important role in preventing the deterioration of macular function by altering macular haemodynamics.

To examine retinal neurovascular changes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Case-control study. A total of 171 CKD cases and 40 controls were recruited (mean age 62.9 AE 10.3 versus 60.8 AE 9.2, p = 0.257). Retinal neural parameters, including parafoveal retinal thickness (PfRT), macular ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCt), global loss volume (GLV), focal loss volume (FLV) and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLt), were measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Microvascular parameters, including foveal avascular zone size, vessel density over the parafoveal superficial vascular plexus (SVP-VD), parafoveal deep vascular plexus (DVP-VD) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC-VD), were measured using OCT angiography. Results: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients showed reduced PfRT, GCCt and RNFLt and increased GLV and FLV compared with the controls (all p < 0.005). Among patients with CKD, estimated glomerular filtration rate was an independent factor associated with PfRT (coefficient 0.19, p = 0.015), GCCt (coefficient 0.10, p = 0.006), GLV (coefficient À 0.08, p = 0.001), FLV (coefficient À 0.02, p = 0.006) and RNFLt (coefficient 0.15, p = 0.002). Parafoveal retinal thickness (PfRT), GCCt, GLV, FLV and RNFLt were correlated with SVP-VD (all p < 0.001) but not with DVP-VD (all p > 0.1). Conclusions: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients demonstrated a significant reduction in macular thickness and changes in retinal neural parameters. These changes were associated with the severity of CKD and correlated with the microvascular rarefaction in the parafoveal SVP.

BackgroundMyopia-related maculopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. The prevalence of myopia has been reported as high as 90 % in some Asian countries. Therefore, controlling myopia progression is an urgent public issue. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of topical atropine with different concentrations on intraocular pressure measurements and myopia progression in school-aged children in Taiwan.MethodsFifty-six myopic children were divided into three groups: 32 children were treated with 0.125 % atropine eyedrop; 12 of them were treated with 0.25 % atropine eye drop and another 12 served as a control group. IOP, auto-refractor and manifest refraction were measured at baseline and every 3 months following treatment for one year.ResultsThere were no significant differences for the mean age, gender and baseline IOPs among the three groups. During the follow up period, no significant IOP difference was found among three groups. The change between final and baseline mean IOPs also revealed no significant differences: 0.54 mmHg, −1.28 mmHg, −0.33 mmHg for the 0.125 % atropine, 0.25 % atropine and control groups. The baseline mean spherical equivalent similarly did not differ significantly among groups but the control group showed a significant myopic progression compared to the 0.125 % atropine group 6 months after treatment, and persisted for one year. The change between final and baseline mean spherical equivalents were −0.05 D, 0 D, −1.05 D for the 0.125 % atropine, 0.25 % atropine and control groups, with both atropine-treated groups showing significant myopic retardation compared to the control group.ConclusionsTopical use of low concentration atropine for one year does not induce ocular hypertension and is effective for retarding myopic progression. However, further large scale studies with longer follow up period is necessary to validate the long term safety and efficacy.Trial registrationISRCTN33002849, 2016/01/19, retrospectively registered.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and macular degeneration (MD) are 2 grave diseases leading to significant disability secondary to renal failure and blindness. The 2 diseases share not only common risk factors but also similar pathogenic mechanisms to renal and retinal injuries. Previous epidemiological studies indicated association between these 2 diseases. However, this concept is challenged by recent investigations. Patients with mild to moderate CKD (n = 30,696) between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2005 were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Controls (n = 122,784) were matched by age, gender, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension status (1:4 ratios). The risk of MD was compared between the 2 groups. The mean age of patients was 54.9 ± 15.7 years. The proportion of MD was 2.7% in mild to moderate CKD patients and 1.9% in normal controls (P < 0.001); and, 0.39% and 0.26% (P < 0.001) in advanced MD. Mild to moderate CKD patients had higher risk for MD [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.301; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.200–1.411; P < 0.001] than normal renal function subjects. The association was more pronounced for advanced MD. From all age strata (10 years increase), the presence of CKD in those patients aged less than 40 years had highest OR for all MD (OR = 2.125, 95% CI: 1.417–3.186, P < 0.001). The results were consistent in interaction terms, highlighting the importance of CKD in young age patient for risk of MD. The high risk for MD in mild to moderate CKD patients remains significant after adjustment for personal habits (alcohol drinking and smoking, model 1; OR: 1.371; 95% CI: 1.265–1.486; P < 0.001), comorbidities (dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease, model 2; OR: 1.369; 95% CI: 1.264–1.484; P < 0.001) and all these factors (model 3; OR: 1.320, 95% CI: 1.218–1.431, P < 0.001). This association was consistent in the subanalysis, excluding those patients with diabetic retinopathy. Proper diagnosis and timely intervention should be warranted to retard visual loss of these patients.

Background To evaluate the correlating and predicting factors of visual outcome after implantation of newly developed diffractive quadrifocal intraocular lens (IOL). Methods A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted. Patients who underwent diffractive quadrifocal IOL implantation with a follow-up period longer than six months and records of wavefront aberrometer within one week perioperatively were enrolled. Accordingly, a total of 73 eyes from 73 patients were included. The postoperative distance and near visual acuity, ocular aberrations and postoperative symptoms were collected. The correlation and predictability between ocular aberrations and the postoperative visual outcome were evaluated. Results The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) one month postoperatively was significantly better than the preoperative status, and insignificant improvement was found six months postoperatively. Preoperative Tracey refraction spherical equivalent (TRSE), angle alpha, and spherical aberration (SA) were significantly correlated with postoperative CDVA and near corrected visual acuity (NCVA). For postoperative ocular aberrations, TRSE, angle alpha, and SA were significantly correlated with CDVA six months postoperatively and NCVA, while the trefoil, internal higher order aberration (HOA) and total HOA were associated with NCVA. Preoperative angle alpha could predict all postoperative visual performances, while postoperative TRSE and angle alpha could predict the CDVA six months postoperatively and NCVA. A large angle alpha is associated with visual disturbance and dissatisfaction. Conclusion The angle alpha preoperatively and postoperatively was correlated with the postoperative vision and could predict visual outcome in patients who had diffractive quadrifocal IOL implanted. Furthermore, the majority of ocular aberrations were also associated with certain postoperative vision.

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