No abstract

. Purpose:  To test whether patients aged ≥80 years can safely and successfully apply eyedrops from a single‐use eyedrop container without support, and to compare the results with those of younger patients using single‐use containers and older patients using standard eyedrop bottles. Methods:  Patients aged ≥80 years who had no physical or mental conditions hindering self‐application of eyedrops and actually did so because of glaucoma or dry eyes were included consecutively in the study group (n = 44) in order to perform self‐application of eyedrops from single‐use eyedrop containers. Patients were observed meticulously by two investigators, who documented practical problems during the procedure in a checklist. In control group A (n = 22), glaucoma or sicca patients aged between 50 and 65 years applied drops from single‐use eyedrop containers; in control group B (n = 28), glaucoma or sicca patients aged ≥80 years used a traditional eyedrop bottle. Results:  Successful application of the drops into the conjunctival sac was achieved by 57% in the study group (95% and 89% in control groups A and B, respectively). Scratching of the eyedrop container along the conjunctiva or cornea was observed in 68% of the study group (41% and 61% in control groups A and B, respectively). Frequency of problems during opening and self‐application of single‐use eyedrop containers in the study group showed an inverse correlation to visual acuity in the better eye and previous experience with this kind of eyedrop container. Conclusion:  Older patients have massive problems in self‐administering eyedrops from single‐use containers. Factors influencing the success of self‐application may include the patient’s previous experience with this kind of eyedrop container and the patient’s visual acuity.

Background: Macular rotation surgery comprises surgical extraction of choroidal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and translocation of the foveal neural retina over adjacent retinal pigment epithelium.Objective: To determine whether macular translocation with 360°retinotomy can stabilize and/or improve visual acuity in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD.Design: This study consisted of a standardized surgical procedure on a series of 90 consecutive patients and follow-up examinations at fixed intervals for 12 months.Participants: All patients in this study had experienced recent visual loss resulting from subfoveal CNV caused by AMD. Twenty-six patients had major macular subretinal hemorrhage, 39 patients had occult subfoveal CNV, and 25 patients had classic subfoveal CNV.Methods: Macular translocation surgery was performed between 1997 and 1999. The patients were examined preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, including visual acuity, microperimetry, angiography, and orthoptic assessment.Results: Visual acuity increased by 15 or more letters in 24 patients, remained stable in 37 patients, and deteriorated by 15 or more letters in 29 patients at 12 months postoperatively. A secondary procedure was necessary in 17 patients because of severe complications; proliferative vitreoretinopathy was observed in 17 eyes, macular pucker in 5 eyes, and macular hole in 1 patient. Conclusion:Macular translocation is a technically demanding surgical procedure. Although the procedure has a high rate of surgical and postoperative complications, the functional and anatomical results appear to be promising for selected patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD.

No abstract

In addition to data from psychophysical tests the results from electrophysiological examinations indicated a global reduction of retinal function in ARMD which seemed to be present not only in the macula but also elsewhere in the retina.