Nonetheless, CBS remains commonly underreported, under recognized and/or misrecognized. Albeit the treatment recommendations and guidelines are not yet fully established, it is important to raise awareness of this specific and distinct condition, which inevitably implicates many differential diagnostic deliberations.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of silicone oil on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent vitreoretinal surgery. The study included 47 patients (eyes), who underwent a pars plana vitrectomy with the silicone oil tamponade. The control group included unoperated eye of all participants. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used for the measurements of peripapilar and macular RNFL thickness. The average peripapillary RNFL thickness was significantly higher in the silicone oil filled eyes during endotamponade and after its removal. The eyes with elevated IOP had less thickening of the RNFL in comparison to the eyes with normal IOP. Central macular thickness and macular volume were decreased in the silicone oil filled eyes in comparison to the control eyes. In conclusion, silicone oil caused peripapilar RNFL thickening in the vitrectomized eyes during endotamponade and after silicone oil removal.

Background: Schizophrenia is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cognitive dysfunction and changes in primary sensory processing. This article aims to explore the current insights into the relationship between schizophrenia and different visual disturbances.Methods: To provide a literature review of visual impairments in schizophrenia, we performed a PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus search to identify all articles in English on the topic up to the end of 2018.Results: Multiple retinal functional and structural abnormalities are found in patients with schizophrenia. Wider retinal venules suggest chronically insufficient brain supply of oxygen and this could contribute to the occurrence of psychotic symptoms. Optical coherence tomography studies showed that retinal nerve fiber layer, macular thickness, and macular volume were significantly lowered in the chronic phase of schizophrenia. Results from electroretinogram recordings have demonstrated different declinations such as abnormalities of a -wave activity in the photoreceptors or b -wave activity in the bipolar and Muller cells. Abnormalities in eye movements, such as a notable decrease in saccades and smooth pursuit eye movements, are one of the most reliable and reproducible impairments associated with schizophrenia. Disrupted visual processing of the magnocellular pathway may result in a decrease of contrast sensitivity, sensory processing, orientation discrimination, visual integration, trajectory and spatial localization, backward masking and motion tracking. Visual perceptual abnormalities occur in more than 60% of schizophrenic patients and these are visual hallucinations, perceptual distortion of colors, shapes and light intensity, decrease in contour integration and surround suppression. Other, frequently present eye disorders include impaired visual acuity, strabismus and nystagmus.Conclusion: Visual impairments are one of the most important features of schizophrenia, which could help in defining the disease state and assigning appropriate treatment.

SUMMARY -Th e aim of this study was to assess damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and morphology of the optic nerve head (ONH) in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Th e study included three groups of patients, as follows: 40 eyes with POAG, 40 eyes with NAION and 40 eyes with refraction anomaly. All patients underwent standard automated perimetry and analysis of ONH topography by using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO)-HRT II. Visual fi eld defects such as decreased retinal sensitivity prevailed in the eyes with POAG, whereas in the eyes with NAION they were mostly manifested as concentrically narrowed visual fi eld and quadrant excesses. Topographic ONH alterations, examined by HRT II, showed the same number of sectors to be aff ected in the eyes with POAG and NAION. A larger number of sectors in the upper part of ONH were aff ected in the eyes with NAION. Optic disc morphology diff ered signifi cantly between the eyes with POAG and NAION by a higher rate of neuroretinal rim thinning and higher mean cup depth in the POAG group.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relationship between general health-related quality of life (GHRQL) and sociodemographic factors in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. A prospective cross-sectional study included 207 glaucoma patients. GHRQL was determined via two self-administered questionnaires: the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire. Male and 50-to 69-year-old glaucoma patients, followed by patients who regularly used antiglaucoma therapy and those without progression of glaucoma reported a significantly higher quality of life as measured by the EQ-5D index and the EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS) (p<0.05 all). Similarly, the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of SF-36 had significantly higher values for these patients (p<0.05 all). Furthermore, glaucoma patients with higher education and economic status, glaucoma patients who lived in rural areas, and those who were married achieved higher scores on EQ-5D and SF-36. In conclusion, progression of the disease, female sex, older age, lower education and economic status, urban area and unmarried status negatively affect quality of life in glaucoma patients.

SUMMARY -Th e purpose is to report on the safety and effi cacy of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV, New World Medical, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA) implantation for the management of refractory pediatric glaucoma observed during one-year follow up period. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 10 eyes, all younger than 11 years, with pediatric glaucoma that underwent AGV implantation for medicamentously uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) between 2010 and 2014. Outcome measures were control of IOP below 23 mm Hg (with or without antiglaucoma medications) and changes in visual acuity. Complications were recorded. After AGV implantation, IOP values ranged from 18 mm Hg to 23 mm Hg (except for one eye with postoperative hypotonia due to suprachoroid hemorrhage, where the postoperative IOP value was 4 mm Hg). Th e number of antiglaucoma medications was reduced, i.e. four patients had two medications, one patient had one medication, and the others did not need antiglaucoma medication on the last follow-up visit. One eye had suprachoroid hemorrhage, one eye had long-term persistent uveitic membrane, and two eyes had tube-cornea touch. In conclusion, AGV implantation appears to be a viable option for the management of refractory pediatric glaucoma and shows success in IOP control. However, there was a relatively high complication rate limiting the overall success rate.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a relatively common retinal disease involving the localized serous detachment of the neurosensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Research suggests that individuals with a Type A personality, exhibiting traits such as competitiveness, urgency, aggression, and hostility, are significantly more prone to developing CSCR. Several studies have confirmed that a propensity to stress as well as different stressful events may predispose subjects to the development and recurrence of CSCR. Patients with CSCR are more depressive, report a higher level of anxiety and use more psychopharmacologic medications. Despite the research conducted on the topic, it remains unclear how a variety of psychological factors can contribute to dysfunction and pathological changes in the choroid and RPE. Some authors propose that increased levels of sympathetic neurotransmitters and glucocorticoids may alter the choroidal blood flow and increase the permeability of choriocapillaris in CSCR patients. It is generally accepted that hyperpermeable choroidal vessels are responsible for increased tissue hydrostatic pressure, which promotes RPE detachment, breaks the barrier function of the RPE and leads to subretinal fluid accumulation. Although the etiological factors and pathophysiological mechanisms have still not been fully clarified, CSCR is most likely a multifactorial disease involving disturbed interrelationships between biological and psychological factors. This comprehensive review aims to provide an up-to-date exploration of the psychological factors and pathophysiological mechanisms associated with CSCR.

Addiction is a complex psychosocial problem. It is undeniable that a family member’s addiction causes significant psychosocial effects. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the burden and psychological distress suffered by caregivers of drug abusers. Ninety-nine caregivers of hard drug addicts participated in this study. The test group consisted of 50 participants and the control group had 49 participants. The participants filled out the General Demographic Questionnaire; Caregiving and the Experience of Subjective and Objective Burden; SCL-90-R; and WHOQOL-BREF. Caregivers of addicts who were preparing to join the community exhibited a significantly higher objective burden, subjective burden, subjective stress burden and greater psychological distress in comparison to caregivers of addicts in the community, and their quality of life was poorer (p < 0.001). The following showed to be risk factors for psychological distress: families with a greater number of children, marital, employment and economic status and duration of addiction. The protective factors were better quality of life, long-term marriage and higher education level of caregivers. Caring for addicts who are living with their families is a significant responsibility and burden for caregivers.