Normal aging results in a reduction of contrast sensitivity for the low-spatial-frequency-sensitive components of both the M and P pathways. Glaucoma results in a further reduction of sensitivity that is not selective for M or P function. The low-spatial-frequency-sensitive channels of both pathways, which are presumably mediated by cells with larger receptive fields, are approximately equivalently impaired in early glaucoma.

(BrJ Ophthalmol 1994; 78: 888-891) After open lacrimal surgery, soft tissue infection occurs in about 8% of cases, but in 1-6% (or less) of cases where prophylactic postoperative oral antibiotics are used.' The current study was performed to assess whether postoperative infection had any effect on the success rate and to determine the influence of related factors on the surgical outcome.

No abstract

Longer follow-up times confirm that diode laser cyclophotocoagulation is a convenient and useful therapy in the control of IOP in end-stage glaucoma. Response of IOP to the laser therapy is highly variable, particularly in the neovascular glaucoma group, and it does not appear to be possible to predict an IOP outcome for an individual eye. Circumferential treatments in neovascular eyes should be avoided. Prospects for long-term vision retention in end-stage eyes are poor, perhaps due to progression of the underlying disease.

The introduction of multiple new medications has resulted in a decline in the amount of glaucoma surgery and laser trabeculoplasty performed. There has been an associated increase in the total number of glaucoma prescription items dispensed, and a large increase in the cost to the PBS of this change. Outcome measures of the benefit of these changes are lacking.

Raised intraocular pressure and glaucoma have rarely been associated with use of periorbital corticosteroids for dermatological conditions such as blepharitis and eczema. Three cases are described in which periorbital topical corticosteroids appear to have resulted in raised intraocular pressure or glaucoma. Topical corticosteroids used for dermatological conditions around the face and eyes are often regarded as being fairly innocuous with regard to ocular side-effects. This case series demonstrates that secondary open-angle glaucoma can be a sight-threatening consequence, and periorbital steroids should therefore be used cautiously and sparingly, particularly in those with a family history of glaucoma. Intraocular pressure may not always return to normal upon cessation of the drug.

No abstract

Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is a major cause of blindness worldwide. To identify new risk loci for OAG, we performed a genome-wide association study in 3,071 OAG cases and 6,750 unscreened controls, and meta-analysed the results with GWAS data for intraocular pressure (IOP) and optic disc parameters (the overall meta-analysis sample size varying between 32,000 to 48,000 participants), which are glaucoma-related traits. We identified and independently validated four novel genome-wide significant associations within or near MYOF and CYP26A1, LINC02052 and CRYGS, LMX1B, and LMO7 using single variant tests, one additional locus (C9) using gene-based tests, and two genetic pathways - “response to fluid shear stress” and “abnormal retina morphology” - in pathway-based tests. Interestingly, some of the new risk loci contribute to risk of other genetically-correlated eye diseases including myopia and age-related macular degeneration. To our knowledge, this study is the first integrative study to combine genetic data from OAG and its correlated traits to identify new risk variants and genetic pathways, highlighting the future potential of combining genetic data from genetically-correlated eye traits for the purpose of gene discovery and mapping.