Reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements in healthy subjects using spectralis optical coherence tomography Retinal thickness measurements were highly reproducible for all ETDRS areas. Mean total retinal thickness was 342 +/-15 microm. Mean foveal thickness was 286 +/-17 microm. COVs ranged from 0.38% to 0.86%. Lowest COV was found for the temporal outer ETDRS area (area 7; COV, 0.38%). Highest COV was found for the temporal inner ETDRS area (area 3; COV, 0.86%). Mean difference between measurement 1 and 2, measurement 1 and 3, and measurement 2 and 3 for all ETDRS areas was 1.01 microm, 0.98 microm, and 0.99 microm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Spectralis OCT retinal thickness measurements in healthy volunteers showed excellent intraobserver reproducibility with virtually identical results between retinal thickness measurements performed by one operator.

3D-OCT RNFL thickness measurements in healthy volunteers showed good intra- and interobserver reproducibility. 3D-OCT provides more RNFL thickness information compared to conventional time-domain OCT measurements and may be useful for the management of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.

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Hypobaric hypoxia at very high altitude leads to small but statistically significant changes in IOP that are modulated by systemic oxygen saturation. Climbs to very high altitudes seem to be safe with regard to intraocular pressure changes.

In this single-centre retrospective case review, we investigate the long-term follow-up of birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC) patients, analysing the impact of early, vigorous, and prolonged treatment on the evolution of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) signs and fundus appearance. Treatment delay was calculated for each BRC patient, and patients were classified into two groups--treatment delay of <10 months (early-treatment group) and treatment delay of >10 months (delayed-treatment group). Fundus photographs and ICGA frames from the initial visit and from the last follow-up visit were assessed. Fundus photographs were evaluated for the presence of at least three circumpapillary, typical, rice-shaped birdshot lesions in one eye, inferior or nasal to the optic disc. ICGA pictures were evaluated for the presence of lesions (hypofluorescent dark dots, fuzziness). Differences were compared between the two groups and between the first visit and the last follow-up visit. In the early-treatment group, 5/6 patients had no characteristic BRC fundus lesions, but 7/7 patients in the delayed-treatment group displayed typical lesions. At last follow-up, 5/6 early-treatment patients showed no fundus lesions, and 6/7 delayed-treatment patients retained their fundus lesions. At presentation, all 13 patients exhibited lesions on ICGA. At last follow-up, ICGA lesions had completely disappeared in 4/6 early-treatment patients and 3/7 delayed-treatment patients. Thus, early and sufficiently dosed inflammation-suppressive treatment can prevent the appearance of typical BRC fundus lesions. It is therefore crucial to perform ICGA to detect otherwise occult stromal choroiditis in suspected BRC cases and to initiate adequate therapy immediately.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: Conventional time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an important tool for following dry or exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Fourier-domain three-dimensional (3D) OCT was recently introduced. This study tested the reproducibility of 3D-OCT retinal thickness measurements in patients with dry and exudative AMD. Methods: Ten eyes with dry AMD and 12 eyes with exudative AMD were included in the study. Sets of three OCT 6 · 6-mm raster scans were taken by one operator. Mean retinal thickness was calculated for 36 areas. Coefficients of variation (CoV) were calculated for each patient and area. For analysis, two separate areas (central and peripheral) were defined. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were applied to all 36 subfields in order to analyse possible differences in CoV and mean retinal thickness between dry and exudative AMD. Results: Mean retinal thickness values were significantly larger in the central area in exudative AMD (p < 0.001). Mean CoV for exudative AMD was 3.7% (standard deviation [SD] 1.4%). Mean CoV for dry AMD was 1.8 (SD 0.6%). The reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements was significantly less in exudative AMD (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Reproducibility of 3D-OCT retinal thickness measurements was good in both groups. However, reproducibility was significantly better in dry AMD than in exudative AMD.

SD-OCT RNFL thickness measurements in healthy volunteers and glaucoma patients showed good intra- and inter-observer repeatability. Especially in glaucomatous eyes, repeatability of SD-OCT was superior to TD-OCT.

Purpose: To compare three different treatment modalities for traumatic corneal abrasions. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, masked, three-arm clinical study of patients presenting with superficial corneal foreign bodies. Treatment modalities were: (1) pressure patching with ofloxacin ointment (patch group, PG, n = 18), (2) therapeutic contact lens with ofloxacin eye drops (contact lens group, CLG, n = 20) and (3) ofloxacin ointment alone (ointment group, OG, n = 28). Primary outcome measure was the difference of the mean corneal abrasion area between the three groups at 3 different time points (baseline, day 1 and day 7). Results: A total of 66 patients were included in the study over a period of 2 years. Mean initial corneal abrasion area was 3.6 ± 3.4 mm² in the PG, 4.2 ± 4.0 mm² in the CLG and 3.7 ± 3.1 mm² in the OG (p = 0.875). Differences in corneal abrasion area at any time point were not statistically significant (abrasion area decrease from presentation to day 1 was 3.4 ± 3.3 mm² in the PG, 4.1 ± 4.0 mm² in the CLG and 3.5 ± 3.1 mm² in the OG, p = 0.789). The epithelium was healed in all patients at day 7. Conclusions: Treating traumatic corneal abrasions by pressure patching, a bandage contact lens or ointment alone was equal in reducing the abrasion area or reducing pain. According to our results the treatment of choice for traumatic abrasions may be adapted to the needs and preferences of the patient.