INTERESTING EYE NEWS & CLINICAL PEARLS

This was an evaluation of patients within the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial. It's purpose was: "To evaluate the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP)-reducing treatment on the development of disc hemorrhages in patients with glaucoma." The conclusion was: "IOP-reducing treatment was unrelated to the presence or frequency of disc hemorrhages. The results may suggest that disc hemorrhages cannot be considered an indication of insufficient IOP-lowering treatment , and that glaucoma progression in eyes with disc hemorrhages cannot be totally halted by IOP reduction . The results also suggest that disc hemorrhages do not occur in all patients with glaucoma."

According to this study, a calcium antagonist, nilvadipine, taken orally, may decrease the rate of mean deviation depression over time in patients with glaucoma. Further studies are needed for confirmation and to determine if benefits outweigh risks. Theoretically calcium antagonists would increase bloodflow of optic nerve vasculature.

Transient Hyperopia after Intensive Treatment of Hyperglycemia in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes This interesting paper shows that there is a hyperopic shift with aggressive initial treatment of diabetes, but that this shift apparently disappears between two to three months.

Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology - Dove Medical Press : The results from this small study suggests that nepafenac 0.1% may have activity against diabetic macular edema in a significant way.

Journal of Glaucoma - Abstract: Volume 17(5) August 2008 p 398-402 Comparison of the Effects of Latanoprost and Bimatoprost on Central Corneal Thickness. This study shows that central corneal thickness decreases over time in patients taking prostaglandin analogues on the order of 2-4%. It concludes: "A significant reduction in CCT was observed at the 6th, 12th, and 24th months with latanoprost and bimatoprost. Serial CCT measurements in determining the IOP values may be helpful in the follow-up of prostaglandin analogs."

Journal of Glaucoma - Abstract: Volume 17(5) August 2008 p 408-413 The Role of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in Glaucoma Pathophysiology: The Dark Side of the Optic Disc. The other, unseen side of the optic disc is not air but a set of pressure compartments dominated by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the subarachnoid space. The CSF pressure is equivalent to IOP in its influence on translaminar pressure gradient and optic disk surface movement.

Wiley InterScience :: JOURNALS :: Acta Ophthalmologica In patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, olopatadine, ketotifen, epinastine and emedastine are more efficacious than fluorometholone acetate in preventing itching and redness. All the antiallergic agents gave similar results in terms of reducing tearing, chemosis and eyelid swelling.