METHODS: ARPE-19 cells were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium-F-12 supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin-streptomycin in a humidified 5% CO2 incubator maintained at 37°C. Cells were treated with 247 µmol/L lutein, 49 µmol/L zeaxanthin and 1% (v/v) of either coconut oil, corn oil, peanut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, castor oil, or linseed oil for 48h. Lutein and zeaxanthin concentration in the cells were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS: Among the oils tested, the highest lutein and zeaxanthin uptake was observed with coconut oil while the lowest was observed with linseed oil.
CONCLUSION: ARPE-19 uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin are found to be dependent on the type of oils.
METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent a full ophthalmic examination, refraction, visual field analysis and A-scan biometry. Myopic patients were classified as low myopia (LM) [spherical equivalent (SE) from greater than -0.5 D, up to -3.0 D], moderate myopia (MM; SE greater than -3.0 D, up to -6.0 D) and high myopia (HM; SE greater than -6.0 D). The control group consisted of emmetropic (EM) patients (SE from +0.5 D to -0.5 D). A Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT machine was used to measure the peripapillary RNFL thickness of both eyes of each subject. The mean peripapillary RNFL thickness between groups was compared using both analysis of variance and analysis of covariance.
RESULTS: A total of 403 eyes of 403 subjects were included in this study. The mean age was 31.48±10.23y. There were 180 (44.7%) eyes with EM, 124 (30.8%) with LM, 73 (18.1%) with MM and 26 (6.5%) with HM. All groups of myopia severity had a thinner average RNFL than the EM group, but after controlling for gender, age, and axial eye length, only the HM group differed significantly from the EM group (P=0.017). Likewise, the superior, inferior and nasal RNFL was thinner in all myopia groups compared to controls, but after controlling for confounders, only the inferior quadrant RNFL was significantly thinner in the HM group, when compared to the EM group (P=0.017).
CONCLUSION: The average and inferior quadrant RNFL is thinner in highly myopic eyes compared to emmetropic eyes. Refractive status must be taken into consideration when interpreting the OCT of myopic patients, as RNFL thickness varies with the degree of myopia.
METHODS: Serum IGF-1 levels were measured in 25 pregnant diabetic patients and 25 pregnant non-diabetic patients who were matched for age, ethnicity, parity and period of gestation. Fundus examination was performed in both groups at 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation.
RESULTS: The serum IGF-I level was significantly elevated in pregnant diabetics compared to pregnant non-diabetics (366±199μg/L vs 184±89μg/L, (P=0.0001) at 24 weeks, 535±251μg/L vs 356±89μg/L, (P=0.007) at 32 weeks and 404±166μg/L vs 264±113μg/L, (P=0.003) at 36 weeks of gestation). The pregnant diabetics with established diabetes had significantly higher IGF-1 level than gestational diabetes at 28, 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. The serum IGF-I level in pregnant diabetics with retinopathy was significantly higher than that in those without retinopathy at all periods of gestation.
CONCLUSION: Increased serum IGF-1 in pregnancy may increase the risks for retinopathy.
METHODS: A total of 230 older adults (age ≥60y) participated in this study. Habitual distance and near VA were measured using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Chart and Lighthouse Near Visual Acuity Chart, respectively. Global cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (M-MSE) and the Malay language version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (M-MoCA). Digit Symbol (DS) subtest was used to measure information processing.
RESULTS: No significant association was observed between vision and M-MSE and M-MoCA scores. However, poor distance and near VA were found to be significantly associated with low DS scores [distance VA: β=-0.01, R 2=0.1, P=0.02; odds ratio (OR)=2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-7.33, P=0.03; near VA: β=-0.05, R 2=0.08, P=0.00; OR=3.32, 95%CI, 1.28-8.59, P=0.01].
CONCLUSION: Poor vision is associated with a decline in information processing in older adults and substantiates the importance of preserving good vision in maintaining cognitive function.
METHODS: Thirty nine eyes of 39 new keratoconus patients were selected and randomly fitted with two types of RGP contact lenses. Group 1 had 21 eyes with regular rigid gas-permeable (RRGP) contact lens and rest 18 eyes were in group 2 with specially designed rigid gas-permeable (SRGP) contact lens. Corneal cell morphology was evaluated using a slit scanning confocal microscope at no-lens wear and after 1y of contact lens wearing.
RESULTS: After 1y of contact lens wearing in group 1, the mean anterior and posterior stromal keratocyte density were significantly less (P=0.006 and P=0.001, respectively) compared to no-lens wear. The mean cell area of anterior and posterior stromal keratocyte were also significantly different (P=0.005 and P=0.001) from no-lens wear. The anterior and posterior stromal haze increased by 18.74% and 23.81%, respectively after 1y of contact lens wearing. Whereas in group 2, statistically significant changes were observed only in cell density & area of anterior stroma (P=0.001 and P=0.001, respectively) after 1y. While, level of anterior and posterior stromal haze increased by 16.67% and 11.11% after 1y of contact lens wearing. Polymegathism and pleomorphism also increased after 1y of contact lens wearing in both the contact lens groups.
CONCLUSION: Confocal microscopy observation shows the significant alterations in corneal cell morphology of keratoconic corneas wearing contact lenses especially in group 1. The type of contact lens must be carefully selected to minimize changes in corneal cell morphology.