M. C. Alves

Preoperative automatic visual behavioural analysis as a tool for intraocular lens choice in cataract surgery

PURPOSE Cataract is the main cause of blindness, affecting 18 million people worldwide, with the highest incidence in the population above 50 years of age. Low visual acuity caused by cataract may have a negative impact on patient quality of life. The current treatment is surgery in order to replace the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), which can be mono- or multifocal. However, due to potential side effects, IOLs must be carefully chosen to ensure higher patient satisfaction. Thus, studies on the visual behavior of these patients may be an important tool to determine the best type of IOL implantation. This study proposed an anamnestic add-on for optimizing the choice of IOL. METHODS We used a camera that automatically takes pictures, documenting the patients visual routine in order to obtain additional information about the frequency of distant, intermediate, and near sights. RESULTS The results indicated an estimated frequency percentage, suggesting that visual analysis of routine photographic records of a patient with cataract may be useful for understanding behavioural gaze and for choosing visual management strategy after cataract surgery, simultaneously stimulating interest for customized IOL manufacturing according to individual needs.

Tear film and ocular surface changes in diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus and its clinical association with dry eye and ocular surface are becoming a frequent and sometimes complicate problem in Ophthalmology. Epidemiological data show that an increase in the number of patients with this association is expected following the trend to rise of the disease. The present work reviews the clinical and functional aspects of this problem. The observations indicate that metabolic, neuropathic and vascular tissue damages lead to an inflammatory process and functional degeneration. The physiopathological mechanism include hyperglycemia, advanced glycated end product accumulation, oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by NF-kappaB signaling pathways. Potential treatments enlightened by those findings would include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, secretagogues and/or anabolic agents that would mimic insulin effects.

Alterações do filme lacrimal e da superfície ocular no diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus and its clinical association with dry eye and ocular surface are becoming a frequent and sometimes complicate problem in Ophthalmology. Epidemiological data show that an increase in the number of patients with this association is expected following the trend to rise of the disease. The present work reviews the clinical and functional aspects of this problem. The observations indicate that metabolic, neuropathic and vascular tissue damages lead to an inflammatory process and functional degeneration. The physiopathological mechanism include hyperglycemia, advanced glycated end product accumulation, oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by NF-kappaB signaling pathways. Potential treatments enlightened by those findings would include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, secretagogues and/or anabolic agents that would mimic insulin effects.