Michele Altieri

Detection of glaucomatous visual field defect by nonconventional perimetry

PURPOSE To report the correlations among Humphrey Field Analyzer 750 (HFA), high-pass resolution perimetry (HRP), and frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in glaucoma patients and ocular hypertensive patients. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Eighty-two eyes of 82 consecutive patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension were included in this study. One eye of each patient was randomly selected for data analysis. Visual fields were assessed by HFA, HRP, and FDT perimetry. HRP global deviation (HRP-GD), HRP local deviation (HRP-LD), FDT-mean deviation (FDT-MD), and FDT-pattern standard deviation (FDT-PSD) were considered for the analysis. Clinical agreement between HRP and FDT was evaluated. All data were analyzed by Pearson r coefficient when the distribution of the data was normal and by Spearman coefficient correlation when the distribution of the data was not normal. A P <.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Fifty-two eyes (52 patients) were classified as glaucoma and 30 eyes (30 patients) as ocular hypertension. In the entire group, a significant (P >.001) correlation was found between the HFA indices and those of either HRP or FDT. A significant (P <.001) correlation was found between HRP-GD and FDT-MD as well as between HRP-LD and FDT-PSD. In 14% of the glaucomatous patients and in 33% of the subjects with ocular hypertension, FDT and HRP showed different clinical features. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that FDT and HRP are useful for detection of early glaucomatous visual field damage.

Ptosis Secondary to Anterior Segment Surgery and Its Repair in a Two-Year Follow-Up Study

Objective: Aponeurotic blepharoptosis is a postoperative complication of anterior segment surgery with a reported incidence of 1–2% and a variable aetiology. In this 2-year follow-up study, we investigated the incidence of this postoperative complication in our experience of anterior segment surgery and propose a modified technique of aponeurosis advancement for its repair. Methods: 200 consecutive patients undergoing anterior segment surgery in our eye clinic were enrolled in the study. Patients who developed any other operative or postoperative complication were excluded from the study. In all patients, the following upper lid parameters were calculated to determine whether postoperative blepharoptosis had occurred: margin-reflex distance, upper eyelid crease, use of frontalis muscle and levator function. A questionnaire was submitted to all blepharoptosis patients investigating mainly their subjective judgement of the impact of blepharoptosis on their quality of life and if they had been informed accurately about the incidence of this postoperative complication. Results: 163 patients were included in our study. 11 had postoperative blepharoptosis (6.7%). 9 patients wanted ptosis repair and were operated on with our modified technique. None of the 11 ptosis patients had been informed about the possible occurrence of the blepharoptosis as postoperative complication. Our modified technique shows good, long-lasting results. Conclusions: Postoperative blepharoptosis is a well-known postoperative complication of anterior segment surgery. It can be successfully treated surgically by aponeurosis advancement. It is our opinion that all patients should be informed of the possibility of postoperative blepharoptosis when consenting for anterior segment surgery.

Intraobserver reproducibility of a two-dimensional mapping of the optic nerve head perfusion.

PurposeTo evaluate the intraobserver reproducibility of a software designed to assess retinal blood flow with the Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF). MethodsTen subjects were consecutively recruited, and one eye of each patient was randomly selected for study. Blood flow measurements were analyzed by using an automatic full field perfusion image analysis (AFFPIA) program, which calculates the Doppler frequency shift and hemodynamic variables (flow, volume, and velocity) for each pixel. The resulting perfusion image is processed with respect to underexposed and overexposed pixels, saccades, and retinal vessel tree. Intraobserver reproducibility was calculated for the AFFPIA program. All the optic nerve heads were horizontally divided into three sections (superior, central, and inferior). The retinal blood flow was calculated in the superior and inferior section, and each section was further divided into three areas (temporal, nasal, and rim). The blood flow was evaluated for each area. ResultsWhen the same observer analyzed the same image five times (intraobserver intraimage reproducibility), the AFFPIA coefficient of variation ranged from 0.5% to 5% in the temporal area, from 0.1% to 5.3% in the nasal area, and from 0.5 to 28% in the rim area. When the same observer analyzed three different images of the same section once (intraobserver interimage reproducibility), the AFFPIA coefficient of variation of flow measurements ranged from 1% to 7.3% in the temporal area, from 1.5% to 10% in the nasal area, and from 2 to 30% in the rim area. ConclusionRetinal blood flow measured by HRF and analyzed by AFFPIA had good intraobserver reproducibility. The reproducibility was significantly better in the temporal and nasal areas than in the rim area.

Retinal Peripapillary Blood Flow before and after Topical Brinzolamide

Purpose: To study the effect of topical brinzolamide on retinal capillary blood flow by the Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF) in patients with glaucoma. Methods: Twenty patients with glaucoma were consecutively recruited. One eye for each patient was randomly selected. Patients were classified as glaucomatous if they had an abnormal visual field and/or an abnormal optic nerve head with an intraocular pressure (IOP) greater than 21 mm Hg without any treatment. After an eye examination, baseline retinal blood flow measurements were made with confocal scanning laser Doppler flowmetry. Blood flow and IOP measurements were then repeated after 1 month of treatment. Blood flow measurements were analyzed by using an automatic full-field perfusion image analysis (AFFPIA) program. The blood flow was calculated in the superior and inferior part of the optic disk. In each area, the blood flow was calculated as temporal area, the nasal area and the rim area as for software AFFPIA. Results: The mean age of the patients was 56 ± 7 (mean ± standard deviation) years. The mean IOP before treatment was 23.7 ± 1.5 mm Hg while the mean IOP after 4 weeks of treatment was 19.1 ± 2.2 mm Hg. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Significant (p < 0.05) increases in retinal blood flow were found for the temporal and nasal areas between baseline and 1 month after the treatment. No difference was found between superior and inferior sectors. Conclusion: Topical brinzolamide reduced the IOP significantly and apparently improved retinal blood flow as measured by the HRF.

Comparison of Three Techniques for Repair of Involutional Lower Lid Entropion: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify the efficacy of three different surgical techniques for entropion repair in a 3-year follow-up study: (1) the Fox procedure, (2) everting sutures and (3) a modified technique of lower lid retractor plication. Methods: We included in our study 32 eyelids of 32 consecutive patients with involutional lower lid entropion; 10 lids underwent the Fox procedure, 13 the everting sutures and 9 the modified retractor plication. We evaluated the pre- and postoperative horizontal lid laxity (HLL), the pre- and postoperative lower lid excursion (LLE) and the number of recurrences in each patient group. Statistical analysis was performed with the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test and the exact Fisher’s test where appropriate. Results: Only the modified retractor plication technique showed statistically significant differences in HLL and LLE (p < 0.05). In the group treated with this technique, there was a lower incidence of entropion recurrence (p < 0.05). The everting suture technique showed a statistically significant improvement of the LLE only (p < 0.05). The Fox procedure did not show any statistically significant improvement of the studied parameters. Conclusions: The modified retractor plication technique gave the best results in terms of improvement of HLL and LLE and a lower incidence of entropion recurrence compared to the two other techniques studied.

Modified retractor plication technique in lower lid entropion repair: a 4-Year follow-up study

BACKGROUND Lower eyelid entropion is an eyelid malposition characterized by inward rotation of the eyelid margin associated with potentially significant discomfort and, occasionally, keratopathy. In this study we evaluated and compared the efficacy of two surgical techniques of retractor plication for involutional lower lid entropion repair. METHODS Sixty-two consecutive patients (62 eyes) with involutional lower lid entropion were included. Of the 62, 34 underwent the Jones retractor plication technique, and 28 underwent a modification of this technique that simplifies the procedure. We evaluated horizontal lid laxity, medial canthal tendon laxity and lower lid excursion before and after surgery, and determined the rate of entropion recurrence in the two groups. All measures were obtained before and 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years after surgery. RESULTS Preoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in any of the measures studied. Postoperatively, the mean amount of horizontal lid laxity was significantly less in the modified technique group than in the Jones technique group (6.86 mm [standard deviation (SD) 0.41 mm] vs. 7.30 mm [SD 0.64 mm]) (p < 0.05). Similarly, the mean amount of medial canthal tendon laxity in the resting position was significantly less in the modified technique group than in the Jones technique group (1.90 mm [SD 0.56 mm] vs. 1.25 mm [SD 0.43 mm]) (p < 0.05). The rate of entropion recurrence was significantly lower in the modified technique group (7.1%) than in the Jones technique group (14.7%) (p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION The modified retractor plication technique showed encouraging results in terms of successful and long-lasting lower lid entropion repair.

Morphometric analysis of the optic disc surface

Purpose: Since the glaucomatous loss of nerve fibers changes the appearance of the optic disc, we evaluated the morphology of the surface of the optic disc in normal and glaucomatous eyes by using a computerized system to provide the reciprocal position of a large number of points placed on its surface in order to study the clinical significance of differences in the ‘smoothness’ of optic disc surface. Methods: The morphology of the optic disc surface was evaluated by means of simultaneous stereoscopic videographic pictures (IMAGEnet X Rev-3.51b — Topcon Europe, The Netherlands): the reciprocal distribution of a large number of points located on the surface of one eye of 100 subjects randomly chosen (45 normal and 55 glaucoma patients) was studied.In order to define the level of ‘smoothness’ of the optic disc surface, the differences of the relative position of each surface point were studied by measuring the standard deviation (SD) from the average heights of the points (n. ranging from 623 to 1916 depending on the size of the disc area) that identify the optic disc surface. Results: The coefficient of variation of the reciprocal location of the points, placed on the optic disc surface at the different measurements performed by a single operator was 10.4%. The differences in Optic Disc Surface Smoothness (ODSS) between glaucoma and normal group were statistically significant (p < 0.0001 using Mann-Whitney U test). No correlation was detectable between age and standard deviation.The best threshold value, calculated using ROC methodology, able to separate the two groups was: normal group: SD <- − 17.79 (−1 × 10−2 mm); glaucoma group: SD > − 17.79 (− 1 × 10−2 mm).Such threshold value had a sensitivity of 82.1 %, a specificity of 92.2% and a diagnostic precision (DP) of 86.5% in dividing the glaucoma group from the normal group. Conclusion: ODSS is a global index of optic disc conditions based on quantitative measurements of the morphology of the optic disc surface. As such it does not provide information about the location and the characteristics of optic disc damage. Nevertheless, ODSS measurement is able to separate normal from glaucomatous optic disc with a rather interesting sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic precision (DP). As such it could be useful both for research and clinical applications.

Comparison between relative dispersion analysis of high-pass resolution perimetry and standard threshold perimetry

Purpose To evaluate the correlation of the dispersion index (DI) of relative dispersion analysis (RDA), a new high-pass resolution perimetry (HRP) index, with other HRP indices and those of the Humphrey standard threshold perimeter (STP) parameters.Methods Sixty-eight eyes were randomly recruited. Thirty-one eyes were classified as glaucomatous (high intraocular pressure, abnormal visual field and/or optic disc) and 37 as ocular hypertensives (high intraocular pressure, normal visual field, normal optic disc). All the subjects were examined with Humphrey Perimeter, program 30-2, and HRP. The HRP data were also analysed with the RDA program. Statistical analysis was performed with Students t-test, Pearsons r correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney non- parametric test and Spearman correlation coefficient when appropriate.Results Within the entire sample significant correlations were found between the RDA index (DI) and all the HRP indices (p < 0.001) and corrected pattern standard deviation (p < 0.01), pattern standard deviation (PSD) (p < 0.01), mean deviation (p < 0.05) and short- term fluctuation (p < 0.05) of STP. A stronger correlation was found in glaucomatous patients. In subjects with ocular hypertension D1 was only weakly correlated with PSD, local deviation and form index. No difference in D1 was found between glaucoma and ocular hypertension.Conclusion The D1 of HRP has the theoretical capacity to detect localised inhomogeneity of retinal sensitivity, but at present our data do not support this hypothesis. Before any clinical applications of this index further studies are needed.

RA/DA cumulative curve analysis of local and diffuse neuroretinal rim area damage in glaucoma patients

AIM To evaluate the validity of cumulative rim/disc area (RA/DA) curve analysis as a clinical tool for the identification of glaucoma induced optic disc pathology. METHODS 71 normal and 83 glaucomatous eyes were evaluated from a series of 154 subjects recruited for this study. For each eye, the cumulative distribution of RA/DA was calculated from 36 equally spaced rim sectors of each optic disc obtained by the automatic evaluation of simultaneous videographics (Image-net X Rev.3/51b). To increase the sensitivity of this analysis in early glaucoma and in normal eyes, these cumulative curves were subsequently divided into two equal segments and the slopes of their respective regression lines compared. RESULTS The median RA/DA value obtained from the 36 sectors was significantly different in glaucomatous eyes compared with normals (p <0.001). Nevertheless, the curves (5th–95th percentile of the cumulative curves distribution) of early glaucomatous eyes fell within the normal range. When the cumulative curve of these marginal cases was then divided into two equal segments, the comparison of the slopes of the regression lines showed a significant difference (p <0.05) in 100% of early glaucomatous eyes. Furthermore, normal eyes were shown to be true negatives in 93% of the cases in which no significant difference between the two slopes was observed. CONCLUSION Analysis of the RA/DA cumulative curve from 36 sectors of the optic disc was a valid method for the identification of glaucomatous disc pathology; however, a further calculation of the slopes of the two RA/DA regression lines was needed to identify early glaucomatous damage.