A Spanish study shows that meibomian gland dysfunction is strongly associated with the symptoms and signs of dry eye. To investigate the relationship of MGD and other prevalent ocular diseases with dry eye in a general adult population, researchers studied an age-stratified random sample of 1,155 subjects aged >40 years. Out of 937 eligible subjects, 654 (69.8 percent) participated. The mean age was 63.6 (SD, 14.4) years; the mean range was 40 to 96; and 37.2 percent of the subjects were male. A standardized dry-eye questionnaire was administered. Objective evaluation included the Schirmer test, tear-film breakup time, fluorescein staining and rose bengal staining. Dry eye was defined as the simultaneous presence of symptoms and at least one sign. The relationship of MGD and other ocular diseases with dry eye was investigated. A design-based analysis was performed, and all calculations were weighted to give unbiased estimates.

Dry-eye and MGD prevalence were 11 percent (95-percent confidence interval, 8.6 to 13.3) and 30.5 percent (95-percent CI, 26.9 to 34.1), respectively. MGD was present in 45.8 percent (95 percent CI, 34.8 to 57.2) of subjects with dry eye and was associated, after controlling for age and sex, with dry eye (adjusted odds ratios [ORa], 1.81); with symptoms (ORa, 2.26); and with TBUT (ORa, 1.97), fluorescein staining (ORa, 2.09) and rose bengal staining (ORa, 3.25). The remaining ocular diseases were not associated with symptoms. However, pterygium was significantly associated with fluorescein staining (ORa, 1.89); cataract surgery with TBUT (ORa, 2.79); trauma and pseudoexfoliation with rose bengal staining (ORa, 2.75 and ORa, 4.04); and glaucoma with TBUT (ORa, 3.26), fluorescein staining (ORa, 3.40) and rose bengal staining (ORa, 3.46).

Cornea 2011;30:1-6
Viso E, Gude F, Rodríguez-Ares MT.


Acupuncture Effective Against Anisometropic Amblyopia
Acupuncture may produce an equivalent treatment effect for anisometropic amblyopia, compared with patching, and was statistically superior, say researchers at Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The single-center randomized controlled trial included children aged 7 to 12 years who had worn optimal spectacles for at least 16 weeks. Eighty-eight eligible children with an amblyopic eye who had a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 0.3 to 0.8 logMAR at baseline were randomly assigned to receive two hours of patching of the sound eye daily or five sessions of acupuncture weekly. All participants in the study received constant optical correction, plus one hour of near-vision activities daily, and were followed up at weeks five, 10, 15 and 25. The main outcome measure was BSCVA in the amblyopic eye at 15 weeks.

The mean BSCVA of the amblyopic eye at 15 weeks improved from baseline by 1.83 lines in the patching group and 2.27 lines in the acupuncture group. After baseline adjustment, the mean difference of BSCVA between the two groups was 0.049 logMAR (95 percent confidence interval, 0.005 to 0.092; p=0.03), meeting the definition of equivalence (difference within one line). The BSCVA had improved by two lines or more in 28 patch-group eyes (66.7 percent) and 31 acupuncture-group eyes (75.6 percent). Amblyopia was resolved in seven patch-group eyes (16.7 percent) and 17 acupuncture-group eyes (41.5 percent). The authors of the study conclude that further studies are warranted to investigate acupuncture’s value in the treatment of amblyopia.

Arch Ophthalmol 2010;128:1510-7
Zhao J, Lam DS, Chen LJ, et al.


Multifocal Diffractive IOLs Aid Reading, Quality of Life
Multifocal diffractive intraocular lenses can significantly improve reading performance, thus yielding a positive effect on the patient’s postoperative quality of life, suggests a new study. A prospective case series, conducted at Vissum Corp.-Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante in Spain, evaluated patients with bilateral cataract who underwent implantation of Acri.LISA 366D multifocal IOLs. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity outcomes were evaluated during a six-month follow-up. Other parameters evaluated included reading performance (Salzburg Reading Desk), a 25-item quality-of-life questionnaire (National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 [NEI VFQ-25] and appendix NEI VFQ-39) and ocular optical performance (ocular aberrometry and modulation transfer function). The study included 48 eyes (24 patients) ranging in age from 47 to 77 years.

The mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (logMAR) improved significantly one month postoperatively (p<0.01), with no significant changes afterward (six months, p >0.06). The mean reading acuity without correction improved significantly from 0.68 logRAD ±0.20 to 0.16 ±0.08 logRAD one month after surgery (p<0.01). However, it was worse by the end of the follow-up (six months, p=0.04). During the follow-up, no significant changes were found in the mean reading speed without near correction (six months, p=0.50). Contrast sensitivity improved significantly at all spatial frequencies under photopic and scotopic conditions after surgery (six months, p <0.02). The quality-of-life index related to reading ability also improved significantly (three months, p=0.03).

J Cataract Refract Surg 2011;37:27-37
Alió JL, Plaza-Puche AB, Piñero DP, et al.


Blue Light-Filtering IOLs Make For Safer Driving
Intraocular lenses incorporating blue light-filtering technology may reduce glare disability and collisions, according to researchers at Arizona State University in Mesa. The cross-sectional study included patients with a blue light-filtering AcrySof Natural SN60AT IOL (study group) and patients with an AcrySof SA60AT IOL with no blue-light filter (control group), with 17 patients in each. All had good visual acuity and a valid driver’s license and performed left-turn maneuvers in a driving simulator in front of oncoming traffic. The safety margin (time to collision minus time taken to turn at intersection with oncoming traffic) was calculated. The measurements were repeated with a glare source simulating low-angle sun conditions (daytime driving).

With glare, the safety margin was statistically significantly greater in the study group (mean 2.534 seconds ±0.488) than in the control group (mean 2.116 seconds ±0.511) (p<0.05). Comparing no-glare and glare conditions, the study group had significantly lower glare susceptibility, fewer collisions with the oncoming car and a lower impact on intersection approach speed than the control group. The real-world benefit of this technology is presumably mediated by a stronger signal to detect approaching objects (motion-in-depth) as a result of a reduction in glare disability, suggest the authors.

J Cataract Refract Surg 2011;37:38-44
Gray R, Perkins SA, Suryakumar R, et al


Intraocular Antagonism of VEGF Aids ME Patients
Injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents provides substantial long-term benefit to patients with macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusions. Frequent injections are required in some patients with branch RVO and most patients with central RVO. A prospective, randomized trial at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, evaluated 20 patients with macular edema caused by BRVOs and 20 with CRVOs. After the month-three primary end point, patients were seen every two months and received injections of an anti-VEGF agent as needed for recurrent edema. Mean change was measured from baseline best-corrected visual acuity at month 24 with assessment of other parameters of visual function and center subfield thickness (foveal thickness).

For 17 patients with branch RVO who completed two years of follow-up, the mean improvement from baseline in BCVA at month 24 was 17.8 letters, compared with 15.6 letters at month three. Improvement by at least six, three or two lines occurred in 18 percent, 59 percent and 76 percent of patients, respectively. The Snellen equivalent BCVA at month 24 was 20/40 or better in 10 patients. With an average of two injections of ranibizumab during year two, the mean foveal thickness at month 24 was 245.8 µm compared with 217.1 µm at month three and 481.5 µm at baseline. For 14 patients with central RVO who completed two years of follow-up, the mean improvement in BCVA at month 24 was 8.5 letters compared with 12 letters at month three. Improvement by at least six, three or two lines occurred in 14 percent, 21 percent and 43 percent of patients, respectively. The Snellen equivalent BCVA at month 24 was 20/40 or better in four patients.

With an average of 3.5 injections of ranibizumab in year two, mean foveal thickness at month 24 was 338 µm, compared with 278 µm at month three and 533 µm at baseline. Duration of RVO >one year at study entry and nonperfusion of perifoveal capillaries for 360 degrees were correlated with reduced visual outcomes.

Ophthalmology 2010;117:2387-2394
Campochiaro PA, Hafiz G, Channa R, et al.


Seafood Wards Off AMD
New data has surfaced demonstrating the effect both fish and shellfish have in protecting against age-related macular degeneration. Researchers at the Wilmer Eye Institute performed a cross-sectional study of dietary and ophthalmologic data from a random sample of 2,520 Salisbury, Md., residents aged 65 to 84 years. A food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate weekly fish/shellfish consumption for each participant. AMD status was determined from fundus photographs obtained at baseline and graded by two masked readers for drusen size, retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities, geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization. The association between weekly fish/shellfish intake and risk of AMD was investigated using logistic regression while adjusting for risk factors and correlation between eyes.

The distribution of weekly fish/shellfish consumption was not different between specific AMD categories compared with controls (p=0.6, 0.7 and 0.7 for large drusen, pigment abnormalities and advanced AMD compared with controls, respectively). Those with advanced AMD (CNV or GA) were significantly less likely to consume fish/shellfish high in omega-3 fatty acids (odds ratio 0.4; confidence interval, 0.2 to 0.8). Combined crab and oysters intake, each of which has high levels of zinc, was not related to AMD status.

Ophthalmology 2010;117:2395-401
Swenor BK, Bressler S, Caulfield L, West SK.