PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the choroid and sclera using hypercholesterolemia experimental model. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups: 8 rabbits (8 eyes), in the normal diet group (NG), were fed by a standard diet for 4 weeks; and 13 rabbits (13 eyes), in the hypercholesterolemic group (HG), were fed by a 1% cholesterol-enriched diet for 8 weeks. Total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and fasting blood glucose exams were performed at the initiation of the experiment and at the euthanasia time. After hypercholesterolemic group 8th week and NG 4th week, animals were euthanized and their eyes underwent immunohistochemical analysis with the RAM-11 and VEGFR-1). RESULTS: The diet has induced a significant increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in HG when compared with NG (p<0.001). There was a significant increase in the RAM-11 and VEGFR-1 expressions in hypercholesterolemic group choroid and sclera in relation to NG (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: This study has revealed that the hypercholesterolemic diet in rabbits induces an increase in the macrophage concentration and immunoreactivity to VEGFR-1 in the choroid and sclera, resembling human age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

Keywords: Vascular endothelial growth factor A; Macular degeneration; Macrophages; Cholesterol; Choroid; Sclera; Animals; Rabbits

PURPOSE: To evaluate the need for artificial tears by glaucoma patients under topical hypotensive treatment and to identify risk factors associated with it. METHODS: The charts of 175 glaucoma patients under medical treatment and 175 age-matched controls were reviewed. Age, gender, use of artificial tears, number of glaucoma medications used, and duration of treatment were recorded. RESULTS: Significantly more glaucoma patients (n=92; 52.6%) used artificial tears compared to age-matched controls (n=31; 17.7%) (p<0.001). Significantly more females (n=81; 39%) than males (n=42; 28.9%) used artificial tears (p=0.036). When the whole population was analyzed, female gender (OR=1.63) and the presence of glaucoma (OR= 5.14) were risk factors for the use of artificial tears (p<0.05). When the glaucoma population was analyzed, female gender (OR=2.57), number of medications >2 (OR=1.92), and duration of treatment >5 years (OR=2.93) were risk factors for the use of artificial tears (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Topical treatment with antiglaucoma medication is a risk factor for the use of artificial tears. Female gender and long-term treatment of glaucoma with two or more medications were aggravating factors for the need for artificial tears.

Keywords: Glaucoma; Ophthalmic solutions; Antihypertensive agents; Comparative study; Risk factors

PURPOSE: There is evidence from some studies that support an association between obesity in adults and higher intraocular pressure (IOP). However, this association has not been completely studied in children. Our aim is to evaluate the association between child body mass index (BMI) and IOP. METHODS: Ninety-six children attending the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP) in Brazil were studied. Thirty-three were overweight/obese with a mean BMI of 29.7 ± 5.2 and 63 with a mean BMI of 20.8 ± 3.3. IOP was measured using the Goldmann applanation tonometer and was corrected for corneal thickness. The coefficient of correlation between BMI and IOP was calculated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the IOP of children with or without overweight/obesity. The mean IOP was 13.5 and 13.0 mmHg for the right eye and 13.1 and 12.9 mmHg for left eye, respectively (p=0.38 and p=0.71). The results remained the same after correction by pachymetry; 13.0 and 13.1 mmHg for the right eye and 12.4 and 12.9 mmHg for the left eye, respectively (p=0.88 and p=0.41). The coefficient of correlation between BMI and IOP was 0.070 (p=0.496). CONCLUSION: These results do not show a correlation between body mass index and IOP in children. Further studies are warranted to clarify the association between BMI and IOP in children.

Keywords: Intraocular pressure; Tonometry; Body mass index; Obesity; Overweight; Child

PURPOSE: To investigate the reliability of ultrasound in determining the size and identify the sonographic features and artifacts generated by intraocular foreign bodies of different materials. METHODS: Experimental study using 36 enucleated porcine eyes. Fragments of nine different compositions (wood, glass, plastic, cardboard, iron, aluminum, lead, powder and concrete) and similar dimensions (4 mm) were implanted via scleral incision into the vitreous cavity of 36 porcine eyes, four eyes were used for each material. Ultrasound examination was performed in all eyes using the contact technique, conductive gel and 10-MHz transducer (EZScan, Sonomed). RESULTS: Considering the material fragments of gunpowder, lead, concrete, aluminum, wood and glass, the size determined by ultrasound was considered statistically similar to the actual size. The material iron presented ultrasound-determined dimension statistically smaller than its actual size. Cardboard and plastic materials showed ultrasound-determined measurements far greater than the actual. All fragments of intraocular foreign bodies demonstrated hyper-reflective interfaces, irrespective of their composition. Whereas the artifacts generated by different materials, it was found that the materials iron, aluminum and lead showed reverberation of great extent. The material wood showed no reverberation. The length of the reverberation artifact for the materials iron, glass, aluminum and cardboard was lower when compared to other materials. All materials presented posterior shadowing artifact, with the exception of aluminum. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography was considered a reliable technique to determine the size of intraocular foreign bodies in pigs, with little influence caused by its composition. Ultrasound artifacts generated were considered material-dependent and can assist the examiner to identify the nature of a foreign body of unknown etiology. Ultrasonography aided the surgeon to identify, locate and measure the intraocular foreign body, directing appropriate surgical planning.

Keywords: Eye foreign bodies; Eye foreign bodies; Artifacts; Swine

PURPOSE: To compare pain related to intravitreal injection and panretinal photocoagulation in the management of patients with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Prospective study including patients with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy and no prior laser treatment randomly assigned to receive panretinal photocoagulation (PRP group) or panretinal photocoagulation plus intravitreal ranibizumab (PRPplus group). In all patients, panretinal photocoagulation was administered in two sessions (weeks 0 and 2), and intravitreal ranibizumab was administered at the end of the first laser session in the PRPplus group. Retreatment was performed at weeks 16 and 32 if active new vessels were detected at fluorescein angiography. Patients in the PRPplus group received intravitreal ranibizumab and patients in the PRP group received 500-µm additional spots per quadrant of active new vessels. After the end of retreatment, a 100-degree Visual Analog Scale was used for pain score estimation. The patient was asked about the intensity of pain during the whole procedure (retinal photocoagulation session or intravitreal ranibizumab injection). Statistics for pain score comparison were performed using a non-parametric test (Wilcoxon rank sums). RESULTS: Seventeen patients from PRPplus and 14 from PRP group were evaluated for pain scores. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding gender, glycosylated hemoglobin and disease duration. Mean intravitreal injection pain (±SEM) was 4.7 ± 2.1 and was significantly lower (p<0.0001) than mean panretinal photocoagulation pain (60.8 ± 7.8). Twelve out of 17 patients from the PRPplus group referred intensity pain score of zero, while the minimal score found in PRP group was found in one patient with 10.5. CONCLUSION: In patients with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy who needed retreatment for persistent new vessels, there was more comfort for the patient when retreatment was performed with an intravitreal injection in comparison with retinal photocoagulation. Further larger studies are necessary to confirm our preliminary findings.

Keywords: Pain; Intravitreal injections; Diabetic retinopathy; Light coagulation; Vascular endothelial growth factor A

PURPOSE: To compare clinical trials published in Brazilian journals of ophthalmology and in foreign journals of ophthalmology with respect to the number of citations and the quality of reporting [by applying the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement writing standards]. METHODS: The sample of this systematic review comprised the two Brazilian journals of ophthalmology indexed at Science Citation Index Expanded and six of the foreign journals of ophthalmology with highest Impact Factor® according ISI. All clinical trials (CTs) published from January 2009 to December 2010 at the Brazilians journals and a 1:1 randomized sample of the foreign journals were included. The primary outcome was the number of citations through the end of 2011. Subgroup analysis included language. The secondary outcome included likelihood of citation (cited at least once versus no citation), and presence or absence of CONSORT statement indicators. RESULTS: The citation counts were statistically significantly higher (P<0.001) in the Foreign Group (10.50) compared with the Brazilian Group (0.45). The likelihood citation was statistically significantly higher (P<0.001) in the Foreign Group (20/20 - 100%) compared with the Brazilian Group (8/20 - 40%). The subgroup analysis of the language influence in Brazilian articles showed that the citation counts were statistically significantly higher in the papers published in English (P<0.04). Of 37 possible CONSORT items, the mean for the Foreign Group was 20.55 and for the Brazilian Group was 13.65 (P<0.003). CONCLUSION: The number of citations and the quality of reporting of clinical trials in Brazilian journals of ophthalmology still are low when compared with the foreign journals of ophthalmology with highest Impact Factor®.

Keywords: Clinical trial; Ophthalmology; Citation databases; Journal Impact factor; Quality control

PURPOSE: To determine the association between language and number of citations of ophthalmology articles published in Brazilian journals. METHODS: This study was a systematic review. Original articles were identified by review of documents published at the two Brazilian ophthalmology journals indexed at Science Citation Index Expanded - SCIE ["Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia (ABO)" and "Revista Brasileira de Oftalmologia (RBO)"]. All document types ("articles" and "reviews") listed at SCIE in English (English Group) or in Portuguese (Portuguese Group) from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 were included, except: "editorial materials"; "corrections"; "letters"; and "biographical items". The primary outcome was the number of citations through the end of second year after publication date. Subgroup analysis included likelihood of citation (cited at least once versus no citation), journal, and year of publication. RESULTS: The search at the web of science revealed 382 articles [107 (28%) in the English Group and 275 (72%) in the Portuguese Group]. Of those, 297 (77.7%) were published at the ABO and 85 (23.3%) at the RBO. The citation counts were statistically significantly higher (P<0.001) in the English Group (1.51 - SD 1.98 - range 0 to 11) compared with the Portuguese Group (0.57 - SD 1.06 - range 0 to 7). The likelihood citation was statistically significant higher (P<0.001) in the English Group (70/107 - 65.4%) compared with the Portuguese Group (89/275 - 32.7%). There were more articles published in English at the ABO (98/297 - 32.9%) than at the RBO (9/85 - 10.6%) [P<0.001]. There were no significant difference (P=0.967) at the proportion of articles published in English at the years 2008 (48/172 - 27.9%) and 2009 (59/210 - 28.1%). CONCLUSION: The number of citations of articles published in Portuguese at Brazilian ophthalmology journals is lower than the published in English. The results of this study suggest that the editorial boards should strongly encourage the authors to adopt English as the main language in their future articles.

Keywords: Language; Ophthalmology; Bibliometrics; Publication for scientific diffusion; Scientific and technical publications; Journal impact factor; Journal article

PURPOSE: To determine preferences and practices of refractive surgeons in Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the data collected from a questionnaire applied during the VI Brazilian Congress of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and by e-mail sent to all members of that society. Refractive surgery techniques, use of emerging technologies, surgical volume, type of excimer laser and microkeratomes, mitomycin C, postoperative medications were analyzed among others questions. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-two surgeons replied to the questions. The majority has a surgical volume between 2 and 4 eyes per week (57.60%). Most of the surgeons (64.50%) perform corneal tomography routinely and 22.00% of them do never customize their surgeries. The laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is the main technique performed and when the photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is applied; most of the surgeons uses mitomycin C (52.60%) in these patients. The excimer laser of choice was the Nidek (26.12%). CONCLUSION: LASIK is the preferred surgical procedure and the majority customizes their refractive surgeries. When photorefractive keratectomy is performed, mitomycin C is used by most of the surgeons (52.60%). Bilateral surgery is routinely performed and the femtosecond laser is still used by few refractive surgeons.

Keywords: Myopia; Keratomileusis; laser in situ; Photorefractive keratectomy; Mitomycin; Censuses; Brazil

PURPOSE: To determine near and intermediate vision areas of progressive addition lenses by means of a deflectometer. METHODS: Twenty-two progressive addition lenses with +1.00 SD far power and two different additions (add 1.00 and 2.00; eleven subjects in each addition) were studied. Near and intermediate vision areas within 0.50 CD isoastigmatic lines were determined. RESULTS: There are significant differences between near and intermediate vision areas of the studied lenses. There is also an inverse correlation between the addition and intermediate areas as well as direct relation between the vertical length of the corridor and its area. CONCLUSION: Based on those findings, progressive addition lenses can be selected to suit the wearer's visual requirements.

Keywords: Presbyopia; Lenses; Refraction; Optics and photonics

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular surface toxicity of two nitric oxide donors in ex vivo and in vivo animal models: S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC) in a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) matrix at final concentrations 1.0 and 10.0 mM. METHODS: Ex vivo GSNO and SNAC toxicities were clinically and histologically analyzed using freshly excised pig eyeballs. In vivo experiments were performed with 20 albino rabbits which were randomized into 4 groups (5 animals each): Groups 1 and 2 received instillations of 150 µL of aqueous HPMC solution containing GSNO 1.0 and 10.0 mM, respectively, in one of the eyes; Groups 3 and 4 received instillations of 150 µL of aqueous HPMC solution-containing SNAC 1.0 and 10.0 mM, respectively, in one of the eyes. The contralateral eyes in each group received aqueous HPMC as a control. All animals underwent clinical evaluation on a slit lamp and the eyes were scored according to a modified Draize eye test and were histologically analyzed. RESULTS: Pig eyeballs showed no signs of perforation, erosion, corneal opacity or other gross damage. These findings were confirmed by histological analysis. There was no difference between control and treated rabbit eyes according to the Draize eye test score in all groups (p>0.05). All formulations showed a mean score under 1 and were classified as "non-irritating". There was no evidence of tissue toxicity in the histological analysis in all animals. CONCLUSION: Aqueous HPMC solutions containing GSNO and SNAC at concentrations up to 10.0 mM do not induce ocular irritation.

Keywords: Drug toxicity; S-nitrosothiols; S-nitrosoglutathione; Methylcellulose; Nitric oxide donors

Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris (BADI) is a recently described entity characterized by acute onset of pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, depigmentation of the iris, and heavy pigment deposition in the anterior chamber angle. Involvement is always bilateral, simultaneous, and symmetrical. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with bilateral ocular pain, red eyes, and severe photophobia. Examination revealed a dense Krukenberg spindle, heavy pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, extensive transillumination iris defects, and a heavy pigment deposition in the trabecular meshwork bilaterally. Intraocular pressure increased to 48 mmHg in both eyes. The patient received topical steroids, maximum hypotensive treatment and oral valacyclovir. Intraocular pressure gradually decreased throughout the second and third months, and medications were gradually tapered. The time to complete resolution of pigment dispersion was 18 weeks. Visual acuity and visual fields remained normal, but the photophobia was permanent.

Keywords: Iris diseases; Acute disease, Transillumination; Intraocular pressure; Gonioscopy; Pigment epithelium of eye; Case reports; Humans; Male; Middle age

Radius-Maumenee syndrome comprises idiopathic dilated episcleral vessels that are usually associated with glaucoma. The case described herein is of a male patient, 69 years old, with chronic dilation of the episcleral vessels and glaucoma in his left eye, with no history of systemic disease. Visual acuity and fundoscopy were normal in both eyes. Tonometry measured 14 mmHg in the right eye and 25 mmHg in the left. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was negative for carotid-cavernous fistula. The intraocular pressure of the left eye decreased to 20 mmHg with clinical treatment without regression of episcleral venous dilation. Trabeculectomy normalized the intraocular pressure and reduced the vessels. There was choroidal effusion on day 16 of the postoperative period, which resolved with corticosteroids. Although choroidal effusion can occur, the efficacy of trabeculectomy in controlling glaucoma and the reduction of episcleral vessels are clearly demonstrated.

Keywords: Eye abnormalities; Glaucoma open-angle; Eye health; Sclera; Venous pressure; Veins; Syndrome; Varicose veins; Angiography; Ocular physiological processes; Humans; Male; Aged; Case report

This paper describes a topiramate induced acute bilateral angle-closure glaucoma. This rare adverse effect is an idiosyncratic reaction characterized by uveal effusion and lens forward displacement, leading to increased intraocular pressure and vision loss. We describe a 55 year-old white woman with migraine, spasmodic torticollis and essential tremor, who developed bilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma, one week after starting topiramate 25 mg/day. She was seen at the Ophthalmology Emergency Department of the Fundação João Penido Burnier (Campinas, SP, Brazil) with a 4 hours history of blurry vision, ocular pain and bright flashes vision. Slit lamp examination revealed moderate conjunctival injection and corneal edema, and shallow anterior chambers. Intraocular pressure was 48 mmHg in both eyes. Fundoscopic examination findings were normal. She was treated with timolol, brimonidine, dorzolamide, pilocarpine, prednisone acetate eye drops and acetazolamide. One hour after those measures, as the intraocular pressure was 30 mmHg, she received a manitol intravenous injection and the intraocular pressure normalized. After 24 hours an iridotomy with Yag laser was performed. Topiramate was discontinued and she was totally recovered after one week.

Keywords: Glaucoma, angle closure; Glaucoma, angle closure; Anticonvulsants; Intraocular pressure; Uveal diseases; Case report

The present study reports two cases of symptomatic essential trichomegaly. Trichomegaly may develop in various diseases, including anorexia nervosa, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, pretibial myxedema, systemic lupus erythematosus, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, and uveitis. The exact incidence trichomegaly is unknown, and the condition remains sporadically reported. Two cases of symptomatic trichomegaly without any associated systemic disorder are presented in this paper.

Keywords: Visual acuity; Hypertrichosis; Eyelashes; Case reports

Fungal keratitis is a characteristic infection upon tropical zones, associated with vegetal trauma. Doubt exists about the best diagnostic test and the effectiveness of available treatment. Which is the best diagnostic method for fungal keratitis? And, which is the best management? Fungal culture remains as diagnostic gold standard of fungal elements. As of treatment, natamycin and amphotericin B are the most popular drugs for fungal keratitis and they have not shown effectiveness in randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews. Voriconazole showed effectiveness and security in multiple fungal infections. It may be the drug of choice in optimal conditions, because of its better ocular penetration and wider coverage. However, its high price difficult general application. This review establishes management recommendations and the need to perform studies that address cost-effectiveness analysis of voriconazole for fungal keratitis.

Keywords: Keratitis; Keratitis; Keratitis; Cornea; Eye infections, fungal; Itraconazole; Amphotericin B; Antifungal agents