Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Quantitative Raman Analysis Of Human Blood Serum Of Glaucoma Patients Supplemented With Macular Pigment Carotenoids., Joy Udensi, Ekaterina Loskutova, James Loughman, Hugh J. Byrne

Datasets

Carotenoids have been widely studied for their high dietary, antioxidant, and vision protection roles in the human body. Blood contains all major dietary carotenoids and hence presents as a suitable and efficient substrate for the estimation of dietary carotenoids in vivo. Following the 18-month supplementation of open angle glaucoma patients with macula pigment carotenoids (Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin) in the European Nutrition in Glaucoma Management (ENIGMA) trial, Raman spectroscopic analysis of the pre-supplementation baseline and 18-month supplemented blood serum carotenoids from participants was carried out, to investigate the systemic impact of supplementation in the blood and explore a more direct …

Normative Data On The Foveal Avascular Zone In A Young Healthy Irish Population Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography, Susan M. O'Shea, Veronica O'Dwyer, Grainne Scanlon

Articles

Purpose: To establish normative data on the size, shape and vascular profile of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in a young, healthy, Irish population, using the Cirrus 5000 HD-OCT. Certain diseases may alter FAZ appearance. Normative databases provide normal baseline values for comparison, thus improving diagnostic ability.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-four subjects aged 18–35 years old were recruited. Superficial FAZ area, diameter, circularity, ganglion cell layer, central macular thickness (CMT), vascular perfusion and density were measured using the Cirrus 5000. Axial length was measured with the IOL Master and blood pressure was measured using the Omron sphygmomanometer. …

Nutritional Supplementation In The Treatment Of Glaucoma: A Systematic Review, Ekaterina Loskutova, Colm O’Brien, Igor Loskutov, James Loughman

Articles

Current treatment strategies for glaucoma are limited to halting disease progression and do not restore lost visual function. Intraocular pressure is the main risk factor for glaucoma, and intraocular pressure–lowering treatment remains the mainstay of glaucoma treatment, but even successful intraocular pressure reduction does not stop the progression of glaucoma in all patients. We review the literature to determine whether nutritional interventions intended to prevent or delay the progression of glaucoma could prove to be a valuable addition to the mainstay of glaucoma therapy. A total of 33 intervention trials were included in this review, including 21 randomized controlled …

Perceived Barriers Of Optometrists To Glaucoma Case Findings In Ireland, James Loughman, Catriona Barrett, Colm O’Brien, John S. Butler

Articles

Background:

This research was designed to provide an in-depth exploration of the perceptions of optometrists relating to the challenges of glaucoma case finding in the Irish health-care system.

Methods: A survey was developed, piloted and distributed for anonymous completion by optometrists registered to practise in Ireland. The survey included 10 five-level Likert items exploring potential barriers to glaucoma detection and a free-text box for participants to comment more broadly.

Results: One hundred and ninety-nine optometrists (27 per cent of registrants) responded to the survey. Among the barriers identified, there was notable agreement (71 per cent) with the need for extra …

Macular Pigment Is Associated With Glare-Affected Visual Function And Central Visual Field Loss In Glaucoma, James Loughman, We Fong Siah, Colm O’Brien

Articles

Aim

To evaluate the relationship between macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and glare disability in open-angle glaucoma.

Methods A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data (88 subjects; median age, 67 (range 36–84) years) collected during the Macular Pigment and Glaucoma Trial (ISRCTN registry number: 56985060). MPOD at 0.25°, 0.5° and 1° of retinal eccentricity was measured using customised heterochromatic flicker photometry. Mesopic contrast sensitivity with glare (mCSg), photostress recovery time (PRT) and self-reported glare symptoms were evaluated. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography was used to analyse ganglion cell complex (GCC) and identify foveal involvement.

Results Low spatial frequency (f) mCSg was significantly …

Barriers To Glaucoma Case Finding As Perceived By Optometrists In Ireland, Catriona Barrett, Colm O'Brien, John Butler, James Loughman

Articles

Background: This research was designed to provide an in-depth exploration of the perceptions of optometrists relating to the challenges of glaucoma case finding in the Irish health-care system.

Methods: A survey was developed, piloted and distributed for anonymous completion by optometrists registered to practice in Ireland. The survey included 10 five-level Likert items exploring potential barriers to glaucoma detection and a free-text box for participants to comment more broadly.

Results: One hundred and ninety-nine optometrists (27 per cent of registrants) responded to the survey. Among the barriers identified, there was notable agreement (71 per cent) with the need for extra …

Impact Of Computer Experience On The Viability And Repeatablity Of The Moorfields Motion Displacement Test In A Developing And Underserved African Setting, James Loughman, Carmen Gonzalez Alvarez, Gay Mary Verdon-Roe, Roger Anderson, Ramos Antonio Manuel, Kovin Naidoo

Articles

Background: The current study was designed to explore the effect of computer experience on the viability and testretest repeatability of the Moorfields Motion Displacement Test (MMDT), a novel computer-driven glaucoma screening device, in an African community setting. Methods: 164 healthy subjects were recruited from a semi-rural Mozambican environment, and stratified according to computer experience (computer naïve: n=85, computer familiar: n=79). A suprathreshold screening test algorithm was employed, and the global probability of true damage (GPTD), testing time (TT) and false positive (FP) response rate were recorded. The visual field test was conducted twice on the same eye, and results compared …

Evidence Of Lower Macular Pigment Optical Density In Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma, Estera Igras, James Loughman, Matthew Ratzlaff, Ronal O'Caoimh, Colm O'Brien

Articles

Background/aims Macular pigment (MP) plays an important role in visual function and in the protection of the retina from oxidative damage. It is not known whether glaucoma, a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve, is associated with alterations in MP. This study was designed to investigate the relationship, if any, between the optical density of MP optical density (MPOD) and glaucoma.

Methods 40 subjects (23 males, 17 females) with open angle glaucoma (mean age 69 ±11), and 54 normal controls (23 males, 31 females) without ocular disease (mean age 66 ±11), visual acuity (VA) >6/18, were recruited, and underwent …

Preattentive Visual Search (Pavs): A Clinical Tool For Glaucoma, James Loughman

Books/Book chapters

Glaucoma is known to cause peripheral field loss but its impact is often underestimated. The inability to detect a target in an isolated area of the visual field may not be perceived as a significant disability. The determination here however that glaucoma adversely affects an individual’s capacity to deploy attention is an important one. This can be applied to infer the potential impact of the condition on lifestyle, even in the absence of diffuse perimetric field loss. Everyday tasks such as searching for car keys may prove more tedious and require more serial inspection. The ability to guide attention is …

Diagnostic Sensitivity/Specificity Of Preattentive Vision Tests In Glaucoma, James Loughman, Peter Davison, Daniel Ian Flitcroft

Articles

Purpose. Damage to the nerve fiber layer or visual pathway might be expected to reduce the efficiency with which the visual system performs analysis of the ever-changing field of vision. The purpose of this article is to provide a further analysis of previously reported data (Loughman J, Davison P, Flitcroft I, Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1493-98.) to: (i) determine the sensitivity and specificity of a test of preattentive vision for glaucoma detection and (ii) provide a cutoff performance level that would serve to distinguish glaucoma in early cases. Methods. Three groups of observers (glaucoma, suspects, and normals) were examined, using computer-generated …

Diagnostic Sensitivity/Specificity Of Preattentive Vision Tests In Glaucoma, James Loughman, Peter Davison, Daniel Ian Flitcroft

Articles

Purpose. Damage to the nerve fiber layer or visual pathway might be expected to reduce the efficiency with which the visual system performs analysis of the ever-changing field of vision. The purpose of this article is to provide a further analysis of previously reported data (Loughman J, Davison P, Flitcroft I, Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1493–98.) to: (i) determine the sensitivity and specificity of a test of preattentive vision for glaucoma detection and (ii) provide a cutoff performance level that would serve to distinguish glaucoma in early cases. Methods. Three groups of observers (glaucoma, suspects, and normals) were examined, using computer-generated …

Open Angle Glaucoma Effects On Preattentive Visual Search (Pavs) Efficiency For Flicker, Motion Displacement And Orientation Pop-Out Tasks, James Loughman, Peter Davison, Daniel Ian Flitcroft

Articles

Background/aim: Preattentive visual search (PAVS) describes rapid and efficient retinal and neural processing capable of immediate target detection in the visual field. Damage to the nerve fibre layer or visual pathway might reduce the efficiency with which the visual system performs such analysis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with glaucoma are impaired on parallel search tasks, and that this would serve to distinguish glaucoma in early cases. Methods: Three groups of observers (glaucoma patients, suspect and normal individuals) were examined, using computer-generated flicker, orientation, and vertical motion displacement targets to assess PAVS efficiency. …

Open Angle Glaucoma Effects On Preattentive Visual Search (Pavs) Efficiency For Flicker, Motion Displacement And Orientation Pop-Out Tasks, James Loughman, Peter Davison, Ian Flitchcroft

Articles

Background/aim: Preattentive visual search (PAVS) describes rapid and efficient retinal and neural processing capable of immediate target detection in the visual field. Damage to the nerve fibre layer or visual pathway might reduce the efficiency with which the visual system performs such analysis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with glaucoma are impaired on parallel search tasks, and that this would serve to distinguish glaucoma in early cases. Methods: Three groups of observers (glaucoma patients, suspect and normal individuals) were examined, using computer-generated flicker, orientation, and vertical motion displacement targets to assess PAVS efficiency. …

Clinical Viability Study Of Preattentive Visual Search Glaucoma, James Loughman

Doctoral

Background/Aim: Previous research has shown that several clinical conditions cause increased pre-attentive visual search (PAVS) times, implying reduced parallel search capabilities in glaucoma, DLB dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The purpose of the research reported here was two-fold • To examine for the first time the effect of a number of variables on PAVS performance including optical blur, age, retinal eccentricity and perceptual learning. Such investigations are designed to elucidate the nature of best clinical practise and to determine whether the test remains viable in the presence of such potentially confounding variables. • To analyse the efficiency of PAVS in cases …