Showing papers by "Otto Schmut published in 2003"
TL;DR: Within the observation period of up to 8 years, the dry eye syndrome improved or stabilized under appropriate treatment, and subjective reports as well as frequency of artificial tear application were reduced.
Abstract: Objective: To assess subjective symptoms, tear func- tion factors, and ocular surface morphology in the clinical course of patients with dry eye syndrome under treatment within an observation period of up to 8 years. Methods: In 97 patients (78 women and 19 men) with ocular discomfort, a clinical diagnosis of dry eye syn- drome was made based on typical symptoms and a re- ducedtearfilmbreakuptimeoflessthan10seconds.Sub- sequent evaluations revealed a diagnosis of aqueous tear deficiency in 9 patients, meibomian gland dysfunction in32patients,andaqueousteardeficiencycombinedwith meibomianglanddysfunctionin30patients,aqueoustear deficiency associated with Sjogren syndrome in 12 pa- tients,andaqueousteardeficiencyandmeibomiangland dysfunction associated with Sjogren syndrome in 14 pa- tients. Follow-up assessments were performed 12 to 94 months (mean follow-up, 40 months) after the initial di- agnosis. Main Outcome Measures: In different subgroups of dry eye tear film breakup time, Schirmer test with- out local anesthesia (Schirmer I), fluorescein and rose bengal staining, impression cytology, as well as subjec- tive dry eye symptoms and frequency of tear substitute application were compared at baseline and after a fol- low-up of 1 to 8 years (mean, 3.3 years). Results: At baseline, tear film function and ocular sur- facetestresultsfoundmorepathologicabnormalitiesand more severe subjective symptoms in patients with aque- ousteardeficiencyassociatedwithSjogrensyndromeand aqueous tear deficiency and meibomian gland dysfunc- tion associated with Sjogren syndrome compared with the other groups who had dry eye syndrome. No differ- encesinfrequencyoftearsubstituteapplicationwereob- served. At follow-up, tear breakup time, Schirmer I test results, and corneal fluorescein staining improved com- pared with baseline values, whereas rose bengal stain- ing and impression cytology of the conjunctival surface remained almost unchanged. Subjective symptoms and frequency of artificial tear application were reduced.
99 citations
TL;DR: Although all patients were relieved of blepharospasm after botulinum toxin injections, only three noticed an improvement in dry eye symptoms, and botulinums toxin A injections were not successful in treating dry eye syndrome.
Abstract: Background: Many patients with essential blepharospasm also show dry eye signs and symptoms. Botulinum toxin A is an effective treatment for reducing spasms in these patients. In this investigation, the effect of botulinum toxin A injections on tear function and on the morphology of the ocular surface in patients suffering from blepharospasm in combination with a dry eye syndrome was investigated.
Methods: Botulinum toxin A injections were applied to 16 patients with blepharospasm. All patients complained of dry eye symptoms and had reduced tear break up time values. A subjective questionnaire and ocular examinations including tear break up time, Schirmer test without local anaesthesia, and rose bengal staining were evaluated before, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after injection. Impression cytology was performed before, 1 month, and 3 months after botulinum toxin A treatment.
Results: Although all patients were relieved of blepharospasm after botulinum toxin injections, only three noticed an improvement in dry eye symptoms. Eight patients noticed no difference and five complained of worsening. Tear break up time was found to be increased 1 week and 1 month after injections. Schirmer test measurements were reduced up to 3 months. Rose bengal staining slightly increased 1 week after injections. Impression cytology showed no definite change in conjunctival cell morphology 1 month and 3 months after botulinum toxin A injections.
Conclusion: In the patients presented here suffering from blepharospasm and dry eye, botulinum toxin A injections were effective in relieving blepharospasm but were not successful in treating dry eye syndrome.
67 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A do not play a major role in patients with retinal artery occlusion.
Abstract: Purpose Retinal artery occlusion is a common vision-threatening disease. Among other risk factors, coagulopathies leading to a hypercoagulable state have been associated with retinal artery occlusion. Numerous studies have shown that two genetic variants, factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A, cause a procoagulant state. However, their role in the pathogenesis of retinal artery occlusion is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate a possible association between factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210A, and retinal artery occlusion. Methods In the present retrospective case–control study, we studied 136 patients with retinal artery occlusion and 136 age- and gender-matched control subjects. The presence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A alleles was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Results The prevalence of heterozygosity for the prothrombin G20210A variant did not significantly differ between patients and controls (three patients vstwo controls, P=0.65). Distribution of factor V Leiden genotypes revealed no significant difference among the two groups (heterozygosity: eight patients vs11 controls, P=0.47). As for other risk factors, arterial hypertension, a history of stroke and myocardial infarction were significantly more frequent in patients than in controls. Conclusion Our data suggest that factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A do not play a major role in patients with retinal artery occlusion.
23 citations