Anomaloscope examination in macular gliosis, macular holes and central serous choroidopathy

· Background: Surgery for macular gliosis and macular holes has become increasingly successful with regard to anatomical outcome. Assessment of the damage to the receptors by these processes is still difficult, but is important in predicting functional outcome. · Methods: Examination with the Nagel II or the Neitz OT anomaloscope was performed in 36 patients with macular gliosis, 23 patients with full-thickness macular holes and 47 patients with central serous choroidopathy. The anomaloscope matches were expressed as the quotient of anomaly. · Results: In macular gliosis the mid-matching point is usually 1.0; there is no pseudoprotanomaly. In macular holes the mid-matching point is 1.0 when visual acuity is 0.3 or greater; in eyes with lower visual acuity there may be signs of diminished red sensitivity, but anomaloscope examination becomes difficult. In central serous choroidopathy the mid-matching point is shifted towards red, and pseudoprotanomaly is present, even when visual acuity is normal. · Conclusions: Diseases of the inner retina, in early stages, do not alter colour vision substantially, whereas diseases of the outer retina give rise to early colour vision deficiency. In macular gliosis and macular holes, anomaloscope examination enables estimation of macular receptor misalignment. Received: 16 December 1996 Revised version received: 1 April 1997 Accepted: 1 October 1997     

Blue cone monochromasia: diagnosis, genetic counseling and optical aids

Cone and rod functions of three blue cone monochromats (age 13-20, male) from three different families were investigated. In contrast to rod monochromats, they lack prominent nystagmus. Color matches as determined using the Nagel anomaloscope came close to those of rod monochromats but the green primary appeared slightly brighter to them. In color discrimination tests (Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue and Panel D-15 desaturated), maximum confusion followed protan rather than scotopic axes. Measurements of spectral sensitivity revealed action spectra exclusively of blue sensitive cones, even under conditions that should isolate green- or red-sensitive cones. After 20 minutes of dark adaptation, rods determined the spectral sensitivity function. Transient tritanopia, which in normals results from the interaction between cones sensitive to short and long wavelengths, was completely absent in blue cone monochromats. Visual acuity (Snellen charts and contrast gratings) revealed values between 20/200 and 20/60. Recognition of high-spatial low-contrast gratings was improved by blue cut-off filters (Schott BG 28) and considerably worsened by yellow cut-off filters (Schott OG 510). Since alteration of visual acuity induced by cut-off filters was not found in rod monochromats, this two-filter test is a means of differentiating quickly between rod achromats and blue cone monochromats. As the mode of inheritance is autosomal recessive in rod achromats and x-linked recessive in blue cone monochromats, differential diagnosis is important for correct genetic counseling.     

Autosomal dominantly inherited macular dystrophy with preferential short-wavelength sensitive cone involvement

We found an apparently inherited tritan-like color vision defect in five members of a family, spanning three generations. The defect was associated with mild macular pigmentary changes, poor foveolar reflexes, or slightly reduced visual acuity in four of the affected individuals. The inheritance pattern appeared to be autosomal dominant. Results of various color vision tests indicated preferential involvement of the short-wavelength sensitive cone system, with relative preservation of the middle- and long-wavelength sensitive cone systems. Both anomaloscope testing with larger (8-degree) fields and short-wavelength sensitive electroretinography indicated some short-wavelength sensitive cone system involvement beyond the central macula in the three affected individuals on whom testing was performed. The condition appeared to be a familial macular dystrophy with preferential short-wavelength sensitive cone involvement. The abnormal macular findings and mild reduction in visual acuity distinguish this condition from congenital tritanopia; the normal optic disks distinguish it from autosomal dominant optic atrophy.     

Evaluation of the new web-based "Colour Assessment and Diagnosis" test.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability of the web-based Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test in comparison to current tests of color vision. METHODS: Thirty color normals and 30 color deficients, identified and diagnosed by the Nagel anomaloscope, were tested. The results of the CAD test were compared with standard tests like Nagel anomaloscope, Ishihara (concise version, 2001), Hardy, Rand and Rittler (HRR; 4 ed) pseudoisochromatic test, and the Farnsworth Munsell 100 (FM-100) hue test. RESULTS: Using the Nagel anomaloscope as the "gold standard," the sensitivity with the CAD test was 93.33%, Ishihara 96%, HRR 100%, and the FM-100 hue 100%. The specificity was 100% with CAD and the Ishihara color plates, whereas it was 33% with the HRR and 83% with the FM-100 hue test. The concurrent validity of the CAD test for color normals was 93.75%. The concurrent validity of CAD test for color deficiency was 100%. Thus, anyone failing the CAD test has a color defect. The coefficient of agreement for the Nagel anomaloscope and the CAD test was 0.93, with Ishihara it was 0.96, with the HRR it was 0.33, and with FM-100 hue it was 0.83. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the CAD test is a valid test for identifying congenital red-green color deficiency. Further testing is required in a larger population of anomalous trichromats.     

Oligocone trichromasy – a rare form of incomplete monochromatism

Summary Oligocone trichromasy is a rare form of congenital incomplete monochromatism. Patients and methods: An 11-year-old girl presented because of reduced visual acuity while color vision was almost normal. Besides a general ophthalmological examination, special psychophysical tests, such as perimetry, color vision tests using pseudoisochromatic plates, arrangement tests, the Nagel anomaloscope and spectral sensitivity measurement, and electrophysiological tests (electroretinogram and electrooculogram) were conducted. Results: The tests yielded the following: congenital nystagm, normal results at ophthalmoscopy, best visual acuity of 0.1 monocular and 0.2 binocular. Perimetry revealed a relatively central scotoma. All color vision tests showed only mild dysfunction of the blue-sensitive cones. Findings at photopic electroretinogram were almost completely lacking. There was no sign of progression in the last 6 years. Conclusion: Differential diagnosis includes all diseases associated with congenital nystagm, such as aniridia, diseases of the optic nerve, albinism and all forms of hereditary cone dysfunction, cone dystrophies and complete and incomplete congenital stationary monochromatism. In the present case the findings are most congruent with oligocone trichromasy.      

Velhagen Pflügertrident pseudoisochromatic plates in screening congenital red-green vision defects

Red-green colour vision defects were screened in a group of 425 trade school students using Velhagen Pflügertrident pseudoisochromatic plates. Thereafter, the students were examined with the Nagel anomaloscope. Of the 425 students, 31 (7.3%) were found to be colour defectives. Deuteranomalous defects were found in 4.9% of cases; deuteranopic defects, in 0.2%; and protanomalous defects, in 2.1%. There were no protanopic 1 students in the study group. The Velhagen plates found 19 of the 31 defectives (sensitivity, 61.3%); none of the students with normal colour vision were suspected of being colour defectives (specificity, 100%). The sensitivity of the Velhagen plates is not as high as that of other pseudoisochromatic tests. However, the Velhagen Pflugertrident test is easy to use when screening of preschool-aged children is needed.

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Velhagen Pflügertrident pseudoisochromatic plates in screening congenital red-green vision defects

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This study was supported by Finnish Eye Foundation

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Offprint requests to: M. Mantyjärvi     

Visual short-term effects of Viagra: double-blind study in healthy young subjects

PURPOSE: To investigate short-term visual effects of a single 100-mg dose of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) in healthy men. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of drug effects on normal volunteers conducted by a single center. METHODS: Twenty men, aged 20 to 40 years, were treated with either a placebo or 100 mg sildenafil. Visual function tests included electroretinogram (ERG) recordings, on-/off- and 3.3 Hz-flicker-ERG recordings, anomaloscope matches, and measurements of cone contrast sensitivities and transient tritanopia. RESULTS: Most visual tests did not differ between the sildenafil and placebo groups. However, statistically significant increases in sensitivity during transient tritanopia were observed as well as significant prolongations in the implicit times of scotopic a-wave, photopic b-wave, and 3.3 Hz-flicker a-wave and b-wave ERG recordings. The magnitude of the differences correlated with peak sidenafil plasma concentration. Although rod amplitudes of the ERG recordings tended to be higher and cone amplitudes lower in the sildenafil group after drug ingestion, the differences were nonsignificant. There were no reports of visual side effects, and all electrophysiologic and psychophysical measurements returned to the normal range within 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: A single oral dose of 100-mg sildenafil given to healthy young men led to small but statistically significant transient changes of outer and inner retinal function, as detected by ERG and psychophysical methods. Although the acute effects were fully reversible within 24 hours, it would be worthwhile to compare them with those induced by other PDE5 and PDE6 inhibitors.     

Detecting color vision in a malingerer

A patient describing himself as totally color blind was ordered by the judicial system to have his color vision investigated in order to establish his suitability for military service. Basic clinical (Farnsworth Panel D-15, Moreland and Rayleigh anomaloscope equations), electroretinographic (ERG) and psychophysical techniques (spectral sensitivities) were applied to determine the extent of his color discrimination performance and cone function. These standard procedures were complemented by a test for cone interaction (transient tritanopia) and by newly developed cone-isolating flicker large-field ERG recordings. The patient's data consistently indicate the function as well as the functional interaction of the middle-wavelength-sensitive (M-) and the short-wavelength-sensitive (S-) cones. But the function of the long-wavelength-sensitive (L-) cones was completely absent. Hence the patient was correctly demonstrated to be a protanope. This study establishes that standard classical procedures, in combination with newly developed and easy to apply psychophysical and ERG ones, which can be reliably used to assess true color discrimination performance, in difficult cases of malingering.     

Clinical advantages of colorimetric exploration in the early diagnosis of glaucomatous neuropathy

AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate acquired color vision defects in the early stages of primary glaucoma and in patients at risk for glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma and ocular hypertension were examined with the IF-2 anomaloscope. The Rayleigh equation and the Moreland equation were tested. We studied the relationships between color vision defects and the other tested variables. RESULTS: We found the mean value of the setting range of the Moreland equation significantly increased in all tested groups. Color vision disturbances were found in 57% of eyes with glaucoma and in 31% of eyes with ocular hypertension. We found a positive correlation between the blue-green colour vision defects and the perimetric changes in the glaucomatous eyes. These results indicate a decrease in color discriminating sensitivity in the short wavelength part of the visible spectrum in patients with glaucoma as well as in patients with ocular hypertension. CONCLUSION: Blue-yellow color vision testing with the anomaloscope may serve as an additional test in the early diagnosis of glaucoma but the absence of dyschromatopsia does not exclude the disease.     

Color vision in Stargardt's disease

The color vision of nine patients aged from 13 to 52 years with Stargardt's disease was studied with the following tests: Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates part 2 (SSP2), Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test (FM100), Nagel (red-green) anomaloscope and Besançon (blue) anomalometer. At the beginning of the disease, a very slight defect in red-green color vision could be demonstrated. Later, a distinct acquired red (pseudo-protanomalous) defect in the Nagel anomaloscope and an abnormal error score in the FM100 test were observed. In advanced stages, the red defect became stronger (scotopization) and the FM100 test showed a red-green axis. In the course of the disease, a blue defect with the SPP2 plates and with the Besançon anomalometer could also be found. The visual acuities of the patients had a significant correlation with the matching ranges of the Rayleigh equation and the Moreland equation. The duration of the disease did not show any correlation with the color vision tests.     

Color vision in glaucoma

This article is a general view of evaluated acquired color vision defects in the early stages of primary glaucoma and in patients at risk for glaucoma. The articles published until now indicates a decrease in color discriminating sensitivity in the short wavelength part of the visible spectrum in patients with glaucoma as well as in patients with ocular hypertension. It has been found a positive correlation between the blue-yellow color vision defects and the perimetric changes in the glaucomatous eyes. Blue-yellow color vision testing with the anomaloscope may serve as an additional test in the early diagnosis of glaucoma but the absence of dyschromatopsia does not exclude the disease.     

Role of the blue mechanism in wavelength discrimination

The role of blue cones as well as the pathways they supply (collectively called the "blue mechanism") is evaluated by comparing ordinary wavelength discrimination functions with those obtained using two methods designed to inhibit the blue mechanism selectively. These methods use a just-noticeable-border criterion (JNB), instead of the usual one of just-noticeable-difference, and a yellow preadapting field to induce transient tritanopia. Without transient tritanopia, the data obtained using the just-noticeable-border criterion reveal a small contribution of the blue mechanism to wavelength discrimination. Transient tritanopia, with JNB, produces an additional selective loss of wavelength discrimination in a spectral region flanking 460 nm, which yields a function resembling those for tritanopes previously examined.     

Functional and morphological variations of fundus flavimaculatus

In order to investigate functional differences between fundus flavimaculatus and ophthalmoscopically similar diseases, we performed testing of spectral sensitivity, transient tritanopia, visual fields, fluorescein angiography, color vision, electrophysiological parameters, dark adaptation, cone flicker threshold during dark adaptation, and a thorough clinical investigation in five patients.Four had characteristic fundus flavimaculatus, while one patient turned out to have an atypical form. All five patients showed similar results in clinical investigations, electrophysiological data, and visual field tests. However psychophysical tests showed a number of differences in the single atypical patient. Although his ophthalmoscopic picture was not entirely typical of fundus flavimaculatus, only his psychophysical data could identify the patient as functionally distinct from the other four.     

Dynamics of Retinal Function after Multiple Photodynamic Therapies in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Report of Cases

Purpose: To monitor retinal function after multiple laser treatments by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Five eyes of five subjects with AMD were investigated before the first and 1 month after each of three PDT treatments. Function was assessed using the cone- and rod-mediated mfERG, high-contrast distance visual acuity, central visual fields and contrast sensitivity. For each subject the local first-order mfERG results before treatment were used as a template and fitted against the local post-treatment results (Matlab, Mathworks). Results: We found transient reduction of the cone- and rod-mediated amplitudes between the first and second treatments but stable or improved mfERG function in four of five eyes for the cone-mediated mfERG and in all eyes for the rod-mediated mfERG after three treatments. Visual acuities and contrast sensitivities remained stable between treatments in four and two eyes respectively, whereas visual fields showed substantially higher mean defects in two subjects after all treatments. Conclusion: As found in previous studies of the cone-mediated mfERG after one PDT treatment, objective function was stabilized after multiple treatments in this case report. Similarly, although poor at baseline, rod-mediated function was not further compromised. Transiently reduced amplitudes after 1 month possibly reflected choroidal hypoperfusion. A larger sample size is needed to confirm if additional evaluation using electrophysiological criteria might be helpful in re-treatment decisions during PDT. This study was presented in part at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Fort Lauderdale, Florida.The authors have no propriety interest.     

Clinical use of the American Optical Company (Hardy, Rand and Rittler) pseudoisochromatic plates for red-green colour deficiency

The efficiency of the American Optical Company (Hardy, Rand and Rittler) (HRR) plates for screening, grading and classifying red-green colour deficiency was examined for 401 mate colour deficient subjects previously identified and diagnosed with the Nagel anomaloscope. There were 83 protanopes, 30 protanomalous trichromats, 96 deuteranopes and 192 deuteranomalous trichromats. Screening sensitivity was found to be 100% for dichromats and 96.4% for anomalous trichromats based on one screening error (35 subjects, including 7 dichromats, were identified by a single error). Thirty subjects (13.5%) made errors on screening plates only and were identified as having minimal colour deficiency. The HRR grading system did not distinguish dichromats and anomalous trichromats; 54% of dichromats were graded as having moderate rather than severe colour deficiency. Protan/deutan classification was correct for 95% of subjects who failed grading plates. HRR grades for anomalous trichromats were compared with the anomaloscope matching range and with pass or fail of the D15 test. The results show that only two rather than four grading categories can be distinguished by the HRR plates and that both the D15 and the HRR plates are needed in a vocational test battery to establish the severity of colour deficiency.     

Fixation pattern and macular sensitivity in eyes with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. A microperimetry study

Purpose. To investigate the effects of subfoveal choroidal neovascularizzation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on macular functional parameters quantified with an automatic fundus perimeter. Methods. 118 eyes of 98 consecutive patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were evaluated. Best corrected visual acuity (ETDRS charts), fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography were performed. Microperimetry (fundus-related perimetry) was used to quantify macular sensitivity and fixation pattern (location and stability). Results. Of 118 eyes: 26 (21.9%) had central, 18 (15.1%) poor central and 74 (63.0%) eccentric fixation; 31 (26.0%) had stable, 42 (35.6%) relatively unstable and 45 (38.4%) unstable fixation. In 75 eyes (63.4%) a dense central scotoma was found. Angiographic classification of subfoveal CNV (occult versus classic) was not significantly related to fixation pattern (location: P = 0.274; stability: P = 0.385), and presence of dense scotoma (P = 0.41). Conclusion. Microperimetric quantification of macular sensitivity and fixation pattern in eyes with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD offers new data about the impact of visual impairment in these eyes. Moreover, microperimetry improves the functional evaluation of subfoveal CNV in AMD.     

Recovery after severe ethambutol intoxication - psychophysical and electrophysiological correlations

Six patients with severe ocular side effects caused by therapeutical doses of the tuberculostatic drug ethambutol were investigated during the course of recovery with psychophysical and electrophysiological methods. Three patients developed an optic atrophy with permanently reduced vision as a likely consequence of additional risk factors such as diabetes, alcohol abuse, and reduced kidney function. The severity of the neuritis of the optic nerve was not related to the total intake of ethambutol. The likelihood of a permanent ocular damage increased sharply if the visual acuity had dropped below a value of 1/10. Permanently prolonged latency of the P-100 component was found in visual evoked potentials even in cases with good recovery from ethambutol-induced damage. The recovery of color vision could be monitored very well with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test which revealed a diffuse impairment of color discrimination with a slight prevalence of the red-green axis. In addition to the known disturbances of the red-green antagonistic neurons, it could be demonstrated by measuring transient tritanopia and spectral sensitivity functions that ethambutol also affects the blue-yellow antagonism at the retinal level.     

Spectral increment thresholds on a white background in different age groups of normal subjects and in acquired ocular diseases

Energetical achromatic increment thresholds on a white background of 10 cd.m^–2 were determined at 5 eccentricities by means of 8 interference filters in corporated to a calibrated Tübingen perimeter.A new study of 3 age groups of normal subjects (10–15, 16–41 and 60–76 years) showed that many of the differences between the means are very significant and that only some of them can be explained by the known prereceptoral changes.The same examination method was applied to 120 pathological eyes. When compared with the normal spreads, taking into account the age factor, the spectral sensitivity curves of the affected retinal areas were found to be unevenly lowered in juvenile macular degeneration and in progressive cone dystrophies (for which scotopic luminosity curves are obtained), in central serous retinopathy (where the sensitivities for the shorter and for some intermediate wavelengths are selectively lowered), in some cases of peripheral pigmentary retinopathy (selective lowering of the sensitivities to the shortest wavelenghts) and in some cases of optic nerve disease (apparant enhancement of the sensitivities to the shorter wavelengths). The spectral sensitivity curves are evenly lowered in other cases and diseases. Moreover, the method proved to be a more sensitive test than static perimetry with white objects and, interestingly, more sensitive than the traditional tests of colour vision (Ishihara, Tritan-Plate, AO H-R-R, Panel D-15 and anomaloscope) when used at the foveal level.An introductory section is devoted to the actual trends in colour perimetry.     

玻璃体腔注射康柏西普治疗渗出性年龄相关性黄斑变性

目的：观察玻璃体腔注射康柏西普治疗渗出性年龄相关性黄斑变性(age-related macular degeneration,ARMD)的临床疗效。

方法：回顾性研究我院2015-07/2016-01确诊的渗出性ARMD患者45例45眼,采取每月1次玻璃体腔注射康柏西普(0.5mg/0.05mL),连续治疗3mo,之后按需给药(3+PRN),随访2a。分别观察治疗前和治疗后最佳矫正视力(best corrected visual acuity,BCVA)、黄斑中心凹厚度(central macular thickness,CMT)变化情况。

结果：治疗后第1、2、3mo,1、2a后的BCVA较治疗前显著提高,差异有统计学意义(t=5.208、5.111、4.323、4.701、5.156,P<0.05),CMT较治疗前显著减低,差异有统计学意义(t=3.807、4.556、2.841、2.707、3.145,P<0.05)。

结论：康柏西普眼用注射液3+PRN方案治疗渗出性ARMD可以有效提高视力、减轻黄斑水肿。     

The impact of light source on discrimination ability in subjects with age‐related macular degeneration

Purpose: To examine the influence of light source on letter contrast sensitivity in subjects with age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Halogen incandescent bulbs and low‐energy fluorescent tubes were tested with 70 subjects with AMD. The subjects’ contrast sensitivity was determined in a randomized single‐blind crossover study for each light source using photopically illuminated Pelli Robson contrast sensitivity charts. The test subjects’ subjective light source preference was also determined. Results: The mean contrast sensitivity for the incandescent light source was 1.28 ± 0.29 (mean ± SD), and for the fluorescent light source 1.17 ± 0.29, p < 0.001. The illuminance was 338 lux (±9) for the incandescent light, and 339 lux (±11) for the fluorescent light. Forty‐nine subjects preferred the incandescent light source, while none preferred the fluorescent light source for maximum detail and clarity. Nineteen had no preference. This finding is statistically significant. Fifteen of the 19 subjects without a preference had no difference in contrast sensitivity, which supports their lack of preference. There was no significant difference with regard to sex or order of exposure to light source. Subjects with AMD had significantly reduced contrast sensitivity compared with expected normal values. We found no relationship between visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Conclusion: We are only able to recommend photopic full spectral radiance incandescent light sources to visually impaired subjects for their domestic surroundings. Furthermore, we recommend the use of full spectral radiance light sources for the illumination of Pelli‐Robson contrast sensitivity charts. Given equal illuminance, as in our study, the findings show that contrast sensitivity was better by illumination with incandescent light with full spectral radiance compared with fluorescent light with interrupted spectral radiance.