The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in adults of China has reached 12.8%. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) accounts for approximately 1/4-1/3 of the diabetic population. Several millions of people are estimated suffering the advanced stage of DR, including severe non-proliferative DR (NPDR), proliferative DR (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), which seriously threat to the patients’ vision. On the basis of systematic prevention and control of diabetes and its complications, prevention of the moderate and high-risk NPDR from progressing to the advanced stage is the final efforts to avoid diabetic blindness. The implementation of the DR severity scale is helpful to assess the severity, risk factors for its progression, treatment efficacy and prognosis. In the eyes with vision-threatening DR, early application of biotherapy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor can improve DR with regression of retinal neovascularization, but whether it is possible to induce capillary re-canalization in the non-perfusion area needs more investigation. Laser photocoagulation remains the mainstay treatment for non-center-involved DME and PDR.
With the tremendous progress in fundus imaging and histopathology over the past decade, the understanding of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has taken a qualitative leap. AMD is defined as a progressive neurodegenerative disease of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) characterized by extracellular deposits under RPE and the retina, including drusen, basal laminar and linear deposits, and subretinal drusenoid deposits, that can evolve to atrophy of the retina, RPE and choroid and neovascularization in the choroid and/or retina. It is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in older populations, despite recent advances in treatments. AMD is a multifactorial disease with genetic and environmental factors including advanced age, smoking, high-fat diet, and cardiovascular disorder to enhance the disease susceptibility. The physiopathologic mechanism includes inflammatory processes (complement pathway dysregulation, inflammasome activation), intrinsic (e.g., photo-oxidation) and extrinsic oxidative insult to the retina, age-related metabolic impairment (mitochondrial, autophagic and endoplasmic reticulum stress). Autophagy dysfunction and local inflammation in aged RPE specially result in the extracellular deposits, cell death and AMD. Further investigation of the pathogenesis of AMD will provide with new therapeutic targets and strategy for prevention and treatment of the disease in the early stages.
PURPOSE: Determining the efficacy of vitrectomy in explosive injuries of eye globes and assessing the curcept concept of enucleation for severe traumatized eyes. METIIODS: Clinical records were reviewed on 36 consecutive patients(44 eyes)with severe explosive eyeball injuries. RESULTS:The injuries were caused by explosion of detonator (10 eases), fire-crackers(7 cases) ,explosive and guns(19 cases). Ten eyes(22.7%)were ruptured. Fourty eyes(90. 9%)underwent vitrectomy for posterior segment injuries including vitreous hemorrhage,intraocular foreign bodies, endophthalmitis, and retinal detachment more than 2 weeks after trauma and primary wound repair. Postoperative visual acuity improved in 25 eye(62.5%) ,was stable in 11 eyes(27.5%) ,and decreased in 4 eyes(10%). Final vision was 0. 02 or better (up to 0.7)in 20 eyes(47.6%). No more enucleation was performed except two ruptured eyes (4.5% ) removed in primary clinical units. CONCLUSION :The results suggest that primary wound repair with microsurgery and secondary vitrectomy may reconstruct the eyeball and restore visual functions.at least partially.in the majority of eyes,even though the explosive ocular injuries often induce severe damages and eyeball rupture. It is.thus,recommended that primary enueleation of traumatized eyes should not be performed with an occasional exception. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 169-171）