Neurosciences News

This year's OSN New York symposium will feature several new components that, while maintaining the flavor of past meetings, are geared to keep general ophthalmologists abreast of the latest developments in several subspecialties. The meeting will take place Oct. 13 and 14 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

BRASILIA — Optic neuritis may be a symptom of different systemic problems, depending on an ophthalmologist's geographic location, according to a surgeon speaking here at the Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology.

Intravenous dexamethasone may be effective for treating patients with primary typical optic neuritis, according to a study by researchers in India.

Using intravenous high-dose corticosteroids to treat patients with recent traumatic optic neuropathy does not improve visual acuity any more than placebo, according to a study by researchers in Iran.

Stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors showed increased brain activity after undergoing a vision rehabilitation treatment, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center.

The deposition of beta-amyloid protein, which is strongly associated with the development of senile plaques and neuronal apoptosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease, may also be a contributing factor involved in the retinal ganglion cell apoptosis characteristic of glaucoma, according to an experimental study by researchers in the United Kingdom.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Activation of the SIRT1 enzyme by a proprietary formulation of resveratrol showed a neuroprotective effect in an animal model of optic neuritis, according to a press release from Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, which is developing the drug.

Patients with Bothnia dystrophy showed improved visual function from wearing dark-tinted contact lenses, a small study found. The results suggest that use of such lenses may benefit other groups of patients who have prolonged adaptation to darkness or cone system dysfunction, the study authors noted.

A 52-year-old man was referred to the New England Eye Center for progressive bilateral visual loss over the course of 2 months. His medical history was significant for acute myelogenous leukemia, which was treated with chemotherapy 10 months before presentation. After the treatment, he developed miliary tuberculosis and had been treated with oral anti- tuberculosis medications for the previous 8 months. He was recently hospitalized for drainage of paraspinal and pleural tubercular abscesses. His medical history was also remarkable for hypertension and atrial fibrillation. He was on multiple medications including isoniazid (INH), rifampin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, streptomycin, vitamin B6, folate, metoprolol and amiodarone. He wore reading glasses and denied any history of ocular trauma or surgery. Family history was not contributory. He worked as a mechanic, and he did not smoke or drink.

Using topical apraclonidine to diagnose Horner syndrome in infants can inadvertently cause severe lethargy lasting up to 10 hours, necessitating a hospital admission and the administration of oxygen, according to a report in the June issue of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.