Macular Degeneration: Bahar I

Bahar I, Weinberger D, Kramer M, Axer-Siegel R. · Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel. · Retina. · Pubmed #16141876 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Avisar R, Bahar I, Weinberger D. · Rabin Medical Center, Golda Campus, Petah Tiqva Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv. · Harefuah. · Pubmed #12653039 No free full text.

Abstract: This study of the causes of blindness in Israel in the year 2000 is based on the National Registry of the Blind in Israel. Patients are considered blind if they have a visual acuity of 1/60 or worse, in their better eye, or visual field loss of > 20 degree, in their better eye. At the end of 1998, 15,937 were registered as blind, 2.7/1000 of the total population and in the year 2000 2.9/1000. The leading causes of blindness in Israel in 1998 were glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes mellitus. In the year 2000 the leading causes of blindness are: macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes mellitus. Macular degeneration is found to be more prevalent in the year 2000 because of high life expectancy of the total population. Glaucoma is found to be less prevalent then in 1998. This can be attributed to early diagnosis and better treatment of the disease. Early detection of glaucoma and good response to treatment is essential for prevention of blindness in such cases.

Weinberger D, Lichter H, Goldenberg-Cohen N, Priel E, Bahar I, Yassur Y, Axer-Siegel R. · Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel. · Retina. · Pubmed #12172105 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate alterations in the retinal vasculature overlying pigment epithelial detachments (PED) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) using indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography. METHODS: Forty-one patients (41 eyes) with a clinical diagnosis of exudative ARMD with PED underwent simultaneous fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, also under high (10 degrees ) magnification. Vascular abnormalities in the retina were compared between patients with vascularized (n = 34, group 1) and nonvascularized (n = 7, group 2) PED on indocyanine green angiography and correlated with the size of the PED and the presence of serous retinal detachment. RESULTS: In all, 67 vascular abnormalities were found by indocyanine green angiography and only 22 by fluorescein angiography; this finding was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The finding of retinal vasculopathy (32 patients in group 1 and two patients in group 2) was directly correlated with the presence of choroidal neovascularizations (P = 0.002). There was also a direct correlation between the presence of choroidal neovascularization and size of the PED (P = 0.03). The number of retinal vascular findings was not significantly correlated with serous elevation of the retina. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal vasculopathies may be observed in eyes with PED and are detectable by indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography.