Aims: To report the clinical features and outcomes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Chinese patients with or without laser treatment. Methods: A consecutive series of 204 indocyanine green angiographies (ICGA) performed for patients with a provisional diagnosis of age related macular degeneration were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were ICGA with angiographic features of PCV and patients of Chinese ethnic origin. Medical records were then reviewed and patients were recalled for further assessments. Results: 22 eyes of 19 patients (9.3%) were included. The mean follow up period was 27.4 months (range 4-60 months). The mean age of patients at presentation was 65.1 years (range 51-77 years). The commonest clinical feature at presentation was subretinal haemorrhage (63.6%), followed by retinal exudation (59.1%) and haemorrhagic pigment epithelial detachment (59.1%). There was a predominance of males (68.4%), unilaterality (84.2%), and macular location of polyps (63.6%). Nine eyes received laser photocoagulation. The median initial visual acuity for both the laser and non-laser groups was 6/18. Stable or improved vision was attained in 56% and 31% of laser and non-laser groups, respectively (Fisher's exact test, p=0.38). Mean loss of Snellen lines was 3.1 and 1.1 for the two groups, respectively (two sample t test, p=0.31). At the last follow up, 15 (68.2%) eyes had poor visual acuity of 6/60 or worse, mostly attributed to disciform scar or exudative maculopathy. Conclusions: There is a predominance of males, unilaterality, and macular location of polyps in Chinese patients with PCV. The overall visual prognosis is guarded regardless of treatment. There is a large amount of variation in the natural course of PCV among different ethnic groups.

Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) acquires cross-sectional retinal images with high resolution using low-coherence interferometry. Few studies have studied the effect of demographic data and ocular parameters that may affect central retinal thickness. In this study, these factors were used as parameters to analyse if any significant relationship exists with central retinal thickness. Methods Volunteers with a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better and no evidence of ocular abnormalities or interventions were recruited from October 2001 to March 2003. Body mass index (BMI), autorefraction, and keratometry recordings were measured, followed by applanation tonometry and Ascan ultrasonography. The central retinal thickness of the right eye was analysed using a scan length of 3 cm. Another 25 eyes were selected for interobserver reproducibility. Results In all, 117 normal subjects (60 male and 57 female subjects) were recruited. The mean thickness of the central retina with a diameter of 1 mm was 203723 mm for male and 189720 mm for female subjects. Age, intraocular pressure, and keratometric readings were not significantly correlated with central retinal thickness. Using multiple regression, gender, BMI, axial length, and signal-to-noise ratio (Po0.05) were significantly associated with the central retinal thickness. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 for interobserver reproducibility. Conclusion OCT has a high interobserver reproducibility. The male gender, larger BMI,

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the developed world. Although effective treatment modalities such as anti-VEGF treatment have been developed for neovascular AMD, there is still no effective treatment for geographical atrophy, and therefore the most cost-effective management of AMD is to start with prevention. This review looks at current evidence on preventive measures targeted at AMD. Modalities reviewed include (1) nutritional supplements such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formula, lutein and zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acid, and berry extracts, (2) lifestyle modifications, including smoking and body-mass-index, and (3) filtering sunlight, i.e. sunglasses and blue-blocking intraocular lenses. In summary, the only proven effective preventive measures are stopping smoking and the AREDS formula.

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The quality of life and surgical outcomes in cataract patients were assessed by a simple questionnaire. The local culture and environment should be taken into consideration in the questionnaire design.