Biomedical subjects

Sherry J Bass

Publications and source records attributed to Sherry J Bass.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Autosomal dominant pericentral retinochoroidal atrophy.

PURPOSE: To describe a family pedigree with a newly described hereditary retinal disease. METHODS: Five family members were examined, and a fifth deceased family member was identified through review of old medical records. RESULTS: Five individuals had annular or arcuate pericentral areas of retinal (younger members) or choroidal (older members) atrophy and spared maculae with good visual acuity and normal retinal periphery. Two of the four examined affected family members were symptomatic only for field loss; the other two were asymptomatic. No nyctalopia was reported by any affected individual. Fluorescein angiography revealed hyperfluorescence in the affected areas in the family members with retinal atrophy and hypofluorescence in affected areas in family members with choroidal atrophy. Visual field scotomas were dense and corresponded to the areas of retinal and/or choroidal atrophy. Full-field electroretinograms were normal for two family members and were reduced for one family member with the most advanced retinal and choroidal changes. The scotopic response was only mildly reduced in the fourth examined family member. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that we have identified a pedigree with a previously undescribed autosomal dominant hereditary retinal disease characterized by arcuate retinal and retinochoroidal atrophy and normal visual acuity.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Optic disk evaluation and utility of high-tech devices in the assessment of glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Every clinician has at one time or another examined a patient who was misdiagnosed as having glaucoma or whose diagnosis of glaucoma was missed. Although glaucoma can exist with normal intraocular pressures, clinicians often rely on the presence of visual-field defects and the degree of optic disk cupping to direct care. However, assessment of cupping is but one small part of optic disk evaluation in glaucoma, and other features of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer must be closely inspected to help diagnose borderline cases. In addition, glaucoma can exist without visual-field loss. High-tech devices offer an added dimension in the objective assessment of structure when subjective tests of function and/or ophthalmoscopic observations are equivocal. METHODS: This article details the various parameters of optic disk and retinal nerve fiber layer evaluation and their significance in the assessment of glaucoma. In addition, the role of four high-tech devices is evaluated for their utility in the assessment and progression of glaucomatous damage. CONCLUSIONS: When one attempts to classify a patient as having glaucoma, the degree of cupping and the presence or absence of visual field loss can be misleading. Prior to definitive diagnosis, a thorough evaluation of the optic disk and retinal nerve fiber layer, and appropriate use of high-tech devices, should help reduce the under-diagnosis and overdiagnosis of this disease.

Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological↗

PubMed2004

Glaucoma without cupping.

BACKGROUND: Although glaucoma can exist with normal intraocular pressures (IOPs), clinicians still rely on the presence of a large cup to "flag" suspects, regardless of IOP, whereas a small cup at the same pressure level is often ignored. High-tech instruments offer a new dimension of evaluation in the objective assessment of structure when subjective tests of function and/or ophthalmoscopic observations are equivocal. CASE REPORTS: Thirteen cases are presented and show evidence of glaucoma based on glaucomatous visual-field defects, often with steadily rising intraocular pressures and retinal nerve fiber layer loss. Surprisingly, these patients maintained small C/D ratios. Accordingly, ophthalmoscopy and/or disk topography classified these disks as normal. CONCLUSIONS: Although unrecognized in virtually the entire world's ophthalmic literature, normal cup glaucoma is a real clinical entity. At least half the normal cup glaucoma cases presented herein have disk drusen (obvious, subtle, or occult), while others are highly myopic and/or have documented IOP spikes. Several of the cases defy classification and explanation at the present time.

Adult↗