Purpose: To investigate gender differences in lens thickness (LT) and central anterior chamber depth (ACD) in normal subjects, and to assess age-associated changes in these measures.

Methods: The anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens thickness (LT) of 150 normal subjects (150 eyes) were measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Gender differences were assessed by independent t-test, and correlation analysis was used to examine the effect of age.

Results: The mean values of ACD and LT were 2.69 ± 0.32 mm and 4.85 ± 0.43 mm, respectively. Women had a significantly lower mean ACD as compared to men (2.56 ± 0.33 mm vs. 2.85 ± 0.29 mm; P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in LT between male and female subjects (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis findings suggest that LT increases with age (r = 0.83,P < 0.05)，and that ACD decreases with age (r=-0.57,P < 0.05). After controlling for LT, no significant correlation was observed between age and ACD (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The ACD of female subjects was, on average, shallower than that of their male counterparts. Aging was associated with increasing LT, and the observed narrowing of ACD with age might be partially mediated by the increasing LT. (Eye Science 2012; 27:124-126)

Keywords: anterior chamber; lens; age; primary angle-closure glaucoma

Purpose: To investigate gender differences in lens thickness (LT) and central anterior chamber depth (ACD) in normal subjects, and to assess age-associated changes in these measures.

Methods: The anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens thickness (LT) of 150 normal subjects (150 eyes) were measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Gender differences were assessed by independent t-test, and correlation analysis was used to examine the effect of age.

Results: The mean values of ACD and LT were 2.69 ± 0.32 mm and 4.85 ± 0.43 mm, respectively. Women had a significantly lower mean ACD as compared to men (2.56 ± 0.33 mm vs. 2.85 ± 0.29 mm; P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in LT between male and female subjects (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis findings suggest that LT increases with age (r = 0.83,P < 0.05)，and that ACD decreases with age (r=-0.57,P < 0.05). After controlling for LT, no significant correlation was observed between age and ACD (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The ACD of female subjects was, on average, shallower than that of their male counterparts. Aging was associated with increasing LT, and the observed narrowing of ACD with age might be partially mediated by the increasing LT. (Eye Science 2012; 27:124-126)

Keywords: anterior chamber; lens; age; primary angle-closure glaucoma

Purpose: To compare the repeatability and consistency of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in measuring iris parameters in patients with primary angle closure glaucoma.
Methods: Twenty-two patients (38 eyes) with primary angle closure glaucoma, including 5 eyes with acute angle closure glaucoma ,l0 fellow eyes of acute angle closure glaucoma, and 23 eyes with chronic angle closure glaucoma , were recruited consecutively in our hospital. All subjects underwent the anterior scanning by AS-OCT and UBM. peripheral iris thickness (pIT) and iris curvature (IC) in the anterior segment image obtained by AS-OCT and UBM were measured twice. The reproducibility of these two scans was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A paired t-test was used to compare the difference between the two scans and the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated.
Results: UBM showed that the ICCs of pIT and IC were 0.892 and 0.936, and AS-OCT revealed 0.629 and 0.859, respectively. UBM had a higher reproducibility in both pIT and IC measurements as compared with AS-OCT. Differences in pIT measurement between AS-OCT and UBM (p=0.33l) were not statistically significant, with the 95% LoA (-0.l78 ~ 0.l56) mm as 36.l~4l.2% of the mean. The IC 0.053 mm smaller when measured by UBM than by AS-OCT  (p =0.0l7), with the 95% LoA(-0.l00~0.206) mm as 36.2~74.6% of the mean.
conclusion: UBM had  a higher reproducibility in measuring iris parameters.The consistency between AS-OCT and UBM in measuring iris parameters was low in primary angle closure glaucoma patients.

Purpose: To compare the repeatability and consistency of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in measuring iris parameters in patients with primary angle closure glaucoma.
Methods: Twenty-two patients (38 eyes) with primary angle closure glaucoma, including 5 eyes with acute angle closure glaucoma ,l0 fellow eyes of acute angle closure glaucoma, and 23 eyes with chronic angle closure glaucoma , were recruited consecutively in our hospital. All subjects underwent the anterior scanning by AS-OCT and UBM. peripheral iris thickness (pIT) and iris curvature (IC) in the anterior segment image obtained by AS-OCT and UBM were measured twice. The reproducibility of these two scans was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A paired t-test was used to compare the difference between the two scans and the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated.
Results: UBM showed that the ICCs of pIT and IC were 0.892 and 0.936, and AS-OCT revealed 0.629 and 0.859, respectively. UBM had a higher reproducibility in both pIT and IC measurements as compared with AS-OCT. Differences in pIT measurement between AS-OCT and UBM (p=0.33l) were not statistically significant, with the 95% LoA (-0.l78 ~ 0.l56) mm as 36.l~4l.2% of the mean. The IC 0.053 mm smaller when measured by UBM than by AS-OCT  (p =0.0l7), with the 95% LoA(-0.l00~0.206) mm as 36.2~74.6% of the mean.
conclusion: UBM had  a higher reproducibility in measuring iris parameters.The consistency between AS-OCT and UBM in measuring iris parameters was low in primary angle closure glaucoma patients.

A 55-year-old male complained of right eye blurry vision for 3 days. His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.2 for the right eye and 1.0 for the left eye. Anterior segment and vitreous body examinations of both eyes were normal. Yellowish-white focal lesions in the macula of the right eye were observed and subtly changes of lesions were found along the superotemporal and inferotemporal arcades in the macula two days later. Fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) revealed slight ffuorescent leakage from the lesions in the macula of the right eye, and segmental venous leakage and optic disc hyperffuorescence were observed in both eyes. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) demonstrated that the lesions in the macula of the right eye had hypofluorescence at a late stage and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging of the macula showed focal impairment of the inner segment and outer segment (IS/OS). The blood investigation indicated a positive treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPPA) and a rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) of 1:32. After antisyphilitica treatment for 6 weeks, the yellowish-white lesions had vanished and the BCVA was 1.2 followed by restoration of the IS/OS for the right eye, with an RPR of 1:4. In conclusion, ophthalmologists should alert unilateral focal lesions in the macula may be the ffrst sign of syphilis. Prompt treatment is highly effective in resolving vision.

A 55-year-old male complained of right eye blurry vision for 3 days. His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.2 for the right eye and 1.0 for the left eye. Anterior segment and vitreous body examinations of both eyes were normal. Yellowish-white focal lesions in the macula of the right eye were observed and subtly changes of lesions were found along the superotemporal and inferotemporal arcades in the macula two days later. Fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) revealed slight ffuorescent leakage from the lesions in the macula of the right eye, and segmental venous leakage and optic disc hyperffuorescence were observed in both eyes. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) demonstrated that the lesions in the macula of the right eye had hypofluorescence at a late stage and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging of the macula showed focal impairment of the inner segment and outer segment (IS/OS). The blood investigation indicated a positive treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPPA) and a rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) of 1:32. After antisyphilitica treatment for 6 weeks, the yellowish-white lesions had vanished and the BCVA was 1.2 followed by restoration of the IS/OS for the right eye, with an RPR of 1:4. In conclusion, ophthalmologists should alert unilateral focal lesions in the macula may be the ffrst sign of syphilis. Prompt treatment is highly effective in resolving vision.

Background: Ophthalmology is an important medical science subject, but it is given with insufficient attention in undergraduate medical education. Flipped classroom (FC) and problem-based learning (PBL) are well-known education methods that can be integrated into ophthalmology education to improve students' competence level and promote active learning.

Methods: We used a mixed teaching methodology that integrated a FC and PBL into a 1-week ophthalmology clerkship for 72 fourth-year medical students. The course includes two major sessions: FC session and PBL session, relying on clinical and real-patient cases. Written examinations were set up to assess students’ academic performance and questionnaires were designed to evaluate their perceptions.

Results: The post-course examination results were higher than the pre-course results, and many students gained ophthalmic knowledge and learning skills to varying levels. Comparison of pre- and post-course questionnaires indicated that interests in ophthalmology increased and more students expressed desires to be eye doctors. Most students were satisffed with the new method, while some suggested the process should be slower and the communication with their teacher needed to strengthen.

Conclusions: FC and PBL are complementary methodologies. Utilizing the mixed teaching meth of FC and PBL was successful in enhancing academic performance, student satisfactions and promoting active learning.

Background: Ophthalmology is an important medical science subject, but it is given with insufficient attention in undergraduate medical education. Flipped classroom (FC) and problem-based learning (PBL) are well-known education methods that can be integrated into ophthalmology education to improve students' competence level and promote active learning.

Methods: We used a mixed teaching methodology that integrated a FC and PBL into a 1-week ophthalmology clerkship for 72 fourth-year medical students. The course includes two major sessions: FC session and PBL session, relying on clinical and real-patient cases. Written examinations were set up to assess students’ academic performance and questionnaires were designed to evaluate their perceptions.

Results: The post-course examination results were higher than the pre-course results, and many students gained ophthalmic knowledge and learning skills to varying levels. Comparison of pre- and post-course questionnaires indicated that interests in ophthalmology increased and more students expressed desires to be eye doctors. Most students were satisffed with the new method, while some suggested the process should be slower and the communication with their teacher needed to strengthen.

Conclusions: FC and PBL are complementary methodologies. Utilizing the mixed teaching meth of FC and PBL was successful in enhancing academic performance, student satisfactions and promoting active learning.