title: Aqueous flare increase after light exposure in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: An increase in anterior chamber flare is associated with many ocular conditions, including retinal diseases. We assessed anterior chamber flare in 18 patients (19 eyes) with exudative age-related macular degeneration using the Kowa flare-cell meter immediately before and 1 hour after exposure to 40 light flashes at a flash intensity of 300 W/s delivered with a Topcon fundus camera. Fourteen eyes showed a significant increase in flare 1 hour after light exposure (T = -3.452, p < 0.003, t-test). A second measurement in a subgroup of 10 patients exposed to 40 light flashes at a flash intensity of 36 W/s showed no significant change in flare 1 hour after light exposure. Multiple analysis of variance (two-way interaction) showed a highly significant difference between the two groups (F[1,27] = 8.66, p < 0.0066). We discuss possible mechanisms that may have produced these changes as well as implications of light exposure in various diagnostic and therapeutic settings.
authors.affiliation: Gimbel Eye Centre, Calgary, Alta.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Cuzzani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Gimbel
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: DeBroff
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects