Dataset Information

Effect of red ginseng on visual function and vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma

ABSTRACT:

Background

Red ginseng has been found to improve ocular perfusion and dry eye syndrome in glaucomatous eyes; however, its effects on visual function and vision-related quality of life have not been investigated. This study sought to evaluate the effects of red ginseng on visual function and vision-related quality of life in glaucoma patients using contrast sensitivity and a questionnaire.

Methods

Participants were randomly assigned to two groups in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study: in one group, red ginseng was taken first, followed by a placebo, and in the other, placebo was taken first, followed by red ginseng. We measured and compared changes in contrast sensitivity and vision-related quality of life between the two groups. Contrast sensitivity was measured using OPTEC® 6500P, and vision-related quality of life was evaluated using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire. One-way and two-way repeated measure analyses of variance were used for the comparison. Relationships between respective changes in dry eye syndrome and contrast sensitivity were also analyzed.

Results

Daytime contrast sensitivity and ocular pain improved after the administration of red ginseng. Nighttime contrast sensitivity was improved in early or moderate glaucoma. Improved contrast sensitivity was not associated with improvement in dry eye syndrome.

Conclusion

Red ginseng could improve contrast sensitivity and ocular pain in patients with glaucoma. The mechanism underlying improvement in contrast sensitivity appears to be associated with enhanced retinal perfusion or retinal ganglion cell function, but not dry eye syndrome. Graphical abstract Image 1

SUBMITTER: Lee K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8569317 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ImportanceLittle is known about the association between structural macular damage and self-reported visual function of people with glaucoma.ObjectiveTo determine the association between vision-related quality of life among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with structural macular retinal ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (RGC+IPL) loss identified by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) machine-generated deviation maps and thickness measurements.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional prospective study was conducted from March 1, 2014, to March 30, 2015, at the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center. The participants were 107 patients who were enrolled in the study and represented the entire range of glaucomatous damage. All 214 eyes of the 107 participants underwent 10-2 visual field tests and SD-OCT scans, and all participants completed the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). They also received ophthalmologic examination, including medical history review, best-corrected visual acuity, slitlamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, gonioscopy, dilated ophthalmoscopy, and standard automated perimetry. Macular RGC+IPL loss was determined by diffuse or focal patterns on SD-OCT-generated deviation maps (probability map that compared patients with aged-matched normative database) and thickness measurements.Main outcomes and measuresRegression analyses to assess the association of NEI VFQ-25 scores (score range: 41.9-99.5; higher scores indicate better functioning) with patterns of RGC+IPL loss and with RGC+IPL thickness measurements.ResultsOf the 107 patients, 48 (45%) were men and the mean (SD) age was 65 (11) years. The self-reported race/ethnicity of participants consisted of 45 (46%) black, 47 (48%) white, and 6 (6%) "other" individuals. In the univariable analyses, patients with diffuse macular RGC+IPL loss had mean composite Rasch-calibrated NEI VFQ-25 scores that were 6.15 points lower than the scores of patients with focal damage (β = -6.15; 95% CI, -11.7 to -0.59; P = .03). The effect remained significant even after controlling for mean RGC+IPL thickness (β = -7.64; 95% CI, -14.2 to -1.03; P = .02).Conclusions and relevanceCharacteristic patterns of glaucoma-related macular RGC+IPL loss appeared to be more important predictors of vision-related quality of life than thickness measures, with diffuse RGC+IPL loss as an indicator for diminished vision-related quality of life.