Stakeholder insights on cost, quality, and incorporating patient voice in managed care decisions on neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration: Findings from the AMCP Market Insights program.

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an acquired degeneration of the retina that can lead to central vision impairment. It is primarily treated with intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Although vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors can effectively prevent progression of vision loss in many patients, they require ongoing regular administration and are therefore associated with considerable treatment burden.

Visual outcomes and treatment adherence of patients with macular pathology using a mobile hyperacuity home-monitoring app: a matched-pair analysis.

Objective: We compared patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD), diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and other macular pathologies testing their vision with the hyperacuity home-monitoring app Alleye to patients not performing home-monitoring regarding clinical outcomes and clinical management.

Design: Matched-pair analysis.

Setting: Retina Referral Centre, Switzerland.

Smartphone-based remote monitoring of vision in macular disease enables early detection of worsening pathology and need for intravitreal therapy.

Background/aims: To assess the outcomes of home monitoring of distortion caused by macular diseases using a smartphone-based application (app), and to examine them with hospital-based assessments of visual acuity (VA), optical coherence tomography-derived central macular thickness (CMT) and the requirement of intravitreal injection therapy.

Design: Observational study with retrospective analysis of data.

Methods: Participants were trained in the correct use of the app (Alleye, Oculocare, Zurich, Switzerland) in person or by using video and telephone consultations.

Endophthalmitis isolates and antibiotic susceptibilities: a 10-year review of culture-proven cases.

Purpose: To investigate the spectrum of organisms causing culture-proven endophthalmitis and their susceptibilities to commonly used antimicrobial agents over 10 years.

Design: Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed of all cases with culture-proven endophthalmitis at a single institution from 2002 through 2011.

Optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis and management of diabetic macular edema: time-domain versus spectral-domain.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an important imaging modality in the setting of diabetic macular edema (DME). Its use allows more precise evaluation of retinal pathology in DME, including retinal thickness and edema, vitreomacular interface abnormalities, subretinal fluid, and foveal microstructural changes. Additional advantages include its ability to quantitatively monitor response to treatment of DME by laser, intravitreal pharmacotherapies, and vitreoretinal surgery.

N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) prevents retinal degeneration by up-regulating reduced glutathione production and reversing lipid peroxidation.

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in accelerating retinal pigment epithelial dysfunction and death in degenerative retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration. Given the key role of oxidative stress-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell death and secondary photoreceptor loss in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration, we hypothesized that a novel thiol antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA), might ameliorate cellular damage and subsequent loss of vision. Treatment of human retinal pigment epithelial cells with NACA protected against oxidative stress-induced cellular injury and death.

The natural history of retinal degeneration in association with cobalamin C (cbl C) disease.

Purpose: To describe the association between retinal degeneration and cobalamin C (cblC) disease and to review previously published ophthalmic data regarding cblC disease.

Methods: Descriptive case series of three patients and compilation of all previously reported cases of cblC disease in the ophthalmic literature.

Results: All three new cases presented with macular pigmentary changes and showed attenuation of electroretinographic responses.