Predictive factors for treatment outcomes with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections in diabetic macular edema in clinical practice.

Background: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections are the standard of care for diabetic macular edema (DME), a common complication of diabetes. This study aimed to identify factors influencing DME intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment outcomes in real-world practice.

Methods: This was a multi-center retrospective observational study using medical chart review of participants receiving anti-VEGF injections for DME (N = 248).

Preventative Care in First Responder Mental Health: Focusing on Access and Utilization Stepped Telehealth Care.

First responders are at high risk for disorders that arise from repeat exposure to stress and trauma (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and problematic alcohol use). Although mental health treatments are available, first responders often do not access them, anchored by barriers that include: lack of knowledge, stigma, negative experience with mental health providers, and time-based burdens. In this study, we designed an intervention to address these barriers, extending a Planned-Action framework.

Physical Activity Is Associated With Macular Thickness: A Multi-Cohort Observational Study.

Purpose: To assess the association between physical activity and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-measured rates of macular thinning in an adult population with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Methods: The correlation between accelerometer-measured physical activity and rates of macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thinning was measured in 735 eyes from 388 participants of the Progression Risk of Glaucoma: RElevant SNPs with Significant Association (PROGRESSA) study. The association between accelerometer-measured physical activity and cross-sectional SD-OCT macular thickness was then assessed in 8862 eyes from 6152 participants available for analysis in the UK Biobank who had SD-OCT, ophthalmic, comorbidity, and demographic data.

Attitudes Toward Glaucoma Genetic Risk Assessment in Unaffected Individuals.

Purpose: Integrating polygenic risk scores (PRS) into healthcare has the potential to stratify an individual's risk of glaucoma across a broad population. Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, therefore effective screening for glaucoma endorsed by the population is highly important. This study assessed the attitude of unaffected individuals toward PRS testing for glaucoma, and sought to identify factors associated with interest in testing.