Mobile unidirectional airflow device reduces air contamination in an intravitreal outpatient clean room setting.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the mycobacterial load using a mobile laminar airflow (LAF) device in an IVI-dedicated outpatient clean room (OCR) without ventilation systems and in a hospital-based operating theatre (HOT).

Methods: This case-control study was conducted in 2 different settings: OCR and HOT during a series of intravitreal injections (IVIs). The Air Microbial analysis was performed using a Surface Air System instrument at three different moments during the IVI sessions in both settings: at the operative site (OS), four meters from the OS (DOS) and in the disinfection room (DR).

Optic disc pit maculopathy: Covering or filling technique with human amniotic membrane patch to treat the optic disc pit maculopathy?

Purpose: To describe two patients affected by optic disk pit-maculopathy ODP-M surgically treated with pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) and the apposition of a human Amniotic Membrane (hAM) patch.

Methods: Patients underwent a PPV with the apposition of a hAM patch to cover the ODP. In case 1, a 2 surgery was necessary to push the hAM patch inside the pit, whereas in case 2 the patch was pulled inside the pit following the pressure gradient when infusion was turned on.

Macular thickness and visual acuity are characterized by a quadratic nonlinear relation in previously treated neovascular AMD eyes.

Purpose: To assess the associations between visual acuity (VA) and retinal thickness in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) eyes treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with neovascular AMD (68 eyes) undergoing anti-VEGF therapy with two years of follow-up imaging data after the initiation of treatment were retrospectively included. Linear and nonlinear regression analyses with curve fitting estimation were performed to explore the relationship between visual acuity and OCT-based parameters at the 3-month and 24-month follow-up visits.

Role of Vitreous Detachment in Epiretinal Membrane Peeling: A Multimodal Imaging and Microperimetry Study.

: To investigate anatomical and functional changes of the macula caused by epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling procedures in patients with or without posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). : This is a multicentric prospective observational study on thirty-seven (37) patients affected by symptomatic ERM who underwent 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), induction of a PVD (as needed) and peeling of both the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and ERM. Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) (, Nidek, Japan) and microperimetry (, Nidek, Japan) were performed; central retinal thickness (CRT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimeter, vessel density and perfusion density, retinal sensitivity and fixation stability (as a total mean retinal sensitivity (MRS), and MRS in the ellipse area and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA)) were recorded at baseline and up to postoperative month 3.

Novel Artificial Intelligence-Based Assessment of Imaging Biomarkers in Full-Thickness Macular Holes: Preliminary Data from a Pivotal Trial.

Artificial intelligence (AI)- and deep learning (DL)-based systems have shown significant progress in the field of macular disorders, demonstrating high performance in detecting retinal fluid and assessing anatomical changes during disease progression. This study aimed to validate an AI algorithm for identifying and quantifying prognostic factors in visual recovery after macular hole (MH) surgery by analyzing major optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers. This study included 20 patients who underwent vitrectomy for a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH).

Correlation between retinal sensitivity and retinal vascular perfusion after idiopathic epiretinal membrane peeling.

Background: To evaluate the correlations between anatomical and functional changes after idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) surgery.

Methods: In this prospective, observational, single-center study, consecutive patients who underwent iERM peeling were enrolled. Reported data were pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal sensitivity (RS) and fixation stability values on microperimetry, structural macular features on SD-OCT and OCTA.

New insights on circumscribed choroidal hemangioma: "bench to bedside".

Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma is a rare vascular hamartoma of the choroid, presenting as a red-orange mass at the posterior pole on fundoscopic examination. Despite its benign origin, associated complications such as subretinal fluid, serous retinal detachment, retinoschisis and neovascular glaucoma may lead to serious visual impairment in more than half patients. Because of its similarity to amelanotic choroidal melanoma and choroidal metastasis, differential diagnosis is still challenging for specialists.

Artificial intelligence in diabetic retinopathy screening: clinical assessment using handheld fundus camera in a real-life setting.

Aim: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) represents the main cause of vision loss among working age people. A prompt screening of this condition may prevent its worst complications. This study aims to validate the in-built artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm Selena+ of a handheld fundus camera (Optomed Aurora, Optomed, Oulu, Finland) in a first line screening of a real-world clinical setting.

Quantitative and Qualitative Assessments of Retinal Structure with Variable A-Scan Rate Spectralis OCT: Insights into IPL Multilaminarity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative differences between 20 and 85 kHz A-scan rate optical coherence tomography (OCT) images acquired by spectral domain OCT. The study included 60 healthy subjects analyzed with horizontal linear scans with a variable A-scan rate (SHIFT technology, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). The retinal thickness measurement of each retinal layer was performed in three different positions (subfoveal, nasal, and temporal).

Validation of an Automated Artificial Intelligence Algorithm for the Quantification of Major OCT Parameters in Diabetic Macular Edema.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL)-based systems have gained wide interest in macular disorders, including diabetic macular edema (DME). This paper aims to validate an AI algorithm for identifying and quantifying different major optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers in DME eyes by comparing the algorithm to human expert manual examination. Intraretinal (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF) detection and volumes, external limiting-membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity, and hyperreflective retina foci (HRF) quantification were analyzed.

Choroidal vascularity profile in diabetic eyes using wide field optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To report the wide-field choroidal vascularity up to the mid-equator area in diabetic retinopathy (DR) subjects using wide-field optical coherence tomography (WF-OCT).

Design: Prospective, Cross-sectional study.

Participants: Forty-seven eyes of 25 DR subjects.

Quantification of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Metabolites in Urine and Hair of Patients and Their Relatives.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are prescription drugs also used in doping to dilute urine samples and tamper with urinalyses. Dorzolamide, brinzolamide, and acetazolamide are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Detecting CAIs and their metabolites in biological samples is crucial to documenting misuse in doping.

Optic neuritis following COVID-19 vaccination: Do autoimmune diseases play a role?

Purpose And Context: We report two cases of optic neuritis following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune diseases. Post-vaccine optic neuritis, although rare, is reported in the literature and an autoimmune mechanism seems to be involved, especially in genetically predisposed subjects.

Method: Report of two cases of optic neuritis following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Vigorous Physical Activity as a Risk Factor for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate whether frequent vigorous physical activity (PA) is significantly associated with active central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and may represent a risk factor for CSCR.

Design: Case-control study.

Methods: This was a multicenter study.

Early Structural and Vascular Changes after Within-24 Hours Vitrectomy for Recent Onset Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Treatment: A Pilot Study Comparing Bisected Macula and Not Bisected Macula.

Background: In this study we aimed at investigating macular perfusion/anatomical changes in eyes with early onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after prompt surgery within 24 hours, comparing a bisected macula and not bisected macula RRD. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 14 eyes of 14 patients who underwent within-24 hours vitreoretinal surgery for early onset RRD were enrolled. Patients were further divided into two subgroups: the not bisected macula group (NBM group) and the bisected macula group (BM group).

Intraocular Pressure Changes After Intravitreal Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant: Results from Four European Countries.

Introduction: The 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant delivers a continuous intravitreal corticosteroid dose for the treatment of refractory diabetic macular oedema (DMO). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an FAc intravitreal implant on intraocular pressure (IOP).

Pachychoroid spectrum disease and choriocapillary flow analysis in patients with Cushing disease: an optical coherence tomography angiography study.

Purpose: To investigate the presence of pachychoroid spectrum disease (PSD) in patients with Cushing disease (CD) and to evaluate subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choriocapillary flow using spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) with the enhanced depth imaging (EDI) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).

Methods: Thirty-two patients with CD and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in this observational study. All participants had a complete ophthalmic examination including SD-OCT with EDI and OCT-A, and were subjected to the Perceived Stress Scale test (PSS).

In-vivo visualization of the photoreceptors using Spectralis High Magnification Module imaging in central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To visualize photoreceptors using the Spectralis High Magnification Module (HMM) in a case of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and to correlate the findings with those of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).

Observations: A 35-year-old Caucasian male presenting with chronic CSCR in the left eye was examined using HMM, OCT and OCT-A. The photoreceptors mosaic was assessed both in diseased and apparently uninvolved areas.

Oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelium impairs stem cells: a vicious cycle in age-related macular degeneration.

Aging, chronic oxidative stress, and inflammation are major pathogenic factors in the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with the loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The human RPE contains a subpopulation of progenitors (i.e.

Punctate inner choroidopathy reactivation following COVID-19: A case report.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report our experience with a case of punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) reactivation following COVID-19.

Case Report: A 29-year-old caucasian woman with past ophthalmological history of bilateral PIC reported sudden visual acuity decrease in her right eye (RE) 3 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/32 in RE; fundus examination and multimodal imaging (including indocyanine-green angiography, fundus autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography) was consistent with unilateral PIC reactivation.

Retinal obliterative vasculitis associated to contralateral retinal neovascularization in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Purpose: To report our experience with a peculiar case of asynchronous bilateral retinal vascular occlusion in a patient suffering from membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Case Report: A 57-year-old dialysed male affected by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis who underwent kidney transplantation complained of a sudden vision loss in his right eye (RE). His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/40 in RE and 20/20 in the left eye (LE); ophthalmological and fluorangiographic examinations revealed unilateral retinal obliterative vasculitis with panuveitis and apparent sparing of contralateral eye.

Sclerochoroidal calcification as an incidental finding during oncological staging of a patient with parotid malignancy: A case report.

Introduction: Incidental finding of mass lesion in the choroid represents a very challenging situation for the ophthalmologist. We describe a case of an incidental, computed tomography (CT)-hyperintense, choroidal lesion in a patient with parotid malignancy and renal failure, and how multimodal imaging helped us reaching the correct diagnosis.

Case Description: A 63-year-old man with parotid gland malignancy was brought to our attention because preoperative staging CT showed a hyperintense choroidal lesion of the right eye.