Ranibizumab versus bevacizumab to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration: one-year findings from the IVAN randomized trial.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab and bevacizumab intravitreal injections to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Design: Multicenter, noninferiority factorial trial with equal allocation to groups. The noninferiority limit was 3.

Genotype-phenotype associations in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To examine associations between recognized genetic susceptibility loci and angiographic subphenotypes of the neovascular variant of age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD).

Methods: Participants (247 nvAMD, 52 early age-related macular degeneration [AMD], and 103 controls) were genotyped (complement factor H and ARMS2/HTRA1). nvAMD participants were assigned to one of two subcategories: mainly classic or mainly occult (based on the proportions of classic and occult choroidal neovascularization).

EPHA2 polymorphisms and age-related cataract in India.

Objective: We investigated whether previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of EPHA2 in European studies are associated with cataract in India.

Methods: We carried out a population-based genetic association study. We enumerated randomly sampled villages in two areas of north and south India to identify people aged 40 and over.

Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: cohort study for the UK.

Objectives: The verteporfin photodynamic therapy (VPDT) cohort study aimed to answer five questions: (a) is VPDT in the NHS provided as in randomised trials?; (b) is 'outcome' the same in the nhs as in randomised trials?; (c) is 'outcome' the same for patients ineligible for randomised trials?; (d) is VPDT safe when provided in the NHS?; and (e) how effective and cost-effective is VPDT?

Design: Treatment register.

Setting: All hospitals providing VPDT in the NHS.

Participants: All patients attending VPDT clinics.

The effect of lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich foods v. supplements on macular pigment level and serological markers of endothelial activation, inflammation and oxidation: pilot studies in healthy volunteers.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich foods and supplements on macular pigment level (MPL) and serological markers of endothelial activation, inflammation and oxidation in healthy volunteers. We conducted two 8-week intervention studies. Study 1 (n 52) subjects were randomised to receive either carrot juice (a carotene-rich food) or spinach powder (a lutein- and zeaxanthin-rich food) for 8 weeks.

Complement factor H genetic variant and age-related macular degeneration: effect size, modifiers and relationship to disease subtype.

Background: Variation in the complement factor H gene (CFH) is associated with risk of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous studies have been case-control studies in populations of European ancestry with little differentiation in AMD subtype, and insufficient power to confirm or refute effect modification by smoking.

Methods: To precisely quantify the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs1061170, 'Y402H') with risk of AMD among studies with differing study designs, participant ancestry and AMD grade and to investigate effect modification by smoking, we report two unpublished genetic association studies (n = 2759) combined with data from 24 published studies (26 studies, 26,494 individuals, including 14,174 cases of AMD) of European ancestry, 10 of which provided individual-level data used to test gene-smoking interaction; and 16 published studies from non-European ancestry.

Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin C deficiency in north and south India: a two centre population based study in people aged 60 years and over.

Background: Studies from the UK and North America have reported vitamin C deficiency in around 1 in 5 men and 1 in 9 women in low income groups. There are few data on vitamin C deficiency in resource poor countries.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in India.

Associations between aspirin use and aging macula disorder: the European Eye Study.

Objective: To study associations between aspirin use and early and late aging macula disorder (AMD).

Design: Population-based cross-sectional European Eye Study in 7 centers from northern to southern Europe.

Participants: In total, 4691 participants 65 years of age and older, collected by random sampling.

Evidence of association of APOE with age-related macular degeneration: a pooled analysis of 15 studies.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of incurable visual impairment in high-income countries. Previous studies report inconsistent associations between AMD and apolipoprotein E (APOE), a lipid transport protein involved in low-density cholesterol modulation. Potential interaction between APOE and sex, and smoking status has been reported.

Age-related macular degeneration: current treatment and future options.

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual impairment among older adults in the developed world. Epidemiological studies have revealed a number of genetic, ocular and environmental risk factors for this condition, which can be addressed by disease reduction strategies. We discuss the various treatment options for dry and exudative age-related macular degeneration available and explain how the recommended treatment depends on the exact type, location and extent of the degeneration.

DNA-based eye colour prediction across Europe with the IrisPlex system.

The ability to predict Externally Visible Characteristics (EVCs) from DNA, also referred to as Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP), is an exciting new chapter in forensic genetics holding great promise for tracing unknown individuals who are unidentifiable via standard forensic short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. For the purpose of DNA-based eye colour prediction, we previously developed the IrisPlex system consisting of a multiplex genotyping assay and a prediction model based on genotype and phenotype data from 3804 Dutch Europeans. Recently, we performed a forensic developmental validation study of the highly sensitive IrisPlex assay, which currently represents the only validated tool available for DNA-based prediction of eye colour in forensic applications.

Inverse association of vitamin C with cataract in older people in India.

Objective: To examine the association between vitamin C and cataract in the Indian setting.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional analytic study.

Participants: A total of 5638 people aged ≥60 years.

Common variants near FRK/COL10A1 and VEGFA are associated with advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Despite significant progress in the identification of genetic loci for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), not all of the heritability has been explained. To identify variants which contribute to the remaining genetic susceptibility, we performed the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies to date for advanced AMD. We imputed 6 036 699 single-nucleotide polymorphisms with the 1000 Genomes Project reference genotypes on 2594 cases and 4134 controls with follow-up replication of top signals in 5640 cases and 52 174 controls.

Functional and morphologic benefits in early detection of neovascular age-related macular degeneration using the preferential hyperacuity perimeter.

Purpose: To estimate the usefulness of preferential hyperacuity perimetry (PHP) in detecting conversion of early to late age-related macular degeneration in the Carotenoids and co-antioxidants in patients with Age-Related Maculopathy, a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

Methods: This was a nested case control study within the Carotenoids and co-antioxidants in patients with Age-Related Maculopathy (CARMA) clinical trial and included all participants enrolled in a single center (n = 200). Data are from participants who progressed to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) during time on study, Group 1 (n = 10) before the use of PHP and Group 2 (n = 10) during use of PHP.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between complement component 3 and age-related macular degeneration: a HuGE review and meta-analysis.

The authors performed a meta-analysis to estimate the magnitude of polymorphism effects for the complement component C3 gene (C3) and their possible mode of action on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The meta-analysis included 16 and 7 studies for rs2230199 and rs1047286, respectively. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed in duplicate, and heterogeneity and publication bias were explored.

Variations in apolipoprotein E frequency with age in a pooled analysis of a large group of older people.

Variation in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) has been reported to be associated with longevity in humans. The authors assessed the allelic distribution of APOE isoforms ε2, ε3, and ε4 among 10,623 participants from 15 case-control and cohort studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in populations of European ancestry (study dates ranged from 1990 to 2009). The authors included only the 10,623 control subjects from these studies who were classified as having no evidence of AMD, since variation within the APOE gene has previously been associated with AMD.

Clinical risk factors for age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Western countries. Numerous risk factors have been reported but the evidence and strength of association is variable. We aimed to identify those risk factors with strong levels of evidence which could be easily assessed by physicians or ophthalmologists to implement preventive interventions or address current behaviours.

Prevalence of cataract in an older population in India: the India study of age-related eye disease.

Purpose: To describe the prevalence of cataract in older people in 2 areas of north and south India.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study.

Participants: Randomly sampled villages were enumerated to identify people aged ≥ 60 years.

VEGF-targeted therapy and beyond: pharmacotherapy and emerging treatments in agerelated macular degeneration.

Treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has changed dramatically over the last decade. It has evolved from primarily destructive therapies (laser-based treatment strategies) to nondestructive therapies (intravitreal pharmacotherapies that target angiogenesis). Intermittent intravitreal ranibizumab, an inhibitor of VEGF, is currently the gold standard of care for neovascular AMD as it is the only treatment where a significant proportion of treated eyes have been shown to experience improvements in visual acuity.

Complement component 3: an assessment of association with AMD and analysis of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in a Northern Irish cohort.

Purpose: A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in complement component 3 has been shown to increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We assess its effect on AMD risk in a Northern Irish sample, test for gene-gene and gene-environment interaction, and review a risk prediction model.

Methods: SNP rs2230199 was genotyped in 1,358 samples, which comprised 437 cases, 436 no-disease controls, and 485 participants randomly sampled from the Northern Ireland population.

An ecological correlation study of late age-related macular degeneration and the complement factor H Y402H polymorphism.

Purpose: To investigate whether variation in the distribution of the risk allele frequency of the Y402H single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) across various ethnicities and geographic regions reflects differences in the prevalence of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in those ethnicities.

Methods: Published data were obtained via a systematic search. Study samples were grouped into clusters by ethnicity and geographic location and the Spearman correlation coefficient of the prevalence of late AMD and risk allele frequencies was calculated across clusters.

Exudative AMD subtypes and eligibility for treatment with ranibizumab.

Purpose: To ascertain the proportion of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) eligible for intravitreal treatment with monoclonal antibodies to vascular endothelial growth factor, on the basis of inclusion criteria used in pivotal clinical trials.

Methods: We scrutinised an imaging database and extracted all fluorescein angiograms (FAs) captured between 1 January and 31 December 2001. Of the 1083 FA, we found 184 where features of AMD in one or both eyes that were observed.

Verteporfin photodynamic therapy cohort study: report 2: clinical measures of vision and health-related quality of life.

Purpose: To quantify decreases in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for given deterioration in clinical measures of vision; to describe the shape of these relationships; and to test whether the gradients of these relationships change with duration of visual loss.

Design: A prospective, longitudinal study of patients treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in the United Kingdom National Health Service.

Participants: Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated in 18 ophthalmology departments in the United Kingdom with expertise in management of neovascular AMD.