Visual outcomes following cataract surgery in age-related macular degeneration patients.

Objective: To evaluate visual acuity (VA) outcomes, prognostic factors, and changes in disease severity in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) undergoing cataract surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study PARTICIPANTS: Patients with AMD or healthy control patients who underwent cataract surgery between 2012 and 2017.

Methods: Eyes were categorized into 3 AMD groups-intermediate AMD (iAMD), fovea-involving geographic atrophy (GA), neovascular AMD (nAMD)-and 3 preoperative VA-matched control groups (iAMDc), fovea-involving geographic atrophy control (GAc), neovaascular AMD control (nAMDc).

Optimizing Visualization of Membranes in Macular Surgery With Heads-Up Display.

Background And Objective: To determine which optical parameter profiles (OPPs) can be utilized to improve the visualization of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and the internal limiting membrane (ILM) using a three-dimensional heads-up microscope during 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

Patients And Methods: Fourteen independent graders were asked to complete a questionnaire comparing each of the OPPs against the unaltered control image for each given surgical case.

Results: Analysis of the graders' responses indicated that higher values of hue are correlated with better visualization of ERM/ILM before and after dye application.

Twenty-Four-Month OCTA Assessment in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Fixed-Interval Intravitreal Aflibercept Therapy.

Background And Objective: Evaluate capillary perfusion density (CPD) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) undergoing fixed intravit-real aflibercept injections (IAI) through 24 months.

Patients And Methods: Prospective, interventional, single-arm study enrolling 20 patients with persistent DME. Patients received IAI every 4 weeks until DME resolution followed by extension to every 8 weeks.

Diabetic Macular Edema Treated With Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection After Treatment With Other Anti-VEGF Agents (SWAP-TWO Study)-12-Month Analysis.

Purpose: This article reports 12-month outcomes of patients with diabetic macular edema previously treated with other antivascular endothelial growth factor agents and transitioned to fixed dosing of intravitreal aflibercept (IAI).

Methods: This prospective, single-arm study enrolled patients to receive IAI 2 mg (0.05 mL) every 4 weeks until optical coherence tomography demonstrated no fluid.

Prevention of Macular Edema in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy Undergoing Cataract Surgery: The PROMISE Trial.

Background And Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the prevention of macular edema (ME) following cataract surgery.

Patients And Methods: This phase 2, prospective, interventional, single-masked, randomized trial at a single academic center included 30 patients who were 18 years of age or older with nonproliferative DR and undergoing cataract surgery with phacoemulsification. Patients received 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept (0.

Macular Atrophy Affecting Visual Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Anti-VEGF Treatment in Routine Clinical Practice.

Background And Objective: To explore how baseline macular atrophy (MA) affects visual acuity (VA) in patients receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective, case control series. Patients were grouped into three cohorts based on baseline spectral-domain optical coherence tomography image findings: foveal MA, nonfoveal MA, and no MA.

Changes in retinal and choriocapillaris density in diabetic patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Background: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables detailed, non-invasive assessment of ocular vasculature. This study uses OCTA imaging to evaluate choriocapillaris and retinal capillary perfusion density (CPD) changes in diabetic retinopathy following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.

Methods: Records of 38 eyes at a single institution were reviewed, grouped as non-diabetic controls (19 eyes), diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR, 19 eyes) and macular edema (DME).

An International Comparison of Baseline Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Initiation of Anti-VEGF Therapy for DME.

Background And Objective: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. The object of this study is to compare global differences of baseline characteristics of patients undergoing initiation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for DME.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included diabetic patients with foveal-involving retinal edema secondary to DME as documented by fundus exam and optical coherence tomography who were undergoing initiation of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs.

Protecting Vision in Patients With Diabetes With Ultra-Widefield Imaging: A Review of Current Literature.

Ultra-widefield fundus imaging (UWFI) is a relatively new technology capable of capturing 200° images of the retina. Since vision changes can be irreversible in diabetic retinopathy (DR), recognition of prognostic biomarkers in the peripheral retina may prove invaluable toward optimizing the management and reducing the societal burden of this blinding disease. Following a bibliographic review using Pubmed, OVID Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, the current review systematically examined 13 studies that compared UWFI to conventional screening techniques such as seven standard field (7SF) Early Treatment In Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) and non-mydriatic multifield fundus photography (NMFP), as well as their scientific level of evidence.

Examination Practices and Referral of Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy by Optometrists in Routine Clinical Care.

Background And Objective: To analyze the examination practices and referral of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) by optometrists in routine clinical care.

Patients And Methods: Diabetic patient records from 2012 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed for documentation of dilated fundus exam (DFE), imaging, follow-up appointments, and referrals. Concordance between clinical exam and coding was also analyzed.

Diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal aflibercept injection after treatment with other anti-VEGF agents (SWAP-TWO study): 6-month interim analysis.

Background: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is an important cause of vision loss and despite the anatomical and functional improvement achieved with treatment, there are reports of persistent DME regardless of continuous anti-VEGF therapy. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of patients with DME previously treated with other anti-VEGF agents who are transitioned to intravitreal aflibercept (IAI) on a fixed dosing regimen.

Methods: This prospective study included 20 patients presenting with DME with a history of previous anti-VEGF treatment with ranibizumab or bevacizumab.

Eplerenone for the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: 3-year clinical experience.

Background/aims: The efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone to treat chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) has been established. However, previous studies have been limited by small cohort size and short follow-up duration. This study aims to report 3-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with eplerenone for chronic CSCR.

Long-Term Assessment of Macular Atrophy in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration Receiving Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Purpose: Although intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection has become the mainstay treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), emerging studies suggest that anti-VEGF may be correlated with the development of macular atrophy (MA) in chronic therapy. The purpose of the current study is to determine the prevalence and progression of MA in nAMD treated with chronic anti-VEGF in a routine clinical practice.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Baseline Ocular Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Initiation of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema.

Background And Objectives: Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) have variable anatomic and visual responses to anti-vascular endothelial growth (VEGF) treatments based on their presenting visual acuity (VA). The aim of study is to report the baseline ocular and imaging characteristics of patients presenting with DME who were treatment-naïve and who initiated anti-VEGF in routine clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: Single-center, cross-sectional study of 638 patients.

Characterization of the Systemic Findings of Patients Undergoing Initiation of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema in Routine Clinical Practice.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies have validated that baseline visual acuity (VA) can predict a variance response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. However, little is known about the initial systemic presentation of diabetic macular edema (DME) in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to report the baseline systemic findings of patients presenting with DME who received anti-VEGF in clinical practice.

Impact of Time to Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Intervention on Visual Outcomes for Patients Diagnosed With Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Background And Objectives: To analyze the impact of time to treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusions (RVO) in routine clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: One hundred fifty-five eyes with ME secondary to RVO were identified. Patients were divided into initiation of anti-VEGF treatment at 28 days or fewer after symptom onset (Group A), between 28 and 84 days (Group B), and 84 days or more (Group C).

Beta-Thalassemia Minor Manifesting as Proliferative Retinopathy.

Beta-thalassemia (β-thalassemia) minor is characterized by a mutation in one of the two β-globin genes (HBB) that produce the β-globin chains in the hemoglobin molecule. Although other hemoglobinopathies have been frequently associated with retinal disease, there are limited reports of retinal pathology with β-thalassemia minor. We report two patients with β-thalassemia minor presenting with decreased vision, vitreous hemorrhage, and proliferative retinopathy.

Surgical Repair of Traumatic Macular Holes With Extreme Macular Pathology Using an Internal Limiting Membrane Flap Technique.

This report describes the use of inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique as a treatment option for traumatic macular holes (MHs) with severe macular pathology. An interventional case series of two patients who experienced blunt trauma is reported. One patient developed two adjacent MHs and the second patient a MH with focal tissue avulsion in the fovea.

Association of Disorganization of Retinal Inner Layers With Visual Acuity Response to Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Importance: Disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) has demonstrated significant correlations with visual acuity (VA) in center-involved diabetic macular edema. In patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and secondary macular edema, DRIL may be a useful biomarker in determining VA outcomes.

Objective: To examine whether DRIL at baseline and after treatment is associated with VA in RVO.

Repeatability of Split-Spectrum Amplitude-Decorrelation Angiography to Assess Capillary Perfusion Density Within Optical Coherence Tomography.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the repeatability of retinal thickness and vascular density measurements using split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) with optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Patients And Methods: Forty patients were divided into seven categories according to their diagnosis: no retinopathy (control), retinal vein occlusion, diabetes with no retinopathy, diabetes with retinopathy, non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), exudative AMD, and epiretinal membrane. Capillary density and retinal thickness measurements were taken and evaluated for reliability by determination of statistically significant differences and coefficient of variability (CoV) between measurements.

Ellipsoid Zone Mapping Parameters In Retinal Venous Occlusive Disease With Associated Macular Edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of baseline ellipsoid zone (EZ) parameters on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as calculated by a semi-automated computer algorithm with baseline visual acuity in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Design: Retrospective consecutive case series.

Subjects: Patients affected by RVO presenting from January 2011 to December 2014.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Eyes with Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Optical coherence angiography (OCTA) is a noninvasive technique that has been introduced in recent years to detect ophthalmological pathology. The growing usage of OCTA to detect retinal abnormalities can be attributed to its advantages over the reference-standard fluorescein angiography (FA), although both of these techniques can be used in association. OCTA's advantages include its dye independency, its ability to produce depth-resolved images of retinal and choroidal vessels that yield images of different vascular layers of the retina, and the better delineation of the foveal avascular zone.

Choriocapillaris and retinal vascular plexus density of diabetic eyes using split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography.

Background/aims: Split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography has enabled detailed, non-invasive assessment of vascular flow. This study evaluates choriocapillaris and retinal capillary perfusion density (CPD) in diabetic eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: Records of 136 eyes that underwent OCTA imaging at a single institution were reviewed.