Longitudinal Assessment of Retinal Microvasculature in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.

Purpose: To investigate if changes in vessel density (VD) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) occur in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease (pAD) over time.

Methods: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to image VD and FAZ at baseline and for a follow-up period of 2 years. Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to determine the amyloid beta (Aβ) status of participants.

Neuropathological hallmarks in the post-mortem retina of neurodegenerative diseases.

The retina is increasingly recognised as a potential source of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Hallmark protein aggregates in the retinal neuronal tissue could be imaged through light non-invasively. Post-mortem studies have already shown the presence of specific hallmark proteins in Alzheimer's disease, primary tauopathies, synucleinopathies and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

A New Approach to Staging Diabetic Eye Disease: Staging of Diabetic Retinal Neurodegeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema.

Topic: The goal of this review was to summarize the current level of evidence on biomarkers to quantify diabetic retinal neurodegeneration (DRN) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

Clinical Relevance: With advances in retinal diagnostics, we have more data on patients with diabetes than ever before. However, the staging system for diabetic retinal disease is still based only on color fundus photographs and we do not have clear guidelines on how to incorporate data from the relatively newer modalities into clinical practice.

α-Synuclein pathology in post-mortem retina and optic nerve is specific for α-synucleinopathies.

There is increasing interest in studying retinal biomarkers for various neurodegenerative diseases. Specific protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases are present in the retina and could be visualised in a non-invasive way. This study aims to assess the specificity and sensitivity of retinal α-synuclein aggregates in neuropathologically characterised α-synucleinopathies, other neurodegenerative diseases and non-neurological controls.

Tear biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease screening and diagnosis (the TearAD study): design and rationale of an observational longitudinal multicenter study.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, and due to increasing life expectancy the number of patients is expected to grow. The diagnosis of AD involves the use of biomarkers determined by an amyloid PET scan or cerebrospinal fluid analyses that are either invasive or expensive, and not available in each hospital, thus limiting their usage as a front-line screener. The TearAD study aims to use tear fluid as a potential source for AD biomarkers.

Radiation-Induced Retinopathy and Optic Neuropathy after Radiation Therapy for Brain, Head, and Neck Tumors: A Systematic Review.

Background: Patients with brain, head, and neck tumors experience a decline in their quality of life due to radiation retinopathy and optic neuropathy. Little is known about the dose-response relationship and patient characteristics. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence of radiation retinopathy and optic neuropathy.

Development of retinal structure in perinatally HIV-infected children and adolescents: A longitudinal and cross-sectional assessment.

In perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children, cross-sectional studies reported on subtle structural retinal differences and found associations between the retina and structural brain changes. Our objective is to investigate whether neuroretinal development in PHIV children is similar to the development in healthy matched controls and to explore associations with the brain structure. We measured RT using optical coherence tomography (OCT) on two occasions in 21 PHIV children or adolescents and 23 matched controls-all with good visual acuity-with a mean interval of 4.

Phosphorylated tau in the retina correlates with tau pathology in the brain in Alzheimer's disease and primary tauopathies.

The retina is a potential source of biomarkers for the detection of neurodegenerative diseases. Accumulation of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the brain is a pathological feature characteristic for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and primary tauopathies. In this study the presence of p-tau in the retina in relation to tau pathology in the brain was assessed.

Optimizing Computer Adaptive Test Performance: A Hybrid Simulation Study to Customize the Administration Rules of the CAT-EyeQ in Macular Edema Patients.

Purpose: In previous research the EyeQ item bank, which measures vision-related quality of life (Vr-QoL), was calibrated for future use as a computer adaptive test (CAT). The aim of the current study was to define optimal administration rules.

Methods: CAT simulations were performed using real responses.

Certolizumab Pegol Treatment in Patients with Axial-Spondyloarthritis-Associated Acute Anterior Uveitis: a Narrative Review.

Background: Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) affects up to 40% of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). An effective treatment for patients with axSpA that reduces the risk of AAU flares while also targeting axial symptoms is therefore highly desirable. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) have been shown effective for treatment of axSpA and AAU occurrence, with guidelines conditionally recommending treating patients with axSpA and associated AAU with TNFi monoclonal antibodies.

No difference in retinal fluorescence after oral curcumin intake in amyloid-proven AD cases compared to controls.

Introduction: Previous work has showed the in vivo presence of retinal amyloid in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients using curcumin. We aimed to replicate these findings in an amyloid biomarker-confirmed cohort.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with AD (age 66 [+9], Mini-Mental Status Examination [MMSE] ≥17) and 14 controls (age 71 [+12]) used one of three curcumin formulations: Longvida, Theracurmin, and Novasol.

Predictors of vision-related quality of life in patients with macular oedema receiving intra-vitreal anti-VEGF treatment.

Purpose: To determine which demographic and clinical characteristics are predictive of vision-related quality of life (VrQoL) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with macular oedema receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.

Methods: Vision-related quality of life (VrQoL) and quality of life (QoL) were measured in 712 patients with retinal exudative disease receiving anti-VEGF treatment at baseline, 6 and 12 months. VrQoL was measured using an item-response theory based 47-question item bank (EyeQ), whereas QoL was measured using the EuroQol Five Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire.

High Prevalence of Previously Undiagnosed Axial Spondyloarthritis in Patients Referred With Anterior Uveitis and Chronic Back Pain: The SpEYE Study.

Objective: To reduce the diagnostic delay in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), guidelines recommend referring patients with acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and chronic back pain (CBP) to a rheumatologist. This observational study in daily practice evaluated the prevalence of previously unrecognized axSpA in patients with AAU who were referred by ophthalmologists because of concurrent CBP.

Methods: All patients with AAU referred with CBP (≥ 3 months, age of onset < 45 yrs) from 5 ophthalmology clinics underwent rheumatologic assessment, including pelvic radiographs.

INTERNATIONAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN ON INTRAVITREAL THERAPY OUTCOMES: Fight Retinal Blindness Registry.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on the outcomes of eyes treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion in eight countries.

Methods: A multicenter international database study of 5,782 eyes (4,708 patients) receiving intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections before, during, and after national lockdowns. The baseline visit was defined as the last visit within 3 months before lockdown, and prelockdown and postlockdown periods were defined as 6 months before and after the lockdown date.

Trustworthy AI: Closing the gap between development and integration of AI systems in ophthalmic practice.

An increasing number of artificial intelligence (AI) systems are being proposed in ophthalmology, motivated by the variety and amount of clinical and imaging data, as well as their potential benefits at the different stages of patient care. Despite achieving close or even superior performance to that of experts, there is a critical gap between development and integration of AI systems in ophthalmic practice. This work focuses on the importance of trustworthy AI to close that gap.

Anxiety and depression in patients who receive anti-VEGF treatment and the usability and feasibility of e-mental health support: the E-PsEYE pilot study.

Purpose: E-PsEYE is an internet-based, guided self-help course, following the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, to reduce anxiety and depression in patients with retinal exudative diseases who receive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and related factors of anxiety and depression in this population and evaluate the usability and feasibility of E-PsEYE.

Methods: Symptoms of anxiety and depression and related factors were determined in 90 patients (mean age 77 years, 58% female), based on multiple logistic regression analysis.

Ocular characteristics and complications in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta: a systematic review.

Purpose: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare inherited heterogeneous connective tissue disorder characterized by bone fragility, low bone mineral density, skeletal deformity and blue sclera. The dominantly inherited forms of OI are predominantly caused by mutations in either the COL1A1 or COL1A2 gene. Collagen type I is one of the major structural proteins of the eyes and therefore is the eye theoretically prone to alterations in OI.

Optical coherence tomography to measure the progression of myelopathy in adrenoleukodystrophy.

Objective: To prospectively determine the value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a surrogate outcome measure for the progression of myelopathy in males with adrenoleukodystrophy.

Methods: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness were measured at baseline, 1- and 2-year follow-up in patients and age-matched controls. We assessed the severity of myelopathy with clinical parameters: Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Severity Scoring system for Progressive Myelopathy (SSPROM), and timed up-and-go.

Real-world treatment outcomes of neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration in the Netherlands.

Purpose: To compare treatment outcomes of treatment-naïve eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with bevacizumab as the first-line treatment, according to the guidelines of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society, with those treated first with either ranibizumab or aflibercept, as used in many other countries, all treated using a treat-and-extend strategy.

Methods: Data were obtained from the prospectively designed Fight Retinal Blindness! outcomes registry. The primary outcome was the mean change from baseline in visual acuity of all treated eyes, after 12, 24 and 36 months of treatment.

[Artificial intelligence for eye care].

Technological developments in ophthalmic imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) create new possibilities for diagnostics in eye care. AI has already been applied in ophthalmic diabetes care. AI-systems currently detect diabetic retinopathy in general practice with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Use in clinical practice of an automated screening method of diabetic retinopathy that can be derived using a diagnostic artificial intelligence system.

Background And Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of an autonomous diagnostic artificial intelligence (AI) system for the diagnosis of derivable diabetic retinopathy (RDR) with manual classification.

Materials And Methods: Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes participated in a diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening program between 2011-2012. 2 images of each eye were collected.

In Vivo 3D Determination of Peripapillary Scleral and Retinal Layer Architecture Using Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to determine the architecture of the collagen fibers of the peripapillary sclera, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and Henle's fiber layer in vivo in 3D using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT).

Methods: Seven healthy volunteers were imaged with our in-house built PS-OCT system. PS-OCT imaging included intensity, local phase retardation, relative optic axis, and optic axis uniformity (OAxU).