Facedown Positioning in Macular Hole Surgery: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Topic: To assess the anatomic and visual effects of facedown positioning (FDP) advice in patients undergoing vitrectomy with gas tamponade for idiopathic full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) and to explore differential treatment effects by macular hole size and FDP duration.

Clinical Relevance: The necessity and duration of FDP for FTMH closure remain contentious, with no consensus guidelines.

Methods: Prospectively registered systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing FDP with no FDP (nFDP) across the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases and clinical trial registries from January 2000 to March 2023 (CRD42023395152).

Outcome measures in childhood glaucoma: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To synthesize the outcome measures used by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for childhood glaucoma.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from inception to February 17, 2023. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies related to childhood glaucoma were included.

Role of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor in the management of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy without centre-involving diabetic macular oedema: a meta-analysis of trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in management of eyes with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) without centre involving diabetic macular oedema (CI-DMO). We searched multiple databases for all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated anti-VEGF treatment versus observation in eyes with NPDR without CI-DMO. Data was collected for six outcomes (best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement, diabetic retinopathy severity score (DRSS), central subfield thickness, progression to vision threatening complications (VTCs), ocular adverse events and quality of life measures).

Role of Positioning after Full-Thickness Macular Hole Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Topic: The importance of postoperative face-down positioning (FDP) to achieve anatomic and functional success after full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) surgery is explored in this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Clinical Relevance: There is considerable variability in clinical practices regarding the need and length of FDP recommended to patients after FTMH surgery. There is also a lack of robust clinical guidelines on the topic.

Treat-and-extend versus alternate dosing strategies with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents to treat center involving diabetic macular edema: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 2,346 eyes.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) agents are the standard of care for diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) with vision loss. They are commonly administered using several treatment protocols, including fixed, pro re nata (PRN) and treat-and-extend (T&E) regimens. Because of the lack of evidence defining an ideal treatment paradigm, we systematically compared T&E with fixed or PRN regimens.

Efficacy, safety, and treatment burden of treat-and-extend versus alternative anti-VEGF regimens for nAMD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to compare efficacy and treatment burden of treat-and-extend (T&E) anti-VEGF against fixed and pro re nata (PRN) regimens for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched. Randomized-controlled trials and observational studies comparing T&E to PRN or fixed dosing for treatment-naïve AMD patients were included.

Quantifying Physical Resilience in Ageing Using Measurement Instruments: A Scoping Review.

The capacity to recover motor function with pathology or age-related decline is termed physical resilience. It is unknown what outcome domains are captured with existing measurement instruments. Thus, this scoping review aimed to identify measurement instruments for physical resilience, identify research gaps, and make recommendations for future research.

The 12- and 24-Month Effects of Intravitreal Ranibizumab, Aflibercept, and Bevacizumab on Intraocular Pressure: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Topic: To investigate the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy on intraocular pressure (IOP) 12 and 24 months after initiation.

Clinical Relevance: It is unclear whether serial anti-VEGF injections result in sustained IOP increases.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing anti-VEGF agents with each other or with controls for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions, or diabetic macular edema were included.

Treat-and-extend regimens of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinal vein occlusions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate treat-and-extend (T&E) regimens of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy for the treatment of macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusions (RVOs).

Methods: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched on 25 February 2021. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and case series were included.

Supplemental Scleral Buckle for the Management of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment by Pars Plana Vitrectomy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objectives: The present review aimed to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with and without a supplementary scleral buckle (SB) for management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods: The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL to identify RCTs in English that compared PPV with and without supplemental SB. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Analyses of Cholesterol and Derivatives in Ocular Tissues Using LC-MS/MS Methods.

Cholesterol is considered one of the most abundant sterols present in mammals, amphipathic in nature, and a key constituent of the cell membrane. Its unique chemical structure consisting of four linked hydrocarbon rings, with an aliphatic chain on one end and a hydroxyl group on the other, confers it the ability to form hydrogen bonds with other lipid classes, like phospholipids or sphingolipids head groups. However, due to its hydrophobic moiety, the fatty acid chain, free cholesterol (FC) it is difficult to be analyzed via electrospray ionization (ESI).

Analyses of Cholesterol Metabolites of Optic Nerve Using GC-MS Methods.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is considered the gold standard for analyzing and quantifying the presence of biological compounds in tissue samples due to its high sensitivity, peak resolution, and reproducibility. In this chapter, we describe a step-by-step modified Bligh and Dyer protocol for lipid extraction from the optic nerve tissue and a procedure for GC-MS analyses of the lipid extract. These protocols are based on our experience and can be modified depending on samples and compounds of interest.

Measurement instruments for quantifying physical resilience in aging: a scoping review protocol.

Background: Physical resilience is the ability to optimize or recover motor function in the face of disease, injury, or aging-related decline. Greater knowledge of how some individuals regain or maintain function despite pathology may help identify protective factors and approaches that promote healthy aging. To date, a scoping review on physical resilience has not been conducted.