Does Prophylactic Oral Zinc Reduce the Risk of Contracting COVID-19?

Objective In this study, we aimed to investigate whether zinc provided in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) vitamins is associated with a decreased risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study involving patients at a retina-only practice who were provided a questionnaire at each visit to assess whether they were symptomatic of or had contracted COVID-19. Those who answered yes to testing positive for COVID-19 were retrospectively analyzed and categorized based on their AREDS2 vitamin use, and a Pearson's chi-squared test was performed.

Long term results of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration switched from other anti-VEGF agents to intravitreal Aflibercept.

Background: This study explores the long term anatomic and functional results of patients who were switched to intravitreal aflibercept injections (IAI) after being initially managed with other anti-VEGF agents for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: Patients with nAMD were included if they started with another anti-VEGF agent and were switched to IAI. Subjects had at least 3 years of consistent therapy with IAI and at least 1 injection quarterly.

Comparison of Digital Widefield Retinal Imaging With Indirect Ophthalmoscopy in Pediatric Patients.

Background And Objective: Approximately 16,000 children in the United States lose vision each year because of retinal disease. The authors compare digital ultra-widefield (UWF) photography to indirect ophthalmoscopy in children.

Patients And Methods: Prospective, single-center study of patients ages 3 to 17 years.

Consistent Long-Term Therapy of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Managed by 50 or More Anti-VEGF Injections Using a Treat-Extend-Stop Protocol.

Purpose: To examine the clinical results for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who were managed with a treat-extend-stop (TES) protocol and received 50 or more injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents.

Design: Retrospective case study.

Participants: Data for patients from a private retina practice meeting the following criteria were included: diagnosis of nAMD and having received 50 or more intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents.

REDUCED GANGLION CELL VOLUME ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY.

Purpose: Geographic atrophy (GA) is the sequelae of macular degeneration. Automated inner retinal analysis using optical coherence tomography is flawed because segmentation software is calibrated for normal eyes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ganglion cell layer (GCL) volume is reduced in GA using manual analysis.

Optic nerve head problem.

A 68-year-old woman with a recent history of blurring in the left eye had undergone mastectomy for breast cancer 20 years ago. A series of bone metastases started 5 years after her diagnosis. Examination of the optic nerve head of the left eye revealed an isolated peripapillary mass.

Reply.

The authors are commenting the letter to editor regarding article entitled “Long-term remission of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with as-needed anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy” published in Retina Journal 2017; Doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000001572.

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE INNER RETINAL LAYER THICKNESSES IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION USING CORRECTED OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SEGMENTATION.

Purpose: To characterize inner retinal damage in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using high-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography images.

Methods: Sixty eyes of 60 patients with AMD were categorized using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) severity scale. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of these patients were quantified by manually correcting the segmentation of each retinal layer, including the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer to ensure accurate delineation of layers.

HIGH-DOSE HIGH-FREQUENCY AFLIBERCEPT FOR RECALCITRANT NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of monthly (0.1 mL/4 mg) aflibercept for refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet age-related macular degeneration).

Methods: This was a retrospective interventional case series in which patients with wet age-related macular degeneration were treated with stepwise dose escalation.

LONG-TERM REMISSION OF NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION WITH AS-NEEDED ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY.

Purpose: To determine the presenting characteristics of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration with long-term remission (LTR), which was defined as the absence of intraretinal/subretinal fluid, or hemorrhage, and absence of leakage on fluorescein angiography for longer than 6 months while on as-needed antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment.

Methods: The presenting characteristics of patients with LTR were compared with a control group including 32 eyes of 28 age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched patients who did not achieve LTR.

Results: Seventy-four percent of patients in the LTR group had Type 1 choroidal neovascular membrane and 18.

A Report on Molecular Diagnostic Testing for Inherited Retinal Dystrophies by Targeted Genetic Analyses.

Aim: To test the utility of targeted sequencing as a method of clinical molecular testing in patients diagnosed with inherited retinal degeneration (IRD).

Methods: After genetic counseling, peripheral blood was drawn from 188 probands and 36 carriers of IRD. Single gene testing was performed on each patient in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certified laboratory.

A baby with a lot of nerve.

An infant presented with bilateral disk edema and an acute left sixth cranial nerve (CN VI) palsy because of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). PTC is rare in infants where it is often associated with endocrine abnormalities, medications, viral infections, systemic conditions, and nutritional etiologies such as vitamin A toxicity. We report a case of PTC in an infant associated with hypervitaminosis A with an unlikely source-a common prenatal vitamin.

Visual phenomena perceived during pars plana vitrectomy under peribulbar block and monitored anaesthesia care.

Aim: To investigate patients' sensory phenomena, especially instrument visualisation, and their emotional reactions during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) under monitored anaesthesia care (MAC).

Methods: One hundred adults who underwent PPV under MAC plus peribulbar block were prospectively recruited on the day after surgery to complete a questionnaire about sensory phenomena and comfort. Anaesthetics used during surgery were correlated with visual phenomena and patient comfort.

Toxic optic neuropathy: an unusual cause.

A 60-year-old woman with a history of chronic alcoholism and tobacco use presented with the complaint of a painless decrease in vision in both eyes. She lost vision first in the left eye then in the right eye. She admitted consuming at least one 16 ounce bottle of over the counter mouthwash daily and denied consumption of any other alcohols, methanol, or antifreeze.

A novel mutation in a case of dominant optic atrophy?

A 39-year-old healthy woman presented for decreased vision at distance and near for 4 years. She also noted a decrease in her color vision. Her best-corrected visual acuities were 20/70 in each eye.

Nutrient supplementation with n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin decrease A2E accumulation and VEGF expression in the retinas of Ccl2/Cx3cr1-deficient mice on Crb1rd8 background.

The Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS2) clinical trial is assessing the effects of higher dietary xanthophyll (lutein and zeaxanthin) and long-chain n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake on progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study's purpose was to examine the retinal effects of the AREDS2 formulation on Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2(-/-))/CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (Cx3cr1(-/-)) mice on Crumbs homolog 1 retinal degeneration phenotype 8 (Crb1(rd8)) background (DKO), which develop focal retinal lesions with certain features similar to AMD. DKO and C57BL/6N rd8 background mice (WT) were bred and randomized into 4 groups.

A clinical update and radiologic review of pediatric orbital and ocular tumors.

While pediatric orbital tumors are most often managed in tertiary care centers, clinicians should be aware of the signs of intraocular and orbital neoplasms. In the pediatric population, a delay in diagnosis of orbital and intraocular lesions, even if benign, can lead to vision loss and deformity. Intraocular lesions reviewed are retinoblastoma, medulloepithelioma, and retinal astrocytic hamartoma.

IL-10 -1082 SNP and IL-10 in primary CNS and vitreoretinal lymphomas.

Objectives: Most primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) and primary vitreoretinal lymphomas (PVRLs) are B-cell lymphomas that produce high levels of interleukin (IL)-10, which is linked to rapid disease progression. The IL-10 (-1082) G → A polymorphism (IL-10 SNP) is associated with improved survival in certain non-CNS lymphoma patients. PDCD4 is a tumor suppressor gene and upstream regulator of IL-10.

Hypocellular scar formation or aberrant fibrosis induced by an intrastromal corneal ring: a case report.

Introduction: Intrastromal corneal rings or segments are approved for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism associated with keratoconus. We describe a clinicopathological case of intrastromal corneal rings. For the first time, the molecular pathological findings of intrastromal corneal rings in the cornea are illustrated.

Ophthalmic manifestations and histopathology of xeroderma pigmentosum: two clinicopathological cases and a review of the literature.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare, autosomal recessive disease caused by a defect in DNA repair. Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum often have cutaneous and ocular sun sensitivity, freckle-like skin pigmentation, multiple skin and eye cancers, and, in some patients, progressive neurodegeneration. Xeroderma pigmentosum predominantly affects the ultraviolet (UV) exposed ocular surface, resulting in eyelid atrophy and cancers, corneal dryness, exposure keratopathy, and conjunctival tumors.

Retinal ultrastructure of murine models of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent form of irreversible blindness worldwide in the elderly population. The pathology of dry AMD consists of macular degeneration of photoreceptors and the RPE, lipofuscin (A2E) accumulation, and drusen formation. Mice have been widely used for generating models that simulate human AMD features for investigating the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of the disease.