Two-Year Performance and Safety Results of the MINIject Supraciliary Implant in Patients With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Meta-Analysis of the STAR-I, II, III Trials.

Purpose: To evaluate the performance and safety of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery with a supraciliary drainage device (MINIject; iSTAR Medical, Wavre, Belgium) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) as a stand-alone procedure.

Design: Meta-analysis.

Methods: At 11 sites in Colombia, France, Germany, India, Panama, and Spain, 82 patients were treated in 3 prospective, multicenter, interventional, nonrandomized trials (STAR-I, II, III).

Does Diabetes Influence Adherence in Glaucoma Patients?

With chronic diseases, patient adherence plays a crucial role in delaying disease progression and in determining the success of therapy. Problems arise not only from low medication adherence, but also non-adherence to recommended follow-up examinations. Obtaining an accurate estimate of adherence is difficult, especially in glaucoma patients, due to the fact that most antihypertensive drugs are administered in the form of eye drops.

[Changes in quality of life of glaucoma patients over a period of 8 years].

Purpose: The quality of life (QoL) of glaucoma patients is affected by many factors. In particular, patient activity is compromised by the chronicity of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the change in QoL and its impact on activities over a period of 8 years.

What would an 'ideal' glaucoma examination be like? - A conjoint analysis of patients' and physicians' preferences.

Purpose: To structurally determine patients' and physicians' preferences for glaucoma diagnostic methods in order to improve glaucoma patient care and improve patient compliance with follow-up visits.

Methods: Forty-one patients with glaucoma and 32 ophthalmologists were included in this cross-sectional study. Profiles representing glaucoma examinations were created using conjoint analysis (CA).

Changes of Neuroretinal Rim and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography After Filtration Surgery in Glaucomatous Eyes.

Purpose: Lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with filtration surgery can induce morphological changes to the bulbus and structures of the retina. In this study, we have evaluated changes of Bruch's membrane-based parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) derived by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in eyes that have undergone glaucoma filtration surgery.

Patients And Methods: SD-OCT imaging of the optic nerve head (ONH) and of the RNFL was performed in 54 eyes of 54 patients with medically uncontrolled POAG before and after IOP-lowering surgery (trabeculectomy or deep sclerectomy).

Two-year outcomes of the MINIject drainage system for uncontrolled glaucoma from the STAR-I first-in-human trial.

Background/aims: The current study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the stand-alone implantation of the MINIject (iSTAR Medical, Wavre, Belgium) supraciliary, microinvasive glaucoma drainage device in patients with medically uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre, first-in-human, single-arm interventional study evaluated stand-alone, ab interno implantation in 25 patients of a 5 mm long uveoscleral device made of STAR biocompatible material, which is a soft, microporous, flexible silicone. The primary outcome was the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) at 6 months compared with baseline, and follow-up continued until 2 years for 21 patients.

A European Study of the Performance and Safety of MINIject in Patients With Medically Uncontrolled Open-angle Glaucoma (STAR-II).

Precis: In this European study (STAR-II), MINIject, a novel, ab-interno, supraciliary minimally invasive glaucoma surgery device, effectively lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) and the need for IOP-lowering medications in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: This study evaluates the safety and performance of a minimally invasive supraciliary glaucoma drainage device (MINIject DO627) for surgical treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma in patients refractory to topical hypotensive medications.

Methods: In a prospective, interventional, single-arm, multicenter, European study (STAR-II), MINIject was successfully implanted in a stand-alone procedure in 29 of 31 patients in 8 sites in 3 countries.

A First-in-Human Study of the Efficacy and Safety of MINIject in Patients with Medically Uncontrolled Open-Angle Glaucoma (STAR-I).

Purpose: To describe the safety and efficacy of a novel, supraciliary, microinvasive glaucoma surgery drainage system, MINIject (iSTAR Medical, Wavre, Belgium), in the study.

Design: Prospective, multicenter, interventional, single-arm trial.

Participants: Twenty-six patients with primary open-angle glaucoma uncontrolled with 1 or more intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications.

Patient-reported prevalence of metamorphopsia and predictors of vision-related quality of life in vitreomacular traction: a prospective, multi-centre study.

Objectives: To report the prevalence and severity of metamorphopsia, estimate its impact on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) and evaluate predictors of VRQoL in patients with vitreomacular traction (VMT).

Patients And Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional multi-centre study in the United Kingdom of 185 patients with VMT, with or without a full thickness macular hole (FTMH). Self-reported metamorphopsia was determined using the metamorphopsia questionnaire.

[STARflo-a suprachoroidal drainage implant in glaucoma surgery].

Background: The STARflo Glaucoma Device (iSTAR Medical, Wavre, Belgium) offers a new approach to bleb-free filtering surgery in which the intraocular pressure (IOP) is lowered by supporting outflow of the aqueous humor into the suprachoroidal space.

Materials And Methods: On the basis of a case series of 9 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) unmanageable by drug-based treatment, intra- and postoperative experiences with the implant are presented. The implant, the implantation procedure, and the first results 6 months postoperatively are described.

[Required Framework for the Collection of Real-life Data: An Example from University Eye Hospital Munich].

The importance of evaluating real-life data is constantly increasing. Currently available computer systems better allow for analyses of data, as more and more data is available in a digital form. Before a project for real-life data analyses is started, technical considerations and staff, legal, and data protection procedures need to be addressed.

Using Electronic Health Records to Build an Ophthalmologic Data Warehouse and Visualize Patients' Data.

Purpose: To develop a near-real-time data warehouse (DW) in an academic ophthalmologic center to gain scientific use of increasing digital data from electronic medical records (EMR) and diagnostic devices.

Design: Database development.

Methods: Specific macular clinic user interfaces within the institutional hospital information system were created.

Pemphigus Autoantibodies Induce Blistering in Human Conjunctiva.

Purpose: The autoimmune blistering skin disease pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is caused by autoantibodies against desmosomal adhesion molecules. Patients may suffer conjunctival involvement, yet the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. We characterized human and murine conjunctiva with respect to the PV autoantigens, and evaluated the effects and mechanisms of PV autoantibodies applied to human conjunctiva ex vivo.

The influence of a specific ophthalmological electronic health record on ICD-10 coding.

Background: A specific Electronic Health Record (EHR) for ophthalmology was introduced in an academic center in Germany. As diagnoses coding corresponding to the International Classification of Diseases Version 10 (ICD-10) is mandatory for billing reasons in Germany, we analyzed whether a change occurred in the diversity and number of diagnoses after the EHR introduction. The number of patients was also analyzed.

Structure-Function Relationship between Flicker-Defined Form Perimetry and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma Suspects.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between functional parameters of repeated flicker-defined form perimetry (FDF) and structural parameters of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in glaucoma suspects with normal findings in achromatic standard automated perimetry (SAP).

Methods: Patients with optic nerve heads (ONH) clinically suspicious for glaucoma and normal SAP findings were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent visual field (VF) testing with FDF perimetry, using the Heidelberg Edge Perimeter (HEP, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) at two consecutive visits.

[Smart eye data : Development of a foundation for medical research using Smart Data applications].

Background: Smart Data means intelligent data accumulation and the evaluation of large data sets. This is particularly important in ophthalmology as more and more data are being created. Increasing knowledge and personalized therapies are expected by combining clinical data from electronic health records (EHR) with measurement data.

[Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma].

Background: The goal of glaucoma treatment is to maintain the patient's visual function and related quality of life, at a sustainable cost. In this review, methods of measuring quality of life are presented, together with their impact in clinical practice.

Methods: Searches were from the inception of the database to date.

Structure-Function Relationship Between Bruch's Membrane Opening-Based Optic Nerve Head Parameters and Visual Field Defects in Glaucoma.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the structure-function relationship between Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) parameters of the optic nerve head (ONH) and visual field (VF) sensitivity.

Methods: Forty-six right eyes of 46 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the patient group and 12 right eyes in the control group were included. Standard automated perimetry (SAP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were assessed.

The impact of a better-seeing eye and a worse-seeing eye on vision-related quality of life.

Purpose: Patients with eye diseases often have a better-seeing eye (BSE) and a worse-seeing eye (WSE). This review will carve out the current knowledge in which the relationship to BSEs and WSEs contributes to overall visual functioning and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL).

Methods: Searches were from database inception to the current date.

Flicker defined form perimetry in glaucoma suspects with normal achromatic visual fields.

Background: To evaluate if repeated flicker-defined form (FDF) perimetry can detect visual field (VF) defects in glaucoma suspects with normal findings in achromatic standard automated perimetry (SAP).

Methods: Patients with optic nerve heads (ONHs) or retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) findings clinically suspicious for glaucoma and normal SAP were enrolled. Patients underwent VF testing with FDF perimetry (Heidelberg Edge Perimetry, HEP) at two consecutive visits (HEP I and HEP II) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT).

[Screening in ophthalmology : Stay healthy, recognize diseases early].

Screening is a strategy used in a systematic approach to identify an unrecognized disease or risk factors in individuals in a population without signs or symptoms. The test characteristics (specificity and sensitivity) and the prevalence of the disease are of vital importance for the achievable quality of prediction. Multidimensional decision-making must not only consider the benefits of screening but also its potential disadvantages, such as overtreatment, diagnostics of unclear findings and the psychological impact on healthy individuals.

Assessment of β-zone peripapillary atrophy by optical coherence tomography and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging in glaucoma patients.

Purpose: To assess β-zone peripapillary atrophy (β-PPA) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), and fundus auto-fluorescence (FAF) imaging in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with advanced glaucomatous visual field defects.

Methods: A consecutive, prospective series of 82 study eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma were included in this study. All study participants underwent a full ophthalmic examination followed by SD-OCT, wide-field SLO, and FAF imaging of the optic nerve head and the peripapillary region.