Current insights and challenges in the management of perifoveal vascular anomalous complex (PVAC): a systematic review of multimodal imaging features and treatment strategies.

The aim of this article is to comprehensively review the multimodal imaging (MMI) features that define perifoveal vascular anomalous complex (PVAC) and to update the optimal treatment strategies for this disorder with a focus also on the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. This systematic review was performed based on a search of the PubMed and Embase databases of relevant papers on the subject of PVAC. PVAC is characterized by well-defined MMI findings, including remarkable morphological features with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA).

Faricimab versus the standard of care for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Italy: an indirect treatment comparison.

Objectives: To assess through an indirect treatment comparison (ITC) the potential benefit of faricimab over the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) real-life scenario, hereby defined standard of care (SoC), in Italy, that is, aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab, in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) naïve to any anti-VEGF treatment.

Methods: Individual patient-level data from the phase III clinical trials TENAYA and LUCERNE (faricimab cohort) and the real-world study RADIANCE (RADIANCE cohort) were used. Efficacy was evaluated with changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST) from baseline to 1 year (week 52 in the RADIANCE and week 48 in the faricimab cohorts, respectively).

Type 3 Macular Neovascularization in Age-related Macular Degeneration: Baseline Predictors of 3-Year Macular Atrophy Development.

Purpose: To identify baseline OCT predictors of the 3-year macular atrophy (MA) development for type 3 (T3) macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated by anti-VEGF therapy.

Design: Multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal study.

Participants: We included patients with treatment-naive T3 MNV secondary to nAMD at baseline, treated with anti-VEGF during a 3-year follow-up.

Autonomous artificial intelligence versus teleophthalmology for diabetic retinopathy.

To assess the role of artificial intelligence (AI) based automated software for detection of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) compared with the evaluation of digital retinography by two double masked retina specialists. Two-hundred one patients (mean age 65 ± 13 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes mellitus were included. All patients were undergoing a retinography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, DRI 3D OCT-2000, Topcon) of the macula.

Predictors of 24-month onset of macular fibrosis in type 3 macular neovascularisation.

Aims: To explore prognostic multimarker models for progression to macular fibrosis (MF) over 24 months specific to type 3 macular neovascularisation (T3 MNV).

Methods: This retrospective, exploratory, single-centre, cohort study comprised 65 eyes of 43 Caucasian patients with treatment naive T3 MNV, all with a 24-month follow-up post anti-VEGF therapy using a strict pro-re-nata (PRN) regimen. Data on demographic features, clinical findings, frequency of intravitreal treatments and optical coherence tomography biomarkers were collected at baseline and after 12 and 24 months of follow-up.

Peripheral and ocular microvascular alterations in systemic sclerosis: observations from capillaroscopic assessments, perfusion peripheral analysis, and optical coherence tomography angiography.

To investigate the correlations between finger microvascular morphology and function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the status of ocular microcirculation, as detected by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The enrollment included 32 SSc patients, classified according to the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria, and 27 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The participants underwent comprehensive rheumatological and ophthalmological examinations, as well as NVC, LASCA, and OCTA analysis on the same day at a single center from March to October 2022.

Prechoroidal Cleft Regression After Switch to Intravitreal Brolucizumab.

Introduction: Prechoroidal cleft has been described as a negative prognostic biomarker in patients affected with neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD). This peculiar finding consists of a lenticular hyporeflective space located between an outward bowing of Bruch's membrane and the base of a fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED). Previous studies have reported the partial or complete regression of prechoroidal clefts after treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections.

Faricimab for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Nowadays; intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs are considered the first-line therapeutic strategy for treating macular exudative diseases; including wet age-related macular degeneration (w-AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Despite the important clinical achievements obtained by anti-VEGF drugs in the management of w-AMD and DME; some limits still remain; including high treatment burden; the presence of unsatisfactory results in a certain percentage of patients and long-term visual acuity decline due to complications such as macular atrophy and fibrosis. Targeting the angiopoietin/Tie (Ang/Tie) pathway beyond the VEGF pathway may be a possible therapeutic strategy; which may has the potential to solve some of the previous mentioned challenges.

Clinical Outcomes of Topical 0.1% Ciclosporin Cationic Emulsion Used on Label in Children with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.

Introduction: The purpose of this short article is to report the clinical outcomes of topical 0.1% ciclosporin cationic emulsion (CsA-CE) used on label in children with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

Methods: In this prospective, non-comparative, observational study children affected by active severe VKC were treated for at least 12 months with topical 0.

Multimodal imaging for the management of Lyme-associated uveitis: A case report from an Italian tertiary center.

Introduction: Lyme borreliosis may present with different systemic manifestations and also the ocular involvement may be difficult to diagnose because of its multifaceted presentation. Considering the growing incidence of Lyme disease in European countries, ophthalmologist should be trained to distinguish ocular borreliosis.

Case Report: Several clinical presentations have been previously described, including uveitis, unilateral or bilateral chorioretinitis, keratitis, episcleritis, papillitis and ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal vasculitis and acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE); however our case report showed a rare presentation with the presence of unilateral uveitis with vitreitis and multiple, patchy, yellowish lesions, in association with retinal vasculitis.

The upcoming role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for retinal and glaucomatous diseases.

In recent years, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) models is attracting increasing global interest in the field of ophthalmology. DL models are considered the current state-of-art among the AI technologies. In fact, DL systems have the capability to recognize, quantify and describe pathological clinical features.

Vigorous Physical Activity as a Risk Factor for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate whether frequent vigorous physical activity (PA) is significantly associated with active central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and may represent a risk factor for CSCR.

Design: Case-control study.

Methods: This was a multicenter study.

PERSEUS-IT 24-month analysis: a prospective observational study to assess the effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept in routine clinical practice in Italy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: PERSEUS-IT (NCT02289924) was a prospective, observational, 2-year study evaluating the effectiveness and treatment patterns of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in routine clinical practice in Italy.

Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with nAMD receiving IVT-AFL per routine clinical practice were enrolled. The primary endpoint was mean change in visual acuity (VA; decimals) from baseline to month (M) 12 and M24.

The multifaceted presentation of syphilitic chorioretinitis examined by multimodal imaging: A case series.

Ocular syphilis is also known as the 'great masquerader' for the wide variety of clinical features associated with this infection. Although chorioretinitis represents the most frequent manifestation in the posterior pole, other clinical entities can be described, including retinal vasculitis, optic disc disorders, necrotizing vasculitis and acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC).
This latter is an infrequent ocular manifestation of syphilis, whose pathophysiology remains still unknown; however, multimodal imaging, including optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), has enabled us to better describe its pathophysiology and clinical course.

The emerging role of the Angiopoietin-Tie pathway as therapeutic target for treating retinal diseases.

Introduction: Several approaches have been investigated for treating wet age-related macular degeneration (w-AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal vein occlusions (RVOs). The first-line treatment for these exudative retinal diseases consists of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents; however, the high treatment burden and the percentage of 'non responder' patients have highlighted the need for other approaches. Increasing evidence has shown the role of angiopoietin/Tie (Ang/Tie) pathway in the pathogenesis of these exudative retinal diseases; therefore, novel drugs targeting this pathway are under evaluation in clinical trials.

Intravitreal Corticosteroid Implantation in Diabetic Macular Edema: Updated European Consensus Guidance on Monitoring and Managing Intraocular Pressure.

Intravitreal therapy for diabetic macular edema can, in susceptible patients, increase intraocular pressure (IOP). As uncontrolled IOP can potentially be sight threatening, monitoring is an essential component of patient management. It can be challenging for retina specialists to ensure that monitoring is rigorous enough to detect and resolve any potential problems at the earliest opportunity without it also being overburdensome for patients who have the lowest risk of developing an IOP rise.

Concerns on ranibizumab and zoledronic acid safety for experimentally treating women with endometriosis.

Correspondence to the original research entitled "Effects of ranibizumab and zoledronic acid on endometriosis in a rat model" published by Ozdemir et al.

Efficacy of a New Commercial Ocular Spray Containing Oftasecur Citrus Extract for Reducing Microbial Load in the Conjunctiva of Patients Receiving Intravitreal Injections.

Introduction: The control of conjunctival microbial load is crucial for patients receiving intravitreal injections (IVTs) in order to reduce the risk of endophthalmitis. The purpose of this work was to assess the antimicrobial activity of a new commercial ocular spray containing Biosecur citrus extract (Oftasecur, Off Health, Florence, Italy).

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional pilot study included patients receiving IVTs who were instructed to apply Oftasecur spray onto the eye to be injected four times daily starting 4 days before surgery.

Multimodal Imaging Findings and Treatment with Dexamethasone Implant in Three Cases of Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 1.

This is a report of 3 patients diagnosed with idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 1 (MacTel 1) at Medical Retina Center of the University of Eye Clinic of Genova and then prospectically followed for a mean time of 26 months between 2016 and 2019. It is the first report of patients affected by MacTel 1 treated with dexamethasone (DEX) implant as a first choice of treatment. Aim of our study is to better characterize the disease using a multimodal wide-field imaging and to determine efficacy of DEX implant on MacTel 1 in terms of central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).