Clinical Use of Home OCT Data to Manage Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

To investigate how home optical coherence tomography (OCT) influences the clinical decision-making of retina specialists for the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). In this retrospective imaging review, 15 retina specialists each evaluated 10 home OCT data segments from 29 eyes being treated for nAMD. Based on OCT data, indications were identified for when eyes should be treated, which antivascular endothelial growth factor should be used, and the specific retinal fluid and time thresholds for notification.

Bevacizumab First in DRCR Protocol AC vs Real-World Physician Treatment Choice for Diabetic Macular Edema: Two-Year Cost Analysis.

To compare the modeled costs of the Protocol AC bevacizumab-first treatment protocol (with a switch to aflibercept for sub-responders) with real-world costs for treatment-naïve patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) over a 2-year period. Published data from the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR) Protocol AC bevacizumab-first arm (154 eyes) were used to model 2-year treatment costs. Real-world costs were modeled using data from the Vestrum Health electronic medical records database from a 2016 to 2018 cohort of treatment-naïve eyes with DME (n = 1062) treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy.

Characterizing Pediatric Patients at Risk for Violence-Related Injuries at a Trauma Center in the Midwest United States.

Introduction: Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) have emerged nationwide to help address the societal and economic costs of violence. Little literature exists regarding selecting those patients most likely to benefit from intensive case management. The study aims to describe the pediatric patient population presenting at a Level 1 ACS trauma center with a chief complaint of violent trauma and identify the characteristics of patients most at risk.

Opportunity Cost of Vitreoretinal Surgeries.

To compare physician reimbursements for vitreoretinal surgeries with office-based patient care. A theoretical model was performed comparing physician work reimbursements for the 10 most common vitreoretinal surgeries with office-based work relative value units (wRVUs) that could have been generated during the same global time period. The reference physician was modeled at 40 patients per 8-hour workday.

Closing the loop for AI-ready radiology.

Background: In recent years, AI has made significant advancements in medical diagnosis and prognosis. However, the incorporation of AI into clinical practice is still challenging and under-appreciated. We aim to demonstrate a possible vertical integration approach to close the loop for AI-ready radiology.

Evolving Treatment Patterns in Diabetic Macular Edema Between 2015 and 2020.

To explore the recent evolution of diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment practice patterns over 5 years among retina specialists in the United States. This retrospective analysis assessed 306 700 eyes with newly diagnosed DME from the Vestrum Health database between January 2015 and October 2020. The year-over-year and cumulative 5-year distributions of eyes treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, steroids, focal laser, or any combination and those of untreated eyes were calculated.

The Broader Economic Value of Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema.

Objective: To simulate economic outcomes for individuals with diabetic macular edema (DME) and estimate the economic value of direct and indirect benefits associated with DME treatment.

Research Design And Methods: Our study pairs individual and cohort analyses to demonstrate the value of treatment for DME. We used a microsimulation model to simulate self-reported vision (SRV) and economic outcomes for individuals with DME.

Opportunity Cost of Retinal Detachment Surgery vs Office-Based Patient Care.

This work compares physician reimbursements for retinal detachment (RD) surgery with office-based patient care. A theoretical model was constructed from the physician's perspective for performing a 90-minute uncomplicated RD surgery with its associated perioperative work in the global period (Current Procedural Terminology code 67108) compared with managing 40 patients per 8-hour clinic day in the equivalent time period. The reimbursement rates were based on the 2019 values set by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Brolucizumab-associated intraocular inflammation in eyes without retinal vasculitis.

Purpose: To analyze a series of eyes with brolucizumab-associated intraocular inflammation (IOI) without retinal vasculitis reported to the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).

Methods: The ASRS Research and Safety in Therapeutics (ReST) Committee analyzed clinical characteristics from submitted reports of IOI after brolucizumab. Eyes with retinal vasculitis or that received intraocular antibiotics were excluded.

The Impact of COVID-19 on US and International Retina Specialists, Their Practices, and Their Patients.

Purpose: This work analyzes data from a series of surveys developed by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) that assesses the impact of COVID-19 on physicians, their practices, and their patients.

Methods: Five surveys were sent by the ASRS between March and July 2020 to more than 2600 US and international retina specialists. Data and trends from these surveys were analyzed.

Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis Following Intravitreal Brolucizumab.

Purpose: To analyze a case series of retinal vasculitis reported to the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) following Food and Drug Administration approval of brolucizumab for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: The ASRS Research and Safety in Therapeutics Committee analyzed clinical and imaging characteristics from submitted reports of retinal vasculitis after brolucizumab.

Results: Retinal vasculitis was reported in 26 eyes of 25 patients (22 [88%] female) after treatment with brolucizumab.

Orally Administered Alpha Lipoic Acid as a Treatment for Geographic Atrophy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a nutraceutical and potent antioxidant that has shown efficacy in the retina light damage mouse model and in humans for multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral ALA for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA).

Design: Randomized, controlled, double-masked, multicenter phase 2 clinical trial of ALA versus placebo.

Feeding-dependent VIP neuron-ILC3 circuit regulates the intestinal barrier.

The intestinal mucosa serves both as a conduit for the uptake of food-derived nutrients and microbiome-derived metabolites, and as a barrier that prevents tissue invasion by microorganisms and tempers inflammatory responses to the myriad contents of the lumen. How the intestine coordinates physiological and immune responses to food consumption to optimize nutrient uptake while maintaining barrier functions remains unclear. Here we show in mice how a gut neuronal signal triggered by food intake is integrated with intestinal antimicrobial and metabolic responses that are controlled by type-3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3).

ADVERSE EVENTS OF THE ARGUS II RETINAL PROSTHESIS: Incidence, Causes, and Best Practices for Managing and Preventing Conjunctival Erosion.

Purpose: To analyze and provide an overview of the incidence, management, and prevention of conjunctival erosion in Argus II clinical trial subjects and postapproval patients.

Methods: This retrospective analysis followed the results of 274 patients treated with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System between June 2007 and November 2017, including 30 subjects from the US and European clinical trials, and 244 patients in the postapproval phase. Results were gathered for incidence of a serious adverse event, incidence of conjunctival erosion, occurrence sites, rates of erosion, and erosion timing.

OCTA: A Practical Method of Image Averaging Using Adobe Photoshop Software.

Background And Objective: To describe a method for averaging ocular coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images using a commercially available photo editing software: Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.

Patients And Methods: This single-center study assessed the feasibility of using Adobe Photoshop as an OCTA image averaging tool. Three 3.

Real-Time Volumetric Imaging of Vitreoretinal Surgery with a Prototype Microscope-Integrated Swept-Source OCT Device.

Purpose: To evaluate the images produced in an initial surgical series of intraoperative near-real-time volumetric swept-source (SS) OCT imaging.

Design: Prospective translational study.

Participants: Forty-one consecutive adult patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery between July 22, 2014, and July 1, 2015, at the Duke University Eye Center who agreed to participate.

Retinal Anatomy and Electrode Array Position in Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients After Argus II Implantation: An International Study.

Purpose: To assess the retinal anatomy and array position in Argus II retinal prosthesis recipients.

Design: Prospective, noncomparative cohort study.

Methods: Setting: International multicenter study.

Reported Complications Following Laser Vitreolysis.

Importance: Use of laser vitreolysis for symptomatic floaters has increased in recent years, but prospective studies are not available and the complication profile is poorly understood.

Objective: To analyze cases of complications following laser vitreolysis as voluntarily reported to the American Society of Retina Specialists Research and Safety in Therapeutics (ASRS ReST) Committee, an independent task force formed to monitor device-related and drug-related safety events.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective assessment was performed of all cases of complications following laser vitreolysis that were voluntarily reported by practitioners throughout the United States to the ASRS ReST Committee from the first report on September 19, 2016, through March 16, 2017, the date of data analysis and manuscript writing.

Scleral Buckling with Chandelier Illumination.

Scleral buckling is a highly successful technique for the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that requires intra-operative examination of the retina and treatment of retinal breaks via indirect ophthalmoscopy. Data suggest that scleral buckling likely results in improved outcomes for many patients but is declining in popularity, perhaps because of significant advances in vitrectomy instrumentation and visualization systems. Emerging data suggest that chandelier-assisted scleral buckling is safe and has many potential advantages over traditional buckling techniques.