Telemedicine for Retinal Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey of the Patient Perspective.

Introduction: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has emerged as a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional ophthalmology clinic visits. This study evaluated patient attitudes towards telemedicine at a full-service, retina-only practice to identify areas for growth in implementation.

Methods: A survey was distributed to established patients at University Retina and Macula Associates following the completion of a telemedicine encounter in July 2021.

Two-year outcomes of episcleral brachytherapy adjunct to anti-VEGF therapy for treatment-resistant nAMD.

Purpose: This study was designed to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of episcleral brachytherapy (ESB) for the treatment of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in a 6-subject cohort adjunct to anti-VEGF therapy.

Methods: Six eyes of six subjects with anti-VEGF resistant nAMD (persistent fluid or hemorrhage despite frequent anti-VEGF treatment) were treated with ESB between May 2018 and July 2018 as part of a larger early feasibility trial. Baseline and follow-up exams with multi-modal imaging were conducted.

Anatomical and Functional Outcomes of Relaxing Parafoveal Nasal Retinotomy for Refractory Macular Hole Repair.

Purpose: This work aimed to assess postoperative outcomes associated with relaxing parafoveal nasal retinotomy for refractory macular hole repair.

Methods: This was a retrospective interventional study of patients with persistent or recurrent macular holes following 1 or more standard repair procedures with pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling. Patients received an additional pars plana vitrectomy and relaxing parafoveal nasal retinotomy, followed by fluid-air and air-gas exchange.

Patient Preferences Associated with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapies for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To evaluate treatment-related preferences among patients receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a prospective survey of patients with nAMD or DME treated at one of three US-based retina clinics. Prior to survey development, small focus groups with anti-VEGF-treated patients identified five treatment-related "attributes" considered important to those with nAMD or DME: vision outcomes, cost to the insurance provider, cost to the patient, frequency of treatment, and drug label status.

Role of FAM18B in diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: Genome-wide association studies have suggested an association between a previously uncharacterized gene, FAM18B, and diabetic retinopathy. This study explores the role of FAM18B in diabetic retinopathy. An improved understanding of FAM18B could yield important insights into the pathogenesis of this sight-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus.

Optical coherence tomography in Susac's syndrome.

Susac's syndrome is an autoimmune endotheliopathy with predilection for brain, retina and cochlea (Susac, 1994). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive method, which is increasingly used in the diagnosis of retinal as well as primary central nervous system diseases. OCT is suggested as a useful diagnostic tool in differentiating Susac's syndrome from multiple sclerosis (MS) (Brandt et al.

Operational challenges in delivery of a charity care program for diabetic retinopathy screening in an urban setting.

Introduction: The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) partners with Chicago Family Health Center (Chicago Family) in the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program (DRP), a charity care program to screen uninsured and underinsured patients with diabetes for diabetic retinopathy, which is a leading cause of preventable vision loss in the US. The DRP faced operational challenges throughout its pilot year: a high number of ungradable retinal images, slow turnaround time for reading retinal images and sending results, incomplete referrals, and a high rate of no-shows for diagnostic appointments.

Approach: Chicago Family recalled patients with ungradable images for repeat imaging, and regular training was provided to staff taking the images.

Ophthalmic evaluations in clinical studies of fingolimod (FTY720) in multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: To report outcomes of ophthalmic evaluations in clinical studies of patients receiving fingolimod (Gilenya; Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: Analysis done on pooled safety data (N = 2615, all studies group) from 3 double-masked, randomized, parallel-group clinical trials (phase 2 core and extension >5 years, and phase 3 FREEDOMS and TRANSFORMS core and extension studies).

Participants: Patients aged 18 to 55 years (18-60 years in phase 2 study) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS were included.

Epidemiology of the association between anticoagulants and intraocular hemorrhage in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine the cumulative incidence and annual incidence of intraocular hemorrhage (subretinal hemorrhage or vitreous hemorrhage) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and association with daily antiplatelet or anticoagulant (AP/AC) medication usage (aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin), age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or bilateral neovascular AMD.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary university setting. Data on 195 eyes of 195 patients without previous intraocular hemorrhage examined over 73 months were reviewed.

Short-term intraocular pressure trends after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (avastin).

Purpose: To report the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA).

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Intravitreal triamcinolone with transpupillary therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age related macular degeneration. A randomized controlled pilot study [ISRCTN74123635].

Background: To assess the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (iTA) as an adjunctive treatment to transpupillary therapy (TTT) for new subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled pilot study comprised 26 patients scheduled to receive TTT, due to either absent indications for photodynamic therapy or financial issues. Patients were assigned into; Group A (n = 14) received TTT alone and Group B (n = 12) received iTA (4 mg) followed by TTT within one week.

Risks of intravitreous injection: a comprehensive review.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of the most common serious adverse events associated with intravitreous (IVT) injection.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature via PubMed from 1966 to March 1, 2004, was conducted to identify studies evaluating the safety of IVT injection. Data submitted in New Drug Applications to the U.