Retinal Pigment Epithelium Curvature Can Predict Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Outer retinal band integrity strongly predicts late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, it is often assessed subjectively as "continuity" using inconsistent definitions. Alternatively, "curvature" of the outer retinal bands is a quantitative metric that strongly correlates with AMD biomarkers and can screen for intermediate AMD.

A survey of eyecare affordability among patients seen in collaborative care in Australia and factors contributing to cost barriers.

Aim: The decline in the real value of rebates from Australia's national public health insurance scheme, Medicare, over the past decade has contributed to increased out-of-pocket costs for eyecare services, which threatens affordability. This study measured eyecare affordability and cost barriers among patients seen in collaborative care.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 252 patients who had attended a collaborative eyecare clinic in the previous year.

RPE Curvature Can Screen for Early and Intermediate AMD.

Purpose: Diagnosing AMD early optimizes clinical management. However, current diagnostic accuracy is limited by the subjectivity of qualitative diagnostic measures used in clinical practice. This study tests if RPE curvature could be an accurate, quantitative measure for AMD diagnosis.

OCT Prognostic Biomarkers for Progression to Late Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Topic: To evaluate which OCT prognostic biomarkers best predict the risk of progression from early/intermediate to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Clinical Relevance: Among > 100 OCT prognostic biomarkers for AMD, it is unclear which are the most relevant for clinicians and researchers to focus on. This review evaluated which OCT biomarkers confer the greatest magnitude of prediction for progression to late AMD.

Evaluating the clinical relevance and reliability of outer retinal band length on optical coherence tomography in retinal disease: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Hyper-reflective outer retinal band (HORB) disruptions are reported across a range of retinal disease, yet a reliable, easily implemented assessment method and thorough evaluation of their association to retinal disease is lacking. The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability of using magnitude estimation to evaluate HORB length and determine its association to visual acuity and retinal disease.

Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective study.

Optometrists' attitudes toward using OCT angiography lag behind other retinal imaging types.

Purpose: While optometrists' attitudes toward established retinal imaging types are generally positive, they are unknown for optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). We performed a cross-sectional survey to estimate attitudes toward OCTA and identify clinician and/or practice characteristics that influence them.

Methods: A paper-based survey was mailed to 252 randomly selected optometrists in Australia.

Visualisation of peripheral retinal degenerations and anomalies with ocular imaging.

Purpose: Certain peripheral retinal degenerations pose a significant risk to vision and require prompt detection and management. Other historically "benign" peripheral lesions are being recognised as clinically significant due to their associations with ocular and systemic disorders. Assessment and documentation of these entities however can be difficult due to challenges in visualisation of the peripheral retina.

Viewing distance and eyestrain symptoms with prolonged viewing of smartphones.

Background: This paper investigates viewing distances and eyestrain symptoms in young adults reading from a smartphone for 60 minutes.

Methods: A survey related to common asthenopic (eyestrain) symptoms was administered to subjects before and after they read an extract from a novel on a smartphone for 60 minutes. Subjects rated their symptoms on a scale from zero (not at all) to four (extremely).