Machine Teaching Allows for Rapid Development of Automated Systems for Retinal Lesion Detection From Small Image Datasets.

Machine teaching, a machine learning subfield, may allow for rapid development of artificial intelligence systems able to automatically identify emerging ocular biomarkers from small imaging datasets. We sought to use machine teaching to automatically identify retinal ischemic perivascular lesions (RIPLs) and subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs), two emerging ocular biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. IRB approval was obtained.

Exploring Diagnostic Precision and Triage Proficiency: A Comparative Study of GPT-4 and Bard in Addressing Common Ophthalmic Complaints.

In the modern era, patients often resort to the internet for answers to their health-related concerns, and clinics face challenges to providing timely response to patient concerns. This has led to a need to investigate the capabilities of AI chatbots for ophthalmic diagnosis and triage. In this in silico study, 80 simulated patient complaints in ophthalmology with varying urgency levels and clinical descriptors were entered into both ChatGPT and Bard in a systematic 3-step submission process asking chatbots to triage, diagnose, and evaluate urgency.

Disease Awareness Among Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Patterns and Predictors.

To examine the prevalence and predictors of patient awareness of their disease in adults with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study analyzed 5553 adults 40 years or older in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who underwent retinal imaging. AMD was determined based on retinal images.

DISAPPEARING CHOROIDAL SPOTS ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY PRECEDING RECURRENCE OF MULTIFOCAL CHOROIDITIS WITH CHORIORETINAL ATROPHY.

Purpose: To describe idiopathic multifocal choroiditis with chorioretinal atrophy developing choroidal flow voids on optical coherence tomography angiography that preceded a recurrence of the disease.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 24-year-old woman presented with visual field changes and occasional photopsias.

Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography metrics of retinal ischaemic perivascular lesions in patients being evaluated for carotid artery stenosis and controls.

Background/aims: Retinal microvascular ischaemia may produce localised middle retinal disruption with corresponding scotoma, a phenomenon termed paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM). Small chronic middle retinal atrophic lesions termed retinal ischaemic perivascular lesions (RIPLs) appear qualitatively similar to PAMM lesions and have recently been hypothesised to result specifically from PAMM. However, no studies have quantitatively demonstrated an ischaemic origin of RIPLs.

Hyperreflective Vasculature: A Negative Prognostic Sign for Retinal Vein Occlusion on Near-Infrared Reflectance Imaging.

Background And Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of hyperreflective vasculature visualized on near-infrared reflectance (NIR) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods: In this retrospective study, RVO patients with NIR imaging and at least 1-year follow-up, and without confounding disease, were included. Two blinded independent graders identified vascular hyperreflectivity (HR) by detection of whiter signals in vessels.

Characterizing the Accessibility and Content of Surgical and Medical Retina Fellowship Program Websites.

To assess the accessibility and content of surgical and medical retina fellowship websites. The websites of all surgical and medical retina fellowship programs were examined. Each program's website was evaluated based on information available on 10 recruitment and 10 training criteria.

Macrophage-like Cells Are Increased in Retinal Vein Occlusion and Correlate with More Intravitreal Injections and Worse Visual Acuity Outcomes.

Macrophage-like cells (MLCs) are an emerging retinal biomarker. MLCs are increased in retinal vein occlusion (RVO) eyes, but their predictive value is unknown. This study investigated if MLCs can predict meaningful clinical outcomes.

Enhancing Mentorship Networks through the Experiences of Women Professors of Ophthalmology.

 The aim of this study is to identify and characterize women professors in ophthalmology to enhance professional development and equity of women in academic ophthalmology.  Cross-sectional descriptive survey study.  Participants in the survey were women in ophthalmology departments who have obtained full professor rank at their respective institutions.

Retinal Vessel Density and Treatment Intensity among Adults with Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study.

Previous studies have shown retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is associated with changes in vessel density visible on swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (ss-OCTA). This study aimed to characterize retinal changes on ss-OCTA among RVO patients stratified by the need for continuous anti-VEGF therapy. This cross-sectional study of 24 RVO patients ≥ 18 years were imaged with SS-OCT-A.

Macular findings expedite accurate diagnosis of MIDD in a young female patient with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Purpose: To report a case of a 34-year-old female patient with newly diagnosed Maternally Inherited Diabetes and Deafness (MIDD) in the setting of undifferentiated macular dystrophy and newly discovered diabetes.

Observations: A 34-year-old woman presented to the retina service with new-onset diabetes and a history of hydroxychloroquine use. Ophthalmologic examination showed findings early in the patient's presentation that within the context of her recent diabetes diagnosis and family history pointed to MIDD as the specific cause of the patient's many different symptoms.

Contrast Sensitivity Testing in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Motion Diamond Stimulus.

Purpose: This study was performed to characterize changes in contrast sensitivity (CS) that occur in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using a novel test, the motion diamond stimulus (MDS).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 20 subjects with unilateral exudative AMD (eAMD) and contralateral dry AMD received 3 assessments: the Pelli-Robson (PR) CS Chart, the MDS test, and a visual function questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25). CS results from the PR, and MDS tests were compared across 3 groups: eyes with eAMD vs dry AMD, eAMD vs control, dry AMD vs control.

Multimodal Imaging Characterization of Arteriolosclerotic Plaques in Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Background And Objectives: To investigate the multimodal imaging features and the clinical associations of arteriolosclerotic plaques in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective case series of patients with RVO. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded at the time of RVO for each participant.

Current Scope of Online Ophthalmology Education and Curriculum Impact Due to COVID-19.

 Abrupt changes in ophthalmology education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in novel online curriculum development. The aims of this study were to identify (1) the scope of online curricula implemented both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) perception of educators on these online modalities; and (3) early lessons from online implementation that may guide future curricular planning.  Implementation of online curricula was evaluated by using a national online survey of Ophthalmology Directors of Medical Student Education (DMSE) via Qualtrics software.

NOVEL PRPH2/RDS MUTATION IDENTIFIED IN A FAMILY WITH VARYING CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: A CASE REPORT.

Purpose: To present the case of a family with a novel PRPH2/RDS mutation.

Methods: A case report of a 44-year-old woman and her immediate family, including the father and a sister who shared her PRPH2/RDS mutation.

Results: A 44-year-old woman presented with examination findings consistent with a butterfly-type pattern dystrophy.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. The main risk factor is advancing age, with the severity of vision loss ranging from mild to severe. There is a 25% risk of early AMD and 8% risk of late AMD in patients over the age of 75, with the number of cases expected to increase because of the aging population.

The use of multimodal imaging in the evaluation of a patient with central retinal artery occlusion in the setting of asteroid hyalosis: a case report.

Background: A central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmic emergency due to its strong association with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A timely diagnosis is necessary but difficult in the setting of dense asteroid hyalosis, as typical fundoscopic findings can be obscured. We present a case where multimodal imaging in an eye with an obscured fundus could lead to timely diagnosis and management of CRAO in a patient with acute vision loss.

The Role of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) in Detecting Choroidal Neovascularization in Different Stages of Best Macular Dystrophy: A Case Series.

Best macular dystrophy (BMD) is an autosomal dominant macular dystrophy of childhood onset characterized by bilateral and symmetric vitelliform lesions. Several stages of disease have been well-described in the literature. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) has traditionally been considered a hallmark of end-stage disease, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have been used to improve visual prognosis.

Maculopathy Secondary to Pentosan Polysulfate Use: A Single-Center Experience.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of retinal pathology in patients with a history of exposure to pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS).

Methods: Patients exposed to PPS and seen in the ophthalmology clinic at Northwestern University during 1/1/2002 to 1/1/2019 were identified from electronic health records (EHR) by an electronic data warehouse (EDW) search. Visual acuity (VA), reasons for clinic visit, ocular conditions, and duration of exposure to PPS were noted.

Widefield Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To summarize the role of widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (WF-OCTA) in diabetic retinopathy (DR), extending from the acquisition strategies to the main clinical findings.

Methods: A PubMed-based search was carried out using the terms "Diabetic retinopathy", "optical coherence tomography angiography", "widefield imaging", and "ultra-widefield imaging". All studies published in English up to August 2020 were reviewed.