Characterization of pentosan polysulfate patients for development of an alert and screening system for ophthalmic monitoring.

Objective: Pentosan polysulfate (PPS; ELMIRON, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Titusville, NJ) is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved oral medication for interstitial cystitis.

Association of Socioeconomic Health Care Disparities With Use of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Visual Acuity Outcomes in Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema.

Background And Objective: This study characterizes the impact of race, ethnicity, insurance status, and geographic location on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) use for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Patients And Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Intelligent Research in Sight Registry was queried for patients diagnosed with DME who received at least one anti-VEGF injection between 2012 and 2020 ( = 203,707).

Race and Socioeconomic Status in Anti-VEGF Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema.

Background And Objective: Although people of low socioeconomic status (SES) and certain racial groups are at greater risk of developing diabetic macular edema (DME), the extent these high-risk groups experience treatment differences is unknown. This study characterizes anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection use for DME.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected from an electronic health record at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation for patients who received anti-VEGF treatment for DME between 2012 and 2019 ( = 500).

Ophthalmology Provider Ratings and Patient, Disease, and Appointment Factors.

The purpose of the current study is to examine how nonmodifiable sociodemographic, disease, appointment, management, and survey factors correlate with provider rating. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted on 29 857 patient Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys collected from January 2017 to January 2019 at a tertiary eye center. We included surveys of patients aged 18 years or older, who answered at least 4 of 6 subfield questions, and completed the survey within 90 days of the appointment.

Fluctuations in macular thickness in patients with diabetic macular oedema treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents.

Purpose: To evaluate retinal thickness fluctuations in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections.

Methods: Visual acuity (VA) and central subfield thickness (CST) were collected at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Retinal thickness fluctuation was quantified by standard deviation (SD) of CST across 12 months.

Management of Patients With DME With Good Visual Acuity in Routine Clinical Practice.

Background And Objective: To determine outcomes of eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) and best visual acuity (BVA) of 20/25 or better in routine clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective study of 72 patients with DME and BVA of 20/25 or better. Patients were divided by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment regimen: early (Group A), delayed (Group B), and none (Group C).

Real-World Treatment Patterns in a Population With Neovascular AMD Treated With Anti-VEGF Agents.

Background And Objectives: To characterize mean number of injections, injection type, and injection frequency during the first year of treatment; assess factors significantly related to injection interval; and identify predictive factors related to patient outcomes.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective, noncomparative, nonrandomized cohort study of ocular treatment with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Data from January 1, 2012, through March 31, 2018, were systematically extracted from the electronic medical record system at Cole Eye Institute.

Racial, Ethnic, and Insurance-Based Disparities Upon Initiation of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema in the US.

Purpose: This study characterizes the association of risk factors including race, ethnicity, and insurance status with presenting visual acuity (VA) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity in patients initiating treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Participants: The Academy Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry database was queried for patients who initiated anti-VEGF injection treatment for DME between 2012 and 2020 (n = 203 707).

Visual outcomes following cataract surgery in age-related macular degeneration patients.

Objective: To evaluate visual acuity (VA) outcomes, prognostic factors, and changes in disease severity in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) undergoing cataract surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study PARTICIPANTS: Patients with AMD or healthy control patients who underwent cataract surgery between 2012 and 2017.

Methods: Eyes were categorized into 3 AMD groups-intermediate AMD (iAMD), fovea-involving geographic atrophy (GA), neovascular AMD (nAMD)-and 3 preoperative VA-matched control groups (iAMDc), fovea-involving geographic atrophy control (GAc), neovaascular AMD control (nAMDc).

Characterization of Kiosk Usage for Ophthalmic Outpatient Visits.

Background And Objectives: This study aims to characterize check-in kiosk usage within a multidisciplinary ophthalmic clinic.

Patients And Methods: Chart review of patients aged 18 or older seen at Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, from August 1, 2019, to October 31, 2019. Primary endpoint was percentage of patients who used a check-in kiosk.

Effects of Quality Improvement Education in Diabetic Retinopathy on Routine Clinical Practice Patterns of Optometrists.

Significance: Optometrists play a preventive role in diabetic care by detecting early signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness in adults. This study demonstrates that additional training can improve optometrists' ability to assess the presence and severity of DR in individuals with diabetes.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the impact of a quality improvement intervention involving education, assessment, and feedback on improving the evaluation and referral patterns of optometrists with regard to their patients with diabetes.

Optimizing Visualization of Membranes in Macular Surgery With Heads-Up Display.

Background And Objective: To determine which optical parameter profiles (OPPs) can be utilized to improve the visualization of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and the internal limiting membrane (ILM) using a three-dimensional heads-up microscope during 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

Patients And Methods: Fourteen independent graders were asked to complete a questionnaire comparing each of the OPPs against the unaltered control image for each given surgical case.

Results: Analysis of the graders' responses indicated that higher values of hue are correlated with better visualization of ERM/ILM before and after dye application.

Impact and Characterization of Delayed Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that patients diagnosed with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) be considered for pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) treatment within 1 month of diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect delayed treatment had on visual outcomes and to characterize the medical and socioeconomic factors that contributed to delayed treatment of PDR.

Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Age-related differences in presentation and outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment of retinal vein occlusion.

Objective: To assess age-related differences at baseline and treatment outcomes in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and macular edema treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy DESIGN: Single-centre retrospective chart review.

Participants: 295 treatment-naïve RVO patients.

Methods: 295 RVO patients included were separated into age quartiles: group A (22-61 years), group B (62-70 years), group C (71-79 years), and group D (80-95 years).

Functional imaging of mitochondria in retinal diseases using flavoprotein fluorescence.

Mitochondria are critical for cellular energy production and homeostasis. Oxidative stress and associated mitochondrial dysfunction are integral components of the pathophysiology of retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Within mitochondria, flavoproteins are oxidized and reduced and emit a green autofluorescence when oxidized following blue light excitation.

CONSEQUENCES OF LAPSES IN TREATMENT WITH VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR INHIBITORS IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IN ROUTINE CLINICAL PRACTICE.

Purpose: Evaluating outcomes in patients receiving intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for neovascular age-related macular degeneration whom experience a lapse in treatment.

Methods: A retrospective chart review evaluating 3,304 patients ≥18 years who experienced treatment lapses ≥3 months compared with control counterparts. Demographic information, macular thickness as measured by central subfield thickness, and visual acuity were collected at baseline, the first postlapse appointment, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after the lapse for the study group.

The Short-term Effect of a Single Lapse in Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema Within Routine Clinical Practice.

Purpose: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss in diabetics. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment option for DME, although the injections are costly and require frequent visits, which increases the risk for unintended treatment lapses. The aim of this study is to characterize the effects of an unintended treatment lapse in patients with DME undergoing anti-VEGF therapy.

Fluctuations in Macular Thickness in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion Treated with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents.

Purpose: To evaluate macular thickness fluctuations in patients with retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents and to assess whether patients with larger fluctuations have poorer visual outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Participants: Treatment-naive patients with RVO.

Relationship Between Nerve Fiber Layer Hemorrhages and Outcomes in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the depth and pattern of retinal hemorrhage in acute central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and to correlate these with visual and anatomic outcomes.

Methods: Retinal hemorrhages were evaluated with color fundus photography and fluorescein angiography at baseline and follow-up. Snellen visual acuity (VA), central foveal thickness (CFT), extent of retinal ischemia, and development of neovascularization were analyzed.

Comparative Assessment of Widefield Fundus Autofluorescence Patterns in Retinoschisis and Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: This article characterizes widefield fundus autofluorescence (WF-FAF) patterns in retinoschisis (RS), retinal detachment (RD), and combined retinoschisis-detachment (RS/RD), and to correlate them with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings.

Methods: A retrospective case series of 13 eyes with senile RS, RD, or RS/RD is presented. One eye underwent imaging of 2 areas within the retina, resulting in 14 data points.