Biomarkers.

Background: The early detection of preclinical dementia is crucial, prompting investigations into retinal biomarkers using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Inconsistent and limited longitudinal studies have been done to clarify the association between the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness and cognitive function over time. This study aims to explore the association between retinal biomarkers and cognitive function over time in non-demented older adults.

Macular Hole with an Intact Bacillary Layer.

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics of macular holes (MH) with an intact bacillary layer.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the characteristics and surgical results of 23 eyes with MH and an intact bacillary layer, with or without rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Results: Among the 23 eyes, 11 had only MH, and 12 had concurrent fovea-off RRD.

Interocular retinal asymmetry and cognitive frailty: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) or ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) is associated with cognitive impairment. However, the relationship between retinal asymmetry and cognitive frailty (CF) remains unknown.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-two community-dwelling older adults were assessed starting in 2015 and underwent biennial cognitive and frailty evaluations until 2022.

A deep learning approach for the screening of referable age-related macular degeneration - Model development and external validation.

Purpose: To develop a deep learning image assessment software, VeriSee™ AMD, and to validate its accuracy in diagnosing referable age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: For model development, a total of 6801 judgable 45-degree color fundus images from patients, aged 50 years and over, were collected. These images were assessed for AMD severity by ophthalmologists, according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) AMD category.

Prediction of Visual Acuity After Cataract Surgery by Deep Learning Methods Using Clinical Information and Color Fundus Photography.

Purpose: To examine the performance of deep-learning models that predicts the visual acuity after cataract surgery using preoperative clinical information and color fundus photography (CFP).

Methods: We retrospectively collected the age, sex, and logMAR preoperative best corrected visual acuity (preoperative-BCVA) and CFP from patients who underwent cataract surgeries from 2020 to 2021 at National Taiwan University Hospital. Feature extraction of CFP was performed using a pre-existing image classification model, Xception.

Impact of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment on Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration with and without Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment: A Real-World Study.

Background/objectives: This study evaluates the impact of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with and without pigment epithelial detachment (PED) over a one-year period.

Methods: Conducted at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan, this retrospective analysis included 88 eyes treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections. Patients were categorized into four groups based on the presence or absence of PED at baseline and 12 months post-treatment.

SURGICAL OUTCOMES AND INTRAOPERATIVE PARAMETERS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION SYSTEM VERSUS CONVENTIONAL MICROSCOPES FOR MACULAR SURGERY IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters of 3D visualization system for macular diseases in highly myopic eyes.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, comparative interventional study, 40 highly myopic eyes (axial length > 26 mm) were randomly assigned to either a 3D visualization system or a conventional microscope group. Surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters, including the number of indocyanine green injections, surgical time, and epiretinal membrane/internal limiting membrane peeling time, were compared.

Myopic traction maculopathy in fovea-involved myopic chorioretinal atrophy.

Objectives: To assess the specific features of myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) in the context of myopic macular atrophy (MA). The evolution, surgical considerations, optimal surgical procedures, and results were studied.

Methods: Retrospective, consecutive cases collection was performed for highly myopic eyes with MA (category 4, the classification system of META-analysis for Pathologic Myopia).

Commentary on association of glycemic index and glycemic load with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality.

High glycemic index/load is associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and total mortality. The impact on the Asian population may be higher.

Macular Structure Characteristics in Unilateral Idiopathic Full-Thickness Macular Hole and the Healthy Fellow Eyes.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the macular structure and foveal pit characteristics in the unilateral full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) patients and healthy fellow eyes.

Methods: Our retrospective investigation included patients with unilateral FTMH as the study group, and age- and sex-matched individuals without vitreomacular diseases as the control group, all from one medical center. FTMHs were categorized into those with epiretinal proliferation, those without epiretinal proliferation, or those lacking vitreomacular separation.

Surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters of 3D visualization system versus conventional microscopes for macular surgery in highly myopic eyes, a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters of 3D visualization system for macular diseases in highly myopic eyes.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, comparative interventional study, 40 highly myopic eyes (axial length > 26mm) were randomly assigned to either a 3D visualization system or a conventional microscope (CM) group. Surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters, including the number of indocyanine green (ICG) injections, surgical time, and epiretinal membrane (ERM)/ internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling time, were compared.

Systemic effects of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection in patients with age-related macular degeneration: A multi-institutional real-world study.

Purpose: In individuals aged >50 years, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept) show good efficacy and similar incidences of systemic adverse events (SAEs). However, comparative studies between agents are limited.

Differential Capillary and Large Vessel Analysis Improves OCTA Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of distinctive capillary-large vessel (CLV) analysis in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) on the classification performance of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: This multicenter study analyzed 212 OCTA images from 146 patients, including 28 controls, 36 diabetic patients without DR (NoDR), 31 with mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 28 with moderate NPDR, and 23 with severe NPDR. Quantitative features were derived from the whole image as well as the parafovea and perifovea regions.

Relationship between genotype, phenotype, and refractive status in patients of inherited retinal degeneration.

Background: To elucidate the relationship between inherited retinal disease, visual acuity and refractive error development in Asian patients.

Subjects: Five hundred phakic eyes with refractive data were analysed in this retrospective cohort. Diseases were categorized by clinical phenotypes, and the prevalent genotypes identified in the Taiwan Inherited Retinal Degeneration Project were analysed.

Vitreous substitutes and tamponades - A review of types, applications, and future directions.

Vitreous substitutes and tamponades occupy the vitreous cavity following vitrectomy in the management of various conditions such as retinal detachment, macular hole, and diabetic retinopathy. Such replacements can be for the short term (gases such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and perfluoropropane (C3F8) or long term (such as silicone oils). Certain substitutes such as perfluorocarbon liquids are used only transiently during surgery as "a third hand" or rarely till a few days post surgery.

Fluid Biomarkers in Optical Coherence Tomography for Visual Outcome in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

To investigate the associations between fluid accumulation at different levels in the retina and visual outcome in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). A retrospective observational study. Institutional setting.

Differential artery-vein analysis improves the OCTA classification of diabetic retinopathy.

This study investigates the impact of differential artery-vein (AV) analysis in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) on machine learning classification of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Leveraging deep learning for arterial-venous area (AVA) segmentation, six quantitative features, including perfusion intensity density (PID), blood vessel density (BVD), vessel area flux (VAF), blood vessel caliber (BVC), blood vessel tortuosity (BVT), and vessel perimeter index (VPI) features, were derived from OCTA images before and after AV differentiation. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was utilized to assess both binary and multiclass classifications of control, diabetic patients without DR (NoDR), mild DR, moderate DR, and severe DR groups.

Convolutional Neural Network-Based Prediction of Axial Length Using Color Fundus Photography.

Purpose: To develop convolutional neural network (CNN)-based models for predicting the axial length (AL) using color fundus photography (CFP) and explore associated clinical and structural characteristics.

Methods: This study enrolled 1105 fundus images from 467 participants with ALs ranging from 19.91 to 32.

Clinical characteristics and optical coherence tomography of concomitant macular hole and rhgematogenous retinal detachment.

To study the clinical characteristics of macula off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with peripheral causative breaks and concomitant macular hole (RRD+MH). This is a bi-center study. Consecutive eyes of macula off RRD with or without macular hole (MH) were collected.

Genetics in neovascular age-related macular degeneration susceptibility and treatment response to anti-VEGF intravitreal injection: A case series study.

Background: To identify genotypes associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and investigate the associations between genotype variations and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment response.

Methods: This observational, retrospective, case series study enrolled patients diagnosed with nAMD who received anti-VEGF treatment in National Taiwan University Hospital with at least one-year follow-up between 2012 and 2020. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on enrolled patients and controls.

Choroidal Changes in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to investigate the characteristic choroidal changes in patients with diabetic retinopathy and identify factors affecting choroidal thickness (CTh), choroidal vascular index (CVI), and choriocapillaris flow. We retrospectively analyzed 79 eyes of 48 patients with diabetes between August 2021 and February 2022. We collected laboratory data, including HbA1c, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

Gender- and age-related differences in foveal pit morphology.

Aims: To measure the foveal pit morphology parameters and evaluate their correlations with age and sex.

Settings And Design: A retrospective cross-sectional matched comparison study in a tertiary center.

Methods And Materials: Forty men and 40 age-matched women who had normal macular structures and foveal contours were enrolled.

BROAD VITREOMACULAR ATTACHMENT-INDUCED MACULAR HOLE: Structural Changes and Surgical Outcome.

Purpose: This study aims to describe the structural changes and surgical outcomes of full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) induced by vitreomacular traction with broad vitreomacular attachment (VMA).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of idiopathic FTMHs from October 2010 to May 2022 was conducted. Patients with FTMHs and no retinal detachment (RD) induced by broad VMA (the study group) were compared with a control group consisting of typical FTMHs with focal VMA.

Corneal structural alterations in autism spectrum disorder: An in vivo confocal microscopy study.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit joint hypermobility and connective tissue disorders. However, it remains unclear if ASD individuals also have structural alterations in the connective tissue of the cornea. This study aims to determine whether the Kobayashi structure (K-structure) characteristics differ between adults with ASD and typically developing controls (TDC) and explore the clinical correlates of the K-structure abnormality.