Anatomical and Functional Outcomes with Prompt versus Delayed Initiation of Anti-VEGF in Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE

To investigate the correlation between time from diagnosis of treatment-naïve exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to the introduction of anti-VEGF treatment and anatomical and functional outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Included were treatment-naïve exudative AMD patients who presented to a single tertiary medical center between 2012 and 2018. All patients were treated within the first 30 days of their diagnosis with three monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (prompt anti-VEGF) were injected with bevacizumab within ten days, group 2 (intermediate anti-VEGF) within 11-20 days, and group 3 (delayed anti-VEGF) within 21-30 days from diagnosis. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared up to two years from treatment.

RESULTS

146 eyes of 146 patients were included. Sixty-eight patients were in the prompt anti-VEGF group, 31 in the intermediate anti-VEGF group, and 47 in the delayed anti-VEGF group. Following the induction phase of three intravitreal bevacizumab injections, the mean central subfield macular thickness (328.0 ± 115.4 µm vs. 364.6 ± 127.2 µm vs. 337.7 ± 150.1 µm, p = 0.432) and the best-corrected visual acuity (0.47 ± 0.38 vs. 0.59 ± 0.48 vs. 0.47 ± 0.44 logMAR units, p = 0.458) were comparable between the prompt, intermediate and delayed anti-VEGF groups. Anatomical and functional outcomes, treatment burden, number of relapses and eyes with second-line anti-VEGF therapy were comparable between the groups at both 1-year and 2-year timepoints.

CONCLUSIONS

Our real-world evidence data emphasize that even if anti-VEGF induction cannot be initiated promptly within ten days from diagnosis of naïve exudative AMD, the visual and anatomical prognosis of the patients may not worsen if the treatment is started within one month of diagnosis.

[OPTIC DISC EDEMA IN McCUNE-ALBRIGHT SYNDROME]

INTRODUCTION

Craniofacial polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, as part of McCune-Albright syndrome, can have severe complications including vision loss. Also, patients with this syndrome are at greater risk of secondary intra-cranial pressure elevation due to medication side effects.

BACKGROUND

: A 6-year-old girl with McCune-Albright syndrome and polyostotic craniofacial fibrous dysplasia and optic canal narrowing, developed signs of slowly progressive optic nerve compression on clinical examination including deteriorating visual acuity, positive relative afferent pupillary defect )RAPD) and bilateral optic disc swelling. Imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed progressive retinal nerve fiber layer thickening. Prior to deterioration, the dose of triptorelin, a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue, she was treated with for precocious puberty, was increased. Medication cessation was followed by improvement in clinical and imaging findings.

CONCLUSIONS

: McCune-Albright syndrome patients with craniofacial involvement and/or gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue treatment should be monitored regularly for clinical signs of optic neuropathy together with routine OCT imaging.

Intravitreal Tissue Plasminogen Activator Injection for the Treatment of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in a Rabbit Model

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravitreal injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) on proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

METHODS

PVR was induced in a rabbit model by intraocular injection of dispase (0.05 U/0.1 mL). Progression of PVR was followed by indirect ophthalmic examination. Following 6 weeks, 5 animals received intravitreal injection of 25 µg/0.1 mL tPA and four were injected with balanced salt solution (BSS). Animals were euthanized at 48 h following tPA/BSS injection, and eyes were enucleated for histological evaluation and staining with α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and Sirius Red.

RESULTS

Following tPA injection, one eye had a reduction in PVR from grade 2 to 1 and three eyes remained stable. Following BSS, PVR grade was unchanged in three eyes. In one eye in each group, the severity of PVR could not be assessed due to limited view. Staining with αSMA showed reduced presence of fibroblasts in eyes injected with tPA compared with those injected with BSS. Collagen type I and III, demonstrated by Sirius Red staining, was reduced in the tPA group in comparison with controls.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that intravitreally injected tPA may show an inhibitory effect on PVR progression. Further exploration in clinical trials is desired.

Measured Corneal Astigmatism Versus Pseudophakic Predicted Refractive Astigmatism in Cataract Surgery Candidates

PURPOSE

To compare standard and total corneal astigmatism measurements to the predicted pseudophakic (nontoric) refractive astigmatism in candidates for cataract surgery.

DESIGN

A retrospective, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A single-center analysis of consecutive eyes measured with a swept-source optical coherence tomography biometer at a large tertiary medical center between February 2018 and June 2020. Corneal astigmatism was calculated based on standard keratometry astigmatism (KA), total corneal astigmatism (TCA), and predicted refractive astigmatism (PRA) for a monofocal nontoric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation calculated by the Barrett toric calculator using the predicted posterior corneal astigmatism (PRA_{(Predicted-PCA)}) and the measured posterior corneal astigmatism (PRA_{(Measured-PCA)}) options. Separate analyses were performed for each eye.

SETTING

Ophthalmology Department, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

RESULTS

In total, 8152 eyes of 5320 patients (4221 right eyes [OD] and 3931 left eyes [OS], mean age 70.6±12.2 years, 54.2% females) were included in the study. The mean vector values (centroid) for KA, TCA, PRA_{(Predicted-PCA)}, and PRA_{(Measured-PCA)} were 0.07 diopters [D] at 19.5°, 0.27 D at 7.5°, 0.44 D at 2.9°, and 0.43 D at 179.3°, respectively (P < .01), for OD and 0.02 D at 150.3°, 0.23 D at 169.7°, 0.40 D at 179.4°, and 0.42 D at 169.5°, respectively (P < .01), for OS. More than 73% of eyes had a PRA >0.5 D.

CONCLUSIONS

Standard and total corneal astigmatism measurements differ significantly from the PRA by the Barrett toric calculator. The PRA, rather than the KA or TCA, should be used as the reference guide for astigmatism correction with toric IOL implantation.

Ocular Biometric Characteristics Measured by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Individuals Undergoing Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE

To study the distribution of ocular biometric parameters using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer in adult candidates for cataract surgery.

DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This is a single-center analysis of consecutive eyes measured with the IOLMaster 700 SS-OCT biometer at a large tertiary medical center between February 2018 and June 2020.

RESULTS

Three thousand eight hundred thirty-six eyes of 3836 patients were included in the study. The mean ± SD age was 72.3 ± 12.8 years and 53% were female. The mean biometric values were as follows: total corneal power (44.17 ± 1.70 diopters [D]), total corneal astigmatism (TCA; 1.11 ± 0.87 D), mean posterior keratometry (-5.87 ± 0.26 D), posterior corneal astigmatism (-0.26 ± 0.15 D), axial length (AL; 23.95 ± 1.66 mm), anterior chamber depth (ACD; 3.18 ± 0.42 mm), lens thickness (LT; 4.49 ± 0.47 mm), white-to-white distance (WTW; 11.92 ± 0.44 mm), central corneal thickness (CCT; 0.54 ± 0.04 mm), angle alpha (0.49 ± 0.17 mm), and angle kappa (0.34 ± 0.17 mm). There were sex-related differences in all biometric parameters save for LT (P = .440), angle kappa (P = .216), and corneal astigmatism (P = .103). Biometric parameters demonstrated correlations between AL, WTW distance, ACD, and LT (P < .001). Age correlated with all parameters (P < .001) except CCT and posterior keratometry. Angle alpha and angle kappa magnitudes also correlated (P < .001). The prevalence of patients with TCA ≥0.75 D, 1.0 D, and 1.5 D were 59.1%, 43.4%, and 22.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Age significantly correlated with most of the biometric parameters and significant differences between sexes were noted. In addition, the high prevalence of TCA and relatively large angle alpha and angle kappa magnitudes were noted among subjects. These data can be relevant in planning local and national health economics.

Evaluating the prediction accuracy of the Hill-RBF 3.0 formula using a heteroscedastic statistical method

PURPOSE

To evaluate the accuracy of the Hill-RBF 3 formula, with and without direct measurements of total corneal power, using a heteroscedastic statistical method for analysis.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

DESIGN

Retrospective, consecutive case series.

METHODS

Records of consecutive patients who underwent routine cataract surgery between February 2018 and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The prediction accuracy of the Hill-RBF 3.0 formula was compared with that of the Barrett Universal II, Emmetropia Verifying Optical 2.0, Haigis, Hill-RBF 2.0, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Kane, Olsen, and SRK/T formulas, based on biometry measurements by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) with standard keratometry (K), SS-OCT with total keratometry (TK), and an optical low-coherence reflectometer (OLCR). Statistical analysis was applied according to a heteroscedastic statistical method with SD of prediction errors as the main parameter for formula performance.

RESULTS

The study included 153 eyes of 153 patients. The SD values that were obtained by Hill-RBF 3.0 (0.266 to 0.285 diopters [D]) were significantly lower compared with those by Hill-RBF 2.0 (0.290 to 0.309 D), Hoffer Q (0.387 to 0.407 D), Holladay 1 (0.367 to 0.385 D), Holladay 2 (0.386 to 0.401 D), and SRK/T (0.377 to 0.399 D) formulas (P < .036). The prediction accuracy of the Hill-RBF 3.0 was similar across the SS-OCT (K), SS-OCT (TK), and OLCR methods of measurement (P > .51).

CONCLUSIONS

The Hill-RBF 3.0 was more accurate than the Hill-RBF 2.0 and older generation formulas and had similar prediction accuracy compared with new generation formulas. The use of TK did not provide significant improvement to its prediction accuracy.

Telemedicine comes of age during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): An international survey of oculoplastic surgeons

PURPOSE

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an ongoing healthcare crisis that continues its worldwide spread. Ophthalmologists are at high risk of acquiring and transmitting the virus. Telemedicine platforms have evolved and may play an important role in attenuating this risk. For patients, these platforms provide the possibility of clinic consultation without the concerns of a clinic visit. We aimed to assess the utilization of telemedicine by oculoplastics specialists worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A 13-item survey was distributed internationally to practicing oculoplastic surgeons. Collected data included demographics, clinical practice variables and perceptions regarding telemedicine. Significance of associations and single survey items was evaluated by Chi-squared and z-score of proportions tests, respectively.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by 70 oculoplastic surgeons (54.3% male, mean age 47.3 years, median experience 10 years) from eight countries, practicing in various clinical settings (50.0% hospitals, 45.7% private clinics, 4.3% community clinics). Most respondents reported telemedicine to be an effective tool for oculoplastic consultations (67.1%, p = 0.004), while only 12.8% (p < 0.00001) had incorporated this modality into clinical practice prior to the pandemic. Even though a vast majority (98.6%) of participants had limited outpatient activity, most (55.7%) felt unprotected from the virus. Telemedicine had been incorporated by 70.5% (p = 0.001) of respondents during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas most (57.1%) predicted continued use of the modality.

CONCLUSION

Telemedicine can be effectively and rapidly incorporated into the clinical practice of oculoplastic surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research into the most effective utilization of these platforms appears warranted.

Response of ophthalmologists in Israel to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak

Purpose

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has evolved into a formidable healthcare crisis. Ophthalmologists are at daily personal risk of acquiring and transmitting the virus. Implementation of official practical and protective guidelines can be challenging and is often absent. The purpose of this study was to describe the status of ophthalmology practice in Israel, at the early stages of the outbreak.

Methods

A 17-item questionnaire was distributed to ophthalmologists practicing in Israel. Data was obtained regarding demographics and clinical and surgical practice during the pandemic.

Results

One hundred and sixty-seven ophthalmologists completed the survey from all regions of Israel. The survey was distributed during the early stages of the outbreak. At this time, no official government guidelines were in place. Most respondents reported no reduction of elective clinic visits and surgeries and no utilization of triage questionnaires. COVID-19 guidelines were reportedly promulgated to hospital ophthalmologists but not to community and private physicians. Personal protective equipment (PPE) measures were reportedly utilized; however, many respondents often acquired them individually. A majority of respondents advocated that healthcare institutions limit clinic and surgery services to emergency services.

Conclusion

During the critical early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in Israel, this study emphasizes the delay in development of emergency guidelines, necessary to protect patients and ophthalmologists from this highly transmissible disease.