Ophthalmology

Despite triage systems in place to exclude patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), viral material was found on ophthalmology examination room surfaces at one center, though the infectivity of the samples was unknown.

New study results published in JAMA Ophthalmology suggest researchers can leverage big data to triage ophthalmic clinic appointments, balancing the glaucoma progression risk against the morbidity risk from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure during ophthalmic care.

Ranibizumab, in combination with prompt verteporfin photodynamic therapy, is more effective in treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy compared with ranibizumab monotherapy, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Whether you fit into the older or younger demographic, staying up to date on eye care is key as growing risks of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration are leading causes of blindness. Moreover, reducing the structural barriers to eye care, which disproportionately affect blacks and Afro Latinos, can assist in advancing the availability of eye health nationwide, said Daniel Laroche, MD, director of Glaucoma Services and president of Advanced Eye Care of New York.

Using automated spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, researchers found the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) in individuals with diabetic macular edema (DME) is associated with lower baseline best-corrected visual acuity. The findings of this retrospective study suggest automated quantification of intraretinal fluid and SRF may be an objective approach to assess DME treatment.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy may be useful for patients with retinal nonperfusion, as the treatment does not exacerbate the nonperfusion, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Epimacular brachytherapy does not reduce the number of ranibizumab injections required by patients with chronic, active neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and it is associated with worse visual acuity compared with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment alone, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Facedown positioning following surgery is not more likely to close large (≥400 mcm) macular holes compared with seating faced forward, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. However, visual acuity outcomes may be superior when patients are placed facedown after surgery.

Subclinical changes in retinochoroidal vasculature occur in obese individuals, according to a study published in PLoS ONE. Surgical intervention, such as bariatric surgery, may have a favorable outcome on the choroidal thickness in these patients’ eyes.

Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status disparities exist in uveal melanoma treatment and survival, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Increased particulate matter exposure is associated with worse dry eye metrics, after adjusting for humidity, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. The study also found that humidity is positively associated with dry eye metrics, potentially due to the fact that higher humidity increases microbial growth and subsequent particulate matter size and mass.

Looking into a deep red light for 3 minutes each day may significantly improve declining eyesight, according to a study published in Journals of Gerontology.

Aging and longer axial length are independent and significant risk factors for myopic maculopathy, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. The study also found the condition, which is the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness for middle-aged and older individuals, has a much higher prevalence rate in Japan compared with other Asian countries.

Patients who undergo pneumatic retinopexy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair report superior vision-related functioning scores and higher mental health scores during the first 6 months post operation, compared with those who undergo pars plana vitrectomy, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Currently, retinoblastoma (RB) occurs in 1 of every 20,000 births, making it the most common pediatric intraocular neoplasm. The cancer results from biallelic inactivation of the RB1 tumor-suppressor gene, which encodes the nuclear phosphoprotein RB protein.

Regular physical exercise reduces the risk of developing age-related cataracts (ARC), according to a dose-response meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Ophthalmology. ARC is one of the leading causes of vision impairment throughout the world and is estimated to account for 13.4 million cases of blindness.

Scientists at the Trinity College Dublin and University College London developed a new gene therapy approach that has the potential to treat a group of eye diseases known as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), according to research published in Stem Cell Reports.

Evidence from 2 randomized clinical trials suggests that long-term intraocular pressure variability does not add substantial explanatory power to a prediction model determining which individuals with untreated ocular hypertension will develop primary open-angle glaucoma, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Researchers discovered retinal data can predict which individuals have cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer disease pathology before cognitive decline is detectable, according to a study published in PLOS One.

Microperimetric mean sensitivity and deep scotoma points may be useful end points for clinical trials investigating emerging treatments for Stargardt disease, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Strabismus is associated with reduced functional vision and eye-related quality of life (ER-QOL) in children, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Because of this, when defining management goals, the association of strabismus with functional and ER-QOL in children should be considered.

Researchers in India were able to successfully use retinal diagnostics via smartphone adaptors to detect a diabetes-related eye disease, according to a study published in Ophthalmology.

Refractive evaluation should be considered for working-age adults with eye disease and reduced visual acuity, especially if they are new to seeking care for low vision, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

A deep learning model appears to be useful in classifying images to provide corneal information and preliminarily identify corneas at risk for refractive surgery, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Between 2009 and 2018, trends in antibiotic resistance among ocular microorganisms remained mostly unchanged in the United States, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. However, multidrug resistance, especially among methicillin-resistant staphylococci, remained high throughout the study period.

Visual impairment (VI) is estimated to affect around 1 in 11 US adults aged 65 and older and is associated with an increased risk of falls, social isolation, loss of independence, disability, and dementia. Older adults with dementia and self-reported VI may be at high risk for disability, while the co-occurrence of the 2 conditions may potentiate this risk, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Cognitive function, especially verbal intelligence, is strongly and consistently associated with myopia (nearsightedness) among adolescents, according to a study published in BMC Public Health.

Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel 0.38% (Lotemax SM) from Bausch & Lomb was found to have no meaningful impact on intraocular pressure or visual acuity when administered to patients post surgery, according to a review published in Clinical Drug Investigation.

A new test, supported by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, can detect glaucoma progression a year and a half earlier than widely used optical coherence tomography retinal imaging technology, according to a study published in Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics.

Retinal displacement may be more severe and occurs more frequently in patients who undergo pars plana vitrectomy as opposed to pneumatic retinopexy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.