Ophthalmology

Insurance reimbursement for teleophthalmology services is not consistent among populations and only recently received a boost due to flexibilities allowed during the pandemic, said Parisa Emami-Naeini, MD, MPH, assistant professor of ophthalmology at University of California, Davis, and vitreoretinal surgeon and uveitis specialist at UC Davis Eye Center.

A systematic review found that children who engaged in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic had induced or exacerbated visual disturbances.

Getting a more diverse patient population in clinical trials may be as simple as including paperwork in more languages, but good training among investigators and study coordinators can help identify unconscious biases that may also have an impact, explained Vivienne Hau, MD, clinical assistant professor with the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine.

Research presented at the American Society of Retina Specialists conference found that vitreoretinal surgery had cost and health implications in both Europe and the United States.

In retina surgery, obtaining prior authorization is an extra burden, and a delay in treatment for some of these patients could mean loss of vision, said Sabin Dang, MD, ophthalmologist with The Retina Institute.

A recent study examined whether an artificial intelligence (AI) trained risk model could screen for retinopathy of prematurity, a leading cause of preventable blindness in infants in low- and middle-income countries, via telehealth.

Faster and sectoral central location of ganglion cell complex thinning could be used to determine the risk of vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma.

A recent review found a likely association between diabetic retinopathy and increased risk of stroke with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

A population-based, observational, retrospective cohort study found that there was an association between migraines and ocular motor cranial nerve palsy.

Aetna announced it they would no longer be requiring prior approval for cataract surgeries starting in July.

A noninterventional study found that chart-based assessments of visual function had adequate repeatability but were limited in discriminating between no age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and intermediate AMD.

A recent study found that the ranibizumab port delivery system (PDS) has cost-saving potential compared with regular ranibizumab or aflibercept injections for age-related macular degeneration if used in the long term.

A retrospective study found that 26% of eyes with acute primary angle closure (APAC) were resolved after initial medical treatment.

A rare genetic variation of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase (HMGCR) is significantly association with an increased risk of cataracts.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers found a new form of macular dystrophy, which is a cause of central vision loss.

A prospective observational study found that retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in the papillomacular bundle was associated with poorer 9-month visual acuity in preterm infants.

A cross-sectional study of women found that race, economic hardship, and education were associated with visual impairment that could be improved with optical correction.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was found to be associated with relative telomere length in women specifically when investigating older patients.

A systematic review found that vision impairment was associated with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety in children.

Steven Yeh, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the Truhlsen Eye Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, talks about what he sees in the future of suprachoroidal administration and other unmet needs in ophthalmology.

A population-based cohort study found that patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) 40 years and older had increased risk of cardiovascular disease CVD compared with patients who did not have RVO.

In a 2-sample Mendelian randomization study, researchers found a direct causal relationship between genetically predicted coffee consumption and higher risk of primary open-angle glaucoma.

A cross-sectional study found that areas with a high number of eye care clinicians had a lower prevalence of vision impairment.

Steven Yeh, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the Truhlsen Eye Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, discusses the length of Xipere's treatment benefits and potential learning curves regarding its suprachoroidal delivery mechanism.

Application of quality improvement methodology by a multidisciplinary team could improve the efficiency of outpatient ophthalmology appointment scheduling.

While risk factors for pterygia are well-known, the underlying disease mechanisms have not been fully clarified in past studies. A new analysis using RNA sequencing pinpointed ptergyia-specific biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

The increased use of technology in the classrooms has forced ophthalmologists, optometrists, and educators to consider the perfect balance in children’s development.

A multitrait model of corneal parameters was effective in identifying new keratoconus risk loci, resulting in enhanced polygenic risk score models.

An observational, cross-sectional study found longer face mask wearing and nonstandard wearing of face masks were associated with dry eye in adults older than 20 years.

Patients may have unrealistic expectations of how a new treatment or procedure may help them, and the conversation between the patient and physician is crucial for setting expectations, explained Robert G. Fante, MD, FACS, president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and facial plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgeon, Fante Eye & Face Centre in Denver, Colorado.