Effects of reduction in intraocular pressure after trabeculotomy on axial length and intraocular lens selection.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and axial length (AL) and to compare the refractive predicted error in patients who have undergone cataract surgery alone or in combination with trabeculotomy. SETTING: Hospital. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective, case-control. METHODS: The medical records of patients who had undergone cataract surgery alone or in combination with trabeculotomy using the Tanito microhook were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped into cataract surgery alone (CAT) or cataract surgery combined with trabeculotomy (LOT) groups. Demographic data, preoperative and postoperative IOP and AL, and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) were analyzed before and 1 month postoperatively to evaluate the interplay between IOP, AL, and refractive outcomes. RESULTS: 52 eyes (52 patients) underwent LOT, and 67 eyes (67 patients) underwent CAT. The mean IOP at baseline did not differ between the groups; the change in IOP (dIOP) was significantly higher in the LOT group than in the CAT group. The mean AL at baseline and the change in AL (dAL) were 24.0 ± 1.2 mm and 0.16 ± 0.11 mm, respectively, in the LOT group, and 23.8 ± 1.1 mm and 0.11 ± 0.070 mm, respectively, in the CAT group. The difference in dAL was also significant. In the LOT group, dIOP and dAL were significantly correlated. The mean SIA vectors did not significantly differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: AL decreased because of the reduction in IOP after cataract surgery combined with trabeculotomy. Consequently, the refractive target error was greater, and the postoperative refractive outcome showed a tendency toward hyperopia.

Effectiveness of a targeted primary preventive intervention in a high-risk group identified using an efficiency score from data envelopment analysis: a randomised controlled trial of local residents in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a minimal intervention based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA)-identified efficiency score effectively prevents hypertension. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Takahata town (Yamagata, Japan). PARTICIPANTS: Residents aged 40-74 years belonged to the information provision group for specific health guidance. Participants with a blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, those taking antihypertensive medication, or those with a history of cardiac diseases were excluded. Participants were consecutively assigned based on their health check-up visit at a single centre from September 2019 to November 2020 and were followed up at the check-up in the following year, until 3 December 2021. INTERVENTION: A targeted approach using minimal intervention. Target was identified using DEA and 50% of participants with higher risk were targeted. The intervention was notifying the results of their risk of hypertension according to the efficiency score obtained by the DEA. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: A reduction in the proportion of participants who developed hypertension (≥140/90 mm Hg or taking antihypertensive medication). RESULTS: A total of 495 eligible participants were randomised, and follow-up data were available for 218 and 227 participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The risk difference for the primary outcome was 0.2% (95% CI -7.3 to 6.9) with 38/218 (17.4%) and 40/227 (17.6%) events in the intervention and control group, respectively (Pearson's χ2 test, p=0.880). The adjusted OR of the effect of the intervention was 0.95 (95% CI 0.56 to 1.61, p=0.843), and that of the efficiency score (10-rank increase) was 0.81 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.89, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Minimal intervention to a high-risk population stratified by DEA was not effective in reducing the onset of hypertension in 1 year. The efficiency score could predict the risk of hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000037883.

Clinical Outcomes of Phacoemulsification in Japanese Patients Receiving First and Revised Second-Generation Trabecular Microbypass Stents.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of first and revised second-generation trabecular microbypass stent insertion [iStent (IS) and iStent inject W (IW)] in cataract surgery. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective, cohort study. METHODS: The study included 176 eyes that received trabecular microbypass stents combined with cataract surgery at the Saitama Red Cross Hospital between September 2017 and September 2021. Patients were divided into IS and IW groups depending on the implant type. Demographic characteristics, intraocular pressure (IOP), and the number of antiglaucoma medications (Med) were analyzed preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. In addition, postoperative complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: IS and IW were implanted in 86 eyes and 90 eyes, respectively. IOP and Med at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months decreased significantly from baseline in both groups ( P = 0.04, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively, for IOP in the IS group; P = 0.02, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively, for IOP in the IW group; P = 0.03, P = 0.002, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively, for Med in the IS group; and P < 0.001 for all time points for Med in the IW group). IOP did not vary significantly between the groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Med was significantly lower in IW than IS at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.002, and P = 0.002, respectively). Hyphema and IOP >30 mm Hg (spike) occurred in 1.2% and 4.4%, and 1.2% and 3.3% of patients in the IS and IW groups, respectively. The probability of successful discontinuation of medications at 12 months postoperatively was 10.5% and 41.1%, respectively ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative Med was significantly lower in the IW group. Simultaneous insertion of IW in patients with glaucoma requiring cataract surgery may be preferred to IS because it reduces the burden of Med.

Predicting retinal sensitivity using optical coherence tomography parameters in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To predict changes in retinal sensitivity using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: Twenty-three eyes in 23 patients with CSC were enrolled. Retinal sensitivity was measured twice using microperimetry in all the examined eyes. Spectral domain OCT measurements were simultaneously conducted. The relationship between retinal sensitivity and the thicknesses of (i) the retinal nerve fiber layer plus the ganglion cell layer (RNFL + GCL), (ii) the inner nuclear layer (INL), (iii) the outer nuclear layer (ONL), and (iv) the serous retinal detachment height (SRDH) were investigated in a point-wise manner. The associations between the change in retinal sensitivity and the OCT parameters at baseline were also investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 49.8 ± 10.7 years. The mean SRDH was significantly lower (p < 0.001), and the mean retinal sensitivity (p < 0.001) was significantly higher at the second examination, compared with the first; however, the logMAR visual acuity (VA) did not differ significantly between the two examinations (p = 0.063). The logMAR VA was associated with retinal sensitivity at both the first and second examinations (p < 0.001). The retinal sensitivity at the second examination was significantly correlated with the retinal sensitivity, RNFL + GCL, INL, ONL, and SRDH at the first examination and with the improvement in SRDH. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal sensitivity was associated with the retinal structure in eyes with CSC; these parameters could be useful for predicting the change in visual function prior to treatment.

The effects of antithrombotic therapy in ab interno trabeculotomy with a spatula-shaped microhook.

To evaluate the effects of the discontinuation of antithrombotic drugs on intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and complications from ab interno trabeculotomy for patients with glaucoma. We performed a retrospective chart review on the data of patients treated with antithrombotic agents who have undergone ab interno trabeculotomy through Tanito microhook combined with cataract surgery at the Asahi General Hospital and the Tokyo University Hospital, with 6 months of follow-up. The patients were classified into two groups depending on whether they discontinued (AT-) or continued (AT+) antithrombotic therapy during the perioperative phase. The demographics, pre- and postoperative IOP, medication score, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and postoperative complications were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 week and 1-6 months. The series included 44 eyes from 44 Japanese patients. The AT- and AT+ groups included 21 eyes from 21 patients and 23 eyes from 23 patients, respectively. The decrease in IOP from the baseline at 1 week postoperative was significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.009), but there were no significant differences observed in the other visits. Hyphema and IOP spikes exceeding 30 mmHg occurred in 10% and 10% of AT- participants, and in 43% and 26% of AT+ participants, respectively. Hyphema and spikes with hyphema occurred more frequently in the AT+ than in the AT- group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.05). The number of patients who had spikes was not significantly different (p = 0.27). In trabeculotomy using the Tanito microhook®, discontinuing antithrombotic therapy had better IOP-lowering effects and less postoperative complications.

Efficacy of Additional Intervention to the Specific Health Guidance in Japan: The Takahata GENKI Project.

PURPOSE: A tailored approach to individual risk factors for developing lifestyle-related diseases would help induce behavioral changes toward intervention acceptability. The addition of preventive healthcare programs to nationwide specific health guidance in Japan is adapted in a given region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective parallel-group comparison study on 195 eligible residents from Takahata, Japan, with a high risk of lifestyle-related diseases from 2014 to 2017 to examine whether such an intervention could improve the body mass index (BMI) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). RESULTS: Of the 195 enrolled residents, 117 were assigned to the control group and 78 to the intervention group. They were ≤65 years old and had a BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and an eGFR ≤90 mL/kg/1.73 m2. We conducted certain interventions for each group, including additional blood testing, regular health guidance, and specific health guidance. After one year, neither BMI (intervention: 26.7 ± 2.17 kg/m2 vs control: 27.3 ± 2.12 kg/m2, p = 0.076) nor eGFR (intervention: 72.2 ± 11.1 mL/kg/1.73 m2 vs control: 73.1 ± 10.5 mL/kg/1.73 m2, p = 0.608) differed significantly between groups. However, after three years, the BMI in the intervention group (26.4 ± 2.05 kg/m2) was significantly reduced compared to that in the control group (27.4 ± 2.26 kg/m2; p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The additional interventions might have contributed to a reduction in metabolic syndrome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the UMIN-Clinical Trials Registry (ID:000013581). More information: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000015868. The registration date was 31/03/2014.

Comparison of effectiveness and complications in trabeculotomy with phacoemulsification between ab externo and ab interno using a spatula-shaped microhook.

To compare the short-term surgical effectiveness and safety profile of trabeculotomy ab externo and ab interno with microhook in terms of the recovery of visual acuity. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent trabeculotomy combined with phacoemulsification and lens implantation at Asahi General Hospital, with 6 months of follow-up. The patients treated by trabeculotomy were classified into two groups depending on the surgical procedures: ab interno with Tanito microhook (TMH) and ab externo with rigid probe trabeculotome (LOT). The demographics, preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), number of medications (Med), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), surgical-induced astigmatism (SIA), and postoperative complications were analyzed at pre-operation, and 1 week and 1-6 months post-operation. Fifty-two eyes of 38 Japanese patients underwent TMH and 42 eyes of 32 patients underwent LOT. The decreases in IOP and Med from the baseline were significant at all time points in both groups (p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between the two groups. BCVA improved significantly in TMH and LOT after the operation (p < 0.001). BCVA and SIA significantly improved, mostly at 1 week in TMH, compared with LOT (p = 0.02 and 0.003). Hyphema and IOP spike exceeding 30 mmHg (spike) occurred in 11% and 6% of participants in TMH, and 33% and 26% of participants in LOT, respectively. Hyphema and IOP spike occurred more frequently in the LOT than in the TMH group (p = 0.01 and 0.005). Ab interno trabeculotomy showed similar IOP-lowering effects as ab externo, but had less postoperative complications.

Correlation between fundus autofluorescence and visual function in patients with cone-rod dystrophy.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between autofluorescence (AF) signal measured with ultra-wide field imaging and visual functions in patients with cone-rod dystrophy (CORD). A retrospective chart review was performed for CORD patients. We performed the visual field test and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) measurement and visualized retinal structures with optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the same day. Using binarised FAF images, we identified a low FAF area ratio (LFAR: low FAF/30°). Relationships between age and logMAR visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), mean deviation (MD) value, and LFAR were investigated. Thirty-seven eyes of 21 CORD patients (8 men and 13 women) were enrolled. The mean patient age was 49.8 years. LogMAR VA and MD were 0.52 ± 0.47 and - 17.91 ± 10.59 dB, respectively. There was a significant relationship between logMAR VA and MD (p = 0.001). LogMAR VA significantly correlated with CRT (p = 0.006) but not with other parameters. Conversely, univariate analysis suggested a significant relationship between MD and LFAR (p = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, LFAR was significantly associated with MD (p = 0.002). In conclusion, it is useful to measure the low FAF area in patients with CORD. The AF measurement reflects the visual field deterioration but not VA in CORD.