Utility of the Modified Isolated-check Visual Evoked Potential Technique in Functional Glaucoma Assessment.

PRE[COMBINING ACUTE ACCENT]CIS:: Cortical response to low-contrast stimuli, as measured by isolated-check visual evoked potential (icVEP) technology, has the potential to provide functional assessment that may complement standard achromatic perimetry in assessing glaucomatous change. PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of modified icVEP testing in detecting functional glaucomatous damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects who met predetermined criteria of controls, glaucoma suspects, preperimetric glaucoma, or glaucoma were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study from a single tertiary care center. Glaucoma patients were further categorized as early, moderate, advanced, or severe on the basis of Hodapp-Anderson-Parrish criteria. icVEP testing was performed with ten 2-second runs per qualified eye using the EvokeDx testing software. Multivariate statistics were used to calculate signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and perform outlier analysis. RESULTS: In total, 140 eyes met criteria (mean±SD; age of 63±14 y; 49% male; logMAR visual acuity, 0.11±0.089). There was no significant difference in age, sex, or logMAR visual acuity among the groups. Controls had a significantly higher SNR than all other groups (P<0.003), including patients with preperimetric glaucoma. Among those with glaucoma, the early glaucoma patients had significantly higher SNR than the moderate, advanced, or severe glaucoma cohorts (P<0.04). The optimal SNR cutoff for differentiating between glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes was 0.95, both with (sensitivity 82%, specificity 76%) and without (sensitivity 82%, specificity 100%) glaucoma suspects included in analysis. CONCLUSIONS: icVEP technology has the potential to complement standard achromatic perimetry in functional assessment of glaucomatous defects.

Pain Control after Intravitreal Injection Using Topical Nepafenac 0.3% or Pressure Patching: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Pain after an intravitreal injection (IVI) can last up to 7 days and negatively impacts the patient's experience, potentially reducing treatment compliance. We prospectively evaluated topical nepafenac 0.3% suspension and patching for the reduction of pain after IVI. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients receiving an IVI of bevacizumab, aflibercept, or triamcinolone acetonide in 1 eye. METHODS: Participants were randomized equally to receive either a single drop of nepafenac 0.3%, a pressure patch for 2 hours, or a single drop of preservative-free artificial tears (control group). A single-blinded placebo-controlled design was used to mask the topical treatment used. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale that ranged from 0 to 10 (horizontal pain scale). Because pain scores were not normally distributed, statistical analysis was performed using a nonparametric randomization-based analysis of covariance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pain scores. RESULTS: Fifty-six and 53 patients of the 60 patients enrolled completed the 6- and 24-hour follow-ups, respectively. Numeric Pain Rating Scale scores at 6 and 24 hours after IVI were lower in the nepafenac group (0.8±0.3 and 0.1±0.1, respectively; n = 18) and the patching group (1.3±0.4 and 0.4±0.2, respectively; n = 19) compared with the control group (2.5±0.6 and 0.9±0.4, respectively; n = 19). After controlling for age, gender, number of prior injections, and physician administering the injection, patients in the nepafenac group reported significantly lower pain scores than those in the control group at 6 hours (1.3±0.6 less; P = 0.047) and 24 hours (0.7±0.3 less; P = 0.047). Although the patching group reported lower pain scores than the control group, this was not statistically significant (6 hours, P = 0.24; 24 hours, P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Nepafenac 0.3% was effective as a single drop in reducing pain at 6 and 24 hours after IVI compared with placebo. Limited patching was associated with lower pain scores than placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. Additional studies are needed to determine the most effective method to maximize the patient's experience after an IVI without sacrificing outcomes.

The utility of a normal tear osmolarity test in patients presenting with dry eye disease like symptoms: A prospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic utility of normal tear osmolarity in patients with symptoms suggestive of dry eye disease (DED). METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study of 100 patients that underwent tear osmolarity testing (TearLab™) if they endorsed one or more symptoms of potential DED. Patients were included for the study if they had a normal tear osmolarity test (value <308 mOsm/L in each eye, and an inter-eye difference <8 mOsm/L). The main outcome measure was the presence of any alternate diagnosis to explain the patient's symptoms. Results were recorded and descriptive and univariate statistics were employed. RESULTS: Mean tear osmolarity was 293.40 mOsms/L (±6.82), with a mean absolute difference of 2.85 mOsms/L (±1.98) between the eyes. A possible alternate diagnosis was established in 89% of patients with normal tear osmolarity testing. The most frequent diagnoses included anterior blepharitis (26%) and allergic conjunctivitis (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Common symptoms of DED overlap significantly with a wide variety of other ocular surface diseases, and a normal tear osmolarity test should increase clinical suspicion for alternate causes of those symptoms. Anterior blepharitis and allergic conjunctivitis were the most common diagnoses made in symptomatic patients with normal tear osmolarity who may have otherwise been misdiagnosed and treated for DED.

Prevalence of ocular surface dysfunction in patients presenting for cataract surgery evaluation.

PURPOSE: To report the prevalence of ocular surface dysfunction in patients presenting for cataract surgery evaluation. SETTING: Duke University Eye Center and Weill Cornell Ophthalmology, single-physician practices. DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting for cataract surgery evaluation were identified. Patient information including demographics, medical history, slitlamp findings, tear osmolarity, and tear matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels were recorded. Patients were considered to have ocular surface dysfunction if any of the following outcomes were present: visually significant abnormal corneal surface examination, positive MMP-9 test, or abnormal osmolarity values (>307 mOsm/L or >7 mOsm/L intereye difference). Patient symptoms were recorded using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) or Symptom Assessment iN Dry Eye questionnaires. RESULTS: There were 120 patients (69% women), mean age 69.5 years ± 8.4 (SD). Abnormal osmolarity was found in 68 patients (56.7%), and abnormal MMP-9 in 76 patients (63.3%). Clinical findings showed that 47 patients (39.2%) had positive corneal staining on presentation, 9 patients (7.5%) had epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, and 2 patients (1.6%) had Salzmann nodules. Questionnaire data showed 54 (54.0%) of 100 patients reported symptoms suggestive of ocular surface dysfunction. In the asymptomatic group of 46 patients, 39 (85%) had at least 1 abnormal tear test (osmolarity or MMP-9) and 22 (48%) had both tests abnormal. Overall, 96 (80%) of 120 patients had at least 1 abnormal tear test result suggestive of ocular surface dysfunction and 48 patients (40%) had 2 abnormal results. CONCLUSIONS: Objective ocular surface dysfunction findings were common among patients presenting for cataract surgery, yet many presented undiagnosed. Clinicians should be aware of this high prevalence and consider screening with tear testing before surgery.