Comparison of quantification of intraretinal hard exudates between optical coherence tomography en face image versus fundus photography.

PURPOSE: To compare the quantification of intraretinal hard exudate (HE) using en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus photography. METHODS: Consecutive en face images and corresponding fundus photographs from 13 eyes of 10 patients with macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy or Coats' disease were analyzed using the machine-learning-based image analysis tool, "ilastik." RESULTS: The overall measured HE area was greater with en face images than with fundus photos (en face: 0.49 ± 0.35 mm2 vs. fundus photo: 0.34 ± 0.34 mm2, P < 0.001). However, there was an excellent correlation between the two measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.844). There was a negative correlation between HE area and central macular thickness (CMT) (r = -0.292, P = 0.001). However, HE area showed a positive correlation with CMT in the previous several months, especially in eyes treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy (CMT 3 months before: r = 0.349, P = 0.001; CMT 4 months before: r = 0.287, P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Intraretinal HE can be reliably quantified from either en face OCT images or fundus photography with the aid of an interactive machine learning-based image analysis tool. HE area changes lagged several months behind CMT changes, especially in eyes treated with anti-VEGF injections.

Factors affecting optical coherence tomography angiography signal strength index in patients receiving intravitreal injection treatment.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical factors affecting optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) signal strength index (SSI) and its change after intravitreal injection treatment in patients with retinal disorders. METHODS: OCTA data from 186 eyes of 166 patients with various retinal disorders including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusions who received intravitreal injections were analyzed. The associations between SSI and clinical factors, including age, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), media opacity severity, and central macular thickness (CMT), were evaluated both before and after injection. RESULTS: After injection, BCVA improved and CMT decreased significantly, and SSI increased significantly (p = 0.030). BCVA showed a significant positive correlation with media opacity severity before and after injection and with CMT only before injection. In the multivariate analysis, age, presence of DME, BCVA, and media opacity severity were negatively associated with SSI both before and after injection, while CMT was negatively associated with SSI only before injection. After injection, a negative correlation was found between SSI change and both BCVA and CMT change. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that OCTA SSI is influenced by various clinical factors, including age, visual acuity, media opacity severity, and macular thickening, especially in cases of DME. The results also indicate that SSI may decrease in patients with macular disorders due to the presence of macular edema and the associated decrease in visual acuity. Therefore, it is crucial to consider these factors when interpreting OCTA data and ensure an adequate level of SSI.

Tractional Retinal Detachment in Eyes with Vitreous Hemorrhage and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Posterior Vitreous Detachment in Fellow Eye.

PURPOSE: To predict the presence of tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in eyes with dense vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by evaluating the status of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in fellow eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A total of 44 eyes from 22 patients who underwent vitrectomy due to dense VH with PDR were enrolled. Using OCT, the PVD status in the fellow eye was divided into two groups (incomplete and complete PVD). The incomplete PVD group included eyes without PVD and eyes with partial PVD. B-scan ultrasonography was performed on eyes with dense VH to evaluate the presence of TRD. Both OCT and B-scan images were reviewed by four ophthalmologists (two novices and two experienced), and the interobserver agreement was evaluated. RESULTS: There was a difference in the interobserver agreement regarding the presence of TRD in eyes with dense VH evaluated by B scan between novice and experienced ophthalmologists (novice, κ = 0.421 vs. experienced, κ = 0.814), although there was no difference between novice and experienced ophthalmologists in the interobserver agreement regarding the status of PVD in the fellow eye evaluated by OCT (novice, κ = 1.000 vs. experienced, κ = 1.000). All observed TRD during vitrectomy occurred in eyes with incomplete PVD in the fellow eye. Logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically significant relation between TRD and the age of the patient (odds ratio [OR], 0.874; p = 0.047), and between TRD and incomplete PVD in the fellow eye evaluated by OCT (OR, 13.904; p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of the PVD status in the fellow eye using OCT may be a useful predictor for detecting the presence of TRD in eyes with dense VH and PDR.

Proteomic genotyping of SNP of Complement Factor H (CFH) Y402H and I62V using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) assays.

The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of complement factor H (CFH) gene are well-known genetic risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). To identify whether the measurement of plasma protein concentrations of CFH variants using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) assay can determine the genotypes of CFH SNP rs1061170 and rs800292, 120 patients with AMD and 26 controls were included in this study. The number of cases were TT:TC:CC = 121:24:1 in CFH SNP Y402H and GG:AG:AA = 72:57:17 in CFH SNP I62V. Plasma concentrations of tryptic peptides were measured using the MRM assay, and tyrosine/histidine (Y/H) and valine/isoleucine (V/I) CFH variant protein ratios were obtained. To discriminate the genotypes by the plasma protein ratios, cut-off values were set for Y/H ratios (TT: > 4.428; TC: 1.00-4.428; CC: < 1.00) and V/I ratios (GG: > 1.09; AG: 0.0089-1.08; AA: < 0.0089). Correlation analysis revealed that the plasma CFH variant protein ratios and genotypes of CFH were exactly matched (100%) without overlap in the total patients and controls. The measurement of plasma protein CFH variants using the MRM assay can accurately identify the genotypes of CFH SNPs of Y402H and I62V.

Analysis of treatment pattern of anti-dementia medications in newly diagnosed Alzheimer's dementia using OMOP CDM.

Anti-dementia medications are widely prescribed to patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) in South Korea. This study investigated the pattern of medical management in newly diagnosed patients with AD using a standardized data format-the Observational Medical Outcome Partnership Common Data Model from five hospitals. We examined the anti-dementia treatment patterns from datasets that comprise > 5 million patients during 2009-2019. The medication utility information was analyzed with respect to treatment trends and persistence across 11 years. Among the 8653 patients with newly diagnosed AD, donepezil was the most commonly prescribed anti-dementia medication (4218; 48.75%), followed by memantine (1565; 18.09%), rivastigmine (1777; 8.98%), and galantamine (494; 5.71%). The rising prescription trend during observation period was found only with donepezil. The treatment pathways for the three cholinesterase inhibitors combined with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist were different according to the drugs (19.6%; donepezil; 28.1%; rivastigmine, and 17.2%; galantamine). A 12-month persistence analysis showed values of approximately 50% for donepezil and memantine and approximately 40% for rivastigmine and galantamine. There were differences in the prescribing pattern and persistence among anti-dementia medications from database using the Observational Medical Outcome Partnership Common Data Model on the Federated E-health Big Data for Evidence Renovation Network platform in Korea.

Progression from intermediate to neovascular age-related macular degeneration according to drusen subtypes: Bundang AMD cohort study report 3.

PURPOSE: To investigate the ophthalmic risk factors related to neovascular change and the subtype-wise incidence of progression from intermediate to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 632 eyes with intermediate AMD from 418 patients (older than 50 years) were enrolled. The systemic factors and ophthalmic factors were statistically analysed with respect to neovascular change. RESULTS: The 5-year cumulative incidence of progression to neovascular AMD (nAMD) from intermediate AMD was 17.8% and 17.0% in eyes with soft drusen and pachydrusen (p = 0.316). Older age (p = 0.025), preexisting nAMD in the fellow eye (p < 0.001), and reticular pseudodrusen (RPD; p = 0.007) were associated with the risk of progression to nAMD. In reference to soft drusen, pachydrusen was associated with progression to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV; p < 0.001) and not to typical nAMD (p = 0.064). CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmic risk factors related to the progression of nAMD from intermediate AMD were found to be preexisting nAMD in the fellow eye and RPD. Pachydrusen showed a similar incidence of neovascular change with soft drusen, and was associated with the progression to PCV but not to typical nAMD.

MACULAR HOLE ASSOCIATED WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: Pathogenesis and Surgical Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To ascertain the pathogenesis of macular hole (MH) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its surgical outcomes. METHODS: Patients with full-thickness MH associated with AMD (higher grades than intermediate) were enrolled. The mechanism of MH formation and closure rate after vitrectomy (surgical outcome) were determined using optical coherence tomography imaging. RESULTS: The mechanism of MH formation (35 eyes) associated with AMD was classified into four types: vitreomacular traction (42.9%), gradual retinal thinning caused by subretinal drusen or pigment epithelial detachment (22.9%), massive subretinal hemorrhage (20.0%), and combined (14.3%). In the 41 eyes that underwent vitrectomy, the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.82 (0.10-2.30) preoperative to 0.69 (0.10-2.30) postoperative (P = 0.001). Successful closure of the MH was achieved in 33 eyes (80.5%) after vitrectomy. No significant association was observed between the closure rate of MH after vitrectomy and mechanism of MH formation (P = 0.083). CONCLUSION: The mechanism of MH formation associated with AMD was classified into four types and was not related to its surgical outcome. Considering visual improvement and surgical outcome after vitrectomy in our study, active surgical treatment can be considered for MH associated with AMD.

Prognostic Factors Related with Surgical Outcome of Vitrectomy in Myopic Traction Maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate prognostic factors related to the surgical outcome of vitrectomy in myopic traction maculopathy (MTM). METHODS: Medical records of patients with MTM who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and follow-up over 12 months were reviewed retrospectively. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundoscopic examination and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings were evaluated postoperatively. Functional success was defined as visual acuity gain and anatomical success was defined as reduction or resolution of foveoschisis without complications. RESULTS: This study included 40 eyes of 36 patients. BCVA improved from 0.70 ± 0.44 to 0.63 ± 0.57 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution and central macular thickness decreased from 526.6 ± 132.1 to 277.8 ± 92.1 µm at final follow-up. Functional success was achieved in 24 (60.0%) eyes, and 33 (82.5%) eyes reached anatomical success. Presence of foveal detachment (FD) and higher category of myopic maculopathy were associated with both functional (p = 0.014, 0.021, respectively) and anatomical (p = 0.011, 0.022, respectively) failure. Longer preoperative axial length showed an association with functional failure but not with anatomical failure (p = 0.041). In multivariate analysis, FD was the only prognostic factor for both functional and anatomical outcome (p = 0.041, 0.043, respectively). Preoperative BCVA (r² = 0.259, p = 0.001), axial length (r² = 0.172, p = 0.008), and myopic maculopathy category (r² = 0.336, p < 0.001) showed significant correlation with final BCVA. CONCLUSIONS: More severe myopic maculopathy and the presence of FD are associated with poorer functional and anatomical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy in MTM. Better preoperative BCVA, shorter axial length, and less severe myopic maculopathy are correlated with better final BCVA.

Serum and aqueous humor vitamin D levels in patients with diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To compare serum and aqueous humor (AH) vitamin D levels between the patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and controls. METHODS: A total of 65 subjects (30 DME, 35 control) were included. One-third of the control group had hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy as underlying diseases. Serum and AH levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured in each subject. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate factors associated with serum and AH vitamin D levels. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in serum vitamin D levels between the DME (14.3 ± 9.1 ng/mL) and control (16.2 ± 8.0 ng/mL) groups (P = 0.374). However, eyes with DME (41.6 ± 8.0 ng/mL) had a higher AH level of vitamin D than control eyes (25.5 ± 4.1 ng/mL, P < 0.001). AH vitamin D level was significantly associated with the presence of DME (ß = 0.775, P < 0.001). Serum and AH levels of vitamin D were not significantly correlated (r = - 0.157, P = 0.211). CONCLUSION: Serum vitamin D levels did not significantly differ between the DME and control groups. Localized vitamin D level in the eye was independent from systemic vitamin D level and it might be another indicator of DME severity.

Choroidal volume changes following blow-out fracture repair.

PURPOSE: To investigate the serial choroidal volume change following orbital blow-out fracture (BOF) repair. METHODS: The choroidal volume was measured by optical coherence tomography in patients who underwent BOF repair, preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks. The orbital volume ratio (OVR) was obtained by dividing the orbital volume of the traumatized orbit by that of the contralateral side using three-dimensional computed tomography imaging. The choroidal volume change was compared between both eyes using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: We analyzed the choroidal volume of 11 patients. Choroidal volume showed a trend of slight increase during the immediate postoperative period, and then, choroidal volume decreased abruptly between postoperative 1 to 4 weeks (ß-coefficient - 0.22, P < 0.001). Choroidal volume also showed gradual decrease between postoperative 4 to 24 weeks (ß-coefficient - 0.02, P < 0.001). During the study period, there were no significant differences in choroidal volume change between BOF and contralateral unaffected eyes (ß-coefficient - 0.20, P = 0.711). The hyperopic refractive errors (ß-coefficient 0.27, P = 0.028) and the larger preoperative OVR (ß-coefficient 10.37, P = 0.013) were associated with larger choroidal volume. CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal volume showed a similar decreasing change following BOF repair between the BOF and the contralateral unaffected eyes. Moreover, choroidal volume of both eyes was associated with the degree of orbital volume expansion due to BOF, suggesting that choroidal volume change after BOF repair was affected not only by trauma-associated local hemodynamic changes but also by systemic influences such as inflammatory response.

Association between serum vitamin D deficiency and age-related macular degeneration in Koreans: Clinical case-control pilot study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Koreans through a clinical case-control pilot study. The study included 96 patients: 30 with late AMD, 32 with early AMD, and 34 normal controls. The patients with late AMD were divided into 2 subgroups based on the presence or absence of subretinal fibrosis on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the serum of all patients during the same season to rule out seasonal variation of serum vitamin D level. Serum vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level below 20 ng/mL. Serum vitamin D deficiency had a tendency to increase the risk of early AMD, although with borderline significance [odds ratio (OR) = 3.59; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.95-13.58; P = .060]. It was significantly associated with a greater risk of late AMD (OR = 3.61; 95%CI 1.04-12.51; P = .043). Among the 2 subgroups of patients with late AMD, those with subretinal fibrosis present on the OCT images showed a greater risk of serum vitamin D deficiency than the normal controls (OR = 7.54; 95% CI 1.34-42.51). However, there was no significant association between serum vitamin D deficiency and late AMD without subretinal fibrosis (OR = 1.89; 95% CI 0.40-8.92). Serum vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of early and late AMD in Koreans, and may also be associated with subretinal fibrosis in this population.

Effectiveness and Optical Quality of Topical 3.0% Diquafosol versus 0.05% Cyclosporine A in Dry Eye Patients following Cataract Surgery.

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness and optical quality of 3.0% topical diquafosol versus 0.05% cyclosporine A in dry eye patients following cataract surgery. Methods. In total, 40 eyes of 40 patients newly diagnosed with dry eye syndrome 1 week after cataract surgery were randomized to receive either 3.0% diquafosol ophthalmic solution six times daily or 0.05% cyclosporine A twice daily for 3 months. Outcome measures were tear film break-up time (TBUT), results on Schirmer 1 test, ocular surface staining score, the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs). Measurements were taken at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 months. Results. In the diquafosol group, TBUT showed higher outcomes than the cyclosporine A group at 1 and 3 months. Both groups showed increased scores on Schirmer 1 test. The ocular surface staining score decreased in all periods in both groups. Vertical coma and total HOAs decreased more in the cyclosporine A group than in the diquafosol group at 3 months. Conclusion. Both 3.0% diquafosol and 0.05% cyclosporine A were effective in treating dry eye after cataract surgery. Diquafosol was more effective in increasing the tear secretion, but cyclosporine A was more effective in improving optical aberrations.

Visual function test for early detection of ethambutol induced ocular toxicity at the subclinical level.

CONTEXT: Tuberculosis in developed countries is on the rise, and the main treatment ethambutol is known to induce ocular toxicity. However, to date, there are unknown tests or protocols for detecting subclinical ethambutol-induced ocular toxicity, which is important as early detection is related to symptom reversibility. We defined the ethambutol induced ocular toxicity as stastically siginificant change of visual function which was induced by ethambutol. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify a visual function test for the early detection of subclinical ethambutol-induced ocular toxicity. Furthermore, we also investigated the continuity or reversibility of early subclinical changes that were observed during the visual function tests after stopping ethambutol treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The age range of 31 patients was from 13 to 72 years. The range of dosage was 15-19 mg/kg/day. The average period of dosage was 5 months. We performed a visual acuity test, visual field test, color vision test, contrast sensitivity test, fundus examination, retinal nerve fiver layer optical coherence tomography test (RNFL OCT) per month and pattern visual evoked potential test (pattern VEP) every 2 months before and during ethambutol treatment in 62 eyes of 31 patients. Among these patients, selected 21 patients were rexamined by these tests at the 3, 6 and 12 months after stopping ethambutol treatment. We compared the test results from the last follow-up during ethambutol treatment and after ethambutol stoppage with those obtained before ethambutol treatment (baseline). RESULTS: RNFL OCT showed that average RNFL thickness increased 5 months after ethambutol treatment (p = 0.032), and pattern VEP showed that P100 latency was delayed in 2 and 4 months after ethambutol treatment (p = 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). These early changes observed on RNFL OCT and pattern VEP progressed 6 months after ethambutol stoppage in 21 patients. Twelve months after ethambutol stoppage, these early changes returned to baseline levels. During the study, no changes in visual acuity, color vision, fundus, contrast sensitivity or visual field were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Pattern VEP and RNFL OCT are suitable tests for the early detection of subclinical ethambutol-induced ocular toxicity. These tests should be performed until 12 months after ethambutol stoppage.

The Effect of Intravenous Infiltration Management Program for Hospitalized Children.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to identify the effect of IV infiltration management program among hospitalized children. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study with history comparison group design with 2,894 catheters inserted during 3 months comparison phase and 3,651 catheters inserted during 4 months experimental phase. The intervention was composed of seven activities including applying poster, documentation of catheter insertion, parents education, making infiltration report, assessment of vein condition before inserting catheter, appropriate site selection, and documentation of catheter insertion, and assessment of peripheral catheter insertion site every shift. Data were analyzed using of X2-test, Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The infiltration incidence rate was 0.9% for experimental group and 4.4% for comparison group, which was significantly different (x2=80.42, p<.001). The catheter maintenance period (p=.035) and infiltration state (p=.039) were significantly different among participants with infiltration between comparison and experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: IV Infiltration management program was founded to be effective in reducing the IV infiltration incidence rate and increasing early detection of IV infiltration. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Considering the effect of IV Infiltration management program, we recommend that this infiltration management program would be widely used in the clinical settings.