Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for the treatment of chronic central serous retinopathy: a meta-analysis of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment on the functional and structural parameters of chronic central serous retinopathy (CSR). METHODS: PubMed was used to systematically review literature published from 1 January 2009 to 1 July 2022. Studies were included if patients in their cohort had symptoms for more than 3 months, anti-VEGF treatment was provided and the following outcomes were reported: best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and proportion of subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution. RESULTS: 339 eyes met inclusion criteria with a mean patient age of 45.8±4.9 years. The weighted mean baseline BCVA for the 20 studies was 0.39±0.23 logMAR, which improved to 0.28±0.24 after treatment with anti-VEGF injections (p=0.069). The weighted baseline CMT for the 20 studies decreased from 395.2±52.0 µm to 243.0±41.9 µm (p<0.001). The weighted overall percentage of SRF resolution was 68.4%. CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF treatment demonstrated significantly decreased macular thickness and resolution of SRF in the treatment of chronic CSR without any reported adverse effects. However, BCVA did not significantly improve with pharmacotherapy.

Immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) adapted protocol during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the steps, hurdles, and recommendations for implementation of the immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) evidence-based protocol at a high-volume Canadian tertiary care centre. DESIGN: Quality-improvement study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 406 patients who underwent ISBCS from July 2020 to December 2020. Patients were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria including psychosocial factors, refractive error and consent. This initiative impacted staff at all levels involved with cataract surgery. METHODS: The Model of Improvement framework was used and involved numerous discussions with multidisciplinary teams of ophthalmologists, nursing and support staff, management, pharmacists, and medical device reprocessing teams. This initiative was created and refined via a thorough review of the literature and current best practices. It was implemented in July 2020 after a nursing "huddle." Any adverse outcomes and overall impact were collected from various levels of staff involved. RESULTS: Each eye was treated as a separate surgery with a double time-out per bilateral case. Additional measures were taken to ensure different lot numbers for medications, equipment, and materials. This practice increased surgical volume by approximately 25% and reduced the number of patient visits by 50%, reducing potential COVID-19 exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting protocol from our study may be useful to other centres wishing to integrate ISBCS as one example of successful implementation. Of the 406 cases of ISBCS performed, we report zero cases of toxic anterior segment syndrome or endophthalmitis. In times of decreased elective surgeries, ISBCS is a safe and effective option to supplement surgical volume and provide significant patient benefits.

Statin Use in Relation to Intraocular Pressure, Glaucoma, and Ocular Coherence Tomography Parameters in the UK Biobank.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between statin use and glaucoma-related traits. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 118,153 UK Biobank participants with data on statin use and corneal-compensated IOP. In addition, we included 192,283 participants (8982 cases) with data on glaucoma status. After excluding participants with neurodegenerative diseases, 41,638 participants with macular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (mRNFL) and 41,547 participants with macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer thickness (mGCIPL) were available for analysis. We examined associations of statin use with IOP, mRNFL, mGCIPL, and glaucoma status utilizing multivariable-adjusted regression models. We assessed whether a glaucoma polygenic risk score (PRS) modified associations. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) experiments to investigate associations with various glaucoma-related outcomes. Results: Statin users had higher unadjusted mean IOP ± SD than nonusers, but in a multivariable-adjusted model, IOP did not differ by statin use (difference = 0.05 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.02 to 0.13, P = 0.17). Similarly, statin use was not associated with prevalent glaucoma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.98 to 1.13). Statin use was weakly associated with thinner mRNFL (difference = -0.15 microns, 95% CI = -0.28 to -0.01, P = 0.03) but not with mGCIPL thickness (difference = -0.12 microns, 95% CI = -0.29 to 0.05, P = 0.17). No association was modified by the glaucoma PRS (Pinteraction≥ 0.16). MR experiments showed no evidence for a causal association between the cholesterol-altering effect of statins and several glaucoma traits (inverse weighted variance P ≥ 0.14). Conclusions: We found no evidence of a protective association between statin use and glaucoma or related traits after adjusting for key confounders.

The rates of visual field progression in glaucoma and its clinical importance / Taxas de progressão do campo visual em glaucoma e sua importância clínica

ABSTRACT The rate of visual field progression is an essential factor in determining risk of visual disability or blindness in glaucoma patients. Knowledge of the rate of progression of a particular patient, in combination with an estimation of their longevity and other clinical factors, allows clinicians to optimize management by providing appropriately aggressive treatment. Despite decades of research on the treatment of glaucoma, the natural history of glaucomatous visual field progression in untreated and treated patients remains unclear. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the literature surrounding the rate of visual field progression in glaucoma. Most of the available data pertains to primary open angle glaucoma, but we will also review progression rates in other subtypes of open angle glaucoma, such as pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma, as well as in primary angle closure glaucoma. Specifically, we will cover methods to identify rates of progression, rates of progression in treated versus untreated patients, factors that may influence progression, and lastly, suggest some parameters that might help clinicians in determining acceptable rates of visual field deterioration in patients with glaucoma.

RESUMO A taxa de progressão do campo visual é um fator essencial para determinar o risco de incapacidade visual ou cegueira em pacientes com glaucoma. Conhecer a taxa de progressão de um determinado paciente, em combinação com uma estimativa de sua longevidade e outros fatores clínicos, permite que os médicos otimizem a conduta, fornecendo um tratamento adequadamente agressivo. Apesar de décadas de pesquisa sobre o tratamento do glaucoma, a história natural da progressão do campo visual glaucomatoso em pacientes não tratados e tratados permanece pouco clara. O objetivo desta revisão é fornecer um resumo abrangente da literatura sobre a taxa de progressão do campo visual do glaucoma. A maioria dos dados disponíveis diz respeito ao glaucoma de ângulo aberto primário, mas também revisaremos as taxas de progressão em outros subtipos de glaucoma de ângulo aberto, como o glaucoma pseudoexfoliativo e o glaucoma de tensão normal, bem como o glaucoma primário de ângulo fechado. Especificamente, iremos cobrir métodos para identificar taxas de progressão, taxas de progressão em pacientes tratados versus não tratados, fatores que podem influenciar a progressão e, finalmente, sugerir alguns parâmetros que podem ajudar os médicos a determinar taxas aceitáveis de deterioração do campo visual em pacientes com glaucoma

An evaluation of Alberta retina health service delivery in an office setting: a cross-sectional survey of patient experience.

BACKGROUND: Retina sub-specialists provide much of the retina related eye care across Canada. In the province of Alberta, 18 retina sub-specialists work across six different offices. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of care provided by Alberta retina sub-specialists in an office setting by administering a patient satisfaction survey. The results of this survey were provided to the same retina specialists to promote improvements in patient-centered health care delivery. METHODS: A cross sectional patient satisfaction survey was performed using a thirty-part questionnaire developed in collaboration with the Physician Learning Program at the University of Alberta. The survey was modelled after other similar patient satisfaction surveys used in other areas of medicine. Patients from ten of the eighteen retina practices in Alberta participated in this survey. Topics of the survey included pre-appointment experience, physician-patient interactions and quality, comments/ feedback and patient demographics. RESULTS: 214 randomly sampled patients completed the survey from three geographically separate office locations in Calgary and Edmonton. 90% of patients responded that their retina sub-specialist listened adequately and provided quality care in a timely manner. Patients felt that there could be improvements to accessibility to the clinic and reduced wait times, as well as in the pre-operative consent process. Including a more complete explanation of the procedure as well as the potential risks and benefits. Only 51% of patients felt that the risks of a potential surgery had been adequately explained to them. There was a statistically significant association found between overall satisfaction and lower wait times, understanding of procedural risks and time with, listening to and involving the patient in care. There were no correlations found with other demographics such as ethnicity, sex, distance traveled or age. CONCLUSIONS: This patient satisfaction survey provided valuable patient care feedback to the retina sub-specialists of Alberta. The survey results will assist this group to improve the consent process and thereby improve patient centered health care delivery. We would recommend the distribution of this survey or other similar patient satisfaction questionnaire by retina sub-specialists to their patients to improve patient centered care in their clinics.

Diagnostic and treatment challenges of a case of primary cutaneous signet-ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma of the eyelid.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous signet-ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma of the eyelid is an extremely rare but aggressive neoplasm diagnosed primarily in elderly men. Until now there are 32 published cases of signet-ring cell carcinoma or histiocytoid carcinoma of the eyelid. We report the clinical, radiographic and histological features of the 33rd reported case of PCSRCC in the eyelid of a 73-year-old male, and review diagnostic and treatment challenges of this rare entity. CASE PRESENTATION: Our case highlights a 73-year-old male who was referred for surgical correction of right eye ptosis that was present for 2 years. Upon assessment, he was noted to have an upper lateral orbital rim mass. Computed tomography (CT) noted ill-defined soft tissue thickening anterior to the right globe, predominantly pre-septal but with slight post-septal extension. The pathology revealed diffusely and deeply infiltrating tumour cells extending through the dermis, subcutis, orbicularis muscle bundles and nerve fibers; the tumour cells were noted to have a monotonous histiocytoid appearance with foamy granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. At high magnification, intracytoplasmic vacuoles and occasional intermixed signet ring cells were identified. Immunohistochemical staining revealed the tumour cells to be AE1/AE3, CK7, GCDFP-15, E-cadherin, androgen receptor stain and GATA3 positive. Final pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of primary cutaneous signet-ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma. Further imaging failed to identify a distant primary malignancy or metastatic disease. The decision was made to attempt surgical excision of the tumor. After the bulk of the grossly apparent tumor was removed, intraoperative frozen sections were sent. Superficial biopsies of the right periorbital region were performed, which revealed extension significantly further than the gross disease. Thereafter, the patient underwent a wide orbital exenteration with reconstruction using a temporary split-thickness skin graft. Due to positive margins on final permanent sections, the patient underwent further wide resection with free muscle-skin flap reconstruction followed by adjuvant radiation treatment. CONCLUSION: Our case represents the 33rd case of primary signet-ring cell/histiocytoid carcinoma of the eyelid in a 73-year-old male, the first documented case with GATA3 positivity and the second documented case with androgen receptor stain positivity.

Effects of malicious ocular laser exposure in commercial airline pilots.

OBJECTIVE: Intentional malicious laser strikes on commercial pilots are committed by individuals who target a laser into airplane cockpits during takeoff and landing. Because laser exposure to pilots is a relatively new but growing occurrence, our study investigates the ocular effect of this laser exposure in pilots. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review by a single ophthalmologist. PARTICIPANTS: All commercial airline pilots (58 male, 3 female) who experienced a laser strike while flying between April 2012 and November 2014 who presented to our clinic were included. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in a retinal specialist's practice. Ocular assessment was performed within 3 days of laser exposure. A complete ophthalmic evaluation was conducted, including Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity, colour vision, visual fields, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, dilated fundus examination, colour fundus photographs, and ocular coherence tomography. RESULTS: Sixty-four laser strike incidents involving commercial pilots were included. All pilots in the study experienced some degree of immediate ocular irritation or light sensitivity. No definite cases of ocular damage were attributed to laser strikes. No pilot had any functional ocular deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that laser strikes on aircraft did not result in permanent visual functional or structural deficits. However, laser strikes cause immediate visual effects, including glare, flash blindness, and ocular irritation that can interfere with a pilot's visual function. Given the widespread accessibility of high-power lasers and the rapid increase in incidents, laser strikes threaten to jeopardize aviation safety unless effective preventative measures are put in place.