Is tobacco consumption a risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a prevalent exudative maculopathy. Understanding risk factors for CSC is important for disease prevention and to provide evidence-based advice to patients. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature and performed meta-analysis on the association between tobacco consumption and CSC. We searched 12 literature databases on May 5, 2024, and identified 11 eligible studies of 27 595 patients with CSC and 105 354 control individuals. Studies were predominantly clinic-based case-control studies. We calculated a summary estimate of tobacco consumption as a risk factor for CSC at an odds ratio of 2.99 (95% CI: 1.82-4.93, p = 0.000017), which remained statistically significant in the sensitivity analyses. The exact mechanism by which tobacco consumption contribute to the pathophysiology of CSC remains unclear, although several potential hypotheses exist. However, tobacco consumption is a modifiable behaviour and tobacco cessation is an actionable advice with which patients with CSC themselves can play a large role in disease management. Further studies are warranted to understand the impact of tobacco cessation for risk modification and for the prognosis of patients who already have CSC.

Early versus Delayed Vitrectomy for Vitreous Haemorrhage Secondary to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of early pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) versus delayed PPV in patients with first episode of vitreous hemorrhage (VH) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative, interventional study. SUBJECTS, PARTICIPANTS, AND/OR CONTROLS: Consecutive patients with type 1 or II diabetes diagnosed with new onset VH secondary to PDR who underwent PPV at Moorfields Eye Hospital between December 2014 and December 2016. Exclusions were prior vitrectomy, iris neovascularization, neovascular glaucoma, macular edema, or presence of tractional/rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS, INTERVENTION, OR TESTING: Patients were divided into two groups based on the timing of their surgery: early PPV (≤6 weeks) and delayed PPV (>6 weeks). Demographic and clinical features, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) expressed in LogMAR at baseline and 12 months were collected. Statistical analyses, including propensity score matching, were performed using Python 3.10, Scikit-learn, Pandas, and GraphPad Prism® 10. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BCVA at 12 months postoperatively, reoperation rates, and severity of complications. RESULTS: A total of 178 eyes were analyzed (48 early PPV, 130 delayed PPV). The mean (SD) number of weeks before surgery was 3.36 (SD 1.6) for the early PPV group and 22.56 (SD 17.23) for the delayed PPV group (p<0.0001). Baseline BCVA prior to PPV was similar between groups (p=0.08). At 12 months, the early PPV group had significantly better BCVA (0.40 logMAR vs. 0.67 logMAR; p=0.02). Patients without evidence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on ultrasound or OCT showed more pronounced differences (0.3 logMAR vs. 0.7 logMAR; p=0.001). The early PPV group had fewer sight threatening complications (p=0.005). Multivariable logistic regression identified initial BCVA, early PPV, and absence of pre-operative panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) as significant predictors of better visual outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Early PPV significantly improves visual outcomes and reduces severe complications in patients with VH secondary to PDR. These findings support the benefits of early surgical intervention to enhance long-term visual prognosis in these patients. However, a randomised clinical trial is warranted.

The digital age in retinal practice.

This editorial examines the transformative impact of the digital revolution on retinal practice, highlighting how technological advances are transforming patient care and pushing the boundaries of ophthalmology. It explores key areas of progress, including personalised medicine through big data, artificial intelligence and advanced imaging techniques; the role of telemedicine and home OCT in improving access and monitoring; advances in robotic surgery and 3D printing for vitreoretinal procedures; and the potential of large language models in patient education and communication. While highlighting the immense potential of these innovations, the editorial also addresses ethical considerations related to privacy and algorithmic bias. It emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and maintaining a patient-centred approach in the digital age.

Evidence-based guidelines for drug dosing in intravitreal injections in silicone oil-filled eyes: Pharmacokinetics, safety, and optimal dosage.

We evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and optimal dosages of intravitreal agents in silicone oil (SO)-filled eyes, addressing challenges in administering such therapies. We assessed the pharmacological properties and safety profiles of intravitreal drugs in SO-filled eyes, deriving conclusions and guidance from available literature and expert consensus. Preclinical data suggest comparable half-lives of anti-vascular endothelial growth factoragents in SO-filled eyes, but clinical evidence is mainly from case reports and small series. Available research prioritizes standard dosages, particularly for bevacizumab (1.25 mg), supported by stronger evidence than aflibercept (2 mg) or ranibizumab (0.5 mg). Intravitreal steroids, especially dexamethasone at 0.7 mg, show efficacy and safety, while evidence for fluocinolone acetonide at 0.19 mg is limited. Intravitreal methotrexate has been reported at the dosage of 250-400 µg, with keratitis as the primary expected side effect. Case reports indicate tolerability of standard dosages of antivirals (foscarnet 1.2-2.4 mg/0.1 mL, ganciclovir 4 mg/0.1 mL) and the antibiotic combination piperacillin/tazobactam (250 µg/0.1 mL). We offer guidance based on current, but limited, literature. Standard dosage of intravitreal agents should be carefully considered, along with close monitoring for potential side effects, which should be discussed with patients.

Managing vitreoretinal complications in uveal melanoma: Surgical treatment and practical considerations.

BACKGROUND: In the past few decades, the primary management for uveal melanoma has evolved from enucleation to eye-preserving treatments. However, despite achieving a high rate of local tumour control, complications following eye-preserving treatments still occur and are partly responsible for functional loss and secondary enucleation. METHODS: A literature review by a broad international panel. RESULTS: We summarised the current literature on utilizing vitreoretinal (VR) surgery for managing the complications of uveal melanoma. We also provided insights from the authors' personal experience and practical recommendations for clinical care. CONCLUSIONS: With the advancement of VR instruments and surgical techniques and the combination of VR and ocular oncology knowledge ("Onco-VR"), it is now possible to manage or even prevent complications such as vitreous haemorrhage, retinal detachment, and toxic tumour syndrome.

Prospective validation of a virtual post-operative clinic in vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of asynchronous virtual post-operative assessments following vitreoretinal surgery and procedures compared to traditional face-to-face assessments in a high-volume tertiary eye centre. METHODS: Prospective comparative clinical series study of patients who had undergone vitreoretinal surgery or post-laser retinopexy. Patients received both virtual and face-to-face assessments. The virtual assessment included clinical questions, visual acuity measurement, and virtual retinal imaging using ultra-wide field (UWF) imaging and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT). Face-to-face assessments involved standard clinical examinations. RESULTS: We included 142 patients undergoing a variety of vitreoretinal procedures. We showed comparable results between virtual and face-to-face assessments in both, post-operative and post-laser treatments. UWF imaging with macular OCT demonstrated potential for effective virtual post-operative assessment. The virtual assessment has a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 100% for detecting retinal detachments with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity for detecting new retinal tears or insufficient laser treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of asynchronous virtual post-operative assessments following a variety of vitreoretinal procedures is a promising alternative to traditional face-to-face assessments. Virtual assessments using UWF imaging and macular OCT showed high sensitivity and specificity. Virtual post-operative clinics offer the potential to improve patient access and decrease the clinical burden, especially with the continuing evolution of telemedicine technologies and imaging modalities.

Spontaneous suprachoroidal haemorrhage: clinical features, visual outcomes and prognosis factors.

BACKGROUND: To describe clinical features, risk factors and outcomes of patients with diagnosis of rare spontaneous suprachoroidal haemorrhage (SSCH) over a 20-year period from a tertiary eye unit. METHODS: Retrospective, observational case-series of patients with SSCH, defined as SCH without a known cause at diagnosis. Variables analysed included age, gender, ethnicity, systemic and ocular comorbidities, systemic medication, initial and final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), clinical features, management and follow-up. RESULTS: Total of 11 eyes of 11 patients were identified. Median age was 70 years (SD 25.9). Most patients were female (82%) and white British. Median follow-up period was 2.2 years. Hypertension was the most frequently associated underlying systemic disease (45%) and 36% were on anti-coagulant or anti-platelet therapy. High myopia was observed in 36% of cases. Presenting BCVA of 1.00 logMAR or better was a positive predictor of final BCVA. No significant improvement in the initial versus final BCVA was found in patients who underwent surgery versus those who remained under observation. CONCLUSION: Patients over 60 years-old with hypertension, anticoagulant treatment, high myopia, and pseudophakia were common. Visual outcomes were poor, surgical intervention had limited impact. Good initial BCVA predicted better final acuity while extensive SSCH correlated with poorer visual results. Despite the study's limitations, this series offers valuable insights into visual prognosis and prognostic factors.

Assessing large language models' accuracy in providing patient support for choroidal melanoma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of information that patients can obtain from large language models (LLMs) when seeking answers to common questions about choroidal melanoma. METHODS: Comparative study comparing frequently asked questions from choroidal melanoma patients and queried three major LLMs-ChatGPT 3.5, Bing AI, and DocsGPT. Answers were reviewed by three ocular oncology experts and scored as accurate, partially accurate, or inaccurate. Statistical analysis compared the quality of responses across models. RESULTS: For medical advice questions, ChatGPT gave 92% accurate responses compared to 58% for Bing AI and DocsGPT. For pre/post-op questions, ChatGPT and Bing AI were 86% accurate while DocsGPT was 73% accurate. There were no statistically significant differences between models. ChatGPT responses were the longest while Bing AI responses were the shortest, but length did not affect accuracy. All LLMs appropriately directed patients to seek medical advice from professionals. CONCLUSION: LLMs show promising capability to address common choroidal melanoma patient questions at generally acceptable accuracy levels. However, inconsistent, and inaccurate responses do occur, highlighting the need for improved fine-tuning and oversight before integration into clinical practice.

Perspectives on the currently available pharmacotherapy for wet macular degeneration.

INTRODUCTION: Wet age-related macular degeneration (w-AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment globally, with its prevalence expected to rise alongside increasing life expectancy. The current standard treatment involves frequent intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents, which although revolutionary, pose significant burdens on both patients and healthcare services. AREAS COVERED: This review explores current and emerging pharmaceutical treatments for w-AMD, focusing on their pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety. Promising developments include extending treatment intervals with newer anti-VEGF agents like brolucizumab and faricimab, biosimilars offering cost-effective options, and exploring innovative drug delivery methods such as subretinal gene therapy. Combination therapies, gene therapies, and novel agents like KSI-301 and OPT-302 show potential for improving treatment outcomes and reducing treatment burden. EXPERT OPINION: While current treatments for w-AMD have significantly advanced with the advent of anti-VEGF therapies, their limitations in terms of treatment burden and incomplete responses have spurred research into diverse alternative approaches. These innovative strategies offer hope for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare burdens, suggesting a promising future for w-AMD management.

Iris Reconstruction: A Surgeon's Guide.

Objectives: The aim of this review paper is to summarise surgical options available for repairing iris defects at the iris-lens plane, focusing on suturing techniques, iridodialysis repair, and prosthetic iris devices. Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted using multiple databases, including Medline, PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane Library, from inception to February 2024. Relevant studies were screened based on predefined criteria, and primary references cited in selected articles were also reviewed. Results: Various surgical techniques were identified for iris defect repair. Suturing methods such as interrupted full-thickness sutures and the McCannel technique offer solutions for smaller defects, while iridodialysis repair techniques address detachment of the iris from the ciliary body. Prosthetic iris devices, including iris-lens diaphragm devices, endocapsular capsular tension ring-based devices, and customizable artificial iris implants, provide options for larger defects, each with its own advantages and limitations. Conclusions: Successful iris reconstruction requires a personalised approach considering factors like defect size, ocular comorbidities, and patient preference. Surgeons must possess a thorough understanding of available techniques and prosthetic devices to achieve optimal outcomes in terms of both visual function and, nonetheless, cosmetic appearance.

CLINICAL FEATURES AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF SCLERAL BUCKLE SURGERY FOR PRIMARY RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT: Moorfields Buckle Study.

PURPOSE: Long-term study to evaluate the clinical and surgical outcomes of scleral buckle (SB) surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) at a large tertiary eye center. METHODS: Noncomparative, retrospective case series of 589 eyes of 569 patients with primary RRD who underwent SB surgery between 2004 and 2022 with a median follow-up of 6 months. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, surgical outcomes, complications, and classification of RRD. RESULTS: At baseline, 447/589 (76.1%) round hole RRD, and 133/589 (22.7%) retinal dialysis RRD. Overall primary SB success rate was 83.7% for all retinal detachment subtypes, with round hole retinal detachment 84.8% and dialysis RRD 81.2%. Overall, the baseline best-corrected visual acuity was 0.42 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and the final best-corrected visual acuity was 0.26 logMAR ( P < 0.0001). In macula-off RRD, the best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from 0.79 to 0.48 logMAR ( P < 0.0001). In patients with macula-on RRD, it improved from 0.19 to 0.12 logMAR ( P = 0.014). Binary logistic regression showed registrar surgeon grade (odds ratio [OR] 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.55), and partial or complete posterior vitreous detachment (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.10-0.49) was associated with reduced odds of primary success. Higher surgical failure was associated with low pre-fellowship SB surgeon experience ( P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Favorable visual and functional outcomes have been reported in a large series of SB for primary retinal detachment, mainly for patients with round hole RRD and retinal dialysis RRD.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: an update on the current and emerging treatment options.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains the main cause of failure in retinal detachment (RD) surgery and a demanding challenge for vitreoretinal surgeons. Despite the large improvements in surgical techniques and a better understanding of PVR pathogenesis in the last years, satisfactory anatomical and visual outcomes have not been provided yet. For this reason, several different adjunctive pharmacological agents have been investigated in combination with surgery. In this review, we analyze the current and emerging adjunctive treatment options for the management of PVR and we discuss their possible clinical application and beneficial role in this subgroup of patients.

LATE RECURRENCE OF RETINAL DETACHMENT: Incidence, Clinical Features, and Surgical Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To describe and evaluate demographics, clinical features, prognostic factors, rate of success of surgery, incidence, and visual outcomes in patients with a late recurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment over a 10-year period at a large tertiary referral eye center. METHODS: A retrospective, observational case series of patients with late recurrence of retinal detachment, defined as redetachment after at least six months of total reattachment in non-proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery with gas tamponade. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients had a late recurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of 16,396 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment operations. The mean of time between the first retinal detachment (RD) surgery and redetachment was 122.7 (SD 115) weeks. On presentation with late recurrence, 72% of eyes were pseudophakic and 64% were macula-off. In 28 eyes, small breaks were found. Thirty-eight percent had established PVR (PVR-C in 80%). Ninety-five percent underwent PPV. Gas was used in 61%. The initial secondary success rate was 64%. Initial best-corrected visual acuity was 1.32 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (6/120) and final was 0.8 logMAR (6/38; P value 0.002). CONCLUSION: Late recurrence of retinal detachment is rare. It is characterized by small retinal breaks that may be difficult to visualize. Although cases can be treated with favorable anatomical results, visual outcomes are often less good and the success rate is lower.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in choroidal melanoma: clinical features and surgical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features, prognostic factors, safety and rate of success of surgery and visual outcomes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and choroidal melanoma (CM). METHODS: A retrospective, observational case-series of 21 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment or combined tractional-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients with choroidal melanoma over a period of 20 years. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included in the final analysis. The mean elevation of CM was 4.0 mm and the mean largest diameter was 11.0 mm. RRD occurred after the CM treatment in 14 eyes at a mean interval of 44.2 months. The RRD was macula-on RRD in 6 eyes, there was posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in 15 and PVR in 7 eyes. BCVA at presentation was 0.71 logMAR and final was 1.5 logMAR (p = 0.01). The primary surgical success rate was 59%. No intraocular or extraocular tumour dissemination occurred. Mean follow-up was 66 months. CONCLUSION: RRD in patients with CM is uncommon but requires multidisciplinary management. Anatomical results are favourable but visual outcomes are poor due to a combination of factors related to melanoma treatment, macular retinal detachment and PVR. Vitrectomy as a surgical intervention for RRD in treated CM appears to be safe in terms tumour dissemination.

Endophthalmitis in Silicone Oil-Filled Eyes.

Incidences of post pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) endophthalmitis vary between 0.02% and 0.13%, and infectious endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eyes is even rarer. We performed a literature review to describe the incidence, protective and predisposing factors, causative pathogens, management options, and prognosis of infectious endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eyes. Various studies have elucidated different aspects of this condition. Causative pathogens commonly include commensals. Traditional management involves the removal of silicone oil (SO), intravitreal antibiotics and then SO re-injection. Alternatively, injecting intravitreal antibiotics into silicone oil-filled eyes has also been reported. Visual prognoses are uniformly guarded. Due to the uncommon nature of this condition, studies are limited either by their retrospective design or by small sample sizes. However, observational studies, case series, and case reports can play an important role in rare conditions until larger studies are conducted. This comprehensive review aims to summarise the information available in the literature, to act as a good source for ophthalmologists looking for answers on this topic, and to suggest areas for future development.

Visual loss in surgical retinal disease: retinal imaging and photoreceptor cell counts.

Vision loss after detachment of the neurosensory retina is a complex process which is not fully understood. Clinical factors have been identified which contribute to loss of macular function after retinal detachment and laboratory studies have played an important role in understanding the cellular and subcellular pathological processes which underlie the loss of visual function. As clinical imaging has advanced, multiple studies have focused on identifying and correlating clinicopathological features with visual outcomes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography angiography and adaptive optics studies have contributed to the understanding of the anatomical changes in relation to clinical outcomes. A clear understanding of the macular pathology of retinal detachment is fundamental to develop strategies to improve outcomes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and analogous retinal diseases where macular neurosensory retinal detachment is part of the pathology. This review assesses the evidence from experimental and pathological studies together with clinical imaging analyses (optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography angiography and adaptive optics) and the contribution of these studies to our understanding of visual outcomes.