Incidence, progression and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in 35-95-year-old individuals from three jointly designed German cohort studies.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) incidence/progression across a wide age range. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: AMD at baseline and follow-up (colour fundus imaging, Three Continent AMD Consortium Severity Scale, 3CACSS, clinical classification, CC) was assessed for 1513 individuals aged 35-95 years at baseline from three jointly designed population-based cohorts in Germany: Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA-Fit, KORA-FF4) and Altersbezogene Untersuchungen zur Gesundheit der Universität Regensburg (AugUR) with 18-year, 14-year or 3-year follow-up, respectively. Baseline assessment included lifestyle, metabolic and genetic markers. We derived cumulative estimates, rates and risk factor association for: (1) incident early AMD, (2) incident late AMD among no AMD at baseline (definition 1), (3) incident late AMD among no/early AMD at baseline (definition 2), (4) progression from early to late AMD. RESULTS: Incidence/progression increased by age, except progression in 70+-year old. We observed 35-55-year-old with 3CACSS-based early AMD who progressed to late AMD. Predominant risk factor for incident late AMD definition 2 was early AMD followed by genetics and smoking. When separating incident late AMD definition 1 from progression (instead of combined as incident late AMD definition 2), estimates help judge an individual's risk based on age and (3CACSS) early AMD status: for example, for a 65-year old, 3-year late AMD risk with no or early AMD is 0.5% or 7%, 3-year early AMD risk is 3%; for an 85-year old, these numbers are 0.5%, 21%, 12%, respectively. For CC-based 'early/intermediate' AMD, incidence was higher, but progression was lower. CONCLUSION: We provide a practical guide for AMD risk for ophthalmology practice and healthcare management and document a late AMD risk for individuals aged <55 years.

SLO-Microperimetry in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration During Anti-VEGF Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morphological and functional outcome of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) during antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy with bevacizumab using SLO microperimetry (SLO-MP) with eye tracking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: First, reproducibility was tested over the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in 21 eyes of 19 patients with wet AMD. Second, 21 eyes of 19 patients with active CNV were studied longitudinally during bevacizumab therapy. Best-corrected visual acuity, SLO-MP, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were performed. RESULTS: There was good reproducibility with a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.85. In the longitudinal study, eyes with anatomical response demonstrated a significant increase of retinal sensitivity. Non-responders showed no change in SLO-MP. Retinal sensitivity at baseline had a significant predictive value for the change in retinal sensitivity during therapy with bevacizumab (P=.032). CONCLUSION: SLO-MP is able to analyze retinal function overlying lesions in wet AMD and can be a useful tool to monitor therapy in patients with macular diseases.

Restoration of retinal layers after epiretinal membrane peeling.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphologic restoration of retinal anatomy after surgery for epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Correlation of retinal structure with visual outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series. METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive eyes with ERM underwent surgery with 1 year follow-up examination. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were analyzed preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperative. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts was measured at each visit. RESULTS: All eyes showed a significant improvement of BCVA after ERM peeling (P = 0.002). The time point of BCVA and retinal restoration seen on spectral domain optical coherence tomography occurred simultaneously and varied between individuals (occurrence of BCVA: mean, 4.82 months; retinal restoration: mean, 4.24 months). At 3 months, the retinal anatomical restoration rate was 70% and 88% at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Restoration of the retinal anatomical structure predominantly occurs within the first 3 months post-ERM peeling. An improvement of BCVA and anatomical retinal restoration after ERM removal varies in individuals. If retinal layers fully restore in their anatomical structure, BCVA improves at the same time point.

Primary intraocular lymphoma: a review.

Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) is a rare, non-Hodgkin lymphoma considered to be a subtype of primary central nervous system lymphoma. We describe a 65-year-old woman who presented to the Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California, who was diagnosed with bilateral PIOL without systemic disease. She enjoyed a 16-month remission but ultimately recurred in the brain. We reviewed the literature and present a discussion of the diagnostic criteria for PIOL and current strategies for treating PIOL in immunocompetent patients.