Color enhancement and achromatization to increase the visibility of indocyanine green-stained internal limiting membrane during digitally assisted vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of using digital assisted vitrectomy (DAV) for color enhancement in color channel and achromatization in color profile on the visibility of indocyanine green (ICG)-stained internal limiting membrane (ILM). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: Twenty eyes from 20 patients (7 men, 13 women) who underwent 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane removal were included. The presettings of five different imaging modes of the NGENUITY® 3D visualization system (Alcon laboratories, Inc.), were adjusted, and intraoperative images of ILM removal were captured under each presetting. The color contrast ratios (CCR) between the ICG-stained ILM area and peeled ILM area were compared across presettings objectively. Subjective visibility of ILM in each patient for different presettings was ranked using a Likert scale and evaluated by five examiners. Data on sex, age, preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to other presettings the best CCR was achieved by adjusting the color channel to enhance red and by modifying the color profile to create a monochrome image (P<0.01). The same presetting resulted in a highest subjective visibility (P<0.01). Mean preoperative BCVA and 6-month postoperative BCVA (logMAR) were 0.11±0.18 and 0.05±0.19, respectively (p=0.24). Mean preoperative IOP and 6-month postoperative IOP were 13.8±2.8 mmHg and 13.3±3.4 mmHg, respectively (p=0.51). No apparent intra- and post-operative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Color enhancement and achromatization using DAV may offer potential advantages to enhance the visibility of ICG-stained ILM.

INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INTRAOCULAR INFLAMMATION AFTER BROLUCIZUMAB TREATMENT IN JAPAN: A Multicenter Age-Related Macular Degeneration Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) and its risk factors following intravitreal injections of brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Japan. METHODS: A total of 1,351 Japanese consecutive patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were treated with brolucizumab from May 2020 to May 2022 at 14 institutions were examined. The variables analyzed were the number of brolucizumab injections, time to onset of IOI, and risk factors. RESULTS: Intraocular inflammation developed in 152 eyes (11.3%). Retinal vasculitis and/or retinal occlusion occurred in 53 eyes (3.9%). Ninety-four patients received bilaterally, bilateral IOI occurred in five patients (5.3%). Sixteen eyes (1.2%) had irreversible visual acuity loss and nine eyes (0.67%) had visual loss of three lines or more due to retinal vasculitis and/or retinal occlusion. The cumulative IOI incidence was 4.5%, 10.3%, and 12.2% at 30, 180, and 365 days (1-year), respectively. History of IOI (including retinal vasculitis) and/or retinal occlusion (odds ratio [OR], 5.41; P = 0.0075) and female sex (OR, 1.99; P = 0.0004) were significantly associated with IOI onset. CONCLUSION: The 1-year cumulative incidence of IOI in Japanese neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients treated with brolucizumab was 12.2%. History of IOI (including retinal vasculitis) and/or retinal occlusion and female sex were significant risk factors.

Usefulness of intraoperative optical coherence tomography to minimize the intraocular lens tilt during the intrascleral fixation: a clinical and experimental evaluation.

To report the usefulness of intraoperative real-time adjustment of intraocular lens (IOL) tilt during the intrascleral fixation with intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) as a clinical evaluation and investigate the factors contributing to IOL tilt using iOCT as an experimental evaluation. Retrospective cohort study and experimental research. As a clinical evaluation, the medical records of 43 eyes of 41 patients who underwent intrascleral IOL fixation combined with real-time iOCT observation were retrospectively reviewed. As an experimental evaluation, in order to investigate the factors contributing to IOL tilt, the four experiments were performed using iOCT. The mean IOL tilt angle (°) at the end of surgery and 3 months after surgery were 1.81 ± 1.15 and 2.10 ± 1.66, respectively (p = 0.46). No apparent intra- or postoperative complications occurred during the follow-up period. The experimental evaluation indicated that the IOL tilt was influenced by the insertion angle of the haptic in the vertical direction. The mean IOL tilt angle (°) was 1.94 ± 0.09, 4.67 ± 0.11, 8.90 ± 0.11, and 15.78 ± 0.85 when the insertion angle of the haptic was 0°, 10°, 27.5°, and 45° in the vertical direction, respectively (p < 0.01). Clinical and experimental IOL tilt assessment using iOCT is interactively useful for better quality surgery and better postoperative outcome.

Removal of Sub-Internal Limiting Membrane Hemorrhage Secondary to Retinal Arterial Macroaneurysm Rupture: Internal Limiting Membrane Non-Peeling Technique.

The appropriate surgical technique to improve the closure rate of perioperative full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) secondary to submacular hemorrhage (SMH) with sub-internal limiting membrane (ILM) hemorrhage caused by retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM) rupture remains an unsolved clinical problem. Several ILM transplantation techniques have been attempted, but these are challenging. Our new technique can remove sub-ILM hemorrhage with the central fovea ILM intact, without peeling the ILM. The medical records of three eyes from three patients with SMH and sub-ILM hemorrhage secondary to RAM rupture were retrospectively reviewed. During the surgery, a small ILM fissure was made outside the central fovea with ILM forceps, and sub-ILM hemorrhage was washed out through it by manually spraying balanced salt solution. Sub-ILM hemorrhage removal was achieved successfully in all eyes, with no occurrences of FTMH or other complications. Best-corrected decimal visual acuity improved from 0.05 (Snellen equivalent (SE), 20/400), 0.05 (SE, 20/400), and 0.05 (SE, 20/400) preoperatively to 0.3 (SE, 20/63), 0.4 (SE, 20/50), and 0.15 (SE, 20/125) at 3 months postoperatively, respectively. This new technique may help keep the foveal ILM intact and prevent perioperative FTMH formation.

Short-Term Outcomes of Intravitreal Faricimab Injection for Diabetic Macular Edema.

Background and Objectives: Faricimab is a novel bispecific antibody with Fab regions inhibiting both vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain short-term outcomes of intravitreal injection of faricimab (IVF) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in daily clinical practice. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was carried out on consecutive patients with DME who had been treated with IVF and were followed up for at least 1 month. Outcome measures included changes in logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), number of IVF administrations, and safety. Clinical outcomes were also compared between the treatment-naïve and switch groups. Results: A total of 21 consecutive DME eyes from 19 patients were identified. The mean number of IVFs was 1.6 ± 0.8 during the mean follow-up time of 5.5 months. The overall mean logMAR BCVA following IVF was 0.236, 0.204, 0.190, and 0.224 at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, without a significant change from baseline to 1 month (p = 0.176) or for 6 months (p = 0.923). The overall mean CRT (µm) following IVF was 400.6, 346.6, 342.1, and 327.5 at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. CRT significantly decreased from baseline to 1 month (p = 0.001) but did not reach a significant level over 6 months following IVF (p = 0.070). No significant difference in BCVA or CRT was observed between the treatment-naïve and switch groups. No serious safety concerns were noted. Conclusions: IVF for the treatment of DME may preserve visual acuity and improve macular thickness without serious safety concerns in the short term in a real-world clinical setting.

Clinical features and associated factors of intraocular inflammation following intravitreal brolucizumab as switching therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to explore the clinical features and associated factors of intraocular inflammation (IOI) following intravitreal brolucizumab (IVBr) administration for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: This retrospective study included 87 eyes from 87 Japanese patients with nAMD who were followed up for 5 months after the initial administration of IVBr as switching therapy. Clinical pictures of IOI post-IVBr and changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 5 months were evaluated between eyes with and without IOI (non-IOI). The association between IOI and baseline factors (age, sex, BCVA, hypertension, and/or arteriosclerotic changes in the fundus, subretinal hyperreflective material [SHRM], and macular atrophy) was evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 87 eyes, 18 (20.6%) developed IOI and 2 (2.3%) developed retinal artery occlusion. There were 9 (50%) cases of posterior or pan-uveitis among eyes with IOI. The mean interval from initial IVBr administration to IOI was 2 months. The mean changes in logMAR BCVA at 5 months were significantly worse in IOI eyes than in non-IOI eyes (0.09 ± 0.22 vs. - 0.01 ± 0.15, P = 0.03). There were 8 (44.4%) and 7 (10.1%) cases of macular atrophy and 11 (61.1%) and 13 (18.8%) cases of SHRM in the IOI and non-IOI groups, respectively. SHRM and macular atrophy were significantly associated with IOI (P = 0.0008 and P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: In IVBr therapy for nAMD, eyes with SHRM and/or macular atrophy should be observed more meticulously, given the increased risk of developing IOI, which is associated with insufficient BCVA gain.

THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF CYSTOTOMY WITH FIBRINOGEN CLOT REMOVAL FOR A CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO IDIOPATHIC MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 1: A CASE REPORT.

PURPOSE: To report the case of a patient with cystoid macular edema secondary to idiopathic macular telangiectasia (MacTel) Type 1, which was successfully treated by cystotomy and en bloc removal of the fibrinogen-rich component of the cystoid lesion. METHODS: An 80-year-old man was referred to our department because of a visual defect in his right eye. His best-corrected decimal visual acuity was 0.7 (Snellen equivalent, 20/30). A fundus examination revealed clustered temporal juxafoveal microaneurysms and foveal cystoid macular edema. The patient refused to undergo conventional treatments, including direct retinal photocoagulation for microaneurysms, intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection, and intravitreal triamcinolone injection. However, he provided consent to undergo cystotomy and en bloc removal of the fibrinogen-rich component of the cystoid lesion. RESULTS: His best-corrected decimal visual acuity was 0.2 (Snellen equivalent, 20/100) just before the surgery. A 27-gauge vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling was performed. Cystotomy was performed during the surgery, and the fibrinogen clot visible in the cystoid cavity was also removed. Cystoid macular edema rapidly disappeared after the surgery. Three years postoperatively, the patient had best-corrected decimal visual acuity of 0.5 (Snellen equivalent, 20/40) at the last medical examination, and the cystoid macular edema had not recurred. CONCLUSION: Cystotomy and en bloc removal of the fibrinogen-rich component of the cystoid lesion could be valid treatment options for cystoid macular edema secondary to MacTel Type 1.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Reveals 2 New Loci Implying Shared Genetic Components with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the genetic architecture of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Japanese population. DESIGN: Genome-wide association study (GWAS). PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand seven hundred seventy-two patients with AMD and 16 770 control participants from the Japanese population were enrolled in the association analyses. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of 2 independent GWASs that included a total of 2663 patients with AMD and 9471 control participants using the imputation reference panel for genotype imputation specified for the Japanese population (n = 3541). A replication study was performed using an independent set of 1109 patients with AMD and 7299 control participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations of genetic variants with AMD. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of the 2 GWASs identified 6 loci significantly associated with AMD (P < 5.0 × 10-8). Of these loci, 4 were known to be associated with AMD (CFH, C2/FB, TNFRSF10A, and ARMS2), and 2 were novel (rs4147157 near WBP1L and rs76228488 near GATA5). The newly identified associations were confirmed in a replication study (P < 0.01). After the meta-analysis of all datasets, we observed strong associations in these loci (P = 1.88 × 10-12 and P = 1.35 × 10-9 for meta-analysis for rs4147157 and rs76228488, respectively). When we looked up the associations in the reported central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) GWAS conducted in the Japanese population, both loci were associated significantly with CSC (P = 4.86 × 10-3 and P = 4.28 × 10-3 for rs4147157 and rs76228488, respectively). We performed a genetic colocalization analysis for these loci and estimated that the posterior probabilities of shared causal variants between AMD and CSC were 0.39 and 0.60 for WBP1L and GATA5, respectively. Genetic correlation analysis focusing on the epidemiologically suggested clinical risk factors implicated shared polygenic architecture between AMD and smoking cessation (rg [the measure of genetic correlation] = -0.33; P = 0.01; false discovery rate, 0.099). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings imply shared genetic components conferring the risk of both AMD and CSC. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Differences in clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of submacular hemorrhage caused by age-related macular degeneration and retinal macroaneurysms: A multicenter survey from the Japan Clinical Retina Study (J-CREST) group.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment trends, and visual prognosis of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 187 Japanese patients with SMH at 10 institutions from 2015 to 2018. Medical records including SMH etiology, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photographs, optical coherence tomography images, and selected treatments were analyzed. RESULTS: Major causes of SMH were typical nAMD (tnAMD) (18%), polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) (50%) and RAM (29%). Age, male/female ratio, baseline BCVA, central retinal thickness, and involved retinal layers were significantly different between etiologies (all P<0.0001). Treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs with and without intravitreal gas injection was chosen for half of eyes in the tnAMD and PCV groups, whereas vitrectomy was performed in 83.7% of eyes with RAM. The final BCVA improved significantly from baseline in the PCV and RAM groups (P = 0.0009, P<0.0001) and final BCVA was significantly better in the PCV group at a level similar to the other groups (P = 0.0007, P = 0.0008). BCVA improvement from baseline was significantly greater in the RAM group compared with the tnAMD (P = 0.0152) and PCV (P = 0.017) groups. Multivariate analysis revealed better final BCVA was significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.0054), better baseline BCVA (P = 0.0021), RAM subtype (P = 0.0446), and no tnAMD (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of, and treatment strategy for, SMH were different between the underlying diseases. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment with or without expansile gas was mainly chosen for SMH in tnAMD and PCV, whereas vitrectomy with gas was the most common treatment for RAM, and the higher rate for vitrectomy might result in the greater BCVA improvement in the RAM group than in the other groups. Final BCVA was better in PCV, RAM, and tnAMD, in that order, because patients with PCV were younger and had better baseline BCVA.

Visual prognosis of submacular hemorrhage secondary to age-related macular degeneration: A retrospective multicenter survey.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features, treatment options, and visual outcomes of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). DESIGN: A retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: Setting: Multicenter institutional setting. Patient Population: A total of 127 patients (127 eyes; 88 men, 39 women; (mean age, 74.2 years)) diagnosed with AMD-associated SMHs exceeding 2 disc diameters involving the fovea. Observation: The AMD types, previous treatments, treatment options, anatomic findings, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical features, treatment options, and visual outcomes of SMHs secondary to nAMD. RESULTS: Thirty-two eyes had typical AMD, 94 eyes polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and one eye retinal angiomatous proliferation. Eighty-five eyes were treatment-naïve; 42 eyes were treated previously: anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy (n = 26), photodynamic therapy (n = 3), and combined therapy (n = 13). Treatment of SMHs included vitrectomy (36 eyes), pneumatic displacement (49 eyes), and anti-VEGF monotherapy (42 eyes). The final BCVA improved significantly in treatment-naïve cases from 0.86 to 0.62 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) unit (Snellen equivalent from 20/145 to 20/83) and from 0.80 to 0.56 (Snellen equivalent from 20/126 to 20/73) in PCV cases. Meanwhile, the BCVA logMAR values improved from 1.15 to 0.75 (Snellen equivalent from 20/283 to 20/112) and from 0.87 to 0.63 (Snellen equivalent from 20/148 to 20/85) in eyes that underwent vitrectomy or pneumatic displacement, respectively. In eyes with BCVAs between 20/133 to 20/40 at SMH onset, the final VA in the pneumatic displacement group was better than in the anti-VEGF monotherapy group. One eye had a retinal detachment and 1 eye had a macular hole in the vitrectomy group, and 5 eyes had a vitreous hemorrhage in the pneumatic displacement group. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended treatment for SMHs secondary to nAMD exceeding 2 disc area and with BCVA below 20/40 is vitrectomy or pneumatic displacement for visual improvement.

Genome-wide Survival Analysis for Macular Neovascularization Development in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Revealed Shared Genetic Susceptibility with Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

PURPOSE: To identify susceptibility genes for macular neovascularization (MNV) development in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). DESIGN: Genome-wide survival analysis using a longitudinal cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: We included 402 and 137 patients with CSC but without MNV at their first visit from the Kyoto CSC Cohort and Kobe CSC dataset, respectively. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations, including multimodal imaging, such as fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain OCT, and fluorescein angiography/indocyanine green angiography or OCT angiography. METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide survival analysis using the Kyoto CSC Cohort. We applied the Cox proportional hazard model to adjust for age, sex, and the first principal component. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with P values < 1.0 × 10-5 were carried forward to the replication in the Kobe CSC dataset. Moreover, we evaluated the contribution of previously reported age-related macular degeneration (AMD) susceptibility loci. We used FUMA and ToppFun for the functional enrichment analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association between SNPs and MNV development in patients with CSC. RESULTS: Rs370974631 near ARMS2 displayed a genome-wide significant association in the meta-analysis of discovery and replication result (hazard ratio [HR]meta, 3.63; Pmeta = 5.76 × 10-9). Among previously reported AMD susceptibility loci, we additionally identified CFH rs800292 (HR, 0.39, P = 2.55 × 10-4), COL4A3 rs4276018 (HR, 0.26, P = 1.56 × 10-3), and B3GALTL rs9564692 (HR, 0.56, P = 8.30 × 10-3) as susceptibility loci for MNV development in CSC. The functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of 8 pathways (GO:0051561, GO:0036444, GO:0008282, GO:1990246, GO:0015272, GO:0030955, GO:0031420, and GO:0005242) related to ion transport. CONCLUSIONS: ARMS2, CFH, COL4A3, and B3GALTL were identified as susceptibility genes for MNV development in CSC. These 4 genes are known as susceptibility genes for AMD, whereas COL4A3 and B3GALTL were previously reported to be polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV)-specific susceptibility genes. Our findings revealed the shared genetic susceptibility between PCV and MNV secondary to CSC.

Incidence and risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration in eyes with drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment.

To investigate the incidence and risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including geographic atrophy (GA) and macular neovascularization (MNV), in eyes with drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (PED). Eighty-five eyes with drusenoid PED from 85 patients (77.2 ± 7.0 years, male/female: 44/41) were included in this study. Patients were followed up every 1-3 months via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and color fundus photography. If exudation was observed on SD-OCT, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography were performed to confirm the MNV subtype accordingly. The maximum follow-up period was 60 months. During the study period, GA developed in 8 eyes while MNV also developed in 8 eyes. The Kaplan-Meier estimator revealed that the cumulative incidence for 60 months was 17.9% and 12.2% for GA and MNV, respectively. In eyes developing MNV, retinal angiomatous proliferation was the most common. Cox regression analysis revealed that baseline PED width was the only factor associated with advanced AMD. (p = 0.0026, Cox regression analysis). The 5-year cumulative incidence of advanced AMD, including GA and MNV, was approximately 30% in eyes with drusenoid PED among the Japanese elderly. A larger baseline PED width was the only risk factor for advanced AMD.

The contribution of the proximity of the retinal detachment to the fovea for postoperative metamorphopsia after 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for the primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical factors contributing to metamorphopsia after 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (27GPPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) to reveal whether the proximity of the preoperative retinal detachment to the fovea is associated with postoperative metamorphopsia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 77 eyes of 77 patients after 27GPPV for RRD. Patients were subdivided into three groups using optical coherence tomography findings: Group A, patients with RRD outside the vascular arcade; Group B, patients whose condition was present within the vascular arcade, but without foveal detachment; and Group C, patients with foveal detachment. RESULTS: The average metamorphopsia score (°) assessed with M-charts 12 months after surgery was 0.01 ± 0.04 in Group A (24 eyes), 0.08 ± 0.18 in Group B (20 eyes), and 0.49 ± 0.48 in Group C (33 eyes) (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that metamorphopsia at 12 months after surgery significantly correlated with the proximity of the retinal detachment to the fovea (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Metamorphopsia after 27GPPV for RRD correlated with the proximity of the preoperative retinal detachment to the fovea. Attention should be paid to the possibility of postoperative metamorphopsia development when retinal detachment is present within a vascular arcade even if the fovea is not involved.

Autologous Scleral Pocket Technique for Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation with Pars Plana Tube Insertion for Neovascular Glaucoma.

Specific postoperative complications, such as tube exposure and conjunctival erosion, have occurred despite the favorable surgical outcomes of tube shunt surgeries for refractory glaucoma. The new autologous scleral pocket technique is performed by inserting the tube into the vitreous cavity without using a donor scleral patch. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical results of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation using this technique for neovascular glaucoma (NVG), which is one of the representative refractory types of glaucoma. This observational retrospective case series included 15 consecutive eyes of 15 patients with NVG who had undergone AGV implantation at Kobe University between January 2018 and December 2019. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 37.2 ± 13.8 mmHg and the glaucoma drug score was 4.2 ± 2.2. The mean IOP and glaucoma drug score at 1 year postoperatively decreased to 15.0 ± 4.6 mmHg and 1.3 ± 2.0, respectively (p < 0.001). No significant change in the corneal endothelial cell density following surgery was observed (p = 0.09); however, one patient required an additional trabeculectomy at 7 months postoperatively. No cases of tube exposure or conjunctival erosion were observed at 1 year postoperatively. These results indicated the effectiveness and safety of this technique in patients with NVG.

Drusenoid Pigment Epithelial Detachment: Genetic and Clinical Characteristics.

Few studies report drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (DPED) in Asians. In this multicenter study, we report the clinical and genetic characteristics of 76 patients with DPED, and, for comparison, 861 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were included. On the initial presentation, the mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.087 ± 0.17 (logMAR unit), and mean DPED height and width were 210 ± 132 and 1633 ± 1114 µm, respectively. Fifty-one (67%) patients showed macular neovascularization in the contralateral eye. The risk allele frequency of both ARMS2 A69S and CFH I62V was significantly higher in DPED than in typical AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) (ARMS2 A69S risk allele frequency: DPED 77% vs. typical AMD 66% vs. PCV 57%, CFH I62V risk allele frequency: DPED 87% vs. typical AMD 73% vs. PCV 73%), although the risk allele frequency of both genes was similar between the DPED group and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) group (ARMS2 A69S: p = 0.32, CFH I62V, p = 0.11). The prevalence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) was highest in RAP (60%), followed by DPED (22%), typical AMD (20%), and PCV (2%). Although the prevalence of RPD differs between DPED and RAP, these entities share a similar genetic background in terms of ARMS2 and CFH genes.

Cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.

To demonstrate the long-term effect of cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for treatment-resistant cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Retrospective clinical study. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 22 eyes of 22 patients with treatment-resistant CME secondary to BRVO with 12 months observation after cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal. Patients included 11 women and 11 men. The mean ± SD age was 72.7 ± 10.2 years. LogMAR-converted best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was statistically better at 12 months after surgery (0.30 ± 0.30) than preoperative BCVA (0.39 ± 0.27) (p = 0.01). The central sensitivity of microperimetry (dB) was maintained during follow-up (preoperative sensitivity: 25.4 ± 4.1, postoperative sensitivity at 12 months after the surgery: 25.9 ± 4.2, p = 0.69). Twelve months after surgery, there was a significant improvement in the central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (303.7 ± 80.1) (µm) compared with the preoperative CRT (524.2 ± 114.8) (p < 0.01). In 12 months, CME recurred in 3 of 22 eyes. The preoperative reflectivity in cystoid cavity on OCT was significantly higher in patients with fibrinogen clot removal (n = 5) than in patients without fibrinogen clot removal (n = 17) (p < 0.01). For treatment-resistant CME secondary to BRVO, Cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal may be one of the treatment options.

Photodynamic therapy combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for pachychoroid neovasculopathy.

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the 1-year treatment outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). A total of 42 eyes of 42 patients with treatment-naïve PNV who were treated with PDT combined with intravitreal injections of an anti-VEGF agent (ranibizumab or aflibercept) for 1 year. All eyes showed exudative and/or hemorrhagic changes that affected the fovea at baseline. After the initial combination therapy, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were significantly reduced and were maintained as such for 12 months (P < 0.01 in SCT and CRT). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (0.19 ± 0.30 at baseline) significantly improved at 3 months (0.15 ± 0.29, P < 0.05) and further improved at 12 months (0.10 ± 0.30, P < 0.01) when compared to that at baseline. After the initial combination therapy, 32 eyes (76.2%) required no additional treatments for 12 months. The mean number of additional PDT and intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents was 0.1 ± 0.3 and 0.9 ± 1.9, respectively. Of the 42 eyes included in this study, 22 eyes (52.4%) had polypoidal lesions at baseline. No significant differences in SCT, CRT, or BCVA were observed at any time points between eyes with and without polypoidal lesions. Of 20 eyes without polypoidal lesions, only 1 eye (5.0%) needed additional treatments. PNV, especially without polypoidal lesions, can be treated effectively with PDT combined with anti-VEGF therapy with few sessions.

LONG-TERM EFFECT OF CYSTOTOMY WITH OR WITHOUT THE FIBRINOGEN CLOT REMOVAL FOR REFRACTORY CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To show the long-term effect of cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of the medical records of 30 eyes of 30 patients with refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy who had followed up for 12 months after the surgery were performed. RESULTS: There were 15 men and 15 women. The mean ± SD age was 68.4 ± 7.9 years. The best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) at 12 months after the surgery (0.33 ± 0.25, Snellen equivalent, 20/42) was statistically better than the preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (0.45 ± 0.33, Snellen equivalent, 20/56) (P < 0.01). The central sensitivity on microperimetry (dB) was not statistically changed between preoperatively (24.0 ± 4.9) and 12 months after the surgery (24.1 ± 4.0) (P = 0.75). The central retinal thickness on optical coherence tomography (µm) at 12 months after the surgery (300.3 ± 99.0) was statistically improved compared with the preoperative central retinal thickness (565.6 ± 198.7) (P < 0.01). During the follow-up period, cystoid macular edema relapsed in seven of 30 eyes. The preoperative cystoid cavity reflectivity on optical coherence tomography in patients with fibrinogen clot removal (n = 16) was significantly higher than that in patients without fibrinogen clot removal (n = 14) (P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal may be a promising treatment option for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy.

Development and validity of the Computer-Based Cognitive Assessment Tool for intervention in community-dwelling older individuals.

AIM: The Mini-Mental State Examination is a widely used cognitive assessment tool. However, it has several limitations, including the learning effect and interrater reliability. Therefore, we developed a Computer-Based Cognitive Assessment Tool (CompBased-CAT), which runs on a tablet or personal computer. In this study, we examined the validity and discrimination ability of the CompBased-CAT. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Otasha-Kenshin study carried out in 2016. We included 773 community-dwelling older individuals in Japan (332 men, 441 women, aged 65-97 years). CompBased-CAT scores were converted to z-scores, and the correlation with Mini-Mental State Examination scores was examined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Furthermore, the ability to discern cognitive impairment was examined using the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: The Pearson's correlation coefficient for the Mini-Mental State Examination scores and each task component of the CompBased-CAT ranged from 0.24 to 0.41 (P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient of the total z-scores was 0.51 (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the discriminating ability of the CompBased-CATool for cognitive impairment were 0.81, 0.77 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CompBased-CAT certainly possesses validity, discriminating ability and utility as a new cognitive assessment tool in community-dwelling older individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.

A CASE OF RETINAL METASTASIS OF LARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA WITH HISTOPATHOLOGIC CONFIRMATION BY VITRECTOMY-ASSISTED EN BLOCK EXTRACTION.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To present a case report of retinal metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma that was diagnosed by a histopathologic finding from the surgically extracted tumor tissue. METHODS: A 66-year-old man, who was suffered from the treatment-resistant laryngeal carcinoma, was referred to our department because of visual field defect in his right eye. A fundus examination revealed a parafoveal white retinal lesion, which rapidly expanded to the central fovea and decreased the visual acuity. A tissue extraction by 27G pars plana vitrectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: The abnormal retinal tissue was extracted en block through 10-mm sclerocorneal tunnel during pars plana vitrectomy. The histopathologic findings revealed that the retinal lesion was retinal metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: We must keep in mind that retinal metastasis can be one of the differential diagnoses for white retinal lesions of unknown cause.