Quantitative assessment of retinal vasculature changes in systemic lupus erythematosus using wide-field OCTA and the correlation with disease activity.

Purpose: To assess the retinal vasculature changes quantitatively using wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and explore its correlation with systemic clinical features. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. Participants and controls: Patients with SLE who presented to the Ophthalmology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2022 to April 2023 were collected. The subjects were divided into retinopathy and without retinopathy groups. Age and gender-matched healthy subjects were selected as controls. Methods: Patients with SLE and control subjects were imaged with 24×20 mm OCTA scans centered on the fovea and 6×6 mm OCTA scans centered on the optic disc. The sub-layers of OCTA images were stratified by the built-in software of the device and then the retinal thickness and vessel density were measured automatically. The characteristics of retinal OCTA parameters of SLE and its correlation with systemic clinical indicators of patients without retinopathy were analyzed. Main outcome measures: OCTA parameters, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and systemic clinical indicators of patients such as disease activity index, autoimmune antibodies, and inflammatory marker levels were collected. Results: A total of 102 SLE patients were included, 24 of which had retinopathy, and 78 had unaffected retina. Wide-field OCTA could effectively detect retinal vascular obstruction, non-perfusion area, and morphological abnormalities in patients with lupus retinopathy. SLE patients without retinopathy had significantly higher retinal superficial vessel density (SVD) in foveal (P=0.02), para-foveal temporal (P=0.01), nasal (P=0.01), peripheral foveal temporal (P=0.02), and inferior areas (P=0.02), as well as subregion temporal (P=0.01) and inferior areas (P=0.03) when compared with healthy controls (n=65 eyes from 65 participants). The area under curve (AUC) value of subregion inferior SVD combined parafoveal temporal SVD was up to 0.70. There was a significantly positive correlation between SVD and disease activity in SLE without retinopathy group. Patients with severe activity had the most significant increase in SVD. Conclusion: Wide-field OCTA can provide a relatively comprehensive assessment of the retinal vasculature in SLE. In the absence of pathological changes of the retina, the SVD was significantly increased and was positively correlated with the disease activity of SLE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus purtscher like retinopathy: Optical coherence tomography angiography assessment implications.

PURPOSE: to underline the importance of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in the diagnosis, assessment of final visual outcome and better understanding of the Purtscher like retinopathy, as well as to emphasize on performing an ophthalmologic evaluation in all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, as eye involvement is closely related with disease activity. METHODS: case report. Ophthalmologic multimodal imaging assessment of a patient short after experiencing a systemic lupus erythematosus severe outset. RESULTS: fundus examination revealed multiple cotton-wool exudates and sharp defined intraretinal white flecken lesions, concentrated in the posterior pole, which along macular edema and the context of lupus disease led to the diagnosis of Purtscher like retinopathy, raising concern about underlying disease activity. OCT-A evidenced ischemic affront in the superficial and deep vascular plexuses but also at choroidal level, preconizing a poor visual outcome. Precapillary retinal vascular stops and choroid lobular ischemic images, with a honey comb configuration in the latter, were of note. Six months after initial consultation, previously displayed ischemic images gave rise to retinal and choroidal atrophy translated into counting fingers best corrected visual acuity with the posterior ensue of retina neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: This case proves ophthalmologic evaluation mandatory for all patients suffering from lupus and reveals OCT-A as an imaging tool of great value in the assessment of Purtscher retinopathy. To our knowledge, this would be the first report of a SLE Purtscher-like retinopathy characterized by OCT-A, matching graphically and unprecedently vascular micro-embolism stops and ischemic areas, seen as void signals, with the pathognomonic Purtscher flecken, and Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy (PAMM) lesions.

Assessment of Ocular Deformation in Pathologic Myopia Using 3-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

IMPORTANCE: Ocular deformation in pathologic myopia can affect the entire globe. However, few studies have investigated the equatorial pattern of ocular shape. In addition, the correlation between equatorial and posterior morphology needs to be further explored. OBJECTIVE: To assess global ocular deformation in pathologic myopia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study included 180 pathologic myopic eyes with atrophic maculopathy grading C2 (diffuse chorioretinal atrophy) or more from 180 participants who underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including high-resolution 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, 10 nonpathologic myopic eyes of 10 participants were set as the control group. Main Outcomes and Measures: According to the cross-sectional view of equator, equatorial shape was classified as round, rectangular, pyriform (noncircular and more protruded in 1 direction), vertical-elliptical, or horizontal-elliptical; according to the nasal and inferior views, the posterior shape was categorized as spheroidal, conical, bulb-shaped, ellipsoidal, multidistorted, and barrel-shaped. Equatorial circularity and ocular sphericity were used to quantitatively assess the morphological variability of the equatorial and posterior regions, respectively. The association between ocular morphology and ocular parameters and myopic maculopathy was also investigated. Results: The mean (SD) age of 180 participants with pathologic myopia was 55.14 (10.74) years, 127 were female (70.6%), and the mean (SD) axial length of studied eyes was 30.22 (2.25) mm. The predominant equatorial shape was pyriform (66 eyes [36.7%]), followed by round (45 eyes [25.0%]). The predominant posterior shape was bulb-shaped (97 eyes [52.2%]), followed by multidistorted (46 eyes [24.7%]). Equatorial circularity and equatorial shapes were correlated (r = -0.469; 95% CI, -0.584 to -0.346; P < .001) and ocular sphericity was correlated with posterior shapes (r = -0.533; 95% CI, -0.627 to -0.427; P < .001). In eyes with a vertical-elliptical equator, equatorial circularity and ocular sphericity were positively linearly correlated (R2 = 0.246; 95% CI, 0.050-0.496; P = .002) and the prevalence of inferior staphyloma was higher (27.8%; P = .04). Eyes with a horizontal-elliptical equator have the most horizontally oriented axis of corneal flat keratometry (median, 43.55 [interquartile range, 43.84] degrees; P = .01) and tended to present with multidistorted posterior shape (21.7%; P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest ocular deformation is common in pathologic myopia and can affect the entire eye, including the equatorial and posterior regions. The morphological classification may enhance the understanding of the diverse patterns of ocular shape in pathologic myopia.

Longitudinal assessment of quantitative ultra-widefield ischaemic and vascular parameters in sickle cell retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate longitudinal quantitative ischaemic and vasculature parameters, including ischaemic index, vessel area, length and geodesic distance in sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA). METHODS: Optimal UWFA images from two longitudinal timepoints of 74 eyes from 45 patients with SCR were aligned and a common region of interest was determined. A deep-learning augmented ischaemia and vascular segmentation platform was used for feature extraction. Geodesic distance maps demonstrating the shortest distance within the vascular masks from the centre of the optic disc were created. Ischaemic index, vessel area, vessel length and geodesic distance were measured. Paired t-test and linear mixed effect model analysis were performed. RESULTS: Overall, 25 (44 eyes) patients with HbSS, 14 (19 eyes) with HbSC, 6 (11 eyes) with HbSthal and other genotypes were included. Mean age was 40.1±11.0 years. Mean time interval between two UWFA studies was 23.0±15.1 months (range: 3-71.3). Mean panretinal ischaemic index increased from 10.0±7.2% to 10.9±7.3% (p<0.005). Mean rate of change in ischaemic index was 0.5±0.7% per year. Mean vessel area (p=0.020) and geodesic distance (p=0.048) decreased significantly. Multivariate analysis demonstrated baseline ischaemic index and Goldberg stage are correlated with progression. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal ischaemic index and retinal vascular parameter measurements demonstrate statistically significant progression in SCR. The clinical significance of these relatively small magnitude changes remains unclear but may provide insights into the progression of retinal ischaemia in SCR.

Histological Assessment of Rat Retinas with Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury occurs in pathological situations that interrupt the blood flow to the retina, such as is the case during central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). The animal models described in the literature are based on the pressure produced by the weight of a given quantity of saline elevated to a certain height; however, to establish these parameters it is necessary to perform mathematical calculations that cannot be easily redone in the case of punctual variations of intraocular pressure (IOP). The aim of this study was to present a new system that allows us to reproduce the conditions of retinal IR and thereby properly assess the level of injury in retinal histological samples. METHODS: We developed a retinal IR model in WAG/RijHsd rats based on CRAO through increasing IOP. To develop this model, we produced ischemia for 1 h using a hydrostatic pressure system that maintained a constant high IOP and then allowed reperfusion for 1 h. The injury attributable to IR was assessed by histological examination of retinal samples, determining whether there was histological damage and/or dendritic swelling and counting the outer nuclear layer cells showing cytoplasmic swelling. RESULTS: The increase in IOP to 150 mm Hg produced CRAO, in turn causing observable histological damage and dendritic swelling in all retinas subjected to IR. Counting the number of cells showing cytoplasmic swelling yielded a mean of 102.5 ± 35 cells/field. The contralateral retinas were healthy, showing no significant changes. CONCLUSION: The retinal IR model proposed is simple, reproducible, and allows variable durations of ischemia and reperfusion, and most importantly, it allows easy correction by adjusting the pressure of the sphygmomanometer, of any change in IOP to keep the ischemia stable, without having to recalculate the elevation height of the ischemia induction system. Moreover, the damage caused by IR can be effectively assessed by the type of histopathological assessment performed. For these reasons, it can be considered a reliable method for studying drugs that may prevent retinal IR injury.

Longitudinal Assessment of Retinal Thinning in Adults With and Without Sickle Cell Retinopathy Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

Importance: Determination of retinal thinning rates may help to identify patients who are at risk of progression of sickle cell retinopathy. Objective: To assess the rates of macular thinning in adults with and without sickle cell retinopathy using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to identify ocular and systemic risk factors associated with retinal thinning. Design, Setting, and Participants: This longitudinal prospective case-control study enrolled adult participants from a university-based retina subspecialty clinic between February 11, 2009, and July 3, 2019. The study was designed in autumn 2008 and conducted from February 2, 2009, to July 3, 2020. Participants with sickle cell retinopathy (sickle cell group) were matched by age and race with participants without sickle cell retinopathy (control group). Participants received annual spectral-domain OCT and clinical examinations. Those with at least 1 year of follow-up by July 3, 2020, were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed from February 2, 2009, to July 3, 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was comparison of spectral-domain OCT measurements from early-treatment diabetic retinopathy study subfield rates of retinal thinning between eyes with and without sickle cell retinopathy and between different sickle cell hemoglobin subtypes. The secondary outcome was identification of ocular and systemic risk factors associated with rates of retinal thinning. Results: Among 370 adults (711 eyes) enrolled in the study, 310 participants (606 eyes) had sickle cell retinopathy, and 60 participants (105 eyes) did not. Of those, 175 of 310 participants (56.5%; 344 of 606 eyes [56.8%]; mean [SD] age, 37.8 [12.8] years; 126 women [72.0%]) in the sickle cell group and 31 of 60 participants (51.7%; 46 of 105 eyes [43.8%]; mean [SD] age, 59 [15.4] years; 22 women [71.0%]) in the control group had at least 1 year of clinical and spectral-domain OCT follow-up data from baseline. The mean (SD) follow-up was 53.7 (32.6) months for the sickle cell group and 54.6 (34.9) months for the control group. Rates of macular thinning in the sickle cell group were significantly higher than those in the control group for the inner nasal (difference, -1.18 µm per year; 95% CI, -1.71 to -0.65 µm per year), inner superior (difference, -1.03 µm per year; 95% CI, -1.78 to -0.29 µm per year), inner temporal (difference, -0.61 µm per year; 95% CI, -1.16 to -0.07 µm per year), and outer nasal (difference, -0.41 µm per year; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.03 µm per year) quadrants. Patients with sickle cell hemoglobin SC and sickle cell hemoglobin ß-thalassemia subtypes had higher rates of retinal thinning than those with the sickle cell hemoglobin SS subtype. Risk factors associated with greater rates of retinal thinning included participant age, stage of retinopathy, previous stroke, and presence of hypertension, acute chest syndrome, or diabetes. Hydroxyurea therapy was associated with decreased rates of retinal thinning and may be a protective factor. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, rates of retinal thinning were higher among participants with sickle cell retinopathy compared with those without sickle cell retinopathy, and thinning rates increased with participant age and stage of retinopathy. These findings suggest that identifying anatomic worsening of sickle cell maculopathy through spectral-domain OCT may be a useful parameter to evaluate the progression of sickle cell retinopathy.

Role of multifocal electroretinogram in assessment of early retinal dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate localized retinal dysfunction in hypertensive patients using multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and to assess its sensitivity as an early predictor for the development of retinopathy in hypertensive patients. METHODS: Ninety-eight eyes were included in this case-control study. Twenty-eight eyes of healthy subjects served as a control group (group I). Seventy eyes belonged to patients with systemic hypertension assigned into two groups; group II including 39 eyes of hypertensive patients with normal fundus and group III including 31 eyes of patients with signs of hypertensive retinopathy. All participants were subjected to complete ophthalmic and electrophysiological examination using mfERG. N1 and P1 wave amplitudes and implicit times from the central hexagon and four concentric rings across the visual field were analyzed. RESULTS: mfERG amplitudes were significantly reduced in hypertensive group with retinopathy than in controls. N1 amplitude was significantly reduced in the most eccentric ring in eyes of hypertensive patients with normal fundus. CONCLUSION: mfERG is a sensitive objective tool for assessment of retinal dysfunction in hypertensive patients. mfERG amplitude is a promising predictor for early development of retinopathy in systemic hypertension.

Structural Retinal Assessment Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

BACKGROUND: Ocular manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be the presenting symptom of the disease or a sight-threatening complication. OBJECTIVES: To detect different structural retinal changes in patients with SLE who had no ophthalmological symptoms and investigate the relationship between different retinal changes and the disease activity assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus Disease Activity Index score. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive pilot study from January 2016 to January 2017. METHODS: Fifty-two eyes of 26 patients diagnosed to have SLE were examined using visual acuity assessment, fundus examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). RESULTS: Fundus fluorescein angiography showed different changes in the form of venular occlusion and optic nerve leakage. There were also degenerative changes in the form of alternating hyperfluorescent and hypofluorescent areas outside the arcades as well as peripapillary areas and capillary dropout. Optical coherence tomography detected signs of degenerative thinning, incomplete posterior vitreous detachment, and epiretinal membrane. A significant correlation was found between SLE activity and the changes detected by FFA (p = 0.017). However, there was no significant correlation between disease activity and changes detected by OCT. Optical coherence tomography changes were significantly correlated with the duration of hydroxychloroquine use of more than 5 years (p = 0.032). There was no correlation between FFA or OCT changes and proteinuria or antiphospholipid antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Fundus fluorescein angiography is more sensitive in detecting early subclinical retinal changes in patients with SLE, which correlates with disease activity, whereas OCT is more sensitive in detecting changes resulting from hydroxychloroquine use.

Ocular abnormalities in beta thalassemia patients: prevalence, impact, and management strategies.

BACKGROUND: Beta thalassemia (ß-thalassemia) is a hereditary disease caused by defective globin synthesis and can be classified into three categories of minor (ß-TMi), intermedia (ß-TI), and major (ß-TM) thalassemia. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of ß-thalassemia and its treatment methods on different parts of the eye and how early-diagnostic methods of ocular complications in this disorder would prevent further ocular complications in these patients by immediate treatment and diet change. METHODS: We developed a search strategy using a combination of the words Beta thalassemia, Ocular abnormalities, Iron overload, chelation therapy to identify all articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to December 2018. To find more articles and to ensure that databases were thoroughly searched, the reference lists of selected articles were also reviewed. RESULTS: Complications such as retinopathy, crystalline lens opacification, color vision deficiency, nyctalopia, depressed visual field, reduced visual acuity, reduced contrast sensitivity, amplitude reduction in a-wave and b-wave in Electroretinography (ERG), and decrease in the Arden ratio in Electrooculography (EOG) have all been reported in ß-thalassemia patients undergoing chelation therapy. CONCLUSION: Ocular problems due to ß-thalassemia may be a result of anemia, iron overload in the body tissue, side effects of iron chelators, and the complications of orbital bone marrow expansion.

Predictive value of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography features in assessment of visual prognosis in eyes with acute welding arc maculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To observe spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features and to determine whether baseline OCT features can be used as predictors of visual acuity outcome in eyes with acute welding arc maculopathy. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled twenty-two eyes of eleven subjects with acute welding arc maculopathy. All subjects were evaluated by SD-OCT at baseline and final visit. The involved parameters included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), the length of ellipsoid zone (EZ) defects, the greatest linear dimension (GLD) of outer retinal lesions, EZ reflectivity and relative EZ reflectivity (defined as the ratio of EZ reflectivity to retinal pigment epithelium reflectivity on OCT). RESULTS: Acute welding arc maculopathy was presented as abnormal hyperreflectivity, hyporeflectivity and defects of outer retinal layer in fovea on OCT. Compared with baseline, BCVA improved significantly accompanied by decreased GLD of outer retinal lesions and the length of EZ defects at final visit (P = 0.0004, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). No significant changes were shown on CMT (P = 0.248). In multivariate regression analysis, final BCVA was associated with baseline BCVA and the length of EZ defects (P = 0.012 and P = 0.045, respectively). However, EZ reflectivity and relative EZ reflectivity were not associated with final BCVA (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, SD-OCT images clearly reveal morphological changes in outer retinal layer in acute welding arc maculopathy. The baseline BCVA and length of EZ defects are the strongest predictors of final BCVA.

Software updates of OCT segmentation algorithms influence longitudinal assessment of retinal atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is a systematic difference in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness measurements between subsequent updates of pRNFL segmentation software provided by Heidelberg Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: In total, 838 pRNFL scans from 213 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 61 healthy controls were analyzed. All scans were performed on the same OCT device followed by automated segmentation (HRA 5.6.4.0) and data extraction. Subsequently, all scans were re-segmented with an updated software version (HRA 6.0.7.0). To assess level of agreement between the two algorithms, Bland-Altman Plots were constructed. Paired samples t-test and linear regression analyses were used to investigate for differences in mean thickness and proportional bias respectively. RESULTS: Overall, the updated version showed an overestimation of 0.16µm [95%CI 0.097-0.23, p<0.001] for the global pRNFL thickness compared to the earlier version. The largest differences were found for the nasal inferior (mean ∆ 0.29µm, p<0.001) and temporal inferior (mean ∆ 0.43µm, p<0.001) sectors. Inspection of the Bland-Altman Plot revealed that the difference between the two versions could be up to 6µm for the global mean. There was no proportional bias for the global mean (ß=0.003, p=0.245) nor for any of the separate sectors. CONCLUSION: The data show a significant difference in pRNFL thickness measurements between two subsequent versions of the same segmentation software. Although the mean difference was relatively small, the differences within the individual subject could be considerably higher than the known atrophy rate of 1µm/year in MS.

Retina dose as a predictor for visual acuity loss in 106Ru eye plaque brachytherapy of uveal melanomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate the retina dose as a risk factor associated with loss of visual acuity (VA) in 106Ru plaque brachytherapy. MATERIAL/METHODS: 45 patients receiving 106Ru plaques brachytherapy (median follow-up 29.5 months) were included in this study. An in-house developed treatment planning system with Monte Carlo based dose calculation was used to perform treatment planning and dose calculation. Risk factors associated with loss of VA were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards models, Kaplan-Meier estimates and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between VA loss and mean (r = 0.49, p = 0.001) and near maximum (r = 0.47, p = 0.001) retina dose D2% and tumor basal diameter (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards model yielded a significantly higher risk for VA loss (>0.3Snellen) for patients receiving a maximum dose of >500 Gy (p = 0.002). A Cox multivariate analysis including the macula dose (p = 0.237) and basal diameter (p = 0.791) showed that a high maximum retinal dose is the best risk factor (p = 0.013) for VA loss. CONCLUSION: The study showed that retina dose (D2% and Dmean) is a suitable predictor for VA loss.

OCT Angiography: Assessment of Retinal Ischemia in Susac's Syndrome.

Descriptive study of two patients affected by Susac's syndrome (SuS) focusing on the chronic retinal tissue damage assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case series reporting OCTA in SuS. OCTA imaging revealed secondary hypoxia due to branch retinal artery occlusion of the deep capillary plexus, with additional involvement of the superficial capillary network in one case. OCTA is a noninvasive and quick diagnostic tool for detecting hypoxic retinal damage in SuS. With further development of OCTA, as wide-field imaging, a better understanding of the retinal and choroidal blood supply will be gained. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:505-508.].

Electrophysiological assessment for early detection of retinal dysfunction in ß-thalassemia major patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of various diagnostic tests in early detection of retinal changes in ß-thalassemia major patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight visually asymptomatic ß-thalassemia major patients receiving regular blood transfusions and iron-chelation therapy with deferoxamine (group A, n = 13), deferasirox (group B, n = 11) or deferoxamine with deferiprone (group C, n = 14) and fourteen age- and sex- matched healthy individuals were included in the study. All participants underwent ophthalmoscopy, full-field electroretinography (ERG), visual evoked potentials (VEP), multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. RESULTS: Retinal pigment epithelium changes were present in two cases. Scotopic ERG demonstrated decreased a-wave amplitude in groups A, B and C (p = 0.03, p = 0.002 and p = 0.002, respectively) and decreased b-wave amplitude in groups B and C (p = 0.002 and p = 0.01, respectively) compared to controls. Photopic ERG showed delayed b-wave latency in groups A and C (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively) ERG maximal combined response and VEP response did not differ between groups. MfERG showed reduced retinal response density in ring 1 in groups A, B, C (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively) and ring 2 in group B (p = 0.02) and delayed latency in ring 5 in groups A and B (p = 0.04 and p = 0.04, respectively). Abnormal FAF images appeared in three cases and OCT abnormalities in one case, whereas no changes were observed in controls (p = 0.55 and p = 1.00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Full-field ERG and mfERG are more sensitive tools for detecting early retinal changes in ß-thalassemia patients compared with ophthalmoscopy, VEP, FAF imaging and OCT scans.

Telemedical assessment of optic nerve head and retina in patients after recent minor stroke or TIA.

The aim of the study is to telemedically assess the prevalence of simple optic nerve atrophy and retinal arteriolar anomalies in subjects who have had a minor stroke or TIA within 14 days, and to compare these results with an age-matched control group. By using a mobile examination unit, retinal photographs were taken with a 45° non-mydriatic colour fundus camera (KOWA NM-45, non-mydriatic-alpha) in patients who had suffered from a minor stroke or TIA within 14 days of the time of the examination. Retinal photographs were focused on the optic nerve head region. Pupils were not dilated. The documented medical history and the retinal images were stored on a server using browser independent web-based software running on PCs, tablets and smartphones. After completing the upload of the medical interview and the retinal images into the electronic patient chart, all retinal images were evaluated via telemedicine by an experienced senior consultant ophthalmologist. Age-matched normotensive, non-diabetic subjects (aged 40-89 years) who reported no systemic or ocular diseases were used as the control group. Both study groups were divided into five decades of life (40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-79; 80-89 years). We calculated the prevalences and the ratios of prevalences of optic nerve atrophy and retinal arteriolar anomalies between the stroke and the control group per decades of life. 139 minor stroke or TIA subjects (aged 40-89 years) and 1611 age-matched control subjects were examined. In the stroke group, we found significantly increased prevalences of optic nerve atrophy and retinal arteriolar anomalies throughout the 5th-8th decade of life when compared to age-matched controls. The prevalence of optic nerve atrophy in stroke subjects outranged the prevalence in the controls depending on age-class by a factor of 3-21. Simple optic nerve atrophy is frequent in patients who have suffered from an ischemic stroke or TIA, and it seems to indicate vascular damage, indicating the necessity for telemedically assisted assessment of the optic nerve.

Guidance of Medical Care for Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy：Research on Rare and Intractable Diseases, Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants.

Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy is a hereditary insufficiency of retinal vascularture, which manifests a variety of vitreoretinal abnormalities, including nonvascularlized retina, abnormality of retinal vessel growing, dragged retina, retinal folds and total retinal detachment. While causative genes have been identified, cases are often sporadic. Periodic examination is necessary to find recurrence of the disease and late complications, including rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma.

The assessment of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell layer changes in obese children: a cross-sectional study using optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the obesity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters. METHODS: We studied 54 obese and 33 non-obese children and adolescents. Obesity was defined as BMI higher than 95th percentile (BMI SDS > 1.64). OCT measurements were performed in all participants. Anthropometric and biochemical variables were compared with OCT parameters of 174 eyes. RESULTS: In obese children, in all quadrants retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were significantly lower than non-obese children, and also ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thicknesses in inferior and superiortemporal quadrants were significantly lower in the obese group. BMI SDS, insulin, HOMA-IR and triglyceride levels were negatively correlated with RNFL thickness, significantly (r = -0.386, p < 0.001; r = -0.229, p = 0.002; r = -0.188, p = 0.013; and r = -0.301, p = 0.000; respectively) in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Thinning in RNFL was detected in normal-looking discs of obese children, and this thinning negatively correlated with BMI SDS. Further studies including large series are needed to clarify whether obesity has an effect on RNFL thickness.

Review of economic studies and budget impact analysis of ocriplasmin as a treatment of vitreomacular traction. / Revisión de estudios económicos y análisis de impacto presupuestario de la ocriplasmina como tratamiento de la tracción vitreomacular.

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of ocriplasmin as a treatment for vitreomacular traction (VMT), and to estimate the impact on the Spanish National Health System (NHS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 1) Systematic review. The following databases were searched in January 2015: MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE, EMBASE, CRD, the Cochrane Library, and key websites. Selection criteria were: full economic evaluations that compared ocriplasmin with usual care ('watch and wait' and/or vitrectomy) in patients with VMT. The outcomes to extract were costs of the alternatives and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Studies of budget impact analysis were also included. The methodological quality was assessed, and a narrative synthesis of the included studies was carried out. 2) Estimation of budget impact. The impact on the budget as a result of the introduction of ocriplasmin in the NHS was estimated, including data from different sources. RESULTS: Six studies were identified, none of them performed in Spain. The two best studies concluded that ocriplasmin is cost-effective in their respective countries (Canada and United Kingdom), but only in patients with certain conditions (without epiretinal membrane, for example). The results of the budget impact analysis are different between countries. The analysis for Spain showed that the introduction of ocriplasmin would mean a saving over 1 million Euros for the NHS in 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness of ocriplasmin has not been demonstrated in Spain. However, good studies performed in other countries found that ocriplasmin is cost-effective in selected patients. Given the current prices in Spain, ocriplasmin could involve a saving for the Spanish NHS.

ASSESSMENT OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CYSTIC CHANGES AFTER EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE SURGERY WITH INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE REMOVAL.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence and significance of cystic changes after internal limiting membrane peeling during epiretinal membrane surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 64 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with membranectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane between January 2010 and January 2012 by a single physician. Pars plana vitrectomy alone (Group 1, n = 32) or in combination with phacoemulsification (Group 2, n = 32) was performed. Peeling of the epiretinal membrane was assisted by triamcinolone, and internal limiting membrane was peeled up to the vascular arcades with the aid of brilliant blue dye. RESULTS: In Group 1, best-corrected visual acuity in logMAR (Snellen) improved from 0.53 ± 0.29 (20/68) at baseline to 0.23 ± 0.22 (20/34) at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Two cases (6.3%) developed new cystic changes within the inner nuclear layer; however, there was no significant difference in best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months (P = 0.475). In Group 2, best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.41 ± 0.17 (20/51) at baseline to 0.18 ± 0.15 (20/30) at 6 months (P < 0.001). Eight cases (25%) developed new inner nuclear layer cystic changes; however, there was no significant difference in best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months (P = 0.894). CONCLUSION: Development of new inner nuclear layer cystic changes after epiretinal membrane surgery may be a frequent finding, but in contrast to cystoid macular edema, it does not seem to affect visual recovery and should be observed. The combination of pars plana vitrectomy with cataract extraction may increase the risk of inner nuclear layer cystic changes.

Risk of Ocular Complications in Patients with Noninfectious Intermediate Uveitis, Posterior Uveitis, or Panuveitis.

PURPOSE: Noninfectious uveitis results in vision loss and ocular complications without adequate treatment. We compared the risk of developing ocular complications between patients with noninfectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis (NIIPPU) and matched controls. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of insurance claims data (OptumHealth, Eden Prairie, MN; January 1, 1998-March 31, 2012). PARTICIPANTS: Cases 18 to 64 years of age with 2 or more NIIPPU diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes) were matched 1:1 by sex, age, region, company, employment status, and index date with controls without uveitis. Patients with an ocular complication during baseline were excluded. METHODS: Continuous eligibility for 6 months or more before the first NIIPPU diagnosis date was required. Risks of ocular complications developing during patients' continuous eligibility in the study period were compared using unadjusted Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate risk of and time to complications and adjusted Cox regression analysis to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentages of cases and controls who demonstrate ocular complications and 1-, 5-, and 10-year risks and HRs for each complication. RESULTS: Mean age of the 1769 cases and matched controls was 47 years and 47% were men; 302 cases had persistent NIIPPU. During the study period, NIIPPU cases had a higher risk of any ocular complication (P < 0.001); the 5-year risk of any ocular complication was 66% for patients versus 24% for controls. Specifically, NIIPPU patients had greater 5-year risks of glaucoma (20% vs. 9%), cataract (35% vs. 13%), visual disturbance (29% vs. 9%), blindness or low vision (5% vs. 0.5%), retinal detachment (11% vs. 0.8%), and retinal disorder (28% vs. 2%) compared with controls. Hazard ratios indicated greater risks of ocular complications in cases versus controls during the overall observation period (HR, 5.2 for any ocular complication; HR, 4.8 for visual disturbance; HR, 3.2 for cataract; and HR, 2.7 for glaucoma; all P < 0.001). Hazard ratios for persistent cases indicated even greater risks. CONCLUSIONS: Noninfectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis, particularly persistent disease, is associated with a substantial risk of ocular complications. Optimal treatment initiatives remain imperative to reduce the ocular complication-related burden of NIIPPU.