[SERV clinical practice guidelines: management of retinal vein occlusion. Sociedad Española de Retina y Vitreo]. / Guías de práctica clínica de la SERV: manejo de las oclusiones venosas de la retina. Sociedad Española de Retina y Vitreo.

PURPOSE: A guidelines for the management of retinal vein occlusion is presented. This is necessary because at this moment several therapeutic alternatives have been developed although their role is not yet sufficiently defined. METHODS: Review of the literature for evidence published up to date. Relevant literature was identified and the level of evidence graded. Evidence was then assessed for consistency, applicability and clinical impact. The information was contrasted with those guides published in other countries. RESULTS: Taking into account the different options of treatment that are currently used, several modes of action are suggested. The role of the various complementary examinations are discussed and it is recommended that criteria for the treatment are based on clinical, angiographic, and tomographic findings. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no overall consensus, these guidelines promote a good standard of clinical practise and provide an update of the management of retinal vein occlusion.

[Management of intravitreal injections]. / Manejo de las inyecciones intravítreas.

PURPOSE: The intravitreal injection is a minimally invasive technique which has been proved to be an effective therapy in the management of numerous vitreoretinal diseases. Its use has been rapidly increased in the last few years due to new medications and indications. However, non-standardized performance of this procedure might cause severe complications, being of special concern intraocular infection. The aim of this Guide is to give ophthalmologists, with the information we have up to date, the guidelines needed to make this procedure safe. METHODS: 1. Reviewing the literature regarding evidence published up to date. 2. Consulting with experienced surgeons their common practice in this technique. 3. Contrasting the information from this Guide with those guides published in other countries. RESULTS: Although there is no complete consensus regarding the intravitreal injection procedure technique, the recommendations in this Guide are, up to date from our point of view, the most appropriate to prevent complications, specially infection. Of most importance are antisepsis with povidone iodine, the use of sterile material and gloves and an adequate injection technique. CONCLUSIONS: Large series published of intravitreal injections which took place in clinic settings applying a procedure technique as recommended in this Guide, presented a very low incidence of complications, specially endophthalmitis.

The African Caribbean Eye Survey: risk factors for glaucoma in a sample of African Caribbean people living in London.

The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for chronic glaucoma in a sample of African Caribbean people over 35 years of age living in the London Borough of Haringey. A cross-sectional voluntary sample of persons were subjected to detailed ophthalmic assessment including automated tangent screen suprathreshold visual field testing, applanation tonometry and stereoscopic disc evaluation in 50 community-based survey clinics over an 8 month period. Cases and suspects were referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital for more detailed assessment and confirmation of the diagnosis. Of 873 eligible persons examined (out of a total of 1022), 32 definite cases of glaucoma were identified, a prevalence of 3.9%; 42% of these had been previously diagnosed. Approximately 10% of the sample required further assessment and follow-up when ocular hypertensives and glaucoma suspects were included. An age-standardised comparison with the findings of the Roscommon survey revealed a relative risk for glaucoma for Haringey blacks compared with Irish whites of 3.7. Significant risk factors for glaucoma included age, African birthplace and darker skin colour. Neither diabetes nor hypertension reached significance. Despite the lack of a population base, this study provides strong evidence that the 4 times greater risk of glaucoma estimated for American blacks compared with whites applies equally to the United Kingdom population. Community-based facilities are required to raise awareness of the risk among this ethnic minority in this country and case-finding resources should be provided to meet local needs.