Implementing and evaluating a fully functional AI-enabled model for chronic eye disease screening in a real clinical environment.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to increase the affordability and accessibility of eye disease screening, especially with the recent approval of AI-based diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programs in several countries. METHODS: This study investigated the performance, feasibility, and user experience of a seamless hardware and software solution for screening chronic eye diseases in a real-world clinical environment in Germany. The solution integrated AI grading for DR, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma, along with specialist auditing and patient referral decision. The study comprised several components: (1) evaluating the entire system solution from recruitment to eye image capture and AI grading for DR, AMD, and glaucoma; (2) comparing specialist's grading results with AI grading results; (3) gathering user feedback on the solution. RESULTS: A total of 231 patients were recruited, and their consent forms were obtained. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve for DR grading were 100.00%, 80.10%, and 90.00%, respectively. For AMD grading, the values were 90.91%, 78.79%, and 85.00%, and for glaucoma grading, the values were 93.26%, 76.76%, and 85.00%. The analysis of all false positive cases across the three diseases and their comparison with the final referral decisions revealed that only 17 patients were falsely referred among the 231 patients. The efficacy analysis of the system demonstrated the effectiveness of the AI grading process in the study's testing environment. Clinical staff involved in using the system provided positive feedback on the disease screening process, particularly praising the seamless workflow from patient registration to image transmission and obtaining the final result. Results from a questionnaire completed by 12 participants indicated that most found the system easy, quick, and highly satisfactory. The study also revealed room for improvement in the AMD model, suggesting the need to enhance its training data. Furthermore, the performance of the glaucoma model grading could be improved by incorporating additional measures such as intraocular pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the AI-based approach for screening three chronic eye diseases proved effective in real-world settings, earning positive feedback on the usability of the integrated platform from both the screening staff and auditors. The auditing function has proven valuable for obtaining efficient second opinions from experts, pointing to its potential for enhancing remote screening capabilities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Institutional Review Board of the Hamburg Medical Chamber (Ethik-Kommission der Ärztekammer Hamburg): 2021-10574-BO-ff.

Comparison of treatment outcomes of 360° intraoperative laser retinopexy and focal laser retinopexy with pars plans vitrectomy in patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

BACKGROUND: This study was to compare the outcomes of 360° intra-operative laser retinopexy (ILR) and focal laser retinopexy in treating patients with pars plans vitrectomy (PPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). To identify other potential risk factors for retinal re-detachment after primary PPV. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Three hundred and forty-four consecutive cases of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with PPV were included between July 2013 and July 2018. Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between focal laser retinopexy and additional 360° intra-operative laser retinopexy groups. Both univariate and multiple variable analysis were used to identify potential risk factors for retinal re-detachment. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 6.2 months (Q1, Q3:2.0, 17.2). As estimated with survival analysis, the 360º ILR group had the incidence of 9.74% and focal laser 19.54% at 6 months postoperatively. At 12 months postoperatively the difference was 10.78% vs. 25.21%. The difference in survival rates was significant (p = 0.0021). In multivariate Cox regression, the risk factors for retinal re-detachment were without additional 360° ILR, diabetes and macula off before the primary surgery (relatively OR = 0.456, 95%-CI [0.245-0.848], p < 0.05; OR = 2.301, 95% CI [1.130-4.687], p < 0.05; OR = 2.243, 95% CI [1.212-4.149], p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Additional 360° ILR group had a significantly lower rate of retinal re-detachment when compared with focal laser retinopexy group. Our study also elucidated that diabetes and macular off before the primary surgery might also be the potential risk factors for higher rate of retinal re-detachment outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Terson Syndrome in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Terson syndrome (TS), an intraocular hemorrhage associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), occurs in up to 46% of all patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Despite its high incidence, TS is underrepresented in the literature, and patients with aSAH are sometimes not systematically evaluated for the presence of TS in clinical practice. This work aims to raise awareness of TS, reevaluate previous scientific findings, describe risk factors associated with the occurrence of TS, and present our local diagnostic and treatment concept. METHODS: All patients with aSAH treated at our institution between October 2010 and May 2020 were included in this retrospective study. The frequency of ophthalmological screening by indirect funduscopy, as well as the results, was investigated. In addition, the collection and statistical analysis of epidemiological and clinical data was performed using χ2, Kruskal-Wallis, and analysis of variance testing; multivariate regression; and receiver operating characteristic analysis. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 617 patients were treated for aSAH in our institution. Of these, 367 patients (59.5%) were ophthalmologically examined for the presence of TS. The rate of TS in the examined patients was 21.3% (n = 78). Patients with TS had significantly higher Fisher and World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) scores (p < 0.0001). Regression analyses showed WFNS grade (p = 0.003) and the occurrence of seizures (p = 0.002) as independent predictors of TS, as did receiver operating characteristic analyses, which had a significant area under the curve of 0.66 for the combination of WFNS grade and seizures. For 12 (15.4%) patients, the TS had to be surgically treated by pars plana vitrectomy in a total of 14 eyes, which resulted in significant improvement of visual function in all patients: mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 0.03 (± 0.08) versus 0.76 (± 0.21) postoperatively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TS is a common complication in patients with aSAH, affecting approximately one in five patients. A higher WFNS grade and the occurrence of seizures are associated with TS; therefore, screening for TS should be performed in these patients.

Analysis of retinal detachment resulted from post-operative endophthalmitis treated with 23G pars Plana Vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the rate, risk factors, functional outcome and prognosis in eyes with retinal detachment after post-operative endophthalmitis treated with 23G Pars Plana Vitrectomy. METHODS: Electronic patient files from 2009 until 2018 were screened for the presence of an endophthalmitis. Included were 116 eyes of 116 patients. This population was evaluated for the rate of retinal detachment after 23G Pars Plana Vitrectomy for endophthalmitis following cataract surgery or intravitreal injection. The main outcome measures were retinal detachment and visual acuity. RESULTS: The reasons for endophthalmitis were previous cataract surgery in 78 patients and following intravitreal injection in 38 patients. The first clinical evidence of endophthalmitis was present in median 5 days after the triggering intervention. Twenty-five eyes (21.55%) developed a retinal detachment an average of 25 days after endophthalmitis. RD is significantly associated with preoperative visual acuity (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize the prognostic role of preoperative visual acuity in RD development of the endophthalmitis treated with 23G Pars Plana Vitrectomy.

Safety and complications after three different surface ablation techniques with mitomycin C: a retrospective analysis of 2757 eyes.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and spectrum of complications of three excimer laser surface ablation techniques (SATs) with an intraoperative application of mitomycin C (MMC) 0.02%. A retrospective, non-comparative large case series. METHODS: SATs were performed on 2757 eyes with a preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) of - 4.41 ± 2.44 and a Wavelight Allegretto 200 platform. Ablation zone diameters between 6.0 and 7.0 mm were used according to mesopic pupil size. All patients were treated with an intraoperative application of MMC for 30 to 90 s depending on refractive error. The mean follow-up time was > 3 months (107 ± 24 days). Complication range and incidence were analyzed retrospectively and safety index was calculated. RESULTS: Two thousand seven hundred and fifty-seven eyes met the inclusion criteria for surface ablation. Two thousand five hundred and seventy-three eyes were assigned to alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (APRK), 135 eyes to transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TPRK), and 49 eyes to off-flap epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis (EpiLASIK/EpiK). Overall, the safety index was 1.06 ± 0.28. Haze was graded according to the Fantes scale. Haze incidence rates were highest in the TPRK group (14.81%) and comparably low in APRK (2.95%) and EpiK (4.08%) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative topical application of MMC (0.02%) results in good safety and no severe side effects. However, highest incidence of haze was observed after TPRK. The more frequent peripheral localization of haze might be attributed to large ablation zones and the wavefront optimized ablation profile especially in the PTK modus of the laser platform.

Postoperative refractive error after phacovitrectomy for epiretinal membrane with and without macular oedema.

PURPOSE: This study was initiated to investigate whether the presence of macular oedema influenced intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in eyes with epiretinal membrane. METHODS: The files of patients undergoing combined phacoemulsification were retrospectively reviewed. Two groups were defined according to presence of macular oedema. The main outcome measure was the IOL power prediction error (PE). Secondary outcome measures were the correlation between preoperative macular thickness, absolute change of macular thickness and dioptric shift. The mean postoperative PE achieved with the Haigis formula was compared with the PE that would have been obtained had the SRKII and HofferQ formulas been used. RESULTS: We investigated 47 eyes of 47 consecutive patients. Regardless of the IOL formula used, the PE was on average higher in eyes without macula oedema (group 1). The myopic dioptric shift was dependent on preoperative macular thickness and absolute change of macular thickness. This association was more markedly pronounced in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Increased retinal thickness is the main cause for underestimation of the cornea-photoreceptor layer distance, and therefore could contribute to inaccuracy in IOL power calculations. The current results show that a myopic shift tends to be less pronounced in cases where a macula oedema is present. Eyes with pure traction have less predictable refractive results in terms of higher PE and dioptric shift.

Terson syndrome in subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury.

This prospective trial was designed to evaluate the incidence of Terson syndrome in patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or traumatic brain injury and whether consequences necessarily derive from the intraocular hemorrhage itself. Two ophthalmologic examinations were performed to identify patients with Terson syndrome. Data on initial Glasgow Coma Scale, Hunt and Hess and Fisher grades, aneurysm site and diameter, and volume of hemorrhage in intracerebral hemorrhage patients were correlated to the location and course of Terson syndrome. Follow-up was performed after 3 months, including clinical and ophthalmologic investigations. The data showed that 16 of 83 subarachnoid hemorrhage patients (19.3%), 2 of 22 intracerebral hemorrhage patients (9.1%), and 1 of 32 traumatic brain injury patients (3.1%) suffered from Terson syndrome. Low Glasgow Coma Scale (p = 0.002), high Hunt and Hess grade (p < 0.001), and high Fisher grade (p = 0.002) were found to be associated with a higher incidence of Terson syndrome. The neurological outcome in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients suffering from Terson syndrome was worse compared with that of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients without Terson syndrome (p = 0.005), and vitrectomy was performed in seven eyes of six patients due to poor visual acuity. Terson syndrome is underestimated in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and a rare pathology in intracerebral hemorrhage as well as in traumatic brain injury patients. Spontaneous regression of the intraocular hemorrhage may be seen, but in half of the patients, vitrectomy is necessary to prevent permanent visual deterioration.

Terson's syndrome--rate and surgical approach in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective interdisciplinary study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the need for surgical intervention in Terson's syndrome (TS) and the rate of TS, as well as the effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, complications, correlations between TS and sex, and the influence of the severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) expressed by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and Hunt and Hess grade on the occurrence of TS. DESIGN: Prospective, uncontrolled, interdisciplinary study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 102 patients with SAH over a period of 24 months. METHODS: Patients were examined on days 1 and 14. A PPV was indicated in cases of nonresorbing vitreous hemorrhage (VH). Peeling of the ILM was performed with the help of ILM-BLUE (DORC, Zuidland, The Netherlands) using end-gripping ILM forceps. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect of PPV on visual acuity (VA) and timing of intervention in cases of nonresorbing VH. RESULTS: The rate of TS was 19.6% (20/102). The mean age of the patients was 52.1 ± 11.8 years. Patients presenting with an initial GCS of less than 8 or with high Hunt and Hess grades were more affected by TS. Eight (9 eyes) of the 20 patients with TS (40% of the patients with TS) underwent a PPV for nonclearing vitreous bleeding. In 4 patients (4 eyes; 20% of patients with TS), ILM peeling was considered necessary because of sub-ILM bleeding. The mean interval between SAH and PPV was 4.4 months (range, 3-5 months). Postoperative follow-up was 6.4 months. Visual acuity improved in all patients. Best-corrected VAs at first and at last presentations were 2.2 and 0.0625 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), respectively. For patients who underwent ILM peeling, these values were 1.725 and 0.05 logMAR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pars plana vitrectomy and ILM peeling have beneficial effects on the visual rehabilitation of patients with nonclearing VH after TS. We did not identify any safety concerns after PPV in our patients with dense nonclearing hemorrhage that persisted for more than 3 months.

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography for the detection of silicone oil emulsification on the iris surface.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the presence of silicone oil (SO)-emulsification on the anterior iris surface with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). METHODS: In this single-center cross-sectional study, vitrectomized eyes with SO tamponade that underwent AS-OCT imaging and gonioscopy examination during the postoperative follow-up visits, were reviewed. RESULTS: 45 eyes of 42 consecutive patients were included. In 35.6% of the eyes (n = 16) emulsified SO droplets were detected in the anterior chamber (AC) angle by gonioscopy and in 55.6% (n = 25) on the anterior iris surface by AS-OCT imaging. The presence of SO emulsifications in the AC-angle correlated with the presence of SO emulsifications on the anterior iris surface (OR = 13.4, 95% CI [2.179-82.130]; p = 0.005). The accuracy of the AS-OCT predicting the presence of SO in the AC-angle was 71.0% and the sensitivity was 87.5%. No significant association between SO droplets in the AC and other clinical parameters including endotamponade-duration or type of silicone oil were found. The presence of emulsified SO droplets on the anterior iris surface detected by AS-OCT was significantly correlated to postoperative IOP rise (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: AS-OCT is a suitable method for the detection of SO on the anterior iris surface. SO droplets on the iris surface correlate with elevated postoperative IOP and with the presence of SO in the AC detected by gonioscopy, therefore AS-OCT might be used as a screening method for the detection of SO migration into the AC. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Institutional Review Board of the Hamburg Medical Chamber (Ethik-Kommission der Ärztekammer Hamburg): 2023-300372-WF.

Treated Cases of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Germany: 10-Year Data from the Retina.net Retinopathy of Prematurity Registry.

PURPOSE: To analyze changes in demographic parameters and retreatment patterns over a 10-year period in a clinical routine setting of infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment documented in the German Retina.net ROP registry. DESIGN: Multicenter, noninterventional, observational registry study recruiting patients treated for ROP. SUBJECTS: A total of 692 eyes of 353 infants treated for ROP were documented in the Retina.net ROP registry over a 10-year period between 2011 and 2020. These cases cover about 15% of all infants treated for ROP in Germany. METHODS: The Retina.net ROP registry was established in 2012 to jointly collect information on infants treated for ROP. The database collects information on demographic parameters (gestational age [GA], birth weight, neonatal comorbidities) as well as treatment parameters (type of treatment, weight and age at treatment, and stage of ROP). A total of 19 centers contributed to the analysis. This is the 10-year analysis of data from 2011 to 2020, in which we focus on changes over time regarding the respective parameters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes over time in demographic parameters and treatment patterns for ROP in Germany. RESULTS: The overall incidence of treatment requiring ROP was 3.5% of all infants screened for ROP at participating centers. Gestational age, weight at birth, and weight at treatment remained stable over the 10-year period, whereas postmenstrual and postnatal age at treatment increased moderately but statistically significantly over the years. The most prevalent ROP severity stage at treatment was stage 3+ in zone II (76.6% of all treated eyes). Treatment patterns changed considerably from predominantly laser treatments in 2011 (75% of all treated eyes) to predominantly ranibizumab treatments in 2020 (60.9% of all treated eyes). The overall retreatment rate was 15.6%. Retreatment rates differed between initial treatment modalities (14.1% after laser coagulation, 12% after bevacizumab and 24.5% after ranibizumab). Treatment-associated systemic or ophthalmic complications were rare. CONCLUSIONS: This data analysis represents one of the largest documented cohorts of infants treated for ROP. The data on demographic parameters and treatment patterns provide useful information for further improvement of ROP management. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Depression, anxiety, and disturbed sleep in glaucoma.

Although it has been suggested that glaucoma is associated with circadian misalignment, sleep disorder, anxiety, and depression, these comorbid conditions have not received much attention. This study provides evidence for a significantly higher prevalence of depression, trait anxiety, and sleep disturbances in patients with progressed glaucoma, as compared with glaucoma patients with no or minor visual field defects (VFD). Logistic-regression analyses suggest that severe VFD constitute a significant predictor of depression, trait-anxiety, and sleep disturbance. Results indicate the necessity of regular screening and psychochronobiological treatment in glaucoma patients.

Subjective pain, visual recovery and visual quality after LASIK, EpiLASIK (flap off) and APRK - a consecutive, non-randomized study.

INTRODUCTION: Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is superior to surface ablation techniques (SAT) such as alcohol photorefractive keratectomy (APRK) or Epi-LASIK (EpiK) in terms of visual recovery and postoperative pain. This study compares subjective symptoms and visual recovery of two different SATs with LASIK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty seven patients were operated using one of the three techniques. Patients filled out a questionnaire describing symptoms assessing subjective visual recovery on a linear scale from 'not functioning' to 'full visual function' and pain on a linear scale from 'no pain' to 'severe daily pain'. Subjective symptoms such as halos, double vision, low night vision, reduced contrast and dry eyes were also evaluated. RESULTS: Visual recovery was faster and discomfort symptoms less pronounced with the LASIK than with surface ablation procedures. More pain was reported after APRK than after EpiK (flap-off technique) in the early postoperative period, with a maximum of pain on postoperative days 3-4. Subjective visual recovery showed no statistically significant difference between the two surface ablation procedures. Halos, double vision, low night vision, reduced contrast and dry eyes were more extensively reported by the EpiK than the APRK group and were less pronounced in the LASIK than in the SAT group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not uniformly support the previously published favourable results of EpiK compared to APRK with regard to subjective recovery of vision and postoperative pain.

[Medical holograms for education and training in ophthalmology]. / Medizinische Hologramme für die Lehre und Weiterbildung in der Augenheilkunde.

Medical holograms facilitate the learning and advanced medical training in the field of ophthalmology and help to visualize surgical processes with a new abundance of detail. Through implementing three-dimensional datasets the learning process of microsurgical procedures in ophthalmology is facilitated. Furthermore, medical holograms can be used as a multimodal tool for patient education.

Pupillotonia after endolaser retinopexy during vitrectomy for retinal detachment: a prospective cohort study comparing circumferential and focal retinopexy.

PURPOSE: To determine differences in postoperative pupil diameter in eyes that undergo pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with endolaser retinopexy (ELR), comparing 360° vs focal ELR. METHODS: Patients with uncomplicated RRD who underwent PPV were prospectively analysed regarding the postoperative pupil diameter difference (PDD) between the affected eye and the partner eye. Group 1 underwent 360° ELR and group 2 received focal ELR. Postoperative vision and complications, including redetachment rate, macular oedema and epiretinal membrane formation, were also compared. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients, 42 in group 1 and 30 in group 2, were analysed. PDD, as observed at 6 weeks, was significantly greater than the preoperative values in both groups 1 and 2. It increased by a mean of 1±1.11 mm in group 1 and by 0.5±0.78 in group 2. This initial increase in PDD receded over time, but remained statistically significant in both groups, even at 6 months. The top 20% of patients with the largest PDD change comprised 13 out of 15 eyes from group 1, which was a statistically significant overrepresentation (p=0.0435). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate pupillotonia was induced post-ELR in vitrectomy and correlated to the extent of ELR. The pupillotonia effect of ELR was significantly less marked in pseudophakic eyes.

Retinal Tacks for Complicated Retinal Detachment: Retinal Tacks in the Times of Modern Small-Gauge Vitrectomy.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety profile of retinal tacks (RTs) in cases of retinal detachment (RD) with advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Materials and Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study medical record, optical coherence tomography and ultra-widefield fundus images of patients with complex PVR-related and RT surgery were reviewed. All cases underwent 23G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), RT implantation, retinectomy, circumferential intraoperative laser retinopexy, and silicone oil tamponade. Results: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients with complex rhegmatogenous RD with PVR were included: 7 cases showed PVR grade C type P and 7 combined grades A and P. RTs were positioned at contracted, stiffened retinal areas to achieve attachment of retinectomy borders after extensive PVR peeling. Patients underwent on an average of 1.3 PPVs (range 0-3) prior RT surgery. An average of 2.5 RTs (range 1-4) were implanted. Only in a single eye, a recurrent RD occurred. In 10 eyes, the silicone oil tamponade was still in place at the last follow-up. In 5 eyes, the silicone oil could be removed without redetachment in all of these cases (average of 31.3 weeks, range 11.4-53). No RT-related intraoperative or postoperative complications like dislocation or bleedings were observed. Conclusion: RTs have the potential to improve the treatment of complex PVR-associated RD. RT can be a useful surgical tool to reattach borders of retinectomies in advanced PVR. No RT-associated complication were observed in this study.

Predicting speed of progression of lens opacification after pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil.

PURPOSE: An increasing number of posterior segment disorders is routinely managed with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). In older, phakic patients cataract formation is expected within the first two years after surgery. For younger patients its progression is individually fluctuating. This study uses an objective quantitative measurement for lens-status-monitoring after PPV with silicone oil to derive predictions for progression and severity of post-operative lens opacification evaluated in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: Data acquisition was performed prospectively between March 2018 and March 2021. PentacamHR® Nucleus Staging mode (PNS) was used to objectively gather data about nuclear cataracts after PPV at different time points. Data was grouped into training and test sets for a mathematical prediction model. Via backward variable selection method a mathematical formula was set up by means of which predictions about lens densitometry (LD) can be calculated. RESULTS: 20 males [58.8%] and 14 females [41.2%] matched the inclusion criteria (mean age 50.6 years [23-75; ±12.3]). Average follow-up was 8.1 months (3,4-17.4; ±3.4). Mean baseline LD of the treated and fellow eye before surgery was 11.1% (7.7%-17.6%; ±2.0) and 11.2% (7.7%-14.8%; ±1.5), respectively. Predicted LD values by the model for five pre-selected patients closely match the observed data with an average deviation of 1.06%. CONCLUSIONS: Using an objective parameter like LD delivered by the PentacamHR® PNS mode additionally to the patient's age allows us to make an individual prediction for any time after PPV with silicone oil due to RRD for all ages. The accuracy of the model was stronger influenced by baseline LD as cofactor in the equation than patient's age. The application for the prediction lens opacification [which can be accessed for free under the following link (https://statisticarium.com/apps/sample-apps/LensDensityOil/)] can help vitreoretinal surgeons for patient consultation on the possibility to combine PPV with cataract surgery.

Simultaneous screening and classification of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration based on fundus photos-a prospective analysis of the RetCAD system.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of an artificial intelligence (AI) based software (RetCAD, Thirona, The Netherlands) to identify and grade age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) simultaneously based on fundus photos. METHODS: This prospective study included 1245 eyes of 630 patients attending an ophthalmology day-care clinic. Fundus photos were acquired and parallel graded by the RetCAD AI software and by an expert reference examiner for image quality, and staging of AMD and DR. Adjudication was provided by a second expert examiner in case of disagreement between the AI software and the reference examiner. Statistical analysis was performed on eye-level and on patient-level, by summarizing the individual image level-gradings into and eye-level or patient-level score, respectively. The performance of the RetCAD system was measured using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis and sensitivity and specificity for both AMD and DR were reported. RESULTS: The RetCAD achieved an area under the ROC (Az) of 0.926 with a sensitivity of 84.6% at a specificity of 84.0% for image quality. On image level, the RetCAD software achieved Az values of 0.964 and 0.961 with sensitivity/specificity pairs of 98.2%/79.1% and 83.9%/93.3% for AMD and DR, respectively. On patient level, the RetCAD software achieved Az values of 0.960 and 0.948 with sensitivity/specificity pairs of 97.3%/73.3% and 80.0%/90.1% for AMD and DR, respectively. After adjudication by the second expert examiner sensitivity/specificity increases on patient-level to 98.6%/78.3% and 100.0%/92.3% for AMD and DR, respectively. CONCLUSION: The RetCAD offers very good sensitivity and specificity compared to manual grading by experts and is in line with that obtained by similar automated grading systems. The RetCAD AI software enables simultaneous grading of both AMD and DR based on the same fundus photos. Its sensitivity may be adjusted according to the desired acceptable sensitivity and specificity. Its simplicity cloud base integration allows cost-effective screening where routine expert evaluation may be limited.

Radial optic neurotomy in central retinal vein occlusion does not influence ocular hemodynamics.

PURPOSE: radial optic neurotomy (RON) is used for the treatment of central retinal vein occlusion. Its effects on visual acuity differ substantially between patients. Our study aims to evaluate if RON has an impact on ocular microcirculation and if analysis of ocular microcirculation might serve as a predictor for surgical success. PROCEDURES: a complete ophthalmologic examination including color Doppler imaging of the retrobulbar vessels was performed before and 2-4 months after RON in 12 patients. RESULTS: mean visual acuity was 0.09 ± 0.03 prior to and 0.24 ± 0.12 after RON. Visual acuity improved in 7 (+3.5 ± 0.9 lines), was stable in 3 (± 0 lines) and worsened in 2 cases (-6 and -2 lines). Doppler parameters were not affected by RON, and no correlations between visual acuity and perfusion parameters were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that RON does not influence ocular microcirculation. None of the assessed hemodynamic parameters appears to be a predictor for surgical success.

Prediction model of free flaps in microkeratome-assisted LASIK.

PURPOSE: To identify mechanical factors, as well as patients' biometric and surgeons' experience factors that correlate with the FF incidence in microkeratome (MK)-assisted LASIK and to construct a predictive model based on these parameters. METHODS: 55,700 consecutive LASIK treatments of 28,506 patients between January 2017 and April 2020 done by 50 surgeons in 10 centers, all with Sub Bowman Keratome (SBK) and 90µ head (OUP) were analyzed retrospectively for the incidence of FF and their correlation to mean keratometry, central corneal thickness, MK ring height and stop, as well as surgeons' experience. A prediction model was built and tested for sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The incidence of FF using the SBK MK was 0.276%. Risk factors were low central corneal thickness, very flat (-1) or very thick (+2) ring height, and higher stop values (p<0.001). Mean keratometry and low surgeon experience were not correlated to FF incidence. A prediction model with a cut-off FF risk of 0.274%, a 76% specificity, and a 73% sensitivity was applied. CONCLUSIONS: Free flaps are rarely seen in modern MK LASIK. However, the incidence of this complication using the SBK MK increases using higher stop values, very thick and very thin MK rings, and in eyes with thin corneas.