Early-switch versus late-switch in patients with diabetic macular edema: a cost-effectiveness study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of early- versus late-switch to the intravitreal-dexamethasone implant (DEX-i) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) who did not adequately respond to vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a multicenter Clinical Data Registry. The registry included DME eyes who received 3 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (early-switch) or > 3 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (late-switch) before switching to DEX-i injections. The primary outcome was to estimate the incremental cost needed to obtain a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement ≥ 0.1 or a central-retinal thickness CRT ≤ 250 µm. RESULTS: The analysis included 108 eyes, 32 (29.6%) and 76 (70.4%) in the early- and late-switch groups, respectively. Early-switch strategy was associated with a cost saving of €3,057.8; 95% CI: €2,406.4-3,928.4, p < 0.0001). Regarding incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio, late-switch group was associated with an incremental cost of €25,735.2 and €13,533.2 for achieving a BCVA improvement ≥ 0.1 at month 12 and at any of the time-point measured, respectively. At month 12, 38 (35.2%) eyes achieved a BCVA improvement ≥ 0.1. At month 12, 52 (48.1) eyes had achieved a CRT ≤ 250 micron. As compared to baseline, the mean (95% CI) CRT reduction was - 163.1 (- 212.5 to - 113.7) µm and - 161.6 (- 183.8 to - 139.3) µm in the early-switch and late-switch groups, respectively, p = 0.9463. CONCLUSIONS: In DME eyes, who did not adequately respond to anti-VEGF, switching to DEX-i at early stages (after the first 3-monthly injections) was found to be more cost-effective than extending the treatment to 6-monthly injections of anti-VEGF.

OPHTHALMOLOGIC INVOLVEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH HEREDITARY TRANSTHYRETIN AMYLOIDOSIS.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the ophthalmologic involvement in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis and its correlation with the mutations described in the literature. METHODS: Cross-sectional, noninterventional study. Fifty-two eyes of 26 consecutive patients diagnosed with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis who visited the Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital from September 2019 to March 2022. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination and multimodal imaging. Cardiologic, neurologic, digestive, and renal examinations were also recorded. RESULTS: Eighteen eyes of the total (34.61%) showed amyloid-related ocular involvement, vitreous amyloid deposits being the most common ocular manifestation (18/52). Statistically significant differences were found for the presence of vitreous amyloid deposits ( P < 0.01), crystalline amyloid deposits ( P < 0.05), parenchymal amyloid deposits ( P < 0.01), and vascular alterations ( P < 0.01) when comparing affected and unaffected eyes. Moreover, affected eyes showed worse best-corrected visual acuity ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ocular manifestations are present in a substantial number of patients with ATTR that could potentially lead to devastating consequences to patients' best-corrected visual acuity and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary management and ophthalmologic assessment, follow-up and surgical treatment when necessary. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the largest series in Spain of amyloidosis' ophthalmologic involvement.

ASSESSMENT AND ROLE OF ARTERY-VEIN COMPLEX IN MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To analyze the presence of an artery-vein complex (AVC) underneath myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) and to determine its relationship with neovascular activity. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 681 eyes from 362 patients with high myopia defined by an axial length of >26 mm using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography imaging. Patients with clinical diagnosis of mCNV and good quality OCT angiography images were then selected. An AVC was defined by the identification of both perforating scleral vessels and dilated choroidal veins under or in contact with the mCNV in the same case. Swept source OCT (SS-OCT) and SS-OCT angiography images (TRITON; Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were reviewed to detect AVC in the mCNV area. RESULTS: Fifty eyes of 49 highly myopic patients with mCNV were analyzed. Eyes with AVC were statistically older (69.95 ± 13.53 vs. 60.83 ± 10.47 years old; P < 0.01), needed less intravitreal injections/year along the follow-up period (0.80 ± 0.62 vs. 1.92 ± 0.17; P < 0.01), and showed less relapses/year (0.58 ± 0.75 vs. 0.46 ± 0.42; P < 0.05) when compared with eyes without AVC. Moreover, eyes with AVC were less likely to relapse during the first year from mCNV activation (n = 5/14 vs. n = 14/16; P < 0.01; P < 0.01). No significant differences were found regarding either axial length (30.55 ± 2.31 vs. 29.65 ± 2.24, P > 0.05) or best-corrected visual acuity (0.4 ± 0.5 vs. 0.4 ± 0.5 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR), P > 0.05) between groups. CONCLUSION: AVC complex has an influence over myopic choroidal neovascularization activity resulting in less aggressive neovascular lesions than those with perforating scleral vessels only.

Retinal phototoxicity after macular hole surgery in a patient under paclitaxel.

BACKGROUND: The purpose is to report the second case, to our knowledge, of suspected paclitaxel-induced phototoxic maculopathy following pars plana vitrectomy surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: 63-year-old phakic female who underwent an uneventful phaco-vitrectomy to treat a complete macular hole, developing macular phototoxicity in the post-operatively period that could not be explained by the surgery itself and could only be attributed to a possible photosensitization induced by the previous use of paclitaxel. CONCLUSIONS: The use of paclitaxel has been widely extended as a chemotherapy drug to treat breast cancer. It works by altering the intracellular microtubular reorganization and, based on this mechanism of action, photosensitivity has been previously described. We report a case of suspected paclitaxel-induced macular phototoxicity following ocular endoillumination during vitrectomy surgery.

Choroidal Vascularity Index versus Choroidal Thickness as Biomarkers of Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) versus choroidal thickness (CT) as biomarkers in acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study carried out at Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital, Madrid, Spain; Jules-Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Pittsburg University, USA. 40 eyes from 40 patients with acute CSCR, 40 eyes from 40 patients with keratoconus (KC), and 40 eyes from 40 healthy patients were included. The variables analyzed were age, CT, CVI, and the presence of neurosensory retinal detachment. CT and the CVI were obtained from a 12-mm horizontal single-line B-scan (Triton SS-OCT, Topcon Co., Japan). Blinded measurements of the subfoveal CT were performed manually by two independent investigators. The images of the choroid were automatically binarized using a validated algorithm, and a percentage of vascularity was calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age between the three groups (ANOVA, p = 0.092). There were statistically significant differences in CT and the CVI (ANOVA, p < 0.001). After Bonferroni correction, pairwise analysis between CSCR group against the KC group showed no significant differences in age and CT (p = 0.10 and p = 0.27, respectively). CVI was statistically greater among CSCR patients (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: CT does not meet the criteria to be considered a biomarker of acute CSCR, while CVI may prove to be a more specific and reliable biomarker. Further studies with larger sample sizes, standardized procedures, and a wider representation of all CSCR stages are necessary to confirm the validity of CVI as biomarker in this disease. Further studies with larger samples are required in order to validate the use of CVI/CT correlation as a new biomarker.

Atrophic, Tractional, and Neovascular Grading System in a Dome-Shaped Macula and Ridge-Shaped Macula Highly Myopic Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the atrophic, tractional, and neovascular (ATN) components grading in highly myopic patients with dome-shaped macula (DSM) and ridge-shaped macula (RSM). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, noninterventional study. 57 eyes of 38 different patients were included. They were classified as DSM or RSM based on the number of radial scans that showed an inward protrusion ≥50 µm in the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) (12 = DSM; <12 = RSM). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination in addition to SS-OCT. They were graded using the ATN system for myopic maculopathy by 2 masked retina specialists that assessed the atrophic (A), tractional (T), and neovascular (N) components in order to analyze the differences between the groups. As complementary measurements, age, axial length, and best-corrected visual acuity were collected. Height and orientation of the macular bulge and the presence of Bruch's membrane defects, scleral perforating vessels, and staphyloma were recorded. RESULTS: Out of total 57 eyes, 13 eyes (22.8%) were classified as DSM. Regarding the atrophic component (A), there were statistically significant differences between groups, with DSM group showing a greater stage of atrophy (predominantly stage A3 in 69.2% of the sample) compared to the RSM group (predominantly stage A2 in 61.3% of the sample) (p < 0.05). For the T and N components, there were no significant differences between groups. The presence of Bruch's membrane defects was more frequently seen in DSM (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DSM group showed more Bruch's membrane defects and a greater stage of the atrophy component, based on the ATN grading system, compared with RSM group. As Bruch's membrane may have biomechanical properties in terms of strength, the defects found around the macula, added to the major atrophic component, may be a cause of a local relaxation that induce a central bulge forming the dome.

Pathologic myopia and severe pathologic myopia: correlation with axial length.

PURPOSE: This study had three aims: (1) correlate axial length (AL), age and best-corrected visual acuity in high myopic patients scored on the ATN grading system; (2) determine AL cut-off values to distinguish between pathologic myopia (PM) and severe PM; and (3) identify clinical differences between PM and severe PM. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, non-interventional study. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, ATN grading and multimodal imaging (colour fundus photography, swept-source OCT, fundus autofluorescence, OCT angiography and fluorescein angiography). RESULTS: Six hundred forty-four eyes from 345 high myopic patients were included. The eyes were graded on the ATN system and classified as PM (≥ A2) or severe PM (≥ A3, ≥ T3 and/or N2). Significant between-group (PM vs. severe PM) differences (p < 0.05) were observed on the individual ATN components (atrophic [A], tractional [T] and neovascular [N]), age, BCVA and AL. AL was also linearly correlated with the A, T and N components (r = 0.53, p < 0.01; r = 0.24, p < 0.01; r = 0.20, p < 0.01; respectively). ROC curve analysis showed the optimal AL cut-off value to distinguish between PM at 28 mm (AUC ROC curve: 0.813, specificity: 75%, sensitivity: 75%) and severe PM at 29.50 mm (AUC ROC curve: 0.760, specificity: 75%, sensitivity: 70%). CONCLUSION: AL is the main variable associated with myopic maculopathy. Due to the clinical differences found between PM and severe PM, there is need to create an objective cut-off point to distinguish these two different entities being the optimal cut-off points for AL 28 mm and 29.5 mm, respectively. These objective AL cut-off values should be taken into account for determining a correct follow-up, ophthalmic management and treatment.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION ACTIVITY AND PERFORATING SCLERAL VESSELS IN HIGH MYOPIA.

PURPOSE: To study perforating scleral vessels (PSVs) in patients with high myopia using swept-source optical coherence tomography and to determine their relationship with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) and its activity. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with high myopia (≥-6 D or ≥26 mm of axial length) using multimodal imaging. The presence of PSVs and mCNV was assessed using swept-source optical coherence tomography images (TRITON; Topcon Corporation, Japan). RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-four eyes from 297 highly myopic patients were studied. One hundred fifty-five eyes (27.5%) showed signs of mCNV while PSVs were found in 500 eyes (88.6%). Perforating scleral vessels were found in 93.5% (145/155) of eyes with mCNV, and they were under or in contact with the mCNV in 80.6% (117/145). The mean number of intravitreal injections received by patients with mCNV was 4.06 ± 4.17 along 66.9 ± 4.1 months of follow-up. The number of injections per year was 1.32 ± 1.56, the mean number of relapses was 1.11 ± 1.83, and the mean number of relapses per year was 0.25 ± 0.41. CONCLUSION: Perforating scleral vessels are more common among highly myopic patients suffering from neovascular complications. Myopic CNV complexes that are coincident with PSVs on optical coherence tomography show higher rates of activity, needing more injections to control them and being more prone to relapses.

Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration among optometric telemedicine users in Spain: a retrospective nationwide population-based study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of AMD among optometric telemedicine users in Spain and to identify risk factors. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a nationwide database conducted on subjects attending to optometry centers, between January 2013 and December 2019. Fundus photographs were performed by optometrists, using non-mydriatic cameras, and evaluated by a group of 12 retina specialists. RESULTS: Among the 119,877 subjects included, the overall prevalence of AMD was 7.6%. The prevalence of early, intermediate, and advanced AMD was 2.9%, 2.7%, and 2.0%, respectively. Of the 9129 AMD subjects, 1161 (12.7%) had geographic atrophy, and 1089 (11.9%) had neovascular AMD, either scar (4.5%) or exudative (7.4%). There was a significant association between AMD and age (per year older, adjusted odds ratio, OR 1.116; 95% CI 1.114 to 1.119, p<0.0001). Women had higher prevalence (adjusted OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.23, p<0.0001). Every diopter (spherical equivalent) of progress toward hyperopia was associated with a significant increase in early AMD prevalence (adjusted OR 1.02, 95 CI 1.01 to 1.04, p=0.0074). Presence of diabetes was associated with a lower AMD prevalence (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AMD (any eye and any severity) was 7.6%, with a prevalence of advanced AMD of 2.0%. Older age and women were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of AMD, whereas myopia and presence of diabetes were associated with significantly lower odds of any AMD.

CORRELATION BETWEEN ATROPHY-TRACTION-NEOVASCULARIZATION GRADE FOR MYOPIC MACULOPATHY AND CLINICAL SEVERITY.

PURPOSE: To assess the reliability of the atrophy-traction-neovascularization (ATN) classification in patients with pathologic myopia (PM) and its correlation with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Hundred highly myopic eyes with a spherical equivalent of >-6.0 diopters or axial length of >26 mm and a total ATN score of ≥3 underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including fundus photography and swept-source optical coherence tomography. Five observers graded each eye using the ATN system. Mean A, T, and N scores were calculated and correlated with age, BCVA (in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution), and axial length. Patients were considered to present severe PM if either A or T components were ≥3 and/or N was ≥2. RESULTS: Hundred eyes (53 left) from 91 patients (78 women) were classified. Mean age, BCVA, and axial length values were, respectively, 65.1 ± 11.7 years (range, 36-97 years), -0.63 ± 0.62 (-3.00 to 0.00), and 29.26 ± 2.7 mm (26.01-37.66 mm). Mean ATN grades for each component were as follows: A = 2.51 ± 0.78 (0.6-4.0), T = 0.88 ± 1.14 (0.0-5.0), and N = 1.31 ± 1.40 (0.0-3.0). Weighted interobserver agreement was 98.1%, 98.7%, and 94.6%, for A, T and N, respectively. In eyes with severe PM, BCVA was significantly lower and axial length was significantly longer. CONCLUSION: The excellent interobserver rate in this study demonstrates that the updated ATN grading system is an accurate and reliable tool to classify patients with PM. These findings show that BCVA is more compromised in eyes with severe PM, particularly those graded ≥A3 and/or T3.

Evolution of Macular Bruch Membrane Defects of Patchy Chorioretinal Atrophy in Pathologic Myopia Based on a Recent Classification System.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the progression of macular Bruch membrane defects (BMD) in highly myopic patients with patchy atrophy (PA); and study its correlation with the enlargement of PA and ATN grading. Setting/Venue: Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, noninterventional study. A series of 451 highly myopic eyes with spherical equivalent > -6.0 D and/or >26 mm of axial length (AL) were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and were graded using the ATN system by 2 masked retina experts that assessed the atrophic (A), tractional (T), and neovascular (N) components. SS-OCT b-scans were employed to study PA and macular BMD at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up, in patients with good foveal fixation. RESULTS: Out of total 451 eyes, 126 eyes (27.9%) had PA (53 patients; 75.4% women). Mean T and N in eyes with PA were 1.1 ± 1.3 and 0.08 ± 0.2, respectively. Sixty-eight of them had >1-year follow-up with a good foveal fixation and enough image quality. From them, BMD were found in 44 eyes (64.7%) at baseline and increased to 59 eyes (86.7%) at a 1-year follow-up. The mean great linear dimension of PA and macular BMD increased with a median of 384.5 ± 462.5 µm (IR 68.0-660.2) and 265.6 ± 418.1 µm (IR 0-331.7), respectively. At 1-year, PA and BMD sizes increase, and were statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the growth of macular BMD and the growth of PA (r = 0.490, p < 0.00). T grading correlated significantly with PA growth (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Macular BMD increase its prevalence and its size over time in highly myopic patients with PA. There is a positive correlation between BMD and PA area growth. New studies with a larger sample size, longer follow-up, and AL elongation correlation are necessary to corroborate our findings.

CHANGES IN CHORIOCAPILLARIS, SATTLER, AND HALLER LAYER THICKNESSES IN CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY AFTER HALF-FLUENCE PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY.

PURPOSE: To determinate the variation in thickness of the individual choroidal layers in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy treated with half-fluence photodynamic therapy. METHODS: Twenty-two eyes were evaluated with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The images were taken before photodynamic therapy, 3 months, and 6 months after the treatment. Two investigators performed these measurements: 1) choroidal thickness (CT), 2) Haller layer thickness, defined as the most external layer containing a 100-µm vessel, and 3) choriocapillaris + Sattler layer (C&S). Nine measurements were taken in the macular region. RESULTS: Choroidal thickness before photodynamic therapy was 471.8 µm ± 145.8. The Haller layer was 358.4 µm ± 122.6, and C&S was 114.3 µm ± 27.8. At 3-month follow-up, CT was 441.1 µm ± 150.7, Haller layer 348.8 µm ± 127.6, and C&S 92.4 µm ± 27.9. At 6-month follow-up, CT was 420.4 µm ± 118.4, Haller layer 331.8 µm ± 97.2, and C&S 89.5 µm ± 28.0. Using a multilevel mixed-effects linear regression, CT was found to be reduced at both 3 months (P < 0.03) and at 6 months (P < 0.001), Haller layer showed no significant reduction at 3 months (P = 0.483) or at 6 months (P = 0.055), and C&S showed reduction at 3 months (P < 0.001) and at 6 months (P < 0.001). Fellow nonaffected eyes showed no statistical variation at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Reduction in CT in patients affected by central serous chorioretinopathy after half-fluence photodynamic therapy occurs primarily in the choriocapillaris and medium diameter vessel layers of the choroid in a short- and medium-term follow-up.

VALIDATION OF THE RECENTLY DEVELOPED ATN CLASSIFICATION AND GRADING SYSTEM FOR MYOPIC MACULOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To validate the recently developed ATN grading system for myopic maculopathy to classify eyes with pathologic myopia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A series of consecutive eyes diagnosed with pathologic myopia and signs of myopic maculopathy (grade ≥1 for atrophic, tractional, or neovascular components of the ATN), with a refractive error > -6.0 diopters (D), were included. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination including fundus photography and swept-source optical coherence tomography. Six observers graded each eye twice using the ATN system (≥15 days between assessments) based only on the aforementioned data. RESULTS: Sixty eyes from 47 patients (61.7% female) were graded. Mean patient age was 63.2 ± 11.7 years. The mean spherical equivalent was -13.8 ± 6.5 D. Mean axial length was 28.6 ± 2.16 mm. Overall, the mean intraobserver agreement (%) for the same image was 92.0%, and the mean interobserver agreement for the second image was 77.5%. The weighted Fleiss k showed excellent correlation (k > 0.8) for the traction and neovascularization components and good correlation (0.75) for atrophy. Interobserver agreement for each of these three components was 95.2%, 98.4%, 95.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Application of the ATN resulted in high intraobserver and interobserver correlation, underscoring the reproducibility of the system.

AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN CHOROIDAL VASCULAR DENSITY OF HEALTHY SUBJECTS BASED ON IMAGE BINARIZATION OF SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To analyze the vascular density of the choroid in a healthy population using swept-source optical coherence tomography. METHODS: A cross-sectional, noninterventional study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: best-corrected visual acuity between 20/20 and 20/25, spherical equivalent between ±3 diopters, no systemic or ocular diseases, and ages ranging between 3 and 85 years. One hundred and thirty-six eyes from 136 subjects were analyzed, 86 eyes (63.2%) were from male and 50 eyes (36.8%) from female subjects. The eyes were divided into different age groups to analyze the possible age-related changes. Twelve-millimeter horizontal, fovea-centered B-scans were used. Choroidal stroma and vessel area analysis involved automated segmentation and binarization using validated algorithms. RESULTS: Mean age was 33.1 ± 24.5 years. Mean choroidal area was 0.5554 ± 0.1377 mm. Mean stromal area was 0.2524 ± 0.0762 mm, and mean vascular region area was 0.3029 ± 0.0893 mm. The percentage of choroidal vascularity (vascular area/total area) was 54.40 ± 8.35%. Choroid area, vascular region, and percentage of choroidal vascular density were statistically higher in the <18-year-old group versus the >18-year-old group (P < 0.001). The stromal region was not different (P = 0.46). In the same way, choroid area, vascular region, and percentage of choroidal vascular density between the 5 age groups were statistically different (P < 0.001), showing larger figures in the 0 to 10-year-old group, but not stromal region (P = 0.71). There were no gender-related differences. CONCLUSION: The luminal area and the percentage of vascular/total area decrease with increasing age, while the stromal area remains stable.

ANALYSIS OF AGE-RELATED CHOROIDAL LAYERS THINNING IN HEALTHY EYES USING SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To study the changes in the choroidal layers thickness with age in a healthy population using swept-source optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of a subgroup of eyes from a previous single-center, prospective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study. One hundred and sixty-nine healthy eyes were evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Inclusion criteria were best-corrected visual acuity between 20/20 and 20/25, spherical equivalent between ±3 diopters, and no systemic or ocular diseases. Two independent investigators determined the macular horizontal choroidal thickness (CT) and the Haller's layer thickness across a 9 mm line centered at the fovea. Subjects were divided into five age groups. RESULTS: Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 305.76 ± 80.59 µm (95% confidence interval: 294.85-319.33). Mean subfoveal thickness for Haller's layer was 215.47 ± 67.70 µm (95% confidence interval: 207.30-227.86) and mean subfoveal thickness for choriocapillaris plus Sattler's layer was 87.31 ± 40.40 µm (95% confidence interval: 83.38-95.65). No significant differences were found due to gender. Choroidal thickness profile was similar between groups with choroidal thickness and Haller's layer thickness decreasing with age (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Choroidal and Haller's layer thickness profiles are similar between different age groups. Age-related choroidal thinning is mostly at the expense of Haller's layer.

ASYMMETRY IN MACULAR CHOROIDAL THICKNESS PROFILE BETWEEN BOTH EYES IN A HEALTHY POPULATION MEASURED BY SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To determine the difference in macular choroidal thickness (CT) profile between eyes in healthy individuals using swept-source optical coherence tomography. DESIGN: Cross-sectional noninterventional study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and forty eyes from 70 healthy patients with spherical equivalent between ± 3 D and with difference ≤ 0.25 D between eyes were scanned using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (Topcon Corporation). METHODS: Cross-sectional noninterventional study. One hundred and forty eyes from 70 healthy patients with spherical equivalent between ± 3 D and with difference #0.25 D between eyes were scanned using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (Topcon Corporation). A horizontal CT profile of the macula was created in both eyes by manually measuring the subfoveal CT from the posterior edge of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to the choroid/sclera junction. Three determinations were performed at successive points 1,000 mm nasal to the fovea and 5 more temporal to the fovea. The differences in CT between both eyes were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age was 25.4 ± 19.9 years (from 4 to 75). The mean spherical equivalent was 0.18 ± 1.37 D (from -3 to +3). Mean macular nasal CT was thicker in the right eye (RE) than in the left eye (LE) (228.11 ± 69.23 µm vs. 212.27 ± 62.71 µm; P = 0.0002; Student's t-test paired data). Mean subfoveal CT and mean temporal CT was not statistically significantly different between the eyes. No statistically significant differences were observed comparing spherical equivalent in the RE compared with the LE. Both men and women showed a thicker mean nasal choroid in the RE versus the left (men, 226.97 ± 61.56 µm vs. 209.87 ± 60.31 µm; women, 229.63 ± 79.39 µm vs. 215.47 ± 66.68 µm, P = 0.003 and P = 0.03, respectively; Student's t-test paired data). At each nasal determination, CT in the RE was statistically significantly thicker than the LE (N1: 283.72 ± 81.10 µm vs. 269.76 ± 75.81 µm [P = 0.001]; in N2: 230.45 ± 73.47 µm vs. 211.33 ± 66.92 µm [P = 0.0002]; and in N3: 170.16 ± 61.00 µm vs. 155.72 ± 53.87 µm [P = 0.008], respectively). CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting thicker macular nasal choroid in the RE compared with the LE. In contrast, subfoveal CT and temporal CT were not found to be different between eyes.

Influence of posterior staphyloma in myopic maculopathy and visual prognosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Posterior staphyloma is a hallmark of high myopia and its presence associates to greater degrees of myopic maculopathy. Nonetheless, its development, repercussion on visual function and relationship with maculopathy components, is still unclear. The objective was to analyze the impact of posterior staphyloma on the incidence and severity of myopic maculopathy and its repercussion on visual prognosis. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted on 473 consecutive eyes of 259 highly myopic patients examined at Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length (AL), myopic maculopathy classification according to ATN system (atrophic/traction/neovascularization), determined the presence of posterior staphyloma, pathologic myopia (PM) and severe PM. Multimodal imaging were performed including fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, fundus autofluorescence and/ or fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: Out of the total, 70.65% were female patients (n = 173/259), mean BCVA was 0.41 ± 0.54 logMAR units and mean AL was 29.3 ± 2.6 mm (26-37.6). Posterior staphyloma was present in 69.4% of eyes. Eyes with posterior staphyloma compared to non-staphyloma were older (p < 0.05), had greater AL (p < 0.01), worse BCVA (p < 0.01) and higher stage in ATN components (p < 0.01). Moreover, compound subgroup showed worse BCVA (p < 0.01) and greater stage in each of the ATN components (p < 0.01). Staphylomas with macular involvement presented worse BCVA (p < 0.01), higher AL (p < 0.01), and greater ATN (p < 0.05). The risk of posterior staphyloma presence in eyes with PM and severe PM eyes was 89.8% and 96.7%, respectively. Posterior staphyloma was the best predictor for BCVA in myopic patients (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior staphyloma's presence determines high risk of myopic maculopathy and therefore worse visual prognosis, especially those with macular involvement. Posterior staphyloma represented the best predictor for BCVA in highly myopic patients.

Anterior Scleral Thickness and Anterior Segment Biometrics Measured with Swept Source Ocular Coherence Tomography in High Myopic Eyes with and without Glaucoma: A Comparative Study.

Background: To assess the anterior scleral thickness (AST), Schlemm's canal diameter (SCD), trabecular meshwork diameter (TMD) and conjunctiva tenon capsule thickness (CTT) in high myopic (HM) subjects and HM subjects with glaucoma (HMG) compared to control eyes. Methods: One hundred and twenty eyes were included, and AST at 0, 1, 2 and 3 mm from the scleral spur, SCD, TMD and CTT were measured. Results: Mean age was 64.2 ± 11.0 years, and the temporal SCD and temporal TMD were significantly longer in the HMG subjects compared to the controls (380.0 ± 62 µm vs. 316.7 ± 72 µm, p = 0.001) and (637.6 ± 113 µm vs. 512.1 ± 97 µm, p = 0.000), respectively. There were no significant differences between the HM and HMG subjects in SCD and TMD (all p > 0.025). Compared to the HM subjects, the temporal AST0 (432.5 ± 79 µm vs. 532.8 ± 99 µm, p = 0.000), temporal AST1 (383.9 ± 64 µm vs. 460.5 ± 80 µm, p = 0.000), temporal AST2 (404.0 ± 68 µm vs. 464.0 ± 88 µm, p = 0.006) and temporal AST3 (403.0 ± 80 µm vs. 458.1 ± 91 µm, p = 0.014) were significantly thinner in the HMG group. No differences were found between the CTT in the three groups (all p > 0.025). Conclusions: Our data indicate a thinner AST in HMG subjects and no differences in SCD and TMD between HM and HMG subjects.

Update on the Utility of Optical Coherence Tomography in the Analysis of the Optic Nerve Head in Highly Myopic Eyes with and without Glaucoma.

Glaucoma diagnosis in highly myopic subjects by optic nerve head (ONH) imaging is challenging as it is difficult to distinguish structural defects related to glaucoma from myopia-related defects in these subjects. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has evolved to become a routine examination at present, providing key information in the assessment of glaucoma based on the study of the ONH. However, the correct segmentation and interpretation of the ONH data employing OCT is still a challenge in highly myopic patients. High-resolution OCT images can help qualitatively and quantitatively describe the structural characteristics and anatomical changes in highly myopic subjects with and without glaucoma. The ONH and peripapillary area can be analyzed to measure the myopic atrophic-related zone, the existence of intrachoroidal cavitation, staphyloma, and ONH pits by OCT. Similarly, the lamina cribosa observed in the OCT images may reveal anatomical changes that justify visual defects. Several quantitative parameters of the ONH obtained from OCT images were proposed to predict the progression of visual defects in glaucoma subjects. Additionally, OCT images help identify factors that may negatively influence the measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and provide better analysis using new parameters, such as Bruch's Membrane Opening-Minimum Rim Width, which serves as an alternative to RNFL measurements in highly myopic subjects due to its superior diagnostic ability.