Costs and benefits of bevacizumab vial sharing for the treatment of retinal diseases.

BACKGROUND: Antiangiogenic therapy has proved to be an important therapeutic tool for many retinal vascular diseases; however, its availability is limited in developing countries. This study sought to describe the bevacizumab vial sharing process and to evaluate the impact of this repackaging system on the costs incurred in a Brazilian public hospital. METHOD: This retrospective study compared the number and costs of intravitreal antiangiogenic injections approved via court order in the first year of the study (2015) to the number and costs of the bevacizumab injections provided through the use of vial sharing in the second year of the study (2016). Vial sharing consists of the traditional process used to repackage bevacizumab; in this case, however, the drug samples used were the residual volume from the preparation of bevacizumab for oncology patients. The hospital adhered to the guidelines established by the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). RESULTS: In the first year of the study and using medication obtained through court orders, 550 intravitreal injections were performed in the ophthalmology ambulatory care center. Based on local pricing tables, the total cost of the medication was BRL$1,036,056.25 (USD$267,546.58), and the average cost of each application was BRL$1883.74 (USD$486.45). In the second year of the study, 1081 intravitreal applications were performed at the same hospital using doses obtained through bevacizumab vial sharing. The total cost was BRL$21,942.49 (USD$5663.30) and the per-unit cost was BRL$20.30, or USD$5.23 (a savings of 97.88%). CONCLUSION: This study found that bevacizumab vial sharing led to a significant reduction in public health care costs associated with antiangiogenic treatment and increased the availability of the drug to public health care patients. These results can be extrapolated to other types of drugs and health care systems.

Multiple Bilateral Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachments in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report.

Purpose: To report a case of multiple bilateral retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Case Report. Results: A 28-year-old female with mild blurred bilateral vision in both eyes (OU) without pain or any other symptom was admitted to the hospital due to worsening renal function and uncontrolled high blood pressure (HBP). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/30 and 20/40, right and left eyes, respectively. She had SLE, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. BP was over 150/90 mmHg for more than 1.5 years, and she used corticosteroids at varying doses for more than 4 years. During hospitalization, she was taking prednisone 60 mg daily as Class IV lupus nephritis was diagnosed. On fundoscopy, she had a lacy retinal pattern, remarkably on the macula in OU. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed multiple bilateral serous PEDs and pachychoroid. Angiofluoresceinography displayed multiple pooling hyperfluorescence areas. Six months afterward, while she was on prednisolone 10 mg daily, and antihypertensive medications, BCVA was improved to 20/25 OU. Nevertheless, she had no retinal or choroidal changes. Her findings could be related to SLE choroidopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy-like disease, and/or hypertensive choroidopathy. Conclusions: Ocular involvement affects nearly one-third of SLE patients. The findings are variable and can include nearly any part of the eyeball. Multiple bilateral PEDs have been described in the literature; however, in this case, it is probably multifactorial and not only related to SLE.

Association between axial length and level of education in elderly patients with cataracts unexposed to electronic devices in the first two decades of life.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the axial length is associated with the education level in elderly patients with cataracts who were not exposed to electronic devices in the first two decades of life. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in elderly patients with cataracts in Campinas, Brazil. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 included those who completed, at most, elementary school (including the illiterate and those who partially or totally attended elementary school), which corresponded to 12 years of schooling; Group 2 included, at least, high school graduates (including those who completed high school and those who partially or fully attended university). The sample was selected randomly with stratification for sex and age. The main outcome was the axial length. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 472 elderly patients (236 per group) who underwent cataract surgery. There were 272 (57.6%) men and 200 (42.4%) women; the distribution was symmetrical between the two groups. The median age (IQR; range) was 66 (12; 50-89) years. The median axial length (IQR; range) was 22.82 (1.51; 20.34-28.71) mm in Group 1 and 23.32 (1.45; 20.51-31.34) mm in Group 2 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A greater axial length was associated with a higher level of education in elderly patients with cataracts, suggesting that myopization is related to an increase in activities requiring near-vision even before exposure to electronic devices.

Proteinuria in early referral to spectral domain optical coherence tomography for macular edema detection in type 2 diabetes individuals: results from the Brazilian diabetes study.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of retinal thickness by optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows higher diagnostic accuracy for diabetic macular edema (DME) than fundus photography alone. The expanding gap between the rising number of type 2 diabetes (T2D) individuals and the availability of OCT devices demands a targeted selection of individuals at higher risk of DME who would benefit the most from early referral. We sought to appraise if proteinuria should be considered in a targeted referral of T2D individuals to OCT examination. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 576 consecutive patients enrolled in the Brazilian Diabetes Study between June/2016 and December/2021 who underwent OCT exam and urinalysis to assess ME and proteinuria status, respectively. Differences in the prevalence of DME between proteinuria groups and across a range of diabetic retinopathy (DR) stages were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 1134 eyes included in this analysis, the prevalence of proteinuria was 22% and 18.2% of eyes had DME. Proteinuria was related to an increased prevalence of DME (13.2% vs 38.7% for control vs proteinuria, respectively; p < .001), with an OR of 4.08 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.50-6.64, p < .001), after adjustment for covariates. Proteinuria was independently related to DME also among eyes with non-apparent DR [OR: 2.82; 95%CI: 1.34-5.93; p = .003] and non-proliferative DR (OR of 5.94, 95%CI 2.13-16.62, p < .001). Fundus photography spotted only half of the DME cases detected by OCT. CONCLUSION: In T2D individuals, early referral to OCT examination should be pursued for all individuals with concurrent proteinuria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04949152.

Macular and choroidal thickness after intracameral moxifloxacin for prevention of postcataract endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To determine any changes in macular or choroidal thickness associated with the use of intracameral moxifloxacin as postcataract endophthalmitis prophylaxis. SETTING: University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, partially masked, single-site clinical trial. METHODS: Phacoemulsification surgery patients in the experimental group (Group A) received a 0.03 mL intracameral injection of undiluted moxifloxacin from a sealed bottle immediately after phacoemulsification surgery (150 µg in 0.03 mL-Vigamox solution), whereas the control group (Group B) did not. Investigators evaluated in masked fashion macular and choroidal thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients were included (48 in Group A and 45 in Group B). Baseline parameters were similar between the groups. Either of the 2 parameters assessed differed statistically between the groups or preoperatively vs postoperatively. On postoperative day 30, central macular thickness was 8.85 ± 14.78 µm in Group A and 10.26 ± 22.44 µm in Group B (P = .7232); choroidal thickness as measured by enhanced depth imaging (EDI) was 1.45 ± 16.13 µm in Group A and 3.74 ± 16.15 in Group B (P = .5017). On postoperative day 60, central macular thickness was 19.53 ± 39.28 µm in Group A and 17.14 ± 53.68 µm in Group B (P = .8363); EDI was 5.08 ± 21.96 µm in Group A and 5.24 ± 15.8 in Group B (P = .9752). CONCLUSIONS: The application of intracameral injection of 0.03 mL of undiluted 0.5% moxifloxacin during phacoemulsification surgery as endophthalmitis prophylaxis induced no changes in macular or choroidal thickness.

Long-term Results of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Versus Placebo to Reduce the Risk of Recurrent Toxoplasma gondii Retinochoroiditis.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 1 year of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) vs placebo in reducing the risk of recurrence of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis during a 6-year follow-up period. DESIGN: Randomized, double-masked clinical trial. METHODS: This cohort included 141 subjects recruited in Campinas, Brazil. The inclusion criterion was unilateral active recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. All subjects were treated with 1 dose of TMP-SMZ (160 mg/800 mg) twice daily for 45 days, and all lesions healed after this treatment. After this initial treatment, subjects were randomly assigned to group 1 (1 TMP-SMZ dose every other day for 311 days) or group 2 (1 identical placebo tablet containing starch with no active ingredients every other day for 311 days). Between the second and sixth years of follow-up appointments, none of the subjects received treatment unless a new recurrence episode had occurred. The primary outcomes were recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis within the first year of follow-up and recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in the 6 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of recurrence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 years after the initial infection was, respectively, 13.0% (9/69), 17.4% (12/69), 20.3% (14/69), 23.2% (16/69), 26.1% (18/69), and 27.5% (19/69) in the placebo group and 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, and 1.4% (1/72) in the TMP-SMZ group (P < .001; log-rank test). There were 3 cases (3/69; 4.3%) of multiple recurrences in the same individual in the placebo group. No treatment-limiting toxicity or side effects were observed in either group. New recurrences were more frequent among female subjects. CONCLUSIONS: TMP-SMZ may be used safely for prophylaxis of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis and may provide long-term benefits.

Association between axial length and level of education in elderly patients with cataracts unexposed to electronic devices in the first two decades of life / Associação entre diâmetro axial e nível educacional em pacientes idosos com catarata não expostos a dispositivos eletrônicos nas duas primeiras décadas de vida

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine whether the axial length is associated with the education level in elderly patients with cataracts who were not exposed to electronic devices in the first two decades of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in elderly patients with cataracts in Campinas, Brazil. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 included those who completed, at most, elementary school (including the illiterate and those who partially or totally attended elementary school), which corresponded to 12 years of schooling; Group 2 included, at least, high school graduates (including those who completed high school and those who partially or fully attended university). The sample was selected randomly with stratification for sex and age. The main outcome was the axial length. Results: The sample consisted of 472 elderly patients (236 per group) who underwent cataract surgery. There were 272 (57.6%) men and 200 (42.4%) women; the distribution was symmetrical between the two groups. The median age (IQR; range) was 66 (12; 50-89) years. The median axial length (IQR; range) was 22.82 (1.51; 20.34-28.71) mm in Group 1 and 23.32 (1.45; 20.51-31.34) mm in Group 2 (p<0.001). Conclusion: A greater axial length was associated with a higher level of education in elderly patients with cataracts, suggesting that myopization is related to an increase in activities requiring near-vision even before exposure to electronic devices.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar se o diâmetro axial está asso­ciado ao nível educacional em pacientes idosos com catarata que não foram expostos a dispositivos eletrônicos nas duas primeiras décadas de vida. Métodos: Este estudo transversal foi conduzido em pacientes idosos com catarata na cidade de Campinas, Brasil. Os Pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos: no Grupo 1 foram incluídos aqueles que completaram, pelo menos, o ensino fundamental (incluindo analfabetos e aqueles com ensino fundamental completo ou incompleto), o que corresponde a 12 anos de escolaridade; no Grupo 2 foram incluídos indivíduos que, pelo menos, estudaram até o ensino médio (incluindo indivíduos com ensino médio completo e superior completo ou superior incompleto). A amostra foi selecionada aleatoriamente com estratificação por sexo e idade. O desfecho principal foi a medida do diâmetro axial. Resultados: A amostra foi constituída por 472 indivíduos que foram submetidos a cirurgia de catarata. Duzentos e trinta e seis indivíduos (50%) foram alocados no Grupo 1 e duzentos e trinta e seis indivíduos (50%) no Grupo 2. A mediana da idade (IIQ; intervalo) foi 66 (12; 50-89) anos. Duzentos e setenta e dois (57,6%) eram homens e duzentos (42,4%) mulheres, com distribuição simétrica entre os dois grupos. A mediana do diâmetro axial (IIQ; intervalo) foi 22,82 (1,51; 20,34-28,71) mm no Grupo 1 e 23,32 (1,45; 20,51-31,34) mm no Grupo 2 (p<0,001). Conclusão: Maiores medidas de diâmetro axial foram asso­ciadas a níveis educacionais mais elevados em pacientes idosos submetidos a cirurgia de catarata. Tal achado sugere que a miopização relacionada ao aumento de atividades que utilizam a visão de perto é fenômeno que ocorre antes mesmo da exposição a dispositivos eletrônicos.

Macular phototoxicity after corneal cross-linking.

PURPOSE: To assess potential vascular, structural, and functional changes to the macula in patients with keratoconus that underwent ultraviolet A (UVA)-riboflavin-mediated corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen eyes from 17 patients of age 16 years or older with keratoconus undergoing CXL treatment were studied. The same eye served as its own control (before CXL vs after CXL). Eyes were evaluated in terms of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive error, intraocular pressure, Amsler grid, retinography, fluorescein angiography, autofluorescence, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) prior to CXL and 7 and 30 days after treatment. Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) was recorded prior to and 7 days after CXL. RESULTS: Mean (SD) BCVA by logMAR chart was 0.47 (±0.12) pre-CXL, 0.55 (±0.15) 7 days post-CXL (P=0.57), and 0.46 (±0.10) 30 days post-CXL (P=0.87). Mean (SD) SD-OCT central macular thickness (µm) was 253.62 (±20.9) pre-CXL, 260.5 (±18.7) 7 days post-CXL (P=0.48), and 256.44 (±21.6) 30 days post-CXL (P=0.69). In 12 eyes, mfERG revealed a statistically significant increase (P=0.0353) in P1 latency (ms) of ring four from the pre-CXL period (39.45±2.05) to 7 days post-CXL (41.04±1.28) period. Regression analysis showed that the increase in P1 latency was correlated with the increase in central macular thickness (P=0.027). Furthermore, nine patients experienced a significant decrease in P1 amplitudes of rings 1 (P=0.0014), 2 (P=0.0029), 3 (P=0.0037), 4 (P=0.0014), and 5 (P=0.0012) from pre-CXL to 7 days post-CXL. Conclusion: In this pilot study, most of the patients exhibited slight changes in their mfERG parameters and OCT thickness, despite a lack of vascular abnormalities observed on fluorescein angiography/autofluorescence imaging, no alteration in BCVA, and no reports of symptoms. These changes could, therefore, be categorized as a mild subclinical effect of the corneal cross-linking procedure.

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Versus Placebo in Reducing the Risk of Toxoplasmic Retinochoroiditis Recurrences: A Three-Year Follow-up.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 1 year of treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) vs a placebo in reducing the risk of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis recurrences during a 3-year follow-up period. DESIGN: Randomized, double-masked clinical trial. METHODS: This cohort included 141 volunteers recruited in Campinas, Brazil. Inclusion criterion was unilateral active recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. All volunteers were treated with 1 tablet of TMP-SMZ (160 mg/800 mg) twice daily for 45 days, and all lesions healed after this treatment. After this initial treatment, the volunteers were randomly assigned to Group 1 (1 TMP-SMZ tablet every 2 days for 311 days) or Group 2 (1 identical placebo tablet containing starch with no active ingredients every 2 days for 311 days). At the second- and third-year follow-up appointments, none of the volunteers received treatment unless a new recurrence episode had occurred. The primary outcomes were recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis within the first year of follow-up and recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis within the third year of follow-up. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of recurrence at 1, 2, and 3 years of follow-up were, respectively, 13.0% (9/69), 17.4% (12/69), and 20.3% (14/69) in the placebo group and 0% (0/72) in the TMP-SMZ group (P < .001, log-rank test). There was no case of multiple recurrences in the same individual. No treatment-limiting toxicity or side effects were observed in either group. New recurrences were more frequent among female volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: TMP-SMZ may be used safely for prophylaxis of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, with long-term benefits.

[Predictive value of preoperative fasting glucose test of diabetic patients regarding surgical outcome in cataract surgery]. / Valor preditivo da glicemia de jejum pré-operatória de pacientes diabéticos quanto ao resultado cirúrgico da cirurgia de catarata.

OBJECTIVE: To determinate the predictive value of preoperative glucose test of diabetic patients, with age above 40 years, for visual acuity outcome and clinical perioperative complications, in cataract surgery with local anesthesia, in an academical medical center. METHODS: Type 2 diabetic patients, above 40 years of age, indicated for cataract surgery between February 10, 2000 and January 10, 2001, at the State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. All patients had a preoperative medical assessment by a physician one week before surgery, and were submitted to serum fasting glucose test and 12-lead electrocardiogram. There was no delay in the surgeries of patients with abnormal serum glucose test results, so, the result of the test alone was not a reason to cancel the surgery. According to the glucose test, the patients were assigned to one of two groups: Normal Glucose Test Group (60-115 mg/dL) or Abnormal Glucose Test Group (>115 mg/dL). Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity and clinical perioperative complications were recorded on a standardized form. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 193 patients. 67 (34.7%) had a serum glucose test within normal limits (normal glucose test group) and 126 (65.3%) outside normal limits (abnormal glucose test group). The mean result of the "normal glucose test group" was 98.5+/-17.3 mg/dL and 166.5+/-48.9 mg/dL for the "abnormal glucose test group" (p<0.001). We observed perioperative complications in 21 (10.7%) patients, all arterial hypertension cases; 7 (10.5%) of these in patients with normal glucose test result and 14 (11.1%) in patients with abnormal result (p<0.888). The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: There was no influence of the preoperative serum glucose level on perioperative clinical complications or visual acuity outcome.

Are routine preoperative medical tests needed with cataract surgery? Study of visual acuity outcome.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective randomized clinical trial was to investigate whether routine medical testing before cataract surgery reduced the rate of ocular surgical complications and to study its impact on visual acuity outcome. METHODS: The study was carried out in an academic medical center in Brazil, at State University of Campinas, between 10 February 2000 and 10 January 2001. The scheduled cataract operations were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) to be preceded by routine medical testing (the "routine-testing group") or 2) not to be preceded by routine medical testing (the "selective-testing group"). If the patient was assigned to the selective-testing group, it was requested that no preoperative testing be performed unless the patient presented with a new or worsening medical problem that would warrant medical evaluation with testing. In the case of patients assigned to the routine-testing group, three tests were requested: a 12-lead electrocardiogram, a complete blood count, and measurements of serum glucose. Ocular surgical complications, preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity were recorded on a standardized form. RESULTS: The sample of 1025 patients scheduled to undergo cataract surgery was comprised of 512 assigned to the routine-testing group and of 513 assigned to the selective-testing group. The two groups had similar proportions of operations canceled and not subsequently rescheduled, 2% in each group. The cumulative rate of ocular surgical complications was similar in the two groups, 20.5% in the routine-testing group and 19.3% in the selective-testing group (p = 0.624). The preoperative and the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity were similar in both groups (p = 0.999 in the former and p = 0.664 in the latter). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that routine medical testing before cataract surgery did not reduce the rate of ocular surgical complications and did not influence visual acuity outcome.

[Waste of medical tests in preoperative evaluation for cataract surgery]. / Desperdício de exames complementares na avaliação pré-operatória em cirurgias de catarata.

The objective of this clinical trial was to determine the frequency of medical tests considered unnecessary in routine preoperative evaluation for cataract surgery. Unnecessary costs with these tests were also evaluated. For patients assigned to the selective testing group, it was requested that no preoperative testing be performed unless the patient presented a new or worsening medical problem warranting medical evaluation with testing. For patients assigned to the routine testing group, three tests were requested: a 12-lead electrocardiogram, complete blood count, and serum glucose level. The costs of tests considered unnecessary were calculated. The sample of 1,025 patients consisted of 512 assigned to the routine testing group and 513 to the selective testing group. Cumulative rate of medical events was similar in the two groups (p=0.923). The selective group underwent 60.7% fewer tests. The results suggest that selective preoperative testing in cataract surgery does not harm patients in terms of peri-operative clinical complications and also represents a significant cost reduction compared to routine testing.

[Predictive value of preoperative tests in facectomy]. / Valor preditivo de exames pré-operatórios em facectomias.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of abnormal results in routine preoperative tests prior to facectomies and whether they influence the occurrence of perioperative clinical complications. METHODS: This prospective study was developed in an academic medical center in Brazil. Besides a clinical evaluation, all patients were requested to undergo an electrocardiogram, complete blood work and fasting blood glucose test. Patients younger than 40 years of age who had had previous eye surgery, candidates for general anesthesia or who had suffered acute myocardial infarction up to three months before surgery were excluded from the study. Intraoperative medical events were recorded in a protocol form. Analysis was carried out using Fisher's test and ANOVA (analysis of variance). RESULTS: The sample was composed of 746 patients, 405 (54.3%) were men. The average age was 66.6+/-11.6 years. Intraoperative complications occurred in 71 (9.5%) patients. There were abnormal results in 13.5% (101 patients) of hemoglobin dosages and in 16.6% (124) of fasting blood glucose. As for electrocardiograms, abnormalities were found in 46.6% (348) of the subjects. There was a higher prevalence of electrocardiograms with abnormal values in patients who had perioperative clinical complications (p=0.02). There were no statistically significant differences between hemoglobin dosages (14.0+/-1.6 g/dL in patients without intraoperative complications and 14.3+/-1.3 g/dL in patients with complications - p=0.150) and fasting blood glucose (104+/-29 mg/dL in patients without complications and 105+/-41 mg/dL in patients with complications - p=0.850). CONCLUSIONS: Within the investigated routine of preoperative testing for facectomy, only the abnormal electrocardiogram results influenced the occurrence of complications in the perioperative period.

Central retinal vein prethrombosis as an initial manifestation of protein S deficiency.

CONTEXT: Retinal vein thrombosis is most common in old people, and is often associated with systemic vascular disease. One of its rare systemic causes is protein S deficiency. CASE REPORT: A case of a 21-year-old woman with retinal vein prethrombosis associated only with protein S deficiency is described. She presented with acutely reduced visual acuity and a central scotoma in her left eye. Warfarin therapy was initiated, and complete improvement in ophthalmoscopic findings was subsequently observed. This case illustrates that protein S deficiency is a factor that should be considered in cases of retinal vein occlusion, particularly in young patients.

Epiretinal membrane formation associated with idiopathic macular telangiectasia: case report.

A 46-year-old woman complained of blurred and distorted vision in both eyes. Ophthalmic examination showed that visual acuity was 20/200 for the right eye and counting fingers left eye. Fundoscopy revealed perimacular hemorrhages, aneurismal dilatation of the vessels in the posterior pole, and a white and elevated lesion adjacent to vascular changes. We report a case of idiopathic macular telangiectasia and epiretinal membrane that occurs concomitantly. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes an association between idiopathic macular telangiectasia and epiretinal membrane formation.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus placebo to reduce the risk of recurrences of Toxoplasma gondii retinochoroiditis: randomized controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole vs placebo in reducing the risk of recurrences of Toxoplasma gondii retinochoroiditis. DESIGN: Single-center, prospective randomized double-masked clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 95 patients from Campinas, Brazil, with active recurrent Toxoplasma gondii retinochoroiditis were included. The initially active toxoplasmosis lesions were successfully treated in all cases using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (800 mg/160 mg) twice daily for 45 days. Subsequently, 5 patients dropped out of the study. The remaining patients were randomized to Group 1 (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole tablet every 2 days) or Group 2 (identical placebo tablet every 2 days). Randomization was 1:1, was stratified by sex, and used block sizes of 4. The primary outcome was recurrent toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis within 1 year, and the secondary outcome was a 1-year change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (ETDRS chart). RESULTS: The incidence of recurrent toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis within 12 months was 0 of 46 (0%) and 6 of 47 (12.80%) in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and placebo groups, respectively (P = .026). Visual acuity improvements in the 2 groups were similar. No treatment-limiting toxicity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole therapy resulted in a 100% reduction in the recurrence of Toxoplasma gondii retinochoroiditis over 1 year of treatment.

Success attitudes of young ophthalmologists in the first decade of their career.

PURPOSE: To describe the main success attitudes of young ophthalmologists in the first decade of their career. METHODS: This descriptive study comprised subjects selected from a sample of ophthalmologists who were participating in a congress, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The inclusion criteria were as follows: ophthalmologists under the age of 40 years, within 5-10 years from ophthalmology residency conclusion. The subjects were asked about the three main success attitudes in their personal experience during the first years of ophthalmology practice. After the initial results, the 10 most frequently mentioned attitudes were listed and volunteers were again interviewed to choose, within the latter list, the three main attitudes. RESULTS: Forty-eight ophthalmologists were interviewed, 24 (50%) were male; the mean age was 37 years (SD: 2 years, range: 33-40 years) and the mean time from ophthalmology residency conclusion was 8 years (SD: 1 year, range: 5-10 years). The frequency of such mentioned success attitudes were as follows: to invest in professional updating (22.9%), to have a good relationship with patients and professional partners (18.8%), to prioritize individual and family happiness (12.5%), initially to work in an established group (11.1%), to work in public service (9.7%), to have their own business with a homogeneous group (7.6%), to save money (7.6%), to be ready to resume work (4.2%), to get business administration skills (4.2%), and to have professional insurance (0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The three main success attitudes consisted in investing in professional updating (22.9%), maintaining a good relationship with patients and professional partners (18.8%), and prioritizing individual and family happiness (12.5%). Although these results should not be generalized, they are helpful not only for those ophthalmologists at the beginning of a career but also those who want to reflect on what to prioritize in their professional practice.

Cryotherapy vs laser photocoagulation in scleral buckle surgery: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the reattachment rate and visual acuity results among patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent scleral buckle surgery with retinopexy by intraoperative cryotherapy (cryopexy) vs postoperative (1 month later) laser photocoagulation (laserpexy). METHODS: Eighty-six patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment scheduled for scleral buckle surgery were randomly assigned to the cryopexy or laserpexy group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the 1-week reattachment rate. Other outcome measures included later reattachment rate (1 month and 6 months), best-corrected visual acuity, rate of subsequent operations, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The 1-week, 1-month, and 6-month anatomical success rates were similar in the 2 groups: 93% (40 patients), 100%, and 100% in the cryopexy group and 95% (41 patients), 100%, and 100% in the laserpexy group, respectively. Three patients in the cryopexy group and 2 in the laserpexy group underwent 1 additional rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery (pars plan vitrectomy) after primary failure at 1-week follow-up. The types of postoperative complications were similar in both groups, except for eyelid edema. Visual recovery was slower in the cryotherapy group, but the difference in visual acuity after 6 months was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with uncomplicated retinal detachment, both techniques of retinopexy have shown satisfactory anatomical and functional success. Laserpexy offers faster visual acuity recuperation with fewer postoperative complications but requires a second intervention and costs more than cryotherapy. APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Laserpexy is a successful alternative to cryopexy in creating chorioretinal adhesion for scleral buckle surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01068379.

Pain perception at laser treatment of peripheral retinal degenerations with green and infrared wavelengths.

PURPOSE: To compare the pain perception at laser treatment of peripheral retinal degenerations with green (532-nm) and infrared (810-nm) wavelengths. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Sequential patients with indications for photocoagulation of bilateral peripheral retinal degenerations were invited to participate in the study. Thirty patients (60 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Each patient had 1 eye treated with infrared laser (diode, 810-nm wavelength) and the other eye treated with green laser (frequency-doubled solid-state laser, diode-pumped, with 532-nm wavelength). The eyes were randomized to infrared or green wavelengths. The right eye was the first treated in all cases regardless of the wavelength arrangement. Immediately after photocoagulation of each eye, the patient was asked to grade pain perception according to an 11-point (ie, 0-10) numerical rating scale (NRS), with 0 meaning "No pain" and 10 meaning "Pain as bad as you can imagine." The primary outcome was the assessment of pain. RESULTS: The mean grading of pain perception was 2.80 (SD 1.27; mode and median = 2) to green wavelengths and 5.07 (SD 1.36; mode = 4 and median = 5) to infrared wavelengths (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a statistically and clinically significant difference of pain perception between the 2 groups, with advantage to the green laser group.