Retinal and choroidal efficacy of switching treatment to faricimab in recalcitrant neovascular age related macular degeneration.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of switching treatment to faricimab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) from other anti-VEGF agents. Fifty-eight eyes of fifty-one patients with nAMD and a full upload series of four faricimab injections were included. Demographic data, multimodal imaging and treatment parameters were recorded. The primary outcome measures were changes in central subfield thickness (CST) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT). A subgroup analysis was performed for eyes with prior ranibizumab (R) or aflibercept (A) treatment. Mean injection intervals before and after switching were comparable (33.8 ± 11.2 vs. 29.3 ± 2.6 days; p = 0.08). Mean CST of 361.4 ± 108.1 µm prior to switching decreased significantly to 318.3 ± 97.7 µm (p < 0.01) after the third faricimab injection, regardless of prior anti-VEGF treatment (p < 0.01). Although SFCT slightly improved for the whole cohort from 165.8 ± 76.8 µm to 161.0 ± 82,8 µm (p = 0.029), subgroup analysis did not confirm this positive effect (subgroup R: p = 0.604; subgroup A: p = 0.306). In patients with a suboptimal response to aflibercept or ranibizumab in nAMD, farcimab can improve CST and slightly improve or maintain SFCT. Further prospective randomized trials are warranted.

Severe Visual Impairment Following CAR T-Cell Therapy in Two Individuals with Malignant Optic Nerve Infiltration.

We report two patients who displayed evidence of localized ocular inflammation after CAR T-cell infusion. To manage the resulting severe visual impairment, systemic corticosteroids were administered to both patients. This treatment led to a reduction in local inflammation and restored vision in one of the patients.

Childhood versus early-teenage onset Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy: visual prognosis and capacity for recovery.

OBJECTIVE: In Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in children and teenagers, the influence of age on visual prognosis has not yet been investigated. METHODS: Patients from the mitoNET registry with LHON onset at age 4-16 years with at least 4 years of follow-up without treatment were included. Visual acuity (VA) at baseline, lowest VA ever recorded (nadir) and VA at end of follow-up were compared between childhood onset (ChO, ≤12 years of age) and early-teenage onset (eTO; 13-16 years). RESULTS: Out of 231 patients with LHON, 19 met the inclusion criteria (8.2%). There were 11 patients in the ChO and 8 patients in the eTO group. Mean age at onset was 8.6 (SD 2.1) years (ChO) and 15.4 (SD 0.7) years (eTO) (p<0.00001). Follow-up was mean 184 (SD 129) months (ChO) and 119 (SD 78) months (eTO) (p=0.22). Baseline VA was similar between both groups in better (p=0.96) and worse eyes (p=0.54). In worse eyes, both groups deteriorated similarly (p=0.79) until nadir and showed similar recovery until end of follow-up (p=0.38). In better eyes, both groups deteriorated similarly (p=0.16) until nadir. From nadir until end of follow-up, better eyes in the ChO group showed a significantly better recovery (-0.35 (SD 0.36) vs -0.01 (SD 0.06) logMAR; p=0.02) than eTO eyes. CONCLUSION: Visual prognosis of LHON in children is much more favourable in cases of childhood onset (≤12 years of age) as compared with teenage onset (13-16 years), mostly due to better recovery from nadir in childhood onset.

Novel surgical technique of sutureless artificial iris and intraocular lens scleral fixation using Yamane technique.

Purpose: To describe a novel surgical technique of a combined implantation of an artificial iris and a scleral fixated intraocular lens (IOL) using flanged IOL haptics ("Yamane" technique). Observations: The suturelessly implanted artificial iris-IOL-sandwich was stable with good functional as well as aesthetic results. However, our case showed a postoperative intraocular pressure rise. Conclusions: The presented case demonstrates that a visual as well as cosmetical rehabilitation seems to be possible even after severe, penetrating ocular trauma with profound iris defects. Importance: The sutureless IOL scleral fixation technique can also be used in combination with a sutureless artificial iris implantation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term safety profile and rates of postoperative complications.

[Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy]. / Leberʼsche hereditäre Optikusneuropathie.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) typically affects young adults with a higher prevalence in men, but can ultimately occur at any age and also in women. LHON is caused by point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA, which lead to a defect in complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. This in turn causes dysfunction and later degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, followed by ascending optic atrophy. Classically, LHON presents as a subacute unilateral loss of visual acuity, dyschromatopsia in the red-green axis and a central or centrocecal scotoma. The partner eye usually develops similar symptoms within 3 - 6 months of onset of the disease. In 25% of cases, however, the disease begins bilaterally. In the natural course of the disease, the majority of patients remain with a visual acuity less than 0.1, even though a small proportion may experience a spontaneous improvement in visual acuity. In 2015, the ubiquinone analogue Idebenone was approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of LHON. The decisive factors for therapeutic success are an early start and an appropriate treatment duration. It should also be noted that a proportion of patients may experience a delayed response to therapy. However, a complete recovery of visual acuity is rare even under therapy. Since patients affected by LHON are mostly young adults of working age, who go largely blind more or less acutely, immediate support with magnifying vision aids and advice on social and vocational rehabilitation is essential. Alternative therapeutic approaches such as gene therapy, neuroprotection or stem cell-based aspects are currently the subject of clinical studies and offer hope for further perspectives for those affected. Although with Idebenone a causal therapy has already been approved for LHON, many questions regarding the pathogenesis of the disease have not yet been completely clarified. This particularly concerns gender prevalence and possible additional triggers or protective factors. In this overview, the clinical course of LHON, diagnostics and current therapy recommendations as well as the special features and current explanatory approaches to incomplete penetrance and symptoms of LHON are explained.

Long-term results and recurrence rates after spironolactone treatment in non-resolving central serous chorio-retinopathy (CSCR).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term results of spironolactone in non-resolving central serous chorio-retinopathy (CSCR) and recurrence rates of CSCR. METHODS: Interventional uncontrolled open-label prospective clinical trial of patients with non-resolving CSCR who were treated with spironolactone 50 mg daily (Spironolacton AL® 50 mg, ALIUD PHARMA) for up to 16 weeks. Follow-up visits were performed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Retreatment criteria for recurrence were: gain in sub-retinal fluid (SRF) of more than 25 % plus/or increase of central retinal thickness (CRT) of more than 50 µm plus visual symptoms compared to last visit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 12-month efficacy of upload treatment with spironolactone. Secondary outcome measure was the recurrence rate at 6, 9, and 12 months. RESULTS: Of the 21 study eyes treated, 71 % (n = 15) showed significant improvement or complete regression on OCT examination over 12 months. Nineteen percent of the patients (n = 4) showed a stable course from visit 1 to visit 12. The overall reduction of sub-retinal fluid from visit 1 (156 µm ± 131 SD) to visit 12 (53 µm ± 93 SD) was statistically significant (p = 0.003). The change of mean visual acuity (log MAR) from 0.25 (± 0.17 SD) at baseline to 0.17 (± 0.18 SD) at visit 12 was statistically significant, with p = 0.044. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm a positive effect of spironolactone in non-resolving CSCR in 71 % of cases. Evaluation of recurrence rates and retreatments showed good results in patients who responded to spironolactone primarily. A prospective randomized trial may provide better data about this non-invasive treatment.

Comparison of deep sclerokeratodissection, a new variant of nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery, with deep sclerectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of deep sclerokeratodissection (DSKD), a new nonpenetrating technique in glaucoma surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective comparison between patients treated with DSKS or deep sclerectomy (DS) between 2013 and 2014. In DSKD, the first and only flap is dissected directly into clear cornea with unroofing Schlemm's canal. Beside routine clinical follow-up (visual acuity, intraocular pressure [IOP] readings, slit lamp and fundus examination), postoperative ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) investigation and quality of life (QoL) assessment were performed. Statistically significant differences were determined by parametric or nonparametric tests, depending on normality. RESULTS: Twelve (38.7%) DSKDs and 19 (61.3%) conventional DS' were included in this analysis. IOP decreased significantly from 21.5 ± 9.2 mmHg to 6.2 ± 5.4 mmHg on day 1, 13.4 ± 7.7 at 1 month, 12.0 ± 4.1 at 3 months, 12.5 ± 3.1 mmHg at 6 months, and 13.4 ± 4.3 mmHg at 12 months (P < 0.01). No significant difference in the IOP was observed between the two groups at any follow-up (P > 0.1). There was no significant difference in intra- and post-operative complications, the morphology of the surgical site in the UBM as well as in the QoL assessment. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that DSKD is a safe and efficient new variant of nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery. IOP can be lowered as effectively compared to conventional DS, with a similarly low rate of complications. Further reports are necessary to confirm these results.