Considerations for future modification of The Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology embryo grading system incorporating time-lapse observations.

The Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR) Interest Group in Embryology (in Spanish 'Grupo de Interés de Embriología') reviewed key morphokinetic parameters to assess the contribution of time-lapse technology (TLT) to the ASEBIR grading system. Embryo grading based on morphological characteristics is the most widely used method in human assisted reproduction laboratories. The introduction and implementation of TLT has provided a large amount of information that can be used as a complementary tool for morphological embryo evaluation and selection. As part of IVF treatments, embryologists grade embryos to decide which embryos to transfer or freeze. At the present, the embryo grading system developed by ASEBIR does not consider dynamic events observed through TLT. Laboratories that are using TLT consider those parameters as complementary data for embryo selection. The aim of this review was to evaluate review time-specific morphological changes during embryo development that are not included in the ASEBIR scoring system, and to consider them as candidates to add to the scoring system.

SCORE2 Report 5: Vision-Related Function in Patients With Macular Edema Secondary to Central Retinal or Hemiretinal Vein Occlusion.

PURPOSE: To describe baseline vision-related function, measured with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), in patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or hemiretinal vein occlusion (HRVO) in the Study of COmparative Treatments for REtinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2); evaluate the baseline relationship between NEI VFQ-25 scores with visual acuity letter score (VALS) and central retinal thickness; and compare baseline NEI VFQ-25 scores in SCORE2 participants with those in normal-vision reference populations and patients in other retinal vein occlusion trials. DESIGN: Multicenter, noninferiority randomized controlled trial. METHODS: SCORE2 was designed to assess whether intravitreal bevacizumab is noninferior to intravitreal aflibercept for treatment of decreased vision attributable to macular edema owing to CRVO or HRVO. SCORE2 enrolled 362 participants, including 305 with CRVO and 57 with HRVO. Analyses were of cross-sectional baseline data. The main outcome measures were baseline NEI VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores. RESULTS: SCORE2 participants' baseline NEI VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores are significantly lower compared with 3 normal-vision reference populations (P < .01; except for ocular pain score) and similar to patients in other retinal vein occlusion clinical trials. Baseline VALS in the better eye was correlated with baseline NEI VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores of general vision, near activities, role difficulties, dependency, and color vision, with correlations ranging from 0.19 to 0.26 (P < .05 for each score). CONCLUSIONS: CRVO and HRVO patients in SCORE2 had significantly worse baseline patient-reported vision-related function than normal vision populations, despite the disease being primarily unilateral with typically excellent vision in the fellow eye.

Baseline characteristics of participants in the natural history study of macular telangiectasia (MacTel) MacTel Project Report No. 2.

PURPOSE: To describe the baseline characteristics of a large international cohort of patients with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel Type 2) in anticipation of a longitudinal natural history study to evaluate structural and functional changes, identify potential risk factors and related outcomes. METHODS: Images including fundus photographs, fluorescein angiograms, optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence were collected. A grading system for MacTel type 2 was developed by the central reading center to evaluate lesion characteristics. Relationships between lesion characteristics and visual acuity were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 310 participants have been enrolled in the study. The mean time since diagnosis was 3 years (range 0 to 25 years). The mean age at the baseline examination was 61 +/- 9 years. The mean visual acuity in the better eye was approximately 20/32 Snellen equivalents and approximately 20/50 in the worse eye. The visual acuity in the better eye of half of the participants was 20/32 or better. We found some relationships between visual acuity and lesions characteristic of MacTel Type 2. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale study of patients with MacTel Type 2. More than half of the patients had 20/32 or better vision in their better eye, which is a sign that decreased function in these participants may not be reflected in central visual acuity. These findings highlight the limitation of using visual acuity measurements as a measure of function and as an outcome measure in potential clinical trials in patients with MacTel Type 2.