A Comparative Study of Responses to Retina Questions from Either Experts, Expert-Edited Large Language Models, or Expert-Edited Large Language Models Alone.

Objective: To assess the quality, empathy, and safety of expert edited large language model (LLM), human expert created, and LLM responses to common retina patient questions. Design: Randomized, masked multicenter study. Participants: Twenty-one common retina patient questions were randomly assigned among 13 retina specialists. Methods: Each expert created a response (Expert) and then edited a LLM (ChatGPT-4)-generated response to that question (Expert + artificial intelligence [AI]), timing themselves for both tasks. Five LLMs (ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, Claude 2, Bing, and Bard) also generated responses to each question. The original question along with anonymized and randomized Expert + AI, Expert, and LLM responses were evaluated by the other experts who did not write an expert response to the question. Evaluators judged quality and empathy (very poor, poor, acceptable, good, or very good) along with safety metrics (incorrect information, likelihood to cause harm, extent of harm, and missing content). Main Outcome: Mean quality and empathy score, proportion of responses with incorrect information, likelihood to cause harm, extent of harm, and missing content for each response type. Results: There were 4008 total grades collected (2608 for quality and empathy; 1400 for safety metrics), with significant differences in both quality and empathy (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) between LLM, Expert and Expert + AI groups. For quality, Expert + AI (3.86 ± 0.85) performed the best overall while GPT-3.5 (3.75 ± 0.79) was the top performing LLM. For empathy, GPT-3.5 (3.75 ± 0.69) had the highest mean score followed by Expert + AI (3.73 ± 0.63). By mean score, Expert placed 4 out of 7 for quality and 6 out of 7 for empathy. For both quality (P < 0.001) and empathy (P < 0.001), expert-edited LLM responses performed better than expert-created responses. There were time savings for an expert-edited LLM response versus expert-created response (P = 0.02). ChatGPT-4 performed similar to Expert for inappropriate content (P = 0.35), missing content (P = 0.001), extent of possible harm (P = 0.356), and likelihood of possible harm (P = 0.129). Conclusions: In this randomized, masked, multicenter study, LLM responses were comparable with experts in terms of quality, empathy, and safety metrics, warranting further exploration of their potential benefits in clinical settings. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of the article.

Appropriateness of Ophthalmology Recommendations From an Online Chat-Based Artificial Intelligence Model.

Objective: To determine the appropriateness of ophthalmology recommendations from an online chat-based artificial intelligence model to ophthalmology questions. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional qualitative study from April 1, 2023, to April 30, 2023. A total of 192 questions were generated spanning all ophthalmic subspecialties. Each question was posed to a large language model (LLM) 3 times. The responses were graded by appropriate subspecialists as appropriate, inappropriate, or unreliable in 2 grading contexts. The first grading context was if the information was presented on a patient information site. The second was an LLM-generated draft response to patient queries sent by the electronic medical record (EMR). Appropriate was defined as accurate and specific enough to serve as a surrogate for physician-approved information. Main outcome measure was percentage of appropriate responses per subspecialty. Results: For patient information site-related questions, the LLM provided an overall average of 79% appropriate responses. Variable rates of average appropriateness were observed across ophthalmic subspecialties for patient information site information ranging from 56% to 100%: cataract or refractive (92%), cornea (56%), glaucoma (72%), neuro-ophthalmology (67%), oculoplastic or orbital surgery (80%), ocular oncology (100%), pediatrics (89%), vitreoretinal diseases (86%), and uveitis (65%). For draft responses to patient questions via EMR, the LLM provided an overall average of 74% appropriate responses and varied by subspecialty: cataract or refractive (85%), cornea (54%), glaucoma (77%), neuro-ophthalmology (63%), oculoplastic or orbital surgery (62%), ocular oncology (90%), pediatrics (94%), vitreoretinal diseases (88%), and uveitis (55%). Stratifying grades across health information categories (disease and condition, risk and prevention, surgery-related, and treatment and management) showed notable but insignificant variations, with disease and condition often rated highest (72% and 69%) for appropriateness and surgery-related (55% and 51%) lowest, in both contexts. Conclusion: This LLM reported mostly appropriate responses across multiple ophthalmology subspecialties in the context of both patient information sites and EMR-related responses to patient questions. Current LLM offerings require optimization and improvement before widespread clinical use.

A Comparative Study of Large Language Models, Human Experts, and Expert-Edited Large Language Models to Neuro-Ophthalmology Questions.

BACKGROUND: While large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in medicine, their effectiveness compared with human experts remains unclear. This study evaluates the quality and empathy of Expert + AI, human experts, and LLM responses in neuro-ophthalmology. METHODS: This randomized, masked, multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2023. We randomly assigned 21 neuro-ophthalmology questions to 13 experts. Each expert provided an answer and then edited a ChatGPT-4-generated response, timing both tasks. In addition, 5 LLMs (ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, Claude 2, Bing, Bard) generated responses. Anonymized and randomized responses from Expert + AI, human experts, and LLMs were evaluated by the remaining 12 experts. The main outcome was the mean score for quality and empathy, rated on a 1-5 scale. RESULTS: Significant differences existed between response types for both quality and empathy (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001). For quality, Expert + AI (4.16 ± 0.81) performed the best, followed by GPT-4 (4.04 ± 0.92), GPT-3.5 (3.99 ± 0.87), Claude (3.6 ± 1.09), Expert (3.56 ± 1.01), Bard (3.5 ± 1.15), and Bing (3.04 ± 1.12). For empathy, Expert + AI (3.63 ± 0.87) had the highest score, followed by GPT-4 (3.6 ± 0.88), Bard (3.54 ± 0.89), GPT-3.5 (3.5 ± 0.83), Bing (3.27 ± 1.03), Expert (3.26 ± 1.08), and Claude (3.11 ± 0.78). For quality (P < 0.0001) and empathy (P = 0.002), Expert + AI performed better than Expert. Time taken for expert-created and expert-edited LLM responses was similar (P = 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Expert-edited LLM responses had the highest expert-determined ratings of quality and empathy warranting further exploration of their potential benefits in clinical settings.

Hospitalization, Overdose, and Mortality After Opioid Prescriptions Tied to Ophthalmic Surgery.

PURPOSE: Opioid prescriptions continue to carry significant short- and long-term systemic risks, even after ophthalmic surgery. The goal of this study was to identify any association of opioid prescription, after ophthalmic surgery, with postoperative hospitalization, opioid overdose, opioid dependence, and all-cause mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing an ophthalmic surgery in the OptumLabs Data Warehouse. METHODS: We used deidentified administrative claims data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse to create 3 cohorts of patients for analysis from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2022. The first cohort consisted of 1-to-1 propensity score-matched patients who had undergone ophthalmic surgery and had filled a prescription for an opioid and not filled a prescription for an opioid. The second cohort consisted of patients who were considered opioid naïve and had filled a prescription for an opioid matched to patients who had not filled a prescription for an opioid. The last cohort consisted of opioid-naïve patients matched across the following morphine milligram equivalents (MME) groups: ≤ 40, 41-80, and > 80. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Short- and long-term risks of hospitalization, opioid overdose, opioid dependency/abuse, and death were compared between the cohorts. RESULTS: We identified 1 577 692 patients who had undergone an ophthalmic surgery, with 312 580 (20%) filling an opioid prescription. Among all patients, filling an opioid prescription after an ophthalmic surgery was associated with increased mortality (hazard rate [HR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-1.31; P < 0.001), hospitalization (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.49-1.53; P < 0.001), opioid overdose (HR, 7.31; 95% CI, 6.20-8.61, P < 0.001), and opioid dependency (HR, 13.05; 95% CI, 11.48-14.84; P < 0.001) compared with no opioid prescription. Furthermore, we found that higher MME doses of opioids were associated with higher rates of mortality, hospitalization, and abuse/dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who filled an opioid prescription after an ophthalmic surgery experienced higher rates of mortality, hospitalization, episodes of opioid overdose, and opioid dependence compared with patients who did not fill an opioid prescription. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Scleral sutured toric intraocular lens with pars plana vitrectomy for the correction of corneal astigmatism without capsular support.

PURPOSE: To describe the repair of a patient with bilateral subluxed cataract and corneal astigmatism in the setting of a coloboma of the iris, zonules, lens, and retina. Pre-operatively his best corrected acuity was 20/500 OD and 20/200 OS. His pre-operative refraction was -7.25 +1.00 at 080 OD and -7.75 +3.00 at 040 OS. On corneal topography, he had 1.95D and 1.45D of regular astigmatism in the right and left eye respectively. METHODS: This technique involves pars plana vitrectomy in combination with the placement of a MX60 toric intraocular lens fixated to the sclera using 8-0 Gore-Tex in line with the axis of steep corneal astigmatism. The lens is affixed through two pair of nasal and temporal sclerotomies, with each pair located 3 mm posterior to the limbus and 5 mm apart, centered along the axis of steep astigmatism. RESULTS: Post-operatively the patient was 20/25 uncorrected OD and 20/20 uncorrected OS with a refraction of -0.75 +0.50 at 180 in the OD and -0.75 +1.00 at 180 in the OS. CONCLUSION: Scleral sutured toric intraocular lens placement and pars plana vitrectomy is a viable solution for patients with regular corneal astigmatism and cataract repair in the absence of zonular support.

Trends in Secondary Intraocular Lens Surgery among Vitreoretinal Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in secondary lens techniques over time and to determine common complications of each technique. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All patients in the database from January 2015 to December 2021 who underwent secondary lens placement (anterior chamber intraocular lens [IOL, ACIOL], scleral-fixated IOL [SFIOL], or scleral-sutured IOL [SSIOL]). METHODS: Rates of secondary IOL surgery techniques were analyzed in 3597 participants in a nationwide aggregated electronic health care database using 2-sample independent t tests. Rates of postoperative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after secondary IOL surgery were assessed using chi-square test of proportion. Postoperative visual acuity (VA) was assessed using 2-sample independent t tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in IOL technique over time. Secondary data points examined were the development of postoperative RRD after secondary IOL surgery, VA changes, the development of endophthalmitis, suture erosion, haptic erosion, or corneal edema after IOL surgery. RESULTS: Anterior chamber IOL use decreased over the 7-year period from 93% of cases to 36% of cases (P < 0.0001), while SFIOL use increased from 3% to 34% (P < 0.0001) and SSIOL use increased from 4% to 30% (P < 0.0001). Visual acuity increased for each surgical technique (ACIOL: 44.1 vs. 49.2 ETDRS letters, P < 0.001; SFIOL: 48.7 vs. 57.6 letters, P < 0.001; SSIOL: 51.5 vs. 61.2 letters, P < 0.001), with larger VA gains seen in SFIOL and SSIOL use (ACIOL vs. SFIOL, P = 0.004; ACIOL vs. SSIOL, P = 0.002; SFIOL vs. SSIOL, P = 0.64). Average RRD rates did not significantly differ between techniques. Rates of endophthalmitis, haptic erosion, and suture erosion were low and did not significantly differ between techniques. Rates of corneal edema were significantly higher in ACIOL cases (vs. SFIOL, P < 0.0001; vs. SSIOL, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of ACIOL implantation performed by vitreoretinal surgeons have decreased over time with more vitreoretinal surgeons electing to place either an SFIOL or SSIOL toward the end of the study period; complication profiles among the 3 techniques may be similar. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Neurotrophic keratopathy following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of eyes developing neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair. METHODS: All eyes with NK at Wills Eye Hospital following RRD repair from June 1, 2011, to December 1, 2020 were included. Patients with prior ocular procedures (other than cataract surgery), herpetic keratitis, and diabetes mellitus were excluded. RESULTS: During the study period, 241 patients were diagnosed with NK, and 8179 eyes underwent RRD surgery, giving a 9-year prevalence rate of 0.1% (95% CI, 0.1%-0.2%). Mean age was 53.4 ± 16.6 years during RRD repair and 56.5 ± 13.4 years during NK diagnosis. Mean time to NK diagnosis was 3.0 ± 5.6 years (range, 6 days to 18.8 years). Mean visual acuity before NK was 1.10 ± 0.56 logMAR (20/252 Snellen), and it was 1.01 ± 0.62 logMAR (20/205 Snellen) at final visit (p = 0.75). Six eyes (54.5%) developed NK <1 year following RRD surgery. Mean final visual acuity was 1.01 ± 0.53 logMAR (20/205 Snellen) in this group versus 1.01 ± 0.78 logMAR (20/205 Snellen) in the delayed NK group (p = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: NK may present acutely or up to several years following surgery, with severity of corneal defects ranging from stage 1 to stage 3 NK. Surgeons should be mindful of the potential for this rare complication following RRD repair.

Trends in Ophthalmology Practice Consolidation: 2015-2022.

PURPOSE: To quantify trends in ophthalmology practice consolidation in the United States. DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Providers in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Downloadable File with a primary specialty designation of ophthalmology. METHODS: We used the CMS database to determine national practice consolidation trends in ophthalmology on individual physician and group practice levels and analyzed by region, sex, and years spent in practice. We used the Cochran-Armitage test to determine the statistical significance of practice size differences between 2015 and 2022. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Temporal practice size trends for physicians and practices in ophthalmology and regional, sex-specific, and age-related trends. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2022, the number of ophthalmologists decreased from 17 656 to 17 615 (-0.2%), whereas the number of practices decreased from 7149 to 5890 (-18%). The percentage of ophthalmologists in practices of 1 to 2 members decreased from 35% to 28%, whereas those in groups of 50 or more increased from 7% to 11%. The percentage of practices with 1 to 2 members decreased from 75% to 71%, and those with 50 or more increased from 0.2% to 0.4%. Consolidation trends were significant on individual ophthalmologist (P < 0.001) and group practice (P < 0.001) levels. All regions, sexes, and subgroups of years spent in practice demonstrated consolidation (P < 0.001). The Northeast showed the greatest increase in groups of 50 or more physicians (+7%) between 2015 and 2022. Proportionally fewer female than male ophthalmologists were associated with practice sizes of 1 to 2 members in 2015 (29% and 36%, respectively) and 2022 (23% and 30%, respectively). Proportionally fewer ophthalmologists with 0 to 10 years of experience in practice were associated with practice sizes of 1 to 2 members than those with more than 30 years in practice in 2015 (18% and 48%, respectively) and 2022 (14% and 40%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmology has undergone practice consolidation from 2015 to 2022. A decrease in the proportion of physicians affiliated with smaller practice sizes seems to have occurred. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

18p Deletion Syndrome With Concurrent Frizzled-4 Mutation: Surgical Management of Bilateral Stage 5 Traction Retinal Detachment.

We report a case of a patient with 18p deletion syndrome and concurrent FZD4 (frizzled-4) mutation. A 6-month-old boy with known 18p deletion syndrome presented with abnormal eye movements in both eyes and an inability to track objects. The patient had a history of laryngomalacia, hypotonia, and developmental delay. Examination showed bilateral total exudative and traction retinal detachment with anomalous retinal vascular development noted on widefield fluorescein angiography. Genetic analysis identified a concurrent FZD4 mutation (c.205C>T [p.H69Y]). Both eyes underwent 25-gauge limbal vitrectomy, lensectomy, and membrane peeling, and the posterior pole successfully reattached with improvement in visual function. The 18p region contains the LAMA1, TGIF1, and APCDD1 genes, which are involved in the vascular basement membrane and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, which may have potentiated the particularly severe familial exudative vitreoretinopathy phenotype. We present the clinical findings, imaging analyses, and surgical management of concurrent 18p deletion syndrome and FDZ4 mutation. The overlap in molecular mechanisms of the multiple gene products may potentiate the severe phenotype. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:284-290.].

Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study: summary of reports number 1 to number 18.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To highlight the recent work published from the Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes (PRO) Study Group. RECENT FINDINGS: The PRO database was a large dataset made up of patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) who had surgical repair during 2015. The database was constituted of nearly 3000 eyes from 6 centers across the United States and included 61 vitreoretinal surgeons. Nearly 250 metrics were collected for each patient, creating one of the richest datasets of patients with primary rhegmatogenous detachments and their outcomes. The importance of scleral buckling was demonstrated, particularly for phakic eyes, elderly patients, and those with inferior breaks. 360° laser may result in poorer outcomes. Cystoid macular edema was common, and risk factors were identified. We also found risk factors for vision loss in eyes presenting with good vision. A PRO Score was devised, to predict outcomes based on presenting clinical characteristics. We also identified characteristics of surgeons with the highest single surgery success rates. Overall, there were no major outcome differences between viewing systems, gauges, buckles sutured vs. scleral tunnels, drainage method, and techniques to address proliferative vitreoretinopathy. All incisional techniques were found to be very cost-effective treatment modalities. SUMMARY: Numerous studies resulted from the PRO database that significantly added to the literature regarding the repair of primary RRDs in the current era of vitreoretinal surgery.

THE STATE OF PEDIATRIC RETINAL DETACHMENT SURGERY IN THE UNITED STATES: A Nationwide Aggregated Health Record Analysis.

PURPOSE: In this study, the authors aimed to identify the demographics of retinal detachment in children in the United States and to report the treatment modalities chosen by vitreoretinal surgeons and associated outcomes. METHODS: This was a multicenter cohort analysis of the Vestrum Health LLC Database (Naperville, IL). Children (1-17 years) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, as identified by ICD10 and CPT codes, between January 2015 and August 2021 were enrolled. Demographic, comorbidity, visual acuity, and treatment modality data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 168,152 RRDs were identified, of which 2,200 (1.3%) were aged 1 to 17 years. The mean age was 12.7 years, and 821 (37%) were women. The prevalence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment increased with age ( P = 0.009). Associated comorbidities included myopia (17.3%), ocular trauma (7.5%), and history of prematurity (5.7%). Laser retinopexy alone was used as the initial treatment modality in 19%, primary vitrectomy in 23%, primary scleral buckle in 25%, and vitrectomy with scleral buckle in 33%. The single surgery success rate for all procedures was 73.3%. Of the incisional surgical modalities, primary scleral buckling had the best single surgery success rate (79.0%) compared with vitrectomy alone (64.5%) and vitrectomy with scleral buckle (67.2%) ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Younger age resulted in worse SSSR overall (coefficient = 0.151, R 2 = 0.746, P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in children increased with age. Myopia, trauma, and history of retinopathy of prematurity were common risk factors. Treatment techniques varied, but primary scleral buckling had the best anatomical and visual outcomes.

Trends in Utilization of Vitreoretinal Services Following the Initial Phase of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: To identify vitreoretinal practice patterns in the months following the initial 2020 national shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (US). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of vitreoretinal practice patterns from multiple retinal centers across the US from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. RESULTS: The lowest utilization of retina care occurred during the week of March 23, 2020, after which utilization returned to pre-pandemic levels by July 2020. Patients with retinal detachments (RDs) presented with worse visual acuity during March, April, and May 2020 compared to the same time periods of 2018 and 2019 (P values < 0.05). However, only comparing eyes that presented in March 2018 to March 2020, was the year 1 vision significantly worse (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted vitreoretinal care. The vision of patients with RDs may not have been affected by the delayed presentation. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:15-23.].

Gore-Tex Suture-Associated Endophthalmitis in a Scleral-Sutured Intraocular Lens.

PURPOSE: To describe a unique case of Gore-Tex (Gore Medical, Arizona, USA), suture-associated delayed-onset endophthalmitis in a patient with a history of scleromalacia, pathologic myopia, multiple prior vitrectomies in the setting of an scleral sutured intraocular lens. METHODS: Retrospective case report. PATIENT: A 69-year-old man complained of blurry vision and eye pain 21 months after implantation of a scleral-sutured intraocular lens and was found to have an exposed Gore-Tex suture with scleromalacia, vision loss to hand motion, a hypopyon and vitritis. He was diagnosed with culture-positive endophthalmitis. He had a previous history of a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair and subsequent dislocated intraocular lens in this eye treated with a scleral sutured intraocular lens. A vitreous tap and injection of broad-spectrum antibiotics and suture removal at the slit lamp were performed at the time of presentation. One week later he later underwent pars plana vitrectomy and removal of the intraocular lens. RESULTS: Following the tap and inject and subsequent lens removal, his vision has returned to his pre-operative vision of 20/100 with refraction. DISCUSSION: Gore-Tex suture is a non-absorbable and flexible option with great tensile strength that has emerged as a favored alternative to polypropylene for the use in transscleral fixated intraocular lenses. While endophthalmitis and suture erosion are known complications of this procedure, this report describes one of the first cases of Gore-Tex associated-endophthalmitis.

Factors Associated with Fluctuations in Central Subfield Thickness in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Using Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Protocols T and V.

Purpose: To identify baseline ocular and systemic factors associated with central subfield thickness (CST) fluctuations in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) using data from Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Protocols T and V. Design: Post hoc analysis of clinical trial databases. Subjects: Patients in Protocols T and V. Methods: The standard deviation (SD) of all recorded CSTs for each patient during each Protocol's study period was calculated. The CST SD (corresponding to CST fluctuations) for each patient was analyzed against baseline ocular and systemic factors using linear regression analyses. Each Protocol was analyzed separately. Main Outcome Measures: Factors associated with CST fluctuations. Results: A total of 1197 eyes of 1197 subjects were included. In Protocol T (559 eyes, mean CST SD was 56.4 ± 35.1 microns), using multivariate linear regression analysis, baseline urine albumin/creatine ratio (for every 1000 mg/g, CST point estimate 3.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58 to 6.43, P = 0.0190), and baseline CST (for every 10 microns, 0.87, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.16, P < 0.0001) were positively associated with CST fluctuations. Baseline visual acuity (for every 10 ETDRS letters, -9.52, 95% CI -11.89 to -7.15, P < 0.0001) was negatively associated with CST fluctuations. In Protocol V (638 eyes, mean CST SD 36.6 ± 28.4 microns), gender (female, 2.18, 95% CI 0.30 to 4.06, P = 0.0227), baseline CST (for every 10 microns, 2.51, 95% CI 2.21 to 2.82, P < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (for every 1 mm of mercury, 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.21, P = 0.0261), and observation with deferred anti-VEGF injections (5.04, 95% CI 2.51 to 7.58, P < 0.0001) were positively associated with CST fluctuations. Type 2 diabetes (-7.37, 95% CI -13.64 to -1.11, P = 0.0209) and prompt anti-VEGF injections (-6.51, 95% CI -9.07 to -3.96, P < 0.0001) were negatively associated with CST fluctuations. Conclusions: Worse visual acuity at baseline, baseline renal disease, hypertension, female gender, type 1 diabetes, and delayed anti-VEGF treatment may be associated with increased CST fluctuations in patients with DME. Addressing these parameters may limit CST fluctuations and help identify patients requiring more frequent monitoring or treatment.

Incidence of metformin use in patients with age-related macular degeneration versus normal controls: A population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the use of metformin in patients with both exudative and non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) versus control populations. DESIGN: Retrospective review of three age- and sex-matched cohorts from 1/1/2004 to 12/31/2013: patients with exudative AMD, a cohort of dry AMD patients, and a cohort of patients without AMD. The primary endpoint was the incidence of metformin use in all of the cohorts. RESULTS: There were 1512 patients, with 504 in each of the three cohorts. There was no difference in the prevalence of diabetes between cohorts. Compared to patients with dry AMD, patients with no AMD had increased likelihood of metformin use (p = 0.0168, OR 1.66 (1.09-2.51). There was no difference in the likelihood of metformin use between exudative AMD patients and non-AMD controls. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be an increased incidence of metformin use in patients without AMD compared to patients with dry AMD. Metformin's current role in the treatment of anti-aging diseases makes it a plausible target for use in the treatment of AMD, particularly dry AMD.

PRO score: predictive scoring system for visual outcomes after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare risk factors for poor visual outcomes in patients undergoing primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair and to develop a scoring system. METHODS: Analysis of the Primary Retinal detachment Outcomes (PRO) study, a multicentre interventional cohort of consecutive primary RRD surgeries performed in 2015. The main outcome measure was a poor visual outcome (Snellen VA ≤20/200). RESULTS: A total of 1178 cases were included. The mean preoperative and postoperative logMARs were 1.1±1.1 (20/250) and 0.5±0.7 (20/63), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression identified preoperative risk factors predictive of poor visual outcomes (≤20/200), including proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.40), history of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections (1.38; 1.11 to 1.71), >1-week vision loss (1.17; 1.08 to 1.27), ocular comorbidities (1.18; 1.00 to 1.38), poor presenting VA (1.06 per initial logMAR unit; 1.02 to 1.10) and age >70 (1.13; 1.04 to 1.23). The data were split into training (75%) and validation (25%) and a scoring system was developed and validated. The risk for poor visual outcomes was 8% with a total score of 0, 17% with 1, 29% with 2, 47% with 3, and 71% with 4 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Independent risk factors were compared for poor visual outcomes after RRD surgery, which included PVR, anti-VEGF injections, vision loss >1 week, ocular comorbidities, presenting VA and older age. The PRO score was developed to provide a scoring system that may be useful in clinical practice.

REFRACTIVE ERROR CHANGE DURING TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Protocol T Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy on the refractive error in eyes with diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Post hoc analysis of Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research protocol T. Spherical equivalent (SE) was calculated for study and fellow eyes at baseline, 1-year, and 2-year visits. The SE change of the eyes with edema was compared with those with resolved edema. The correlation between refractive error changes and central subfield thickness was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 543 study eyes, SE changed from -0.17 (2.04) D at baseline visit to -0.16 (2.14) D at 2 years giving a hyperopic shift of 0.04 (0.82) D (P = 0.022). Among fellow eyes, mean (SD) SE changed from -0.19 (2.1) D at baseline to -0.11 (2.1) D at 2 years, giving a hyperopic shift of 0.12 (0.84) D (P = 0.001). No significant difference in SE shift was found between eyes with and without edema at 2 years in phakic (0.12D and 0.08 D, P = 0.87) and pseudophakic eyes (-0.24D and -0.08D, P = 0.30). The SE shift was not correlated with central subfield thickness change at the end of the second year (r = 0.02, P = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Diabetic macular edema patients have minimal changes in refractive error. The correction of refractive error may be considered during treatment, regardless of the presence of edema.