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Despite significant advancements in ocular drug delivery, challenges persist in treating posterior segment diseases like macular edema (ME) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Suprachoroidal (SC) injections are a promising new method for targeted drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye, providing direct access to the choroid and retina while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. This review examines the anatomical and physiological foundations of the SC space; evaluates delivery devices such as microcatheters, hypodermic needles, and microneedles; and discusses pharmacokinetic principles. Additionally, advancements in gene delivery through SC injections are explored, emphasizing their potential to transform ocular disease management. This review also highlights clinical applications in treating macular edema, diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, choroidal melanoma, and glaucoma. Overall, SC injections are emerging as a promising novel route for administering ophthalmic treatments, with high bioavailability, reduced systemic exposure, and favorable safety profiles. Key therapeutic agents such as triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone, AAV-based gene therapy, and axitinib have shown promise. The field of suprachoroidal injection is progressing rapidly, and this review article, while attempting to encapsulate most of the published preclinical and clinical studies, mainly focuses on those that are published within 2023 and 2024.
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Despite advances in systemic care, diabetic disease of the eye (DDE) remains the leading cause of blindness worldwide. There is a critical gap of up-to-date, evidence-based guidance for ophthalmologists in Canada that includes evidence from recent randomized controlled trials. Previous guidance has not always given special consideration to applying treatments and managing DDE in the context of the healthcare system. This consensus statement aims to assist practitioners in the field by providing a spectrum of acceptable opinions on DDE treatment and management from recognized experts in the field. In compiling evidence and generating consensus, a working group of retinal specialists in Canada addressed clinical questions surrounding the four themes of disease, patient, management, and collaboration. The working group reviewed literature representing the highest level of evidence on DDE and shared their opinions on topics surrounding the epidemiology and pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema; diagnosis and monitoring; considerations around diabetes medication use; strategic considerations for management given systemic comorbidities, ocular comorbidities, and pregnancy; treatment goals and modalities for diabetic macular edema, non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment; and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ultimately, this work highlighted that the retinal examination in DDE not only informs the treating ophthalmologist but can serve as a global index for disease progression across many tissues of the body. It highlighted further that DDE can be treated regardless of diabetic control, that a systemic approach to patient care will result in the best health outcomes, and prevention of visual complications requires a multidisciplinary management approach. Ophthalmologists must tailor their clinical approach to the needs and circumstances of individual patients and work within the realities of their healthcare setting.
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The human eye's intricate anatomical and physiological design necessitates tailored approaches for managing ocular diseases. Recent advancements in ophthalmology underscore the potential of hydrogels as a versatile therapeutic tool, owing to their biocompatibility, adaptability, and customizability. This review offers an exploration of hydrogel applications in ophthalmology over the past five years. Emphasis is placed on their role in optimized drug delivery for the posterior segment and advancements in intraocular lens technology. Hydrogels demonstrate the capacity for targeted, controlled, and sustained drug release in the posterior segment of the eye, potentially minimizing invasive interventions and enhancing patient outcomes. Furthermore, in intraocular lens domains, hydrogels showcase potential in post-operative drug delivery, disease sensing, and improved biocompatibility. However, while their promise is immense, most hydrogel-based studies remain preclinical, necessitating rigorous clinical evaluations. Patient-specific factors, potential complications, and the current nascent stage of research should inform their clinical application. In essence, the incorporation of hydrogels into ocular therapeutics represents a seminal convergence of material science and medicine, heralding advancements in patient-centric care within ophthalmology.
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Purpose: To assess early real-world outcomes with brolucizumab in Canadian patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) for which they previously received ≥1 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent(s). Patients and Methods: This multisite, real-world, retrospective chart review included data from a consecutive sample of 73 patients who received brolucizumab for nAMD after treatment with ≥1 other anti-VEGF agents. The principal reasons for switching to brolucizumab were to extend the treatment interval (51.6% of patients) and to treat persistent macular fluid (34.2%). The primary outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the incidence rates of intraocular inflammation (IOI), retinal vasculitis (RV), and retinal vascular occlusion (RVO). Secondary outcomes included central retinal thickness (CRT), injection interval, and presence of intraretinal and subretinal fluid (IRF and SRF). All parameters were measured at baseline until the last treatment visit between April 27, 2020, and August 31, 2021. Results: Over a mean follow-up of 28 weeks, a nonsignificant mean improvement in BCVA was identified (4.3 [standard deviation (SD) 8.3] letters; P=0.057), with 47.9% experiencing a gain of ≥5 letters. IOI was detected in 3 patients (4.1%), one of whom also developed RV and RVO (1.4%), which is consistent with existing brolucizumab data. Significant reductions were observed in mean CRT (-36.6 µm [SD 56.1 µm]; P=0.0002) and presence of any macular fluid (56.1% [SD 5.6%]; P<0.001), IRF (66.6% [SD 6.3%]; P<0.001), and SRF (62.7% [SD 6.3%]; P<0.001). The mean injection interval increased significantly by 2.1 weeks (SD 2.7; P<0.001). Conclusion: In the first real-world Canadian analysis, brolucizumab was associated with improvements in functional outcomes in treatment-experienced patients, consistent with other real-world studies. The incidence of IOI, RV, and RVO were in line with the post hoc safety analysis of HAWK and HARRIER data.