Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) resembling lesion in a patient with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: To report a case of a perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) resembling lesion in a patient with multiple myeloma. Observations: A 56-year-old male with multiple myeloma presented with sudden moderate vision loss in the right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 in his right eye. Fundus examination showed a vascular irregularity in the perifoveal region. Fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed an isolated perifoveal aneurysmal lesion with minimal leakage. On optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination, a large oval structure with a hyperreflective wall and exudation was visualised. Three weeks later, spontaneous improvement of the intraretinal fluid was observed on OCT without treatment. However, 3 months later the macular edema recurred. The appearance of the aneurysmal lesion is similar to a PEVAC lesion, which is an isolated well-defined perifoveal intraretinal vascular abnormality presenting on OCT as a round hyperreflective structure with a dark lumen containing variably reflective material and is commonly associated with cystic intraretinal fluid. Conclusions and Importance: PEVAC was originally described as occurring in healthy patients, but recent observations suggest that it also appears in association with other retinal/choroidal vascular abnormalities or underlying cardiovascular abnormalities. Our case supports this hypothesis by demonstrating a PEVAC resembling lesion in a patient with multiple myeloma.

Staphyloma-induced Serous Maculopathy: Natural Course and Treatment Effects.

PURPOSE: To study the natural course of staphyloma-induced serous maculopathy (SISM) and the effects of treatments. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective analysis included 26 eyes of 20 patients with SISM and at least 12 months of follow-up. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, such as age, sex, spherical equivalent, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), type of staphyloma, and imaging characteristics. Spectralis OCT B-scans were evaluated for the presence and height of the serous retinal detachment (SRD) at each follow-up visit. An SRD episode was defined as a period with SRD in 1 patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in SRD height and BCVA. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes of 20 patients (70% female) were included. The mean age was 54 ± 11 years, and the mean spherical equivalent was -4.8 ± 3.3 diopters at baseline. The staphyloma was located inferior in 12 eyes (46%), inferonasal in 7 eyes (27%), and nasal in 7 eyes (27%). The mean follow-up duration was 73 ± 34 months. During follow-up, the SRD height fluctuated in all eyes, with a mean change of 125 ± 56 µm. The SRD disappeared completely during follow-up in 13 eyes (50%) and then reappeared in 7 eyes (35%). Resolution occurred spontaneous in 8 eyes (31%). The median time of an SRD episode was 25 (interquartile range 14-57) months. Treatment was performed in 20 eyes (77%) and led to resolution of SRD in 3 of the 15 photodynamic therapy treatments (21%), 2 of 5 (40%) anti-VEGF series, and 2 of 4 eyes (50%) treated with topical prednisolone. Best-corrected visual acuity at the final visit (0.42 ± 0.25) was not significantly different from BCVA at baseline (0.34 ± 0.27 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, P = 0.07), nor was BCVA change significantly different between treated eyes (n = 19) and nontreated eyes (n = 7, P = 0.3). CONCLUSION: Serous retinal detachment in patients with SISM fluctuated over time and resolved without treatment in 31% of the eyes. Because treatment does not change the course of BCVA, a wait-and-see policy is advocated in these patients on the exclusion of treatable causes of SRD. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

POTENTIAL TREATMENT FOR PERIPAPILLARY PACHYCHOROID SYNDROME.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of topical prednisolone on intraretinal fluid in patients with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome. METHODS: We selected 11 consecutive patients (17 eyes) with a diagnosis of peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome, who were treated with topical prednisolone (Pred Forte [PF] 10 mg/mL) three times daily for 4 weeks. We tapered off PF among patients who demonstrated a reduction of intraretinal fluid. RESULTS: Of the included 17 eyes, the average follow-up before PF treatment ranged from 6 to 192 months, during which patients experienced no apparent reduction of intraretinal fluid. The baseline mean best-corrected VA (BCVA) was 0.6 (20/33) Snellen. The median subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal thickness were 430 µm and 202 µm, respectively. All patients showed an initial reduction of intraretinal fluid after 4 weeks of topical prednisolone. Six patients (35%) experienced a prolonged reduction of intraretinal fluid when the dosage was reduced to once daily. On tapering off PF, four eyes (24%) experienced a recurrence of intraretinal fluid. Four eyes (24%) experienced elevated intraocular pressure above 26 mmHg. In two eyes, PF was discontinued, on which intraretinal fluid reappeared. The BCVA seemed to be improved in 9 eyes (53%) and remained equal in 4 eyes (24%). CONCLUSION: In this case series of patients with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome, we observed a reduction of peripapillary intraretinal fluid after treatment with topical prednisolone for 4 weeks in all 17 eyes. The disappearance of intraretinal fluid seemed to concede with a slight improvement in BCVA for some cases. Thus, topical prednisolone may prove to be a viable treatment option in peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome.

Prevalence and Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Macular Telangiectasia Type 2.

PURPOSE: To study the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel 2). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with a diagnosis of MacTel 2 treated at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital or Erasmus Medical Center between 2014 and 2018 were included. METHODS: The following information was retrieved from patient files: demographics, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, presence of DR, and severity of DR, that is, mild, moderate, severe, or proliferative. Presence of diabetic macular edema (DME) was assessed using OCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence and severity of DR. RESULTS: Two hundred six eyes of 103 patients were included. At the onset of MacTel 2, the mean age was 61 years (standard deviation [SD], 9.8 years) and 64 (62%) were women. Mean follow-up was 71 months (SD, 60 months). Diabetes mellitus type 2 was present in 50 patients (49%) and hypertension was present in 47 patients (46%). Mild DR was present in 22 eyes (11%), of which 14 eyes (7%) showed signs at baseline and 8 eyes (4%) showed signs at a later time during follow-up. Ten eyes (5%) demonstrated remission of mild DR during follow-up. Both eyes (1%) in 1 patient progressed to moderate DR. Severe DR, proliferative DR, and DME did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: Although diabetes mellitus was highly prevalent among MacTel 2 patients, no patients showed severe or proliferative DR or DME. These findings suggest that MacTel 2 could have a protective effect on the progression of DR. We hypothesize that our results may be explained by the role of Müller cells in the development of MacTel 2 and DR, and therefore a link between both diseases warrants additional studies.

Intra- and Intergrader Agreement for Detection of OCT Angiographic Characteristics Associated With Type 3 Neovascularization.

Purpose: To examine the intra- and intergrader agreement on morphologic characteristics of type 3 neovascularization on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: OCT-A images of 22 eyes from 21 patients with a new-onset, treatment-naive type 3 neovascularization were included in this cross-sectional retrospective agreement study. Each image was graded three times by two independent medical retina specialists to assess intra- and intergrader agreement. The graders scored the presence or absence of the following vascular and structural features: intraretinal neovascularization (IRN), subretinal neovascularization, sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) neovascularization (SRPEN), retinal choroidal anastomosis (RCA), intraretinal cysts, subretinal fluid, and pigment epithelial detachment. Agreement was analyzed for each feature using Gwet's AC1, к statistics, and percentage of agreement. Results: The best agreement (AC1) was found for intraretinal neovascularization (withingrader1: 0.94; withingrader2: 0.93 and between: 1.00) and intraretinal cysts (withingrader1, 1.00; withingrader2, 0.97 and between, 1.00). The poorest intragrader agreements were observed for SRPEN (withingrader1, 0.54 and withingrader2, 0.36) and RCA (withingrader1, 0.45 and withingrader2, 0.52), and the poorest intergrader agreement was found for SRPEN, RCA, and pigment epithelial detachment (0.18, 0.37, and 0.15, respectively). Conclusions: Although the agreement values were high for intraretinal features, considerable grader variability was found for the vascular and structural features in the deeper retina or under the RPE. Clinicians should be careful to base therapeutic decisions on qualitative OCT-A assessment, because even well-trained specialists show a considerable grader variation in their subjective evaluation. Translational Relevance: The clinical value of OCT-A imaging largely depends on the agreement of subjective evaluations by ophthalmologists.

Reactivation of CNV after Discontinuation of Bevacizumab Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) has shifted to pro re nata and treat-extend-stop strategies. However, a rational discontinuation strategy is lacking. To develop such a strategy, it is important to determine choroidal neovascularization (CNV) recurrence rates after anti-VEGF treatment is discontinued. Here we report prospective data on persistent and recurrent CNV activity after discontinuation of bevacizumab treatment. METHODS: This prospective, single-center clinical trial enrolled 191 patients with exudative ARMD. Patients were randomly assigned to receiving intravitreal bevacizumab injections every 4, 6, or 8 weeks for 1 year. CNV activity was determined in the 157 patients who completed the 1-year treatment regimen. Patients with inactive CNV were then followed for signs of CNV reactivation. RESULTS: After 1 year of treatment, 66 (42%) of the 157 patients still had signs of persistent active CNV. Of the remaining 91 (58%) patients, 61 (67%) needed retreatment for active CNV within the first year after discontinuation of treatment (mean 4.28 ± 0.29 months). CNV was reactivated in 50 (80%) of the 61 patients within 6 months after their final treatment for CNV. CONCLUSION: Based on quiescent disease, anti-VEGF therapy was discontinued in 58% of the patients after they received bevacizu-mab injections every 4, 6, or 8 weeks for 1 year; 67% showed reactivated CNV within a year after discontinuation. The high reactivation rate of CNV shown in this study should help clinicians to develop rational discontinuation protocols. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered as NTR1174 at http://www.trialregister.nl.

Detailed optical coherence tomography angiographic short-term response of type 3 neovascularization to combined treatment with photodynamic therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab.

PURPOSE: To explore the short-term vascular and structural changes of type 3 neovascularization using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) when treated with a combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB), and to evaluate the course of different sequences of the combined therapies. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 29 treatment-naïve patients with a type 3 neovascularization were included in this prospective observational cohort study. They were all treated with PDT and IVB 2 weeks apart, starting either with PDT (PDT-first group) or IVB (IVB-first group). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) imaging was performed at week 0, 2, 4 and 18, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at week 0 and 18. Vascular, structural and functional features were graded and analysed over time. RESULTS: In all patients, at all follow-up visits, vascular and structural features were significantly more often decreased or resolved than unchanged or increased. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved at 18 weeks. Vascular, structural and functional outcomes were all slightly better in the PDT-first group compared to the IVB-first group, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Combined treatment of PDT and IVB is effective in short-term for type 3 neovascularization based on vascular and structural features. Initial treatment with PDT tended to be more effective than with IVB.

A randomized clinical trial comparing prompt photodynamic therapy with 3 months observation in patients with acute central serous chorioretinopathy with central macular leakage.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to demonstrate whether photodynamic therapy in patients with acute central serous chorioretinopathy, with the leakage point within one optic disk diameter from the fovea, can be safely deferred. METHODS: A single-center, randomized, controlled trial was conducted. Patients were randomized to photodynamic therapy within a week after presentation (Group I, 26 patients) or observation during 3 months (Group II, 26 patients). If leakage or subretinal fluid was observed during any control visit, photodynamic therapy was performed (again) within a week. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Primary outcome was change of visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) after 12 months. Secondary outcomes were visual acuity, central foveal thickness, metamorphopsia, and color discrimination. RESULTS: Photodynamic therapy procedures: group I, 26 at baseline, 2 retreatments at 3 months; group II, 10 at 3 months, 1 at 6 months (2 subjects refusing treatment), 2 retreatments at 6 months. At 12 months, mean visual acuity of all patients had improved by 6.5 letters (P < 0.001), mean central foveal thickness was 172 µm less (P < 0.001). After photodynamic therapy, visual acuity recovered faster and metamorphopsia significantly improved (3 months, P < 0.001). Differences between groups at 12 months were not significant. CONCLUSION: The (intended) number of photodynamic therapy (re)treatments in group II (n = 15) was 46% less than in group I (n = 28). Visual acuity and central foveal thickness at 12 months were similar. Therefore, the preferred management of acute central serous chorioretinopathy at presentation appears to be observation for 3 months.

ANATOMICAL CHANGES ON SEQUENTIAL MULTIMODAL IMAGING IN PERIFOVEAL EXUDATIVE VASCULAR ANOMALOUS COMPLEX.

PURPOSE: To report a series of 21 patients with perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) and to investigate the anatomical changes over time. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study. Clinical data of consecutive patients, presenting at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital between 2014 and 2019, were analyzed. The data collected included best-corrected visual acuity, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, fluorescence angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: We included 21 patients with a PEVAC lesion with a mean follow-up of 24.3 ± 13.8 months (range, 9-46 months). Patients with PEVAC were on average 75.3 ± 11.1 years (range, 53-90 years). The large perifoveal vascular aneurysmal abnormality was associated with small retinal hemorrhages in six patients and hard exudates in three patients. The PEVAC lesion was associated with intraretinal cystic spaces on OCT in 15 patients. Twelve of 21 patients showed no changes in cystic spaces on OCT during follow-up: 9 patients had stable cystic spaces and 3 patients had no cystic spaces. In contrast, in 9 of 21 patients, we observed changes in cystic spaces on OCT during follow-up. In two patients, cystic spaces appeared during follow-up, and in seven patients, there was a spontaneous resolution of cystic spaces. In three of these seven patients, the PEVAC lesion completely disappeared. Two patients, with stable intraretinal cystic spaces on OCT, were treated with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor without improvement. CONCLUSION: Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex is an idiopathic perifoveal retinal vascular abnormality that is associated with intraretinal cystic spaces. These intraretinal cystic spaces associated with a PEVAC lesion, and even the PEVAC lesion itself, can have a spontaneous resolution over time.

Multimodal imaging comparison of perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex and resembling lesions.

PURPOSE: Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) was initially described as an isolated aneurysmal lesion in healthy eyes. Similar aneurysmal abnormalities may occur in association with retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusions (PEVAC-resembling). The aim of this study was to compare several imaging characteristics of PEVAC and PEVAC-resembling lesions. METHODS: Ten eyes with a PEVAC and 27 eyes with a PEVAC-resembling lesion were included in this cross-sectional study. They were all imaged with optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCT-A) and colour fundus photography (CFP). Several clinical, morphological and vascular characteristics were assessed and compared between both PEVAC types. RESULTS: All PEVAC lesions were unilateral, while PEVAC-resembling lesions appeared bilateral in 23% of patients (p > 0.05). Unilateral multifocal PEVAC-resembling lesions were more frequently observed (56%) than unilateral multifocal PEVAC lesions (10%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, 90% of the PEVAC lesions were located within 500 µm from the centre of the fovea, while this was only true for 56% of the PEVAC-resembling lesions (p > 0.05). No notable differences were observed in other studied characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical, morphological and vascular features of PEVAC and PEVAC-resembling lesions are similar based on multimodal imaging. Given the bilaterality and multifocality seen in PEVAC-resembling lesions, an underlying retinal vascular disease may stimulate the quantity of aneurysmal abnormalities. Due to the similarities with PEVAC-resembling lesions, PEVAC may also be considered a microangiopathy but with an unknown origin.

Bevacizumab in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized controlled trial on the effect of on-demand therapy every 4 or 8 weeks.

PURPOSE: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are an effective treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nARMD). Bevacizumab appears to be a cost-effective off-label anti-VEGF alternative to ranibizumab, but an optimal injection schedule has not yet been determined. In this study, we investigate whether on-demand bevacizumab treatment every 8 weeks is non-inferior to on-demand bevacizumab every 4 weeks in treating nARMD. METHODS: A total of 120 nARMD patients were randomly assigned to an on-demand regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) every 4 (n = 60) or 8 weeks (n = 60). The primary outcome was visual acuity (VA) change after 1 year of treatment. RESULTS: Visual acuity (VA) improved between baseline and 1 year in both treatment groups. The mean change in the VA score at 1 year was not significantly different between bevacizumab administration on-demand every 4 weeks [5.6 ± 10.2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter] or 8 weeks (4.6 ± 12.0 ETDRS letters). A reduction in the central retinal thickness was observed in both groups. At 1 year, the mean decrease in central foveal thickness ranged from 61 ± 90 µm in the 4-week group to 91 ± 83 µm in the 8-week group (p = 0.07). The mean number of IVB treatments during the study period was 8.7 ± 2.3 in the 4-week group and 5.9 ± 1.0 in the 8-week group. CONCLUSION: At 1 year, bevacizumab administration on-demand every 8 weeks was non-inferior to administration every 4 weeks. The results strongly suggest that bevacizumab acts longer than 4 weeks in ARMD, reducing the burden of injections for patients.

Clinical spectrum of severe chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and outcome of photodynamic therapy.

PURPOSE: To describe a spectrum of severe chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC) cases and their response to photodynamic therapy (PDT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 66 patients (81 eyes) with active severe cCSC were studied, and their response to PDT was compared with a control group consisting of 35 active cCSCs (37 eyes) that did not display characteristics of severity. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and complete resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF) were considered as main outcome measures. RESULTS: In severe cCSC cases, we found cumulative areas of diffuse atrophic retinal pigment epithelium alterations in 48 eyes (59%), multiple "hot spots" of leakage in 36 eyes (44%), posterior cystoid retinal degeneration in 25 eyes (31%), and 13 eyes (16%) had a diffuse leakage on fluorescein angiography. After PDT treatment, BCVA increased in both groups, from 66 to 72 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters in the case group (P<0.001), and from 78 to 82 ETDRS letters in the control group (P<0.001). SRF had resolved completely in 87% of severe cCSC cases and 95% of controls at final follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: A spectrum of severe cCSC exists, and PDT seems to be an effective treatment in both severe cCSC and nonsevere cCSC in terms of resolution of SRF. Final BCVA shows a significant improvement in both groups after PDT treatment.

Diabetic retinopathy care--an international quality comparison.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to study the quality indicator appropriateness and use it for international quality comparison on diabetic retinopathy (DR) patient care process in one American and one Dutch eye hospital. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A 17-item DR quality indicator set was composed based on a literature review and systematically applied in two hospitals. Qualitative analysis entailed document study and 12 semi-structured face-to-face interviews with ophthalmologists, managers, and board members of the two hospitals. FINDINGS: While the medical-clinical approach to DR treatment in both hospitals was similar, differences were found in quality of care perception and operationalization. Neither hospital systematically used outcome indicators for DR care. On the process level, the authors found larger differences. Similarities and differences were found in the structure of both hospitals. The hospitals' particular contexts influenced the interpretation and use of quality indicators. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although quality indicators and quality comparison between hospitals are increasingly used in international settings, important local differences influence their application. Context should be taken into account. Since that context is locally bound and directly linked to hospital setting, caution should be used interpreting the results of quality comparison studies. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: International quality comparison is increasingly suggested as a useful way to improve healthcare. Little is known, however, about the appropriateness and use of quality indicators in local hospital care practices.

Bevacizumab in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized controlled trial on the effect of injections every 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks.

PURPOSE: Several clinical trials have established the efficacy of ranibizumab therapy administered every 4 weeks to treat exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Bevacizumab appears to be a cost-effective alternative to ranibizumab, although an optimal injection schedule has not yet been determined. In this study, we set out to determine whether bevacizumab treatment in exudative ARMD every 6 or 8 weeks is non-inferior to bevacizumab treatment every 4 weeks. METHODS: A total of 191 patients with exudative ARMD were randomly assigned to a 1-year continuous regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab every 4 (n = 64), 6 (n = 63) or 8 weeks (n = 64). The primary outcome was visual acuity change after 1 year of treatment. RESULTS: In all three treatment groups, visual acuity improved between baseline and 1 year. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean change of visual acuity score at 1 year for bevacizumab administered every 4 (1.96 ± 13.70), 6 (1.60 ± 10.98) or 8 weeks (5.98 ± 8.88). Reduction in central retinal thickness was observed in all three study groups. At 1 year, the mean decrease in central foveal thickness ranged from 86 ± 97 µm in the every 6 weeks group to 109 ± 90 µm in the group every 8 weeks group (p = 0.30). CONCLUSION: At 1 year, bevacizumab administered every 6 or 8 weeks was not inferior to therapy administered every 4 weeks.