Comparison of intravitreal aflibercept and dexamethasone implant in the treatment of macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion: a Meta-analysis and systematic review.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept with dexamethasone implant in the treatment of macular edema (ME) associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) or retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: A comprehensive search of studies comparing dexamethasone and aflibercept in patients with ME was conducted at PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from the beginning of library to April 16, 2021. Extracting the data including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), number of injections and serious adverse events (SAEs) from the final qualified articles. RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis of the included studies. RESULTS: Totally 7 studies with 369 eyes were included. The causes of ME in the final screening study included RVO and DR. Compared with the aflibercept treatment group, the BCVA of the dexamethasone implant treatment group showed no significant difference in the follow-up for 3mo [mean difference (MD): -0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.11, 0.02; P=0.17] and 12mo (MD: -0.01, 95%CI: -0.38, 0.37; P=0.98), but it was slightly worse than the aflibercept group at 6mo (MD: 0.12, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.21; P=0.008). In terms of CRT reduction, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 3mo (MD: -28.14, 95%CI: -79.95, 23.67; P=0.29), 6mo (MD: 27.67, 95%CI: -84.89, 140.24; P=0.63), and 12mo (MD: -59.00, 95%CI: -127.37, 9.37; P=0.09). However, dexamethasone implant had fewer injections, but more adverse events such as elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of aflibercept and dexamethasone implant can both effectively increase BCVA and reduce CRT. Compared with aflibercept, dexamethasone implant is not inferior in improving vision and reducing CRT in the initial treatment period (3mo) and long-term treatment period (12mo). Besides, it has fewer injections and more likely to cause elevated IOP and cataract.

Aqueous angiopoietin-like levels correlate with optical coherence tomography angiography metrics in diabetic macular edema.

AIM: To quantitatively detect aqueous levels of angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL)3, ANGPTL4, and ANGPTL6 and investigate their correlation with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 23 patients (27 eyes) with type 2 diabetes and 16 control subjects (20 eyes). All patients underwent OCTA imaging and ultra-wide field fundus photography. Diabetic patients were categorized into two groups according to the presence or absence of diabetic retinopathy (DME group, 14 patients, 16 eyes); and non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR) group, 9 patients, 11 eyes, respectively. Aqueous levels of ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, and ANGPTL6 were assessed using suspension array technology, and foveal-centered 3×3 mm2 OCTA scans were automatically graded to determine the central, inner, and full vessel density (CVD, IVD, FVD); central, inner, and full perfusion density (CPD, IPD, FPD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ perimeter, and FAZ circularity index (FAZ-CI) on superficial capillary plexuses. Additionally, central subfield thickness (CST), cube volume (CV), and cube average thickness (CAT) were measured in a model of macular cube 512×128. RESULTS: Aqueous ANGPTL3 levels were not significantly different among the three groups (P>0.05). ANGPTL4 levels were significantly higher in the DME group than the control and NDR groups (P<0.0001 and P<0.001), while ANGPTL6 levels were significantly higher in the DME group than the control group (P<0.05). In the whole cohort, the aqueous ANGPTL3 levels correlated negatively with the IVD, FVD, IPD, and FPD, and positively with the CV and CAT. The aqueous ANGPTL4 levels correlated negatively with the CVD, IVD, FVD, CPD, IPD, and FPD, and positively with the FAZ perimeter, CST, CV, and CAT. The aqueous ANGPTL6 levels correlated negatively with the IVD, FVD, IPD, FPD, FAZ-CI and positively with CST, CV, CAT. CONCLUSION: ANGPTL4 and ANGPTL6 may be associated with vascular leakage in DME and may represent good targets for DME therapy. In addition, OCTA metrics may be useful for evaluating macular ischemia in DME.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of AcrySof® IQ and TECNIS® toric intraocular lenses: A real-world study.

Corneal astigmatism significantly compromises uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) after phacoemulsification with implantation of traditional spherical or non-spherical monofocal intraocular lens (IOL). Toric IOL provides an effective way to gain favorable postoperative UCVA for the patients with cataracts with corneal astigmatism. There are numerous types of toric IOLs; however AcrySof® IQ toric IOL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) and TECNIS® toric IOL (Johnson & Johnson Vision; Johnson & Johnson) are most frequently used in our clinical practice. The purpose of the current study was to compare the clinical efficacy of AcrySof IQ with TECNIS toric IOL implantation, and to provide a clinical basis on selecting an appropriate toric IOL before cataract surgery for patients with corneal astigmatism. A total of 30 patients with cataract (44 eyes) with corneal astigmatism [0.82-7.27 diopters (D)], who have undergone phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation between October 2012 and December 2017, were included in the current retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups: One group (26 eyes) received the AcrySof IQ toric IOL (AcrySof group) and the other group (18 eyes) received the TECNIS toric IOL (Tecnis group). The indexes of curative effect, such as uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA, respectively), refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity (CS), IOL rotation, and satisfaction, were evaluated. Both toric IOLs significantly improved UDVA and CDVA. Postoperative mean residual astigmatism was similar in the AcrySof group and in the Tecnis group (0.75±0.50 and 0.78±0.90 D; P=0.896). There was no statistically significant between postoperative CS in the AcrySof and Tecnis groups. Rotations of >10˚ were considered to be significant and were identified in three eyes. The mean IOL rotation showed no statistically significant difference (AcrySof group, 0.24±5.54˚; Tecnis group, -0.19±6.28˚; P=0.416). The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.46±1.21 in the AcrySof group and 8.78±1.44 in the Tecnis group (P=0.260). The results of the current study indicated that patients with cataracts with corneal astigmatism undergoing phacoemulsification with AcrySof IQ and TECNIS toric IOL implantation achieved similar clinical efficacy in term of visual outcomes, refraction correction, CS, rotational stability and satisfaction.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition ameliorates retinal neovascularization and glial activation in oxygen-induced retinopathy.

AIM: To investigate whether inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by donepezil ameliorate aberrant retinal neovascularization (RNV) and abnormal glial activation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS: A mouse model of RNV was induced in postnatal day 7 (P7) mice by exposure to 75% oxygen. Donepezil was administrated to P12 mice by intraperitoneal injection. Expression and localization of AChE in mouse retinas were determined by immunofluorescence. RNV was evaluated by paraffin sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Activation of retinal Müller glial cells were examined by immunoblot of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). rMC-1, a retinal Müller cell line, was used for in vitro study. Expression of hypoxia-induced factor 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by Western-blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunostaining. RESULTS: Aberrant RNV and glial activation was observed after OIR. Of note, retinal AChE was mainly expressed by retinal Müller glial cells and markedly increased in OIR mice. Systemic administration of donepezil significantly reduced RNV and abnormal glial activation in mice with OIR. Moreover, ischemia-induced HIF-1α accumulation and VEGF upregulation in OIR mouse retinas and cultured rMC-1 were significantly inhibited by donepezil intervention. CONCLUSION: AchE is implicated in RNV with OIR. Inhibition of AChE by donepeizl is likely to be a potential therapeutic approach for retinal neovascular diseases.