Internal limiting membrane separation and posterior vitreous hyperreflective dots: novel OCT findings in Purtscher-like retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Purtscher or Purtscher-like retinopathy is diagnosed by retinal hemorrhages and areas of retinal whitening on fundus examination, as well as a reduction in visual acuity due to microvascular occlusion of the precapillary retinal arterioles. We describe novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of internal limiting membrane (ILM) separation and posterior hyperreflective dots in a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy in this report. METHODS: A 33-year-old man with acute pancreatitis and alcohol-induced liver disease presented to the retina department complaining of four days of painless vision loss in both eyes. Both eyes' anterior segment examination and intraocular pressure were normal. Dilated fundus examination of both eyes revealed confluent areas of retinal whitening, hemorrhages, and cotton-wool spots over the posterior pole, indicating Purtscher-like retinopathy. OCT scans through the macula revealed dense inner retinal reflectivity, thickening, and loss of retinal layer stratification, as well as outer retinal layer shadowing and islands of ILM separation, posterior vitreous hyperreflective dots, and minimal subfoveal fluid, all of which corresponded to areas of retinal whitening on fundus photographs. The patient was given a brief course of systemic steroids. RESULTS: On the tenth day after the presentation, visual acuity in the right eye had improved to 6/18 and finger counting at 1 m in the left eye. The retinal findings had faded. The retina had reverted to its normal thickness on the OCT scans, with minimal hyperreflectivity remaining. The ILM separation and posterior vitreous hyperreflective dots were no longer present. CONCLUSION: Following Purtscher or Purtscher-like retinopathy, we believe inflammation could play a major role in the development of these two novel OCT findings. This case offers an additional perspective on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the retinal manifestations observed in Purtscher or Purtscher-like retinopathy.

Recommendations for diabetic macular edema management by retina specialists and large language model-based artificial intelligence platforms.

PURPOSE: To study the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in developing diabetic macular edema (DME) management recommendations by creating and comparing responses to clinicians in hypothetical AI-generated case scenarios. The study also examined whether its joint recommendations followed national DME management guidelines. METHODS: The AI hypothetically generated 50 ocular case scenarios from 25 patients using keywords like age, gender, type, duration and control of diabetes, visual acuity, lens status, retinopathy stage, coexisting ocular and systemic co-morbidities, and DME-related retinal imaging findings. For DME and ocular co-morbidity management, we calculated inter-rater agreements (kappa analysis) separately for clinician responses, AI-platforms, and the "majority clinician response" (the maximum number of identical clinician responses) and "majority AI-platform" (the maximum number of identical AI responses). Treatment recommendations for various situations were compared to the Indian national guidelines. RESULTS: For DME management, clinicians (ĸ=0.6), AI platforms (ĸ=0.58), and the 'majority clinician response' and 'majority AI response' (ĸ=0.69) had moderate to substantial inter-rate agreement. The study showed fair to substantial agreement for ocular co-morbidity management between clinicians (ĸ=0.8), AI platforms (ĸ=0.36), and the 'majority clinician response' and 'majority AI response' (ĸ=0.49). Many of the current study's recommendations and national clinical guidelines agreed and disagreed. When treating center-involving DME with very good visual acuity, lattice degeneration, renal disease, anaemia, and a recent history of cardiovascular disease, there were clear disagreements. CONCLUSION: For the first time, this study recommends DME management using large language model-based generative AI. The study's findings could guide in revising the global DME management guidelines.

Comparison of pigment epithelium detachment composition indices between neovascular age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare changes in the fibrous component of pigment epithelium detachment composition indices (PEDCI-F) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (n-AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) over 12 months. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of treatment-naïve n-AMD and PCV eyes treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were recorded at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. OCT images were processed by filtering followed by pigment epithelium detachment (PED) segmentation and analysis of PED lesion heterogeneity based on the composition (PEDCI-F). RESULTS: A total of 74 eyes with n-AMD (36) and PCV (38) were included. Overall, PEDCI-F increased minimally in both n-AMD and PCV groups (both p > 0.05). The majority, i.e., 58.3% and 60.5%, of n-AMD and PCV eyes, respectively, showed an increase in PEDCI-F at 12 months. An increase in PEDCI-F was associated with improved BCVA logMAR (n-AMD, r = -0.79; p < 0.001 and PCV, r = - 0.06; p = 0.74) and the need for fewer anti-VEGF injections (n-AMD, r = - 0.53; p < 0.001 and PCV, r = - 0.09; p = 0.58). CONCLUSION: PEDCI-F increases in the majority of eyes with n-AMD and PCV through 12 months following treatment with anti-VEGF injections. This group had better visual acuity compared to the other subset with reduction in PEDCI-F requiring more anti-VEGF injections and worse visual acuity, possibly due to fibrovascular PED (FVPED) collapse and atrophy or a relative increase in other PEDCI constituents at 12 months.

Successful resolution of serous macular detachment following glaucoma-filtering surgery alone for acquired optic disc pit maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of acquired glaucomatous optic disc pit-related maculopathy successfully treated with glaucoma filtering surgery alone. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 67-year-old male was diagnosed with advanced primary open angle glaucoma in both eyes, with a cup: disc ratio of 0.85 in the right eye and 0.95 in the left eye. Visual acuity at presentation was 20/60, and intraocular pressure was 14 mm Hg in the left eye. The fundus of the left eye revealed a serous macular retinal detachment due to an acquired optic disc pit. RESULTS: The left eye of the patient underwent combined cataract and glaucoma filtering surgery. The serous macular detachment resolved completely 15 months after surgery, with a documented visual acuity of 20/40 and intraocular pressure of 10 mm Hg without the use of additional antiglaucoma medications. There was no recurrence of serous macular detachment even after the two-year follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that controlling intraocular pressure alone resulted in complete resolution of serous macular detachment in acquired optic disc pit maculopathy without the need for pars plana vitrectomy.

Recommendations for initial diabetic retinopathy screening of diabetic patients using large language model-based artificial intelligence in real-life case scenarios.

PURPOSE: To study the role of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify key risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening and develop recommendations based on clinician and large language model (LLM) based AI platform opinions for newly detected diabetes mellitus (DM) cases. METHODS: Five clinicians and three AI applications were given 20 AI-generated hypothetical case scenarios to assess DR screening timing. We calculated inter-rater agreements between clinicians, AI-platforms, and the "majority clinician response" (defined as the maximum number of identical responses provided by the clinicians) and "majority AI-platform" (defined as the maximum number of identical responses among the 3 distinct AI). Scoring was used to identify risk factors of different severity. Three, two, and one points were given to risk factors requiring screening immediately, within a year, and within five years, respectively. After calculating a cumulative screening score, categories were assigned. RESULTS: Clinicians, AI platforms, and the "majority clinician response" and "majority AI response" had fair inter-rater reliability (k value: 0.21-0.40). Uncontrolled DM and systemic co-morbidities required immediate screening, while family history of DM and a co-existing pregnancy required screening within a year. The absence of these risk factors required screening within 5 years of DM diagnosis. Screening scores in this study were between 0 and 10. Cases with screening scores of 0-2 needed screening within 5 years, 3-5 within 1 year, and 6-12 immediately. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, AI could play a critical role in DR screening of newly diagnosed DM patients by developing a novel DR screening score. Future studies would be required to validate the DR screening score before it could be used as a reference in real-life clinical situations. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Progressive retinoschisis and retinal detachment after uncomplicated macular hole repair surgery.

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of progressive retinoschisis and retinal detachment after uncomplicated macular hole (MH) surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 67-year-old man with recent onset vision complaints in the right eye (visual acuity - 20/30), was diagnosed with a small idiopathic full-thickness MH. He underwent a 3-port 25G pars plana vitrectomy surgery with internal limiting membrane peeling and air endotamponade. RESULTS: MH closed with a normal foveal contour and intact retinal layers by the 1st post operative week and vision improved to 20/20. At the 7th week follow-up period, the patient complained of visual disturbances in his right eye for 2 days. Optical coherence tomography scans revealed development of peripheral retinoschisis which progressed towards the macula over the next 4 weeks. At the 13th week following the retinal surgery, patient developed sudden profound vision loss to hand motions and a total retinal detachment was noted. He underwent a second retinal surgery with retinectomy to the stiff retina and silicone oil endotamponade. At the last follow-up visit 8 weeks after the second surgery, the visual acuity had improved to 20/120 and the retina was well-attached with silicone oil in place. CONCLUSION: We present a rare case of progressive retinoschisis and retinal detachment caused by residual ILM contraction after MH repair surgery. To the best of our knowledge, no such complication after MH repair surgery has been reported in the literature.

Multicolour® imaging findings in residual emulsified silicone oil bubbles.

PURPOSE: To describe the findings of Multicolour® imaging (MCI) in the presence of residual emulsified silicone oil (SiO) droplets. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old man had previously undergone surgery for a traumatic retinal detachment in the left eye, followed by SiO removal a few years ago. His presenting visual acuity was 6/60 in the left eye and intraocular pressure was 12 mm Hg. Clinical examination revealed the presence of emulsified residual SiO droplets in the vitreous cavity, 'inverse hyperoleon' at the posterior pole and pathological myopia. Retinal findings were documented using optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and MCI on the Spectralis (Heidelberg, Germany) machine. RESULTS: On OCT, the emulsified SiO droplets in the preretinal and intraretinal layers appeared as multiple hyperreflective dots with no underlying shadowing trapped beneath the residual posterior hyaloid or preretinal membrane in the region of the posterior staphyloma. Residual emulsified silicon oil on the retinal surface appeared to have greenish hue on the composite multicolour image and was hyperreflective on individual blue and green reflectance images and dark and hyporeflective on the infrared reflectance image. The SiO droplets appeared dark and were difficult to identify on the short wavelength FAF image. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this case report describes the MCI findings in emulsified SiO droplets for the first time.

Abnormal retinal vessel filling in central retinal artery occlusion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmic emergency with a poor prognosis. Several initial CRAO presentation factors can influence the final visual outcome. Fluorescein angiography filling of retinal vessels in CRAO has not been studied in great detail. BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to study the aberrant filling of the retinal vessels on fluorescein angiography in patients with CRAO and understand its clinical relevance. METHODS: Cases of CRAO diagnosed between June 2017 and May 2022 and who had undergone a fundus fluorescein angiography were included. Comparisons were made between the cases with and without aberrant filling of the retinal vessel. RESULTS: Twenty-two eyes of 22 patients (14 males and 8 females) with CRAO underwent fluorescein angiography. Ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 73 years, while time interval between development of acute onset vision problems and presentation to the retinal clinic ranged from a minimum of 1 day to a maximum of 30 days. Snellen visual acuity at presentation ranged from perception of light (PL +) to 6/6. On fluorescein angiography, aberrant flow of the fluorescein dye into the retinal vein was observed in four of the 22 (18%) eyes with CRAO. All these cases showed a patient's temporal cilioretinal artery. The cases with aberrant filling of the retinal vessels showed a better presenting visual acuity (6/6-6/60), lesser severity of inner retinal damage and a better final visual acuity (6/6-6/60) compared to CRAO cases without aberrant filling. CONCLUSION: Aberrant filling of the retinal vein can be seen on fluorescein angiography in eyes with CRAO and a patent temporal cilioretinal artery. Such eyes with aberrant retinal vessel filling have a better visual prognosis.

Epiretinal membrane formation and optic disc vascularisation in type 2A macular telangiectasia (MacTel).

PURPOSE: To describe a rare clinical finding of epiretinal membrane (ERM) and abnormal optic disc vascularisation in type 2A macular telangiectasia (MacTel). CASE DESCRIPTION: A 52-year-old asymptomatic healthy male was examined in the retina clinic. In both eyes, corrected visual acuity was 20/20, N6. Anterior segment examination and intraocular pressure were both normal in both eyes. RESULTS: The right eye's dilated fundus examination revealed loss of retinal transparency and superficial intraretinal crystals. A thick ERM extending from the optic disc to the macula obscured the details of the underlying perifoveal region in the left eye fundus. The diagnosis of bilateral type 2 MacTel was confirmed by confocal blue reflectance imaging, fluorescein angiography (FA), and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT). The left eye macular OCT scan also revealed a thick ERM without causing significant retinal traction. Furthermore, FA of the left eye revealed early hyperfluorescence with intense late leakage at the inferior aspect of the optic disc, giving the impression of abnormal optic disc vascularisation. No other cause for the disc vascularisation could be identified. OCT scan through the area with the optic disc leakage revealed a tuft of irregular hyperreflective tissue lying over the ERM. OCT angiography imaging confirmed the vascularity within the tuft of hyperreflective tissue over the ERM. Over a two-year period, no changes in clinical or imaging features were observed. CONCLUSION: In type 2A MacTel eyes, ERM formation and abnormal disc vascularisation are uncommon findings. More histopathologic research is needed to characterise these membranes.

A rare case of hyperpigmented torpedo maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe a rare presentation of torpedo maculopathy (TM). CASE DESCRIPTION: A 25-year-old male was examined in the retina clinic for a macular scar in the left eye. His visual acuity was 20/20, N6 in both eyes and no past history of ocular trauma or any medical or ocular history. The anterior segment was quiet and intraocular pressure was normal. RESULTS: The patient's left eye on 78D slit lamp biomicroscopy revealed a flat, diffusely hyperpigmented fusiform torpedo-like lesion with sharp margins and surrounding hypopigmentation located predominantly temporal to the fovea, with its tip pointing towards it and just crossing the vertical foveal midline. Dilated fundus examination with binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed no peripheral chorioretinal lesions or vitritis in both eyes. OCT scan through the lesion revealed gross damage to the outer retinal layers, as well as thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium and underlying shadowing, as well as a hyporeflective subretinal cleft involving the lesion. OCT also revealed outer retinal layer damage with an intact retinal pigment epithelium through the lesion's hypopigmented margins. Fundus autofluorescence image revealed a globally hypoautofluorescent lesion in the left eye, with surrounding patchy hyperautofluoroscent areas. Based on the patient history, clinical and imaging findings, other differential diagnoses such as atypical congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), choroidal nevus, RPE hamartoma, trauma and inflammatory conditions were ruled out. The diagnosis of TM was confirmed based on the typical lesion shape and location. CONCLUSION: A torpedo lesion with diffuse hyperpigmentation is an unusually rare presentation.

Vitreomacular interface abnormalities in type 2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel).

PURPOSE: To describe the different types of vitreomacular interface abnormalities (VMIA) seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in type 2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel) and explain the possible reasons for its development. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, type 2 MacTel eyes with macular volumetric OCT imaging protocol were included to identify different types of VMIA such as abnormal PVD, vitreomacular traction (VMT), ERM, and lamellar and full-thickness macular hole. The VMIA findings were then correlated with different MacTel disease stages and visual acuity. RESULTS: One thousand forty-three OCTs of 332 type 2 MacTel eyes from 169 patients at different visits were examined. VMIA was detected in 709 (68%) of those OCT scans in 216 (65%) eyes. There were 273 (39%), 31 (4%), 89 (13%), 7 (1%), and 381 (54%) OCT scans with vitreomacular adhesion, VMT, ERM, and inner and outer lamellar macular holes discovered respectively. VMIA eyes had a high frequency of abnormal PVD (p = 0.001) and retinal pigment clumps (RPCs) [p = 0.032]. Eyes with abnormal PVD (p = 0.034) and RPC (p = 0.000) had a higher rate of ERM development. RPC was linked to an increased risk of developing ERM (odd ratio 2.472; 95% CI 1.488-4.052). RPC and ERM contributed significantly to poor visual acuity (0.661 ± 0.416, 20/92). CONCLUSION: OCT reveals a high frequency of VMIA in advanced type 2 MacTel eyes. RPC could be responsible for the development of anomalous PVD, as well as subsequent VMIAs and ERM. Additional work is required to examine the long-term changes and surgical outcomes of these eyes.

Ink blot leakage in central retinal artery occlusion.

PURPOSE: To describe a typical case of acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with an ink-blot pattern of hyperfluorescent leak on fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). CASE DESCRIPTION: A 21-year-old woman came to the clinic with one day of painless right eye vision loss. Her right eye had finger counting at ½ meter. Her right eye had a relative afferent pupillary defect, but her anterior segment and intraocular pressure of both eyes were normal. RESULTS: The right eye fundus showed signs of acute CRAO with severe grade on optical coherence tomography (OCT). FFA imaging showed a mid-phase hyperfluorescent leak that persisted until the late stage. OCT scan through the hyperfluorescent spot showed absence of neurosensory detachment with normal retinal pigment epithelium, ruling out a central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Ocular massage and anterior chamber paracentesis were performed. At the 10-day follow-up, the patient's visual acuity was counting fingers at ½ meter, and the OCT scan showed findings of CRAO chronicity. The hyperfluorescent spot disappeared on the subsequent FFA. CONCLUSION: We report a case of ink-blot leakage on FFA, similar to that observed in CSCR in an eye with acute CRAO. We propose that the hyperfluorescent spot in our acute CRAO was likely caused by red blood cell aggregation or rouleaux formation.

Toxic posterior segment syndrome with retinal vasculitis likely caused by intraocular cotton fiber after vitreoretinal surgery - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intraocular inflammation is common after anterior or posterior segment surgery. They typically manifest either as non-infectious inflammation of the anterior or posterior segment, known as toxic anterior or posterior segment syndrome (TPSS), or as sterile or infective endophthalmitis. In this report, we describe a rare case of TPSS following vitreoretinal surgery, presenting as hemorrhagic retinal vasculitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old male diagnosed with a left eye acute rhegmatogenous retinal detachment underwent an uneventful primary pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil endotamponade on the same day of presentation. At presentation, there were no signs of intraocular inflammation, and his visual acuity in the affected eye was 20/200. RESULTS: The retina was well-attached with silicone oil in place on the first post-operative day. Along the inferior retinal periphery, a hemorrhagic occlusive vasculitis was observed. Clinical examination revealed retained intraocular cotton fiber along the inferotemporal quadrant over the retinal surface. In addition to the standard post-operative medications, a course of systemic steroids (40 mg per day of Prednisolone tablets) was started. At the end of the first post-operative week, clinical signs of hemorrhagic retinal vasculitis were beginning to resolve, and by the end of the fourth post-operative week, they had completely resolved. CONCLUSION: This report describes an unusual diagnosis of TPSS after vitreoretinal surgery, most likely due to the presence of an intraocular cotton fiber. This excessive inflammation of the posterior segment usually responds to a course of topical and systemic steroids.

Right-angled vessel characteristics in different stages of type 2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel).

PURPOSE: To study right-angled vessels (RAV) in disease progression and macular neovascularization in type 2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel) eyes. METHODS: This retrospective image analysis study examined type 2 MacTel patients' multicolour® and OCT imaging records from January 2015 to March 2023. Age, gender, laterality, visual acuity, systemic disease, and follow-up duration were recorded. RAV characteristics were assessed using OCT and multicolour® images. This study examined RAV characteristics and type 2 MacTel disease stage. RESULTS: In total, 270 eyes of 146 patients (97 females, 66%) with a mean age of 60.77 ± 9.34 years were studied. 153 (57%) eyes showed RAV. The non-proliferative stage of type 2 MacTel had either no RAV or a normal-calibre right-angled vein, while the proliferative stage had a right-angled artery and a dilated or normal-calibre RAV [p < 0.001]. RAV characteristics differed at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). 11 eyes transitioned from non-proliferative to proliferative after a median period of 26 months (range: 5-96 months). RAV characteristics changed from a normal calibre right-angled vein at presentation to a normal calibre vein and artery in 6 (55%) eyes and to a dilated vein and artery in 5 (45%) eyes respectively. CONCLUSION: RAV characteristics may indicate type 2 MacTel stages. A right-angled artery in type 2 MacTel may indicate proliferative disease.

Evolution of demarcation line after pneumatic retinopexy-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Demarcation line in a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) is a classic finding noted in chronic cases. In this case report, we describe a case of evolution of post-operative demarcation line after pneumatic retinopexy (PnR) in a subtotal rhegmatogenous RD. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 31-year-old male diagnosed with acute, subtotal, macula-off rhegmatogenous RD in the left eye of 15-day duration underwent PnR on the same day. His presenting visual acuity was 6/48 in the left eye. Transconjunctival cryopexy was performed to the retinal break at the same sitting and 0.5 cc of 100% perfluoroproprane (C3F8) gas was injected in the vitreous cavity and right lateral position was advised to the patient. RESULT: A pigmentary demarcation line was noted extending the nasal part of the macula along the most dependent part of the detachment on the immediate post-operative day and was more obviously visible on the 2nd and then on the 11th post-operative day. The visual acuity at the last follow-up visit improved to 6/18. Successful reattachment of the retina was noted on the last follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Post-operative demarcation lines after RD surgery could develop due to subretinal migration of pigments and along the most-dependent part depending upon post-operative positioning of the patient. Careful post-operative positioning, particularly in macula splitting RDs could be important to avoid pigment accumulation along the foveal area.

Congenital versus acquired optic disc pit maculopathy: An OCT based study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the demographic, ocular, and imaging characteristics of a cohort of patients with congenital and acquired optic disc pit maculopathy (ODPM). METHODS: This retrospective case series included patients diagnosed with ODPM between June 2017 and April 2023. These patients' baseline demographics, ocular characteristics, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging characteristics and follow up changes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 14 eyes with ODPM were identified (9 congenital and 5 acquired). Eyes with congenital ODP developed maculopathy at a younger age, presented commonly with visual symptoms, and exhibited an obvious pit at the temporal foveal margin as well as a high cup: disc ratio (p < 0.05). Primary open-angle glaucoma was identified in all five eyes with acquired ODPM. On OCT, eyes with acquired ODPM lacked the characteristic nerve fibre layer schisis, outer retinal layer hole, and foveal serous macular detachment (p < 0.05) unlike congenital ODPM. At the final follow-up visit, two cases from the congenital ODPM group and one case from the acquired ODPM group displayed complete resolution of maculopathy. The two cases of congenital ODPM were treated with pars plana vitrectomy and laser barrage to the optic disc margin, while the solitary case of acquired ODPM was treated with trabeculectomy surgery alone. CONCLUSION: Clinical examination and baseline OCT imaging reveal distinct differences between congenital and acquired ODPM eyes. These characteristics may help with accurate diagnosis and treatment planning for these two distinct clinical entities.

Real-world practice patterns of eplerenone use for central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report eplerenone use by retina specialists worldwide for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). METHODS: A self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to retina specialists worldwide to gather clinicians' perspectives on CSCR cases treated, eplerenone dosage and duration, reasons to use it, and side effects. RESULTS: The survey included 241 retina specialists (122 Indian and 119 international) with an average experience of 15.69 ± 9.59 years. Oral eplerenone was used to treat CSCR by 149 (62%) participants. Only 6% (n = 9) had easy access to verteporfin dye and photodynamic therapy. 30 (20%) of the 149 respondents changed their treatment with eplerenone after VICI trial results. Eplerenone was prescribed mostly for chronic CSCR (n = 86, 58%), regardless of involvement laterality. 62% (n = 92) had fewer than 25% CSCR cases treated with eplerenone. 85 (57%) respondents used eplerenone only when other treatments failed, while 36 (24%) used it as first-line treatment. 73 (49%) respondents, prescribed eplerenone at a 50 mg daily dose and 137 (92%) retina specialists used eplerenone for 0-3 months. The drug's efficacy dissatisfied 21 (14%) study participants. 124 (83%) study participants did not encounter any ocular or systemic side effects with eplerenone use. Eplerenone related kidney and electrolyte issues were noted by 11 (7%) study participants. CONCLUSION: The treatment of CSCR varies around the world and is primarily influenced by the photodynamic therapy availability and the findings of VICI trial. Despite the limited benefit of eplerenone reported by the VICI trial, it is still used as evidenced by real-world experience. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable.

Central posterior hyaloid fibrosis: evolution and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To report contributory factors and clinical outcomes of central posterior hyaloid fibrosis (CPHF) associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center study, patients with CPHF and nAMD were included. Demographic and imaging characteristics, as well as the anatomical and functional outcomes, of these patients were analysed. RESULTS: We identified 530 eyes in 273 patients with chronic predominantly scarred macular neovascularisation (MNV), and 32 eyes in 29 patients revealed CPHF, representing a prevalence of 6%. Patients had a mean age of 72.76 years. Before and during the development of CPHF, Type 2 MNV was observed in all eyes. At the time of MNV diagnosis, mean logMAR visual acuity was 1.308 ± 0.559 (20/407). The average time to develop CPHF was 27.3 months since the diagnosis of MNV. At the time of CPHF identification, the mean logMAR visual acuity was 1.498 ± 0.374 (20/630). RPE tear was observed in 6% (n = 2) of CPHF eyes. The average number of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections administered prior to the diagnosis of CPHF was 2.4 and after the onset of CPHF was 0.9. The final visual acuity was not significantly different at the final follow-up visit [1.304 ± 0.42 (20/402); p = 0.646]. CONCLUSION: Rarely observed in eyes with predominantly scarred subfoveal type 2 MNVs and extensive subretinal fibrosis, CPHF is associated with poor visual outcomes. Its presence could possibly suggest a profibrotic effect of MNV on the posterior hyaloid. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable.

Reducing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening: Successful Strategies Learnt from a Multi-Center Tele-Medicine Program in India.

PURPOSE: Control of blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requires timely screening and treatment within 48-72 h. Anticipating that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic would disrupt ROP services, we devised strategies ''on-the''-go"" to ameliorate this possiblity. We describe the successful outcomes of this approach in preventing infant blindness during the pandemic. METHODS: Data on the number of preemies recruited, screened and treated in the Karnataka Internet-assisted Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (KIDROP) program were collected in a retrospective (2019, interval 1) - prospective (2020, interval 2) manner. We summarize 10 key strategies that were developed as we faced logistic, operational and implementation challenges. These included pragmatic methods of enhancing enrolment, transporting for screening and ensuring timely treatment in the outreach. RESULTS: The total number of ROP screening sessions was 20,598 (7,197 new) and 14,371 (5,773 new) during interval 1 and 2 respectively. Of these, 166 (2.3%) and 157 (2.7%) infants required treatment during interval 1 and 2 respectively. All infants needing treatment during the COVID period, were treated on time which was possible due to successful implementation of the 'on-the-go' strategies throughout the state of Karnataka. The fiscal equivalent of the blindness prevented during this period is USD 15.6 million. CONCLUSION: The greater decline in the number of ROP screening episodes in neonatal units in government hospitals was because several were converted to 'COVID only" hospitals. KIDROP's multi-zonal, decentralized strategy, which uses non-physician-based imaging in a telemedicine network, ensured that essential ROP services continued even during the lockdown.

Short-Term Treatment Outcomes of Brolucizumab in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Multicentre Indian Real-World Evidence Study.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety outcomes following brolucizumab treatment in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) as a part of real-world clinical practice in India. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, multicentre study including patients (≥50 years old) diagnosed with nAMD. Anonymized data of the patients receiving the first dose of brolucizumab intravitreal injection (IVI) who were either treatment-naïve or previously treated with a single or a combination of other anti-VEGF IVIs were included. The present study reported the change in retinal fluid levels from baseline to month 3, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and the number of injections received. The adverse events in the three months after brolucizumab treatment initiation were also monitored. Results: The study included 63 patients (65 eyes) from four study centres across India (mean age: 69.1 ± 9.7 years). A total of 82 brolucizumab injections were administered during the 3 months of study duration, with 52/65 (80.0%) eyes receiving only 1 injection. Resolution of IRF, SRF, and PED was observed in 76.9%, 64.6%, and 67.7% of eyes, respectively. Further, a significant reduction in CRT was observed (baseline: 403.5 ± 118.7 µm; month 3: 308.3 ± 73.8 µm; p < 0.001), and BCVA also improved notably from 0.7 ± 0.5 logMAR at baseline to 0.5 ± 0.4 logMAR at month 3 (p < 0.001). Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 3 eyes from 3 patients; retinal pigment epithelial rip (1) and subretinal hemorrhage (2) after the first injection of brolucizumab, however, none discontinued the treatment. Conclusion: The study reports on the short-term effectiveness and tolerability of brolucizumab therapy in the management of nAMD in both treatment-naïve and switch eyes. Brolucizumab was observed to have a favourable benefit-risk profile, and study results were within the known safety profile, with no instances of intraocular inflammation.