OPHTHALMALOGICA - Vol 236 Issue 1 featuring top retina research

STEROID INTRAVITREAL IMPLANT SHOWS PERSISTENT EFFECT

The findings of an observational study appear to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of the intravitreal dexamethasone implant, Ozurdex® (Allergan), in the treatment of persistent diabetic macular oedema (DME). It showed that, among 51 persistent DME patients receiving the implants, visual acuity (VA) improved by 13.8 letters at six months (p<0.0001), 12.7 letters at 12 months (p=0.0032), and 16.5 letters at 18 months (p=0.0313). In addition, macular thickness decreased by a mean of 159.07μm at six months (p<0.0001), 181.8μm at 12 months (p<0.0001), and 236.17μm at 18 months (p=0.0313). Furthermore, no serious adverse events were reported. I Aknin et al, “Longitudinal Study of Sustained-Release Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema”, Ophthalmologica 2016; Volume 235, Issue 4.

MAPPING THE PROGRESSION OF GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY

A model of VA in geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) derived from fundus autofluorescence imaging may be helpful in assessing progression of disease and the effects of therapy, a new study suggests. An analysis of the course of 226 eyes of 151 patients with GA due to AMD showed that there was a loss of three or more lines of VA in 47 per cent of eyes at four years. Among those with foveal involvement, VA was 0.69 logMAR units lower than in those without foveal involvement (p<0.001) and was decreased by between 0.02 and 0.09 logMAR units per millimetre, depending on the degree of foveal involvement (p<0.001). S Schmitz-Valckenberg et al, “Modeling Visual Acuity in Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration”, Ophthalmologica 2016; Volume 235, Issue 4.

YOUNGER RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION PATIENTS PRONE TO THROMBOPHILIA

Younger patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) have a high prevalence of thrombophilic disorders, the findings of a retrospective study indicate. The study’s authors reviewed 25 patients with RAO less than 60 years of age, and 62 healthy controls. They found thrombophilic defects in 17 patients (68 per cent), compared to only 11 of 62 controls (17.7 per cent; p<0.0001). They also found a statistically significant association between the development of RAO and increased levels of lipoprotein(a) (odds ratio: 9.48; p=0.001) and factor VIII (odds ratio: 6.41; p=0.024). C Kuhli-Hattenbach et al, “Selective Thrombophilia Screening in Young Patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion”, Ophthalmologica 2016; Volume 235, Issue 4. By Professor Sebastian Wolf, Editor Ophthalmologica

Tags: imaging, macular degeneration, myopic choroidal neovascularisation