Study: COVID-19 significantly reduced rate of ophthalmic procedures

A retrospective, U.S.-based, cross-sectional study evaluated the change in rate of various ophthalmic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the time prior. According to the paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology, the Medicare Part B National Summary Data Files were compared between 2019 and 2020. Between these two timeframes, there was an overall decrease of –17.9% in the rate of the 10 ophthalmic procedures included in the analysis, according to the paper. The largest reduction was in laser peripheral iridotomy procedures (–43.6%), while drug injections only saw a –1.5% decrease. Cataract surgery procedures during 2020 were reduced –23.0% compared to 2019 numbers. The Northeast experienced the greatest reduction in ophthalmic procedures in 2020. The authors concluded that the “results show that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a notable drop in the number of common ophthalmic procedures.”

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New device provides non-surgical treatment for lower lid laxity

Lumenis launched the OptiLift device with Dynamic Muscle Stimulation technology used to address lower lid laxity and impaired blinking. The non-surgical OptiLift, designed to restore muscle tone to address these issues, is now available in the U.S.

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Autonomous Diabetic Retinopathy Screening offers ‘unparalleled results’

AEYE Health and Topcon Healthcare announced that the combination of the NW500 non-mydriatic retinal camera (Topcon) and the AEYE Diagnostic Screening AI technology has demonstrated “unparalleled results” in clinical diagnostic efficacy with 92% sensitivity and 90% specificity and “unprecedented imageability” with 100% of patients receiving diagnostic results and more than 99% imaged on first attempt without dilation. According to the company’s press release, AEYE Health is seeking FDA clearance for its autonomous screening in combination with the Topcon NW500.

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52-week data from Phase 2b study evaluating wet AMD therapy

4D Molecular Therapeutics announced interim 52-week data from the Phase 2b population extension cohort study of its PRISM clinical trial that evaluated 4D-150 in a broad population of patients who had wet AMD. According to the company’s press release, additional data was also provided, confirming the durability of the drug for up to 2 years. The study found that 3E10 vg/eye achieved an 83% reduction in injection burden for these patients compared to on-label aflibercept; 57% of patients remained injection-free through 52 weeks. In the recently diagnosed subgroup, 80% were injection-free through 52 weeks.

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Subgroup analysis provides additional data on wet AMD therapy

Clearside Biomedical announced the presentation of additional data from its Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating CLS-AX (axitinib injectable suspension) in patients with wet AMD. The first subgroup analysis provided support in enrolling treatment-naïve patients into the Phase 3 program, showing stabilization of BCVA and central subfield thickness in patients who were redosed with CLS-AX at week 24, if they did not require aflibercept rescue, or redosing prior to week 24. The company noted that patients included in this study had criteria that made them more difficult to treat, and yet 67% did not require aflibercept rescue or CLS-AX redosing for 6 months. A second subgroup analysis supported exclusion of participants in the Phase 3 program who demonstrated significant non-disease related changes in visual acuity.

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ASCRS news and events

• EyeWorld bonus issue: EyeWorld released its first-ever bonus issue, published in addition to the magazine’s usual quarterly issues. This bonus issue focuses exclusively on the topic of interventional glaucoma. Read it now.
• 2025 ASCRS Annual Meeting: Registration is open for the ASCRS Annual Meeting, taking place April 25–28, in Los Angeles, California. Find the Preview Program here.
• SightLine at ASCRS: This is a new day-long meeting April 24, ahead of the ASCRS Annual Meeting, for all commercial stakeholders in ophthalmology to learn about and collaborate on technologies and care delivery ideas that will forge a more sustainable financial future. Learn more.
• Business of Interventional Glaucoma: Surgeons and practice administrators alike are invited to the ASOA ASCRS Business of Interventional Glaucoma program, taking place Thursday, April 24 from 1:00–5:30 p.m. in Los Angeles ahead of the ASCRS Annual Meeting and ASOA Annual Meeting. Learn more.
• ASCRS 50th anniversary: ASCRS members from the 50 states are sending in their perspectives on the Society, its impact on their career, and its influence on the specialty as a whole. Tune in each week through April 2025 for a new video.

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Research highlights

• Phaco combined with iStent (Glaukos) compared to phacoemulsification alone, based on data from the Fight Glaucoma Blindness Registry out of Australia, was the subject of a prospective observational registry study published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. The study found that the percentage of eyes achieving a 20% reduction in IOP or more was significantly higher in the iStent group at 12 months postop vs. the phaco-alone group (40.9% vs. 30.1%, respectively). Secondary IOP-lowering procedures were also significantly lower in the iStent group compared to the phaco-alone group.
• The 5–12 year outcomes of autologous simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) for ocular chemical burn that resulted in limbal stem cell deficiency was evaluated in a prospective, fellow-eye controlled, cross-sectional imaging and diagnostic study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. The study included 47 patients and found that corneal epithelial phenotype was restored, based on analysis on slit lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, and impression cytology, in 68% of recipient eyes; failure occurred in 32% of eyes. Corneal epithelial reflectivity and densitometry was better in eyes that had successful outcomes, and corneal epithelial thickness was similar in all eyes, according to the authors.

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