EW Weekly, February 21, 2020

- Study: Universal Protocol could help prevent errors in ophthalmology surgery
- FDA approves Pataday for nonprescription use
- IOP reduction observed among OAG patients with OTX-TIC
- Beovu approved for wet AMD by the European Commission
- Update provided from Phase 3 trial with emixustat for Stargardt disease
- Compared with conventional retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, a segmentation-free deep learning algorithm performed better to help diagnose glaucomatous damage on spectral-domain (SD) OCT scans, according to a cross-sectional study of 1,154 eyes of 635 individuals, led by Atalie Thompson, MD. Researchers compared the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and sensitivity at 80% or 95% specificity for the deep learning algorithm’s predicted probability of glaucoma compared with conventional RNFL thickness parameters given by SD-OCT software. Among the 20,806 images analyzed (53% with glaucoma and 47% normal eyes), the deep learning algorithm had a significantly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than global RNFL thickness (0.96 vs. 0.87). At 95% specificity, the deep learning algorithm (81%) was more sensitive than global RNFL (67%). Among the eyes with glaucoma, 70.4% had perimetric glaucoma and 29.6% had preperimetric glaucoma. The study is published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
- Even if there is no visible structural damage to the posterior capsule, prior intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are significantly correlated with a higher risk for surgical posterior capsule rupture, according to Anindyt Nagar and coresearchers in their single-center, retrospective, electronic medical record database study. Researchers reviewed data from 4,047 eyes having phaco between Aug. 1, 2016 and Jan. 1, 2018. Among those, 2.7% (108 eyes) had previous anti-VEGF treatment. After excluding three eyes that had preop posterior chamber trauma, anti-VEGF treatment was associated with an increased risk of posterior capsule rupture compared with the group that did not have it (6.67% versus 1.88%, P<.001). A dose-dependent relationship was found between the number of anti-VEGF injections and the likelihood of rupture. The study is published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
- Wound sealing with intrastromal hydration was safer than air tamponade to preserve endothelial cell density and function during uneventful cataract surgery, according to Asimina Mataftsi and coresearchers. Their prospective, comparative, case-control series included patients assigned to receive anterior chamber air bubble (Group A) or intrastromal wound hydration with balanced salt solution (Group B) at the conclusion of surgery. Two high-volume surgeons used an identical surgical technique except for corneal side incision management. Researchers assessed patients preop and at days 1, 4, 9, 10, and 30 postop. Among the 100 eyes of 100 patients, the two groups were comparable for preop risk factor assessment, baseline central corneal thickness, preop endothelial cell density, and cumulative dissipated energy and phaco duration. Surgically induced astigmatism also was comparable. On day 1 postop, the mean central corneal thickness and best corrected visual acuity were better in Group B, but the results otherwise did not differ at other timepoints. At 1 month, endothelial cell loss was greater in Group A (34.06%) compared with Group B (16.45%). The study appears in Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
This issue of EyeWorld Weekly was edited by Stacy Jablonski and Vanessa Caceres.
EyeWorld Weekly (ISSN 1089-0319), a digital publication of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), is published every Friday, distributed by email, and posted live on Friday.
Medical Editors: Eric Donnenfeld, MD, Chief Medical Editor; Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, Cataract Editor; Clara Chan, MD, Cornea Editor; Nathan Radcliffe, MD, Glaucoma Editor; and Vance Thompson, MD, Refractive Editor
For sponsorship opportunities or membership information, contact: ASCRS • 4000 Legato Rd. • Suite 700 • Fairfax, VA 22033 • Phone: 703-591-2220 • Fax: 703-591-0614 • Email: ASCRS Opinions expressed in EyeWorld Weekly do not necessarily reflect those of ASCRS. Mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement by ASCRS.
Click here to view our Legal Notice.
Copyright 2021, EyeWorld News Service, a division of ASCRSMedia. All rights reserved.