Evaluation of a novel, non contact, automated focal laser with integrated [NAVILAS[restricted] ] fluorescein angiography for diabetic macular edema

To evaluate the procedural experience and complications of a novel integrated laser delivery system [NAVILAS; OD-OS Teltow, Germany] that combines automated laser delivery with color fundus photography, fluorescein angiography [FA], fundus autofluorescence [FAF] and infrared imaging with a frequency doubled YAG laser. This prospective study evaluated surgical experience with the NAVILAS automated photocoagulation system for the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema [DME]. Subjective assessment of the accuracy of laser spot placement and postoperative complications were documented. Twelve patients [7 males, 5 females] were enrolled in this pilot study. Five patients were phakic and 7 were pseudophakic. Image overlays and the tracking system allowed accurate delivery of laser spots of varying size, duration and power. None of the patients reported any pain and tolerated the procedure well. No complications were reported in the study. In this pilot study, the NAVILAS system allowed accurate laser spot placement with no complications in patients with DME. However a larger sample with longer follow up is required to determine the safety of this procedure

Evaluation of modified retinopathy of prematurity screening guidelines using birth weight as the sole inclusion criterion

The purpose was to determine if birth weight [BW] alone can be the sole criterion for screening infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity [ROP]. In this retrospective, observational case series, 208 infants were screened for ROP using the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus [AAPOS] Guidelines [1997]. Variables examined included gestational age [GA], birth weight [BW], and a composite variable BWGA Index [[grams x weeks]/1000], which takes into consideration both the birth weight and gestational age of the infant. Infants were divided into two groups: Group 1, BW 1250 g. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect factors predictive of ROP. Receiver operator characteristic [ROC] curves were generated to determine the efficacy of screening using the BW, GA, and BWGA Index. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression with a P-value of 0.05 or less indicating statistical significance. Varying stages of ROP were present in 116 of 416 eyes. Of the 105 eyes in Group 2, only 1 eye developed stage 1 ROP. Only Group 1 eyes developed stage 3 or higher ROP. The ROC curve for BW alone gave an area under the curve [AUC] of 0.797 [standard error [SE]=0.0329, P<0.0001]; for GA, AUC was 0.801 [SE=0.0340, P<0.0001] and for the BWGA Index, the AUC was 0.808 [SE=0.0324, P<0.0001]. Using 1250-g BW as a criterion for ROP screening would have decreased the number of screenings by 24%, and did not exclude any ROP higher than stage 1. Data from our neonatal intensive care unit suggest that birth weight