Retrospective Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Omidenepag Isopropyl 0.002% Ophthalmic Solution in Korean Patients

Purpose@#This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI) 0.002% in Korean patients. @*Methods@#A retrospective study was conducted involving 306 patients diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, who were administered OMDI 0.002% from May 2021 to June 2022. The primary outcomes were the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) at months 1, 3, and 6 compared to the baseline IOP, and the reactions to the OMDI drug. @*Results@#Out of 235 patients who met the study inclusion criteria, the mean IOP was 16.5 ± 3.4 mmHg at baseline, 14.5 ± 3.0 mmHg at month 1, 14.3 ± 2.7 mmHg at month 3, and 14.7 ± 3.1 mmHg at month 6. The mean IOP reduction at month 6 was -1.6 ± 2.8 mmHg (p < 0.001). On analyzing the IOP by types of glaucoma, the mean IOP change at the 6-month point showed statistically significant results in all types, including normal tension glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, and ocular hypertension (p < 0.05). The frequency of side effects in all patients was 29.8%, with the most commonly reported adverse drug reaction being hyperemia in 18.7% of the total patients. There was one case (0.4%) of uveitis after OMDI administration, but no other systemic adverse drug reactions were reported. @*Conclusions@#Omidenepag isopropyl demonstrated a statistically significant IOP-lowering effect in Korean patients with various types of glaucoma. This suggests that OMDI could potentially serve as a first-line treatment for glaucoma.

Influence of Long-term Oral Steroid Intake on Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) in patients taking oral corticosteroids for extended periods, and to aid in managing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with these risk factors. @*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was performed involving 690 patients who visited a tertiary referral hospital and had been using oral corticosteroids for more than six months. Patients' demographics, tonometry results, drug type, dosage, duration, ophthalmic history, and the use of glaucoma eye drops were analyzed to determine the risk factors associated with glaucoma or OHT. @*Results@#In a generalized linear model analysis comparing patients' eyes diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension to those without such diagnoses, no statistical difference was observed between the two groups in terms of drug type, age, and duration of oral corticosteroid use. However, the dosage was found to be statistically significant (odds ratio 1.09, p = 0.0294). @*Conclusions@#No difference in the incidence of glaucoma or OHT was found based on the type of oral steroid, age, or duration of use. However, a higher incidence of glaucoma and OHT was observed among patients taking higher doses of oral steroids. Therefore, it is suggested that using lower doses of oral steroids may be more beneficial for managing IOP.

Effect of Intraoperative Mitomycin C on the Surgical Outcomes of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation with Ciliary Sulcus Tube Placement

Purpose@#To evaluate the effect of intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) on the surgical outcomes of ciliary sulcus (CS) Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) tube placement. @*Methods@#A retrospective review of medical records of 54 consecutive patients who underwent AGV implantation with tube placed in CS was performed. Consecutive cases operated without the use of intraoperative MMC from 2017 to 2019 were compared with consecutive cases operated with MMC from 2019 to 2021. Surgical failure was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) exceeding 21 mmHg in two consecutive visits after postoperative 3 months or ≤30% IOP reduction, IOP ≤5 mmHg in two consecutive visits, or loss of light perception. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were performed to compare the surgical failure rates. @*Results@#A total of 54 eyes of 54 patients were investigated. Mean follow-up period after AGV implantation was 1.4 ± 0.8 years. The MMC group showed significantly lower IOP during the 1st postoperative month (20.5 ± 8.6 mmHg vs. 15.8 ± 6.4 mmHg, p = 0.027), but the difference did not persist 6 months after the surgery (p = 0.805). The mean number of postoperative antiglaucoma medications was significantly lower in the MMC group in the 1st postoperative month (p = 0.047) but no difference was found at 6 months. No statistical difference was noted in the rates of postoperative complications. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed comparable survival rates between MMC group and no MMC group (p = 0.356). @*Conclusions@#The intraoperative use of MMC significantly lowered IOP in the 1st postoperative month but did not increase 6 months success rates in patients receiving AGV tube placement in CS.

Effects of Glaucoma Medication on Dry Eye Syndrome and Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma

Purpose@#To investigate ocular surface diseases and changes in the quality of life of patients using glaucoma medications. @*Methods@#Participants were divided into the normal (31 individuals, 62 eyes) and glaucoma medication (30 patients, 60 eyes) groups. Changes in tear break-up time, lipid layer thickness (LLT), corneal and conjunctival staining scores, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25) score were assessed for 1 year. @*Results@#The change in mean LLT was lower in glaucomatous eyes than in control eyes (p = 0.019) after 1 year. The results of OSDI deteriorated (p’ = 0.008), but conjunctival staining and Schirmer test results showed improvement in glaucomatous eyes compared to those in control eyes (p’ =0.035 and 0.009, respectively). The average LLT decreased at 6 and 12 months, but there was no change at 24 months. In pairwise analysis, the decrease in LLT over the first 6 months was statistically significant (p < 0.001) and remained unchanged until 24 months. Among the VFQ items, scores for near activity and social function deteriorated over 1 year in the medication group (p’ = 0.033 and 0.015, respectively). However, there was no difference in the total VFQ score. @*Conclusions@#Significant reduction in LLT and deterioration of OSDI were observed in the medication group compared to the control group. However, this deterioration was observed only in the first 6 months. There was no significant difference in the VFQ total score. Nonetheless, there were significant differences in near activity and social function between the control and medication groups. Therefore, the results of this study showed that although glaucoma medication worsened eye dryness, the change was limited and did not worsen the quality of life. Glaucoma medication should be used with the consideration that they can limit near activity and social functioning.

Clinical Predictors of the Region of First Structural Progression in Early Normal-tension Glaucoma

Purpose@#This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of patients who showed structural progression in the peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) first against those who showed progression in the macular ganglion cell-inner plexi-form layer (GCIPL) first and to investigate clinical parameters that help determine whether a patient exhibits RNFL or GCIPL damage first. @*Methods@#A retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with early-stage normal-tension glaucoma was performed. All eyes underwent intraocular pressure measurement with Goldmann applanation tonometer, standard auto-mated perimetry, and Cirrus optical coherence tomography at 6-month intervals. Structural progression was determined using the Guided Progression Analysis software. Blood pressure was measured at each visit. @*Results@#Forty-one eyes of 41 patients (mean age, 52.6 ± 16.7 years) were included in the study. In 21 eyes, structural pro-gression was first detected in the RNFL at 54.2 ± 14.8 months, while structural progression was first observed at the macular GCIPL at 40.5 ± 11.0 months in 20 eyes. The mean intraocular pressure following treatment was 13.1 ± 1.8 mmHg for the RNFL progression first group and 13.4 ± 1.8 mmHg for the GCIPL progression first group (p = 0.514). The GCIPL progression first group was older (p = 0.008) and had thinner RNFL at baseline (p = 0.001). The logistic regression analyses indicated that both age and follow-up duration until first progression predicted the region of structural progression (odds ratio, 1.051; 95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.105;p= 0.046 for age; odds ratio, 0.912; 95% confidence interval, 0.840–0.991; p = 0.029 for time until progression). @*Conclusions@#Age of glaucoma patients and time until progression are associated with the region of the first structural pro-gression in normal-tension glaucoma. Further studies exploring the association between glaucomatous progression and the location of damage are needed.

Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Damage and Macular Ganglion Cell Loss in Open Angle Glaucoma

Effects of Orbital Decompression on Lamina Cribrosa Depth in Patients with Graves' Orbitopathy

PURPOSE: We sought to investigate the effects of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and orbital decompression on lamina cribrosa depth (LCD) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Forty eyes that underwent orbital decompression to relieve compressive optic neuropathy or correct disfiguring exophthalmos in the context of GO were included. Subjects were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography before surgery and at 1 and 3 months after surgery, at which the examiner measured the LCD (distance from the anterior surface of the lamina cribrosa to the Bruch membrane opening line) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Subjects were divided into two groups—a muscle-dominant group composed of patients who had extraocular muscle enlargement on preoperative orbital computed tomography scan and a fat-dominant group composed of patients who did not show extraocular muscle enlargement on preoperative orbital computed tomography scan—and subgroup analysis was performed. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure, exophthalmos, LCD, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, LCD was remarkably shallower in the muscle-dominant group than in the fat-dominant group (95% confidence interval, p = 0.007). In the muscle-dominant group, LCD showed no definite change after surgery. However, the fat-dominant group showed temporary posterior displacement of the lamina cribrosa at 1-month postoperation that was reversed to baseline at 3 months postoperation (95% confidence interval, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The lamina cribrosa was anteriorly displaced preoperatively, and its position was nearly unchanged after the surgery, especially in association with extraocular muscle enlargement. An enlarged extraocular muscle could reduce the pressure-relieving effect of orbital decompression around the scleral canal in patients with GO.

Asymmetry of Peak Thicknesses between the Superior and Inferior Retinal Nerve Fiber Layers for Early Glaucoma Detection: A Simple Screening Method

PURPOSE: To assess whether the asymmetry in the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness between superior and inferior hemispheres on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful for early detection of glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient population consisted of Training set (a total of 60 subjects with early glaucoma and 59 normal subjects) and Validation set (30 subjects with early glaucoma and 30 normal subjects). Two kinds of ratios were employed to measure the asymmetry between the superior and inferior pRNFL thickness using OCT. One was the ratio of the superior to inferior peak thicknesses (peak pRNFL thickness ratio; PTR), and the other was the ratio of the superior to inferior average thickness (average pRNFL thickness ratio; ATR). The diagnostic abilities of the PTR and ATR were compared to the color code classification in OCT. Using the optimal cut-off values of the PTR and ATR obtained from the Training set, the two ratios were independently validated for diagnostic capability. RESULTS: For the Training set, the sensitivities/specificities of the PTR, ATR, quadrants color code classification, and clock-hour color code classification were 81.7%/93.2%, 71.7%/74.6%, 75.0%/93.2%, and 75.0%/79.7%, respectively. The PTR showed a better diagnostic performance for early glaucoma detection than the ATR and the clock-hour color code classification in terms of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) (0.898, 0.765, and 0.773, respectively). For the Validation set, the PTR also showed the best sensitivity and AUC. CONCLUSION: The PTR is a simple method with considerable diagnostic ability for early glaucoma detection. It can, therefore, be widely used as a new screening method for early glaucoma.

Diagnostic Ability of Swept-Source and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography for Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic abilities of swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) [Deep Range Imaging OCT-1 (DRI-OCT)] and spectral-domain OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT) for glaucoma in Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved measuring peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (PP-RNFL) thickness, full macular thickness, and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness on two different OCT systems. We used three-dimensional optic disc scanning of DRI-OCT and included 12 clock-hour sectors for measurement of the PP-RNFL. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated and compared to determine how well each system could distinguish control and glaucomatous patients. RESULTS: Ninety-one healthy and 58 glaucomatous eyes were included. Both systems could clearly distinguish between control eyes and eyes with moderate to severe glaucoma. Among all sectors, the AUC values of areas associated with glaucoma were >0.7 for both OCTs. The PP-RNFL sector of highest AUC value on both OCTs was the inferior sector of the clock-hour map (0.968 and 0.959 in DRI-OCT and Cirrus HD-OCT, respectively). Among macular thickness sectors, AUC values were highest on both OCTs for the outer inferior sector (0.859 and 0.853 in DRI-OCT and Cirrus HD-OCT, respectively). The GC-IPL also provided high diagnostic values (DRI-OCT and Cirrus HD-OCT were the best in the average and inferior sectors, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although the two OCT systems provided different thickness measurements, DRI-OCT exhibited as good, if not better, diagnostic ability for glaucoma as Cirrus HD-OCT in Korean adults.

Correlations between Preoperative Angle Parameters and Postoperative Unpredicted Refractive Errors after Cataract Surgery in Open Angle Glaucoma (AOD 500)

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power prediction for cataract surgery with open angle glaucoma (OAG) and to identify preoperative angle parameters correlated with postoperative unpredicted refractive errors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised 45 eyes from 45 OAG subjects and 63 eyes from 63 non-glaucomatous cataract subjects (controls). We investigated differences in preoperative predicted refractive errors and postoperative refractive errors for each group. Preoperative predicted refractive errors were obtained by biometry (IOL-master) and compared to postoperative refractive errors measured by auto-refractometer 2 months postoperatively. Anterior angle parameters were determined using swept source optical coherence tomography. We investigated correlations between preoperative angle parameters [angle open distance (AOD); trabecular iris surface area (TISA); angle recess area (ARA); trabecular iris angle (TIA)] and postoperative unpredicted refractive errors. RESULTS: In patients with OAG, significant differences were noted between preoperative predicted and postoperative real refractive errors, with more myopia than predicted. No significant differences were recorded in controls. Angle parameters (AOD, ARA, TISA, and TIA) at the superior and inferior quadrant were significantly correlated with differences between predicted and postoperative refractive errors in OAG patients (-0.321 to -0.408, p<0.05). Superior quadrant AOD 500 was significantly correlated with postoperative refractive differences in multivariate linear regression analysis (β=-2.925, R²=0.404). CONCLUSION: Clinically unpredicted refractive errors after cataract surgery were more common in OAG than in controls. Certain preoperative angle parameters, especially AOD 500 at the superior quadrant, were significantly correlated with these unpredicted errors.

Mislocation of Boundary of Localized Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defect in Red-free Photography of Three Glaucoma Patients

No abstract available.

Effect of Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antibody on the Survival of Cultured Retinal Ganglion Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody on the survival of retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-5 cells differentiated with staurosporine under oxidative stress. METHODS: We used real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to confirm the expression of VEGF, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2 in RGC-5 cells differentiated with staurosporine for 6 hours. The differentiated RGC-5 cells were treated with 800 µM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 24 hours to induce oxidative stress. Then, the survival rate of RGC-5 was confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase assay at each concentration (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg) using bevacizumab as the anti-VEGF antibody. The expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 were all expressed in differentiated RGC-5 cells. When RGC-5 cells were simultaneously treated with bevacizumab and 800 µM H₂O₂, survival of RGC-5 decreased with bevacizumab concentration. VEGF expression in RGC-5 cells increased with increasing concentration of bevacizumab. Similar patterns were observed for VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, but the degree of increase was smaller than that for VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: When bevacizumab was administered to differentiated RGC-5 cells, the cell damage caused by oxidative stress increased. Therefore, given these in vitro study results, caution should be exercised with bevacizumab treatment.

Intravitreal Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Optic Disc Edema in a Patient with POEMS Syndrome

No abstract available.

Incidence of Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension Following Myopic Refractive Surgery

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of steroid-induced ocular hypertension following myopic vision correction. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 6,087 patients (12,164 eyes) who underwent myopic refractive surgery (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis [LASIK]/photorefractive keratectomy [PRK]/phakic intraocular lens [IOL] implantation) at Eyereum Eye Clinic between July 2011 and February 2013. Ocular hypertension was defined when post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP) was increased more than 30% compared to predicted IOP adjusted according to corneal thickness. All preoperative IOPs were measured using Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). Postoperative IOPs were measured using non-contact tonometer first and with GAT when the IOP was suspiciously increased. RESULTS: Steroid-induced ocular hypertension after a myopic refractive surgery occurred in 680 eyes (5.58%) of 404 patients (6.64%). The incidence based on surgery was LASIK (0.06%, 2/3, 514 eyes) followed by PRK (7.63%, 575/7,533 eyes) and phakic IOL implantation (9.2%, 103/1,117 eyes). The average increased IOP level in patients with steroid-induced ocular hypertension was 5.62 +/- 3.73 mm Hg after PRK and 9.35 +/- 4.95 mm Hg after phakic IOL implantation. A statistically significantly higher change in IOP was observed in the phakic IOL group (p < 0.001). However, the PRK group had a longer treatment period for ocular hypertension and used more antiglaucoma medications than the phakic IOL group (p < 0.05). Most patients with ocular hypertension were successfully treated with cessation of topical steroid or use of antiglaucoma medications. Only 2 eyes required glaucoma surgery because IOP was not controlled. CONCLUSIONS: IOP measurements should be initiated no later than 1 week after surgery because steroid-induced ocular hypertension following myopic refractive surgery can occur in approximately 5.58% of patients and most cases of ocular hypertension can be controlled with careful follow-up and use of antiglaucoma medications.

Incidence of Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension Following Myopic Refractive Surgery

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of steroid-induced ocular hypertension following myopic vision correction. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 6,087 patients (12,164 eyes) who underwent myopic refractive surgery (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis [LASIK]/photorefractive keratectomy [PRK]/phakic intraocular lens [IOL] implantation) at Eyereum Eye Clinic between July 2011 and February 2013. Ocular hypertension was defined when post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP) was increased more than 30% compared to predicted IOP adjusted according to corneal thickness. All preoperative IOPs were measured using Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). Postoperative IOPs were measured using non-contact tonometer first and with GAT when the IOP was suspiciously increased. RESULTS: Steroid-induced ocular hypertension after a myopic refractive surgery occurred in 680 eyes (5.58%) of 404 patients (6.64%). The incidence based on surgery was LASIK (0.06%, 2/3, 514 eyes) followed by PRK (7.63%, 575/7,533 eyes) and phakic IOL implantation (9.2%, 103/1,117 eyes). The average increased IOP level in patients with steroid-induced ocular hypertension was 5.62 +/- 3.73 mm Hg after PRK and 9.35 +/- 4.95 mm Hg after phakic IOL implantation. A statistically significantly higher change in IOP was observed in the phakic IOL group (p < 0.001). However, the PRK group had a longer treatment period for ocular hypertension and used more antiglaucoma medications than the phakic IOL group (p < 0.05). Most patients with ocular hypertension were successfully treated with cessation of topical steroid or use of antiglaucoma medications. Only 2 eyes required glaucoma surgery because IOP was not controlled. CONCLUSIONS: IOP measurements should be initiated no later than 1 week after surgery because steroid-induced ocular hypertension following myopic refractive surgery can occur in approximately 5.58% of patients and most cases of ocular hypertension can be controlled with careful follow-up and use of antiglaucoma medications.

Surgical Results of Trabeculectomy and Ahmed Valve Implantation Following a Previous Failed Trabeculectomy in Primary Congenital Glaucoma Patients

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical results of trabeculectomy and Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation after a previous failed trabeculectomy. METHODS: A retrospective comparative case series review was performed on 31 eye surgeries in 20 patients with primary congenital glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy or Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation after a previous failed trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. RESULTS: The preoperative mean intraocular pressure was 25.5 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group and 26.9 mmHg in the Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation group (p = 0.73). The 48-month postoperative mean intraocular pressure was 19.6 mmHg in the trabeculectomy group and 20.2 mmHg in the Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation group (p = 0.95). The 12-month trabeculectomy success rate was 69%, compared with 64% for Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation, and the 48-month success rates were 42% and 36% for trabeculectomy and valve implantation, respectively. The success rates following the entire follow-up period were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05 by log rank test). Postoperative complications occurred in 25% of the trabeculectomy-operated eyes and 9% of the Ahmed-implanted eyes (p = 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in surgical outcome between the trabeculectomy and Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation groups, neither of which had favorable results. However, the trabeculectomy group demonstrated a higher prevalence of adverse complications such as post-operative endophthalmitis.

Spherical Aberration, Contrast Sensitivity and Depth of Focus With Three Aspherical Intraocular Lenses

PURPOSE: To evaluate postoperative spherical aberration, contrast sensitivity and depth of focus after implanting 3 different aspheric intraocular lenses. METHODS: Fifty-six eyes (18 eyes for Akreos adapt Advanced Optics (AO), 20 eyes for AcrySof IQ SN60WF and 18 eyes for Tecnis Acrylic IOL ZA9003) of 48 patients were evaluated. Internal ocular aberration including spherical aberration and higher-order aberration and contrast sensitivity were evaluated 3 months after lens implantation. In addition, visual acuities at 33 cm and 1 m distance were measured with the far vision corrected state to calculate depth of focus. RESULTS: The total and internal ocular spherical aberration of the AO implanted group was slightly higher than the other groups with statistical significance. However, there was no statistically significant difference of contrast sensitivity and depth of focus among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: A subtle difference of spherical aberration among the 3 groups without a statistically significant difference in other factors may not induce the differences of contrast sensitivities and depths of focus in each group.

Seborrheic Keratosis of the Conjunctiva: A Case Report

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign epithelial neoplasia that occurs mainly in the skin of the eyelids and face. We describe a case of seborrheic keratosis of the conjunctiva confirmed by histopathology. A 72-year-old man presented with a recurrent conjunctival mass involving the nasal side of his right eye. Clinically, a diagnosis of conjunctival papilloma was made, and a mass excision was performed. The histopathological analysis evidenced a conjunctival-covering epithelium with papillomatous changes and irregular acanthosis, at the expense of a proliferation of basaloid cells. In addition, the lesion exhibited multiple pseudohorn cysts containing keratin. With the above findings, a diagnosis of conjunctival seborrheic keratosis was established. The occurrence of seborrheic keratosis on the conjunctiva is rare. In this case, seborrheic keratosis was confirmed by pathologic report despite its similar appearance with papilloma. Seborrheic keratosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of conjunctival lesions.