Evaluation of the Effect of Garlic Tablet as a Complementary Treatment for Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of garlic (Allium sativum L.) tablets as a complimentary herbal medication in diabetic macular edema. Methods: A total of 91 diabetic participants (117 eyes) with central involved macular edema underwent a double-blind randomized trial. The patients used garlic tablets (500 mg) (2 tab/day) or placebo for 4 weeks and subsequently were examined by an expert ophthalmologist. Clinical manifestations including the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), central macular thickness (CMT, µm), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured as the main outcomes. Results: BCVA was significantly improved by a 0.18 decrease in mean logMAR value in the garlic-treated patients in comparison with 0.06 in the control ones (P value = 0.027). CMT was decreased in both groups by a 102.99 µm decrease in the garlic group compared to 52.67 µm in the placebo group, albeit in a nonsignificant manner (P value: 0.094). IOP was decreased in the garlic group by 1.03 mmHg (P value: 0.024) and increased by 0.3 mmHg (P value: 0.468) in the placebo group. Conclusion: Our trial suggests that garlic supplements can improve visual acuity, decrease the CMT and lower the IOP, and can be considered as an adjuvant treatment in patients with diabetic macular edema. Garlic was satisfactorily tolerated in diabetic patients, and no significant adverse effect interrupting the safety profile was observed.

INTERNATIONAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN ON INTRAVITREAL THERAPY OUTCOMES: Fight Retinal Blindness Registry.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on the outcomes of eyes treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion in eight countries. METHODS: A multicenter international database study of 5,782 eyes (4,708 patients) receiving intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections before, during, and after national lockdowns. The baseline visit was defined as the last visit within 3 months before lockdown, and prelockdown and postlockdown periods were defined as 6 months before and after the lockdown date. RESULTS: Eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (n = 4,649) lost vision in all countries in proportion to the reduced number of injections. The mean visual acuity change postlockdown ranged from -0.4 to -3.8 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution letters, and the median number of injections/visits decreased from 4-5/4-7 to 2-4/2-4 postlockdown. The diabetic macular edema (n = 654) and retinal vein occlusion (n = 479) eyes' mean visual acuity change ranged from -2.8 to +1.7 letters and -1.6 to +0.1 letters, and the median number of injections/visits decreased from 2.5-5/4-6 to 1-3/2-4 and from 3-5.5/4-5 to 1-3.5/2-3.5, respectively. The 6-month dropout rates postlockdown were 20% for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, 27% for diabetic macular edema, and 28% for retinal vein occlusion. CONCLUSION: This international study provides estimates of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on intravitreal therapy and suggests that prioritizing neovascular age-related macular degeneration eyes seems appropriate.

Therapeutic effect of simultaneous intravitreal dexamethasone and aflibercept on diabetic macular edema.

AIMS: To report the effect of simultaneous intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) and aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This retrospective analysis of an open-label, multicenter, consecutive case series included 102 eyes of 81 patients with DME. Patients were selected into two groups. The control group consisted of 50 eyes treated with aflibercept alone, and the combination group consisted of 52 eyes treated with simultaneous DEX implant and aflibercept injection. The primary endpoints were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline to month 6. The secondary endpoint was the interval of retreatment. RESULTS: Baseline BCVA increased and CRT decreased at 6 months in both groups. Pseudophakic eyes in the combination group exhibited significantly greater BCVA improvement compared with phakic eyes (p = 0.031). Fewer intravitreal treatments were required for eyes treated with combination therapy than for those treated with aflibercept alone (1.56 ± 0.54 vs. 4.04 ± 1.26, p < .0001), with a mean retreatment interval of 3.66 ± 0.69 months. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous intravitreal DEX and aflibercept achieved non-inferior improvement of visual and anatomic outcomes compared with aflibercept alone for DME, but exhibited a significantly longer treatment interval and superior visual outcome in pseudophakic eyes. This therapeutic approach is considered a valid strategy for treating DME in the era of COVID-19.

[Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on diabetic macular edema and prognostic factors]. / Impact de la pandémie du SARS-CoV-2 sur l'œdème maculaire diabétique et facteurs pronostiques.

PURPOSE: To assess functional and anatomical consequences of the delay in intravitreal injections for diabetic macular edema (DME) patients during the corona virus pandemic lockdown in Morocco as well as to evaluate factors associated with disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included DME patients who did not complete their scheduled intravitreal bevacizumab injections during the Lockdown period (March 20, 2020 to May 20, 2020). Data recorded included age, duration of diabetes, number of previous intravitreal injections, best-corrected visual acuity, and central macular thickness before and after the lockdown. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty four eyes of 104 patients were analyzed. 57.8% were male. The mean age was 59.4±9.04 years. The mean duration of delay of intravitreal injections was 57.3±6.7 days. The mean number of intravitreal bevacizumab injections received before the lockdown was 2.29±2.1. Worsening of visual acuity was noted in 44.8% of patients and was associated with a lower number of intravitreal injections performed prior to the lockdown (P=0.001) and with glycemic imbalance (P=0.04). An increase in central macular thickness was noted in 26.6% of patients and was associated with a lower number of intravitreal injections (P=0.038). CONCLUSION: The delay in intravitreal injections during the lockdown had negative effects on visual acuity and central macular thickness in eyes with DME. Prolonged delay in intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in diabetic patients should be avoided.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Diabetic Retinopathy Monitoring and Treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Although screening and early treatment guidelines for DR have significantly reduced the disease burden, restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have changed real-world practice patterns in the management of DR. This review summarizes evolving guidelines and outcomes of the treatment of DR in the setting of the pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS: Intravitreal injections for DR have decreased significantly globally during the pandemic, ranging from approximately 30 to nearly 100% reduction, compared to corresponding timepoints in 2019. Most studies on functional outcomes show a decrease in visual acuity on delayed follow-up. Changing practice patterns in the management of DR has led to fewer intravitreal injections and overall reduction in visual acuity on follow-up. As COVID variants emerge, it will be necessary to continue evaluating practice guidelines.

OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS RESUMING INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY FOLLOWING TREATMENT DELAY DURING THE CORONAVIRUS-19 PANDEMIC.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of delay in care secondary to the coronavirus pandemic in patients requiring intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed, and subjects were divided into two groups: 1) a study group of patients who experienced a treatment delay of ≥6 weeks from the intended follow-up during the coronavirus pandemic and resumed treatment with ≥2 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections over 6 months following treatment delay, and 2) a control group of patients who received regular care throughout the coronavirus pandemic. RESULTS: Totally, 234 subjects were analyzed. The mean treatment delay from the intended follow-up in the study group was 11.8 (±4.0) weeks. Visual acuity and central macular thickness worsened from baseline to 6 months after resuming anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in the study group (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Visual acuity and central macular thickness were better in the control group compared with the study group at the end of the 6-month study period (P < 0.0001 for both). CONCLUSION: Treatment delay in subjects undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retina disease during the coronavirus pandemic had worse visual and anatomical outcomes despite reinitiating treatment over 6 months compared with a control group, suggesting irreversibility and permanence of outcomes.

The impact of delayed anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for retinal diseases during the COVID-19 lockdown.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical status of treatment-naive patients who had to delay 3-dose loading anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) injections during the COVID-19 lockdown, and to evaluate the effect of the delayed visual acuity treatment on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) parameters. METHOD: A total of 55 eyes of 46 patients who were received in the study period participated in this retrospective study, including 28 patients (37 eyes) with diabetic macular edema (DME), 11 patients (11 eyes) with retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and 7 patients (7 eyes) with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet-AMD). The patients were diagnosed with DME, RVO, or wet-AMD in February 2020 and had planned 3-dose loading injections in March, April, and May 2020, but could not be injected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: From the patients' initial examination in February 2020, the mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.72 ± 59 logMAR. After the patients' lockdown visit in July 2020, the mean BCVA was 0.76 ± 64 logMAR. BCVA was stable in 11 eyes, decreased in 12 eyes, and increased in 14 eyes for patients with DME. BCVA was stable in 6, decreased in 3, and increased in 2 eyes for patients with RVO, and it was stable in 4 eyes and decreased in 3 eyes for patients with wet-AMD. CONCLUSION: We concluded that 6-month delay in treatment of DME patients with non-proliferative DRP had no adverse effect on the visual acuity. However, the loading dose in wet-AMD and RVO patients should be applied as soon as possible.

Patient Perceptions of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Risk and Association With Continuity of Ophthalmic Care.

Importance: Patient perceptions regarding the risks of obtaining in-person ophthalmic care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may affect adherence to recommended treatment plans and influence visual outcomes. A deeper understanding of patient perspectives will inform strategies to optimize adherence with vision-preserving therapies. Objective: To evaluate perceptions of COVID-19 exposure risk and their association with appointment attendance among patients at high risk of both reversible and irreversible vision loss from lapses in care. Design, Setting, and Participants: This survey study included a nonvalidated telephone survey designed in April and May of 2020 and a retrospective medical record review conducted in parallel with survey administration from May 22 to August 18, 2020. Participants were recruited from 2 tertiary eye care centers (Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and W.K. Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan). The study included a random sample of patients with diagnoses of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or diabetic retinopathy (DR) who received an intravitreal injection between January 6 and March 13, 2020, and were scheduled for a second injection between March 13 and May 6, 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Association between perceptions regarding COVID-19 risks and loss to follow-up. Results: Of 1004 eligible patients, 423 (42%) were successfully contacted, and 348 (82%) agreed to participate (participants' mean [SD] age, 75 [12] years; 195 women [56%]; 287 White [82%] patients). Respondents had a mean (SD) of 2.7 (1.1) comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19, and 77 (22%) knew someone with COVID-19. Of all respondents, 163 (47%) were very concerned or moderately concerned about vision loss from missed treatments during the pandemic. Although 208 (60%) believed the COVID-19 virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), exposure at the eye clinic was extremely unlikely or unlikely, 49 (14%) believed it was extremely likely or likely. Seventy-eight participants (22%) were lost to follow-up. Concern regarding COVID-19 exposure during clinic visits (odds ratio [OR], 3.9; 95% CI, 1.8-8.4) and diagnosis of DR (vs AMD) (OR, 8.130; 95% CI, 3.367-20.408) were associated with an increase in likelihood of loss to follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients at high risk for vision loss from lapses in care, many expressed concerns regarding the effect of the pandemic on their ability to receive timely care. Survey results suggest that fear of SARS-CoV-2 exposure was associated with a roughly 4-fold increase in the odds of patient loss to follow-up. These results support the potential importance of clearly conveying infection-control measures.

Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents during COVID-19 pandemic: clinical audit from Tanta University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to provide real-life data about the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of anti-VEGF injections and to evaluate the safety of the modifications in the injection protocol imposed during the ongoing pandemic on the anatomical and functional outcome of patients. METHODS: All patients attending Tanta University hospital for receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were screened. Patients who were previously deferred according to a modified protocol implemented in the hospital in response to the pandemic or who demonstrated deviation from it were included for further analysis. RESULTS: During the audit period, 83 patients attending for anti-VEGF injections were screened, of whom 40 met the abovementioned criteria and were included for analysis. In the deferred subgroup (11 eyes), predeferral mean values of logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal subfield thickness (CST) were 1 ± 0.23 and 444.57 ± 200.1 µm, respectively. There was no significant change when the patients returned for their deferred injections, with the mean BCVA and CST values being 0.8 ± 0.22 and 413.71 ± 237.7 µm, respectively (p = 0.27 and p = 0.12). Moreover, 29 patients encountered a disturbed injection schedule, particularly skipping their injection appointments due to infection fear as found in 18 patients. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed pressing challenges in maintaining essential health care while ensuring the prevention of spread of infection. Although the modified injection protocol confirmed to be safe for patients, the pandemic caused deflection from the optimum practice in the form of successive skipping of appointments and delays in the processing of patient injection schedules.

The Effect of Delay in Care among Patients Requiring Intravitreal Injections.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of delay in care on visual acuity (VA) in patients requiring intravitreal injections (IVIs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years of age or older with diabetic macular edema (DME), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), or both; neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD); or retinal vein occlusion (RVO) scheduled to see a retina specialist during the mandated lockdown period (March 14 - May 4, 2020 [the coronavirus disease 2019 period]) and who had received an IVI in the 12 weeks prior. METHODS: Chart review was performed and demographics, diagnoses, procedures, and VA were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: VA in patients who completed, canceled, and no-showed for the scheduled visit. RESULTS: Of the 1041 total patients, 620 (60%) completed the scheduled visit, whereas 376 (36%) canceled and 45 (4%) no-showed. In patients who missed the visit, the average delay in care was 5.34 weeks. In those who missed a visit, VA was assessed at the subsequent visit. Patients who canceled a visit were older, and patients who no-showed had lower baseline vision (mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters ± standard error [SE]: no-show, 53.27 ± 3.21 letters; canceled, 60.79 ± 1.11 letters; and completed, 62.81 ± 0.84 letters; P = 0.0101) and were more likely to have DME, PDR, or both (no-show, 13 patients [29%]; canceled, 56 patients [16%]; completed, 81 patients [13%]; P = 0.0456). Patients who missed a visit lost vision as compared with the patients who completed one (no-show, -5.024 ± 1.88 letters; canceled, -1.633 ± 0.65 letters; completed, 0.373 ± 0.50 letters; P = 0.0028). Patients with DME, PDR, or both (-3.48 ± 1.95 letters vs. 2.71 ± 1.75 letters; P = 0.0203), with RVO (-3.22 ± 1.41 letters vs. 0.95 ± 1.23 letters; P = 0.0230), and, to lesser degree, with nAMD (-1.23 ± 0.70 letters vs. -0.24 ± 0.56 letters; P = 0.2679) lost vision compared with patients with same diagnoses who completed the scheduled visit. CONCLUSIONS: In patients requiring IVIs, a delay in care of 5.34 weeks resulted in vision loss. It was seen in all patients, but was more prominent in patients with DME, PDR or both and RVO. Further studies are necessary to examine whether these vision changes persist over a longer duration.

Intravitreal injections during COVID-19 outbreak: Real-world experience from an Italian tertiary referral center.

We report our experience during COVID-19 outbreak for intravitreal injections in patients with maculopathy. We proposed a treatment priority levels and timings; the "High" priority level includes all monocular patients; the "Moderate" is assigned to all patients with an active macular neovascularization; the patients affected by diabetic macular edema or retinal vein occlusion belong to the "Low" class. This organization allowed us to treat the most urgent patients although the injections performed had a 91.7% drop compared to the same period of 2019.