Prediction Error Stabilization and Long-Term Standard Results with a Monofocal Intraocular Lens.

The aim of this study was to assess the stability and differences between objective (O-Rx) and subjective (S-Rx) refraction for the assessment of the prediction error (PE). A secondary aim was to report the results of a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL). 100 subjects were included for whom S-Rx and O-Rx were obtained for all visits, and for visual performance, posterior capsular opacification incidence and Nd:YAG rates at 12 months. Either S-Rx and O-Rx showed a hyperopic shift from 1 to 6 months (p < 0.05) and stabilization after 6 months. S-Rx was related with the axial length (rho = -0.29, p = 0.007), obtaining a major tendency towards hyperopia in short eyes implanted with high-power IOLs. O-Rx showed a myopic shift in comparison to S-Rx (p < 0.05). This resulted in a decrease of the number of eyes in ±0.50 D and ±1.00 D from 79 to 67% and from 94 to 90%, respectively. The median (interquartile range) uncorrected and corrected visual acuities were 0.1 (0.29) and 0 (0.12) logMAR, respectively, and seven eyes required Nd:YAG capsulotomy at 12 months. Some caution should be taken in PE studies in which O-Rx is used or S-Rx is measured in a 1-month follow-up. Constant optimization should be conducted for this IOL after S-Rx stabilization.

Global multi-site, prospective analysis of cataract surgery outcomes following ICHOM standards: the European CAT-Community.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in a large sample of patients from 10 different European centers the results of cataract surgery, characterizing the relationship between patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and clinician-reported outcome measures (CROMs). METHODS: Prospective non-interventional multicenter observational descriptive study analyzing the clinical outcomes of a total of 3799 cases undergoing cataract surgery (mean age: 72.7 years). In all cases, the cataract surgery standard developed by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurements (ICHOM) was used to register the clinical data. Three-month postoperative visual acuity and refraction data were considered CROMs, whereas Rasch-calibrated item 2 (RCCQ2) and total Catquest-9SF score (CQ) were considered PROMs. RESULTS: Postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.3 logMAR or better in 88.7% (2505/2823) of eyes. Mean differences between preoperative and postoperative RCCQ2 and CQ scores were -3.09 and -2.39, respectively. Visual function improvement with surgery was reported by 91.5% (2163/2364) of patients. Statistically significant, although weak, correlations of postoperative CDVA with postoperative refraction, PROMs, and complications were found (0.133 ≤ r ≤0.289, p < 0.001). A predictive model (R2: 0.254) of postoperative CDVA considering 10 variables was obtained, including preoperative CDVA, different ocular comorbidities, age, gender and intraoperative complications. Likewise, another predictive model (R2: 0.148) of postoperative CQ considering a total of 14 variables was obtained, including additionally preoperative CQ, target refraction and previous surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery provides an improved functional vision in most of patients although this improvement can be limited by ocular comorbidities and complications. The relationship between PROMs and CROMs is multifactorial and complex.

Transforming growth factor-ß inhibition decreases diode laser-induced choroidal neovascularization development in rats: P17 and P144 peptides.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß inhibitor peptides (P17 and P144) on the development of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (LI-CNV) in a rat model. METHODS: Sixty-one Long-Evans rats underwent diode LI-CNV model. Forty-eight hours later, treatment was administered. The intravenous control group (IV-control) and intravenous P17 group (IV-17) received five doses (0.2 mg every 72 hours) of vehicle and P17, respectively. Four groups received intravitreal injections of P17 low-dose (LD-17; 1 mg/mL) and high-dose (HD-17; 20 mg/mL) and P144 low-dose (LD-144; 1 mg/mL) and high-dose (HD-144; 3 mg/mL), and fellow eyes received vehicle. CNV evolution was assessed weekly by fluorescein angiography (FA). After death, VEGF, TGF-ß and PDGF protein levels were measured by ELISA in RPE and retina homogenates. Data were analyzed with commercially available statistical analysis software. RESULTS: The mean CNV area, measured in pixels, was significantly lower at the second and fourth weeks in IV-17 (P < 0.05) and from the second week in HD-17 (P < 0.05), whereas LD-144 and HD-144 showed significant differences at every time point (P < 0.05). LD-17 showed significantly lower protein levels of TGF-ß in retina and PDGF in RPE (P < 0.05), whereas HD-17 showed lower levels of VEGF (RPE and retina; P < 0.05), TGF-ß (RPE and retina; P < 0.05), and PDGF (RPE; P < 0.05). HD-144 showed lower VEGF levels in the retina (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TGF-ß inhibition with these peptides represents a promising new therapeutic line for CNV targeting a different pathway than current therapies. More studies are needed to assess this effect on early CNV, alone or in combination with anti-VEGF.

Polypropylene suture-guided valve tube for posterior chamber implantation in patients with pseudophakic glaucoma.

We describe a new surgical procedure for implanting a glaucoma drainage tube in the posterior chamber. A needle with a 10-0 polypropylene suture is introduced into the posterior chamber, and a 23-gauge needle is also introduced as the barrel on the polypropylene needle tip. After the 23-gauge needle is withdrawn from the posterior chamber, the polypropylene needle tip is pulled and the suture crosses the anterior and posterior chambers. A sliding knot is made around the drainage tube. The tube is pushed into the scleral tunnel and posterior chamber as the suture is pulled to position the tube. The knot is loosened and the suture removed from the eye by pulling from either side. This procedure is easy and effective for implanting a tube in the posterior chamber in pseudophakic eyes and is indicated after penetrating keratoplasty or in eyes with compromised endothelial function.

Reproducibility and clinical relevance of the ocular response analyzer in nonoperated eyes: corneal biomechanical and tonometric implications.

PURPOSE: To assess the reproducibility of the ocular response analyzer (ORA) in nonoperated eyes and the impact of corneal biomechanical properties on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements in normal and glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: In the reliability study, two independent examiners obtained repeated ORA measurements in 30 eyes. In the clinical study, the examiners analyzed ORA and IOP-Goldmann values from 220 normal and 42 glaucomatous eyes. In both studies, Goldmann-correlated IOP measurement (IOP-ORAg), corneal-compensated IOP (IOP-ORAc), corneal hysteresis (CH), and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were evaluated. IOP differences of 3 mm Hg or greater between the IOP-ORAc and IOP-ORAg were considered outcome significant. RESULTS: Intraexaminer intraclass correlation coefficients and interexaminer concordance correlation coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.93 and from 0.81 to 0.93, respectively, for all parameters. CH reproducibility was highest, and the IOP-ORAg readings were lowest. The median IOP was 16 mm Hg with the Goldmann tonometer, 14.5 mm Hg with IOP-ORAg (P < 0.001), and 15.7 mm Hg with IOP-ORAc (P < 0.001). Outcome-significant results were found in 77 eyes (29.38%). The IOP-ORAc, CH, and CRF were correlated with age (r = 0.22, P = 0.001; r = -0.23, P = 0.001; r = -0.14, P = 0.02, respectively), but not the IOP-ORAg or IOP-Goldmann. CONCLUSIONS: The ORA provides reproducible corneal biomechanical and IOP measurements in nonoperated eyes. Considering the effect of ORA, corneal biomechanical metrics produces an outcome-significant IOP adjustment in at least one quarter of glaucomatous and normal eyes undergoing noncontact tonometry. Corneal viscoelasticity (CH) and resistance (CRF) appear to decrease minimally with increasing age in healthy adults.

Intraocular lens opacification after nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery with mitomycin-C.

A 58-year-old woman had successful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in January 2001. Two years later, nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery with mitomycin-C (MMC) 0.02% was performed for uncontrolled glaucoma. Two months later, opacification of the anterior IOL surface was observed. The IOL was removed and a hydrophobic acrylic AcrySof IOL (Alcon) implanted. The opacified IOL was studied by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, which showed the presence of calcium carbonate. A new IOL of the same model was placed in an aqueous solution with calcium carbonate and basic pH, and the same opacification developed. We hypothesize that the change in aqueous humor pH after glaucoma surgery and the characteristics of the IOL precipitated deposition of calcium.