Investigation of the reasons for delayed presentation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients.

AIM: To investigate reasons for delayed presentation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: A questionnaire was designed to investigate consecutive PDR patients with delayed presentation who visited our center between January 2021 and December 2021. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: knowledge regarding diabetic retinopathy (DR), attitude toward DR treatment, difficulties adhering to follow-up plans, and medical care. The systemic disease status and severity of DR were recorded. Logistic analysis was undertaken to investigate DR treatment refusal and delay factors. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were included in this study, with an average age of 50.0 ± 11.6 years. The median glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) was 7.8% (IQR 2.5%). Among the 157 eyes, most required vitrectomy intervention (144, 91.7%); 17 developed neovascular glaucoma (NVG), while only 13 required additional photocoagulation. Among the 36 patients with undiagnosed DM, the reason for delayed DR presentation was a lack of awareness of DM status among these patients (36 cases, 100.0%). Most of the patients with a known history of DM exhibited inadequate DR knowledge (29, 24.0%), believed their good visual acuity did not require DR screening (98, 81.0%), and had poorly controlled diabetes (113, 93.3%). Factors related to refusing DR treatment were patients with an inability to receive regular diabetes treatment in internal medicine clinics (OR 6.78, 95% CI 1.73-26.59, p = 0.006), patients who could not tolerate discomfort during ophthalmic examination and treatment (OR 15.15, 95% CI 2.70-83.33, p<0.001), and patients who did not have any retinal abnormalities detected and were not informed about the need for regular screening (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.36-3.09, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the factors contributing to delayed presentation among patients with PDR. Many individuals in the delayed population were found to have undiagnosed DM. Among patients already aware of their DM status, reasons for delay included insufficient knowledge about DR, negative attitudes toward screening and treatment, and difficulties seeking medical care in real-life situations. Furthermore, there needed to be more improvements in the detection, treatment, and follow-up of DR by internal medicine practitioners and ophthalmologists.

Factors related to postoperative vitreous hemorrhage after small-gauge vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients.

BACKGROUND: The role of anticoagulation or antiplatelet on post-vitrectomy vitreous hemorrhage (POVH) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is rarely investigated in the small-gauge vitrectomy era. We investigate the relationship between the long-term use of those medications and POVH in a group of PDR patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a group of PDR patients who underwent small-gauge vitrectomy in our center. The baseline data on diabetes, diabetic complications, long-term use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, ocular findings, and vitrectomy details were collected. The occurrence of POVH was recorded during at least three-month follow-up. Factors related to POVH were analyzed using logistic analysis. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 16 weeks, 5% (11/220) of patients had POVH, and 75 had received antiplatelet or anticoagulation agents before the operation. Factors related to persistent POVH were the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulation agents (5.98, 1.75-20.45, p = 0.004), the presence of myocardial revascularization (130.65, 3.53-4834.50, p = 0.008), the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with medicine (56.52, 1.99-1604.06, p = 0.018), and younger age (0.86, 0.77-0.96, p = 0.012). For those receiving preoperative antiplatelet or anticoagulation agents, the probability of developing POVH was higher in the patients whose previous therapy was adjusted compared to those with continued therapy (p = 0.02 by Log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: We identified long-term use of anticoagulation or antiplatelet medication, the presence of CAD, and younger age as three independent factors related to POVH. In PDR patients on long-term antiplatelet or anticoagulation medications, particular attention should be given to controlling intraoperative bleeding, and follow-up for POVH should be scheduled.

Visual outcomes and postoperative complications of eyes with dropped lens fragments during cataract surgery: multicenter database study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the visual outcomes and postoperative complications of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in eyes with posterior capsule rupture (PCR) and dropped lens fragments (DLFs) in comparison with a reference group with uneventful surgery. SETTING: 8 UK National Health Service departments. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative nonrandomized study. METHODS: Demographic, medical history, and ocular examination data were automatically extracted from the electronic records. The main outcome variables were postoperative visual acuity (VA), and the development of postoperative cystoid macular edema (CME) as well as rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and epiretinal membrane (ERM) requiring surgery. RESULTS: The analysis included 175 589 eyes in the reference group, 2751 eyes in the PCR group, and 519 eyes in the DLF group. During all postoperative intervals, the mean VA in the DLF and PCR groups was significantly worse than the reference group ( P < .001). On multivariate analysis, the odds of having a VA ≤0.3 logMAR at 4 to 12 weeks postoperatively among eyes with DLF and PCR were 88% and 73% lower than the reference group ( P < .001). More eyes developed CME in the DLF and PCR groups ( P < .001). The odds of requiring RRD and ERM surgery were 3.6 and 2.1 times higher in the DLF group, and 1.8 and 1.3 times higher in the PCR group, respectively, as compared with the reference group. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes undergoing phacoemulsification complicated by PCR, and more so with DLF, have worse visual outcomes and higher chances of CME, ERM, and RRD when compared with uneventful surgery.

Modeling and characterization of OASIS inflatable primary antenna by dual modality metrology.

OASIS (Orbiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems) is a space-based observatory with a 14 m diameter inflatable primary antenna that will perform high spectral resolution observations at terahertz frequencies. The large inflatable aperture, non-traditional surface configuration, and the double layered membrane structure afford unique challenges to the modeling and testing of the primary antenna. A 1-meter prototype of the primary antenna (A1) was built to validate our technical approach. A laser radar coordinate measuring system was adopted to measure the shape of A1. In addition, deflectometry was performed to monitor the stability of A1 during the radar measurement. Test cases pertaining to specific operational conditions expected for the 14 m OASIS primary were explored. The measured data were then compared to the Fichter model and Finite-element Analyzer for Inflatable Membranes (FAIM).

Ocular findings, surgery details and outcomes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients with chronic kidney disease.

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of impaired renal function on fundus characteristics, pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) details, and outcomes in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We investigated a consecutive series of PDR patients who underwent PPV. The diabetic complications, previous photocoagulation, intravitreal injections before PPV, ocular findings during PPV, surgical details, short-term visual outcome and post-PPV complications were recorded and compared between patients with and without impaired renal function. RESULTS: 149 patients had normal renal function (67.7%), and 71 (32.3%) patients had impaired renal function; 85.4% of patients were identified with chronic kidney disease (CKD) during the preoperative assessment. Impaired renal function was related to hypertension (3.40[1.58-7.29], p = 0.002), incomplete pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) (3.18[1.50-6.72], p = 0.002), severe fibrovascular membrane (8.19[3.43-19.54], p<0.001), and extensive retinal vascular closure (3.40[1.54-7.52], p = 0.002). There was a more frequent occurrence of severe intraoperative bleeding (56.3%, 32.2%, p = 0.001) and a higher percentage of intraocular subretinal fluid drainage (45.1%, 22.1%, p = 0.008) in patients with impaired renal function. The percentage of patients whose visual acuity (VA) increased was similar between the two groups (42.3%, 54.4%, p = 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: In PDR patients, screening for CKD was required before PPV. PDR patients with impaired renal function tended to have more severe ischemic retinal conditions. Comparable PPV outcomes could be obtained in patients with and without impaired renal damage.

Acceptance and Perception of Artificial Intelligence Usability in Eye Care (APPRAISE) for Ophthalmologists: A Multinational Perspective.

Background: Many artificial intelligence (AI) studies have focused on development of AI models, novel techniques, and reporting guidelines. However, little is understood about clinicians' perspectives of AI applications in medical fields including ophthalmology, particularly in light of recent regulatory guidelines. The aim for this study was to evaluate the perspectives of ophthalmologists regarding AI in 4 major eye conditions: diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract. Methods: This was a multi-national survey of ophthalmologists between March 1st, 2020 to February 29th, 2021 disseminated via the major global ophthalmology societies. The survey was designed based on microsystem, mesosystem and macrosystem questions, and the software as a medical device (SaMD) regulatory framework chaired by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Factors associated with AI adoption for ophthalmology analyzed with multivariable logistic regression random forest machine learning. Results: One thousand one hundred seventy-six ophthalmologists from 70 countries participated with a response rate ranging from 78.8 to 85.8% per question. Ophthalmologists were more willing to use AI as clinical assistive tools (88.1%, n = 890/1,010) especially those with over 20 years' experience (OR 3.70, 95% CI: 1.10-12.5, p = 0.035), as compared to clinical decision support tools (78.8%, n = 796/1,010) or diagnostic tools (64.5%, n = 651). A majority of Ophthalmologists felt that AI is most relevant to DR (78.2%), followed by glaucoma (70.7%), AMD (66.8%), and cataract (51.4%) detection. Many participants were confident their roles will not be replaced (68.2%, n = 632/927), and felt COVID-19 catalyzed willingness to adopt AI (80.9%, n = 750/927). Common barriers to implementation include medical liability from errors (72.5%, n = 672/927) whereas enablers include improving access (94.5%, n = 876/927). Machine learning modeling predicted acceptance from participant demographics with moderate to high accuracy, and area under the receiver operating curves of 0.63-0.83. Conclusion: Ophthalmologists are receptive to adopting AI as assistive tools for DR, glaucoma, and AMD. Furthermore, ML is a useful method that can be applied to evaluate predictive factors on clinical qualitative questionnaires. This study outlines actionable insights for future research and facilitation interventions to drive adoption and operationalization of AI tools for Ophthalmology.

The Genetic Architecture of Non-Syndromic Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is the most common form of retinal detachment (RD), affecting 1 in 10,000 patients per year. The condition has significant ocular morbidity, with a sizeable proportion of patients obtaining poor visual outcomes. Despite this, the genetics underpinning Idiopathic Retinal Detachment (IRD) remain poorly understood; this is likely due to small sample sizes in relevant studies. The majority of research pertains to the well-characterised Mende lian syndromes, such as Sticklers and Wagners, associated with RRD. Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been an increasing body of literature identifying the common genetic mutations and mechanisms associated with IRD. Several recent Genomic Wide Association Studies (GWAS) studies have identified a number of genetic loci related to the development of IRD. Our review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of the significant genetic mechanisms and associations of Idiopathic RRD.

Investigating target refraction advice provided to cataract surgery patients by UK optometrists and ophthalmologists.

PURPOSE: To determine whether UK optometrists and ophthalmologists provide target refraction advice to patients prior to cataract surgery, and when this should first be discussed. METHODS: Optometrists and ophthalmologists were asked to complete a survey of two clinical vignettes (both older patients with cataract; a pre-operative myope who routinely read without glasses and a patient using a monovision approach), plus multiple choice and short answer questions either using hard copy or online. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 437 optometrists and 50 ophthalmologists. Optometrists who reported they would provide target refraction advice were more experienced (median 22 years) than those who would leave this to the Hospital Eye Service (median 10 years). The former group reported it was in the patients' best interest to make an informed decision as they had seen many myopic patients who read uncorrected pre-operatively, and were unhappy that they could no longer do so after surgery. Inexperienced optometrists reported that they did not want to overstep their authority and left the decision to the ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologists estimated their percentage of emmetropic target refractions over the last year to have been 90%. CONCLUSION: Currently, some long-term myopes become dissatisfied after cataract surgery due to an emmetropic target refraction that leaves them unable to read without glasses as they did prior to surgery. Although experienced optometrists are aware of this and attempt to discuss this issue with patients, less experienced optometrists tend not to. This suggests that target refraction needs greater exposure in university training and continuing professional development. To provide patients with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their surgery, we suggest an agreed protocol within funded direct referral schemes of initial target refraction discussions by optometrists to introduce the idea of refractive outcomes and outline options, with further discussion with the ophthalmologist to clarify understanding.

Heavy silicone oil tamponade: a multicentre experience.

OBJECTIVE: To report multicentred use of the heavy silicone oil Densiron 68 for anatomical reattachment following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair and its associated complications. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Patients from seven vitreoretinal units within the UK that underwent RRD repair with Densiron 68 between January 2015 and December 2019 were identified. Primary outcome measures were primary and final reattachment rate, retained Densiron and failure rate. Secondary outcome measures were duration of tamponade, final visual acuity (VA) and complications of heavy silicone oil. RESULTS: 134 eyes of 134 patients were involved in the study. Primary surgical success was achieved in 48.5%, while a final reattachment rate of 73.4% was observed. The mean duration of Densiron 68 tamponade was 139.5 days. Mean final VA was 1.01 (range 0-2.9). 8 eyes (6.0%) required long-term topical steroids for anterior uveitis, whereas none of the eyes required long-term pressure-lowering treatment. Emulsification rate was 10.7% (6 eyes). CONCLUSION: This is the largest real-world study on Densiron 68 in the UK. Densiron 68 facilitates tamponade of inferior retinal pathology and may be considered as an option for tamponade of inferior retinal pathologies.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment services-Experiences from the Tongren eye center in Beijing.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact on services for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients during the COVID-19 (2019coronal virus disease) pandemic in one tertiary center in Beijing. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. Two reviewed consecutive RRD patients cohorts of the same length were treated during two different periods: the COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-COVID-19 group. The characteristics of patients, surgery, anesthesia methods, length of hospital stay, and the latest follow-up were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 79 patients in the COVID-19 pandemic group with a 55.9% reduction (179). Compared to patients in the pre-COVID-19, patients in the COVID-19 pandemic had a longer presurgical waiting times (28days, 3days, p<0.001), a higher percentage of patients with presurgical poor (less than 0.02) visual acuity (55.7%, 32.4%, p = 0.009), and a higher percentage of patients with presurgical choroidal detachment (34.2%, 19.6%, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the severity of presurgical proliferative vitreoretinopathy between the two groups (p = 0.64). Surgeries on pathological myopia patients with macular hole retinal detachment were postponed in the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a lower percentage of scleral buckling (27.8%, 41.3%, p = 0.02) and a lower rate of subretinal fluid drainage (45.4%, 75.7%, p = 0.01) in the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no significant difference in either postoperative visual acuity (p = 0.73) or the rate of single-surgery retinal attachment (p = 1) between the two groups. Patients in the COVID-19 pandemic had a shorter length of hospital stay (3hours, 35 hours, p<0.001), and a lower percentage of patients received general anesthesia (48.1%, 83.2%, p<0.001). None was infected with COVID-19 disease during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown caused prolonged presurgical waiting times, shorter hospital stays, less general anesthesia, and a significant reduction of RRD surgeries. The RD were more complicated, the surgeons were more conservative on procedures and patients selection, while the surgery outcomes were comparable.

An in-vitro study of subretinal perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) droplets and the physics of their retention and evacuation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the physics associated with the retention and removal of subretinal perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL), as inspired by a series of anecdotal cases of spontaneous 'disappearance' of subretinal PFCL. METHODS: The profiles of subretinal PFCL in situ from published OCT images were studied and compared with that of PFCL droplets resting on a hydrophilic surface in vitro. A mathematical model based on Sampson's and Poiseuille's formula was developed to explain how evacuation of subretinal PFCL without aspiration could occur. RESULTS: The mathematical model suggested that in vivo subretinal PFCL can completely evacuate in less than a second via a 41-guage retinal hole. Perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) droplets in situ subretinally substantially varied in their aspect ratios (from 0.28 to 2.71) and their contact angles with the retinal pigment epithelium (from 98° to 155°). Conversely, PFCL in vitro had aspect ratios and contact angles close to 1 and 150° respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed evidence that stretching of the retina to accommodate subretinal PFCL occurs, which might be responsible for the varied profile of the droplets and resultant forces that can cause retinal holes, and spontaneous evacuation of large PFCL droplets. By filling the vitreous cavity with PFCL, a small retinotomy alone might allow spontaneous evacuation without the need for aspiration.

Marfan syndrome and the eye clinic: from diagnosis to management.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder affecting the cardiovascular, ocular and musculoskeletal systems. Frequently, clinical suspicion and subsequent diagnosis begins in the ophthalmology clinic. Importantly, the ophthalmologist has a responsibility to cater not only to the eye, but also to be involved in a holistic approach for these patients. In this review, we discuss how MFS may present to an eye clinic, including clinical features, ocular morbidity, genetic diagnosis and management. Although this condition is ideally managed by a multidisciplinary team, our focus will be on MFS and the eye, including other conditions which may present with similar phenotypes. The ophthalmologist's role as the potential first contact for a patient with suspected MFS is crucial in making the proper investigations and referral, with the knowledge that not all ectopia lentis cases are MFS and vice versa. Management of ocular conditions in MFS may range from simple observation to surgical intervention; current options will be discussed.

Eye problems in Marfan Syndrome ­ A Review Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited disorder that affects many systems of the body, including the heart, joints, skeleton, skin and eyes. Although the more dangerous problems caused by this are to do with the heart and blood vessels, it is quite often that such patients are first found by eye doctors. They are either seen due to being very short-sighted or with dislocated lenses which can cause major problems in the eye. Eye problems can be managed by regular observation, although they often require surgery. Because eye doctors are often the first to see these patients, they must involve other doctors of different specialities to help in diagnosing and managing important issues these patients may have, especially affecting the heart and major blood vessels. Confirmation of diagnosis is done through genetic testing, which has advanced greatly, finding new mutations which may contribute to this disorder. Genetic counselling services can help families in understanding their diagnosis and making better informed decisions about future family planning as well as screening other family members. The eye is just one part of this complex genetic disease. We look in detail at how eye doctors can best approach such patients.

Implementing the new normal in ophthalmology care beyond COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the clinical landscape immeasurably. The need to physical distance requires rethinking how we deliver ophthalmic care. Within healthcare, we will need to focus our resources on the five T's: Utilising technology, multidisciplinary clinical teams with wide professional talents need to work efficiently to reduce patient contact time. With regular testing, this will allow us to reduce the risk further. We also must acknowledge the explosion of different modalities to train our future ophthalmologists and the global challenges and advantages that these bring. Finally, we must not forget the psychological impact that this pandemic will have on ophthalmologists and ancillary staff, and need to have robust mechanisms for support.

The risk of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment following anterior vitrectomy during cataract surgery: with versus without pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the rates of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) following an anterior vitrectomy (AV) alone during cataract surgery, compared to cases requiring a subsequent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for dropped nuclear lens fragments (DNLFs). METHODS: Retrospective electronic note review of consecutive patients with a posterior capsular rupture (PCR) requiring either AV or subsequent PPV for DNLF over a 5-year period. RESULTS: A total of 20,235 cataract operations were performed during the defined period with 199 cases (eyes) of PCR (0.98%). One hundred forty-four of these (72.4%) were managed with AV, and the remaining 55 cases were further complicated by DNLF and thus underwent secondary PPVs. A total of 80.0% of cases in the AV group had a final BCVA of 0.30 logMAR or better, and 77.35% in the DNLF group had a BCVA of 0.30 logMAR or better (p = 0.069). Final BCVA was 0.30 (range-0.18 to 3.0) in the AV group and 0.32 (range-0.18 to 1.8) in the DNLF group (p = 0.82). Final BCVA in those patients who suffered a RRD was poorer than the rest of the cohort in the AV group (p = 0.03). Seven of 144 cases in the AV group went on to develop a RRD with a median time of 11 months (range 1-18 months). None of the cases in the DNLF group went on to develop a RRD (P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Following an anterior vitrectomy during complicated cataract surgery, the risk of RRD may be lower in patients who require a subsequent PPV for management of DNLF compared to patients who are managed with anterior vitrectomy alone.

Insights into the genetic basis of retinal detachment.

Retinal detachment (RD) is a serious and common condition, but genetic studies to date have been hampered by the small size of the assembled cohorts. In the UK Biobank data set, where RD was ascertained by self-report or hospital records, genetic correlations between RD and high myopia or cataract operation were, respectively, 0.46 (SE = 0.08) and 0.44 (SE = 0.07). These correlations are consistent with known epidemiological associations. Through meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies using UK Biobank RD cases (N = 3 977) and two cohorts, each comprising ~1 000 clinically ascertained rhegmatogenous RD patients, we uncovered 11 genome-wide significant association signals. These are near or within ZC3H11B, BMP3, COL22A1, DLG5, PLCE1, EFEMP2, TYR, FAT3, TRIM29, COL2A1 and LOXL1. Replication in the 23andMe data set, where RD is self-reported by participants, firmly establishes six RD risk loci: FAT3, COL22A1, TYR, BMP3, ZC3H11B and PLCE1. Based on the genetic associations with eye traits described to date, the first two specifically impact risk of a RD, whereas the last four point to shared aetiologies with macular condition, myopia and glaucoma. Fine-mapping prioritized the lead common missense variant (TYR S192Y) as causal variant at the TYR locus and a small set of credible causal variants at the FAT3 locus. The larger study size presented here, enabled by resources linked to health records or self-report, provides novel insights into RD aetiology and underlying pathological pathways.