Changing Trends in Corneal Transplantation in Aotearoa/New Zealand, 1991 to 2020: Effects of Population Growth, Cataract Surgery, Endothelial Keratoplasty, and Corneal Cross-Linking for Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify trends in the primary indication for keratoplasty in New Zealand/Aotearoa (NZ) after significant population growth, increase in the number of cataract surgeries per population, widespread adoption of endothelial keratoplasty, and introduction of corneal cross-linking for keratoconus. METHODS: Statistical analysis of the New Zealand National Eye Bank's prospective database of all keratoplasties was performed between January 1991 and January 2020. Indications for keratoplasty were isolated for the primary diagnosis. RESULTS: In total, 6840 corneas were transplanted with mean 236 ± 57.5 transplants/year, increasing from 2.55 to 6.06 per 100,000 NZ population/year. Over the past decade, the number of transplant recipients aged 60 years or older has increased and recipients aged 20 to 39 years have plateaued. In 2019, for the first time, regraft became the most common indication (30.9%), followed by keratoconus (27.9%) and corneal dystrophy (18.8%), with a steady decline in bullous keratopathy. Proportions of the keratoplasty technique changed dramatically: penetrating keratoplasty fell from 91.4% in 2006 to 55.0% in 2019, Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty increased from 0% to 29.5%, anterior lamellar keratoplasty increased from 2.5% to 5.7%, and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty increased from 0% to 9.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Keratoplasty trends in Aotearoa/NZ have changed considerably because of the evolution of phacoemulsification and keratoplasty techniques. Unlike proportions observed overseas, NZ still performs penetrating keratoplasties in over half of all transplants. Corneal cross-linking may be having an early effect of reducing keratoplasty rates for keratoconus.

The presence and progression of choroidal neurofibromas in a predominantly pediatric population with neurofibromatosis type-1.

Background: Obtaining a definitive neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) diagnosis may take years. The natural history of choroidal neurofibromas in NF1 is unknown. This study evaluates a predominantly pediatric patient cohort for ocular features in NF1, including presence and progression of choroidal abnormalities, to determine their natural history, relationship to other NF1 features, and additive value in NF1 diagnosis.Methods: Retrospective analysis of 106 patients referred for Ophthalmic monitoring or diagnosis of NF1 between January 2012 and December 2018. Clinical records and Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR) Optical Coherence Tomography imaging were analyzed for prevalence and progression of choroidal neurofibromas on NIR, and relation to other NF1 diagnostic criteria.Results: 54.7% of patients referred had a confirmed NF1 diagnosis, and 45.4% were NF1 suspects. First ophthalmic review resulted in an additional 6.6% patients meeting the diagnostic criteria, and 14.2% later developed sufficient features (total n = 80). Choroidal neurofibromas were present in 75.7% of patients that had NIR imaging and met diagnostic criteria, and detected in the absence of, or prior to Lisch nodules in 13.5%. Progression in the size and number of choroidal neurofibromas occurred in 26 eyes (32.5%) of 14 patients (35.0%), all under 16 years old. Patients without choroidal neurofibromas at first examination never developed them over the study period.Conclusion: Choroidal neurofibromas, detected by NIR imaging, are common in NF1, present early with frequent progression, and represent an additional tool to aid NF1 diagnosis in young children.

Cataract surgery in New Zealand: access to surgery, surgical intervention rates and visual acuity.

AIMS: To analyse the surgical intervention rate (SIR), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and disparities in access to public-funded cataract surgery in New Zealand. The New Zealand Ministry of Health uses the National Prioritisation Web Service (NPWS) to prioritise all patients for public-funded cataract surgery. BSCVA at prioritisation, ethnic, demographic and geographic disparities have not previously been assessed. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. Between November 2014 and March 2019, 61,095 prioritisation events for 44,403 unique patients were identified. Cataract prioritisation events extracted from the NPWS were merged with date of birth and ethnicity extracted from the National Health Index database. All data were de-identified prior to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean age at prioritisation was 74.4 years, with female preponderance (56%). Overall ethnicity was 'European' in 69.8% and 'New Zealand Maori' in 9.6%. Mean Snellen BSCVA was 6/30-2 (prioritised eye), and 6/12-1 (binocular). Maori and Pasifika presented on average 10 years earlier than other ethnic groups with significantly worse BSCVA. Surgery was approved in 74.4% of prioritisation events with mean Snellen BSCVA of 6/38-2. Only 34.9% of New Zealand patients had Snellen BSCVA of 6/12 or better in the prioritised eye, compared to 58.4% in the European Union. Cataract SIR varied by region. CONCLUSIONS: New Zealand's cataract SIR is lower than most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and patients have significantly worse BSCVA at prioritisation. Access to cataract surgery in New Zealand varies according to region. Maori and Pasifika present younger with worse BSCVA, suggesting potential barriers in accessing timely referral and prioritisation.