Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation in Non-Incisional Eyes with Ocular Hypertension and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MPTSCPC) in non-incisional eyes with ocular hypertension (OHT) and early, moderate, and severe primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: Retrospective cohort study of eyes that underwent MPTSCPC from 2016 to 2019 at an outpatient clinic in Canada. Eyes were excluded if any incisional procedures, except cataract surgery, were performed prior to MPTSCPC treatment. Laser power ranged from 900 to 2500mW. Results: A total of 153 eyes from 93 patients were included (OHT n=22; early POAG n=46; moderate POAG n=35; severe POAG n=50). The baseline IOP was 18.37 ± 4.76mmHg in the total cohort. All cohorts experienced a significant mean IOP reduction by final follow-up (total p<0.001; OHT p=0.003; early POAG p<0.001; moderate POAG p=0.022; severe POAG p=0.015). Overall, 52.9% of eyes achieved an IOP reduction of ≥20% from baseline to final follow-up (OHT 59.1%; early POAG 58.7%; moderate POAG 45.7%; severe POAG 50.0%). There was worsening in best-corrected visual acuity in the total cohort (mean difference=0.11 ± 0.36 logMAR, p=0.11), mostly attributable to cataract progression (34.1% of phakic eyes) and ocular surface disease (7.2%). The number of topical medications and drug classes remained unchanged in the total cohort (p=0.425 and p=0.791, respectively). Twenty-two eyes (14.4%) required retreatment, which provided an additional IOP reduction of 1.26mmHg (p=0.344). By final follow-up, 8 eyes (5.2%) required escalation to incisional procedures. Conclusion: MPTSCPC is a safe and effective adjunct IOP-lowering treatment in non-incisional eyes with OHT and POAG.

Examining the Relationship Between Diabetic Macular Edema, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: This prospective cohort study examined the relationship between diabetic macular edema (DME), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients after 1 year of treatment with anti-VEGF injection and/or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Patients and Methods: The study included adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy. Polysomnography metrics were measured at baseline. Ophthalmologic metrics were measured at baseline, six-month (6m) and twelve-month (12m) follow-up. All DME+ patients received standard care, and all OSA+ patients were advised continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Logistic regression between DR severity and OSA severity was performed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed between subgroups. Results: Seventy-four eyes of 49 patients with DR were included. Prevalence of OSA was significantly higher in the DME+ group (70.7%) than DME- group (42.4%, p < 0.05). A significantly lower average minimum SaO2 was noted in OSA+DME+ (81.74%) than OSA+DME- eyes (88.23%, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis of ophthalmological and sleep metrics showed no correlation between DR and OSA severity. CPAP adherence was 20% (6/30) in the OSA+DME+ cohort and 36% (5/14) in the OSA+DME- cohort. At 12m, CPAP-adherent OSA+DME+ showed significantly lower DR severity score (1.00 ± 0.0) than CPAP non-adherent OSA+DME+ (1.36 ± 0.80, p = 0.042). No significant patterns were noted for visual acuity and mean central retinal thickness. Conclusion: DME is associated with the presence of OSA. Minimum SaO2 is a significant OSA clinical variable for DME. DR severity is not associated with OSA severity. CPAP coupled with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy may be helpful for reducing DR severity in DME+ eyes. Presence of OSA may diminish intravitreal anti-VEGF efficacy on anatomical (mean CRT) and functional (VA) outcomes of DME.

Uncovering of intraspecies macular heterogeneity in cynomolgus monkeys using hybrid machine learning optical coherence tomography image segmentation.

The fovea is a depression in the center of the macula and is the site of the highest visual acuity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has contributed considerably in elucidating the pathologic changes in the fovea and is now being considered as an accompanying imaging method in drug development, such as antivascular endothelial growth factor and its safety profiling. Because animal numbers are limited in preclinical studies and automatized image evaluation tools have not yet been routinely employed, essential reference data describing the morphologic variations in macular thickness in laboratory cynomolgus monkeys are sparse to nonexistent. A hybrid machine learning algorithm was applied for automated OCT image processing and measurements of central retina thickness and surface area values. Morphological variations and the effects of sex and geographical origin were determined. Based on our findings, the fovea parameters are specific to the geographic origin. Despite morphological similarities among cynomolgus monkeys, considerable variations in the foveolar contour, even within the same species but from different geographic origins, were found. The results of the reference database show that not only the entire retinal thickness, but also the macular subfields, should be considered when designing preclinical studies and in the interpretation of foveal data.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Micropulse Cyclophotocoagulation in the Treatment of Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of primary and adjunctive micropulse cyclophotocoagulation (MPCPC) in the treatment of ocular hypertension (OHT) and glaucoma. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Ocular hypertension and all severities of glaucoma (including treatment-naïve and well-sighted eyes) and all types of glaucoma (including normal-tension glaucoma [NTG]). METHODS: Consecutive eyes with glaucoma or OHT that underwent MPCPC (Iridex Cyclo G6 Glaucoma Laser System, Mountain View, CA) between 2016 and 2018 were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, glaucoma medications, and ocular adverse events. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-nine MPCPC surgeries, on 342 eyes of 214 patients, were analyzed. Laser power ranged from 900 to 2800 mW. Main diagnoses in descending prevalence were primary open-angle glaucoma (55.9%), chronic angle-closure glaucoma (10.8%), neovascular glaucoma (9.0%), NTG (6.5%), and OHT (5.5%). Mean baseline IOP was 19.8±7.4 mmHg and IOP reduction was 22.7%, 20.2%, 20.7%, and 23.7% at postoperative months (POMs) 1, 3, 6, and 12 (P < 0.0001 for all time points). The end point of 20% or more mean IOP reduction from baseline was achieved by 67.8% of the study cohort at POM 12. Additional mean IOP reduction of 16.4% (P < 0.0001) was achieved with each re-treatment. Analysis based on IOP stratification demonstrated 30.5% mean IOP reduction at POM 12 when baseline IOP was more than 21 mmHg and 20.1% when it was 21 mmHg or less (71% of overall cohort; P < 0.0001). Analysis based on laser power stratification demonstrated mean IOP reduction of 31.5% at POM 12 with laser power of 2500 mW or more and 17.8% with laser power of less than 2500 mW (P < 0.02). Overall, the mean number of topical glaucoma medications was unchanged from baseline to POM 12. Greater baseline IOP and number of baseline topical glaucoma medications were significant predictors of effectiveness in the regression analysis. No patients demonstrated persistent inflammation or hypotony, phthisis bulbi, or sympathetic ophthalmia. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with OHT or glaucoma, MPCPC demonstrated effectiveness and safety in IOP reduction sustained to 1 year. Baseline IOP of 21 mmHg or less subgroup demonstrated a more limited response. A dose-response relationship is suggested with respect to laser power and repeat treatments.