Abdominal aortic aneurysm and exfoliation syndrome in Utah.

PURPOSE: A pilot study of electronic medical records (EMR) in Utah was undertaken to investigate exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma (XFS/XFG) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. In a subsequent retrospective cohort study of Utah XFS/XFG patients and population controls, the risk of AAA was examined. METHODS: EMR of a statewide healthcare population were obtained from the Utah Population Database (UPDB) which links decades of medical records with Utah demographic and vital records data. In a pilot study, 7167 patients ages ≥40 years identified with AAA diagnosed from 1996 to 2015, based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 9/10 codes, were included. A univariable hazards model was used to determine the risk of XFS/XFG in AAA patients. An XFS/XFG outcome based on ICD 9/10 codes in AAA patients and in 5:1 sex- and age-matched non-AAA controls was determined. A retrospective cohort of 3412 XFS/XFG patients ages ≥50 years diagnosed from 1996 to 2020 and 10 227 3:1 sex- and age-matched controls who underwent ≥1 dilated eye examination(s) were recently identified and updated diagnoses of AAA were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate AAA risk in XFS/XFG patients compared with controls. In a subset of XFS/XFG patients, chart reviews were conducted to confirm clinically diagnosed AAA. RESULTS: In the AAA pilot, 20 patients (0.3%) and 118 controls (0.3%) developed XFS/XFG, respectively. We observed no increased risk of XFS/XFG in AAA patients compared with non-AAA-matched controls (HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.6-1.6). Among XFS/XFG study patients and controls, 122 patients (3.6%) and 376 controls (3.7%) had an AAA diagnosis. We likewise observed no increased risk of AAA in XFS/XFG patients (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.8-1.2). In 14 XFS/XFG patients with an ICD 9/10 diagnosis of AAA who underwent chart review, a clinical diagnosis of AAA was confirmed in 9 patients (64.3%). CONCLUSION: Our findings do not support an association between AAA and XFS/XFG.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm and exfoliation syndrome: A literature review comparing single site findings.

Several studies have suggested a possible relationship between exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A systematic literature review was undertaken to investigate this potential association. The systematic literature review was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Clear definitions of XFS and AAA were used to identify eligible studies via an unrestricted search of the PubMed interface from 1979 to October 31st, 2021. After review, 876 citations were gathered and evaluated for inclusion, from which 22 articles were included. Of these 22, 16 were excluded because they did not assess the relationship between AAA and XFS or provide primary data. Ultimately, six studies were included in this literature review. Half of the studies explored AAA prevalence in a population with or without XFS, and the other half explored the opposite. Three studies supported XFS as a risk factor for the development of AAA, and the other three found this relationship to be inconclusive. This systematic review revealed inconsistent results regarding an association between AAA and XFS. A large database study including XFS and AAA patients would be useful in further determining if an association does in fact exist.

Exfoliation Syndrome and Exfoliation Glaucoma in the Navajo Nation.

(1) Background: Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a common cause of secondary open angle glaucoma. In 1971, Faulkner et al. estimated the prevalence of XFS among 50 Navajo Nation residents as 38%. Given that XFS can cause irreversible blindness secondary to glaucoma (XFG), this study aims to identify the current prevalence of XFS among Navajo Nation residents within the Four Corners region of the U.S. (2) Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2016 to 2021 for patients aged 18 and older. All patients with XFS or XFG diagnosed by slit lamp exam were identified through chart review. (3) Results: Of the 1152 patient charts available for review, eight patients (11 eyes) were diagnosed with XFS with three patients (4 eyes) demonstrating concomitant XFG. Within this XFS population, 50% of the patients identified as male, with a mean age of 73 years. The overall prevalence of XFS was 0.7% and the overall prevalence of XFG was found to be 0.26%. The rate of XFG among patients with XFS was 37.5%. (4) Conclusion: Compared to Faulkner's study of Navajo Nation residents in 1971, our findings show a considerably lower prevalence of XFS at 0.7%. We present the largest study to date of XFS among this population.

Toric Implantable Collamer Lens for the Treatment of Myopic Astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To report visual outcomes following surgical correction of myopic astigmatism with Visian Toric implantable collamer lens (ICL) (STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, CA, USA) at a single tertiary refractive center in the United States. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Toric ICL was implanted in 96 eyes (55 patients) with mean preoperative sphere of -8.98 ± 3.04 diopters (D) and cylinder of -2.67 ± 1.02 D from December 2018 to February 2021. Primary visual outcomes of efficacy, safety, stability, predictability of refractive correction, and astigmatic analysis were reported at three and twelve months postoperatively. Secondary subjective outcomes included patient-reported dry eye symptoms and glare/halos at postoperative visits. Other secondary outcomes were biometric data and postoperative vault over time. RESULTS: At three and twelve months, 75 and 46 eyes were evaluated, respectively. At twelve months, the mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) was -0.23 ± 0.47 D with 93% achieving within ±1.00 D of target refraction. The manifest refractive cylinder (MRC) at twelve months was -0.73 ± 0.51 D, with 86% within ±1.00 D of target. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/20 or better in 74% of eyes at twelve months. No patients lost ≥2 lines of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at twelve months. The mean angle of error was -0.9 ± 10.2° at three months and -1.6 ± 12.8° at twelve months. One patient required bilateral lens rotation, four patients underwent secondary enhancement with LASIK/PRK, and seven patients underwent postoperative limbal relaxing incisions. CONCLUSION: This initial single-site experience finds Toric ICL implantation for myopic astigmatism to be safe and effective. Patients can achieve markedly improved UDVA in a single surgery with stable vision over time and minimal adverse subjective symptoms.