Ophthalmology

Laser photocoagulation is a time-tested, well-defined, and effective treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with requirements for follow-up that are much more manageable compared with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, argued David K. Wallace, MD, MPH.

Anti-VEGF therapy for Zone I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is associated with better structural and functional outcomes than laser therapy, but also a longer recurrence risk period, said Helen A. Mintz-Hittner, MD.

I have been encouraged as a retinal specialist with all the excitement and promising new treatments in gene therapy. Given that there are several retinal diseases with known inherited patterns and confirmed genetic loci responsible for the clinical manifestations, our field is primed to benefit from the expansion of knowledge in this arena.

Activation of Tie2–as a result of subcutaneous administration of AKB-9778 (Aerpio Therapeutics) in combination with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy–enhances the effect of an anti-VEGF drug on diabetic macular edema (DME).

Analyses of data collected in the RISE/RIDE and VIVID/VISTA clinical trials provide important messages about the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) and aflibercept (Eylea, Regeneron) for treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Endocryotherapy is a good treatment option for patients with larger retinal angiomatous tumors.

Nucleoside-reverse, transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) or their derivatives could one day be used to prevent or treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to Jayakrishna Ambati, MD.

The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network’s (DRCR.net) Protocol T-the first head-to-head-to-head comparison among aflibercept (Eylea, Renegeron Pharmaceuticals), ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech), and bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech)-found in its first-year results that all three agents improved vision and reduced edema effectively.

The scientific community knows that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) causes increased, vascular permeability, resulting in diabetic macular edema (DME) in the ischemic retina, but how to stop the VEGF drive remains the challenge.

Removing a small area of internal limiting membrane at the intended site of a subretinal injection allows the injection to be delivered without penetrating the retina.

New imaging technologies, such as ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography angiography, are providing more details about retinal diseases than previous imaging technologies, leading to better understanding of disease processes.

Peeling of the internal limiting membrane with staining of retinal tissues might help macular hole closure and resolve retinal schisis.

Knowledge of pathologic patterns is necessary in medical retina, especially patterns that are unusual or rare. Pattern recognition skills are essential in medical retina. Lawrence Yannuzzi, MD, highlights four patterns that he believes are relevant in clinical practice and should be recognized–and not missed–by retinal specialists.

Ophthalmologists were asked what their plans were for using OCT angiography. You can participate in the survey and gain access to the full survey results by visiting www.practice-scope.com/#register.

Many investigational drugs under development for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) have advanced into the clinical trial stage, including several that are being evaluated in pivotal trials, said Peter K. Kaiser, MD.

Patients with a history of frequent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may not be the best potential candidates for encapsulated cell technology (ECT).

Abicipar pegol (Allergan/Molecular Partners) met its primary and key secondary endpoints and demonstrated an acceptable overall safety profile in a phase II trial investigating use of the novel anti-VEGF-A agent for treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Sustained intraocular delivery of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) using the FAc 0.19 mg intravitreal implant (Iluvien, Alimera Sciences) improves and slows progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to findings of post-hoc analyses of data from the pivotal Fluocinolone Acetonide for Diabetic Macular Edema (FAME) trials.

The portfolio of retinal instruments continues to expand with a growing line of tools offering surgeons improved work efficiency while promoting better surgical outcomes with 27-gauge instruments.

Although clinical trial results have advanced anti-VEGF injections to the forefront of treatment for diabetic eye disease, laser photocoagulation continues to be an important modality for the management of diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), said Elias Reichel, MD, at the inaugural Retina World Congress.

Flanged IOL fixation is a simple, minimally invasive, and effective technique for transconjunctival intrascleral fixation of a three-piece IOL, said Shin Yamane, MD, PhD, at the inaugural Retina World Congress.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is the diagnosis that usually comes to mind when retinal specialists see an eye with choroidal thickening. New insights on choroidal pathology obtained using advanced imaging techniques, however, have led to the description of a broader group of pachychoroid diseases, said K. Bailey Freund, MD, at the inaugural Retina World Congress.

Implantation of a retinal prosthesis system (Argus II, Second Sight Medical Systems) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is safe and is providing some encouraging results when considered from the recipient’s perspective. Careful patient selection, however, is important and should consider the need for compliance with an intensive postoperative rehabilitation process, said Stanislao Rizzo, MD, at the inaugural Retina World Congress.

Treat-and-extend approach for neovascular AMD leads to beneficial results in 2-year clinical trial.

In a placebo-controlled, dose-finding, proof-of-concept study conducted in patients with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration, an anti-amyloid β monoclonal antibody (GSK933776, GlaxoSmithKline) was safe and well-tolerated, but did not meet primary or secondary efficacy endpoints.

AIVITA Biomedical has successfully engineered a three-dimensional transplantable retina construct and demonstrated connectivity and conductivity in an animal model of retinal degeneration.

Results from the phase II TANZANITE clinical trial support further investigation of adding suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for treatment-naïve retinal vein occlusion.

The recent FDA clearance of a swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) platform (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec) for posterior ocular structures enables fast, dense, wide, and deep imaging of the retina, choroid, and their associated microvasculature, said Philip J. Rosenfeld, MD, PhD.

Ophthalmology Times is pleased to introduce a new clinical and educational platform for retina specialists called Modern Retina.

Computers may make more reliable diagnoses of plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity than individual clinicians, a researcher reports.