Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Clin Sleep Med 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Ophthalmology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - EPM - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

None: This review's objective was to synthesize the literature on the repercussions of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the retinal vascular system. Two independent investigators conducted a search using the MEDLINE/PubMed database using the following terms: sleep apnea syndrome; obstructive sleep apnea; retina; vascular tortuosity; central serous chorioretinopathy; diabetes mellitus; and subfoveal choroidal thickness. OSA patients present increased vascular tortuosity compared to non-OSA patients, decreased parafoveal and peripapillary vessel density, and increased retinal vein occlusion incidence. Read More

Eur J Ophthalmol 2021 Jun 23:11206721211027103. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Department of Ophthalmology, Teine Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.

Purpose: To examine changes of the choroidal morphology in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) before and after local treatments.

Methods: This study was on 20 eyes with DME, observed for more than 24 months. All patients underwent laser photocoagulation (Laser), sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection (TA), or intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVA). Read More

Clin Oral Investig 2021 Jun 22. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz, Billrothgasse 4, 8010, Graz, Austria.

Objectives: Periodontitis and diabetes are known to have a bidirectional relationship. Diabetic macular edema is a complication of diabetes that is strongly influenced by inflammatory pathways. However, it remains to be established whether inflammation at other locations, such as periodontitis, affects diabetic macular edema. Read More

Ophthalmol Ther 2021 Jun 21. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Medical Affairs, Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Ranibizumab is approved for the treatment of several macular disorders, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), among others. The unaffordability of the innovator ranibizumab among patients from developing countries such as India led to the development of the world's first biosimilar ranibizumab, which is a cost-effective alternative that does not compromise efficacy and safety. Razumab™, developed and produced by Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Read More

Int J Ophthalmol 2021 18;14(6):869-874. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and Optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100044, China.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) as an adjunct to the combination of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for the management of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: A total of 51 patients with visual disabilities causing by DME from two sites were retrospectively collected and assigned to two groups according to the therapeutic method: intravitreal conbercept (IVC) combined with focal laser (24 eyes) and IVC combined with focal laser and IVTA (27 eyes). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the required number of IVCs, central retinal thickness (CRT), the mean costs of treatment burden and safety were compared over 12mo. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Jun 19;21(1):590. Epub 2021 Jun 19.

Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Background: There have been a major advance made in screening, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy among Person living with diabetes (PLWD). However, screening services remain a challenge in Low-Middle-Income-Countries where access to eye care professionals is inadequate. This study assesses the utilization of Eye Health Service prevalence (UEHS) among PLWD and associated factors and further quantifies its association with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR). Read More

PLoS One 2021 18;16(6):e0253091. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.

Purpose: To examine subtle differences in the structure of diabetic vs. control retinas.

Methods: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images were compared for the retinas of 33 diabetic subjects who did not have clinical evidence of diabetic macular edema and age-matched controls, with central macular thicknesses of 275 and 276 microns, respectively. Read More

Jpn J Ophthalmol 2021 Jun 14. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong.

Purpose: To compare two-year treatment outcomes of subthreshold micropulse (577 nm) laser and aflibercept for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Methods: A total 164 eyes in 164 DME patients treated with either micropulse laser (86 eyes) or intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy (78 eyes) were recruited. Read More

Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021 Jun;10(7):15

Helsinki Retina Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Purpose: To assess whether aqueous flare is related to an increased risk of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) following uneventful cataract surgery in nondiabetic and diabetic patients.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of five consecutive randomized clinical trials in the Department of Ophthalmology, Kymenlaakso Central Hospital, Finland. Aqueous flare levels were recorded in 448 eyes of 448 patients before surgery, and after the course of topical anti-inflammatory treatment 28 days and three months after cataract surgery. Read More

J Diabetes Res 2021 22;2021:6634637. Epub 2021 May 22.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Background: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major cause of vision loss in diabetics that is currently mainly treated by antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. The effect of these agents on macular perfusion (MP) is a current concern. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an imaging modality that allows noninvasive high-resolution retinal microvasculature imaging. Read More

Eur J Ophthalmol 2021 Jun 12:11206721211024804. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Department of Ophthalmology, Ospedali Riuniti, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone 0.7 mg implants (DEX-I) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) either naïve to therapy or refractory to anti-VEGF treatment, in a single-center, real-world setting.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with DME and treated with DEX-I were retrospectively enrolled in the study and split in two groups: naïve (Group 1,  = 64) and refractory (Group 2,  = 64) to treatment. Read More

PLoS One 2021 11;16(6):e0252321. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Purpose: Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension or dyslipidemia can influence the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). The aim of this study is to describe the comorbidities in patients with DME.

Methods: Prospective, monocentric observational study. Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2021 3;15:2307-2315. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Novartis Pharma SAS, Rueil-Malmaison, France.

Purpose: To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg (Lucentis) in improving visual acuity (VA) in adults with decreased VA due to diabetic macular edema (DME).

Patients And Methods: Real-world prospective observational 24-month study. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 May;100(19):e25684

Department of Ophthalmology, Enshi Huiyi Eye Hospital.

Objective: There is no review or meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of methotrexate plus anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). It is worthy to critically review the evidence of the assessment of combined therapies to inform clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of methotrexate plus anti-VEGF therapy in the treatment of DME and to provide evidence for clinical practice. Read More

Microcirculation 2021 Jun 9:e12719. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Objective: To evaluate the distribution of capillary non-perfusion (CNP) in superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: In this retrospective case series, macular optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were obtained from eyes with DR without diabetic macular edema. The area of CNP in SCP and DCP was delineated using an automated approach after excluding the foveal avascular zone and major retinal vessels. Read More

Cureus 2021 May 4;13(5):e14831. Epub 2021 May 4.

2nd Department of Ophthalmology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, GRC.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown in the management of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), including diabetic macular edema (DME), in a tertiary reference center in Greece Methods In this retrospective study, we first compared the number of patients who were diagnosed with DR or DME in our clinic during the period of the lockdown and during the same period of the previous year. In addition, we included consecutive patients with DR or DME, who were followed up and treated regularly in our clinic and their appointments deferred due to lockdown, so as to compare the visual acuity, fundoscopy, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings prior to and post lockdown. Results During the lockdown period, there was a statistically significant decrease in patients with DR and DME as compared to the same period in the previous year. Read More

J Curr Ophthalmol 2021 Jan-Mar;33(1):41-47. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: To evaluate the patient satisfaction of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection services for ocular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) at a referral center.

Methods: Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) who had undergone IVB injections between March and September 2018 were interviewed by telephone using two questionnaires. First, demographic information, medical history, and the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (PSQ-18) 5-point scale were collected. Read More

J Curr Ophthalmol 2021 Jan-Mar;33(1):12-16. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Ophthalmology, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: To evaluate acute changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and their short-term effects on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection.

Methods: Fifty-eight eyes of 37 patients with treatment-naïve diabetic macular edema or exudative age-related macular degeneration were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups, and the participants of each group received 3 monthly injections of IVB. Read More

Acta Endocrinol (Buchar) 2020 Oct-Dec;16(4):417-425

Medipol University, Medicine School, Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey.

Context: Retinal microvascular dysfunction differs in macular edema lesions in the two eyes of the same patient with diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between central macular thickness (CMT) and metabolic/systemic factors including anthropometric and laboratory findings, in patients with regressed diabetic retinopathy and a history of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with internal limiting membrane peeling in one eye.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-two eyes with PPV and the same patients' fellow 42 eyes (without PPV) included this study. Read More

Oman J Ophthalmol 2021 Jan-Apr;14(1):60-61. Epub 2021 Feb 27.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.

Ozurdex is one of the most commonly inserted intravitreal steroid implants in cases of posterior uveitis and recalcitrant macular edema in cases of diabetic retinopathy and vascular occlusions. Here we report accidental malpositioning of this implant in patellar fossa. Read More

Cureus 2021 Apr 28;13(4):e14739. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Anterior Segment & Cataract, Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital (Kolkata Branch at Peerless Hospital & B K Roy Research Centre), Kolkata, IND.

Introduction Ocular fluid dynamics are known to improve during hemodialysis, and the improvement of uremia after dialysis may lead to osmotic pressure changes in the retina, which eventually affect retinal edema. Recent studies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the effect of hemodialysis on macular thickness have shown variable results with a majority of them finding a decrease in retinal thickness. Paradoxical neurosensory retinal detachment (NSD) may be defined as the accumulation of subretinal fluid under the macula in patients who are on continuous HD. Read More

Int J Retina Vitreous 2021 Jun 2;7(1):43. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Universitäts-Augenklinik Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.

Objective: To develop and validate a questionnaire for the investigation of non-adherence (NA) barriers in patients receiving intravitreal injection (IVT).

Design: Questionnaire development and cross-sectional patient survey combined with a retrospective medical chart review.

Participants: German patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME) receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment via IVT. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 29;18(11). Epub 2021 May 29.

Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: During the first COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, a new triage concept had to be implemented for patients with retinal diseases having a scheduled appointment at the medical retina clinic. In this study, we aimed to assess patients' confidence in this triage concept and patients' satisfaction regarding the received treatment during the outbreak.

Methods: This retrospective study included all patients with a diagnosed retinal disease, triaged into three priority groups based on their condition's urgency during lockdown. Read More

J Pers Med 2021 May 13;11(5). Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Neuroscience-Ophthalmology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of 577-nm subthreshold micropulse laser (SMPL) treatment in a large population of patients affected by mild diabetic macular edema (DME) in a real-life setting. We retrospectively evaluated 134 eyes affected by previously untreated center-involving mild DME, and treated with 577-nm SMPL, using fixed parameters. Retreatment was performed at 3 months, in case of persistent retinal thickening. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 May 15;10(10). Epub 2021 May 15.

AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.

Background: Analysis of retinal microaneurysm turnover (MAT) has been previously shown to contribute to the identification of eyes at risk of developing clinically significant complications associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). We propose to further characterize MAT as a predictive biomarker of DR progression and development of vision-threatening complications.

Methods: 212 individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D; ETDRS grades 20 and 35) were evaluated annually in a 5-year prospective, longitudinal study, by color fundus photography and optical coherence tomography. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2021 May 31;21(1):243. Epub 2021 May 31.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Zihni Derin Yerleşkesi - Fener Mahallesi, 53100, Merkez/Rize, Turkey.

Background: To evaluate alterations in the serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and netrin-1 after intravitreal bevacizumab (BCZ) injection for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: This prospective case-control study included a total of 50 participants assigned to one of three groups, including 10 individuals with DME and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 13 with DME, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and 27 healthy individuals as a control group. Serum VEGF and netrin-1 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) immediately before, as well as 1 week and 1 month after, intravitreal BCZ injection. Read More

JMIR Med Inform 2021 May 31;9(5):e28868. Epub 2021 May 31.

College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Background: Retinal vascular diseases, including diabetic macular edema (DME), neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), and branch and central retinal vein occlusion (BRVO/CRVO), are considered vision-threatening eye diseases. However, accurate diagnosis depends on multimodal imaging and the expertise of retinal ophthalmologists.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a deep learning model to detect treatment-requiring retinal vascular diseases using multimodal imaging. Read More

J Ophthalmol 2021 17;2021:6678364. Epub 2021 May 17.

Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Corticosteroids are used in a variety of ophthalmological diseases. One challenge faced by ophthalmologists is to deliver corticosteroids to the posterior segment of the eye with efficacy and safety. Sustained-release corticosteroid implants may be the answer to this problem. Read More

J Ophthalmic Vis Res 2021 Apr-Jun;16(2):287-290. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

The off-label, therapeutic use of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) in vascular retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) has increased significantly due to its ability to reduce retinal neovascularization and slow progression of disease. Here, we will review the literature and investigative developments on the use of IVB as a preoperative adjuvant to vitrectomy in severe PDR, specifically focusing on its ability to reduce intra- and postoperative complications and its risk for progression or development of traction retinal detachment. In particular, this review will highlight the natural progression of evidence from case series and observations to prospective, randomized clinical trials. Read More

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2021 May 1;52(5):247-256. Epub 2021 May 1.

Background And Objective: To determine outcomes of eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) and best visual acuity (BVA) of 20/25 or better in routine clinical practice.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective study of 72 patients with DME and BVA of 20/25 or better. Patients were divided by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment regimen: early (Group A), delayed (Group B), and none (Group C). Read More