Development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration During Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Case Report.

To investigate morphological variations in the macular area with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after vitrectomy for diabetic fibrovascular proliferation. We reviewed 108 cases using OCT 7-15 months after vitrectomy. Of these, 32 received OCT within 3 months postoperatively. Morphological variations were categorized and correlated with visual outcome. Only 24 cases (21.4%) had no obvious abnormalities. The most frequent findings were epiretinal membrane (52.8%), macular thickening (37.0%) and macular cysts (28.7%). Multivariate regression showed that diffuse macular thickening, loss of foveal depression and diffuse retinal thinning were significantly associated with poor visual acuity. Sequential OCT (< 3 and >or= 7 months) revealed that epiretinal membrane and oedema outside of fovea changed significantly between two examinations. OCT may identify diverse morphological changes in the macular area after diabetic vitrectomy for fibrovascular proliferation. Macular appearance may change over time, and certain types of morphological changes may be associated with poor visual function.

Background: to monitor and compare the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injection alone or with sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection on patients with diabetic macular edema. Aim of the Work: To assess the effect of combined intravitreal ranibizumab injection, and sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection in the management of diabetic macular edema. Patients and Methods: Patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy associated with DME (Central macular thickness over 300 um) which are aimlessly divided into two groups. In group 1, three monthly doses (0.5 mg) of intravitreal ranibizumab are received. In group 2, the anti-VEGF injection was performed 10 days after the sub-tenon steroid injection [triamcinolone acetonide]. All patients’ visual acuity, IOP and CMT were followed up for 3 months. Results: The combined treatment showed improved best corrected visual acuity from baseline 0.24 ± 0.32 log MAR to 0.56 ± 0.18 log MAR (p = 0.023) which was statistically significant. In addition, there was decreased CMT from baseline 420.1 ± 112.84 to 275.73 ± 90.81 which was highly statistically significant (p > 0.001). When comparing the combination treatment with the anti-VEGF treatment alone, recovery of BCVA and CMT was statistically significant (p = 0.041 and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Steroid addition to the routine anti-VEGF therapy is an effective method of treatment of diabetic macular edema

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Diabetic macular edema (DME) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the leading causes of vision loss in the industrialized world. The mainstay of treatment for both conditions has been thermal laser photocoagulation, while there have been recent advances in the treatment of CNV using photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. While both of these treatments have prevented further vision loss in a subset of patients, vision improvement is rare. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A therapy has revolutionized the treatment of both conditions. Pegaptanib, an anti-VEGF aptamer, prevents vision loss in CNV, although the performance is similar to that of photodynamic therapy. Ranibizumab, an antibody fragment, and bevacizumab, a full-length humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF, have both shown promising results, with improvements in visual acuity in the treatment of both diseases. VEGF trap, a modified soluble VEGF receptor analog, binds VEGF more tightly than all other anti-VEGF therapies, and has also shown promising results in early trials. Other treatment strategies to decrease the effect of VEGF have used small interfering RNA to inhibit VEGF production and VEGF receptor production. Corticosteroids have shown efficacy in controlled trials, including anacortave acetate in the treatment and prevention of CNV, and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide and the fluocinolone acetonide implant in the treatment of DME. Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as vatalanib, inhibit downstream effects of VEGF, and have been effective in the treatment of CNV in early studies. Squalamine lactate inhibits plasma membrane ion channels with downstream effects on VEGF, and has shown promising results with systemic administration. Initial results are also encouraging for other growth factors, including pigment epithelium-derived factor administered via an adenoviral vector. Ruboxistaurin, which decreases protein kinase C activity, has shown positive results in the prevention of diabetic retinopathy progression, and the resolution of DME. Combination therapy has been investigated, and may prove to be quite effective in the management of both DME and AMD-associated CNV, although ongoing and future studies will be crucial to treatment optimization for each condition.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to study type 1 macular neovascularization (MNV) quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) features by means of advanced postprocessing analyses.MethodsWe recruited patients affected by naïve type 1 MNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-matched controls. All patients underwent ophthalmologic examination and multimodal imaging. They were treated with pro-re-nata anti-VEGF injections. The ensuing follow-up lasted 24 months. Quantitative OCT and OCTA parameters were statistically analyzed to obtain cutoff values able to distinguish two clinically different patient subgroups. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness, vessel density of superficial, deep and choriocapillaris plexa, vessel tortuosity (VT) of MNV, vessel dispersion of MNV, number of injections, blooding, pigment epithelium detachment, subretinal fluid, photoreceptor elongation, subretinal fibrosis, and outer retinal atrophy.ResultsNinety-one eyes (91 patients; 49 men; mean age 78 ± 7 years) and 91 control eyes were included. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA was 0.46 ± 0.56 at baseline, increasing up to 0.29 ± 0.30 after 2 years of treatment (P < 0.01). The mean number of intravitreal injections was 7.1 ± 2.0 during the first year and 4.5 ± 1.4 during the second year. A baseline VT cutoff of 8.40 detected two patients’ subgroups differing significantly in terms of BCVA improvement after 2 years of treatment.ConclusionsOCTA-based classification of type 1 MNV, performed at baseline, provided useful information in terms of the functional outcome achievable after 24 months of anti-VEGF treatment.Translational RelevanceQuantitative OCTA-based classification of type 1 MNV, performed at baseline, provided useful information in terms of the functional outcome achievable after 24 months of anti-VEGF treatment.

High-Definition and 3-dimensional Imaging of Macular Pathologies with High-speed Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography

The purpose of this study was to investigate corneal sensation, subbasal nerve plexus (SBNP), and ocular surface symptoms in patients who underwent multiple intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Forty patients with previous anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (20 AMD and 20 DME) and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. In vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the SBNP, corneal sensitivity measurement with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, noninvasive tear break-up times, and ocular surface disease score index (OSDI) calculation were performed for each participant. Corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density, total length of all nerve fibers, corneal total branch density, corneal nerve fiber area, corneal nerve fiber width, and corneal nerve fiber fractal dimension parameters were obtained by automatic digital analysis. Corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density, total length of all nerve fibers, and corneal nerve fiber fractal dimension in IVCM imaging and corneal sensitivity were significantly decreased in both AMD and DME groups compared with the control group. Corneal nerve fiber width and OSDI scores were significantly increased in AMD and DME groups compared with the control group. None of the IVCM parameters were significantly different between AMD and DME groups. Corneal sensitivity was decreased in patients with DME compared with patients with AMD. Tear break-up time was not different among the groups. Corneal SBNP parameters were affected, corneal sensitivity was decreased, and OSDI scores were increased in patients with multiple intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. IVCM parameters were not significantly different between AMD and DME groups.

Background: The aim was to study the relationship between quantitative information provided by optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) and conventional angiography in macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods: The research was designed as an interventional, prospective study. We included 66 eyes (66 patients) affected by naïve MNV. Multimodal imaging included structural OCT, OCTA, fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). The follow-up lasted 1 year. Patients were treated by PRN anti-VEGF injections. Based on FA/ICGA examinations, we divided the patients into two categories: low vessel tortuosity (VT) (<8.40) and high VT (>8.40), correlating VT with the MNV area, leakage area, speckled fluorescence (SF) quadrants and MNV area/leakage area ratio.Results: Mean baseline BCVA was 0.50 ± 0.61 LogMAR, improved to 0.31 ± 0.29 LogMAR after 1 year (p < 0.01), with a mean number of 7 ± 2 anti-VEGF injections. The patients revealed type-1 MNV in 36 eyes (55%), mixed type 1 and 2 MNV in 18 eyes (27%), and type-2 MNV in 12 eyes (18%). MNV eyes in high-VT MNV featured poorer BCVA, CMT, and OCTA parameters, higher SF quadrants, and less exudation, compared with low-VT MNV (p < 0.01). Moreover, 30% of high-VT MNV eyes developed outer retinal atrophy.Conclusions: Low VT MNV turned out to be more exudative at the baseline but less damaging to the outer retinal structures, whereas high VT MNV proved to be less exudative but more prone to lead to atrophic changes and visual function deterioration. VT may be usefully applied to artificial intelligence-based models designed to characterize MNV secondary to AMD.

Rapid formation of macular pucker following intravitreal ranibizumab injection for branch retinal vein occlusion

Advances in technology helps in early detection of vision disorders

Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection for Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review

Foreword: Evaluation of New Treatment Paradigms for Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Edema

Objective: To describe visual and anatomical outcomes following bi-weekly intravitreal ranibizumab/bevacizumab injections in eyes with refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED). Design: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series. Participants: Eighteen patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD that were refractory to anti-VEGF therapy and received alternating biweekly ranibizumab/bevacizumab injections were included. Methods: Patients with neovascular AMD and PED that were refractory to at least 11 monthly ranibizumab or bevacizumab injections were included in this study at a large, single retina practice. Following inclusion, patients received four bi-weekly alternating ranibizumab/bevacizumab intravitreal injections. After completing a course of four bi-weekly injections, patients were treated with variable regimens of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. The primary outcomes of the study included change in visual acuity (VA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) at eight weeks follow-up. Results: Study eyes had previously received a mean of 22 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. At enrollment, mean VA was 20/95 and mean CFT was 455 µm. After four bi-weekly anti-VEGF injections, mean VA improved to 20/65 (p < 0.001), and mean CFT decreased to 387 µm (p = 0.029). In patients with PED, there was a mean 27.9% reduction in height (p = 0.046) at eight weeks’ follow-up. Conclusions: Four injections of bi-weekly alternating ranibizumab/bevacizumab improved visual acuity and reduced macular thickness in a number of patients with refractory neovascular AMD and PED.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection on central choroidal thickness (CCT), central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods Retrospective, cohort analysis of 90 eyes of 90 patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy for DME. In patients' records, measurements of CCT, CMT, and BCVA before treatment and at 2 years after treatment were recorded. Using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images, choroidal thickness and macular thickness measurements were recorded in the subfoveal area and 1 mm nasal to 1 mm temporal to the central foveal area. The baseline and final CMT and CCT values measured from all three quadrants were analyzed statistically. Results Mean age of the patients was 59.60 ± 9.78 (range, 40–77) years. Mean baseline nasal-CT 226.4 ± 52.5 µm, central-CT 243.2 ± 51.1 μm and temporal-CT 224.6 ± 47.9 μm. Mean final nasal-CT 220.0 ± 50.2 µm, central-CT 235.3 ± 53.6 μm, temporal-CT 220.5 ± 48.1 μm (p = 0.122, p = 0.056, p = 0.184, respectively). Mean baseline nasal- MT 385.3 ± 67.7, central-MT 345.5 ± 119.7 μm and temporal-MT 365.0 ± 64.9 μm. Mean final nasal-MT 359.6 ± 59.2 µm, central-MT 306.2 ± 98.4 μm and temporal-MT 353.4 ± 63.3 μm (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.234, respectively). The BCVA improved from 0.52 ± 0.44 logMAR at baseline to 0.38 ± 0.33 at final (p = 0.002). Conclusion After treatment of diabetic macular edema with intravitreal anti-VEGF injection, CMT and BCVA improved significantly, but CCT did not decrease significantly.

Accurate segmentation of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) images can help doctors comprehensively analyze and diagnose chorioretinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Due to the serious uneven sizes of PED, some traditional algorithms or common deep networks do not perform well in PED segmentation. In this paper, we propose a novel attention multi-scale network (named as AM-Net) based on a U-shape network to segment PED in OCT images. Compared with the original U-Net, there are two main improvements in the proposed method: (1) Designing channel multiscale module (CMM) to replace the skip-connection layer of the U-Net, which uses channel attention mechanism to obtain multi-scale information. (2) Designing spatial multi-scale module (SMM) based on dilated convolution, which is inserted in the decoder path to make the network pay more attention on the multi-scale spatial information. We evaluated the proposed AM-Net on 240 clinically obtained OCT B-scans with 4-fold cross validation. The mean and standard deviation of Intersection over Union (IoU), Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), Sensitivity (Sen) and Specificity (Spe) are 72.12± 9.60%, 79.17±8.25%, 93.05±1.72% and 79.93±5.77%, respectively.