The RELATION study: efficacy and safety of ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation treatment versus laser monotherapy in NPDR and PDR patients with diabetic macular oedema

Purpose

To assess efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg plus laser (COMBI) versus laser monotherapy (LASER) in patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) in either nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to analyse the relevance of inner versus outer retinal thickness.

Methods

In this double‐masked, multicentre phase IIIb study, patients (N = 128) were randomized (2:1) to receive COMBI (n = 85) versus LASER (n = 43). Patients received four initial monthly injections of ranibizumab 0.5 mg (COMBI) or sham (LASER) followed by pro re nata (PRN) injections. In both groups, patients received laser at baseline and additional laser at 3 monthly intervals, as needed. The study was started in 2010 and was prematurely terminated due to approval of ranibizumab for DME.

Results

The least squares (LS) mean change in mean best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to month 12 was higher in the COMBI (6.5) versus LASER (2.3) group (LS mean difference: 4.2 [95% CI 0.9; 7.4] letters, p = 0.01, primary end‐point). There was also a tendency in the same direction for the subgroup of 26 patients with PDR (LS mean difference 14.7, p = 0.11). Mean central retinal thickness decreased by 107.3 μm in the COMBI group and by 80.3 μm in the LASER group from baseline to month 12 (p = 0.28). Ranibizumab was well tolerated.

Conclusion

This study showed that ranibizumab plus laser is a valuable treatment option for the management of DME. Patients with DME in PDR might also benefit from combined therapy compared to laser alone.     

Effects of benzalkonium chloride on the ocular surface of the rabbit

Purpose  

To evaluate the effects of benzalkonium chloride (BAK) on the ocular surface in rabbits.     

Unsuccessful surgical excision of optic nerve drusen

Background  

To report the case of failed surgical excision of optic nerve drusen (OND).     

Axial length growth and the risk of developing myopia in European children

Purpose

To generate percentile curves of axial length (AL) for European children, which can be used to estimate the risk of myopia in adulthood.

Methods

A total of 12 386 participants from the population‐based studies Generation R (Dutch children measured at both 6 and 9 years of age; N = 6934), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (British children 15 years of age; N = 2495) and the Rotterdam Study III (RS‐III) (Dutch adults 57 years of age; N = 2957) contributed to this study. Axial length (AL) and corneal curvature data were available for all participants; objective cycloplegic refractive error was available only for the Dutch participants. We calculated a percentile score for each Dutch child at 6 and 9 years of age.

Results

Mean (SD) AL was 22.36 (0.75) mm at 6 years, 23.10 (0.84) mm at 9 years, 23.41 (0.86) mm at 15 years and 23.67 (1.26) at adulthood. Axial length (AL) differences after the age of 15 occurred only in the upper 50%, with the highest difference within the 95th percentile and above. A total of 354 children showed accelerated axial growth and increased by more than 10 percentiles from age 6 to 9 years; 162 of these children (45.8%) were myopic at 9 years of age, compared to 4.8% (85/1781) for the children whose AL did not increase by more than 10 percentiles.

Conclusion

This study provides normative values for AL that can be used to monitor eye growth in European children. These results can help clinicians detect excessive eye growth at an early age, thereby facilitating decision‐making with respect to interventions for preventing and/or controlling myopia.     

Visual performance of two simultaneous vision multifocal contact lenses

Purpose

To evaluate and compare the visual performance of two simultaneous vision multifocal contact lenses (CLs).

Methods

In this cross‐over study design 20 presbyopic subjects were fitted with two different simultaneous vision multifocal CLs (the PureVision Multifocal Low Add and Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia) in random order. After 1 month, binocular distance visual acuity (BDVA) under photopic (85 cd/m²) and mesopic (3 cd/m²) conditions, binocular near visual acuity (BNVA), binocular distance contrast sensitivity function (CSF) under photopic and mesopic conditions, binocular near CSF and defocus curve were measured. Subjects were then refitted with the alternative correction and the procedure was repeated.

Results

Mean BDVA under photopic conditions was similar for the Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia and PureVision Multifocal Low Add: 0.01 ± 0.08 and 0.00 ± 0.08 logMAR, respectively (P = 0.45). Under mesopic conditions the values of BDVA were 0.20 ± 0.58 and 0.11 ± 0.09 logMAR, respectively (P = 0.005). Mean BNVA was 0.20 ± 0.05 and 0.15 ± 0.08 logMAR for the Acuvue Oasys and PureVision Low Add, respectively (P = 0.06). Binocular distance CSF testing revealed no statistically significant differences between lenses under photopic, mesopic or near conditions. Both lenses provided a comparable intermediate visual acuity.

Conclusions

Both simultaneous vision multifocal CLs provided adequate distance visual quality under photopic and mesopic conditions, and better visual acuity was provided under mesopic conditions for the Purevision lens. Both lenses provided adequate visual performance at intermediate distance, but the near visual acuity appears to be insufficient for early presbyopes who require a moderately demanding near visual quality.     

Comparison of endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy with and without endonasal procedures

Aim  

To evaluate the role of concomitant endonasal procedures in endocanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR).     

Comparison of measurement error of Cirrus HD-OCT and Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3 in patients with early glaucomatous visual field defect

Background  

To compare the measurement error of Cirrus HD-OCT and Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3 (HRT3) in patients with early glaucomatous visual field defect.     

Microperimetric determination of retinal sensitivity in areas of dissociated optic nerve fiber layer following internal limiting membrane peeling

Purpose  

To investigate the effects of a dissociated optic nerve fiber layer (DONFL) on retinal sensitivity.     

Cryotherapy of sclerotomy sites for prevention of late post-vitrectomy diabetic hemorrhage: a randomized clinical trial

Background  

To evaluate the role of cryotherapy of sclerotomy sites in prevention of late (after 4 weeks) post-vitrectomy diabetic hemorrhage.     

Intravitreal bevacizumab in retinopathy of prematurity: an interventional case series

Background  

To evaluate the results of intravitreal bevacizumab in terms of regression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).     

The influence of gestational age on the dynamic behavior of other risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Background  

Improved survival of preterm neonates has increased the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in many middle-income countries.     

Aggravation of conjunctival early-phase reaction by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus</Emphasis> enterotoxin B via augmentation of IgE production

Purpose  

To investigate whether Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) affects the early-phase reaction (EPR) in experimental conjunctivitis.     

Diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis by two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examinations: qualitative multiplex and quantitative real-time

Aim  

To establish a two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic system for ocular toxoplasmosis.     

Preservation of corneal endothelium after pars plana tube insertion of the Ahmed glaucoma valve

Purpose  

To investigate surgical outcomes after pars plana implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve (ppAGV).     

Rubella virus as a possible etiological agent of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis

Background  

To determine whether rubella virus is involved in the pathogenesis of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI).     

Combined treatment of intravitreal bevacizumab and intravitreal triamcinolone in patients with retinal vein occlusion: 6 months of follow-up

Purpose  

To report 6 months of results of combined treatment of intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).     

Suppression of interleukin-17-producing T-helper 17 cells by retinal pigment epithelial cells

Purpose  

To determine whether retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells can inhibit cytokine production by activated T helper (Th) cells.     

Impact of photodynamic therapy on quality of life of patients with age-related macular degeneration in Korea

Purpose  

To assess quality of life (QOL) changes in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) before and after treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT).     

Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of photo-activated riboflavin using ultraviolet light (UVA)

Background  

To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of photo-activated riboflavin using Ultraviolet A (UVA) on three bacterial strains commonly detected in keratitis.     

Expression of Epiplakin1 in the developing and adult mouse retina

Purpose  

To assess the expression of Epiplakin1 (Eppk1) in the developing and adult mouse retina.