Author: Ophthalmology

The Incidence of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in The Netherlands

Objective:
To estimate the incidence and characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in The Netherlands in 2009.

Design:
Retrospective, observational case series.

Participants:
All patients with RRD in the Dutch population in 2009.

Methods:
By reviewing surgical logs, cases of primary RRD repair in 2009 were identified. Exclusion criteria included RRD before 2009 and exudative, tractional, or traumatic retinal detachments. Patient demographics, date of surgery, and lens status were documented. Incidence of RRD and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on the Poisson distribution. Age distribution, male-to-female ratio, and (Read more...)

Aqueous Levels of Fluocinolone Acetonide after Administration of Fluocinolone Acetonide Inserts or Fluocinolone Acetonide Implants

Purpose:
To compare aqueous levels of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) after administration of FAc inserts or FAc implants (Retisert; Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY).

Design:
Comparison of pharmacokinetics from 2 prospective, interventional, clinical trials.

Participants:
Thirty-seven patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) (Fluocinolone Acetonide in Human Aqueous [FAMOUS] Study, C-01-06-002) and 7 patients with uveitis (NA-00019318).

Methods:
Aqueous FAc was measured after administration of FAc implants or 0.2 μg/day (low dose, ILUVIEN; Alimera Sciences Inc., Alpharetta, GA) or 0.5 μg/day (high dose) FAc inserts.

Main Outcome Measures:
The primary end point (Read more...)

Incidence of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: Results from the Pacific Ocular Inflammation Study

Purpose:
To provide a population-based estimate of the incidence of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) with comparisons across racial, sex, and age groups, as well as to estimate the frequency of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Design:
Retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Participants:
All patients enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii health plan during the study period (N = 217 061).

Methods:
All patient encounters between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007, in the electronic medical record of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii were queried for International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9) codes corresponding (Read more...)

The Cost–Utility of Telemedicine to Screen for Diabetic Retinopathy in India

Purpose:
To assess the cost-effectiveness of a telemedicine diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening program in rural Southern India that conducts 1-off screening camps (i.e., screening offered once) in villages and to assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of different screening intervals.

Design:
A cost–utility analysis using a Markov model.

Participants:
A hypothetical cohort of 1000 rural diabetic patients aged 40 years who had not been previously screened for DR and who were followed over a 25-year period in Chennai, India.

Methods:
We interviewed 249 people with diabetes using the time trade-off method (Read more...)

Topographic Correlation between β-Zone Parapapillary Atrophy and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defect

Objective:
To investigate whether a topographic correlation exists between β-zone parapapillary atrophy (PPA) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect. The location and extent of the β-zone were examined.

Design:
Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Participants:
One hundred twenty-eight eyes from 128 consecutive patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and a single localized RNFL defect were included.

Methods:
Digital optic disc photographs of the enrolled eyes were reviewed and eyes with β-zone PPA were identified. The topographic parameters of β-zone PPA and RNFL defect were measured on optic disc photographs and digital (Read more...)

The p53 Codon 72 Polymorphism (rs1042522) Is Associated with Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy: The Retina 4 Project

Purpose:
To compare the distribution of a p53 gene polymorphism among European subjects undergoing primary retinal detachment (RD) surgery in relation to the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Design:
Case-controlled gene association study conducted as a component of the Retina 4 Project (a European multicenter study).

Participants and Controls:
Five hundred fifty DNA samples, 134 with PVR secondary to primary RD and 416 with RD without PVR.

Methods:
The p53 codon 72 polymorphism (rs1042522) was analyzed using allele-specific primer polymerase chain reaction. Proportions of genotypes and the proline (Pro-P) homozygote (Read more...)

A Randomized, Single-Center Study of Equivalence of 2 Intraocular Lenses Used in Cataract Surgery

Purpose:
To compare the outcomes of 2 intraocular lenses (IOLs) for the treatment of age-related cataracts.

Design:
Prospective, randomized trial.

Participants:
Patients with age-related cataracts were recruited and randomized to receive phacoemulsification and implantation of either the AcrySof SA60AT lens (Alcon, Inc, Fort Worth, TX) or the low-cost Tecsoft Flex lens (Fred Hollows Foundation, Tilganga, Nepal). A total of 300 patients were available for description and analysis (148 in the AcrySof group and 152 in the Tecsoft group).

Methods:
Patients underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of the AcrySof SA60AT lens or (Read more...)

Characteristics of Peripapillary Choroidal Cavitation Detected by Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose:
To evaluate the clinical features of peripapillary choroidal cavitation (PCC) detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Design:
Retrospective, observational case series.

Participants:
One hundred twenty-two eyes from 83 patients diagnosed with PCC by OCT database review were included in this study.

Methods:
Stereoscopic color fundus photographs from eyes with PCC were reviewed by 2 independent ophthalmologists. They were masked to the refractive error, axial length, and OCT findings.

Main Outcome Measures:
Chart review and data analysis included gender, age, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive error, axial length, clinical appearance (Read more...)

Cost-Effectiveness of Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty versus Penetrating Keratoplasty

Purpose:
Selective endothelial transplantation in the form of Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) is rapidly replacing traditional full-thickness penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for endothelial disease. An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to determine whether the benefits of DSEK are worth the additional costs.

Design:
Retrospective cohort study.

Participants:
Patients at the Singapore National Eye Center, a tertiary eye center in Singapore, with Fuchs’ dystrophy or bullous keratopathy who underwent either PK or DSEK.

Intervention:
Patients underwent either PK (n = 171) or DSEK (n = 93) from January 2001 through December (Read more...)

Corneal Thickness in Keratoconus: Comparing Optical, Ultrasound, and Optical Coherence Tomography Pachymetry

Purpose:
To compare the central and peripheral pachymetry measurements determined using Orbscan IIz (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY), Visante optical coherence tomography (OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), and RTVue OCT (Oculus Technologies, Wynwood, WA) with ultrasound pachymetry in eyes with established keratoconus and to evaluate the agreement between them.

Design:
Evaluation of diagnostic technologies.

Participants:
One hundred six eyes of 67 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of keratoconus ranging in age from 12 to 40 years.

Methods:
Central corneal thickness (CCT) was determined by all the 4 techniques. (Read more...)

Associations of Anisometropia with Unilateral Amblyopia, Interocular Acuity Difference, and Stereoacuity in Preschoolers

Purpose:
To evaluate the relationship of anisometropia with unilateral amblyopia, interocular acuity difference (IAD), and stereoacuity among Head Start preschoolers using both clinical notation and vector notation analyses.

Design:
Multicenter, cross-sectional study.

Participants:
Three- to 5-year-old participants in the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) study (n = 4040).

Methods:
Secondary analysis of VIP data from participants who underwent comprehensive eye examinations, including monocular visual acuity testing, stereoacuity testing, and cycloplegic refraction. Visual acuity was retested with full cycloplegic correction when retest criteria were met. Unilateral amblyopia was defined as IAD of (Read more...)