Giovanni Giacomelli

Outcome of choroidal neovascularization in angioid streaks after photodynamic therapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual and anatomic outcomes of photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with angioid streaks. Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated 40 consecutive patients (48 eyes) with visual acuity of 20/200 or greater who were treated at 6 referral centers for CNV associated with angioid streaks. Main outcome measures were visual acuity, greatest linear diameter of the lesion, and, in patients with nonsubfoveal CNV, distance from the foveola. Results: Of 34 eyes with subfoveal CNV, 21 were followed up for at least 12 months (range, 5–33 months). Median visual acuity was 20/50 at baseline and 20/120 at the final examination. The 12-month estimate of the percentage of eyes with vision loss of fewer than 3 lines was 68% (95% confidence interval, 50%–85%) by using survival analysis, whereas eyes with no increase in the greatest linear diameter were 45% (95% confidence interval, 27%–62%). Fourteen eyes had extrafoveal (n = 11) or juxtafoveal (n = 3) CNV, 12 of which were followed up for at least 10 months (range, 4–36 months). Visual acuity was 20/40 or greater in all eyes with extrafoveal lesions at baseline and in 5 of 12 eyes at the last examination, when 3 cases of CNV had become subfoveal. At baseline, visual acuity was low in two eyes with juxtafoveal CNV and nearly normal in the third. It remained substantially stable at the end of follow-up (range, 10–36 months), when two lesions were subfoveal. Conclusions: Most of our patients had good baseline visual function and, thus, were at high risk for losing vision because of the poor prognosis of CNV in angioid streaks. Because most had no or limited vision loss after 1 year, the authors suggest that photodynamic therapy can be used to try to limit or delay visual damage caused by this aggressive disease.

Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration : 6-month results of an open-label uncontrolled clinical study

Purpose To investigate the 6-month safety and clinical outcomes of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab administered to treat choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Methods Twenty-seven patients underwent 1.25 mg intravitreal injections of bevacizumab at baseline. A similar intravitreal injection was administered to all eyes at 1 and 2 month follow-up visits. At baseline and at each follow-up visit (1, 2, 3, and 6 months), patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography. Laboratory testing, visual field analyses, and endothelial cell counts were performed at baseline and third and sixth months. Results At 3 months, the mean BCVA remained substantially stable at 20/100. Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased from 373 to 279 μm (p<0.01). Mean lesion greatest linear dimension (GLD) decreased from 4087 to 3782 microns (p<0.01). At 6 months, mean BCVA slightly decreased from 20/100−1 to 20/125−3 (not significant, p=0.40). Mean CRT was still inferior to baseline (305 μm, p<0.01). Mean lesion GLD was 4186 μm, not different from baseline values (p=0.59), but superior to 3-month mean GLD (p<0.01). Significant visual field defects or endothelial cell losses were not detected at 3 and 6 months. Laboratory testing did not reveal any clinically significant deviations compared to baseline values. Conclusions Intravitreal therapy using bevacizumab over 6 months showed stabilization of visual acuity and choroidal neovascularization activity; the safety data were convincing. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2007; 17: 230–7)

Photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization in pediatric patients

Purpose: To report the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in pediatric patients. Methods: Five patients (age range, 7–15 years) who underwent PDT for idiopathic CNV (n = 2) or CNV secondary to macular toxoplasmic scar (n = 3) were included in this study. Follow-up ranged from 12 months to 18 months. PDT was performed according to the standard protocol. We evaluated visual acuity, fluorescein leakage from the CNV, greatest linear dimension of the lesion, and occurrence of ocular or systemic adverse events at baseline and during follow-up. Results: No severe or moderate visual loss occurred in all cases during follow-up. PDT reduced CNV leakage in four cases. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were recorded. Retinal pigment epithelium atrophic changes were observed around the regressed CNV, but they did not appear to cause visual loss. Conclusions: PDT was safe for pediatric patients, and visual acuity was substantially stable after one or few treatments. Further follow-up is needed to assess if retinal pigment epithelium atrophic changes around the regressed CNV, possibly related to PDT, could affect vision in the long term.

Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for choroidal neovascularization in angioid streaks: a case series.

Background: Intravitreal (IV) bevacizumab (Avastin®, Roche), initially used for the off-label treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has extended itself to treat various ocular pathologies such as choroidal neovascularization not associated to AMD. Methods: IV bevacizumab 1,25 mg (Avastin) was used in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in 6 eyes of 5 patients with angioid streaks. All cases had a history of photodynamic treatment (PDT) or laser treatment and all showed progressive worsening despite the use of these therapies. Results: After injection patients were followed up at nearly 2-month intervals. IV Avastin was repeated in case of recurrence. Three eyes were treated combining PDT and IV Avastin. Cases were followed up for 7–14 months. All patients needed more IV injections. Five out of 6 eyes showed an improvement of BCVA and a slight reduction of leakage and size with FA. Conclusion: This small series suggests that IV Avastin might be useful in the treatment of CNV due to AS.

Corneal thickness measurements using time-domain anterior segment OCT, ultrasound, and Scheimpflug tomographer pachymetry before and after corneal cross-linking for keratoconus.

PURPOSE To compare minimum corneal pachymetry assessment using three measurement methods in eyes before and after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus. METHODS Fifty patients (54 eyes) who underwent CXL for keratoconus were evaluated with the Visante (Carl Zeiss Meditec), Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH), and ultrasound pachymetry (USP) (Optikon Pacline) to assess corneal thickness at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS Using USP, mean thickness was 456 μm at baseline, decreased by approximately 8 μm at 1 month, and then recovered to initial values. The mean difference between Visante and USP was statistically significant, but not clinically significant, and was similar at baseline and after CXL (-1 to -2 μm, P<.05 except for 12 months). Pentacam had similar readings at baseline (-2 μm vs USP), but lower corneal thickness after CXL (-12 to -20 μm throughout follow-up, P<.001). The width of the Bland-Altman 95% agreement interval of Visante and Pentacam with USP was approximately 5 μm and 15 μm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Visante pachymetry shows better agreement with USP compared to Pentacam after CXL, which may be due to the inhomogeneous reflectivity of the postoperative cross-linked cornea and possibly altered refractive index and acoustic impedance that may influence the observed differences among techniques.

Clinical outcomes and rotational stability of a 4-haptic toric intraocular lens in myopic eyes

Purpose To evaluate the refractive outcomes and rotational stability of a 4‐haptic toric intraocular lens (IOL) in myopic eyes and the correlations between IOL rotation and refractive sphere, axial length (AL), and white‐to‐white (WTW) diameter. Setting Eye Clinic, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy. Design Prospective case series. Methods Phacoemulsification cataract extraction and implantation of an AT Torbi 709M IOL were performed. Corneal astigmatism was 1.50 diopters (D) or greater and the AL between 25.0 mm and 27.0 mm in all eyes. The uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, refraction, and IOL axis were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively up to 6 months. Results The study enrolled 20 eyes (20 patients). The UDVA and CDVA improved significantly postoperatively (P < .001). The mean refractive spherical equivalent decreased significantly from −7.10 D ± 1.78 (SD) preoperatively to −0.55 ± 0.25 D 1 day postoperatively (P < .001) and remained stable thereafter. Vector analysis showed that 90% and 85% of the eyes were within ±0.25 D for J0 and J45, respectively. At 3 months and 6 months, the mean IOL rotation was 2.66 ± 1.53 degrees and 3.00 ± 1.69 degrees, respectively (P < .001), with 95% of eyes and 90% of eyes, respectively, within ±5 degrees. A positive correlation was found between IOL rotation and preoperative sphere; none was found with AL and WTW. Conclusions Implantation of the 4‐haptic toric IOL in myopic eyes was effective and safe. The IOL showed no significant rotation over the 6‐month follow‐up. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Biofeedback rehabilitation of eccentric fixation in patients with Stargardt disease

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback (BF) microperimetric rehabilitation in patients with Stargardt disease (STGD). Methods Eighteen patients with STGD with unstable fixation located in the superior retina and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between 20/100 and 20/320 in the better eye were recruited. All the patients underwent Nidek MP-1 microperimetry and fixation analysis. Twelve patients underwent 8 consecutive BF training sessions of 10 minutes each, performed once a week in the better eye. Six patients did not receive any training and were used as controls. In both groups, BCVA, reading speed, contrast sensitivity, bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA), and retinal sensitivity were evaluated in the better eye at baseline and after 10 weeks. Paired and unpaired t tests were used as appropriate. Results In the control group, after the follow-up period, fixation pattern did not show any modification and the other parameters worsened or remained unchanged. On the contrary, the BF group showed significantly improved stabilization of fixation (mean BCEA 68.2% from 5.63°2 to 1.58°2), improved mean BCVA (from 34.00 to 37.67 letters), higher mean reading speed (from 66.67 to 84.00 words/min), higher contrast sensitivity (from 16.33 to 18.75 letters), and improved retinal sensitivity (from 10.68 to 12.29 dB). The comparison of the results obtained in the 2 groups was statistically significant for all the considered parameters except for retinal sensitivity. Conclusions Biofeedback rehabilitation with the MP-1 increases quality of vision in patients with STGD, leading to a stabilization of fixation and a consequent improvement of patients’ visual function and reading abilities.

Ocular Surface Temperature in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Background. The aim of this study is to investigate the ocular thermographic profiles in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) eyes and age-matched controls to detect possible hemodynamic abnormalities, which could be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods. 32 eyes with early AMD, 37 eyes with atrophic AMD, 30 eyes affected by untreated neovascular AMD, and 43 eyes with fibrotic AMD were included. The control group consisted of 44 healthy eyes. Exclusion criteria were represented by any other ocular diseases other than AMD, tear film abnormalities, systemic cardiovascular abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, and a body temperature higher than 37.5°C. A total of 186 eyes without pupil dilation were investigated by infrared thermography (FLIR A320). The ocular surface temperature (OST) of three ocular points was calculated by means of an image processing technique from the infrared images. Two-sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were used for statistical analyses. Results. ANOVA analyses showed no significant differences among AMD groups (P value >0.272). OST in AMD patients was significantly lower than in controls (P > 0.05). Conclusions. Considering the possible relationship between ocular blood flow and OST, these findings might support the central role of ischemia in the pathogenesis of AMD.

Clinical and microperimetric predictors of reading speed in low vision patients: a structural equation modeling approach.

PURPOSE To investigate the simultaneous association of several psychophysical measures with reading ability in patients with mild and moderate low vision attending rehabilitation services. METHODS Standard measurements of reading ability (Minnesota Reading [MNREAD] charts), visual acuity (Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] charts), contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson charts), reading contrast threshold (Reading Explorer [REX] charts), retinal sensitivity, and fixation stability and localization (Micro Perimeter 1 [MP1] fundus perimetry) were obtained in 160 low vision patients with better eye visual acuity ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and affected by either age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS All variables were moderately associated with reading performance measures (MNREAD reading speed and reading acuity and REX reading contrast threshold), as well as among each other. In a structural equation model, REX reading contrast threshold was highly associated with MNREAD reading speed (standardized coefficient, 0.63) and moderately associated with reading acuity (standardized coefficient, -0.30). REX test also mediated the effects of Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (standardized coefficient, 0.44), MP1 fixation eccentricity (standardized coefficient, -0.19), and the mean retinal sensitivity (standardized coefficient, 0.23) on reading performance. The MP1 fixation stability was associated with both MNREAD reading acuity (standardized coefficient, -0.24) and MNREAD reading speed (standardized coefficient, 0.23), while ETDRS visual acuity only affected reading acuity (standardized coefficient, 0.44). CONCLUSIONS Fixation instability and contrast sensitivity loss are key factors limiting reading performance of patients with mild or moderate low vision. REX charts directly assess the impact of text contrast on letter recognition and text navigation and may be a useful aid in reading rehabilitation.

Pharmacological Treatments for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Can Mixed Treatment Comparison Meta-Analysis be Useful?

OBJECTIVE To investigated the use of mixed treatment comparison (MTC) meta-analysis models to summarize results from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on approved pharmacological treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS The number of patients with visual loss or visual gain of 3 or more lines of visual acuity (15 ETDRS letters) at 1 year was extracted from 10 RCTs including patients with neovascular AMD and comparing at least one of the following drugs to sham treatment (1080 control patients, 8 studies) or to each other: verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT, 1124 patients, 4 studies), pegaptanib (904 patients, 2 twin studies), ranibizumab (984 patients, 4 studies). Both frequentist and Bayesian methods were used to conduct MTCs. RESULTS Direct and indirect evidence was available and found to be overall in good agreement for the comparisons: PDT vs. control, ranibizumab vs. control, ranibizumab vs. PDT. Bayesian model fit was better for a model including a covariate coding for the PIER study ranibizumab regimen, i.e. quarterly injections after three initial monthly doses. In the MTC model, monthly ranibizumab was superior to PDT and pegaptanib, and could not be shown to be better than PIER ranibizumab regarding visual loss, being estimates imprecise. Ranibizumab PIER retreatment regimen was better than PDT and pegaptanib regarding visual loss, whereas an advantage over them regarding visual gain was suggested by a frequentist MTC approach, but not by a Bayesian approach, which was more conservative. A limitation of our MTC model was that only two twin studies connected pegaptanib to the treatment network, and only one study was available for the PIER ranibizumab regimen. CONCLUSION The clinically heterogeneous and sparse typology of the evidence is a limitation to carry out MTC meta-analyses of approved pharmacological treatments for neovascular AMD. Ranibizumab was found to be the most effective treatment compared to PDT and pegaptanib, although this superiority cannot be demonstrated regarding visual gain for the PIER ranibizumab regimen in a Bayesian analytic setting. We did not find RCTs which investigated the current ranibizumab as needed retreatment regimen approved in Europe.