PURPOSE:To assess the efficacy of treatment on acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) and relentless placoid chorioretinopathy (RPC). METHODS:Cases were identified from three UK uveitis centers. Retrospective analysis of visual acuity recovery; OCT structural outcomes; and retinal lesion quantification in observed and treated cases of APMPPE/RPC. RESULTS:There were nine APMPPE and three RPC cases. Out of 12 patients, six were female. Median age: 26.5 years (range, 20-57 years). Four cases (six eyes) were observed, and eight cases (15 eyes) received corticosteroids ± immunosuppression. 4/4 observed and 6/10 treated foveal involving eyes regained 0.00 LogMAR vision. Observed lesions achieved more favorable anatomical outcomes. New lesions post-presentation developed in 1/6 (16%) observed eye versus 10/15 (66%) treated eyes. In three cases, a delayed, rebound lesion occurrence was observed post-high-dose corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS:While subject to potential treatment bias, in this small case series, natural history alone appears non-inferior to corticosteroid treatment.

PurposeTo reassess the underlying pathophysiology of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) and relentless placoid chorioretinitis (RPC) through comparison with the non-inoculated eye of the von Szily animal model of neurotropic viral retinal infection.MethodsNarrative review.ResultsLiterature reports of isolated neurotropic viral entities and rising serological viral titers in APMPPE after presentation support a potential direct infective etiology. In general, viral transport along axons results in mitochondrial stasis and disruption of axoplasmic flow. Clinical manifestations of axoplasmic flow disruption in APMPPE/RPC may signify the passage of virus along the neuronal pathway. From a case series of 11 patients, we demonstrate a timely, spatial, and proportional association of optic disc swelling with APMPPE lesion occurrence. Signs within the inner retina appear to precede outer retinal lesions; and acute areas of outer nuclear layer (ONL) hyperreflectivity appear to be the result of coalescence of multiple hyperreflective foci resembling axonal spheroids (which occur as a consequence of axoplasmic disruption) and follow the Henle fiber layer neurons. Underlying areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) hyper-autofluorescence follow ONL hyperreflectivity and may signify localized infection. Areas of apparent choriocapillaris hypoperfusion mirror areas of RPE/Bruch’s membrane separation and appear secondary to tractional forces above. Increases in choroidal thickness with lesion occurrence and focal areas of choriocapillaris hypoperfusion are observed in both APMPPE/RPC and the von Szily model.ConclusionsThe neurotrophic infection model provides significant advantages over the existing primary choriocapillaris ischemia hypothesis to account for the range of imaging signs observed in APMPPE and RPC.

Background/Aim To report 5-year real-world efficacy and safety data following the treatment of chronic diabetic macular oedema (DMO) with the intravitreal 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide implant(ILUVIEN). Methods Retrospective cohort study of 31 eyes treated with ILUVIEN for chronic DMO at a tertiary centre in Birmingham (UK). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were recorded at baseline, and then at 1-,2-,3-, and 5-years. Safety was assessed based on intraocular pressure (IOP) -lowering medication, surgery, and other complications. Results BCVA significantly improved 1-year post-ILUVIEN (+4.2 letters, p < 0.05) and gradually reverted to baseline levels over the 5-year period of follow-up (+0.2 letters at year-5). A significant and sustained CRT reduction was observed throughout the 5-years. The proportion of eyes on IOP-lowering medication increased from 16% at baseline, to 70% at 5-years ( p < 0.001) with eyes on a mean of 1.3 medications. Laser trabeculoplasty ( n = 2), cyclodiode laser ( n = 1), and trabeculoplasty and trabeculotomy ( n = 1, in the same eye; 3.2%) were required for uncontrolled IOP. Other complications included endophthalmitis ( n = 1) and vitreous haemorrhage ( n = 1). 58% of eyes required additional intravitreal injections, with a mean 29.2 months to first injection. We observed a 69% reduction in treatment burden following treatment with ILUVIEN implant. Conclusions Our real-world results confirm the efficacy of the ILUVIEN implant over 5 years, with two-thirds of eyes having improved or stable visual acuity 5 years after ILUVIEN, and an overall sustained improvement in anatomical outcome. Although the rate of IOP-lowering medications use was higher than previously reported, the rate of incisional IOP-lowering surgery and other complications remained low and in keeping with rates reported in larger studies.

Purpose To compare and report the 2-year treatment outcomes from 3 different anti-VEGF treatment regimens in treating neovascular aged-related macular degeneration (nAMD): Ranibizumab pro re nata (Ranibizumab-PRN); Ranibizumab treat and extend (Ranibizumab-T&E); Aflibercept fixed first year dosing (7 injections) with treat and extend in subsequent year (Aflibercept-Fixed). Methods All treatment-naïve nAMD patients who completed 24 months of monitoring from a single treatment center were included. Patients received the initial loading dose of three injections (4-weekly interval), followed by one of the 3 treatment regimens. Primary outcomes were changes in visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT). Secondary outcome was number of injections required in each year. Data analysis included last observation carried forward (LOCF) for patients with incomplete year-2 follow-up. Results A total of 249 eyes (230 patients) were studied: 121 Ranibizumab-PRN; 65 Ranibizumab-T&E, and 63 Aflibercept-Fixed. Baseline median VA (ETDRS letters) for Ranibizumab-PRN, Ranibizumab-T&E, and Aflibercept-Fixed was 53.9, 61.1, and 54.9 letters, achieving final VA of 54.9, 65.1, and 65.1 letters, respectively. Hence, the number of letters increased at the end of 24 months for each group was +1.0 (Ranibizumab-PRN), +4.0 (Ranibizumab-T&E), highest +10.2 in Aflibercept-Fixed group. Median number of injections over 2 years (year-1/year-2) was 5/1 for Ranibizumab-PRN, 9/6 for Ranibizumab-T&E, and 7/5 for Aflibercept-Fixed. Both Ranibizumab-T&E and Aflibercept-Fixed also shared the same reduction of median CRT (115 µm), higher than Ranibizumab-PRN (83 µm). Conclusion We report VA improvement from all three different treatment regimens with both Aflibercept-Fixed and Ranibizumab-T&E regimens achieving the same higher final VA. Aflibercept-Fixed dosing may have more favorable efficacy with the highest VA gain and comparatively lower dosing frequency whereas Ranibizumab-T&E may be more efficient than Ranibizumab-PRN regimen, according to our study.

Purpose: To report long-term efficacy and treatment outcomes of the combination therapy for treating macular oedema (MO) in retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) from a real-world UK practice. Methods: The initial reported 66 RVO patients with MO treated with combination therapy (initial Ranibizumab, later optional addition of Ozurdex and laser) were followed up to Year 3: visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were analysed against baseline and previous Year 1 results. Safety and adverse events were also recorded. Results: Baseline LogMARVA of 0.71 (Snellen 6/30) improved to 0.48 (Snellen 6/18) at Year 3 (p=0.006); 63% experienced VA improvement (40% improved >= 3 lines), 27% had worse vision. Stability of mean VA (6/18) was already achieved at first post-loading phase review and was maintained in each subsequent year. Statistically significant CRT improvement was noted in each year (Year 3 median CRT=264 mu m) compared to baseline (median CRT=531 mu m). There was a reduction in the mean number of total injections to 2.5 in Year 3 (vs 5.5 in Year 1). Comparing Year 3 against Year 1, mean Ranibizumab injection frequency was 2.1 vs 4.3; mean Ozurdex injection frequency was 0.2 vs 1.1. In Year 3, 39.6% of patients did not require any form of injections, laser frequency was also reduced to 22.9% (vs 81.8% in Year 1). There was no endophthalmitis in the cohort, one progressed to neovascular glaucoma in Year 2 and mortality rate was recorded as 6%. Conclusion: Our real-world clinical practice for RVO patients using a combined therapy is associated with good long-term VA and anatomical outcomes with less intravitreal retreatment rates.