Purpose: To assess a model combining OCT angiography (OCTA) and OCT parameters to predict the severity of paracentral visual field (VF) loss in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).Design: Cross-sectional study.Participants: Forty-four patients with POAG and 42 control subjects underwent OCTA and OCT imaging with a swept-source OCT device.Methods: The circumpapillary microvasculature was quantified for vessel density (cpVD) and flow (cpFlow) after delineation of Bruch's membrane opening and removal of large vessels. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) were measured from structural OCT. Paracentral total deviation (PaTD) was defined as the average of the total deviation values within the central 10 degrees on Humphrey VF testing (24-2) for upper and lower hemifields. The OCT and OCTA parameters were measured in the affected hemisphere corresponding to the hemifield with lower PaTD for POAG patients. Models were created to predict affected PaTD based on RNFLT alone; RNFLT and BMO-MRW; OCTA alone; or RNFLT, BMO-MRW and OCTA parameters. The models were compared using coefficient of determination (r2) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) score. Bayesian information criterion decrease of >6 indicates strong evi-dence for model improvement.Main Outcome Measures: Performance of models containing OCT and OCTA parameters in predicting PaTD.Results: Patients with POAG and controls were similar in age and sex (65.9 + 9.5 years and 38.4% male overall, P > 0.56 for both). Average RNFLT, minimum RNFLT, average BMO-MRW, minimum BMO-MRW, cpVD, and cpFlow were all significantly lower (all P < 0.001) in the affected hemisphere in patients with POAG than in controls. In patients with POAG, the average mean deviation was -4.33 + 3.25 dB; the PaTD of the affected hemifield averaged -4.55 + 5.26 dB and correlated significantly with both OCTA and structural OCT parameters (r > 0.43, P < 0.004 for all). The model containing RNFLT, BMO-MRW, and OCTA parameters was superior in predicting affected PaTD (r2= 0.47, BIC = 290.7), with higher r2 and lower BIC compared with all 3 other models.Conclusions: A combined model of OCTA and structural OCT parameters can predict the severity of par-acentral VF loss of the affected hemifield, supporting clinical utility of OCTA in patients with POAG with para -central VF loss.Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. Ophthalmology Glaucoma 2023;6:255-265 (c) 2022 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Purpose: To assess microvascular beds in the optic nerve head (ONH), peripapillary tissue, and the nailfold in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) versus controls. Methods: Patients with POAG (n = 22) and controls (n = 12) underwent swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography of ophthalmic microvasculature and nailfold video capillaroscopy of the hand. The main outcomes were vessel density (VD) and blood flow of the ONH, the peripapillary and the nailfold microvasculatures. Results: Patients with POAG were younger than controls (63.5 ± 9.4 vs. 69.9 ± 6.5 years, P = 0.03). Deep ONH VD and blood flow were lower in patients with POAG than controls (39.1% ± 3.5% vs. 43.8% ± 5.7%; 37.8% ± 5.3% vs. 46.0% ± 7.8%, respectively, P < 0.02 for both); similar results were observed with peripapillary VD (37.9 ± 2.6%, 43.4 ± 7.6%, respectively, P = 0.03). Nailfold capillary density and blood flow were lower in patients with POAG than controls (8.8 ± 1.0 vs. 9.8 ± 0.9 capillaries/mm; 19.9 ± 9.4 vs. 33.7 ± 9.8 pL/s, respectively; P < 0.009 for both). After adjusting for age and gender, deep ONH VD and blood flow, peripapillary VD, and nailfold capillary blood flow were lower in POAG than controls (β = −0.04, −0.07, −0.05, −13.19, respectively, P ≤ 0.046 for all). Among all participants, there were positive correlations between deep ONH and nailfold capillary blood flow (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.42, P = 0.02), peripapillary and nailfold capillary density (r = 0.43, P = 0.03), and peripapillary and nailfold capillary blood flow (r = 0.49, P = 0.01). Conclusions: Patients with POAG demonstrated morphologic and hemodynamic alterations in both ophthalmic and nailfold microvascular beds compared to controls. Translational Relevance: The concomitant abnormalities in nailfold capillaries and relevant ocular vascular beds in POAG suggest that the microvasculature may be a target for POAG treatment.
Purpose To determine the clinical relevance of prelaminar wedge defects (PLWDs) detected by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Materials and Methods In this retrospective case-control study, PLWDs were defined as triangular-shaped defects at the surface of the optic nerve prelaminar tissue, not adjacent to blood vessels, present on cross-sectional SS-OCT scans. Two observers masked to diagnosis independently reviewed scans to detect PLWDs and lamina cribrosa defects. History of disc hemorrhage, occurring within 2 years prior to imaging, was obtained from chart review. One eye per subject was randomly selected. Two-sided t-tests, analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to explore demographic and clinical features associated with PLWDs. Results 40 POAG and 23 control eyes were included. PLWDS were found in 27.5% of POAG (n = 11) and 4.3% of controls (n = 1, p = .04). Eyes with repeat SS-OCT imaging (7 POAG and 0 controls) had persistent PLWDs. More POAG eyes with PLWDs had a history of disc hemorrhage (45.5%) than POAG eyes without PLWDs (3.4%, p = .004). On multivariable analysis, compared to POAG without PLWDs, POAG with PLWDs had increased odds of observed disc hemorrhage (OR = 21.6, 95% CI, 2.2-589.0, p = .02) after adjusting for age, gender, visual field mean deviation and maximum intraocular pressure (IOP). POAG with PLWDs had more lamina cribrosa defects (45.5%) than POAG without PLWDs (3.4%, p = .01) but did not differ significantly from controls (8.7%, p = .07). Compared to all patients without PLWDs, patients with PLWDs had increased odds of having lamina cribrosa defects (OR = 44.8; 95% CI, 6.3-703.6, p < .001) after adjusting for age, gender, and maximum IOP. Conclusions PLWDs were more frequently found in POAG than control eyes and were associated with a history of disc hemorrhage and lamina cribrosa defects. PLWDs may be a useful imaging biomarker of glaucomatous damage.
Purpose: To quantify abnormalities in the peripapillary microvasculature in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and paracentral visual field (VF) loss. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Participants: Thirty-three POAG patients, including 15 with paracentral VF loss and 18 with peripheral VF loss, and 31 control participants underwent swept-source OCT angiography (OCTA) of the peripapillary region. Methods: The POAG groups were matched by VF mean deviation (MD). The peripapillary microvasculature from the internal limiting membrane to the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) interface was quantified within a 0.70-mm annulus around Bruch's membrane opening after removal of large vessels. Both vessel density (VD) and the integrated OCTA by ratio analysis signal (IOS) suggestive of flow were measured. Regional VD and IOS were measured from the affected hemisphere corresponding to the VF hemifield of more severe loss, which was used to calculate the paracentral total deviation (PaTD), or total deviation within the central 10 degrees. One eye per participant was included. Main Outcome Measures: Difference in peripapillary OCTA measurements between paracentral and peripheral VF loss groups and correlation of peripapillary VD and IOS with PaTD. Results: The POAG groups had matched VF MD (-3.1 +/- 2.5 dB paracentral vs. -2.3 +/- 2.0 dB peripheral; P = 0.31), did not differ in average RNFL thickness (71.1 +/- 14.7 mu m vs. 78.1 +/- 15.0 mu m; P = 0.55), but differed in age (59.2 +/- 9.6 years paracentral vs. 67.4 +/- 6.6 years peripheral; P = 0.02). Compared with control participants, both paracentral and peripheral VF loss groups showed reduced VD (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively) and IOS (P < 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively) in the affected hemisphere. Compared with POAG eyes with peripheral VF loss, the paracentral group showed reduced peripapillary VD (38.0 +/- 2.0%, 35.0 +/- 2.2%, respectively; P = 0.001) and IOS (44.3 +/- 3.1%, 40.4 +/- 4.0%, respectively; P = 0.02) in the affected hemisphere. Among all POAG eyes, peripapillary VD and IOS of the affected hemisphere correlated significantly with functional measurement of paracentral loss (PaTD, r = 0.40, P = 0.02; r = 0.45, P = 0.008; respectively). These correlations remained significant after adjusting for age (r = 0.41, P = 0.02; r = 0.47, P = 0.01; respectively). Conclusions: Regional peripapillary microvasculature showed decreased VD and flow in POAG with paracentral loss, supporting its importance in this glaucoma subtype. (C) 2020 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Background/Aims An altered haemodynamic profile for various ocular posterior segment capillary beds has been documented in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). POAG may also involve abnormal non-ocular blood flow, and the nailfold capillaries, which are not affected by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), are readily assessable. Methods We measured resting nailfold capillary blood flow in 67 POAG and 63 control subjects using video capillaroscopy. Masked readers tracked blood column voids between consecutive, registered image sequence frames, measured vessel diameter and calculated blood flow. We used multiple logistic regression to investigate the relation between nailfold capillary blood flow and POAG. In secondary analyses, we stratified cases by maximum IOP and concurrent topical beta-blocker use. Results Mean (±SD) blood flow in picolitres per second was 26.8±17.6 for POAG cases and 50.1±24.2 for controls (p<0.0001). After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors including blood pressure and pulse, every picolitre per second increase in resting nailfold blood flow was associated with a 6% (95% CI 0.92 to 0.96) reduced odds of POAG (p<0.0001). Similar relations between nailfold capillary blood flow and POAG were found for cases stratified by maximum known IOP and for cases stratified by concurrent topical beta-blocker use. Conclusion Reduced resting nailfold capillary blood flow is present in POAG independent of covariates such as blood pressure, pulse and IOP.
Purpose: To assess optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary microvasculature in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) of mild to moderate severity using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, swept-source OCTA images were analyzed for 1 eye from each of 30 POAG patients with glaucomatous Humphrey visual field loss and 16 controls. The anatomic boundary of ONH was manually delineated based on Bruch’s membrane opening and large vessels were removed from en face angiography images to measure vessel density (VD) and the integrated OCTA by ratio analysis signal (IOS), suggestive of flow, in the ONH and peripapillary region. POAG subgroup analysis was performed based on a history of disc hemorrhage (DH) matched by visual field mean deviation (MD). Results: POAG (mean MD±SD, −3.3±3.0 dB) and control groups had similar demographic characteristics and intraocular pressure on the day of imaging. Groups did not differ in superficial ONH VD or flow indicated by IOS (P≥0.28). POAG eyes showed significantly lower VD (39.4%±4.0%) and flow (38.8%±5.6%) in deep ONH, peripapillary VD (37.9%±2.9%) and flow (43.6%±4.0%) compared with control eyes (44.1%±5.1%, 44.7%±6.9%, 40.7%±1.7%, 47.8%±2.5%, respectively; P≤0.007 for all). In the subgroup analysis, POAG eyes with (n=14) and without DH (n=16) had similar measured OCTA parameters (P>0.99 for all). Conclusions: The image processing methodology based on the anatomic boundary of ONH demonstrated compromised microvasculature in the deep ONH and peripapillary region in eyes with mild to moderate POAG, regardless of the history of DH.
Purpose: To compare optic nerve head (ONH) measurements in glaucomatous eyes with paracentral visual field (VF) loss to eyes with peripheral VF loss and controls. Methods: Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients with early paracentral VF loss or isolated peripheral VF loss as well as control subjects underwent ONH imaging with swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) imaging with spectral-domain OCT. Minimum rim width at Bruch's membrane opening (BMO-MRW), lamina cribrosa depth (LCD), and RNFL thickness were compared among the glaucoma and control groups with one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Twenty-nine eyes from 29 OAG patients (15 early paracentral and 14 isolated peripheral VF loss) and 20 eyes of 20 control subjects were included. The early paracentral and isolated peripheral VF loss groups had similar VF mean deviation (MD) (-5.3 +/- 2.7 dB and -3.7 +/- 3.0 dB, p=0.15, respectively). Global BMO-MRW was lower in OAG eyes than in controls (193.8 +/- 40.0 vs 322.7 +/- 62.2 mu m, p<0.001), but similar between eyes with early paracentral VF loss and those with isolated peripheral VF loss (187.6 +/- 43.4 vs 200.6 +/- 36.3 mu m; p>0.99). In contrast, the minimal BMO-MRW was lower in eyes with early paracentral loss (69.0 +/- 33.6 mu m) than in eyes with isolated peripheral loss (107.7 +/- 40.2 mu m; p=0.03) or control eyes (200.1 +/- 40.8 mu m; p<0.001). Average and thinnest RNFL thickness did not differ between OAG groups (p=0.61 and 0.19, respectively). Horizontal and vertical LCD did not differ among the OAG groups and controls (p=0.80 and 0.82, respectively). Multivariable linear regression analysis among OAG cases confirmed the association between lower minimal BMO-MRW and early paracentral VF loss (beta=-38.3 mu m; 95% confidence interval, -69.8 to -6.8 mu m; p=0.02) after adjusting for age, gender, MD, and disc size. Conclusion: Thin minimal BMO-MRW may represent a new structural biomarker associated with early glaucomatous paracentral VF loss.
Program Number: 763 Poster Board Number: B0602 Presentation Time: 1:30 PM–3:15 PM Cataract surgery practices in the United States Veterans Health Administration Annika G. Havnaer1, 2, Paul B. Greenberg1, 2, Glenn C. Cockerham3, 4, Melissa A. Clark5, Amy Chomsky6, 7. 1Division of Ophthalmology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI; 2Section of Ophthalmology, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI; 3Section of Ophthalmology, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA; 4Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; 5Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; 6Section of Ophthalmology, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN; 7Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN. Purpose: Cataract extraction is among the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States (US). However, few cataract surgery practice guidelines are backed by high-quality evidence, which may contribute to considerable variation in practice patterns. We surveyed chiefs of ophthalmology to create a comprehensive picture of current cataract surgery practices in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest provider of integrated health care and health professions training in the US. Methods: An anonymous thirty-two-question survey of cataract surgery practices was formulated using an online survey program. The inclusion criterion was a chief of ophthalmology at a Veterans Affairs (VA) facility where cataract surgery was performed. An initial email containing a link to the survey was sent to participants in May 2016. Two reminder emails were sent to non-responders at one and two weeks after the initial survey was sent out; the remaining nonresponders were called twice over a two-week period. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The response rate was 75% (67/89). In 39% (26/66) and 45% (29/65) of ophthalmology sections, respectively, cataract surgeons routinely ordered preoperative consultations and preoperative testing. In 33% (22/66) of sections, cataract surgeons administered intracameral antibiotics. The primary cited reasons for not using intracameral antibiotics were pharmacy or institutional difficulties (30%; 13/44), risk of dilution error (16%; 7/44), and lack of evidence (16%; 7/44). In 92% (61/66) and 30% (20/66) of sections, respectively, cataract surgeons used toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) and multifocal IOLs. In 9% (6/66) of sections, cataract surgeons performed femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). In 9% (6/66) of sections, cataract surgeons performed immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). Residents were trained in cataract surgery in 86% (57/66) of sections. Seventyfour percent (49/66) of chiefs reported a high level of satisfaction with VA ophthalmology. Conclusions: In the VHA, routine preoperative testing is commonly performed and emerging practices such as FLACS and ISBCS have limited roles. The results of this survey can benchmark future trends in US cataract surgery practices, particularly in teaching hospital settings. Commercial Relationships: Annika G. Havnaer, None; Paul B. Greenberg, None; Glenn C. Cockerham, None; Melissa A. Clark, None; Amy Chomsky, None Support: This work was supported by a Summer Assistantship award from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
The purpose of the study was to investigate nailfold microvascular morphology in exfoliation syndrome with or without glaucoma (XFS/XFG) compared with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and control subjects using nailfold capillary videomicroscopy. We used a JH-1004 capillaroscope to perform nailfold capillary videomicroscopy on the fourth and fifth digit of the non-dominant hand. We enrolled 56 XFS/XFG patients, 87 POAG patients, and 75 control subjects. Masked observers graded the videos for hemorrhages, avascular zones ≥200 microns (μm), and degree of microvascular tortuosity on a four-point subjective scale. Multivariable odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and P-for trends for assessing the relation between morphological changes and POAG or XFS/XFG were obtained from logistic regression analyses. We also assessed this relation with XFS/XFG compared with POAG in multivariable models. After adjusting for multiple covariates, nailfold hemorrhages, avascular zones ≥200 μm, and higher degree of vascular tortuosity were more common in XFS/XFG vs controls (P-for trend ≤0.0001) and in POAG vs controls (P-for trend ≤0.01). For each 100 capillaries, the number of hemorrhages was similar (P-for trend=0.91) between XFS/XFG and POAG patients; however, there were more avascular zones per 100 capillaries with borderline significance (P-for trend=0.04) in the XFS/XFG group. XFS/XFG patients had more tortuosity than POAG patients; specifically, having a tortuosity score ≥1.5 was associated with a 4.4-fold increased odds of XFS/XFG (95% confidence interval: 1.5–13.3) relative to a tortuosity score <1.0 (P-for trend=0.005). A high degree of nailfold capillary tortuosity is a distinct non-ocular feature associated with XFS/XFG compared with either POAG or controls.
Purpose: To describe new software tools for quantifying optic nerve head drusen volume using 3-dimensional (3D) swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) volumetric scans. Materials and Methods: SS-OCT was used to acquire raster volume scans of 8 eyes of 4 patients with bilateral optic nerve head drusen. The scans were manually segmented by 3 graders to identify the drusen borders, and thereafter total drusen volumes were calculated. Linear regression was performed to study the relationships between drusen volume, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and Humphrey visual field mean deviation. Results: In the 8 study eyes, drusen volumes ranged between 0.24 to 1.05 mm3. Visual field mean deviation decreased by ∼20 dB per cubic millimeter increase in drusen volume, and the coefficient of correlation of the linear regression was 0.92. In this small patient series, visual field defects were detected when drusen volume was larger than about 0.2 mm3. Conclusions: Software tools have been developed to quantify the size of OHND using SS-OCT volume scans.
ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare structural features in prelaminar and laminar tissues of the optic nerve head (ONH) in chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and control subjects. Materials and Methods: ONH imaging was performed using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) for measurements of minimum rim width at Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO-MRW), horizontal, and vertical lamina cribrosa depth (LCD). Prelaminar defects, categorized as hole and wedge, and lamina cribrosa (LC) defects were identified. Enhanced depth imaging spectral domain OCT (EDI-OCT) customized to perform high-resolution volume scans was used in conjunction to further characterize prelaminar holes. One eye per subject was analyzed. Results: Eighty subjects (20 CACG, 40 POAG, and 20 controls) were included in the study. CACG and POAG groups had similar mean deviation on Humphrey visual field testing (−6.9 ± 5.1 vs. −6.3 ± 6.0 dB, p > 0.05) and IOP on the day of imaging (14.0 ± 3.1 vs. 13.8 ± 2.7 mmHg, p > 0.05). Thinnest and global BMO-MRW in CACG (120.3 ± 44.8, 225.5 ± 53.9 μm) and POAG (109.7 ± 56.3, 213.8 ± 59.7 μm) groups were lower than controls (200.1 ± 40.8, 308.3 ± 70.8 μm; p < 0.001 for both). Prelaminar holes were most frequent in CACG (65.0%) than POAG (25.0%, p=0.008) or control groups (20.0%, p=0.01). After adjusting for demographic and ophthalmic covariates, CACG was associated with increased odds of having prelaminar holes compared to POAG (odds ratio, 9.79; 95% CI, 2.12–45.19; p=0.003). Hole volume was similar between CACG and POAG (p > 0.05), but the CACG group had more holes per scan than POAG (maximum 2.5 ± 1.9 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4, p=0.02). Prelaminar wedge defects were less common in the CACG than the POAG group (5.0% vs. 37.5%, p=0.02). The CACG group did not differ from controls in laminar characteristics, such as LCD and LC defects. Conclusions: SS-OCT evaluation of the ONH revealed more frequent prelaminar holes in CACG compared to POAG and control patients.
Purpose: To assess personal and demographic risk factors for proliferative diabetic retinopathy in African Americans with type 2 diabetes.Methods: In this prospective, non-interventional, cross-sectional case-control study, 380 African Americans with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Participants were recruited prospectively and had to have either: (1) absence of diabetic retinopathy after >= 10 years of type 2 diabetes, or (2) presence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy when enrolled. Dilated, 7-field fundus photographs were graded using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale. Covariates including hemoglobin A(1C) (HbA(1C)), blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference were collected prospectively. Multivariate regression models adjusted for age, sex and site were constructed to assess associations between risk factors and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.Results: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy was associated with longer duration of diabetes (odds ratio, OR, 1.62, p < 0.001), higher systolic blood pressure (OR 1.65, p < 0.001) and insulin use (OR 6.65, p < 0.001) in the multivariate regression analysis. HbA(1C) was associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the univariate analysis (OR 1.31, p = 0.002) but was no longer significant in the multivariate analysis.Conclusions: In this case-control study of African Americans with type 2 diabetes, duration of diabetes, systolic hypertension and insulin use were strong risk factors for the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Interestingly, HbA(1C) did not confer additional risk in this cohort.
Aims To compare swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain OCT (EDI-OCT) in quantitative assessment of optic nerve head (ONH) parameters. Methods In a cross-sectional study, patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and age-matched control subjects underwent SS-OCT and EDI-OCT B-scans of the ONH in a single visit. Two masked readers independently measured the horizontal and vertical lamina cribrosa depth (LCDH and LCDV, respectively), as well as thinnest Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) from SS-OCT and EDI-OCT scans. We assessed agreement between SS-OCT and EDI-OCT measurements by linear regression models, Bland-Altman analysis and concordance correlation coefficients (CCC). Intrareader and inter-reader reproducibility was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results One eye from each of 40 patients with POAG and 20 controls were included. All three ONH measurements were higher on SS-OCT than on EDI-OCT, with significant differences in LCDH (mean difference=31.7 µm, p<0.01) and thinnest BMO-MRW (mean difference=20.5 µm, p<0.01). Linear regression models described the agreement between SS-OCT and EDI-OCT measurements with R2>0.8 for LCDH among both patients with POAG and controls and for thinnest BMO-MRW among patients with POAG. The CCC was >0.8 overall for each parameter. Intrareader and inter-reader ICCs were ≥0.989 and ≥0.964, respectively, for all parameters. Conclusions LCDH, LCDV and thinnest BMO-MRW measurements are not interchangeable between SS-OCT and EDI-OCT, but show good intrareader and inter-reader reproducibility and interdevice agreement for quantitative characterisation of the ONH, particularly among patients with glaucoma.
OBJECTIVES: To assess resident cataract surgery outcomes at an academic teaching institution using 2 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) cataract measures, which are intended to serve as a proxy for quality of surgical care.DESIGN: A retrospective review comparing cataract surgery outcomes of resident and attending surgeries using 2 PQRS measures: (1) 20/40 or better best-corrected visual acuity following cataract surgery and (2) complications within 30 days following cataract surgery requiring additional surgical procedures.SETTING: An academic ophthalmology center.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2487 surgeries performed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 were included in this study.RESULTS: Of all 2487 cataract surgeries, 98.95% achieved a vision of at least 20/40 at or before 90 days, and only 0.64% required a return to the operating room for postoperative complications. Of resident surgeries, 98.9% (1370 of 1385) achieved 20/40 vision at or before 90 days follow-up. Of attending surgeries, 99.0% (1091 of 1102) achieved 20/40 vision at or before 90 days (p = 1.00). There were no statistically significant differences between resident and attending cases regarding postoperative complications needing a return to the operating room (i.e., 0.65%, or 9 of 1385 resident cases vs 0.64%, or 7 of 1102 attending cases; p = 1.00).CONCLUSIONS: Using PQRS Medicare cataract surgery criteria, this study establishes new benchmarks for cataract surgery outcomes at a teaching institution and supplemental measure for assessing resident surgical performance. Excellent cataract outcomes were achieved at an academic teaching institution, with results exceeding Medicare thresholds of 50%. There appears to be no significant difference in supervised trainee and attending cataract surgeon outcomes using 2 PQRS measures currently used by Medicare to determine physician reimbursement and quality of care. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery
PURPOSE. To examine the relationship between proportion of African ancestry (PAA) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to identify genetic loci associated with PDR using admixture mapping in African Americans with type 2 diabetes (T2D).METHODS. Between 1993 and 2013, 1440 participants enrolled in four different studies had fundus photographs graded using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale. Cases (n = 305) had PDR while controls (n = 1135) had nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) or no DR. Covariates included diabetes duration, hemoglobin A(1C), systolic blood pressure, income, and education. Genotyping was performed on the Affymetrix platform. The association between PAA and PDR was evaluated using logistic regression. Genome-wide admixture scanning was performed using ANCESTRYMAP software.RESULTS. In the univariate analysis, PDR was associated with increased PAA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-1.59, P = 0.0002). In multivariate regression adjusting for traditional DR risk factors, income and education, the association between PAA and PDR was attenuated and no longer significant (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.59-2.47, P = 0.61). For the admixture analyses, the maximum genome-wide score was 1.44 on chromosome 1.CONCLUSIONS. In this largest study of PDR in African Americans with T2D to date, an association between PAA and PDR is not present after adjustment for clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. No genome-wide significant locus (defined as having a locus-genome statistic > 5) was identified with admixture analysis. Further analyses with even larger sample sizes are needed to definitively assess if any admixture signal for DR is present.
PURPOSE:To investigate biomarker differences in routine preoperative blood tests performed on primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) case and control patients presenting for anterior segment eye surgery.METHODS:POAG cases and age-related cataract surgery patients (controls) who underwent anterior segment surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear from January 2009 through March 2012 were identified by retrospective record review. Patients with diabetes mellitus, secondary glaucoma, and cataract due to trauma or steroid exposure were excluded. Data on demographic features, preoperative ophthalmological and medical diagnosis, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, basic metabolic panel, and complete blood count were extracted from the medical records. Univariate differences in lab values between POAG cases and controls were assessed using unpaired t tests. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was completed to determine the independent associations of biomarkers with POAG.RESULTS:A total of 150 cases and 150 age-related controls were included. In multivariate analysis, higher AG was inversely associated with POAG (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-1.00), and higher Cl- level was positively associated with POAG (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.29). The lower AG in POAG patients could be explained by higher IgG levels as the available data in post hoc analysis showed a nonsignificant trend toward higher IgG in cases compared to controls (17 vs 23; 1142 ± 284 mg/dl vs 1028 ± 291 mg/dl; P = 0.22). Furthermore, in multivariable analysis, a higher red blood cell count was also associated with POAG (OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.11-3.28).CONCLUSIONS:Patients with POAG presenting for anterior segment surgery had a lower AG compared to age-related cataract surgery patients. The etiology of this reduced gap is unclear but the possible contribution of IgG warrants further exploration. The etiology of higher red blood cell counts in POAG cases is unknown and deserves further exploration.