The feeling of dry eyes is often caused by a problem in the eye’s tears. The tear problems can be caused by the environment, drugs or health conditions. Low humidity, wind (sleeping with a fan or sleep apnea mask), allergens and smoke are environmental factors that can cause problems with your tears. Low humidity indoors is usually caused by extremes of temperatures…
To further understand the systemic and ocular risk factors for rapid glaucoma progression, investigators examined a cohort of rapid and nonrapid disease progressors. Study design Investigators compared medical histories and clinical features of 54 rapidly progressing glaucoma eyes (≥1dB mean deviation (MD)/year) with 486 non-rapidly progressing eyes(<1 dB MD/yr). All patients underwent at least 5…
Using data from 5 multicenter randomized trials, investigators compared the risk of systemic adverse events (SAE) associated with ranibizumab and bevacizumab for treatment of neovascular AMD. Study design While previous meta-analyses have assessed risk using aggregate data, this study used individual patient data adjusted for baseline factors such as smoking status and diabetes. The…
This retrospective, population-based study assessed the incidence and etiologies of acquired third nerve palsy among newly diagnosed patients. Study design Investigators identified all newly diagnosed cases of acquired third nerve palsy from 1978 through 2014 using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a record-linkage system of medical records for all patient-physician encounters in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Outcomes…
Scientists from Massachusetts Eye and Ear have identified a new transcription factor involved in retinal neovascularization: Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1). The findings could lead to new therapies for conditions involving abnormal vessel growth within the retina, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In a report published online in Diabetes, the authors showed that RUNX1…
A multicenter study adds evidence that intravitreal ziv-aflibercept, a low-cost formulation of aflibercept originally developed as a systemic chemotherapy agent, is safe for treatment of retinal diseases. Study design Investigators from 3 centers enrolled 60 consecutive patients (65 eyes) with neovascular AMD, DME, CME associated with CRVO, or pseudophakic CME. Subjects received 6 or more…
In this secondary analysis of the Telemedicine Approaches to Evaluating Acute-phase ROP (e-ROP) study, investigators examined the intereye agreement of ROP features and severity using trained nonphysician graders. Study design The NIH-funded e-ROP study evaluated the feasibility of telemedicine to identify infants with referral-warranted ROP, defined as the presence of stage 3 or above, plus…
The growing field of autologous stem-cell therapy has set its sights on another potential ocular target: corneal dystrophies. A Spanish and Lebanese research team has completed a phase 1 pilot study demonstrating that autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can survive transplantation into the corneal stroma and produce new collagen. The investigative therapy is designed to…
Investigators examined the effect of preoperative posturing on preventing progression of retinal detachments (RD). Study design This prospective study included 98 patients with macula-on RDs. Preoperative posturing consisted of bed rest and positioning patients on the side where the RD was mainly located. OCT scans were obtained at baseline and before and after each interruption…
What are floaters? Floaters look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. While they seem to be in front of your eye, they are floating inside. Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that fills your eye. What you see are the shadows these clumps cast…
