Deterioration In Best-corrected Visual Acuity Research Articles

Treadmill-walking impairs visual function in early glaucoma and elderly controls

Abstract Aims Impaired vision is an additional risk factor in elderly for falls. We investigated the hypothesis that treadmill (TM) walking affects visual function in both healthy elderly and those with early-moderate visual dysfunction due to glaucoma. Methods Thirty healthy controls (HC) aged 64–83 years and 18 glaucoma patients (GLA) aged 62–82 years participated in this cross-sectional study. The impact of TM-walking on visual function was assessed binocularly for (i) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with and without crowding effect, (ii) contrast sensitivity (CS), and (iii) and visual field (mean deviation, VF-MD). Visual function was tested while participants were standing or during TM-walking for 2 speed conditions: (i) fast walking at their preferred speed and (ii) walking at a fixed speed of 3.5 km/h. Results GLA, most with early-moderate VF loss, performed equally well as HC. Independent of GROUP, an impact of SPEED on visual functions was statistically evident with large statistical effect size for (i) both types of BCVA with a mean loss of 0.02–0.05 logMAR (η2 = 0.41) and (ii) VF-MD with mean loss of 1 dB (η2 = 0.70), but not for CS. Conclusions Here, we introduce a paradigm for the assessment of visual function during walking. We provide proof-of-concept that our approach allows for the identification of walking induced visual function loss, i.e., a deterioration of BCVA and VF-sensitivity during TM-walking in both groups. It is therefore of promise for the investigation of the relation of vision impairment and mobility, ultimately the increased frequency of falls in advanced glaucoma.

Factors affecting the visual outcomes and central macular thickness in diabetic maculopathy after intravitreal bevacizumab.

To assess the outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab in patients of diabetic maculopathy by anatomical outcomes and best-corrected visual acuity, and to assess the prognostic factors that influence the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab. The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January 2019 to January 2020, and comprised patients with diabetic maculopathy who were administered intravitreal bevacizumab on a monthly basis for three months with further injections administered on an as-needed basis in cases of persistent macular oedema or deterioration of best-corrected visual acuity. The assessment was done pre-injection, and three and six months after the injection. Outcome variables were best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Of the 34 patients, 2(5.9%) were males and 32(94.1%) were females. The overall mean age was 58±10 years. Of the 55 eyes, 27(49.1%) were right and 28(50.9%) were left eyes. After 3 months, the best-corrected visual acuity improved by one line in 20(36.4%) eyes. At 6 months, it improved by one line in 25(45.4%) eyes. After 3 months, the central macular thickness of 48(87.2%) eyes improved anatomically. At 6 months, a further decrease in central macular thickness resulted in 50(90.9%) eyes. The best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months was inversely correlated with central macular thickness and disruption of inner segment/outer segment integrity. Intravitreal bevacizumab injection led to appreciable improvement in best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness at 6 months. Disruption of inner segment/outer segment integrity, presence of exudates and cystic changes were noted that lead to poor visual prognosis.

Long-term outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in peripapillary choroidal neovascularisation due to age-related macular degeneration.

To report the long-term outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in eyes with peripapillary choroidal neovascularisation (PPCNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A retrospective cohort study included patients with AMD-related PPCNV. Eyes were treated with anti-VEGF according to pro re nata regimen. Inactivation index was calculated as the proportion of disease inactivity from the total follow up time. Sixty-seven eyes of 66 consecutive patients were included in the study; mean follow-up time was 53.2 months. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) remained stable for the first four years of follow up, with a significant deterioration in BCVA thereafter. Baseline BCVA was a significant predictor of final BCVA (p < 0.001). The mean inactivation index was 0.38 ± 0.23. Subretinal fluid (SRF) at presentation was significantly associated with decreased inactivation index (p < 0.05). Worse baseline BCVA, SRF and pigment epithelium detachment (PED), male sex, and younger patient age were associated with increased risk for recurrence after first inactivation (p < 0.05). The use of anti-VEGF agents in the treatment of AMD-related PPCNV managed to preserve BCVA in the first four years of follow-up. Male sex, SRF and PED at presentation and baseline BCVA are associated with increased risk for PPCNV recurrence after the first inactivation, and should prompt careful follow-up in these patients.

Factors Threatening Central Visual Function of Patients with Advanced Glaucoma: A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Study

To identify risk factors for further deterioration of central visual function in advanced glaucoma eyes. Prospective, observational 5-year study. Advanced glaucoma patients with well-controlled intraocular pressure (IOP), mean deviation (MD) of the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) 24-2 program ≤-20 dB and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40. The HFA 10-2 test and BCVA examination were performed every 6 months, and the HFA 24-2 test was performed every 12 months for 5 years. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify risk factors for deterioration of HFA 10-2 and 24-2 results and BCVA. Deterioration of HFA 10-2 results was defined by the presence of the same ≥3 points with negative total deviation slope ≤-1 dB/year at P < 0.01 on ≥3 consecutive tests, deterioration of HFA 24-2 results by an increase ≥2 in the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study score on ≥2 consecutive tests, and deterioration of BCVA by an increase of ≥0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) on ≥2 consecutive tests. A total of 175 eyes of 175 patients (mean age, 64.1 years; mean baseline IOP, 13.2 mmHg; mean BCVA, 0.02 logMAR; mean HFA 24-2 and 10-2 MD, -25.9 and -22.9 dB, respectively) were included. The probabilities of deterioration in HFA 10-2 and 24-2 results and BCVA were 0.269 ± 0.043 (standard error), 0.173 ± 0.031, and 0.194 ± 0.033, respectively, at 5 years. Lower BCVA at baseline (P= 0.012) was associated significantly with further deterioration of HFA 10-2 results. Better HFA 24-2 MD (P < 0.001) and use of systemic antihypertensive agents (P= 0.009) were associated significantly with further deterioration of HFA 24-2 results, and a greater β-peripapillary atrophy area-to-disc area ratio (P < 0.001), use of systemic antihypertensive agents (P= 0.025), and lower BCVA (P= 0.042) were associated significantly with further deterioration of BCVA, respectively. In advanced glaucoma eyes with well-controlled IOP, BCVA, β-peripapillary atrophy area-to-disc area ratio, and use of systemic antihypertensive agents were significant prognostic factors for further deterioration of central visual function.

Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers Predicting Visual Acuity Change after Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injections for Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Purpose: This study aimed to identify baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) factors in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) that predict response to bevacizumab injections. Methods: It is a retrospective case series of consecutive patients that underwent OCT at diagnosis, and the central macular thickness (CMT), extent of disorganized retinal inner layers, and outer retinal layers including external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone (EZ), and cone outer segment tips (COST) were measured. Patients received 3 consecutive monthly injections of bevacizumab followed by pro re nata treatment. The main outcome measure was improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 1 year. Results are expressed as mean ± SD, and p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Overall, 66 eyes of 66 patients, with an average age of 68.5 ± 11.4 years, were included. The mean BCVA improved significantly from 0.68 logMAR at baseline to 0.50 logMAR at 1 year (p < 0.001). Baseline logMAR BCVA (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and CMT (r = 0.23, p = 0.04) were associated with improvement while EZ (r = −0.24, p = 0.05) and COST (r = −0.32, p = 0.01) disruption with deterioration in BCVA. Conclusion: In patients with naïve BRVO treated with bevacizumab, BCVA improvement at 1 year can be predicted from baseline BCVA, CMT, extent of COST disruption, and EZ disruption.

Rituximab as an Adjuvant Rescue Treatment for Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid.

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) can lead to devastating ocular complications without prompt treatment. A number of immunomodulatory agents have been attempted with varying success. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of rituximab as an adjuvant to immunomodulatory treatments (IMTs) in refractory OCP. The clinical records of 14 patients with treatment refractory OCP treated with rituximab as monotherapy or in combination with IMTs were retrospectively reviewed, with a focus on demographics, treatments prerituximab and postrituximab, total number of rituximab infusions, response to treatment, and ocular outcomes including staging and best-corrected visual acuity. Thirteen patients (92.9%) achieved a complete response with rituximab over a mean period of 4.3 months. The average sustained complete response time in those without relapse was 29.7 months. Five patients relapsed over a mean period of 15 months, 2 of whom were able to regain control over a mean of 2.5 months with additional rituximab treatments. At the final evaluation, rituximab-based therapy improved ocular outcomes in OCP by stabilizing Foster staging and preventing the deterioration of best-corrected visual acuity in 72% of eyes. In total, 90% of eyes with Foster stages 3 or less did not progress. All patients were able to decrease IMT dosage and/or transition to less potent adjuvant treatments. The consideration of rituximab earlier in treatment of OCP as a rescue and/or maintenance therapy could result in an earlier arrest of disease progression, resulting in preservation of patients' vision, and enable tapering of adjuvant IMT.

Change in visual acuity 12 and 24\xa0months after transscleral ab interno glaucoma gel stent implantation with adjunctive Mitomycin C

PurposeTo analyze changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after implantation of the transscleral ab interno glaucoma gel stent (XEN Gel Stent; Allergan, Dublin) in patients with open-angle glaucoma.MethodsIn a single-center, prospective, non-randomized study of 137 eyes with open-angle glaucoma which underwent implantation with XEN, 69 eyes underwent XEN implantation alone (group 1) and 68 eyes underwent XEN implantation and cataract surgery (group 2). BCVA (Bailey–Lovie chart, logMAR scale) was evaluated at baseline, postoperative day 1, weeks 1 and 2, and months 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24. Risk factors for decline in BCVA were analyzed in multivariate models.ResultsBaseline BCVA in group 1 was 0.21 ± 031; the group’s mean BCVA did not change at any postoperative visit, although a ≥ 2-line loss of BCVA was detected in 15% (95% CI 7–29%) and 4% (95% CI 0–20%) after months 12 and 24, respectively. Baseline BCVA in group 2 was 0.33 ± 031; vision increased significantly at months 3 (0.22 ± 0.29, p = 0.015), 6 (0.20 ± 0.26, p = 0.006), 12 (0.18 ± 0.29, p = 0.001), and 24 (0.18 ± 0.29, p = 0.005). A ≥ 2-line loss of BCVA was reported in 4% (95% CI 1–15%) and 7% (95% CI 1–24%) after months 12 and 24, respectively.ConclusionsThere was no deterioration of BCVA in group 1; those in group 2 had an overall significant increase in BCVA. BCVA decrease was lower than is typically reported in the literature post-trabeculectomy.

A study on visual outcome after laser photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy cases

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common causes of blindness in the world. Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes causes progressive dysfunction of the retinal vasculature (microangiopathy) causing retinal hypoxia leading to expression of „Vascular endothelial growth factor‟ (VEGF) and „neovascularization‟. Laser photocoagulation is used to convert hypoxic areas into anoxic areas thus decreasing chances of release of VEGF and hence neovascularization. Aim: To study the visual outcome after laser retinal photocoagulation in DR cases. Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 80 eyes of 44 patients presenting at Department of Ophthalmology, P. D. U. Govt. Medical College, Rajkot who had DR and underwent laser retinal photocoagulation during period of November 2012 to September 2014. All patients underwent assessment for visual acuity, anterior segment examination, posterior segment examination with +90 Dioptre lens and fundus fluorescein angiography. (FFA). Then laser retinal photocoagulation was done. After laser treatment, patients were assessed for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on 1week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months and the results were analysed. Results: 80% of the patients showed improvement in BCVA, 17.5% of the patient maintained same BCVA and 2.5% patients showed deterioration in BCVA which was statistically significant (paired t-test, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Diabetic retinopathy causes significant dysfunction of retinal vasculature and hence retina, hampering vision. Timely treatment with laser retinal photocoagulation prevents further dysfunction and salvages involved retina causing statistically significant improvement in vision and quality of life. Keywords: Diabetic Retinopathy, Visual Acuity, Laser retinal photocoagulation.

Anatomical and visual outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Intravitreal bevacizumab has been shown to be an effective treatment of diabetic macular edema. To assess the anatomical and visual outcome of intravitrealbevacizumab (Avastin) in patients of diabetic macular edema. 52 eyes of 33 patients with diabetic retinopathy with CSME were included in this study. Detailed ophthalmic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), stereoscopic biomicroscopy, and retinal thickness measurement by Optical coherence tomography (OCT), was done at baseline and at each follow- up visit. All patients were treated with 0.05 mL intravitreal injection containing 1.25 mg of bevacizumab and repeat injection was given in cases of recurrent/persistent subretinal or intraretinal fluid shown by OCT and deterioration of BCVA. All patients completed 6 months of follow-up with mean number of 2.78 intravitreal injections per eye.The mean BCVA at baseline was 0.80 log MAR, with significant changes 0.68 (p=0.012), 0.63 (p=less than0.001) and 0.60 log MAR (p=less than0.001) at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months respectively. Final BCVA analysis demonstrated that 25 eyes (48.07%) remained stable and 22 (42.30%) improved ≥2 lines on BCVA. The mean central retinal thickness was 449.03 μm at baseline and it decreased significantly to 410.09 (pless than0.001),345.76(p less than 0.001), 344.55(p less than 0.001) and 326.51(p less than 0.001) at 1st day, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months post injection, respectively. Mean macular volume changed significantly from baseline of 10.77 μm to 10.33μm (p less than 0.001) 8.97 (p less than 0.001), 8.82 (p less than 0.001), 8.95 (p less than 0.001) at 1st day, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months post injection respectively. Intravitreal bevacizumab injection resulted in significant improvement in BCVA, central retinal thickness and total macular volume in patients with diabetic retinopathy with CSME, and this beneficial effect is maximum at 6 weeks. Also, slight reduction in these parameters at 3 month follow up suggests that visual improvement and stable macular thickness can be maintained longer with injection frequency of probably 6-12 weeks.

Prognostic value of multifocal electroretinography and optical coherence tomography in eyes undergoing panretinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy.

To investigate the prognostic utility on visual acuity of multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in diabetic eyes receiving panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). Patients with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) who needed PRP were included in this study. The mfERG and OCT data were recorded before PRP, and the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was recorded at 6 months after PRP. The correlation between pre-PRP data and post-PRP BCVA was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis. Among the 42 eyes included, 31 eyes (73.8%) had improvement or remained stable in visual acuity, and 11 eyes (26.2%) had deterioration in BCVA. The final BCVA was significantly correlated with the amplitude and latency of mfERG in all nine sectors, and the amplitude had a stronger correlation than latency. The foveal ellipsoid zone of the photoreceptors and external limiting membrane (ELM) status, as well as the retinal thickness in most sectors, were also correlated with the final BCVA. In a multivariate linear regression model, age, pre-PRP BCVA, amplitude of mfERG in the central sector, and foveal ellipsoid zone status were significantly correlated with the final BCVA. The retinal thickness was correlated with the amplitude or latency of mfERG in some sectors, and the correlation was tighter in temporal and inferior sectors. A lower amplitude of mfERG and disrupted foveal ellipsoid zone status were significantly correlated with a worse visual prognosis in diabetic eyes after PRP.

Epidemiology and Disease Burden of Pathologic Myopia and Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review

To summarize the epidemiology of pathologic myopia and myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and their impact on vision. Systematic literature review of all English-language studies evaluating the epidemiology and visual burden of pathologic myopia or myopic CNV. PubMed and EMBASE were searched with no time limits using predefined search strings for English-language studies evaluating the epidemiology and visual burden of pathologic myopia and myopic CNV. In total, 39 relevant publications were identified. Population-based studies reported pathologic myopia to be the first to third most frequent cause of blindness. The prevalence of pathologic myopia was reported to be 0.9%-3.1%, and the prevalence of visual impairment attributable to pathologic myopia ranged from 0.1%-0.5% (European studies) and from 0.2%-1.4% (Asian studies). The prevalence of CNV in individuals with pathologic myopia was reported to be 5.2%-11.3%, and was bilateral in approximately 15% of patients. All studies of visual outcome in patients with myopic CNV (duration ranging from less than 3 months to 21.5 years) reported deterioration in best-corrected visual acuity over time. Older age, subfoveal CNV location, and larger baseline lesion size were predictors of worse visual outcomes. Pathologic myopia is an important cause of vision loss worldwide, affecting up to 3% of the population. Of these, a substantial proportion of patients develop myopic CNV, which mostly causes a significant progressive decrease in visual acuity. This condition should therefore be a target for new treatment strategies.

Central 10-degree visual field change following trabeculectomy in advanced open-angle glaucoma

To prospectively examine changes in the central visual field (VF) in patients with advanced open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with advanced late stage after trabeculectomy for 12 months. Prospective interventional case series. In all, 27 eyes of 27 OAG patients at a single center with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≥40/200 and a mean total deviation of test locations of the 10-2 program of the Humphrey VF analyzer of ≤-20 dB preoperatively were enrolled. Intraocular pressure (IOP), VF parameters of the 10-2 program, and BCVA were examined for 12 months after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. Slopes of VF parameters and their correlation with presumed risk factors were studied. IOP decreased from 19.7±5.8 to 9.7±2.6 mm Hg (P<0.001) over postoperative 1 year. The slopes of all VF parameters did not significantly differ from zero (P>0.33), and none of the presumed factors significantly correlated with the slopes of those parameters (P>0.14). There were two eyes (7%) and one eye (4%) with ≥2 lines of deterioration in BCVA (decimal fraction) at 1 and 12 months, respectively, after surgery with no apparent causes. Trabeculectomy resulted in little change in the central 10-degree VF, but significant decrease in BCVA without apparent causes might occur approximately 5% of the cases.

Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy Cohort Study: Report 1: Effectiveness and Factors Influencing Outcomes

To compare the visual outcomes after verteporfin photodynamic therapy (VPDT) administered in routine clinical practice with those observed in the Treatment of Age-related macular degeneration with Photodynamic therapy (TAP) trials and to quantify the effects of clinically important baseline covariates on outcome. A prospective longitudinal study of patients treated with VPDT in 45 ophthalmology departments in the United Kingdom with expertise in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Patients with wholly or predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of any cause with a visual acuity >or=20/200 in the eye to be treated. Refracted best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity were measured in VPDT-treated eyes at baseline and subsequent visits. Eyes were retreated at 3 months if CNV was judged to be active. Baseline angiograms were graded to quantify the percentages of classic and occult CNV. Treated eyes were categorized as eligible or ineligible for TAP, or unclassifiable. Best-corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity during 1 year of follow-up after initial treatment. A total of 7748 treated patients were recruited. Data from 4043 patients with a diagnosis of nAMD were used in the present analysis. Reading center determination of lesion type showed that 87% were predominantly classic CNV. Eyes received 2.4 treatments in year 1 and 0.4 treatments in year 2. Deterioration of BCVA over 1 year was similar to that observed in the VPDT arms of the TAP trials and was not influenced by TAP eligibility classification. Best-corrected visual acuity deteriorated more quickly in current smokers; with increasing proportion of classic CNV, increasing age, and better baseline BCVA; and when the fellow eye was the better eye. Patients in the cohort who would have been eligible for the TAP trials demonstrated deterioration in BCVA similar to VPDT-treated TAP participants but with fewer treatments. Clinical covariates with a significant impact on BCVA outcomes were identified.

Indocyanine-green-mediated photothrombosis (IMP) with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema secondary to group 2A idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis without choroidal neovascularization: a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, safety and clinical effect of indocyanine green (ICG)-mediated photothrombosis (IMP) combined with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in patients with macular edema secondary to idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis (IPFT) group 2A without choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Nine eyes of six patients that were treated with IMP immediately followed by IVTA at a dose of 4 mg participated in the study. Patients had a mean follow-up of 23.3 months (range 12-36 months). Patients underwent one or two sessions of IMP combined with IVTA ("study group"). An IVTA-only group of 19 eyes from 14 patients with macular edema secondary to IPFT group 2A that underwent an IVTA 4 mg without IMP ("IVTA-only group") was included for comparison. In addition, a matched control group of 40 eyes from 20 patients selected retrospectively from our medical records with macular edema secondary to IPFT group 2A without any therapy was included ("observation group"). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) remained stable in five eyes (55.5%). Four eyes (44.4%) demonstrated improvement of BCVA (> or = two ETDRS lines), and no eyes experienced worsening of visual acuity (> or = two ETDRS lines). A significant decrease in hyperfluorescence was not seen with fluorescein angiography (FA), however optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a decrease in the size of inner intraretinal hyporeflective spaces or cystic edema. Two (22.2%) eyes developed an increase in intraocular pressure. However, it was medically controlled with topical anti-glaucoma medications. Cataract developed in five eyes (55.5%). Six of nine eyes (66.6%) required one retreatment during the study period. At the last follow-up (mean 21.1 months, range 12-30 months) in the IVTA-only group, 5 (25.3%) eyes improved BCVA, 11 (57.9%) eyes remained within two lines of baseline BCVA and 3 (15.8%) eyes lost BCVA. In the observation group, with similar follow-up, 87.5% of eyes showed either stabilization or deterioration of BCVA over time. Combined IMP and IVTA may provide stability or improvement in BCVA and fundus findings in eyes with macular edema secondary to IPFT group 2A without CNV at a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularisation secondary to pathological myopia

The treatment of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to pathological myopia has presented a number of problems to ophthalmologists over the years, but the advent of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin has changed how we manage these patients. Until PDT became available, the use of laser photocoagulation for extra and juxtafoveal lesions had been shown to be effective in the short term in preventing loss of vision, although the risk of regrowth of CNV and undertreatment were well recognised. However, even in apparent successful cases of photocoagulation, laser scar enlargement and creepage into the fovea in the mid-to-long term often occurred with resulting loss of central vision.1 Other options for treatment were very limited with little evidence that other modalities such as transpupillary thermotherapy or submacular surgery and macular transplantation surgery would be successful in highly myopic eyes. The evidence for the role of PDT and verteporfin CNV secondary to pathological myopia comes from the verteporfin in photodynamic therapy (VIP) study that has shown how effective this treatment is in eyes with subfoveal CNV.2, 3 Now in this publication, Lam et al4 from Hong Kong have shown that PDT is also effective in juxtafoveal CNV, with high myopia. They performed a small prospective study of 11 patients of mean age 44.8 years, with 12 months of follow-up. They found that there was a mean improvement of 1.8 lines of LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 12 months, with a mean number of 2.3 PDT treatments. The most rapid improvement occurred within the first 3 months of treatment and by 12 months none of the patients had suffered a deterioration in BCVA from baseline. There were no cases of adverse effects from the infusion or laser treatment. For ophthalmologists dealing with patients with CNV secondary to causes other than AMD, this is further evidence of the effectiveness of PDT with verteporfin in maintaining vision. These patients are likely to be younger than those with AMD and are likely to be in active employment and supporting families, and clearly the preservation of best vision possible is imperative in this group. It is therefore encouraging for ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom that the verteporfin in PDT Cohort Study (VPDT Study) includes the ability to treat patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to high myopia if they fulfill National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines, and will allow representations to be made on an individual basis for treatment of juxtafoveal lesions.5 For those ophthalmologists used to juggling increased patient expectations with scarce NHS resources, this is promising news and will allow us to offer a better standard of care to our patients.

Diabetic papillopathy in type II diabetic patients.

To evaluate the patient characteristics and fundus findings of patients with type II diabetes presenting with diabetic papillopathy. The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 3,235 patients with diabetes followed in their institution since 1986 and identified the patients with unilateral or bilateral transient disk swelling and without significant deterioration of best-corrected visual acuity. The authors investigated patient demographics, symptoms, fundus findings, ancillary test results, and clinical course of those patients. Twenty-four eyes of 16 patients with type II diabetes mellitus met the criteria. Patients had a mean age of 57.1 (+/-8.8) years and had diabetes mellitus of long duration (mean 10.0 +/- 8.6 years). Approximately half of the patients had poor metabolic control. Disk swelling was bilateral in 8 (50%) patients and resolved in an average of 7.8 +/- 3.7 months. A total of 13 (54%) eyes had nonproliferative and 2 (8%) eyes had proliferative diabetic retinopathy at presentation. In 4 (17%) eyes retinopathy progression into the proliferative stage occurred and panretinal photocoagulation was performed. Diabetic papillopathy may be found in older patients with type II diabetes. Nonproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy as well as macular edema may also be associated with this disorder.