Patchy Chorioretinal Atrophy Research Articles

Lacquer cracks in pathological myopia: a clinical review.

Lacquer cracks, described as breaks in the Bruch's membrane, are unique lesions in the spectrum of fundus changes associated with pathological myopia. Lacquer cracks are generally believed to be relatively innocuous lesions by themselves; however, progression to other features of myopic macular degeneration, such as patchy chorioretinal atrophy and choroidal neovascularization, may result in irreversible visual impairment. With the rising prevalence of pathological myopia to epidemic proportions, particularly in the Asian countries, ophthalmologists expect to encounter lacquer cracks more frequently in clinical practice. Therefore, it is crucial for the ophthalmic community to be aware of lacquer cracks and to actively look for these lesions in myopic patients so that early detection and close monitoring can help prevent blinding complications. This article provides a comprehensive review on lacquer cracks in eyes with pathological myopia from a clinical perspective.

Long-term outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy with and without posterior scleral reinforcement on myopic maculopathy in myopic choroidal neovascularization eyes

BackgroundAnti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is used for myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Patchy chorioretinal atrophy (pCRA) enlargement has been reported in mCNV cases associated with vision loss. Our aim was to compare the long-term effectiveness of anti-VEGF therapy alone versus anti-VEGF followed by posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) in controlling myopic maculopathy in mCNV eyes.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 95 high myopia patients (refractive error ≥ 6.00 diopters, axial length ≥ 26.0 mm) with mCNV. Patients were treated with anti-VEGF alone (group A) or anti-VEGF followed by PSR (group B). The following data were collected: refractive error, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ophthalmic fundus examination, ocular coherence tomography and ocular biometry at 12 and 24 months pre- and postoperatively. The primary outcomes were changes in pCRA and BCVA.ResultsIn 26 eyes of 24 patients, the mean pCRA size significantly increased from baseline (0.88 ± 1.69 mm2) to 12 months (1.57 ± 2.32 mm2, t = 3.249, P = 0.003) and 24 months (2.17 ± 2.79 mm2, t = 3.965, P = 0.001) postoperatively. The increase in perilesional pCRA in group B (n = 12) was 98.2% and 94.2% smaller than that in group A (n = 14) at 12 and 24 months (Beta 0.57 [95% CI 0.01, 191 1.13], P = 0.048). In group B, 7 eyes (58.3%) gained more than 2 lines of BCVA compared with only 4 eyes (28.6%) in group A at 24 months.ConclusionAnti-VEGF therapy followed by PSR achieved better outcomes than anti-VEGF therapy alone in controlling the development of myopic maculopathy in mCNV and may constitute a better treatment option by securing a better long-term VA outcome.

PRETREATED LYOPHILIZED HUMAN AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE GRAFT COVERING FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT WITH POSTERIOR RETINAL BREAKS ABOVE CHORIORETINAL ATROPHY IN PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA.

To compare the surgical results of vitrectomy with untreated or pretreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane grafts covering in treating retinal detachment related to posterior retinal breaks above chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia. Nineteen patients with retinal detachment related to macular hole (MH) located above macular atrophy and/or posterior paravascular retinal breaks (PRBs) located above patchy chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia were included. The eyes of these patients underwent vitrectomy with untreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane covering (n = 10) or perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL)-assisted pretreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane covering (n = 9; grafts were pretreated in 0.125% indocyanine green and 50% hypertonic glucose solution for 15-20 minutes). The closure of the MH or PRBs, reattachment of the retina, and best-corrected visual acuity were measured postoperatively. Postoperatively, graft dislocation or shift was only found in two eyes (20%) in the untreated group. The closure rate of the MH or PRBs was 80% (8/10) and 100% (9/9) in the untreated group and the pretreated group, respectively. The occurrence rate of excessive gliosis was 40% and 11% in the untreated group and the pretreated group, respectively. In both groups, best-corrected visual acuity was improved and the retinal reattachment rate was 100% at the final visit. Perfluorocarbon liquid-assisted pretreated lyophilized human amniotic membrane graft covering was effective in treating retinal detachment related to MH and/or PRBs situated above macular atrophy or patchy chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia. This technique appeared to reduce graft dislocation or shift, promote the closures of MHs/PRBs, and reduce the occurrence of gliosis.

Low vision rehabilitation program in patients with myopic macular degeneration: A case series

Aims/Purpose: Patients with pathologic myopia are at risk of developing myopic macular degeneration (MMD) that leads to vision loss and irreversible visual impairment. Working age and elderly populations are affected by loss of productivity and quality of life. Low vision services should offer specialized training programs to help patients to overcome the difficulties in daily living activities. The aim of this study was to describe the results of a low vision rehabilitation program (LVR) in patients with MMD.Methods: Five patients (8 eyes) with MMD were included in the LVR at an ophthalmology clinic in Portugal. The LVR had a length of 8 weeks and was divided into two phases. The first phase included the use of prisms for image relocation (IR) with eccentric viewing exercises to stabilize the preferred retinal locus. At the second phase, training with low vision aids was performed. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for distance and near, contrast sensitivity (CS), reading speed (RS) and face recognition were compared pre and post rehabilitation.Results: Patients had MMD category 3 (patchy chorioretinal atrophy) and 4 (macular atrophy) in the best eye. Vision impairment varied between mild and severe. The IR prisms varied from 2 to 6 prism dioptres. Electronic devices were the most prescribed low vision aids. At the end of the LVR, the outcomes were good in all patients. BCVA increased by two to three lines, CS increased by two to four lines, RS increased by 40 to 60 words per minute and face recognition improved in all patients.Conclusions: The LVR was beneficial, improving visual function and functional vision outcomes in all patients. LVR programs seem to be effective in patients with pathologic myopia. Longitudinal studies are necessary to ascertain the long‐term efficacy of LVR.

Axial Elongation Trajectories in Chinese Children and Adults With High Myopia

Understanding the long-term axial elongation trajectory in high myopia is important to prevent blindness. To evaluate axial elongation trajectories and related visual outcomes in children and adults with high myopia. In this cohort study, participants in the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre-Brien Holden Vision Institute high myopia cohort were followed up every other year for 8 years. Participants with axial length measurements at baseline (2011 or 2012) and at least 1 follow-up visit were included. Participants were grouped according to baseline age as children and adolescents (7 to <18 years), young adults (18 to <40 years), and older adults (≥40 to 70 years). Data were analyzed from November 1, 2022, to June 1, 2023. High myopia (spherical power ≤-6.00 diopters). Longitudinal axial elongation trajectories were identified by cluster analysis. Axial elongation rates were calculated by linear mixed-effects models. A 2-sided P < .05 was defined as statistically significant. A total of 793 participants (median [range] age, 17.8 [6.8-69.7] years; 418 females [52.7%]) and 1586 eyes were included in the analyses. Mean axial elongation rates were 0.46 mm/y (95% CI, 0.44-0.48 mm/y) for children and adolescents, 0.07 mm/y (95% CI, 0.06-0.09 mm/y) for young adults, and 0.13 mm/y (95% CI, 0.07-0.19 mm/y) for older adults. Cluster analysis identified 3 axial elongation trajectories, with the stable, moderate, and rapid progression trajectories having mean axial elongation rates of 0.02 mm/y (95% CI, 0.01-0.02 mm/y), 0.12 mm/y (95% CI, 0.11-0.13 mm/y), and 0.38 mm/y (95% CI, 0.35-0.42 mm/y), respectively. At 8 years of follow-up, compared with the stable progression trajectory, the rapid progression trajectory was associated with a 6.92 times higher risk of developing pathological myopic macular degeneration (defined as diffuse or patchy chorioretinal atrophy or macular atrophy; odds ratio, 6.92 [95% CI, 1.07-44.60]; P = .04), and it was associated with a 0.032 logMAR decrease in best-corrected visual acuity (β = 0.032 [95% CI, 0.001-0.063]; P = .04). The findings of this 8-year follow-up study suggest that axial length in high myopia continues to increase from childhood to late adulthood following 3 distinct trajectories. At 8 years of follow-up, the rapid progression trajectory was associated with a higher risk of developing pathological myopic macular degeneration and poorer best-corrected visual acuity compared with the stable progression trajectory. These distinct axial elongation trajectories could prove valuable for early identification and intervention for high-risk individuals.

Research on an artificial intelligence-based myopic maculopathy grading method using EfficientNet.

We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence-based myopic maculopathy grading method using EfficientNet to overcome the delayed grading and diagnosis of different myopic maculopathy degrees. The cooperative hospital provided 4642 healthy and myopic maculopathy color fundus photographs, comprising the four degrees of myopic maculopathy and healthy fundi. The myopic maculopathy grading models were trained using EfficientNet-B0 to EfficientNet-B7 models. The diagnostic results were compared with those of the VGG16 and ResNet50 classification models. The leading evaluation indicators were sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area under curve (AUC), 95% confidence interval, kappa value, and accuracy. The ROC curves of the ten grading models were also compared. We used 1199 color fundus photographs to evaluate the myopic maculopathy grading models. The size of the EfficientNet-B0 myopic maculopathy grading model was 15.6 MB, and it had the highest kappa value (88.32%) and accuracy (83.58%). The model's sensitivities to diagnose tessellated fundus (TF), diffuse chorioretinal atrophy (DCA), patchy chorioretinal atrophy (PCA), and macular atrophy (MA) were 96.86%, 75.98%, 64.67%, and 88.75%, respectively. The specificity was above 93%, and the AUCs were 0.992, 0.960, 0.964, and 0.989, respectively. The EfficientNet models were used to design grading diagnostic models for myopic maculopathy. Based on the collected fundus images, the models could diagnose a healthy fundus and four types of myopic maculopathy. The models might help ophthalmologists to make preliminary diagnoses of different degrees of myopic maculopathy.

PUNCTATE INNER PACHYCHOROIDOPATHY: Demographic and Clinical Features of Inner Choroidal Inflammation in Eyes with Pachychoroid Disease.

To perform an unsupervised machine learning clustering of patients with punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) and provide new insights into the significance of pachychoroid disease features in PIC eyes. Retrospective multicenter study, including 102 eyes from 82 patients diagnosed with PIC. Demographics, clinical data, and multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, and indocyanine green angiography, were collected. Clusters of eyes were identified, and multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to compare between-group differences. Using 17 clinical features, two distinct clusters of patients with PIC were identified. Cluster 1 patients were characterized by older age, high myopia, myopic maculopathy features, thin choroids, multiple lesions, and a higher likelihood of developing patchy chorioretinal atrophy. Cluster 2 consisted of younger age, emmetropia or low myopia, thick choroids, choroidal vascular hyperpermeability on late-phase indocyanine green angiography, and high prevalence of focal choroidal excavation. These features exhibited significant differences ( P < 0.05) between the two clusters. While PIC typically affects young myopic female patients with thin choroids, a subset of patients with PIC exhibits features associated with pachychoroid disease. Considering the potential influence of choroidal venous insufficiency on PIC manifestations and secondary complications, we propose the term "punctate inner pachychoroidopathy" to characterize this distinct subtype of PIC.

Research on classification method of high myopic maculopathy based on retinal fundus images and optimized ALFA-Mix active learning algorithm.

To conduct a classification study of high myopic maculopathy (HMM) using limited datasets, including tessellated fundus, diffuse chorioretinal atrophy, patchy chorioretinal atrophy, and macular atrophy, and minimize annotation costs, and to optimize the ALFA-Mix active learning algorithm and apply it to HMM classification. The optimized ALFA-Mix algorithm (ALFA-Mix+) was compared with five algorithms, including ALFA-Mix. Four models, including ResNet18, were established. Each algorithm was combined with four models for experiments on the HMM dataset. Each experiment consisted of 20 active learning rounds, with 100 images selected per round. The algorithm was evaluated by comparing the number of rounds in which ALFA-Mix+ outperformed other algorithms. Finally, this study employed six models, including EfficientFormer, to classify HMM. The best-performing model among these models was selected as the baseline model and combined with the ALFA-Mix+ algorithm to achieve satisfactory classification results with a small dataset. ALFA-Mix+ outperforms other algorithms with an average superiority of 16.6, 14.75, 16.8, and 16.7 rounds in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Kappa value, respectively. This study conducted experiments on classifying HMM using several advanced deep learning models with a complete training set of 4252 images. The EfficientFormer achieved the best results with an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Kappa value of 0.8821, 0.8334, 0.9693, and 0.8339, respectively. Therefore, by combining ALFA-Mix+ with EfficientFormer, this study achieved results with an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Kappa value of 0.8964, 0.8643, 0.9721, and 0.8537, respectively. The ALFA-Mix+ algorithm reduces the required samples without compromising accuracy. Compared to other algorithms, ALFA-Mix+ outperforms in more rounds of experiments. It effectively selects valuable samples compared to other algorithms. In HMM classification, combining ALFA-Mix+ with EfficientFormer enhances model performance, further demonstrating the effectiveness of ALFA-Mix+.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Second Eye Involvement in Myopic Macular Neovascularization

To report the cumulative incidence and risk factors of second eye involvement after diagnosis of myopic macular neovascularization (MNV) in the first eye. Retrospective analysis of longitudinal data from a tertiary hospital in the Netherlands. Patients with high myopia (spherical equivalent [SE] ≤- 6 diopters [D]), of European ethnicity, who were diagnosed with active MNV lesion in 1 eye between 2005 and 2018. Fellow eyes were free of MNV or macular atrophy at baseline, and data were collected on the SE, axial length, and presence of diffuse or patchy chorioretinal atrophy and lacquer cracks. Incidence rate and 2-, 5-, and 10-year cumulative incidences were calculated; hazard ratios (HRs) of second eye involvement were analyzed for potential risk factors using Cox proportional hazard models. Incidence of second eye involvement after onset of myopic MNV in the first eye. We included 88 patients over a period of 13 years with a mean age of 58 ± 15 years, mean axial length of 30 ± 1.7 mm and SE -14 ± 4 D at baseline. Twenty-four fellow eyes (27%) developed a myopic MNV during follow-up. This resulted in an incidence rate of 4.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-6.7) per 100 person-years and a cumulative incidence of 8%, 21%, and 38% at 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Mean time until MNV development in the fellow eye was 48 ± 37 months. Patients aged < 40 years at the initial presentation had a 3.8 times higher risk of bilateral myopic MNV (HR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.65-8.69; P= 0.002). The presence of lacquer cracks in the second eye seemed to increase risk, but this did not reach statistical significance (HR, 2.25; 95% CI, 0.94-5.39; P= 0.07). Our study of high myopes of European descent shows very similar incidence rates for second eye myopic MNV compared with Asian studies. Our findings substantiate the importance for clinicians to monitor closely and create awareness, especially in younger patients. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Association Between Choroidal Thickness and Myopic Maculopathy in a Japanese Population: The Hisayama Study

To examine the association between choroidal thickness and myopic maculopathy in a general Japanese population. Population-based cross-sectional study. A total of 2841 residents of a Japanese community aged ≥ 40 years, who consented to participate and had available data of choroidal thickness and fundus photographs, were enrolled in this study. The choroidal thickness was measured by swept-source OCT. Participants were divided into quartiles of choroidal thickness. Myopic maculopathy was defined according to the classification system of the Meta-analysis of Pathologic Myopia Study Group. Main outcome measures were odds ratios (ORs) of choroidal thickness for prevalent myopic maculopathy. The ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a logistic regression model. Prevalent myopic maculopathy. Eighty-one participants had myopic maculopathy (45 diffuse chorioretinal atrophy, 31 patchy chorioretinal atrophy, and 5 macular atrophy). Individuals in the lowest quartile of choroidal thickness had a significantly greater OR for the presence of myopic maculopathy than those in the highest quartile of choroidal thickness (OR: 4.78 [95% CI: 1.78-16.72]) after adjusting for confounders, including axial length. The sensitivity analysis among the 1176 myopic individuals with axial length of ≥ 24.0 mm also showed that thinner choroidal thickness was significantly associated with prevalent myopic maculopathy. The present study demonstrated the significant inverse association between choroidal thickness and the likelihood of myopic maculopathy, suggesting that the measurement of choroidal thickness in addition to axial length would be useful for assessing the risk of myopic maculopathy and elucidating its pathogenesis. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Prevalence and associated health and lifestyle factors of myopic maculopathy in northern China: the Kailuan eye study

BackgroundTo evaluate the prevalence and associated health and lifestyle factors of myopic maculopathy (MM) in a northern Chinese industrial city.MethodsThe cross-sectional Kailuan Eye Study included subjects who participated in the longitudinal Kailuan Study in 2016. Ophthalmologic and general examinations were performed on all the participants. MM was graded based on fundus photographs using the International Photographic Classification and Grading System. The prevalence of MM was evaluated. Univariate and multiple logistic regression were adopted to evaluated risk factors of MM.ResultsThe study included 8330 participants with gradable fundus photographs for MM and ocular biometry data. The prevalence of MM was 1.11% (93/8330; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89–1.33%). Diffuse chorioretinal atrophy, patchy chorioretinal atrophy, macular atrophy, and plus lesions were observed in 72 (0.9%), 15 (0.2%), 6 (0.007%), and 32 eyes (0.4%), respectively. MM was more common in eyes with longer axial length (OR 4.517; 95%CI 3.273 to 6.235) and in participants with hypertension (OR 3.460; 95%CI 1.152 to 10.391), and older age (OR 1.084; 95%CI 1.036 to 1.134).ConclusionsThe MM was present in 1.11% of the northern Chinese individuals 21 years or older and the associate factors include longer axial length, older age, and hypertension.

Automated detection of myopic maculopathy using five-category models based on vision outlooker for visual recognition.

To propose a five-category model for the automatic detection of myopic macular lesions to help grassroots medical institutions conduct preliminary screening of myopic macular lesions from limited number of color fundus images. First, 1,750 fundus images of non-myopic retinal lesions and four categories of pathological myopic maculopathy were collected, graded, and labeled. Subsequently, three five-classification models based on Vision Outlooker for Visual Recognition (VOLO), EfficientNetV2, and ResNet50 for detecting myopic maculopathy were trained with data-augmented images, and the diagnostic results of the different trained models were compared and analyzed. The main evaluation metrics were sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), area under the curve (AUC), kappa and accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The diagnostic accuracy of the VOLO-D2 model was 96.60% with a kappa value of 95.60%. All indicators used for the diagnosis of myopia-free macular degeneration were 100%. The sensitivity, NPV, specificity, and PPV for diagnosis of leopard fundus were 96.43, 98.33, 100, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of diffuse chorioretinal atrophy were 96.88, 98.59, 93.94, and 99.29%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of patchy chorioretinal atrophy were 92.31, 99.26, 97.30, and 97.81%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the diagnosis of macular atrophy were 100, 98.10, 84.21, and 100%, respectively. The VOLO-D2 model accurately identified myopia-free macular lesions and four pathological myopia-related macular lesions with high sensitivity and specificity. It can be used in screening pathological myopic macular lesions and can help ophthalmologists and primary medical institution providers complete the initial screening diagnosis of patients.

LONG-TERM TREATMENT OUTCOMES AFTER BEVACIZUMAB THERAPY FOR MACULAR NEOVASCULARIZATION IN WHITE PATIENTS WITH HIGH MYOPIA.

To report long-term treatment outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab in myopic macular neovascularization (MNV). Retrospective analysis of longitudinal, clinical data of patients with high myopic MNV treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. One-hundred and seventeen eyes of 106 patients were followed from first injection up to 12 years. Outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity change during follow-up and myopic MNV recurrence. Mean (±SD) baseline best-corrected visual acuity (0.56 ± 0.46 logMAR, 20/80) significantly improved after first treatment (0.33 ± 0.33, 20/50, P < 0.001). At 4 years (n = 86), best-corrected visual acuity was no longer significantly better than at baseline (0.55 ± 0.57, P = 0.30) and continued to deteriorate to 0.84 ± 0.76 (20/125) at 10 years (n = 27). Of the 27 eyes (23%) who reached 10 years of follow-up, 53% developed MNV-related chorioretinal atrophy. The cumulative incidence of recurrent myopic MNV was 34% at 2 years and 59% at 5 years. Best-corrected visual acuity decrease in eyes with or without recurrent MNV was similar ( P = 0.58). Patchy chorioretinal atrophy (hazard ratio 3.0, P = 0.02) and subfoveal MNVs (hazard ratio 2.5, P = 0.048) were significantly associated with recurrent MNV. This retrospective myopic MNV study revealed that visual improvement after intravitreal bevacizumab injections was not maintained over time. Macular neovascularization recurrences occurred frequently but did not alter the already poor visual prognosis.

Retinal clinical and morphofunctional changes in high myopia in combination with age-related macular degeneration of different stages

Purpose: an analysis of clinical and morphofunctional changes of the retina in high myopia combined with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) of various stages.Materials and methods. We examined 45 patients (87 eyes, mean age 60 years) with high myopia (ave. spherical equivalent (SE) of refraction -11.0 D [-15.0; -7.125]) and the “dry” form of AMD, categories AREDS 1, 2, 3. Additionally, we formed three control groups of the same age range: group 1 consisted of 30 healthy subjects (58 eyes) with a SE between -0.25 D and +0.5 D and no retinal changes; group 2 included 20 patients (38 eyes) with isolated high myopia (SE +0.5 D and no retinal changes; group 2 included 20 patients (38 eyes) with isolated high myopia (SE ³ 6.5 D) and group 3 included another 20 patients (36 eyes) with the “dry” AMD form (AREDS 2, 3). We evaluated the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indicators of retinal photosensitivity (MD, PSD) according to computer perimetry data, and morphological characteristics: central retinal thickness (CRT), the anteroposterior axis of the eyeball, the condition of the macular region of the retina according to optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the β-scan mode and autofluorescence (AF).Results: in case of the combined pathology, we detected a reliable reduction of average BCVA to the level of 0.5 [0.3; 0.7] (p &lt; 0.001) and a reduced factor of retinal photosensitivity as compared to the control: MD to -4.36 dB (р&lt;0.001), PSD to 2.97 dB (р &lt; 0.001). CRT was 235 μm (p = 0.122), which showed no statistically significant differences to the control. Morphological changes of the retina corresponded to high myopia and AMD: a dome-shaped profile, lacquer cracks, paravascular retinal microcysts, paravascular lamellar ruptures; myopic maculopathy in the form of an epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction due to incomplete vitreoretinal cleavage, myopic foveoshisis; patchy chorioretinal atrophy, areas of diffuse RPE atrophy, damage of the junction line of the outer and inner segments of photoreceptors. The increase in the number and size of drusen depended on the stage of AMD. Normal autofluorescence of the fundus was absent. Pathological AF included minimal changes patterned as focal hypo- and hyperautofluorescence, reticular pattern, focal pattern, linear pattern, lace-like pattern, areas of geographic atrophy with pronounced hypoautofluorescence.Conclusion. Changes in OCT and visual field parameters (MD, PSD) in comorbid pathology (AMD combined with high myopia) were revealed. The morphofunctional indicators were compared for different AMD stages, and the diagnostic significance of AF was established.

The correlation of atrophy, traction and neovascularization in myopic choroidal neovascularization according to a novel myopic maculopathy classification system (atrophy (A), traction (T), neovascularization (N): ATN).

To grade myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) patients according to the new myopic maculopathy classification (A: atrophy, T: traction, N: neovascularization-ATN) and analyze the correlation in between atrophy, traction and neovascularization. Fifty-one eyes of 41 patients with the diagnosis of pathologic myopia and myopic CNV were included in this clinical practice study. Patients were graded according to the recently described ATN classification. Color fundus photographs were used to grade the atrophy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were used to grade traction and neovascularization. Active myopic CNVs were treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. Chi-square test was used to test the categorical variants and univariate logisticregression analysis was used to predict the independent risk factorsof myopic CNV scar formation. Active myopic CNV was observed most frequently in the group with patchy chorioretinal atrophy. Grade of the atrophy and female gender were significantly associated with myopic CNV scar in the univariate logistic regression tests. Multivariate logistic regression showed that atrophy grading is the independent predictor of myopic CNV scar. ATN classification is a practical and comprehensive system to grade myopic CNV. Atrophy is an independent predictor for myopic CNV scar and patchy chorioretinal atrophy requires a more careful examination and close follow-up for the risk of CNV development.

Long-term Incidence and Risk Factors of Macular Fibrosis, Macular Atrophy, and Macular Hole in Eyes with Myopic Neovascularization

To identify the risk factors associated with myopic macular neovascularization (mMNV)-related complications in patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents. Longitudinal cohort study. Myopic eyes (n= 313) with active mMNV and median (interquartile range) follow-up of 42 months (interquartile range, 18-68 months) after initiation of anti-VEGF treatment. Data regarding patients' clinical and mMNV-related characteristics were collected at baseline. Subsequent OCT scans were inspected for mMNV-related complications. Best-measured visual acuity (BMVA) values were retrieved from each visit. Incidence rate and hazard ratio (HR, with 95% confidence interval [CI]) of risk factors for fibrosis and macular atrophy calculated with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Crude incidence of macular hole (MH). Longitudinal BMVA changes. Five-year incidence of fibrosis, atrophy, and MH were 34%, 26%, and 8%, respectively. The rate of fibrosis was 10.3 (95% CI, 8.25-12.6) per 100 person-years. Risk factors were subfoveal mMNV location (HR [95% CI]= 12.7 [2.70-56.7] vs. extrafoveal, P= 0.001) and intraretinal fluid at baseline (HR [95% CI]= 1.75 [1.05-2.98], P= 0.03). The rate of macular atrophy was 6.5 (95% CI, 5-8.3) per 100 person-years. Risk factors were diffuse (HR, 2.20 vs. tessellated fundus; 95% CI, 1.13-5.45; P= 0.02) or patchy chorioretinal atrophy (HR, 3.17 vs. tessellated fundus; 95% CI, 1.32-7.64; P= 0.01) at baseline and more numerous anti-VEGF injections before baseline (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.38 for each treatment; P= 0.005). Eyes with fibrosis and macular atrophy had faster BMVA decay over follow-up. Twenty eyes (6%) developed MH. Two subtypes of MH were identified: "atrophic" and "tractional." Myopic MNV-related complications are common in the long term despite initially successful treatment and have detrimental effects on visual acuity. Insights into their incidence and risk factors may help for future treatments to mitigate sight-threatening outcomes.

Prevalence and related factors of myopic retinopathy – a hospital-based cross-section study in Vietnam

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Myopia prevention and anti-myopia treatment is of great importance in South East Asia. Background To evaluate the prevalence and related factors of myopic retinopathy in Vietnam. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 168 eyes of 88 patients with high myopia presenting to the Refraction Department of Vietnam National Eye Hospital. Inclusion criteria were high myopia (≤−6.00D with cycloplegic retinoscopy). Consecutive presenting patients recruited between January 2020 and August 2020 consented to participate. Results Participant age range was 12–47 years. Peripapillary atrophy was present in 70.2% of participants, most commonly atrophy of one-quarter of the disc (38.7%). Central retinal changes were present in 66.1% of participants, subclassified as tessellated fundus in 60.7%, diffuse chorioretinal atrophy in 4.2% and patchy chorioretinal atrophy in 1.2%. Peripheral retinal lesions were present in 43.5% of participants, consisting of white-without-pressure in 32.1%, lattice degeneration in 16.1%, snail track degeneration in 4.2% and microcystoid degeneration in 1.2%. Myopia ≤−8.00D and axial length ≥26.5 mm were associated with additional risk of posterior ocular complications. Furthermore, age ≥19 years increased risk of central myopic retinopathy and ≥10 years since initial myopia diagnosis increased the risk of peripapillary atrophy and central retinal changes. Other factors such as the age of onset of myopia and family myopia history did not appear to alter the risk of peripheral retina damage. Conclusions Retinal disorders were common in Vietnamese people with high myopia. Within the current cohort with high myopia, myopia ≤−8.00D and axial length ≥26.5 mm were associated with a significant further elevation of risk.

Five-Year Cumulative Incidence and Progression of Myopic Maculopathy in a German Population

To investigate the 5-year cumulative incidence and progression of myopic maculopathy in the general population in Germany and to analyze potential risk factors. The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based cohort study including 15 010 participants aged 35 to 74 years at baseline. A total of 494 eyes of 323 participants (mean age, 50.2 ± 9.2 years; median,-7.25 diopters [D] myopic refractive error) without myopic maculopathy at baseline and 34 eyes of 27 subjects (mean age, 56.7 ± 9.1 years; median,-8.75 D myopic refractive error) with myopic maculopathy met the inclusion conditions, phakic eyes with spherical equivalent ≤-6 D (baseline), and had gradable fundus photographs at baseline and 5-year follow-up. Myopic maculopathy incidence and progression were assessed by grading of fundus photographs according to a recent international photographic classification system (META-PM). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for progression of myopic maculopathy. Estimates for incidence and progression of myopic maculopathy. The 5-year cumulative incidence of myopic maculopathy was 0.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-1.99; n= 1). Progression occurred in 17 of 34 eyes (50%) with prior myopic maculopathy over 5 years with 4 changes in category. The most common types of progression were enlargement of diffuse and patchy chorioretinal atrophy; a new pathology was present in 8 eyes. Higher intraocular pressure (IOP) (odds ratio [OR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.51-1.59; P= 0.035) was associated with progression of myopic maculopathy. Female gender (OR, 5.54; 95% CI, 0.93-32.92; P= 0.060) and higher myopic refractive error (OR, 1.62 per diopter; 95% CI, 0.99-1.49; P= 0.063) showed a tendency toward progression. Incidence of myopic maculopathy is rare in highly myopic eyes in the general population aged 35 to 74 years in Germany. Progression of myopic maculopathy in the German population occurred in 50% of highly myopic eyes. We presented population-based 5-year follow-up data on incidence and progression of myopic maculopathy in Europe.

Didanosine-induced Retinopathy: New Insights with Long-term Follow-up

ABSTRACT Introduction Didanosine is an adenosine analog, part of the nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor family. Since the description of didanosine-induced retinopathy in the early 1990s, little is known about the progression of this toxic retinopathy and the putative underlying mitochondrial defect. Objectives We report long-term follow-up for cases of didanosine-induced retinopathy and discuss a new hypothesis for pathophysiology based on the alteration of endogenous adenosine on the photoreceptor outer segment turnover and phagocytosis by the retinal pigment epithelium. Methods Ophthalmic data from six cases (12 eyes) of didanosine-induced retinopathy from a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Results All patients displayed bilateral retinal alterations in the mid-periphery. Despite didanosine discontinuation, patients with advanced areas of patchy chorioretinal atrophy appeared to have a faster progression than those with limited lesions. Full-field electroretinogram revealed generalized rod-cone dysfunction in most cases that remained stable over time. Conclusion We propose new guidelines including early screening and long-term observations.

Retinal pigment epithelium melanin distribution estimated by polarisation entropy and its association with retinal sensitivity in patients with high myopia

PurposeTo investigate retinal sensitivity of highly myopic eyes without choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) or patchy chorioretinal atrophy (PCA) and investigated its association with anatomical characteristics including melanin distribution at the retinal...