OPHTHALMOLOGICA

Spectral domain findings match structure to function

The amount of reduction in central retinal thickness detected by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) corresponds well with improvements in visual acuity among patients undergoing intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for diabetic macular oedema, according to a new study involving 59 eyes monitored over six months of therapy with the anti- VEGF agent. At six months’ follow-up, BCVA had improved by 10.3 letters in 26 eyes where SD-OCT showed a decrease in central retinal thickness of 20 per cent. That compared to a gain of only 1.8 letters among 33 eyes where SD-OCT showed a decrease in central retinal thickness of less than 20 per cent.

• Santos A R et al Ophthalmologica, “Degree of Decrease in Central Retinal Thickness Predicts Visual Acuity Response to Intravitreal Ranibizumab in Diabetic Macular Edema”, 2014 (DOI:10.1159/000355487)

Nonmydriatic SLO for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy

Nonmydriatic ultra wide-field 2000 scanning laser ophthalmoscopy offers the potential of a better differentiation of diabetic retinopathy lesions than is possible with standard stereoscopic 45° colour fundus photography, although in its current form it may not be as diagnostically accurate as the older technology, researchers have reported. In a study involving 143 consecutive eyes of patients with varying levels of diabetic retinopathy, the correlation was strongest for grading clinically significant macular oedema, with a statistical kappa value of 0.77, and was fair-to-moderate for grading macular oedema in general, with a statistical kappa value of 0.39 (p < 0.001).

•  Liegl R et al, Ophthalmologica, “Nonmydriatic Ultra-Wide-Field Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (Optomap) versus Two-Field Fundus Photography in Diabetic Retinopathy” 2014 (DOI:10.1159/000355092).

SD-OCT detected retinal layer degradation

Changes in the volume of retinal and subretinal spaces detected by SD-OCT correlate with visual acuity in eyes with neovascular AMD, according to the findings of a retrospective study. A quantitative analysis SD-OCT and visual acuity measurements in 64 treatment-naïve eyes showed that a lower baseline visual acuity correlated with an increased volume of subretinal hyperreflective material ( p < 0.001) and with decreased volume of the photoreceptor layer. At one year’s followup, lower visual acuity correlated with decreased volume of the retina ( p < 0.001), outer nuclear layer (p < 0.05) and PRL (p < 0.001) and photoreceptor layer (p < 0.05).

• Ristau T et al, Ophthalmologica “Relationship between Visual Acuity and Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Retinal Parameters in Neovascular Age- Related Macular Degeneration” 2014 (DOI:10.1159/000354551).

Myopic foveoschisis study results

In a retrospective study involving 56 eyes of 39 consecutive patients with myopic foveoschisis, optical coherence tomography at baseline showed an isolated foveoschisis in 62.5 per cent, foveal detachment in 21.4 per cent and a lamellar hole in 16.1 per cent of the eyes. After a mean follow-up period of 15.7 months, 1.8 per cent of the eyes developed a full-thickness macular hole and 28.5 per cent of the eyes required surgery.

•  Rey A. • Ophthalmologica, “Natural Course and Surgical Management of High Myopic Foveoschisis” 2014 (DOI:10.1159/000355324).