Google Search Trends to Assess Public Interest in and Concern About Vuity for Treating Presbyopia

PURPOSE: To assess public awareness, interest, and concerns regarding Vuity (1.25% pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution), an eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia, based on Google Trends. METHODS: We used Google Trends that provides a relative search volume for queried terms, to evaluate searches for Vuity from June 30, 2021, to June 30, 2022, in the United States. The data for this study were downloaded on June 30, 2022. Main outcome measures were changes in relative search volumes for the terms Vuity, Eye drops for reading, Eye drops for near vision, Presbyopia, Pilocarpine, and related popular search terms, such as Vuity side effects, and Vuity retinal detachment . RESULTS: Since the approval of Vuity on October 29, 2021, notable increases in the relative search volumes occurred for Vuity in October 2021, December 2021, and from March to April 2022, which coincided with its approval, availability, and subsequent direct-to-consumer advertising based on positive results of clinical trials. The direct-to-consumer advertising had the greatest impact on the search volume for Vuity. Specific interests included Vuity cost, where to buy it, and its side effects. Retinal detachment was the most highly searched Vuity side effect. Geographic variation was evident, with the relative search volumes highest for Vuity in Wyoming, followed by North Dakota. CONCLUSION: Google Trends is a useful tool for monitoring increases in public interest in Vuity for presbyopia. Public concerns regarding side effects warrant further real-world investigations of the causal relationship between Vuity and retinal detachment

Central Retinal-Vein Occlusion

A 43-year-old man presented with sudden painless loss of vision in his left eye. Funduscopic examination revealed hyperemia and swelling of the optic nerve, macular edema, diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages, and dilated and tortuous retinal veins. A 43-year-old man with hypertension presented with sudden painless loss of vision in his left eye. Visual acuity was measurable only by ability to count fingers at a distance of 3 feet. A relative afferent pupillary defect was also noted. Intraocular pressure was at the upper limit of the normal range, at 20 mm Hg bilaterally. Funduscopic examination was remarkable for optic-nerve cupping of the right eye (Panel A, arrow) and hyperemia and swelling of the optic nerve (Panel B, arrow), macular edema, diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages, and dilated and tortuous retinal veins (Panel B, arrowhead) in the left eye. A . . 

Surgical and Medical Perioperative Management of Sickle Cell Retinopathy: A Literature Review

The most common ophthalmic manifestation of sickle cell disease (SCD) is sickle cell retinopathy (SCR), which can lead to loss of vision due to complications of proliferative sickle retinopathy (PSR). Eventually, vitreoretinal surgery may be indicated in these patients to help preserve or improve vision. Unfortunately, SCD can cause systemic and ophthalmic vaso-occlusive and ischemic complications, which necessitates adequate perioperative planning in these patients undergoing surgery. The purpose of this review was to appraise studies of patients with PSR undergoing vitreoretinal surgery to identify the common medical and surgical perioperative measures employed in these cases. The full-texts of 11 original studies published between 1973 and 2018 were reviewed. Over the last 16 years, 7 studies of 108 eyes undergoing posterior segment surgery for vitreoretinal complications of PSR did not report any ischemic complications related to SCD. It is likely that modern surgical techniques dramatically reduced the risk of these complications. Perioperatively, most studies avoided retrobulbar anesthesia and the use of epinephrine, and the use of exchange transfusions is seemingly not required prophylactically in these patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. Customized perioperative planning may be required in complex cases, and these patients should be identified and treated through collaboration between ophthalmic surgeons and hematology specialists

Marfan’s Syndrome with Ectopia Lentis

A 41-year-old man presented with progressive loss of vision in both eyes. He also had elongated digits and pectus excavatum. Evaluation revealed ectopia lentis, which is consistent with Marfan’s syndrome