Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Shallow Irregular Pigment Epithelial Detachments In Pachychoroid Spectrum Disease

PURPOSE: To determine the proportion of shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachments in eyes with pachychoroid features that harbor neovascular tissue and to study the morphology of this tissue with optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. DESIGN: Prospective consecutive cohort study. METHODS: Patients with pachychoroid spectrum diagnoses and shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachment in at least 1 eye (study eye) were included. Charts and multimodal imaging were reviewed to determine a dye angiography detection rate for type 1 neovascularization in study eyes. All patients then underwent OCT angiography prospectively, followed by masked segmentation and grading. RESULTS: Twenty-two eyes of 16 patients were included. Mean age was 71 (range 57-95) years. Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 381 mum (standard deviation: 141 mum). Four out of 22 study eyes (18%) exhibited polypoidal lesions. Dye angiography demonstrated specific features of neovascularization in 5 out of 17 eyes (29%) with suspected nonpolypoidal pachychoroid neovasculopathy. With OCT angiography, type 1 neovascular tissue was visualized in 21 out of 22 study eyes (95%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that, in eyes with pachychoroid features, the finding of a shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachment on OCT has greater diagnostic value for type 1 neovascularization than previously thought and that dye angiography may underestimate the prevalence of neovascularization compared to OCT angiography

Feasibility and clinical utility of ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of a novel noncontact scanning laser ophthalmoscope-based ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiographic system. METHODS: Ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiographic images were captured using a modified Optos P200Tx that produced high-resolution images of the choroidal vasculature with up to a 200 degrees field. Ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography was performed on patients with a variety of retinal conditions to assess utility of this imaging technique for diagnostic purposes and disease treatment monitoring. RESULTS: Ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography was performed on 138 eyes of 69 patients. Mean age was 58 +/- 16.9 years (range, 24-85 years). The most common ocular pathologies imaged included central serous chorioretinopathy (24 eyes), uveitis (various subtypes, 16 eyes), age-related macular degeneration (12 eyes), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (4 eyes). In all eyes evaluated with ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography, high-resolution images of choroidal and retinal circulation were obtained with sufficient detail out to 200 degrees of the fundus. CONCLUSION: In this series of 138 eyes, scanning laser ophthalmoscope-based ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography was clinically practical and provided detailed images of both the central and peripheral choroidal circulation. Future studies are needed to refine the clinical value of this imaging modality and the significance of peripheral choroidal vascular changes in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of ocular diseases

Evaluation of compounded bevacizumab prepared for intravitreal injection

Bevacizumab acquired from compounding pharmacies for intravitreal injection may cause infectious and noninfectious inflammation. In addition to safety issues, the drug itself may have variable efficacy associated with product aliquoting, handling, and distribution. To conduct surveillance cultures, evaluate endotoxin levels, and assess protein concentrations of bevacizumab obtained from compounding pharmacies in the United States. Prospective in vitro study of syringes containing intravitreal preparations of bevacizumab from compounding pharmacies. This study was conducted at a university-based, good manufacturing practice facility and academic ophthalmology practice. Microbial culture growth, endotoxin levels, and quantity and binding affinity of protein in each sample. There were no microbial contaminants or endotoxin detected in any of the samples. Of the 21 compounded samples of bevacizumab obtained from 11 pharmacies, 17 (81%) had lower protein concentrations (mean [SD], 22.2 [4.9] mg/mL; range, 19.2-24.5 mg/mL) compared with bevacizumab acquired directly from Genentech (25 mg/mL; P < .05). In 3 of 10 compounding pharmacies where more than 1 sample was available, there were statistically significant differences in the protein concentration between samples from the same compounding pharmacy. Test results from intravitreal preparations of bevacizumab acquired from compounding pharmacies were negative for microbial contaminants and endotoxin. However, there were significant variations in protein concentration that appear in general to be lower than bevacizumab acquired directly from Genentech. The clinical implications of these variable protein levels remain uncertain

Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities in Diabetic Macular Edema Clinical Trials

Subjects in diabetic macular edema clinical trials in the United States are disproportionately White and male, compared with the population undergoing treatment for diabetic macular edema

Virtual versus In-Person Ophthalmology Interviews: Perceptions of U.S. Ophthalmology Fellowship Applicants in 2022–2023

Purpose Despite easing restrictions on social distancing and travel since the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, virtual interviews remain a widely used format for ophthalmology fellowship interviews. This study aims to evaluate the relative benefits and drawbacks of in-person versus virtual interviews during a cycle where both formats were prevalent