Diabetic retinopathy (more specifically diabetic macular edema, DME) is the most common cause of loss of vision in the working population in developed countries. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents considerably changed the treatment algorithms and improved prognosis of center-involving DME. Ranibizumab was the first approved anti-VEGF agent that revolutionized DME treatment. The vast increase in the number of patients undergoing intravitreal treatment and the role of anti-VEGF pharmacotherapy as the mainstay of DME treatment have triggered several challenges. Among them, of considerable interest is the quest for an optimal dosing scheme and the search for combination therapies. Although a significant body of research is directed towards other molecules that could potentially be new therapeutic targets, VEGF inhibition is expected to play an important long-term role in the treatment of DME considering the pathogenesis of the disease. Finally, recent studies revealed that ranibizumab may constitute a significant treatment modality in the management of other diabetic vision-threatening complications including proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

XEN glaucoma implant (XEN gel stent, Aquesys, Inc) is a new minimally invasive device approved for the treatment of glaucoma. A 45 year old female was being followed and treated for primary open angle glaucoma in our tertiary referral center. Due to failure of medical treatment in controlling the glaucoma, surgery was offered to the patient. The XEN 45 μ-fistula implant was successfully placed in both eyes and adequate intraocular pressure control was achieved for 4 months. The left eye pressure then increased and the XEN implant was found in the anterior chamber. Topical intraocular pressure lowering therapy had to be re-initiated to achieve adequate pressure control. We describe a new potential complication of the XEN glaucoma implant.

A variety of different tamponade agents are used with vitrectomy combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for the treatment of idiopathic macular holes. These agents include air, gas (sulfur hexafluoride [SF₆], hexafluoroethane [C₂F₆], and perfluoropropane [C₃F₈]), and silicone oil. The optimal tamponade agent is uncertain, and we aimed to review the effect of tamponade choice on hole closure and visual outcomes. Although most surgeons initially chose to use long-acting gas (C₃F₈), there has been a gradual change in practice to the increasing use of the medium- (C₂F₆) and short-acting gases (SF₆) or even air. However, there is no consensus regarding their relative efficacies. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective and retrospective comparative cohort studies comparing different tamponade agents in patients undergoing vitrectomy and ILM peeling for primary idiopathic macular holes. For RCTs, the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs, whereas for nonrandomized studies, the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions tool was used. Thirteen publications, including 2 RCTs, were identified. Overall, there was no significant difference in the anatomic closure rates between studies using SF₆ compared with either C₃F₈ or C₂F₆ (odds ratio [OR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51-1.08). A subgroup analysis showed a significantly higher closure rate using SF₆ (OR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.30-0.79) in patients without postoperative posturing but not in those who were advised to posture facedown. The visual outcomes and adverse events were not significantly different. The comparisons of anatomic closure rates of patients treated with gas tamponade vs. silicone oil and with air vs. SF₆ showed no significant differences. The included studies had a number of methodological limitations and heterogeneities, making conclusions imprecise, with low or very low certainty by the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. The current evidence base for tamponade selection with vitrectomy and ILM peeling for full-thickness macular hole has several major limitations. Further appropriately designed studies are needed to guide tamponade selection.

Macular morphology and response to ranibizumab treatment in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration Nikolaos Dervenis, Saad Younis Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether specific characteristics of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) affect structural and functional outcomes and number of injections needed in ranibizumab (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL Lucentis solution)-treated wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. Patients and methods: This retrospective case series included 62 newly diagnosed wet AMD patients treated with three monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections followed by monthly follow-up and pro re nata retreatment. The presence of dome-shaped pigment epithelial detachment (PED), disruption of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and subretinal and intraretinal fluid was associated with changes in Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity, central macular thickness (CMT), and number of injections needed during the 6-month follow-up. Results: The presence of PED was associated with lower values of CMT at presentation (399 µm [±132 µm] vs 310 µm [±51 µm], P=0.005). The presence of RPE disruption was associated with worse visual acuity in month 6 (0.36 [±0.22] vs 0.61 [0.45], P=0.027) and fewer injections (4.23 [±0.92] vs 3.55 [±0.60], P=0.007). The presence of intraretinal fluid at presentation was associated with worse visual acuity outcomes in month 4 (P=0.045) but not in month 6. Conclusion: The dome-shaped PED was associated with lower CMT at presentation, but it did not affect response to treatment. RPE disruption was associated with worse functional outcomes with fewer injections. Intraretinal fluid at presentation may suggest delayed response to treatment. Individualized SD-OCT analysis could lead to individualized approach to wet AMD patients. SD-OCT can offer imaging biomarkers to assess the prognosis of anti-VEGF treatment in AMD patients. Keywords: AMD, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, prognosis, anti-VEGF, ranibizumab

Objective: to analyse cataract surgery outcomes and related factors in eyes presenting with good visual acuity. Subject and Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study of patients undergoing phacoemulsification between 2014 and 2018 in Moorfields Eye Hospital was conducted. Pre- and post-operative visual acuities were analysed. Inclusion criteria were age ≥40 years and pinhole visual acuity ≥6/9 pre-operatively. Exclusion criteria were no post-operative visual acuity data. The visual acuity change variable was also defined according to post-operative visual acuity being above or below the Snellen 6/9 threshold. Results: 2,720 eyes were included. The unaided logMAR visual acuity improved from 0.54 to 0.20 (p < 0.001), the logMAR visual acuity with glasses improved from 0.35 to 0.05 (p < 0.001), and the logMAR pinhole visual acuity improved from 0.17 to 0.13 (p < 0.001); 8.1% of patients had Snellen visual acuity <6/9 post-operatively. Mean follow-up period was 23.6 ± 9.9 days. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with visual acuity <6/9 post-operatively were age (OR = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.95, 0.98], p < 0.001), vitreous loss (OR = 0.21, 95% CI [0.08, 0.56], p = 0.002), and iris trauma (OR = 0.28, 95% CI [0.10, 0.82] p = 0.02). Conclusions: Visual acuity improved significantly, although at least 8.1% of them did not reach their pinhole preoperative visual acuity. Worse visual acuity outcomes were associated with increasing age, vitreous loss, and iris trauma. The 6/9 vision threshold may not be able to accurately differentiate those who may benefit from cataract surgery and those who may not.

Age-related macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness, and the development of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal treatments has revolutionised the management of the disease. At the same time, new challenges and unmet needs arose due to the limitations of the current therapeutic options. Neovascularisation development during the course of the disease has a complex pathogenetic mechanism, and several biomarkers and their association with treatment outcomes have been investigated. We reviewed the relevant literature about neovascularisation development and biomarkers related to response to treatment. Improving our knowledge on the field can improve patient outcomes and offer personalised care.