Preoperative macular spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients considering advanced-technology intraocular lenses for cataract surgery

Sensitivity and specificity of SS-OCT for detecting macular pathologies vs SD-OCT

PURPOSE

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer compared with the gold standard spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for detecting macular pathology in patients with cataract.

SETTING

Eye Centers of Tennessee, Crossville, TN.

DESIGN

Prospective, cross-sectional, observational, examiner-masked.

METHODS

The study included 132 participants aged 50 years and older, who underwent precataract surgery work-up. All participants underwent fixation check retinal scans using SS-OCT biometer (IOLMaster 700) as well as full macular scans using Cirrus SD-OCT. 3 independent masked examiners evaluated the scans if they were normal or had a suspected pathology. Different measures of diagnostic accuracy were calculated for 3 examiners.

RESULTS

True positive rate (sensitivity) ranged from 71.1% (32/45) to 79.2% (42/53), and false negative rate was between 20.8% (11/53) and 28.9% (13/45) for the 3 examiners. True negative rate (specificity) ranged from 86.8% (59/68) to 94.1% (64/68), and false positive rate was between 5.9 (4/68) and 13.2% (9/68). The fitted receiver operating characteristic area ranged from 0.83 to 0.95.

CONCLUSIONS

Using retinal SS-OCT biometer scans as a replacement of the dedicated macular SD-OCT for screening or diagnosing macular health would not be appropriate because of its low sensitivity. SS-OCT biometer may potentially fail to identify approximately one-fourth of patients who actually have the disease. Therefore, the final decision on macular health should be based on the gold standard SD-OCT scans. When full macular SD-OCT scans are not accessible, the limited retinal scan information from SS-OCT biometer may still provide useful insights into the macular health.

Screening for multifocal intraocular lens implantation in cataract patients in a public hospital

PURPOSE

To identify the rate and characteristics of cataract surgery candidates suitable for multifocal intraocular lens implantation among patients undergoing preoperative evaluation in a public hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Screening was performed based on the patient's medical records, comprehensive ophthalmic examination, optical biometry (Zeiss, IOL Master 700) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Heidelberg, OCT Spectralis) in accordance with the relevant indications and contraindications mentioned in the pertinent literature. Patients were included in the present study if they were eligible for bilateral cataract surgery. The exclusion criteria were the presence of central nervous system or motility issues, prior refractive surgery, the presence of astigmatism greater than 1 dioptre and/or the presence of important ocular comorbidities in either eye.

RESULTS

The study evaluated 1200 consecutive patients. Four hundred thirty-two patients (36%) were not eligible for bilateral surgery and were excluded from the study. Of the 768 patients included in the present study, 346 (45.1%) were considered suitable candidates. Four hundred twenty-two patients (54.9%) were excluded for one or both eyes. Among them, 121 (28.7%) were excluded because of retinal disease, 120 (28.4%) because of regular astigmatism (> 1.0 D of corneal astigmatism), 32 (7.5%) because of pseudoexfoliation or zonular instability, and 30 (7.1%) because of glaucoma or ocular hypertension; in addition, 90 (21.3%) patients were excluded for multiple reasons. Suitable candidates were significantly younger (70 and 75 years, respectively) (p < 0.001). After being informed about the potential risks and benefits of MOIL implantation, 212 of 346 (83.8%) eligible patients provided consent.

CONCLUSION

Close to half of cataract patients in a public hospital were eligible for MOIL implantation, and the majority of patients would proceed to surgery. The most prevalent contraindication was macular disease.

Optical coherence tomography as a diagnostic intervention before cataract surgery-a review

The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of existing literature on OCT screening before cataract surgery. Available literature was evaluated and projections on how it could be applied to enhance postoperative outcomes of cataract surgery were summarised. The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for articles pertaining to preoperative OCT screening. Selected articles were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Across 9 studies, the addition of OCT macular screening resulted in preoperative detection of macular pathology in 13.7% of eyes that were determined to be normal on fundoscopic examination alone. The types of macular pathology most frequently detected through preoperative OCT screening were interface abnormalities followed by macular degeneration. Comparative analysis of SS-OCT biometer and SD-OCT found that SS-OCT had a sensitivity of 0.48-0.81 in the detection of macular pathology in eyes with pathology diagnosed by SD-OCT. OCT screening prior to cataract surgery results in the detection of occult macular pathology that may influence postoperative visual outcomes in approximately 1 in 10 eyes (13.7%). As a result, OCT screening should be considered in the routine preoperative workup for cataract surgery.

OCT to identify macular changes not clinically detectable in elderly patients with cataract

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the importance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in identifying macular changes not detected at clinical examination preceding cataract surgery in patients older than 60 years.

SETTING

Hospital Oftalmológico Visão Laser, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.

DESING

Prospective case series.

METHODS

Patients older than 60 years were selected for this cross-sectional prospective study conducted during preoperative examination for cataract surgery. Eyes with a previous diagnosis or clinical evidence of macular disease or with media opacity preventing OCT from being performed were excluded from the study. All the study participants underwent OCT and were then divided into 2 groups: patients with macular changes and patients without macular changes found on OCT.

RESULTS

Of 364 eyes screened (212 patients), 300 eyes (180 patients) were included in the study. OCT identified macular changes in 40 eyes (13.3%), with age-related macular degeneration being found in 13 eyes (4.3%), epiretinal membrane in 12 eyes (4%), intraretinal fluid in 12 eyes (4%), and macular hole in 3 eyes (1%). In the group with macular changes, the mean age was 74.4 ± 6.3 years compared with 70.4 ± 6.7 years for those without changes ( P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

OCT proved an effective method for identifying macular diseases not detected at clinical evaluation before cataract surgery. Therefore, the relevance of performing OCT in these cases was confirmed and should be taken into consideration, particularly when evaluating patients older than 60 years.

Preoperative fundoscopy versus optical coherence tomography to detect occult maculopathy during cataract surgery preassessment

PURPOSE

To assess the proportion of maculopathy detectable only on optical coherence tomography (OCT) versus slit lamp indirect ophthalmoscopy (SLIO) during cataract assessment.

METHODS

Population: Consecutive patients attending cataract assessments.

DATA COLLECTION

All patients underwent OCT and SLIO. SLIO findings were recorded before reviewing OCT. Scans were examined to compare with recorded SLIO findings.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

analyse the proportion of eyes with maculopathy missed by SLIO.

SECONDARY OUTCOME

to assess the proportion of patients with maculopathy on OCT, the incidence of maculopathy in the fellow eye on OCT and proportion with cataracts too dense to allow SLIO or OCT.

RESULTS

Six hundred twenty-six patients were enroled. Eighty (12.8%) had maculopathy detectable only on OCT which included: 26 (4.2%) epiretinal membrane (ERM), 25 (4%) dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), 19 (3%) vitreomacular traction (VMT), 5 (0.8%) lamellar macular hole (LMH), 2 (0.3%) cystoid macular oedema (CMO) and 1 (0.2%) wet AMD. 166 (26.5%) had maculopathy on OCT, of which only 48 (7.7%) had known history of maculopathy. In fellow eyes, 29 (4.6%) had significant findings and 29 (4.6%) were unable to have SLIO or OCT due to dense cataract.

CONCLUSIONS

A quarter of the patients had occult maculopathy. One-tenth of the occult maculopathy were missed without OCT, with ERM, dry AMD, VMT, LMH, CMO and wet AMD being the primary missed diagnosis. Less than 5% had occult maculopathy in fellow eye, and <5% had dense cataracts where neither SLIO nor OCT was not possible.

Analysis of Korean Retinal Specialists' Opinions on Implanting Diffractive Multifocal Intraocular Lenses in Eyes with Underlying Retinal Diseases

Multifocal intraocular lenses (MF-IOLs) are increasingly implanted as the need for good near- and intermediate-distance vision increases. Although retinal disease is known to be a relative contraindication for MF-IOL implantation, there are no detailed guidelines for MF-IOL implantation with respect to the type and severity of retinal diseases/statuses. In this study, because retinal diseases can affect the performance of MF-IOLs, we analyzed the opinions of 111 retinal specialists, who were members of the Korean Retina Society, on the implantation of diffractive MF-IOLs in eyes with 15 retinal diseases/statuses using a web-based survey. For each underlying condition, retinal specialists were asked to rate their approval regarding implantation of MF-IOLs on a scale from 1 (completely disapprove) to 7 (completely approve), under the assumption that there were no known contraindications except for a given retinal disease/status. As a result, retinal specialists disapproved MF-IOL implantation (median value of Likert score < 4) in the eyes with wet age-related macular degeneration, dry age-related macular degeneration with geographic atrophy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, previous macula-off retinal detachment, previous retinal vein occlusion, and epiretinal membrane, but the scores varied by disease/status. The factors that affected the specialists’ opinions were the type of practice and the frequency of MF-IOL implantation (p = 0.013 and p = 0.021, respectively; one-way ANOVA).

Macular optical coherence tomography for screening of pathology prior to cataract surgery: An approach based on tele-evaluation

BACKGROUND

To assess the benefit of macular spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) as a part of the routinary preoperative study of patients undergoing cataract surgery.

METHODS

A prospective single-center study study was performed. Consecutive patients with normal biomicroscopic funduscopy, moderate cataract and no history of ophthalmological pathologies were enrolled. All patients underwent macular SD-OCT. The obtained images were analysed by a general ophthalmologist and two retina specialists. Incidence of macular pathology and its relation to age and comorbidities were assessed.

RESULTS

Eight-hundred and thirty-six eyes of 419 patients were enrolled in this study. All images were analysed telematically by a general ophthalmologist. Forty-nine eyes were excluded due to insufficient quality of the obtained images. Abnormal images were observed in 156 eyes (18.6%), including age-related macular degeneration in 68 (8.2%), epiretinal membrane (ERM) in 67 (8.0%), cystoid macular edema in 3 eyes (0.4%), among others. Diagnostics with severe impact on patient visual prognosis were observed in 16 eyes (3.82%) from 12 patients. The relationship between incidence of macular pathologies and age or comorbidities was not statistically significant. To assess accuracy of the first observer, images were subsequently analysed by two retinologists. The kappa index of concordance was 0.80 and 0.85.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing a systematic macular SD-OCT as a preoperative test prior to cataract surgery would improve quality of postoperative visual prognosis information. A general ophthalmologist would be suitable to screen for pathology through macular OCT images.

Macular Optical Coherence Tomography before Cataract Surgery

Purpose:

To determine the benefits of performing preoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to identify occult macular pathologies in patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, macular SD-OCT scans were performed on all patients with clinically undetected macular abnormalities who were scheduled for cataract surgery. Patients with clinically evident macular abnormalities were excluded from the study. A retinal specialist reviewed all the scans. The severity of the cataract was determined using the Oxford Clinical Cataract Classification and Grading System.

Results:

Of the 598 evaluated cases, 33 patients (5.52%) had an occult macular abnormality. The most common pathology found in these patients was idiopathic epiretinal membrane, which was detected in 17 eyes (51.52%), followed by vitreomacular traction in nine eyes (27.27%), and dry age-related macular degeneration in four eyes (12.12%). Full-thickness macular holes and a lamellar macular hole were found in two patients (6.06%) and one patient (3.03%), respectively. The frequency of cortical cataracts was significantly lower in patients without macular lesions (P = 0.012) than in those with macular lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age >70 years (P = 0.025 and odds ratio [OR] =11.12), smoking history (P = 0.043 and OR = 3.43), and hypertension were independently associated with occult macular lesions. The surgical plan was changed for five patients (0.83%).

Conclusions:

Macular SD-OCT can be used to detect occult macular lesions and provide useful information about a macula before cataract surgery. Although preoperative OCT found macular abnormalities in about 5% of patients with presumed normal fundus examination, it can result in changing the surgical plan in 0.83% of all patients.

Diffractive Optic IOL Exchange: Indications and Outcomes

PURPOSE

To assess indications for and outcomes of surgical exchange of diffractive optic multifocal and extended depth of focus IOLs in favor of monofocal IOLs.

SETTING

Private Practice, Los Angeles, CA.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

All cases of diffractive optic IOL exchange between June 2007 and October 2020 for diffractive optic dysphotopsia (DOD) (light induced concentric circles, spider web patterns, etc.), poor visual quality, or night vision symptoms were evaluated retrospectively regarding surgical indications, comorbidities, surgical methods, surgical complications and visual outcomes. Ocular surface disease and ametropia were managed prior to consideration of IOL exchange.

RESULTS

The charts of 64 eyes of 46 patients were included. 53/64 (83%) had DOD, 50/64 (78%) experienced reduced quality of vision and 12/64 (19%) complained of night vision difficulties. 27/64 (42%) of eyes had no ocular comorbidities; 15/64 (23%) of eyes had more than one comorbid condition and 12/64 (19%) were post laser refractive surgery. Laser posterior capsulotomy had been performed in 15/64 (23%) of eyes. There were a variety of inciting diffractive optic IOLs and various monofocal exchange lenses and fixation techniques were used based on symptoms, comorbidities, and status of the posterior capsule. Following IOL exchange all eyes were relieved of DOD and all eyes had improved or unchanged CDVA.

CONCLUSIONS

Diffractive Optic IOLS may induce unsatisfactory visual outcomes. However, in this large series of IOL exchanges, diffractive optic dysphotopsia and reduced visual function can be overcome with exchange for a monofocal IOL, despite comorbidities or an open posterior capsule.

Utility of IOLMaster 700 Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Detecting Macular Disease for Preoperative Cataract Surgery Patients

Purpose

To assess the efficacy of IOLMaster 700 (IOLM) biometer swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in detecting macular pathology before cataract surgery and to compare IOLM SS-OCT characteristics of foveal pathology with a widely used spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) system.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective analysis of 1156 consecutive eyes with IOLMaster 700 SS-OCT undergoing cataract surgery from January to June 2017 was performed. Approximately a third of these eyes (327 eyes) also had a SD-OCT scan performed previously. A single reviewer assessed each SS-OCT scan and identified them as “normal” or “abnormal.” SS-OCT sensitivity and specificity in identifying foveal pathology was assessed using findings on Spectralis SD-OCT scans as the gold standard.

Results

Of 327 eyes with both IOLM SS-OCT and Spectralis SD-OCT scans, 121 eyes (37.0%) had abnormal SS-OCT scans. Of these 121 eyes, SD-OCT scans confirmed pathology in 104 eyes (86.0%). Of the remaining 206 eyes graded to have normal SS-OCT scans, 84 eyes (40.8%) had normal SD-OCT scans, and 122 eyes (59.2%) had pathologic findings on SD-OCT scans. For each pathologic condition, subtle but definitive differences existed in the appearance of the IOLM SS-OCT and SD-OCT images.

Conclusion

Using a normal or abnormal Spectralis SD-OCT scan as confirmation of absence or presence of foveal pathology respectively, we found a high positive predictive value (86.0%) of an abnormal IOLM SS-OCT scan and a high specificity (83.2%) but low sensitivity (46.0%) and negative predictive value (40.8%) of a normal-appearing SS-OCT scan. These results suggest that an abnormal IOLM SS-OCT scan in an eye without known pathology is a strong indicator of an abnormal macula and should prompt further evaluation of the retina to identify pathology prior to cataract surgery. Importantly, IOLM SS-OCT scans do not detect all macular pathology and cannot be used as a screening test for identifying macular pathology.

The Additive Value of Foveal OCT-Based Biometry to Fundus Biomicroscopy for Detecting Macular Pathology Prior to Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE

To assess the additive value of foveal swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based biometry to the preoperative fundus examinations for diagnosing macular abnormalities in patients scheduled for cataract surgery.

DESIGN

Diagnostic testing evaluation.

METHODS

Consecutive patients 50 years of age and older planned for cataract surgery from one institution were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent foveal swept-source OCT, and macular spectral domain (SD) OCT scans before pupil dilation as well as dilated fundus biomicroscopy examination. The effectiveness of fundus biomicroscopy examinations, foveal swept-source OCT scans, and the combination of both in identifying macular diseases was analyzed with macular spectral-domain OCT scans as reference.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight of the eligible 442 eyes (442 patients) were excluded because of noninterpretable macular spectral-domain OCT OCT scans or foveal swept-source OCT scans. The remaining 364 eyes of 364 patients (mean age 73.59±9.26 years [range 49-96], 172 males) formed the study group. Fundus biomicroscopy alone vs fundus biomicroscopy with the addition of foveal swept-source OCT yielded 36% vs 63% sensitivity, 94% vs 72% specificity, 79% vs 58% positive predictive value (PPV), and 71% vs 76% negative predictive value (NPV), respectively. This diagnostic improvement was significant compared with fundus biomicroscopy alone (P = 2.98^-8).

CONCLUSION

Combined fundus biomicroscopy and foveal swept-source OCT scans improved the detection of macular abnormalities prior to cataract surgery but it was inferior to macular spectral-domain OCT scans. Additional studies to assess the cost-effectiveness of adding foveal swept-source OCT scan in comparison to macular spectral-domain OCT scan to the preoperative cataract evaluation are required.

Patient management modifications in cataract surgery candidates following incorporation of routine preoperative macular optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical relevance of routine preoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for identifying macular pathologies in patients scheduled for cataract surgery.

SETTING

Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

Consecutive patients, 50 years of age and older, scheduled for standard cataract extraction surgery were enrolled from November 2017 to January 2018. All study patients underwent routine SD-OCT scanning before cataract surgery. The scans were reviewed by a retinal specialist for macular pathology and compared with preoperative fundus biomicroscopic examination findings. The incidence of macular pathologies and changes in patient management as a result of the macular SD-OCT findings were assessed.

RESULTS

Four hundred fifty-three eyes of 453 patients were enrolled in the study; 42 eyes (9.2%) were excluded because of noninterpretable SD-OCT scans attributable to advanced cataract, leaving scans of 411 eyes of 411 patients for study inclusion. Macular pathologies were detected by SD-OCT in 167 eyes (40.6%), including age-related macular degeneration (50%), epiretinal membrane (28.3%), and cystoid macular edema (12.8%). Overall, the management of 107 patients (26.0%) was modified because of macular SD-OCT findings, which were either missed (22.8%) or underestimated (3.2%) by the fundus biomicroscopic examination. Changes in preoperative patient management included altering patient consultation regarding presbyopia correction solutions (73 eyes [17.8%]) and referral to a retinal specialist for consultation (34 eyes [8.3%]).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine macular SD-OCT scans for cataract surgery candidates helped to identify macular pathologies that might be missed or underestimated by standard fundus biomicroscopic examination. The added information could improve patient management.

Prevalence of Macular Abnormalities Identified Only on Optical Coherence Tomography in Korean Patients Scheduled for Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence of macular abnormalities identified only on macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) which were not suspected by biomicroscopic fundus examination, and examine the clinical outcome of patients with these macular abnormalities during preoperative evaluation for cataract surgery in a large series of Korean patients.&lt;br/&gt.

METHODS

Macular OCT was performed on patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery by the same physician at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, between June 2018 and November 2019. The patients' medical records were reviewed retrospectively to obtain demographic data and the results of preoperative evaluation before cataract surgery. Patients were divided into two groups based on the preoperative macular OCT.

RESULTS

normal and abnormal OCT groups.

RESULTS

Nine hundred eighty-seven eyes (698 patients) were included in this study. Macular OCT identified abnormalities in 44 eyes (4.5%) of 35 patients (5.0%). Twenty-one eyes (2.1%) had age-related macular degeneration, 20 eyes (2.0%) had epiretinal membrane, and three eyes (0.3%) had lamellar hole. Patients with macular abnormalities identified on macular OCT had a statistically significant higher mean age than those who had normal OCT findings (p &lt; 0.001). Best-corrected visual acuity was worse in patients with abnormal macular OCT after cataract surgery (p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

In the preoperative evaluation for cataract surgery in Korean patients, one in every 20 patients had macular abnormalities identified only on macular OCT in spite of unremarkable macular findings on biomicroscopic funduscopy. Age was significantly higher in patients with abnormal macular OCT findings. Thus, inclusion of macular OCT examination in preoperative screening before routine cataract surgery would be beneficial.

Rethinking Elective Cataract Surgery Diagnostics, Assessments, and Tools after the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience and Beyond: Insights from the EUROCOVCAT Group

The progressive deterioration of the visual function in patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery has a negative impact on their quality of life, especially in the elderly population. Patient waiting times for cataract surgeries in many healthcare settings have increased recently due to the prolonged stop or slowdown of elective cataract surgery as a result of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The aim of this review is to highlight the impact of such a "de-prioritization" of cataract surgery and to summarize some critical issues and useful hints on how to reorganize cataract pathways, with a special focus on perioperative diagnostic tools during the recovery phase and beyond. The experiences of a group of surgeons originating from nine different countries, named the European COVID-19 Cataract Group (EUROCOVCAT), have been combined with the literature and recommendations from scientific ophthalmic societies and healthcare institutions. Key considerations for elective cataract surgery should include the reduction of the number of unnecessary visits and examinations, adoption of precautionary measures, and implementation of telemedicine instruments. New strategies should be adopted to provide an adequate level of assistance and to guarantee safety conditions. Flexibility will be the watchword and regular updates would be necessary following scientific insights and the development of the pandemic.

Optical Coherence Tomography: Critical Tool to Manage Expectations after Cataract Extraction

Purpose of Review

To review evidence on the utility of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in evaluating retinal structure prior cataract surgery and highlight new technologies that can assess retinal function perioperatively.

Findings

SD-OCT detected clinically unsuspected macular pathology in 4.6-25% of individuals in the pre-operative cataract evaluation. The most common findings were epiretinal membrane and macular degeneration with frequencies that varied by population studied. These conditions have been associated with complication after surgery (e.g. macular edema, visual dissatisfaction). As such, findings on SD-OCT may impact the informed consent process, alter IOL selection, and provide realistic postoperative vision expectations. Other technologies that assess retinal function, such as microperimetry and multifocal ERG are beginning to be studied but their utility in the pre-operative cataract evaluation is not yet known.

Summary

SD-OCT should be incorporated as a routine test prior to surgery to manage patient expectations and assist with optimal IOL selection, as even individuals with a seemingly normal clinical exam may have macular pathology. SD-OCT is the most established method for evaluating retinal anatomy and offers the benefits of a reduction in cases with missed macular pathology and fewer postoperative visual surprises.

Clinical efficacy of aspirin combined with clopidogrel in treating cerebral infarction and its effect on serum hs-CRP, sICAM-1 and TNF-α

Clinical efficacy of aspirin combined with clopidogrel in treating cerebral infarction and its influence on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were explored. Ninety patients with acute cerebral infarction treated in Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang were analyzed, and those treated with aspirin alone were group A (n=40) and those treated with aspirin and clopidogrel were group B (n=50) according to the different treatment plans. The NIHSS score, total effective rate and incidence rate of adverse reactions after treatment and admission were compared between the two groups. The expression level of hs-CRP was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression levels of sICAM-1 and TNF-α were analyzed by radioimmunoassay before treatment and three weeks after surgery, respectively, and they were analyzed and compared. After treatment, the total effective rate of patients in group B was significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.05). The general clinical baseline information, NIHSS score, and the expression levels of hs-CRP, sICAM-1, and TNF-α of patients in group B were significantly improved after treatment compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the NIHSS score and the expression levels of serum hs-CRP, sICAM-1, and TNF-α of those in group B were significantly lower than those in group A (P<0.05). Combination therapy of aspirin and clopidogrel can improve cerebral infarction effectively, and inhibit the expression levels of hs-CRP, sICAM-1 and TNF-α more effectively than aspirin alone.

Cost-Effectiveness of Preoperative OCT in Cataract Evaluation for Multifocal Intraocular Lens

PURPOSE

To determine the cost effectiveness of an adjunctive screening OCT during the preoperative evaluation of a patient considering cataract surgery with a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

DESIGN

Cost-effectiveness analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

A 67-year-old man with 20/60 vision undergoing evaluation for first-eye cataract surgery.

METHODS

The cost-effectiveness analysis of the reference patient undergoing a preoperative cataract examination with and without a screening OCT was performed, evaluating for vitreoretinal diseases including an epiretinal membrane, age-related macular degeneration, vitreomacular traction, and cystoid macular edema. It was assumed that patients with macular pathologies detected before surgery would receive a monofocal IOL and be referred to a retina specialist for evaluation and management. The Medicare reimbursable cost of an OCT was $41.81. All costs and benefits were adjusted for inflation to 2019 United States dollars and discounted 3% per annum over a 16-year time horizon. Probability sensitivity analyses and 1-way deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed to assess for uncertainty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

RESULTS

Approximately 20.5% of patients undergoing cataract surgery may have macular pathologies, of which 11% may not be detected on the initial clinical examination. In the base case, an adjunctive preoperative OCT was cost effective from a third-party payer and societal perspective in the United States. In the probability sensitivity analyses, the ICURs were within the societal willingness-to-pay threshold of $50 000/QALY in approximately 64.4% of the clinical scenarios.

CONCLUSIONS

A preoperative screening OCT during the evaluation of a patient considering a multifocal IOL added to the costs of the cataract surgery, but the OCT increased the detection of macular pathologies and improved the QALYs over time. An adjunctive screening OCT can be cost effective from a third-party payer and societal perspective.

Incorporating Optical Coherence Tomography in the Cataract Preoperative Armamentarium: Additional Need or Additional Burden?

PURPOSE

To determine the usefulness of preoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination to detect asymptomatic macular abnormalities in patients scheduled for cataract surgery.

METHODS

Design: Prospective, interventional case series.

SETTING

Iladevi Cataract and Visakha Eye Center, Ahmedabad, India.

STUDY POPULATION

Patients undergoing cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for senile cataracts. Preoperatively no retinal/macular pathology was identified on clinical evaluation.

INTERVENTION

All eyes underwent macular 5-line raster evaluation using spectral-domain OCT before and after cataract surgery (monthly for 3 months). Central subfield thickness (CST) analysis was done.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was determining the incidence of asymptomatic retinal lesions on OCT examination in clinically "normal" maculas. Secondary outcome measures included documenting change in corrected distance visual acuity and OCT thickness postoperatively.

RESULTS

A total of 1444 eyes were evaluated. OCT revealed asymptomatic lesions in 133 (9.21%) patients. At 3 months, all eyes showed significant median visual improvement (from 0.45 ± 0.13 logMAR to 0.06 ± 0.08 logMAR; P = .015) and insignificant median CST change (from 223.34 ± 21.1 μm to 249.12 ± 19.24 μm; P = .19). One eye showed increased vitreomacular traction (3 months). Patients with asymptomatic lesions did not have significantly worse postoperative visual outcomes at 3 months (from 0.52 ± 0.16 logMAR to 0.14 ± 0.1 logMAR; P = .12).

CONCLUSION

A total of 9.21% patients with clinically normal maculas had subtle pathology detected on OCT, but this subset of patients did not have worse postoperative visual outcomes compared to eyes with normal OCT scans. Thus, a careful pre-cataract surgery fundus examination remains an essential part of the presurgical patient evaluation.

Optical coherence tomography findings in patients prior to cataract surgery regarded as unremarkable with ophthalmoscopy

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility and diagnostic benefit of routinely performed preoperative macular spectral-domain (SD-) optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the detection of macular pathology in patients with normal biomicroscopic funduscopy prior to cataract surgery.

METHODS

Prospective, single center study. A total of 162 eyes of 123 consecutive patients referred for cataract surgery with a visual acuity better than 20/100, absence of macular symptoms such as metamorphopsia, no history of previous intravitreal procedures and a normal funduscopic appearance on biomicroscopy underwent an additional SD-OCT-examination prior to cataract surgery. OCT-scans were classified in three categories: normal, degenerative vitreous changes without impact on visual outcome or pathological with potential impact on visual outcome.

RESULTS

80 eyes (49.38%) showed normal OCT-scans. 69 eyes (42.59%) were classified as degenerative vitreous changes without impact on visual outcome and 20 eyes (12.35%) as pathological with potential impact on visual outcome. The indication of cataract surgery or the therapeutic strategy remained unchanged in all patients. In patients with pathological alterations further follow-up examinations were recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine SD-OCT-imaging of the macular region in patients prior to cataract surgery was feasible to detect macular pathologies in a considerable number of patients, which remained undiagnosed on biomicroscopic funduscopy. Although OCT-findings did not impact therapeutic strategy in this study, preoperative judgement of the expected visual outcome and patient´s informed consent can improve.

Macular assessment of preoperative optical coherence tomography in ageing Chinese undergoing routine cataract surgery

This retrospective consecutive case series aimed to evaluate spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for occult macular disease recognition preoperatively in patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery. All patients scheduled for cataract surgery underwent macular SD-OCT. Scans were reviewed for retinal, retinal pigment epithelium and vitreomacular interface abnormalities. For the subgroup analysis, the following information was collected: age; sex; and diabetes, hypertension, myopia, glaucoma, post intra-ocular surgery, endophotocoagulation, retinal vasculopathy and uveitis statuses. One-thousand-one-hundred-seventy-six consecutive scans were acquired from 1,176 patients. Macular pathology was found in 294 eyes. The most common macular disorders were an epiretinal membrane (n = 130), myopia atrophy (n = 61) and a dome-shaped macular with pathologic myopia (n = 32). One-hundred-thirty eyes (11.05%) presented macular epiretinal membranes not detected by dilated fundus examination, accounting for 44.22% of the abnormalities in diseased eyes and was higher than in previous Chinese studies. Some had multiple macular disorders. The most common ocular history was myopia, including high myopia. The pooled prevalence rate of macular diseases detected by OCT was 0.24 (95% CI 0.14-0.34) using meta-analysis. SD-OCT should be performed for routine cataract surgery patients to evaluate visual outcomes, especially in myopic patients and those considering advanced-technology intraocular lenses.

Advanced Endoscopic Navigation: Surgical Big Data, Methodology, and Applications

Interventional endoscopy (e.g., bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy, cystoscopy) is a widely performed procedure that involves either diagnosis of suspicious lesions or guidance for minimally invasive surgery in a variety of organs within the body cavity. Endoscopy may also be used to guide the introduction of certain items (e.g., stents) into the body. Endoscopic navigation systems seek to integrate big data with multimodal information (e.g., computed tomography, magnetic resonance images, endoscopic video sequences, ultrasound images, external trackers) relative to the patient's anatomy, control the movement of medical endoscopes and surgical tools, and guide the surgeon's actions during endoscopic interventions. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to realize the next generation of context-aware navigated endoscopy. This review presents a broad survey of various aspects of endoscopic navigation, particularly with respect to the development of endoscopic navigation techniques. First, we investigate big data with multimodal information involved in endoscopic navigation. Next, we focus on numerous methodologies used for endoscopic navigation. We then review different endoscopic procedures in clinical applications. Finally, we discuss novel techniques and promising directions for the development of endoscopic navigation.

Correction of presbyopia: An integrated update for the practical surgeon

Presbyopia results from loss or insufficiency of the eye's accommodative ability, and clinically manifests as the inability to focus near objects on the retina. It is one of the most common causes of visual impairment worldwide especially in adults of productive or working age. Various means of compensating for the loss of accommodative ability have been devised from optical tools such as spectacles and contact lenses, to topical medications and to surgical procedures. A comprehensive search on journal articles about topical and surgical correction of presbyopia was undertaken. The various techniques for presbyopia correction, as enumerated in these articles, are discussed in this paper with the addition of our personal experience and perspective on the future of these techniques.

[Watchful waiting as a therapeutic principle for diseases of the vitreoretinal interface]

Elective surgery of the vitreoretinal interface is currently the most common reason for vitrectomy in Germany. The evaluation and correct interpretation of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images is of great importance but the indications for vitrectomy in macular surgery should be based more on patient symptoms and not only the OCT findings. Watchful waiting is highlighted as an alternative therapeutic option in individual patients. This article addresses a number of aspects and discrepancies between findings and patients' level of suffering based on binocular symptoms. Postoperative retinal thickening and irregular surface of the macula after peeling operations may still allow excellent function and often require no therapeutic measures. The difficulties in differentiating between cystoid macular edema after cataract operations with simultaneous epiretinal gliosis and gliosis as the cause of macular edema are highlighted.