Background/AimsThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has imposed barriers to retinal care delivery worldwide. In this context, retinal services are exploring novel ways to ensure access to healthcare.MethodsWe conducted a worldwide survey among retinal specialists between March 31, 2020 and April 12, 2020. The expert survey was developed on the basis of focus group discussions involving retinal specialists and literature searches. It included 44 questions on alternative ways of care provision including digital health domains such as teleophthalmology, home monitoring or decentralised patient care.Results214 retinal experts participated in the survey, of which 120 (56.1%) had more than 15 years of experience in ophthalmology. Most participants were clinicians (n=158, 73.9%) practising in Western Europe (n=159, 74%). In the majority of institutions, teleophthalmology, home monitoring and decentralised patient care have not been implemented before the pandemic (n=46, 21.8.1%; n=64, 29.9%; n=38, 19.1%). During the pandemic, the use of teleophthalmology and home monitoring increased significantly (n=105, p<0.001; n=90, p<0.001). In the subgroup of institutions reporting no teleophthalmology service before and implementing a service during the pandemic (34/70, 48.6%), reimbursement was the sole significant parameter (OR 9.62 (95% CI 2.42 to 38.16); p<0.001).ConclusionDigital health is taking the centre stage tackling unpreceded challenges of retinal care delivery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and may sustainably change the way we practice ophthalmology.
In eyes with LMHs, a strong correlation exists between the diameters of the holes measured with B-FAF and those measured at the OPL level with OCT. This may indicate that the loss or displacement of retinal cells containing macular pigment at the OPL level, specifically photoreceptors and/or Müller cells, is involved in this vitreomaculopathy.
Purpose
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) commonly reveals lamellar-hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) as an avascular homogenous layer of premacular material with medium reflectivity, as recently described in various traction maculopathies, mostly in lamellar macular holes (LMH). We have used multimodal imaging to examine a patient suffering from unilateral advanced atrophic LMH presenting LHEP with perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) and intra-LHEP edema fluctuating under anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (
anti
-VEGF) therapy.
Observation
A
77-
year-old male presented with decreased vision in the left eye attributable to longstanding LMH. He complained of worsening symptoms for six months. Whereas SD-OCT showed classic tractional epiretinal gliosis in the right eye, the left eye exhibited atrophic LMH and a significant amount of LHEP containing hyperreflective round lesions and hyporeflective cystoid spaces. Fluorescein/indocyanine green angiography demonstrated PEVAC with large anomalous vessels and exudation. OCT angiography revealed abnormal vessels originating from the deep retinal plexus. After anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (
anti
-VEGF) therapy, the intraretinal edema seemed to decrease.
Conclusions and importance
Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex can occur in eyes with advanced LMHs causing edema inside LHEP. Pathologic vessels appear to originate from the deep retinal plexus. Given that LHEP formation is proposed to be a glial-cell-driven process, Müller cells may play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of the presented vascular malformation. Because of spontaneous fluctuation of the associated edema, the role of
anti
-VEGF remains questionable, while a functional response to therapy might be limited according to the progressive atrophic lamellar defect with intraretinal tissue loss.
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