We evaluated colour contrast thresholds in patients with unilateral functional amblyopia. A computer-controlled colour vision test was used to determine colour contrast thresholds along a blue-yellow tritan axis. Prior to the threshold measurement, a heterochromatic flicker brightness test was performed to ensure isoluminance between the test stimulus and the background for every subject individually. Luminance contrast thresholds were also measured using the same computer-based system. Twenty amblyopic patients were tested. All showed normal tritan colour contrast thresholds both for their amblyopic eye and non-amblyopic fellow eye. Luminance contrast thresholds were elevated in all 6 refractive amblyopic eyes, in 4 of 9 strabismic eyes and in 2 of 5 mixed amblyopic eyes. Colour contrast thresholds are normal in functional amblyopia (with central fixation). Whenever elevated tritan colour contrast thresholds are found in patients with a decreased visual acuity, other causes of visual impairment are to be evaluated.
Introduction: STELLAR was a Belgian, multicentre, retrospective, observational chart review that described the utilization (number of injections and treatment regimen) and effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) in patients with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) during the first 12 months of IVT-AFL treatment. Methods: Patients initiating IVT-AFL between July 2013 and July 2017 were included in STELLAR. Primary endpoints were number of visits and IVT-AFL injections, and number of patients who received C 7 versus \ 7 IVT-AFL injections during the first 12 months of treatment. Results: A total of 337 patients completed C 12 months of IVT-AFL treatment. The mean number of visits and mean number of injections during the first 12 months was 9.8 and 7.1 injections, respectively (64% received C 7 injections). Overall, 96% of patients received C 3 initial monthly injections. Of the 337 patients, 180 received VT-AFL as needed (pro re nata), 141 received it as treatand-extend dosing and 16 received it as fixed dosing. The proportion of patients who received treatand-extend dosing increased year-on-year. Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (± standard deviation) was 61.6 (± 14.9) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters at baseline and improved by ? 3.9 and ? 5.7 ETDRS letters at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Mean BCVA improvement was numerically greater in patients who received C 7 versus\7 injections during the first 12 months 7 (? 6.5 vs. ? 4.4 ETDRS letters) and in patients who received C 3 versus \ 3 initial monthly injections (? 5.2 vs.-0.25 ETDRS letters [3 at months]; ? 5.9 vs ? 1.2 ETDRS letters [at 12 months]). No specific adverse events were reported.
Introduction
A prospective study was carried out in Belgium to determine the proportion of subjects with a moderate to high risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), identified using the STARS
®
(Simplified Théa AMD Risk-Assessment Scale) questionnaire, who were in need of nutritional supplementation, by assessing the vitamin D, zinc oxide and fatty acid profile status.
Methods
This multicentre cross-sectional pilot study involved 50 Belgian subjects with no or early AMD, aged > 55 years who were at moderate to high risk for AMD. Subjects were assessed using the STARS
®
questionnaire, visual acuity assessment, an optical coherence tomography scan of the macula and fundus photography. Blood samples were collected, and serum analyses were performed to determine the the omega-6:omega-3 (Ω6:Ω3) ratio and the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), zinc and cupric oxides and vitamin D.
Results
Abnormal serum levels for at least one of the micronutrients was detected in 94% of the subjects. Lower than optimal vitamin D levels were found in 76% of the participants, and 68% of the subjects demonstrated at least one abnormal fatty acid profile. The Ω6:Ω3 ratio was above the reference range for normal values in 54% of the subjects; DHA and EPA levels were below the reference range in 60 and 46% of the subjects, respectively; and zinc oxide concentration was below the reference range in 50% of the subjects. Only 12% of the subjects exhibited cupric oxide deficiency.
Conclusion
In this study, the STARS
®
questionnaire was used for early identification of patients at moderate to high risk of AMD in real life. These patients presented a suboptimal nutritional status. Further research is needed to determine if specific diet modification or micronutrient supplement intake delays the onset or slows down the progression of AMD in these subjects.
Trial Registration
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov, identifier: NCT04482465.
Supplementary Information
The online version of this article (10.1007/s40123-021-00335-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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