Severe ROP is characterized by the development of retinal fibrovascular proliferation that may progress to retinal detachment. The purpose of this report is to review five of the most common and well-studied perinatal and neonatal modifiable risk factors for the development of severe ROP. Hyperoxemia, hypoxia, and associated prolonged respiratory support are linked to the development of severe ROP. While there is a well-established association between clinical maternal chorioamnionitis and severe ROP, there is greater variability between histologic chorioamnionitis and severe ROP. Neonatal sepsis, including both bacterial and fungal subtypes, are independent predictors of severe ROP in preterm infants. Although there is limited evidence related to platelet transfusions, the risk of severe ROP increases with the number and volume of red blood cell transfusions. Poor postnatal weight gain within the first six weeks of life is also strongly tied to the development of severe ROP. We also discuss preventative strategies that may reduce the risk of severe ROP. Limited evidence-based studies exist regarding the protective effects of caffeine, human milk, and vitamins A and E.

Purpose The H-index (Hi), an author-level metric of scholarly impact, is predictive of future scientific achievement. We sought to analyze the scholarly impact of student authorship on the Hi of corresponding authors (CAs) within a major academic journal in the specialty of ophthalmology. Materials and Methods We compared the Hi of all unique CAs for manuscripts published in Ophthalmology (Journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology) in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Data abstraction was completed twice: in October 2018 and March 2021. We further grouped published articles for CAs into those with student authors (StA) and those without (nStA). Primary analysis involved a linear regression analysis with change in Hi from October 2018 to March 2021 as the outcome variable, CA groups as the predictor variable, adjusting for the covariates of baseline Hi, the year when the CA published his or her article, number of research items published in October 2018, and the academic appointment of the CAs. Secondary analysis involved a linear regression analysis with change in Hi from October 2018 to March 2021 as the outcome variable, total number of student authors per CA as the predictor variable, adjusting for the covariates of baseline Hi, the year CA published his or her article, number of research items published in October 2018, and the academic appointment of the CAs. Results The number of student authors increased from 168 in 2008 to 192 in 2016. Of the 902 articles, 316 articles were co-authored by one or more student authors. The average change in Hi of CAs publishing with student authors (StA, 11.0 ± 14.7) was significantly greater (p < 0.0001) than the change in Hi of CAs publishing without student authors (nStA, 6.2 ± 6.2). As the total number of student authors increased, the change in Hi of CAs increased linearly for all years combined (regression coefficient = 1.70, p-value < 0.0001). Conclusion CAs publishing with students in the field of ophthalmology have a higher scholarly impact than those publishing without students. The development of programs to integrate students into ophthalmology research early on may encourage their pursuit of a career in ophthalmology, while advancing the careers of their mentors.

This case series examines visual and anatomic outcomes of focal laser photocoagulation in the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) with subretinal fluid (SRF) in under-represented populations. We reviewed records of 25 eyes with CSCR and SRF that underwent focal laser photocoagulation. Visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded prior to laser, after laser treatment, and at final follow-up and were all compared using Wilcox signed-rank tests after using Shapiro-Wilk tests to determine normality. The racial and ethnic breakdown of our cohort (<i>n</i> = 25) includes 64% Hispanic (<i>n</i> = 16), 20% black (<i>n</i> = 5), 12% Asian (<i>n</i> = 3), 4% other (<i>n</i> = 1). Patients were followed for a median of 15.5 months (range: 5.75–87 months) after treatment. The VA prior to laser compared to best-available VA significantly improved (<i>p</i> = 0.0003). Pre-laser CMT to post-laser CMT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001) and pre-laser CMT to final CMT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001) significantly improved. Excluding the one eye that developed a choroidal neovascular membrane, the pre-laser VA to final VA improved significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.0047) as well as the pre-laser CMT to final CMT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Of the 25 eyes, 4 had persistent SRF following laser, and of the 21 eyes with complete resolution of SRF, 2 developed recurrent SRF. Focal laser photocoagulation can significantly improve VA and CMT in CSCR with active SRF in patients who have been under-represented in prior clinical studies.

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The purpose of this study is to characterize the inflammatory cytokine profile in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) compared to surgical controls. Vitreous humor was collected from patients undergoing vitrectomy for RRD and noninflammatory vitreoretinal diseases. A quantitative immunoassay was used to measure the levels of 36 cytokine markers. Linear regression analysis with the duration of detachment as the predictor and log-transformed cytokine levels as the outcome was conducted for normally distributed cytokines as determined by the Shapiro–Wilk test. The analysis was adjusted for age, sex, and race. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used for cytokines not normally distributed. Twenty-seven RRD cases and thirteen control cases were studied. Between all RRDs and controls, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) (p = 0.0029), inducible protein-10(IP-10) (p = 0.0021), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (p = 0.0040), interleukin (IL)-16 (p = 0.018), IL-8 (p = 0.0148), IL-6 (p = 0.0071), eotaxin (p = 0.0323), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha (p = 0.0149), MIP-1 beta (p = 0.0032), and the thymus and activation regulated cytokine (TARC) (p = 0.0121) were elevated in RRD cases. Between acute RRDs (n = 16) and controls, FGF2 (p = 0.0001), IP10 (p = 0.0027), MCP-1 (p = 0.0015), MIP-1β (p = 0.0004), IL-8 (p = 0.0146), and IL-6 (p = 0.0031) were elevated. Determining alterations in inflammatory cytokine profiles may aid in understanding their impact on RRD development, clinical course, and complications before and after surgical repair.