Although electrophysiologic investigation and light microscopy showed normal retinal function and structure, mitochondrial disruption in the inner segments of photoreceptors was detected by electron microscopy, and apoptotic expression was detected after the injection of intravitreal bevacizumab.
Objectives:To determine factors influencing compliance in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (n-AMD) undergoing intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.Materials and Methods:The files of n-AMD patients recommended treatment with ranibizumab were reviewed retrospectively. The treatment regimen was 3 consecutive monthly injections followed by monthly follow-up with intravitreal injections as needed (pro re nata, PRN). Demographic and ocular characteristics were recorded. The patients were categorized into 2 groups: full compliance to treatment, or incomplete loading schedule and/or irregular maintenance treatment. All patients were interviewed by phone about factors affecting continuation of treatment.Results:Mean age of the 314 patients (160 female, 154 male) included in the study was 71.6±9.1 years. A total of 246 patients (78.3%) could complete 3 consecutive injections at 1-month intervals after the start of treatment; 57 patients (18.2%) did not attend monthly follow-up during the 1-year follow-up period following the 3 consecutive monthly injections. Overall, 39.8% of the patients were not able to fully comply with the ranibizumab treatment by PRN regimen for 1 year. Better visual acuity at baseline, smaller lesion size, living closer to the hospital, higher education and sociocultural level, and better financial status were determined as factors affecting patient compliance. The most frequent reasons to discontinue treatment were fear of injection, disbelief in the benefit of the treatment, financial limitations, continuation of treatment at another center, and comorbid systemic diseases.Conclusion:Patient compliance and success rates of anti-VEGF therapy may be increased by determining the factors affecting patient compliance and raising awareness about n-AMD among patients and their relatives.
There was a decreased GC-IPL thickness in children with T1DM without DR, suggesting that T1DM has an early neurodegenerative effect on retinal ganglion cells that occurs when the vascular component of DR is absent. SD-OCT may be more useful than ophthalmoscopic evaluation for detecting the earlier retinal structural changes of diabetes. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:473-477.].
Macular thickness changes after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery and Spectral domain OCT is helpful in detecting cystoid abnormalities and any increase in macular thickness at postoperative early periods. Changes seen on OCT do not completely correlate with FFA findings.
Perimetric macular changes can occur while macular topographic remains stable in patients with glaucoma. MP-1 correlates with HFA in detecting glaucomatous visual field defect in macular area.
RNFL, macular thicknesses, and ganglion cell parameters in all KC stages were lower than those in the control group. The RNFL, macular thickness, and ganglion cell parameters of the Grade 1 KC group were most similar to those of the control group. The severity of irregular astigmatism at the same stages of KC had a significant effect on OCT measurements. It may therefore be beneficial to know the amount of change/deviation in OCT measurements in keratoconus patients and to report which parameters exceed the standards so that OCT can be used to correlate the stage of keratoconus with the extent of the ocular disorder.
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