Best of 2023: Retina
Meeting the Vision Needs of an Aging Population Takes Clinical Integration
Dr Daniel Miller discusses the urgent need to address the growing challenge of vision loss, affecting millions of adults in the US, particularly as the population ages. Dr Miller emphasizes the shortage of ophthalmologists and proposes a solution through a clinically integrated care model. This model involves collaborative efforts between optometrists and ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat patients earlier, ensuring a seamless patient experience. The success factors highlighted by EyeCare Partners, such as shared data, medical executive boards, centralized infrastructure, and staff training, contribute to the efficiency of this approach. The overarching goal is to create a partnership between eye care professionals that is both simpler and more effective, ultimately providing the optimal eye care that patients deserve.
The optometrist’s role in managing AMD: Part 1
Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in visual impairment in the world, according to recent statistics. Nearly 20 million Americans have come down with some form of AMD. In recognition of AMD awareness month, Ophthalmology 360 sat down with Dr Mark Dunbar, the leading KOL in optometry to discuss several points associated with AMD and optometry’s role in the diagnosis and treatment of AMD.
Blurred vision most common cause of unscheduled follow-up after intravitreal injections
The study analyzed 73,286 intravitreal injections, with 441 resulting in urgent follow-up visits (0.60%). Blurred vision was the most common reason (37.2%), followed by flashes, floaters, or posterior vitreous detachment (12.5%). Aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab were frequently associated with urgent visits. The average time between injection and urgent follow-up was 3.96 ± 2.14 days. Other causes included pain, corneal abrasions, subconjunctival hemorrhages, endophthalmitis, and various complications. The findings offer insights into factors leading to unscheduled visits and complications after intravitreal injections.
Treatment Options on Horizon for Geographic Atrophy Give Patients New Hope
Patients with geographic atrophy (GA), which is an advanced form of age related macular degeneration have been basically ignored because of a lack of viable treatments to address the disease. Until now. In 2023, two pharmacological agents were expected to receive FDA approval to address GA. In this video, Mark Dlugoss, senior contributing editor of Ophthalmology 360 and Mark Dunbar, OD discuss the diagnosis of GA and those 2 new drugs.
