Subthreshold Nanosecond Laser in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Observational Extension Study of the LEAD Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effect of subthreshold nanosecond laser (SNL) treatment on progression to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Observational extension study of a randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Participants: Two hundred twelve participants with bilateral large drusen.

Secondary and Exploratory Outcomes of the Subthreshold Nanosecond Laser Intervention Randomized Trial in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A LEAD Study Report.

Purpose: To evaluate the secondary and exploratory outcomes of the Laser Intervention in Early Stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (LEAD) study, a 36-month trial of a subthreshold nanosecond laser (SNL) treatment for slowing the progression to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in its early stages.

Design: Multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Participants: Two-hundred ninety-two patients with bilateral large drusen.

Interpretation of Subretinal Fluid Using OCT in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To determine the natural history of asymptomatic, subretinal fluid (SRF) in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD) and highlight the entity of nonexudative detachment of the neurosensory retina (NEDNR).

Design: Prospective, observational case series.

Participants: Cases of iAMD with bilateral drusen >125 μm who were participating in a longitudinal study, in whom spectral-domain (SD)-OCT imaging detected asymptomatic SRF.

Subthreshold Nanosecond Laser Intervention in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The LEAD Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Purpose: There is an urgent need for a more effective intervention to slow or prevent progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from its early stages to vision-threatening late complications. Subthreshold nanosecond laser (SNL) treatment has shown promise in preclinical studies and a pilot study in intermediate AMD (iAMD) as a potential treatment. We aimed to evaluate the safety of SNL treatment in iAMD and its efficacy for slowing progression to late AMD.

Early worsening of diabetic retinopathy due to intensive glycaemic control.

The prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy is increasing around the world. Glycaemic control is important in reducing the long-term risk of complications of diabetes, however intensive glycaemic control, particularly in patients with longstanding and poorly controlled diabetes, is associated with the risk of early worsening of diabetic retinopathy and vision loss. We present two clinical cases to illustrate the presentation of early worsening and to highlight a role for intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies in ameliorating this phenomenon, as well as a review of the current understanding of this phenomenon.

Task sharing: Development of evidence-based co-management strategy model for screening, detection, and management of diabetic retinopathy.

Background: The number of adults with diabetes is increasing worldwide and also the number of people with diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major complication of diabetes. Task sharing in eye care for people with diabetes could address the shortage in the number of ophthalmologists and increase access to eye care services. This study investigated the opinion of eye care professionals for a checklist of tasks, which are involved in DR management, to be possibly shared by optometrists and mid-level eye and health care workers with ophthalmologists.

Factors promoting success and influencing complications in laser-induced central vein bypass.

Purpose: To evaluate the factors influencing the successful creation of a laser-induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis (L-CRA) and those involved in the development of complications.

Design: Interventional cohort study.

Participants: Fifty-five patients with a nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) who were randomized to receive an L-CRA from the total of 108 who completed the follow-up period of the Central Vein Bypass Study.

The Central Retinal Vein Bypass Study: a trial of laser-induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis for central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a laser-induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis (L-CRA) as a treatment for nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial.

Participants: A total of 113 consecutive patients with a nonischemic CRVO of >3 months' duration and visual acuity of < or =20/50.

Cataract surgery in high-risk age-related macular degeneration: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: To investigate if cataract surgery causes progression, from high-risk early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to choroidal neovascularization (CNV), in the postoperative period.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Patients, with visually significant cataract and fundus features of early AMD at high risk of progression to CNV, were randomized into two groups and were evaluated at baseline and 6 months.

Longitudinal analysis of low-molecular weight fluorophores in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Circulating low molecular weight (<10 kDa) fluorophores (LMW-F) measured by non-specific fluorescence spectroscopy may detect small advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) not recognized by other assays. This longitudinal study assessed correlates of LMW-F and predictive power of LMW-F levels for vascular health in Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients.

Methods: Fasting patients with T1DM (n=37) were studied twice at intervals of 12-60 months (mean+/-SD, 33+/-15 months).

Complications of diabetes in urban Indigenous Australians: the DRUID study.

Aims: To accurately assess the management and complications of type 2 diabetes in urban Indigenous Australians and compare the risk of complications with a general Australian population (AusDiab Study).

Methods: The Darwin Region Urban Indigenous Diabetes (DRUID) Study included 1004 volunteers aged >/=15 years; diabetes status was classifiable for 866. The assessment of diabetic complications and metabolic control was performed in participants with known diabetes (KDM) and diabetes newly diagnosed by the study (NDM) using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical examination.

Homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: Homocysteine is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular and nondiabetic ocular vaso-occlusive diseases. However, studies of the relationship between homocysteine and diabetic retinopathy have reported inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma total homocysteine concentration and diabetic retinopathy.