Machine Learning for Predicting Recurrent Course in Uveitis Using Baseline Clinical Characteristics.

Purpose: We developed and evaluated machine learning models for predicting the risk of recurrent uveitis using baseline clinical characteristics, to inform clinical decision-making and risk stratification.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Ocular Autoimmune Systemic Inflammatory Infectious Study registry, including 966 patients (1432 eyes) with uveitis. Three machine learning classifiers-random Forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and radial basis function support vector classifier-were trained on preprocessed baseline demographic and clinical data.

Multi-Wavelength Autofluorescence Characteristics and Association With Inflammation in Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of chorioretinal lesions secondary to acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) using multi-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and their association with intraocular inflammation.

Methods: In this exploratory cross-sectional study, patients with chorioretinal lesions secondary to APMPPE underwent multimodal imaging including FAF with 450 nm, 488 nm, 518 nm, and 787 nm excitation wavelength, color fundus photography (CFP), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Lesions were graded for FAF and CFP characteristics and inflammatory activity by an experienced image grader and an ophthalmologist.

Transorbital ultrasonography reveals persistent decrease in retinal artery flow and optic nerve diameter in treated giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: To longitudinally assess ocular involvement in newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients by evaluating changes in transorbital ultrasonography (TOS) parameters and their association with systemic vascular inflammation and treatment response.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, newly diagnosed GCA patients underwent serial TOS assessments of the central retinal artery flow velocity [peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI)] and optic nerve diameter (OND) at three-monthly intervals for 12-months. Vascular ultrasonography and calculation of OMERACT Giant Cell Arteritis Ultrasonography (OGUS) Score was conducted.

Early Photoreceptor Alterations After Retinal Detachment Repair.

Purpose: The importance of outer retinal microstructure, specifically the external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ), was recently highlighted for visual recovery after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Quantitative assessment of the EZ/ELM reflectivity, termed the relative EZ reflectivity (rEZR), is a novel SD-OCT imaging biomarker for photoreceptor integrity. This study evaluates the rEZR's functional relevance after anatomically successful RRD repair, as well as its association with the surgical techniques.

Immunomodulatory therapy in non-infectious Uveitis: Current landscape, gaps, and future directions.

Non-infectious uveitis (NIU) is a potentially sight-threatening intraocular inflammatory condition that may arise idiopathically or in association with systemic immune-mediated diseases. While corticosteroids remain essential for rapid suppression of inflammation, their long-term use is limited by significant systemic and ocular side effects. Thus, immunomodulatory therapy (IMT)-including antimetabolites, calcineurin inhibitors, biologics, and emerging small molecules-has become central to achieving sustained control with a reduced corticosteroid burden in chronic cases.

Ellipsoid zone reflectivity as a functional imaging biomarker for age-related macular degeneration: a MACUSTAR study report.

This study evaluated the functional relevance of relative ellipsoid zone reflectivity (rEZR) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography as a structural biomarker for retinal integrity, focusing on its association with retinal function. Participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and controls from the MACUSTAR study underwent functional testing, including mesopic fundus-controlled perimetry, best-corrected visual acuity, low-luminance visual acuity, low-luminance deficit, Moorfields Acuity Test, and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, along with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging. Structural and functional data were analyzed globally and spatially aligned for topographic analysis.

[Risk factors for age-related macular degeneration : Lessons learned from current data].

Background: Identifying risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is crucial for patient counseling and the development of potential prevention strategies.

Objectives: This study summarizes the current epidemiological evidence on AMD risk factors, analyzes their clinical relevance, and discusses potential preventive measures.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to assess demographic, genetic, and modifiable risk factors for AMD, including smoking, diet, and physical activity.

[Screening recommendations for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye diseases].

Background: The main causes of blindness, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and diabetic eye diseases (DED), are becoming increasingly more important in terms of health economics due to the demographic developments.

Objective: The current screening recommendations for these diseases and the underlying evidence are presented.

Material And Methods: A detailed literature search was conducted and the recommendations of the relevant guidelines of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) were summarized.

Phase recognition in manual Small-Incision cataract surgery with MS-TCN + + on the novel SICS-105 dataset.

Manual Small-Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) is a prevalent technique in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but understudied with respect to computer assisted surgery. This prospective cross-sectional study introduces the first SICS video dataset, evaluates effectiveness of phase recognition through deep learning (DL) using the MS-TCN + + architecture, and compares its results with the well-studied phacoemulsification procedure using the Cataract-101 public dataset. Our novel SICS-105 dataset involved 105 patients recruited at Sankara Eye Hospital in India.

Prevention of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a potentially blinding separation of neurosensory retina from retinal pigment epithelium by fluid passing from the vitreous cavity into the subretinal space through one or more retinal breaks, holes or tears. Although most RRDs can be repaired surgically with one operation, some visual loss often results, especially if the macula has been detached, and a small fraction of RRDs require multiple surgeries with significant morbidity, including permanent severe visual loss. Vitrectomy, the most popular RRD surgery, is associated with temporary visual loss and postoperative positioning with limited activity for 1 or 2 weeks; phakic patients usually require cataract surgery within 2 years.

Psychometric Performance of a New Condition-Specific Preference-Weighted Measure, Vision Impairment in Low Luminance-Utility Index, and EQ-5D-5L in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A MACUSTAR Study Report.

Objectives: The Vision Impairment in Low Luminance-Utility Index (VILL-UI) is a novel preference-weighted measure for use in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). No evidence exists on its psychometric performance nor its performance in comparison with the generic preference-weighted measure, EQ-5D-5L, commonly used in economic evaluation. This study compares the psychometric performance of VILL-UI with EQ-5D-5L in patients with AMD.

Biomarkers of ocular manifestation in newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis of large and medium-sized vessels that causes severe ophthalmic complications. Timely diagnosis and disease monitoring may prevent permanent vision loss but biomarkers for early ocular involvement are scarce. This study evaluates early optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) biomarkers of ocular involvement in newly diagnosed GCA.

Heterogeneous Visual Function Deficits in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A MACUSTAR Report.

Objective: To examine the extent to which visual function in Beckman age-related macular degeneration (AMD) disease stages differs from age-similar peers with no AMD and, using reference limits derived from those with no AMD, test the hypothesis that people with intermediate AMD (iAMD) have heterogeneous visual function deficits.

Design: Cross-sectional analyses of a range of baseline visual function measures from the MACUSTAR study-an international, multicenter (n = 20), noninterventional clinical trial.

Participants: Five hundred eighty-five participants with iAMD (67% female, mean [standard deviation] age 72 [7] years) were recruited alongside 56 with no AMD (59% female, 68 [6]), 34 with early AMD (79% female, 72 [6]), and 43 with late AMD (49% female, 75 [6]).

[Current trends in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and perioperative positioning strategies in Germany: results of a retina.net survey].

Background: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an ophthalmological emergency with an increasing incidence in Germany. Despite established methods, perioperative positioning is important to improve outcomes and avoid complications but may be challenging, particularly in immobile patients. An analysis of the current trends in surgical treatment and perioperative positioning practices for RRD in Germany compared to historical data from 2018 is essential.

Long-Term Treatment Outcomes with a Single 0.19 Mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant in Non-Infectious Uveitis - A Real-World Study.

Purpose: To evaluate time to first additional treatment following intravitreal 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) in non-infectious uveitis with posterior segment involvement (NIU-PS) in a real-world setting.

Methods: Prospective observational study on 37 eyes (30 patients) with chronic or recurrent NIU-PS, treated with FAc after achieving control - indicated by absence of vitreous haze or clearly visible posterior pole.

Quantitative autofluorescence is increased in clinically unaffected fellow eyes from patients with posterior uveitis.

The purpose of this prospective case-control study is to investigate differences in quantitative autofluorescence (qAF) in clinically affected and unaffected eyes of patients with inactive posterior uveitis compared to healthy, age-matched controls. Patients with posterior uveitis and healthy controls were imaged using fundus autofluorescence (488 nm excitation; Spectralis HRA + OCT; Heidelberg Engineering) to measure qAF values using the proprietary HEYEX software. Mean background qAF (excluding vessels and retinal lesions) across all segments (as previously defined by Delori et al.

Validating candidate endpoints for intermediate age-related macular degeneration trials in a multi-centre setting-lessons from the MACUSTAR study.

For the conduct of future interventional age-related macular degeneration (AMD) trials, the availability of clinical study endpoints is key. However, no endpoints have been accepted by regulators for evaluation of treatment for intermediate (i) AMD, i.e.

The Spectrum of Functional, Structural, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A MACUSTAR Study Report.

Introduction: There is an unmet medical need for therapies in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD). The prospective European multicenter cohort study MACUSTAR validates structural, functional, and patient-reported iAMD endpoints for use in future trials. The multiplicity of assessments allows characterizing iAMD in more dimensions than previously available.