Pigment epithelium detachment with thickened choroid in a preterm infant at term-equivalent age: a case report.

Pigment epithelial detachment (PED) is well-documented in adult retinal diseases but is rarely reported in neonates. This case describes a preterm infant, born at 31 weeks, who developed PED with thickened choroid at term-equivalent age, detected using handheld OCT. The PED emerged at 39 weeks postmenstrual age, coinciding with inhaled steroid treatment for respiratory distress, and resolved by 41 weeks after steroid discontinuation without structural damage.

Visual Field Examinations for Retinal Diseases: A Narrative Review.

Visual field (VF) testing remains a cornerstone in assessing retinal function by measuring how well different parts of the retina detect light. It is essential for early detection, monitoring, and management of many retinal diseases. By mapping retinal sensitivity, VF exams can reveal functional loss before structural changes become visible.

Treatment Trends of Diabetic Macular Edema in Korea (TRACK) study: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Purpose: To evaluate real-world functional and anatomical outcomes, treatment patterns, and ocular examination trends in diabetic macular edema (DME) in Korea.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted at 17 hospitals (2017-2022) involving adults with DME. Patients were categorized into center-involving (CI DME) and non-center-involving (non-CI DME) groups based on optical coherence tomography findings.

Prevention and detection of hydroxychloroquine-induced retinopathy in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases.

Introduction: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is prescribed in systemic autoimmune diseases for disease-modifying benefits. However, long-term HCQ use can cause irreversible retinal toxicity.

Areas Covered: Key articles were identified through searches of publications in PubMed and Embase from January 2000 to May 2025.

Retinal Thickness Analysis Using Optical Coherence Tomography: Diagnostic and Monitoring Applications in Retinal Diseases.

Retinal thickness analysis using optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an indispensable tool in retinal disease management, providing high-resolution quantitative data for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment planning. This analysis has been found to be particularly useful for both diagnostic and monitoring purposes across a wide range of retinal diseases, enabling precise disease characterization and treatment evaluation. This paper explores its applications across major retinal conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and inherited retinal diseases.

Ethambutol Optic Neuropathy Surveillance: Variations in Real-World Screening Practices and Associated Factors in a Nationwide Cohort Study.

Purpose: To investigate real-world screening practices for ethambutol optic neuropathy (EON) and how these practices vary across demographic and clinical factors in a nationwide cohort in South Korea.

Methods: We analyzed data from a cohort of 119,636 individuals in South Korea who initiated ethambutol therapy between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2021, sourced from the National Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) database. We compared the screening practices of ethambutol users, focusing on demographic and clinical characteristics between those who underwent baseline examinations (the first ophthalmic examination after starting ethambutol) and those who did not, as well as between individuals who received subsequent monitoring and those who did not.

Proteomic Analysis of Aqueous Humor Identified Clinically Relevant Molecular Targets for Neovascular Complications in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in adults under 40 in the developed world, with a significant proportion progressing to vision-threatening stages such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and neovascular glaucoma (NVG). This study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression from nonproliferative DR to PDR and NVG, focusing on identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Utilizing discovery-based proteomics, specifically label-free quantification and tandem mass tag, we analyzed aqueous humor (AH) proteins obtained during cataract surgery or anterior chamber paracentesis from patients with nonproliferative DR, PDR, and NVG.

Nationwide usage of ethambutol and incidence and screening practices of optic neuropathy.

Introduction: Ethambutol, a key anti-tuberculosis medication, is associated with optic neuropathy, which can lead to significant vision impairment. This population-based cohort study investigated the nationwide usage of ethambutol and the incidence and screening of optic neuropathy among ethambutol users.

Methods: The cohort included 206,157 individuals from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database in South Korea who initiated ethambutol therapy between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2021.

Real-World Practices of Pentosan Polysulfate Maculopathy Screening in Various Clinical Settings and Practice-Associated Factors.

: This study investigated the practice patterns of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) maculopathy screening in various clinical settings and demographic and clinical characteristics associated with these screening practices using a health claims database. : In this nationwide population-based study, data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database in South Korea were analyzed to identify patients who underwent PPS. The participants were categorized based on whether they had undergone a baseline examination (the first ophthalmic examination since PPS prescription) within one year of PPS use, subsequent monitoring within one year of the baseline examination, or recent monitoring within a 1-year period before the study end date.

Classification of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy: A Literature Review and Proposal for Revision.

Establishing universal standards for the nomenclature and classification of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy is essential. This review summarizes the classifications used for categorizing the patterns of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy and grading its severity in the literature, highlighting the limitations of these classifications based on recent findings. To overcome these limitations, I propose categorizing hydroxychloroquine retinopathy into four categories based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings: parafoveal (parafoveal damage only), pericentral (pericentral damage only), combined parafoveal and pericentral (both parafoveal and pericentral damage), and posterior polar (widespread damage over parafoveal, pericentral, and more peripheral areas), with or without foveal involvement.

Real-World Research on Retinal Diseases Using Health Claims Database: A Narrative Review.

Real-world data (RWD) has emerged as a crucial component in understanding and improving patient outcomes across various medical conditions, including retinal diseases. Health claims databases, generated from healthcare reimbursement claims, offer a comprehensive source of RWD, providing insights into patient outcomes, healthcare utilization, and treatment effectiveness. However, the use of these databases for research also presents unique challenges.

Drug exposure and risk factors of maculopathy in tamoxifen users.

Tamoxifen, a pivotal therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, is known for its efficacy in reducing breast cancer recurrence and mortality. However, concerns about potential ocular complications, particularly maculopathy, have emerged. This study aims to investigate the risk and associated factors of diverse macular conditions in tamoxifen users, considering drug exposure, demographics, and systemic diseases.

Clinical Applications and Future Directions of Smartphone Fundus Imaging.

The advent of smartphone fundus imaging technology has marked a significant evolution in the field of ophthalmology, offering a novel approach to the diagnosis and management of retinopathy. This review provides an overview of smartphone fundus imaging, including clinical applications, advantages, limitations, clinical applications, and future directions. The traditional fundus imaging techniques are limited by their cost, portability, and accessibility, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Risk of Post-COVID-19 Uveitis and Risk Modification by Vaccination: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the risk of uveitis, one of the most common ocular manifestations of COVID-19, in individuals with a history of uveitis and COVID-19 infection while discriminating the effects of COVID-19 infection and vaccinations. We analyzed nationwide data from 235,228 individuals with a history of uveitis prior to COVID-19 infection and evaluated incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) of post-COVID-19 uveitis for different post-infection periods, including early- (within 30 days) and delayed-onset ones. The cumulative incidences of post-infection uveitis at 3, 6, and 12 months were calculated as 8.

Atypical Presentations of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy: A Case Series Study.

Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy, traditionally characterized by parafoveal or pericentral outer retinal damage, is explored for atypical presentations in Asian patients. This challenges conventional beliefs regarding onset, retinopathy pattern, and associated visual field defects. Ninety-five patients diagnosed with hydroxychloroquine retinopathy at Hanyang University Hospital underwent screening from January 2010 to December 2023.

Screening practices and risk assessment for maculopathy in pentosan polysulfate users across different exposure levels.

In this population-based cohort study, we investigated screening practices for maculopathy and incidences of specific macular/retinal conditions in pentosan polysulfate (PPS) users and assessed the relationship between these outcomes and drug exposure levels. Using a health claims database that covers approximately 50 million Koreans, we identified 138,593 individuals who were prescribed PPS between 2010 and 2021. For the 133,762 PPS users who initiated therapy between 2012 and 2021, the cumulative PPS dose for each participant was evaluated, and based on their cumulative PPS dose, patients were categorized into the high-risk (≥ 500 g), low-risk (50-500 g), and minimal exposure (< 50 g) groups.

Nationwide Screening Practices for Tamoxifen Retinal Toxicity in South Korea: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

To investigate the nationwide screening practices and trends in tamoxifen retinal toxicity (tamoxifen retinopathy) in South Korea using national health insurance claims data. A total of 43,848 patients who started tamoxifen therapy between 2015 and 2020 and had no prior ophthalmic diseases or other conditions requiring screening for retinopathy were included. The annual numbers of tamoxifen users and new initiators of tamoxifen therapy were assessed.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Associated Uveitis in Patients With a History of Uveitis.

Importance: Understanding the potential risk of uveitis recurrence after COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with a history of uveitis is crucial for vaccination strategies and clinical monitoring.

Objective: To investigate the risk of uveitis recurrence after COVID-19 vaccination in a cohort of individuals with a history of uveitis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective population-based cohort study included individuals diagnosed with uveitis between January 1, 2015, and February 25, 2021, in South Korea.

SCREENING PRACTICES AND LATE DIAGNOSIS OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE RETINOPATHY IN ASIAN PATIENTS.

Purpose: To investigate the associations between screening practices and late diagnosis in Asian patients with hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.

Methods: In total, 92 Korean patients with hydroxychloroquine retinopathy were included and separated into late diagnosis and earlier diagnosis groups according to the retinopathy stage at the time of diagnosis. Details of screening practices regarding timing and modalities for baseline and annual monitoring examinations were compared between the two groups.

Distinct Clinical Effects of Two RP1L1 Hotspots in East Asian Patients With Occult Macular Dystrophy (Miyake Disease): EAOMD Report 4.

Purpose: To characterize the clinical effects of two RP1L1 hotspots in patients with East Asian occult macular dystrophy (OMD).

Methods: Fifty-one patients diagnosed with OMD harboring monoallelic pathogenic RP1L1 variants (Miyake disease) from Japan, South Korea, and China were enrolled. Patients were classified into two genotype groups: group A, p.

Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with screening practices for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.

In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with hydroxychloroquine retinopathy screening using the National Health Insurance Review and Assessment database in South Korea. This study included a total of 32,732 at-risk patients, identified based on having been prescribed hydroxychloroquine for at least 6 months, and 15,477 long-term (> 5 years) users between January 2010 and December 2020. Participants were categorized based on the performance of baseline examinations (within 1 year of hydroxychloroquine use) and monitoring examinations (after 5 years of hydroxychloroquine use).

Occult Macular Dysfunction Syndrome: Identification of Multiple Pathologies in a Clinical Spectrum of Macular Dysfunction with Normal Fundus in East Asian Patients: EAOMD Report No. 5.

Occult macular dystrophy (OMD) is the most prevalent form of macular dystrophy in East Asia. Beyond , causative genes and mechanisms remain largely uncharacterised. This study aimed to delineate the clinical and genetic characteristics of OMD syndrome (OMDS).

Nationwide Usage of Pentosan Polysulfate and Practice Patterns of Pentosan Polysulfate Maculopathy Screening in South Korea.

Objective: To investigate the nationwide use of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) and screening practices for PPS maculopathy (PPM), with a focus on the timing and modalities used.

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Participants: For evaluation of nationwide usage, 133 762 individuals who received PPS prescriptions between 2012 and 2021 were included.