Short-term real-world effectiveness of faricimab on macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion.

Background: Faricimab, the new anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug including a bispecific antibody targeting both VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), has emerged as a therapeutic option for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and its efficacy has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs); however, reports on its use in clinical practice are still limited. This study was conducted to evaluate the real-world treatment outcomes of faricimab for macular edema secondary to RVO, managed with a single initial injection plus pro re nata (1 + PRN) approach in both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients who switched to this regimen.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with branch or central RVO, who received intravitreal faricimab therapy following the 1 + PRN protocol.

Retrospective multicentre study on functional vision score calculation using automated perimeter.

Background/aims: This study aimed to develop a predictive equation for Functional Field Score (FFS), a component of the Functional Vision Score (FVS) derived from binocular Esterman test results via automated perimetry (AP) and to evaluate agreement with Goldmann perimetry (GP)-based FFS.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included 240 patients (mean age: 61±17.5 years) who underwent both GP and AP testing at four Japanese institutions from January 2019 to October 2023.

Short-term real-world outcomes of diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal faricimab.

Faricimab, a new drug for diabetic macular edema (DME), was made available in Japan in 2022. However, few reports have been published about its treatment outcomes in clinical practice. To assess the short-term outcomes of intravitreal faricimab (IVF) in patients with DME, the records of patients with DME receiving IVF therapy between July 2022 and July 2023 at Juntendo University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Effects of Allergic Predisposition on Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Normal Corneas: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Pathogenic factors that reduce corneal biomechanical properties (CBPs) remain unclear. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the effect of allergic predisposition on CBPs in normal corneas.

Design: Retrospective study.

Cost-effectiveness of AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening in nationwide health checkups and diabetes management in Japan: A modeling study.

Aims: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI)-based diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening in Japan. This evaluation compared the simultaneous introduction of AI in nationwide health checkups, namely "specific health check-ups in Japan" (SHC), and diabetes complication management (AI-case) with the current situation where AI is not being introduced (conventional-case) from the healthcare payer's perspective.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a new individual-based state transition model.

The association between dual sensory impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sensory impairments have been linked to dementia. However, the impact of dual sensory impairment (DSI), combining both vision impairment and hearing impairment, on dementia has shown inconsistent results.

Objective: To systematically review the evidence on the association DSI and dementia.

Association Between Visual Impairment and Daily Internet Use Among Older Japanese Individuals: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Background: Older adults might not use computers due to psychological barriers, environmental barriers such as not owning a computer or lack of internet access, and health-related barriers such as difficulties with fine motor skills, low cognitive function, or low vision. Given the health benefits of internet use among older adults, inadequate use of the internet is an urgent public health issue in many countries.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether visual impairment is associated with internet use in a population-based sample of older adults.

Impact of cataract surgery on cognitive impairment in older people.

Objectives: To examine the impact of cataract surgery on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in older people.

Methods: This prospective observational study included patients aged 75 years and older who underwent cataract surgery between 2019 and 2021. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and MMSE for the visually impaired (MMSE-blind) were measured to evaluate cognitive function before and 3 months after cataract surgery.

Association between number of medications and hip fractures in Japanese elderly using conditional logistic LASSO regression.

To examine the association between hip fracture and associated factors, including polypharmacy, and develop an optimal predictive model, we conducted a population-based matched case-control study using the health insurance claims data on hip fracture among Japanese patients. We included 34,717 hospitalized Japanese patients aged ≥ 65 years with hip fracture and 34,717 age- and sex- matched controls who were matched 1:1. This study included 69,434 participants.

Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on the risk of hip fracture in older patients in Japan using a nationwide administrative claims database: A matched case-control study.

Aim: Some clinical trials have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are associated with fracture risk. However, this notion remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate hip fracture risk after the use of SGLT2 inhibitors while controlling for factors that may affect fracture risk.

Association between the Use of Suvorexant and Hip Fracture in Older Adults in Japan Using a Nationwide Administrative Claims Database: A Matched Case-Control Study.

Background And Objective: The use of benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepines increases the risk for hip fracture, but the effect of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, is not clear. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between suvorexant use and hip fractures in older adults.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted using real-world data (RWD) from Medical Data Vision Co.

Economic Impacts and Quality of Life for Caregivers of Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Cross-Sectional Japanese Study.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the second leading cause of visual impairment in Japan and causes progressive vision loss in affected patients. Caregiving for patients with RP is associated with socioeconomic impacts; however, data on the magnitude and scope of these impacts are lacking. This cross-sectional study surveyed informal caregivers of patients with RP in Japan.

Quality of Life and Economic Impacts of Retinitis Pigmentosa on Japanese Patients: A Non-interventional Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited progressive disease, characterized by a loss of photoreceptors, and is the second leading cause of visual impairment in Japan. RP is currently incurable and can result in complete blindness, with affected patients typically experiencing a gradual loss of light sensitivity, visual field, and visual acuity. Identification of any unmet medical needs of patients with this condition requires an understanding of the impacts of RP; in this study, we surveyed Japanese patients with RP to investigate the quality of life and economic impacts of visual impairment.

Health-related quality of life in various health conditions: two consecutive surveys of older Japanese adults.

Purpose: Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in various health conditions in different countries is important given the regional differences. This study employed large-scale nationwide data targeting older adults in Japan to estimate the HRQOL in the key health conditions that are the major causes of disability.

Methods: Our data were derived from two survey waves (2016 and 2019 surveys) of cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, an ongoing nationwide study targeting functionally independent older adults in Japan.

Self-reported hearing and vision impairment and incident frailty in Japanese older people: A 3-year longitudinal analysis of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

Background: We examined the associations and interactions of hearing impairment (HI) and vision impairment (VI) with frailty.

Methods: We performed a 3-year longitudinal analysis of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), a nationwide prospective cohort study of functionally independent Japanese older people (age ≥ 65 years). Frailty status at baseline and follow-up was defined according to the Kihon Checklist.

Association between Social Activity and Development of Dementia in Hearing Impairment: A Cohort Study in Japan from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study.

We aimed to clarify the association between social activity and the development of dementia in older adults by hearing-impaired (HI) status. We applied a community-based prospective cohort study over 6 years as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. The study included 53,549 participants aged 65 years and older who did not require long-term care.

Combining Optical Coherence Tomography and Fundus Photography to Improve Glaucoma Screening.

We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of glaucoma screening using fundus photography combined with optical coherence tomography and determine the agreement between ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents. We used a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination dataset obtained from 503 cases (1006 eyes). Of the 1006 eyes, 132 had a confirmed glaucoma diagnosis.

Association between visual status and the frequency of laughter : the JAGES cross-sectional study.

Objective: Although the beneficial effects of laughter are abundantly reported, the physical function that is required as a premise for laughter has not been studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between visual status and frequency of laughter in a population-based sample of older adults.

Methods And Analysis: We analysed cross-sectional data of community-dwelling independent individuals aged ≥65 years (n=19 452) in Japan.

Major Ocular Abnormalities Among Hemodialysis Patients in Indonesia.

Background: This study aimed to identify the major ocular abnormality findings (i.e., cataract and conjunctival and corneal calcification (CCC)) among hemodialysis (HD) patients and their risk factors.

The Impact of Travel Distance to Delayed Presentation and Follow-up Attendance of Retinal Detachment Cases in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Objectives: To assess the delayed presentation of Retinal Detachment (RD), its association from travel distance to the referral hospital (TDH), the period from symptom onset to consultation (SO-C), Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) severity, and 6 months follow-up attendance (6mo-FA).

Method: A retrospective review based on medical records. Age, sex, initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), TDH, SO-C, PVR type, and 6mo-FA were recorded.

The prevalence of uncorrected refractive error in Japan: the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcome in Aizu Cohort Study.

Purpose: Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is the leading cause of vision impairment and the second leading cause of blindness. It is a major public health challenge worldwide. However, the current status of URE in Japan is unclear.

Real-world effectiveness of screening programs for age-related macular degeneration: amended Japanese specific health checkups and augmented screening programs with OCT or AI.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of screening and subsequent intervention for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Japan.

Study Design: Best-case-scenario analysis using a Markov model.

Methods: The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for AMD were assessed by calculating the reduction proportion of blindness and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).

Clinical patterns of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment during the first state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic in a Tokyo center.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is disturbing and overwhelming a regular medical care in the world. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) during the state of emergency for COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. We also reviewed measures against the COVID-19 pandemic in our institute with a focus on RRD treatment.

Is social participation associated with good self-rated health among visually impaired older adults?: the JAGES cross-sectional study.

Background: While it has been recognized that visual impairment is associated with poor self-rated health (SRH), in addition to various negative health outcomes of visual impairment, the number of older adults with visual impairment is increasing due to population aging. As increasing evidence has been found for the effectiveness of social participation on good SRH, we examined whether there was an association between social participation and SRH and investigated whether the effect differed by visual status.

Methods: Questionnaire data on self-reported visual status, social participation, socioeconomic status, and SRH were obtained in 2016.

Improvement in Activities of Daily Living after Cataract Surgery in the Very Old.

Background: The benefits of cataract surgery for patients aged ≥90 years in terms of improvements in activities of daily living (ADL) have been poorly evaluated using only limited data. Using a large nationwide administrative database of hospitalized patients, we investigated the improvement of ADL after cataract surgery in the very old (age of ≥90 years).

Methods: We identified 84,747 patients with cataracts aged 80 to 89 years and 7,253 patients with cataracts aged ≥90 years who underwent cataract surgery in both eyes during hospitalization from April 2014 to March 2015.