-
Survey of Ophthalmology 2023The toxicology of secondhand smoke (SHS), along with the harm of its exposure to human health, has been generally acknowledged; however, specific evidence is lacking on... (Review)
Review
The toxicology of secondhand smoke (SHS), along with the harm of its exposure to human health, has been generally acknowledged; however, specific evidence is lacking on the association between SHS exposure and ocular health. In this systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022247992), we included 55 original articles published by 12 May 2023, which dealt with SHS exposure and ocular disorders, such as eye irritation, conjunctivitis, dry eye diseases, uveitis, myopia, astigmatism, contact lens discomfort, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and thyroid eye disease that addressed the ocular neurovascular structures of the macular, retinal nerve fiber layer, choroid, and corneal biomechanical parameters. We found compelling correlational evidence for eye irritation, conjunctivitis, and dry eye symptoms-supporting that SHS exposure was positively associated with inflammatory and allergic changes in the eyes. Yet, evidence about the associations between SHS exposure and other ocular disorders, structures, and parameters is still limited or controversial. Given the limitations of existing literature, more investigations with high quality and rigorous design are warranted to elucidate the potentially harmful effects of SHS exposure on ocular health.
Topics: Humans; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Eye; Macular Degeneration; Conjunctivitis
PubMed: 37479063
DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.07.001 -
PloS One 2015Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over 65 years old in the United States and has been associated with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over 65 years old in the United States and has been associated with cardiovascular risk and decreased survival. There is conflicting data, however, regarding the contribution of AMD to the prediction of stroke.
AIM
To determine whether AMD is a risk indicator for incident stroke in a meta-analysis of available prospective and retrospective cohort studies published in the English literature.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search of all studies published in English with Pub Med and other databases from 1966 to August 2014, reporting stroke incidence in patients with macular degeneration. Two investigators independently extracted the data. A random effects model was used to report Odds ratios (OR), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Meta-regression using a mixed linear model was used to understand potential heterogeneity amongst studies.
RESULTS
We identified 9 studies that reported stroke incidence in patients with and without early AMD (N = 1,420,978). No significant association was found between early AMD with incident stroke. Combined, these 9 studies demonstrated random effects (OR, 1.12; CI, 0.86-1.47; I2 = 96%). Meta-regression on baseline covariates of age, sex, and year of publication did not significantly relate to heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS
We found no significant relationship between AMD and incident stroke. Further studies are needed to clarify other causes of decreased survival in patients with AMD.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Incidence; Macular Degeneration; Male; Odds Ratio; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 26580396
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142968 -
Survey of Ophthalmology 2021Vitamin D may be implicated in the pathophysiology of several ocular diseases, but its role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains uncertain. We sought to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Vitamin D may be implicated in the pathophysiology of several ocular diseases, but its role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains uncertain. We sought to review systematically the existing evidence to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D levels and AMD. A four-database search (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus) was performed from inception to May 2020 using the MeSH terms: ("Macular Degeneration" OR "Age-related macular degeneration" OR "Retinal degeneration" OR "Macula lutea") AND ("Vitamin D" OR "Ergocalciferols" OR "Cholecalciferol" OR "25-Hydroxyvitamin D"). Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to compute 1) the standard mean difference in 25(OH)D concentration between AMD and non-AMD patients and 2) the AMD risk according to serum 25(OH)D levels. Eighteen observational studies enrolling 75,294 patients after a selection process among 375 original abstracts were selected. No significant differences were found, but there appears to exist a trend for late AMD among subjects with a serum 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/L (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.00-3.24, P = 0.05). There is no clear evidence of a definitive association between serum 25(OH)D and AMD risk, mainly due to heterogeneity in study procedures and lack of longitudinal designs.
Topics: Humans; Macular Degeneration; Risk Factors; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamins
PubMed: 32768420
DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.07.003 -
Acta Ophthalmologica Mar 2023Intravitreally injected anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are first-line treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).... (Review)
Review
Intravitreally injected anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are first-line treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Phase 3 trials demonstrated non-inferiority of anti-VEGF therapy with brolucizumab compared with aflibercept in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gains, with superior anatomical outcomes after brolucizumab. The purpose of the review was to summarize real-world efficacy and safety data on brolucizumab in patients with nAMD. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021290530). We conducted systematic searches in Embase, Medline and key ophthalmology congress websites (19 October 2021). Original reports of efficacy and/or safety in patients receiving brolucizumab to treat nAMD in clinical practice were eligible. The descriptive summary includes reports describing at least 10 brolucizumab-treated eyes. In total, 2907 brolucizumab-treated eyes from 26 studies were included. Outcomes were available for treatment-naive eyes (six studies), eyes switched to brolucizumab from other anti-VEGFs (16 studies), and/or treatment-naive and switch eyes combined (eight studies). Follow-up time points ranged from 4 weeks to 1 year post-brolucizumab initiation. For BCVA, significant improvements compared with brolucizumab initiation were reported in four of six studies in treatment-naive eyes (mean BCVA improvement, range: +3.7 to +11.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] letters) and in three of 12 studies in switch eyes (range: +9.0 to +15 ETDRS letters) (all p < 0.05); remaining studies reported no significant post-brolucizumab BCVA changes. For central subfield thickness (CST), improvements post-brolucizumab initiation were reported in all six studies in treatment-naive eyes (mean CST improvement, range: -113.4 to -150.1 μm) and in eight of 11 studies in switch eyes (range: -26 to -185.7 μm) (all p < 0.05). The 14 studies reporting on intraretinal, subretinal and/or total fluid observed improvements post-brolucizumab initiation. The four studies comparing treatment intervals observed extension of the interval between injections after switching to brolucizumab from other anti-VEGFs. Incidence of intraocular inflammation ranged from 0% to 19%. In conclusion, real-world efficacy and safety data concur with brolucizumab pivotal trials. Additionally, reduction of disease activity in anti-VEGF switch eyes was demonstrated by fluid reduction and/or visual acuity gain, along with prolongation of the interval between injections.
Topics: Humans; Ranibizumab; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Intravitreal Injections; Macular Degeneration; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Diabetic Retinopathy; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Wet Macular Degeneration
PubMed: 36117281
DOI: 10.1111/aos.15242 -
American Journal of Ophthalmology Aug 2017To better understand the association, in a white population, of physical activity and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-the main cause of irreversible severe vision... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
To better understand the association, in a white population, of physical activity and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-the main cause of irreversible severe vision loss in developed countries-given the suggestion that a healthy lifestyle may assist in delaying the onset and progression of AMD.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Medline, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for studies up to May 2015. Reference lists of published articles were hand searched and study authors were contacted to provide additional data. Those in the lowest category of activity in each study were compared with all other participants to assess the association between physical activity and both early and late AMD using random-effects meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Nine studies (subject age range 30-97 years) were included in the meta-analysis. Physical activity was found to have a protective association with both early AMD (8 studies, n = 38 112, odds ratio (OR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-0.98) and late AMD (7 studies, n = 28 854, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.49-0.72).
CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity is associated with lower odds of early and late AMD in white populations. These findings have important implications, reinforcing the public health message of staying active throughout life. However, further longitudinal studies are required to confirm and further characterize a protective effect of physical activity on the onset and/or progression of AMD.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disease Progression; Exercise; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; White People
PubMed: 28549846
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2017.05.016 -
Acta Ophthalmologica May 2018There is still no agreement on total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of new blindness in industrialized... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
There is still no agreement on total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of new blindness in industrialized countries. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published data on the correlation between tHcy and AMD. MEDLINE/PubMed and ISI Web of Sciences searches were performed according to MOOSE guidelines. Case-control studies were eligible for inclusion. Participants and controls were AMD patients and subjects without AMD. The main outcome measure was wet AMD. Homocysteine level was the main exposure variable. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Twelve case-control studies were identified: 10 assessed wet AMD, four dry AMD, one early AMD, one late AMD, and one any AMD. As for wet AMD, there was a total of 453 cases and 514 controls. Mean tHcy was on average 1.1 μmol/l (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.96-1.25) greater in wet AMD cases, but there was evidence of extreme between-study heterogeneity (p < 0.001, I = 91.8%). In a model homogenous for age, including six wet AMD studies (214 cases, 274 controls), mean tHcy was on average 0.58 μmol/l (95% CI = 0.35-0.73) greater in the case group, a not statistically significant result (p = 0.144) associated with moderate heterogeneity (I = 39.2%). Our meta-analysis indicates that there is some weak evidence that increased tHcy might be associated with wet AMD; however, this result should be interpreted cautiously, because of a marked between-study heterogeneity and the possible effect of publication bias. Future studies, preferably of cohort design, are necessary before any firm conclusions on the putative role of increased tHcy on AMD can be drawn.
Topics: Biomarkers; Global Health; Homocysteine; Humans; Hyperhomocysteinemia; Incidence; Risk Factors; Wet Macular Degeneration
PubMed: 27966830
DOI: 10.1111/aos.13343 -
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology Dec 2022Age-related macular degeneration, a prevalent degenerative retinal disease, is associated with non-visual and psychosocial impairments that may affect sleep. In this...
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration, a prevalent degenerative retinal disease, is associated with non-visual and psychosocial impairments that may affect sleep. In this systematic review, we evaluated associations between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and sleep, highlighted knowledge gaps and provided evidence-based recommendations to clinicians to enable holistic management of AMD patients.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central registries for papers published before May 2022. Non-English, qualitative studies and grey literature were excluded. Studies evaluating the association between AMD and sleep (including sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea), and vice versa, were included. The quality of shortlisted studies was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS
Six (two case-control studies, three longitudinal cohort studies and one cross-sectional study) of 551 studies were included in this review. Four studies found that AMD was associated with increased rates of sleep apnea and poorer reported sleep quality, while five studies showed that patients with sleep apnea or insomnia were at higher risk of developing AMD. Associations between self-reported sleep quantity and AMD were conflicting. No study evaluated the relationship between AMD and sleep using objective sleep assessment tools.
CONCLUSION
Only a limited number of studies investigated associations between AMD and sleep. These studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between AMD and sleep dysfunction yet disagree on the relationship between sleep quantity and the likelihood of AMD. Additional studies, using objective characterisation of sleep in patients with AMD are required to confirm these findings.
Topics: Humans; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Longitudinal Studies; Macular Degeneration; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sleep; Sleep Apnea Syndromes
PubMed: 36054031
DOI: 10.1111/ceo.14146 -
Ophthalmic Epidemiology Jun 2023In response to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) World report on vision, the WHO is developing a Package of Eye Care Interventions (PECI) to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
In response to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) World report on vision, the WHO is developing a Package of Eye Care Interventions (PECI) to support the integration of eye care into health systems within countries. This study was done to systematically review clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to provide evidence-based recommendations.
METHODS
All AMD-related CPGs published between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed and evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool.
RESULTS
Of 3778 CPGs identified, 48 underwent full-text screening and eight underwent quality appraisal. Five National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) guidelines for AMD were finally selected for data extraction. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment was strongly recommended for advanced, active neovascular AMD based on high-quality evidence. Photodynamic therapy and laser photocoagulation were not recommended as an adjunct to anti-VEGF therapy as first-line treatment for AMD. Recommendations on other interventions, including epiretinal brachytherapy, miniature lens system implantation, and limited macular translocation, were weak and evidence mostly came from low-quality case series studies. Hence these interventions were recommended to be used only with special arrangements or research. Existing evidence on treating geographic atrophy was limited, an implantable miniature telescope might be an effective intervention to improve vision but was still under investigation.
DISCUSSION
Current CPGs recommend anti-VEGF therapy for patients with late active neovascular AMD, while other interventions should be used with caution and further researches are warranted.
Topics: Humans; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Visual Acuity; Wet Macular Degeneration; Geographic Atrophy
PubMed: 35417274
DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2022.2059812 -
Nutrients Nov 2022Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. The evidence connecting dietary intake and DR is emerging, but uncertain. We... (Review)
Review
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. The evidence connecting dietary intake and DR is emerging, but uncertain. We conducted a systematic review to comprehensively summarize the current understanding of the associations between dietary consumption, DR and diabetic macular edema (DME). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials between January 1967 to May 2022 for all studies investigating the effect of diet on DR and DME. Of the 4962 articles initially identified, 54 relevant articles were retained. Our review found that higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, dietary fibers, fish, a Mediterranean diet, oleic acid, and tea were found to have a protective effect against DR. Conversely, high intakes of diet soda, caloric intake, rice, and choline were associated with a higher risk of DR. No association was seen between vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin D, and milk and DR. Only one study in our review assessed dietary intake and DME and found a risk of high sodium intake for DME progression. Therefore, the general recommendation for nutritional counseling to manage diabetes may be beneficial to prevent DR risk, but prospective studies in diverse diabetic populations are needed to confirm our findings and expand clinical guidelines for DR management.
Topics: Humans; Diabetic Retinopathy; Macular Edema; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Diet, Mediterranean; Eating; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 36501054
DOI: 10.3390/nu14235021 -
Ophthalmology Science 2024Though lipid and cholesterol dyshomeostasis is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), there is no consensus regarding which... (Review)
Review
TOPIC
Though lipid and cholesterol dyshomeostasis is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), there is no consensus regarding which elements of systemic lipid homeostasis are perturbed in AMD. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, an update to that performed by Wang et al in 2016, we characterized serum lipoprotein profiles in patients with AMD and its various stages.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
These findings may identify novel therapeutic approaches for AMD, a leading cause of blindness among older adults in the industrialized world.
METHODS
We used MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science to identify articles from database inception to May 2022 that reported blood/serum levels of lipid subspecies (triglycerides [TGs], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]) in patients with AMD compared with controls. We meta-analyzed the data by generating multilevel random-effects models using restricted maximum likelihood estimation.
RESULTS
Our updated meta-analysis included 56 studies, almost 3 times as many studies as the 2016 meta-analysis with a total of 308 188 participants. There were no significant differences in serum TG, TC, LDL, or HDL between patients with AMD and non-AMD controls. Given significant heterogeneity, we performed subanalyses specifically in patients with early to intermediate nonexudative AMD, advanced nonexudative AMD, and advanced exudative AMD. Compared with non-AMD controls, patients with early to intermediate nonexudative AMD had significantly lower serum TG (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.03; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: -0.06 to -0.01) and higher serum HDL (SMD: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.04-0.11). Patients with advanced exudative AMD had significantly higher serum LDL (SMD: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.04-0.62) compared with non-AMD controls. There were no other significant differences identified.
CONCLUSION
We found that there is significant heterogeneity in systemic lipoproteins in patients with AMD compared with non-AMD controls. The specific pattern of lipid dyshomeostasis appeared to be distinct based on AMD stage. These findings highlight both the underlying heterogeneity of AMD as well as the presence of distinct pathophysiological mechanisms involved at different stages or subtypes of AMD and may inform the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
PubMed: 37869027
DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2023.100341