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Romanian Journal of Ophthalmology 2015The objective of our study was to review the current knowledge on Age- Related Macular Degeneration, including pathogenesis, ocular manifestations, diagnosis and... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The objective of our study was to review the current knowledge on Age- Related Macular Degeneration, including pathogenesis, ocular manifestations, diagnosis and ancillary testing.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW METHODOLOGY
Relevant publications on Age-Related Macular Degeneration that were published until 2014.
CONCLUSIONS
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common macular disease affecting elderly people in the Western world. It is characterized by the appearance of drusen in the macula, accompanied by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or geographic atrophy.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease Progression; Fluorescein Angiography; Geographic Atrophy; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Prevalence; Retinal Drusen; Risk Factors; Romania; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Wet Macular Degeneration
PubMed: 26978865
DOI: No ID Found -
International Ophthalmology Aug 2020Optic disc drusen (ODD) are acellular deposits in the prelaminar optic nerve head. The most accredited theory is that they are secondary to abnormalities in axonal... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Optic disc drusen (ODD) are acellular deposits in the prelaminar optic nerve head. The most accredited theory is that they are secondary to abnormalities in axonal metabolism and degeneration, but the pathogenesis is not clear to date.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
Although ODD are often considered a benign condition, the great majority of patients with ODD show visual field defects and are at higher risk for developing anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. ODD are classified as superficial or buried, with the latter being often misdiagnosed as papilledema with optic nerve head swelling, leading to an unnecessary investigation for causes of increased intracranial pressure.
AIM
The recent technological improvements in OCT imaging which allowed an earlier and more certain diagnosis even of the smallest ODD, renovated the interest around this pathology. However, an updated systematic review is still missing. Therefore, the aim of this work is to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of the current state of art, focusing on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and potential future perspectives of this condition.
Topics: Humans; Optic Disk; Optic Disk Drusen; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic; Papilledema; Visual Field Tests
PubMed: 32383130
DOI: 10.1007/s10792-020-01365-w -
Acta Ophthalmologica Feb 2024Optic disc drusen (ODD) are calcium-containing deposits in the optic nerve head, capable of causing visual field defects and sudden visual loss. The underlying... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Optic disc drusen (ODD) are calcium-containing deposits in the optic nerve head, capable of causing visual field defects and sudden visual loss. The underlying pathophysiology remains inadequately understood and treatment options are missing. In this paper, we systematically reviewed prevalence studies of ODD in non-selected populations to provide an overview of its prevalence, conducted meta-analyses to determine modality-specific prevalence estimates and performed a forecasting study to estimate current and future global population number of individuals with ODD. We searched 11 literature databases on 25 October 2022 for prevalence studies of ODD in non-selected populations. Eight eligible studies provided data from a total of 27 463 individuals. Prevalence estimates were stratified according to diagnostic modalities: ophthalmoscopy 0.37% (95% CI: 0.10-0.95%), fundus photography 0.12% (95% CI: 0.03-0.24%), spectral domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging 2.21% (95% CI: 1.25-3.42%) and histopathology 1.82% (95% CI: 1.32-2.38%). Using histopathology-based summary prevalence estimate, we forecast 145 million individuals with ODD currently, a number expected to increase further due to world population growth. These numbers underscore the importance of including ODD in health education and highlight the necessity of continuing research in ODD.
Topics: Humans; Optic Disk; Optic Disk Drusen; Prevalence; Tomography, Optical Coherence
PubMed: 37144704
DOI: 10.1111/aos.15690 -
BMC Ophthalmology Jul 2016Beta-thalassemia is a severe genetic blood disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding for the beta chains of hemoglobin. Individuals with beta-thalassemia major... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Beta-thalassemia is a severe genetic blood disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding for the beta chains of hemoglobin. Individuals with beta-thalassemia major require regular lifelong Red Blood Cell transfusions to survive. Ocular involvement is quite common and may have serious implications.
METHODS
Extensive review of observational studies on beta-thalassemia, to determine the prevalence and spectrum of ocular abnormalities, by clinical examination and multimodal imaging, and to investigate risk factors for their development.
RESULTS
Frequency of ocular involvement differs among various studies (41.3-85 %, three studies). Ocular findings in beta-thalassemia may correlate to the disease itself, iron overload or the chelating agents used. Beta-thalassemia ocular manifestations include ocular surface disease, as demonstrated by tear function parameters (two studies). Lens opacities are present in 9.3-44 % (five studies). Lenticular opacities and RPE degeneration correlated positively with use of desferrioxamine and deferriprone respectively (two studies). Ocular fundus abnormalities characteristic of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), including peau d'orange, angioid streaks, pattern dystrophy-like changes, and optic disc drusen are a consistent finding in seven studies. Patients with PXE-like fundus changes were older than patients without these fundus changes (two studies). Age (two studies) and splenectomy (one study) had the strongest association with presence of PXE-like fundus changes. Increased retinal vascular tortuosity independently of the PXE-like fundus changes was found in 11-17.9 % (three studies), which was associated with aspartate amino transferase, hemoglobin and ferritin levels (two studies). Fundus autofluorescence and electrophysiological testing (ERG and EOG) may indicate initial stages or more widespread injury than is suggested by fundus examination (two studies).
CONCLUSIONS
Beta-thalassemia may present with various signs, both structural and functional. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum like fundus changes are a frequent finding in patients with b-thalassemia. These changes increase with duration or severity of the disease. Retinal vascular tortuosity may be an additional disease manifestation related to the severity and duration of anemia and independent of the PXE-like syndrome. Patients with long-standing disease need regular ophthalmic checkups because they are at risk of developing PXE-like fundus changes and potentially of subsequent choroidal neovascularization.
Topics: Chelating Agents; Humans; Iron Overload; Observational Studies as Topic; Retinal Diseases; Vision Disorders; beta-Thalassemia
PubMed: 27390837
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-016-0285-2 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2021Geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration, can result in irreversible blindness over time. We performed a systematic literature... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration, can result in irreversible blindness over time. We performed a systematic literature review to assess the humanistic and economic burden of GA.
METHODS
Predefined search terms were used to identify studies in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library; conference abstracts also were searched.
RESULTS
Of 1111 unique studies identified, 25 studies on humanistic burden, 4 on economic burden, and 3 on both humanistic and economic burden of GA were included. Vision-related functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are poor in patients with GA. HRQOL is commonly measured using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25); patients with GA have significantly lower composite and subscale scores for near activities, distance activities, dependency, driving, social functioning, mental health, role difficulties, color vision, and peripheral vision than individuals without GA. Driving is a particular concern, and inability to drive affects dependency. Vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) declines as GA progresses. While we identified only 7 reports describing the economic burden of GA, its direct costs may be substantial. In a US study, mean cost to the payer per patient with GA was $11,533 in the year after diagnosis. A multinational study estimated annualized total direct costs of €1772 per patient with GA, mainly driven by diagnostic tests and procedures (€1071). Patients with GA are at increased risk of falls and fractures, potentially increasing direct costs. Only one study evaluated indirect costs, estimating ~$24.4 billion in yearly lost wages among people with severe vision loss due to GA or drusen ≥125 μm.
CONCLUSION
GA represents a significant humanistic burden. Evidence on the economic impact of GA is limited; characterizing the economic burden of GA requires further research. Interventions that reduce GA-related disability may improve HRQOL and reduce indirect costs.
PubMed: 34916775
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S338253 -
Ophthalmology. Retina Jun 2024To evaluate which OCT prognostic biomarkers best predict the risk of progression from early/intermediate to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
TOPIC
To evaluate which OCT prognostic biomarkers best predict the risk of progression from early/intermediate to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Among > 100 OCT prognostic biomarkers for AMD, it is unclear which are the most relevant for clinicians and researchers to focus on. This review evaluated which OCT biomarkers confer the greatest magnitude of prediction for progression to late AMD.
METHODS
Study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023400166). PubMed and Embase were searched from inception to March 2, 2023, and eligible studies assessed following the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The primary outcome was any quantified risk of progression from treatment-naive early/intermediate AMD to late AMD, including hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs), and standardized mean differences (at baseline, between eyes with versus without progression), subgrouped by each OCT biomarker. Further meta-analyses were subgrouped by progression to geographic atrophy or neovascularization.
RESULTS
A total of 114 quantified OCT prognostic biomarkers were identified. With high GRADE certainty of evidence, the greatest magnitudes of prediction to late AMD belonged to: external limiting membrane abnormality (OR, 15.42 [7.63, 31.17]), ellipsoid zone abnormality (OR, 10.8 [4.58, 25.46]), interdigitation zone abnormality (OR, 7.68 [2.57, 23]), concurrent large drusen and reticular pseudodrusen (HR, 6.73 [1.35, 33.65], hyporeflective drusen cores (HR, 2.48 [1.8, 3.4]; OR 1.85 [1.29, 2.66]), intraretinal hyperreflective foci (IHRF; HR, 2.16 [0.92, 5.07]; OR 5.08 [3.26, 7.92]), and large drusen (HR, 2.01 [1.35, 2.99]); OR, 1.98 [1.27, 3.08]). There was greater risk of geographic atrophy for IHRF and hyporeflective drusen cores (P < 0.05), and neovascularization for ellipsoid zone abnormality (P < 0.05). Other OCT biomarkers such as drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment, shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelium elevations, and nascent geographic atrophy exhibited large magnitudes of risk but required further studies for validation.
CONCLUSION
This review synthesizes the 6 most relevant OCT prognostic biomarkers for AMD with greater predictive ability than large drusen alone, for clinicians and researchers to focus on. Further study is required to validate other biomarkers with less than high certainty of evidence, and assess how the copresence of biomarkers may affect risks.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Topics: Humans; Disease Progression; Prognosis; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Biomarkers; Macular Degeneration
PubMed: 38154619
DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2023.12.006 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Apr 2007Sight-threatening (late) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs in 2% of people aged over 50 years in industrialised countries, with prevalence increasing with... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Sight-threatening (late) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs in 2% of people aged over 50 years in industrialised countries, with prevalence increasing with age. Early-stage disease is marked by normal vision, but retinal changes (drusen and pigment changes). Disease progression leads to worsening central vision, but peripheral vision is preserved.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of interventions to prevent progression of early- or late-stage age-related macular degeneration; and exudative age-related macular degeneration? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and other important databases up to March 2006 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 45 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: antiangiogenesis (using pegaptanib, ranibizumab, interferon alfa-2a, or anecortave acetate), antioxidant vitamins plus zinc, external beam radiation, laser treatment to drusen, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin, submacular surgery, thermal laser photocoagulation, transpupillary thermotherapy.
Topics: Choroidal Neovascularization; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Photochemotherapy; Ranibizumab; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 19454069
DOI: No ID Found -
Nutrients May 2022Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious degenerative disease affecting the eyes, and is the main cause of severe vision loss among people >55 years of age in... (Review)
Review
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious degenerative disease affecting the eyes, and is the main cause of severe vision loss among people >55 years of age in developed countries. Its onset and progression have been associated with several genetic and lifestyle factors, with diet appearing to play a pivotal role in the latter. In particular, dietary eating patterns rich in plant foods have been shown to lower the risk of developing the disease, and to decrease the odds of progressing to more advanced stages in individuals already burdened with early AMD. We systematically reviewed the literature to analyse the relationship between the adherence to a Mediterranean diet, a mainly plant-based dietary pattern, and the onset/progression of AMD. Eight human observational studies were analysed. Despite some differences, they consistently indicate that higher adherence to a Mediterranean eating pattern lowers the odds of developing AMD and decreases the risk of progression to more advanced stages of the disease, establishing the way for preventative measures emphasizing dietary patterns rich in plant-foods.
Topics: Diet, Mediterranean; Eye; Feeding Behavior; Humans; Life Style; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged
PubMed: 35631175
DOI: 10.3390/nu14102028 -
Eye (London, England) Aug 2023The aim of this systematic literature review is twofold, (1) detail the impact of retinal biomarkers identifiable via optical coherence tomography (OCT) on disease... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
The aim of this systematic literature review is twofold, (1) detail the impact of retinal biomarkers identifiable via optical coherence tomography (OCT) on disease progression and response to treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and (2) establish which biomarkers are currently identifiable by artificial intelligence (AI) models and the utilisation of this technology. Following the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed was searched for peer-reviewed publications dated between January 2016 and January 2022.
POPULATION
Patients diagnosed with nAMD with OCT imaging.
SETTINGS
Comparable settings to NHS hospitals.
STUDY DESIGNS
Randomised controlled trials, prospective/retrospective cohort studies and review articles. From 228 articles, 130 were full-text reviewed, 50 were removed for falling outside the scope of this review with 10 added from the author's inventory, resulting in the inclusion of 90 articles. From 9 biomarkers identified; intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid, pigment epithelial detachment, subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), retinal pigmental epithelial (RPE) atrophy, drusen, outer retinal tabulation (ORT), hyperreflective foci (HF) and retinal thickness, 5 are considered pertinent to nAMD disease progression; IRF, SHRM, drusen, ORT and HF. A number of these biomarkers can be classified using current AI models. Significant retinal biomarkers pertinent to disease activity and progression in nAMD are identifiable via OCT; IRF being the most important in terms of the significant impact on visual outcome. Incorporating AI into ophthalmology practice is a promising advancement towards automated and reproducible analyses of OCT data with the ability to diagnose disease and predict future disease conversion.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
This review has been registered with PROSPERO (registration ID: CRD42021233200).
Topics: Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Artificial Intelligence; Retrospective Studies; Prospective Studies; Fluorescein Angiography; Biomarkers; Macular Degeneration; Disease Progression; Wet Macular Degeneration; Angiogenesis Inhibitors
PubMed: 36526863
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-022-02360-4 -
Ophthalmology and Therapy Mar 2021Dark adaptation (DA) has been proposed as a possible functional biomarker for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this systematic review we aim to evaluate... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Dark adaptation (DA) has been proposed as a possible functional biomarker for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this systematic review we aim to evaluate current methodology used to assess DA in people with AMD, the evidence of precision in detecting the onset and progression of AMD, and the relationship between DA and other functional and structural measures.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES were searched for studies published between January 2006 and January 2020 that assessed DA in people with AMD. Details of eligible studies including study design, characteristics of study population and outcomes were recorded. All included studies underwent quality appraisal using approved critical appraisal tools. This systematic review follows PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019129486).
RESULTS
Forty-eight studies were eligible for inclusion, reporting a variety of instruments and protocols to assess different DA parameters. Twenty of these studies used the AdaptDx (MacuLogix, Hummelstown, PA, USA) instrument and assessed rod-intercept time (RIT). Most of these reported that RIT was delayed in people with AMD and this delay worsened with AMD severity. Four studies, involving 533 participants, reported estimates of diagnostic performance of AdaptDx to separate people with AMD from visually healthy controls. DA has been compared to other measures of visual function, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and structural measures. Ten studies specifically considered evidence that the presence of certain structural abnormalities was associated with impaired DA in AMD.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review indicates overwhelming evidence of reasonable quality for an association between impaired DA and AMD. Data on the repeatability and reproducibility of DA measurement are sparse. There is evidence that structural abnormalities such as reticular drusen are associated with prolongation of DA time. Fewer studies have explored an association between DA and other measures of visual function or PROMs. We found no studies that had compared DA with performance-based measures.
PubMed: 33565038
DOI: 10.1007/s40123-020-00323-0