No abstract

No abstract

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To quantify subjective visual metamorphopsia in newly diagnosed patients suffering from diabetic macular oedema (DME) and other macular abnormalities and to evaluate anti-VEGF treatment effect. Methods: Patients with DME, subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or retinal venous occlusion (RVO) were recruited. Metamorphopsia score (Mscore) was calculated using MCharts at baseline and at the end of a series of anti-VEGF injections. Results: Fifteen eyes of 10 patients with DME, 14 eyes of 13 patients with AMD-CNV and five patients with RVO were included in this study. At baseline, positive Mscore was observed in 46.6% of eyes with DME, 50% of eyes with AMD-CNV and four of five eyes with RVO. Treatment led to a complete metamorphopsia reduction (Mscore = 0) in 71.4% of DME patients, 35.7% of AMD and 0% of RVO patients. Conclusion: We suggest that the M-charts may serve as an additional test for diagnosis and follow-up, complementary to morphological evaluation by imaging, in diabetic patients facing their first anti-VEGF treatment.

Objective To assess potential methods of reducing visible aerosol generation during clear corneal phacoemulsification surgery in the era of Covid-19. Methods Aerosol generation during phacoemulsification was assessed using a model comprising a human cadaveric corneoscleral rim mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. Typical phacoemulsification settings were used and visible aerosol production was recorded using high-speed 4K camera. Aerosolisation was evaluated under various experimental settings: Two different phacoemulsification tip sizes (2.2, 2.75 mm), varying levels of corneal moisture, the use of suction and blowing air in the surgical field, the use of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) coating of the cornea with a static and moving tip. Results This model demonstrates visible aerosol generation during phacoemulsification with a 2.75-mm phacoemulsification tip. No visible aerosol was noted with a 2.2-mm tip. The presence of visible aerosol was unrelated to corneal wetting. Suction in close proximity to the aerosol plume did not impact on its dispersion. Blowing air redirected the aerosol plume toward the ocular surface. Visible aerosol production was abolished when HPMC was used to coat the cornea. This effect lasted for an average of 67 ± 8 s in the static model. Visible aerosol generation was discerned during movement of the 2.2mm tip toward the corneal wound. Conclusions We demonstrate visible aerosol production in the setting of a model of clear corneal phacoemulsification. Visible aerosol can be reduced using a 2.2-mm phacoemulsification tip and reapplying HPMC every minute during phacoemulsification.