The News Feed
Timely reports on clinical research, legislative updates and product launches, from the editors of Review of Optometry and RCCL. Stories post each weekday morning.
AMD Clinical Trial Enrollment Disparities Show Gaps in Racial and Ethnic Representation
Despite balanced participation based on sex, a new study uncovers significant underreporting of minority groups, urging for more equitable inclusion in future research.
January 14, 2025
Prevalence of DR Rises, While Dilated Exam Rates Decreased
Screenings went down in all populations except non-metropolitan statistical area communities, showing that a greater understanding of health disparities in these areas is needed.
January 14, 2025
Study Validates AAOph Preferred Practice Patterns for Staging POAG
Conducting VF testing, OCT and optic disc exams during initial and follow-up visits protected against short-term diagnostic changes, as did seeing a glaucoma specialist at the first visit, researchers found.
January 14, 2025
Anterion OCT Adds Feature to Assess Epithelial Thickness
The new module produces colored maps and detailed parameters to assist in refractive surgery planning, ocular surface evaluation and more, according to the company.
January 13, 2025
Osteoporosis Medication Increases Risk of Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma
Physicians should educate their patients about the complications that could arise with bisphosphonate use.
January 13, 2025
Glaucomatous Eyes Exhibit Peripapillary Vascular Density Reduction
This was observed in comparison with healthy controls who have large physiological cupping, which may help differentiate between the two.
January 13, 2025
Four or More Drinks Per Day Associated with Higher Odds of POAG
A nationwide survey of almost 4,000 patients revealed a dose-response connection between frequency of use and the condition.
January 13, 2025
Novel Risk Factors Identified for Uveal Melanoma
Although certain predisposing elements have been previously elucidated, none were for populations of adolescents and young adults.
January 10, 2025
Approaches To Treating DED Vary Around the World
Artificial tears, lid scrubs and patient counseling remain the most-used measures among a broad swathe of practitioners, according to a recent survey. Topical tacrolimus was the most common Rx therapy.
January 10, 2025
Study Details Effects of Tamsulosin on Anterior Segment
After treatment, researchers observed thinning in the area of the dilator muscle and a smaller post-dilation pupil diameter.
January 10, 2025
Survey Explores Frustrations of DME Patients
Frequent clinic visits, insufficient one-on-one counseling from their doctors and worries of being a burden to caregivers were among the concerns.
January 9, 2025
Study Documents How Weather Negatively Impacts Adherence
Alongside several other significant factors, snowfall and storms kept many glaucoma patients indoors.
January 9, 2025
Global Survey of Patients with Wet AMD Reveals Challenges, Burdens for Patients
Reducing appointment burden, improving the availability and quality of educational materials and focusing on therapies to extend treatment intervals could potentially improve vision outcomes.
January 9, 2025
New Law Increases Competitive Wages for VA Optometrists
These providers will be added to the physician pay scale, helping the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system to recruit and retain more top-tier doctors.
January 8, 2025
New OCT Metric Could Aid in Glaucoma Referral
A pattern-based model currently in development showed better sensitivity for detecting loss of tissue characteristic of the disease than RNFL and GCL+IPL thickness maps.
January 8, 2025
White Patients Found to Have Worse Dry Eye Signs Than Other Groups
Despite this, symptom severity was the same across demographic cohorts in a recent study, indicating discomfort is similar.
January 8, 2025
Acetazolamide Increases Kidney Stone Risk in Patients with IIH
Although carbonic anhydrase inhibitors successfully improve visual outcomes, a new study confirms the significant likelihood of this side effect.
January 7, 2025
Optic Disc Rotation Correlated with VF Deterioration in Myopic OAG
These patterns predicted faster progression in the corresponding hemifield, researchers observed.
January 7, 2025
AMD Patients More Likely to Undergo Heart Valve-related Procedure
The presence of certain cardiovascular conditions may indicate a predisposition to developing the condition, researchers speculate.
January 7, 2025
Gene Therapy Looks Promising for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy after Five Years
Visual gains proved durable and surprising bilateral effects were observed despite the unilateral administration used.
January 6, 2025
Patients with Severe Binocular Field Loss More Likely to be Involved in Car Accidents
Peripheral visual deficits nearly doubled the risk in a recent Australian study; central vision loss did not show a link.
January 6, 2025
Popular Type 2 Diabetes Drug Could Possibly Lower Glaucoma Incidence
Meta-analysis found GLP-1 receptor agonist use in these patients was associated with a 29% decrease in risk, though results were not uniform across all studies.
January 6, 2025
No. 1 Popular Type 2 Diabetes Drug Associated with Increased Risk of NAION
Though causality could not be determined, researchers observed a higher incidence of the event among patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists than those taking other diabetes or weight loss medications.
January 3, 2025
No. 2 Blood Pressure Medication May Increase POAG Risk
The relationship remains complex. Experts say balancing treatment needs for both conditions is key.
January 3, 2025
No. 3 Women with IIH More Likely to be Unemployed, Have Lower Income
After adjusting for BMI and other confounders, study suggests that social determinants of health may contribute to the condition through other mechanisms besides obesity alone.
January 2, 2025
No. 4 Low-dose Aspirin Not Effective in Preventing AMD
The regimen also wasn’t helpful in slowing or preventing progression of the disease.
January 2, 2025
No. 5 Children from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods More Likely to Present with Advanced Retinoblastoma
A higher incidence of increased diagnostic lag time was also found among those living in low resource areas.
January 1, 2025
No. 6 Reduced Kidney Function Associated with Late AMD
This finding underscores the importance of eye exams in these patients.
January 1, 2025
No. 7 At Least Eight States Pushing Lasers in 2024
None secured this scope win in 2023, so this year, advocacy efforts are ramping up to ensure legislators understand the importance of these bills.
December 31, 2024
No. 8 Diabetes Patients Experience Choroidal Microvascular Alterations Before DR
This was observed in early cases of the disease without associated retinopathy.
December 31, 2024
No. 9 Sleep Apnea and H. pylori Infections Strong Risk Factors to Consider for POAG
A systematic review calls attention to these and others, as well as the potential interplay among them.
December 30, 2024
No. 10 Aspirin Not Effective in Preventing Early DR
In a study with mean daily intake of 6.5 years, the drug displayed no clinically meaningful benefits for the condition.
December 30, 2024
No. 11 Higher Doses of Topical Losartan Linked to Ocular Toxicity
New research in rabbit eyes suggests that increased exposure to the drug has a detrimental effect on corneal scarring.
December 27, 2024
No. 12 Hydroxychloroquine Intake Impacts ONL Thinning
Understanding associations between this medication use and the thinning of retinal regions could serve as an early diagnostic indicator for retinal toxicity.
December 27, 2024
No. 13 Uveitis Recurrence Risk Elevated After COVID-19 Vaccination
More than half of cases occurred in the early post-vaccination period, suggesting close clinical monitoring is essential for at-risk patients.
December 26, 2024
No. 14 Researchers Advocate Routine Prophylaxis Against Post-Cataract IOP Spike
The most effective medication classes in a recent study were topical CAI/beta-blocker combos and intracameral cholinergics. Topical alpha-agonists were the least effective.
December 26, 2024
No. 15 Some Blood Thinners May Increase Conversion to Wet AMD
Warfarin-treated patients had more ocular complications than those on direct oral anticoagulants.
December 25, 2024
No. 16 Glaucoma Medications Linked to Increased Risk of Drug-Related Keratitis
Data shows a concerning relationship, emphasizing the need for heightened clinician awareness. Corneal toxicity from chronic topical therapy is one proposed mechanism.
December 25, 2024
No. 17 Hormone Therapy in Postmenopausal Women Linked with Later Glaucoma Diagnosis
What’s more, the protective effect may be influenced by age at menopause, a new study finds.
December 24, 2024
No. 18 Trabeculectomy Outperforms Drops as Primary Treatment for Advanced Glaucoma
In a recent study, the intervention led to greater IOP reduction and less disease progression at five years.
December 24, 2024
No. 19 Alterations in the Macula Found in Patients with Sleep Apnea
Study reveals an increase in vascular and perfusion density of the deep capillary plexus.
December 23, 2024
No. 20 Study Finds Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ocular Trauma, Surgery All Raise PUK Risk
Also, the time to resolution was significantly shorter in women and those with autoimmune etiologies, the latter perhaps because of greater vigilance in vulnerable patients.
December 23, 2024
No. 21 Cataract Surgery Could Lower IOP, But Precise Impact Uncertain
Meta-analysis revealed that concurrent topical medication use masks the effects of phacoemulsification upon postoperative IOP.
December 20, 2024
No. 22 Long-term Use of Anti-Glaucoma Meds Before SLT Linked to Adverse Effects
Higher age was predictive of failure, while a higher pre-SLT IOP was associated with a greater probability of success.
December 20, 2024
No. 23 Post-cataract IOP Spike is Significant Predictor of Spike in Fellow Eye
Patients were more likely to experience another incident even after accounting for other risk factors, according to an ARVO abstract.
December 19, 2024
No. 24 Diabetes Patients with POAG More at Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy
This was the case for both type 1 and type 2 forms.
December 19, 2024
No. 25 Meds that Induce Angle-Closure Glaucoma Identified
Topiramate tops the list for specific agents, while the category of sulfonamides was the largest drug class overall.
December 18, 2024
No. 26 FTC Votes Unanimously to Require Rx Release Confirmation
The long-anticipated update was announced today. It goes into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, which is expected “soon.”
December 18, 2024
No. 27 Lower Blood Pressure Associated with Faster Glaucoma Progression Rate
The relationship argues for the contribution of non-IOP mechanisms in pathogenesis and could be used as a predictor of future disease development, researchers suggest.
December 17, 2024
No. 28 LAMP Study: Atropine 0.05% Effective For Myopia Control at Five Years
The intervention even performed equally well in patients who had to restart treatment after a year of recession.
December 17, 2024
