The Retina Channel Podcast

Dr. Jabs and Dr. Acharya discuss the results of the MERIT trial that investigated relative efficacy of intrvitreal injections of Dexamethasone implant vs ranibizumab vs methotrexate for the treatment of macular oedema associated with uveitis. Discussed article: Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment Trial (MUST) Research Group, Writing Committee:; Acharya NR, Vitale AT, Sugar EA, Holbrook JT, Burke...

Prof. Gemmy Cheung from the National University of Singapore and Singapore National Eye Center discusses her research results on progression of Geographic Atrophy on Asian vs non-Asian Eyes. References Article: Teo KYC, Fujimoto S, Sadda SR, Kokame G, Gomi F, Kim JE, Cheng MFS, Corradetti G, Amornpetchsathaporn A, Chainakul M, Lee WK, Lai TYY, Ruamviboonsuk P, Cheung CMG. Geographic Atrophy Phenot...

Dr. Regillo describes the results of the phase 3 prospective study of Ranibizumab Port Delivery System (PDS) for the treatment of neovascular AMD.  Reference Article: Regillo C, Berger B, Brooks L, Clark WL, Mittra R, Wykoff CC, Callaway NF, DeGraaf S, Ding HT, Fung AE, Gune S, Le Pogam S, Smith R, Willis JR, Barteselli G. Archway Phase 3 Trial of the Port Delivery System with Ranibizumab for Neov...

Dr. Smiddy presents a cost analysis of the step therapy for treatment of diabetic macular edema based on DRCR protocol AC results. Discussed article: Patel NA, Al-Khersan H, Yannuzzi NA, Lin J, Smiddy WE. Aflibercept Monotherapy versus Bevacizumab-First for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Cost Analysis Based on Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network Protocol AC Results. Ophthalmol Retina. 2023 M...

Dr. Jason Hsu from Wills Eye Hospital returns to The Retina Channel to discuss his groups' retrospective study of eyes with advanced retinal detachement (PVR grade C or worse) that underwent retinectomy without lensectomy. Their study showed that 75% of these eyes at 3 months (and 68% at 6 months) had single surgery anatomic success. The study is suggestive that lensectomy and even peripheral vitr...

Dr. Jay Duker speaks about the results of the DAVIO trial which was a phase 1 trial investigating an intravitreal implant ( EYP-1901) containg vorolanib (a VEGF and receptor blocker) in a bioerodible Durasert implant for the treatment of wet AMD. 

Dr. Noemi Lois from Queens University in Belfast, UK discusses results of the DIAMONDS study, which was a prospective trial that looked into the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of subthreshold micropulse laser (SML), compared with standard laser (SL), for diabetic macular edema (DME) with central retinal thickness (CRT) < 400 um. Referenced article: Lois N, Campbell C, Waugh N, Azuar...

Dr. Xuejing Chen discusses her group's retrospective analysis of the incidence and risk factors of delayed retinal breaks following a symptomatic posterior vitreous detachment. Discussed article: Jindachomthong KK, Cabral H, Subramanian ML, Ness S, Siegel NH, Chhablani J, Hsu SX, Chen X. Incidence and risk factors for delayed retinal tears following an acute, symptomatic posterior vitreous detachm...

Dr. Jhavery discusses results of DRCR Retina Protocol AC study which compared DME response to anti-VEGF injections in patients who received Aflibercept monotherapy vs those who started with Bevacizumab first and then switched to Aflibercept if needed.  Discussed article: Jhaveri CD, Glassman AR, Ferris FL 3rd, Liu D, Maguire MG, Allen JB, Baker CW, Browning D, Cunningham MA, Friedman SM, Jampol LM...

Dr. J. Fernando Arevalo discusses results of an international multicenter study that compared surgical success rates of vitrectomy vs vitrectomy + scleral buckle to repair retinal detachments due to giant retinal tears. The study collected 200 patients data over a 12 year period. Referenced article: Ong SS, Ahmed I, Gonzales A, Al-Fakhri AS, Al-Subaie HF, Al-Qhatani FS, Alsulaiman SM, Mura M, Maia...

Dr. Finn discusses her groups' case series on temporal associattion CRVO and HRVO in young healthy patients after COVID-19 infection. Discussed article: Ashkenazy N, Patel NA, Sridhar J, Yannuzzi NA, Belin PJ, Kaplan R, Kothari N, Benitez Bajandas GA, Kohly RP, Roizenblatt R, Pinhas A, Mundae R, Rosen RB, Ryan EH Jr, Chiang A, Chang LK, Khurana RN, Finn AP. Hemi- and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion...

Dr. Birger Lindtjørn from Norway discusses his team's prospective trial on comparison of SF6 vs air tamponade in vitrectomy for closure of small-medium macular holes. Discussed article: Lindtjørn B, Krohn J, Haugstad M, Stene-Johansen I, Austeng D, Basit S, Fossen K, Varhaug P, Kvaløy JT, Forsaa VA. Air versus Sulfur Hexafluoride Gas Tamponade for Small and Medium-Sized Macular Holes: A Randomized...

Prof. Guymer from Melbourne Univeristy discusses finding of a prospective study on absence of association between retinal pseudodrusen and advanced AMD. Discussed article: Wu Z, Kumar H, Hodgson LAB, Guymer RH. Reticular Pseudodrusen on the Risk of Progression in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022 Mar 11:S0002-9394(22)00101-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.03.007. Epub...

Dr. Ballios discusses his group's findings on novel mutations in the RCBTB1 gene that can cuase late-onset non-syndromic retinal dystrophies mimicking macular degeneration. Full article: Catomeris AJ, Ballios BG, Sangermano R, Wagner NE, Comander JI, Pierce EA, Place EM, Bujakowska KM, Huckfeldt RM. Novel RCBTB1 variants causing later-onset non-syndromic retinal dystrophy with macular chorioretina...

Dr. Kumar discussed his group's prospective study on the comparative outcomes of two different drainage techniques (posterior retinotomy vs PFCL) for repair of rhegmatogenous retina detachment. 

Dr. David Sarraf from UCLA discusses Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy (PAMM) and its the ischemic implications.  Discussed article: Wang D, Au A, Duker JS, Sarraf D. PAMM and the ischemic cascade associated with radiation retinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2020 Sep 8;20:100918. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2020.100918. PMID: 32984654; PMCID: PMC7495006.

Dr. Kourous Rezaei reviews the results of the GATHER1 trial on complement C5 inhibition for slowing down progression of geography atrophy in dry AMD. References article: Jaffe GJ, Westby K, Csaky KG, Monés J, Pearlman JA, Patel SS, Joondeph BC, Randolph J, Masonson H, Rezaei KA. C5 Inhibitor Avacincaptad Pegol for Geographic Atrophy Due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Pivotal Pha...

Dr. Kokame from the University of Hawaii reports a novel method of repairing certain types of retinal detachment using minimized eye movement followed by laser retinopexy. Referenced article: Kokame GT, Yee S, Omizo JN, Villanueva L, Liu J. Laser Treatment after Minimized Eye Movement for Repair of Retinal Detachment. Ophthalmol Retina. 2021 Sep;5(9):939-941. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2021.01.014. Epub...

Dr. Efrem Mandelcorn from the University of Toronto talks about 3 different surgical techniques that he's published in 3 different articles: 1. Macular hydodissection for challenging macular holes: Felfeli T, Mandelcorn ED. MACULAR HOLE HYDRODISSECTION: Surgical Technique for the Treatment of Persistent, Chronic, and Large Macular Holes. Retina. 2019 Apr;39(4):743-752. doi: 10.1097/IAE.00000000000...

Professors Sahel and Roska describe partial visual recovery of a patient with advanced RP using optogenetic technology.  Discussed article: Sahel JA, Boulanger-Scemama E, Pagot C, Arleo A, Galluppi F, Martel JN, Esposti SD, Delaux A, de Saint Aubert JB, de Montleau C, Gutman E, Audo I, Duebel J, Picaud S, Dalkara D, Blouin L, Taiel M, Roska B. Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient...

Dr. Seider elaborates on his group's large retrospective study on rates and risk factors for complicated acute posterior vitreous detachment. Full reference to the discussed article: Seider MI, Conell C, Melles RB. Complications of Acute Posterior Vitreous Detachment. Ophthalmology. 2021 Jul 27:S0161-6420(21)00552-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.07.020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34324945.

Dr. Tina Felfeli discusses 3 articles around COVID-19 and ophthalmology: (1) Effect of various concretions and exposure times of common ophthalmology anti-septics on COVID-19 infected cell lines. (2) Effect of the pandemic on the backlog of elective ophthalmic surgical cases in the province of Ontario, Canada (3) Detection of the COVID-19 virus in different ocular tissues of a patient that tested...

Dr. Almeida presents a mathematical model based on Newtonian mechanics to discuss vision recovery of different anti-VEGF medications.  The discussed article: Almeida DRP, Ruzicki J, Xu K, Chin EK. Vision Recovery Velocity, Momentum and Acceleration: Advanced Vitreoretinal Analytics as Measure of Treatment Efficacy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021 Jan 18;15:18...

Dr. Sabri discusses his group's analysis of various screening criteria to detect visually significant Retinopathy of Prematurity while minimizing unnecessary retinal exams. Discussed article: Sabri K, Shivananda S, Farrokhyar F, Selvitella A, Easterbrook B Kin B, Seidlitz W, Lee SK; Canadian Neonatal Network and the Canadian Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Refining evidence-...

Dr. Raj Maturi from the DRCR Retina Network discusses effect of early anti-VEGF injections in moderate-severe NPDR to prevent vision-threatening complications of diabetic retinopathy. This is the 2-year results of a 4-year study.   Discussed article: Maturi RK, Glassman AR, Josic K, Antoszyk AN, Blodi BA, Jampol LM, Marcus DM, Martin DF, Melia M, Salehi-Had H, Stockdale CR, Punjabi OS, Sun JK; DRC...