Week in review: Dry AMD research, injection safety protocols, glaucoma patients favor teleophthalmology

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

The University of Michigan receives $11.5 million for dry AMD research. Philanthropist James Grosfeld has given the University of Michigan’s W. K. Kellogg Eye Center a gift of $11.5 million to research potential therapies for dry AMD, a condition for which there are currently no treatment options. The funding includes provisions for endowed professorships, a pluripotent stem cell facility, collation of ophthalmic images to aid in tracking dry AMD progression, and other research tools. This initiative is to be led by Dr. Jason M. Miller, the new James Grosfeld Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, who commented, “The Kellogg Eye Center and the University of Michigan have world-class faculty studying problems as diverse as diabetes and heart disease. The research tools and methods they use, when applied to dry AMD, will spark new discoveries about this devastating disease.” University of Michigan Health

Safety protocols can reduce intravitreal injection–related adverse events. Looking for ways to reduce intravitreal injection–related adverse events at the retina clinic of a US academic medical center, a multidisciplinary team developed a quality improvement project that focused on each of the steps in the injection process. Twelve potential vulnerabilities were identified with 5 deemed high impact, including errors made during patient registration, incomplete notes from earlier visits, and incorrect medication orders or injection of expired medications. Following this assessment, an injection protocol was developed, leading to zero adverse events in the 18 months after protocol implementation. Clinical Ophthalmology

Asynchronous teleophthalmology is useful for patients with glaucoma, according to researchers in Germany who surveyed 50 patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension regarding their satisfaction with asynchronous teleophthalmology visits held before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly all of the patients agreed or strongly agreed with statements relating to feeling well informed during the appointment, satisfaction on how concerns were addressed, and whether teleconsultations are good substitutes for in-person doctor visits. Larger-scale follow-up prospective trials are recommended, as are studies focusing on diverse patient populations and on cost-effectiveness of teleophthalmology. Cureus

Disparities in ROP incidence rates and severity have multifactorial causes. Investigators at the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted a retrospective cohort study of data from 1234 infants who were screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) while in the neonatal intensive care unit. Twenty-five percent were diagnosed with ROP. Both Hispanic and Black neonates had significantly greater odds of developing ROP than non-Hispanic White neonates (odds ratios: 1.70 and 1.49, respectively); however, these disparities diminished after adjusting for socioeconomic factors and gestational age (GA). Severity of ROP was most closely linked to younger GA than to any other factor. The authors note that “This study emphasizes the potential importance of intervening on maternal economic stability and prenatal access to care, which are modifiable risk factors.” JAMA Ophthalmology