Week in review: FDA approves small-aperture IOL, Black patients and glaucoma visual field loss, AI device mimics the retina

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

First small-aperture IOL for cataracts is approved by the FDA. The FDA has approved the IC-8 Apthera IOL for the treatment of cataracts; it is the first small-aperture IOL to receive such approval. The Apthera IOL provides both clear distance vision as well as clear intermediate and near vision, offsetting the effects of presbyopia, and can be implanted in patients with up to 1.5 D of corneal astigmatism. It is expected to be in limited release in the 3rd quarter of 2022. Ophthalmology Times

Black patients with POAG have earlier and worse visual field loss than White patients. Participants from the ongoing Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study are given biennial questionnaires about their health; among the information collected is development of new-onset physician-diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This data analysis noted 1957 cases of incident POAG among 210,000 study participants; Black patients with POAG were more likely to have a family history of glaucoma and had higher rates of diabetes and hypertension than non-Hispanic White patients. Archetype analyses found that Black patients also were significantly more likely to develop early visual field (VF) loss, with worse VF mean deviation. These results add to earlier findings about racial and ethnic disparities in POAG. Translational Vision Science & Technology

Can AI mimic the human retina? Yes, say researchers at the University of Central Florida’s NanoScience Technology Center who have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) technology that uses nanoscale surfaces to mimic the retina while also allowing for a wider range of wavelengths that can be seen by the human eye. Practical applications for this AI technology could include its use in robots and self-driving vehicles. Doctoral student Molla Manjurul Islam, lead author of the recently published paper about the technology, said “There is no reported device like this, which can operate simultaneously in ultraviolet range and visible wavelength as well as infrared wavelength, so this is the most unique selling point for this device.” University of Central Florida, ACS Nano

Patients diagnosed with irreversible vision loss want empathy and support. To gain an understanding of patients’ experiences of being diagnosed with an eye disease causing irreversible vision loss, including the psychologic impact of this diagnosis, investigators in the United Kingdom surveyed 18 patients recruited via eye clinics, social media, or existing contacts. Respondents called out the anxiety of waiting months or even years to get a definitive diagnosis, the implied condescension or impatience of some of the clinicians, and the difficulty in getting clear information about the disease and their prognosis. The respondents noted that the patient experience could be improved by having someone available for patients to talk to immediately after receiving the diagnosis and by greater availability of information about support groups, services, and charities. BMJ Open

No consensus among glaucoma specialists regarding drainage device placement. Members of the American Glaucoma Society were surveyed about their practice patterns around glaucoma drainage device (GDD) placement and postoperative care. One hundred twenty-eight responses were received, and 61% said that in order to prevent corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL), current evidence favors placing the GDD in the sulcus rather than in the anterior chamber. However, there was no consensus on tube placement location for controlling IOP, or on the need for stronger postoperative corticosteroids to prevent ECL or control IOP. Overall, as the authors note, respondents “felt strongly that there is a need for a well-designed randomized clinical trial (RCT) to provide convincing evidence regarding the optimal tube locations and postoperative use of anti-inflammatory medication for GDD surgery, [and] more importantly they are willing to change their current practice pattern based on the RCT results.” Clinical Ophthalmology