Week in review: Sleep deprivation and AMD, visual field testing intervals, FDA issues warning letters

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Less sleep may lead to a greater risk of AMD development. Data from 5481 adult participants in the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were reviewed to understand the role of sleep disorders in AMD pathogenesis. Sleep deprivation (i.e., short sleep duration) was associated with development of AMD (odds ratio 1.36), findings confirmed with both cross-sectional and Mendelian randomization analyses. The authors note that, “The findings could be a reminder that we ophthalmologists should pay more attention to individuals with sleep disorders,” and recommend further studies to confirm these results. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

How often should you conduct visual field testing in your patients with ocular hypertension? To answer that question, investigators analyzed more than 16,000 30-2 visual field tests from 788 patients (1575 eyes) enrolled in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. The tests were taken every 4, 6, 12, or 24 months. The 6- and 12-month testing intervals were found to be the most accurate for the detection of progression from hypertension to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)—6 months for patients at high and medium risk of POAG and 12 months for patients at low risk. Paradoxically, testing every 4 months was less beneficial than testing every 6 months. Journal of Glaucoma

The FDA warns companies to stop selling unapproved ophthalmic drugs. On September 12, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to 8 companies, including Boiron, CVS Health, and Walgreens Boots Alliance, to cease manufacturing or marketing unapproved ophthalmic drugs claiming to treat conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, and other conditions. Many of these drugs contain silver or silver compounds, which can cause the skin to permanently turn blue or gray. The FDA asks consumers who have been taking these medications to contact their physician or other health care professional. US Food and Drug Administration