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Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging technique that allows detailed assessment of retinal thickness and morphologic evaluation of the retinal layers. This technology has developed quickly over the past two decades. OCT imaging has rapidly been integrated into routine ophthalmic clinical practice and trials. It has complemented fluorescein angiography in many instances, especially in the diagnosis and management of retinal disorders, including diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration. With OCT, the exact localization of pathologic features can be visualized in segmentation maps of the retina, and this has allowed OCT to be used to evaluate specific features that may serve as predictive factors in the prognosis and follow up of these pathologies. Therefore, it has become an important clinical and research tool for the diagnosis, follow up, treatment, and assessment of new treatment modalities for all diseases that affect the posterior pole of the eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is now a standard of care in ophthalmology and is considered essential for the diagnosis and monitoring of many retinal diseases. One of the major advances obtained with OCT was the understanding of the pathophysiology of macular holes. Non-full-thickness macular holes have been revisited because high-resolution OCT images can detect a lamellar macular defect that is not always visible clinically, and surgery has been advocated by some authors. OCT can be valuable in determining the need for and/or timing of surgical intervention on epiretinal membranes or vitreomacular traction syndrome. In addition, we can use this technology as a predictive factor in the prognosis and follow-up of the most common posterior pole pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is the major etiologic factor in the development of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME). Several soluble mediators of inflammation such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ocular inflammation. The purpose of this study is to report the short-term visual and anatomic outcomes following intravitreal injections of infliximab in eyes with refractory CME secondary to cataract surgery. An interventional, retrospective study of 7 eyes with refractory CME that were injected with 1 mg of infliximab. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at 6-month follow-up. At the 6 month follow-up, BCVA improved from 1.14 ± 0.59 logMAR at baseline to 0.51 ± 0.35 logMAR ( p = 0.0156). CMT also improved from 584 ± 159 μm at baseline to 327 ± 127 μm at 6 months ( p = 0.0111). No systemic adverse events were reported in these patients. There was a single episode of uveitis that responded to topical steroids. Inhibition of TNF-α may be beneficial in the treatment of refractory pseudophakic CME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the comparison between intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide as the primary treatment for diffuse diabetic macular edema.