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To examine the relationship between axial length (AL) and choriocapillaris (CC) flow deficits percentage (FD%) in non-pathological highly myopic eyes.Prospective cross-sectional study.This study included Chinese patients with non-pathological high myopia, which was defined by an AL of26 mm and a META-PM classification grade of2. Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography was used to obtain 6 × 6 mm images of the macular CC. The CC FD% was measured in the fovea, parafovea, and perifovea subfields.A total of 1017 individuals (1017 eyes) with a mean age of 35.95 ± 14.11 years were included. After adjusting for age, sex, intraocular pressure, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and image quality score, the overall CC FD% increased by 0.27% (95% CI 0.02, 0.52; P = .034) for each mm increase in AL. Among subfields, longer AL was associated with a higher CC FD% in the perifovea (β = 0.53, 95% CI 0.30, 0.77; P.001), and was not associated with a higher CC FD% in the parafovea (β = 0.08, 95% CI -0.26, 0.42; P = .652) and fovea (β = 0.001, 95% CI -0.50, 0.50; P = .999).The CC FD% increased with a longer AL in high myopia in the perifovea region but not in the fovea and parafovea fields. These findings may be of interest in elucidating the etiology of myopic axial elongation.

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a novel optical coherence tomography texture-based en face image analysis (SALSA-Texture) that requires segmentation of only 1 retinal layer for glaucoma detection in eyes with axial high myopia, and to compare SALSA-Texture with standard macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) thickness, and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness maps.Comparison of diagnostic approaches.Cross-sectional data were collected from 92 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 44 healthy control eyes with axial high myopia (axial length26 mm). Optical coherence tomography texture en face images, developed using SALSA-Texture to model the spatial arrangement patterns of the pixel intensities in a region, were generated from 70-μm slabs just below the vitreal border of the inner limiting membrane. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) and areas under the precision recall curves (AUPRCs) adjusted for both eyes, axial length, age, disc area, and image quality were used to compare different approaches.The best parameter-adjusted AUROCs (95% confidence intervals) for differentiating between healthy and glaucoma high myopic eyes were 0.92 (0.88-0.94) for texture en face images, 0.88 (0.86-0.91) for macular RNFL thickness, 0.87 (0.83-0.89) for macula GCIPL thickness, and 0.87 (0.84-0.89) for GCC thickness. A subset analysis of highly advanced myopic eyes (axial length ≥27 mm; 38 glaucomatous eyes and 22 healthy eyes) showed the best AUROC was 0.92 (0.89-0.94) for texture en face images compared with 0.86 (0.84-0.88) for macular GCIPL, 0.86 (0.84-0.88) for GCC, and 0.84 (0.81-0.87) for RNFL thickness (P ≤ .02 compared with texture for all comparisons).The current results suggest that our novel en face texture-based analysis method can improve on most investigated macular tissue thickness measurements for discriminating between highly myopic glaucomatous and highly myopic healthy eyes. While further investigation is needed, texture en face images show promise for improving the detection of glaucoma in eyes with high myopia where traditional retinal layer segmentation often is challenging.

To develop a classification system of visual field (VF) abnormalities in highly myopic eyes with and without glaucoma.Secondary analysis of VF data from a longitudinal cohort study.One thousand eight hundred ninety-three VF tests from 1302 eyes (825 individuals).All participants underwent VF testing (Humphrey 24-2 Swedish interactive threshold algorithm standard program; Carl Zeiss Meditec) and detailed ophthalmic examination. A comprehensive set of VF defect patterns was defined via observation of the 1893 VF reports, literature review, and consensus meetings. The classification system comprised 4 major types of VF patterns, including normal type, glaucoma-like defects (paracentral defect, nasal step, partial arcuate defect, arcuate defect), high myopia-related defects (enlarged blind spot, vertical step, partial peripheral rim, nonspecific defect), and combined defects (nasal step with enlarged blind spot). A subset (n = 1000) of the VFs was used to evaluate the interobserver and intraobserver agreement and weighted κ values of the classification system by 2 trained readers. The prevalence of various VF patterns and their associated factors were determined.The classification of VF in highly myopic eyes and its associated risk factors.We found that normal type, glaucoma-like defects, high myopia-related defects, and combined defects accounted for 74.1%, 10.8%, 15.0%, and 0.1% of all unique VF tests, respectively. The interobserver and intraobserver agreements were89%, and the corresponding κ values were 0.86 or more between readers. Both glaucoma-like and high myopia-related VF defects were associated with older age (odds ratios [ORs], 1.07 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.10; P0.001] and 1.06 [95% CI, 1.04-1.10; P0.001]) and longer axial length (ORs, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.32-2.07; P0.001] and 1.37 [95% CI, 1.11-1.68; P = 0.003]). Longer axial length showed a stronger effect on the prevalence of glaucoma-like VF defects than on the prevalence of high myopia-related VF defects (P = 0.036).We propose a new and reproducible classification system of VF abnormalities for nonpathologic high myopia. Applying a comprehensive classification system will facilitate communication and comparison of findings among studies.

To assess the visual prognosis of optic neuritis (ON) in dependence of the glial autoimmune antibody status and associated factors.Longitudinal observational cohort study.Patients with ON and measurements of serum concentrations of glial autoantibodies were consecutively and longitudinally examined with a minimal follow-up of 3 months. Patients with multiple sclerosis and double seronegative results were excluded.The study included 529 patients (aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin [AQP4-IgG] seropositive, n = 291; myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin [MOG-IgG] seropositive, n = 112; double-seronegative, n = 126) with 1022 ON episodes (AQP4-IgG seropositive, n = 550; MOG-IgG seropositive, n=254; double-seronegative, n = 218). Prevalence of severe vision loss (best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] ≤20/200 at the end of follow-up) was higher (P.001) in the AQP4-IgG group (236/550; 42.9%) than in the seronegative group (68/218; 31.2%) and in the MOG-IgG group (15/254; 5.9%). Prevalence of good vision recovery (BCVA≥20/40) was higher (P.001) in the MOG-IgG group (229/254; 90.2%) than in the seronegative group (111/218; 50.9%) and in the AQP4-IgG group (236/550; 42.9%). In multivariable logistic analysis, higher prevalence of severe vision loss was associated with AQP4-IgG seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 1.66; 95% CI 1.14, 2.43; P = .008), male sex (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.33, 2.93; P.001), age at ON onset45 years (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.35, 2.77; P.001), nadir vision ≤20/200 (OR 14.11, 95% CI 6.54, 36.93; P.001), and higher number of recurrences (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.14, 1.61; P = .001). Higher prevalence of good vision outcome was associated with MOG-IgG seropositivity (OR 8.13, 95% CI 4.82, 14.2; P.001), age at ON onset18 years (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.18, 2.71; P = .006), nadir visual acuity ≥20/40 (OR 4.03; 95% CI 1.45, 14.37; P = .015), and lower number of recurrences (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.50, 0.72; P.001).Severe vision loss (prevalence in the AQP4-IgG group, MOG-IgG group, and seronegative group: 42.9%, 5.9%, and 31.2%, respectively) was associated with AQP4-IgG seropositivity, male gender, older age at onset, worse nadir vision, and higher number of recurrences.

PurposeTo determine the predictors of Bruch membrane opening (BMO) location accuracy and the visibility of the BMO location in glaucoma and healthy individuals with and without axial high myopia.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsHealthy eyes and eyes with glaucoma from an American study and a Korean clinic population were classified into 2 groups: those with no axial high myopia (axial length [AL]

PURPOSE: To develop deep learning models to perform automated diagnosis and quantitative classification of age-related cataract from anterior segment photographs. DESIGN: DeepLensNet was trained by applying deep learning models to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) dataset. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 18 999 photographs (6333 triplets) from longitudinal follow-up of 1137 eyes (576 AREDS participants). METHODS: Deep learning models were trained to detect and quantify nuclear sclerosis (NS; scale 0.9–7.1) from 45-degree slit-lamp photographs and cortical lens opacity (CLO; scale 0%–100%) and posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC; scale 0%–100%) from retroillumination photographs. DeepLensNet performance was compared with that of 14 ophthalmologists and 24 medical students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean squared error (MSE). RESULTS: On the full test set, mean MSE for DeepLensNet was 0.23 (standard deviation [SD], 0.01) for NS, 13.1 (SD, 1.6) for CLO, and 16.6 (SD, 2.4) for PSC. On a subset of the test set (substantially enriched for positive cases of CLO and PSC), for NS, mean MSE for DeepLensNet was 0.23 (SD, 0.02), compared with 0.98 (SD, 0.24; P = 0.000001) for the ophthalmologists and 1.24 (SD, 0.34; P = 0.000005) for the medical students. For CLO, mean MSE was 53.5 (SD, 14.8), compared with 134.9 (SD, 89.9; P = 0.003) for the ophthalmologists and 433.6 (SD, 962.1; P = 0.0007) for the medical students. For PSC, mean MSE was 171.9 (SD, 38.9), compared with 176.8 (SD, 98.0; P = 0.67) for the ophthalmologists and 398.2 (SD, 645.4; P = 0.18) for the medical students. In external validation on the Singapore Malay Eye Study (sampled to reflect the cataract severity distribution in AREDS), the MSE for DeepSeeNet was 1.27 for NS and 25.5 for PSC. CONCLUSIONS: DeepLensNet performed automated and quantitative classification of cataract severity for all 3 types of age-related cataract. For the 2 most common types (NS and CLO), the accuracy was significantly superior to that of ophthalmologists; for the least common type (PSC), it was similar. DeepLensNet may have wide potential applications in both clinical and research domains. In the future, such approaches may increase the accessibility of cataract assessment globally. The code and models are available at https://github.com/ncbi/deeplensnet.

To evaluate the ocular and systemic determinants of the choriocapillaris flow deficits percentage (CC FD%) in normal eyes.Observational cross-sectional study.Healthy Chinese participants without ocular or systemic diseases underwent detailed ophthalmic evaluations, including swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) with 6- × 6-mm macular choriocapillaris images. The CC FD% was assessed in circular regions with diameters of 1.0 and 5.0 mm, rings with 1.0- to 2.5-mm diameters, and rings with 2.5- to 5.0-mm diameters.The study included 830 individuals (mean ± SD age 58.66 ± 8.75 years). CC FD% (mean ± SD 22.05% ± 1.13%) was the lowest in the 2.5- to 5.0-mm ring, followed by the 1.0- to 2.5-mm ring, and highest in the 1.0-mm circle. In multivariable analysis, a higher CC FD% was associated with older age (β = 0.16 [95% confidence interval {CI}] 0.08-0.24, P.001), higher intraocular pressure (β = 0.34 [95% CI 0.25-0.42], P.001), higher serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = 0.24 [95% CI 0.17-0.32], P.001), and lower image quality score (β = -0.22 [95% CI -0.30 to -0.14], P.001). CC FD% was also independent of axial length.In healthy adult Chinese individuals, a higher CC FD% was associated with older age, higher intraocular pressure, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol serum concentration. These factors may influence clinical assessments of the choriocapillaris. The lack of an association between CC FD% and axial length is consistent with similar findings for Bruch membrane thickness, macular retinal thickness, and macular retinal pigment epithelium cell density.

Purpose: To investigate the association of commonly used systemic medications with glaucoma and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the European population. Design: Meta-analysis of eleven population-based cohort studies of the European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium. Participants: A total of 143240 participants were included in the glaucoma analyses and 47177 participants in the IOP analyses. Methods: We examined associations of four categories of systemic medications (antihypertensive medications: beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers [CCBs], alpha-agonists, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers; lipid-lowering medications; antidepressants; antidiabetic medications) with glaucoma prevalence and IOP. Glaucoma ascertainment and IOP measurement method were according to individual study protocols. Multivariable regression analyses were carried out in each study and results were pooled using random effects meta-analyses. Associations with antidiabetic medications were examined in diabetic participants only. Main Outcome Measures: Glaucoma prevalence and IOP. Results: In the meta-analyses of our maximally-adjusted multivariable models, use of CCBs was associated with a higher prevalence of glaucoma (odds ratio [OR] with corresponding 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.23 [1.08 to 1.39]). This association was stronger for monotherapy of CCBs with direct cardiac effects (OR [95% CI]: 1.96 [1.23 to 3.12]). The use of other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants or antidiabetic medications were not clearly associated with glaucoma. Use of systemic beta-blockers was associated with a lower IOP (Beta [95% CI]: -0.33 [-0.57 to -0.08] mmHg). Monotherapy of both selective (Beta [95% CI]: -0.45 [-0.74 to -0.16] mmHg) and non-selective (Beta [95% CI]: -0.54 [-0.94 to -0.15] mmHg) systemic beta-blockers was associated with lower IOP. There was a suggestive association between use of high-ceiling diuretics and lower IOP (Beta [95% CI]: -0.30 [-0.47; -0.14] mmHg), but not when used as monotherapy. Use of other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants, or antidiabetic medications were not associated with IOP. Conclusions: We identified a potentially harmful association between use of CCBs and glaucoma prevalence. Additionally, we observed and quantified the association of lower IOP with systemic beta-blocker use. Both findings are potentially important given that glaucoma patients frequently use systemic antihypertensive medications. Determining whether the CCB association is causal should be a research priority. published

Topic To provide updated estimates on the global prevalence and number of people with diabetic retinopathy (DR) through 2045. Clinical Relevance The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated the global population with diabetes mellitus (DM) to be 463 million in 2019 and 700 million in 2045. Diabetic retinopathy remains a common complication of DM and a leading cause of preventable blindness in the adult working population. Methods We conducted a systematic review using PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus for population-based studies published up to March 2020. Random effect meta-analysis with logit transformation was performed to estimate global and regional prevalence of DR, vision-threatening DR (VTDR), and clinically significant macular edema (CSME). Projections of DR, VTDR, and CSME burden were based on population data from the IDF Atlas 2019. Results We included 59 population-based studies. Among individuals with diabetes, global prevalence was 22.27% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.73%–25.03%) for DR, 6.17% (95% CI, 5.43%–6.98%) for VTDR, and 4.07% (95% CI, 3.42%–4.82%) for CSME. In 2020, the number of adults worldwide with DR, VTDR, and CSME was estimated to be 103.12 million, 28.54 million, and 18.83 million, respectively; by 2045, the numbers are projected to increase to 160.50 million, 44.82 million, and 28.61 million, respectively. Diabetic retinopathy prevalence was highest in Africa (35.90%) and North American and the Caribbean (33.30%) and was lowest in South and Central America (13.37%). In meta-regression models adjusting for habitation type, response rate, study year, and DR diagnostic method, Hispanics (odds ratio [OR], 2.92; 95% CI, 1.22–6.98) and Middle Easterners (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.51–3.94) with diabetes were more likely to have DR compared with Asians. Discussion The global DR burden is expected to remain high through 2045, disproportionately affecting countries in the Middle East and North Africa and the Western Pacific. These updated estimates may guide DR screening, treatment, and public health care strategies.

To assess potential associations between the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and systemic parameters in a Chinese population.Cross-sectional study.The Tongren Health Care Study included individuals attending regular health care check-up examinations in the Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2017 to 2019. Detailed medical examinations and ophthalmic examinations were applied, including fundus photography. AMD was evaluated according to the Beckman Initiative guidelines.The study included 7,719 participants (mean age: 60.5 ± 8.1 years; range: 50-97 years). The prevalence of any, early, intermediate, and late AMD was 1,607 of 7,719 (20.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.1%, 21.9%), 832 of 7,719 (10.8%; 95% CI: 10.1%, 11.5%), 733 of 7,719 (9.5%; 95% CI: 8.9%, 10.2%), and 42 of 7,719 (0.50%; 95% CI: 0.40%, 0.70%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the prevalence of any AMD increased with higher blood monocyte count (odds ratio [OR]:3.49; 95% CI: 2.26, 5.38; P.001), after adjusting for older age (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.07; P.001), higher serum concentration of calcium (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.32, 4.84; P = .005), high-density lipoproteins (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.61; P.001), and lower lipoprotein a (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98, 0.99; P = .02). Similar findings were obtained for the prevalence of intermediate and late AMD combined. The association between higher monocyte count and higher AMD prevalence showed the highest odds ratio for the age group of 50-59 years (any AMD: OR: 4.35, P.001; intermediate and late AMD: OR: 6.14, P.001). Individuals with a monocyte count of ≥0.5 × 10A higher prevalence of early AMD, intermediate AMD, late AMD, and any AMD was associated with a higher peripheral monocyte count. In agreement with previous studies, the observation suggests monocytes playing a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.

In 2019, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) created the Task Force on Myopia in recognition of the substantial global increases in myopia prevalence and its associated complications. The Task Force, led by Richard L. Abbott, MD, and Donald Tan, MD, comprised recognized experts in myopia prevention and treatment, public health experts from around the world, and organization representatives from the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Optometry, and American Academy of Pediatrics. The Academy's Board of Trustees believes that myopia is a high-priority cause of visual impairment, warranting a timely evaluation and synthesis of the scientific literature and formulation of an action plan to address the issue from different perspectives. This includes education of physicians and other health care providers, patients and their families, schools, and local and national public health agencies; defining health policies to ameliorate patients' access to appropriate therapy and to promote effective public health interventions; and fostering promising avenues of research.

Purpose To review the impact of increased digital device usage arising from lockdown measures instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia and to make recommendations for mitigating potential detrimental effects on myopia control. Design Perspective. Methods We reviewed studies focused on digital device usage, near work, and outdoor time in relation to myopia onset and progression. Public health policies on myopia control, recommendations on screen time, and information pertaining to the impact of COVID-19 on increased digital device use were presented. Recommendations to minimize the impact of the pandemic on myopia onset and progression in children were made. Results Increased digital screen time, near work, and limited outdoor activities were found to be associated with the onset and progression of myopia, and could potentially be aggravated during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak period. While school closures may be short-lived, increased access to, adoption of, and dependence on digital devices could have a long-term negative impact on childhood development. Raising awareness among parents, children, and government agencies is key to mitigating myopigenic behaviors that may become entrenched during this period. Conclusion While it is important to adopt critical measures to slow or halt the spread of COVID-19, close collaboration between parents, schools, and ministries is necessary to assess and mitigate the long-term collateral impact of COVID-19 on myopia control policies.

Purpose Although there have been many population-based studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), only limited information is available in Asia on the epidemiology of geographic atrophy (GA). We aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of GA through an analysis of multiple studies conducted within the Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium (AEEC). Design Cross-sectional meta-analyses. Participants A total of 97 213 individuals aged 40 years and older. Methods Data from 22 population-based studies from countries belonging to the AEEC were included. In all studies, AMD was defined on the basis of standardized grading systems. Geographic atrophy was defined as an area of pallor in the fundus with visibility of the underlying choroidal blood vessels and sharply defined borders. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate overall and age-, gender-, and region-specific pooled prevalence of GA. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of GA per 1000 persons. Results The mean age was 60.8 ± 10.0 years, and 42 673 (43.9%) were male. Overall, a total of 223 individuals (0.2%) had GA. The pooled overall prevalence of GA was 1.57 per 1000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–2.10), which was 3 times less than that of neovascular AMD of 5.20 per 1000 persons (95% CI, 3.97–6.43). Compared with those aged 50 to 59 years, the prevalence of GA increased from 0.34 per 1000 persons (95% CI, 0.07–0.62) to 2.90 per 1000 persons (95% CI, 1.55–4.25) in those aged ≥70 years. The GA prevalence per 1000 persons was similar between urban (2.22; 95% CI, 1.22–3.23) and rural residents (1.33; 95% CI, 0.70–1.96). Geographic atrophy was more prevalent in South Asia (based on studies from India and Nepal, 3.82 per 1000 persons; 95% CI, 1.72–5.93) compared with East Asia (based on studies from China, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan, and the Singapore Chinese Eye Study, 0.76 per 1000 persons; 95% CI, 0.31–1.22, P = 0.005). Conclusions Geographic atrophy is uncommon in Asian populations compared with those of European ancestry. Even within Asia, geographic differences in GA prevalence were seen. The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that better dissection of risk factors in the Asian population for GA may provide insights into the biological pathways that drive these late-stage manifestations, thus suggesting better targets for prevention.

Summary: Background: We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations. Methods: Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists. Findings: Between Sept 1 and Dec 12, 2019, 470 individuals complete round 1 of the process, of whom 336 completed all three rounds (round 2 between Feb 26 and March 18, 2020, and round 3 between April 2 and April 25, 2020) 156 (46%) of 336 were women, 180 (54%) were men. The proportion of participants who worked in each region ranged from 104 (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa to 21 (6%) in central Europe, eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Of 85 unique challenges identified after round 1, 16 challenges were prioritised at the global level; six focused on detection and treatment of conditions (cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, services for children and screening for early detection), two focused on addressing shortages in human resource capacity, five on other health service and policy factors (including strengthening policies, integration, health information systems, and budget allocation), and three on improving access to care and promoting equity. Interpretation: This list of Grand Challenges serves as a starting point for immediate action by funders to guide investment in research and innovation in eye health. It challenges researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to build collaborations to address specific challenges. Funding: The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Moorfields Eye Charity, National Institute for Health Research Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Trust, Sightsavers, The Fred Hollows Foundation, The Seva Foundation, British Council for the Prevention of Blindness, and Christian Blind Mission. Translations: For the French, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic and Persian translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Myopic axial elongation is associated with various non-pathological changes. These include a decrease in photoreceptor cell and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell density and retinal layer thickness, mainly in the retro-equatorial to equatorial regions; choroidal and scleral thinning pronounced at the posterior pole and least marked at the ora serrata; and a shift in Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) occurring in moderately myopic eyes and typically in the temporal/inferior direction. The BMO shift leads to an overhang of Bruch's membrane (BM) into the nasal intrapapillary compartment and BM absence in the temporal region (i.e., parapapillary gamma zone), optic disc ovalization due to shortening of the ophthalmoscopically visible horizontal disc diameter, fovea-optic disc distance elongation, reduction in angle kappa, and straightening/stretching of the papillomacular retinal blood vessels and retinal nerve fibers. Highly myopic eyes additionally show an enlargement of all layers of the optic nerve canal, elongation and thinning of the lamina cribrosa, peripapillary scleral flange (i.e., parapapillary delta zone) and peripapillary choroidal border tissue, and development of circular parapapillary beta, gamma, and delta zone. Pathological features of high myopia include development of macular linear RPE defects (lacquer cracks), which widen to round RPE defects (patchy atrophies) with central BM defects, macular neovascularization, myopic macular retinoschisis, and glaucomatous/glaucoma-like and non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy. BM thickness is unrelated to axial length. Including the change in eye shape from a sphere in emmetropia to a prolate (rotational) ellipsoid in myopia, the features may be explained by a primary BM enlargement in the retro-equatorial/equatorial region leading to axial elongation.

To assess the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Russian population.Population-based prevalence assessment.The Ural Eye and Medical Study was conducted in a rural and urban area in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan. The study included 5,899 participants aged 40+ years old. AMD, defined according to the Beckman Initiative for Macular Research, was assessed by fundus photographs and optical coherence tomographic images of 4,932 (83.6%) participants.The prevalence of any AMD, early AMD, intermediate AMD, or late AMD, geographic atrophy, and neovascular AMD were 18.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.8-19.6), 11.6% (95% CI, 10.4-12.8), 5.0% (95% CI, 4.2-5.8), 1.6% (95% CI, 1.1-2.0), 0.7% (95% CI, 0.4-1.0) and 0.9% (95% CI, 0.6-1.3), respectively, for individuals55 years old. Applying an age limit of 40+ years for the AMD definition, prevalence of any AMD, early AMD, intermediate AMD, late AMD, geographic atrophy and neovascular AMD were 14.1% (95% CI, 13.1-15.1), 9.4% (95% CI, 8.6-10.2), 3.8% (95% CI, 3.2-4.3), 1.0% (95% CI, 0.7-1.2), 0.4% (95% CI, 0.2-0.6) and 0.5% (95% CI, 0.3-0.7), respectively, for individuals aged 40+ years. Higher AMD prevalence was correlated with older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% CI, 1.13-1.16; P0.001), rural region (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.32-2.17; P0.001), lower diabetes prevalence (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.38-0.82; P = 0.003), and shorter axial length (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79-0.99; P = 0.04). AMD prevalence was not significantly (all P ≥ 0.20) correlated with any systemic parameter examined, except for lower prevalence of diabetes.In this typical, ethnically mixed, urban and rural population from Russia, a higher prevalence for AMD was associated mainly with older age, rural region of habitation, shorter axial length, and lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus. The AMD prevalence was lower than in Europeans and higher than in East Asians.

A posterior staphyloma is an outpouching of a circumscribed region of the posterior fundus and has been considered a hallmark of pathologic myopia. Occurring in highly myopic eyes, it is histologically characterized by a relatively abrupt scleral thinning starting at the staphyloma edge, a pronounced de-arrangement of scleral collagen fibrils and a marked choroidal thinning, which is the most marked at the staphyloma edge and which occurs in addition to the axial elongation-associated choroidal thinning. Besides in highly myopic eyes, a posterior staphyloma can be found in non-highly myopic eyes in association with retinitis pigmentosa or localized defects of Bruch's membrane in the cases of which it is not associated with a marked choroidal thinning. The diagnosis of posterior staphylomas is considered best made by wide-field optical coherence tomography, because wide-field optical coherence tomography encompasses the entire extent of the most predominant type of staphylomas (i.e., the wide macular type) and since it also has a sufficiently high resolution of images (in contrast to ultrasonography, computed tomography and three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging). While the etiology of posterior staphylomas has remained unclear, local choroidal factors and a locally decreased biomechanical resistance of the sclera against a posteriorly expanding Bruch's membrane have been one of the assumed pathogenic parameters. For the therapy of staphylomas, scleral reinforcement strategies such as by posterior encircling bands, posterior scleral collagen cross-linking or scleral regeneration have been discussed or performed, however, with the pathogenesis being elusive, the therapy of staphylomas has remained undetermined.

Author(s): Ung, Lawson; Jonas, Jost B; Lietman, Thomas M; Chodosh, James | Abstract: PurposeTo critically evaluate the potential impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on global ophthalmology and VISION 2020.DesignPerspective supplemented with epidemiologic insights from available online databases.MethodsWe extracted data from the Global Vision Database (2017) and Global Burden of Disease Study (2017) to highlight temporal trends in global blindness since 1990, and provide a narrative overview of how COVID-19 may derail progress toward the goals of VISION 2020.ResultsOver 2 decades of VISION 2020 advocacy and program implementation have culminated in a universal reduction of combined age-standardized prevalence of moderate-to-severe vision impairment (MSVI) across all world regions since 1990. Between 1990 and 2017, low-income countries observed large reductions in the age-standardized prevalence per 100,000 persons of vitamin A deficiency (25,155 to 19,187), undercorrected refractive disorders (2,286 to 2,040), cataract (1,846 to 1,690), onchocerciasis (5,577 to 2,871), trachoma (506 to 159), and leprosy (36 to 26). Despite these reductions, crude projections suggest that more than 700 million persons will experience MSVI or blindness by 2050, principally owing to our growing and ageing global population.ConclusionsDespite the many resounding successes of VISION 2020, the burden of global blindness and vision impairment is set to reach historic levels in the coming years. The impact of COVID-19, while yet to be fully determined, now threatens the hard-fought gains of global ophthalmology. The postpandemic years will require renewed effort and focus on vision advocacy and expanding eye care services worldwide.

Background: Screening for hyperthyroidism using gold-standard diagnostic criteria in the general population is not cost-effective, leading to a relatively high rate of undiagnosed and untreated patients. This study aimed to establish a deep learning-based system to detect hyperthyroidism based on retinal photographs. Methods: The multicenter, observational study included retinal photographs taken from participants in two hospitals and 24 health care centers throughout China. We first trained two models to identify hyperthyroidism: in model #1, the non-hyperthyroidism individuals were randomly selected, while in model #2, the non-hyperthyroidism group was matched for age and gender with the hyperthyroidism group. After internal validation, we selected the better model for further evaluation using external validation datasets. Results: The study included 22,940 retinal photographs of 11,409 participants for the model development, and 3862 retinal photographs (1870 participants) which were obtained from two hospitals and four medical centers as the external validation datasets. Model #1 achieved a higher area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) than model #2 (0.907, 95% CI: 0.894-0.918 versus 0.850, 95% CI: 0.832-0.866) in the internal validation so that model #1 was used for further evaluation. In external datasets, model #1 reached AUCs ranging from 0.816 (95% CI 0.789-0.846) to 0.849 (95% CI 0.824-0.874) and achieved accuracies between 0.735 (95% CI 0.700-0.773) and 0.796 (95% CI 0.765-0.824). Heatmaps showed a focus of the DL-algorism on large fundus vessels and the optic nerve head. Conclusions: Retinal fundus photographs may serve for DL systems for a cost-effective and non-invasive method to detect hyperthyroidism. Funding Information: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82071005); The Special Fund of the Pediatric Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Hospitals Authority (XTCX201824); the Research Foundation of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University (yyqdkt2018-33); the Capital Health Research and Development of Special (2020-1-2052); Science & Technology Project of Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (Z201100005520045, Z181100001818003); the Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals’ Ascent Plan (DFL20150201) Declaration of Interests: Authors Lie Ju, Xin Wang, Xin Zhao, Chao He, Yu Zhong Chen, were employed by the company Beijing Eaglevision Technology Co., Ltd, China. Authors Zhao Hui Wang and Jian Xiong Gao were employed by the company iKang Guobin Healthcare Group Co., Ltd, Beijing, China. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The Medical Ethics Committee of the Beijing Tongren Hospital, and the Ethics Committee the iKang Corporation approved the study protocol fulfilling the requirements published in the Helsinki declaration. For patients whose fundus images were stored in the retrospective databases at each participating hospital, informed consent was waived by the institutional review boards.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes tended to have different pathogenesis, while their distinct risk factors have not been fully investigated. Methods: In the cross-sectional, community-based Tongren Health Care Study, type 2 diabetes was diagnosed based on fasting plasma glucose concentration of ≥7·0 mmol/L or a medical history. DR was assessed using color fundus photograph. CKD was defined by a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of

Background: Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is an essential human right, recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals as crucial for preventing disease and improving human wellbeing. Comprehensive, high-resolution estimates are important to inform progress towards achieving this goal. We aimed to produce highresolution geospatial estimates of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities. Methods: We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from 600 sources across more than 88 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to estimate access to drinking water and sanitation facilities on continuous continent-wide surfaces from 2000 to 2017, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. We estimated mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive subcategories of facilities for drinking water (piped water on or off premises, other improved facilities, unimproved, and surface water) and sanitation facilities (septic or sewer sanitation, other improved, unimproved, and open defecation) with use of ordinal regression. We also estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths in children younger than 5 years attributed to unsafe facilities and estimated deaths that were averted by increased access to safe facilities in 2017, and analysed geographical inequality in access within LMICs. Findings: Across LMICs, access to both piped water and improved water overall increased between 2000 and 2017, with progress varying spatially. For piped water, the safest water facility type, access increased from 40·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 39·4–40·7) to 50·3% (50·0–50·5), but was lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to piped water was mostly concentrated in urban centres. Access to both sewer or septic sanitation and improved sanitation overall also increased across all LMICs during the study period. For sewer or septic sanitation, access was 46·3% (95% UI 46·1–46·5) in 2017, compared with 28·7% (28·5–29·0) in 2000. Although some units improved access to the safest drinking water or sanitation facilities since 2000, a large absolute number of people continued to not have access in several units with high access to such facilities (>80%) in 2017. More than 253 000 people did not have access to sewer or septic sanitation facilities in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe, despite 88·6% (95% UI 87·2–89·7) access overall. Many units were able to transition from the least safe facilities in 2000 to safe facilities by 2017; for units in which populations primarily practised open defecation in 2000, 686 (95% UI 664–711) of the 1830 (1797–1863) units transitioned to the use of improved sanitation. Geographical disparities in access to improved water across units decreased in 76·1% (95% UI 71·6–80·7) of countries from 2000 to 2017, and in 53·9% (50·6–59·6) of countries for access to improved sanitation, but remained evident subnationally in most countries in 2017. Interpretation: Our estimates, combined with geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden, identify where efforts to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are most needed. By highlighting areas with successful approaches or in need of targeted interventions, our estimates can enable precision public health to effectively progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation. This work was primarily supported by a grant from the Gates Foundation (OPP1132415). LGA has received support from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Finance Code 001), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais. OOA acknowledges the Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation, and DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch, South Africa. SMAl acknowledges the Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Public Health, Kuwait University and International Centre for Casemix and Clinical Coding, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia for the approval and support to participate in this research project. HTA acknowledges Aksum University. MAu and CH are partly supported by a grant from the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNDS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF-2016-0084. AAz acknowledges funding from the Gates Foundation (OPP1171700). ABad is supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada. TWB was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through the Alexander von Humboldt Professor award, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research; the EU; the Wellcome Trust; and from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of National Institutes of Health (NIH; R01-HD084233), National Institute on Aging of NIH (P01AG041710), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of NIH (R01-AI124389 and R01-AI112339), as well as Fogarty International Center of NIH (D43-TW009775). DABen was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR, or the UK Department of Health and Social Care. GBB is supported by Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI) de la Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENACYT) of Panamá. FCar acknowledges UID/ MULTI/04378/2019 and UID/QUI/50006/2019 support with funding from FCT/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior through national funds. VMC acknowledges her grant (SFRH/BHD/110001/2015), received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006. JDN acknowledges support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. DBD acknowledges support from the Gates Foundation. KD is supported by a Wellcome Trust grant (number 201900/Z/16/Z) as part of his International Intermediate Fellowship. AGo acknowledges Sistema Nacional de Investigadores de Panamá (SNI), Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENACYT). CH is partly supported by a grant co-funded by European Fund for Regional Development through the Operational Program for Competitiveness (project ID P_40_382). SMSI is funded by a Fellowship from National Heart Foundation of Australia and Deakin University. MJ and the Serbian part of this GBD contribution was co-funded through grant OI175014 of the Ministry of Education Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. JK is a recipient of the 2020 Benjamin V Cohen Peace Fellowship from Ball State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. YJK’s work was supported by the Research Management Centre, Xiamen University Malaysia, grants number XMUMRF/2018-C2/ ITCM/0001. KKr is supported by a DST PURSE grant and UGC Center of Advanced Study awarded to the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. BL acknowledges support from the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre and the British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, Oxford. PTNM acknowledges the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. ANA acknowledges Debre Markos University for its support in-terms of office and internet access while reviewing this paper. AMSam received a fellowship from the Egyptian Fulbright Mission programme. MMS-M acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (contract number 175087). AShi acknowledges the support of Health Data Research UK. MRS acknowledges the Clinical Research Development Center of Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah university of Medical sciences for their wise advice. JBS is part of Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain. RT-S was supported in part by grant PI17/00719 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III–FEDER. BU acknowledges Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. TWij acknowledges the Migraine Foundation Australia and the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rajarata, Saliyapura, Anuradhapuraya, Sri Lanka. CSW was supported by the South African Medical Research Council. SBZ received a scholarship from the Australian Government research training program in support of his academic career.

Artículo con numerosos autores. Sólo se hace referencia al primero que coincide con el de la UAM y al colectivo, Background Previous attempts to characterise the burden of chronic respiratory diseases have focused only on specific disease conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. In this study, we aimed to characterise the burden of chronic respiratory diseases globally, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis on geographical and time trends from 1990 to 2017. Methods Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, we estimated the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality attributable to chronic respiratory diseases through an analysis of deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and years of life lost (YLL) by GBD super-region, from 1990 to 2017, stratified by age and sex. Specific diseases analysed included asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, pneumoconiosis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. We also assessed the contribution of risk factors (smoking, second-hand smoke, ambient particulate matter and ozone pollution, household air pollution from solid fuels, and occupational risks) to chronic respiratory disease-attributable DALYs. Findings In 2017, 544·9 million people (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 506·9–584·8) worldwide had a chronic respiratory disease, representing an increase of 39·8% compared with 1990. Chronic respiratory disease prevalence showed wide variability across GBD super-regions, with the highest prevalence among both males and females in high-income regions, and the lowest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. The age-sex-specific prevalence of each chronic respiratory disease in 2017 was also highly variable geographically. Chronic respiratory diseases were the third leading cause of death in 2017 (7·0% [95% UI 6·8–7·2] of all deaths), behind cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms. Deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases numbered 3 914 196 (95% UI 3 790 578–4 044 819) in 2017, an increase of 18·0% since 1990, while total DALYs increased by 13·3%. However, when accounting for ageing and population growth, declines were observed in age-standardised prevalence (14·3% decrease), agestandardised death rates (42·6%), and age-standardised DALY rates (38·2%). In males and females, most chronic respiratory disease-attributable deaths and DALYs were due to COPD. In regional analyses, mortality rates from chronic respiratory diseases were greatest in south Asia and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, also across both sexes. Notably, although absolute prevalence was lower in south Asia than in most other super-regions, YLLs due to chronic respiratory diseases across the subcontinent were the highest in the world. Death rates due to interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis were greater than those due to pneumoconiosis in all super-regions. Smoking was the leading risk factor for chronic respiratory disease-related disability across all regions for men. Among women, household air pollution from solid fuels was the predominant risk factor for chronic respiratory diseases in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, while ambient particulate matter represented the leading risk factor in southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania, and in the Middle East and north Africa super-region. Interpretation Our study shows that chronic respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with growth in absolute numbers but sharp declines in several age-standardised estimators since 1990. Premature mortality from chronic respiratory diseases seems to be highest in regions with less-resourced health systems on a per-capita basis, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

To investigate the relationships between myopic macular retinoschisis (MRS) and posterior staphylomas and to reveal the characteristics of other retinal lesions associated with MRS.Retrospective, observational case series.Seven hundred twenty-nine eyes of 420 patients with high myopia, which was defined as myopic refractive error of more than -8.0 diopters or an axial length longer than 26.5 mm.Highly myopic eyes were examined by ultrawide-field (UWF) swept-source (SS) OCT with scan width of up to 23 mm and scan depth of 5 mm. The OCT features of MRS and posterior staphylomas and their spatial relationship were examined in UWF SS OCT images.Associations between MRS and staphylomas.In 729 eyes with mean axial length of 30.2±2.1 mm, posterior staphyloma was detected in 482 eyes (66.1%) and MRS was detected in 136 eyes (18.7%). All 136 eyes with an MRS showed outer retinoschisis, and 40 eyes (29.4%) also showed inner retinoschisis. Posterior staphyloma was detected significantly more frequently in eyes with MRS (117/136 [86.0%]) than in eyes without MRS (365/593 [61.6%]; P0.001). In all eyes with both staphyloma and outer retinoschisis, the area of the outer retinoschisis was restricted to the area within the staphyloma. In 1 of the 19 eyes with outer retinoschisis but without staphyloma, the outer retinoschisis extended beyond the range of the scanned fundus area. Among the 40 eyes with inner retinoschisis, the inner retinoschisis was located within the region of the outer retinoschisis in 39 eyes (97.5%). In all eyes with inner retinoschisis, retinal lesions causing an inward-directed tractional force were found within the area of the inner retinoschisis.In highly myopic eyes, the sites of the MRS and staphylomas were spatially related to each other. Posterior-directed force in association with staphylomas, and an inward-directed force resulting from epiretinal membranes or vitreoretinal attachments, may act as causative factors for MRS. However, the exact mechanisms related to the development of an MRS are probably diverse and complex.

Purpose To investigate the progression pattern of myopic maculopathy and associated factors in a population-based study. Design Population-based longitudinal study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study including 4439 participants in 2001 was repeated in 2011, with 2695 individuals (66.4%) being re-examined in 2011. Methods The study participants underwent detailed ophthalmic and general examinations. Using fundus photographs obtained in 2001 and 2011, we assessed the progression of myopic maculopathy in highly myopic eyes with a refractive error ≥−6 diopters in 2001. Myopic maculopathy was differentiated into tessellated fundus (category 1), diffuse chorioretinal atrophy (category 2), patchy chorioretinal atrophy (category 3), and macular atrophy (category 4), with lacquer cracks and choroidal neovascularization as additional plus signs. Main Outcome Measures Progression pattern of myopic maculopathy. Results Of 110 highly myopic eyes (70 individuals) at baseline, 39 eyes (35.5%) showed progression observed in 15 of 79 eyes (19%) with tessellated fundus at baseline, in 17 of 24 eyes (71%) with diffuse chorioretinal atrophy, in all 6 eyes with patchy chorioretinal atrophy, and the 1 eye with macular atrophy. Lacquer cracks detected in 2 eyes in 2001 developed into a small patchy atrophy (1 eye) or widened during the follow-up (1 eye). Five eyes demonstrated new lacquer cracks. In binary regression analysis, progression of myopic maculopathy was associated with longer axial length ( P P = 0.001; OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10–1.42), higher prevalence of staphylomas ( P = 0.03; OR, 24.3; 95% CI, 2.89–204), smaller parapapillary γ-zone in 2011 ( P = 0.01; OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.41–0.91), and female gender ( P = 0.04; OR, 9.78; 95% CI, 1.06–90.6). Conclusions The 10-year progression rate of myopic maculopathy in this elderly Chinese population was 35.5%, increasing from 15 of 79 eyes (19%) in category 1 of myopic maculopathy at baseline to 17 of 24 eyes (71%) in category 2 and 6 of 6 eyes (100%) in category 3. Risk factors for myopic maculopathy progression were longer axial length, pre-existing staphylomata, smaller parapapillary γ-zone, older age, and female gender.

Purpose Interindividual variance in optic nerve head (ONH) position, axial length, and location of the temporal raphe suggest that customizing mapping between visual field locations and ONH sectors for individuals may be clinically useful. Herein we quantify the proportion of the population predicted to have structure–function mappings that markedly deviate from "average," and thus would benefit from customized mapping. Design Database study and case report. Participants Population database of 2836 eyes from the Beijing Eye Study and a single case report of an individual with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods Using the morphometric fundus data of the Beijing Eye Study for 2836 eyes and applying a recently developed model based on axial length and ONH position relative to the fovea, we determined for each measurement location in the 24-2 Humphrey (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) visual field the proportion of eyes for which, in the customized approach as compared with the generalized approach, the mapped ONH sector was shifted into a different sector. We determined the proportion of eyes for which the mapped ONH location was shifted by more than 15°, 30°, or 60°. Main Outcome Measures Mapping correspondence between locations in visual field space to localized sectors on the ONH. Results The largest interindividual differences in mapping are in the nasal step region, where the same visual field location can map to either the superior or inferior ONH, depending on other anatomic features. For these visual field locations, approximately 12% of eyes showed a mapping opposite to conventional expectations. Conclusions Anatomically customized mapping shifts the map markedly in approximately 12% of the general population in the nasal step region, where visual field locations can map to the opposite pole of the ONH than conventionally considered. Early glaucomatous damage commonly affects this region; hence, individually matching structure to function may prove clinically useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of progression within individuals.

Background: The Vision Loss Expert Group and Global Burden of Disease Study have extensively updated estimates of global vision loss burden in 2020, temporal changeover 3 decades and forecasts for 2050. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of population-based datasets relevant to vision impairment (VI) from January 1980 to October 2018. Hierarchical models were fitted to estimate 2020 prevalence (with 95% uncertainty intervals, UI) of (1) mild VI (presenting visual acuity [PVA] 6/12). Findings: In 2020, an estimated 43.2 million (95% UI: 37.5-48.2 million; 55% female) people were blind, 295.3 (95% UI 267.0-325.5) million had MSVI, 257.3 (95% UI 232.2-284.7) million had mild VI, and 507.4 million (95% UI 369.3–663.8) were VI from uncorrected presbyopia. Globally among adults aged ≥50 years, age-standardised prevalence of blindness reduced by 29% between 1990 and 2020, while MSVI increased slightly (+2.4%). The number of blind people increased by 50.2% and MSVI by 91.6%. By 2050, we predict 895.5 million people blind/VI. Interpretation: It is encouraging that age-adjusted prevalence of blindness has reduced over the past 3 decades, yet due to population growth progress is not keeping pace with needs. We face enormous challenges in avoiding vision impairment as the global population grows and ages. Funding Statement: Brien Holden Vision Institute. Fondation Thea. Fred Hollows Foundation. Gates Foundation. Sightsavers International. University of Heidelberg. Declaration of Interests: A.M. Bron, Allergan (C) Baush and Lomb (C), Santen (C), Thea (C) - (C) stands for consultant. J Kempen: Consultant (DSMC Chair) for Gilead. Grants and contracts from National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute; Sight for Souls; and Christoffel Blindenmission. No other authors had conflicts to declare.

The optic nerve head can morphologically be differentiated into the optic disc with the lamina cribrosa as its basis, and the parapapillary region with zones alpha (irregular pigmentation due to irregularities of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and peripheral location), beta zone (complete RPE loss while Bruch's membrane (BM) is present), gamma zone (absence of BM), and delta zone (elongated and thinned peripapillary scleral flange) within gamma zone and located at the peripapillary ring. Alpha zone is present in almost all eyes. Beta zone is associated with glaucoma and may develop due to a IOP rise-dependent parapapillary up-piling of RPE. Gamma zone may develop due to a shift of the non-enlarged BM opening (BMO) in moderate myopia, while in highly myopic eyes, the BMO enlarges and a circular gamma zone and delta zone develop. The ophthalmoscopic shape and size of the optic disc is markedly influenced by a myopic shift of BMO, usually into the temporal direction, leading to a BM overhanging into the intrapapillary compartment at the nasal disc border, a secondary lack of BM in the temporal parapapillary region (leading to gamma zone in non-highly myopic eyes), and an ocular optic nerve canal running obliquely from centrally posteriorly to nasally anteriorly. In highly myopic eyes (cut-off for high myopia at approximately −8 diopters or an axial length of 26.5 mm), the optic disc area enlarges, the lamina cribrosa thus enlarges in area and decreases in thickness, and the BMO increases, leading to a circular gamma zone and delta zone in highly myopic eyes.

To measure the density of the superficial retinal small vessel network (SRSVN), superficial retinal capillary network (SRCN), deep retinal capillary network (DRCN), and choriocapillaris and the size of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in the superficial retinal layer in normal eyes.Prospective observational cross-sectional study.In healthy Chinese volunteers, the retinal and choroidal vasculature was visualized by split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography-associated optical coherence tomography (RTVueXR Avanti device; Optovue Inc, Fremont, California, USA).Among 105 healthy participants (age: 35.9 ± 13.8 years) mean FAZ measured 0.35 ± 0.12 mm(2), and mean density of SRSVN, SRCN, DRCN, and choriocapillaris was 8.54% ± 0.92%, 31.8% ± 2.6%, 45.8% ± 3.3%, 44.4% ± 3.3%, and 44.5% ± 2.7%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, higher SRSVN density was associated with younger age (P = .001; standardized regression coefficient β: -0.28), male sex (P = .008; β: -0.23), lower SRCN density (P.001; β: -0.40), and larger mean choriocapillaris vessel diameter (P = .001; β: 0.30). Higher SRCN density was correlated with male sex (P = .007; β: -0.19), lower SRSVN density (P.001; β: -0.44), and higher density of the radial peripapillary capillary density (P = .004; β: 0.20). Higher DRCN density was correlated with younger age (P.001; β: -0.31), female sex (P = .002; β: 0.22), higher SRCN density (P.001; β: 0.38), and higher choriocapillaris density (P.001; β: 0.39). Higher choriocapillaris network density in the central region was associated with higher DRCN density (P.001; β: 0.43) and lower radial peripapillary capillary density (P = .005; β: -0.26). All retinal vascular parameters were not significantly correlated with axial length or subfoveal choroidal thickness.The density of the macular vascular networks decreases with older age and is independent of axial length and subfoveal choroidal thickness in healthy individuals.

Primary angle closure disease (PACD), prevalent in Asian countries, is generally associated with a shallower anterior chamber, a shorter axial length, thicker lens, hyperopia, and female sex. Other physiologic factors, however, may be important, especially with regard to triggering acute primary angle closure. Thickening of the choroid has been demonstrated in untreated and treated, acute and chronic PACD eyes. Recently, there has been growing interest in studying the role of the choroid in the pathophysiology of PACD. The emergence of new imaging technology such as the enhanced depth imaging mode of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and swept-source optical coherence tomography has contributed to understanding PACD pathologies. We summarize the functions of the choroid and choroidal changes in the pathogenesis of PACD, and discuss potential future developments.

Purpose To examine the prevalence of fundus tessellation and its associated factors. Design Population-based study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study 2011 included 3468 individuals with a mean age of 64.6±9.8 years (range, 50–93 years). Methods Participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. By using 45° color fundus photographs of the macula and optic disc, fundus tessellation, defined as variation in the visibility of the large choroidal vessels, was differentiated into 3 grades. Main Outcome Measures Fundus tessellation. Results Assessment of fundus tessellation was available for 3442 individuals (99.6%) or 6789 eyes (98.6%). In multivariate analysis, a higher degree of fundus tessellation (mean, 0.84±0.79) was associated with older age ( P P P = 0.04; beta, 0.03), worse best-corrected visual acuity ( P P P P P = 0.02; beta, −0.04), and lower prevalence of late AMD ( P = 0.007; beta, −0.04). If parapapillary beta zone was dropped, higher glaucoma prevalence ( P = 0.003) was associated with a higher degree of fundus tessellation. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and retinal vein occlusions, mean blood pressure, and intraocular pressure were not ( P > 0.10) associated with fundus tessellation. In a reverse manner, thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness was associated with a higher degree of fundus tessellation ( P Conclusions Fundus tessellation is a surrogate for choroidal thinness and may be a clinical sign for a leptochoroid. After adjusting for ocular and systemic parameters, fundus tessellation also is associated with a larger parapapillary beta zone and higher glaucoma prevalence, and a lower prevalence of intermediate and late AMD. Its association with lower visual acuity warrants further investigation.

The orbital cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) represents the true counter-pressure against the intraocular pressure (IOP) across the lamina cribrosa and is, therefore, one of the two determinants of the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference (TLPD). From this anatomic point of view, an elevated TLPD could be due to elevated IOP or abnormally low orbital CSFP. Both experimental and clinical studies have suggested that a low CSFP could be associated with glaucomatous optic neuropathy in normal-pressure glaucoma. These included monkey studies with an experimental long-term reduction in CSFP, and clinical retrospective and prospective studies on patients with normal-pressure glaucoma. Since the choroidal blood drains via the vortex veins through the superior ophthalmic vein into the intracranial cavernous sinus, anatomy suggests that the CSFP could influence choroidal thickness. A population-based study revealed that thicker subfoveal choroidal thickness was associated with higher CSFP. Since the central retinal vein passes through the orbital CSF space, anatomy suggests that the retinal venous pressure should be at least as high as the orbital CSFP. Other experimental, clinical or population-based studies suggested an association between higher CSFP and higher retinal venous pressure and wider retinal veins. Consequently, a higher estimated CSFP was associated with arterial hypertensive retinopathy (with respect to the dilated retinal vein diameter and higher arterial-to-venous diameter) and with the prevalence, severity and incidence of diabetic retinopathy. Physiologically, CSFP was related with higher IOP. The influence of the CSFP on the episcleral venous pressure and/or a regulation of both CSFP and IOP by a center in the dorsomedial/perifornical hypothalamus may be responsible for this. In summary, the CSFP may be an overlooked parameter in ocular physiology and pathology. Abnormal changes in the CSFP, in particular in relationship to the IOP, may have pathophysiologic importance.

Purpose To examine the features of myopia-related optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in a population-based setting. Design Population-based study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study 2011 included 3468 subjects with an age of 50 years or more. Methods The participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination including OCT with enhanced depth imaging of the macula. Main Outcome Measures Optical coherence tomography features of the macula in highly myopic eyes defined by a refractive error of −6 diopters or less or an axial length of 26.5 mm or more. Results Readable OCT images were available for 6530 eyes (94.5%) of 3278 participants. The most common change in the macula was maculoschisis (0.8±0.1%), followed by incomplete posterior vitreous detachment (0.7±0.1%), disruption of the photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment interface (0.6±0.1%), epiretinal membranes (0.6±0.1%), macular defects in Bruch's membrane (0.3±0.1%), clumping of the retinal pigment epithelium (0.2±0.1%), vitreofoveal adhesion (0.2±0.1%), and macular holes in 2 eyes (0.1±0.1%). Prevalence of any myopic maculopathy per eye was 112 of 6530, or 1.71±0.16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40–2.03). After adjustment for longer axial length ( P P P ≥0.05), including biochemical blood examination and ocular parameters. Best-corrected visual acuity was associated significantly with the absence of a disruption of the photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment interface ( P P P Conclusions Based on OCT examination, the most common macular change in highly myopic eyes was maculoschisis, followed by incomplete posterior vitreous detachment, disruption of the photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment interface, epiretinal membranes, macular defects in Bruch's membrane, clumping of the retinal pigment epithelium, vitreofoveal adhesion, and macular holes. The most important macular changes with a negative effect on best-corrected visual acuity were a disruption of the photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment interface and epiretinal membranes.

Purpose To determine the ability of ophthalmologists across Europe to match stereoscopic optic disc photographs to visual fields of varying severity. Design Evaluation and comparison of 2 diagnostic tests. Participants A total of 109 of 260 invited ophthalmologists in 11 European countries. These had participated in the previous European Optic Disc Assessment Trial (EODAT), a trial on glaucoma diagnostic accuracy based on optic discs only. Methods Each participant matched stereo optic disc photographs of 40 healthy and 48 glaucomatous eyes to a visual field chosen from 4 options per disc. The 4 presented visual fields included the corresponding one and 3 other visual fields, varying in severity. The matching accuracy and any inaccuracy per disease severity were calculated. Classification accuracy (as glaucomatous or healthy) was compared with EODAT data. Duplicate slides allowed for the assessment of intraobserver agreement. Main Outcome Measures Accuracy of matching optic discs with their corresponding visual field and of classifying them as healthy or glaucomatous; intraobserver agreement (κ). Results The overall accuracy of ophthalmologists for correctly matching stereoscopic optic disc photographs to their visual fields was 58.7%. When incorrectly matched, the observers generally overestimated the visual field severity ( P Conclusions European ophthalmologists correctly matched stereoscopic optic disc photographs to their corresponding visual field in only approximately 59% of cases. In most mismatches, the clinicians overestimated the visual field damage. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

To examine subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in patients with diabetes mellitus and patients with diabetic retinopathy.Population-based, cross-sectional study.The population-based Beijing Eye Study 2011 included 3468 individuals with a mean age of 64.6 ± 9.8 years (range, 50-93 years).A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with enhanced depth imaging for measurement of SFCT and fundus photography for the assessment of diabetic retinopathy.Subfoveal choroidal thickness.Fasting blood samples, fundus photographs, and choroidal OCT images were available for 2041 subjects (58.8%), with 246 subjects (12.1 ± 0.7%) fulfilling the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and 23 subjects having diabetic retinopathy. Mean SFCT did not differ significantly between patients with diabetes mellitus and nondiabetic subjects (266 ± 108 vs. 261 ± 103 μm; P=0.43) nor between patients with diabetic retinopathy and subjects without retinopathy (249 ± 86 vs. 262 ± 104 μm; P = 0.56). After adjustment for age, sex, axial length, lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, corneal curvature radius, and best-corrected visual acuity, SFCT was associated with a higher glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value (P0.001; regression coefficient B, 8.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.02-12.3); standardized coefficient β, 0.08) or with the presence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.001; B, 21.3; 95% CI, 9.12-33.5) but not with presence of diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.61) or stage of diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.14). As a corollary, after adjusting for age, region of habitation, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and level of education, diabetes mellitus was associated with a thicker SFCT (P0.001). In contrast, neither presence of diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.61) nor stage of diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.09) were associated significantly with SFCT after adjusting for body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and level of education and after adjusting for blood glucose concentrations, HbA1c value, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively.Patients with diabetes mellitus had a slightly, but statistically significantly, thicker subfoveal choroid, whereas presence and stage of diabetic retinopathy were not associated additionally with an abnormal SFCT. Whereas diabetes mellitus as a systemic disease leads to a slight thickening of the choroid, diabetic retinopathy as an ocular disorder was not associated with choroidal thickness abnormalities after adjusting for the presence of diabetes mellitus.The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Objective To evaluate the association between refractive errors and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Main Outcome Measures A clear understanding of the relationship between refractive error and AMD provides insights into the pathophysiology of AMD. Methods We searched PubMed and Embase from their inception to July 2012 for population-based studies with data on refractive error and AMD assessed from retinal photographs at baseline and follow-up. We performed separate meta-analyses for cross-sectional studies and cohort studies using adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) under random effects models, respectively. Results Analysis of the 6 cross-sectional studies showed that hyperopia was associated with higher odds of prevalent AMD (pooled OR hyperopia vs. emmetropia: 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.29) and that myopia was associated with lower odds of prevalent AMD (pooled OR myopia vs. emmetropia: 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61–0.92). Analysis from the 3 cohort studies showed nonsignificant associations. Analysis of the 5 cross-sectional and 2 cohort studies showed that each diopter increase in spherical equivalent was associated with increased odds of both prevalent (pooled OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06–1.12) and incident (pooled HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.10) AMD. In 3 cross-sectional studies with data on axial length, each millimeter increase in axial length was associated with a decreased odd of prevalent AMD (pooled OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69–0.85). Conclusions Refractive error is associated with AMD, although a temporal relationship cannot be determined on the basis of current evidence. Ophthalmologists should be aware that risk of AMD clinically seems to vary by refractive status. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Objective To assess the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and its associations in a population-based setting. Design Population-based, cross-sectional cohort study. Participants Of 4403 eligible subjects with an age of ≥50 years, 3468 individuals (78.8%) participated in the Beijing Eye Study 2011 (mean age, 64.6±9.8 years; range, 50–93 years). Methods All study participants underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination. After medical pupil dilation, PEX was assessed by an experienced ophthalmologist using slit-lamp-based biomicroscopy. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence and associations of PEX. Results Slit-lamp examination results were available for 3022 study participants (87.1%). Definite pseudoexfoliation was observed in 72 of the 3022 subjects, with a prevalence of 2.38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84–2.93). Suspected PEX was detected in 104 of the subjects (3.44%; 95% CI, 2.8–4.1). The overall prevalence of PEX (definite and suspected) was 176 of 3022 or 5.82% (95% CI, 4.99–6.66). In 80 subjects (45.5%), PEX was detected in both eyes, whereas it was detected only in the right eye in 42 subjects (23.9%) and only in the left eye in 54 (30.7%). The prevalence of PEX increased from 1.1% in among those 50 to 54 years old, to 3.5%, 5.7%, and 11.8% among those 60 to 64 years, 70 to 74 years, and ≥80 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, presence of PEX was significantly associated with older age ( P P = 0.03; OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68,0.98), and shallower anterior chamber ( P = 0.03; OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36–0.95). We found that PEX was not associated (all P >0.05) with sex, diabetes mellitus, blood pressure, psychological depression, smoking, dyslipidemia, body mass index, central corneal thickness, corneal diameter, optic nerve head measurements, choroidal thickness, retinal vessel diameters, early age-related macular degeneration, or retinal vein occlusion. Conclusions In a North Chinese population aged ≥50 years, the prevalence of definite PEX was 2.38% (95% CI, 1.84–2.93), suspect PEX was 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8–4.1) and overall PEX was 5.82% (95% CI, 4.99–6.66). We found PEX to be associated with older age, shorter axial length, and shallower anterior chamber. The relationship between PEX and glaucomatous optic neuropathy remained inconclusive among our population. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Objective To assess the 10-year incidence of retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) and associated factors in adult Chinese subjects. Design Population-based, longitudinal study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study, which included 4439 subjects (age: 40+ years) in 2001, was repeated in 2011 with 2695 subjects participating (66.4% of the survivors). Methods The study participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination. Fundus photographs were examined for the new development of RVOs, differentiated into branch RVOs (BRVOs) and central RVOs (CRVOs). Main Outcome Measures Incidence of RVOs. Results Incident RVOs were detected in 51 eyes (49 subjects) with an incidence of 1.9±0.1 per 100 persons and 1.0±0.1 per 100 eyes. Incidence of BRVO was 1.6±0.1 per 100 subjects (43 subjects [88% of patients with RVO]; 44 eyes), and incidence of CRVO was 0.3±0.1 per 100 persons. Of 61 patients with an RVO in 2001 and 25 subjects reexamined in 2011, at least 4 subjects (7%) developed a second RVO. Incident BRVOs were located more often in the superior temporal quadrant and inferior temporal quadrant (32% and 34%, respectively) than in the superior nasal quadrant and inferior nasal quadrant (21% and 14%, respectively). In 35 eyes (80% of the BRVO eyes), the BRVO was located at an arteriovenous crossing. At the crossing sites, arterioles were found superficial to venules in 28 eyes (64% of the BRVO eyes). Macular edema was detected in 18 (37%) of all RVO eyes, including 13 (30%) of BRVO eyes. In multivariate logistic analysis, incident RVOs were associated with higher systolic blood pressure ( P = 0.01; odds ratio [OR], 1.04), hypertension ( P = 0.03; OR, 4.62), lower cognitive function score ( P = 0.007; OR, 0.88), blood concentration of cholesterol ≥5.72 mmol/L ( P = 0.007; OR, 3.29), and status after cerebral infarction/hemorrhage ( P = 0.02; OR, 1.19). Incident RVOs were not significantly related to the intake of aspirin ( P= 0.37). Conclusions The 10-year incidence of RVOs in Greater Beijing (1.9±0.1 per 100 persons) was similar to that in other studies on Caucasian populations. The 10-year incidence of RVOs was related to the known risk factors of arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and status after cerebral infarction/hemorrhage, as well as with a lower cognitive function score. Incident BRVO was approximately 6 times more frequent than incident CRVO. Macular edema was detected in approximately 30% of BRVO eyes. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

To assess associations among outdoor activity, ocular biometric parameters, and myopia among grade 1 and grade 4 primary students in Beijing.School-based, cross-sectional study.A total of 382 grade 1 and 299 grade 4 children participated in the study.The children underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including ocular biometry by optical low-coherence reflectometry and noncycloplegic refractometry. Parents and children participated in a detailed interview, including questions on time spent indoors and outdoors.Factors associated with myopia.The study included 681 children, with 382 (56.1%) students from grade 1 (mean age, 6.3 ± 0.5 years; range, 5-8 years) and 299 students from grade 4 (mean age, 9.4 ± 0.7 years; range, 8-13 years); 370 students (54.3%) lived in the urban region. The mean daily time spent outdoors was 1.6 ± 0.8 hours (range, 0.5-5.1 hours). In multivariate analysis, axial length was significantly associated with older age (P0.001; standardized β coefficient, 0.28), taller body height (P = 0.001; β, 0.18), maternal myopia (P = 0.03; β, 0.09), and urban region of habitation (P0.001; β, -0.21), or alternatively to the region of habitation, with less time spent outdoors (P = 0.001; β, -0.16) and more time spent indoors studying (P = 0.02; β, 0.10). The axial length-to-corneal curvature radius ratio was associated with older age, urban region of habitation, maternal and paternal myopia, and paternal level of education. Presence of myopia (defined as refractive error ≤-1 diopters in the right eye) was associated with older age (P0.001; odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.69), maternal myopia (P0.001; OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.94-5.35), and urban region of habitation (P0.001; OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.11-0.26), or alternatively to the region of habitation, with less time spent outdoors (P0.001; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.21-0.48) and more time spent indoors studying (P0.001; OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09-1.75).Less outdoor activity, more indoor studying, older age, maternal myopia, and urban region of habitation were associated with longer ocular axial length and myopia in grade 1 and grade 4 primary school children in Greater Beijing. Remaining outdoors more (e.g., during school) may reduce the high prevalence of myopia in the young generation in Beijing.

Purpose To study subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in adult Chinese subjects and its correlation with ocular biometric parameters, refractive error, and age. Design Population-based longitudinal study. Participants The population-based Beijing Eye Study 2011 included 3468 individuals with a mean age of 64.6±9.8 years (range, 50–93 years). Methods A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with enhanced depth imaging for measurement of SFCT. Main Outcome Measures Subfoveal choroidal thickness. Results The SFCT measurements were available for 3233 subjects (93.2%). Mean SFCT was 253.8±107.4 μm (range, 8–854 μm). In multivariate analysis, SFCT increased with younger age ( P r = 4.12; beta coefficient=0.37), shorter axial length ( P r = 44.7; beta coefficient=0.46), male gender ( P r = 28.5; beta coefficient=−0.13), deeper anterior chamber depth ( P r = 39.3; beta coefficient=0.13), thicker lens ( P r = 26.8; beta coefficient=0.08), flatter cornea ( P r = 46.0; beta coefficient=0.11), and better best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution; P = 0.001; r = 48.4; beta coefficient=0.06). In multivariate analysis, SFCT was not significantly associated with blood pressure, ocular perfusion pressure, intraocular pressure, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, serum concentrations of lipids and glucose, diabetes mellitus, and arterial hypertension. In the myopic refractive error range of more than −1 diopter (D), SFCT decreased by 15 μm (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.9–18.5) for every increase in myopic refractive error of 1 D, or by 32 μm (95% CI, 37.1–26.0) for every increase in axial length of 1 mm. For each year increase in age, the SFCT decreased by 4.1 μm (95% CI, 4.6–3.7) (multivariate analysis). Conclusions Subfoveal choroidal thickness with a mean of 254±107 μm in elderly subjects with a mean age of 65 years decreased with age (4 μm per year of age) and myopia (15 μm per diopter [D] of myopia). It was also associated with male gender and the ocular biometric parameters of a deeper anterior chamber and thicker lens. The association between SFCT and BCVA indicates a functional aspect of SFCT. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Purpose To examine the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated factors in an adult Chinese population. Design Population-based study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study, which included 4439 subjects (age ≥40 years) in 2001, was repeated in 2006 with 3251 (73.2%) subjects participating. Methods Fundus photographs were graded using the International Age-related Maculopathy Epidemiological Study Group grading system. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of AMD. Results Gradable slides were available on 3049 (93.9%) subjects who participated in the survey of 2001 and again in 2006. The incidence of early, late, and neovascular AMD per eye was 2.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2–3.0), 0.1% (95% CI, 0.00–0.2), and 0.1% (95% CI, 0.00–0.2), respectively. The incidence of early, late, and neovascular AMD per person was 4.2±0.4% (95% CI, 3.5–5.0), 0.1±0.1% (95% CI, 0.0–0.2), and 0.1±0.1% (95% CI, 0.0–0.2), respectively. By multivariate analysis, incident early AMD was associated significantly with greater age at baseline ( P = 0.01; odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06), smaller optic disc size ( P = 0.007; OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30–0.83), smaller scleral spur distance ( P = 0.04; OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36–0.98), and hyperopic refractive error ( P = 0.057; OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00–1.33), with the latter being significant only marginally. It was not associated with the systemic parameters of gender, body height, body mass index, region of habitation, level of education, profession, smoking, arterial blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, fasting blood concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, high-density or low-density lipoproteins; or the ocular parameters of intraocular pressure, retinal arterial and vein diameters, retinal microvascular abnormalities, amount of nuclear cataract, cortical cataract or subcapsular cataract, pseudophakia, glaucoma, nonglaucomatous optic neuropathy, retinal vein occlusions, size of the beta zone of parapapillary atrophy, or progression of the zone of atrophy during the follow-up from 2001 to 2006. Conclusions Hyperopia, short interscleral spur distance, and small optic disc size were, beside older age, the main factors associated with incident early AMD. This may point to a small globe size, potentially in relation to a firmly attached vitreous, playing a role in early incident AMD. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.

To examine histomorphometrically the parapapillary region in highly myopic eyes.Retrospective laboratory investigation.We examined a highly myopic glaucomatous group (36 human globes; axial length26.5 mm) and a non-highly myopic group (28 globes with secondary angle-closure glaucoma; 17 eyes with malignant choroidal melanoma). Using light microscopy, pupil-optic nerve sections were assessed.The length of the scleral flange (sclera between optic nerve border and optic nerve dura mater) increased with axial length (P.001; correlation coefficient r = 0.70) and decreased with its thickness (P.001; r = 0.75). In all highly myopic eyes (n = 15) with a distance of0.5 mm between optic nerve border and beginning of Bruch membrane, the parapapillary region consisted of an elongated parapapillary scleral flange associated with a scleral flange thinning and a retrobulbar cerebrospinal fluid space extended into the retroparapapillary region. The parapapillary retina was composed of retinal nerve fiber layer (or its remnants) only, without elements of any other retinal layer, without underlying Bruch membrane or choroid. These histologic features were not detected in any of the non-highly myopic eyes.Since parapapillary scleral thickness influences the lamina cribrosa biomechanics, the findings may partially explain the increased glaucoma susceptibility in highly myopic eyes. The implications of an absence of Bruch membrane and choroid in the highly myopic parapapillary region, and the implications of the retrobulbar parapapillary extension of the cerebrospinal spinal fluid space for the pathophysiology of the optic nerve head, have to be elucidated.

To investigate the normal distribution of corneal refractive power (CRP) and its associations with other ocular and systemic parameters in the Central Indian population.Population-based study.The Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a rural region of Central India. The study comprised 4711 subjects aged 30+ years.A detailed ophthalmic and medical examination was performed. Horizontal and vertical CRP were measured using a non-automatic keratometer.Corneal refractive power.After excluding pseudophakic or aphakic eyes, keratometric measurements were available on 9024 eyes of 4617 study participants (98.0%) with a mean age of 49.1±13.2 years (range, 30-100 years) and a mean refractive error of -0.20±1.52 diopters (D). Mean horizontal CRP was 44.60±1.68 D (mean ± standard deviation; range, 36.5-52.0 D), and vertical CRP was 44.62±1.74 D (range, 37.75-52.0 D) with no significant difference between both parameters (P=0.27). In multivariate analysis, CRP was significantly (P0.001) associated with the systemic parameters of increasing age (P0.001), lower level of education (P=0.02), and lower body height (P0.001), and with the ocular parameters of thinner central corneal thickness (P0.001), deeper anterior chamber (P0.001), shorter axial length (P0.001), and myopic refractive error (P0.001). The results remained unchanged if eyes with CRP ≥48 D were excluded.Horizontal CRP increased with higher age, lower level of education, lower body height, thinner central cornea, deeper anterior chamber, shorter axial length, and myopic refractive error. The association with age may be of importance for refractive surgery. The association of a steeper cornea with a shorter body stature and a shorter axial length parallels an association between shorter body length and shorter axial length without association with refractive error. The association among steeper cornea, shorter body length, and lower educational level complements the association between shorter body length and lower educational level. The correlation between steeper cornea and deeper anterior chamber may be explained geometrically.

Purpose To describe the cumulative 5-year incidence of visual impairment and blindness in adult Chinese in greater Beijing. Design Population-based study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study 2006 included 3251 subjects who had participated in the Beijing Eye Study 2001 and returned for re-examination. Methods Using the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, low vision and blindness were defined as best corrected visual acutiy (BCVA) Main Outcome Measures Incidence of low vision and blindness. Results Visual acuity measurements were available for 3249 (99.9%) participants. Using WHO and United States definitions, the incidences of low vision and blindness were 0.5±0.1% (mean±standard error) and 0.1±0.04%, and 1.1±0.2% and 0.1±0.04%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, incidence of BCVA visual impairment or blindness increased significantly with greater age ( P = 0.01), but was not associated with gender, region, or level of education. Causes of BCVA visual impairment or blindness were cataract (39%), glaucoma (17%), and degenerative myopia (11%). Using the WHO and the United States criteria, incidences of low vision and blindness based on presenting visual acuity, were 1.7±0.2% and 0.1±0.06%, and 3.8±0.3% and 0.2±0.08%, respectively. Incidence of visual impairment or blindness (presenting visual acuity, WHO definition) increased significantly with higher age ( P P = 0.018) and was greater in women ( P = 0.015). The major cause of presenting VA visual impairment or blindness was undercorrected refractive error (76%). Conclusions In adult Chinese in greater Beijing, the 5-year cumulative incidence of BCVA visual impairment or blindness was 0.6±0.1% (BCVA in better-seeing eye, Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Purpose To estimate the 5-year incidence of cataract and cataract surgery in an adult Chinese population. Design Population-based study. Participants The Beijing Eye Study 2006 included 3251 (73.2%) subjects (≥45 years) of 4439 subjects who participated in the 2001 survey and returned for re-examination. Methods Nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular lens opacities were assessed based on standardized slit-lamp–based photographs and retroilluminated photographs of the lens using a modification of the grading score of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of any type of cataract and of cataract surgery. Results The 5-year incidence of nuclear cataract was 5.98% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 5.96%–6.00%), that of cortical cataract was 11.14% (95% CI, 11.12%–11.17%), that of posterior subcapsular cataract was 5.47% (95% CI, 5.45%–5.48%), and that of cataract surgery was 2.01% (95% CI, 2.00%–2.02%). The incidence of any cataract (16.82%; 95% CI, 16.79%–16.86%) was significantly associated with higher age ( P P P = 0.78), smoking ( P = 0.95), or alcohol consumption ( P = 0.12). Differentiation into the 3 cataract types revealed that the incidence of nuclear cataract additionally was associated with rural region ( P P P = 0.02). The incidence of cataract surgery was significantly ( P Conclusions As in white persons, the age-adjusted incidence of all types of cataract types increased with age and it was associated with female gender. When compared with data in the literature, the incidence rates of all cataract types did not vary markedly between Chinese in greater Beijing and white persons. In contrast, the incidence of cataract surgery was considerably lower in this Chinese population. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

To assess the prevalence of glaucoma in adult Chinese.Population-based study.The Beijing Eye Study in 2001 included 4439 subjects with an age of 40+ years. Glaucoma was determined using the ISGEO (International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology) classification scheme.Glaucoma was detected in 158 subjects (3.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1%-4.2%), in which open-angle glaucoma (OAG), primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), and secondary glaucoma (SG) accounted for 2.6% (95% CI 2.1%-3.0%), 1.0% (95% CI 0.7%-1.3%), and 0.07% (95% CI 0%-0.1%), respectively. The overall glaucoma prevalence for the age groups of 40 to 49 years, 50 to 59 years, 60 to 69 years, and 70+ years was 2.2%, 2.5%, 4.4%, and 9.5%, respectively. Glaucoma prevalence increased significantly with age (P = .001), myopic refractive error (P.001), and intraocular pressure (P.001). The age-standardized prevalence of OAG, PACG, and SG was 2.5%, 1.0%, and 0.1%, respectively. Prevalence of glaucoma-related bilateral blindness or unilateral blindness was significantly (P = .02 and P = .03) higher in PACG than in OAG. Frequency of glaucoma-associated blindness and low vision was significantly higher in the rural area than in the urban region (6/62 vs 2/96, P = .04).In the adult population of Greater Beijing, glaucoma prevalence was 3.6% and increased with age, myopic refractive error, and intraocular pressure. Glaucoma prevalence of 3.6% was comparable with figures from Caucasian populations. The ratio of OAG to PACG of 2.6:1 agrees with recent other studies from East Asia. Glaucoma-related blindness and low vision occurred significantly more often in PACG than in OAG.

Reiner RC Jr, Hay SI. Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 2020; 395: 1779–801—In this Article, the author byline has been amended to Local Burden of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators. This correction has been made to the online version as of June 4, 2020, and the printed version is correct. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. We assessed its epidemiology and related factors in China. Methods Through population-based studies and clinical investigations, we assessed prevalence, incidence, and associated factors of AMD. The population-based investigations included several epidemiological surveys of ophthalmological and systemic diseases in China. The clinical studies consisted of biochemical examinations of aqueous humour samples obtained from patients undergoing intraocular surgery. Findings In the Beijing Eye Public Health Care Study, by use of a telemedicine approach, macular degeneration was identified to have caused visual impairment in 2700 (0·48%) of 562 788 elderly study participants (aged 55–85 years). In the Beijing Eye Study study, including 4439 participants and surveys done three times in 5-year intervals over a total period of 10 years, the prevalence of early AMD was 1·4%, late AMD was 0·20%, and exudative AMD was 0·10% per individual. Factors linearly association with AMD prevalence were older age (OR 1·06, 95% CI 1·04–1·08; p Interpretation Besides older age, hyperopic refractive error was the most important risk factor for prevalence and incidence of AMD in Chinese adults. The intraocular concentration of VEGF as a major AMD-associated growth factor decreased with increased axial length. The marked increase in myopia in the generation now aged younger than 30 years in China might be assumed to have a protective effect against AMD in the future. Funding National Natural Science Foundation of China.

To investigate the normal distribution of axial length of the globe, which is a major measurement of the eye, and its associations with other ocular and systemic parameters.Population-based study.The Central India Eye and Medical Study is a population-based study performed in a rural region of central India. The study comprised 4711 subjects (aged 30+ years) of 5885 eligible individuals (response rate, 80.1%).A detailed ophthalmic and medical examination was performed. The axial length was measured sonographically.Axial length.Axial length measurements were available on 4698 study participants (99.7%). Their mean age was 49.4+/-13.4 years (range, 30-100 years), and the mean refractive error was -0.18+/-1.48 diopters (range, -20.0 to +7.25 diopters). Mean axial length was 22.6+/-0.91 mm (range, 18.22-34.20 mm). In multivariate analysis, axial length was significantly (P0.001) associated with the systemic parameters of increased age, taller body height, greater body mass index, and higher level of education, and with the ocular parameters of lower best-corrected visual acuity, lower corneal refractive power, deeper anterior chamber, thicker lens, and more myopic spherical power and cylindrical refractive power. Within the highly myopic group, as defined by an axial length that exceeded 26.5 mm, none of these associations (except for the association between axial length and spherical refractive power) were statistically significant (P0.15) in univariate or multivariate analysis.In a rural population of central India, the mean ocular axial length was 22.6+/-0.91 mm, which was shorter than that of other populations. Axial length was associated with the systemic parameters of increased age, taller body height, greater body mass index, and a higher level of education, and with the ocular parameters of lower best-corrected visual acuity, lower corneal refractive power, deeper anterior chamber, thicker lens, and more myopic spherical and cylindrical refractive power. These associations were valid only for those eyes that were not highly myopic, whereas axial length was associated with refractive error only in highly myopic eyes.Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Objective To determine the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Asian populations and to compare this with prevalence in white populations. Design A clear understanding of AMD prevalence in Asians is essential to meet future demands for eye health care. Methods We searched published literature reporting AMD prevalence in Asian populations. We limited studies examined to those using standardized grading systems (either the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System or the international classification proposed by the International ARM Epidemiological Study Group). We used metaanalytical methods to calculate age-specific pooled prevalence of AMD using inverse-variance weighting in a random effect model. We also calculated pooled estimates of age-standardized prevalence. A metaregression model was used to examine gender differences and differences between Asian and white populations. Results We identified 9 studies reporting AMD prevalence from 4 Asian populations. Pooled prevalence estimates of early and late AMD in Asian populations aged 40 to 79 years were 6.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.6%–8.9%) and 0.56% (95% CI, 0.30%–0.81%), respectively; corresponding prevalence estimates in white populations were 8.8% (95% CI, 3.8%–13.8%) and 0.59% (95% CI, 0.35%–0.84%), respectively. Reliable prevalence estimates of AMD in Asian persons aged ≥80 years were not available owing to small subject numbers in this age category. Conclusions Among persons aged 40 to 79 years, the age-specific prevalence of late AMD in Asians was comparable with that reported from white populations, but early AMD signs were less common among Asians. Further studies in Asian populations are warranted to investigate whether certain specific AMD phenotypes or subtypes, such as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, are more common. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.