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Tristan Bourcier,1 Anne Dory,2 Lea Dormegny,1 Joffrey Alcazar,1 David Gaucher,1 Arnaud Sauer1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Strasbourg University Hospital, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; 2Pharmacy, Strasbourg University Hospital, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, FranceCorrespondence: Arnaud Sauer, Department of Ophthalmology, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg University Hospital, BP426, Strasbourg, 67091, France, Email arnaud.sauer@chru-strasbourg.frIntroduction: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is an inflammatory condition in children that can cause severe eye complications. Treatment is based on corticosteroid therapy during flare-ups, then antihistamines and cyclosporine in calmer periods. The dosage and posology of cyclosporine are subject to debate.Methods: The aim of the study is to compare the evolution in symptomatic and clinical scores, and need for topical corticosteroid treatment in a population of children with severe VKC treated with two dosages of cyclosporine treatment (0.1% and 2%). Data were compiled on inclusion then every three months from March, with a total follow-up duration of 12 months. Data concerning patient evolutions and complications were collected for the two treatment groups.Results: The mean age of the 46 children was 8.8 ± 2.4 years with age at onset of symptoms of 5.1 ± 0.9 years. The cohort was predominantly (65%) male. Corticosteroid dependence on inclusion was present in 52% of the children included. A significant improvement in the various symptomatic and clinical scores was observed following treatment with cyclosporine (0.1% and 2%). Use of topical corticosteroid treatment reduced from 19 drops per month on inclusion to 4 drops per month at 12 months. Safety was comparable for the two groups.Conclusion: Treatments with cyclosporine 0.1% and 2% lead to a favourable evolution in clinical and symptomatic scores and reduced corticosteroid use. Cyclosporine 0.1% is an interesting alternative to the 2% dosage, particularly due to its availability and ease of handling.Keywords: cyclosporine, vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Léa Dormegny,1,2 Reana Velizarova,1 Carmen M Schroder,1,3 Ulker Kilic-Huck,1,3 Henri Comtet,1,3 Hélène Dollfus,4 Patrice Bourgin,1,3 Elisabeth Ruppert1,3 1Centre des Troubles du Sommeil - CIRCSom, Hôpital Civil, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67091, France; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Civil, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67091, France; 3Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS - UPR 3212, Strasbourg, 67000, France; 4Centre des Affections Rares en Génétique Ophtalmologique (CARGO), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67091, FranceCorrespondence: Elisabeth RuppertCentre des Troubles du Sommeil - CIRCSom - Hôpital Civil, 1, place de l’Hôpital, BP 426, Cedex, Strasbourg, 67091, FranceTel +33 3 88 11 64 30Fax +33 3 88 11 51 53Email elisabeth.ruppert@chru-strasbourg.frObjective/Background: Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare but well-recognized ciliopathy with high genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Cardinal features include obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure (HBP), which are often associated with sleep-disordered breathing. Also, the high prevalence of blindness due to retinal dystrophy could affect circadian sleep–wake rhythms. We characterized in this cohort of adult BBS patients sleep-disordered breathing, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and chronotype.Patients and Methods: Thirty-two patients with genetically confirmed BBS were included in this observational single center study. Overnight respiratory polygraphy was performed for sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in 30 patients. Quality of sleep, daytime sleepiness, fatigue and chronotype were assessed in 25 patients using Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), 14-day sleep diary (SD), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Pichot fatigue scale (PFS) and Horne and Ostberg morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ).Results: Patients’ mean age was 32± 11 years and mean BMI 32.6± 7.7 kg/m2. Eleven (35%) patients had HBP and 7 (22%) diabetes. Moderate to severe sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was present in 5 (17%) and was not associated with altered sleep, daytime sleepiness or fatigue. Most of the patients (63%) evaluated their sleep as of good quality (PSQI ≤ 5). Median scores of sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and fatigue were normal (PSQI of 3.0 [2.0– 6.0], ESS of 9.0 [6.0– 13.0] and PFS of 8.0 [3.0– 13.0], respectively). Predominant chronotypes according to MEQ were either “intermediate” (57%) or “moderate morning” (29%). None had a free running sleep–wake cycle. 14-day SD revealed overall few awakenings at night and low daytime napping.Conclusions: Given the cardiovascular risk factors, systematic screening for SAS should be considered in BBS patients, regardless of sleep and daytime vigilance complaints. None of these highly visually impaired patients had a circadian sleep–wake rhythm disorder. Further objective assessments are needed to better characterize sleep and circadian rhythms in BBS patients.Keywords: Bardet–Biedl syndrome, ciliopathy, sleep disordered breathing, sleep apnea syndrome, chronotype, circadian rhythm sleep wake disorder

Purpose: To describe a new feature in pathologic myopia: perivascular patchy chorioretinal atrophy (PVCA) DESIGN: Cross-sectional study METHODS: 604 eyes of 312 highly myopic patients followed at Strasbourg University Hospitals were reviewed for the presence of PVCA lesions. Demographic, clinical, and paraclinical data (ultra-widefield retinography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography images) were analyzed. Controls were matched for age, sex, and axial length (AL)., Results: 47 eyes (7.8%) of 32 patients presented with 88 PVCA lesions in total. Mean age was 65.9 ± 10.2 years, mean best corrected visual acuity (BVCA) was 0.86 LogMAR ± 0.76. All patients had posterior staphyloma, with PVCA localized within the staphyloma (58%), on its margins (39%), or outside it (3%). Atrophic lesions were mainly located in the temporal retina (71%) and on the first or second order branches of the central retinal vessels (95%). OCT scans revealed an anterior scleral protrusion in 74% of cases, with an average height of 319 µm ± 152. PVCA patients had longer AL (32.94mm ± 1.87 vs. 29.96mm ± 2.79; p<0.01) than non-PVCA patients. When compared to matched control PVCA patients had lower BCVA (0.86LogMAR ± 0.76 vs. 0.59LogMAR ± 0.71; p=0.01) and reduced macular choroidal thickness (38µm ± 31 vs. 54µm ± 38; p=0.02)., Conclusion: PVCA is a newly described feature of pathological myopia associated with reduced visual acuity. Its association with anterior scleral protrusion suggests that scleral curvature change may represent a specific cause leading to chorioretinal atrophy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: To report national practices and recent progress in competency-based medical education (CBME) implementation in ophthalmology across European countries., Methods: A 30-question online survey was emailed to European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) ophthalmology section delegates, European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (EBOD) examiners and presidents of ophthalmology societies affiliated with UEMS/EBO., Results: A total of 230 ophthalmologists with an average age of 54.7 years [30-77] and from 28 countries completed the survey. Half of them had been involved as medical educators for more than 10 years. The majority (74%) exercised their educational role in a University Hospital. Ninety six percent of them dedicated less than 50% of their activity to teaching. A third dedicated more than a half of their activity to patient care. The teaching of skills reported (medical, surgical, research, attitudinal and theoretical knowledge) was significantly better applied than their assessment. While 91% of the respondents found it necessary to harmonize European Training Requirements (ETR) in ophthalmology, competency-based education concepts were rarely implemented in their country (for instance, 8% for CBME; 6% for entrustable professional activities (EPAs) and 3% for ETR)., Conclusions: Despite considerable diversity in European residency programmes, post-graduate medical education leaders in ophthalmology agree on the need to find a platform for equivalence in the content of the basic training requirements that constitute the professional identity of a practicing ophthalmologist., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Ophthalmologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.)

Purpose: To compare two drainage techniques in macula-off retinal detachment surgery: perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL)-assisted drainage and partial subretinal fluid drainage without PFCL. This study investigated morphological and functional outcomes, focusing on metamorphopsia quantification., Methods: Eighty eyes with macula-off retinal detachment were retrospectively included. All underwent a 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy. In the PFCL group, subretinal fluid drainage was performed using PFCL. In the partial subretinal fluid drainage (SRFD) group, subretinal fluid was partially drained through a preexisting retinal break without PFCL. A follow-up at 3 months and 6 months evaluated anatomical outcomes using optical coherence tomography, best-corrected visual acuity, and metamorphopsia quantified with M-charts., Results: Reattachment rates were comparable in the PFCL group (97.5%) and the SRFD group (95%) ( P > 0.05). Mean best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR) was 0.23 ± 0.32 (PFCL group) and 0.15 ± 0.13 (SRFD group) ( P = 0.206). Metamorphopsia was reported by 19 patients (47.5%) in the PFCL group and by 12 patients (30%) in the SRFD group ( P = 0.332). The mean metamorphopsia score was similar in both groups (0.27 ± 0.12 in the PFCL group and 0.28 ± 0.11 in the SRFD group, P = 0.866). Morphological optical coherence tomography findings were comparable in both groups., Conclusion: Morphological and functional outcomes were similar in PFCL and SRFD groups. Metamorphopsia quantification scores did not improve with PFCL. While both of these techniques might be effective and could be recommended for primary macula-off retinal detachment management, potential PFCL toxicity should be kept in mind and its use dedicated to selected cases., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Opthalmic Communications Society, Inc.)

Background: Cataract surgery requires a high level of dexterity and experience to avoid serious intra- and post-operative complications. Proper surgical training and evaluation during the learning phase are crucial to promote safety in the operating room (OR). This scoping review aims to report cataract surgery training efficacy for patient safety and trainee satisfaction in the OR when using virtual reality simulators (EyeSi [Haag-Streit, Heidelberg, Germany] or HelpMeSee [HelpMeSee foundation, Jersey city, New Jersey, United States]) or supervised surgical training on actual patients programs in residents., Methods: An online article search in the PubMed database was performed to identify studies proposing OR performance assessment after virtual-reality simulation (EyeSi or HelpMeSee) or supervised surgical training on actual patients programs. Outcome assessment was primarily based on patient safety (i.e., intra- and post- operative complications, OR performance, operating time) and secondarily based on trainee satisfaction (i.e., subjective assessment)., Results: We reviewed 18 articles, involving 1515 participants. There were 13 using the EyeSi simulator, with 10 studies conducted in high-income countries (59%). One study used the HelpMeSee simulator and was conducted in India. The four remaining studies reported supervised surgical training on actual patients, mostly conducted in low- middle- income countries. Training programs greatly differed between studies and the level of certainty was considered low. Only four studies were randomized clinical trials. There were 17 studies (94%) proposing patient safety assessments, mainly through intraoperative complication reports (67%). Significant safety improvements were found in 80% of comparative virtual reality simulation studies. All three supervised surgery studies were observational and reported a high amount of cataract surgeries performed by trainees. However, intraoperative complication rates appeared to be higher than in virtual reality simulation studies. Trainee satisfaction was rarely assessed (17%) and did not correlate with training outcomes., Conclusions: Patient safety assessment in the OR remains a major concern when evaluating the efficacy of a training program. Virtual reality simulation appears to lead to safer outcomes compared to that of supervised surgical training on actual patients alone, which encourages its use prior to performing real cases. However, actual training programs need to be more consistent, while maintaining a balance between financial, cultural, geographical, and accessibility factors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aims to assess validity evidence of the new phacoemulsification module of the HelpMeSee [HMS] virtual reality simulator. Conducted at the Ophthalmology Department of Strasbourg University Hospital and Gepromed Education Department, Strasbourg, France, this cross-sectional study divided 20 surgeons into two groups based on their experience over or under 300 cataract surgeries. Surgeons filled out a background survey covering their phacoemulsification experience and prior simulator use before undergoing single-session simulations on the EyeSi [EYS] and HMS simulators. Handgrip strength was measured pre- and post-simulation to evaluate grip fatigue. Afterwards, surgeons rated the perceived realism on a seven-point Likert scale. Participants were predominantly right-handed males, with expert surgeons averaging 44 years and intermediate surgeons 29 years of age. Expert surgeons had completed around 2000 phacoemulsification surgeries compared to 150 by intermediates. Primary outcome was to assess the construct validity of HMS simulator based on the difference in total and modules scores between both groups. Significant performance differences were observed between the two groups, with experts scoring higher. HMS scores were 35.8 ± 1.5 out of 46 points for experts and 27.2 ± 2.3 for intermediates (p = 0.006). For EYS, scores were 405.2 ± 20.3 out of 500 points for experts and 327.8 ± 25.2 for intermediates (p = 0.028). Experts experienced significantly less grip fatigue post-simulation on HMS compared to intermediates. This research evaluates validity evidence of HMS's phacoemulsification modules for the first time. It emphasizes the potential to broaden simulation-based training by targeting diverse populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Purpose: To report two cases of persistent macular edema caused by the exudation of diabetic telangiectatic capillaries (TelCaps), which have been successfully treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT)., Methods: Review of data from two patients suffering from persistent macular edema caused by parafoveolar TelCaps. In both cases, conventional laser was impossible because TelCaps were to close from foveal center., Results: The use of focal PDT on perifoveolar TelCaps permitted to reduce persistent macular edema and to avoid inefficient intravitreal anti-vascular epithelial growth factor or steroid injections. In both cases, visual acuity was fully restored four to six months after PDT. Central macular thickness was also normalized in the first case and significantly reduced in the second case. In both cases, visual gain was sustained throughout the whole follow-up period (2 and 1 year, respectively)., Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy can be helpful to treat diabetic macular edema caused by TelCaps nonresponding to approved intravitreal therapy or for which conventional laser is contraindicated.

Identifying and validating a biomarker with high specificity in early-stage dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) using a feasible method is crucial to enhance the current suboptimal diagnostic procedure. Previous research revealed abnormalities, including hypoperfusion in the right anterior insular cortex at group level, in prodromal DLB. Exploring hypoperfusion of the right anterior insula, at an individual-level and assessing its relevance as a potential imaging biomarker in early DLB, has, to our knowledge, not been investigated. Our preliminary study aims to assess the feasibility of the technique and to provide a methodological framework for further investigation. We assessed the feasibility and accuracy of the hypoperfusion of the right anterior insula per arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) as a diagnostic biomarker in early DLB and provided rough estimates of its sensitivity and specificity. Defining the region of interest based on previous research, we established the biomarker as the hypoperfusion of the right anterior insula. Discriminative and analytical performances were assessed in comparison to a control group of treatment-resistant depression patients. Bayesian diagnostic reasoning was employed to assess the biomarker diagnostic usability in early DLB in two scenarios: healthy elderly controls and mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, we updated probabilities by integrating data from the Mayo-clinic cognitive fluctuations scale and real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) α-synuclein data. Lastly, a whole-brain perfusion analysis of DLB patients was conducted to identify further brain regions with discriminative abilities. We successfully replicated the right anterior insular hypoperfusion (RAI-Hypo) in all DLB patients at the individual level. The overall sensitivity of the biomarker was 96%, and the specificity was 92%. Bayesian testing revealed the biomarker's highest performance in early-stage DLB with cognitive fluctuations, showcasing a diagnostic potential associated with a high precision and moderate accuracy. In a cognitively non-impaired population, the RAI-Hypo showed a limited usability and lacked in selectivity to qualify as a screening tool. The exploratory whole-brain analysis revealed perfect discriminative capacities in the bilateral anterior insulae and the left inferior parietal lobule. Further studies are needed to confirm our preliminary results. If performance is maintained in subsequent studies and is compared to a more suitable control population, the proposed biomarker may be eventually sufficient to discriminate early-stage DLB from non-DLB., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Aging Association.)

Purpose: To report the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling prior to Voretigen Neparvovec-ryzl (VN) subretinal injection on focal chorioretinal atrophy development in patients presenting with RPE65-mediated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)., Design: Retrospective case series., Methods: Three patients who underwent bilateral subretinal VN injection for RPE65-mediated LCA were followed up for 18-24 months. ILM peeling was performed unilaterally in patients 1 and 2 and bilaterally in patient 3. Chorioretinal atrophy was identified on fundus biomicroscopy, non-mydriatic retinography and/or ultrawide field fundus imaging. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), visual fields, full-field stimulus threshold (FST) and visual functioning questionnaire score (NEI-VFQ-25) were reported. Outcome measures were changes in BCVA, visual fields, FST, NEI-VFQ-25, and chorioretinal atrophy location., Results: Chorioretinal atrophy at the injection site exclusively developed in eyes which did not undergo prior ILM peeling. In patient 3, bilateral pre-operative nummular chorioretinal alterations progressed toward epithelial atrophic patches in the mid and extreme retinal periphery 18 months after VN injection. BCVA and visual fields improved bilaterally. NEI&#95;VFQ 25 remained stable in patient 1 and improved in patient 2 and 3. FST test improved bilaterally in patient 3., Conclusions: ILM peeling prior to VN injection seems to be a smoother and safer technique to administer VN treatment and may prevent secondary focal atrophy development at the injection site. However, another type of more extended chorioretinal atrophy might exist and could be related to LCA evolution or to incompletely understood adverse effect of VN product., Competing Interests: This study did not require any financial support. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Purpose: To report binocular visual function changes after pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) and the related outcomes., Methods: Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients operated on for ERM were included in a retrospective study. Clinical data, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity and binocular visual function were assessed pre- and 1 and 3 months post-operatively. Binocular visual function assessment included the evaluation of fusional amplitudes (i.e., vergences) by the synoptophore, far distance stereopsis using polarized glasses and near stereopsis using Randot and TNO tests. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured on Spectral Domain - Optical Coherence Tomography., Results: Mean age of the patients was 67 years. Mean BCVA and contrast sensitivity significantly improved post-operatively at one (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0022, respectively) and 3 months (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), while CMT significantly decreased after 1-3 months (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Fusional amplitudes improved after 3 months (p < 0.0001). Far distance and near stereopsis significantly improved after 3 months (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0007 for Randot test, and p < 0.0001 for TNO test, respectively)., Conclusions: Pars plana vitrectomy for ERM surgery leads to an improvement of monocular and binocular visual functions (i.e., binocular fusion, near and far distance stereopsis), within 3 months post-operatively., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.)

Purpose: To determine the long-term microvascular alterations associated with macular cystic changes after retinal detachment surgery with silicone oil tamponade., Methods: The results of two optical coherence tomography angiographies performed at 11 months and 38 months after silicone removal were retrospectively analyzed for 30 eyes. The data were compared between both measurements and between eyes with macular cysts (MC+) and without macular cysts (MC-). Two patterns of cysts were identified and compared: cysts exclusively involving the inner nuclear layer (INLc) and cysts present in all retinal layers., Results: At both end points, 20 eyes (67%) presented with macular cysts, 12 of them (40%) had INLc. At the first end point, vascular density of superficial capillary plexus was higher and superficial foveal avascular zone was smaller in MC+ eyes than in MC- eyes (P = 0.04 and P = 0.017, respectively). At the second end point, vascular density of superficial capillary plexus significantly decreased in MC+ eyes as compared with the first end point (P < 0.001) and superficial foveal avascular zone enlarged (P < 0.001). Macular central thickness decreased between follow-ups only in eyes with INLc (P < 0.01). The final best-corrected visual acuity was better in eyes with INLc than in eyes with cysts present in all retinal layers (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the final best-corrected visual acuity in eyes with INLc and MC- eyes., Conclusion: Macular cysts are a common finding long after silicon removal. Vascular remodeling seems characterized by an initial increase of the vascular density of superficial capillary plexus in eyes with cysts, which is followed by its progressive decrease. The INLc is the most common pattern of cysts. They are associated with a progressive decrease of the central macular thickness without visual impairment.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a multiple metrics assessment method to differentiate between surgeons of differing experience while performing a corneal suturing task. Volunteer ophthalmologists were assigned to three groups (senior [SG], junior [JG] and novice [NG]) according to their experience in corneal suturing. All participants performed three sessions of corneal wound closure by three stitches. Suturing and participant posture were recorded with cameras, and assessed by two blind assessors for stitch quality (using Zhang score) and ergonomics (using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment [RULA] score). Task duration was recorded. Objective analyses of stitches geometry and instrument position were carried out. We included 24 participants: 5 in the SG, 8 in the JG and 11 in the NG. Stitch quality was significantly better and time to perform the procedure significantly lower in more experienced groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). SG participants better respected regular distance and parallelism between stitches compared to others (p = 0.01). Instrument position was similar between groups, although SG participants minimized their back-and-forth movements compared to NG participants. Ergonomics assessment was similar. Multiple metrics assessment efficiently determined how to differentiate between novices and experienced surgeons on corneal suturing skills, providing hints for future training studies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose  This study aimed to perform a comprehensive review of publications proposing educational programs for resident skills assessment in corneal suturing. Methods  An extensive online article search in PubMed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PISMA) reporting guidelines was performed to identify prospective comparative studies or prospective before/after studies published up to March 2021 and reporting the assessment of ophthalmology residents' skills in corneal suturing during dedicated training sessions. Results  Three studies were identified for review. The first reported the efficiency of an electromagnetic tracking system placed on the surgeon's fingers coupled with a computer analysis of movements and time to identify surgeons with different backgrounds in corneal suturing. The second reported the efficiency of the reference system in assessing the improvement of corneal suturing conducted by residents after a training session, with video-based assessment for economy and confidence of movement, limiting tissue damage and precision of operative technique, reviewed by blind assessors. The third proposed an innovative remote corneal suturing training method using Zoom for direct feedback to the residents. The stitch quality was assessed for length, depth, radiality, and tension. The results were similar when compared with a group of residents without feedback. Conclusion  This review underlines the rarity and disparity of available tools for corneal suturing assessment, justifying the need for more complete models to be designed. These should consider body ergonomics and stitch quality and time. Comparative studies involving novices and attendings may provide reliable evaluation of existing gaps and specific metrics to target, helping residents to approach their superiors' experience., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Despite the advantages that robot-assisted surgery can offer to patient care, its use in ophthalmic surgery has not yet progressed to the extent seen in other fields. As such, its use remains limited to research environments, both basic and clinical. The technical specifications for such ophthalmic surgical robots are highly challenging, but rapid progress has been made in recent years, and recent developments in this field ensure that the use of this technology in operating theatres will soon be a real possibility. Fully automated ocular microsurgery, carried out by a robot under the supervision of a surgeon, is likely to become our new reality. This review discusses the use of robot-assisted ophthalmic surgery, the recent progress in the field, and the necessary future developments which must occur before its use in operating theatres becomes routine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the mechanism behind macular bulge height increase in eyes with dome-shaped macula (DSM)., Design: Retrospective, observational case series., Methods: Eyes presenting with DSM followed up for a minimum of 1 year were examined using ocular biometry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at baseline and at end of follow-up. Axial length (AL), DSM bulge height, and central and peripheral choroidal thickness (nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrants) were reported. Eyes were categorized into 2 groups for comparison: the "mini-DSM" group (DSM < 100 μm) and the "classic" DSM group (DSM > 100 μm)., Results: Fifty-eight eyes (33 patients) were studied: 32 (55%) were classic DSM and 26 (45%) mini-DSM. During the mean follow-up of 51.76 ± 36.01 months, mean AL increased from 26.99 ± 2.94 mm to 27.12 ± 3.09 mm (P = .010) and mean macular bulge height increased from 235.88 ± 282.47 μm to 262.34 ± 317.15 μm (P < .001). DSM height change was significantly higher than AL change (P < .001). Mean peripheral choroidal thickness significantly decreased nasally (P = .008), temporally (P = .026), and inferiorly (P < .001). Mini-DSM eyes exhibited shorter AL (26.17 vs 27.66 mm; P = .027), greater visual acuity (0.169 vs 0.437 logMAR; P = .002), and fewer macular complications compared to classic DSM eyes., Conclusions: Macular bulge increase in DSM is associated with eye elongation and overall thinning of the peripheral choroid. DSM might result from differential elongation of the eye predominant in the peri-dome region. Mini-DSM (ie, inferior to 100 μm) are characterized by slower evolution, better visual prognosis, and fewer complications compared to "classic" DSM., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the frequency of macular cysts (MCs) in retinal detachment treated with silicone oil and evaluate their impact on visual acuity and macular vascularization using optical coherence tomography-angiography., Methods: Forty-three eyes of 41 patients treated with silicone oil for retinal detachment were retrospectively studied. Best-corrected visual acuity and 6- × 6-mm optical coherence tomography-angiography examination at least 3 months after silicone oil removal were reviewed. In eyes with MCs, cyst area was measured on the en face optical coherence tomography-angiography image using ImageJ. Density of superficial capillary plexus and area of superficial foveal avascular zone were generated by the optical coherence tomography-angiography. Density of deep capillary plexus and deep foveal avascular zone area were measured using ImageJ., Results: Twenty-five eyes (58%) presented with MCs. Cysts were exclusively located in the inner nuclear layer in 60% of cases. Mean best-corrected visual acuity in the MC group was lower than that of the non-MC group (P = 0.012). Macular cyst area negatively correlated with best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.0201). Density of superficial capillary plexus was higher in the MC group (P < 0.0001), whereas area of superficial foveal avascular zone was lower (P < 0.0001). Macular cyst area negatively correlated with density of deep capillary plexus (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The incidence of INL-MCs after silicone oil removal is high. These are associated with impaired vision and macular vascular remodeling. We highlight their similarity with the "retrograde maculopathy" phenomenon.

Aims: The classical Weber effect describes an increase in adverse reaction (AR) reports after medicinal product authorisation, with a peak in AR reporting at the end of the second year followed by a decline, despite increasing patient exposure. The present study aimed to evaluate the validity of the Weber effect in the context of authorised medicines in a specialty care setting., Methods: Using 6-monthly sales data as a proxy for exposure, the exposure-adjusted reporting rates for AR reports for 10 selected specialty care medicines were plotted against time. These data were also evaluated based on the source of report (solicited or unsolicited) and the nature of the AR contained within the reports (listed or unlisted). Unsolicited reports were analysed against sales volumes. Goodness of fit (R 2 ) was calculated and the trend representing the highest R 2 was selected., Results: Study data comprised a total of 1 222 852 AR reports for 10 specialty care medicines. Amongst all of the products evaluated, none of the associated data represented reporting patterns entirely consistent with the classical Weber effect (see Figure 1). The results, however, showed a systemic direct correlation between AR reporting and sales volumes, especially throughout the first 5 years post-authorisation., Conclusion: The study not only presents evidence of the absence of the Weber effect with specialty care medicines but also provides a substantial evidence of linear AR reporting correlating with sales volumes, especially during the first 5 years after marketing., (© 2020 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society.)