Intravitreal Aflibercept for Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion in Chinese Patients

Purpose: To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in a case series of patients from Taiwan, China, with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).Methods: A total of 32 patients with macular edema associated with BRVO,.without prior macular laser or other intervention, were enrolled consecutively from September 2013 to February 2015..The cases received single 2 mg injections of intravitreal aflibercept..Primary outcome measures included changes in central foveal thickness.(CFT;.1 mm increments by spectral-domain optic coherence tomography).and best corrected visual acuity.(BCVA),.determined at 1,.2,.and 3months after the injection. Complications after injections were recorded. The changes in CFT and BCVA were compared with Wilcoxon sign-rank tests.Results:.The CFT was significantly reduced and the BCVA was significantly improved at 1, 2, and 3 months after injection(all P < 0.05). Tomography findings revealed no recurrence within 3 months. No systemic thromboembolic events,elevated intraocular pressure, retinal detachment, or infectious endophthalmitis occurred following injection.Conclusion:.Single intravitreal aflibercept may be useful in treating macular edema associated with BRVO within 3months. No adverse systemic or ocular effects were found in this case series.

Factors Affecting Corneal Hysteresis in Taiwan Residents Adults

Purpose: To investigate the correlation of various corneal hysteresis(CH) factors in Chinese adults.Methods: From January 2009 to November 2011, the healthy right eyes of a total of 292 adults were recruited into the study. Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure(IOPG) and CH were measured using an ocular response analyzer(ORA).Central corneal thickness was measured using the ORA's integrated handheld ultrasonic pachymeter. The IOLMaster was used to obtain the ocular biometric measurements including axial length, anterior chamber depth, and keratometric values.The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test correlations between CH and quantitative factors. The chi-square test was used to detect differences in categorical values.Results: Longer axial length(P =0.0001), lower IOPG(P =0.03), older age(P=0.003),and thinner central corneal thickness(P=0.0001) were significantly associated with lower CH.The anterior chamber depth(P=0.34), gender(P =0.23), and corneal curvature(P=0.18) had no relationship to CH.Conclusion: Various factors including axial length, intraocular pressure, age, and central corneal thickness can affect measurement of corneal biomechanical properties in Chinese adults.But the anterior chamber depth, gender, and corneal curvature were irrelevant to CH.

An updated review of long-term outcomes from randomized controlled trials in approved pharmaceuticals for diabetic macular edema

Diabetic macular edema(DME) is a major sight-threatening cause in diabetic patients. We review the long-term outcome of four approved pharmacotherapy for treating DME, including intravitreal injections of corticosteroids(dexamethasone implants and fluocinolone acetonide inserts) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)(ranibizumab and aflibercept). They all show superior ability to improve vision and reduce macular thickness, comparing with sham injections or macular focal/grid laser treatment. Anti-VEGF agents result in low incidence of severe ocular or systemic adverse effects, but glaucoma and cataract should be aware after intravitreal corticosteroids. Prompt treatment with these agents can lead to a better outcome.

Approved pharmacotherapy for myopic choroidal neovascularization:a review of randomized controlled trials in ranibizumab and aflibercept

Myopic choroidal neovascularization(mCNV) can cause severe visual impairment in highly myopic patients. We review the randomized trials of two approved pharmacotherapy for treating mCNV, including intravitreal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept. These two vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) antagonists show superior ability to improve vision and reduce macular thickness, comparing with sham injections or verteporfin photodynamic therapy(vPDT). There is no severe ocular or systemic adverse reaction reported in studies associated with ranibizumab and aflibercept for mCNV. Prompt treatment with these agents can lead to a better outcome.

Intravitreal aflibercept for rubeosis iridis secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy

The purpose of this article is to report a case with rubeosis iridis treated by intravitreal aflibercept. A 61-year-old man had iris neovascularization and scanty vitreous hemorrhage secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the right eye. Neither neovascularization of angle nor elevation of intraocular pressure was found. Single intravitreal al ibercept 2 mg injection was performed. Rubeosis iridis disappeared on the next day. Scattered retinal laser photocoagulation was added 1 week later. There was no recurrence after 3-month follow-up. Aflibercept may serve as another anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF) for treating rubeosis iridis.