Ophthalmology
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Multicenter Study
Ophthalmic Medication Expenditures and Out-of-Pocket Spending: An Analysis of United States Prescriptions from 2007 through 2016.
To estimate temporal trends in total and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures for ophthalmic prescription medications among adults in the United States. ⋯ Total ophthalmic medication expenditure in the United States increased significantly over the last decade, whereas OOP expenses decreased. Increases in coverage, copayment assistance, and use of expensive brand drugs may be contributing to these trends. Policy makers and physicians should be aware that rising overall drug expenditures ultimately may increase indirect costs to the patient and offset a decline in OOP prescription drug spending.
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Multicenter Study
Receipt of Eye Care Services among Medicare Beneficiaries with and without Dementia.
To examine the relationship between dementia status and receipt of eye care among US Medicare beneficiaries. ⋯ US Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with dementia are less likely to receive eye care than those without diagnosed dementia. Depending on visual acuity and functional status, this may have implications for injury prevention, physical and cognitive function, and quality of life. Further work is needed to identify barriers to receiving eye care, determine eye care services and settings that provide greatest value to patients with dementia, and implement measures to improve access to appropriate eye care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Postoperative Endothelial Cell Density Is Associated with Late Endothelial Graft Failure after Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty.
To determine whether preoperative endothelial cell density (ECD) and postoperative ECD after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) are associated with late endothelial graft failure (LEGF) in the Cornea Preservation Time Study (CPTS). ⋯ In eyes undergoing DSAEK, preoperative ECD is unrelated to LEGF, whereas lower ECD at 6 months is associated with LEGF. Early endothelial cell loss after DSAEK and intraoperative complications should be minimized to improve graft survival.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safety and Efficacy of Adalimumab in Patients with Noninfectious Uveitis in an Ongoing Open-Label Study: VISUAL III.
To evaluate safety and efficacy of adalimumab in patients with noninfectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis. ⋯ Patients with active uveitis at study entry who received adalimumab therapy were likely to achieve quiescence, improve visual acuity, and reduce their daily uveitis-related systemic corticosteroid use. Most patients with inactive uveitis at study entry sustained quiescence without a systemic corticosteroid dose increase. No new safety signals were identified.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Association of Rare Predicted Loss-of-Function Variants in Cellular Pathways with Sub-Phenotypes in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
To investigate the association of rare predicted loss-of-function (pLoF) variants within age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk loci and AMD sub-phenotypes. ⋯ Rare pLoF variants are associated with disease progression. Variants in the complement pathway modify the clinical course of AMD and increase the risk of developing specific sub-phenotypes.