Ophthalmology
Expert insights on ocular conditions, surgical techniques, retinal disease, and vision-related management.
Recent Discussions
How should diabetic retinopathy surveillance be adjusted for patients starting GLP-1 agonists?
As with traditional anti-hyperglycemic medications, GLP-1 agonists may cause transient worsening of diabetic retinopathy due to the initial rapid control of blood glucose. Therefore, if a patient has existing retinopathy and is about to start GLP-1 agonist therapy, I recommend closer monitoring. For...
How do you approach a patient with idiopathic anterior uveitis who has ongoing disease despite adalimumab every two weeks?
This is a style question, I think. I thought it would be useful to note the choice here might depend on testing for anti-adalimumab antibodies as there is some suggestion that changing to once weekly adalimumab in the presence of anti-adalimumab antibodies might not be efficacious. (Ismayilova et al...
For patients with nAMD who are developing GA in the same eye, do you consider adding anti-complement therapy?
My personal perspective, shared by many colleagues around the country, is that the minimal anatomic and functional benefit of anti-complement therapy does not outweigh the aggregate risks and costs of perpetual treatment with these agents. I discuss these issues with my GA patients (including those ...
In a bedridden, medically fragile patient with a symptomatic conjunctival cyst superior to the limbus, what is the optimal management approach?
I would first attempt medical management with lubricants, ketorolac, olopatadine, and naphazoline. If those failed, then I would use the following drops: topical anesthetic, a vasoconstrictor, and ketorolac twice over a five-minute period, then insert a lid speculum, and unroof the cyst by grasping ...
What are some special considerations for treatment of glaucoma and IOP lowering in patients with optic disc drusen?
Optic disc drusens (ODDs) in patients with glaucoma provide unique challenges for clinicians. ODDs on the surface of the optic disc are easy to spot; deeper (buried) DDs are difficult to diagnose. They require deeper B-scan cuts or require extended depth (ED) options. One must be cautious not to ove...
In patients with glaucoma who are not ideal candidates for goniotomy, angle stenting, tubes, or trabeculectomy, does the use of AlloFlo provide safe and predictable IOP control compared to other surgical options?
I am cautiously optimistic in this situation, one in which we frequently find ourselves in tertiary care glaucoma practices. I will say that it is helpful to have another option that seems (so far) to be safe, even in severe glaucoma cases. Unfortunately, we are not really going to know about the pr...
How do you approach the treatment of "normal tension glaucoma" and how do you discuss this with patients?
It highlights that glaucoma is probably not an eye pressure disease, but rather a vascular disease. As noted above, there is a genetic component clearly, but vasculopaths (DM, Sleep apnea, CVD, etc.) increase that risk with the same IOP.
How do you decide between initiating systemic immunotherapy versus local treatment for uveitis with associated HLA-B27 and spondyloarthropathy?
I find that most, but not all, HLA-B27 iritis can be controlled with topical therapies. To do so requires eliminating other causes of inflammation. Many patients have GI inflammation due to gluten and dairy, despite not having classic celiac disease or lactose intolerance. Reducing their intake, mod...
How would you treat corneal melt (in the absence of peripheral arthritis) in rheumatoid arthritis?
Corneal melt is a rare, but serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis. It usually occurs in patients who are sero-positive with active joint disease. A viral infection such as herpes simplex could cause a corneal ulcer that would mimic an immune-mediated melt. It is critical to communicate with t...
How do you decide on treatment modality for ocular surface squamous neoplasia?
For primary OSSN, my initial treatment modality will either be wide surgical excision with cryotherapy and amniotic membrane graft or medical treatment with 5-Fluorouracil drops QID x7 days, followed by a 3-week drop holiday. I find that there is little to no downside to trying 5-FU first, given tha...