These researchers compared the functional and anatomical outcomes of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) according to the presence of glaucoma before the onset of CRVO, and assessed whether pre-existing glaucoma affects the prognosis of CRVO in terms of development and conversion to ischemic CRVO. In this retrospective cohort study, patients with treatment-naïve CRVO were enrolled between December 2009 and February 2019. The patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of pre-existing primary open-angle glaucoma at CRVO diagnosis. Researchers reviewed medical records regarding basic demographics, ocular characteristics and treatments. The effects of pre-existing glaucoma on the occurrence of ischemic CRVO were also investigated using Cox proportional hazard models.

Of 166 eyes from 166 patients, 26 (15.7%) had pre-existing glaucoma. The pre-existing glaucoma group revealed significantly older (69.4 ± 13.3 vs. 56.5 ± 15.9) and lower BCVA at baseline (1.06 ± 0.75 vs. 0.64 ± 0.58, logMAR) and final visits (1.56 ± 1.35 vs. 0.64 ± 0.48, logMAR) than the non-glaucomatous group. In terms of perfusion status of CRVO, the glaucoma group showed higher incidence of ischemic CRVO (30.8% vs. 5.3%) at initial and last visits as well as more disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) at three months (76.0% vs. 49.6%, p=0.015). Pre-existing glaucoma, lower vision at baseline and DRIL at three months were significant risk factors for the occurrence of ischemic CRVO.

In patients with CRVO, pre-existing glaucoma was associated with poorer visual and anatomical outcomes, and played a significant risk factor for the development and conversion to ischemic CRVO with lower vision and presence of DRIL at early phase of CRVO.

Transected axons typically fail to regenerate in the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in chronic neurological disability in individuals with traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, glaucoma and ischemia-reperfusion injury of the eye. Although neuroinflammation is often depicted as detrimental, there is growing evidence that alternatively activated, reparative leukocyte subsets and their products can be deployed to improve neurological outcomes.

In the current study, investigators identified a unique granulocyte subset, with characteristics of an immature neutrophil, that had neuroprotective properties and drove CNS axon regeneration in vivo, in part via secretion of a cocktail of growth factors. This pro-regenerative neutrophil promoted repair in the optic nerve and spinal cord, demonstrating its relevance across CNS compartments and neuronal populations.

Investigators wrote that their findings could ultimately lead to the development of new immunotherapies that reverse CNS damage and restore lost neurological function across a spectrum of diseases.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in metamorphopsia after administering the treat-and-extend regimen of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for branch retinal vein occlusion-associated macular edema. Researchers retrospectively examined 27 patients (27 eyes) with macula edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion who received intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents using the treat-and-extend regimen for ≥18 months. They evaluated best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, macular edema recurrence and amount of metamorphopsia, quantified by M-CHARTS.

The best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution) and central macular thickness significantly improved at 18 months compared with baseline: the median value (interquartile range [IQR]), 0.30 (0.15 to 0.52) and 459 (373 to 542) μm at baseline; and 0 (-0.08 to 0.16) and 267 (232 to 306) μm at 18 months. The M-CHARTS score (the mean of vertical and horizontal scores) significantly decreased at one, six and 12 months compared with baseline, but worsened at 18 month: the median value (IQR), 0.45 (0.250 to 0.925), 0.4 (0.15 to 0.70), 0.4 (0.150 to 0.625), 0.4 (0.225 to 0.550) and 0.45 (0.225 to 0.750) at baseline, one month, six months, 12 months and 18 months, respectively. The median cumulative number of macular edema recurrences was two (IQR, 0.5 to 3.0) at 18 months. Simple linear regression and multivariate analyses revealed that the change in the mean M-CHARTS score at 18 months was significantly correlated with the baseline score and the cumulative number of macular edema recurrences.

Researchers wrote that anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy using the treat-and-extend regimen improved metamorphopsia in branch retinal vein occlusion-related macular edema in the short to mid-term follow-up period, but not in the long term. They added that macular edema recurrence may be associated with persistent metamorphopsia.