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Week in review: COVID-19 pandemic slows research, rising AMD rates, multidisciplinary care for uveitis





Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Cornea/External Disease, Retina/Vitreous, Uveitis

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted ophthalmology research in the UK. Eighty percent of UK ophthalmologists surveyed about their academic research reported a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their research activities, primarily delay or termination of their projects, according to a recent publication. A total of 148 members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists completed the anonymous survey, two-thirds of whom are consultant ophthalmologists. The negative impact was felt most by those who hold academic posts. Given that many UK ophthalmologists are actively engaged in research, the authors recommend their findings be used “to support the development of strategy and policy which protects and nurtures [this] research culture.” Eye

In 2019, AMD affected nearly 20 million US adults aged ≥40 years. New estimates of the prevalence of early- and late-stage AMD in the United States indicate that about 18.3 million people had early-stage AMD and 1.5 million people had late-stage AMD in 2019. This translates into prevalence rates of 11.6% and 0.9% of the US population aged ≥40 years, respectively. Rates of early-stage AMD were similar for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White individuals. Non-Hispanic Blacks had the lowest prevalence of AMD. In general, men were more likely to have AMD than women. JAMA Ophthalmology

Ophthalmologists plus rheumatologists: A winning team for treating uveitis. Investigators evaluated the outcomes of 74 patients with uveitis (135 eyes) treated for 6 months at a combined ophthalmology–rheumatology clinic and compared them with the same patients’ outcomes in the 6 months before this clinic was established (i.e., seen at a standalone ophthalmology clinic). Visual acuity and anterior chamber flare grade significantly improved following visits to the combined clinic, and a greater percentage of patients achieved target immunotherapy doses. The authors conclude that combining visits to an ophthalmologist and rheumatologist yields better vision results and treatment management than separate visits. Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

$7.3 million NEI grant awarded to Case Western Reserve University for neural eye research. The National Eye Institute (NEI) has awarded a $7.3 million, 5-year grant to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) to further research into the impact of inflammation and pain on the surface of the eye, with the ultimate goal of increasing understanding of how the nervous system maintains eye health. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and CWRU will use advanced technology to map the structure and expression of corneal nerves. Principal investigator Dr. Michael Jenkins said, “Understanding neural control at the eye’s surface is critical to understand many diseases, including dry eye disease, diabetes, and more.” Case Western Reserve University



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