Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde最新文献

Recent years have seen formidable advances in artificial intelligence. Developments include a large number of specialised systems either existing or planned for use in scientific research, data analysis, translation, text production and design with grammar checking and stylistic revision, plagiarism detection, and scientific review in addition to general-purpose AI systems for searching the internet and generative AI systems for texts, images, videos, and musical compositions. These systems promise more ease and simplicity in many aspects of work. Blind trust in AI systems with uncritical, careless use of AI results is dangerous, as these systems do not have any inherent understanding of the content they process or generate, but only simulate this understanding by reproducing statistical patterns extracted from training data. This article discusses the potential and risk of using AI in scientific communication and explores potential systemic consequences of widespread AI implementation in this context.

Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is the most common cause of epiphora in the first year of life. In addition to conservative therapy, there are several invasive methods available. The aim of this retrospective study was to conduct a long-term follow-up of bicanalicular lacrimal duct intubation as the primary intervention in a large cohort of patients with CNLDO. The electronic medical records of 487 patients with CNLDO who underwent bicanalicular tube intubation were reviewed. To determine the long-term outcomes, a telephone interview was conducted. A total of 328 eyes of 235 patients were included in the study. The median average follow-up period was 6.67 (5.58 - 8.67) years. At the time of the survey, 218 patients (92.8%) were symptom free. Mean patient satisfaction with surgical outcome was 10/10. To our knowledge, this study provides the longest follow-up of the largest patient cohort in the literature consisting of patients who underwent probing with bicanalicular lacrimal silicone tube intubation as a primary intervention for CNLDO. This study showed a high long-term postoperative success rate, with high postoperative satisfaction, few complications, and a low need for reintervention.

Today, microendoscopic minimally invasive therapy techniques, such as laser dacryoplasty (LDP) for complete stenosis and microdrill dacryoplasty (MDP) for incomplete stenoses are therapeutic options for PANDO (primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstructions). Due to excellent prognosis, external DCR is still "gold standard" especially for patients with complex problems.

Background: Diabetic macular oedema (DME) is associated with significant loss of visual acuity. Intravitreal VEGF inhibitor injection is the gold standard in treating this disease; second-line treatment consists of intravitreal steroid injections. This treatment has already undergone extensive investigation in large randomised controlled trials. The aim of this study is to evaluate patient population and treatment options in a real-world setting.

Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 176 eyes in 114 patients diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema who had received at least one intravitreal injection during 2018 at Marburg University Hospital Department of Ophthalmology. The analysis examined demographic characteristics, prior treatment, and treatments performed as well as visual acuity and central retinal thickness development during therapy. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate the influence of different variables on changes in dependent variables in visual acuity (logMAR), changes in retinal thickness (µm), and number of injections, while also taking interactions between the independent variables themselves into account.

Results: Patients were on average 64.45 ± 13.79 years old and predominantly male (61.93%). Most (71.59%) had already been treated for DME. Baseline visual acuity averaged 0.42 logMAR ± 0.34; baseline central retinal thickness averaged 369.1 µm ± 118.81. A total of 688 intravitreal injections were administered at 3.91 ± 2.22 per eye during the study period. Visual acuity improved by 0.04 logMAR ± 0.18 on average; eyes with poorer baseline visual acuity showed a greater increase in visual acuity. CRT values decreased by 44.54 µm ± 133.95 on average. Eyes with higher baseline values showed greater reduction. Using regression analysis, this is the first study to demonstrate that eyes may continue to require additional injections after prior treatment.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the reality of treatment for patients with diabetic macular oedema at a German university clinic as accurately as possible. We were able to demonstrate the differences from RCTs and the characteristics of the patient cohort.