Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the association between Medicaid expansion and diabetic dilated eye examinations. DESIGN/METHODS:A retrospective difference in differences (DiD) analysis using individual-level survey response data from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:A total of 52 392 survey responses from 50 states and the District of Columbia between 2009 and 2017. Responders were adults aged 18 to 64 years reporting a previous diagnosis of diabetes and a household income below 138% of the US federal poverty line (FPL). METHODS:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were used to identify survey responders who were asked about the presence of dilated eye examinations from years before and after Medicaid expansion implementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES/METHODS:The DiD in proportion of dilated eye examinations among diabetic persons aged 18 to 64 years with household incomes below 138% of the FPL between states that did and did not implement Medicaid expansion. RESULTS:Implementation of Medicaid expansion policies was associated with a 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.8 to 6.4; P = 0.61), 6.3% (95% CI, 1.3-11.3; P = 0.016), 4.1% (95% CI, -0.8 to 9.0; P = 0.11), and 2.3% (95% CI, -1.6 to 6.2; P = 0.23) increase in the proportion of diabetic persons aged 18 to 64 years with incomes below 138% of the FPL receiving a dilated eye examination within the past year due to Medicaid expansion 1, 2, 3, and 4 cumulative years after expansion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Medicaid expansion policies were significantly associated with an increase in dilated eye examination rates within the first 2 years after implementation. However, this increase did not persist beyond this period, with nonsignificant increases 3 and 4 cumulative years after implementation. Healthcare policymakers should be aware that additional measures beyond expanding insurance coverage may be necessary to increase the rate of dilated eye examinations among diabetic populations.

In the present study, we investigated the association between susceptible genetic variants to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and response to as-needed intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) therapy for exudative AMD including both typical neovascular AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) over 12-months. A total of 234 patients with exudative AMD were initially treated with 3 monthly IAI and thereafter as-needed IAI over 12 months. Seven variants of 6 genes including ARMS2 A69S (rs10490924), CFH (I62V:rs800292 and rs1329428), C2-CFB-SKIV2L(rs429608), C3 (rs2241394), CETP (rs3764261) and ADAMTS-9 (rs6795735) were genotyped for all participants using TaqMan technology. After adjusting for age, gender, baseline BCVA and AMD subtype, A (protective) allele of C2-CFB-SKIV2L rs429608 was associated with visual improvement at 12-month (P = 0.003). Retreatment was associated with T(risk) allele of ARMS2 A69S (P = 2.0 × 10^-4; hazard ratio: 2.18:95%CI: 1.47-3.24) and C(risk) allele of CFH rs1329428 (P = 2.0 × 10^-3; hazard ratio: 1.74:95%CI: 1.16-2.59) after adjusting for the baseline confounders. The need for additional injections was also associated with T allele of ARMS2 A69S (P = 1.0 × 10^-5) and C allele of CFH rs1329428 (P = 3.0 × 10^-3) after adjusting for the baseline confounders. The variants of ARMS2 and CFH are informative for both physicians and patients to predict recurrence and to quantify the need for additional injections.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To identify temporal and geographic trends in private equity (PE)-backed acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States. DESIGN/METHODS:A cross-sectional study using private equity acquisition and investment data from January 1, 2012, through October 20, 2019. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:A total of 228 PE acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States between 2012 and 2019. METHODS:Acquisition and financial investment data were compiled from 6 financial databases, 4 industry news outlets, and publicly available press releases from PE firms or platform companies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES/METHODS:Yearly trends in ophthalmology and optometry acquisitions, including number of total acquisitions, clinical locations, and providers of acquired practices as well as subsequent sales, median holding period, geographic footprint, and financing status of each platform company. RESULTS:A total of 228 practices associated with 1466 clinical locations and 2146 ophthalmologists or optometrists were acquired by 29 PE-backed platform companies. Of these acquisitions, 127, 9, and 92 were comprehensive or multispecialty, retina, and optometry practices, respectively. Acquisitions increased rapidly between 2012 and 2019: 42 practices were acquired between 2012 and 2016 compared to 186 from 2017 through 2019. Financing rounds of platform companies paralleled temporal acquisition trends. Three platform companies, comprising 60% of platforms formed before 2016, were subsequently sold or recapitalized to new PE investors by the end of this study period with a median holding period of 3.5 years. In terms of geographic distribution, acquisitions occurred in 40 states with most PE firms developing multistate platform companies. New York and California were the 2 states with the greatest number of PE acquisitions with 22 and 19, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Private equity-backed acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices have increased rapidly since 2012, with some platform companies having already been sold or recapitalized to new investors. Additionally, private equity-backed platform companies have developed both regionally focused and multistate models of add-on acquisitions. Future research should assess the impact of PE investment on patient, provider, and practice metrics, including health outcomes, expenditures, procedural volume, and staff employment.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To use swept-source optical coherence tomography and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography to investigate potential relationships between choroidal vascular hyperpermeability (CVH) seen with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), choriocapillaris flow density, and choroidal thickness in eyes with pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy. METHODS:Patients with pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy were prospectively imaged with 12-mm × 12-mm swept-source optical coherence tomography, 12-mm × 12-mm swept-source optical coherence tomography angiographyA, and ICGA. Binarized choriocapillaris OCTA images were superimposed with ICGA images in which CVH area had been isolated. Choriocapillaris flow density within or outside the quadrants of CVH was calculated and the ratio of these two values was determined. The presence of CVH and choroidal thickness was evaluated at 9 locations within a central 3-mm × 3-mm area to explore the relationship between these 2 factors. RESULTS:Ten eyes from 10 patients were enrolled in the present study. Choriocapillaris flow density within quadrants of CVH area was significantly lower compared with quadrants without CVH (P < 0.001). The mean choriocapillaris flow density ratio was 0.86 ± 0.10 (range: 0.65-0.99). From among the 90 locations in 10 study eyes, 48 were within areas of CVH. Choroidal thickness was greater in quadrants of CVH compared with areas without CVH (P < 0.001, 455 ± 122 µm vs. 297 ± 93 µm). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Reduced choriocapillaris flow density, increased choroidal thickness, and CVH appear to co-localize in eyes with pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To characterize surgical confusions in ophthalmology to determine their incidence, root causes, and impact on patients and physicians. DESIGN/METHODS:Retrospective cohort study of errors in ophthalmic surgical procedures between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2017. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:One hundred forty-three cases involving surgical confusions. METHODS:Cases were identified by the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company from closed case files and by the New York State Health Department from the New York Patient Occurrence Reporting and Tracking program that identified the surgical confusions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES/METHODS:Incidence and impact by intended surgery, error type, and root cause as well as preventability by the Universal Protocol. RESULTS:Of the 143 cases of surgical confusions identified, 92 cases (64.3%) were deemed preventable by the Universal Protocol. Approximately two thirds, 95 cases (66.4%), were cases of incorrect implants being used during cataract surgery (cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation), of which 33 cases (34.7%) were not preventable by the Universal Protocol. Wrong eye blocks or anesthesia accounted for 20 cases (14.0%), incorrect eye procedures accounted for 10 cases (7.00%), incorrect refractive surgery measurements accounted for 6 cases (4.20%), incorrect patient or procedure accounted for 5 cases (3.50%), incorrect intraocular gas concentration accounted for 4 cases (2.80%), and incorrect medication in surgery accounted for 3 cases (2.10%). The most common root cause of confusion was an inadequately performed time out, which was responsible for nearly one third of all surgical confusions, 46 cases (32.2%). Incorrect lens orders or calculations before surgery (so-called upstream errors) were the second most common cause of surgical confusion, involving 31 cases (21.7%). The average legal indemnity for incorrect implant during cataract surgery was $57 514 (United States dollars). The average indemnity for incorrect refractive surgery measurement was $123 125, that for incorrect eye procedure was $50 000, and that for incorrect gas concentration was $220 844. CONCLUSIONS:Most surgical confusions could have been prevented by following the Universal Protocol properly. However, upstream errors, originating in the clinic or office before surgery, and ineffective communication during time outs suggest a need for modification of the Universal Protocol.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Cuticular drusen (CD) have been associated with manifestations of age-related macular degeneration such as atrophy and neovascularization in the macula. In this study, eyes with CD were followed and investigated for the estimated 5-year risk of progression to sequelae of age-related macular degeneration such as geographic atrophy (GA) and macular neovascularization (MNV). METHODS:A consecutive series of patients with CD were followed for the development of GA and MNV. Whenever possible, they were also studied retrospectively. The patients with CD were categorized into three phenotypic groups. Phenotype 1: eyes had concentrated, densely populated CD in the macular and paramacular area, Phenotype 2: eyes showed scattered CD in the posterior fundus, and Phenotype 3: involved eyes with CD mixed with large drusen (>200 µm). The 5-year incidence of progression was then estimated using a Kaplan-Meier estimator. RESULTS:A total of 63 eyes from 38 patients (35 women with a mean age at presentation of 58.9 ± 14.2 years) were studied and followed for a mean of 40 ± 18 months. Thirteen patients had single eyes with GA (84.5%; 11/13) or MNV (15.5%; 2/13) in one eye at presentation and were subsequently excluded. Geographic atrophy developed in 19.0% (12/63) of eyes and MNV in 4.8% (3/63) of eyes. The cumulative estimated 5-year risk of GA and MNV was 28.4% and 8.7%, respectively. The estimated 5-year incidence of MNV or GA was 12.6%, 50.0%, and 51.6% in Phenotype 1, Phenotype 2, and Phenotype 3, respectively (P = 0.0015, log-rank test). No difference in risk was found in the development of GA or MNV (P = 0.11) between the subgroup of patients presenting with GA or MNV in their fellow eye and those with both eyes included. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:When patients with CD are followed longitudinally, there was a significant risk of progression to GA or MNV for Phenotype 2 and Phenotype 3. Patients with CD are commonly first diagnosed in the fifth decade of life, and there is a female predominance. Clinicians should use multimodal imaging to detect and be aware of the risk of progression to manifestations of GA and MNV. These risks of GA and MNV suggest that patients with CD may be part of the overall spectrum of age-related macular degeneration.

We investigated whether response to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) differs depending on fellow eye condition. A retrospective review was conducted for consecutive 60 eyes with PCV treated with PDT combined with IAI as well as 2-years of follow-up data. Fellow eyes were divided into 4 groups; Group 0: no drusen, Group 1; pachydrusen, Group 2; soft drusen, Group 3: PCV/fibrovascular scarring. Best-corrected visual acuity improved at 24-months irrespective of groups and there were no significant differences in visual improvement among treated eyes among the 4 groups. Within 2-years, 35 (58.3%) required the retreatment. The need for retreatment including additional injection and the combination therapy was significantly less in Group 1(12.5%) compared to the others (P = 0.0038) and mean number of additional IAI was also less in Group 1 compared to the others (P = 0.017). The retreatment-free period from the initial combination therapy was longest in Group 1 (23.6±1.1 months) (P = 0.0055, Group 0: 19.1±6.9, Group 2: 12.8±7.9, Group 3: 11.5±9.9). The need for retreatment was significantly different according to fellow-eye condition. Among PCV patients, pachydrusen in fellow eyes appear to be a predictive characteristic for a decreased treatment burden at 2 years.

We report 5-year visual and anatomical outcomes after combination therapy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal injection of ranibizumab or aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and predictive factors for visual outcomes at 5-year and time to recurrence. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for 43 consecutive eyes with PCV treated with combination therapy of PDT and intravitreal injection of ranibizumab(n = 13) or aflibercept(n = 30) and completed 5-year follow-up. The variants of ARMS2 A69S and CFH I62V were genotyped using TaqMan assay. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved at 5-year (P = 0.01) with 20% reduction of subfoveal choroidal thickness irrespective of presence or absence of recurrence. Visual improvement was associated with baseline shorter greatest linear dimension (GLD) (P = 1.0×10-4). Mean time to recurrence was 28.6±23.1 months (95% CI: 21.5-35.7, Median:18.0) and time to recurrence was associated with G allele (protective allele) of ARMS2 A69S and GLD (P = 4.0×10-4 and 1.0×10-2, respectively). Multiple regression analysis revealed that time to recurrence extended by 15.5 months when the G allele of ARMS2 A69S increased by one allele (TT: 15.7±17.0, TG: 30.8±23.5, GG: 41.1±22.6 months). The combination therapy resulted in a favorable visual outcome for PCV during 5-year follow-up.