Combining Vitreoretinal Surgery With EDOF IOL Implantation

The lens technology’s potential to reduce patients’ trips to the OR and loss of accommodation.

Peter Stalmans, MD, PhD

Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today

Cataract surgery is often thought of as an age-related procedure. In numerous European countries, however, including Belgium, where I practice, many patients receiving a vitrectomy undergo concurrent cataract surgery if they are older than 50 years of age to minimize the number of surgical procedures they will require and maximize their UCVA. IOL selection in this situation is challenging because these individuals are typically active members of the workforce who require crisp intermediate and near visual acuity. My colleagues and I therefore conducted a study to evaluate patient satisfaction when vitrectomy was combined with the implantation of an extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOL (AT LARA, Carl Zeiss Meditec).1 WHY AN EDOF IOL? Traditional multifocal IOLs are designed to provide better near visual acuity and greater spectacle independence than monofocal IOLs.2 Patients who receive multifocal IOLs, however, are more likely to experience glare, halos,2,3 and reduced contrast sensitivity.3 An EDOF lens was selected for our study because it can provide good intermediate visual acuity with fewer unwanted visual effects.4 Participants with more than mild corneal astigmatism received a toric model. Earlier research demonstrated high patient satisfaction with EDOF lenses.5,6 Our study is the first to gauge patient satisfaction with an EDOF IOL implanted following a vitrectomy. The study also explored whether unilateral or bilateral IOL status had an impact on quality of life. METHODOLOGY Patients who underwent a vitrectomy at the University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium from January 2019 to January 2022 were invited to participate in our study. In addition to patients with vision-threatening conditions such as retinal detachment (RD) and epiretinal membrane, the study enrolled a small number of individuals who elected to undergo a vitrectomy to remove floaters. Among patients with an RD, only those with macula-on detachments at the time of the procedure or those with macula-off detachment of less than 24 hours’ duration were included.

Foundations: The Journey of Neda Squared in Ophthalmology

Neda Shamie, MD; and Neda Nikpoor, MD

Eyetube

In the premiere episode of Neda Squared, hosts Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, weave through their personal and professional journeys in ophthalmology, highlighting the serendipitous meetings and shared values that have shaped their careers. They delve into the transformative power of mentorship, the impact of global medicine initiatives, and their commitment to authentic patient care.

Retina Education on the Atlantic Coast

The 2024 Atlantic Coast Retina Club and Macula Conference packed a punch with cases, lectures, and more.

Jacques Bijon, MD, and Erin Flynn, MD

Retina Today

The 48th Annual Atlantic Coast Retina Club (ACRC) and 24th Macula Conference, held on January 4-6, 2024, in New York City, was an exceptional 3-day meeting organized by K. Bailey Freund, MD. The first 2 days involved mystery cases presented by residents, fellows, and experts in the field of retina. The last day included an array of topics, such as surgical and medical management, uveitis, oncology, retinal imaging, and AI. The event was further enriched by the presentation of the Founder’s Awards and a notable interview with Wiley A. Chambers, MD, former director of the Division of Ophthalmology at the FDA. TRAINEE CASE PRESENTATIONS The first day focused on cases presented by residents and fellows. These presentations featured mystery cases that were discussed with a panel of moderators. A few interesting highlights include the following: a case of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (by Suveera Dang, MD), choroidal metastasis from breast cancer treated with targeted immunotherapy (by Rolika Bansal, MD), idiopathic unilateral choroidals in a young hypertensive patient (by William Foulsham, MD, PhD), and an orbital perforation secondary to a MIRAgel scleral buckle (by Rusdeep S. Mundae, MD).