New Retina Radio By Eyetube

Researchers performed a cost analysis of the DRCR Retina Network’s Protocol AC study comparing on-label and off-label anti-VEGF use in DME therapy. What did they determine? Moderator Priya Vakharia, MD, invites panelists Sruthi Arepalli, MD, and Vaidehi Dedania, MD, to review the details of this economic examination. After the break, they explore how studies such as this one affect policy and probe the relevance of these findings in a world with longer-acting therapeutic agents. 

How do retina specialists introduce new therapies to patients, and how does thoughtful use of imaging help providers integrate new treatments into their clinics? Moderator Aleksandra Rachitskaya, MD, joins panelists Mrinali Gupta, MD, and Katherine Talcott, MD, to review how innovations in imaging software have helped onboard GA therapies in real-world clinics. This episode is sponsored by ZEISS.

In part 2 of this special podcast interview with John W. Kitchens, MD, and Kirk Packo, MD, FACS, they dive into Dr. Packo's involvement in the creation of AAO subspecialty day, his passion for honoring the history of retina, and his assistance in advocating for vitreoretinal surgery improvements.  This podcast is editorially independent.

John W. Kitchens, MD, interviews Kirk Packo, MD, FACS, around his triumphant career and his decision to retire from practicing medicine following an unexpected diagnosis. In part 1 of 2, Dr. Packo describes his early career goals, his experience with residency matching, his background in acting and directing, and his passion for educating.  This podcast is editorially independent.

How do retina specialists manage patients who present with postoperative inflammation following cataract surgery? Host John Kitchens, MD, and panelists Vaidehi Dedania, MD, and David Eichenbaum, MD, explore the role steroids play in inflammation reduction and examine whether and why extended-release steroids are needed. After the break, Dr. Kitchens quizzes the panelists on their use of specific steroids in postoperative inflammation patients. This editorially independent episode is supported by advertising from Alimera Sciences, Inc.

What did a meta-analysis of studies assessing the safety and efficacy of vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment (TRD) find when it comes to the rate of retinal reattachment and final visual acuity? Moderator Katherine Talcott, MD, and panelists Kyle Kovacs, MD, and Rebecca Soares, MD, MPH, outline the top-line findings of this meta-analysis, explore why the study's conclusions brush against conventional understandings of diabetic TRD outcomes following surgery, and ask whether the success bias of published studies undercut the real-world value of meta-analyses.  

New Retina Radio was at ASRS 2023 to cover the stories you may have missed.    How did patients fare in the GALE extension study, which assessed the safety and efficacy of pegcetacoplan (Syfovre, Apellis Pharmaceuticals) for geographic atrophy? Nathan C. Steinle, MD, shares the results of the first 6 months of GALE, in which patients who received treatment for 24 months in DERBY/OAKS continued with therapy—and in which patients who had received sham treatment for 24 months were switched over to treatment.    Paul Hahn, MD, PhD, joined us in our mobile studio in Seattle to share data from a matching-adjusted indirect comparison of pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol (Izervay, Iveric Bio). What did he and his team find?    This is episode 2 of 2 covering the 2023 ASRS Annual Meeting. Go back in your feed to listen to episode 1.  

What are the first steps retina specialists should take when a patient presents with postoperative inflammation? Host John Kitchens, MD, is joined by panelists Lisa Faia, MD, and Daniel Kiernan, MD, to debut the NRR miniseries "New Approaches to Chronic Postoperative Inflammation." They review which initial evaluation steps are most useful, discuss the wide range of preventive and treatment strategies, and offer pearls to clinicians who are managing postoperative inflammation.  This editorially independent episode is supported by advertising from Alimera Sciences, Inc.

As we enter the therapeutic era of geographic atrophy, imaging the disease is more important than ever. How are retina specialists navigating this new clinical dynamic? Moderator Rishi P. Singh, MD, is joined by Roger A. Goldberg, MD, MBA; Mrinali Gupta, MD; and Katherine Talcott, MD, as they examine which imaging modalities are best suited for busy clinics, discuss how software can facilitate longitudinal imaging tracking, and review which imaging reports are most conducive to patient education. This episode is sponsored by ZEISS. 

New Retina Radio was at ASRS 2023 to cover the stories you may have missed.    How often do patients return to the clinic on time for anti-VEGF injections? Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA, and her team explored how often patients missed scheduled appointments, by how much, and whether missing appointments affected patient outcomes.    And Nikolas JS London, MD, joined us in our mobile studio in Seattle to tell us about anatomic outcomes in wet AMD patients after faricimab (Vabysmo, Genentech/Roche) treatment.    This is episode 1 of 2 covering the 2023 ASRS Annual Meeting. Keep an eye on your feed for episode 2.  

How often did human graders agree with software designed to detect and quantify retinal fluid in wet AMD patients using a home OCT prototype? Moderator Sabin Dang, MD, is joined by panelists Lediana Goduni, MD, and Prethy Rao, MD, MPH, to examine how reliable such software was in a prospective observational study. After the break, the group speculates how these new data may affect retina doctors' comfort with home OCT and asks what is the minimum viable image quality required to trust home OCT imaging.  

Were fluid-free visits correlated with outcomes in the HAWK/HARRIER studies? Moderator Katherine Talcott, MD, and panelists Kyle Kovacs, MD, and Rebecca Soares, MD, MPH, summarize data from a study examining this question, review what it means to be "free of fluid," and discuss how these data fit into the overall conversation about fluid toleration in wet AMD. 

Is a solution to extending duration with aflibercept (Eylea, Regeneron) in DME patients an 8-mg dose rather than the typical 2-mg dose? Diana Do, MD, joined us to review data from the PHOTON study, which assessed the safety and efficacy of high-dose aflibercept in DME patients.   And we hear from Jennifer Lim, MD, who summarized data on extending treatment intervals in the phase 3 YOSEMITE and RHINE studies. Could a significant number of DME patients make it to 12—or even 16—weeks before needing another faricimab (Vabysmo, Genentech/Roche) dose?   

How are doctors using faricimab (Vabysmo, Genentech/Roche) in real-world settings? The IRIS Registry has a few answers. We sat down with Durga Borkar, MD, MMCi, to hear what researchers in the FARETINA-AMD study group found regarding dynamics related to faricimab’s use in wet AMD patients since its approval in January of last year.    We also interviewed Varun Chaudhary, MD, to learn specifically about faricimab treat-and-extend regimens in wet AMD patients who were enrolled in TENAYA and LUCERNE. How many patients achieved treatment intervals of 12 or 16 weeks? 

After years of failed clinical trials, we finally have an approved therapy for geographic atrophy, and more are hopefully on the way. Allen C. Ho, MD, and Robert L. Avery, MD, sit down with Eleonora M. Lad, MD, PhD; Jeffrey S. Heier, MD; and Dilsher Dhoot, MD, to discuss the introduction of geographic atrophy therapies into the retina clinic.

What did an analysis of the Korean National Health Insurance Service database reveal about the link between age-related macular degeneration and depression risk? Moderator Sabin Dang, MD, is joined by panelists Lediana Goduni, MD, and Prethy Rao, MD, MPH, to summarize the study's findings. After the break, the discussion turns to whether depression screening should (or could) occur in retinal clinics, and how optimistic framing of a diagnosis may make a difference in the lives of patients. 

What does an analysis of the Japan-Retinal Detachment Registry reveal about the relationship between duration of macular detachment and visual prognosis? Moderator Priya Vakharia, MD, invites panelists Sruthi Arepalli, MD, and Vaidehi Dedania, MD, to explore the design and findings of a recent paper by Miyake et al on this topic. After the break, they discuss the clinical and medico-legal implications of the paper’s findings. 

Cynthia A. Toth, MD, and Amani A. Fawzi, MD, sit down with experts Philip J. Rosenfeld, MD, PhD; SriniVas Sadda, MD; and Nadia K. Waheed, MD, MPH, to discuss the value of OCT angiography in the retina clinic. From assessing macular neovascularization to tracking treatment effect in patients with plaque choroidal retinopathies, this imaging modality can augment current tools—and even replace them, at times. Hear their pearls, tips, and tricks for integrating OCT angiography into your clinical routine.  

The FDA approval of pegcetacoplan (Syfovre, Apellis Pharmaceuticals) is a historic moment for the field of retina, finally providing a treatment option for patients with geographic atrophy. Allen C. Ho, MD, and Robert L. Avery, MD, share their initial reactions to the approval and discuss the potential effect on patient care and clinical practice. 

Diversity and inclusion in medical practice is essential, and while retina specialists always have their patients’ and colleagues’ best interests at heart, sometimes that message can get lost in translation, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ sensitivities. Vivienne S. Hau, MD, PhD, and Basil K. Williams Jr, MD, sat down with four experts—Jessica Weinstein, MD; Roberto Diaz-Rohena, MD; Steven Sanislo, MD; and Brandon Johnson, MD—to discuss ways to foster workplace diversity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ patients and physicians.