Research & Studies

24-month follow-up of the ORCA study

Interpretation of SD-OCT imaging data in real-life conditions versus standardized reading centre analysis in eyes with diabetic macular oedema or macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion

Impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic on Treatment of nAMD via a Portal-Based Collaboration

This study revealed that the COVID-19 lockdown led to significant treatment interruptions in nAMD patients, resulting in permanent visual acuity loss despite the post-lockdown normalization of care, emphasizing the critical need for robust case management strategies to ensure treatment continuity during future pandemics or similar disruptions.

The Architecture of Macular Neovascularizations Predicts Treatment Responses to Anti-VEGF Therapy in Neovascular AMD

This study identified that smaller macular neovascularization (MNV) area, lower total vascular length, and reduced fractal dimension at baseline are significant predictors of favorable treatment response to anti-VEGF therapy in nAMD, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for optimizing therapeutic strategies and guiding the development of new drug classes.

Clinically applicable deep learning-based decision aids for treatment of neovascular AMD

This study developed robust convolutional neural networks (CNNs) capable of differentiating between treatment-indicated and non-treatment-indicated cases of neovascular AMD (nAMD) based on SD-OCT scans, achieving high diagnostic accuracy comparable to retina specialists, and enabling explainable AI-assisted decision-making for non-retina specialists through saliency maps.

Can Digital Instruments Like the Macula-App Support AMD Therapy?

This study found that the Makula-App 1.0 was highly regarded by both patients and ophthalmologists for its ability to improve appointment management and patient adherence in nAMD treatment, highlighting its potential as a valuable digital tool for enhancing patient-centered care and supporting the development of an advanced Makula-App 2.0 platform.

Adherence to anti-VEGF treatment-Considerations and practical recommendations

This article emphasizes the importance of addressing treatment adherence in anti-VEGF therapy through structured organizational measures, patient education, and regular monitoring, demonstrating their potential to improve functional outcomes, though further interventional studies are needed to validate these strategies in clinical practice.

Analysis of the "Portal" Care Model

Examination of the Outcome Quality of IVOM Therapy with Regard to Latency Periods in Exudative AMD

ORCA Study

real-world versus reading centre assessment of disease activity of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)

Technical aspects of quality assurance for intravitreal injections (IVI)

This article reviews the technological and data protection challenges in quality assurance for intravitreal injection (IVI) treatments, emphasizing the importance of data standardization, web-based network architectures, and compliance with privacy regulations, while anticipating future improvements through international standardization.

Baseline diagnostics and initial treatment decision for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in retinal diseases

The ORCA module of the OCEAN study demonstrated that alignment between treating ophthalmologists’ diagnoses and specialized reading centers improves the initial response to anti-VEGF therapy, highlighting the critical role of accurate baseline assessments in achieving superior visual and anatomical outcomes for patients with retinal diseases.

Reasons for delayed and discontinued therapy in age-related macular degeneration

This study highlights that delays in initiating therapy and non-medically indicated discontinuation in nvAMD are often driven by delayed decisions to consult an ophthalmologist, transportation challenges, poor health, and perceived lack of therapy benefit, suggesting a need for increased patient education, symptom awareness, and logistical support to improve therapy adherence and outcomes.

Predicting Visual Acuity by Using Machine Learning in Patients Treated for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

This study demonstrated that machine learning algorithms, particularly the Lasso protocol, can effectively predict visual acuity (VA) outcomes at 3 and 12 months for neovascular AMD patients after initial anti-VEGF therapy, offering potential to enhance patient adherence by setting realistic expectations for treatment outcomes.

Pitfalls in retinal optical coherence tomography imaging

This review highlights the critical role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in managing macular and retinal diseases while addressing potential sources of error in its application and interpretation, aiming to enhance its effective and precise use in clinical practice.

Visual acuity in anti-VEGF therapy for AMD : Can specific characteristics in the SD-OCT help?

This study found that in exudative AMD, while anti-VEGF therapy stabilized visual acuity over time, certain initial SD-OCT parameters—such as advanced central retinal thickness, intra-retinal cysts, and larger IS/OS junction breaks—were associated with poorer visual prognosis, highlighting the need for tailored treatment strategies and potential neuroprotective interventions.

Analysis of Anti-VEGF Intravitreal Injection Treatment in Clinical Practice

This study highlights that while most AMD patients receive timely IVOM treatment within two weeks of diagnosis, variations in treatment timelines and follow-up organization across different ophthalmological facilities indicate a need for standardized, efficient pathways and enhanced cooperation between service providers to improve patient satisfaction, compliance, and overall care efficiency.

Compliance of age related macular degeneration patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy

The study highlights that anti-VEGF therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) suffers from significant patient drop-out due to burdens such as travel distance, but compliance and treatment adherence improve significantly when telemedicine networks enable closer and more convenient patient monitoring.

Design of the ORCA module in the OCEAN study

The OCEAN study, including its ORCA module, emphasizes the critical role of detailed SD-OCT image analysis in guiding anti-VEGF therapy for conditions like exudative AMD and macular edema, aiming to optimize treatment regimens by identifying weaknesses in routine practice and improving physician training for better patient outcomes.

Long-term visual course after anti-VEGF therapy for exudative AMD in clinical practice evaluation of the German reinjection scheme

Long-term visual course after anti-VEGF therapy for exudative AMD in clinical practice evaluation of the German reinjection scheme

Anti-VEGF therapy of exudative AMD: Prognostic factors for therapy success

This study found that while initial visual acuity (VA), retinal sensitivity (RS), and retinal thickness (RT) had limited predictive value, the initial autofluorescence (AF) pattern was the most significant factor in predicting visual outcomes after anti-VEGF therapy for exudative AMD, suggesting that preexisting damage to the outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium heavily influences therapeutic success.