Keeping a Clinical Eye on Sickle Cell Retinopathy

Host: Rishi P. Singh, MD
Host: Mark R. Barakat, MD
Host: Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA
Host: Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA

This program will focus on the clinical trial and real-world data about the novel and emerging therapies for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema and how these therapies may be integrated into real-world clinical practice.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Emily Carroll, JD, MSW

The No Surprises Act aims to protect consumers from surprise medical bills. But how exactly does it go about doing that, and what’s the current status of its implementation? Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share progress and challenges associated with the No Surprises Act is Ms. Emily Carroll, a senior legislative attorney for the American Medical Association's Advocacy Resource Center.

Host: Andrew Wilner, MD, FACP, FAAN
Guest: William Tarver, MD
Guest: Tyson Brunstetter, PhD, MBA

Since 2012, at least 27 astronauts have been diagnosed with spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, but where does this health threat land now? Joining Dr. Andrew Wilner to discuss this out-of-this-world health threat is Captain Tyson Brunsteller and Dr. William Tarver from NASA.

[Read the Article]

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes, resulting in up to 24,000 cases of blindness each year in the United States. Laser therapy has been the most common treatment used to help reduce severe vision loss, but the procedure has many side effects including permanent loss of peripheral vision and swelling of the retina.

A group of researchers from across the US tested an alternative treatment using an injectable medication called ranibizumab, to see if it would be as effective as the laser therapy. They studied more than 300 patients with PDR, assigning them to either receive standard laser therapy or an injection into the eye. In total, they treated close to 400 eyes.

Outcomes, especially loss of vision, were compared at two years. Over the two year period, researchers found that patients receiving the injections of medication had fewer side effects and did somewhat better in terms of vision loss than those who received laser therapy.

[Watch more videos of The JAMA Report]

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO

Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Patrick Spencer, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. Their discussion centers on primary care manifestations of sickle cell retinopathy, from early to late-stage presentations and the gold standard treatment approaches along this disease course.

Host: Roy Levit, MD
Guest: Alan Ruby, MD

The standard treatment for proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is laser photocoagulation, but novel methods, including injectable steroids or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, are also showing promise. What tests can help opthamologists determine the area of leakage in the eye that needs treatment? How soon after surgery will patients see a change in their vision? Dr. Alan Ruby, opthamologist and clinical assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Eye Research Institute at Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, discusses ways to maximize the overall visual outcome for patients with diabetic retinopathy. How can diabetic retinopathy be prevented? Dr. Roy Levit hosts.

Host: Roy Levit, MD
Guest: Alan Ruby, MD

The eyes can yield clues to vascular issues elsewhere in the body. How can the two forms of diabetic retinopathy, which are non-proliferative and proliferative, affect vision, and how might retinopathy be associated with somatic effects resulting from diabetes? Dr. Alan Ruby, opthamologist and clinical assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Eye Research Institute at Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, discusses the correlation between diabetic retinopathy and complications throughout the body. Can tight control of diabetes affect the progression or regression of retinopathy? What can physicians caring for patients with diabetes do to identify vision changes early on, and potentially reduce the risk of later complications? Dr. Roy Levit hosts.

Host: Roy Levit, MD
Guest: Saad Shaikh, MD

Although floaters in one's vision are common, this symptom can be a key indicator of a retinal tear or detachment. What is the incidence of retinal detachment in the U.S., and when should a primary care physician suspect this condition? Dr. Saad Shaikh, associate professor and member of the teaching faculty at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, and assistant professor at the University of South Florida, College of Medicine and at the Florida State College of Medicine, discusses the development of retinal detachments, risk factors, and the techniques used to correct the condition. Dr. Roy Levit hosts.

Host: Roy Levit, MD
Guest: Allen Verne, MD

What are the advantages to using private practices, as opposed to academic institutions, for testing medications? Dr. Allen Verne, president of the American Retina Foundation and founder of the Bay Area Retina Associates, discusses in-office drug studies he is involved in, including one on diabetic retinopathy and another on photodynamic therapy, and why these studies can be particularly useful in determining the most effective treatments for patients with retinal conditions. Dr. Verne also discusses the process of separating the interests of the pharmaceutical companies sponsoring studies and those participating in the study. What are the financial and time costs to the practices involved in in-office medication studies? Dr. Roy Levit hosts.

Host: Steven Edelman, MD
Guest: Paul Tornambe, MD

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. Join host Dr. Steven Edelman and his guest, ophthalmologist Dr. Paul Tornambe, an instructor in the departments of ophthalmology and family practice at the University of California, San Diego, as they discuss early diagnosis, tele-health and the exciting new VEGF inhibitors treatment of diabetic macular edema.