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Marques, Joao Heitor

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  • Intense Pulsed Plus Low-Level Light Therapy in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
    Publication . Marta, Ana; Baptista, Pedro Manuel; Marques, Joao Heitor; Almeida, Daniel; José, Diana; Sousa, Paulo; Barbosa, Irene
    Purpose: To analyse the clinical outcome in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) who underwent intense pulsed light (IPL) plus low-level light therapy (LLL). Materials and methods: The prospective non-comparative study included identified by MGD patients with altered interferometry and lower loss area of the meibomian glands (LAMG), who underwent IPL plus LLL, between July 2020 and August 2020. A multimodal assessment was performed before, 2-3 weeks, and 6 months after treatment. The main outcome was lipid layer thickness (LLT) and the secondary outcomes were the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, presence of corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), blink rate (BR), Schirmer test (ST), tear meniscus height (TMH), tear osmolarity (OSM), non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and LAMG. Results: This study included 62 eyes of 31 patients, 61.3% female, with a mean age of 66.94±9.08 years at the time of IPL plus LLL treatment. LLT (<0.001) grades improved 6 months after treatment. The mean OSDI score improved (p<0.001) from 45.02±21.17 (severe symptoms) to 22.35±17.68 (moderate symptoms) at 2-3 weeks and 8.24±17.9.91 (normal) at 6 months after treatment. CFS was identified in 51.6% (32/62) before and in 45.2% (28/62) 6 months (p=0.293) after treatment. ST (p=0.014) grades improved; OSM grades mild worsened (p<0.001); TMH, NIBUT and LAMG grades did not modify 6 months after treatment. No patient suffered any adverse effects. Conclusion: IPL combined with LLL was effective and safe, improving the lipid layer thickness in MGD and decreasing the level of symptoms.
  • Long-Term Visual Function Effects of Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation in Diabetic Retinopathy and Its Impact in Real Life
    Publication . Baptista, Pedro Manuel; Marta, Ana; Marques, Joao Heitor; José, Diana; Almeida, Daniel; Ribeiro, António; Barbosa, Irene
    Purpose: To address the long-term visual function after bilateral pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) and its impact in real life, namely on visual field (VF) legal criteria to drive. To determine potential predictors related to clinical factors and treatment strategies. Patients and methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Eyes from diabetic patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy who underwent bilateral PRP, with or without macular treatments and with visual acuity legal criteria for non-professional driving were randomly assigned. Main outcomes were: demographic and clinical data including best corrected visual acuity; binocular visual field (EBST-Esterman Binocular Suprathreshold Test, Humphrey analyzer3®); contrast sensitivity (CS-Metrovision-MonPack3®); light scattering in the retina (HD Analyzer, Visiometrics®). Results: Seventy-one diabetic patients included (44 men and 27 women), with a mean age of 62.2±11.8 years. PRP was performed, on average, 9.7±6.9 years before the study. The average EBST Score was 85.8±17.0 and the average CS (2-5cpd) was 19.5±2.9 dB in photopic and 14.2±4.1 dB in mesopic conditions. Through a multivariate regression model, after adjusting to the clinical and demographic factors as possible confounders, we found that treatment factors associated with worse results were the use of Argon laser for the EBST Score, the very confluent PRP for the number of non-viewed points in the central 30°x20° of the EBST and the presence of macular treatments for the CS tests. According to Portuguese law, 79% (n=56) of patients had minimal EBST amplitudes for non-professional driving. Conclusion: The functional results achieved in our sample are compatible with an active life, allowing most of the patients included to overcome the requirements of Portuguese legislation for driving light vehicles, namely at the level of the binocular visual field. These results highlight the role of PRP in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy in an era with evolving less aggressive laser options.
  • Keratoconus and Visual Performance with Different Contact Lenses
    Publication . Marta, Ana; Marques, Joao Heitor; Almeida, Daniel; José, Diana; Barbosa, Irene
    Purpose: To analyze the visual performance in contact lens wearers with keratoconus. Methods: A retrospective study including contact lens (CL) wearers was performed. The current best-corrected visual acuity with contact lens (BCVA-CL) and with spectacles (BCVA-S) correction, contrast sensitivity (CS) (by Metrovision-MonPack3®), analysis of light scattering in the retina and vision break-up time (HD Analyzer®), and corneal tomography (Oculus Pentacam® HR) were evaluated. Results: This study included 96 eyes of 59 patients with Keratoconus. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPCL), hybrid contact lenses (HCL), and silicone hydrogel/hydrogel contact lenses (HGCL) were fitted in 67, 17, and 12 eyes, respectively. Dynamic objective scatter index (OSI) (p = 0.024), minimum OSI (p = 0.037) and maximum OSI (p = 0.040) were significantly better with RGPCL and worse with HGCL. Mean CS in photopic conditions was significantly worse with HGCL and better with HCL (p = 0.006), without differences in mesopic conditions (p = 0.121). RGPCL wearers showed a higher mean K (p = 0.020), and a lower corneal thickness at the thinnest point (p=0.011). Conclusion: Visual quality varied significantly with different types of CL. Although RGPCL was fitted in patients with worse Pentacam tomographic parameters, RGPCL was associated with a better dynamic visual quality.
  • Choroidal Blood Flow After Intravitreal Ranibizumab in Vitrectomized and Non-Vitrectomized Eyes with Diabetic Macular Edema
    Publication . Pessoa, Bernardete; Marques, Joao Heitor; Leite, João; Silva, Nisa; José, Diana; Coelho, Constança; Figueira, João P; Meireles, Angelina; Beirão, João
    Aim: Diabetic retinopathy staging system and progression predictors are soon to be considered insufficient for ophthalmologic practice. Given the growing evidence of the role of choroidal dysfunction, our purpose was to assess choroidal vascular changes with intravitreal ranibizumab (RBZ) treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study. The study included DME eyes, grouped in vitrectomized (group 1) and non-vitrectomized (group 2) eyes, submitted to RBZ in a pro re nata regimen, with 24 weeks of follow-up. Main outcome measures such as central subfield foveal thickness (CFT), choroidal thickness (CT), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were obtained from structural OCT, and choriocapillaris flow density (CCD) was obtained from OCT angiography and analyzed before and after treatment. Results: Thirty-one patients were included, 10 eyes in group 1 and 24 eyes in group 2. The mean number of injections was 5.18 (range 2-6). Globally, there was an improvement in BCVA (+4.3 ETDRS letters, p=0.004) and CFT (-84.6 µm, p<0.001) with no changes in CT, CVI, or CCD (p>0.05). When considering only group 2, there was a significant decrease in CT (p=0.033) and a significant increase in CCD (p=0.010) 6 months after treatment, with no differences in CVI (p=0.111). Baseline CVI was correlated with visual acuity at week 24 both globally (r=0.406, p=0.029) and in group 2 (r=0.604, p=0.004). Conclusion: In non-vitrectomized eyes, choriocapillaris blood flow improves with RBZ. Baseline CVI may correlate with visual function after RBZ. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04387604.
  • Asymmetric Thickness Intracorneal Ring Segments for Keratoconus
    Publication . Baptista, Pedro Manuel; Marques, Joao Heitor; Neves, Miguel Mesquita; Gomes, Miguel; OLIVEIRA, LUIS
    Purpose: To describe the anatomical and functional results of the implantation of asymmetric thickness intracorneal ring segments (AS-ICRS) in eyes with keratoconus and asymmetric/irregular astigmatism (type 2 - Duck - and type 3 - Snowman - phenotypes, Fernandez-Vega/Alfonso morphologic Keratoconus classification). Materials and methods: Retrospective observational study including 19 consecutive patients (21 eyes) with keratoconus who underwent manual implantation of the Keraring® Asymmetric ICRS (AS). Analysis included demographic and clinical data and Pentacam (Oculus®) measurements: topographic astigmatism; topographic flat meridian (K1), steepest meridian (K2) and the maximum keratometric point (Kmax); total root mean square (RMS) and high order RMS (HOA) aberrations and comatic Zernike coefficients (Z31;Z3-1) at 0º and 90º meridians. Results: Overall mean age was 35.3±11.7 years and median follow-up was 7.1 months (range 6-12). At the end of follow-up, a significant improvement from baseline was achieved in both UDVA (0.24±0.22; p=0.017) and CDVA (0.21±0.17; p<0.001). Regarding topographic measurements, the greatest decrease was observed in K2 (2.76±1.9D; p<0.001) and astigmatism (1.97±1.5; p<0.001). Aberrometry analysis showed a reduction of 1.27±3.2µm in the total RMS (p=0.085), 0.24±0.9µm in HOA (p=0.227) and 0.78±0.5 (p<0.001) in the 90º component of comatic aberration. The procedure effects in the CDVA, topographic and aberrometric parameters were higher in type 2 cones without statistical significance (p>0.05 in all). Conclusion: Implantation of the Keraring® Asymmetric ICRS in keratoconus with asymmetric/irregular astigmatism allowed an improvement of several clinical, topographic and aberrometric parameters, with clinical efficacy and safety, with a tendency to a greater effect in the type 2 cones.
  • The Role of Corneal Biomechanics in the Assessment of Ectasia Susceptibility Before Laser Vision Correction
    Publication . Baptista, Pedro Manuel; Marta, Ana; Marques, Joao Heitor; Abreu, Ana Carolina; Monteiro, Sílvia; Menéres, Pedro; Pinto, Maria do Céu
    Purpose: To describe the tomographic and corneal biomechanical status of a sample of eyes excluded from LVC and to present the differences in biomechanical behavior in relation to cutoffs of clinical- and tomography-based screening methods used in clinical practice. Patients and methods: Observational cross-sectional study including 61 eyes from 32 consecutive patients who were excluded from LVC in our department. Clinical and demographic data were collected from the patients' clinical records. Tomographic data was assessed with a Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam, OCULUS®). Ablation depth (µm) and residual stromal bed (µm) were calculated by the WaveLight® EX500 laser system software (Alcon, EUA). The corneal biomechanical assessment was made through ultra-high speed Scheimpflug imaging during noncontact tonometry (Corvis ST, OCULUS®). Several ectasia risk scores were analyzed. Results: Mean age was 31.0±6 years old and mean manifest spherical equivalent was -2.01 ± 2.3D. Belin-Ambrósio deviation index was the tomographic parameter with higher proportion of eyes within the ectasia high risk interval. In the biomechanical assessment, more than 95% of eyes met the criteria for ectasia susceptibility in four of the first generation and in two of the second generation parameters. In a cutoff based comparative analysis, eyes with Kmax ≥45.5 D, eyes with VCOMA <0 and eyes with ARTmax ≤350 presented significantly softer corneal biomechanical behavior. Conclusion: The majority of eyes excluded from LVC in the present study met the criteria for ectasia susceptibility in several biomechanical parameters, validating the clinical and tomographic based screening prior to LVC in our center. Differences found in the biomechanical assessment regarding cutoffs used in clinical practice highlight its differential role in characterizing risk profile of these patients. Tomography should not be overlooked and the integration of all data, including treatment-related parameters, can be the future of risk ectasia screening prior LVC.
  • Comparison of Light-Based Devices in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
    Publication . Castro, Catarina; Marques, Joao Heitor; Marta, Ana; Baptista, Pedro Manuel; José, Diana; Sousa, Paulo; Menéres, Pedro; Barbosa, Irene
    Purpose: To compare different light-based devices, namely, intense pulsed light (IPL) and IPL with low-level light therapy (LLLT), in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: This was a prospective, observational study that included patients with MGD. Group 1 included 58 eyes treated with IPL (eye-light®, Espansione Marketing S.p.A., Bologna, Italy), followed by LLLT (my-mask®, Espansione Marketing S.p.A., Bologna, Italy); Group 2 included 60 eyes treated with IPL (E>Eye®, E-Swin, Houdan, France); and Group 3 included 58 eyes treated with IPL (Thermaeye Plus®, OptiMed, Sydney, Australia). The presence of symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)) and ocular surface changes were evaluated at baseline, three weeks, and six months after treatment. Results: At week three, there was an improvement in the OSDI in all groups (p<0.001), without differences among them (p=0.339). The lipid layer thickness (LLT) increased in Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001), with a similar variation (p=0.144). Patients with superior OSDI and lower LLT at baseline had the greatest improvement in the respective parameters (p<0.001). The basal tear flow increased in Group 1 (p=0.012). Corneal staining (CS) significantly decreased in Groups 2 (p<0.001) and 3 (p<0.001). At six months, compared to three weeks, there was further improvement in the OSDI (p<0.001) and the LLT (p=0.007), in Group 1, and an increase in the presence of CS in Group 3 (p=0.011). Conclusion: IPL treatment led to a sustained decrease in patients' symptoms, even after six months. Different IPL devices seem to have different beneficial effects. Adding LLLT to IPL appears to have an additional long-term beneficial effect as well as positive effects on the lacrimal gland.
  • Fluocinolone Acetonide 0.19 mg Implant in Patients with Cystoid Macular Edema Due To Irvine–Gass Syndrome
    Publication . Marques, Joao Heitor; Abreu, Ana Carolina; Silva, Nisa; Meireles, Angelina; Pessoa, Bernardete; Beirão, João
    Background: Cystoid macular edema (CME) due to Irvine-Gass syndrome (IGS) is one of the common causes of painless visual impairment post-cataract extraction. The treatment of recurrent cases remains unstandardized. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day; ILUVIEN®) in the off-label treatment of recurrent CME due to IGS. Methods: Retrospective 36-month case series in the Ophthalmology Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Portugal. Consecutive eyes of patients with recurrent cystoid macular edema due to Irvine-Gass syndrome who underwent a single intravitreal injection of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant were included. Best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR), central macular thickness (µm) and safety (intraocular pressure, mmHg) at baseline and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months post-administration of the fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant were recorded. Results: Five eyes from three patients were included. The duration of cystoid macular edema was 67.8±25.9 months and all five eyes received more than 2 intravitreal injections of a corticosteroid (triamcinolone and/or dexamethasone implant) prior to fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implantation. At baseline (median - interquartile range), best-corrected visual acuity was 0.3-0.3; central macular thickness was 492.0-38.0; and intraocular pressure was 16.0-0. By Month 36, best-corrected visual acuity was 0.4 -0.3; central macular thickness was reduced to 369.0-324.0 and intraocular pressure was 17.0-3.0. Four of five eyes had increased intraocular pressure and were managed with intraocular pressure-lowering eye drops. Conclusion: We report improved functional and anatomical outcomes after treatment with fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant, indicating its use as a therapeutic alternative in recurrent cases of cystoid macular edema due to Irvine-Gass syndrome. Additionally, in eyes with suboptimal response to intravitreal therapies, fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant may provide longer recurrence-free periods with reduced treatment burden.