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PAT survey shows changing trends among retina specialists
TORONTO — A couple of clinical trends monitored from year to year have shown firsts, a survey of retina specialists shows.
“When looking at the percentage of procedures performed in an ambulatory surgical center, for the first time this year, those who said the majority or most of their cases are done in an ASC outnumber those who don’t do any cases in an ASC,” Thomas Stone, MD, told colleagues at the American Society of Retina Specialists meeting here.
Stone gave an overview of changes over time and differences in preferences between international and U.S. retina specialists as gauged by the annual ASRS Preferences and Trends (PAT) survey.
Another first this year in the U.S. is a preference to give bilateral injections to patients on the same day, Stone said.
In further evaluating multiyear clinical trends, Stone said Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) is still the preferred agent to treat new cases of wet age-related macular degeneration, although use of Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron) and Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) has increased over the past 2 years as well.
Stark differences were apparent when comparing U.S. and international preferences in some instances, according to the survey results. For example, internationally, the vast majority of retina surgeons perform cataract surgery themselves at the time of vitreous surgery, Stone said, whereas in the U.S., cataract surgery is generally done by a different provider altogether.
In looking at dyes used in the U.S. by retina surgeons, Stone said the preference was “far and away” to use indocyanine green, but internationally the preference is to use brilliant blue G.
Disclosure: Stone has no relevant financial disclosures.