Inflammatory Eye Disease Awareness Week: Latest updates in uveitis, thyroid eye disease

Prevent Blindness has declared Sept. 16 to 22 as Inflammatory Eye Disease Awareness Week and is offering free educational resources and expert videos for the public and eye care providers.

“Because of the risk of vision loss, it’s essential for individuals to see an eye care professional if they experience symptoms,” Jeff Todd, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “We encourage people to visit our website, download our fact sheets and watch our free educational videos to learn more about [inflammatory eye diseases] and how to protect their sight.”

The videos, which are part of the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series, include information on uveitis, thyroid eye disease and inflammatory eye disease.

Healio has gathered recent articles about those same topics in recognition of Inflammatory Eye Disease Awareness Week.

COVID-19 vaccination heightened risk for uveitis among individuals with history of uveitis

Among individuals with a history of uveitis, COVID-19 vaccination was linked to an increased risk for recurrent uveitis, particularly in the first month after vaccination, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

“For patients with a history of uveitis, understanding the potential impact of COVID-19 vaccination on its course, particularly its potential to induce uveitis recurrence vs. recurrences coincidental to widespread vaccinations,” Jiyeong Kim, PhD, and colleagues at Hanyang University in Seoul, wrote. Read more.

Acanthamoeba keratitis shows similarly low incidence across continents

Acanthamoeba keratitis appeared to be a relatively rare disorder with similar incidence around the world, according to a study published in Ophthalmology.

“Although there have been some studies reporting national or regional [Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK)] incidence rates, a comprehensive assessment of the incidence of this condition is lacking,” Francesco Aiello, MD, PhD, FEBO, FEBOS-CR, a lecturer in the department of experimental medicine’s ophthalmology unit at Tor Vergata University of Rome, and colleagues wrote. Read more.

Risk for blindness higher among boys with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis

Male sex, Black race and insurance coverage with Medicaid were among factors associated with increased risk for developing 20/200 or worse vision among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis, according to research.

“Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood and the most common systemic disease associated with pediatric uveitis,” Oliver Davidson, from the department of ophthalmology at the University of Washington, and colleagues wrote in Clinical Ophthalmology. “JIA-associated uveitis is minimally symptomatic but associated with a high rate of sight-threatening complications.” Read more.

European Commission grants marketing authorization to Akantior for Acanthamoeba keratitis

The European Commission granted marketing authorization to Akantior for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis, according to a press release from Avanzanite Bioscience.

The decision was backed by positive results from the phase 3 pivotal Orphan Drug for Acanthamoeba Keratitis (ODAK) trial, which included 135 patients. Of these patients, 84.8% were cured of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) after treatment with Akantior (polyhexanide, Avanzanite Bioscience). In addition, 66.7% of patients achieved full vision restoration without the need for optical cornea transplants. Read more.

VIDEO: Prevent Blindness offers art therapy to aid mental wellness in thyroid eye disease

In this Healio video, Jeff Todd, president and CEO at Prevent Blindness, discusses the organization’s art therapy program, which was created to help patients with thyroid eye disease cope with feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression.

“Art therapy is an integrative mental health treatment model that has been shown to improve mental health, emotional health and even physical health,” Todd told Healio. Watch here.

Veligrotug for treatment of thyroid eye disease meets endpoints in phase 3 trial

Viridian Therapeutics reported positive topline data from the phase 3 THRIVE clinical trial of veligrotug for the treatment of active thyroid eye disease.

The intravenously delivered anti-insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor antibody, formerly known as VRDN-001, achieved all primary and secondary endpoints, according to a press release. Patients treated with five infusions showed statistically significant improvement in measured signs and symptoms of thyroid eye disease (TED) at 15 weeks. Read more.

Topical antibiotics may be overprescribed in children with conjunctivitis

Overtreating acute conjunctivitis with topical antibiotics may contribute to antibiotic resistance with no improvement in outcomes, according to a research letter published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

“Although the American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that foregoing immediate topical antibiotic treatment is safe and effective in most circumstances, antibiotics are frequently prescribed,” Daniel J. Shapiro, MD, MPH, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and pediatric emergency care physician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, and colleagues wrote. Read more.