Best Scientific Paper:
"Association of CFH Y402H and LOC387715 A69S With Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration."
JAMA. 2007;297:1793-1800
This paper by Seddon, et al, demonstrates the importance of genetics on the development of late AMD. It goes a step further than the initial landmark articles on CFH by evaluating the interplay of CFH polymorphism with the LOC387715 polymorphism. Finally, it addresses the key issue of environmental factors (smoking and increased body mass index) along with these genetic risk factors. Articles like this one will help to usher in a new era of AMD risk stratification and management.
Best Clinical Practice Paper:
"An Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided, Variable Dosing Regimen with Intravitreal Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration."
Am J Ophthalmol 2007;143:566–583.
The PrONTO Study one-year data presented by Anne Fung and colleagues provided scientific support to clinician-guided anti-VEGF treatment of patients with wet AMD. The one year results were comparable to the ANCHOR and MARINA studies with a mean improvement in visual acuity of 9.3 letters. This improvement was obtained with significantly fewer treatments (an average of 5.6) when compared to ANCHOR and MARINA (monthly dosing). The impact of this article on patient care and the cost savings to the healthcare system is immense and cannot be understated.
Most Controversial Paper:
"Incidence of Endophthalmitis after 20- and 25-Gauge Vitrectomy."
Ophthalmology 2007;114:2133–2137.
This paper by Kunimoto and Kaiser is controversial in the fact that many vitreoretinal surgeons have adopted 25-gauge technology for vitrectomy surgery. This paper from the Wills Eye Hospital raises the question of a significant (12-fold) increased risk associated with sutureless vitreoretinal surgery. There is a great commentary on this article provided by Martidis and Chang in the same issue of Ophthalmology.
Best Review Article: (Tie)
"Guidance for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration."
Acta Ophthalmol. Scand. 2007: 85: 486–494
A fantastic look back through the history of the most commonly utilized treatments for AMD. This paper by Schmidt-Erfurth and colleagues systematically reviews the principles and evidence behind the various treatment modalities for wet AMD. The tables within this article compare stabilization and improvement in acuity with various treatments including MPS laser, photodynamic therapy, combination therapy, and anti-VEGF therapies.
"ENDOPHTHALMITIS: A Review of Current Evaluation and Management."
RETINA 27:662–680, 2007
Lemley and Han seemingly provide a concise review of the entire literature on endophthalmitis in this article. I don't believe there has ever been a more authoritative or thorough review on the subject produced in any journal or reference book. It is a “must have” article.
Best Editorial:
"Neovascular AMD: Out of the Forest and Into the Trees."
RETINA 27: 655-661, 2007
A commentary by Lawrence Yanuzzi that gives great perspective on where we have come from in the management of AMD. More importantly, it asks many questions as to where we are headed to in this field.
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