February 2015

I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to all of you for keeping our clinical, research and educational efforts on track during this snow-laden February. Special kudos to our clinical folks across the HMS department who - despite the record snowfall, frigid cold, commuter challenges and gridlocked Boston streets - have continued to provide high quality care and service to our patients at all of our affiliate locations. Your persistence and dedication is very much appreciated by Ophthalmology leadership and our patients, and speaks volumes about the tremendous value we place on patient care. Hang in there everyone - spring is just a few short weeks away! As I mentioned in last month's eyeNews, U.S. News and World Report is partnering with the online physician network, Doximity, to poll an online network of 50,000 physicians for their annual "Best Hospitals" survey. Data from this survey - along with the USNWR traditional mail survey of 200 board-certified physicians - will be weighted and analyzed. If you are a Doximity member who is polled, please consider participating in the online survey; communicating the value and strength of our clinical, research and teaching expertise benefits our patients and our work immensely. Voting takes place through March 2015. For more information on the changes to U.S. News methodology, go to health.usnews.com. Finally, I hope you will join me in extending a fond farewell and a heartfelt thank you to Chris Nims, Mass. Eye and Ear's Library and Archives Director, who will be retiring after 32 years. Chris has shared her passion for books, learning, history and all things Mass. Eye and Ear/HMS Ophthalmology with many of us at one time or another. She has helped and support innumerable students, residents, and fellows over the years, many of whom have launched successful careers on the strength of the work they accomplished here. One of the Department's unsung heroes of ophthalmic education, Chris was honored for her significant contributions at our resident graduation ceremony last June. We wish her health, happiness and many new adventures! Joan W. Miller, MD, FARVO Henry Willard Williams Professor of Ophthalmology Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Chief of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital HMS Ophthalmology News Comparing Diabetic Macular Edema Treatments: Results of the DRCR.net Protocol T Study Data from the NIH-sponsored DRCR.net Protocol T study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in February 2015, adding new information to the literature about treatment options for diabetic macular edema (DME). In this multicenter randomized clinical trial, researchers compared the safety and efficacy of intravitreous aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab for the treatment of center-involved diabetic macular edema causing decreased visual acuity. At one-year follow-up, key findings included: All three anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents substantially improved vision. In the overall population, aflibercept (Eylea, Regeneron) yielded greater improvement in visual acuity than either ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) or bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech). In patients starting the trial with visual acuity between 20/32 and 20/40, there were no differences among treatments. In patients starting the trial with a visual acuity of 20/50 or worse, aflibercept provided the greatest benefit. A smaller percentage of participants on aflibercept (36%) underwent laser treatment for persistent edema that did not resolve with anti-VEGF treatment alone, compared with those on bevacizumab (56%) or ranibizumab (46%). Over the past five years, anti-VEGF agents have become the mainstay of treatment for the diabetic eye complication of DME. This landmark study was the first to compare the safety and efficacy of the three most widely-used, commercially available anti-VEGF treatments used for DME. Many members of the combined DRCR.net Joslin and Harvard Vanguard Team participated in this landmark study. Lloyd Paul Aiello and Jennifer Sun were co-authors on the published manuscript. BEI study coordinators included Peggy Stockman, Hanna Kwak, Ann Kopple and Ellen Golden. Paolo Silva and Paul Arrigg served as the Joslin site PIs for this study, and George Sharuk is the overall Joslin DRCR.net site PI. >> To read more: Full text National Eye Institute press release New England Journal of Medicine editorial Return to top