Importance of 3-D image reconstruction of spectral-domain OCT on outcome of grid laser photocoagulation for diffuse diabetic macular edema.

AIM: To present the outcome of modified grid laser photocoagulation (GLP) in diffuse diabetic macular edema (DDME) in eyes without extrafoveal and/or vitreofoveal traction. METHODS: Inclusion criteria for the retrospective study were DDME eyes of patients with type II diabetes mellitus that had ≥4 months of follow-up following GLP. Only one eye per patient was analyzed. Using 3-D spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (3-D SD-OCT), eyes that had either extrafoveal or vitreofoveal traction, or had been previously treated by an intravitreal medication(s) were excluded. Treated DDME eyes were divided into 4 groups: A) "Classic" DDME that involved the central macula; B) edema did not involve the macular center; C) eyes associated with central epiretinal membrane (ERM); D) DDME that was associated with macular capillary dropout ≥2 disc-diameter (DD). RESULTS: GLP outcome in 35 DDME eyes after 4-24 (mean, 13.1±6.9) months was as follows: Group A) 18 eyes with "classic" DDME. Following one or 2 (mean, 1.2) GLP treatments, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved by 1-2 Snellen lines in 44.4% (8/18) of eyes, and worsened by 1 line in 11.1% (2/18). Central macular thickness (CMT) improved by 7%-49% (mean, 26.6%) in 77.8% (14/18) of eyes. Causes of CMT worsening (n=4) were commonly explainable, predominantly (n=3) associated with emergence of extrafoveal traction, 5-9 months post-GLP. Group B) GLP(s) in DDME that did not involve the macular center (n=6) resulted in improved BCVA by 1-2 lines in 2 eyes. However, the central macula became involved in the edema process after the GLP in 3 (50%) eyes, associated with an emergence of extrafoveal traction in one of these eyes 4 months following the GLP. Group C) GLP failed in all 5 eyes associated with central ERM. Group D) GLP was of partial benefit in 2 of 6 treated eyes with macular capillary dropout ≥2DD. CONCLUSION: Eyes with DDME that involved the macular center were found to achieve favourable outcomes after GLP(s) during mid-term follow-up, unless complicated pre-GLP or post-GLP by vitreoretinal interface abnormalities, often extrafoveal traction or ERM, or by capillary dropout ≥2DD. Prospective studies with larger cohorts are required.

Epiretinal membranes and incomplete posterior vitreous detachment in diabetic macular edema, detected by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE. To present the vitreoretinal interface in diabetic macular edema (DME) associated with both epiretinal membrane (ERM) and incomplete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), as detected by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS. In a retrospective study, findings were analyzed in one eye in consecutive patients. Excluded were eyes that had undergone vitreoretinal intervention or that had complete PVD or complete vitreous attachment. RESULTS. Of 44 eyes with DME and ERM, incomplete PVD was apparent in 23 (52.2%) eyes. A hyperreflective unified ERM/posterior vitreous cortex (PViC) membrane, or EVi membrane, was apparent in various sizes in 20 (87.0%) of the 23 eyes. This unified membrane (n = 20) was associated with vitreopapillary adherence in 19 (82.6%) of 23 eyes. Two major OCT presentations (n = 23) were encountered: incomplete vitreopapillary detachment (n = 11; 25% of 44), with attachment to the macular ERM, and posterior vitreous detachment from the macula, associated with vitreopapillary adhesion (n = 10; 22.7%), in four different manifestations. In the remaining two eyes, there was no association between the ERM and the PViC. CONCLUSIONS. In eyes with DME, ERM, and incomplete PVD, the posterior cortical vitreous and ERM appeared as one united EVi membrane in various lengths in most eyes, typically associated with vitreopapillary adhesion. These findings may have clinical importance in the context of epimacular membrane characteristics and its removal in DME.

Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema associated with extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction.

PURPOSE: To describe an association between extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction and intractable chronic pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME) by the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: In a retrospective case series study, charts and OCT findings of patients who had postoperative recalcitrant pseudophakic CME for at least 6 months and vitreoretinal traction membranes were analyzed. Excluded were eyes that either had another vitreoretinopathy that could affect the analysis or had undergone an intravitreal intervention. RESULTS: Three eyes (three patients) with macular edema following uneventful cataract surgery were detected to be associated with multifocal extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction sites in each. Retinal edema that was underlying each of the traction sites in all eyes was in continuum in at least one site per eye with the central macular edema, thus manifesting as diffuse macular edema. CONCLUSION: Chronic pseudophakic macular edema may be related to extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction.

Extrafoveal traction in retinal vein occlusion using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: To present extrafoveal vitreous traction membranes, and their prevalence and association with diffuse macular oedema in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO), using 3-D spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: In a retrospective institutional observational study, charts and qualified SD-OCT findings of consecutive patients with either central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) associated with macular oedema were analyzed. Exclusion criteria covered eyes that had: 1) another retinopathy that could affect the data analysis, 2) vitreoretinal adherence without signs of retinal traction, 3) undergone vitreoretinal surgery, or 4) been treated by intravitreal administration of medication(s). An age-matched control group (n = 72) afforded the normal central subfield thickness. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes (of 26 patients) with either CRVO (n = 12) or BRVO (n = 14) were analyzed. Four eyes were excluded because they had a lack of macular oedema (n = 2), had an earlier pars plana vitrectomy (n = 1), or had previous treatment by intravitreal bevacizumab (n = 1). Of the 22 remaining eyes, both the SD-OCT B-mode video clip and the 3-D image reconstruction enabled a detection of extrafoveal traction membranes, either unifocally or multifocally, in nine eyes: four (of 11; 36.4 %) in CRVO, and five eyes (of 11; 45.5%) in BRVO. The retinal oedema in these nine eyes, which underlined at least one of the traction sites per eye, and the accompanied subretinal fluid in four of these nine eyes, were in continuum in each eye with the diffuse macular oedema and serous macular detachment respectively. During follow-up, a spontaneous release of a traction membrane coupled with resolution of the macular oedema occurred in one eye with BRVO. Of the four eyes that were excluded, two eyes had extrafoveal vitreous traction membranes. CONCLUSIONS: The SD-OCT B-mode video clip and its 3-D image reconstruction enabled relatively frequent detection of extrafoveal vitreous traction membranes in RVO and their association with diffuse macula oedema and macular detachment. A larger cohort is required to validate these findings and to compare the efficacy of early release of such traction membranes, either surgically or possibly by pharmacologic vitreolysis, with the current therapeutic modalities.

Optical coherence tomography as an adjunctive tool for diagnosing papilledema in young patients.

PURPOSE: The authors examined the peripapillary (3.4-mm diameter) retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL thickness) as depicted by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in young patients with pseudopapilledema or papilledema. METHODS: In 17 consecutive patients (6 to 20 years old) with bilateral newly diagnosed papilledema or pseudopapilledema, the eye with the thicker mean global RNFL per patient was analyzed. Excluded were patients in whom cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure was between 190 and 250 mm H(2)O ("gray zone"). RNFL thickness was compared in eyes with papilledema and pseudopapilledema using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Papilledema was clinically diagnosed in 9 patients and pseudopapilledema in 6 patients; 2 patients were excluded. Median RNFL thickness in the eyes with papilledema was greater than that of both eyes with pseudopapilledema and controls at all 12 clock hours. In all 9 patients with papilledema, RNFL was thickened contiguously for 8 to 12 clock hours above the upper 95% confidence interval limit of normal. CONCLUSION: The peripapillary RNFL thickness as depicted by OCT was found to be a reliable adjunctive tool in the differentiation of newly diagnosed papilledema and pseudopapilledema in young patients. Larger cohorts are required to confirm these observations and conclusion.

First-visit diagnosis of preperimetric glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To present a revised interpretation of the work-up data that enabled diagnosis of preperimetric glaucoma (PPG) at the first examination. METHODS: a) Literature analysis on PPG; b) 6-year follow-up of a glaucoma-suspect patient. RESULTS: TWO NEW CONCEPTS MAY BE ADAPTED: (a) the objective finding of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning below the normal border in the opposing typical glaucoma locations, the inferior and superior quadrants, and in a non-diffuse pattern, appears asymptomatically and simultaneously only in glaucoma; and (b) the imaging-related RNFL thickness may be considered the reference glaucoma standard, whereas the suspicious early glaucomatous optic neuropathy, having a potential diagnostic inaccuracy, would serve as a complementary revealing finding. That approach enabled, in retrospect, a first-visit diagnosis of low-tension PPG in the patient. Diagnosis was confirmed after 6 years, when cecocentral scotoma and further RNFL thinning emerged despite treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A revised approach enabled PPG diagnosis during the first visit.

Extrafoveal vitreous traction associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To present patients with extrafoveal vitreous traction associated with diffuse macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: A retrospective study on consecutive patients with BRVO using optical coherence tomography (OCT)-2000 is reported. Excluded were patients with eyes with other retinopathies that could affect analysis and eyes following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). A control group of 30 age-matched patients allowed for normal OCT 6-mm macular maps. RESULTS: Vitreous traction was detected in 4 of 17 eyes (17 patients, 23.5%). The traction was located extrafoveally in each of the 4 eyes. In one eye there was a simultaneous central macular traction. Only the manually controlled OCT-Line group program, but not the central automatic 6-radial lines program, confirmed vitreous traction in each case. Retinal edema (n = 4) and serous retinal detachment (n = 2) underlining the traction sites were in continuum with the central macula in 3 eyes, presenting either as diffuse macular edema or combined with serous macular detachment, respectively. In one eye the edema subsided after PPV, and visual acuity stabilized during 7 postoperative months of follow-up. Macular thickness and visual acuity of another eye improved temporarily in repeated conventional treatments after PPV was discarded, but its fovea markedly atrophied 12 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Extrafoveal vitreous traction may be apparent following BRVO. Further studies are required to assess whether such traction membranes may play a role in the persistence of diffuse macular edema.

Chronic macular edema associated with extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction.

AIM: To describe an association between extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction and chronic macular edema, either diffuse (DiME) or cystoid (CME), by the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Charts and OCT findings of two patients with persistent DiME or persistent DiME accompanied by CME, both associated with extrafoveal vitreous traction membranes were analyzed. Excluded were eyes that either had another vitreoretinopathy that could affect the analysis, had undergone pars plana vitrectomy or that had been treated by intravitreal medications. An age-matched normal control group for OCT (n=12) allowed for the quantification of the normal macular thicknesses. RESULTS: One patient (one eye) following perforating ocular injury and one patient (one eye) of idiopathic origin, both with chronic macular edema refractive to conventional treatment, were found to be associated with extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction in each eye. Retinal edema that was underlying the traction site in each eye was in continuum with the central macular edema, thus manifesting as diffuse macular edema. The automatic central 6-radial lines program in the OCT enabled the detection of the traction site in one eye, while in the other eye the diagnosis was achieved only with the additional use of the Line group program. CONCLUSION: Chronic diffuse macular edema might be related to extrafoveal vitreoretinal traction. Careful search with the diverse OCT programs should be made in order to detect extrafoveal traction sites. Further studies and a larger cohort are required to compare the efficacy of early vitrectomy or pharmacologic vitreolysis versus the current therapeutic approaches in these situations.

Non-diabetic diffuse macular edema associated with extrafoveal vitreous traction.

BACKGROUND: The causative role of diffuse macular edema in various etiologies is often undetermined. OBJECTIVES: To describe an association between extrafoveal vitreous traction and non-diabetic diffuse macular edema secondary to various ocular entities. METHODS: In a retrospective study of eyes with non-diabetic diffuse macular edema, charts and optical coherence tomography scans demonstrating extrafoveal vitreous traction were analyzed. Excluded were diabetic patients and eyes that had vitreofoveal traction. A control group (n = 12) allowed for mapping of normal macular thickness. RESULTS: Five eyes with macular edema were associated with extrafoveal traction, each secondary to and representing a different etiology. The causes were penetrating injury, cataract extraction, branch retinal vein occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion, and idiopathic. Vitreous traction was detected either at the papillomacular bundle (n = 3), superonasally to the fovea (n = 1), and at the optic nerve head (n = 1). The associated retinal edema (all eyes) and serous retinal detachment (four eyes) at the traction sites were in continuum with the foveal edema in each eye, manifesting as diffuse macular edema. Of the two modalities--the OCT-Line group program and the OCT-Automatic central program--only the former enabled detection of extrafoveal traction in each. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse macular edema secondary to various ocular diseases may be associated with extrafoveal vitreous traction. The OCT-Automatic central program may omit some of these extrafoveal traction sites. Further studies are required to validate these findings and to assess whether early vitrectomy may improve visual prognosis in these eyes.

[Lamellar macular hole and continuous vitreofoveal adherence].

PURPOSE: To demonstrate a sub-type of idiopathic inner lamellar macular hole (ILH) that may merit surgical consideration. METHODS: The study was conducted on patients examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) between August 2001 and December 2003 and included 22 patients each with ILH in one eye. Eyes with persistent vitreofoveal adherence at the ILH site were included in the study. Eyes that had previously undergone posterior vitrectomy and removal of the posterior hyaloid were excluded. RESULTS: Out of the 22 cases, persistent vitreous adherence to the edge of the ILH was detected in 3 eyes (3 patients; 13.6%). The ILH occurred spontaneously in 2 eyes and was detected after extraction of an intraocular foreign body in one eye. The vitreous adherence at the ILH, related to the incompletely detached posterior hyaloid in each, was asymmetric: in 2 eyes it was detached only nasal to the ILHs; in the third eye the posterior hyaloid was detached for 360 degrees around the adherence site, but appeared much thicker at a specific site than elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that persistent vitreofoveal adherence might be present in eyes with ILH. Further studies should signify whether such ILHs have a potential of progression, cases in which surgical intervention should be considered.

Potential applications of optical coherence tomography in posterior segment trauma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe potential clinical applications of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in diagnosis and surgical timing in eyes with posterior segment trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a noncomparative study, 7 consecutive patients who had open-globe or closed-globe injury and were found to have posterior abnormality that could also be detected by OCT are described. RESULTS: All patients had documented OCT abnormalities in the posterior segment. In one patient with a penetrating injury, two metal foreign bodies were located in the posterior segment, one in the vitreous compartment coupled with inflammatory reaction and localized posterior vitreous detachment and the other embedded in the retina. In a second patient with a penetrating injury, OCT revealed the appearance of posterior vitreous detachment 5 days after injury. A closed-globe injury in one patient resulted in anterior optic neuropathy, manifested as disc edema and thickening of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer. The other patients had received blunt trauma and were found to have either full-thickness macular holes (2 patients), retinal pigment epithelium detachment at the papillomacular bundle site (1 patient), or macular edema (1 patient). CONCLUSIONS: OCT may serve as an important adjunct imaging device in evaluation of injuries to the posterior segment, qualitatively and quantitatively. It has potential in diagnosing subtle key abnormalities and in follow-up of these injuries.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in Parkinson disease.

Retinal dopamine loss in Parkinson disease (PD) is reflected by visual neurophysiological dysfunction. We measured the thickness of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in PD patients using optical coherence tomography. The thickness in the inferior quadrant of PD patients (147 +/- 20 microns) was significantly thinner than that of controls (173 +/- 12 microns; p=0.002), while the inferotemporal area was the thinnest (146 +/- 24 vs. 191 +/- 21 microns; p=0.0003). The results show significant loss of RNFL thickness in PD at specific sites.