Displacement of submacular hemorrhage secondary to age-related macular degeneration with subretinal injection of air and tissue plasminogen activator.

Submacular hemorrhage (SMH) can lead to devastating visual loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration. We retrospectively evaluated the surgical outcomes of vitrectomy with subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator, bevacizumab, and air in 13 cases. Visual prognosis, anatomical results obtained with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and their correlations were investigated. We analyzed OCT parameters including SMH height, pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height and width, and status of ellipsoid zone (EZ) line. Complete displacement of SMH was achieved in 12 eyes. At 3 months post-surgery, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SMH height exhibited significant improvements (P < 0.01). In eyes with preoperative SMH height < 300 µm and a detectable EZ line, BCVA was significantly improved at as early as 1 month, whereas the remaining eyes exhibited visual improvements only at 3 months. Postoperative BCVA positively correlated with preoperative BCVA (r = 0.86, P < 0.005), and negatively correlated with SMH size (r = 0.69, P < 0.01) and PED height (r = 0.58, P < 0.05) and width (r = 0.67, P < 0.05). Multivariate analyses confirmed preoperative BCVA as the predominant factor associated with postoperative BCVA (ß = 1.093, P < 0.05). In conclusion, significant improvements in BCVA and anatomical findings can be achieved with our reported surgical technique. Preoperative OCT findings may influence the duration required for visual improvements.

Influences of 27-Gauge Vitrectomy on Corneal Topographic Conditions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influences of 27-gauge vitrectomy on corneal topographic conditions. METHOD: Fifty-six eyes of 56 patients undergoing 27-gauge vitrectomy were retrospectively studied. Twenty-three eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM), 23 eyes with macular hole (MH), and 10 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were included. Forty-five of the 56 eyes underwent 27-gauge phacovitrectomy (group 1), and the remaining 11 eyes underwent 27-gauge vitrectomy alone (group 2). Corneal topography was obtained with a wave-front analyzer preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The corneal topographic parameters evaluated were the average corneal power, regular astigmatism, spherical aberration, and higher-order aberration (HOA). RESULTS: In between-group analyses of groups 1 and 2, no significant differences were observed regarding the changes of the 4 parameters from the baseline to 1 and 3 months postoperatively. No significant differences in the changes of all parameters from the baseline to 1 and 3 months postoperatively were also observed between MH group and the other two groups. A significant difference in the change of HOA from the baseline to 1 month postoperatively was observed between ERM and PDR group however, the difference disappeared at 3 months. CONCLUSION: 27-gauge vitrectomy did not induce substantial changes in the corneal topographic conditions.

Diagnostic Approach to Ocular Infections Using Various Techniques From Conventional Culture to Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis.

Ocular infection is caused by both endogenous (resident) and exogenous (environmental) microbes. As the ocular surface interacts with both outer environment and its own resident microbiota, clinical ocular samples are predicted to contain a diverse set of microorganisms. Microscopy of sample smears is an important step in the diagnostic process of infectious diseases to interpret the culture results. Traditional culture techniques have several limitations in the detection and/or identification of uncharacterized bacteria of environmental origin. Molecular biological techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction of pathogen-specific virulence genes, 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis, and next-generation sequencing of 16S rDNA amplicons, compensate for diagnostic culture techniques in diagnosing infectious diseases. These techniques are expected to provide novel insights into the ocular microbiota and pathology of ocular infections. In this article, we describe various ocular infections, including contact lens-related keratitis, silicone buckle infection, and dacryocystitis, which were analyzed using molecular biological techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of these highly sensitive and inclusive microbiological detection systems for ocular infections are discussed.

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FINDINGS AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR-ASSISTED VITRECTOMY FOR SUBMACULAR HEMORRHAGE SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between morphologic findings using spectral domain optical coherence tomography and surgical outcomes in patients with submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Medical charts of nine eyes of nine patients who underwent tissue plasminogen activator-assisted vitrectomy for SMH secondary to age-related macular degeneration were retrospectively reviewed. The preoperative height and lateral width of both SMH and pigment epithelial detachment documented with optical coherence tomography, were measured. The status of ellipsoid layers was also analyzed. RESULTS: Complete displacement of SMH from the fovea was achieved in all nine eyes. The preoperative status of the ellipsoid layer under the fovea was detectable in four eyes and absent in the remaining five eyes. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was significantly better in eyes with preoperative detectable ellipsoid layers (P < 0.01). Eyes with preoperative SMH heights <400 µm also exhibited better best-corrected visual acuity (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between postoperative best-corrected visual acuity and the specific features of pigment epithelial detachment, including height, lateral width, and number. CONCLUSION: The preoperative presence of detectable ellipsoid layers and a lower height of SMH may predict good visual prognosis. In contrast, no specific features of pigment epithelial detachment correlated with postoperative best-corrected visual acuity.

Intravitreal bevacizumab alone or combined with macular laser photocoagulation for recurrent or persistent macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.

Background. To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection with or without macular laser photocoagulation (MLP) for recurrent or persistent macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods. Thirty-four eyes underwent IVB injection for ME secondary to BRVO as a primary treatment. Twenty of the 34 eyes experienced recurrent or persistent ME after the first IVB. Nine of the 20 eyes (Group 1) were retreated with IVB combined with MLP. The remaining 11 eyes (Group 2) were retreated with IVB alone. Results. In Group 1, the postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved compared with the preoperative value at all follow-up visits, although no statistically significant improvement was observed at 6 months. In contrast, BCVA significantly improved from 0.53 to 0.40 at 6 months (P < 0.05) in Group 2. Conclusion. Combined therapy tended to have a smaller effect on visual acuity compared with IVB monotherapy.

Evaluation of dacryocystorhinostomy using optical coherence tomography and rebamipide ophthalmic suspension.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical outcome of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) by measuring the tear meniscus, using optical coherence tomography and rebamipide ophthalmic suspension. METHODS: Patients with nasolacrimal obstruction and chronic dacryocystitis who were scheduled for an endonasal DCR underwent tear meniscus examinations before and 2 months after surgery. Vertical scans of the inferior menisci were performed before and at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 minutes after the instillation of rebamipide ophthalmic suspension. The tear menisci areas were measured with imaging software. Ten young adults without epiphora formed the control group. RESULTS: Anatomical success was achieved on 22 sides of 21 patients. The patients' postoperative tear menisci were significantly smaller than the preoperative menisci at all points during the test, and the response to volume loading in the postoperative patients was corrected to nearly that of the young, healthy adults. Nevertheless, the postoperative meniscus area tended to be larger than that of the young adults at all points. CONCLUSION: The reduced tear meniscus area after DCR reflected the success of the surgical procedure. However, incomplete recovery of the meniscus after the test might suggest a residual disorder of the lacrimal drainage system after DCR.

Massive vitreous gel incarceration into the subretinal space following traumatic retinal detachment in a young patient: a case report.

PURPOSE: This paper reports a young patient with a traumatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and massive vitreous gel incarceration into the subretinal space, who was successfully treated with 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy. CASE REPORT: An 11-year-old boy was referred to the authors' clinic with traumatic retinal detachment in the right eye, 2 weeks after ocular contusion in a baseball accident. At the time of the injury, emergency fundus examination by his local doctor had revealed vitreous hemorrhage in the inferior quadrant of the right eye. Visual acuity was 1.5. He had continued to play baseball as usual for 2 weeks after the injury. At his first visit to the authors' clinic, fundus examination showed a highly bullous retinal detachment involving the inferior two quadrants, associated with multiple irregular retinal breaks. There was an oval hole in the inferior quadrant which was 10-disc diameter × 5-disc diameter in size and was surrounded by edematous and hemorrhagic retina. The macula remained attached. Absolute rest for 4 hours in the supine position with binocular occlusion did not diminish the height of the retinal detachment. A 23-gauge three-port pars plana vitrectomy combined with 360° circumferential buckling was performed under general anesthesia. The lens was retained. Incarceration of massive vitreous gel, including vitreous hemorrhage into the subretinal space through the largest break, was observed during vitrectomy. Reattachment of the retina was achieved by fluid-air exchange and internal tamponade using SF(6) gas. At follow-up at 9 months, the retina remained attached and visual acuity in the right eye was 1.2.

23-gauge vitrectomy assisted by combined endoscopy and a wide-angle viewing system for retinal detachment with severe penetrating corneal injury: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of traumatic retinal detachment in an eye with severe corneal opacity that was successfully treated using 23 gauge (G) transconjunctival vitrectomy assisted by endoscope and a wide-angle viewing system. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital with the suspicion of traumatic retinal detachment of the right eye, 1 month after an open globe eye injury due to fireworks. At the time of his first visit, his best-corrected visual acuity was hand motion in the right eye. A 23 G three port pars plana vitrectomy was conducted in combination with ophthalmic endoscope and a wide-angle viewing system. Endoscopy revealed a retinal detachment in the inferior quadrant with tiny retinal breaks. Primary reattachment of the retina was achieved by tamponade of SF6 gas. Five months after the vitrectomy, penetrating keratoplasty was performed and visual acuity recovered to 0.02. Optical coherent tomography revealed thinning of the retina, which might be the cause of the remaining poor vision. CONCLUSION: 23 G vitrectomy assisted by combined endoscopy and a wide-angle viewing system could be advantageous in managing visualization constraints due to penetrating trauma.