Ciliary body thickness changes after preoperative anti-inflammatory treatment in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by choroidal detachment.

BACKGROUND: The literature is scant on the state of the ciliary body, its role in the development of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) complicated by choroidal detachment (CD), and on ciliary body changes following the treatment aimed at resolving concomitant inflammation and choroidal attachment. This study assesses the anatomical position and thickness of the ciliary body and investigates the ciliary body changes after anti-inflammatory pre-vitrectomy treatment in RRD complicated by CD. METHODS: Forty-nine patients (49 eyes) with RRD complicated by CD underwent standard ophthalmological examination (including visual acuity assessment, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, and ocular tonometry) and ultrasound biomicroscopy of the ciliary body, choroid, and retina both before and following anti-inflammatory pre-vitrectomy treatment. RESULTS: At baseline, all subject eyes had ciliary body edema and detachment extending into the choroid. Ultrasonographic ciliary features included ciliary body edema and disorganization of the supraciliary layer of the pars plana, which was evident by the presence of multiple small oblique fibers. In all subject eyes, the treatment resulted in reattachment of the choroid and the ciliary body as well as a reduction in ciliary body edema (total mean ciliary thickness reduced from 0.83 (0.09) to 0.65 (0.09) mm, with a difference of 0.18 (0.07) mm, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative anti-inflammatory treatment in RRD complicated by CD results in restoration of the anatomical position of the ciliary body and a statistically significant reduction in ciliary body edema.

High-frequency electric welding: a novel method for improved immediate chorioretinal adhesion in vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate high-frequency electric welding (HFEW) as a novel technique for retinopexy with improved immediate chorioretinal adhesion METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, experimental study, we examined 104 eyes of 52 rabbits randomly assigned to either standard 810 nm endolaser retinopexy, alternating current 14-16 V or 18-20 V HFEW retinopexy. A full-thickness fragment of eye wall tissue containing the retinopexy was isolated 1 h, 3 days, 1 week, or 1 month respectively after the intervention, and fixed to an analytical electronic scale. A nylon suture passed through the retina was elevated by a biomechanical force elongation tester. The reduction in weight at the time of retinopexy rupture was registered as a measure for retinopexy adhesion strength. RESULTS: One hour post-exposure, adhesive strengths were significantly higher in both HFEW groups than in controls (212 ± 26.6 mg and 122 ± 16 mg vs 104 ± 10 mg; p = 0.0001 and p = 0.024 respectively) while laser retinopexy did not significantly change adhesive strength (114 ± 14.0 mg, p = 0.149). Subsequent adhesive strengths were significantly increased for all retinopexy techniques: 3 days post-op 14-16 V HFEW 224 ± 30.0 mg (p = 0.001), 18-20 V HFEW 128 ± 15.6 (p = 0.001), laser 131 ± 12.7 mg (p = 0.0007); at 1 week 14-16 HFEW 235 ± 24.7 mg, 18-20 V HFEW 213 ± 22.4 mg, laser 188 ± 18.7 mg (all p ≤ 0.001); 1 month post-op 14-16 V HFEW 275 ± 32.0 mg, 18-20 V HFEW 283 ± 31.0 mg, laser 276 ± 21.7 mg, rspectively (all p ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSION: HFEW represents a novel technique for retinopexy during vitreoretinal surgery. It allows firm chorioretinal adhesion immediately after exposure. In non-vitrectomized eyes, using 14-16 V is particularly effective.