Non-damaging retinal laser therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the functional and anatomical outcomes of non-damaging retinal laser therapy (NRT), in cases with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). METHODS: Twenty-three eyes of 23 treatment-naïve chronic CSCR patients were included in this study. The irradiation of 577 nm yellow light was conducted on the serous detachment area after switching over to the NRT algorithm. Anatomical and functional changes after treatments were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 48.68 ± 5.93 years (41-61). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the mean central macular thickness (CMT) values were 0.42 ± 0.12logMAR (0.20-0.70) and 315.69 ± 61.25 µm (223-444) before NRT; and 0.28 ± 0.11logMAR (0.10-0.50) and 223.26 ± 60.91 µm (134-336) at the 2nd month follow-up visit (p < 0.001, for both). At the 2nd-month follow-up visit after NRT, complete resorption of subretinal fluid was observed in 18 eyes (78.3%) and incomplete resorption in five eyes (21.7%). Worse values of BCVA and CMT before NRT were found as increased risk for incomplete resorption (p = 0.002 and ρ = 0.612 for BCVA, and p < 0.001 and ρ = 0.715 for CMT). CONCLUSION: Significant functional and anatomical improvements can be observed in the early period after NRT in patients with chronic CSCR. Patients having worse baseline BCVA and CMT have increased risk for incomplete resorption.

Long-term Complications of Conventional and Chandelier-Assisted Scleral Buckle for Primary Repair of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of conventional indirect ophthalmoscopy and wide-angled visualization with chandelier endo-illumination methods in scleral buckle surgery by focusing on postoperative complications in the postoperative long-term period. Methods: In this retrospective comparative study, patients who underwent scleral buckle surgery due to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were included in the study. Conventional scleral buckle surgery using indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed in Group 1, and wide-angled visualization with chandelier endo-illumination method in scleral buckle surgery was performed in Group 2. The outcomes of the two methods were compared. Results: The demographic and baseline clinical characteristics of the groups were similar (P > 0.05, for all). The mean follow-up time was 70.47 ± 20.32 weeks (52-116) in Group 1 and 64.89 ± 18.12 weeks (52-100) in Group 2 (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity and redetachment rates of the groups (P > 0.05, for both). The cumulative rate of postoperative complications was more frequent in Group 1 (P = 0.011) despite being not significant in one-by-one comparison of the complications including epiretinal membrane, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema, foveal atrophy, gaze restriction, and macular hole (P > 0.05, for all). Conclusion: Using wide-angled visualization with chandelier endo-illumination in scleral buckle surgery, favorable surgical outcomes can be achieved in the postoperative long-term period with fewer complications.

Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in patients with supraspinatus tendon tear

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound (US), and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combination with TENS and US therapy alone in patients with supraspinatus tear. METHODS: Forty patients were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups as follows: PEMF (n=20) and Sham (n=20) groups. PEMF was applied to the first group at a frequency of 50 Hz, 25 G intensity, and 20 min/session. The device was turned off while PEMF was applied to the second group. Diathermy (US) and electrotherapy (TENS) were applied to both groups for 10 sessions. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Scale, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) were used as outcome measures. RESULTS: In both groups, there was a significant improvement in the NRS, UCLA Shoulder Scale, and SPADI scores after treatment compared with pretreatment (p<0.05). In the comparison of the difference between the pretreatment and posttreatment measurement values between the groups, no significant difference was found between PEMF and Sham groups according to the NRS (p=0.165), UCLA Shoulder Scale (p=0.141), and SPADI (p=0.839) scores. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, a combination of PEMF therapy with conventional physical therapy modalities was not found to be superior to the conventional therapy alone, and adding it to the routine treatment of symptomatic supraspinatus tear would not provide any additional benefit.