Safety and efficacy of iStent Inject trabecular micro-bypass stents in combination with phacoemulsification for chronic open angle glaucoma associated with cataract.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification combined with iStent Inject® implantation for the treatment of chronic open-angle glaucoma controlled on topical anti-glaucoma medications and associated with cataract. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of an iStent Inject® for chronic open-angle glaucoma associated with cataract. For all patients, pre- and postoperative characteristics, including number of glaucoma medications and intraocular pressure (IOP), were compared using Paired-sample t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, respectively. Postoperative visits were scheduled at 7 days and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Forty-nine eyes of 39 patients were included in the study. Mean preoperative IOP at baseline was 16.3±4.3mmHg (range, 10-29mmHg) with a mean of 2.2±1.0mmHg antiglaucoma medications. At 1 month, the mean IOP reduction was 16% (P<0.05) along with an 18.7% reduction in the mean number of medications. At 6 months, the mean IOP was 12.8±2.6, with a mean of 1.1±0.9 antiglaucoma medications. The mean IOP reduction at 6 months was 22% (P<0.05) along with a 49% reduction in the mean number of medications. At 12 months, the mean IOP was 13.8±2.5 with a mean of 1.1±1.2 medications. The mean IOP reduction at 12 months was 15% (P<0.05) along with a 47% reduction in the mean number of medications. No severe device-related side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: iStent Inject® implantation combined with phacoemulsification resulted in effective IOP reduction and medication burden in patients with mild to advanced chronic open-angle glaucoma and preoperative IOP well controlled with topical hypotensive medications.

[Assessment of anterior segment anatomy by OCT after non penetrating deep sclerectomy]. / Analyse de l'architecture du segment antérieur par OCT après sclérectomie profonde non perforante.

PURPOSE: Thanks to recent progress in imaging techniques, the anatomy of the anterior segment can be measured accurately and noninvasively. The objective of this study was to assess early postoperative changes induced by non penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) on anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle and central corneal thickness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) that underwent NPDS were studied. All patients underwent ophthalmologic examination including non invasive analysis of the anterior segment architecture. Visante(®) OCT was used to determine anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, scleral spur angle (SSA), angle opening distance at 500µm (AOD 500), and trabecular-iris space area at 500 µm (TISA 500) in the nasal and temporal quadrants. These evaluations were performed at 1 day preop, then day 1, day 7 and day 30 after surgery. RESULTS: Preoperatively, SSA, AOD 500 and TISA 500 were 37.24 ± 12.67°, 0.42 ± 0.25 mm and 0.15 ± 0.1 mm(2), respectively, in the nasal quadrant, and 39.62 ± 12.41°, 0.46 ± 0.25 mm and 0.16 ± 0.08 mm(2), respectively, in the temporal quadrant. Mean anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure (IOP) were 3.09 ± 0.54 mm, 530 ± 34.3 µm and 20.43± 7.25 mmHg respectively. After NPDS, aside from IOP being significantly decreased on day 1 (5.57 ± 2.78 mmHg, P<0.0001), day 7 (8.2 ± 3.12 mmHg, P<0.0001) and day 30 (13.4 ± 3.47 mmHg, P=0.001), none of the other study parameters was significantly modified. CONCLUSION: No relationship was found between IOP and anterior chamber architecture after NPDS. NPDS appears to significantly reduce IOP while maintaining the architecture of the anterior chamber, and in particular, the anterior chamber angle.

[The influence of ocular surface diseases in the management of glaucoma]. / Influence des pathologies de la surface oculaire sur le traitement du glaucome.

INTRODUCTION: The medical treatment of glaucoma is frequently used as a first-line treatment. Often effective, this treatment is administered over the long term. Chronic administration of eye drops is implicated in ocular surface disease. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ocular surface diseases (OSDs) in patients treated for glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) as well as their influence on therapeutic management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight patients followed at the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital for glaucoma or OHT were evaluated. All patients had a complete ocular examination including an evaluation of the ocular surface. A questionnaire derived from the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess ocular surface symptoms and the related impairment of quality of life. According to the clinical evaluation of the ocular surface, patients were classified into three groups (A, no OSD; B, moderate OSD; C, severe OSD. The patients for whom ocular surface disease had modified the therapeutic management of glaucoma were identified. RESULTS: In this study, 72 patients (82 %) showed significant symptoms of OSDs (OSDI score>22). A moderate or severe OSD was observed in 67 patients (76 %). For 33 patients (38 %), the OSD influenced the choice of glaucoma or OHT treatment. Among these patients, six had glaucoma surgery, one had laser trabeculoplasty, and 26 required one or several changes in eyedrops. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the high prevalence of OSDs in patients treated for glaucoma or OHT. For numerous patients, these pathologies influenced not only their quality of life but also their therapeutic management.

[In vivo confocal microscopy: a new tool for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis]. / Apport de la microscopie confocale in vivo au diagnostic des kératites amibiennes.

PURPOSE: To study the usefulness of in vivo confocal microscopy imaging for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of 50 cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis followed at the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital from January 2005 to July 2008 was conducted. Gender, age, contact lens wear, best-corrected visual acuity before and after treatment, slit-lamp examination findings, corneal scrapings for biological analysis, and in vivo confocal microscopy images were analyzed. RESULTS: Nearly 82% of the cases of keratitis had a history of contact lens wear. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive for 40% of the samples. Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph II-Rostock Cornea Module (HRTII-RCM) examination detected images evoking Acanthamoeba cyst-like images in 84% of the cases. When the quality of biological samples was inadequate, the assessment of Acanthamoeba cysts using in vivo confocal microscopy made it possible to orient the diagnosis and to partially explain favorable progression under treatment. This technique showed images suggesting combined Acanthamoeba and fungal keratitis. CONCLUSION: HRTII-RCM in vivo confocal microscopy is a non invasive and rapid technique that may be helpful for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis, especially when laboratory testing is not contributive and when Acanthamoeba keratitis is combined with a fungal infection.

[Contribution of in vivo confocal microscopy to diagnosis of invasive ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a case report]. / Apport de la microscopie confocale in vivo dans les formes invasives de néoplasie malpighienne de la surface oculaire: à propos d'un cas.

INTRODUCTION: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is the most common conjunctival and limbic malignant tumor that could resemble a pterygium in the early phase of the disease. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a woman who presented with a limbic tumor of the left eye that was mistakenly diagnosed as a pterygium. An in vivo confocal microscopy examination using the HRTII Rostock Cornea Module and a surgical biopsy were performed. The in vivo confocal microscopy findings and the slit lamp examination showed characteristics that strongly supported the diagnosis of OSSN, and the histological examination of both biopsy and surgical exeresis (exenteration) confirmed the diagnosis of epidermoid carcinoma. CONCLUSION: This case report underlines the value of in vivo confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of OSSN, particularly epidermoid carcinoma. This device could be helpful for the early differential diagnosis with pterygium.