Main Principles of Vitrectomy Using Intraocular Tamponades - A Basic Course in Surgery. / Grundlagen der Vitrektomie unter Verwendung intraokularer Tamponaden ­ ein chirurgischer Basiskurs.

This article is intended to clearly present the basic principles for the use of intraocular tamponades in vitreous/retinal surgery in the event of retinal detachment and other pathologies using additional video footage. It examines the various gases, silicone oils and perfluorocarbon liquids with their indications, administration and in particular intraoperative handling including pitfalls and complications. Characteristic animations show the principles of use in surgery in a comprehensible way. The two lead authors dedicate this article to their teacher Prof. Dr. V.-P. Gabel, who in the early 1990s successfully established the first vitrectomy courses for ophthalmologists at Regensburg University Eye Clinic each year. Many colleagues who still work in retinal surgery today first started learning about this segment on these courses. The other coauthors participated under his supervision in annual vitrectomy wet labs run by the German Academy of Ophthalmology.

PERSEUS 24-month analysis: a prospective non-interventional study to assess the effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept in routine clinical practice in Germany in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept injections in Germany in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration over 24 months. METHODS: PERSEUS was a prospective, non-interventional cohort study. The primary endpoint was the mean change in visual acuity (VA) from baseline. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of patients with a VA gain or loss of ≥ 15 letters and the frequency of injections and examinations. Patients with regular (bimonthly after 3 monthly injections during year 1 and ≥ 4 injections in year 2) and irregular (any other) treatment were analyzed. The last observation carried forward (LOCF) and the observed cases (OC) approach was applied for primary endpoint analysis to account for missing data. RESULTS: 803 patients were considered for effectivity analysis. At month 24, only 38% of the patients were still under observation. The LOCF population included 727, the OC population 279 patients. Treatment-naïve patients improved by 6.3 (LOCF)/8.1 (OC) letters with regular treatment over 24 months but only by 3.3 (LOCF)/3.1 (OC) letters with irregular treatment. The proportion of treatment-naïve patients achieving a VA improvement of ≥ 15 letters was similar between regularly and irregularly treated cohorts. However, considerably more patients in the irregular cohorts experienced a VA worsening of ≥ 15 letters than in the regular cohorts (LOCF: 18.7% vs. 7.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Regular IVT-AFL treatment resulted in better VA outcomes than irregular treatment at month 24. However, only a minority of patients received regular treatment over a 2-year period.

Importance of continuous treatment with intravitreal aflibercept injections in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration-12-month post hoc analysis of the PERSEUS real-world evidence study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of treatment regularity with intravitreal aflibercept injections (IVT-AFL injections) on visual acuity (VA) outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) enrolled in the PERSEUS trial who received at least 7 IVT-AFL injections during the first year. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the PERSEUS trial, a prospective, non-interventional, multicenter cohort study, and included 370 patients with nAMD who had received ≥ 7 IVT-AFL injections during year 1. In addition to the prespecified subgroups of treatment-naïve and previously treated patients, results were compared between patients with regular (n = 209) and irregular (n = 161) treatment. Regular treatment was defined as initial dosing with monthly IVT-AFL injections for 3 months, then bimonthly IVT-AFL injections until month 12. Irregular treatment was defined as any deviation from regular treatment (provided ≥ 7 injections were received). The outcome of primary interest was the mean change in VA from baseline after 12 months. Further outcomes of interest included VA gain or loss, proportion of patients achieving reading vision, and percentage of patients with fluid. RESULTS: At month 12, the mean (± standard deviation, SD) VA improvement from baseline was 6.1 ± 15.6 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters in the regular cohort and 2.5 ± 16.7 letters in the irregular cohort with ≥ 7 IVT-AFL injections (P = 0.0514). Best results were obtained in the treatment-naïve regular sub-cohort with a mean ± SD VA improvement of 8.0 ± 17.7 letters, whereas treatment-naïve patients with irregular treatment experienced a considerably lower VA gain (2.8 ± 20.0 letters). Irregular treatment consistently correlated with inferior results in treatment-naïve patients. At month 12, the proportion of treatment-naïve patients who had experienced a worsening of ≥ 5 letters was 29.6% in the irregular sub-cohort versus 13.6% in the regular sub-cohort (P = 0.0049). However, among the treatment-naïve patients, the mean number of injections was significantly higher in the irregular than in the regular sub-cohort (8.0 ± 1.2 vs. 7.4 ± 0.6; P = 0.0001). Furthermore, compared with the treatment-naïve, regular sub-cohort, patients in the irregular sub-cohort had more visits (19.1 ± 8.6 vs. 16.1 ± 5.7), VA tests (14.2 ± 6.9 vs. 12.0 ± 4.6), and optical coherence tomography examinations (5.1 ± 3.7 vs. 3.4.0 ± 3.0). CONCLUSIONS: Although irregularly treated patients received more injections and more monitoring visits during the first year of IVT-AFL treatment, they experienced worse VA outcomes than regularly treated patients.

Restriction of eye motility in patients with RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the motility of the eye in patients with the RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS. METHODS: Eye motility was determined in eight gaze directions in ten blind retinitis pigmentosa patients, who had received the RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS, before implantation of the subretinal implant and at six time-points up to one year after. RESULTS: The analysis of eye motility showed a restriction in the upgaze and gaze to the temporal side directly after surgery in eight of the nine patients included. The degree of motility restriction decreased continuously with recovery during the observation time. One year after surgery, eye motility was still restricted in the majority of patients, especially in the upgaze to the temporal side at 20° (five of seven patients). CONCLUSION: Retinal implants with intraorbital parts (e.g. connecting cables) caused restriction in the temporal and superior viewing directions in the majority of patients. Although this restriction might be cosmetically visible, this limitation in eye motility has no effects on the monocular vision and the implant's efficacy for daily use.

[The Conundrum of Relationships in the Multivariate Dataset of nvAMD Treatment]. / Die Frage nach Zusammenhängen in multivariaten Datensätzen zur Behandlung der nvAMD.

Background The evaluation of relationships in clinical case series is complicated by statistical pitfalls, one of which is spurious correlation. In this case, one or more potential factors are actually not related to a target measure, yet it may be wrongly inferred that they are. This may be due to either coincidence or the presence of a one or more confounding unregarded factors. In randomised clinical trials, it is attempted to eliminate such confounding factors or to control them by randomisation. However, this approach is not applicable in retrospective case series, and other statistical methods must be applied, such as multivariate analyses, taking into account all known variables. Patients/Material and Methods Statistical evaluation of the impact of different variables on the change in visual acuity after year 2 in a cohort of 1300 cases of nvAMD. The investigated variables are: visual acuity (VA) at baseline, central retinal thickness at baseline, age at baseline, mean interval between visits, number of injections, initial gain in VA after upload, and a change of the anti-VEGF compound. The target outcome measure was the change in VA as letter score at the end of year 2. Results All investigated variables have a marked impact on VA outcome when only single regression analysis is performed. Initial analysis of a switch in therapy gives a seemingly large effect on VA. However, multivariate analysis to avoid spurious correlations shows that only the following variables influence VA outcome with statistical significance: VA at baseline, initial gain in VA after upload, number of injections, mean interval between visits, and central retinal thickness at baseline. A switch in therapy had no statistically significant effect on VA outcome. Conclusion A switch in anti-VEGF therapy is not causally related to better VA outcome. In the statistical evaluation of non-randomised, retrospective case series, special attention must be given to potential confounding variables. When subgroups under investigation are not well balanced for confounding factors, misleading spurious correlations can result, leading to incorrect inferences.

[Real-life Data on the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Oedema in Germany]. / Daten zur Behandlungsrealität des diabetischen Makulaödems mit Ranibizumab.

Background Controlled prospective clinical trials on the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DME) using anti-VEGF compounds show very good results in visual acuity gain over several years. To date, only limited data are available from comparable studies under real-life settings in clinical routine. However, real-life data from other indications for anti-VEGF treatment suggest that, in clinical routine, gain in visual acuity is less pronounced and cannot be maintained over a longer period of time, which is related to the significantly lower number of injections administered in clinical routine. Here we report a case series from our clinical routine of patients treated with ranibizumab for visual significant DME. Patients/Material and Methods Retrospective case series of 335 cases with follow-up of up to 3 years. All cases in our clinic treated for visual significant DME with at least one injection of ranibizumab were evaluated for the course of visual acuity gain and number of injections received. Results A mean gain in visual acuity (VA) of + 5.6 and + 3.7 letters was found in years one and two, respectively, with a median VA of logMAR 0.52 (decimal 0.3) at baseline. The steepest increase in VA is found during the first 4 months, with a less pronounced increase up to month 16. The mean number of injections was 5.7, 3.2 and 1.1 for years one, two, and three, respectively. Conclusions Results of real life treatment in clinical routine are found to fall behind controlled, prospective trials, as found to the findings in other anti-VEGF indications: mean gain in VA is lower than in prospective trials, and the initial gain cannot be fully maintained over a prolonged time period. Similarly, the number of injections received is markedly lower than in controlled trials. This can partially be explained by differences in study populations and a negative selection bias in longer term results. However, additional barriers that hamper timely treatment tailored to disease activity requirements must be identified and circumvented where possible.

Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With the Subretinal Implant Retina Implant Alpha IMS.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess changes in retinal structure and thickness after subretinal implantation of the Retina Implant Alpha IMS (Retina Implant AG, Reutlingen, Germany). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging was performed to assess the structure and thickness of the retina anterior to the microphotodiode array preoperatively, within 6 weeks and 6 months ± 1 month after implantation. Thickness measurements were performed using the distance tool of the built-in software. Three thickness measurements were performed in each of the four quadrants of the retina on the microchip within 6 weeks and 6 months ± 1 month after implantation. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation change in retinal thickness from within 6 weeks to 6 months ± 1 month after implantation in all four quadrants combined was 24 µm ± 68 µm. None of the tested variables (location, time, or their interaction) had a statistically significant effect on the mean retinal thickness (P = .961, P = .131, and P = .182, respectively; n = 19). CONCLUSION: The authors report on qualitative and quantitative findings in retinal structure in 27 patients after subretinal implantation of the Retina Implant Alpha IMS using OCT technology. No significant changes of retinal thickness could be observed in a period of 6 months after surgery. With more patients receiving subretinal implants and with advanced OCT technology, the data set will be extended to study possible changes in retinal structure in finer detail. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:993-999.].

[Real-life Evidence on Treatment Outcomes of Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration in Germany]. / Real-Life-Evidenz zur Therapie der neovaskulären altersabhängigen Makuladegeneration in Deutschland.

Treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents has been improved since its introduction in Germany. Several observational studies have demonstrated an increased frequency of injections in parallel with improved visual outcomes during the first year of treatment over the last 7 years. These results are reflected in several case series. However, studies with a longer follow-up reported that visual function regressed to baseline vision following an initial improvement, e.g. during the first three years of treatment. A delay in treatment initiation has been reported mainly for rural areas and management models involving more than one ophthalmologist or institution. Encouragingly, recent data confirm a positive trend towards reducing treatment delay, increasing injection frequency and improving treatment outcomes. Still, further improvements are needed to attain optimal treatment outcomes achievable under routine clinical conditions in Germany.

Interim Results of a Multicenter Trial with the New Electronic Subretinal Implant Alpha AMS in 15 Patients Blind from Inherited Retinal Degenerations.

Purpose: We assessed the safety and efficacy of a technically advanced subretinal electronic implant, RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS, in end stage retinal degeneration in an interim analysis of two ongoing prospective clinical trials. The purpose of this article is to describe the interim functional results (efficacy). Methods: The subretinal visual prosthesis RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS (Retina Implant AG, Reutlingen, Germany) was implanted in 15 blind patients with hereditary retinal degenerations at four study sites with a follow-up period of 12 months (www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01024803 and NCT02720640). Functional outcome measures included (1) screen-based standardized 2- or 4-alternative forced-choice (AFC) tests of light perception, light localization, grating detection (basic grating acuity (BaGA) test), and Landolt C-rings; (2) gray level discrimination; (3) performance during activities of daily living (ADL-table tasks). Results: Implant-mediated light perception was observed in 13/15 patients. During the observation period implant mediated localization of visual targets was possible in 13/15 patients. Correct grating detection was achieved for spatial frequencies of 0.1 cpd (cycles per degree) in 4/15; 0.33 cpd in 3/15; 0.66 cpd in 2/15; 1.0 cpd in 2/15 and 3.3 cpd in 1/15 patients. In two patients visual acuity (VA) assessed with Landolt C- rings was 20/546 and 20/1111. Of 6 possible gray levels on average 4.6 ± 0.8 (mean ± SD, n = 10) were discerned. Improvements (power ON vs. OFF) of ADL table tasks were measured in 13/15 patients. Overall, results were stable during the observation period. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 4 patients: 2 movements of the implant, readjusted in a second surgery; 4 conjunctival erosion/dehiscence, successfully treated; 1 pain event around the coil, successfully treated; 1 partial reduction of silicone oil tamponade leading to distorted vision (silicon oil successfully refilled). The majority of adverse events (AEs) were transient and mostly of mild to moderate intensity. Conclusions: Psychophysical and subjective data show that RETINA IMPLANT Alpha AMS is reliable, well tolerated and can restore limited visual functions in blind patients with degenerations of the outer retina. Compared with the previous implant Alpha IMS, longevity of the new implant Alpha AMS has been considerably improved. Alpha AMS has meanwhile been certified as a commercially available medical device, reimbursed in Germany by the public health system.

Safety evaluation of "retina implant alpha IMS"--a prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To restore vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, several types of electronic devices have been developed to stimulate neurons at different levels along the visual pathway. Subretinal stimulation of the retina with the Retina Implant Alpha IMS (Retina Implant AG, Reutlingen, Germany) has been demonstrated to provide useful vision in daily life. Here we evaluated the safety of this device. METHODS: An interventional, prospective, multi-center, single-arm study was conducted in patients with retinitis pigmentosa with the Retina Implant Alpha IMS. The results from the first nine patients of a single center regarding safety of the device are reported. Any untoward medical occurrence related or unrelated to the tested device was documented and evaluated. RESULTS: Nine adult subjects were included in the study at the Tübingen site. Seventy-five adverse events occurred in total, and 53 affected the eye and its adnexa. Thirty-one ocular adverse events had a relationship to the implant that was classified as "certain" while 19 had a probable or possible relationship; three had no relationship to the implant. Thirty-nine ocular adverse events resolved without sequelae, two resolved with sequelae, 11 remained unresolved, and in one the status was unknown. The intensity of ocular adverse events was mild in the majority of cases (n = 45), while six were of moderate and two of severe intensity. There was no non-ocular adverse event with certain relationship to the device. One subject lost light perception (without light localization) in her study eye. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this prospective study, "Safety and Efficacy of Subretinal Implants for Partial Restoration of Vision in Blind Patients," shows that the Retina Implant Alpha IMS is an option for restoring vision using a subretinal stimulation device with a clinically acceptable safety profile.

Subretinal electronic chips allow blind patients to read letters and combine them to words.

A light-sensitive, externally powered microchip was surgically implanted subretinally near the macular region of volunteers blind from hereditary retinal dystrophy. The implant contains an array of 1500 active microphotodiodes ('chip'), each with its own amplifier and local stimulation electrode. At the implant's tip, another array of 16 wire-connected electrodes allows light-independent direct stimulation and testing of the neuron-electrode interface. Visual scenes are projected naturally through the eye's lens onto the chip under the transparent retina. The chip generates a corresponding pattern of 38 × 40 pixels, each releasing light-intensity-dependent electric stimulation pulses. Subsequently, three previously blind persons could locate bright objects on a dark table, two of whom could discern grating patterns. One of these patients was able to correctly describe and name objects like a fork or knife on a table, geometric patterns, different kinds of fruit and discern shades of grey with only 15 per cent contrast. Without a training period, the regained visual functions enabled him to localize and approach persons in a room freely and to read large letters as complete words after several years of blindness. These results demonstrate for the first time that subretinal micro-electrode arrays with 1500 photodiodes can create detailed meaningful visual perception in previously blind individuals.

Clinical evaluation of experimentally induced choroidal neovascularizations in pigmented rabbits by subretinal injection of lipid hydroperoxide and consecutive preliminary photodynamic treatment with Tookad.

PURPOSE: Up to date several approaches have been undertaken to achieve an 'easy-to-handle' animal model of choroidal neovascularizations (CNVs) in rabbits; however, so far in none of the studies could healthy retinal tissue be maintained, which is mandatory to further investigate the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) or anti-vascular-endothelial-growth-factor treatments. It was our aim to reevaluate and verify the method of inducing experimental CNVs in rabbits using subretinally injected linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LHP) as proposed by Tamai et al. and to use it for experimental PDT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 33 eyes of Chinchilla breed rabbits LHP of two different concentrations (25 and 100 microg/50 microl) was injected into the subretinal space via a transvitreal approach under guidance of an operation microscope. Ophthalmoscopic and angiographic examinations were performed on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 after surgery. Preliminary PDT with different experimental parameter sets was performed in 3 eyes using the new photosensitizer Tookad. RESULTS: Using LHP in the higher concentration, an angiographically determined CNV induction was observed in 27% of all injection sites (n = 34) on days 14 and 28 revealing early well-demarcated and progressive leakage. No CNV was detected at the lower LHP concentration (60 injection sites). Subretinal CNV was verified histologically revealing vessel formation above the retinal pigment epithelium level. Herein, a significant damage to the outer retinal layers was always observed; however, the general structure of the choriocapillary layer was maintained. Tookad PDT was clinically able to completely stop leakage in 1 case and reduce leakage in 2 cases. Histologically the choriocapillary layer was occluded. CONCLUSION: Subretinal injection of LHP induces angiographically well-demarcated classic CNVs in rabbits; however, the CNV rate was low, and histology revealed severe damage of the outer retinal layers but not of the choriocapillary layer, which is important for studying PDT interactions. Preliminary experimental PDT could clinically stop or reduce leakage from angiographic CNV. Due to the small CNV rate and the significant collateral retinal tissue damage, this model seems to be only of partial suitability for investigating new treatment modalities in CNV.

Bevacizumab in the treatment of idiopathic macular telangiectasia.

BACKGROUND: To describe functional and morphological long-term follow-up results in patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. METHODS: Retrospective case series of three consecutive male patients with IMT who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) as well as fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were monitored over the period of up to 12 months. RESULTS: Single intravitreal bevacizumab injection resulted in a marked increase in BCVA from 20/50 to 20/20 in the patient with type 1 (aneurysmal) IMT during the first 4 weeks. Late-phase leakage on FA and cystoid macular oedema on OCT decreased significantly. This was sustained over the whole follow-up period of 12 months. In contrast, in the two patients with type 2 (perifoveal) IMT, leakage on FA decreased likewise, but this was not accompanied by an increase in BCVA despite triple injections. Small cystic changes seen on OCT remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Patients with type 1 IMT with pronounced macular oedema on OCT may benefit from intravitreal bevacizumab injections, showing functional as well as morphological improvement, while patients with type 2 IMT with minimal cystic changes on OCT do not show functional improvement despite repeated injections.

Maintenance of adult porcine retina and retinal pigment epithelium in perfusion culture: characterisation of an organotypic in vitro model.

The purpose of this study was to characterise an ex-vivo adult porcine retina-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) perfusion organ culture model. Fresh porcine full-thickness retina-RPE-choroid tissue samples were clamped into tissue carriers and mounted in two-compartment containers. The retinal and choroidal sides were continuously perfused with culture medium. pO(2), [Na(+)], [K(+)], [Cl(-)], [glucose], [lactate], and pH were measured in the medium. Tissue samples were examined after 24h, 4, 7, and 10 days in culture. The morphology of the retina and the RPE was examined by light and electron microscopy (LM, EM). The retinal cellular integrity was further examined by immunohistochemistry (Ki 67, GFAP, rhodopsin, synaptophysin, syntaxin, NF 200, TUNEL-test). Fresh porcine full-thickness retina-RPE-choroid tissue samples and tissue samples in static organ culture served as controls. LM, EM, and immunohistochemistry showed intact retinal and RPE cytoarchitecture kept in perfusion culture. Photoreceptor outer segments showed first signs of degeneration after 24h, significant signs of apoptosis and necrosis appeared in the retina after 4 days in perfusion culture. Control tissue samples kept in static culture showed disintegration of the retinal cytoarchitecture after 4 days in culture. The data show that adult porcine retina-RPE tissue can be maintained morphologically intact in perfusion organ culture for at least 10 days. Although first signs of degeneration set in after 24h the structural preservation of the tissue in perfusion organ culture is superior to that in static culture. The perfusion culture model of the retina refines organotypic in vitro test systems and may help to reduce the number of necessary animal experiments in retina and RPE research. It offers new perspectives for the safety testing of substances designed for intraocular application.

Long-term safety and functional outcome of combined pars plana vitrectomy and scleral-fixated sutured posterior chamber lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the complication profile and the long-term functional outcome of combined pars plana vitrectomy and scleral-fixated sutured posterior chamber lens (PC IOL) implantation. DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series. METHODS: The records of 63 patients (mean age, 67.5 years) were reviewed retrospectively (follow-up, 12 to 132 months; mean, 43.5 months). The underlying ocular pathologic features; the intraoperative, early (within two weeks after surgery), and late complications (more than two weeks after surgery); final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); and the refractive outcome were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-nine of 63 procedures (93.7%) were performed without complications. Intraoperative complications included vitreous hemorrhage (n = 2), a retinal tear (n = 1), and a rupture of the iris base (n = 1). Early complications included transient raise of intraocular pressure (IOP; n = 19), transient vitreous hemorrhage (n = 2), scleral tunnel insufficiency (n = 5), pupillary capture of intraocular lens [IOL] (n = 6), persistent vitreous (n = 3), and choroidal hemorrhage (n = 1). Late complications occurred in 12 patients: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n = 4), proliferative vitreoretinopathy retinal detachment secondary to the underlying ocular pathologic features (n = 2), choroidal hemorrhage (n = 1), macular pucker (n = 1), and IOL dislocation (n = 4), including two cases of suture break. Mean BCVA in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units improved significantly from 1.025 (standard deviation [SD], 0.654) to 0.766 (SD, 0.750; P = .03). Mean cylindric equivalent significantly changed from 0.92 diopters (D; SD, 1.075) to 1.76 D (SD, 1.344; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical procedures were performed safely in approximately 94% of patients. Most postoperative complications were minor: significant ones occurred in approximately 20%, whereas suture breaks were observed rarely. The only moderate long-term functional improvement in this case series was mainly determined by the underlying ocular pathologic features.

Retreatment of full-thickness macular hole: predictive value of optical coherence tomography.

AIM: To determine whether the efficacy of re-operation for idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) remaining open after initial surgery with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling is correlated with macular hole configuration as determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT), macular hole size, macular hole duration before the first operation, or type of tamponade (gas or silicone oil). METHODS: A retrospective consecutive interventional case series of 28 patients (28 eyes) with a persisting macular hole after vitrectomy, ILM peel, and gas tamponade. 28 patients underwent repeat surgery involving vitrectomy and gas (n = 15) or silicone oil tamponade (n = 12) or no tamponade (n = 1). Autologous platelet concentrate (n = 22), autologous whole blood (n = 1), or no adjuvant (n = 5) was used. Preoperative OCT was undertaken in all eyes. The main outcome measures were anatomical closure and improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: Anatomical closure was achieved in 19 of 28 eyes (68%). BCVA improved in 12 eyes, remained unchanged in nine, and worsened in seven. BCVA improved in 11 of 19 eyes with anatomical closure, and in one of eight eyes without closure. Anatomical closure and improvement of BCVA correlated with preoperative macular hole configuration on OCT, with higher rates of closure (18 of 20 eyes versus one of eight eyes, p = 0.001) and greater improvement of BCVA (p = 0.048) in eyes with a cuff of subretinal fluid at the break margin. Macular hole size, type of tamponade, macular hole duration before the first operation, or preoperative BCVA did not significantly correlate with visual or anatomical outcome. CONCLUSION: Macular hole configuration seems to be a strong prognostic indicator of anatomical closure and may help identify those patients most likely to benefit from re-operation.

Assessment of the posterior segment of the cat eye by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for examining the cat ocular fundus, to provide normative data on retinal thickness in different fundus regions, and to demonstrate selected surgically induced vitreoretinal pathologies in the cat. ANIMAL STUDIED: Forty-five eyes of 28 healthy domestic cats and two eyes of domestic cats that had undergone subretinal implantation surgery for a visual prosthesis were examined. PROCEDURES: An optical coherence tomograph (Zeiss-Humphrey) was used to examine the anesthetized animals. At least five vertical and five horizontal scans in regular distribution were recorded for each cat including (1) the peripapillary region, (2) the area centralis, and (3) the peripheral retina. Thickness was measured manually at five locations in each scan. Retinal thickness was compared in the three above-mentioned fundus regions, between eyes and between vertical and horizontal scans. OCT was additionally performed in animals with retinal detachment and a subretinal visual prosthesis. RESULTS: OCT measurements required only minimal adjustments of human settings and yielded high quality images. In comparison to humans intraretinal layers were more difficult to differentiate. Retinal thickness was highest in the peripapillary region (245 +/- 21 microm), followed by the peripheral retina (204 +/- 11 microm) and the area centralis (182 +/- 11 microm; all P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between right and left eye or between vertical and horizontal scans. OCT demonstrated retinal detachment, an iatrogenic break and a subretinal prosthetic device in high detail. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal thickness was measurable with high precision; values compare well to older histologic studies. OCT bears significant advantages over histology in enabling one to repeat measurements in living animals and thus allowing longitudinal studies. Various vitreoretinal pathologies common in feline eyes are detectable and quantifiable by OCT.

RPE-rip after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment for vascularised PED secondary to AMD.

BACKGROUND: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)-rips in age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-associated pigment epithelial detachment (PED) occur in the natural course of the disease but also after therapy (e.g. laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy), possibly triggered by the specific therapy. We report here on four patients that received intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for AMD-associated vascularised PED and developed RPE-rips during the follow-up. METHODS: The case reports of four consecutive patients that developed RPE-rips after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab at 1 mg/0.1 ml were reviewed. RESULTS: The RPE-rips occurred in all patients between 1 week and 1 month following intravitreal injection. Two of the four patients improved in vision despite the rip, but 3 months after the initial intervention, three patients suffered deterioration in visual acuity and had to be re-injected. CONCLUSION: Improvement in visual acuity may occur following intravitreal bevacizumab despite RPE-rips, but the patients need close follow-up and eventual re-treatment in the case of deterioration.

Surgical removal of idiopathic epiretinal membrane with or without the assistance of indocyanine green: a randomised controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To carry out a prospective investigation of the functional and morphological outcome of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IEM) surgery with or without the assistance of indocyanine green (ICG) in a randomised controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent vitrectomy with removal of IEM combined with cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 27 patients were operated on with ICG 0.1% in glucose 5%, 33 patients without ICG. Functional outcome was assessed 3-4 months postoperatively with improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Amsler grid test, and automated and kinetic perimetry. Postoperative residual or recurrent IEM was assessed with bio-microscopy, and macular oedema with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Improvement in BCVA was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: BCVA improved in 49 patients, remained unchanged in five and decreased in five. Improvement in BCVA and reduction of macular oedema were statistically significant within both groups (P < 0.01). Improvement in BCVA was not statistically significantly different whether ICG was used or not [0.17 (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution; logMAR) with ICG and 0.24 (logMAR) without ICG] (P = 0.59). There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative or postoperative BCVA, reduction of macular oedema, postoperative Amsler grid test, or incidence of residual or recurrent IEM between the two groups. Visual field defects were detected in two patients operated on with ICG. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of IEM with or without the assistance of ICG equally improved visual function and macular morphology.