Pupil expansion device use and operative outcomes with topical dilation vs intracameral epinephrine in resident-performed cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the use of topical dilation drops vs topical drops with the addition of intracameral epinephrine in resident-performed cataract surgery and the effects on pupil expansion device (PED) use, surgical costs, and surgical times. SETTING: Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Resident-performed primary cataract surgical cases using topical dilation drops only or drops with the addition of intracameral epinephrine were analyzed for PED use, surgical time, and costs in all patients and in patients with a history of tamsulosin use. RESULTS: In the topical group, PEDs were used in 31.1% of cases compared with 13.5% of cases in the intracameral group (P < .0001). History of tamsulosin use was noted in about one third of cases in both groups. For patients with a history of tamsulosin use, PED use decreased from 52.7% in the topical cases to 17.9% in the intracameral group (P < .0001). Surgical times were on average 7.1 minutes slower with PED use than without PED use. There was a medication savings of $50.44 USD per case in the intracameral group compared with the topical group. Factoring in the $100 to $130 USD per PED used, total surgical costs were $19 267 USD less in the intracameral group over 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral epinephrine with lidocaine decreases the need for PED use during cataract surgery, lowers intraoperative costs, and improves efficiency compared with topical dilation drops alone.

Assessment of the Anterior Chamber Flare and Macular Thickness in Patients Treated with Topical Antiglaucomatous Drugs.

PURPOSE: To determine the changes in the anterior chamber flare and central macular thickness (CMT) under topical antiglaucomatous therapy. METHODS: This study included 121 eyes of 73 patients and 36 eyes of 18 controls. Glaucoma patients were divided into 3 groups (timolol maleate, latanoprost, and bimatoprost). Control eyes did not receive any medications. Flare and CMT measurements were performed at baseline and follow-up visits (15th day, and 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month). RESULTS: Statistically significant increases were detected in the flare values in the bimatoprost and latanoprost groups (P < 0.001, P = 0.011, respectively). Significant increases were also found in CMT values measured in these 2 groups (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). However, increased flare and CMT values were not clinically manifested as uveitis and macular edema. Flare and CMT values did not change statistically in the timolol maleate and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of prostaglandin (PG) analogs was found to be associated with increased flare and CMT, these increases were not clinically significant. PG analog monotherapy may be safely and effectively used in the treatment of glaucoma.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of intracameral vancomycin in reducing postoperative endophthalmitis incidence in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating postoperative complication of cataract surgery. We aimed to describe the incidence of acute postoperative endophthalmitis in an Australian population over a 14-year period. DESIGN: This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study performed at Westmead Hospital, a major tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who had acute postoperative endophthalmitis within 6 weeks of their cataract surgery at Westmead Hospital were included. METHODS: Endophthalmitis cases from 2000 to 2014 were identified from computerized diagnostic coding. These were cross-referenced with the cataract surgery list over this time period. The routine use of intracameral vancomycin at the end of cataract surgery was introduced in Westmead Hospital in 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We quantified the incidence of acute postoperative endophthalmitis pre and post the routine use of intracameral vancomycin. RESULTS: A total of 14 805 cataract cases were performed at Westmead Hospital from 2000 to 2014. Seventeen cases of endophthalmitis were within 6 weeks post cataract surgery performed at Westmead Hospital. In the period 2000 to 2003, the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis was 0.43% (11/2539). From 2004 to 2014, there was a dramatic decrease in the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis to 0.049% (6/12 266, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: There has been a nine-fold reduction in the rate of acute postoperative endophthalmitis with the use of intracameral vancomycin in cataract surgery. Post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis is now a relatively rare cause of endophthalmitis in this Australian population. Our study supports the routine use of intracameral vancomycin as postoperative endophthalmitis prophylaxis.

Efficacy of Intracameral Moxifloxacin Endophthalmitis Prophylaxis at Aravind Eye Hospital.

PURPOSE: To compare the rate of postoperative endophthalmitis before and after initiation of intracameral (IC) moxifloxacin for endophthalmitis prophylaxis in patients undergoing cataract surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective, clinical registry. PARTICIPANTS: All charity and private patients (116 714 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery between February 15, 2014, and April 15, 2015, at the Madurai Aravind Eye Hospital were included. Group 1 consisted of 37 777 eyes of charity patients who did not receive IC moxifloxacin, group 2 consisted of 38 160 eyes of charity patients who received IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis, and group 3 consisted of 40 777 eyes of private patients who did not receive IC moxifloxacin. METHODS: The electronic health record data for each of the 3 groups were analyzed, and the postoperative endophthalmitis rates were statistically compared. The cost of endophthalmitis treatment (groups 1 and 2) and the cost of IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis (group 2) were calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative endophthalmitis rate before and after initiation of IC moxifloxacin endophthalmitis treatment cost. RESULTS: Manual, sutureless, small incision cataract surgery (M-SICS) accounted for approximately all of the 75 937 cataract surgeries in the charity population (97%), but only a minority of the 40 777 private surgeries (21% M-SICS; 79% phacoemulsification). Thirty eyes in group 1 (0.08%) and 6 eyes in group 2 (0.02%) were diagnosed with postoperative endophthalmitis (P < 0.0001). The group 3 endophthalmitis rate was 0.07% (29 eyes), which was also higher than the second group's rate (P < 0.0001). There were no adverse events attributed to IC moxifloxacin in group 2. The total cost of treating the 30 patients with endophthalmitis in group 1 was virtually identical to the total combined cost in group 2 of routine IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis and treatment of the 6 endophthalmitis cases. CONCLUSIONS: Routine IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis achieved a highly significant, 4-fold reduction in postoperative endophthalmitis in patients undergoing M-SICS. Compared with previous studies, having such a high volume of patients undergoing surgery during a relatively short 14-month time period strengthens the conclusion. This study provides further evidence that moxifloxacin is an effective IC prophylactic antibiotic and suggests that IC antibiotics should be considered for M-SICS and phacoemulsification.

Incidence and management of haemorrhagic Descemet membrane detachment in canaloplasty and phacocanaloplasty.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and management of haemorrhagic Descemet membrane detachment (HDMD) in canaloplasty and phacocanaloplasty. METHODS: This study included 105 eyes of 92 patients with uncontrolled open angle glaucoma who underwent canaloplasty and phacocanaloplasty between 2010 and 2014. Eyes that developed either HDMD or non-HDMD were identified. The main outcome measures were the development of HDMD and non-HDMD, best corrected visual acuity, recovery time after Descemet membrane detachment (DMD), intra-ocular pressure (IOP) and number of antiglaucoma medications. Each eye was managed according to the time of development, type and extent of DMD. RESULTS: Ten eyes (9.5%) developed DMD- four eyes underwent canaloplasty (3.8%) and six eyes underwent phacocanaloplasty (5.7%). Three of 10 eyes developed non-HDMD while seven of 10 developed HDMD, the majority of HDMD cases occurred in combination with phacocanaloplasty (five of seven). The non-HDMD eyes resolved completely within 2 weeks without intervention. One eye with HDMD was observed for 2 weeks, before a 15% sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) intracameral injection was given. The patient developed a dense corneal stain that was resolving slowly over 30 months. One eye with HDMD underwent YAG laser membranotomy 2 weeks after being identified, which regained corneal transparency 1 month after treatment, while the remaining five eyes underwent immediate surgical drainage and regained corneal transparency 1 day post-procedure. CONCLUSION: HDMD occurred in up to 6.7% in canaloplasty and phacocanaloplasty procedures, mostly during catheter withdrawal and the viscodilation step. Early recognition and management prevented further manipulation.

Budget impact assessment of Aprokam® compared with unlicensed cefuroxime for prophylaxis of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis.

BACKGROUND: Intracameral cefuroxime is recommended as prophylaxis against postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) following cataract surgery. Aprokam is the only licensed product for prophylaxis of POE, although unlicensed intracameral cefuroxime may be administered using pre-filled syringes (PFS), either prepared in hospital by reconstituting cefuroxime via serial dilution (prepared PFS), or commercially purchased (purchased PFS). This study aimed to estimate the potential budget impact of using Aprokam over unlicensed cefuroxime for intracameral administration. METHODS: A budget impact model (BIM) was developed from UK NHS hospital perspective to estimate the economic impact of adopting Aprokam compared with purchased PFS or prepared PFS for the prophylaxis of POE following cataract surgery over a 5-year time horizon. The BIM incorporated direct costs only, associated with the acquisition, delivery, storage, preparation, and administration of cefuroxime. Resource utilisation costs were also incorporated; resource utilisation was sourced from a panel survey of hospital pharmacists, surgeons, and theatre nurses who are involved in the delivery, storage, preparation, quality assurance, or administration of cefuroxime formulations. Unit costs were sourced from NHS sources; drug acquisition costs were sourced from BNF. The model base case used a hypothetical cohort comprising of 1000 surgeries in the first year and followed a 5.2 % annual increase each year. RESULTS: The model predicts Aprokam is cost saving compared with purchased PFS, with a modest increase compared prepared PFS over 5 years. There are total savings of £ 3490 with Aprokam compared with purchased PFS, driven by savings in staff costs that offset greater drug acquisition costs. Compared with prepared PFS, there are greater drug acquisition costs which drive an increased total cost over 5 years of £ 13,177 with Aprokam, although there are substantial savings in staff costs as well as consumables and equipment costs. CONCLUSIONS: The lower direct costs of using Aprokam compared with purchased PFS presents a strong argument for the adoption of Aprokam where purchased PFS is administered. The additional benefits of Aprokam include increased liability coverage and possible reduction in dilution errors and contaminations; as such, in hospitals where unlicensed prepared PFS is used, modest additional resources should be allocated to adoption of Aprokam.

An assessment of the ocular safety of excipient maleic acid following intravitreal injection in rabbits.

Maleic acid was formulated in 0.7% saline and injected intravitreally in rabbits in order to evaluate ocular safety and tolerability. Maleic acid was formulated within a narrow pH range (2-3), administered in a fixed volume (100 µl), and concentrations ranged from 0.00 to 2.00 mg/eye (0.00 to 12.30 mM vitreous). Ocular evaluations were conducted at 2, 4, and 8 days post injection. Ocular irritation responses were observed at doses from 0.50 mg/eye (3.07 mM vitreous) to 2.00 mg/eye (12.30 mM vitreous) and included conjunctival redness and scleral swelling. Chemosis was observed at 2.00 mg/eye (12.30 mM vitreous). Funduscopic evaluations revealed enlarged retinal blood vessels and optic disk swelling at doses ≥1.50 mg/eye (9.22 mM vitreous), retinal folds and retinal discoloration at 2.00 mg/eye (12.30 mM vitreous). Histopathologic evaluations on days 4 and 8 post injection revealed retinal degeneration at doses ≥1.0 mg/eye (6.15 mM vitreous), conjunctival inflammation at doses ≥1.5 mg/eye (9.22 mM vitreous), and retinal pigment epithelial hypertrophy, optic nerve demyelination, anterior chamber fluid, and conjunctival fibrosis at 2.00 mg/eye (12.30 mM vitreous) maleic acid. The data suggest that maleic acid formulations at ≥1.00 mg/eye (6.15 mM vitreous) were not suitable for intraocular indications.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy-guided assessment of acute corneal hydrops.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the morphologic features of acute hydrops and treatment success using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). DESIGN: Prospective interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen patients (14 eyes) affected by keratoconus with acute corneal hydrops. INTERVENTION: Patients with acute hydrops were treated with intracameral injection of 0.15 ml of 14% perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The parameters evaluated on UBM included the location and length of the Descemet's membrane (DM) tear and corneal thickness at the central corneal thickness at the area overlying the DM tear (CT0), corneal thickness 2.5 mm from the central point (CT2.5), and peripheral corneal thickness 2.0 mm from the scleral spur toward the corneal side (CT(P)). The ratio of CT2.5 to CT0 was calculated to obtain the hydrops resolving index (HyRI). RESULTS: The DM tear was visualized with UBM in all cases and slit-lamp microscopy in 9 of 14 eyes. The mean length of DM tears at presentation was 1.74 ± 0.77 µm. Patients with zone 3 corneal edema had a longer DM tear compared with patients with zone 2 corneal edema (1.27 ± 0.55 vs 2.02 ± 0.79 µm, respectively, P = 0.09). Significant positive correlations were seen between DM tear length and CT2.5 and CT(p) (r = 0.790, P = 0.020 and r = 0.766, P = 0.027, respectively). An intracameral gas bubble was seen abutting the edges of the tear in all cases. At the 6-week follow-up, the apposition of the DM and the overlying stroma occurred in all eyes, and resolution of epithelial edema and intrastromal cysts were seen in 11 of 13 cases (84.6%) and 12 of 13 cases (92.3%). The mean values of CT0, CT2.5, and CT(p) at presentation were 2359.69 ± 582.26 µm, 1911.15 ± 502.60 µm, and 1156.46 ± 275.77 µm, respectively, which decreased to 398.15 ± 31.65 µm (P = 0.0), 453.46 ± 68.45 µm (P = 0.0), and 638.00 ± 62.17 µm (P = 0.0), respectively. The mean HyRI showed a significant increase from 0.80 ± 0.05 at the time of presentation to 1.13 ± 0.12 (P = 0.03) at 3 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a useful tool for quantitative and qualitative study of the morphologic features of acute hydrops. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Assessment of anterior chamber inflammation after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in different ocular exudative diseases.

PURPOSE: To investigate the inflammation of the anterior chamber after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in different ocular exudative diseases. METHODS: The study included 76 eyes from 62 consecutive patients with different ocular exudative diseases. The patients were divided into the 3 following groups: group 1 (nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy), group 2 (choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration), and group 3 (macular edema with branch or central retinal vein occlusion). The study also included 32 age-matched control patients. Inflammation of the anterior chamber was examined with flare-cell photometry before and after an intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg of bevacizumab. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the measurements at baseline and postoperative day 1, 3, 7, or 30 in any of the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of inflammation in the anterior chamber did not change after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration, or macular edema due to branch or central vein occlusion.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of intracameral cefuroxime use for prophylaxis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intracameral cefuroxime for postoperative endophthalmitis prophylaxis, and to determine the efficacy threshold necessary for alternative antibiotics to attain cost-effective equivalence with intracameral cefuroxime. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness analysis. PARTICIPANTS: We study a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 patients undergoing cataract surgery as a part of the cost analysis. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness model was constructed to analyze different antibiotic prophylactic regimens for postoperative endophthalmitis with intracameral cefuroxime as our base case. Efficacy was defined as the absolute reduction in rate of infection from background rate of infection, which was sourced from the literature. Antibiotic cost data were derived from the Red Book 2007 edition, and salary data were taken from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Multivariate sensitivity analysis assessed the performance of antibiotic options under different scenarios. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cost per case of endophthalmitis prevented; theoretical maximal cost-effectiveness; efficacy threshold necessary to achieve cost-effective equivalence with intracameral cefuroxime; ratio indicating how many times more effective or less expensive alternative antibiotics would have to be to achieve cost-effective equivalence with intracameral cefuroxime. RESULTS: The cost-effectiveness ratio for intracameral cefuroxime is $1403 per case of postoperative endophthalmitis prevented. By comparison, the least expensive topical fluoroquinolone in our study, ciprofloxacin, would have to be >8 times more effective than intracameral cefuroxime to achieve cost-effective equivalence. The most expensive topical fluoroquinolones studied, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, would have to be > or =19 times more effective than intracameral cefuroxime to achieve cost-effective equivalence. A sensitivity analysis reveals that even in the worst case scenario for intracameral cefuroxime efficacy and with a 50% reduction in the cost of 4th-generation fluoroquinolones, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin would have to be > or =9 times more effective than intracameral cefuroxime to achieve cost-effective equivalence. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of intracameral cefuroxime is relatively cost-effective in preventing endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Owing to their high costs, many commonly used topical antibiotics are not cost-effective compared with intracameral cefuroxime, even under optimistic assumptions about their efficacy.

A 6-month assessment of bimatoprost 0.03% vs timolol maleate 0.5%: hypotensive efficacy, macular thickness and flare in ocular-hypertensive and glaucoma patients.

AIM: To compare 6 months of treatment with bimatoprost and timolol in terms of their hypotensive efficacy and secondary effects, including changes in macular thickness and the inflammatory reaction induced in the anterior chamber. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial performed on 30 eyes of 30 patients per group. The main outcome measure was the difference between the IOP value taken between the baseline visit and the 6-month-visit. Macular thickness determined through optical coherence tomography and anterior chamber inflammation estimated using the laser flare meter was also evaluated. Adverse events were recorded during the study period. RESULTS: Bimatoprost treatment gave rise to a significantly lower mean IOP than timolol in all follow-up visits as from the first month (P<0.05). Bimatoprost achieved high percentage IOP reductions from baseline in a significantly higher proportion of patients (P<0.05). Macular thickness and anterior chamber flare failed to vary significantly both between the two groups and within each group during the 6-month evaluation (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bimatoprost 0.03% once daily showed a greater efficacy then timolol 0.05% twice daily in patients with elevated IOP. No significant differences were detected in macular thickness or anterior uveitis using optical coherence tomography and laser flare photometry.

Intracameral anesthesia: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

OBJECTIVE: This document describes the technique of intracameral anesthesia and examines the available evidence to address questions about its effectiveness, possible corneal endothelial and retinal toxicity, and the optimal and maximal dose. METHODS: A literature search conducted for the years 1968 to 2000 retrieved over 180 citations that matched the search criteria. Panel members and a methodologist reviewed this information, and it was evaluated for the quality of the evidence presented. RESULTS: Some studies report effectiveness of intracameral anesthesia while others report no effect. In those studies showing an effect, levels of pain in the groups that were compared were low. Short-term studies seem to indicate that preservative (methylparaben)-free lidocaine 1% is well tolerated by the corneal endothelium but that higher concentrations of lidocaine are toxic. There is some evidence of electroretinogram changes after exposure to lidocaine or bupivacaine. CONCLUSIONS: The ideal timing and placement of intracameral anesthesia has not been determined. Because topical anesthesia alone is effective, surgeons may elect to use intracameral anesthesia for incremental pain control in patients who cannot be adequately managed with topical alone. Appropriate patient selection is important when using this method of anesthesia. While short-term studies seem to indicate safety, long-term effects are unknown. Patient preferences for anesthesia are not well studied.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy in the assessment of secondary glaucoma after vitreoretinal surgery and silicone oil injection.

This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM) in the assessment of the anterior chamber in patients affected by silicone oil-related glaucoma after vitreoretinal surgery. UBM showed high reflectivity of angular structure, anterior chamber alterations and a fairly trophic ciliary body.