Refractive Outcomes of Combined Cataract Surgery and Vitrectomy Compared to Cataract Surgery Alone.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the refractive outcomes of combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy compared to cataract surgery alone. METHODS: This retrospective chart review study included two groups: (1) combined surgery in 103 eyes (101 patients) who underwent cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) placement by a single cataract surgeon and vitrectomy by a single vitreoretinal surgeon at the same surgical setting; (2) cataract surgery alone by the same surgeon in 107 eyes (84 patients). Refractive outcomes and complications between the combined and cataract surgery alone group were compared. The predicted refractive error was compared to postoperative refractive outcomes in both groups, surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), intraoperative or postoperative complications of either cataract surgery or vitrectomy, and cystoid macular edema. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between predicted and actual postoperative refractive outcomes between the combined and cataract surgery alone groups (within ±0.5 diopters [D], p = 0.099; within ±1.0 D, p = 0.721). There was no difference in SIA refractive outcomes between the two groups (p = 0.509). The use of intraoperative gas for retina tamponade did not significantly affect postoperative refractive outcomes. Both cataract surgery and vitrectomy were successfully performed without unexpected complications from either procedure affecting the other. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy allows excellent refractive outcomes equal to cataract surgery alone, allowing each procedure to be performed independently by separate anterior and posterior segment surgeons. Combined procedures can be performed in eyes with a variety of retinal indications and can include fluid-gas exchange with minimal risk of PCIOL malposition or change in targeted refraction.

Closure of Full-Thickness Macular Holes Associated with Macular Edema with Medical Therapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the closure of macular hole without surgery in 7 cases using medical therapies. METHODS: The retrospective review of 7 cases of full-thickness macular holes, which closed after medical therapy without surgery. RESULTS: Seven eyes of 7 patients developed full-thickness macular holes, which initially closed on medical therapy without surgery. Six patients were kept on maintenance therapy; 1 recurred and 5 did not develop recurrence. One patient was taken off of maintenance therapy and later developed recurrent macular hole requiring macular hole surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Medical therapy to decrease macular edema may facilitate macular hole closure and should be considered, especially for small macular holes with significant edema. Reopening of macular holes may occur after stopping topical maintenance therapy for macular edema, which occurred at 10 weeks and 9 months after maintenance therapy was discontinued or markedly tapered.

ADVERSE EVENTS OF THE ARGUS II RETINAL PROSTHESIS: Incidence, Causes, and Best Practices for Managing and Preventing Conjunctival Erosion.

PURPOSE: To analyze and provide an overview of the incidence, management, and prevention of conjunctival erosion in Argus II clinical trial subjects and postapproval patients. METHODS: This retrospective analysis followed the results of 274 patients treated with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System between June 2007 and November 2017, including 30 subjects from the US and European clinical trials, and 244 patients in the postapproval phase. Results were gathered for incidence of a serious adverse event, incidence of conjunctival erosion, occurrence sites, rates of erosion, and erosion timing. RESULTS: Overall, 60% of subjects in the clinical trial subjects versus 83% of patients in the postapproval phase did not experience device- or surgery-related serious adverse events. In the postapproval phase, conjunctival erosion had an incidence rate of 6.2% over 5 years and 11 months. In 55% of conjunctival erosion cases, erosion occurred in the inferotemporal quadrant, 25% in the superotemporal quadrant, and 20% in both. Sixty percent of the erosion events occurred in the first 15 months after implantation, and 85% within the first 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: Reducing occurrence of conjunctival erosion in patients with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis requires identification and minimization of risk factors before and during implantation. Implementing inverted sutures at the implant tabs, use of graft material at these locations as well as Mersilene rather than nylon sutures, and accurate Tenon's and conjunctiva closure are recommended for consideration in all patients.

Clinical Characteristics of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy and Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment Response in Caucasians.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To identify the clinical characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Caucasian patients and assess the prevalence of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) resistance. METHODS: This involved a retrospective chart review of Caucasian patients diagnosed with PCV and utilizing indocyanine green angiography with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Data collected included patients' demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment response. RESULTS: There were 54 eyes of 49 patients with PCV; 51.0% were male and 49.0% were female with a mean age of 72.9 years. Forty-four patients (89.8%) had PCV unilaterally and 10.2% (5 patients) had PCV bilaterally. PCV was located in the macula in 79.6%, in the peripapillary region in 16.7%, and in both regions in 3.7%. PCV commonly presents with serous detachment (66.7%), retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED) (51.9%) and subretinal hemorrhage (37.0%). Twenty-nine eyes were included in the treatment response analysis, with 18 eyes (62.1%) showing persistent disease activity after 3 initial injections of anti-VEGF treatment. CONCLUSION: PCV in Caucasian patients is more often unilateral and presents more commonly in the macular region than the peripapillary region. Serous detachment and RPED are the 2 most common findings. Resistance to current anti-VEGF treatment was noted frequently; it is thus extremely important to identify this subtype of type I subretinal neovascularization.

SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF DETECTING POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY WITH EN FACE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY AND OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: Determine sensitivity and specificity of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) diagnosis with structural en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records of eyes diagnosed with PCV by indocyanine green angiography with review of diagnostic testing with structural en face OCT and OCTA by a trained reader. Structural en face OCT, cross-sectional OCT angiograms alone, and OCTA in its entirety were reviewed blinded to the findings of indocyanine green angiography and each other to determine if they could demonstrate the PCV complex. Sensitivity and specificity of PCV diagnosis was determined for each imaging technique using indocyanine green angiography as the ground truth. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of structural en face OCT were 30.0% and 85.7%, of OCT angiograms alone were 26.8% and 96.8%, and of the entire OCTA were 43.9% and 87.1%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were improved for OCT angiograms and OCTA when looking at images taken within 1 month of PCV diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Sensitivity of detecting PCV was low using structural en face OCT and OCTA but specificity was high. Indocyanine green angiography remains the gold standard for PCV detection.

Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic ability of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: Retrospective review of 47 eyes with PCV imaged with ICGA and OCTA. For each eye, it was determined which imaging modality better delineated the PCV complex. The presence of a branching vascular network (BVN) and polyp(s) were noted. RESULTS: PCV was better visualized with ICGA in 21 eyes (44.7%) and with OCTA in 9 eyes (19.2%). The results were comparable in 17 eyes (36.2%). Of the 44 eyes with BVN on ICGA, 41 eyes (93.2%) also showed BVN on OCTA. Of the 28 eyes with polyp(s) on ICGA, 22 eyes (78.6%) also showed polyp(s) on OCTA. Polyps were high-flow lesions or faint low-flow dilations on OCTA. CONCLUSION: OCTA readily detects BVNs and can detect most polyps, but in many cases ICGA is better able to detect the PCV complex.

Prospective clinical trial of Intravitreal aflibercept treatment for PolypoIdal choroidal vasculopathy with hemorrhage or exudation (EPIC study): 6 month results.

BACKGROUND: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy is a variant of choroidal neovascularization and neovascular age related macular degeneration presenting with hemorrhagic and exudative changes within the macula and/or peripapillary region leading to vision loss. In contrast to neovascular age related macular degeneration, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy has differing clinical manifestations and treatment strategies. Historically, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy complexes are less responsive to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy with no prospective clinical trials evaluating aflibercept in management of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Herein we prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. METHODS: A prospective, open-label, investigator-sponsored trial of intravitreal aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in 21 eyes was conducted. Injections were administered monthly for 3 initial treatments, then every other month with monthly evaluations. The primary outcome measures were the mean change in best corrected visual acuity and adverse events. Secondary outcome measures included stabilization of vision, presence of subretinal hemorrhage, serous detachment, retinal pigment epithelial detachment, and regression of polypoidal complexes on indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: At 6 months, the median visual acuity was 20/40 (range 20/25-20/200) with a mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study vision of 68.4 letters. There was a gain of 2.76 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters at 6 months (p = 0.15). No patient developed severe vision loss (≤15 letters) and vision was stable or improved in 19/21 eyes (91 %). Subretinal fluid resolved in 13/18 eyes (72 %), and subretinal hemorrhage resolved in 6/8 eyes (75 %) respectively. The polyps regressed in 14/21 eyes (67 %) and the branching vascular network decreased in 1 eye and was stable in all other eyes. The retinal pigment epithelial detachment improved in 13/15 eyes (87 %). Bimonthly treatment occurred in 15/21 patients (71 %). There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal aflibercept results in stabilization of vision, resolution of exudative and hemorrhagic complications with regression of polyps in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy previously treated with ranibizumab and bevacizumab can show marked improvement in the retinal pigment epithelial detachments and persistent polyps with aflibercept therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trials.gov NCT01871376 , June 4(th) 2013.

Characteristics of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Brazilian Patients.

PURPOSE: To report features of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Brazilian patients. PROCEDURES: Data were prospectively collected from patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD. Eyes were classified as having typical neovascular AMD, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), or retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). RESULTS: In total, 265 eyes of 207 patients of predominantly Caucasian ancestry were included; 166 (62.6%) eyes had typical neovascular AMD, 65 (24.5%) eyes had PCV, and 34 (12.8%) eyes had RAP. RAP demonstrated a higher percentage of bilateral cases (p = 0.015). The mean foveal subfield thickness was significantly lower in eyes with PCV (p < 0.001). Cases with typical neovascular AMD had a higher percentage of predominantly classic and minimally classic lesions on fluorescein angiography (FA; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazilian patients, PCV and RAP represented 24.5 and 12.8% of neovascular AMD cases. Neovascular AMD subtypes differ in relation to clinical features, mean foveal subfield thickness and FA presentation.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy exudation and hemorrhage: results of monthly ranibizumab therapy at one year.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and active exudation or hemorrhage. METHODS: A prospective, single practice, open label trial of monthly intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg) injections for PCV in 13 eyes of 13 patients who completed the 1-year study. The primary outcome measure was stabilization of vision (loss of <15 ETDRS letters). Secondary outcome measures included incidence of ocular and systemic adverse events, changes in subretinal hemorrhage, central foveal thickness, and polypoidal complexes on indocyanine green angiography at 1 year. RESULTS: No patient lost ≥ 15 letters in visual acuity at 1 year. Three patients (23%) gained ≥ 15 letters at 12 months. Subretinal hemorrhage resolved in 9/9 eyes (100%). Macular edema improved in 5/5 eyes (100%). Subretinal fluid completely resolved in 4/9 eyes (44%), decreased in 2/9 eyes (22%), and increased in 3/9 eyes (33%). Polypoidal complexes decreased in 5/13 eyes (38%). CONCLUSION: Continuous monthly intravitreal ranibizumab decreases leakage and hemorrhage in eyes with exudative and hemorrhagic complications of PCV. Branching vascular networks persisted, and polypoidal complexes decreased in only 5/13 (38%) eyes with continuous antiangiogenic therapy at 1 year.

TREATMENT OF HYPOTONY WITH AN INTRAVITREAL GAS BUBBLE.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of successful resolution of severe hypotony and choroidal detachments following nonfiltering glaucoma surgery with an intravitreal injection of C 3 F 8 gas after a poor response to topical steroids and cycloplegia. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of a case report. RESULTS: 89 year-old male presented with a central retinal vein occlusion, hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage and neovascular glaucoma. After initial intravitreal injection of aflibercept he was treated with pars plana vitrectomy with panretinal photocoagulation and endocyclophotocoagulation to the ciliary body, but he continued to have elevated intraocular pressure. Subsequent external cyclophotocoagulation was performed but severe hypotony with inflammation, choroidal detachments, and corneal edema developed one week later without response to cycloplegic and steroid medications. A therapeutic injection of perfluorpropane (C3F8) gas led to resolution of the hypotony and choroid detachment and long-term maintenance of intraocular pressure. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: An intravitreal gas bubble can be a very useful outpatient procedure to immediately reverse hypotony, resolve choroidal detachment, and decrease associated inflammation. When hypotony does not respond to medical therapy with cycloplegic drops and steroid medications, then an intravitreal gas bubble can rapidly resolve these complications and result in stabilization of intraocular pressure long-term.

Macular Retinoschisis from Optic Disc without a Visible Optic Pit or Advanced Glaucomatous Cupping (No Optic Pit Retinoschisis [NOPIR]).

PURPOSE: To review eyes with peripapillary and macular retinoschisis without a visible optic pit or advanced glaucomatous optic atrophy, or No Optic Pit Retinoschisis (NOPIR). DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter case series. SUBJECTS: The study included 11 eyes of 11 patients. METHODS: Retrospective study of eyes with macular retinoschisis without a visible optic pit, advanced optic nerve head cupping, or macular leakage on fluorescein angiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity (VA), retinoschisis resolution, months to resolution, and recurrence of retinoschisis RESULTS: The mean age was 68.1 ± 17.6 years, mean intraocular pressure was 17.4 ± 3.8 mmHg, and the mean spherical equivalent refractive error was -3.1 ± 2.9 diopters. No subject had pathologic myopia. Seven subjects were treated for glaucoma, and 9 subjects had nerve fiber layer defects on OCT. All eyes had retinoschisis in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the nasal macula and extending to the edge of the optic disc, and 8 subjects had fovea-involving retinoschisis. Three nonfoveal and 4 fovea-involved eyes were observed, and 4 fovea-involved eyes with vision loss underwent surgery. Surgery involved preoperative juxtapapillary laser followed by vitrectomy and membrane and internal limiting membrane peeling with intraocular gas and face-down position. The mean baseline VA was significantly worse in the surgery group than that in the observation group (P = 0.020). Retinoschisis resolved and vision improved in all surgical cases. The mean resolution time for the surgery group was 2.75 ± 0.96 months, which was shorter than that for the observation group (28.0 ± 21.2 months; P = 0.014). No eye developed recurrence of the retinoschisis after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Peripapillary and macular retinoschisis can develop in eyes without a visible optic pit or advanced glaucomatous cupping. Eyes without foveal involvement and those with foveal involvement but only mild decrease in vision can be observed for spontaneous resolution. If there is persistent foveal involvement with vision loss, surgery can improve vision by resolving the macular retinoschisis. Surgery for fovea-involved macular retinoschisis without a visible optic pit resulted in faster anatomic resolution and better vision recovery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Vitrectomy With Internal Limiting Membrane Transplants in the Closure of 2 Adjacent Macular Holes.

Purpose: Two adjacent macular holes (MHs), which were noted in the highly myopic left eye of an 85-year-old woman, is an uncommon clinical presentation. This case report presents the successful closure of the 2 adjacent MHs using internal limiting membrane (ILM) transplants during vitrectomy that included. Methods: ILM transplants were placed within both MHs during vitrectomy that included ILM peeling and fluid gas exchange with 18% perfluoropropane (C3F8) and postoperative facedown positioning for 1 week. Results: Both MHs were successfully closed following surgery with improvement in vision and decrease in metamorphopsia. Conclusions: This case suggested that relief of traction by ILM peeling and placement of ILM transplants within both MHs to provide a scaffold and stimulate glial tissue proliferation may have facilitated closure of the 2 adjacent MHs, which is a difficult management problem to manage and not previously reported to the best of our knowledge.

In office management of optic capture of scleral fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses.

INTRODUCTION: Optic capture of sutured scleral fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs) is an occasional complication resulting in blurred vision and discomfort. METHODS: A retrospective study of the management of 18 eyes (3.6%) with optic capture out of 495 eyes with scleral fixated IOLs during the study period. 54 procedures were performed in the management of optic capture of sutured scleral fixated PC IOLs. An in-office technique was utilized to relieve the optic capture by repositioning the optic posterior to the iris. This technique was performed after topical anesthesia and topical 5% betadine with the patient stably positioned at the slit lamp. Using a 30-gauge needle, sometimes after a 15-degree paracentesis blade, the needle was advanced in a parallel plane above the iris until the tip reached the edge of the captured optic. The optic is engaged in the inferior periphery away from the central visual axis, and pushed gently posteriorly just enough to reposition the optic posterior to the iris. In some cases, pilocarpine 2% drops were utilized after the procedure to decrease the risk of recapture of the optic. RESULTS: All 54 procedures were successfully performed in the office without significant pain or discomfort. Vision before optic capture, during optic capture, and at the first office visit after optic capture were comparable. There were not any cases of endophthalmitis, hyphema, iris trauma, iris prolapse or keratitis. While eight patients only had one episode of optic capture, 10 patients had multiple episodes of optic capture, all managed with this in office procedure. Recurrent optic capture occurred more frequently in eyes with fixation at less than 2 mm from the limbus than eyes with scleral fixation at 2 mm from the limbus. CONCLUSION: Reposition of the optic after pupillary capture of a scleral fixated PC IOL can be successfully performed in the office without discomfort or significant complications and is an alternative management option to a return to the operating room. This procedure may be especially important when there is poor access to the operating room or restricted access to the operating room as during the COVID19 pandemic.

Efficacy and safety of brolucizumab versus aflibercept in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Japanese participants of HAWK.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab versus aflibercept in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) over 96 weeks in the HAWK study. DESIGN: HAWK was a global, 2-year, randomised, double-masked, multicentre phase III trial in participants with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Of the Japanese participants with PCV, 39 received brolucizumab 6 mg and 30 received aflibercept 2 mg. After 3 monthly loading doses, brolucizumab-treated eyes received an injection every 12 weeks (q12w) but were adjusted to q8w if disease activity was detected. Aflibercept-treated eyes received fixed q8w dosing. Mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the proportion of participants on q12w, retinal thickness, retinal fluid changes and safety were assessed to Week 96. RESULTS: Mean change in BCVA (early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) letters) from baseline to week 48/week 96 was+10.4/+11.4 for brolucizumab and +11.6/+11.1 for aflibercept. For brolucizumab-treated eyes, the probability of only q12w dosing after loading through week 48 was 76%, and 68% through week 96. Fluid resolution was greater with brolucizumab than aflibercept: respective proportions of eyes with intraretinal fluid and/or subretinal fluid were 7.7% and 30% at week 48% and 12.8% and 16.7% at week 96. Brolucizumab exhibited an overall well-tolerated safety profile despite a higher rate of intraocular inflammation compared with aflibercept. CONCLUSION: In Japanese eyes with PCV, brolucizumab q12w/q8w monotherapy resulted in robust and consistent BCVA gains that were comparable to q8w aflibercept dosing. Anatomical outcomes favoured brolucizumab over aflibercept, with 76% of brolucizumab participants maintained on q12w dosing after loading to week 48.

Pneumatic retinopexy for retinal detachment associated with severe choroidal detachment.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of pneumatic retinopexy as an initial management of retinal detachment associated with hypotony, severe choroidal detachment, and vitritis. METHODS: Retrospective, interventional, noncomparative case series. We included nine eyes from nine patients (six women and three men) with retinal detachment associated with hypotony, severe choroidal detachment, and vitritis managed with pneumatic retinopexy (either SF6 or C3F8) as their initial management between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2007. RESULTS: Hypotony and choroidal detachment were rapidly and significantly improved 1 to 3 days after pneumatic retinopexy in all patients. The extent of retinal detachment was decreased in five patients. After vitreoretinal surgery for these five patients, all had attached retina. Complete reattachment of the retina was noted in four patients after pneumatic retinopexy. Two of these patients did not require further surgery because the entire retina remained attached at 6 months and 16 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Pneumatic retinopexy is a useful initial procedure in managing retinal detachment associated with hypotony, severe choroidal detachment, and vitritis. By rapidly resolving the hypotony and choroidal detachments, it facilitates subsequent surgical repair of this complicated retinal detachment. In addition, complete retinal reattachment after pneumatic retinopexy alone was initially achieved in 33% of eyes.

Long term observation of hydrogel buckle intrusion without vision loss.

Hydrogel buckle intrusion due to progressive swelling is a known complication, which usually requires surgical intervention due to vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, or progressive encroachment into the optic nerve or macula. Hydrogel buckle surgery with successful retinal detachment repair was performed in this one-eyed physician in 1990, and there was slow progressive intrusion towards the macula and optic nerve without surgical intervention for 30 years and with visual acuity maintained at 20/40.

Long-Term Stability of Sutured Scleral Fixation of a Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens With 10-0 Polypropylene for More Than 30 Years.

Purpose: We report the longest follow-up to our knowledge of stable scleral fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) with 10-0 polypropylene sutures. Methods: A retrospective review is presented of a case with more than 30 years' follow-up after performing sutured scleral fixation with 10-0 polypropylene suture using 2 sutures tied together under a scleral flap. One suture was a cow-hitch looped around the haptic, and the other suture was passed through the sclera to create the scleral fixation. Results: The scleral fixation with 10-0 polypropylene suture knots for both haptics of the PC IOL allowed central optic positioning with excellent vision for more than 30 years without suture breakage. Conclusions: Polypropylene sutures for scleral fixation of PC IOLs remained stable for more than 30 years with central positioning of the PC IOL, without exposure of the fixation suture knots through the conjunctiva, and without suture breakage.

The First Epiretinal Implant for Hereditary Blindness in the Asia-Pacific Region.

In February 2013, the Argus® II Retinal Prosthesis System (Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., Sylmar, CA, US) became the first "bionic eye" approved by the FDA to restore useful vision in patients previously blinded by end-stage retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary, progressive degeneration of the outer retinal photoreceptor cells. The system captures and converts an external optical input into an electrical signal that activates an epiretinal electrode array on the inner surface of the retina. This signal bypasses dysfunctional photoreceptors and directly stimulates the functional inner retina, thus transmitting information to the visual cortex and creating artificial vision. This article describes the first implantation of the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System in the Asia-Pacific region, which occurred in a deaf and blind 72-year-old Japanese American woman with Usher syndrome. At 57 months after her operation, the patient uses the device daily to perform visual tasks, and the microelectrode array remains in the proper position on the macula. This case demonstrates the long-term safety and efficacy of the Argus II epiretinal implant, which allowed a functionally blind patient to gain meaningful vision.

Differentiating Exudative Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Using OCT B-Scan.

PURPOSE: Although polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is best diagnosed with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), ICGA is often unavailable or not ordered. OCT is widely available, and OCT B-scan can visualize polypoidal lesions diagnostic of PCV as inverted U-shaped elevations of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with heterogeneous reflectivity and sometimes ring-shaped lesions within the polypoidal lesion. This study aims to differentiate findings between eyes diagnosed with PCV or typical exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using ICGA and then compares findings noted on the OCT B-scan line scan in each group. DESIGN: Retrospective, chart review. METHODS: Clinical features of eyes with PCV and typical exudative AMD were compared by using ICGA. Eyes with PCV were evaluated for inverted U-shaped polypoidal lesions, which are the main differentiating finding of PCV from typical exudative AMD. Data collected included presence of subretinal fluid (SRF), macular edema or intraretinal edema, subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), and retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED). These findings were evaluated in 2 parts: baseline and after 6 to 9 months of antiangiogenic therapy. Additionally, analysis was performed for the presence of polypoidal lesions before and after treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of inverted U-shaped lesions on OCT B-scan following treatment. RESULTS: A total of 112 eyes of 106 patients were included. A total of 69 eyes were diagnosed with PCV, and 43 eyes were diagnosed with typical exudative AMD. Compared with AMD eyes, PCV eyes had an increased prevalence of SRF at baseline and after 6 to 9 months of treatment, but the prevalence of macular edema, SHRM, and RPED was similar at baseline and at 6 to 9 months after treatment. In PCV eyes, the presence of visible polypoidal lesions decreased from 56.5% to 24.6% after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: If PCV is suspected in an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-resistant case of exudative AMD, in the absence of ICGA availability, it is important to look at the baseline OCT B-scan before therapy for evidence of polypoidal lesions. The characteristic inverted U-shaped elevation was present in more than half of PCV eyes on OCT B-scan at baseline but disappeared after antiangiogenic therapy in 56.4% of cases in which this was initially identified. Subretinal fluid was more prevalent in PCV eyes than non-PCV AMD eyes.