Artificial Intelligence and new language models in Ophthalmology: Complications of the use of silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that facilitates everyday tasks and automates tasks in various fields such as medicine. However, the emergence of a language model in academia has generated a lot of interest. This paper evaluates the potential of ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI, and DALL-E 2, an image generator, in the writing of scientific articles in ophthalmology. The selected topic is the complications of the use of silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery. ChatGPT was used to generate an abstract and a structured article, suggestions for a title and bibliographical references. In conclusion, despite the knowledge demonstrated by this tool, the scientific accuracy and reliability on specific topics is insufficient for the automatic generation of scientifically rigorous articles. In addition, scientists should be aware of the possible ethical and legal implications of these tools.

Results of cataract surgery in a third-level teaching hospital. More than just a simple number. / Resultados de la cirugía de la catarata en un hospital docente de tercer nivel. Más allá del simple número.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse a series of cataract surgeries performed in a third-fourth level teaching hospital, providing complementary data to the number of surgeries that can be used as a further reference, and to compare them with those published by other Public Health Systems, mainly the British one. METHODS: Retrospective study of 1052 cataract procedures at the University Hospital of Valladolid from January 2016 to July 2016. Collected variables: age, gender, pre- and postsurgical visual acuity, degree of complexity of the cataract, duration of the surgery, and surgical complications. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 74.1 ± 9.5 years, and 81.61% started from a VA <0.5. The duration of the surgery was collected only in 12% of the procedures. The complications rate was 1.8%, with one case of endophthalmitis. A final postoperative refraction was performed in only 44.7% of the cases. A total of 87.2% of the eyes achieved a VA ≥ 0.5 after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the series show significant differences from those from the audit of the English National Healthcare System, with our patients being more complex and having less complications. There are missing-data in the collection of important variables such as post-surgical refraction or the duration of the surgery, which despite this, this work can be a good reference.

[Sympathetic ophthalmia post-vitrectomy following trauma and perfluorocarbon liquid tamponade]. / Oftalmía simpática postvitrectomía tras traumatismo y taponamiento con perfluorocarbono líquido.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) developed after blunt trauma and vitrectomy (complicated with a massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage) using perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) for tamponade. DISCUSSION: The presentation of SO in a vitrectomized patient after severe blunt trauma with extended intra-ocular tamponade with PFCL could support the hypothesis that chronic inflammation caused by PFCL could have contributed to the development of SO. Nevertheless, there are other possible causal factors such as the trauma, the vitrectomy itself or the choroidal detachment with possible uveal incarceration at wound sites.

[Symptomatic ciliary body melanocytoma: melanocytomalytic glaucoma]. / Melanocitoma de cuerpo ciliar sintomático: glaucoma melanocitomalítico.

CASE REPORT: A 33 year-old female with an asymptomatic pigmented mass in the iridocorneal angle of her right eye, arising from the ciliary body is presented. Ciliary body melanocytoma was suspected and conservative management recommended. After 36 months of follow-up the patient developed pain, inflammatory reaction and uncontrollable ocular hypertension, which was diagnosed as melanocytomalytic glaucoma. Tumor was removed by external iridecyclectomy and the histopathologic findings revealed necrotic melanocytoma. DISCUSSION: Ciliary body melanocytoma is a rare benign pigmented tumor that may present extension to the anterior chamber. Differential diagnosis mainly includes ciliary body melanoma, which carries a different prognosis and treatment.

[Experimental study on usefulness of silicone-fluorsilicone copolymer oil (SiFO) in vitreoretinal surgery]. / Estudio experimental sobre la utilidad del aceite de copolímero de silicona-fluorsilicona (SiFO) en la cirugía vitreorretiniana.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of silicone-fluorsilicone copolymer oil (SiFO) as an intraoperative tool and a vitreous substitute in vitreoretinal surgery. METHODS: Handling properties of SiFO were tested and compared with those of perfluorooctane (PFO). The transparency of both substances was measured by spectrophotometry and subjectively assessed. Their tendency to dispersion was observed during injection in balanced saline solution (BSS) and after mechanized and manual shaking. Ease of injection and aspiration through small-gauge instruments was evaluated. Ocular tolerance to SiFO and PFO was studied after intravitreal injection in rabbit eyes: intraocular pressure, anterior segment inflammatory response and dispersion were evaluated, and a histopathological study was performed. RESULTS: Injection and aspiration of SiFO were more difficult than those of PFO because of its higher viscosity. PFO dispersed progressively into small droplets as early as two days after intravitreal injection, whereas SiFO remained as a single bubble for 14 days. Histopathologically both substances induced an inflammatory response over the inferior retina, with microvacuolated macrophages and foreign body giant cells, which were larger in eyes wearing SiFO. CONCLUSIONS: SiFO may be useful as an intraoperative tool, although its main drawback is a more difficult injection and aspiration compared to PFO. It has been well tolerated as a short-term vitreous substitute, but further clinical studies are needed.

[Corneal epithelial complications after vitrectomy: a retrospective study]. / Complicaciones corneales epiteliales de las vitrectomías: estudio retrospectivo.

PURPOSE: To establish the incidence, evolution and final visual outcome of corneal epithelial complications after vitrectomy in a consecutive series performed throughout a period of one year. METHODS: 195 consecutive medical records of patients vitrectomized in 2001 have been retrospectively reviewed. Patients were clinically evaluated the day after vitrectomy, during the first week, and then weekly for 3 months (minimum follow-up). Functional results have been established at the end of this period. RESULTS: 12 out of 195 eyes developed corneal epithelial complications after surgery (6.1%). Eight cases were diagnosed of persistent epithelial defect (4.1%), and four cases (2%) of necrotizing herpetic keratitis. Six out of 12 were diabetic. Corneal epithelial complications affected 10.5% of diabetic and 4.3% of non-diabetic patients (p=0.10). The majority of persistent epithelial defects healed without sequelae in less than two months. Herpetic keratitis required between 3 to 4 months to heal and caused corneal scarring in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent corneal epithelial defects after vitrectomy are a relatively frequent complication, mainly in diabetic patients. Recurrence of herpetic keratitis must also be kept in mind. This finding has not been previously reported and needs further studies.

[Iatrogenic retinal breaks during vitrectomy: retrospective study]. / Roturas retinianas iatrogénicas en las vitrectomías: estudio retrospectivo.

PURPOSE: To establish the incidence and characteristics of iatrogenic retinal breaks occurring during vitrectomy and to propose a protocol for their management. METHODS: Retrospective study of 195 consecutive vitrectomies performed in 2001. Minimum follow up was 3 months for all cases. RESULTS: 13 patients with iatrogenic retinal breaks (6.6%) have been detected. In 8 cases the breaks affected the peripheral retina, in 4 cases they were located in the posterior pole and there was one retinal dialysis. In 4 cases there were more than one retinal break. 9 patients (70%) were vitrectomized for diabetic retinal complications. In 12 cases, the breaks were detected during surgery and treated with endolaser and/or cryoretinopexy (3 cases located inferiorly). Nevertheless 7 cases (54%) developed a retinal detachment, 2 of which could be reattached. CONCLUSIONS: Among iatrogenic retinal breaks produced during vitrectomy, the peripheral ones are slightly more frequent than the breaks in the posterior pole. Iatrogenic breaks occur more frequently in diabetic patients, having a bad prognosis and often developing a retinal detachment despite endolaser or cryoretinopexy.

[Can the use of intraocular silicone oil increase the risk of sympathetic ophthalmia?]. / ¿Puede aumentar el riesgo de oftalmía simpática el uso intraocular de aceite de silicona?

CLINICAL CASES: We report two cases of SO (sympathetic ophthalmia) among 1,456 vitrectomies and 255 silicone oil injections performed since 1990. In both patients intraocular silicone oil was used. Both cases were clinically documented and one pathologically demonstrated. DISCUSSION: No cases were reported among vitrectomies without silicone oil. We found a longer delay between injury and the onset of the disease in comparison to the literature. Pathological findings confirmed a foreign body granulomatous reaction. Chronic inflammation caused by silicone oil might be involved in the development of SO. Larger series are necessary to establish a possible relationship between silicone oil and SO.