PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY FOR LARGE SOFT DRUSEN AND DRUSENOID PIGMENT EPITHELIAL DETACHMENT IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: A Single-Center Prospective Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual acuity and morphologic changes after photobiomodulation (PBM) for patients affected with large soft drusen and/or drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment associated with dry age-related macular degeneration. METHOD: Twenty eyes with large soft drusen and/or drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment age-related macular degeneration were included and treated using the LumiThera Valeda Light Delivery System. All patients underwent two treatments per week for 5 weeks. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, microperimetry-scotopic testing, drusen volume, central drusen thickness, and quality of life score at baseline and month 6 (M6) follow-up. Data of best-corrected visual acuity, drusen volume, and central drusen thickness were also recorded at week 5 (W5). RESULTS: Best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved at M6 with a mean score gain of 5.5 letters ( P = 0.007). Retinal sensitivity decreased by 0.1 dB ( P = 0.17). The mean fixation stability increased by 0.45% ( P = 0.72). Drusen volume decreased by 0.11 mm 3 ( P = 0.03). Central drusen thickness was reduced by a mean of 17.05 µ m ( P = 0.01). Geographic atrophy area increased by 0.06 mm 2 ( P = 0.01) over a 6-month follow-up, and quality of life score increased by 3,07 points on average ( P = 0.05). One patient presented a drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment rupture at M6 after PBM treatment. CONCLUSION: The visual and anatomical improvements in our patients support previous reports on PBM. PBM may provide a valid therapeutic option for large soft drusen and drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment age-related macular degeneration and may potentially slow the natural course of the disease.

OCULAR DECOMPRESSION RETINOPATHY WITH BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION MTHF-R GENETIC MUTATION.

PURPOSE: An atypical case of a sectorial decompression retinopathy with branch retinal vein occlusion following trabeculectomy was reported and was diagnosed with optical coherence tomography angiography for which systemic genetic assessment revealed a MTHF-R mutation. METHOD: Single case report. RESULTS: A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with an uncontrolled bilateral creeping angle glaucoma went through an uncomplicated trabeculectomy in both eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20. Intraocular pressure changed from 28 mmHg preoperatively to 5 mmHG postoperatively in the right eye. On the first postoperative day, best-corrected visual acuity was 20/32 with intraocular pressure measured to 5 mmHg. Fundus examination revealed sectorial temporal hemorrhages with tortuous temporal superior retinal vein arcade and choroidal folds. Fluorescein angiography evidenced a slight delay in venous filling along the supratemporal arcade. Three months later, optical coherence tomography angiography showed macular capillary loops in the superotemporal area of the retina. This sectorial decompression retinopathy was evocative of a branch retinal vein occlusion. At 6 months, best-corrected visual acuity returned to 20/20, with full regression of the hemorrhages. Systemic workup was normal, but genetic assessment revealed a MTHF-R mutation. CONCLUSION: Retinal vein occlusion can be considered as a feature of ocular decompression retinopathy. The present case is the first case to associate branch retinal vein occlusion secondary to ocular decompression retinopathy to a MTHF-R mutation.

Multimodal imaging of unusual macular macroaneurysm rupture after navigated retinal laser in a patient with adult onset Coats disease.

Purpose: To report the uncommon rupture of a macular macroaneurysm (MAR) during navigated retinal laser (Navilas®) focal treatment in a patient with adult onset Coats disease. Observation: A 30-year-old man consulted for progressive decrease of vision in his right eye from one week. Fundoscopy examination showed macular hard exudates, aneurysms, vascular telangiectasias in the temporal inferior quadrant consistent with an adult onset Coats disease (CD). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed macular edema, vessels abnormalities associate to non-perfused areas. Ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF-OCTA) clearly showed the blood flow abnormalities in both superficial and deep capillary plexus. Focal laser photocoagulation of abnormal vessels by navigated retinal laser and intravitreal injections (IVT) of aflibercept, successfully resolved macular edema. During supplemental navigated focal laser treatment, a macular macroaneurysm rupture occurred, causing intravitreal hemorrhage with a self-limiting resolution in three months. Indeed, visual acuity progressively improved during follow-up and absence of macular edema was observed at 18 months. Conclusion: Adult onset CD is a rare condition. Our patient presented an unusual intravitreal hemorrhagic complication due to a MAR rupture after focal navigated laser treatment. Despite this complication, early laser photocoagulation and IVT injections of anti-VEGF, successfully resolved macular edema. UWF-OCTA follow-up clearly showed abnormal vessels in both superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) and successfully guided additional navigated focal laser treatment.