Macular retinal detachment associated with intrachoroidal cavitation in myopic patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of macular retinal detachment (MRD) associated with intrachoroidal cavitation (ICC) in myopic patients. METHODS: In this retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series, five patients with ICC and associated MRD were enrolled from January 2005 to December 2012. Basic ocular characteristics and clinical appearances of their ICC and MRD were recorded. Individual treatment courses were assessed with fundus photographs and serial optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The average age and refraction were 43.8 ± 11.0 years old and -9.37 ± 2.73 diopters, respectively. Initial BCVA ranged from 20/100 to 20/30. Definite communication between the ICC and the subretinal space was noted in one case, suspected curvilinear communication in two cases, and between the peripapillary area and the subretinal space in two cases. Two cases received intravitreal injection of perfluoropropane and peripapillary laser; subretinal fluid (SRF) resolved in one and decreased in the other. One case had SRF reabsorbed after prolonged use of topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: ICC in high myopic patients may be associated with MRD. There might be communication between the ICC and the subretinal space. Intravitreal injection of an expansile gas may be beneficial, but the best treatment remains undetermined.

Surgical treatment of lamellar macular hole secondary to epiretinal membrane.

BACKGROUND: To examine the surgical results of lamellar macular hole (LMH) secondary to epiretinal membrane (ERM). METHODS: A 3-year retrospective review was performed of patients with LMH secondary to ERM that underwent ERM and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and postoperative macular structure. The results were compared with cases of idiopathic ERM with similar baseline demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Thirty eyes in 30 patients were collected. The mean BCVA improvement was 3.4 Snellen lines after a mean follow-up period of 16.9 months. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed improved macular contour in 27 cases. Patients with intravitreal gas tamponade exhibited a higher percentage of restoration of macular contour than those without (P = 0.016). Final BCVA was correlated with an intact photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment (IS-OS) junction (P = 0.03). The degree of visual improvement is less than that observed in idiopathic ERM patients. CONCLUSION: In LMH secondary to ERM with significant visual decrease, ERM and ILM peeling may improve BCVA. Postoperative gas tamponade is associated with better restoration of macular configuration. Final BCVA is related to an intact photoreceptor IS-OS junction rather than to the normalization of the macular contour.

Clinical characteristics and visual function tests with retinal tomographic correlation in patients with Stargardt's disease in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Stargardt's disease is the most common form of juvenile macular dystrophy. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical characteristics, visual function, and retinal tomography of patients diagnosed with Stargardt's disease in Taiwan. METHODS: Retrospective case series; data collected include results of complete ophthalmic examinations: best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, color sense discrimination test, electroculography (EOG), electroretinography (ERG), dark adaptation, visual field test, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations focused on the macular area. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was 32.1 years. The mean logMAR-converted visual acuity of all patients was 0.96. Maculopathy with or without flecks was evident in all patients. Fluorescein angiography revealed hyperfluorescence in the macula of all cases. Varying degrees of color sense discrimination dysfunction were noted. Electrophysiologic studies showed subnormal to abnormal responses in most patients. Decreased foveal thickness was evident on OCT and foveal thickness was inversely associated with logMAR visual acuity. Also, logMAR visual acuity was associated with total error scores on the color sense discrimination test and the Arden ratio of EOG. The Arden ratio of EOG correlated with the thickness of the outer ring of the macula. CONCLUSION: Typical clinical presentations of Stargardt's disease were demonstrated in our case series. OCT findings showed a correlation between foveal thickness and visual acuity, making OCT a useful predictor for other visual function tests. Our results indicate that OCT is helpful in the evaluation of visual acuity and the progression of maculopathy in patients with Stargardt's disease.

Microbial Keratitis After Penetrating Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence, microbiological profile, graft survival, and determining factors of microbial keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty (PK). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: The study involved 51 patients (52 eyes) who were treated at a single tertiary referral center during a 10-year period. Retrospective chart review included medical records of all patients diagnosed with microbial keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty at the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2000 and December 2009. The main outcome measures were incidence of graft infection, microbial profile, and graft survival status. RESULTS: There were 871 PKs performed and 67 episodes in 52 eyes of culture-positive microbial keratitis during the study period. There were 32 infectious episodes (47.8%) in the first year post-PK and 35 episodes (52.2%) after the first year post-PK. Forty-four gram-positive bacterial isolates (57.9%), 17 gram-negative bacterial isolates (22.4%), and 15 fungal isolates (19.7%) were found. Twenty-three (34.3%) grafts remained clear after the infection episode with a mean follow-up of 1127 days (range, 25-3962 days). There was no difference in graft survival rate regarding the original indication of PK or offending pathogen. Suture-related infection was associated with decreased risk of graft failure (P = .02), while the factor associated with increased risk of graft failure was usage of antiglaucoma agents (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Infectious keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty leads to a high graft failure rate. Such complications can occur before or after the first year post-PK.

Change of recipient corneal endothelial cells after non-descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in a rabbit model.

PURPOSE: We used a rabbit model to evaluate the interface embedded between the recipient corneas and transplanted donor corneal discs after non-Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (nDSAEK). METHODS: Unilateral DSAEK and nDSAEK surgeries were performed on New Zealand white rabbits. In vivo confocal microscopy was performed to show: the changes in corneal endothelial cells embedded between the recipient corneas and the transplanted donor corneal discs (CEEB); and the interface opacity by z profile. Immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the functional change of CEEB at post-nDSAEK 3 months. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to evaluate the morphology of CEEB after nDSAEK at post-nDSAEK 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: In vivo confocal microscopy showed a time-dependent decrease in the density of CEEB at postoperative 1, 2, or 3 months (P < 0.01). Interface opacity was higher in the nDSAEK group than the DSAEK group at all examination points, but the difference was statistically insignificant. At 3 months after surgery, the CEEB were negative for Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase staining. Staining with TUNEL showed apoptotic changes in some areas. During a 6-month observation, the CEEB showed a time-dependent thickening and loss of uniform thickness of cellular morphology. At 3 and 6 months post nDSAEK, extensions of the cellular processes into the donor graft stroma combined with intracellular vacuoles containing collagen-like materials were also found. CONCLUSIONS: After non-Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, the CEEB showed decreased density, loss of pump function, apoptosis and changed morphology. However, the interface opacity was not significantly greater compared with DSAEK eyes.