25G Pars Plana Vitrectomy-Lensectomy and Sulcus IOL Implantation for Patients with Cataract and Cornea Guttata.

Introduction:Corneal guttata is a non-inflammatory progressive decline of endothelial cell density (ECD) which represents an early clinical feature of Fuch's dystrophy. In patients with corneal guttata, the relative risk for corneal transplantation after phacoemulsification has been found to be 68.2 times higher than in those without it. In the present study, five patients with corneal guttata underwent 25G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with concurrent lensectomy and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the sulcus. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether this technique has a less damaging effect on endothelial cells as compared to standard phacoemulsification. Methods:This retrospective case series study was conducted at "My Retina" Athens Eye Centre, Greece. Five patients with moderate to dense cataract and clinical signs of corneal guttata were included. All patients had ECD measurement prior to and after surgery. The operation included 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with subsequent lensectomy and a three-piece IOL implanted in the sulcus with intact anterior capsule. Results:The mean value of ECD was 1157.8±237.51 cells/mm² preoperatively and 1118.2±227.42 cells/mm² postoperatively, indicating a 3.4% reduction from initial values. Retinal detachment was not observed on any of the operated patients after surgery. The IOL was well centered to the sulcus in all patients. Iatrogenic retinal tears were identified in one patient and were treated with laser retinopexy and SF6 gas tamponade. Conclusion:Our results show that PPV along with lensectomy through fragmatome may cause less corneal decompensation than femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) or phacoemulsification, especially in patients with corneal guttata. Therefore, reducing the risk for possible future corneal transplantation.

Sympathetic Ophthalmia after Vitreoretinal Surgery without Antecedent History of Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the morbidity frequency measures in terms of the cumulative incidence of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) triggered by single or multiple vitreoretinal (VR) surgery procedures in eyes without an antecedent history of trauma and previous ocular surgery, except for previous or concomitant uneventful lens extraction, and to further investigate the relationship between VR surgery and SO. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus from inception until 11 November 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for the case series and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to assess the risk of bias. The research was registered with the PROSPERO database (identifier, CRD42023397792). Meta-analyses were conducted using the measurement of risk and a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each study. RESULTS: A random-effect meta-analysis demonstrated that the pooled cumulative incidence of SO triggered by single or multiple VR surgery procedures in eyes without an antecedent history of trauma and previous ocular surgery, except for previous or concomitant uneventful lens extraction among patients who developed SO regardless of the main trigger, was equal to 0.14 with a CI between 0.08 and 0.21 (I2 = 78.25, z: 7.24, p < 0.01). The pooled cumulative incidence of SO triggered by single or multiple VR surgery procedures in eyes without an antecedent history of trauma and previous ocular surgery, except for previous or concomitant uneventful lens extraction among patients who underwent VR surgery, was equal to 0.03 for every 100 people, with a confidence interval (CI) between 0.02% and 0.004% (I2 = 27.77, z: 9.11, p = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Despite postsurgical SO being a rare entity, it is a sight-threatening disease. VR surgery should be viewed as a possible inciting event for SO and considered when counseling patients undergoing VR surgery.

Scleral fixation of Carlevale intraocular lens: A new tool in correcting aphakia with no capsular support.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical outcomes of the use of a novel specially designed scleral fixated intraocular lens, the Carlevale intraocular lens (carlevale IOL, Soleko, Italy) for the correction of aphakia in the absence of capsular support of variable etiology. METHODS: This retrospective, non-comparative study included 169 eyes of 169 consecutive patients who underwent 3-port pars plana vitrectomy and scleral fixation on Carlevale IOL. Inclusion criteria were at least 6 months' follow-up period, patients > 18 years old who underwent vitrectomy and Carlevale IOL placement for aphakia and inadequate capsular support. RESULTS: The median follow up period of 9 months (range 6-18 months). Mean post-operative BCVA at the last follow-up visit was 20/25 (0.09 ± 0.1 LogMAR), improving from a mean baseline BCVA of 20/80 (0.58 ± 0.49 LogMAR), a statistically significant change (p = 0.0001). Regarding the post-operative complications, a transient rise in the IOP was observed in 28 patients (16.5%) and mild vitreous hemorrhage was observed in the immediate post-operative period in eight eyes (4.7%) and it spontaneously resolved within 3 weeks. All patients demonstrated good IOL position at the end of the follow-up without IOL capture. None of the patients required re-operation. CONLCUSION: The present study represents the largest to date in evaluating the use of carlevale IOL in patients with aphakia and inadequate capsular support. The technique is safe and provides excellent post-operative IOL fixation without IOL capture in any of the patients studied.

Scleral Fixation of Carlevale Intraocular Lens in Children: A Novel Tool in Correcting Aphakia With No Capsular Support.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical outcomes of the use of a novel, specially designed, scleral-fixated intraocular lens (IOL) for the correction of aphakia in the absence of capsular support of variable etiology in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series of five eyes of five consecutive patients who underwent three-port pars plana vitrectomy and scleral fixation of the IOL. Inclusion criteria were at least 6 months of follow-up in children who underwent vitrectomy and IOL placement for aphakia and inadequate capsular support. Patients were excluded from the analysis if there was a previous open globe injury or any other ocular comorbidity such as macular pathology or previous surgery for retinal detachment, glaucoma, corneal transplantation, or strabismus. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 9 months (range: 7-13 months). The median age was 8 years (range: 2-10 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 5 to 0. Mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (VA) at the last follow-up visit was 20/32 (0.26 ± 0.32 logMAR [mean ± standard deviation]), improving from a mean baseline uncorrected VA of 20/800 (1.6 ± 0.7 logMAR), a statistically significant change (P = .003). The uncorrected postoperative VA was 20/63 (0.54 ± 0.37 logMAR). No significant postoperative complications were noted and all patients had good IOL position at the end of the follow-up without IOL capture. The mean tilt in four eyes (the 2-year-old was excluded from the analysis) was 2.1 ± 1.9 degrees. None of the patients required reoperation. CONLCUSIONS: The present study represents the first to date in evaluating the use of a scleral-fixated IOL in patients with aphakia and in pediatric patients with inadequate capsular support. The technique is safe and provides excellent postoperative IOL fixation without IOL capture in any of the patients studied. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:94-101.].

Choroidal Neovascular Membrane in a Teenage Girl With Chronic Intracranial Hypertension.

The authors describe the case of a 13-year-old girl with choroidal neovascular membrane and a history of benign intracranial hypertension who was successfully treated with a single intravitreal bevacizumab injection administered into the left eye. The visual acuity in the left eye improved to 20/25 at 2 weeks following treatment. The visual acuity was stable (20/20) in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye with no signs of recurrence over 2 years of follow-up. The current case represents the only one in the literature whereby a teenage girl presented with choroidal neovascular membrane and benign intracranial hypertension. Although this occurrence in males has been previously published, the authors believe that it is important to document the response to treatment because the literature evidence is limited to date. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol. 2020;57:e86-e87.].

Anterior Chamber Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Injection for the Management of Postsurgery Hypotony in Glaucoma Patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to describe a new technique involving the injection of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas in the anterior chamber (A/C) for the management of hypotony in patients with previous glaucoma surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients were included in this prospective case series. All patients had advanced glaucoma that was managed surgically either by trabeculectomy (6 patients) or Ahmed valve (1 patient). All patients presented with intraocular pressure (IOP) <7 mm Ηg, shallow A/C, and ultrasound images of choroidal detachment and ciliary body detachment. Patients' hypotony was treated by 0.4 to 0.6 mL of 100% pure SF6 injection in the A/C followed by supine posture. The purpose of this injection was dual: to displace the ciliary body to its normal position and restore aqueous humor normal production, and to block aqueous humor outflow through bubble formation, causing an increase in IOP. RESULTS: Surgical technique was successful in all 7 patients with IOP normalization (>10 mm Hg) and A/C depth increase within the first week after surgery. CONCLUSION: A new surgical technique of SF6 injection in the A/C for patients with choroidal detachment and hypotony shows promising results.

Short-Acting Gas Tamponade with Strict Face-Down Posturing for the Treatment of Idiopathic Macular Hole.

PURPOSE: A retrospective consecutive case series to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 25 gauge pars plana vitrectomy, ILM peeling, 20% SF6 gas tamponade and strict posturing for the treatment of idiopathic full-thickness macular holes. METHODS: We report the results of 106 consecutive eyes that underwent standard 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, brilliant peel-assisted internal limiting membrane peel, fluid:gas exchange with 20% SF6 and strict posturing for one week. All patients were followed up at one week, one month, three months, and nine months postoperatively. Biomicroscopy at day 1 and biomicroscopy and OCT at week 1, months 1, 3, and 9 were used to assess macular hole status postoperatively. Pre- and postoperative logMAR visual acuity was compared. RESULTS: The macular hole was closed in 102/106 eyes postoperatively (96.2%). Four eyes showed unclosed macular holes and underwent additional SF6 intravitreal injection and strict posturing for 10 days. All macular holes were eventually closed without the need of a second surgical procedure. Mean visual acuity improved from 0.63 logMAR preoperatively to 0.39 logMAR postoperatively. One case of retinal toxicity was reported due to accidental intravitreal injection of antibiotic. CONCLUSIONS: 25-gauge vitrectomy, ILM peel, and short-acting gas tamponade are highly effective for the treatment of macular holes. Additional intravitreal gas injection followed by strict posturing seems to be a simple and effective treatment for unclosed holes.

25-Gauge Vitrectomy and Incomplete Drainage of Subretinal Fluid for the Treatment of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomical and functional results of 25-gauge (G) vitrectomy with incomplete drainage of subretinal fluid for the treatment of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series including 100 consecutive patients who underwent 25-G vitrectomy, incomplete drainage of subretinal fluid, cryolaser or endolaser, and SF6 gas tamponade for the treatment of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of retinal detachments were macula-on and 44% were macula-off. Fifty-six percent of patients were phakic and 44% were pseudophakic. Primary anatomical success rate was 94%, and the final success rate was 100%. Mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.75 logMAR, and mean postoperative visual acuity was 0.39 log-MAR (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Incomplete drainage of subretinal fluid during vitrectomy for the treatment of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment does not seem to influence the anatomical success rate. On the contrary, it minimizes the surgical maneuvers, thus reducing perioperative complications.

Spontaneous closure of macular holes developed after pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To report a small, retrospective, noncomparative case series (3 patients) of idiopathic macular holes with spontaneous closure in previously vitrectomized eyes. METHODS: The first patient developed a macular hole 14 months after vitrectomy for penetrating ocular trauma. In the rest of the patients, the macular holes were documented ten days and two months after vitrectomies for retinal detachment. RESULTS: In all cases the macular holes resolved spontaneously 2 years, 6 and 9 months after their documentation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations placed by the small sample of studied patients, it seems that spontaneous closure of macular holes developed after vitrectomy can happen as part of their natural course. Both pathogenetic and repair factors involved in macular hole can act spontaneously in a vitrectomized eye.