Treatment of cystoid macular edema in a patient with birdshot chorioretinopathy with bevacizumab.

PURPOSE: Birdshot chorioretinopathy is currently treated with either systemic immune modulation or intravitreal polytherapy. These regimens pose challenges to the clinician and patient such as adverse effects, chronic treatment and compliance, and failure of therapy. In a patient with birdshot chorioretinopathy and juxtaposed cystoid macular edema, the authors assessed the efficacy of bevacizumab for treatment after systemic therapy had failed. METHODS: A 48-year-old woman was injected with intravitreal bevacizumab 10 times in her right eye with 4 weeks to 6 weeks intervening between injections. Improvement was monitored by best-corrected visual acuity and ocular coherence tomography. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/30 in the right eye, and foveal thickness improved from 638 µm to 200 µm. Visible signs of macular edema and inflammation completely disappeared. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab monotherapy may improve visual acuity with resolution of macular edema in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy that is refractory to traditional systemic therapy.

Clinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of preservative-free triamcinolone (triesence [triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension] 40 mg/ml) for visualization during pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of preservative-free triamcinolone (TRIESENCE(R) suspension) for visualization during pars plana vitrectomy. METHODS: This phase III, observer-masked study was conducted in 6 centers by 10 surgeons and enrolled 60 patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy. Preservative-free triamcinolone (up to 4 mg) was administered to all patients to enhance visualization of vitreous and membranes. During each surgery, video recordings captured visualization pre- and postinstillation of preservative-free triamcinolone. An independent, masked reader evaluated the videos for the degree of visualization using a five-point scale ranging from 0 (not visible) to 4 (clearly delineated). Surgeons used a five-point scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree" to assess whether preservative-free triamcinolone improved visualization. RESULTS: In 59 of 60 cases, the masked reader's scores for visualization of posterior segment structures were higher (i.e., structures were more clearly visible) after instillation of preservative-free triamcinolone. The preinstillation mean visualization score was 0.5 compared to 3.7 postinstillation (P < 0.0001). Greater than 90% of surgeon evaluations agreed or strongly agreed that preservative-free triamcinolone enhanced visualization of posterior segment structures. No safety issues were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Preservative-free triamcinolone (TRIESENCE(R) suspension) was well tolerated and effectively enhanced visualization of posterior segment structures during pars plana vitrectomy.

Dynamic intraocular pressure measurements during vitrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To directly measure dynamic intraocular pressure (IOP) during vitrectomy and to determine whether disposable pressure transducers placed in the infusion line can indirectly measure with accuracy the dynamic IOP during vitrectomy. METHODS: Experimental clinical study of 10 patients undergoing vitrectomy. Dynamic IOP was sampled via an extra pars plana incision with a catheter transducer equipped to measure direct IOP during vitrectomy by attaching a metal flange near the pressure-sensing tip. Disposable blood pressure transducers were placed in the infusion tubing fluid path to determine the IOP by indirect means. During various maneuvers of vitrectomy including air-fluid exchange and gas-forced infusion, pressure measurements were taken simultaneously from the indwelling pressure transducer and the disposable blood pressure sensors in the infusion line. RESULTS: The directly measured IOP varied between 0 and 120 mm Hg during vitrectomy. During fluid flow, the indirectly measured IOP, calculated from the infusion line pressures, accurately corresponded with the directly measured IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Closed vitrectomy causes wide fluctuations in IOP. The IOP can be accurately measured during fluid flow with inline sensors.

Visual outcomes of silicone oil versus gas tamponade for macular hole surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of silicone oil versus gas tamponade to treat macular holes. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent macular hole repair with either silicone oil or gas tamponade. RESULTS: Data collected from 66 eyes from a retina only practice (Retina and Vitreous of Texas) were reviewed to assess visual outcomes of surgery with silicone oil versus 14% C3F8 gas tamponade. 21 eyes were non-randomized to silicone oil tamponade and 45 eyes underwent gas tamponade. The average overall follow-up time was 11.8 months. Stage 2 holes constituted 9% of the holes; stage 3 and 4 made up 75%; recurrent holes were 11%; and 5% were traumatic holes. Of the macular holes not treated previously, 81.3% (13 of 16) were sealed successfully with silicone oil tamponade while 83.7% (36 of 43) of the gas-treated eyes were sealed. The overall primary closure rate was 83.1% (49 of 59). The pre-operative decimal visual acuity was 0.104 (20/192) for the silicone oil group and 0.193 (20/104) for the gas-treated group. The post-operative decimal visual acuity at 1 year was 0.208 (20/96) for the silicone oil group and 0.453 (20/44) for the gas-treated group. The reopening rate for the silicone oil group was 14% (3 of 21) and 9% (4 of 45) for the gas-treated group. The need for cataract surgery post macular hole repair was 36% (4 of 11 phakic patients) for the silicone oil group and 61% (17 of 28 phakic patients) for the gas-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: With short-term follow-up silicone oil tamponade and gas tamponade are both successful in anatomic closure of macular holes. In eyes with macular holes surgically repaired with gas tamponade significant improvements in visual acuity are seen more frequently than eyes treated with silicone oil tamponade. Toxicity of silicone oil to the retinal pigment epithelium and/or photoreceptors may play a role in these results.