[Management of anticoagulants in ophthalmic surgery-a survey among ophthalmic surgeons in Germany]. / Umgang mit gerinnungshemmenden Substanzen in der Ophthalmochirurgie ­ eine Umfrage unter Ophthalmochirurgen in Deutschland.

INTRODUCTION: As our population ages and comorbidities rise, ophthalmic surgeons are increasingly faced with patients on anticoagulant therapy or with clotting disorders. The ophthalmic surgeon has to weigh the perioperative risk of haemorrhage when anticoagulation continues against the risk of thromboembolism caused by discontinuation or changing the patient's medication (bridging, switching, cessation). There are currently no guidelines or recommendations. METHODS: A survey was sent to the DOG (German Ophthalmologic Society) divisions and associated surgical organizations to determine the status quo. A questionnaire was sent out and filled out by the different groups of specialists. RESULTS: All four divisions of the DOG and four associated organizations returned completed questionnaires. Surgical interventions were listed that are carried out during anticoagulant therapy without exceptions, as well as interventions that were classified to require medical adjustment. Although the assessments varied, general consensus was achieved regarding interventions not requiring adjustments due to anticoagulants (i. e., intravitreal injection, cataract surgery, laser and corneal operations, simple muscle surgery), and those interventions requiring adjustments in medications (glaucoma operations, complex retina surgery, eye socket surgery, complex surgery of the lid). CONCLUSION: Main result of this survey was the specification of serious bleeding complications which are permanent vision loss and re-operation. They could serve as endpoint parameters for essential future investigations. Nevertheless, this survey makes clear that the decision about an adjustment of anticoagulant medication in ophthalmic surgery is currently made individually and not based on established standards.

[Alcohol Injection in a Patient with Chronic Orbital Pain after Enucleation - a Case Report and Review of the Literature]. / Alkoholinjektion bei chronischem orbitalem Schmerz nach Enukleation ­ Falldarstellung und Literaturübersicht.

A case is presented of a 54-year old patient who had been treated 10 months previously with enucleation for a painful blind eye. This led to severe and chronic pain in the orbital region that did not respond to conventional pain management. However, a single 1.5 ml injection of 96 % ethanol led to almost complete resolution of pain for the follow-up period of 6 months. Orbital pain after enucleation or evisceration may originate from the implant itself, the prosthesis, the socket or the sinuses. Taking a careful medical history and an examination, including orbital scans, are necessary to decide on the correct differential diagnosis. If any pathology is excluded, one should keep in mind that phantom pain in the orbit seems common after removing an eye, more often when pain originating from the ball and/or headache was present before removal. The management of chronic pain in the orbital region has received little attention. Retrobulbar alcohol injection still has a place in modern ophthalmology, because it delivers effective pain relief in certain chronic conditions.

[Underestimated trivial injuries after a fall. Sometimes it is more serious]. / Unterschätzte Bagatellverletzungen nach Sturz. Es "steckt" manchmal mehr dahinter.

In ophthalmological emergencies, patients often present with injuries after falling on their face in particular involving the periocular region. Often these are only trivial injuries of the conjunctiva, eyelids or periocular skin, which require no further treatment. Small dehiscences can be treated with sutures, fibrin glue or Steri-Strips; however, sometimes injuries that are more serious can be mistaken as being trivial but only represent the tip of the iceberg of the actual injury and, therefore, further diagnostics and therapy are required.

[Ocular manifestations of Churg-Strauss syndrome: review article and case report]. / Augenmanifestationen bei Churg-Strauss-Syndrom: Übersichtarbeit und Fallvorstellung.

This paper summarizes the possible ocular manifestations of Churg-Straus syndrome (CCS) from the literature and presents an unusual case report from routine clinical practice with conjunctival granuloma, orbital pseudotumor and choroidal folds. The CSS is an ANCA-associated granulomatous vasculitis which can be manifested in various organs and represents a life-threatening situation for the patient. Ocular manifestations are rare and can spread to all segments of the eye and orbit. The most frequent forms of ocular involvement described in the literature are retinal occlusion and orbital pseudotumor with various degrees of expression.

[Development of oculoplastic surgery in Kinshasa (capital of Democratic Republic of Congo)]. / Entwicklung der okuloplastischen Chirurgie in Kinshasa (Hauptstadt der Demokratischen Republik Kongo).

The partnership between Saint Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa (Capital city of DRC) and University Eye Clinic Rostock, Germany exists since 2000. The ophthalmologists from Rostock University performed 12 visits of St. Josef Hospital with the aim to perform oculoplastic surgery in complicated cases as well as to teach the local ophthalmologists. There they performed about 150 surgeries (entropion, ectropion, ptosis, repair of lid injuries, eye lid reconstruction and tumour management, lacrimal surgery) in joint teams. The programme of on-site training was established during this time. Meanwhile, the Kinshasa colleagues are able to perform the basic techniques by themselves. Two colleagues have obtained advanced training in oculoplastics in Rostock. The fruitful cooperation enabled the development of oculoplastic surgery in St. Josef Hospital in Kinshasa. The further education and training proccesses will support the continuous advancement in ophthalmological health care in DRC.

[Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome]. / Hermansky-Pudlak-Syndrom.

A 1-year-old female child suffering from nystagmus and abnormal head posture (AHP) was presented by the parents in our clinic. The family history revealed the presence of von Willebrand's disease in both parents. General examination showed a female child with light blond colored skin accompanied by black-haired parents. Physical and ophthalmic examination revealed nystagmus, AHP and oculocutaneous albinism. The molecular genetic analysis showed a mutation in the HPS-1 gene which confirmed the suspected diagnosis of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). Of clinical significance, patients with HPS commonly have hemorrhagic diathesis, granulomatous colitis or restrictive lung fibrosis. A detailed full medical history, ophthalmic examination as well as genetic analyses are essential in establishing the diagnosis of HPS. Treatment includes correcting refraction anomalies with spectacles or contact lenses, prescription of tinted glasses or surgical correction of the AHP. An internal medical consultation is also necessary for the management of other associated symptoms, such as hemorrhagic diathesis.

[Orbital neoplasia. Part II: mesenchymal, leukemic, lymphoproliferative and bony tumors, metastasis]. / Orbitale Neoplasien. Teil II: Mesenchymale, leukämische, lymphoproliferative und Knochentumoren, Metastasen.

With reference to the first article on the topic orbital neoplasias this second part focuses on the main characteristics of mesenchymal, leukemic, lymphoproliferative, osseous as well as secondary neoplasias of the orbit. For each entity the therapeutic approaches are presented. A large number of case report examples underline once more the importance of an efficient diagnostic procedure to ensure sufficient treatment of the lesion itself as well as the relatively common underlying systemic disease.

[Therapy options for blind microphthalmos and clinical anophthalmos]. / Therapiemöglichkeiten bei funktionslosem Mikrophthalmus und klinischem Anophthalmus.

Children suffering from congenital anophthalmos (absence of eyes) or blind microphthalmos (eyes too small without light perception) show significant smaller eyelids, conjunctival sacs and orbital volume due to the lack of intrauterine growth stimulus. Highly hydrophilic osmotic expanders allow prostheses to be fitted in the first year of life to compensate for the volume deficit and the substantial aesthetic disadvantages and to stimulate lid development.

[Orbital neoplasia. Part I: Introduction, vascular and neurogenic tumors]. / Orbitale Neoplasien. Teil I: Einführung, vaskuläre und neurogene Neoplasien.

Tumors of the orbit are rare but the huge variability of clinical symptoms and findings are challenging for the ophthalmologist who is frequently contacted as the first resort. If the patient history and clinical findings are suspicious for an orbital mass the result of the initial examination should allow a rough estimation of localization (intra/extraconal), type of growth (expansive/infiltrative), dignity (vascular/solid etc.) and threat to visual functions. An adequate initial diagnostic pathway enables a precise question to the radiologist to be formulated and selection of the disciplines required for an interdisciplinary workup and therefore for early treatment.

[Ophthalmological findings in paediatric and adolescent multiple sclerosis]. / Augenärztliche Aspekte Multipler Sklerose im Kindes- und Jugendalter.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system of unknown aetiology. The onset of MS in childhood poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Differential diagnoses include acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and neurometabolic leukoencephalopathies. In this article the ophthalmological findings of paediatric and adolescent MS patients are described and discussed in the light of earlier studies. METHODS: In a retrospective study we evaluated the ophthalmological and neuro-ophthalmological findings of 44 paediatric/adolescent MS patients (aged 8-18 years). RESULTS: In 18/44 patients optic neuritis was found. Abnormalities of ocular motility were seen in 9/44 patients, 5/44 had abduction limitation, 3/44 internuclear ophthalmoplegia and 1/44 horizontal gaze palsy. Furthermore, 13/44 children showed nystagmus, mostly gaze-induced nystagmus. Uveitis was present in 4/44 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmological and neuroophthalmological findings may lead to the diagnosis of MS. Children presenting with these symptoms should be examined by a paediatric neurologist.

[Faden operations - indications beyond esotropia and surgical results]. / Fadenoperationen außerhalb des Innenschielens - Indikationen und operative Ergebnisse.

BACKGROUND: Faden operations is a well-known surgical option for the treatment of esotropia. To the best of our knowledge there are only a few reports available dealing with this particular topic. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective series of patients in whom between 2000 and 2011 a faden operation was performed under all indications except esotropia. 23 patients (9 Graves' disease, 9 third nerve palsy, 3 sixth nerve palsy, 1 muscle dystrophy, 2 orbital trauma) were included. RESULTS: 5 out of 7 horizontally disturbed patients were operated unilaterally and the remaining 2 bilaterally. The field of binocular single vision increased from 15-70° preoperatively by 10-25° (unilateral) and 20-35° (bilateral) to 30-80° postoperatively. Out of the 16 vertically disturbed patients only one was operated on superior and inferior rectus simultaneously and all the other on only one muscle. The field of binocular single vision increased from 5-55° preoperatively by 5-45° to 10-80° postoperatively. There were no complications so far and none of the patients worsened with the surgery. CONCLUSION: A faden operation might help to increase the field of binocular single vision in cases of restrictive squint like Graves' disease or in paralytic strabismus.

[Hydrogelexpander as drug delivery system for antibiotics]. / Hydrogelexpander als Medikamentenabgabe-System für Antibiotika.

PURPOSE: The suitability of a high-hydrophilic osmotic self-inflating hydrogel expander consisting of a co-polymer of N-vinylpyrolidone and methyl methacrylate as a drug delivery system for antibiotics to prevent a postoperative infection was investigated in a laboratory setting. METHODS: The dry expanders were incubated in a 0.3 % solution of Ofloxacin or Tobramycin for 24 hours. The completely swollen expander had increased in volume from 0.3 mL to almost 3 mL (adsorbing 2.7 mL of the 0.3 % solution, i. e.,8.1 mg of Ofloxacin or Tobramycin, respectively). Addressing the elimination of both antibiotics, the concentrations in 15 mL elution medium (simulating the volume of the orbit in a newborn baby) were measured after 0.25, 1, 2, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours of elution. 0.9 % sodium chloride (B. Braun Melsungen, Germany) was used as elution medium. To imitate fluid exchange due to blood perfusion in the surrounding tissue the medium was renewed after every sampling. For each substance 10 expanders were tested. Concentrations of antibiotic were determined by HPLC/UV for Ofloxacin and by using a specific fluorescence-polarisation immunoassay (Abbott TDx) for Tobramycin. RESULTS: Mean concentrations of Ofloxacin at 0.25, 1, 2, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after beginning of the elution were 50.2, 46.8, 41.2, 75.4, 88.2, 46.2 and 19.1 µg/mL, respectively. The cumulative amount of Ofloxacin eluted after 72 hours reached 68 % of the loading dose. The corresponding mean concentrations of Tobramycin were 38.8, 48.5, 40.5, 69.8, 88.7, 119.3 and 71.6 µg/mL. The cumulative eluted amount was 88 %. CONCLUSIONS: The investigated hydrogel expanders soaked in 0.3 % antibiotic solution can store and later on release sufficient amounts of Ofloxacin or Tobramycin to produce antimicrobial effective concentrations in vitro in the surrounding environment. This principle, when used in a clinical setting, might help to eliminate post-implantation infection which is one of the major complications in clinical use.

Orbital decompression in thyroid eye disease.

Though enlargement of the bony orbit by orbital decompression surgery has been known for about a century, surgical techniques vary all around the world mostly depending on the patient's clinical presentation but also on the institutional habits or the surgeon's skills. Ideally every surgical intervention should be tailored to the patient's specific needs. Therefore the aim of this paper is to review outcomes, hints, trends, and perspectives in orbital decompression surgery in thyroid eye disease regarding different surgical techniques.

[Graves' orbitopaty: inferior rectus tendon elongation for large vertical squint angles that cannot be corrected by simple muscle recession]. / Endokrine Orbitopathie: M.-rectus-inferior-Sehnenverlängerung bei großen vertikalen Schielwinkeln, die nicht durch eine einfache Muskelrücklagerung korrigiert werden können.

BACKGROUND: In motility disorders related to Graves' orbitopathy, recession of fibrotic eye muscles is the treatment of choice. Correction of very large squint angles can be difficult, since the distance of recession is limited by the necessity to maintain a sufficient arc of contact. A new technique of tendon elongation has been developed in order to maintain sufficient arcs of contact even in patients with large horizontal squint angles, especially after orbital decompression surgery. The established dose-effect relationship cannot simply be conveyed to inferior rectus muscle surgery, due to a different impact of simple recession on inferior and medial rectus muscles. METHODS: Recession of the inferior rectus muscle was performed in 10 patients with simultaneous suturing of bovine pericardium (Tutopatch). This procedure was performed as primary surgery in 7 patients (2 after orbital decompression) and as secondary procedure in 3 patients. Squint angle (far distance), bulbus excursion movements and field of binocular single vision were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Alignment (far distance) was achieved in 8 of 10 cases at the final follow-up examination. Two patients required corrective prisms. Visual fields were virtually free of diplopia in all patients. The dose-response effect for tendon elongation of the inferior rectus muscle was identical to that for the simple recession of this muscle. There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: The new technique of tendon elongation using a bovine pericardium graft is applicable in large vertical squint angles (with or without prior bony orbital decompression) as well as for corrections after insufficient simple recessions (by realignment of the muscle and secondary suturing of the graft). Functional improvement can thus be achieved through surgery of a single muscle, keeping the other muscles in reserve for further interventions (lowering the risk of postoperative anterior segment ischaemia). There is a dose effect analogous to large horizontal squint angles in Graves' orbitopathy (dosing formula: 1 mm inferior rectus recession [including graft] leads to 2.0° vertical angle reduction). This corresponds to simple recessions of the inferior rectus muscle but differs from tendon elongations of the medial rectus muscles.

[Recurrent canaliculitis in a 22-year-old patient]. / Rezidivierende Canaliculitis bei einem 22-Jährigen.

A 22-year-old patient presented with persistent epiphora over a period of about 7 months. The clinical examination revealed a canalicular swelling in both lacrimal ducts, which postoperatively transpired to be an exophytic tumor. The histopathology result of the excised tumor showed an epithelial lesion, a partially inverted papilloma without malignancy. For tumors arising from lachrimal ducts the first-line therapy is complete tumor resection.

In vitro kinetics of delivery of tobramycin and ofloxacin from osmotic hydro gel expanders.

OBJECTIVE: High-hydrophilic osmotic self-inflating hydro gel expanders are well-accepted for implantation to achieve tissue expansion in defined parts of the body like skin, breast and orbital soft tissue. To prevent post-implantation infections effective antibiotic prophylaxis might be helpful. The suitability of this hydro gel consisting of a co-polymer of N-vinyl-pyrolidone and methyl-methacrylate as a drug delivery system for antibiotics was investigated in a laboratory setting simulating the orbit in a newborn. METHODS: In a first setting the dry expanders were incubated in a 0.3% solution (5 ml) of tobramycin and ofloxacin for 24 h (n = 10 for each substance, adsorbing 2.4 ml of the 0.3% solution, i.e. 7,200 µg antibiotic). Addressing the release of both antibiotics, the concentrations in 15 ml elution medium (0.9% sodium chloride, renewed after every sampling) were measured after 0.25, 1, 2, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h of elution. To simulate the clinical use in a second setting the expanders were dried after incubation in a 0.3% and 0.03% solution of tobramycin (n = 5 for each concentration) before measuring the release. RESULTS: The cumulative amount of tobramycin released after 72 h reached 7,157 µg, i.e. 99% of the initially loaded antibiotic. The cumulatively released amount of ofloxacin was 5,505 µg (76% of loading dose). Main fraction of release (about two thirds) was detected for both antibiotics for a elution period 0 - 24 h. In the periods 24 - 48 and 48 - 72 h the released amount of tobramycin was significantly higher than for ofloxacin. The release from expander dried after loading tobramycin was comparable: The cumulatively released amount of 0.3% and 0.03% incubation solution was 99% and 79% of loading dose, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The investigated hydro gel expanders soaked in antibiotic solution can store and further on release sufficient amounts of tobramycin or ofloxacin to produce antimicrobial effective concentrations in vitro in the surrounding environment according to the breakpoints reported by EUCAST [14]. This principle, when used in a clinical setting, might help to eliminate post-implantation infection, which is one of the major complications in clinical use.

[Amyloidosis--a rare differential diagnosis of an orbital tumour]. / Amyloidose--ein seltene Differenzialdiagnose orbitaler Raumforderungen.

BACKGROUND: Amyloidosis is a disorder caused by a misfoulding of proteins. The deposition of these proteins in tissues and organs can affect the normal function of those tissues and organs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two patients are presented and an overview over the so far published cases with a localised orbital amyloidosis is given. RESULTS: The first case is a 50-year-old woman with progressive ptosis since half a year, progressive proptosis since three months and deterioration of motility and deviation of the left globe. The second case is a 68-year-old man with progressive ptosis since four years and with affection of the subtarsal conjunctiva of the right eye. Macroscopically a yellow-brown, gelatinous, easily crumbled material was seen during operation. CONCLUSION: the histological proof of amyloidosis can be made visually in intense unidirectional polarised light after congo red staining. This should be done in suspected cases every time. The orbita can also be involved in systemic forms of amyloidosis, so a systemic form should be excluded. The localised amyloidosis has no effect on the survival time in contrast to the systemic forms does have an effect. An untreated systemic form may be associuated with a prognosis of only 9 to 13 months.

[Erdheim-Chester disease of the orbit with compressive optic neuropathy]. / Erdheim-Chester-Erkrankung der Orbita mit Kompressionsneuropathie.

A 60-year-old man presented with left exophthalmos and deterioration in visual acuity of slow evolution. Bilateral orbital Erdheim-Chester disease was diagnosed. Systemic evaluation revealed a retroperitoneal fibrosis. Treatment with interferon-alpha followed, but bilateral compressive optic neuropathy with visual acuity deterioration and visual field defects evolved. Bilateral orbital decompression was performed.