Fornix-Based Versus Limbal-Based Conjunctival Trabeculectomy Flaps for Glaucoma: Findings From a Cochrane Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To compare effectiveness of fornix- and limbal-based conjunctival flaps in trabeculectomy surgery. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: Setting: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, LILACS, ISRCTN registry, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO, and ICTRP were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). STUDY POPULATION: RCTs in which benefits and complications of fornix- vs limbal-based trabeculectomy for glaucoma were compared in adult glaucoma patients. OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: We followed Cochrane methodology for data extraction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of failed trabeculectomies at 24 months, defined as the need for repeat surgery or uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) >22 mm Hg, despite topical/systemic medications. RESULTS: The review included 6 trials with a total of 361 participants, showing no difference in effectiveness between fornix-based vs limbal-based trabeculectomy surgery, although with a high level of uncertainty owing to low event rates. In the fornix-based and limbal-based surgery, mean IOP at 12 months was similar, with ranges of 12.5-15.5 mm Hg and 11.7-15.1 mm Hg, respectively. Mean difference was 0.44 mm Hg (95% CI -0.45 to 1.33) and 0.86 mm Hg (95% CI -0.52 to 2.24) at 12 and 24 months of follow-up, respectively. Mean number of postoperative glaucoma medications was similar between the 2 groups. Mean difference was 0.02 (95% CI -0.15 to 0.19) at 12 months. As far as postoperative complications, an increased risk of shallow anterior chamber was observed in the limbal-based group. CONCLUSION: Similar efficacy of trabeculectomy surgery with respect to bleb failure or IOP control was observed in both types of conjunctival flap incisions. A significant difference was detected in the risk of postoperative shallow anterior chamber, which was increased in the limbal-based group.

Transposition surgery for inferior rectus fibrosis.

Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles is a rare hereditary strabismus disorder. A case of congenital fibrosis of the inferior rectus muscles with severe chin-up posture and bilateral limitation of up gaze is reported. Bilateral large recessions of the tight inferior rectus muscles provided only partial improvement. Residual head posture and hypotropia were successfully corrected with bilateral horizontal rectus muscle transpositions toward the superior rectus muscles, despite persistently tight inferior rectus muscles at the time of surgery.

Indocyanine Green-Enhanced Thermotherapy for Retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To report the outcome of pediatric patients with retinoblastoma refractory to traditional local therapy who were treated with indocyanine green (ICG)-enhanced thermotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of a case series of 3 patients with bilateral retinoblastoma who were treated with ICG-enhanced thermotherapy after showing no response to conventional chemothermotherapy or transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) alone noted on two consecutive examinations under anesthesia. RESULTS: The 3 patients had had one eye enucleated previously due to advanced disease, and the remaining eye was diagnosed with a large tumor, which showed either a marginal or no response to systemic chemotherapy and TTT. Addition of ICG enhancement during the subsequent TTT session shrunk the tumor to a measurable size that could then be followed by TTT alone as a means of treatment. One patient had tumor recurrence, at which time additional TTT without ICG was successfully applied after the tumor size had decreased; ICG enhancement was then added whenever TTT alone provided no response. CONCLUSIONS: ICG enhancement with TTT led to a measurable tumor regression in lesions that had previously not been responsive to traditional chemothermotherapy or isolated TTT. MESSAGE: These tumors had shown a minimal to no response to previous TTT treatment. However, adding ICG resulted in a measurable regression even though the same TTT treatment parameters were applied.

Retinal nerve fibre layer and macular thickness in amblyopia as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To study peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macular thickness in amblyopia using high-definition spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to compare the results with available literature using the time-domain modality. METHODS: This was a prospective institutional study of patients ≥ 6 years of age with unilateral amblyopia (strabismic or anisometropic) and non-amblyopic anisometropia. RNFL and macular thicknesses were measured using SD-OCT and compared between fellow eyes. RESULTS: The mean age was 20 (± 12) years; 45 patients had amblyopia: 14 strabismic and 31 anisometropic. 20 patients had non-amblyopic anisometropia. The mean macular thickness was significantly increased in the amblyopic (273.8 µm) vs fellow eyes (257.9 µm), p=0.001. This difference remained significant in the anisometropic group (p=0.002) but not the strabismic group. The mean RNFL thickness was similar in amblyopic (95.4 µm) and fellow eyes (94.0 µm). Similar results were obtained regardless of the level of visual acuity, age or refractive error. In the control group of non-amblyopic anisometropia, the interocular difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Central macular thickness was significantly increased in anisometropic amblyopia using SD-OCT. Anisometropia alone did not produce such a difference, which points to a possible correlation between amblyopia and the development of the retinal layers.

Endoscopic laser cyclophotocoagulation in pediatric glaucoma with corneal opacities.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic diode cycloablation (ECP) has shown modest efficacy for the management of pediatric glaucomas. Eyes with pediatric glaucoma and corneal opacities pose obstacles to intraocular surgery. We examined the role of ECP in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) as well as that of endoscopy in facilitating tube shunt placement in these eyes. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 12 eyes (11 patients) with glaucoma and corneal opacities from 12/99 to 9/05. ECP was performed for IOP control with success defined as postoperative IOP < or =21 mm Hg, with or without medications and without procedure-related complications. Success of ECP, repeat ECP, and endoscopically guided tube shunt placement was studied. RESULTS: Diagnoses included the following: Peters/anterior segment dysgenesis in nine eyes and corneal scar/failed corneal graft in three. Patients included eight females and three males with median age 3 years (0.5 to 10.3) at treatment. Median number of prior surgeries was three; median time to failure was 7.8 months (0.3 to 38). Ten eyes had prior external cycloablation(s). Success of first ECP (mean 6.1 clock hours) was 2/12 (17%), with Kaplan-Meier median survival 12 months. Two treatment failures had repeat ECP, and both failed. Four treatment failures had subsequent tube shunt surgery (three with endoscopic assistance), and all were successful at median follow-up of 33 months (11 to 63). Baseline IOP was 36.8 +/- 11 mm Hg before ECP versus 28.2 +/- 16 mm Hg after first treatment (p = 0.07). Procedure-related complications included chorioretinal detachment in one eye. CONCLUSIONS: ECP had limited success in children with refractory glaucoma. However, with anatomic limitations, endoscopy itself was valuable in facilitating subsequent successful tube shunt surgery.

Plasma thymulin and nerve growth factor levels in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to measure the plasma concentrations of thymulin and nerve growth factor (NGF) in a group of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and compare them with age- and sex-matched normal controls. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients newly diagnosed with POAG who were not undergoing treatment were compared with the same number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Blood samples were drawn into heparinized tubes and plasma samples were collected for the determination of the concentrations of thymulin and NGF, using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Student's t test was used to perform the necessary statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: Seventeen women and 11 men were enrolled in each of the two groups (study and control), with a mean age of 63.7 (SD 10.3) years in the former and 63.3 (SD 9.6) years in the latter. There was a highly significant (p<0.001) elevation in the thymulin levels in POAG patients compared with the control group. However, no significant difference was observed when comparing the plasma NGF levels. CONCLUSION: This is the first report to measure plasma thymulin levels in glaucoma patients. The significant results point the possible role of this immunomodulator in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma. The potential role of NGF seems to be less likely. These findings warrant further investigation.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for the management of diabetic papillopathy.

PURPOSE: To present a case of severe drop in vision in both eyes caused by diabetic papillopathy that was treated with an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A diabetic patient with bilateral diabetic papillopathy and drop in vision received sequential intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injections to both eyes. RESULTS: Within 2 weeks of intravitreal injection, vision improved from counting fingers at 1 m to 20/50 OS, and from counting fingers at 4 m to 20/40 OD. This improvement was accompanied by resolution of disk swelling and macular edema. Vision remained stable in both eyes at 20/40 for 8 months of follow-up. No elevation of intraocular pressure beyond 21 mm Hg was noted at any time. CONCLUSION: Diabetic papillopathy with severe drop in vision can be treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection.