Topical Dorzolamide as Adjunctive Treatment With Intravitreal Bevacizumab in Bilateral Diabetic Macular Edema.

BACKGROUND:  Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents is accepted as the gold standard treatment for center-involving diabetic macular edema (CI-DME). Adjunctive administration of topical dorzolamide may enhance the therapeutic effects of anti-VEGF agents. In this study, we compared the efficacy of topical dorzolamide plus intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) versus IVB alone in patients with bilateral DME. METHODS: This prospective, randomized contralateral eye study was carried out in a tertiary referral ophthalmology center, Al-Zahra Eye Hospital, Zahedan, Iran, between April 2021 and April 2022. This study included 50 eyes of 25 patients with bilateral DME. All eyes received three consecutive monthly injections of IVB. For each patient, one eye was randomized to instill dorzolamide eye drops three times a day as an intervention, and the other received artificial tear drops as a placebo. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated before starting treatment and then monthly for the first three months. RESULTS: Among 25 included patients, the average age was 56.64 ± 7.97 years, and 48% were female. BCVA did not improve significantly in any groups (P > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in terms of BCVA between the intervention and control groups (P > 0.05). The present study showed a decrease in CMT in both study groups (P < 0.05). At month 3, the decrease in mean CMT from baseline was significantly higher in eyes receiving topical dorzolamide compared to the control group (-88.92 ± 82.90 vs. -37.64 ± 86.16 µM, respectively; P = 0.037). IOP decreased significantly only in eyes receiving dorzolamide (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that adjunctive administration of topical dorzolamide has a beneficial effect on CMT reduction from baseline, but it did not have an additive effect on BCVA improvement compared to IVB monotherapy.

Evaluation of the relationship between retinal nerve layer thickness and corpus callosum atrophy in MRI with memory impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease in which demyelination and loss of axons lead to disruption of communication between neurons in the central nervous system. Cognitive impairment occurs in a significant proportion of patients with MS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and corpus callosum atrophy in magnetic resonance imaging with memory disorders in patients with MS. Methods: This descriptive analytical study was performed on patients with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis referred to the clinic of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan, Iran. An information form that includes a Mini-Mental State Examination was first prepared, by which the patient's memory impairment is measured. After recording the data, the data were collected using an information form and finally analyzed by SPSS software version 22 using an independent t-test. Results: In this study, 80 patients with MS primary progressive multiple sclerosis were included in the study, of which 53 were female and 27 were male. The mean age of patients was 45.1 ± 5.9 years, which did not show a statistically significant difference (P = 0.536). The mean RNFL thickness in patients with memory impairment was significantly lower than that in patients without memory impairment. The mean corpus callosum thickness was found to be significantly lower in patients with memory impairment than in patients without memory impairment. Conclusion: All in all, the results of this study showed that the thickness of RNFL and the corpus callosum in patients with memory impairment was significantly lower than that in patients without memory impairment.

Mini vitrectomy as an alternative technique for intraocular pressure adjustment in non-drainage scleral buckling.

Purpose: In non-drainage scleral buckling, anterior chamber paracentesis is usually carried out to decrease intraocular pressure. When the buckling is extensive however, this technique may be inefficient and time consuming. In this study, we tried to determine if a mini 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy could be used as an efficient and safe alternative procedure to anterior chamber paracentesis for adjusting intraocular pressure during a non-drainage scleral buckling. Methods: In this case series, 44 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (proliferative vitreoretinopathy stage < C) were included. In all cases, a mini 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed before buckle fixation and repeated if necessary. Complete retinal attachment was defined as the anatomical success. Results: Forty-four eyes of 44 patients with mean age of 48.1 ± 18.2 years were included. Silicon buckle nº 276, sponge 505, and sponge 507 were utilized for 7, 34, and 3 eyes, respectively. Intravitreal injection of SF6 gas was performed for 54.5% of the eyes. Mean total time of the operation was 61 ± 16 min and the mean time for vitrectomy was 87 ± 31 s. Complete retinal attachment in 37 and incomplete attachment in 4 eyes were achieved after single operation that was a success rate of 93.2%. One had more than usual vitreous leak at the site of scleretomy and one developed a tiny vitreous hemorrhage at the sclerotomy site. Three sclerotomy sites needed suturing. Conclusion: The anatomical outcome and the safety observed in this study were comparable to the current methods reported in the literature. Therefore, if anterior chamber paracentesis fails to adjust intraocular pressure during a non-drainage scleral buckling, performing a small gauge mini vitrectomy is safe and helpful.

Mini vitrectomy as an alternative technique for intraocular pressure adjustment in non-drainage scleral buckling / La minivitrectomía como técnica alternativa para el ajuste de la presión intraocular en el cerclaje escleral sin drenaje

Purpose In non-drainage scleral buckling, anterior chamber paracentesis is usually carried out to decrease intraocular pressure. When the buckling is extensive however, this technique may be inefficient and time consuming. In this study, we tried to determine if a mini 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy could be used as an efficient and safe alternative procedure to anterior chamber paracentesis for adjusting intraocular pressure during a non-drainage scleral buckling. Methods In this case series, 44 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (proliferative vitreoretinopathy stage < C) were included. In all cases, a mini 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed before buckle fixation and repeated if necessary. Complete retinal attachment was defined as the anatomical success. Results Forty-four eyes of 44 patients with mean age of 48.1 ± 18.2 years were included. Silicon buckle nº 276, sponge 505, and sponge 507 were utilized for 7, 34, and 3 eyes, respectively. Intravitreal injection of SF6 gas was performed for 54.5% of the eyes. Mean total time of the operation was 61 ± 16 min and the mean time for vitrectomy was 87 ± 31 s. Complete retinal attachment in 37 and incomplete attachment in 4 eyes were achieved after single operation that was a success rate of 93.2%. One had more than usual vitreous leak at the site of scleretomy and one developed a tiny vitreous hemorrhage at the sclerotomy site. Three sclerotomy sites needed suturing. Conclusion The anatomical outcome and the safety observed in this study were comparable to the current methods reported in the literature. Therefore, if anterior chamber paracentesis fails to adjust intraocular pressure during a non-drainage scleral buckling, performing a small gauge mini vitrectomy is safe and helpful.

Predictive factors of stereopsis outcomes following strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine the predictive factors of post-operative stereopsis in patients with strabismus. METHOD: In this retrospective study, records of patients who received surgical treatment for strabismus were reviewed. All types of strabismus were included. Pre- and post-treatment stereoacuity were measured using the Titmus Stereo Fly test, and predictive factors of stereopsis were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients (132 females and 62 males) with a mean age of 14.8 ± 8.4 years were included. There was a statistically significant improvement in stereopsis following surgery (p value < 0.001). Patients with a higher amount of deviation at baseline had poorer stereopsis on the final examination (p value < 0.001). Stereopsis improvement was more prominent in the pure horizontal strabismus group, compared to combined horizontal and vertical deviations. Baseline and the final stereopsis were higher in the "exotropia" group as compared to the "esotropia" group (p value = 0.003 and 0.0155, respectively); however, the within group change of stereopsis was not significantly different between these two groups (p value = 0.144). Post surgical residual deviation was associated with a poorer stereopsis (p value = 0.002, r = 0.251). A longer duration of strabismus before surgery was associated with poorer final stereopsis levels (p value = 0.026). The presence of amblyopia before surgery was associated with poorer stereopsis on last examination (p value < 0.001 for both correlations). CONCLUSION: Based on the result of this study, final stereopsis after strabismus surgery could be affected by the type, duration, and the amount of deviation before surgery, amblyopia, and post operative ocular deviation.