[Atypical acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis]. / Atypische akute syphilitische posteriore plakoide Chorioretinopathie.

Syphilis is an infectious disease that can cause a wide variety of ocular signs. One of the rarest manifestations of ocular syphilis is acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC). We report the case of an immunocompetent 38-year-old woman diagnosed with unilateral, atypical, acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis. Fundoscopic examination revealed a yellow-white, subretinal, placoid lesion at the posterior pole, which is typical sign of ASPPC. In the periphery of the retina, multifocal choroiditis was also found. Fundus and angiographic changes in ASPPC may mimic other chorioretinal diseases. Accurate diagnosis of ASPPC as a presenting sign of syphilis is important for the prompt initiation of systemic antibiotic treatment.

Prospective, non-randomised, long term clinical evaluation of a foldable hydrophilic single piece intraocular lens: results of the Centerflex FDA study.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the improvement of modern intraocular lenses (IOLs) in terms of design and material, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) usually takes 2-3 years to develop. Thus, long term clinical evaluation of new implants is important. METHODS: As part of a prospective, non-randomised FDA trial, the Rayner Centerflex, a foldable hydrophilic acrylic, single piece IOL was implanted in one eye of 83 patients (mean age 73.5 (SD 7.0) years). Over 3 years postoperatively, a standardised FDA protocol concerning IOL safety and efficacy was followed including evaluation of spherical equivalent (SE), best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), endothelial cell count (ECC), flare meter values, PCO development, and anterior capsule shrinkage. RESULTS: Postoperatively, mean SE was stable ranging between -0.3D and 0.17D. After 1-2 months, all patients achieved a BCDVA of 20/40 or better. At 3-6 months postoperatively, mean ECC decreased from 2612 (SD 346) cells/mm2 to 2380 (316) cells/mm2. Mean PCO score for the entire optic increased from 0.20 (0.20) months (3-6 months postoperatively) to 0.87 (0.57) resulting in a Nd:YAG rate of 29.41% after 3 years. No anterior capsule shrinkage was found. CONCLUSION: The Centerflex showed excellent functional results, low values for endothelial cell loss and inflammatory signs, and no anterior capsule shrinkage. PCO formation was higher compared to other IOLs, which could be explained by the incomplete sharp edge at the optic-haptic junctions representing an "Achilles' heel" for cell ingrowth.

[Quantitative evaluation of acrylic and silicone intraocular lenses with a sharp optic edge design]. / Quantitative Nachstarevaluierung von Acrylat- und Silikonintraokularlinsen mit scharfem Kantendesign.

BACKGROUND: At the Department of Ophthalmology, Heidelberg, Germany, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) of a silicone and an acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with a sharp optic edge design was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study either the AMO ClariFlex silicone IOL or the Sensar AR40e hydrophobic acrylic IOL were implanted in 47 patients following uneventful phacoemulsification. Mean patient age was 76.2+/-7.8 (ClariFlex) and 73.4+/-12.9 years (AR40e), respectively. The mean follow-up time was 19.7+/-5.34 in the ClariFlex and 21.9+/-1.89 months in the AR40e group. PCO development was evaluated postoperatively using the EPCO 2000 analysis software (scale 0-4). Areas of interest were the total IOL optic, the central 3-mm zone as well as the capsulorhexis. RESULTS: In both groups, all patients achieved a BCVA of 20/32 (AR40e) and 20/25 (ClariFlex), respectively. There was a very low incidence of PCO development with a mean EPCO score of 0.07+/-0.2 (ClariFlex and 0.15+/-0.2 (AR40e). Within the 3-mm zone and the capsulorhexis, there was a tendency for even lower EPCO scores in both groups. We calculated a statistically significant difference for the two lens materials for all investigated IOL areas (Wilcoxon's test, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both IOLs with a sharp edge design showed good functional results, a stable position in the capsular bag as well as a low incidence of PCO development. However, the silicone IOL showed statistically significantly lower PCO scores.