Early versus delayed photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) patients are sometimes referred to Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) with very long-term disease. The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of PDT in CSCR eyes with long-standing disease. METHODS: The medical records of the patients that underwent PDT for CSCR between 2009 and 2019 were reviewed. Cases were divided into two groups based on the duration of disease before PDT treatment: early treatment (3 to 6 months) and delayed treatment (longer than 6 months). The treatment was defined as successful when the subfoveal fluid was absorbed during follow-up. RESULTS: The PDT treatment was successful in 76% and 77% of eyes in the early and delayed treatment groups, respectively. Both groups showed significant improvement in central retina measurements at the 3-months follow-up which persisted to the last follow-up visit. The visual acuity (VA) at baseline was significantly worse in the delayed treatment group (0.5 ± 0.26 vs. 0.3 ± 0.24, P = 0.042) and improved in both groups but remained low in the delayed treatment group during the study. CONCLUSION: We suggest that if CSCR is not spontaneously improving over 3 months the patient should be offered PDT, to prevent VA loss from the long-term presence of subretinal fluid in the macula. PDT is not associated with loss of vision in eyes with chronic CSCR, and can be safely used in eyes with relatively good VA.

Long-term silicone oil tamponade in eyes with complicated retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To report the visual and anatomic outcomes of eyes with exceedingly long-term silicone oil tamponade. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 43 eyes of 41 patients with silicone oil tamponade for 5 years or more. Rates of retinal reattachment, visual acuity, and complications are presented. Further analysis was performed to identify if silicone oil complications are more common in eyes with lower vision. For this, cases were divided into group A-visual acuity of 20/400 or better and group B-visual acuity of less than 20/400. RESULTS: Mean silicone oil duration was 12.6 ± 6.3 years. The etiology at presentation included: recurrent RRD (60.46%), RRD secondary to trauma (25.58%), and TRD (13.95%). Ninety-three percent of eyes underwent at least one ocular surgery before the vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. The retinal attachment rate was 55.8%. Mean visual acuity at presentation was 2.03 ± 0.6 logMAR, and at the final follow-up, 1.85 ± 0.78 logMAR (p = 0.166). Emulsification developed in 33.3% of cases, glaucoma in 28.6%, band keratopathy in 21.4%, and corneal decompensation in 16.7%. In 26.2% of eyes, the final visual acuity was 20/400 or better (group A). In 73.8% of eyes, final visual acuity was worse than 20/400 (group B). The rates of silicone oil emulsification and glaucoma were not statistically significant between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term silicone oil tamponade is a possible option in eyes with complicated retinal detachment following multiple intravitreal procedures, although the complication rates are relatively high. In 26.2% of eyes, visual acuity of 20/400 or better can be preserved for many years.

OCULAR SURFACE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES IN RETINAL VASCULAR DISEASES.

PURPOSE: To define the effect of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) on the ocular thermographic profile. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included subjects diagnosed with DR or AMD between January and April 2019. Individuals without ocular disease served as controls. A thermal imaging camera was used for ocular surface temperature (OST) acquisition. The mean temperatures of the medial cantus, lateral cantus, and cornea were calculated. RESULTS: Thermographic images were obtained from 133 subjects (260 eyes, 97 DR and 163 AMD) and 48 controls (55 eyes). Ocular surface temperature was higher among patients with AMD and lowest among patients with DR (P < 0.001). A subgroup analysis revealed that eyes with diabetic macular edema had significantly higher OSTs than DR eyes without diabetic macular edema. Moreover, the OST in eyes with diabetic macular edema was similar to the measurements of the AMD group. There were no differences in OSTs between neovascular and nonneovascular AMD eyes. CONCLUSION: Although AMD and DR are considered posterior segment conditions, their effect on OST implies that the entire globe is involved. Although both conditions result from similar multifactorial pathophysiologic changes, the differences in OST between DR and AMD might be due to dissimilarity in the balance of pathologic processes involved in each condition. Further research is required to better understand the pathophysiology of these diseases and their effect on OST as well as to determine the effect of vasculature, circulation, and tissue metabolism on ocular temperature.

Epidemiology of Pars Plana Vitrectomy in the Elderly: A Retrospective 10-Year Survey of 592 Cases.

PURPOSE: To report the epidemiology of the surgical indications of pars plana vitrectomy in patients aged 75 years or older. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent vitrectomy surgery in a single center between 2008 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively for demographics, medical background, and surgical indications. Data on patients aged 75-85 were compared to those of patients older than 85 years and those recorded between 2008-2013 and 2014-2018. RESULTS: A total of 592 patients were included, of whom 55% were males. The mean±standard deviation age of the cohort at presentation was 80.4±4.60 years, and the mean visual acuity was 1.3±0.93 logMAR. The main indications for surgery were retinal detachment (n=117, 19.7%), epiretinal-membrane/vitreomacular traction (n=140, 23.6%), dropped intraocular lens/retained lens (n=89, 15%), macular hole (n=64, 11%), submacular hemorrhage (n=40, 6.7%), diagnostic vitrectomy (n=37, 6.2%), non-diabetic vitreous hemorrhage (n=30, 5.1%), and diabetic vitreous hemorrhage and other diabetic complications (n=33, 5.6%). Patients aged 85 years and older had higher rates of urgent surgeries (65%), such as for submacular hemorrhage and trauma (p=0.0000039 and p=0.001, respectively), and lower rates of non-urgent surgeries, such as for epiretinal membrane and macular hole (p=0.000032 and p=0.02, respectively), compared to patients aged 75-84 years. Additionally, the surgical rate for submacular hemorrhage decreased during 2008-2014 compared to 2014-2018 (p=0.000014). CONCLUSION: Understanding the unique distribution of indications for vitrectomy among elderly patients is essential for appropriate management and treatment. Urgent cases represent 65% of the surgeries performed in the older population.

Ocular injuries incurred by Israeli defense forces during low-intensity conflicts.

BACKGROUND: To describe ocular injuries sustained by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers during low-intensity conflicts from 1998 to 2017, and to evaluate the use of protective eyewear. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data retrieved from two tertiary Israeli medical centers and the military trauma registry. The analysis included all IDF soldiers with ocular injuries who were referred to these centers between 1998 and 2017. Data on injury type, the use of protective eyewear, and interventions were retrieved and analyzed. Additional data regarding the use of protective eyewear and ocular injuries in 108 patients with head and neck injuries in one operation was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 126 soldiers, all males, mean age 22 (SD 5.3) years, sustained ocular injuries during low-intensity conflicts and treated at one of the two participating medical centers. Blast was the most common type of injury (n = 70/126, 56%), followed by shrapnel (n = 37/126, 29%) and gunshot wound (n = 12/126, 9%). The Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETTS) injury pattern disclosed lamellar laceration (n = 34/126, 27%), intraocular foreign body (n = 27/126, 21%), penetrating (n = 10/126, 8%), and perforating (n = 7/126, 6%) injuries. Average VA improved from 20/140 at presentation to 20/60 after surgical or conservative intervention, the median VA improved from 20/40 to 20/30 (P < 0.001). Forty-nine patients (49/126, 39%) had poor visual outcome. The mean follow-up lasted 22 (SD 31) months. The use of protective eyewear was correlated with better initial VA(20/30 vs 20/217, P = 0.07). Among 108 patients with head and neck injuries, there was a higher rate of ocular injuries in the group of patients who did not use protective eyewear (n = 26/73, 36% vs n = 4/35, 11%, P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular injuries are common occurrences in low-intensity conflicts. The use of protective eyewear significantly reduces these injuries and should be mandatory. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, prognostic.

Pediatric retinal damage due to soccer-ball-related injury: Results from the last decade.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the incidence of posterior segment injuries related to soccer-ball blunt trauma in children. METHODS: Retrospective search of the computerized hospital medical database between the years 2007 and 2017. All pediatric trauma cases were reviewed and cases with blunt trauma related to direct orbital/ocular hit from a soccer-ball were included. Cases were divided into two groups (non-severe and severe) based on the presence of sight-threatening findings on presentation (e.g. retinal tear, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and macular edema). RESULTS: Out of 343 pediatric patients with relevant diagnoses, 14 (4.1%) were treated for injuries related to soccer-ball trauma. All patients were males at their early-to-mid teens (14.3 ± 2.1 years). The most common funduscopic finding was peripheral commotio retina (13, 93%). There was equal distribution between the two groups (seven each). Retinal injury in the severe group included retinal tear (3), vitreous hemorrhage (4), retinal detachment (1), and macular hole (1). Five patients in this group presented with visual acuity of 20/25 or better. Rate of external signs of injury were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Soccer-ball blunt trauma in children can cause significant posterior segment injuries regardless of the presence of external injury or ocular complaints. A thorough ocular exam is mandatory in all cases for the detection of vision-threatening retinal injuries.

Blunt ocular trauma in patients over 70: Clinical characteristics and prognosis.

PURPOSE: To describe the mechanisms and outcomes of open globe injuries (OGIs) in patients 70 years or older. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients from two large academic centers in Israel who were underwent surgery for OGI. Data was collected from surgical and clinic charts. Anatomical and functional results were recorded as well any additional surgeries and complications. RESULTS: Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients were included. The mechanism of OGI consisted of blunt trauma with ocular rupture secondary to falls. All eyes underwent immediate primary closure of the corneal and scleral lacerations. Additional surgeries were performed in 34.3% of cases. In 31.2% of cases additional surgery was not required, and in 21.9% of cases the damage was so devastating that additional procedures were not recommended. Four patients (12.5%) chose not to undergo additional surgery. Mean visual acuity at presentation was 2.24 ± 0.72 logMAR and it improved to 1.92 ± 0.89 logMAR at final follow-up (p = 0.002). VA at presentation was significantly correlated to final VA (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OGI in the elderly represents a unique group. It is mostly related to falls, with a female predominance and a poor visual prognosis. In this patient population, general health concerns and increased risks of anesthesia require special attention. Care should be taken to educate elderly patients and their caretakers on how to avoid falls.

OUTCOMES OF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR AFTER FAILED PNEUMATIC RETINOPEXY.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes of reoperations following failure of pneumatic retinopexy (PR) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair and compare the different surgical techniques used in these cases. METHODS: The study included 114 eyes of 114 patients who underwent PR for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and required subsequent surgery for its repair. These included repeated PR, scleral buckling, vitrectomy with gas or silicone oil, and vitrectomy with scleral buckling. The groups were compared for rates of retinal reattachment, visual improvement, and the occurrence of recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and any other postoperative complications. RESULTS: In 91 (79.8%) eyes, the retina was reattached with one additional procedure. The success rate was significantly lower in eyes treated by repeated PR than by other surgical techniques (33 vs. 76-90%; P < 0.001). Visual acuity after PR failure was not significantly different than that at presentation and had improved significantly after surgery for retinal reattachment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pneumatic retinopexy failure was not associated with visual acuity loss, and the outcomes in 79.2% of cases that required only one additional surgery are comparable with those achieved with primary surgery. Poor outcomes were associated with eyes that required more than one additional surgery and that suffered complications.

Safety of cataract surgery in patients treated with the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of phacoemulsification of cataract in patients taking new oral anticoagulants (NOACs). METHODS: In a prospective case series, consecutive patients on NOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban) who were referred for uncomplicated cataract surgery to the eye institute underwent a thorough ophthalmological and hematological evaluation. Rivaroxaban and apixaban anti-factor Xa tests, and diluted thrombin time for dabigatran, were used for monitoring anticoagulation levels in blood. Blood was drawn for these tests just prior to surgery and at a peak level of the drug at about 4 h post-surgery (2 h after the drug was given). All surgeries were videotaped and patients were examined at 1 and 7 days after the operation. The main outcome measures included assessment of intra-operative, postoperative ocular bleeding, and other related complications. RESULTS: Thirty-five eyes of 25 unrelated patients ranging in age from 63 to 92 years (mean 77.6 years) underwent phacoemulsification. Intra-operative bleeding was observed in 5 eyes from the conjunctiva or limbus at the main incision site. No intraocular bleeding occurred. No hemorrhagic complications were observed during the 1-week follow-up. According to anti-factor Xa levels prior to surgery and following surgery, 85% of the patients were on therapeutic levels of NOACs. CONCLUSIONS: Clear corneal incision phacoemulsification performed under topical anesthesia can be safely performed in simple cases of cataract without discontinuing NOAC treatment.

ACCURACY AND PRECISION OF INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS OF ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AGENTS IN REAL LIFE: What Is Actually in the Syringe?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy and precision of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor volume delivery by intravitreal injections in the clinical setup. METHODS: Volume output was measured in 669 intravitreal injections administered to patients, calculated from the difference in syringe weight before and after expelling the drug. Three groups were included: prefilled bevacizumab 1.0 mL syringe (Group 1, n = 432), pre-filled ranibizumab in a small-volume syringe with low dead-space plunger design (Group 2, n = 125), and aflibercept drawn and injected using a 1.0-mL syringe (Group 3, n = 112). Accuracy was analyzed by mean absolute percentage error, and precision by coefficient of variation. RESULTS: Volume outputs in all 3 groups were significantly different from the target of 50 µL (P < 0.0001 for all), and mean absolute percentage error values were 12.25% ± 5.92% in Group 1, 13.60% ± 8.75% in Group 2, and 24.69% ± 14.84% in Group 3. No difference was found between groups 1 and 2, but both were significantly more accurate than Group 3 (P < 0.0001 for both). CONCLUSION: The current practices used for intravitreal injections are highly variable, with overdelivery of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs measured in most cases, but underdelivery in 16.3% of injections. Use of a prefilled syringe was associated with improved accuracy, and low dead-space plunger design may improve precision.

Perfluorocarbon Liquid Vs. Subretinal Fluid Drainage during Vitrectomy for the Primary Repair of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the anatomical and functional results achieved with subretinal fluid drainage (SRFD) and perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) use in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treated by primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). METHODS: The study included 162 eyes of 162 patients who underwent PPV for RRD, either with PFCL (n = 108) or SRFD (n = 54). The two groups were matched in 2:1 ratio for age, gender, and lens status. Groups were compared for rates of retinal reattachment, visual improvement, and the occurrence of recurrent RRD and any other postoperative complications. RESULTS: Both groups had a single surgery success rate of 90.7%, and 100% of retinas were reattached by the end of follow-up. Both groups had similar final VA (0.30 ± 0.39 logMAR in the SRFD group and 0.35 ± 0.44 in the PFCL group; p = 0.48) and degrees of visual improvement (0.64 ± 0.75 logMAR in the SRFD group and 0.59 ± 0.89 in the PFC group; p = 0.71). Complication rates were also similar between groups. The rate of additional interventions was higher (although not statistically significant) in the PFCL group than the SRFD group, due to cases of PFCL retention (4.6% vs. 1.8%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both PFCL and SRFD achieved excellent results in terms of retinal reattachment and visual improvement, and have comparable safety profiles. A slightly higher rate of additional surgeries was found in the PFCL group. These findings indicate that PFCL are not necessary in routine PPV for RRD, as they do not improve the results achieved with SRFD and may be less cost-effective due to their higher price and potential for a higher rate of additional surgeries.

[DEVELOPMENT AND CHALLENGES IN TREATMENT OF UVEAL MELANOMA].

INTRODUCTION: Uveal melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, is potentially a lethal tumour. Since the development of local radiotherapy, tumour control is achieved in the majority of cases and most eyes are salvaged. Despite this, more than 50% of patients develop distant metastatic spread, mainly to the liver, and in the absence of efficient treatments to extend life, die soon after. A great deal of effort has been put into developing prognostic markers for metastatic spread and survival. Novel genetic prognostic tests, recently introduced, are now being clinically used in many ocular oncology centres worldwide. In addition, in most centres, patients are referred for systemic surveillance programs for early detection of liver metastasis. Novel treatment modalities to battle metastatic uveal melanoma are being developed and used in clinical trials. Their efficacy is yet to be proved. This review summarizes the recent developments and current challenges related to uveal melanoma management.

Different Clinical Courses on Long-Term Follow-Up of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients Treated with Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections.

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term outcome of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with multiple intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. METHODS: All patients treated with over 30 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for neovascular AMD between 2007 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 67 eyes received 2,960 (mean 45 ± 9.1 per eye) anti-VEGF injections. Eyes with good final visual acuity (VA) had better initial VA (p = 0.020) and maintained it. Patients with moderate-to-poor final VA improved significantly after the first 3 monthly injections, and thereafter deteriorated consistently, mostly during the third (p = 0.019) and fourth (p = 0.006) years. Eyes with worse final VA had more intraretinal fluid (p = 0.05) and subretinal fibrosis (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Two distinct clinical courses were identified: good final VA was associated with initial and long-term stability of good VA; eyes with worse final VA had worse initial VA, progressive deterioration following the initial improvement, and more scarring and intraretinal fluid. This probably underscores the long-term benefits of early detection and treatment.

Ranibizumab for persistent diabetic macular edema after bevacizumab treatment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of switching from bevacizumab to ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with DME initially treated with bevacizumab and switched to ranibizumab. Visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were retrieved at fixed timepoints prior to and after the switch. RESULTS: Forty eyes of 32 patients were included in the study. The difference in VA between any of these fixed timepoints was not statistically significant. A significant gain in VA was found in eyes that lost more than 0.1 logMAR during treatment with the last 3 bevacizumab injections. The mean CRT was significantly lower after the first 3 ranibizumab injections and at the final follow-up (p<0.001), a 67 ± 14 µm and 78 ± 18 µm reduction in thickness, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Switching to ranibizumab resulted in a significant decrease in the CRT of eyes with DME, and should be considered when there is a lack of response or deterioration while on bevacizumab injections. A significant gain in VA was observed in a subgroup of eyes that lost more than one line while receiving the last 3 bevacizumab injections prior to the switch.

Acute Optic Neuropathy and Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 171 acute optic neuropathy (AON) patients, and to compare the findings to those previously reported on 366 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients. PTSD positively screened AON patients underwent a structured psychiatric interview and a Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ). Clinical measures were retrieved from medical records and compared between cohorts. None of the AON patients was diagnosed with PTSD, as opposed to 2.5% of RRD patients (P = 0.063). Of the AON cohort, 34% of patients were administered steroids, compared to none of the RRD patients, whereas all of the RRD patients underwent surgery, compared to none of the AON patients (P < 0.001). Clinical measures and VFQ scores were not found as risk factors for PTSD prediction. Results imply the potential role of surgery and of steroid treatment in developing PTSD in cases of ocular insults.

Outcomes of Scleral Buckle Removal: Experience from the Last Decade.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the indications, outcomes, and complications of scleral buckle removal over the past decade and compare to previously published data. METHODS: Forty nine eyes of 49 patients who underwent scleral buckle removal and had at least 6 months of follow-up were included in this retrospective study. Recorded parameters included demographic information, history of the retinal detachment, details of the scleral buckling surgery, indication for scleral buckle removal, time from scleral buckle placement to removal, culture results, length of follow up, visual acuity (VA) throughout the follow up, and the occurrence of any complications or need for additional surgery after scleral buckle removal. RESULTS: The overall rate of scleral buckle removal over the last decade was 5.7% (85/1493). Indications included buckle extrusion (57.1%), infection (8.2%), both (26.5%) eyes, and strabismus and diplopia (8.2%). The median time from scleral buckle placement to removal was 35 months, but in 22.4% of cases the buckles were removed after less than 6 months, and in an additional 22.4% of cases after more than 10 years. The rate of recurrent retinal detachment after scleral buckle removal was 8.2%, with half of the cases occurring within 3 months of the removal. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of scleral buckles is associated with a 8.2% risk for redetachment. Redetachment can occur many years following the removal and long-term follow up in these patients is warranted.

A Biological Tissue Adhesive and Dissolvent System for Intraocular Tumor Plaque Brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: To examine a novel technique for simplified placement and removal of plaque brachytherapy by fibrin glue and urokinase (medac Gmbh, Hamburg, Germany). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In six enucleated porcine eyes, plaques were placed on the episclera and fibrin glue was applied to cover it. Urokinase was used to dissolve the glue in three eyes and saline was used in three eyes. Adhesion strength was measured further on 15 plaques affixed to porcine eyes (glued in five with intact conjunctiva, glued in five with removed conjunctiva, and sutured in five). RESULTS: Saline had no effect on the glue-plaque-eye complex, whereas the urokinase (0.38 mL ± 0.08 mL) easily dissolved the adhesion between the glue layer and surrounding tissues. The weight required to detach the plaques was 0.349 kg ± 0.173 kg for glued eyes with intact conjunctiva, 0.405 kg ± 0.083 kg for sutured eyes (P = .59), and 0.032 kg ± 0.004 kg for glued eyes without intact conjunctiva (P ≤ .015). CONCLUSIONS: The usage of the biological adhesive and dissolvent system was applicable for plaque surgery in an ex vivo animal model.

25-Gauge Vitrectomy with Epiretinal Membrane and Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling in Eyes with Very Good Visual Acuity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) and preoperative visual acuity (VA) of 20/40 or better. METHODS: 44 eyes that underwent PPV and ERM peeling were included in this retrospective study. Data retrieved included demographic information, VA and intraocular pressure (IOP) preoperatively, after 1 month, 6 months and at final visit, presence of metamorphopsia, surgical reports, and occurrence of any complications. RESULTS: Mean preoperative VA was 20/36 (0.24 ± 0.08 logMAR) and had improved to 20/27 (0.13 ± 0.11 logMAR) at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). Thirty (68.1%) eyes had improved by 1 line of vision or more, and 10 (22.7%) achieved final 20/20 vision. Significant improvement in vision was achieved earlier in eyes that underwent vitrectomy combined with cataract extraction. Preoperative OCT scans demonstrated preserved outer retinal layer structure. CONCLUSIONS: PPV and ERM peeling is a safe and effective procedure in eyes with very good preoperative VA. PPV combined with cataract extraction offers a faster improvement in VA than PPV alone with deferred cataract surgery. PPV should be considered in symptomatic eyes with ERM and VA of 20/40 or better, in order to preserve and even improve the VA.