The Efficacy of Fibrin Sealant in Sutureless Deep Sclerectomy-Preliminary Outcomes.

PRCIS: Deep sclerectomy (DS) with fibrin adhesive can constitute a safe alternative to the classic procedure using sutures, providing nonallergenic, nontoxic, and secure adhesion with no sign of aqueous humor outflow obstruction postoperatively. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short and medium-term postoperative results of DS with a fibrin sealant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series involves 12 eyes of 12 patients with uncontrolled open angle glaucoma who underwent DS with Esnoper (Clip or V2000) implant between February 2021 and March 2022. A novel method of wound closure (sclera, Tenon fascia, and conjunctiva) employing fibrin glue was used instead of classic sutures. Surgical outcomes assessed include: intraocular pressure and glaucoma therapy reduction, best-corrected visual acuity changes, and number of complications registered peri and postoperatively. All measurements were performed preoperatively, as well as at 1 day, at 1 and 2 weeks, and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean intraocular pressure decreased from 24.0 ± 9.1 mm Hg to 13.8 ± 6.3 mm Hg at 1 year postoperatively ( P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed complete and qualified success rates of 83.3% and 91.7%. The mean glaucoma therapy decreased from 3.2 ± 1.1 to 0.8 ± 1.3 drugs 12 months after surgery ( P < 0.001). Nd:YAG goniopunture was performed in 2 eyes at 1 and 12 months postoperatively. No significant best-corrected visual acuity changes were registered. Perioperatively, we noted a trabeculo-descemet microperforation in 1 eye, transient hypotony in 5 eyes, and mild hyphema in 2 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrin adhesive provided an effective closure in sutureless DS in the patients included in our study. This modification of classical DS may simplify the surgical technique, ensure secure wound adaptation, optimize healing, and lower the risk of inflammation and fibrosis postoperatively.

Asymmetric response to ranibizumab in mixed choroidal neovascularization in a neovascular age-related macular degeneration diagnosed on OCT angiography - case report.

BACKGROUND: To present a case report of a patient with a mixed choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) with an asymmetric response to ranibizumab diagnosed on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTa). CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old male was referred to our department in September 2017 due to decreased vision in his left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 43 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters in the left eye. Macular edema was present in the left eye, and a mixed CNV was identified on the OCTa. Therapy with intravitreal ranibizumab was commenced. After 5 ranibizumab injections, the BCVA was 42 ETDRS letters, and considerable intraretinal edema was still present. OCTa showed a resolution of the type 2 lesion of the mixed CNV; however, the type 1 lesion had continued to grow. The patient was then switched to intravitreal aflibercept. After 3 monthly aflibercept injections, the BCVA improved to 53 ETDRS letters, and a reduction of the edema was observed on the optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCTa showed a decrease in both the area and vessel density in the type 1 lesion of the CNV. Therapy with aflibercept was continued; however, while the intraretinal edema continued to improve, atrophy developed in the macula and the BCVA worsened to 43 ETDRS letters. CONCLUSIONS: Ranibizumab nonresponse in a neovascular age-related macular degeneration is not uncommon. However, to our knowledge, this is the first described case of an asymmetric response to ranibizumab in a mixed CNV. While the type 2 lesion of the CNV reacted swiftly to the ranibizumab therapy, the type 1 lesion continued to grow. As with some other cases of ranibizumab resistance, switching to aflibercept proved effective.

Two-year results of a combined regimen of aflibercept treatment in three types of choroidal neovascular membrane in the wet form of age-related macular degeneration: Real-life evidence in the Czech Republic.

AIM: To present the results of a 2-year therapy with aflibercept in real-life practice in a mixed regimen in patients with a neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and to evaluate the treatment response of various types of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) - occult (Type 1), classic (Type 2) and minimally classic (Type 4). METHODS: This was a multicentric, prospective, observational study of a series of cases. Patients diagnosed with the wet form of AMD were treated in a fixed regimen (3 injections at intervals of 1 month and then injections at 8-week intervals) in the first year, and in a pro re nata regimen (PRN) in the second year. The period of investigation was 24 months. The development of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated by means of ETDRS optotypes (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) and the central retinal thickness (CRT). Measurements were performed prior to the commencement of therapy and then after 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 months. RESULTS: The therapeutically naïve group consisted of 135 eyes of 135 patients. Sixty-one eyes suffered from CNV of the 1st type, 50 eyes from CNV of the 2nd type and 24 eyes from CNV of the 4th type. The average baseline of BCVA ± SD in Type 1 CNV was 56.1 ± 10.8 letters of ETDRS, and then, respectively, 62.2 ± 12.9 letters, 62.8 ± 15.1 letters and 59.4 ± 13.2 letters after 4, 12 and 24 months. The average baseline value of CRT ± SD for Type 1 CNV was 442.4 ± 194.9 µm, and then 302.5 ± 144.4 µm, 277.7 ± 106.5 µm and 327.6 ± 138.6 µm at months 4, 12 and 24. The average baseline value of BCVA ± SD in Type 2 CNV was 55.6 ± 9.9 letters of ETDRS, and then 62.5 ± 11.1 letters, 62.5 ± 14.2 letters and 60.6 ± 15.1 letters after 4, 12 and 24 months. The average baseline value of CRT ± SD in Type 2 CNV was 446.8 ± 159.1 µm, and then 327.4 ± 127.0 µm, 316.7 ± 139.1 µm and 352.5 ± 132.4 µm at 4, 12 and 24 months. In Type 4 CNV, the average baseline value of BCVA ± SD was 56.7 ± 9.0 letters of ETDRS, and then 59.1 ± 10.6 letters, 59.2 ± 12.6 letters and 58 ± 8.8 letters after 4, 12 and 24 months. The average baseline value of CRT ± SD in Type 4 CNV was 492.1 ± 187.0 µm, and then 333.3 ± 137.5 µm, 326.7 ± 122.4 µm and 328.4 ± 132 µm at months 4, 12 and 24. All these changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Therapy with aflibercept in a mixed regimen in patients with the wet form of AMD during the investigation resulted in a statistically significant improvement in BCVA and decrease in CRT in both the occult and classic type of CNV. Both the functional and anatomical response to therapy was worse in the minimally classic type (Type 4) of CNV. SUMMARY DECLARATION: Patients suffering from the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration were treated with aflibercept in a mixed regimen (fixed in the first year and PRN in the second year). After 24 months of examination, a significant improvement of both morphological and functional results was observed in three types of choroidal neovascular membrane.

Results of Ranibizumab Treatment of the Myopic Choroidal Neovascular Membrane according to the Axial Length of the Eye.

AIM: A retrospective evaluation of the results of treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in a pro re nata (PRN) regimen in three groups of patients distributed according to axial length. METHODS: The paper presents a retrospective multicenter study carried out with the cooperation of several Departments of Ophthalmology in the Czech Republic. The study included 60 eyes of 60 patients suffering from mCNV, divided according to axial length into three groups. The first group consisted of 20 patients with an axial length of the eyes shorter than 28 mm (Group 1), the second group included 27 patients with axial lengths ranging from 28 mm to 29.81 mm (Group 2), and 13 patients had axial lengths longer than 30 mm (Group 3). All patients were first administered 3 initial intravitreal ranibizumab injections at monthly intervals (loading phase), and other injections were administered according to a PRN treatment regimen. Patients were evaluated before treatment and then at intervals of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The effect of ranibizumab treatment on the functional and morphological parameters of the affected eye was evaluated. RESULTS: The average baseline BCVA ± SD in Group 1 was 52.6 ± 12.5 letters of ETDRS optotypes, and at the end of the one-year follow-up, it was 63.3 ± 11.8 letters. The average baseline of CRT ± SD in this group was 377.4 ± 80.0 µm, and in the 12th month, it was 311.1 ± 63.7 µm. The average baseline BCVA ± SD in Group 2 was 50.2 ± 9.0 ETDRS letters, and at the end of the follow-up, it was 60 ± 12.4 letters. The average baseline of CRT ± SD in Group 2 was 391.2 ± 85.2 µm, and in the 12th month, it was 323.9 ± 91.2 µm. In Group 3, the average baseline of BCVA was 48.5 ± 14.5 ETDRS letters, and at the end of the one-year follow-up, it was 55.7 ± 16.1 letters. The average baseline CRT ± SD for Group 3 was 342.1 ± 94.9 µm, and after 12 months, it was 287.8 ± 88.4 µm. An improvement of BCVA by ≥15 letters of ETDRS optotypes was achieved by 3 patients of 20 (15%) in Group 1, by 5 patients of 27 (18.5%) in Group 2, and by 3 patients of 13 (23.1%) in Group 3. All these changes were statistically significant in comparison with the input values (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ranibizumab treatment in patients with mCNV in our study resulted in statistically significant improvement in BCVA and a decrease in CRT in all groups of patients. Our results from a routine clinical practice correspond with the results of large clinical studies; we confirm a particularly good effect of treatment in patients with axial lengths of the eye smaller than 28 mm.

25-gauge vitrectomy and gas for the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

AIMS: To evaluate the anatomical and functional results in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who underwent 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with gas tamponade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of 126 eyes of 126 patients (79 men, 47 women) with RRD who underwent 25-gauge PPV with gas tamponade (13% C3F8 in 87 eyes, 20% SF6 in 39 eyes). 113 patients (89.7%), were operated on under local anaesthesia, 13 patients (10.3%) under general anaesthesia. Macula was detached in 85 eyes (67.5%). 53 eyes had pseudophakic RRD, 73 eyes were phakic. Anatomical success of the primary intervention, change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and incidence of complications were assessed. An average follow-up period is 7.2 months (6-15). RESULTS: With single operation, retinal attachment was achieved in 125 eyes (99.2%); the final anatomical success was 100%. The initial mean BCVA was 0.89 logMar (2.00 to 0.00); at the end of the follow-up period, it improved to 0.23logMAR (1.00 to -0.10), P < 0,0001. During the first post-intervention day, hypotony of the eye below 10 mmHg was observed in 1 patient (0.8%); on the contrary, intraocular pressure was temporarily increased to 25 mmHg and more in 36 patients (28.6%). CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of RRD using 25-gauge PPV with expansive gas tamponade renders excellent anatomical results and improvement in BCVA. The incidence of complications and necessity of sclerotomy suturing are low.

Macular telangiectasia type 2 accompanied by solitary retinal astrocytic hamartoma (case report).

BACKGROUND: To present a coincidence of macular telangiectasia type 2 and solitary retinal astrocytic hamartoma in one patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old woman was examined in the Department of Ophthalmology of University hospital Kralovske Vinohrady for complaints of metamorphopsia in her left eye. Her uncorrected visual acuity (VA) was 4/4 on Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts (ETDRS), on the retina of her left eye white, prominent, partially calcified tumour 1 disc diameter in diameter, 1,5 disc diameter from the foveola was detected on the retina. In the macular region of both eyes, parafoveal greying with crystalline deposits and changes in retinal vasculature were visible. We performed following examinations: fluorescein angiography (FA), B-scan ultrasound, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) including photo documentation. FA showed partial hyperfluorescence of mulberry-like surface of the tumour typical for retinal astrocytic hamartoma. Parafoveally in both eyes, leakage from parafoveal telangiectasia was apparent. SD-OCT showed cystoid space in the macular region of both eyes as well as changes in inner and outer photoreceptor segment junction in left eye. SD-OCT of the tumour showed proliferation in retinal nerve fibre layer with normal structure of underlying retinal layers and choroid. Ultrasound examination of the tumour detected solid, highly echogenic prominent tumour with high reflectivity and acoustic shadow. CONCLUSION: A coincidence of two relatively rare clinical units, macular telangiectasia type 2 and solitary astrocytic hamartoma was detected as a unique and rare observation.