Human immunodeficiency virus-related retinal microangiopathy and systemic cytomegalovirus disease association.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a significant association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related retinal microangiopathy and systemic cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Participants in this single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study were 383 HIV-infected patients assessed for ocular manifestations before the beginning of antiretroviral therapy. The presence of HIV-related retinal microangiopathy, the presence of systemic CMV disease, laboratory data, and demographic information were determined by referring to medical records. The significance of any association between HIV-related retinal microangiopathy and systemic CMV disease was determined by use of the Chi-squared test and by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: HIV-related retinal microangiopathy was present in 85 patients, and was significantly associated with systemic CMV disease both by use of the Chi-squared test (P = 0.006) and by multivariate analysis (P = 0.045, odds ratio 2.03, 95 % confidence interval 1.02-4.06 adjusted for CD4+ cell count and plasma HIV-RNA level). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that microangiopathy may be involved in the development of CMV disease in HIV-infected patients. Thus, detection of the presence of HIV-related retinal microangiopathy is important in the management of HIV-infected patients.

Intraocular lens roll-up technique: foldable IOL implantation using forceps through incisions smaller than 3.2 mm.

We describe the intraocular lens (IOL) roll-up technique, which uses lens forceps to insert 3 types of foldable polyacrylic IOLs with optic diameters of 6.0 mm through small sclerocorneal incisions comparable to those used by injector systems.

Trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification in eyes with vitreous hemorrhage during combined cataract and vitreous surgery.

PURPOSE: To study the safety and usefulness of trypan blue application and conventional endoillumination for enhancing visualization during phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation in cases of cataract with vitreous hemorrhage. METHODS: Ten eyes of 10 patients with cataract and coexisting vitreous hemorrhage underwent combined trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation with vitrectomy. In a two-step surgery, after staining the anterior capsule with trypan blue, continuous circular capsulorhexis was performed; then, phacoemulsification was performed using conventional endoillumination. Specular microscopy was performed before and 3 months after surgery on eyes that underwent trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification and on control eyes that underwent standard phacoemulsification to evaluate the toxic effect of trypan blue on corneal endothelial cells. RESULTS: Trypan blue application improved visualization of the anterior capsule, and a complete capsulorhexis could be performed in all eyes. In all 10 eyes, endoillumination was required to visualize the lens structure, and phacoemulsification could be accomplished. Specular microscopy revealed that there was no significant difference in the level of corneal endothelial cell loss between the trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification group and the control group. CONCLUSION: The described double visualization technique may assist phacoemulsification in selected cases of cataract with vitreous hemorrhage.

Double visualization using triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue during stage 3 macular hole surgery.

PURPOSE: To study the usefulness of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue for facilitating visualization and dissection of the posterior vitreous cortex and internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitrectomy in idiopathic stage 3 macular holes. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 10 eyes of 10 patients with idiopathic stage 3 macular holes. After core vitrectomy had been performed, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. After separation of the visualized posterior vitreous cortex, trypan blue was injected over the macular area. Excised specimens were examined by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the posterior vitreous cortex and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The posterior vitreous cortex and residual vitreous cortex were completely removed. The ILM of the retina was stained faint blue and was successfully removed in all patients. Electron microscopy revealed that the triamcinolone-acetonide-visualized layer and the trypan-blue-stained layer had different histological features. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue were encountered. CONCLUSION: Double visualization of the posterior vitreous cortex and ILM using triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue during vitrectomy may facilitate separation of the posterior vitreous cortex from the retina and removal of the ILM around the macular hole in patients with idiopathic stage 3 macular holes.

Triamcinolone acetonide facilitates removal of the epiretinal membrane and separation of the residual vitreous cortex in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole.

PURPOSE: To study the usefulness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection during vitrectomy in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 6 patients with retinal detachment resulting from a highly myopic eye with a macular hole. After separation of the posterior hyaloid and removal of any visible epiretinal membrane, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. Excised specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the entire epiretinal membrane and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex were completely removed. Successful reattachment was performed without retinal damage in all cases. Electron microscopy revealed a cellular epiretinal membrane within a collagenous matrix lining the smooth internal surface of the internal limiting membrane. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide were encountered. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative visualization of the epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex with triamcinolone acetonide was found to be a useful adjunct to vitrectomy. Using triamcinolone acetonide during vitrectomy may facilitate both removal of the epiretinal membrane around the macular hole and separation of the residual vitreous cortex from the retina in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment.

Causes of blindness and the results of cataract surgical intervention in the Micronesian islands: a retrospective study.

Since 1983, we have delivered eye care to inhabitants of the Micronesia islands a total of 18 times over an 18-year period. Approximately 14,000 islanders were examined. We diagnosed a total of 1226 blind eyes and 1231 eyes with low vision. Unoperated cataract (n = 765, 62.4%) was the leading cause of blindness in our data, and 611 cataract operations were performed. The preoperative visual acuity of the patients who underwent cataract surgery was less than 20/200. Visual acuity improved in 588 cases (96.2%) after the surgery. Sight-threatening complications occurred in 1.1% (7) of the eyes after the surgery, which is comparable to the rate in developed countries. Corneal opacity secondary to infection (11.2%) was the second leading cause of blindness in our data. Diabetic retinopathy (9.9%) was a cause of low vision in our data, and the number of eyes diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in each district increased over the years. Glaucoma was the cause of blindness in 1.9% of the blind eyes, although the percentage may actually have been higher because visual loss was assessed only by reduced visual acuity. The demand for correcting refractive errors that caused a visual acuity of less than 20/60, was evident throughout the region. The majority of blind individuals in this study were suffering from operable cataract and good results were obtained with cataract surgery in this region. Further training of local medical staff would significantly improve eye care services in Micronesia.

High-frequency ultrasonographic imaging in suprachoroidal hemorrhage after filtering surgery.

A 64-year-old woman with glaucoma had suprachoroidal hemorrhage approximately 6 hours after trabeculectomy. High-frequency ultrasonography revealed high reflectivity in the inner space of a kissing choroidal detachment, which facilitated the differential diagnosis of suprachoroidal hemorrhage resulting from serous choroidal detachment. The ciliary process and iris were anteriorly displaced due to the ciliary detachment and forward pressure of the anterior vitreous. On the basis of the diagnosis, transscleral choroidal drainage was performed without delay and the patient's vision was preserved. After surgery, suprachoroidal hemorrhage disappeared clinically, but high-frequency ultrasonography detected persistence of the choroidal detachment in the peripheral area.

Intraocular and plasma HIV-1 RNA in HIV-infected patients with CMV retinitis and HIV-infected controls.

HIV-1 RNA was quantified in intraocular specimens and plasma from AIDS patients with CMV retinitis undergoing therapeutic vitrectomy and in 8 control subjects undergoing cataract surgery using the Amplicor RT-PCR-based assay. The HIV-1 RNA concentration in the intraocular specimens was significantly lower than in plasma. Patients with CMV retinitis and plasma HIV-1 RNA concentrations > 100,000 copies/ml generally had detectable HIV-1 RNA in their intraocular specimens. These findings point to the risk of percutaneous injury from a sharp instrument used in HIV-infected patients during ophthalmic surgery and possible transmission of HIV during such surgery. Prevention of percutaneous contact will require the use of surgical instruments that reduce the likelihood of injury, as well as the wearing of double gloves during surgery.

Posterior capsule staining and posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis in congenital cataract.

We report 2 cases of indocyanine green (ICG) staining used for posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) in congenital cataract combined with anterior vitrectomy. In the first case, because of corneal opacity, the visibility of the posterior capsule was poor without staining. After the extraction of the cataract, a PCCC was performed after ICG staining of the posterior capsule. In the second case, after cataract removal, ICG staining was used to better visualize the posterior capsule. In both cases, the PCCC was successfully completed because of better visualization of the stained posterior capsule flap against the transparent anterior hyaloid face of the vitreous. Clear visual axes have been maintained.

Detection of CMV in plasma and aqueous humor specimens from AIDS patients with CMV retinitis using the amplicor CMV test.

A DNA hybridization test (the Amplicor CMV test) for CMV DNA was used to detect CMV DNA in paired plasma and aqueous humor specimens from 37 AIDS patients with ophthalmoscopically diagnosed CMV retinitis. CMV was detected in 25/37 (67.6%) plasma specimens and in 32/37 (86.5%) aqueous humor specimens. Thus, the Amplicor CMV test using aqueous humor specimens seems to be a useful diagnostic test for CMV retinitis and one that is more sensitive than determination of CMV DNA in plasma specimens.