EFFECT OF RANIBIZUMAB AND AFLIBERCEPT ON RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL DETACHEMENT, SUBRETINAL AND INTRARETINAL FLUID IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of three initial doses of the anti-VEGF ranibizumab and aflibercept medication on serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED), subretinal fluid (SRF) and intraretinal fluid (IRF) in the macula of treatment naive neovascular AMD (nvAMD) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cohort consists of 148 patients, of which 74 patients were treated with ranibizumab (51 females and 23 males) and 74 with aflibercept (46 females and 28 males). The data was recorded prospectively from the moment of diagnosis and start of treatment for a period of 3 months. At the moment of diagnosis and 3 months later, an OCT examination (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) was performed. The OCT examination included a macular scan with 25 scans. Using the OCT instrument software, we measured the maximum anterior-posterior elevation of serous PED, the highest thickness of SRF and the largest diameter of the intraretinal cystic space. The statistical significance of differences between groups was evaluated using the t-test for continuous data and the Fisher exact test for categorical data. Changes in values of continuous variables over time were evaluated using the Wilcoxon paired test. Paired comparisons of binary parameters were determined by the McNemar test. RESULTS: Full regression of PED, SRF and IRF occurred in 3 (4.1%), 25 (39%) and 20 (51%) patients treated with ranibizumab, and in 5 (7.9%, p = 0.470), 28 (47%, p = 0.470) and 25 (57%, p = 0.827) patients treated with aflibercept, respectively. The average regression of PED, SRF and IRF was -60.4 μm (median -37.5 μm), -84.3 μm (median -85 μm) and -109.3 μm (median -81 μm) in patients treated with ranibizumab, and -46.3 μm (median -30 μm, p = 0.389), -127.7 μm (median -104 μm, p = 0.096) and -204.4 μm (median -163 μm, p = 0.005) in patients treated with aflibercept, respectively. We did not show a statistically significant difference in the regression rates of PED, SRF and IRF between the ranibizumab and aflibercept groups. (in patients with IRF after adjustment of the higher baseline IRF volumes in patients treated with aflibercept, p = 0.891). CONCLUSION: We are convinced that ranibizumab and aflibercept have the same effect on serous PED, SRF and IRF in the macula in patients with treatment naive nvAMD during the initial loading phase.

EFFECT OF PHARMACOLOGICAL PUPIL DILATION ON INTRAOCULAR LENS POWER CALCULATION IN PATIENTS INDICATED FOR CATARACT SURGERY.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of pupil dilation on ocular parameters measured by optical biometry and the influence of pupil dilation on intraocular lens (PC IOL) power calculation by using the third-generation (SRK/T) and the fourth-generation (Haigis) formula. METHODS: 40 eyes of patients indicated for cataract surgery were included in this study. Each patient was examined by optical biometer firstly without artificial mydriasis (AM) and then after AM, which was achieved using local application of short-term acting mydriatics. Biometric data were measured by Lenstar LS 900 optical biometer, we recorded axial length of the eye (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT) and corneal astigmatism and optical power of cornea. These data we measured were used for calculation of the PC IOL optical power using both the SRK/T and the Haigis formula. The target postoperative refraction was set to emmetropia. Statistical analysis was performed for evaluation of influence of AM on each ocular parameter and influence of AM on the recommended PC IOL power calculated by the SRK/T and the Haigis formula. RESULTS: No statistically significant effect of AM on AL, LT and keratometry was demonstrated. On the contrary we demonstrated significant effect on CCT and ACD. No effect of AM on the PC IOL power calculation using the SRK/T formula was proved - the PC IOL optical power before AM and after AM did not differ in any case. When using the Haigis formula for the PC IOL power calculation, the recommended optical power of the PC IOL changed by +0.5 Dpt in 9 eyes, i.e., 22.5 % of the whole group, but statistical analysis did not show this change as statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pharmacological dilation of the pupil significantly affects some intraocular parameters measured by optical biometer and in the case of using the Haigis formula it can influence recommended power of the PC IOL. Conversely, when using the SRK/T formula, pharmacological dilation of pupil does not affect the recommended PC IOL power.

UVEAL MELANOMA IN A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL. CASE REPORT.

Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular tumour in adults, it is a form of cancer that affects mostly older adults, as the average age at detection of this tumour is 60 years, but it can occur in any age group with no significant gender difference. However, uveal melanoma is very rare in children compared to the adult population, accounting for 1 % of all cases. In pediatric patients, malignant uveal melanoma is more frequently manifested during puberty, leading to speculation of an association between uveal melanoma and growth hormone levels. Prognostic factors for uveal melanoma include tumour histology, chromosomal abnormalities, tumour size, extrascleral spread and tumour location. Risk factors for uveal melanoma include melanocytosis, neurofibromatosis type 1 and dysplastic naevus syndrome. Some studies point to a significantly lower risk of developing metastases in younger patients, but the prognosis of uveal melanoma in children is not yet fully known. Clinical signs and treatment options for malignant uveal melanoma in children are still under discussion. Differential diagnosis of uveal lesions in children can sometimes be very difficult, as evidenced by following case report in which authors describe a case of choroidal melanoma in a 15-year-old girl.