Long term results of punctoplasty with canalicular triangular flap in punctal stenosis.

PURPOSE: The aim was to describe the punctoplasty technique with canalicular triangular flap, and present the long-term results of the technique in patients with inferior punctal stenosis. METHODS: The files of the patients who were diagnosed with punctal stenosis grade 0, 1, and 2 and underwent a canalicular triangular flap were evaluated retrospectively. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the University of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital, Istanbul. The demographic data, symptoms, prior interventions, punctal stenosis grading, associated eye pathologies, fluorescein clearance test, Munk score, and follow-up time were recorded. The puncta were evaluated biomicroscopically, and photographs were taken at each visit. The patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in the study. The loss of epiphora symptom, positive dye disappearance, and puncti ≥grade 3 opening were accepted as a success. RESULTS: A hundred and nine inferior puncti of 64 patients with symptoms of epiphora and punctal stenosis diagnosis were included in the study. Thirteen eyes were excluded as they were diagnosed to have punctal atresia or canalicular stenosis of a variable degree beyond punctum. The rest 96 eyes of 55 patients-65 eyes of 36 females and 31 eyes of 19 males-were included in the study as having pure punctal stenosis. The mean age of the patients was 64.3 ± 9.01 years (40-88 years). Forty-one patients had bilateral and 14 patients had unilateral punctal stenosis. Sixty-six were grade 1, and 30 were grade 2. Epiphora was the most commonly reported symptom.The mean follow-up time was 21.17 ± 10.5 months (6-46 months). In 76 (79.1%) eyes of 96, Munk score was 0 and in 15 (15.6%) eyes, Munk score was 1. Anatomical success as having puncta larger than grade 2 was recorded in 97.9%, and functional success was recorded in 94.6% of anatomically successful eyes. No restenosis was recorded in any punctum. CONCLUSION: Although the techniques of 1-snip, 2-snip, 3-snip, and 4-snip punctoplasty are performed with variable success rates in punctal stenosis patients, there is always a risk of restenosis due to the incision of the flap and unpredictability of the way the tissues will epithelize. In the canalicular triangular flap technique, the canalicular mucosal flap is preserved, and the continuity of the lacrimal mucosa with conjunctiva is provided, which utilizes appropriate re-epithelization of the wound edges, resulting in a wide punctal opening for the upper lacrimal system in the long term.

The outcomes of primary pars plana vitrectomy alone as a first surgical procedure in pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics and analyze the results of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) as the first surgery due to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in pediatric age. METHODS: The records of pediatric patients who underwent PPV alone due to RRD were reviewed retrospectively. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) values were recorded before and after the surgery. Complications during and after the operation, postoperative recurrences were followed-up. RESULTS: One hundred and six patients included in the study were followed-up for an average of 24.20 ± 11.38 months. The final mean BCVA showed a statistically significant improvement compared to the initial mean BCVA (p < 0.001). During the postoperative follow-up period, recurrent retinal detachment was seen in 31.1% of patients. Anatomical success was achieved at a rate of 68.9% after the first surgery and increased to 95.3% after repeated operations (in 78.3% without any tamponade). Both anatomical and functional success of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade C or worse and patients with macula-off retinal status were poorer (each p value < 0.05). The effect of the etiological factor on anatomical and functional success was not significant (each p value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Satisfactory results can be obtained with PPV alone in pediatric RRD. However, it should be noted that postoperative complications and recurrences occur at a high rate and that repeated surgeries are often required. The presence of PVR and macular involvement are seen as negative prognostic factors to the success of surgery.

Non-intraocular pressure-related revision surgeries after Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in refractory glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) is an effective treatment method for refractory glaucoma (RG), however, additional surgical interventions may be required over the course of follow-up due to complications. Our aim is to investigate the causes, types, and outcomes of revisional surgical interventions apart from revisions aiming IOP control, following AGV implantation in patients with RG. METHODS: The pre- and postoperative month 1-3-6-12 and last visit examination findings of the patients who underwent various surgical revisions of AGV between January 2015 and April 2018 in our clinic were recorded, as well as the interval between AGV implantation-revision surgery and the presence of any other complications necessitating additional surgery. The success criteria were defined on the basis of need for additional procedures. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes of 24 patients were included. The follow-up time and the interval between AGV implantation-surgical revisions were median 12 (6-92) and median 9.7 (1-72) months, respectively. The most common complication requiring revision was tube exposure in 15 (57.7%) followed by tube malposition in 11 (42.3%) eyes. Further interventions were required only in one eye with recurrent exposure. CONCLUSION: AGV implantation has early and late tube-related complications necessitating revisional surgical interventions; which makes it important to have extended follow-up period for patients with AGV implants. Revisional interventions for AGV implants with tube-related complications are efficient procedures for the majority of patients, but recurrence may occur requiring additional revisions.

Comparison of macular thickness change by optical coherence tomography after uncomplicated cataract surgery in eyes with and without exfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of exfoliation syndrome (ES) on macular thickness after uncomplicated cataract surgery. METHODS: 87 patients (87 eyes) who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery were included in the study. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) films were taken in addition to the routine ophthalmologic examination before the surgery and at postoperative 1st week, 1st, 3rd and 6th months. Mean macular thickness, central macular thickness and macular volume values obtained from the 6 × 6 mm macular map in the OCT measurements were recorded. The cases were divided into two groups as Group 1: cases without ES and Group 2: cases with ES. The macular values obtained from the OCT measurements of the two groups were compared with statistical methods. RESULTS: Eighty-seven eyes were included in the study; while 51 had no ES (Group 1), 36 had ES (Group 2). The mean age of all cases was 66.70 ± 9.13 years. While the mean macular thickness, central macular thickness and macular volume were similar at the preoperative visit and the postoperative 1st week of all cases (each p value > 0.05); these values were higher at the postoperative 1st, 3rd and 6th month compared to the preoperative and the postoperative 1st week values (each p value < 0.05). The highest values were obtained at the postoperative 1st month; while the values of 1st, 3rd and 6th months were statistically similar (each p value > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of macular volume, central macular thickness and average macular thickness in these periods. CONCLUSION: Exfoliation syndrome has not been evaluated as a risk factor for an increase in macular thickness after uncomplicated cataract surgery.

Refractive and visual outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in eyes with thin corneas.

OBJECTIVES: To report the refractive and visual outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) with the thinnest corneal thickness (CCT) of less than 500 µm and evaluate it in terms of safety and efficacy. SETTING: Refractive Surgery Clinic of University of Health Sciences Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The pre-and-postoperative examinations of all patients with thin corneas (preoperative CCT <500 µm) who underwent the SMILE procedure and had a minimum of 24 months of follow-up records were reviewed from medical files. The main outcome measures of the refractive and visual outcomes and the effect on corneal high order aberrations (HOAs) were evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 55 eyes of 39 patients. The mean preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UDVA) was 1.3 ± 1.5 logMAR, and the mean postoperative UDVA was significantly improved to 0.05 ± 0.80 logMAR at the last visit (p < 0.001). At the last follow-up, 84% of the eyes were within ± 0.50D, and 96% of the eyes were within ±1.00D of attempted SE refraction. The HOAs of coma (p < 0.001), secondary astigmatism (p = 0.015), spherical aberration (p < 0.001), and RMS (p < 0.001) aberrations increased significantly from the baseline to the postoperative last visit. The increase in trefoil was not significant (p = 0.32). No sight threatening complications or ectasia were observed during the follow-up time. CONCLUSION: SMILE is a safe and effective technique with long-term stability for treatment of myopia in eyes with a thin cornea, and satisfactory results can be obtained if candidates for surgery are selected carefully with particular emphasis on normal preoperative corneal topography.

Refraction under general anesthesia in children, using cycloplegic refraction only as a reference.

PURPOSE: To compare the measurements of cycloplegic refraction and refraction (R1-1) under general anesthesia (GA) when using the same portable auto-refractometer (ARF) in pediatric patients. METHODS: 36Thirty-six to 60-month-old patients who underwent refraction measurements using a portable ARF (Retinomax® K plus 3, Righton, Japan), who did not receive prior cycloplegics under this GA and who had cycloplegic refraction using 1% cyclopentolate and the same Retinomax® device < 3 months prior this GA, between 2015 and 2018, were included in this study. The agreement (Bland-Altman analysis) and correlation (Pearson correlation) between the mean values of the measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: Two-hundred-twenty-two right eyes of 222 patients (114 male and 108 female) were included in this study. The mean age was 45.04 ± 11.24 months. The mean spherical refractions (R1-1, R2-1) under GA and cycloplegic refraction were 1.08 ± 3.50 diopter (D) (-8.00 to +8.00) and 2.58 ± 3.28 D (-6.50 to +9.25), respectively. A strong positive correlation was detected between the two measurements (r = 0.95). When comparing measurements, the mean measurement under GA was -1.49 D (95% confidence interval: lower limit, -3.63; upper limit, +0.63) more myopic than the mean cycloplegic refraction (R1-1) value (Bland-Altman analysis test). The differences between the measurements were within ± 1 D in 92 eyes (41.44%) and within ± 2 D in 180 eyes (81.01%). No significant difference was detected when comparing the cylindrical refractive error values (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Refractive measurements under GA were more myopic than cycloplegic refraction (R1-1) measurements. It is important to consider that complete cycloplegia is not achieved under GA.