Evaluation of efficacy and safety of new high-density dyes for chromovitrectomy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two novel heavy dyes for macular surgery: DoubledyneTM and TwinTM. One eye from each of 144 patients undergoing surgery for macular hole or macular pucker was included in the study. The eyes were randomly divided into two groups according to the dye used during surgery. Best correct visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal morphology assessed by ocular coherence tomography (OCT) were evaluated before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Only one surgeon performed each operation and provided a score ranging from 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) for quality of staining and comfort in surgery. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS to compare parameters before and after surgery and between the two groups. No statistical differences were recorded in quality of staining (p = 0.11), in surgery comfort (p = 0.17) and total time of surgery (p = 0.44) between the two groups. BCVA statistically improved and central macular thickness (CMT) statistically decreased after surgery in both groups (p < 0.05). No toxic dye-related complications or long-term ones affecting the retina were observed in either group. According to this data, although confirmation in further studies with larger populations and longer follow up is required, DoubledyneTM and TwinTM proved to be safe and effective dyes for macular surgery.

Combining cataract surgery with 25-gauge high-speed pars plana vitrectomy: A prospective study.

PURPOSE: To compare visual outcome and postoperative complications of combined 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and phacoemulsification with vitrectomy alone surgery in patients with epiretinal membrane and macular hole. METHODS: A total of 110 eyes (73 eyes with epiretinal membrane and 37 eyes with macular hole) were enrolled in this prospective study. The eyes were divided into two groups: Group A included 55 eyes which underwent phacovitrectomy at the same time and Group B included 55 eyes which underwent vitrectomy alone. Follow-up visits were at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: The best-corrected visual acuity correlation by analysis of variance measurement showed statistically non-significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.32). The post hoc analysis from baseline, 1°, 2°, and 3° follow-ups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The most common postoperative complication was cystoid macular edema that has been detected in 11 patients (10%) (seven eyes in Group A and four eyes in Group B): 2 patients (1.8%) developed a chronic macular edema. Intraocular hypertension occurred in five eyes (4.5%) (three in Group A and two in Group B). Four eyes (3.6%) underwent another surgical procedure for a persistent macular hole (two in Group A and two in Group B). The intraocular lens repositioning was performed one day after surgery in three eyes (2.7%) (Group A). The mean preoperative visual acuity was not different between the two groups (p = 0.80). CONCLUSION: No significative differences between combined surgery and vitrectomy alone have been detected, in terms of postoperative complications and visual outcome.

To estimate the safety and efficacy of a 3-D visualization helmet for vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a 3-D visualization helmet (3DVH) during 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for macular holes (MH) and macular puckers (MP). METHODS: A total of 184 eyes of 184 patients undergoing PPV for MH or MP were randomly selected for surgery with 3DVH or standard Galilean microscope (GM). Only one highly trained surgeon performed each PPV. A surgical comfort score, ranging from 1 to 10 was recorded after each operation. Statistical analysis was run with SPSS to compare parameters before and after surgery and between the two groups. RESULTS: No statistical differences were found between the two groups for mean best correct visual acuity improvement after surgery (p < 0.001). Mean surgery comfort evaluation was 7.63 ± 0.48 in 3DVH eyes and 8.21 ± 0.62 in GM ones (p = 0.09); mean overall surgical time was 35.12 ± 3.8 min in 3DVH eyes and 32.7 ± 2.27 min in GM ones (p < 0.001); mean peeling time was 14.24 ± 3.42 min in 3DVH eyes and 13.61 ± 4.63 min in GM ones (p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: According to the data observed in this study, the 3DVH provides adequate safety and efficacy in retinal and macular visualization during PPV for MH and MP.

Choroidal effusion and suprachoroidal hemorrhage during phacoemulsification: intraoperative management to prevent expulsive hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To describe the intraoperative management of choroidal effusion (CE) or suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) during cataract surgery with the phacoemulsification technique. METHODS: The study is a retrospective interventional study through which we describe the intraoperative management adopted in 6 cases of CE or SCH during cataract surgery. The study involved 6,400 eyes (phacoemulsification) in 6 years observational time (incidence rate 0.094%). The surgical time at which these complications happened differed: nucleolus phacoemulsification in 2 eyes, cortex removal by bimanual irrigation-aspiration in 3 eyes, and intraocular lens implant for 1 eye. Once the complication was recognized, each patient was quickly moved to an extreme reverse Trendelenburg position and pharmacologically treated to manage high blood pressure, pain, and anxiety (150 mL of an 18% mannitol solution delivered in rapid infusion intravenously; 1-3 mg intravenous midazolam; 5 nifedipine sublingual drops). RESULTS: In all the cases reported, the surgery was completed after resolution of the acute choroidal exudation or SCH. In the follow-up evaluation, the intraocular pressure was normal at each examination. The visual acuity of the patients was between 6/7.5 and 5/6 Snellen after 4 weeks. We observed a statistically significant reduction in endothelial cells in the 2 eyes in which the CE or SCH happened during the phacoemulsification compared with the other cases; this finding likely results from mechanical damage (p = 0.04 [95% confidence interval]). CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal effusion or SCH can be intraoperatively managed to avoid expulsive hemorrhage and maintain the possibility of completing the surgery.

Shallow Anterior Chamber After Trabeculectomy: Risk Reduction by Use of Removable Compression Sutures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk of shallow anterior chamber after trabeculectomy with removable compression sutures. METHODS: A total of 263 eyes affected by primary open-angle glaucoma that was unresponsive to medical treatments were divided into 2 groups: 126 eyes were treated with conventional trabeculectomy (group A) and 137 with a modified surgery technique using 3 removable compression 10-0 nylon sutures (group B). All the participants received intraoperative antimetabolites (mitomycin 0.04%). Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) of >14 mm Hg in the eyes of group B patients was followed by removal of compression sutures. Best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, IOP, and anterior chamber depth were evaluated 1, 7, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after surgery. RESULTS: On the first postoperative day, 12 eyes from group A (9.5%) exhibited a shallow anterior chamber with marked hypotony and no eyes in group B showed flat anterior chamber at any control evaluation (P<0.001). The day after surgery, group A showed a mean IOP of 5.3 mm Hg (± 2.02), whereas group B had a mean of 7.4 mm Hg (± 2.10). At 7 days postoperation, the values for IOP were 10.95 (± 1.55) and 11.7 mm Hg (± 1.66) in groups A and B, respectively. One month later, mean IOP was 11.05 mm Hg (± 1.08) for group A and 13.9 mm Hg (± 3.26) for group B. The surgeon removed the compression sutures from all eyes with IOP>14 mm Hg (90%). The day after suture removal, mean IOP decreased to 10.45 mm Hg (± 1.37). There was no significant statistical difference in visual acuity between the 2 groups at any point during follow-up (P>0.001). At 180 postoperative days the difference in mean IOP between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The application of removable corneoscleral compression sutures during trabeculectomy reduced the risk of postoperative shallow anterior chamber and allowed for safe IOP control after the procedure giving further postoperative chance to reduce the intraocular pressure.

Aniridia associated with lens coloboma and secondary glaucoma treated with transcorneal argon laser ciliary body photocoagulation: a case report.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe the management of cataract and refractory glaucoma in a case of congenital aniridia (AN)-1. METHODS: In an 18-year-old female patient affected by congenital AN, bilateral coloboma of the zonula and lens, cataract and glaucoma, pars plana vitrectomy, cataract extraction and subsequent transcorneal ciliary body argon laser photocoagulation were performed. RESULTS: Five years after laser treatment, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 and the intraocular pressure was stable at 18 mm Hg with topical pharmacological management consisting of timolol 0.5% and latanoprost 0.005%. CONCLUSIONS: From our experience, transcorneal ciliary body photocoagulation after cataract extraction and vitrectomy could be a useful technique to manage high ocular pressure in eyes affected by congenital AN.

Confocal microscopy after descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty: a case report.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical findings, visual outcomes, and confocal microscopic corneal features after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) technique in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. METHODS: A 70-year-old female patient with pseudophakia and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy underwent small-incision DSEK surgery. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 1.30 (20/400) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen) before treatment. Confocal microscopy (ConfoScan 4; Nidek Technologies, Padova, Italy) was performed before surgery, after 7 days, at 1 month, and 6 months after descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty. Images of corneal structures, including endothelium, donor stroma, and recipient stroma, were obtained. RESULTS: Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved to 0.3 (20/40) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen) at 6 months. Endothelial cell density was 850 cells per square millimeter 6 months after surgery. Interface and donor stroma reflectivity were highest, 7 days postoperative showing progressive decrease over time. CONCLUSIONS: The DSEK procedure represents a promising alternative to conventional penetrating keratoplasty for patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. Confocal microscopy is able to detect interface morphological characteristics, to improve therapeutic choice, and to understand the pathophysiology of visual recovery.