3D Da Vinci robotic surgery: is it a risk to the surgeon's eye health?

Da Vinci three-dimensional (3D) system has been increasingly used in customary surgical settings, gaining fundamental relevance for abdominal, urological, and gynecological laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this research is to evaluate the degree of discomfort and potential changes in the binocular vision and ocular motility of surgical operators, who employ 3D vision systems during Da Vinci robotic surgery. Twenty-four surgeons were enrolled in the study, including twelve who typically use the 3D Da Vinci system and twelve who routinely employ 2D system. Routine general ophthalmological and orthoptic examinations were conducted at baseline (T0), the day before surgery, and 30 min after the 3D or 2D surgery (T1). In addition, surgeons were interviewed using a questionnaire of 18 symptoms, with each item containing three questions regarding the frequency, severity, and bothersomeness of the symptoms, in order to evaluate the degree of discomfort. Mean age at evaluation was 45.28 ± 8.71 years (range 33-63 years). Cover test, uncover test, and fusional amplitude showed no statistically significant difference. After surgery, no statistical difference was observed in the Da Vinci group on the TNO stereotest (p > 0.9999). However, the difference in the 2D group resulted statistically significant (p = 0.0156). Comparing participants (p 0.0001) and time (T0-T1; p = 0.0137), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Surgeons using 2D systems reported more discomfort than those using 3D systems. The absence of short-term consequences following surgery with the Da Vinci 3D system is a promising conclusion, considering the numerous advantages of this technology. Nonetheless, multicenter investigations and more studies are required to verify and interpret our findings.

Binocular Visual Function Changes After Corneal Collagen Cross-linking in Patients With Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: High-order aberrations (HOAs) have been demonstrated to profoundly affect both visual acuity and stereoacuity in patients with keratoconus. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) has been proven to significantly lower HOAs in keratoconus. Yet, to the present date, no evaluation of the effect of the procedure on stereopsis has been performed. The purpose of the study was to assess differences in binocular visual performance in patients with keratoconus before and after CXL. METHODS: Patients with keratoconus undergoing standard Dresden protocol epi-off CXL in the ophthalmology department of Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Hospital received slitlamp examination, uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity assessment, corneal tomography, Lang stereotest, TNO stereoacuity assessment, distance and near cover test, and Irvine test before surgery and 6 months after CXL. Stereopsis tests were performed with spectacle correction. RESULTS: The analysis included 30 patients (mean age 24.63 ± 3.49 years). The Lang test improved after treatment ( P 0.027), with 6 of 30 patients (20%) showing a positive Lang test before CXL compared with 16 of 30 patients (53.3%) after treatment. Moreover, TNO stereoacuity increased after treatment ( P 0.043), and 14 of 30 patients (46.7%) manifested an improvement of at least 250″ at the TNO test after CXL. In this subgroup of patients, total root mean square values decreased after treatment ( P < 0.001), whereas patients who did not manifest a clinically significant improvement in stereoacuity did not show a reduction in total root mean square values after CXL ( P = 0.11). The results of cover test and Irvine test did not vary after CXL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with keratoconus showing a reduction of HOAs after CXL also manifest a significant improvement in stereoacuity after the treatment.

Acute acquired concomitant esotropia and decompensated monofixation syndrome: a sensory-motor status assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare sensory-motor status and clinical features of type I and type II acute acquired concomitant esotropia (group A) and decompensated monofixation syndrome (group B). METHODS: In a retrospective, comparative study, 26 patients with a confirmed postoperative diagnosis of type I and II acute acquired concomitant esotropia and monofixation syndrome were enrolled. The 2-tailed unpaired t test and 2-tailed χ(2) test were performed to compare angle of deviation and sensory-motor status under the environmental conditions and after prismatic adaptation test and progressive prism test of 2 groups. RESULTS: All of the patients of group A and 4 patients (33%) of group B experienced diplopia under viewing conditions in the Worth's 4 dot and Bagolini striated glass tests. The TNO stereo test showed the total absence of stereopsis in 6 patients in group B and a significantly lower stereoacuity in group A in the remaining 6 patients (p < 0.0001). The prismatic adaptation test was positive in all of the patients in group B and in 10 patients (71%) in group A (p = 0.39). The value of the angle of deviation after the progressive prism test was significantly higher in group B than in group A (p = 0.02). At the end of the progressive prism test, all of the patients in group A and only 2 patients in group B were orthotropic (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Bagolini striated glass and Worth's 4 dot tests under viewing conditions and responses under prisms allow for the differentiation of the 2 forms and lead to an accurate aesthetic and functional prognosis.

Improved sensory status and quality-of-life measures in adult patients after strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the change in sensory status and quality-of-life measures in adults with long-standing childhood-onset constant strabismus. METHODS: Consecutive patients with childhood-onset, long-term constant strabismus were enrolled. Sensory status was examined with Bagolini striated glasses test and Worth 4-dot test. Stereopsis was tested with the Lang and TNO stereopsis tests. Quality of life was studied with 2 different questionnaires (Short Form Health Survey [SF-36] and the Amblyopia and Strabismus Questionnaire [A&SQ]), which patients completed before and 3 months after strabismus surgery. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients (age range, 18-63 years) were included, 10 of whom were esotropic and 10 of whom were exotropic. Of these, 13 obtained a satisfactory postoperative alignment and demonstrated an increase of sensory status with Bagolini striated glasses. Six patients who demonstrated suppression preoperatively achieved fusion and stereopsis postoperatively. The mean score in all domains of the A&SQ improved significantly, particularly with regard to social contact and cosmesis (P = 0.00067), distance estimation (P = 0.000312), and visual disorientation (P = 0.004777). Similarly, the mean score in 7 of 8 areas in the SF-36 improved significantly, particularly with regard to physical function (P = 0.000564), general health (P = 0.002296), vitality (P = 0.002891), social function (P = 0.004234), and mental health (P = 0.000334). The overall mean score of both questionnaires improved in all patients with a satisfactory postoperative alignment and increase of sensory status. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of strabismus in adults with long-standing childhood-onset constant strabismus can result in patients feeling that their quality of life has improved and can restore binocular sensory function.

Refractive surgery in patients with high myopic anisometropia.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of LASIK in patients with high myopic anisometropia and to provide specific screening guidelines for anisometropic patients undergoing refractive surgery. METHODS: Twenty-six eyes of 16 patients with high myopic anisometropia (>3.0 diopters) were enrolled in this study. Complete pre- and postoperative ophthalmologic and orthoptic examinations were performed. The preoperative orthoptic examination was done with glasses and contact lenses. Twenty-two eyes of 13 patients underwent uncomplicated LASIK; the second eye was treated 2 weeks after the first eye. Patients were examined 1 day, 7 days, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Thirteen patients obtaining good results at red glass bar test (RGB) underwent LASIK without postoperative diplopia; four showed an improvement of the sensorial assessment. Three patients were excluded from surgery because of diplopia with RGB values <4 to 5. LASIK temporarily induced diplopia in the suppressed eye of one patient; however, the diplopia disappeared after surgery of the fixating eye. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high myopic anisometropia and a weak sensorial state who undergo refractive surgery may be at risk for postoperative diplopia. We suggest clinical guidelines to reduce the occurrence of this complication.

Acute onset concomitant esotropia: sensorial evaluation, prism adaptation test, and surgery planning.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute acquired concomitant esotropia is a rare form of strabismus that usually presents during infancy or early childhood with diplopia and minimal refractive error. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to the prism adaptation test in a group of normosensorial patients with acute acquired concomitant esotropia and to determine its predictive value for surgical outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients (median age, 11 .5 years) with acute acquired concomitant esotropia underwent the prism adaptation test by applications of Fresnel press-on and prismatic lenses. The sensorial condition of each patient had been evaluated with theTNO stereopsis test, the Irvine test, Bagolini striated glasses, and the Worth four-dot test during the prism adaptation test, when maximum compensation angle was achieved, and after surgery. In all patients, surgery was performed based on the angle of the squint after the prism adaptation test. Patients were observed 1 day, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: An increase in the angle of the squint occurred in all patients during prism adaptation. The maximum value was obtained in the same amount of time whether with prisms of increasing power or by direct application of the final value of the prisms. The final prismatic value (target angle) was always the same. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of the patients' selection confirmed the existence of highly reproducible compensational movements to the prismatic correction in not only patients with anomalous retinal correspondence but also normosensorial patients. Prism adaptation test results were useful in these patients because of their high predictive value for the surgical treatment.