Fundus autofluorescence in the evaluation of diabetic macular edema treatment response.

INTRODUCTION: Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) has shown sensitivity in the detection of macular edema. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate indices formed with FAF and retinal anatomical-functional variables in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with ziv-aflibercept (ziv-AFL). METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes of 15 DME patients who received ziv-AFL intravitreal injections were included in the study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and FAF were evaluated before treatment and at one and two months. OCT variables were central subfield thickness (CST), macular volume (MV) and macular cube average thickness (MCAT). FAF/BCVA, FAF/CS, FAF/CST, FAF/MV and AF/MCAT indices baseline values were obtained. Analysis was performed with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between baseline FAF/BCVA index and BCVA at second month (rs = - 0.78, p = 0.000), between baseline FAF/CS index and BCVA at second month (rs = -0.68, p = 0.0009) and between baseline FAF/CS index and MV at first month of follow-up (rs = 0.64, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In DME, composite indices with baseline FAF predict variables such as BCVA in the follow-up of patients receiving ziv-AFL.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La autofluorescencia retiniana (AF) ha mostrado sensibilidad en la detección del edema macular. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar índices formados con la AF y variables anatomofuncionales retinianas en pacientes con edema macular diabético (EMD) tratados con ziv-aflibercept (ziv-AFL). MÉTODOS: Fueron incluidos 29 ojos de 15 pacientes con EMD que recibieron inyecciones intravítreas de ziv-AFL. Se evaluó agudeza visual mejor corregida (AVMC), sensibilidad al contraste (SC), tomografía de coherencia óptica (TCO) y AF, antes del tratamiento, así como al primer y segundo mes de iniciado este. Las variables de la TCO fueron grosor foveal central (GFC), volumen macular (VM) y grosor promedio macular (GPM). Se obtuvieron los valores basales de AF/AVMC, AF/SC, AF/GFC, AF/VM y AF/GPM. Se realizó análisis con el coeficiente de correlación de rangos de Spearman y análisis de regresión lineal. RESULTADOS: Hubo una correlación significativa entre el índice AF/AVMC basal y la AVMC en el segundo mes (rs = −0.78, p = 0.000), entre el índice AF/SC basal y la AVMC en el segundo mes (rs = −0.68, p = 0.0009) y entre AF/SC basal y el VM en el primer mes de seguimiento (rs = 0.64, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONES: En el EMD, los índices compuestos con AF basales predicen variables como AVMC en el seguimiento de pacientes que reciben ziv-AFL.

More sensitive correlation of afferent pupillary defect with ganglion cell complex.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the correlation between the relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in optic neuropathy. METHODS: RAPD assessment was performed using a log unit neutral density filter bar. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography RTVue-100 (Optovue) was used to examine the subjects. The optic nerve head pattern (ONH) was subdivided and identified for the purpose of the study into circumpapillary RNFLT (cpRNFLT) and peripheral circumpapillary RNFLT (pcpRNFLT). The cpRNFLT, pcpRNFLT and ganglion cell complex (GCC) parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen females and twenty three males with asymmetric optic neuropathy and a RAPD participated. Thirty-three subjects had glaucoma and eight had optic neuropathy other than glaucoma. Significant correlations (p<0.02) were obtained for the RAPD and the percentage difference loss of the GCC and RNFLT parameters. The grouped mean percentage difference loss for RNFLT was significantly different from that of the GCC (p<0.001). At a 0.6log unit RAPD, the average mean percentage difference loss was 23% for the CRNFLT, 15% for the GCC, 12% for the global loss volume percentage and 6% for the focal loss volume percentage (FLV%). CONCLUSIONS: Significant correlations between RNFLT loss for cpRNFLT, pcpRNFLT and GCC parameters with RAPD were observed. Approximately a 35% higher sensitivity was obtained using GCC compared to CRNFL parameters. The expected change in GCC average for every 0.3log unit increment was approximately 8.49µm. The FLV% corresponded more sensitively to a RAPD but appeared to be influenced by disease severity.

Uso clínico del tomógrafo de coherencia óptica Spectralis en la evaluación del glaucoma / Use of the Spectralis optical coherence tomography scanner to evaluate glaucoma

La evolución reciente de las herramientas de imagen ha mejorado notablemente la determinación objetiva y cuantitativa de los cambios estructurales en el glaucoma. El tomógrafo de coherencia óptica de dominio espectral, disponible comercialmente, y su módulo Glaucoma Premium Edition recientemente incorporado, ofrece beneficios en la evaluación del glaucoma, por presentar una mayor resolución axial, velocidades de exploración más rápidas, reproducibilidad mejorada, compensación de movimientos oculares, supresión de interferencia y algoritmos avanzados de segmentación. La presente revisión describe las características técnicas, los parámetros de fiabilidad, los protocolos de estudio, la interpretación de los resultados y los principales artefactos que afectan sus medidas. Esta información permite a la comunidad médica realizar un uso y una evaluación adecuada de esta tecnología, y en consecuencia ajustar la gestión clínica según sea necesario(AU)

The recent evolution of imaging tools has notably improved the objective, quantitative determination of structural changes in the glaucoma. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography scanner, commercially available, and its recently incorporated Glaucoma Module Premium Edition, facilitate evaluation of the glaucoma, due to their greater axial resolution, faster exploration speeds, improved reproducibility, eye movement compensation, interference suppression, and advanced segmentation algorithms. The present review describes the technical features, reliability parameters, study protocols, interpretation of results and main artifacts affecting its measurements. Such information will make it possible for the medical community to adequately use and evaluate this technology, adjusting clinical management as required(AU)

Uso clínico del tomógrafo de coherencia óptica Spectralis en la evaluación del glaucoma / Use of the Spectralis optical coherence tomography scanner to evaluate glaucoma

La evolución reciente de las herramientas de imagen ha mejorado notablemente la determinación objetiva y cuantitativa de los cambios estructurales en el glaucoma. El tomógrafo de coherencia óptica de dominio espectral, disponible comercialmente, y su módulo Glaucoma Premium Edition recientemente incorporado, ofrece beneficios en la evaluación del glaucoma, por presentar una mayor resolución axial, velocidades de exploración más rápidas, reproducibilidad mejorada, compensación de movimientos oculares, supresión de interferencia y algoritmos avanzados de segmentación. La presente revisión describe las características técnicas, los parámetros de fiabilidad, los protocolos de estudio, la interpretación de los resultados y los principales artefactos que afectan sus medidas. Esta información permite a la comunidad médica realizar un uso y una evaluación adecuada de esta tecnología, y en consecuencia ajustar la gestión clínica según sea necesario(AU)

The recent evolution of imaging tools has notably improved the objective, quantitative determination of structural changes in the glaucoma. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography scanner, commercially available, and its recently incorporated Glaucoma Module Premium Edition, facilitate evaluation of the glaucoma, due to their greater axial resolution, faster exploration speeds, improved reproducibility, eye movement compensation, interference suppression, and advanced segmentation algorithms. The present review describes the technical features, reliability parameters, study protocols, interpretation of results and main artifacts affecting its measurements. Such information will make it possible for the medical community to adequately use and evaluate this technology, adjusting clinical management as required(AU)

Desgarros del epitelio pigmentario de la retina: factores de riesgo, mecanismo y control terapéutico.

Los desgarros del epitelio pigmentario de la retina (EPR) se asocian en la mayoría de los casos con los desprendimientos vascularizados del EPR debido a una degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE), y normalmente implican una pérdida adversa de la agudeza visual. Estudios recientes indican que ha habido un aumento en la incidencia de desgarros del EPR desde la introducción de fármacos anti-factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular (anti-VEGF) así como una asociación temporal entre el desgarro y la inyección intravítrea. Dado que el número de pacientes con DMAE y el número de inyecciones anti-VEGF va en aumento, tanto la dificultad de prevenir desgarros del EPR como el tratamiento tras la formación de los desgarros han adquirido una mayor relevancia. De forma paralela, la evolución de la imagenología de la retina ha contribuido de manera significativa a comprender mejor el desarrollo de los desgarros del EPR en los últimos años. Esta revisión resume los conocimientos que se poseen actualmente sobre el desarrollo, los factores pronósticos y las estrategias terapéuticas de los desgarros del EPR antes y después de que estos se formen.

Edema macular quístico posterior a la cirugía de agujero macular idiopático / Cystic macular edema after idiopathic macular hole surgery

El agujero macular idiopático es causado por fuerzas traccionales tangenciales, asociadas al desprendimiento de vítreo posterior perifoveal degenerativo, cuyo tratamiento es actualmente quirúrgico, en pacientes con estadio 2, 3 o 4. Presentamos un caso clínico donde se describen las alteraciones anatómicas y funcionales producidas por el edema macular quístico posterior a la cirugía de agujero macular idiopático estadio 3, y que luego de un cierre exitoso anatómico y funcional de este comenzó con edema macular quístico recurrente, sin reapertura del agujero macular; respondió al uso de esteroides locales recomendable en estos casos y logró mejorar los resultados visuales iniciales posquirúrgicos(AU)

The idiopathic macular hole is caused by tangential tensile forces associated with degenerative perifoveal posterior vitreous detachment, and the treatment is currently surgical in stage 2, 3 or 4 patients. We presented a clinical case in which we described the anatomical and functional alterations produced by cyst macular edema after idiopathic macular hole surgery in a stage 3 patient. After a successful anatomical and functional closure, it began with cystic macular edema; and the reopening of the macular hole did not occur, responding to the use of recommended local steroids for these cases, and finally the initial visual results after surgery were improved(AU)

Edema macular quístico posterior a la cirugía de agujero macular idiopático / Cystic macular edema after idiopathic macular hole surgery

El agujero macular idiopático es causado por fuerzas traccionales tangenciales, asociadas al desprendimiento de vítreo posterior perifoveal degenerativo, cuyo tratamiento es actualmente quirúrgico, en pacientes con estadio 2, 3 o 4. Presentamos un caso clínico donde se describen las alteraciones anatómicas y funcionales producidas por el edema macular quístico posterior a la cirugía de agujero macular idiopático estadio 3, y que luego de un cierre exitoso anatómico y funcional de este comenzó con edema macular quístico recurrente, sin reapertura del agujero macular; respondió al uso de esteroides locales recomendable en estos casos y logró mejorar los resultados visuales iniciales posquirúrgicos(AU)

The idiopathic macular hole is caused by tangential tensile forces associated with degenerative perifoveal posterior vitreous detachment, and the treatment is currently surgical in stage 2, 3 or 4 patients. We presented a clinical case in which we described the anatomical and functional alterations produced by cyst macular edema after idiopathic macular hole surgery in a stage 3 patient. After a successful anatomical and functional closure, it began with cystic macular edema; and the reopening of the macular hole did not occur, responding to the use of recommended local steroids for these cases, and finally the initial visual results after surgery were improved(AU)

Intravitreal therapies for non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration with intraretinal or subretinal fluid. / Terapias intravítreas en degeneración macular asociada a la edad no neovascular con fluido intrarretiniano o subretiniano.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal therapies in cases of atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with subretinal or intraretinal fluid. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of the clinical charts of patients diagnosed with atrophic AMD with subretinal or intraretinal fluid. Fundus photographs and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images were examined, and an analysis was made on the presence of fluid and its density. Neovascularisation was ruled out by fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: The study included 14 eyes from 13 patients with a mean age of 72.64 years and a mean follow-up of 80.5 weeks. Intraretinal fluid was observed in 6 eyes (42.9%), while subretinal fluid was shown in 8 eyes (57.1%), with high density in 4 eyes (28.5%), and low density in 4 eyes (28.5%). Snellen best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.37 at baseline to 0.56 at the final visit (P=.002). Central subfield thickness (microns) significantly decreased (P<.001) from 291.0 at baseline to 228.9 at the final visit. Eight eyes received ranibizumab, 5eyes received bevacizumab, and one case received triamcinolone. CONCLUSIONS: Cases of atrophic AMD may present with subretinal or intraretinal fluid in the absence Neovascularisation. Further studies are required to analyse the value of this finding as a risk factor of developing advanced forms of AMD, as well as the efficacy of intravitreal therapies.

Treat-and-extend approach with aflibercept: Effects on different subtypes of age-related choroidal neovascularisation. / Estrategia «Tratar y Extender¼ con aflibercept: efecto en diferentes tipos de neovascularización coroidea asociada a la edad.

OBJECTIVE: To describe functional/morphological outcomes of treat-and-extend (TAE) with aflibercept in different subtypes of neovascularizations (CNV) secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Retrospective study was conducted on 30 eyes of 30 patients treated with 2 mg-aflibercept according to a TAE protocol. Examinations included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number of injections, and visits needed. A quantitative/qualitative analysis was also performed with fluorescein angiography and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: BCVA significantly improved from 0.61±0.26 logMAR to 0.38±0.34 logMAR. Among the total AMD patients, type 1 CNV was diagnosed in 11 eyes (36%), type 2 CNV in 7 eyes (23%), mixed CNV in 5 eyes (16%), and type 3 CNV or retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) in 7 eyes (23%). The final mean number of injections was 7.5±1.65, 8.71±0.76, 7.4±0.89, 7.2±0.7, and number of visits 6.6±2.17, 7.89±1.46, 5.8±1.7, and 7.14±1.57, respectively in type 1, type 2, mixed, and type 3 or RAP. There was no difference between the different subtypes of CNV (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aflibercept in TAE is effective for all exudative-AMD subtypes. No significant differences in patient's visual gain, mean number of injections, or number of visits needed were found among the subtypes of CNV.

Hallazgos en angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica en un paciente con retinopatía por anemia de células falciformes. Reporte de caso / Findings with optical coherence tomography angiography in a patient with sickle cell retinopathy: a case report

Objetivo: Reportar el caso clínico de un paciente con diagnostico de retinopatía por anemia de células falciformes utilizando la angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica. Diseño: Reporte de caso. Método: Se reporta el caso de un paciente masculino asintomático con antecedente de anemia de células falciformes con hemoglobina tipo SS. Resultado: La angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica identificó cambios estructurales y zonas de isquemia en la macula de un paciente asintomático no identificados en la angiografía fluoresceinica asociado a adelgazamiento de las capas retinianas externas. Conclusión: El presente reporte de caso demuestra la ventaja que posee la angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica sobre la angiografía fluoresceinica para identificar cambios compatibles con vasculopatía isquémica a nivel del plexo vascular profundo en la macula de en un paciente con manifestaciones tempranas de retinopatía por anemia de células en la periferia. Evidencia que las alteraciones vasculares podrían causar adelgazamiento de las capas retinianas externas.

Objective: To report a case of sickle cell retinopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography. Design: Case Report. Methods: Case report of an asymptomatic male patient with type SS sickle cell anemia. Results: Optical coherence angiography identified structural changes and nonperfusion in the macula of an asymptomatic patient that were not identified with fluorescein angiography associated to outer layer retinal thinning. Conclusion: The present report demonstrates the advantage of optical coherence tomography angiography over fluorescein angiography to identify changes compatible with ischemic vasculopathy in the deep capillary plexus of the macula of patient with early signs of sickle cell retinopathy at the periphery. It provides evidence that the ischemic vascular alterations aff ect the deep capillary plexus and could cause outer retinal thinning.

Focal choroidal excavation: Clinical findings and complications.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical findings and its complications in 2 patients with focal choroidal excavation (FCE). METHODS: A retrospective case-series including 4 eyes of 2 patients with FCE that underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination including slit-lamp examination, colour fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: In the 2 patients, both the anterior and posterior segment evaluations were mostly normal despite the of presence yellowish spots in the macular area of the right eye of patient 1, and of a small yellowish elevated lesion with serous macular detachment in the macular area of the left eye in patient 2. At diagnosis, SD-OCT revealed a conforming FCE in patient 1, and in patient 2, an FCE with perilesional subretinal fluid and a neuroepithelium detachment, suspicious of FCE complicated with central serous retinopathy (CSCR). At one year of follow-up, patient 1 developed choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) over the focal choroidal excavation. FA and indocyanine green angiography examinations revealed areas with hypofluorescence in earlier frames, and a diffuse leakage in late frames. After ranibizumab injections, the SD-OCT of patient 1 revealed no active exudation, while patient 2 showed partial resolution of subretinal fluid. CONCLUSIONS: FCE is a newly described entity of unclear aetiology. It is characterised by a choroidal excavation in eyes, with absence of posterior staphyloma, scleral ectasia, trauma, or retinal disease. Although most lesions remain stable, there could be an association with CRSC or CNV.

[Oct parameters as predictive factors for the visual outcome after ranibizumab therapy in neovascular age related macular degeneration]. / Parámetros tomográficos como factores pronóstico del resultado visual tras terapia con ranibizumab en degeneración macular neovascular asociada a la edad.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate macular morphological parameters measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) as predictive factors of visual outcome in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with ranibizumab. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 47 patients diagnosed with exudative AMD and treated with intravitreal ranibizumab for twelve months. Central retinal thickness (CRT), extension and thickness of modifications secondary to neovascular process, and status of the bands corresponding to the external limiting membrane (ELM) and to the ellipsoid region of the photoreceptors (ISe) were evaluated by means of SD-OCT. The relationship between these variables and visual acuity was analyzed by statistical methods. RESULTS: At the time of the diagnosis, preservation of ELM and ISe bands, and CRT were correlated with initial visual acuity. Twelve months later, CRT and visual acuity were independent parameters. Bivariate relationship analysis showed a correlation between final visual acuity and the following parameters: initial CRT, initial ISe and ELM status, and ISe and ELM integrity after loading dose. Multiple regression analysis indicated that initial visual acuity and ISe band status after loading dose have a predictive value for final visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: The status of ISe and ELM bands after twelve months of treatment with ranibizumab was associated with visual outcome. Initial visual acuity and status of the ISe band after loading dose are prognostic factors of final visual acuity.