Systemic oxygen therapy versus oral enalapril for treatment of diabetic macular ischemia: a randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structural and functional effects of systemic oxygen therapy and enalapril in patients with diabetic macular ischemia (DMI). This randomized clinical trial consisted of 105 eyes with DMI divided into three groups. Group I received systemic oxygen by face mask at a flow rate of 10 L/min; Group II received 5 mg enalapril daily; and Group III received placebo tablets for 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), extent of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) on fluorescein angiograms, and electroretinograms (ERG) were obtained at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Overall, 102 patients completed the study. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different among groups. Significant improvement in BCVA and decrease in CMT and FAZ occurred at months 3 and 6 in oxygen group compared to deterioration in enalapril and control groups (All P values <0.001). ERG parameters were significantly better in oxygen group compared to enalapril group at months 3 and 6 and better than those in control group at month 3. Normobaric oxygen therapy for 3 months in DMI decreased CMT and FAZ and improved BCVA and ERG parameters. Enalapril did not show any favorable effect.

Intravitreal bevacizumab vs. sham treatment in acute branch retinal vein occlusion with macular edema: results at 3 months (Report 1).

BACKGROUND: The goal of this work is to compare the visual and anatomical (central macular thickness; CMT) outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections relative to sham treatment in eyes with acute (less than 3 months in duration) branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: In a double-masked randomized clinical trial (RCT), patients with acute BRVO were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: IVB (two injections of 1.25 mg IVB 6 weeks apart) or sham treatment. Primary outcome measures included changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CMT in optical coherence tomography (OCT) during follow-up (FU) examinations. Any complications secondary to injections were considered secondary outcomes. FU results after 6 and 12 weeks are reported. RESULTS: Eighty-one eyes (43 OD) of 81 patients (47 females) were enrolled in the study. Forty-two patients were enrolled in the IVB group, and 39 patients were enrolled in the sham group. Visual acuity and CMT improved in the IVB group after week 6 (two Snellen lines and 262 µm, respectively) and week 12 (three Snellen lines and 287 µm, respectively). After week 6, visual improvements in the IVB group were significantly increased relative to that of the sham group. However, visual improvements at week 12 were not significantly different between the two groups (1.5 Snellen lines visual improvement in the sham group at week 12). CONCLUSIONS: In acute BRVO, two IVB injections resulted in significant improvement of vision and CMT at 6 weeks relative to the sham group. However, the visual improvements in the IVB group were not significantly different from those in the sham group at 12 weeks. IVB injections accelerate an initial improvement of visual acuity but do not have any significant effects on vision after 12 weeks.

Oxygen therapy for diabetic macular ischemia: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the structural and functional effects of systemic oxygen therapy in patients with diabetic macular ischemia. METHODS: This interventional case series was performed on 20 eyes from 13 consecutive diabetic patients with macular ischemia. For each patient, baseline optical coherence tomography and electroretinography were obtained before and after administration of 100% oxygen by face mask at a flow rate of 10 L/minute for 1 hour. Central macular thickness and b-wave amplitude were measured before and after oxygen therapy. RESULTS: The patients included 9 women and 4 men with mean (SD) age of 63.38 (7.34) years. Central macular thickness decreased from 358.55 ± 96.27 µm before to 326.55 ± 84.11 µm after the oxygen therapy (P < 0.001). A reduction of >10% was observed in 55% of the eyes. In dark-adapted combined response electroretinography, the amplitude of b-wave increased from 227.76 ± 105.66 µV before to 264.35 ± 128.48 µV after the oxygen therapy (P < 0.001), representing a 16% increase. More than a 10% increase in b-wave amplitude occurred in 60% of the eyes. CONCLUSION: Oxygen therapy seems to have beneficial effects on the structural and functional changes of the retina in patients with diabetic macular ischemia. It may decrease central macular thickness and improve electrophysiologic function of the retina.

Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy: Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Twenty-Four Cases.

BACKGROUND: To describe ocular manifestations, imaging characteristics, and genetic test results of autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB). The study design is an observational case series. METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 24 patients diagnosed with ARB underwent complete ophthalmic examinations including refraction, anterior and posterior segment examination, enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), electroretinography (ERG), and electrooculography (EOG). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and BEST1 gene sequencing were performed in selected patients. RESULTS: The age at onset was 4-35 years (mean: 18.6 years). The male-to-female ratio was 0.45. All patients were hyperopic, except one with less than one diopter myopia. EOG was abnormal in 18 cases with near-normal ERGs. Six patients did not undergo EOG due to their young age. Eighteen patients (75%) had a thick choroid on EDI-OCT, of which three had advanced angle-closure glaucoma, 15 patients were hyperopic, and eight of them had more than four diopters hyperopia in both eyes. Macular retinoschisis was observed in 46 eyes of 23 patients (95%) with cysts mostly located in the inner nuclear layer (INL) to the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Of the 18 patients who underwent FA, mild peripheral leakage was seen in eight eyes of four patients (22%). Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was seen in three eyes of two patients (6%) that responded well to intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB). Seven mutations of the bestrophin-1 (BEST1) gene were found in this study; however, only two of them (p.Gly34 = and p.Leu319Pro) had been previously reported as the cause of ARB based on ClinVar and other literature studies. CONCLUSIONS: ARB can be presented with a wide spectrum of ocular abnormalities that may not be easily diagnosed. Pachychoroid can occur alongside retinal schisis and may be the underlying cause of angle-closure glaucoma in ARB. Our study also expands the pathogenic mutation spectrum of the BEST1 gene associated with ARB.

Effect of oral prednisolone on visual outcomes and complications after scleral buckling.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of oral prednisolone on visual outcomes and complications of scleral buckling (SB) in phakic eyes with acute rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, patients with acute RRD underwent SB. The treatment group received 1 mg/kg oral prednisolone for 10 days while the control group received placebo. Outcome measures included visual acuity (VA), retinal redetachment (re-RD), cystoid macular edema (CME), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and other possible postoperative complications. Outcome measures were compared between groups with McNemar test. RESULTS: Overall, 52 eyes of 52 subjects were enrolled into the study, which included 25 and 27 eyes in the treatment and placebo groups, respectively. Preoperatively, the extent and location of RD and rate of hypotony was comparable between the study groups. VA improvement (logMAR) was 0.75+/-0.61 overall: 0.85+/-0.62 in the treatment group versus 0.65+/-0.61 in the placebo group (p=0.36). Postoperative complications in the treatment and placebo groups included choroidal detachment, 3 versus 4 eyes (p=0.45), significant PVR, 1 versus 3 (p=0.33), and CME, 3 versus 5 eyes (p=0.39), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative oral prednisolone does not seem to improve the visual outcomes and complications of scleral buckling in simple phakic RRD.

Randomized trial of intravitreal bevacizumab alone or combined with triamcinolone versus macular photocoagulation in diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection alone or in combination with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) versus macular laser photocoagulation (MPC) as a primary treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). DESIGN: Randomized 3-arm clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 150 eyes of 129 patients with clinically significant DME and no previous treatment. METHODS: The eyes were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 study arms: the IVB group, patients who received 1.25 mg IVB (50 eyes); the IVB/IVT group, patients who received 1.25 mg of IVB and 2 mg of IVT (50 eyes); and the MPC group, patients who underwent focal or modified grid laser (50 eyes). Retreatment was performed at 12-week intervals whenever indicated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in best-corrected visual acuity (VA) at week 24. RESULTS: VA changes among the groups were statistically significant at 6 (P<0.001) and 24 (P = 0.012) weeks. The significant treatment effect was demonstrated in the IVB group at all follow-up visits and in the IVB/IVT group at 6 and 12 weeks. VA changes +/- standard deviation at 36 weeks were -0.28+/-0.25, -0.04+/-0.33, and +0.01+/-0.27 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution in the IVB, IVB/IVT, and MPC groups, respectively (P = 0.053). Significant central macular thickness (CMT) reduction was observed in all groups only up to 6 weeks; however, CMT changes were not significant among the groups in all visits. Overall, retreatment was required for 27 eyes up to 36 weeks (14 in the IVB group, 10 in the IVB/IVT group, and 3 in the MPC group). In the IVB group, in which a greater VA improvement was observed, only 1 injection was required in 72% of the cases. VA improvement >2 Snellen lines at 36 weeks was detected in 37%, 25%, and 14.8% of patients in the IVB, IVB/IVT, and MPC groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with DME yielded a better visual outcome at 24 weeks compared with macular photocoagulation. A change in CMT beyond the 6-week time point that corresponded to the vision change was not detected. No adjunctive effect of IVT was demonstrated. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Clinical features and surgical outcomes of pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features and functional and anatomical outcomes after surgical intervention in pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, pediatric patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who had surgical intervention were included. Cases were categorized into five main etiology groups: congenital or developmental (48 eyes); trauma (54 eyes); myopia alone (12 eyes); previous intraocular surgery (10 eyes); and miscellaneous (3 eyes). Patients' demographic, clinical, and surgical outcomes, as well as fellow eye findings were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven eyes of 108 patients (mean age: 12.1 +/- 4.1 year, 80.6% male) were included. Scleral buckling was the initial procedure in 31% of eyes and vitrectomy in 63%. Mean follow-up was 34 +/- 21 months (median 33 months). Retinal reattachment at last follow-up was achieved in 74.9% of eyes. Visual acuity was >/=20/200 in 14% of eyes preoperatively and in 47.9% of eyes at final follow-up (P = 0.001). Retinal pathologies (mostly lattice degeneration) were noted in 82.2% of fellow eyes. CONCLUSION: Trauma and congenital-developmental anomalies were the leading etiologies in pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in this review. Despite the complexity of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and presence of vision-threatening anomalies, anatomic and functional outcomes were acceptable. Regular ophthalmoscopy of the sound eye is recommended for children at risk.

Agreement between clinical estimation and a new quantitative analysis by Photoshop software in fundus and angiographic image variables.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the validity of a new method for the quantitative analysis of fundus or angiographic images using Photoshop 7.0 (Adobe, USA) software by comparing with clinical evaluation. METHODS: Four hundred and eighteen fundus and angiographic images of diabetic patients were evaluated by three retina specialists and then by computing using Photoshop 7.0 software. Four variables were selected for comparison: amount of hard exudates (HE) on color pictures, amount of HE on red-free pictures, severity of leakage, and the size of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). RESULTS: The coefficient of agreement (Kappa) between the two methods in the amount of HE on color and red-free photographs were 85% (0.69) and 79% (0.59), respectively. The agreement for severity of leakage was 72% (0.46). In the two methods for the evaluation of the FAZ size using the magic and lasso software tools, the agreement was 54% (0.09) and 89% (0.77), respectively. Agreement in the estimation of the FAZ size by the lasso magnetic tool was excellent and was almost as good in the quantification of HE on color and on red-free images. CONCLUSION: Considering the agreement of this new technique for the measurement of variables in fundus images using Photoshop software with the clinical evaluation, this method seems to have sufficient validity to be used for the quantitative analysis of HE, leakage, and FAZ size on the angiograms of diabetic patients.

Modeling a Telemedicine Screening Program for Diabetic Retinopathy in Iran and Implementing a Pilot Project in Tehran Suburb.

PURPOSE: To model a community-based telescreening program for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Iran and to implement a pilot project at the Iranian Diabetes Society (IDS) branch in a Tehran suburb. METHODS: In this mixed model study, a web application called the "Iranian Retinopathy Teleophthalmology Screening (IRTOS)" was launched. The educational course for DR screening was established for general practitioners (GPs). Registered patients in IDS branch were recalled for fundus photography; images were transferred to the reading center via IRTOS to be graded by GPs, and patients were informed about the results via mobile messaging. All images were independently reviewed by a retina specialist as the gold standard. Patients who required further assessment were referred to an eye hospital. RESULTS: Overall, 604 subjects with diabetes were screened; of these, 50% required referral. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of any stage of DR by trained GPs were 82.8% and 86.2%, respectively, in comparison to the gold standard. The corresponding values for detecting any stage of diabetic macular edema (DME) were 63.5% and 96.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Telescreening was an effective method for detecting DR in a Tehran suburb. This screening model demonstrated its capacity for promoting diabetic eye care services at the national level. However, the sensitivity for detecting DME needs to be improved by modifying the referral pathway and promoting the skill of GPs.

Intravitreal bevacizumab in active progressive proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Vitreous concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) rises significantly during proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a humanized monoclonal antibody to VEGF. Intravitreal administration of bevacizumab (IVB) has recently been shown to be effective in some ocular neovascularizations, including PDR. In this study we evaluate the efficacy of IVB in eyes with active, progressive PDR. METHODS: In an interventional prospective case series, eyes with active, progressive PDR underwent one to three IVB injections (1.25 mg) at intervals of either 6 or 12 weeks. Complete ophthalmic examinations and color fundus photography were performed at baseline and 1, 6, 12, and 20 weeks after the first injection. Fluorescein angiography (FA) was performed before injection and 20 weeks after. The primary outcome measures were clearing of vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and regression of active fibrovascular tissue (FVT). The secondary outcomes were any change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and any incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: Thirty eight eyes of 38 patients with a mean age of 54.7 +/- 10.1 years were included in the study. VH resolved significantly after 1 week (P = 0.014), 12 weeks (P = 0.0001), and 20 weeks (P = 0.002). The vascular component of FVT regressed, though the FVT area did not change. Mean BCVA improved significantly compared to baseline at all follow-up examinations. Two cases showing moderate fibrous proliferation developed traction retinal detachment (TRD). CONCLUSIONS: IVB has significant therapeutic effect on eyes with active, progressive PDR: the treatment causes a significant amount of VH resolution and neovessel regression. At the same time, this procedure may increase the risk of TRD in eyes with fibrous proliferation.

Intravitreal Injection of Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents for Ocular Vascular Diseases: Clinical Practice Guideline.

PURPOSE: To provide the clinical recommendations for the administration of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs especially bavacizumab for ocular vascular diseases including diabetic macular edema, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, myopic choroidal neovascularization, retinal vein occlusion and central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: Twenty clinical questions were developed by the guideline technical committee. Relevant websites and databases were searched to find out the pertinent clinical practice guidelines to answer the questions. The technical committee provided possible answers (scenarios) according to the available evidences for each question. All scenarios along with their levels of evidence and the supported articles were sent to the experts for external review. If the experts did not agree on any of the scenarios for one particular clinical question, the technical committee reviewed all scenarios and their pertinent evidences and made the necessary decision. After that, the experts were asked to score them again. All confirmed scenarios were gathered as the final recommendations. RESULTS: All the experts agreed on at least one of the scenarios. The technical committee extracted the agreed scenario for each clinical question as the final recommendation. Finally, 56 recommendations were developed for the procedure of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection and their applications in the management of ocular vascular diseases. CONCLUSION: The implementation of this guideline can standardize the management of the common ocular vascular diseases by intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents. It can lead to better policy-making and evidence-based clinical decision by ophthalmologists and optimal evidence based eye care for patients.

Single-session photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy consisting of single-session photodynamic therapy (PDT), intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) as initial pulse therapy followed by repeat intravitreal bevacizumab injections for maintenance treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: In a prospective interventional case series, patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD underwent pulse therapy with single-session PDT according to the standard protocol followed by 1.25 mg IVB and 2 mg IVT 48 hours later. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was assessed and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed prior to treatment. BCVA and OCT measurements were repeated at 6 week intervals and FA was obtained after 12 weeks and when necessary thereafter. Repeat injections of IVB were performed based on fluorescein angiographic evidence of CNV leakage. RESULTS: This series included 17 eyes of 17 patients with mean age of 67.6 +/- 7.2 years. Mean follow up duration was 50.4 +/- 15.5 weeks. Mean BCVA prior to treatment was 0.74 +/- 0.33 logMAR which improved to 0.52 +/- 0.36 logMAR after 12 weeks (P = 0.012) and 0.41 +/- 0.38 logMAR after 24 weeks (P = 0.001). Mean pretreatment central macular thickness (CMT) was 395 +/- 181 micro which was significantly reduced to 217 +/- 69 micro (P = 0.005), 231 +/- 79 micro (P = 0.028) and 221 +/- 87 micro (P = 0.05) six, twelve and twenty-four weeks after initial treatment respectively. Visual acuity improvement and CMT reduction was maintained during the follow-up period. IVB injections were repeated once, twice and three times in 10, 7 and 2 eyes at a mean interval of 20.2 +/- 10.1, 19 +/- 13.7 and 15 +/- 1.4 weeks after initial therapy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Initial pulse triple therapy consisting of single-session PDT combined with IVB and IVT improves vision and reduces CMT in neovascular AMD. Repeat IVB injections maintain the visual gain from the initial combination therapy.

Surgical management of retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes with macular hole.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes of surgery for retinal detachment due to macular hole in highly myopic eyes with pronounced posterior staphyloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data for all patients with high myopia who underwent surgery for retinal detachment resulting from macular hole from 1993 to 2002 in one hospital were evaluated. Patient characteristics, best-corrected visual acuity preoperatively and at last examination, surgical technique, anatomical success, and follow-up period were extracted and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Twenty-six of the 27 patients (28 eyes) were female (96%) with a mean age of 59.8 years; mean follow-up was 17.3 months. Mean axial length was 29.1+/-2.74 mm; mean myopia was -16.4 +/- 3.1 diopters. Marked posterior staphyloma was detected in 71%. Seven eyes had undergone failed scleral buckling as the primary procedure; intravitreal SF6 injection was the primary procedure in 12 eyes. Twenty-three eyes underwent deep vitrectomy with use of high viscosity silicone oil. Overall anatomical success was achieved in 92.9% (26 of 28 eyes); 78.6% had visual improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreous surgery combined with other necessary adjunct procedures such as membrane peeling and use of retinal tamponade, as a primary or a secondary procedure, seems to be successful in achieving retinal reattachment in eyes with macular hole and posterior staphyloma.

Two Doses of Intravitreal Ziv-Aflibercept versus Bevacizumab in Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema: A Three-Armed, Double-Blind Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of 2 doses of intravitreal ziv-aflibercept (IVZ) with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) in the treatment of center-involved diabetic macular edema (DME) at 12 weeks. DESIGN: Three-armed, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Eyes with center-involved DME. METHODS: In this trial, 123 eyes with DME were randomly assigned to 3 injections of 1.25 mg IVZ, 2.5 mg IVZ, and 1.25 mg IVB every 4 weeks. Complete ophthalmologic examination and central macular thickness (CMT) measurement by optical coherence tomography were performed every 4 weeks up to 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 12 weeks. RESULTS: Although no significant difference was evident between the 2 ziv-aflibercept groups at 12 weeks, the BCVA change was significantly better in the ziv-aflibercept 1.25 mg group than in the IVB group at the 12-week visit (P = 0.021). In regard to CMT changes, there was no significant difference between the 2 ziv-aflibercept groups; however, a significantly greater reduction in CMT was observed in the ziv-aflibercept 2.5 mg group compared with the IVB group at 12 weeks (P = 0.037). Subgroup analysis disclosed no difference in BCVA outcomes at 12 weeks among the groups in the eyes with baseline BCVA ≥20/50. In the eyes with baseline BCVA <20/50, the improvement was significantly better at 12 weeks in the ziv-aflibercept 1.25 mg group compared with the IVB group (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week results of this trial disclosed that both 1.25 mg and 2.5 mg doses of IVZ and IVB demonstrated BCVA improvement over baseline in the treatment of center-involved DME. However, a stronger effect of IVZ compared with IVB in terms of both visual acuity improvement and macular thickness reduction was detected in the eyes with initial BCVA <20/50. Longer-term efficacy and safety data will be needed to understand the role for this drug in practice.

Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Practice Guidelines: Customized for Iranian Population.

PURPOSE: To customize clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for management of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the Iranian population. METHODS: Three DR CPGs (The Royal College of Ophthalmologists 2013, American Academy of Ophthalmology [Preferred Practice Pattern 2012], and Australian Diabetes Society 2008) were selected from the literature using the AGREE tool. Clinical questions were designed and summarized into four tables by the customization team. The components of the clinical questions along with pertinent recommendations extracted from the above-mentioned CPGs; details of the supporting articles and their levels of evidence; clinical recommendations considering clinical benefits, cost and side effects; and revised recommendations based on customization capability (applicability, acceptability, external validity) were recorded in 4 tables, respectively. Customized recommendations were sent to the faculty members of all universities across the country to score the recommendations from 1 to 9. RESULTS: Agreed recommendations were accepted as the final recommendations while the non-agreed ones were approved after revision. Eventually, 29 customized recommendations under three major categories consisting of screening, diagnosis and treatment of DR were developed along with their sources and levels of evidence. CONCLUSION: This customized CPGs for management of DR can be used to standardize the referral pathway, diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Surgical management of non-metallic and non-magnetic metallic intraocular foreign bodies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical features and evaluate outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery in eyes with retained non-metallic and non-magnetic metallic intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review. Thirty-two eyes (28 patients) with non-metallic and non-magnetic metallic IOFBs underwent removal of IOFBs with intraocular forceps, either via the pars plana in 30 eyes (93.9%) or a limbal approach in 2 eyes (6.25%). The main outcome measures were postoperative visual acuity, rate of retinal break formation, development of retinal detachment, and type of IOFB. RESULTS: IOFBs were non-metallic in 22 eyes (68.7%) and non-magnetic metallic in 10 eyes (31.1%). The average follow-up period was 7.5 months. Overall, final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 10 eyes (31.1%) and 5/200 to 20/50 in 10 eyes (31.1%). A higher incidence of retinal break formation posterior to the sclerotomy was seen with glass IOFBs (P = .02). Retinal detachment was observed preoperatively in 4 eyes (12.5%) and postoperatively in 2 eyes (6.25%). CONCLUSION: Final visual outcome was independent of size and type of IOFB. Pars plana extractions may be associated with a higher rate of retinal break formation and subsequent retinal detachment, particularly with glass IOFBs.

Management of magnetic intravitreal foreign bodies in 71 eyes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the management of a series of eyes with magnetic intravitreal foreign bodies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective review examined consecutive cases of ocular injury associated with intraocular foreign bodies; 71 eyes included had a single metallic intraocular foreign body (< 5 mm) located in the vitreous cavity removed by external magnet or intraocular forceps. Variables included preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, retinal break formation, retinal detachment, presence of an afferent pupillary defect, intraocular pressure, entrance site, foreign body size, method of extraction, and time between occurrence and surgical extraction. RESULTS: Factors predictive of good visual outcome (visual acuity > 20/200) were: shortest interval between trauma and foreign body extraction, preoperative visual acuity of 20/200 or better, and absence of afferent pupillary defect. CONCLUSIONS: In this nonrandomized study, good visual results could be obtained in eyes undergoing prompt foreign body removal, especially those with good preoperative visual acuity and no afferent pupillary defect.

Surgical management of retinal detachment secondary to acute retinal necrosis: clinical features, surgical techniques, and long-term results.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of complicated retinal detachment secondary to acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and to present the long-term results of vitreous surgery in these cases. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 16 immunocompetent patients (18 eyes). The average follow-up period was 60 months. RESULTS: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade C, with the predominance of anterior PVR, and characteristic changes in the vitreous base area were present in all cases before surgery. All eyes underwent vitrectomy, membrane peeling, endolaser photocoagulation, and intraocular tamponade without scleral buckling. Additional procedures were performed in 13 eyes. Retinal reattachment was achieved in the 18 eyes (100%) in the short term. Variable degrees of reproliferation occurred in all cases after surgery. Other delayed complications included ocular hypotony, macular pucker, peripheral retinal neovascularization, and severe preretinal fibrosis. Improvement of visual acuity occurred in 13 eyes (72.2%). Eleven eyes (61.1%) achieved final ambulatory visual acuity of 5/200 or better. CONCLUSIONS: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment secondary to ARN has characteristic clinical features. Severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy with the predominance of anterior PVR develops rapidly. Reproliferation is the most important late postvitrectomy complication necessitating multiple surgical procedures in these cases. The visual results remain unfavorable due to the destructive nature of ARN.

Electroretinogram changes in the sound eye of subjects with unilateral necrotizing herpetic retinitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate electroretinogram (ERG) changes in the contralateral normal appearing eye of patients with unilateral acute necrotizing herpetic retinitis (NHR). METHODS: This interventional case series includes subjects with acute unilateral NHR. All patients were treated with intravenous followed by oral acyclovir and systemic steroids. Main outcome measures were changes in a- and b-wave amplitudes of scotopic and photopic full-field ERG in the sound eye, 1 and 3 months after therapy as compared to baseline. Twenty normal subjects served as controls. RESULTS: Forty eyes of 20 patients including 12 male and 8 female subjects with mean age of 44.1±11.5 (range 22 to 66) years were studied. Twenty unaffected eyes were the subject of the current study. The retina in all of these eyes remained intact during the course of the study. In the sound eyes, mean b-wave amplitude of the maximal combined response ERG before initiation of treatment was 229.5±38.8 microvolts which increased to 356.1±34.0 (P<0.001) and 365.8±32.7 (P<0.001) microvolts 1 and 3 months after treatment, respectively. Corresponding figures for b-wave amplitudes of the cone response ERG were 24.9±6.0, 47.0±12.9 (P<0.001) and 52.8±12.7 (P<0.001) microvolts, respectively. Visual acuity of all sound eyes remained unchanged throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Despite normal retinal appearance and intact visual acuity in the sound eyes of patients with NHR, electrophysiological changes were observed. Prompt diagnosis and management of NHR and continuation of medication for 3 months may reverse subclinical ERG changes and reduce the risk of progression to overt clinical disease.