Feasibility and Safety of Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Short-Term Posturing Prescription after Macular Hole Surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess closure rate and visual outcome of a court of patients with macular hole (MH) who underwent surgical repair with intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT)-confirmed MH closure and short-term postoperative face-down posturing (FDP). Secondary aim was to assess the correlation between iOCT and postoperative OCT at day 1. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study conducted in the Miulli Hospital Acquaviva delle Fonti (Italy), enrolling patients with idiopathic MH who underwent 25-G pars plana vitrectomy plus internal limiting membrane peeling. During surgery, closure of MH was confirmed by iOCT and short-term FDP (12-24 h, until day-1 visit) was prescribed. All patients had measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral domain-OCT before the surgery and during follow-up (at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months). RESULTS: Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients (14 males, 62.1%) were enrolled in the study. MH mean size was 451.7 ± 139.7 µm and baseline BCVA was 0.77 ± 0.26 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR). MH was confirmed to be closed in 100% of patients intraoperatively (iOCT) and at OCT during early follow-up (1-3 days). Mean time of FDP was 18 ± 2.6 h. At 3 months, MH closure rate was 93%; 2 eyes -underwent secondary MH repair surgery. Final BCVA was 0.39 ± 0.22 LogMAR (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: iOCT-based confirmation of MH closure could be a safe and useful tool for prescribing short-term FDP after surgery, with high closure rate and no additional complication. The execution of an OCT in the immediate postoperative days could be potentially unnecessary.

Effects of vitamin B12 on the corneal nerve regeneration in rats.

The study was designed to investigate the effects of a new ophthalmic solution containing 0.05% vitamin B12 0.05% on corneal nerve regeneration in rats after corneal injury. Eyes of anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to corneal injury by removing the corneal epithelium with corneal brush (Algerbrush). After the epithelial debridement, the right eye of each animal received the instillation of one drop of the ophthalmic solution containing vitamin B12 0.05% plus taurine 0.5% and sodium hyaluronate 0.5% four time per day for 10 or 30 days. Left eyes were used as control and treated with solution containing taurine 0.5% and sodium hyaluronate 0.5% alone following the same regimen. Fluorescein staining by slit-lamp and morphological analysis was used to determine corneal wound healing. Immunohistochemistry, immunoblot and confocal microscopy were used to examine corneal re-innervation. Slit-lamp and histological analyses showed that re-epithelization of the corneas was accelerated in rats treated with vitamin B12. A clear-cut difference between the two groups of rats was seen after 10 days of treatment, whereas a near-to-complete re-epithelization was observed in both groups at 30 days. Vitamin B12 treatment had also a remarkable effect on corneal re-innervation, as shown by substantial increased in the expression of neurofilament 160 and ß-III tubulin at both 10 and 30 days. The presence of SV2A-positive nerve endings suggests the presence of synapse-like specialized structures in corneal epithelium of the eye treated with vitamin B12. Our findings suggest that vitamin B12 treatment represents a powerful strategy to accelerate not only re-epithelization but also corneal re-innervation after mechanical injury.

Effectiveness and safety of XEN45 implant over 12 months of follow-up: data from the XEN-Glaucoma Treatment Registry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the 1-year effectiveness and safety of the XEN45, either alone or in combination with phacoemulsification, in glaucoma patients. METHODS: This multicentre, prospective, observational study included consecutive eyes of glaucoma patients from the Italian XEN-Glaucoma Treatment Registry (XEN-GTR) who underwent XEN45 alone or in combination with phacoemulsification, with at least 1 year of follow-up. Surgical success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) < 18 mmHg and ≥20% reduction from preoperative IOP, over 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-nine eyes (239 patients) were analyzed, 144 (60.2%) eyes in the XEN-solo and 95 (39.8%) eyes in the XEN+Phaco groups. One hundred-sixty-eight (70.3%) eyes achieved overall success, without statistically significant differences between study groups (p = 0.07). Preoperative IOP dropped from a median (IQR) of 23.0 (20.0-26.0) mmHg to 14.0 (12.0-16.0) mmHg at month 12 (p < 0.001), with overall 39.9 ± 18.3% IOP reduction. The mean number of preoperative ocular hypotensive medications (OHM) was significantly reduced from 2.7 ± 0.9 to 0.5 ± 0.9 at month 12 (p < 0.001). Preoperative IOP < 15 mmHg (HR: 6.63; 95%CI: 2.61-16.84, p < 0.001) and temporal position of the surgeon (HR: 4.25; 95%CI: 2.62-6.88, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with surgery failure. One hundred-forty-six (61.1%) eyes had no intraoperative complications, whereas 91 (38.1%) and 56 (23.4%) eyes experienced at least one complication, respectively early (< month 1) and late (≥ month 1), all self-limiting or successfully treated without sequelae. Needling occurred in 55 (23.0%) eyes at least once during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Over 1-year follow-up, XEN45 alone or in combination with phacoemulsification, had comparable success rates and effectively and safely lowered IOP and the need for OHM.

Success of iOCT in surgical management of ERM peeling.

PURPOSE: Epiretinal membranes (ERM) are a disorder leading to progressive vision loss and metamorphopsia. The ERM is treated through a pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) with membrane peeling. The aim of this study was to define the success of intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) in ERM surgery to standard surgical visualization techniques and enhance our current approach to clinical practice. METHODS: This study included 56 eyes of 54 patients who underwent surgical intervention for management of idiopathic ERM. Patients were recruited between February 2018 and March 2020 at "Francesco Miulli" Hospital ophthalmology department in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy. RESULTS: in 28 eyes, ERM peeling was performed without staining and without iOCT; 25% of these eyes peeling ERM (n = 7) was performed easily, while 75% of eyes peeling ERM (n = 21) was not possible without staining and was necessary staining with Brillant Blu G.In 28 eyes ERM peeling were performed with iOCT; in 92.5% of these eyes (n = 26) ERM peeling was easily done without staining, while in 7.5% of this group of eyes (n = 2) ERM peeling was not possible without staining. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows how iOCT has successfully assisted the surgeon to complete peeling in most of the cases treated without the use of a chromovitrectomy dye; in flat ERM was more difficult and iOCT failed to visualize the inner limiting membrane (ILM).

Italian Candidates for the XEN Implant: An Overview from the Glaucoma Treatment Registry (XEN-GTR).

Background The Italian XEN Glaucoma Treatment Registry (XEN-GTR) was created to acquire a comprehensive prospective dataset that includes the patient characteristics, intraoperative variables, and postoperative management of glaucoma patients undergoing the XEN gel stent implantation. Methods This was a prospective observational, longitudinal clinical study involving 10 centres throughout Italy. The baseline examination included a comprehensive evaluation of demographic parameters (age, sex, ethnicity, and systemic condition), specific ophthalmological parameters, and quality of life questionnaire score collection. Results The baseline data of 273 patients were analysed. The median (IQR) age was 72 (65.0 to 78.0) years. Of the 273 patients, 123 (45%) were female and 150 (55%) were male. A total of 86% of the patients had open-angle glaucoma with a mean intraocular pressure of 24 ± 6 (range 12.0-60.0) mmHg. The mean number of medications was 2.7 ± 0.9 at baseline for the patients with a prevalence of prostaglandin analogues combined with a beta-blocker and anhydrase carbonic inhibitor (31.8%). The mean scores of the NEI-VFQ 25 and GSS questionnaires were 78 ± 18 (range 26.5-100) and 85 ± 14 (range 79-93), respectively. Combined XEN/cataract surgeries were scheduled in 73.7% of the patients. The preferred place for the XEN implant was the supero-nasal quadrant (91.6%). Conclusions Observing the baseline characteristics of the typical Italian candidates for the XEN gel implant shows that they are patients affected by POAG and cataracts, with moderate to severe glaucoma damage, all of which has an impact on their quality of life.

Clinical course of choroidal neovascular membrane in West Nile virus chorioretinitis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: This report describes the clinical course of choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) in West Nile virus-associated chorioretinitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old Italian woman was referred to our institution because of reduced visual acuity in the left eye dating back 4 months. A diagnosis of retinal vasculitis in the right eye and chorioretinitis with CNV in the left eye was made. A complete workup for uveitis revealed positivity only for anti-West Nile virus immunoglobulin M (IgM), while immunoglobulin G (IgG) was negative. Whole-body computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were also negative. Therefore, the patient was treated with a combination of oral prednisone (starting dose 1 mg/kg per day) and three intravitreal injections of bevacizumab 1.25 mg/0.05 ml, 1 month apart. Fourteen days from starting corticosteroid therapy and after the first intravitreal injection, the patient experienced increased visual acuity to 0.4. Response to therapy was monitored by clinical examination, ocular coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography and retinal fluorescein angiography. Three months later, resolution of CNV in the left eye was achieved and no signs of retinal vasculitis were detected in the right eye, while serum IgM for West Nile virus turned negative and IgG positive. CONCLUSION: CNV may be a complication of West Nile virus-associated chorioretinitis, and only subclinical retinal vasculitis may also be found even in non-endemic regions.

Endothelial Cell Density After XEN Implant Surgery: Short-term Data From the Italian XEN Glaucoma Treatment Registry (XEN-GTR).

PRECIS: XEN implant was associated with low endothelial cell density (ECD) reduction. In fact, when combined with phacoemulsification, the reduction in ECD was similar to that expected after phacoemulsification alone. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of XEN implant, either alone or in combination with phacoemulsification, on ECD. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted on consecutive open-angle glaucoma patients, who were enrolled in the Italian XEN Glaucoma Treatment Registry and have complete endothelial cell count data at baseline and at 6 months after implantation. The primary endpoint was the mean percentage change in ECD between baseline and month 6. RESULTS: The study included 108 open-angle glaucoma eyes (68 in the XEN-solo and 40 eyes in the XEN+phaco groups) and 60 control eyes (phaco-solo group). As compared with baseline, mean (95% confidence interval, CI) ECD reduction was -5.6% (-7.0% to -4.9%), -11.3% (-13.8% to -10.9%), and -13.0% (14.8% to -11.8%) in the XEN-solo, XEN+phaco, and phaco-solo groups, respectively (P=0.0004, <0.0001, and <0.0001, respectively). As compared with the XEN-solo group, the ECD reduction was significantly greater in the XEN+phaco group (mean difference=5.7%; 95% CI: 4.1%-7.3%, P<0.0001) and in the phaco-solo group (mean difference=7.4%; 95% CI: 5.7%-9.1%, P<0.0001). ECD reduction was similar in XEN+phaco and phaco-solo groups (P=0.9). In absolute terms, ECD reduction was significantly greater in the XEN+phaco (mean difference=169±306, P=0.021) and in the phaco-solo (mean difference=192±302, P=0.0022) groups than in the XEN-solo group. CONCLUSIONS: The mean ECD reduction 6 months after XEN implantation was low. The ECD reduction in the XEN+phaco group was larger than in the XEN-solo group but was similar to that observed in the phaco-solo group.

Spontaneous resolution of optic pit maculopathy: an OCT report.

The separation of the vitreous from the optic nerve head and the macula plays a primary role in the spontaneous resolution of optic disc pit (ODP) maculopathy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) helps in the non-invasive monitoring of this condition, when treated conservatively. The aim of this report was to describe a pediatric case of spontaneously resolved ODP maculopathy, managed conservatively and monitored by means of spectral domain (SD)-OCT. A 14-year-old girl presented with severe visual loss in the right eye (RE). Fundus examination demonstrated a temporal ODP with altered foveal reflex. The SD-OCT B-scans revealed severe intraretinal schisis-like changes, broad vitreal adhesion in the optic nerve head area, posterior hyaloid thickening, and vitreal entrapment in the premacular space. The patient was managed conservatively. Spontaneous resolution of ODP maculopathy took place over 3 months, with vision improved up to 1.0 (Snellen charts). The macular schisis progressively resolved after posterior vitreous detachment. In conclusion, in our report, a complete restoration of the foveal anatomy was achieved without any surgical intervention. This OCT-based report confirms the role of the vitreomacular abnormalities in the pathogenesis of the disease.

PROGRESSION OF RETINAL ISCHEMIA IN A CASE OF MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 1 AFTER RANIBIZUMAB INJECTION: OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY FINDINGS.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of a 68-year-old man with macular telangiectasia (MacTel) Type 1 in the right eye, showing an increase in capillary ischemia after intravitreal ranibizumab. METHODS: The patient underwent complete ophthalmologic evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, anterior segment and fundus examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography at baseline and on each visit. Fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline. The patient was followed up on monthly bases for 22 months. RESULTS: The patient presented a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/80 in the right eye and of 20/25 in the left eye at baseline. In the right eye, the fluorescein angiography images showed perifoveal capillary ectasia, late-frames dye leakage, and enlargement of the foveal avascular zone. The OCT showed intraretinal pseudocysts and microaneurysms, and the OCT angiography showed vascular rarefaction, capillary dropout, and capillary ectasia of the superficial plexus. After 16 months of follow-up and four ranibizumab injections, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20/60, and the OCT angiography disclosed a further enlargement of the foveal avascular zone area and increased capillary obliteration in the perifoveal nasal area. CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography angiography may represent an indispensable diagnostic technique, complementary to traditional imaging, in the evaluation of the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in patients with MacTel Type 1.

Escherichia coli keratitis treated with ultraviolet A/riboflavin corneal cross-linking: a case report.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of keratitis caused by the Gram-negative Escherichia coli, treated with UVA-riboflavin cross linking. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 78-year-old woman with diabetes presented with a 1-week history of pain, photophobia, foreign body sensation, and lacrimation in the right eye. The patient underwent topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy, without improvement. The authors treated the patient with riboflavin and corneal UVA crosslinking, with the aim to promote healing of the ulceration. One day after the procedure, the corneal ulceration was covered by cicatricial tissue, and the patient reported a significant improvement in symptoms. One month after the treatment, corneal edema was almost completely resolved, corneal ulceration was healed, and the painful symptoms of the patient had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: UVA-riboflavin crosslinking can be useful for the treatment of corneal ulceration unresponsive to medical treatment.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Evolution of Choroidal Neovascular Membrane in Choroidal Rupture Managed by Intravitreal Bevacizumab.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of a 25-year-old man with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to traumatic choroidal rupture treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and to evaluate the vascular structure of the area near the traumatic choroidal rupture. METHODS: The patient underwent complete ophthalmologic evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, anterior segment and funds examination, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) at baseline and on each follow-up visit. Fluorescein angiography (FA) was performed at baseline. Intravitreal bevacizumab was administered at the time of choroidal neovascular membrane diagnosis. RESULTS: At baseline, ophthalmoscopic examination of the left eye revealed four subretinal macular hemorrhages and two choroidal ruptures located temporally to the fovea. On OCT angiograms, the choroidal rupture appeared as a hypointense break in choriocapillaris plexus. At 4-week follow-up, the OCTA disclosed a well circumscribed lesion characterized by numerous and fine anastomotic vessels. Patient received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. At 6-week post injection, OCTA documented regression of the neovascular complex. CONCLUSION: Choroidal neovascularization is a common complication associated with traumatic choroidal rupture and OCTA may represent a complementary diagnostic technique to evaluate the vascular structure of the area near the traumatic choroidal rupture.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography versus Dye Angiography in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Sensitivity and Specificity Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) could be a valid tool to detect choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), allowing the analysis of the type, the morphology, and the extension of CNV in most of the cases. PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of OCTA in detecting CNV secondary to nAMD, compared to fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). METHODS: Prospective observational study. Patients with suspected nAMD were recruited between May and December 2016. Patients underwent FA, ICGA, spectral domain OCT, and OCTA (AngioVue, Optovue, Inc.). Sensitivity and specificity of FA, with or without ICGA, were assessed and compared with OCTA. RESULTS: Seventy eyes of 70 consecutive patients were included: 32 eyes (45.7%) with type I CNV, 8 eyes (11.4%) with type II CNV, 4 eyes (5.7%) with type III CNV, 6 eyes (8.6%) with mixed type I and type II CNV, and 20 eyes (28.6%) with no CNV. Sensitivity of OCTA was 88% and specificity was 90%. Concordance between FA/ICGA and OCTA was very good (0,91; range 0,81-1,00). CONCLUSIONS: OCTA showed high sensitivity and specificity for detection of CNV. Concordance between OCTA and gold-standard dye-based techniques was excellent. OCTA may represent a first-line noninvasive method for the diagnosis of nAMD.

Transient vitreomacular traction syndrome caused by traumatic incomplete posterior vitreous detachment.

PURPOSE: To report transient vitreomacular traction (VMT) syndrome following acute blunt trauma associated with incomplete posterior vitreous detachment. METHODS: The authors present the analysis of 2 eyes of consecutive patients with acute VMT following mild blunt trauma. Both patients reported a sudden decrease in visual acuity and metamorphopsia. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images showed typical VMT syndrome. RESULTS: The development of complete posterior vitreous detachment demonstrated by OCT, after 15 and 30 days, respectively, was associated with complete resolution of symptoms and complete recovery of foveal architecture. CONCLUSIONS: The authors report spontaneous resolution of VMT associated with blunt trauma. As spontaneous resolution may occur in some eyes with VMT following traumatic acute incomplete vitreous detachment, a period of observation may be considered prior to vitrectomy. Spectral domain OCT is a useful tool in following the evolution of these patients.

Triamcinolone-assisted pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC) staining facilitates posterior hyaloid and epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). METHODS: Ten consecutive pseudophakic patients (10 eyes) underwent PPV for RRD with PVR. After a core PPV, a few drops of a commercially available TAAC aqueous suspension (40 mg/mL) with vehicle were injected into the mid vitreous cavity to visualize the posterior hyaloid, thus allowing a complete posterior hyaloidectomy. Next, 0.1 to 0.2 mL of TAAC was applied on the retinal surface to visualize and peel the ERMs. The tamponading agent was silicone oil (1,300 cs) in eight eyes and perfluropropane (C3F8 14%) in two eyes. The minimal follow-up period in all patients was 4 months. RESULTS: In all patients, intraoperative staining with TAAC consistently improved direct visualization and delineation of the posterior hyaloid and ERMs and facilitated their removal. No adverse reaction related to the use of TAAC was observed immediately postoperatively or 4 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal TAAC may be an important adjuvant tool in the delineation of posterior hyaloid and ERMs, allowing for a more complete and safer ERM removal in the surgical management of PVR complicating RRD. It is well tolerated with all its vehicle if used at low concentration and rapidly removed during surgery.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide: valuation of retinal thickness changes measured.

PURPOSE: The authors studied the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in a case series of patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema without evidence of vitreous-macular traction refractory to laser photocoagulation. METHODS: Six eyes with clinically diffuse diabetic macular edema that failed to respond to at least two previous sessions of laser photocoagulation were included. The mean age of selected patients was 72.5 13.8 years, with a preoperative best-corrected visual acuity reduced to 1.48 0.18 logMar and a mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) of 15.17 2.64 mmHg. The authors also studied macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT 2000 scanner, Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, CA) in the preoperative period it was 640.8 171.1 m and the fluorangiographic (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) patterns, which showed pooling in tardy phases and leakage. Mean follow-up was 4 months. RESULTS: In each patient the authors observed a significant improvement, both functionally and anatomically. Mean best-corrected visual acuity increased in the postoperative period to 0.94 0.53 logMar. No patient showed decline of visual acuity at the end of follow-up. Base line macular thickness was reduced in the postoperative period to 312.2 157.65 m measured by OCT and fluorangiographic patterns showed a reduction of pooling and of leakage. The most common complications described in the literature were not observed and the increase of mean IOP in the postoperative period to 18.76 5.72 mmHg was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide may decrease macular edema and improve visual acuity in eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2004; 14: 321-4).