Evaluation of intravitreal injections as a risk factor for capsular rupture during cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether previous intravitreal injections are an independent risk factor for posterior capsular rupture (PCR) during cataract surgery after adjusting for known risk factors. DESIGN: Single-centre medical records analysis of a population-based cohort at a university-based referral centre. A retrospective cohort study has been conducted with inclusion of cataract surgeries done from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. PARTICIPANTS: All consecutive cataract surgeries done in patients of at least 18 years of age from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020 have been included. METHODS: Association between previous intravitreal injections and PCR rates has been analysed through univariable and multivariable generalized estimating equations (GEE). Other investigated risk factors were age, combined surgery, pseudoexfoliation, surgeon's experience, and type of cataract surgery. RESULTS: A statistically significant higher rate of posterior capsular rupture during cataract surgery has been found in patients with previous intravitreal therapy compared with patients with no history of intravitreal therapy (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.46, p = 0.008). However, after adjusting for confounding risk factors, no statistically significant effect was seen (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.89-1.21, p = 0.664). CONCLUSION: We found no association between history of intravitreal injections and PCR during cataract surgery after adjusting for known risk factors. Further studies upon interactions between history of intravitreal injections and known risk factors for PCR, especially pseudoexfoliation, are needed.

Changes of individual retinal layer thickness post-uneventful cataract surgery determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography over a 3-months period.

Purpose: To evaluate retinal thickness changes of individual retinal layers using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) after uneventful cataract surgery over a 3-months period. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: 41 patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery were included. Retinal SD-OCT images of both eyes were acquired preoperatively, 1 day after surgery as well as 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Changes of retinal layer thickness were estimated after semi-automated segmentation for the following individual layers in the central subfield (CS, 1 mm) and inner ring (IR, 1-3 mm) of the early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grid: retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), RNFL-GCL-IPL complex, inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), INL-OPL complex, outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner retina layer (IRL) and the total retina (TR). Furthermore, a sub-analysis with exclusion of patients devoid CME and an analysis in regard of patient age, lens status of the fellow eye, best corrected visual acuity and duration of surgery was conducted. Results: This study found significant alterations in all analysed retinal layers except for the RNFL (p = 0.33) and the GCL (p = 0.06) in the central subfield and the INL-OPL complex (p = 0.07) in the inner ring over the 3-months period (all p < 0.05). Retinal thickness decreases on the first postoperative day, followed by a significant increase 1 month after surgery and subsequent reduction at 3 months following uneventful cataract surgery could be observed. Conclusion: These results assume the hypothesis that the apex of inflammatory response, characterized by an augmentation in the thickness of individual retinal layers, occurs around 1 month after uneventful cataract surgery, and subsequently experience a reduction in activity. Therefore, we suggest that additional therapy for cystoid macular edema does not have to be initiated as early as the first month in mild cases.

Capsular tension ring as protective measure against in-the-bag dislocations after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of capsular tension ring (CTR) implantation on the development of in-the-bag (ITB) dislocations after cataract surgery. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology Graz, Graz, Austria. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent cataract operation between 1996 and 2017 were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the influence of CTR implantation and other predisposing factors (pseudoexfoliation [PEX], age, retinitis pigmentosa, sex, zonular weakness, uveitis, high myopia, and intraocular lens design and material) on ITB dislocations. RESULTS: ITB dislocations were found in 111 (0.16%) of 68199 eyes (46 632 patients). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for other predisposing risk factors, a CTR implantation was associated with a lower risk of an ITB dislocation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.80; P = .017). In eyes with PEX, a CTR implantation was associated with an HR of 0.16 (95% CI, 0.04-0.70; P = .015), whereas eyes without PEX had an HR of 0.80 (95% CI, 0.14-4.41; P = .793). A CTR implantation in eyes with zonular weakness resulted in a potentially lower risk (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.12-1.12; P = .078). CONCLUSIONS: According to the dataset, implantation of a CTR was a protective measure against an ITB dislocation. Especially in patients with zonular weakness and PEX, the CTR implantation was association with a lower risk of ITB dislocations. In patients without PEX, no association was established.

Postoperative Pain after Different Transscleral Laser Cyclophotocoagulation Procedures.

BACKGROUND: As the number of surgical options in glaucoma treatment is continuously rising, evidence regarding distinctive features of these surgeries is becoming more and more important for clinicians to choose the right surgical treatment for each individual patient. METHODS: For this retrospective data analysis, we included glaucoma patients treated with either continuous wave (CW-TSCPC) or micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) in an inpatient setting. Pain intensity was assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain) during hospitalization. CW-TSCPC was performed using OcuLight® Six (IRIDEX Corporation, Mountain View, CA, USA) and MP-TSCPC was performed using the IRIDEX® Cyclo-G6 System (IRIDEX Corporation, Mountain View, CA, USA). RESULTS: A total of 243 consecutive cases of TSCPC were included. Of these, 144 (59.26%) were treated with CW-TSCPC and 99 (40.74%) with MP-TSCPC. Using the univariable model, the risk for postoperative pain was observed to be lower in MP-TSCPC compared with CW-TSCPC (unadjusted: OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24-0.84, p = 0.017), but this did not hold using the multivariable model (adjusted: OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-1.02, p = 0.056). Simultaneously conducted anterior retinal cryotherapy was associated with a higher risk for postoperative pain (OR 4.41, 95% CI 2.01-9.69, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the occurrence of postoperative pain was not different in CW-TSCPC compared with MP-TSCPC in a multivariable model. In cases of simultaneous anterior retinal cryotherapy, the risk for postoperative pain was significantly higher.

Glaucoma Medication and Quality of Life after Phacoemulsification Combined with a Xen Gel Stent.

Glaucoma has a significant impact on quality of life. Here, we aimed to evaluate the influence of a reduction in glaucoma medications on quality of life and patient satisfaction after phacoemulsification combined with the Xen gel stent. We carried out a cross-sectional survey of patients who underwent phacoemulsification with the Xen gel stent at the Medical University of Graz, Austria. Quality of life was assessed using the German version of the Glaucoma Symptoms Scale (GSS)-questionnaire. Patients were also asked whether the operation reduced glaucoma medications and to indicate their overall satisfaction from 1 (totally discontented) up to 10 (totally contented). Questionnaires of 80 patients were evaluated. A total of 36 patients (45.0%) reported a reduction in glaucoma medications. Three items of the GSS were significantly better in patients who needed fewer glaucoma medications after the operation ("hard to see in daylight", 75.0 ± 31.1 vs. 57.7 ± 39.1, p = 0.035; "hard to see in dark places", 81.1 ± 28.7 vs. 54.9 ± 41.2, p = 0.002; and "halos around lights", 88.3 ± 25.9 vs. 68.8 ± 38.6, p = 0.002). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher when the procedure led to a reduction in glaucoma medication (8.3 ± 2.0 vs. 6.8 ± 3.1; p = 0.034). The reported quality of life and patient satisfaction were significantly better when phacoemulsification with the Xen gel stent reduced the number of glaucoma medications needed.

STELLATE NONHEREDITARY IDIOPATHIC FOVEOMACULAR RETINOSCHISIS IN A PATIENT WITH MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2.

PURPOSE: To present a case of unilateral stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis in a patient with macular telangiectasia (MacTel) Type 2. METHODS: Single-patient case report. RESULTS: A 61-year-old female white patient was referred to our clinic with metamorphopsia and reduction of visual acuity over a period of 2 months on her right eye. Ocular findings in her right eye included reduced best-corrected visual acuity of 20/63 Snellen, foveomacular retinoschisis with extension to the lower middle periphery, central elevation of the neurosensory retina, and macular telangiectasia (MacTel) Type 2. Other causes of foveomacular retinoschisis, such as glaucoma, myopic degeneration, optic or scleral pit, X-linked juvenile retinoschisis, degenerative retinoschisis, and vitreomacular traction, were ruled out. The patient had no history of niacin or taxane medication, which may cause rather similar appearing cases of cystoid macular edema without leakage in fluorescein angiography. Because of the unilateral presentation, uneventful medical history, female sex, and the absence of known hereditary diseases or retinal pathologies in the patient's family history, hereditary predisposition appears to be highly unlikely. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis in combination with MacTel Type 2. Whether or not MacTel Type 2 plays a role in the development of stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis or has an impact on its clinical course requires further investigation. Furthermore, we suggest a significant involvement of Henle fiber layer in the process of intraretinal expansion in optical coherence tomography, in accordance with the most recent published nomenclature.

The Impact of Tape Sealing Face Masks on Visual Field Scores in the Era of COVID-19: A Randomized Cross-over Study.

PRECIS: Tape sealing of the face mask can prevent fogging artifacts of visual field testing. Here, we demonstrate that tape sealing can improve visual field scores even when fogging artifacts are not obvious. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that visual field scores improve when the face masks are taped to prevent fogging artifacts. METHODS: A Single-center, randomized 2×2 cross-over study. Twenty-six visual fields of 13 patients of the glaucoma outpatient clinic were included. Patients were randomized in either sequence 1 (Octopus visual field examination without tape sealing, followed by examination with tape sealing) or sequence 2 (examination with, followed by without tape sealing). RESULTS: The results for mean defect and square root of loss variance differ significantly in the examination with and without tape sealing [mean difference (without-with) 0.39 dB, 95% confidence interval: 0.07-0.70 dB, P=0.018 and 0.49 dB, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.79 dB, P=0.003, respectively]. There was no sequence effect (P=0.967) for mean defect nor the square root of loss variance (P=0.779). A significant effect for period (P=0.023) for mean defect was yielded. CONCLUSION: Tape sealing of face masks during visual field testing prevented fogging artifacts and improved visual field scores even when fogging artifacts were not obvious and should be considered in clinical practice.

Impact of intraocular lens characteristics on intraocular lens dislocation after cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: To assess the influence of intraocular lens (IOL) characteristics on IOL dislocations after cataract surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent cataract surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology Graz, Austria, between 1996 and 2017 were included and medical records were reviewed. Cox proportional-hazard regression models were used to assess the influence of IOL characteristics on IOL dislocation. RESULTS: From 68 199 eyes out of 46 632 patients (60.2% women, mean age: 73.71 SD±10.82 years), 111 (0.16%) had an in-the-bag (ITB) disloaction and 35 (0.05%) had an out-of-the-bag (OTB) dislocation. The HRs adjusted for predisposing factors significantly associated with a higher risk for an ITB dislocation were 2.35 (95% CI, 1.45 to 3.8) for hydrophilic IOLs, 2.01 for quadripode IOLs (95% CI, 1.04 to 3.86) and 1.61 (95% CI, 1.04 to 2.48) for haptic angulation. A lower risk was observed for three-piece IOLs (HR=0.58, 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.98) and larger overall IOL diameter (HR=0.79, 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.95). For an OTB dislocation, the HR associated with a higher risk was 18.81 (95% CI, 5.84 to 60.58) for silicone IOLs and 2.12 (95% CI, 0.62 to 7.29) for hydrophilic IOLs. Larger overall IOL diameter (HR 0.40, 95% CI; 0.25 to 0.63) showed a lower risk. CONCLUSION: Hydrophilic IOLs, quadripode IOLs and haptic angulation were associated with a higher risk for an ITB dislocation, whereas three-piece IOLs and a larger overall diameter were associated with a lower risk. Risk factors for OTB dislocation were silicone IOLs, hydrophilic IOLs and a smaller overall IOL diameter.