VITRECTOMY FOR VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION: Visual Outcomes, Prognostic Factors, and Sequelae.

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage (VH) associated with retinal vein occlusion and to identify prognostic indicators. METHODS: Interventional, retrospective consecutive case series between 2015 and 2021. RESULTS: The study included 138 eyes of 138 patients (64 female and 74 male); 81 patients had branch retinal vein occlusion and 57 had central retinal vein occlusion. The mean age was 69.8 years. The mean duration between the diagnosis of VH and surgery was 79.6 ± 115.3 (range, 1-572) days. The mean follow-up was 27.2 months. The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity significantly improved from 1.95 ± 0.72 (Snellen equivalent, 20/1782) to 0.99 ± 0.87 (20/195) at 6 months and to 1.06 ± 0.96 (20/230) at the final visit (both P < 0.001). The visual acuity at 6 months improved by three or more lines in 103 eyes (75%). Postoperative complications during follow-up included recurrent VH in 16 eyes (12%) (of which 8 eyes underwent reoperations), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in six eyes (4%), and new neovascular glaucoma in three eyes (2%). Worse final visual acuity was significantly associated with older age ( P = 0.007), concurrent neovascular glaucoma ( P < 0.001), central retinal vein occlusion ( P < 0.001), worse preoperative visual acuity ( P < 0.001), postoperative new neovascular glaucoma ( P = 0.021), and postoperative retinal detachment ( P < 0.001). The duration of VH was not associated with visual outcomes ( P = 0.684). Preoperative antivascular endothelial growth factor injections and tamponade did not prevent postoperative recurrent VH. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy is effective for VH associated with retinal vein occlusion, regardless of the duration of hemorrhage. However, pre-existing risk factors and postoperative sequelae may limit visual recovery.

PATIENT-REPORTED VISUAL FUNCTION FROM THE OCRIPLASMIN FOR TREATMENT FOR SYMPTOMATIC VITREOMACULAR ADHESION, INCLUDING MACULAR HOLE (OASIS) STUDY.

PURPOSE: To evaluate patient-reported visual function after ocriplasmin through the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) in patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion/vitreomacular traction including macular hole. METHODS: This was a prespecified analysis of a secondary endpoint from the OASIS trial. Patients received a single intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin (0.125 mg) or sham and completed the VFQ-25 questionnaire at baseline and at Months 6, 12, and 24. Clinically meaningful (≥5-point) changes from baseline were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 220 patients enrolled, 146 received ocriplasmin and 74 received sham. At Month 24, the percentage of patients with a ≥5-point improvement from baseline in VFQ-25 composite scores was higher with ocriplasmin versus sham (51.4% vs. 30.1%, 95% confidence interval, 8.1-34.5, P = 0.003). The percentage of patients with ≥5-point worsening at Month 24 was lower with ocriplasmin versus sham (9.5% vs. 15.6%, 95% confidence interval: -15.6 to 3.5, P = 0.191). A larger percentage of patients treated with ocriplasmin versus sham experienced a ≥5-point improvement in VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores at Month 24 regardless of baseline full-thickness macular hole status. CONCLUSION: A larger percentage of patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion/vitreomacular traction reported clinically meaningful improvements in self-assessed visual function with ocriplasmin than sham.

Outcomes of Eyes Lost to Follow-up with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy That Received Panretinal Photocoagulation versus Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

PURPOSE: To compare anatomic and functional outcomes in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) that were lost to follow-up (LTFU) for more than 6 months after treatment with either intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine patients who were LTFU immediately after treatment for more than 6 months between September 2013 and September 2016. METHODS: Patients with eyes receiving either intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment or PRP with the next follow-up visit occurring more than 6 months after treatment were identified. Visual acuity (VA) and anatomic outcomes at the visit before being LTFU, the return visit, the 6-month visit after return, the 12-month visit after return, and the final visit were gathered and compared between the 2 treatment groups. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Visual acuity and anatomic outcomes. RESULTS: Seventy-six eyes of 59 patients were included in the study, of which 30 received IVI with anti-VEGF and 46 received PRP. In the anti-VEGF group, mean VA worsened significantly when comparing the visit before being LTFU (0.43±0.38 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) with the return visit (0.97±0.80 logMAR; P = 0.001) as well as with the final visit (0.92±0.94 logMAR; P = 0.01). In the PRP group, mean VA worsened significantly when comparing the visit before being LTFU (0.42±0.34 logMAR) with the return visit (0.62±0.64 logMAR; P = 0.03). However, no significant difference was observed at the final visit (0.46±0.47 logMAR; P = 0.38). There was a significantly greater number of eyes with tractional retinal detachment in the IVI group compared with the PRP group at the final visit (10 vs. 1, respectively; P = 0.005). There was a significantly greater incidence of neovascularization of the iris in the IVI arm compared with the PRP arm at the final visit (4 vs. 0, respectively; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with PDR that received only intravitreal anti-VEGF demonstrated worse anatomic and functional outcomes after being LTFU compared with eyes that received PRP. Given the potential sequelae of being LTFU, the choice of treatment for PDR must be considered carefully.

ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY: Efficacy of Intraoperative Subconjunctival Antibiotics.

PURPOSE: To examine rates of acute infectious endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes that received intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics versus eyes that did not. METHODS: A retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative case series of 18,886 consecutive cases of transconjunctival 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge PPV over a 5-year period was performed. The impact of prophylactic intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics on the development of acute infectious postoperative endophthalmitis was examined. RESULTS: Of 18,886 cases of PPV, 14,068 (74.5%) received intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics, whereas 4,818 (25.5%) did not. Sixteen cases (0.085%, 1/1,176) of post-PPV endophthalmitis were identified. The incidence of endophthalmitis in eyes that received subconjunctival antibiotics was 0.078% (11/14,068 cases, 1/1,282), whereas the incidence in those that did not receive subconjunctival antibiotics was 0.10% (5/4,818 cases, 1/1,000). No statistically significant difference was identified in the incidence of endophthalmitis between those that received subconjunctival antibiotics and those that did not (P = 0.598). Microbial culture was performed in 11 cases with 6 culture-positive cases (5/8 cases that received subconjunctival antibiotics and 1/3 cases that did not). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic subconjunctival antibiotics were not associated with a significantly reduced rate of post-PPV endophthalmitis. With consideration of emerging multidrug-resistant bacteria, routine prophylactic subconjunctival antibiotics may not be justified.

A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROL PILOT STUDY OF EPLERENONE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY (ECSELSIOR).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and effects of oral eplerenone in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-control study at a tertiary referral academic private practice. For a diagnosis of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, patients must have had at least 3 months clinical follow-up demonstrating persistent symptoms, subfoveal fluid on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and <50% reduction in fluid thickness. Patients were randomized 2:1 (treatment:placebo) to receive eplerenone (25 mg daily for 1 week, then up to 50 mg daily for 8 weeks) or placebo once daily. RESULTS: Fifteen patients completed the study. Ten patients (15 eyes) were randomized into the eplerenone treatment arm, while the remaining 5 patients (6 eyes) received placebo. After 9 weeks of eplerenone therapy, mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity improved from 0.394 (Snellen equivalent: 20/50) to 0.330 (20/43, P = 0.04). In the placebo group, the mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity slightly decreased from 0.313 (20/41) to 0.342 (20/44) during the same period (P = 0.21). With respect to anatomic changes, mean maximal subretinal fluid height in the eplerenone group improved from 139.3 µm at baseline to 51.8 µm (P = 0.02), mean subfoveal fluid height improved from 121.4 µm to 29.4 µm (P = 0.01), and mean central subfield thickness improved from 366.2 µm to 283.7 µm (P = 0.02). In comparison with the placebo group, mean maximal subretinal fluid height worsened from 135.9 µm to 172.3 µm (P = 0.32), mean subfoveal fluid height worsened from 92.1 µm to 134.0 µm (P = 0.54), and mean central subfield thickness worsened from 345.0 µm to 380.0 µm (P = 0.37). No patients in either group experienced serious adverse events to result in treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that oral eplerenone therapy is safe and potentially effective in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with persistent subretinal fluid.

Indications and Outcomes of Laser Retinopexy in Eyes With High-Risk Lattice Degeneration.

Purpose: To examine the characteristics of eyes with high-risk lattice degeneration treated with laser retinopexy and determine the indications, safety, and outcomes of the treatment. Methods: This interventional single-surgeon consecutive retrospective study was conducted at Wills Eye Hospital between 2014 and 2021. The series included eyes with lattice degeneration with high-risk lesions. Documented characteristics and outcomes of these eyes and fellow eyes were documented. Results: The study comprised 167 eyes of 143 patients (53.3% women; mean age [±SD], 50 ± 17 years). Complications after laser treatment included new posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) (n = 21), epiretinal membrane (ERM) (n = 13), retinal detachment (RD) (n = 5), and additional laser required (n = 22). Eyes that developed ERMs were more likely to develop PVDs (odds ratio, 5.39; 95% CI, 1.57-18.47). Patents who developed ERMs were older (mean, 60 ± 7 years vs 49 ± 17 years; P = .016), as were those developing PVDs (mean, 59 ± 8 years vs 48 ± 17; P = .005). No eye with a new ERM required surgery (n = 13). Four eyes with a new RD required laser retinopexy alone; 1 eye was treated surgically. No eye had an RD at the most recent evaluation. Conclusions: Despite high-risk lesions in areas of lattice degeneration, few eyes developed RDs after prophylactic laser retinopexy. Older patients may have a higher risk for ERM or PVD after laser treatment. Eyes with post-laser PVD were more likely to develop an ERM.

Bimanual assisted eyelid retraction technique for intravitreal injections.

PURPOSE: To describe an alternative technique for avoiding contact with the lids and eyelashes without the use of a metal lid speculum along with the results in clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records of all patients undergoing intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and ranibizumab with lid retraction achieved by bimanual assisted eyelid retraction between November 2010 and December 2011. RESULTS: A total of 10,164 consecutive intravitreal injections were performed, of which 3,834 were bevacizumab and 6,330 were ranibizumab. In this cohort of patients, 3 suspected cases of endophthalmitis developed (2 culture-negative), corresponding to a rate of 0.03%. CONCLUSION: The technique of bimanual assisted eyelid retraction for intravitreal injection has a low rate of infection similar to the reported rates using a metal lid speculum.

NODULAR EPIRETINAL MÜLLER CELL GLIOSIS IN THE FOVEA.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the findings of a hyperreflective nodular epiretinal gliosis observed with optical coherence tomography presumed to be due to subclinical hyaloidal traction causing Mϋller cell cone gliosis. METHODS: Retrospective, observational case series. RESULTS: Six eyes of six patients (mean age: 57 years, range 35-81 years) presented with a nodular epiretinal gliosis and had an average follow-up interval of 26 months (range 1-82 months). The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity was 0.25 ± 0.17 (Snellen equivalent 20/38.3 ± 16.9). Fundus photography demonstrated a yellowish lesion overlying the fovea. Optical coherence tomography imaging revealed a hyperreflective preretinal lesion with a mean vertical length of 267 µ m (range 185-497) and a mean greatest linear diameter of 312 µ m (range 124-640). There was no vitreoretinal abnormality including vitreomacular traction or epiretinal membrane noted in any eye, and two of six eyes displayed a definitive posterior vitreous detachment. These nodules may have occurred before and persisted even after a posterior vitreous detachment or may have been acquired after the posterior vitreous detachment. The nodules typically remained stable with minimal change although in one eye, a posterior vitreous detachment occurred 6 months after initial presentation and lifted the gliosis off of the retinal surface where it remained attached to the posterior hyaloid. CONCLUSION: Foveal nodular epiretinal gliosis may occur due to subclinical hyaloidal traction on the Müller cell cone even without obvious vitreoretinal interface abnormality on optical coherence tomography.

Retrospective Study of Ellipsoid Zone Integrity Following Treatment with Intravitreal Ocriplasmin (OZONE Study).

PURPOSE: To assess generalized (GD) and focal ellipsoid zone disruption (FD) in patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (sVMA) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) following ocriplasmin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: OZONE was a Phase 4, retrospective study of patients with sVMA treated with a single intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin (0.125 mg). Data from adult patients with at least 6-month follow-up after ocriplasmin were included. SD-OCT was performed at baseline (within 30 days before ocriplasmin), before Day 21 post-injection (early observation, EO), and by last observation (LO) which was maximally 6 months post-injection. The main outcome measure was the development of new and the evolution of existing FD/GD at EO and LO. RESULTS: The study enrolled 134 eyes/patients from 22 sites in the USA. At baseline, 87 eyes (64.9%) had FD, 21 eyes (15.7%) had GD and 26 eyes (19.4%) had no FD/GD. Among the eyes without FD/GD at baseline, 13 (50%) and 8 (30.8%) developed FD or GD, respectively, by EO. By LO, FD/GD improvement or resolution was seen in >80% of these eyes. Among the eyes with FD/GD at baseline, <40% had improving/resolving EZ integrity at LO. The absence of FD/GD at baseline was associated with less persistent FD/GD at LO (P<0.0005). The presence of FD with MH at baseline was associated with persistent FD at LO (P=0.027). CONCLUSION: The fact that a large majority of eyes had FD/GD prior to ocriplasmin was unexpected and demonstrates that EZ disruptions are common in sVMA. This suggests that loss of EZ integrity may be part of the natural history of this disorder. It is hypothesized that the status of the EZ at baseline is a contributing, ocriplasmin independent modulator of subsequent EZ changes after ocriplasmin. Prospective analyses which include a sham control group would be required to test this hypothesis.

Resolution of Pseudophakic Cystoid Macular Edema: 2 mg Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide versus 40 mg Posterior Sub-Tenon Triamcinolone Acetonide.

PURPOSE: To compare 2 mg intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) versus 40 mg posterior sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide (STT) for the treatment of eyes with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center review of eyes receiving 2 mg IVT between 3/1/2012-3/1/2017 and 40 mg STT between 1/1/2015-3/1/2017. Visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: Forty-five eyes were included in the IVT group and 50 eyes in the STT group. Change in VA from baseline to 1, 3, and 6 months was not significantly different between IVT and STT (6 months: 2.3 lines vs. 2.4 lines, p = .10). The IVT group achieved significantly better CMT improvement from baseline compared to STT at 1 month (255 µm vs. 187 µm; p = .03), but this difference was not present at month 3 (214 µm vs. 212 µm; p = .79) or month 6 (176 µm vs. 207 µm; p = .29). During the 6-month follow-up period, approximately 7% of eyes in the IVT group and 12% of eyes in the STT group developed ocular hypertension (p = .43), and all cases were successfully managed with topical anti-ocular hypertensive therapy or observation. CONCLUSIONS: 2 mg IVT and 40 mg STT both achieved significant improvement in vision and CMT with no significant difference between interventions at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Optical coherence tomography findings in acute retinal pigment epitheliitis.

PURPOSE: To report the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in three patients with acute retinal pigment epitheliitis (ARPE). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: The charts of three patients with ARPE were reviewed. Approval from the Institutional Review Board was obtained. Fundus photographs, fluorescein angiograms, and OCT findings were examined. RESULTS: Three healthy, young patients presented with acute unilateral blurred vision. Ophthalmoscopy revealed fine pigment stippling surrounded by haloes of hypopigmentation. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated transmission hyperfluorescence. OCT showed abnormal foveal hyperreflectivity involving the outer nuclear layer and photoreceptors in all cases. Disruption of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was seen in two cases. With resolution, the abnormal hyperreflectivity decreased in thickness. CONCLUSIONS: OCT confirms the involvement of the outer neurosensory retina in acute retinal pigment epitheliitis. RPE involvement may be a secondary post-inflammatory response, because one case did not have significant disruption of the RPE.

Pegaptanib for choroidal neovascularization in treatment-naïve exudative age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of intravitreal pegaptanib in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in treatment-naive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a consecu-tive, retrospective case series, treatment-naïve patients with exudative AMD were treated with intravitreal pegaptanib. Intravitreal injections were typically given every 6 weeks at the discretion of the treating physician. Snellen visual acuity (VA), clinical course, and adverse events were monitored. A minimum of three pegaptanib injections were given. Retreatment criteria included persistent submacular fluid, macular edema, new macular hemorrhage, and loss of vision. RESULTS: The average change in VA for all lesions was a loss of 2.9 lines. Fifteen (14%) patients gained more than 3 lines of VA. The average number of in-jections was 4.8. Ninety-two of 111 lesions were able to be categorized by size. Sixty-six patients had small lesions (< 4 disc areas) with an average change of -2.0 lines, and 26 had large lesions (> or = 4 disc areas) with an average change of -5.4 lines (P < .02). Patients with larger lesions were at greater risk for severe visual loss (P < .01). The average follow-up was approximately 31 weeks (range: 12 to 82 weeks) after the first injection. CONCLUSIONS: Pegaptanib therapy resulted in a 2.9 average line loss in patients when all lesions were considered. Small lesions responded favorably, with 15% of patients gaining more than 3 lines of VA. Larger lesions had an increased risk of progression and poor visual outcome.

Postoperative complications associated with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report postoperative complications in eyes undergoing 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy consecutive eyes that underwent 25-gauge PPV for various indications, including epiretinal membrane, non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage, and idiopathic macular hole, and had a minimum follow-up of 12 weeks were reviewed retrospectively. Main outcome measures included best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The mean visual acuity improved from 20/368 preoperatively to 20/105 postoperatively (P < .00005). Intraoperative complications included retinal tears in 2 eyes (2.9%). Postoperative complications included cataract progression in 17 eyes (42.5%), cystoid macular edema exacerbation in 5 eyes (7.1%), and retinal detachment in 1 eye (1.4%). Postoperative day 1 IOP was statistically lower than preoperative IOP in fluid-filled eyes (P = .031) but not in eyes filled with intravitreal air (P = .30) or gas (P = .52). Sclerotomy sutures were required intraoperatively in 5 eyes (7.1%) and postoperative day 1 hypotony was noted in 4 eyes (5.7%). All of these complications were noted in fluid-filled eyes except for one case of postoperative day 1 hypotony with gas tamponade. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative and postoperative complications were rare in this series of 25-gauge PPV. Postoperative cataract progression and hypotony were the most common complications. Fluid-filled eyes appear to have a higher risk of wound leakage and postoperative hypotony after 25-gauge PPV than eyes with air or gas tamponade.