Intravitreal triamcinolone for acute branch retinal vein occlusion: a randomized clinical trial

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of intravitreal triamcinolone [IVT] injection for recent branch retinal vein occlusion [BRVO]. In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 phakic eyes with recent [less than 10 weeks' duration] BRVO were assigned to two groups. The treatment group [16 eyes] received 4 mg IVT and the control group [14 eyes] received subconjunctival sham injections. Changes in visual acuity [VA] were the main outcome measure. VA and central macular thickness [CMT] changes were not significantly different between the study groups at any time point. Within group analysis showed significant VA improvement from baseline in the IVT group up to three months [P < 0.05]; the amount of this change was 0.53 +/- 0.46, 0.37 +/- 0.50, 0.46 +/- 0.50, and 0.29 +/- 0.45 logMAR at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months, respectively. Corresponding VA improvements in the control group were 0.20 +/- 0.37, 0.11 +/- 0.46, 0.25 +/- 0.58, and 0.05 +/- 0.50 logMAR [all P values > 0.05]. Significant reduction in CMT was noticed only in the treatment group [-172 +/- 202 micro m, P = 0.029] and at 4 months. Ocular hypertension occurred in 4 [25%] and 2 [14.3%] eyes in the IVT and control groups, respectively. A single IVT injection had a non-significant beneficial effect on VA and CMT in acute BRVO as compared to the natural history of the condition. The 3-month deferred treatment protocol advocated by the Branch Vein Occlusion Study Group may be a safer option than IVT injection considering its potential side effects

Iris-supported artisan phakic intraocular lenses for treatment of moderate to high myopia

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Artisan Phakic Intraocular Lens [PIOL] for the correction of high myopia. In this prospective study of 22 eyes of 14 patients with high myopia, Artisan PIOLs [Ophtec BV] were implanted. Uncorrected visual acuity [UCVA], best corrected visual acuity [BCVA], refraction, astigmatism, safety, and predictability were analyzed. The mean of preoperative spherical equivalent was -11.1 +/- 3.3 D. An Artisan myopia lens was implanted in 28 eyes of 14 patients with preoperative myopia ranging from -6.0 to -20.0 D. The mean of patient age was 22.7 +/- 4.3 years. At three months follow-up, all eyes had a postoperative refraction within +/- 1 D emmetropia. Mean uncorrected visual acuity improved from less than 20/200 to 20/50, and mean best corrected visual acuity improved from 20/39 to 20/30. The mean endothelial cell loss was 4.45% at three months, which was not significant. Postoperative complications included anterior chamber reaction in 10 [45%] patients that resolved with medical treatment in all of them. No other serious complications developed in any of the treated eyes during follow-up period. Artisan PIOLs can correct moderate to high myopia with good refractive results. There were no serious complications in this study