Longitudinal Changes in Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness after Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration who underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF injection were studied. Postinjection RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography. Average thickness, four-quadrant RNFL thicknesses, and intraocular pressure (IOP) in affected eyes were measured before and 6 and 12 months after anti-VEGF injection for comparison. RNFL thickness and IOP in affected and normal fellow eyes were also compared. Given that macular lesions can affect RNFL thickness, the changes in thickness were evaluated by dividing the 12 clock-hour RNFL into the pathologic areas adjacent to the lesion and the non-pathologic area. RESULTS: The mean clock-hour segment in the pathologic area was 4.8 hours. A significantly thicker RNFL was exhibited in temporal quadrants and pathologic areas (p = 0.043 and 0.048, respectively) in affected eyes before injection compared to the baseline RNFL thickness in normal eyes. No significant differences were found in RNFL thickness or IOP between affected and normal eyes after injection. The changes over time in the temporal and pathologic areas were statistically significant at 6 and 12 months after injection compared to baseline data (p < 0.05). No significant differences were displayed in RNFL thickness in the other three quadrants or in non-pathologic areas in either affected or normal eyes. Sequential changes in RNFL thickness in affected eyes were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment did not have a significant effect on RNFL thickness. RNFL thickness significantly decreased with time in the pathologic areas and in the temporal segment adjacent to exudative macular lesions. The reduction in RNFL thickness was most likely associated with changes in the macular lesion rather than with anti-VEGF injection.

Prognostic Factors for Successful Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors useful for predicting the surgical outcome of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 117 eyes of 94 patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction who underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and were followed up for more than 6 months. Factors associated with successful surgery were analyzed based on the preoperative and intraoperative factors and postoperative clinical features. Preoperative factors such as age, gender, laterality, presence or absence of hypertension, and diabetes were analyzed. Intraoperative factors such as use of triamcinolone, removal of uncinate process or middle turbinate during surgery, and location of the sac were analyzed. The postoperative clinical features including high tear meniscus, no intranasal silicone tube movement, and no air reflux feeling were each given a score of 1. Based on aggregate score, the patients were divided into 2 groups, the high score and low score groups and analyzed accordingly. RESULTS: The success rate was 91.5%. Patients with diabetes showed a significantly low success rate (73.3%, p = 0.007). In patients with high tear meniscus at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after surgery, the success rate was significantly low (76.9%, 81.8% and 75.0%; p = 0.003, p = 0.029 and p = 0.002, respectively). The low score group at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery showed a significantly high success rate (100% and 95.9%; p < 0.001 and p = 0.023, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Besides preoperative and intraoperative factors, the early postoperative clinical features are important for predicting the success of the surgery. If tear meniscus is high and there is no intranasal silicone tube movement and air reflux from the punctum in the early stages after surgery, more active management from the initial treatment is needed.

A Case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection after Scleral Buckling for Retinal Detachment

PURPOSE: To report a case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection after scleral buckling for retinal detachment. CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old male presented with a 2-day history of pain in the right eye. The patient had a history of scleral buckling for retinal detachment 10 years earlier and excisional biopsy for conjunctival mass 1 month previously. Biopsy revealed chronic inflammation and granulation tissue formation. Slit-lamp examinations revealed superior conjunctival injection, edema and exposed suture knot. Fundus examination revealed exudative retinal detachment and choroidal detachment. The conjunctival lesion did not improve although the patient was treated with moxifloxacin. After 4 days, bacterial and fungal cultures were performed because the conjunctiva presented with purulent discharge 4 days after treatment. The scleral buckle and suture knot were removed. The cultures revealed growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to antibiotic sensitivity test results, the authors treated the patient with ceftazidime. The conjunctival lesion, choroidal detachment and exudative retinal detachment were improved. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with conjunctival injection, edema, purulent discharge and ocular pain after scleral buckling, presence of infection should be suspected. If scleral buckle infection is suspected, bacterial culture, antibiotics treatment and scleral buckle removal should be considered.