Novel Findings of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy via Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

PURPOSE: To introduce novel findings of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of 16 patients (16 eyes) with PCV. OCTA (Avanti RTVue XR) findings were evaluated and selected for analysis after agreement by two retina specialists . RESULTS: Twenty one polyps in 16 eyes (16 patients) with PCV were included in this study. The mean patient age was 67 years (13 men and three women). The shape of polypoidal lesions on OCTA at initial were halo (five polyps), rosette (seven polyps), and vascular network (nine polyps). Eight months after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, in a total of four eyes, seven polyps could be followed up completely, the two halo type polypoidal lesions changed to rosette and vascular network type. The lesions of three rosette and two vascular network type lesions did not change in shape. In addition, the size of the polypoidal lesions (one among two halo types, two among three rosette types, and two among two vascular network types) decreased, but one halo type did not change and one rosette type increased in size on OCTA. CONCLUSIONS: En-face OCTA enabled us to categorize novel types of PCV with polypoidal lesions.

Effect of 3% Diquafosol Tetrasodium on Tear Film Stability after Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of 3% diquafosol tetrasodium (DQ) after laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: This prospective randomized study included 150 eyes in 75 patients who were scheduled for LASIK. The patients in the 3% diquafosol tetrasodium (DQ) group (37 patients, 74 eyes) were instructed to apply one drop of DQ, six times daily post-op, while the patients in the 0.3% sodium hyaluronate (HA) group (38 patients, 76 eyes) were instructed to apply one drop of HA, six times daily post-op. A Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT), corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining score (FLSS), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were evaluated pre-op and at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-op while the tear osmolarity was evaluated pre-op and at 4 and 12 weeks post-op. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding Schirmer test results or tear osmolarity and conjunctival FLSS. The BUT was significantly higher in the DQ group at 1 week and 12 weeks post-op. The corneal FLSS was significantly lower in the DQ group at 1 week, 4 weeks and 12 weeks post-op. The OSDI was significantly lower in the DQ group at 1 week post-op. CONCLUSIONS: Use of 3% diquafosol tetrasodium after surgery improved ocular dryness and increased the tear film stability.

The Effect of Topical Cyclosporine 0.05% on Tear Osmolarity for Dry Eye Syndrome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of topical cyclosporine 0.05% (Restasis; Allergan, Irving, CA, USA) on tear osmolarity in patients with dry eye disease. METHODS: The present study was a single-center, randomized, prospective, and longitudinal trial. Patients who had been using artificial tears to treat dry eye disease were prescribed cyclosporine 0.05% and evaluated using tear osmolarity, tear break-up time, ocular surface staining score, Schirmer test, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index for symptomatic improvement. Clinical measurements of commonly used objective tests were performed at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: At the end of the study, patients demonstrated statistically significant improvement in tear break-up time (6.26 +/- 1.26 sec at 3 months vs. 4.41 +/- 1.63 sec at baseline, p = 0.022) and OSDI (34.98 +/- 20.19 at 3 months vs. 45.02 +/- 22.38 at baseline, p = 0.032) only at 3 months. Other measures such as Schirmer test, ocular surface grade, and tear osmolarity also showed improvement. However, the differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 6-month period, topical cyclosporine 0.05% showed beneficial effects on symptoms and other commonly used signs of dry eye disease for 3 months; however, the tear osmolarity values were not significantly improved.

Clinical Outcomes of Foldable Iris-Fixed Phakic Intraocular Lens and Change in Corneal Endothelial Cell Density

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, stability and complications of the foldable iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (Artiflex(R), Ophtec BV, Groningen, Netherlands) implantation for the correction of myopia with astigmatism. METHODS: The present study included 40 eyes of 20 patients who underwent Artiflex lens implantation, and 20 eyes of 10 patients who underwent Toric Artiflex lens implantation and were followed up for 1 year. We retrospectively examined visual acuity, refraction, any changes in astigmatism, efficacy, safety and corneal endothelial cell density. A correlation coefficient analysis of the factors that affected the changes was performed. RESULTS: The mean preoperative refractive spherical equivalent was -9.18 +/- 2.27 D and reached -0.45 +/- 0.45 D at 1 year after surgery. Postoperatively, 99.9% of the eyes showed improved visual acuity of more than 0.8. In patients with Toric Artiflex lens implantation, the preoperative mean astigmatism was -2.67 +/- 0.87 D, and at 1 year postoperatively -0.76 +/- 0.40 D, showing a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001). The preoperative mean endothelial cell density was 2,850 +/- 230 cells/mm2 and decreased 1.3% on the final follow-up (2,812 +/- 261 cells/mm2) but without statistical significance (p = 0.456). Statistically significant correlation was not observed between endothelial cell loss and anterior chamber depth (r2 = -0.146, p = 0.267). CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of the iris-fixed intraocular lenses, Artiflex and Toric Artiflex, was safe and effective for correcting high myopia and astigmatism.

Clinical Outcomes of Foldable Iris-Fixed Phakic Intraocular Lens and Change in Corneal Endothelial Cell Density

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, stability and complications of the foldable iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (Artiflex(R), Ophtec BV, Groningen, Netherlands) implantation for the correction of myopia with astigmatism. METHODS: The present study included 40 eyes of 20 patients who underwent Artiflex lens implantation, and 20 eyes of 10 patients who underwent Toric Artiflex lens implantation and were followed up for 1 year. We retrospectively examined visual acuity, refraction, any changes in astigmatism, efficacy, safety and corneal endothelial cell density. A correlation coefficient analysis of the factors that affected the changes was performed. RESULTS: The mean preoperative refractive spherical equivalent was -9.18 +/- 2.27 D and reached -0.45 +/- 0.45 D at 1 year after surgery. Postoperatively, 99.9% of the eyes showed improved visual acuity of more than 0.8. In patients with Toric Artiflex lens implantation, the preoperative mean astigmatism was -2.67 +/- 0.87 D, and at 1 year postoperatively -0.76 +/- 0.40 D, showing a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001). The preoperative mean endothelial cell density was 2,850 +/- 230 cells/mm2 and decreased 1.3% on the final follow-up (2,812 +/- 261 cells/mm2) but without statistical significance (p = 0.456). Statistically significant correlation was not observed between endothelial cell loss and anterior chamber depth (r2 = -0.146, p = 0.267). CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of the iris-fixed intraocular lenses, Artiflex and Toric Artiflex, was safe and effective for correcting high myopia and astigmatism.

A Case of Ocular Toxocariasis Successfully Treated with Albendazole and Triamcinolon

We present a case of ocular toxocariasis treated successfully with oral albendazole in combination with steroids. A 26-year-old male visited the authors' clinic with the chief complaint of flying flies in his right eye. The fundus photograph showed a whitish epiretinal scar, and the fluorescein angiography revealed a hypofluorescein lesion of the scar and late leakage at the margin. An elevated retinal surface and posterior acoustic shadowing of the scar were observed in the optical coherence tomography, and Toxocara IgG was positive. The patient was diagnosed with toxocariasis, and the condition was treated with albendazole (400 mg twice a day) for a month and oral triamcinolone (16 mg for 2 weeks, once a day, and then 8 mg for 1 week, once a day) from day 13 of the albendazole treatment. The lesions decreased after the treatment. Based on this study, oral albendazole combined with steroids can be a simple and effective regimen for treating ocular toxocariasis.