Safety and efficacy of suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide for the management of serous choroidal detachment prior to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery: A Pilot study

Purpose: To study the safety and efficacy of pre?operative suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide (SCTA) for achieving reduction/resolution of serous choroidal detachment (CD) associated with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: This was a prospective, noncomparative, interventional pilot study. All consecutive patients presenting with RD and coexisting CD underwent transconjunctival injection of SCTA before proceeding with vitrectomy/scleral buckle surgery. Sequential ultrasound B scans were performed for assessing the change in height of the CD. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 53.8 � 10.8 years (range: 39� years). The CD was present in a median of 3 quadrants; the cumulative mean CD height was 5.59 mm (range: 2.02�42 mm). Following SCTA, a successful response (>50% reduction) was seen in five eyes by day 3 and in two eyes by day 5. Three eyes failed to respond to SCTA and required surgical drainage before proceeding with vitrectomy. No intraprocedural injection?related complications were noted. A transient rise in the intraocular pressure (30 mmHg) was seen in one eye following vitrectomy and was managed successfully with topical antiglaucoma medications. Conclusion: Suprachoroidal administration of triamcinolone appears to be a safe and effective technique to achieve CD resolution in eyes with RRD.

A pilot trial for comparison of photodynamic therapy and transpupillary thermotherapy for the management of classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the visual outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNVM) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Patients with subfoveal classic CNVM caused by ARMD attending vitreo-retinal services at a tertiary care setup were included in this nonrandomized, open label, prospective, clinical, comparative pilot trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standardized refraction, visual acuity testing, evaluation of fundus and serial color photography and fundus fluorescein angiography were carried out to evaluate the effects of treatment in 32 eyes each undergoing either PDT or TTT. Follow-up was carried out at four weeks, 12 weeks and six months. Retreatment if indicated was carried out three months post treatment. RESULTS: Stabilization or improvement occurred in 69% of patients undergoing PDT and 50% patients undergoing TTT at six months of follow-up. Among patients with a pretreatment visual acuity greater than or equal to 20/63, only one out of six patients who underwent PDT had a drop of visual acuity > 2 lines as compared to four patients (100%) who underwent TTT. (P =0.0476, two-tailed Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: For short-term preservation of vision in patients of classic CNVM due to ARMD, PDT seems to be better than TTT if the pre-laser best corrected visual acuity is > 20/63 but both are equally effective if pre-laser best corrected visual acuity is < 20/63.

Profile of Ocular Trauma at Tertiary Eye Centr

This prospective study reveals the epidemiological profile of ocular trauma referred to a tertiary eye centre over one year. All consecutive patients referred to Vitreo-retina service during 1 year period were examined.Out of total 523 eyes registered large proportion was <25years of age (67%), males (88%) and literate (77%). Forty-four percent belonged to rural area and 38% were students. Most of the open globe injuries were Zone 1(50.8%). 75% presented >1 week after injury. The incidence of intraocular foreign body and retinal detachment was 17.4, and 11.3% respectively. Diagnosis of post traumatic endophthalmitis was made in 20.5% of open globe injuries. Development of endophthalmitis correlated with younger age, rural setting, illiteracy, presence of foreign body and lens disruption. Ocular trauma requiring tertiary care commonly affects young students, labourers and factory workers. Younger, rural and illiterate patients are more likely to develop infection especially if they have lens injury or intraocular foreign body.

First contact management of postoperative endophthalmitis. A retrospective analysis.

Records of 37 consecutive patients of postoperative endophthalmitis referred to our centre from North India were retrospectively analysed to study the first contact management profile. Ten (27%) patients had received intravitreal antibiotics as a primary mode of treatment, and 27 (73%) had received only parenteral antibiotics. The outcome was worse in the latter group. This suggests that general ophthalmologists lack the capability to provide adequate treatment to patients with endopthalmitis in Northern India.