Prognostic Factors and Long-term Surgical Outcomes for Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration with Breakthrough Vitreous Hemorrhage

Purpose@#We sought to evaluate the long-term outcomes for patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) undergoing vitrectomy for breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage and to investigate possible prognostic factors. @*Methods@#Consecutive patients treated at two high-volume referral-based tertiary hospitals between July 2006 and Decem-ber 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgery was performed using the standard three-port vitrectomy. The primary out-come was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) over long-term follow-up, while secondary outcomes included the assessment of possible prognostic factors. @*Results@#Among 50 eyes from 50 patients included in this study, 23 (46%) were diagnosed with polypoidal choroidal vascu-lopathy (PCV) and 27 (54%) were diagnosed with neovascular AMD. Preoperative vision at the time of vitreous hemorrhage onset was 20 / 3,027 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR], 2.18 ± 0.34). At 12 months after surgery, the mean BCVA improved to 20 / 873 (logMAR, 1.64 ± 0.76; p < 0.001). At 24 months, the BCVA was 20 / 853 (logMAR, 1.63 ± 0.75; p < 0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that older age (odds ratio [OR], 0.879; p = 0.007] and the presence of submac-ular hemorrhage (OR, 0.081; p= 0.022) were factors associated with a poor 2-year visual outcome. Multivariable regression showed that older age (OR, 0.876; p= 0.026) and neovascular AMD (as compared with PCV) (OR, 0.137; p= 0.014) were significant negative factors influencing the 2-year visual outcome. The mean injection interval prior to vitrectomy was 4.53 months, which extended to 27.64 months after vitrectomy ( p = 0.028). @*Conclusions@#Younger age, the absence of submacular hemorrhage, and PCV type were associated with a favorable 2-year visual outcome after vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage in patients with exudative AMD. Overall, vitrectomy resulted in im-proved visual acuity and patients showed a decreased need for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy thereafter.

Eliminatinge Prejudice against Gender Dysphoria through Professionalism Education in the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka Medical College / 医学教育

Recently, LGBT has become a popular topic, people of various gender expressions appeared on TV. Gender diversity is widely known in Japan. On the other hand, a transwoman who has diagnosed with gender identity disorder was prohibited from using women’s restrooms and locker rooms. The incomprehensible prejudice against gender dysphoria remains persistent. Since people with various gender expressions come to the hospital for consultation, medical professionals are not allowed to be biased against various gender expressions. In this article, a strategy for resolving prejudice against people with gender dysphoria will be proposed.

fNIRS Assessment during an Emotional Stroop Task among Patients with Depression: Replication and Extension

OBJECTIVE: Accumulated evidence collected via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been reported with regard to mental disorders. A previous finding revealed that emotional words evoke left frontal cortex activity in patients with depression. The primary aim of the current study was to replicate this finding using an independent dataset and evaluate the brain region associated with the severity of depression using an emotional Stroop task. METHODS: Oxygenized and deoxygenized hemoglobin recording in the brain by fNIRS on 14 MDD patients and 20 normal controls. RESULTS: Hyperactivated oxygenized hemoglobin was observed in the left frontal cortex on exposure to unfavorable stimuli, but no significant difference was found among patients with depression compared with healthy controls on exposure to favorable stimuli. This result is consistent with previous findings. Moreover, an evoked wave associated with the left upper frontal cortex on favorable stimuli was inversely correlated with the severity of depression. CONCLUSION: Our current work using fNIRS provides a potential clue regarding the location of depression symptom severity in the left upper frontal cortex. Future studies should verify our findings and expand them into a precise etiology of depression.

Treatment of Proximal Femur Osteomyelitis Occurred after Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation Fixation, with Antibiotic Cement-coated Tibia Intramedullary Nail: A Case Report / 대한고관절학회지

Antibiotic cement-coated intramedullary nails maintain a locally high antibiotic concentration while contributing to bone stability. We present a case of femoral subtrochanteric fracture in a patient with an infected nonunion who was successfully treated for an infection and nonunion using an antibiotic cement-coated tibial intramedullary nail. A 79-year-old woman with a right femoral subtrochanteric fracture underwent internal fixation using proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). She developed osteomyelitis with nonunion at the surgical site 10 months postoperatively. We decided to insert an antibiotic cement-coated tibial intramedullary nail. After coating the nail with bone cement mixed with antibiotics, bone fixation was achieved by inserting the nail at the site of the PFNA. The patient's symptoms improved, symptoms from the infection disappeared, and bone union was confirmed. Osteomyelitis occurred because of postoperative infection following a proximal femoral fracture. Antibiotic cement-coated tibial intramedullary nails are an effective option to treat patients with osteomyelitis of the femur and achieve bone union where nonunion persists with shallow a intramedullary femoral canal.

Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Efficacy, Safety, and Anatomical Outcomes

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy, safety, and anatomical outcomes associated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of intravitreal anti-VEGF (bevacizumab or ranibizumab) treatment of 153 eyes (83 infants) diagnosed with ROP at two tertiary hospitals from June 2011 to January 2017. The primary outcome was the rate of recurrence requiring additional treatment; secondary outcomes included incidence of major complications and final refractive error. RESULTS: A total of 101 eyes were treated with bevacizumab, and 52 with ranibizumab. The bevacizumab and ranibizumab groups were characterized by mean birthweights of 941.8 ± 296.1 and 1,257.7 ± 514.5 g, gestational ages at birth of 26.9 ± 1.9 and 28.1 ± 3.2 weeks, and postmenstrual ages at treatment of 40.4 ± 2.4 and 39.2 ± 2.3 weeks, respectively. The two groups differed significantly in birthweights and gestational ages at birth, but not in postmenstrual ages at treatment. The mean follow-up duration was 30.9 ± 18.4 months for the bevacizumab group, and 13.9 ± 12.5 months for ranibizumab. More cases were classified as zone 1 ROP in the ranibizumab group (44.2% vs. 11.9%, p < 0.001). Major surgical interventions included scleral encircling and vitrectomy (one and two eyes, respectively, both in the bevacizumab group). Retinal detachment was noted in one eye treated with bevacizumab. There was no significant difference in the most recent spherical equivalence for the two groups (+0.10 ± 3.66 and +0.22 ± 3.00 diopters for bevacizumab and ranibizumab, respectively). Univariable analysis revealed that only ROP stage influenced the occurrence of major complications (odds ratio, 9.046; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment of ROP with both bevacizumab and ranibizumab achieved stable retinal vascularization with a low rate of complications and recurrence. Ranibizumab achieved similar anatomical outcomes as bevacizumab, without additional risk for major complications.

Femoral Nerve Block versus Adductor Canal Block for Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Inadequate pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) impedes recovery, increases the risk of postoperative complications, and results in patient dissatisfaction. Although the preemptive use of multimodal measures is currently considered the principle of pain management after TKA, no gold standard pain management protocol has been established. Peripheral nerve blocks have been used as part of a contemporary multimodal approach to pain control after TKA. Femoral nerve block (FNB) has excellent postoperative analgesia and is now a commonly used analgesic modality for TKA pain control. However, FNB leads to quadriceps muscle weakness, which impairs early mobilization and increases the risk of postoperative falls. In this context, emerging evidence suggests that adductor canal block (ACB) facilitates postoperative rehabilitation compared with FNB because it primarily provides a sensory nerve block with sparing of quadriceps strength. However, whether ACB is more appropriate for contemporary pain management after TKA remains controversial. The objective of this study was to review and summarize recent studies regarding practical issues for ACB and comparisons of analgesic efficacy and functional recovery between ACB and FNB in patients who have undergone TKA.

Angiographically Documented Macular Ischemia after Single Bevacizumab for Macular Edema Secondary to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

This report describes a case of angiographically documented foveal avascular zone (FAZ) enlargement after a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). A 71-year-old female was treated with an intravitreal bevacizumab injection for macular edema following CRVO. Despite successfully decreased edema one month after injection, the postinjection best-corrected visual acuity immediately decreased from 20/40 to 20/1000 (Snellen equivalent). The FAZ area increased from 0.37 mm² to 3.11 mm² (8.4-fold increase). While intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor is effective and should be considered as a first-line treatment for macular edema secondary to CRVO, it may aggravate macular ischemia.

Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness Change of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy after Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

PURPOSE: To investigate the peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT) of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to evaluate their responses to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). METHODS: Thirty eyes with PCV and 25 eyes with exudative AMD who were treatment naïve were included in this study. PCT and subfoveal choroidal thickness were evaluated both before and after intravitreal anti-VEGF. RESULTS: The initial mean PCT of PCV (153.78 ± 56.23 µm) was thicker than that of exudative AMD (88.77 ± 23.11 µm, p < 0.001). Temporal, superior, nasal, and inferior PCTs of PCV were all thicker than those observedin exudative AMD (all p < 0.05). After anti-VEGF, the mean PCT of PCV was significantly reduced (134.17 ± 41.66 µm, p < 0.001), but the same was not true not in exudative AMD (86.87 ± 22.54 µm, p = 0.392). PCTshowed a similar tendency in all quadrants. CONCLUSIONS: PCV exhibits a thick choroid in the peripapillary region. PCT decreases after anti-VEGF in PCV but not in exudative AMD. In exudative AMD, subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased, but that in the peripapillary region did not.

Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant Rescue Treatment for Bevacizumab Refractory Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic factors and outcomes of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant) for intravitreal bevacizumab refractory macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: This was a retrospective, interventional case series. Medical records were reviewed, and a total of 38 eyes that were treated with DEX implant for macular edema secondary to BRVO that did not respond to at least two consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections (IBIs) were included. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield macular thickness, and central subfoveal choroidal thickness were evaluated at baseline, 2 months, and 6 months after DEX implantation. RESULTS: Patients had undergone an average of 6.32 ± 4.66 prior IBI treatments. The average BCVA improved from 0.53 ± 0.26 to 0.41 ± 0.25 and 0.44 ± 0.23 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) at 2 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The average central subfield macular thickness was 504.00 ± 121.54 µm at baseline and changed to 293.21 ± 74.17 µm and 427.28 ± 119.57 µm at 2 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). Average central subfoveal choroidal thickness was 237.46 ± 92.21 µm at baseline and changed to 204.75 ± 74.74 µm and 226.86 ± 90.77 µm at 2 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.001 and p = 0.455). Twenty-two eyes (58%) gained ≥0.1 logMAR at 2 months, while 16 eyes showed no improvement. Low BCVA at symptom presentation, low baseline BCVA, and shorter duration of macular edema were correlated with increased BCVA after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The DEX implant improves functional and anatomical outcomes for up to 6 months in about half of the patients treated with IBI refractory macular edema secondary to BRVO, particularly in patients with low initial and baseline BCVA.

Two- to Four-Year Follow-up Results of Total Knee Arthroplasty Using a New High-Flexion Prosthesis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate minimum 2-year follow-up results of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed using a new high-flexion prosthesis design (LOSPA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2- to 4-year results of 191 consecutive TKAs (177 patients) with the LOSPA posterior-stabilized prosthesis were evaluated. The patients were assessed clinically and radiographically using the Knee Society scoring system (KSS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: The mean range of motion (ROM) increased significantly from 117.4degrees (range, 75degrees to 140degrees) preoperatively to 126.7degrees (range, 80degrees to 144degrees) postoperatively (p<0.001). The mean KSS and WOMAC scores improved significantly from 121.4 (range, 42 to 185) and 56.1 (range, 23 to 88) preoperatively to 174.0 (range, 130 to 200) and 16.4 (range, 0 to 85) postoperatively, respectively (both, p<0.001). One knee required revision for deep infection. No knee had aseptic loosening or osteolysis. Radiolucent lines were noted in 15 knees (7.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The new high-flexion total knee prosthesis resulted in no early aseptic loosening of the component and improved postoperative ROM comparable to other high-flexion TKA prostheses at 2- to 4-year follow-ups.

Effect of a Preservative-free Dorzolamide/Timolol Fixed Combination on Elevated Intraocular Pressure after Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To verify the effect of preservative-free Dorzolamide/Timolol fixed combination (PFDTC) on intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation after vitrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 33 patients who used PFDTC after pars plana vitrectomy. All patients' visual acuity and IOP was measured and symptoms of conjunctival irritation were investigated through survey and slit lamp examination. RESULTS: Before vitrectomy, the mean IOP was 13.6 ± 4.4 mm Hg which was elevated to 31.7 ± 5.4 mm Hg after vitrectomy (p < 0.001) and applying eyedrop lowered the mean IOP to 17.2 ± 7.0 mm Hg (p < 0.001). Regardless of tamponade material type, all elevated IOP decreased (p < 0.001) and the IOP of all 33 eyes did not rise to over 30 mm Hg again. No additional surgery for IOP control was needed during two-month follow-up period. Of the 33 patients using PFDTC, patients who felt discomfort were five (15.2%) and no patients showed side effects severe enough to stop use of eyedrop. CONCLUSIONS: PFDTC is an anti-glaucomatic agent which can reduce the IOP by inhibiting aqueous humor production. Without need for additional surgery, the eyedrop can effectively lower elevated post-vitrectomy IOP, with expectation of good patient compliance due to low risk of conjunctival irritation.

Is Routine Thromboprophylaxis Needed in Korean Patients Undergoing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty?

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and the natural course of venous thromboembolism (VTE) without thromboprophylaxis to ascertain whether routine thromboprophylaxis is necessary following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in Korean patients. The medical records and multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) imaging of the consecutive 77 UKAs in 70 patients were reviewed. In all patients, MDCTs were undertaken preoperatively and at 1-week after surgery, and VTE symptoms were evaluated. At postoperative 6-months, follow-up MDCTs were undertaken in all patients in whom VTEs were newly detected after surgery. VTE lesions were newly detected in 18 (26%) of the 70 patients. However, none of the patients complained of VTE-related symptoms and MDCT demonstrated that all VTEs were small and involved limited portion without lower leg edema or pleuroparenchymal complication. At the 6-month follow up MDCT, all types of VTEs were shown to be completely resolved, regardless of their location. All of the VTE lesions maintained an asymptomatic status for 6-month after surgery. VTE following UKA in Korean patients who do not receive thromboprophylaxis seems to occur frequently, but all of the VTEs are clinically insignificant and all VTEs are spontaneously regressed. Routine thromboprophylaxis or thrombolytic treatment in Korean patients undergoing UKA may not be necessary.

Non-Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Retinopathy: The First Case Report in Korea

Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is an immune-mediated retinopathy, resulting from an immunologic process caused by the aberrant recognition of retinal antigens as autoantigens. The diagnosis of AIR involves the detection of antiretinal antibodies with concurrent clinical and electrophysiological evidence of retinopathy. A 40-year-old patient presented with progressive loss of bilateral vision over several months. A fundus examination was unremarkable. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography revealed a blurred photoreceptor ellipsoid zone at the subfoveal region in both eyes with more prominent disruption in the left eye. Full-field electroretinography (ERG) showed relatively normal rod and cone responses in the right eye, and decreased photopic bwaves with minimal attenuation of a-waves in the left eye. Multifocal ERG demonstrated slightly reduced amplitude of the inner segment ring in the right eye and decreased amplitudes and delayed latencies of all modalities in the left eye. The patient was suspected to have AIR and it was supported by positive Western blots for 23-kDa protein, enolase (46-kDa), aldolase (40-kDa), 62-kDa and 78-kDa proteins and by immunohistochemical staining of human retinal bipolar and ganglion cells. Despite the immunosuppressive treatment, the destruction of the retinal photoreceptors progressed, and immunosuppressive interventions produced very little visual improvement. We report on what is, to the best of our knowledge, the very first case of serologically confirmed nonparaneoplastic AIR in Korea.

Correlation between Fluorescein Angiographic Findings and Visual Acuity in Behcet Retinal Vasculitis

PURPOSE: To identify significant fluorescein angiographic (FA) characteristics associated with visual acuity (VA) in Behcet retinal vasculitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 86 eyes of 48 patients (age: 35.6+/-10.2 years) with Behcet retinal vasculitis were performed. VA and FA findings as well as correlation between them were assessed. RESULTS: The mean initial VA of eyes with posterior pole-involved vasculitis (63 eyes; 73.3%) was significantly worse than that of those with peripheral vasculitis (23 eye; 26.7%) (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA: 0.554+/-0.572 vs. 0.078+/-0.148; p<0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed a more severe and diffuse pattern of vascular leakage in posterior pole-involved vasculitis compared to peripheral vasculitis (p<0.0001). Retinal vascular leakage (beta=0.345; p<0.0001), optic disc hyperfluorescence (beta=0.147; p=0.032), and macular leakage (beta=0.107; p=0.047) were significantly associated with worse initial VA. During the follow up (mean: 33.3+/-17.9 months), the change of leakage showed no significant correlation with change of VA in posterior pole-involved vasculitis (tau=0.199, p=0.092). CONCLUSION: Posterior pole involvement, the degree of retinal vascular leakage, optic disc hyperfluorescence, and macular leakage are significantly associated with VA in Behcet retinal vasculitis.

Intraocular Lens Power Estimation in Combined Phacoemulsification and Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Eyes with Epiretinal Membranes: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of postoperative refractive outcomes of combined phacovitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) in comparison to cataract surgery alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine eyes that underwent combined phacovitrectomy with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for cataract and ERM (combined surgery group) and 39 eyes that received phacoemulsification for cataract (control group) were analyzed, retrospectively. The predicted preoperative refractive aim was compared with the results of postoperative refraction. RESULTS: In the combined surgery group, refractive prediction error by A-scan and IOLMaster were -0.305+/-0.717 diopters (D) and -0.356+/-0.639 D, respectively, compared to 0.215+/-0.541 and 0.077+/-0.529 in the control group, showing significantly more myopic change compared to the control group (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). Within each group, there was no statistically significant difference in refractive prediction error between A-scan and IOLMaster (all p>0.05). IOL power calculation using adjusted A-scan measurement of axial length based on the macular thickness of the normal contralateral eye still resulted in significant postoperative refractive error (all p<0.05). Postoperative refraction calculated with adjusted axial length based on actual postoperative central foveal thickness change showed the closest value to the actual postoperative achieved refraction (p=0.599). CONCLUSION: Combined phacovitrectomy for ERM resulted in significantly more myopic shift of postoperative refraction, compared to the cataract surgery alone, for both A-scan and IOLMaster. To improve the accuracy of IOL power estimation in eyes with cataract and ERM, sequential surgery for ERM and cataract may need to be considered.

Resveratrol Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression and Pathological Neovascularization

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of resveratrol on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells, and on experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ARPE-19 cells were treated with different concentrations of resveratrol and then incubated under hypoxic conditions with subsequent evaluation of cell viability, expression of HIF-1alpha, and expression of VEGF. The effects of resveratrol on the synthesis and degradation of hypoxia-induced HIF-1alpha were evaluated using inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and the ubiquitin proteasome pathways. In animal studies, CNV lesions were induced in C57BL/6 mice by laser photocoagulation. After 7 days of oral administration of resveratrol or vehicle, which began one day after CNV induction, image analysis was used to measure CNV areas on choroidal flat mounts stained with isolectin IB4. RESULTS: In ARPE-19 cells, resveratrol significantly inhibited HIF-1alpha and VEGF in a dose-dependent manner, by blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and by promoting proteasomal HIF-1alpha degradation. In mice experiments, orally administered resveratrol significantly inhibited CNV growth in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol may have therapeutic value in the management of diseases involving pathological neovascularization.

Increases in iPS Transcription Factor (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4) Gene Expression after Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy

OBJECTIVE: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a reasonable option for intractable depression or schizophrenia, but a mechanism of action has not been established. One credible hypothesis is related to neural plasticity. Three genes (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc) involved in the induction of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are Wnt-target genes, which constitute a key gene group involved in neural plasticity through the TCF family. Klf4 is the other gene among Yamanaka's four transcription factors, and increases in its expression are induced by stimulation of the canonical Wnt pathway. METHODS: We compared the peripheral blood gene expression of the four iPS genes (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4) before and after modified ECT (specifically ECT with general anesthesia) of patients with intractable depression (n=6) or schizophrenia (n=6). Using Thymatron ten times the total bilateral electrical stimulation was evoked. RESULTS: Both assessments of the symptoms demonstrated significant improvement after mECT stimulation. Expression of all four genes was confirmed to increase after initial stimulation. The gene expression levels after treatment were significantly different from the initial gene expression in all twelve cases at the following treatment stages: at the 3rd mECT for Oct4; at the 6th and 10th mECT for Sox2; and at the 3rd, 6th and 10th mECT for c-Myc. CONCLUSION: These significant differences were not present after correction for multiple testing; however, our data have the potential to explain the molecular mechanisms of mECT from a unique perspective. Further studie should be conducted to clarify the pathophysiological involvement of iPS-inducing genes in ECT.

Treatment of Serous Retinal Detachment Associated with Choroidal Ischemia with Intravitreal Bevacizumab Following Brain Surgery

No abstract available.

Identifiable Peripheral Retinal Lesions Using Ultra-Widefield Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope and Its Usefulness in Myopic Patients

PURPOSE: To investigate identifiable peripheral retinal lesions in patients with myopia or high myopia and to evaluate the usefulness of ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope in retina clinic settings. METHODS: We evaluated fundus images of 149 patients acquired using an ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Manual fundus examination by a retinal specialist was performed and sensitivity and specificity were calculated by comparing the findings of the two different fundus examination methods. RESULTS: Variable peripheral retinal lesions were observed: lattice degeneration (24.1% in myopia, 36.6% in high myopia), white without pressure (17.7% in myopia, 20.7% in high myopia), retinal break (5.1% in myopia, 7.5% in high myopia) and retinal detachment (1.3% in myopia, 4.2% in high myopia). The incidence of lattice degeneration was significantly higher in myopic eyes than in highly myopic eyes (p = 0.043). The examination sensitivities were as follows: lattice degeneration (84.2% in myopia, 91.0% in high myopia), white without pressure (100.0% in both myopia and high myopia), retinal break (75.0% in myopia, 43.8% in high myopia) and retinal detachment (100.0% in myopia, 66.7% in high myopia). The examination specificities were 100.0% in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic sensitivities of ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope were 90.8% in patients with myopia, 91.0% in patients with high myopia and 90.9% in totally myopic patients, which were relatively high values. Therefore, the ultra- widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope is useful as auxiliary equipment for myopic patients in retina clinic settings.

Identifiable Peripheral Retinal Lesions Using Ultra-Widefield Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope and Its Usefulness in Myopic Patients

PURPOSE: To investigate identifiable peripheral retinal lesions in patients with myopia or high myopia and to evaluate the usefulness of ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope in retina clinic settings. METHODS: We evaluated fundus images of 149 patients acquired using an ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Manual fundus examination by a retinal specialist was performed and sensitivity and specificity were calculated by comparing the findings of the two different fundus examination methods. RESULTS: Variable peripheral retinal lesions were observed: lattice degeneration (24.1% in myopia, 36.6% in high myopia), white without pressure (17.7% in myopia, 20.7% in high myopia), retinal break (5.1% in myopia, 7.5% in high myopia) and retinal detachment (1.3% in myopia, 4.2% in high myopia). The incidence of lattice degeneration was significantly higher in myopic eyes than in highly myopic eyes (p = 0.043). The examination sensitivities were as follows: lattice degeneration (84.2% in myopia, 91.0% in high myopia), white without pressure (100.0% in both myopia and high myopia), retinal break (75.0% in myopia, 43.8% in high myopia) and retinal detachment (100.0% in myopia, 66.7% in high myopia). The examination specificities were 100.0% in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic sensitivities of ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope were 90.8% in patients with myopia, 91.0% in patients with high myopia and 90.9% in totally myopic patients, which were relatively high values. Therefore, the ultra- widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope is useful as auxiliary equipment for myopic patients in retina clinic settings.