Predictors and Outcomes of Vitrectomy and Silicone Oil Injection in Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual and anatomical results and identify factors that influence vitrectomy and silicone oil (SO) injection outcomes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: This retrospective study included 236 eyes with PDR that were undergoing vitrectomy and SO injection with >3-month follow-up. The primary outcomes were final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal attachment rate. RESULTS: At the final visit (mean, 88 ± 58 weeks), complete, partial, and no retinal attachment were observed in 86.9%, 10.6%, and 2.5% of patients, respectively. A total of 155 eyes had experienced SO removal, while 81 had SO in place. The mean initial BCVA was 1.9 ± 0.7 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and significantly improved to 1.7 ± 0.8 logMAR (p = 0.001). Initial macular detachment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.25), development of iatrogenic break (AOR, 0.25), and use of heavy SO (AOR, 0.13) were independently associated with a lower risk of final retinal attachment, and SO removal was associated with a higher incidence (AOR, 7.55). Better baseline BCVA was associated with a higher risk of final BCVA ≥20 / 200. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an encouraging outcome based on anatomical data in advanced PDR treated with vitrectomy and SO, the functional prognosis was not satisfying for patients. Eyes with better vision at baseline had a more favorable prognosis, whereas eyes with initial macular detachment, intraoperative iatrogenic break, or heavy SO showed more unfavorable outcomes. In selected cases, extending the time of SO use did not worsen the prognosis.

Analgesic Effect of Topical Sodium Diclofenac before Retinal Photocoagulation for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Randomized Double-masked Placebo-controlled Intraindividual Crossover Clinical Trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate the analgesic effect of topical sodium diclofenac 0.1% before retinal laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Diabetic patients who were candidates for peripheral laser photocoagulation were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled, intraindividual, two-period, and crossover clinical trial. At the first session and based on randomization, one eye received topical sodium diclofenac 0.1% and the other eye received an artificial tear drop (as placebo) three times before laser treatment. At the second session, eyes were given the alternate drug. Patients scored their pain using visual analogue scale (max, 10 cm) at both sessions. Patients and the surgeon were blinded to the drops given. Difference of pain level was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: A total of 200 eyes of 100 patients were enrolled. Both treatments were matched regarding the applied laser. Pain sensation based on visual analogue scale was 5.6 ± 3.0 in the treated group and 5.5 ± 3.0 in the control group. The calculated treatment effect was 0.15 (95% confidence interval, −0.27 to 0.58; p = 0.486). The estimated period effect was 0.24 (p = 0.530) and the carryover effect was not significant (p = 0.283). CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with topical sodium diclofenac 0.1% does not have any analgesic effect during peripheral retinal laser photocoagulation in diabetic patients.

Vision therapy/orthoptics among three to seven year old children

Vision Therapy/Orthoptics [VT/O] is a package of treatments that enables patients to achieve the maximum level of visual performance. The aim was to determine the effect of three months vision therapy/orthoptics on best corrected visual acuity [BCVA], fusion, stereopsis and ocular alignment in 3-7 year old children. In this randomized clinical trial study, 80 children with amblyopia and/or nonparalytic horizontal deviations were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Intervention group was treated by vision therapy/orthoptics for three months. These modalities included patch, red filter, sector patch, over minus lens, prism and synoptophore exercises. Controls were treated by only patching for the same period. Pre and post-treatment BCVA, fusion, stereopsis and alignment were compared. Visual performance was classified as excellent [BCVA >/= 20/30, deviation /= 20/30, deviation 10pd and no stereopsis]. A total of 80 cases [56 girls and 24 boys] with the mean age of 5.6 +/- 1.4 years entered the study. Although more improvement of fusion and stereopsis was seen in the intervention group [P<0.001 for both groups], there was no significant differences in BCVA and alignment between two groups. Also the difference of visual performance was not statistically significant between two groups, whereas the improvement was significant in each group [P<0.001, for both groups]. Vision therapy/orthoptics treatment can be effective for improving sensory status in 3 to 7 year old children with amblyopia and/or strabismus. Further studies with larger sample sizes and focusing on accommodation and fusional amplitude are warranted

case of ocular tuberculosis presenting as papillophlebitis

A 35-year-old lady presented with a history of decreased vision in her right eye from one week before her referral. She did not report any significant systemic disease. Ocular findings were compatible with the diagnosis of central retinal vein occlusion. Systemic laboratory tests were all within normal limits except for Mantoux test [PPD] which was positive, 18 mm induration and 2+ redness. Chest radiography was negative for lung tuberculosis. Fluorescein angiography confirmed the presence of retinal vasculitis. With a probable diagnosis of papillophlebitis secondary to tuberculosis, the patient received a course of anti-tuberculosis medications. The inflammation subsided and vision improved within a 6-months therapy. This was a rare case of presumed ocular tuberculosis with no evidence of systemic infection presenting first as a papillophlebitis

Causes of Visual Impairment among Patients Referred to a Visual Rehabilitation Clinic in Iran

PURPOSE: Epidemiologic evaluation and investigating the causes of visual impairment in any society is a matter of concern and has a direct effect on the country's health care planning. In this study we describe causes of low vision and blindness in Iranian patients referred to rehabilitation clinics for taking vision aids. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, visual acuity was classified based on best-corrected visual acuity in the better eye according to the World Health Organization definition (blindness, visual acuity [VA] < 20 / 400; severe visual impairment, VA < 20 / 200-20 / 400; mild to moderate visual impairment, VA < 20 / 60-20 / 200). The causes of blindness and low vision were determined using the 10th version of International Classification of Diseases based on the main cause in both eyes. To describe data, we used mean +/- SD and frequency. RESULTS: The study included 432 patients, 65% male, with a mean age of 43.6 +/- 25.5 years (range, 3 to 92 years). Mild to moderate visual impairment, severe visual impairment and blindness were present in 122 (28.8%), 196 (46.4%) and 105 (24.8%) of the patients, respectively. The main causes of visual impairment were retinal and choroidal diseases (74.5%), optic nerve and optic tract diseases (9.8%), vitreous and globe disorders (5.3%), congenital cataract (3.1%), and glaucoma (2.6%). The distribution pattern of the causes was similar in all age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Diseases of the retina and choroid are the main cause of visual impairment among patients referred to an academic visual rehabilitation clinic in Iran.

Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Treatment of Refractory Central Serous Choroidoretinopathy

In a clinical case series, 5 patients with not-resolved central serous choroidoretinopathy (CSC) lasting more than 1 year received one intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB, 1.25 mg) injection. All patients underwent a through ophthalmic examination 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 2, and 6 months after the injection. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness were compared before and after treatment by optical coherence tomography. Mean BCVA was improved significantly (p = 0.020) from 0.60 +/- 0.25 to 0.50 +/- 0.18 and 0.29 +/- 0.19 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution at 6 and 18 weeks, respectively. Central macular thickness was also decreased significantly (p = 0.010) from 370 +/- 65 to 208 +/- 23 microm at 4 months. No recurrence was occurred during follow-up. IVB injection may have beneficial effect in the treatment of refractory CSC.

Is noncycloplegic photorefraction applicable for screening refractive amblyopia risk factors?

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of noncycloplegic photorefraction [NCP] with that of cycloplegic refraction [CR] for detecting refractive amblyopia risk factors [RARFs] and to determine cutoff points

Methods: In this diagnostic test study, right eyes of 185 children [aged 1 to 14 years] first underwent NCP using the Plusopti Chi SO4 photoscreener followed by CR. Based on CR results, hyperopia [>/=+3.5 D], myopia [>/=-3 D], astigmatism [>/=1.5 D], and anisometropia [>/=1.5 D] were set as diagnostic criteria based on AAPOS guidelines. The difference in the detection of RARFs by the two methods was the main outcome measure

Results: RARFs were present in 57 [30.8%] and 52 [28.1%] of cases by CR and NCP, respectively, with an 89.7% agreement. In contrast to myopia and astigmatism, mean spherical power in hyperopic eyes was significantly different based on the two methods [P<0.001], being higher with CR [+5.96 +/- 2.13 D] as compared to NCP [+2.37 +/- 1.36 D]. Considering CR as the gold standard, specificities for NCP exceeded 93% and sensitivities were also acceptable [>/=83%] for myopia and astigmatism. Nevertheless, sensitivity of NCP for detecting hyperopia was only 45.4%. Using a cutoff point of+1.87 D, instead of+3.5 D, for hyperopia, sensitivity of NCP was increased to 81.8% with specificity of 84%

Conclusion: NCP is a relatively accurate method for detecting RARFs in myopia and astigmatism. Using an alternative cutoff point in this study, NCP may be considered an acceptable device for detecting hyperopia as well

Childhood pars planitis; clinical features and outcomes

To evaluate the demographic and clinical features of childhood pars planitis, and to determine the therapeutic and visual outcomes of the disease. Medical records of pediatric patients [less than 16 years of age at diagnosis] with pars planitis and at least 6 months of follow-up who were referred to Labbafinejad Medical Center, Tehran, Iran over a 22 year period were reviewed. Overall, 117 eyes of 61 patients including 51 [83.6%] male subjects were included. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 7.8 +/- 3.2 [range, 3-16] years. Mean best corrected visual acuity [BCVA] was 0.88 +/- 0.76 logMAR at presentation which improved to 0.39 +/- 0.51 logMAR at final visit [P<0.001]. Endotheliitis was present in 23 [19.6%] eyes and was significantly more prevalent in subjects younger than 9 years [P=0.025]. Cataract formation [41.9%] and cystoid macular edema [19.7%] were the most prevalent complications. Univariate regression analysis showed that better baseline visual acuity [OR=0.38, 95%CI 0.21-0.70, P=0.002], age older than 5 years at disease onset [OR=0.36, 95%CI 0.14-0.9, P=0.029], absence of endotheliitis [OR=0.39, 95%CI 0.15-0.99, P-0.047] and female gender [OR=3.77, 95%CI 1.03-13.93, P=0.046] were significantly associated with final BCVA of 20/40 or better. Childhood pars planitis was much more common among male subjects. Endotheliitis may be a sign of inflammation spillover and is more prevalent in younger patients. Visual prognosis is favorable in most patients with appropriate treatment

Orthoptic changes following photorefractive keratectomy

To report orthoptic changes after photorefractive keratectomy [PRK]. This interventional case series included 297 eyes of 150 patients scheduled for PRK. Complete ophthalmologic evaluations focusing on orthoptic examinations were performed before and 3 months after PRK. Before PRK, 2 [1.3%] patients had esotropia which remained unchanged; 3 [2%] patients had far exotropia which improved after the procedure. Of 12 cases [8%] with initial exotropia at near, 3 [2%] cases became orthophoric, however 6 patients [4%] developed new near exotropia. A significant reduction in convergence and divergence amplitudes [P < 0.001] and a significant increase in near point of convergence [NPC] [P < 0.006] were noticed after PRK. A reduction of 10 >/= PD or more in convergence amplitude and 5 PD or more in divergence amplitude occurred in 10 and 5 patients, respectively. Four patients had initial NPC > 10 cm which remained unchanged after surgery. Out of 9 [6%] patients with baseline stereopsis > 60 seconds of arc, 2 [1.33%] showed an improvement in stereopsis following PRK. No patient developed diplopia postoperatively. Preexisting strabismus may improve or remain unchanged after PRK, and new deviations can develop following the procedure. A decrease in fusional amplitudes, an increase in NPC, and an improvement in stereopsis may also occur after PRK. Preoperative evaluation of orthoptic status for detection of baseline abnormalities and identification of susceptible patients seem advisable

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

Diabetic Macular Edema Before and After Intravitreal Triamcinolone Injection

PURPOSE: To compare intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) versus natural course in refractory diabetic macular edema. METHODS: In a prospective interventional case series, twenty five eyes with refractory DME which had been allocated to the sham group of a previous clinical trial underwent new examination and optical coherence tomography about 9 months after their first enrollment. Twenty eyes that met the inclusion criteria, visual acuity (VA) 200 micrometer, were treated by 4 mg IVT. Evaluations were repeated at 2 and 4 months post-injection to imitate the similar examination intervals after sham injection. Corrected visual acuity and macular thickness changes following IVT were compared to the corresponding changes after sham injection (the natural course). RESULTS: Visual acuity changes within and between each period were not statistically significant. Visual acuity decreased 0.08 & 0.09 logMAR by 2 months and 0.06 & 0.04 logMAR by 4 months after sham and IVT injections, respectively. The changes of macular thickness after IVT and sham intervention were not meaningful either. However, the difference between thickness changes by 4 months (52+/-50 micrometer increase after sham vs. 262+/-115 micrometer reduction after IVT) was significant (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Concerning macular thickness, IVT has beneficial effect on refractory diabetic macular edema as opposed to observation. However, considering visual acuity, it does not induce significant difference in comparison to the natural course of the disease.

Diabetic Macular Edema Before and After Intravitreal Triamcinolone Injection

PURPOSE: To compare intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) versus natural course in refractory diabetic macular edema. METHODS: In a prospective interventional case series, twenty five eyes with refractory DME which had been allocated to the sham group of a previous clinical trial underwent new examination and optical coherence tomography about 9 months after their first enrollment. Twenty eyes that met the inclusion criteria, visual acuity (VA) 200 micrometer, were treated by 4 mg IVT. Evaluations were repeated at 2 and 4 months post-injection to imitate the similar examination intervals after sham injection. Corrected visual acuity and macular thickness changes following IVT were compared to the corresponding changes after sham injection (the natural course). RESULTS: Visual acuity changes within and between each period were not statistically significant. Visual acuity decreased 0.08 & 0.09 logMAR by 2 months and 0.06 & 0.04 logMAR by 4 months after sham and IVT injections, respectively. The changes of macular thickness after IVT and sham intervention were not meaningful either. However, the difference between thickness changes by 4 months (52+/-50 micrometer increase after sham vs. 262+/-115 micrometer reduction after IVT) was significant (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Concerning macular thickness, IVT has beneficial effect on refractory diabetic macular edema as opposed to observation. However, considering visual acuity, it does not induce significant difference in comparison to the natural course of the disease.

Intravitreal Triamcinolone Reinjection for Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) reinjection on clinical and optical coherence tomographic features in refractory diabetic macular edema. METHODS: In a prospective interventional case series, all IVT treated patients enrolled in a previous clinical trial were recalled to have a new ophthalmologic examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) performed. Eyes found suitable for reinjection received 4 mg IVT. Complete clinical examination and OCT were repeated at 2 and 4 months post-injection. The changes were statistically analyzed using a paired t test and were compared to the results of the first injections. RESULTS: Of all returning patients, 12 cases with complete records were considered candidates for reinjection. Visual acuity (VA) changes were not significant after the first and second interventions, although there was a relative improvement (0.14 logMAR) 2 months after the first injection. Reductions of central macular thickness (CMT) were 43+/-69 micrometer, and 40+/-69 micrometer after the first injection and 27+/-48 micrometer, 49+/-58 micrometer after the reinjection at 2 and 4 months, respectively. None of the mentioned changes was significant. After the second injection, however, intraocular pressure was elevated at both 2 and 4 months (3.6 and 2.4 mmHg respectively, P<0.05). Two months after the first administration, intraocular pressure was found to be raised significantly (5.58 mmHg, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The transient beneficial effects of IVT on diabetic macular edema are not repeated with second injections. However, IVT-related ocular hypertension is more persistent after reinjection.