Immediate response to intravitreal treatment for macular edema due to diabetes and retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To objectively assess the immediate response to intravitreal treatment for macular edema and compare it across different agents. METHODS: This retrospective, comparative study included patients with macular edema due to diabetic retinopathy (DME) or vein occlusion who were treated with intravitreal injections of either steroids (triamcinolone acetonide or dexamethasone sustained release implant) or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibodies (VEGF). The central retinal thickness (CRT) and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured 1 day after the injection and compared with immediate pre-injection values. RESULTS: There were 79 eyes (57 patients) including 51 eyes with DME, 18 with branch retinal vein occlusion edema (BRVO-ME), and 10 eyes with central retinal vein occlusion edema (CRVO-ME). The intravitreal agents were triamcinolone acetonide (TA)(n = 15), dexamethasone sustained release implant (DEX)(n = 22), ranibizumab (n = 19), and bevacizumab (n = 23). Statistically significant improvement in CRT was seen in all injection groups (p < 0.05) while improvement in mean BCVA was significant only in the TA group (p = 0.009). The mean change in CRT was maximum with steroids than with anti-VEGFs; viz. 159.47 µ in TA, 115.45 µ in DEX, 86.10 µ in ranibizumab, and 78.78 µ in bevacizumab group. Least amount of change was noted in the spongy type of macular edema (18.73 µ) while improvement in mean BCVA was statistically significant only in the cystoid group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Comparatively, steroid agents showed better immediate response to therapy than anti-VEGFs. Maximum reduction in central retinal thickness was seen following triamcinolone acetonide injection. Cystoid edema showed better immediate response than spongy retinal thickening.

Vitreoretinal Complications and Outcomes in 92 Eyes Undergoing Surgery for Modified Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis: A 10-Year Review.

PURPOSE: To analyze vitreoretinal (VR) complications and treatment outcomes in eyes undergoing modified osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who underwent modified OOKP (mOOKP) surgery at a tertiary eye-care center from March 2003 to February 2013 were included. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for relevant medical history, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp examination, ultrasound scan, oral examination findings, and VR complications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BCVA at the last visit. Optimal anatomic outcome was attached retina with a normal intraocular pressure at the last visit. RESULTS: A total of 92 eyes of 90 patients were included. Indications for OOKP included Stevens-Johnson syndrome (n = 53), chemical injury (n = 36), and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (n = 3). A total of 41 eyes of 39 patients developed VR complications, including vitritis (n = 21), retinal detachment (RD) (n = 12; primary RD = 5), retroprosthetic membrane (RPM) (n = 10; primary RPM = 2), endophthalmitis (n = 8), vitreous hemorrhage (VH) (n = 5; primary VH = 1), serous choroidal detachment (n = 5), hemorrhagic choroidal detachment (n = 2), and leak-related hypotony (n = 1). Mean interval from mOOKP surgery to occurrence of VR complication(s) was 43.8 months (median, 41.9 months; range, 0.2-95.5 months). After treatment of VR complication, visual improvement was seen in 17 eyes (42%) (mean improvement = 1.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]; median, 0.8 logMAR; range, 0.1-2.5 logMAR), visual decline in 7 eyes (14%) (mean decline in BCVA = 0.6 logMAR; median, 0.4 logMAR; range, 0.3-1.8 logMAR), and no change in BCVA in 17 eyes (42%). However, BCVA ≥6/60 was retained in 19 eyes and ≥6/18 was retained in 9 eyes after final VR treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreoretinal complications constitute a significant cause of visual morbidity in eyes undergoing mOOKP surgery and pose a challenging situation to manage. However, appropriate and timely intervention can achieve encouraging results.

Comparison of photodynamic therapy, ranibizumab/bevacizumab or combination in the treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularisation: a 9-year-study from a single centre.

AIM: To compare treatment outcomes for myopic choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) managed with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT), intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF, bevacizumab/ranibizumab) agents or combination thereof. METHODS: Clinical data of 79 eyes with myopic CNV examined from March 2004 to July 2013 was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were managed with vPDT, intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL)/ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) or a combination of vPDT and anti-VEGF. Outcome measures included complete regression (scarring) of CNV and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: Treatments provided were vPDT (n=23), anti-VEGF (n=25) (ranibizumab, n=12; bevacizumab, n=13), vPDT+anti-VEGF (n=31). Mean logMAR BCVA changed from 0.59±0.44 to 0.49±0.40 at mean follow-up of 54.63±39.46 months. Mean logMAR vision changed from 0.68±0.57, 0.54±0.48 and 0.59±0.39 at presentation to 0.59±0.53, 0.38±0.44 and 0.37±0.37 at last follow-up in PDT (p=0.4), anti-VEGF (p=0.1) and vPDT+anti-VEGF groups (p=0.0002), respectively. CNV was scarred in 64 eyes (81%) at mean 11.03±13.56 months. Most common complication was macular scar (n=64), associated with reduced (n=17) or preserved (n=47) vision. Chorioretinal atrophy attributable to vPDT was seen in five eyes (vPDT, n=3; vPDT+anti-VEGF, n=2). CONCLUSION: Combination of vPDT and intravitreal anti-VEGF (ranibizumab/bevacizumab) was associated with better visual outcomes and higher rates of regression in eyes with myopic CNV as compared with monotherapy with PDT or anti-VEGF. Larger size of CNV, and high refractive error were independent risk factors for poor visual outcomes.

Polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detection from ocular fluids in patients with various types of choroiditis in a referral eye center in India.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in aqueous or vitreous samples of patients suffering from choroiditis presumed to be infectious origin. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Hospital-based, retrospective case-control study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In all, forty eyes of forty patients with choroiditis divided into two groups - Group A (serpiginous-like choroiditis, ampiginous choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis) and Group B (choroidal abscess, miliary tuberculosis (TB), choroidal tubercle) were analyzed retrospectively. In 27 controls (patients without uveitis undergoing phacoemulsification), anterior chamber aspirate was done and sample subjected to real-time PCR. Patients underwent nested PCR for MTB using IS6110 and MPB64 primers from aqueous (n = 39) or vitreous (n = 1). All patients underwent detailed ophthalmological examination by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination by indirect ophthalmoscopy, and fundus photograph and fundus fluorescein angiography if required. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Positive results of PCR for MTB within the group and between two groups were statistically analyzed using Chi-square test. RESULTS: There were 25 males and 15 females. Mean age at presentation was 34.66 years (range, 14-62). PCR positivity rates were 41.3% (n = 12/29) and 81.82% (n = 9/11) in Groups A and B, respectively. No controls had PCR-positive result. Comparison of PCR positivity rates showed statistically significant difference between Groups A and B (P = 0.028). Systemic TB was detected in 57.14% (n = 12/21) of all PCR-positive cases (Group A - 33.3%, n = 4/12; Group B - 88.9%, n = 8/9). Systemic antitubercular treatment (ATT) for 9 months and oral steroids were successful in resolution of choroiditis in all PCR-positive patients (n = 21) without disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with choroiditis of suspected/presumed tubercular origin should be subjected to PCR for diagnosis of TB and subjected to ATT for prevention of recurrences.