Treatment of a cyclodialysis cleft by means of ophthalmic laser microendoscope endophotocoagulation.

PURPOSE: To report on the repair of a cyclodialysis cleft by means of endolaser photocoagulation. METHOD: Case report. We describe treatment of a cyclodialysis cleft by means of endolaser photocoagulation with a diode laser. RESULTS: In a 8-year-old boy with pseudophakia and secondary glaucoma in the right eye, combined trabeculectomy/trabeculotomy was performed. Ten months later, the patient was seen with persistent hypotony with a flat filtration bleb. The hypotony was unresponsive to all forms of medical therapy. Reformation of the anterior chamber along with synechialysis revealed a 2.5 clock-hour cyclodialysis cleft by means of gonioscopy. A laser microendoscope probe was used and laser was applied to both the internal scleral and external ciliary body surfaces within the depths of the cleft. Within 3 weeks after treatment, intraocular pressure increased to 15 mm Hg and has remained at that level as of 9 months after the endolaser photocoagulation procedure. CONCLUSION: Endolaser photocoagulation with the ophthalmic laser microendoscope may be an appropriate procedure, after failure of medical therapy, for the diagnosis and repair of a cyclodialysis cleft, especially in the pediatric population.

Subconjunctival mitomycin C for the treatment of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

PURPOSE: The authors performed a prospective evaluation of the efficacy of treating ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) with subconjunctival mitomycin C. DESIGN: Unmasked, prospective, internally controlled case series. METHODS: Patients were eligible for treatment with subconjunctival mitomycin C under three criteria: (1) significant complications of systemic immunosuppressant therapy; (2) markedly asymmetric conjunctival disease; and (3) end-stage OCP. All patients received monocular subconjunctival injections of 0.25 ml of 0.2 mg/ml mitomycin C to both the superior and inferior bulbar conjunctivae in the eye with the more severe disease. RESULTS: Nine eyes of nine patients (mean age, 74 years) were treated with subconjunctival mitomycin C to the more-involved eye and were followed for a mean of 23.5 months (range, 12-40 months). Eight of nine patients showed quiescence of their OCP in the treated eye based on serial evaluation of conjunctival cicatrization and grading of conjunctival erythema. Five of the nine untreated eyes showed progression of the conjunctival disease. One patient required concomitant systemic immunosuppressive therapy after subconjunctival mitomycin C. Two patients underwent successful visual rehabilitative surgery in the mitomycin C-treated eye. CONCLUSION: The use of subconjunctival mitomycin C may be effective in preventing progression of conjunctival cicatrization and erythema in patients with OCP. No complications of mitomycin C treatment were noted. Long-term follow-up and further investigation into the efficacy of subconjunctival mitomycin C in the management of OCP is warranted.

Novel trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response mutation in an eight-generation juvenile-onset primary open-angle glaucoma pedigree.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to update a large kindred with juvenile-onset primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) first described in 1940 and to identify the underlying genetic cause of the disease. DESIGN: Molecular genetic study of a single kindred, including clinical examination, retrospective review of clinical and family history records, linkage analysis, and mutation screening. PARTICIPANTS: The retrospective review included 957 members of a single large family. The linkage study included 40 members of 1 branch of the family in which juvenile-onset POAG is segregating in an autosomal-dominant pattern. Mutation screening included 15 at-risk family members with juvenile-onset POAG, probands of 40 families with adult-onset POAG, probands of 11 additional unrelated juvenile-onset POAG families, and 43 unrelated normal control subjects. INTERVENTION: Clinical and family history records were obtained, ophthalmologic examinations were performed, and blood samples were drawn for use in genotyping. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Allele sizes of microsatellite repeat genetic markers from the vicinity of the GLC1A glaucoma gene on chromosome 1q were assigned based on size fractionation of DNA fragments generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Linkage was established by the method of lod scores. Mutations were identified by determination of the DNA sequence of PCR products amplified from the trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response (TIGR) gene. Glaucoma status for purposes of linkage and mutation analysis was based on a combination of ophthalmologic examination, clinical records, family history, and previously published information. For some individuals reported in the pedigree, but not included in the genotyping studies, less information was available as presented in the text and tables. RESULTS: Autosomal-dominant POAG was confirmed or reported for 78 members of an 8-generation family. Linkage analysis showed significant evidence for linkage of juvenile-onset POAG in one branch of the family to D1S452 (maximum lod score of 6.42 at a recombination fraction of 0.00) and other markers in the vicinity of the GLC1A gene on chromosome 1q. Screening of the TIGR gene identified a mutation that results in substitution of asparagine for isoleucine at codon 477 near the carboxyterminal end of the protein. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings strongly suggest that the juvenile-onset POAG locus in this family is the GLC1A locus and that the underlying cause of the disease is the IIe477Asn TIGR mutation that cosegregates with juvenile-onset POAG in one branch of this large family. Lack of samples from deceased individuals prevented the authors from determining whether reported adult-onset cases in this family could also be attributed to the IIe477Asn TIGR mutation. Absence of the IIe477Asn TIGR mutation from other juvenile- and adult-onset POAG families implies that this TIGR mutation is not a common cause of glaucoma.

Bilateral secondary angle-closure glaucoma as a complication of anticoagulation in a nanophthalmic patient.

PURPOSE: To describe bilateral hemorrhage of the posterior segment and secondary angle-closure glaucoma as sequelae of anticoagulation therapy in a nanophthalmic patient. METHODS: An 80-year-old man who was nanophthalmic and was undergoing anticoagulation therapy presented with declining visual acuity in left eye. Six months later, he experienced declining visual acuity in his right eye. RESULTS: In the LE and six months later in the RE, ocular examination disclosed angle-closure glaucoma and a hemorrhagic retinal detachment. Peripheral iridoplasty successfully treated the initial attack. The subretinal hemorrhage was successfully drained by pars plana vitrectomy, retinotomy, and air-fluid exchange in the left eye. Anatomic success and intraocular pressure control were obtained, but visual recovery was limited. CONCLUSION: Intraocular hemorrhage and angle-closure glaucoma are potential complications of anticoagulation therapy in a patient with nanophthalmos.

Increase in iris-lens contact after laser iridotomy for pupillary block angle closure.

PURPOSE: To quantitate changes in anterior ocular segment anatomy after laser iridotomy for pupillary block angle closure. METHODS: We prospectively performed ultrasound biomicroscopy and A-scan biometry in 13 eyes of 13 consecutive untreated patients with relative pupillary block and appositional angle closure, without peripheral anterior synechiae on indentation gonioscopy. A radial, perpendicular image in the horizontal temporal meridian was obtained with ultrasound biomicroscopy before and one week after laser iridotomy in each eye. RESULTS: Mean age of the 13 patients was 69.3 +/- 1.8 (S.E.) years, mean refractive error was +1.37 +/- 0.39 diopters, and mean axial length was 22.54 +/- 0.20 mm. In 13 eyes, before and after laser iridotomy measurements of angle-opening distance (0.11 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.18 +/- 0.02 mm) (P = .0004; paired t test), angle aperture (8.3 +/- 1.3 vs 18.6 +/- 2.8 degrees) (P = .0003) and iris-lens contact distance (0.58 +/- 0.06 vs 1.18 +/- 0.14 mm) (P = .0003) were greater postoperatively, but anterior chamber depth was unchanged (P = .7). CONCLUSIONS: Flattening of the iris after laser iridotomy for pupillary block causes an increase in iris-lens contact. The change in angle configuration after iridotomy results more from an alteration in aqueous pressure gradients across the iris rather than from posterior lens movement.

Trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) control and surgical complications following trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin at the inferior limbus. METHODS: The charts of all patients undergoing trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus from July 1984 to March 1993 were reviewed. Surgical success was defined as IOP greater than 4 mm Hg and less than 22 mm Hg and at least a 20% reduction from preoperative IOP. PATIENTS: All 101 eyes of 101 patients had undergone prior intraocular surgery at the superior limbus. Mean patient age was 57.5 +/- 2.0 (+/-SE) years; mean follow-up was 23.4+/-2.3 months; mean preoperative IOP was 32.8+/-0.9 mm Hg; and mean number of preoperative antiglaucoma medications was 2.8+/-0.1. RESULTS: Ninety-four eyes (93.1%) received postoperative 5-FU (mean total dose, 36.3+/-1.7 mg) and seven eyes (6.9%) received intraoperative mitomycin (0.5 mg/mL). Cumulative success for all eyes at 2 and 5 years was 56% and 38%, respectively. Intraocular pressure control without medications was achieved in 39% and 15% of eyes at 2 and 5 years, respectively. Complications included 5-FU epitheliopathy (34.0% of eyes receiving 5-FU), early wound leak (26.7%), choroidal effusion (25.7%), late bleb leak (12.9%), and late bleb-related endophthalmitis (11.9%). CONCLUSION: Although trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus offers the opportunity for surgical success in eyes at high risk of failure, this procedure carries an increased risk for late complications and should be reserved for cases in which the therapeutic options are extremely limited.