Intravitreal triamcinolone for the treatment of refractory diabetic macular oedema with hard exudates: an optical coherence tomography study.

AIM: To investigate the use of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DMO) unresponsive to previous laser photocoagulation. METHOD: A retrospective, interventional, non-comparative case series. There were 30 eyes of 22 consecutive patients with refractory DMO. An intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide at the dose of 4 mg in 0.1 ml was administered. Best corrected visual acuity was measured at each examination. In addition the central macular thickness was quantitatively measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination at each visit. The amount of hard exudates deposition in the macula was subjectively evaluated using colour fundus photographs. RESULTS: 30 eyes of 22 patients completed 6 months or more of follow up and were included in the study. Mean (SD) visual acuity improved from 0.17 (0.12) at baseline to 0.34 (0.18), 0.36 (0.16), and 0.31 (0.17) at the 1, 3, and 6 month follow up respectively. Mean (SD) OCT macular thickness decreased from 476 (98.32) microm at baseline to 277.46 (96.77) microm, 255.33 (95.73) microm, and 331.25 (146.76) microm at the 1, 3, and 6 month follow up period respectively. 18 and seven eyes completed 12 months and 18 months of follow up, respectively. Mean (SD) visual acuity was 0.36 (0.15) and 0.35 (0.16) at the 12 and 18 month follow up period respectively. 12 eyes received two, seven eyes received three, and two eyes received four IVTA injections. The mean (SD) interval between the first and second IVTA injection was 5.7 (2.67) months and between the second and third was 5.7 (3.25) months. Hard exudates were present in the macula at baseline in all eyes. Progressive reduction in the number and size of the hard exudates was noted after IVTA in all cases. Intraocular pressure was raised above 21 mm Hg in 12 (40%) of 30 eyes. Two eyes developed posterior subcapsular cataract and two developed vitreous haemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: IVTA is a promising treatment for patients with DMO refractory to laser treatment. IVTA is effective in improving vision, reducing macular thickness, and inducing reabsorption of hard exudates. Further investigation is warranted to assess the safety of IVTA for the treatment of DMO.

Endoscopic vitreoretinal surgery for complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the indication for endoscopic vitreoretinal surgery in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: Chart review of consecutive cases of vitreoretinal surgery for PDR performed by one of the authors (Y.L.F.) over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Endoscopic vitreoretinal surgery was performed in 8 of 41 (19.5%) eyes. The surgical indications were small pupil (3), hyphema (3), pseudophakia with fibrotic posterior capsule (1), and pars plana neovascularization with anterior tractional retinal detachment (6). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic vitreoretinal surgery, by enhancing the visualization of the retroirideal space, is a useful technique in PDR with opaque ocular media and/or neovascularization of the pars plana and ciliary body.

Retinal choroidal anastomoses and occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to identify the incidence of retinal choroidal anastomoses in patients with occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and focal hot spots on indocyanine green (ICG) angiography, to identify the clinical and angiographic features that would assist in their identification, and to determine if the presence of these anastomotic lesions affect the outcome of laser therapy. DESIGN: Combined prospective and retrospective cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty consecutive patients with newly diagnosed occult CNV secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration and focal hot spots on ICG angiography were evaluated prospectively. In addition, a retrospective review was performed on 79 eyes previously reported to have undergone laser photocoagulation treatment with ICG guidance. METHODS AND TESTING: In all cases, stereo color and red-free photographs, and stereo fluorescein and digital ICG angiograms were obtained for evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Images obtained by all four techniques were evaluated for the presence of a retinal choroidal anastomosis. Associated clinical and angiographic findings were noted. In the retrospective review, the success rate of laser treatment was correlated with the presence or absence of a retinal choroidal anastomosis. RESULTS: Of the 150 eyes evaluated prospectively, 31 (21%) were found to have a retinal choroidal anastomosis. Retinal choroidal anastomoses were found in 27% of patients with associated serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED), whereas 13% were found in those without an associated elevation of the retinal pigment epithelium. Seventy-one percent of eyes had multiple anastomotic connections. Ninety percent of eyes had at least one retinal vein involved in the anastomotic connection. Clinical evidence of preretinal and intraretinal hemorrhage and cystic edema coupled with angiographic evidence of intraretinal dye leakage were key features of retinal choroidal anastomoses. In the retrospective review, seven patients were found to have retinal choroidal anastomoses with associated serous PED and demonstrated a very low (14%) success rate for laser treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal choroidal anastomoses can present as a primary manifestation of the exudative process in age-related macular degeneration. They may be seen in eyes with and without detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium. Specific clinical and angiographic features have been identified that can aid in the diagnosis of these vascular anomalies. Their presence represents a poor prognostic sign for successful ICG-guided laser treatment.

Factor V Leiden, activated protein C resistance, and retinal vein occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to activated protein C (APC resistance) is a thrombophilic abnormality characterized by a normal plasma level of protein C and an inherited defect in the coagulative response. This condition is believed to be caused by a point mutation in factor V, the so-called factor V Leiden, and is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. PURPOSE: A case-control study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of APC resistance and factor V Leiden in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and in control subjects. METHODS: Eighty-four consecutive RVO patients and 70 controls were tested for APC resistance with a commercial assay (Chromogenix). The first 30 patients and 47 controls were also studied for factor V Leiden. In addition, a repeat APC-resistance test was performed in 40 RVO patients and in 9 controls with a second-generation assay done to compare the reliability and reproducibility of the tests. RESULTS: Results of testing for APC resistance with the first-generation assay revealed positive results in 38 (45%) of the study patients and 6 (9%) of the controls. The difference in frequencies of APC resistance in patients and controls was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). In the patients tested for factor V Leiden, one (3%) was a heterozygous carrier of the Arg506GIn mutation and one (2%) of the controls was a heterozygous carrier. No homozygous individuals were identified in either the study or the control groups. The difference in frequencies of factor V Leiden in study patients and controls was not statistically significant (P = 1). The repeat APC-resistance assay using factor V-deficient plasma in 40 RVO patients and 9 controls did not show any significant difference between study patients and controls or an association between APC resistance and the determination of the factor V Leiden mutant. CONCLUSION: The first-generation commercial assay for APC resistance is not a useful screening test. The molecular test for factor V Leiden is the only definitive method. Furthermore, no significant association was found between factor V Leiden and retinal vein occlusion. Accordingly, routine testing for the presence of the factor V Leiden mutant is not advisable for patients with retinal vein occlusion.

Wide-angle indocyanine green angiography.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the vasculature and blood flow in the fundus is limited by the small field of view of conventional fundus cameras. We sought to develop an easy method to image wide areas of the fundus. METHODS: Wide-angle contact fundus lenses with antireflective coatings in the infrared range were placed on the eye and indocyanine green angiography was done on the fundus through the contact lenses. More than 50 patients with varying fundus pathology have been examined. RESULTS: The angular field of view using this method can reach 160 degrees. Obtaining angiograms where the field of view extended anterior to the ora serrata was simplified, and studying the choroidal vasculature in detail was possible. In addition, imaging of entities such as peripheral choroidal neovascularization and choroidal tumors was enhanced with the present technique as compared with conventional techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Angiography through wide-angle fundus lenses is an easy and inexpensive method of visualizing large areas of the fundus. This technique may help improve our ability to image the angioarchitecture, hemodynamics, and pathologic changes in the retina and choroid.

The expanding clinical spectrum of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To expand the clinical spectrum of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy based on historical cases and newly recognized observations. METHODS: A review of the previously reported 45 cases was carried out. An additional 20 cases were retrospectively reviewed to examine the clinical nature and course of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. RESULTS: New observations on the clinical spectrum of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy were noted for demographic features, the nature and course of the vascular lesion, the possible association with intraocular inflammation, and the indocyanine green angiographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy seems to be a distinct clinical entity that has a predilection for individuals of pigmented races. The disorder should be differentiated from typical choroidal neovascularization and other known choroidal degenerative, inflammatory, and ischemic disorders because of differences in clinical course and treatment.

Indocyanine green angiography in serpiginous choroidopathy.

BACKGROUND: Manifestations of serpiginous choroidopathy have been well described, but very little is known about its true pathogenesis. By virtue of the enhanced imaging of the choroidal circulation, indocyanine green angiography may offer information on the causative factors of the disorder. METHODS: Indocyanine Green (ICG) videoangiography was carried out in 17 patients with serpiginous choroidopathy. A full ophthalmological examination and intravenous fluorescein angiography were simultaneously done as well. The patients were studied at 3 different stages of the disease as follows: 1) with acute manifestations; 2) with subacute lesions; 3) in the inactive or healed state. RESULTS: Acute Lesions: Indocyanine angiography showed active choroidal involvement in the acute stage beyond the limits delineated by corresponding fluorescein studies. Subacute Lesions: ICG angiography showed resolution of choroidal involvement in advance of clinical and fluorescein angiographic changes in some eyes. Healed Lesions: ICG angiography showed better delineation of the atrophic choroid with clearer definitions than corresponding fluorescein studies. Late staining of fibrovascular tissue within atrophic zones was similar to fluorescein findings. Two patients in the healed state showed multifocal hypofluorescence (one patient) and hyperfluorescent choroidal lesions (one patient) with no clinical or fluorescein counterparts, possibly representing occult lesions. CONCLUSIONS: ICG angiography may be useful in understanding certain clinical features of the entity, such as a clearer documentation of the extent and nature of the choroidal damage and possible sites at risk for future recurrences. However, it adds little to our current management of the disorder.