Comparison of four surgical techniques for management of pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachment: a multicenter clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual and anatomical outcomes of four surgical techniques to manage pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachment (PARD). METHODS: In a multicenter randomized clinical trial, 211 eyes of 211 patients with PARD and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade B or less were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups: (1) scleral buckling (SB), 50 eyes, (2) vitrectomy without band, 51 eyes, (3) vitrectomy with encircling band (EB), 58 eyes, and (4) triamcinolone acetonide (TA) assisted vitrectomy, 52 eyes. Patients were followed for 12 months after the surgery. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal reattachment rate at each follow-up time point were considered as the primary outcome measures. PVR, macular pucker, and cystoid macular edema were considered as the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Visual improvement was achieved in all treatment groups relative to the baseline at all time points (all Ps < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences among the groups with regard to BCVA changes. However, there was a significant difference in the slope of visual improvement curve: the SB group had a more rapid visual improvement compared to the vitrectomy with buckle group at month 12 (P = 0.032). The retinal reattachment rates at month 12 were 75, 64.7, 68.5, and 66.7 % in SB, vitrectomy without buckle, vitrectomy with EB, and TA-assisted vitrectomy groups respectively (P > 0.99). There were no statistically significant differences among the groups in terms of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: SB, TA-assisted vitrectomy, and vitrectomy with and without buckle had comparable outcomes in the management of PARD.

Association between Diabetic Retinopathy and Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Diabetic Patients with Unstable Angina.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with serious complications including macro- and microvascular problems such as diabetic retinopathy. Coronary involvement in diabetic patients is believed to be a consequence of microvascular complications. However, the available data are inconclusive and scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the probable association between diabetic retinopathy and left ventricular dysfunction in diabetic patients with unstable angina (UA). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 200 diabetic patients with UA (100 cases with diabetic retinopathy and 100 cases without diabetic retinopathy) were enrolled in a teaching hospital. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as well as the frequency of cases with left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF<50%) were compared between the two groups and different degrees of diabetic retinopathy (proliferative and non-proliferative). RESULTS: Patients' demographic variables were comparable between the two groups. Mean diagnosis time of DM was significantly higher in the patients with diabetic retinopathy (8.40±6.60 vs. 3.81±3.58 years; P<0.001). Mean LVEF was significantly lower in the retinopathy group (50.50±6.91% vs. 53.07±4.87%; P=0.003). Frequency of cases with left ventricular dysfunction was significantly higher in the group with diabetic retinopathy (31% vs. 12%; P=0.001, OR=3.33, 95%CI: 1.58-7.14). The frequency of cases with left ventricular dysfunction was significantly yet independently higher in patients with proliferative vs. non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular dysfunction is more common in diabetic patients with unstable angina and diabetic retinopathy compared with their counterparts without diabetic retinopathy.

Pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling for treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: Nine cases of visual loss due to macular edema caused by central retinal vein occlusion or branch retinal vein occlusion underwent pars plana vitrectomy with removal of the preretinal hyaloid, peeling of the internal limiting membrane stained with indocyanine green dye, air-fluid exchange, and postoperative prone positioning. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness by optical coherence tomography were measured pre- and postoperatively then compared to assess the outcome of surgery. RESULTS: In all cases intraretinal blood and retinal thickening diminished within 2 months of surgery. Visual acuity improved in all of the central retinal vein occlusion cases and 3/6 branch retinal vein occlusion cases. The decrease in macular thickness was statistically significant (mean postoperative macular thickness 361 ± 61.1 versus mean preoperative macular thickness 563.9 ± 90.0, P = 0.001, t-test). The improvement in BCVA was not statistically significant (mean preoperative BCVA in LogMAR 1.23 ± 0.29 versus mean postoperative BCVA in LogMAR 1.06 ± 0.49, P = 0.09, t-test). CONCLUSION: In eyes with macular edema secondary to RVO, pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling can resolve macular edema, but the improvement in BCVA was not statistically significant in this study.

Surgical treatment of severely traumatized eyes with no light perception.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of surgical intervention in severely traumatized eyes with no light perception (NLP). METHODS: In this prospective interventional case series, 18 eyes of 18 patients with severe ocular trauma whose vision was documented as NLP and with relative afferent pupillary defect of 3 to 4+ underwent deep vitrectomy and other appropriate procedures 1 to 3 times. RESULTS: Vision was NLP in all eyes at the time of surgery, which was performed 3 days to 14 days after the initial trauma. During a mean follow-up period of 20.5 +/- 5.2 months (range, 11-36 months), except for 1 case of phthisis, other eyes achieved acceptable anatomical and functional outcomes. Postoperative vision was NLP in 2 eyes (11.1%), light perception in 3 eyes (16.7%), hand motions in 4 eyes (22.2%), counting fingers in 3 eyes (16.7%), and 20/200 or better in 6 eyes (33.4%). CONCLUSION: After eye trauma, NLP vision and relative afferent pupillary defect of 3 to 4+ alone may not be an indication for enucleation. Performing exploratory surgery within 14 days after the injury may salvage the globe and improve vision; this approach also entails positive psychologic effects for patients and relatives.

Anatomic and visual outcomes of scleral buckling versus primary vitrectomy in pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachment: six-month follow-up results of a single operation--report no. 1.

PURPOSE: To compare the anatomic and visual results and complications of conventional scleral buckling versus primary vitrectomy for management of pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachment. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-five eyes of 225 patients with pseudophakic or aphakic retinal detachment. INTERVENTION: Eligible eyes were assigned randomly either to conventional scleral buckling or primary vitrectomy without any buckle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual results, retinal reattachment rate, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, macular pucker, cystoid macular edema, choroidal detachment, intraocular pressure, extraocular muscle dysfunction, and anisometropia. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 treatment groups regarding the single-operation retinal reattachment rate at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month follow-up examinations. Patients in the buckle group had 28% greater likelihood of anatomic success compared with those in the vitrectomy group (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-2.24), indicating no statistically significant difference. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was the main cause of anatomic failure in both groups and occurred independent of the surgical technique used. Best-corrected visual acuity at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month postoperative follow-up examinations showed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. Six months after surgery, 12.8% of eyes in the buckle group and 11.3% of eyes in the vitrectomy group achieved visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant. Corresponding figures were 66.3% and 64.5% for visual acuity of 20/200 or better in the buckle and vitrectomy groups, respectively, again with no statistically significant difference. There were no statistically significant differences in rates of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Scleral buckling and primary vitrectomy without an encircling band have comparable results in pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachment. The choice of surgical technique depends on various factors, including patient compliance, cost of surgery, experience and capability of surgeons, and availability of appropriate instrumentation.