ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are some reports showing isolated cases of drusen regression after pars plana vitrectomy (ppV) with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (iLM). Drusen characteristics after iLM peeling was investigated in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 527 patients who had received iLM peeling between 2004 and 2012 were retrospectively collected and those patients with retinal drusen were selected for the study. Fundus photographs before and after vitrectomy due to a macular hole or epiretinal gliosis were compared and drusen arrangement in the peeling site was analyzed. The aim of the study was to show whether there was drusen regression 2-5 months after surgery. RESULTS: Out of the 527 patients 11 showed central macular drusen, 4 with confluent large drusen (> 63 µm diameter) and 7 with small hard drusen (≤ 63 µm diameter). One patient showed drusen regression after iLM peeling without any changes in the other eye and all other patients showed no differences in the drusen findings (n = 6) or even some additional drusen (n = 4) without drusen alterations in the other eye. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could not confirm some reports showing drusen regression after iLM peeling in the peeling site in general and there was only one single case of central drusen regression.
Subject(s)
Epiretinal Membrane/pathology , Epiretinal Membrane/surgery , Optic Disk Drusen/epidemiology , Optic Disk Drusen/pathology , Retinoscopy/statistics & numerical data , Vitrectomy/statistics & numerical data , Causality , Comorbidity , Female , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Reproducibility of Results , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , Vitrectomy/methodsABSTRACT
Interferon (IFN) beta is commonly used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Thromboembolic complications may be associated with this therapy. We describe a case of branch arterial occlusions combined with central vein occlusion in a female patient who had undergone IFN beta therapy for 10 years. Thromboembolic and cardiovascular risk factors responsible for this event were excluded. The appearance of retinal vein and artery occlusions in our patient indicates an association with the long-term use of IFN beta.
