Minimally Invasive Micro Sclerostomy (MIMS) Procedure: A Novel Glaucoma Filtration Procedure.

PRCIS: Intermediate-term results suggest that ab interno Minimally Invasive Micro Sclerostomy (MIMS) stent-less subconjunctival filtration procedure is a promising treatment option for patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). PURPOSE: MIMS is a novel ab interno, stent-less, subconjunctival filtration procedure. This study set to investigate the safety, performance, and efficacy of MIMS in OAG patients. METHODS: Prospective, open-label, single arm clinical trial with intrasubject comparisons. Study participants were adults with OAG who were candidates for a filtration procedure. Patients were operated by a single surgeon (A.A.) in Chennai, India. Following mitomycin-C pretreatment, ab interno MIMS procedure was performed alone or combined with phacoemulsification surgery. Procedure-related complications and adverse events were assessed. Primary outcomes: patients (%) achieving an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥5 mm Hg and ≤18 mm Hg, and an IOP reduction of >20% as compared with baseline, with or without hypotensive medications, with no need for recurrent surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-one phacoemulsification-MIMS and 10 standalone MIMS procedures were performed. Mean age was 63.94±6.33 years. Mean duration of MIMS was 1:58±0:25 (min:s). Scleral tunnels were achieved in all cases. No device malfunctions, intraoperative complications, or serious adverse events were reported. Five (16.12%) patients presented with iris clogging 1 to 24 weeks following procedure. Two were treated with laser and 3 required trabeculectomy. Mean IOP change from baseline at 24 weeks was 47.4% (31.2 to 16.4 mm Hg, P<0.0001, n=23). The mean difference was -14.8 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: -17.6, -11.9) with no statistically significant differences between groups. Qualified success was achieved in 21 (84%), 17 (74%), and 13 (93%) after 12, 24, and 52 weeks, respectively. Complete success was achieved in 17 (68%), 13 (57%), and 8 (57%) after 12, 24, and 52 weeks, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The interim results suggest that MIMS procedure may be a simple and effective surgical option for early OAG patients requiring target IOP in high teens although iris clogging of incision site is the major concern with this procedure.

FIRST-IN-HUMAN CLINICAL STUDY TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY SURGERY USING A NEW HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY.

PURPOSE: Investigate the effective performance and safety of a new hypersonic vitrector technology. METHODS: Postapproval, prospective, single-arm, noncomparative, open-label study at one clinical site in India. INDICATIONS: macular hole (9/20), vitreous hemorrhage (7/20), vitreomacular traction (3/20), and vitreomacular traction with pseudomacular hole (1/20). Safety endpoints included intraoperative and postoperative adverse events. Effective performance endpoints were surgeon-rated effectiveness, range of surgical time, and device settings. Other performance measures were preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy, applanation tonometry, color fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Core vitreous removal (20/20 subjects), peripheral vitreous removal (18/20), and posterior vitreous detachment induction (13/15) surgeries were successfully completed. Total surgical time was 22.5 minutes to 106 minutes. Serious adverse events through 3 months were 2 device-associated retinal tears and detachment (one intraoperative) and one unrelated postoperative enlargement of macular hole with subretinal fluid. CONCLUSION: This first-in-human study suggests that this new hypersonic vitrector technology is a promising alternative to commercially available guillotine vitrectors. The hypersonic vitrector was effective in core vitreous removal in all cases. Larger-scale studies are required to expand on our initial findings for induction of a posterior vitreous detachment or peripheral vitrectomy.

Scleral fixation of intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review current, effective and more popular techniques for scleral fixation of intraocular lens (IOLs) and IOL-capsular bag complex. RECENT FINDINGS: Scleral fixation of IOLs became popular, originally with sutured scleral fixated IOLs and later the Scharioth technique of intrascleral haptic fixation. This was further developed as the Glued IOL technique which enjoys widespread adoption all over the world. Recently the Yamane technique has also become popular and is being widely adopted as well. SUMMARY: Scleral fixated IOLs have evolved in the last 2 decades with technical modifications, extended indications and improvised instrumentation. Though sutured and sutureless techniques have been growing equally, the sutureless scleral fixation techniques have attracted special interest. Reduced suture-related complications, technical ease and high-quality functional outcomes may be possible reasons. Sutureless capsular bag fixation also has distinct advantages.

Single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty for angle-closure glaucoma.

Angle-closure glaucoma is characterized by appositional or synechial closure of the anterior chamber angle with glaucomatous field defects that may or may not be associated with a pupillary block. Surgical pupilloplasty with single-pass four-throw technique helps to alleviate the appositional closure along with the breakage of peripheral anterior synechia, thereby increasing the aqueous outflow and decreasing intraocular pressure.

Young donor-graft assisted endothelial keratoplasty (PDEK/DMEK) with epithelial debridement for chronic pseudophakic bullous keratopathy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the applicability and report visual outcomes for the treatment of subepithelial fibrosis and anterior stromal scarring in cases of chronic pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) with epithelial debridement and endothelial keratoplasty (EK) (pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty [PDEK]; Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty [(DMEK]) using young donor tissue. DESIGN: Prospective, single-centre, interventional study. PARTICIPANTS: 6 cases with chronic PBK (> 1 year duration). METHODS: Case 1 underwent PDEK with glued intraocular lens (IOL) as a single-stage procedure, whereas cases 2 and 3 underwent glued IOL followed by DMEK and PDEK, respectively, as a second-stage procedure. Cases 4 and 6 underwent PDEK, whereas case 5 underwent DMEK. Epithelial debridement was performed in all cases at the time of EK, and young donor grafts were used. The main outcome measures were best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, clearance of corneal scar and haze, central corneal thickness (CCT), specular microscopy, and endothelial cell count (ECC). RESULTS: Postoperatively, all cases demonstrated significant improvement in visual acuity. The mean value of depth of subepithelial haze was 121±71.7 µm and 25.3 ± 19.8 µm in the preoperative and postoperative periods, respectively (p = 0.028). At the 1-month follow-up, the mean preoperative CCT of 676 ± 92.7 µm was reduced to 534.6 ± 21.1µm. At the 6-month follow-up, the mean ECC loss resulting from the procedure was 36.5 ± 10.4%. CONCLUSIONS: EK with epithelial debridement performed for the treatment of chronic PBK resulted in significantly improved visual acuity to a functional level, with the clearance of subepithelial fibrosis and anterior stromal scar, in most patients.

Single-Pass 4-Throw Pupilloplasty for Pre-Descemet Endothelial Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To describe the feasibility and applicability of the single-pass 4-throw pupilloplasty (SFT) technique in the Pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty (PDEK) procedure. METHODS: In cases with endothelial decompensation and pupil deformity, SFT was performed to prevent the escape of air into the posterior segment. Fourier domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography was performed to analyze elevation of the iris and the suture tail end from the iris plane. In cases with aphakic bullous keratopathy, glued intrascleral (glued IOL) fixation was performed followed by SFT and PDEK, whereas in cases with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy due to malpositioned IOLs, the IOL was explanted followed by the glued IOL technique that was then followed by SFT with PDEK. RESULTS: The procedure was performed in 9 eyes of 9 patients. The Fourier domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography image taken at the level of the iris demonstrated an elevation of the iris about 145 µm (longitudinal meridian, range 136-160 µm) and 165 µm (cross-section meridian, range 160-175 µm) from the adjoining iris plane. The end on view of the suture end was observed above the iris plane for about 47 µm (range 40-65 µm). Partial graft detachment was observed in 1 case. No incidence of primary graft failure or graft rejection during the entire follow-up period was reported in any of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: SFT serves an effective technique for performing pupilloplasty in PDEK cases without the presence of a knot in the anterior chamber that poses a risk of mechanical damage to the donor graft.

Trocar anterior chamber maintainer: Improvised infusion technique.

UNLABELLED: We present an improvised technique of infusion that uses a trocar cannula as an anterior chamber maintainer (ACM). Although routinely used in posterior segment surgery, the trocar cannula has been infrequently used in complex anterior segment procedures. The trocar ACM creates a transconjunctival biplanar wound of appropriate size that is self-sealing and overcomes the shortcomings of an ACM, such as spontaneous extrusion and forced introduction into the eye from variability in the size of the corneal paracentesis incision. Constant infusion inflow through the trocar ACM is used to maintain positive intraocular pressure through a self-sealing sclerotomy incision at the limbus. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Clinical outcomes of the glued intraocular lens scaffold.

PURPOSE: To report the visual outcomes and complications of the glued intraocular lens (IOL) scaffold procedure in patients with intraoperative posterior capsule rupture and retained nuclear fragments, subluxated cataract, and Soemmerring ring associated with aphakia and deficient posterior capsule. SETTING: Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Chennai, India. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative interventional case series. METHODS: Medical records of patients who had a glued IOL scaffold procedure performed were reviewed. The main outcome measures were visual acuity at final follow-up and intraoperative and postoperative complications during the entire follow-up. RESULTS: The mean preoperative and mean final postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (Snellen decimal equivalent) in 19 eyes of 17 patients were 0.39 ± 0.13 (SD) and 0.73 ± 0.27, respectively (P = .002, Wilcoxon test). No eye lost CDVA. The CDVA was stable in 7 eyes, improved 1 line in 2 eyes, and improved 2 lines or more in 10 eyes. Postoperatively, 20/20 visual acuity was attained in 9 eyes. Intraoperatively, Soemmerring ring drop into the vitreous cavity in 1 eye and hyphema in 2 eyes were observed. Postoperative complications included corneal edema (2 eyes), choroidal detachment (1 eye), mild vitritis (1 eye), ocular hypertension (1 eye), and fibrin reaction in the anterior chamber that resolved with medical management (2 eyes). CONCLUSION: The glued IOL scaffold enabled a closed-chamber approach with proper placement of an IOL in cases with inadequate sulcus or iris support and allowed safe emulsification of the retained nuclear fragments with good visual outcomes. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Glued Intrascleral Fixation of Intraocular Lens With Pupilloplasty and Pre-Descemet Endothelial Keratoplasty: A Triple Procedure.

PURPOSE: To describe a surgical approach of glue-assisted intrascleral fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL) with pupilloplasty and pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty as a single-stage procedure. METHODS: Glue-assisted intrascleral fixation of an IOL is performed initially because it helps to secure the IOL fixation, followed by pupilloplasty that imparts stability to the anterior chamber and prevents air diversion into the vitreous cavity, thereby facilitating the pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty procedure that is performed to complete the surgical repair. RESULTS: The procedure was performed in 5 eyes of 5 patients, and the donor age ranged from 9 months to 65 years. There was a significant change in the uncorrected (P = 0.034) and corrected (P = 0.043) distance visual acuities in the postoperative period. The mean graft size was 7.6 ± 0.4 mm (range, 7-8 mm). The mean preoperative and postoperative specular endothelial counts were 2788 ± 204 cells per square millimeter and 1898 ± 90 cells per square millimeter, respectively. No incidence of primary graft failure or graft rejection during the entire follow-up period was reported in any of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The combined procedure serves as an effective method in select cases of endothelial decompensation that require a secondary IOL implantation or an IOL exchange with good postoperative results.

Pre-Descemet Endothelial Keratoplasty With Infant Donor Corneas: A Prospective Analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and feasibility of the use of infant donor tissue (<1 year) in pre-Descemet endothelial keratoplasty (PDEK). METHODS: Three eyes of 3 patients with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy underwent the procedure in this single-center, prospective interventional series. Diseased Descemet membrane of the recipient cornea was replaced with the pre-Descemet layer-Descemet membrane-endothelium complex stripped from the infant donor cornea (9-12 months old) with the creation of a type 1 bubble. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell density, endothelial cell loss, and ease and predictability of the donor lenticule preparation. RESULTS: In the postoperative period, there was improvement in the visual acuity in all the patients. The mean donor endothelial cell density was 3073 ± 68 cells per square millimeter, and the mean postoperative specular count at 6 months was 2230 ± 43 cells per square millimeter. The mean percentage loss of endothelial cells at 6 months was 27 ± 2%. The mean coefficient of variation was 36 ± 5.2%. The mean central corneal thickness measured at a 6-month postoperative period was 515 ± 7 µm. No incidence of tissue loss during graft preparation, graft dislocation, or graft failure was reported. The mean graft thickness as measured with optical coherence tomography on the first postoperative day was 35 ± 3 µm. CONCLUSIONS: PDEK using an infant cornea provided an effective means of restoring optical clarity with good visual outcomes. The infant cornea can be a reliable source of donor tissue for the PDEK procedure, and no difficulties were noted in the donor lenticule preparation, insertion of the donor graft, or air bubble management.

Glued intraocular lens scaffolding for Soemmerring ring removal in aphakia with posterior capsule defect.

UNLABELLED: We describe using the glued intraocular lens (IOL) scaffolding technique to remove Soemmerring ring during secondary IOL implantation in aphakic eyes with associated posterior capsule defect following previous pediatric cataract surgery. Vitrectomy is performed, and the remnants of the posterior capsule are removed from the visual axis. A 3-piece foldable IOL is injected below the Soemmerring ring, and glued transscleral haptic fixation of the IOL is performed. The Soemmerring ring is dislodged from the periphery with a Sinskey hook and brought into the center of the pupil over the surface of the IOL optic, where it is emulsified with the phacoemulsification probe. The optic of the preplaced IOL acts as a scaffold and prevents dislodgement of Soemmerring ring material into the vitreous cavity during emulsification. Placement of a secondary IOL can be successfully accomplished in selected patients. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Pre-Descemet's endothelial keratoplasty (PDEK).

A new surgical technique for endothelial keratoplasty is described, in which the composite of pre-Descemet's layer (Dua's layer) with Descemet's membrane and endothelium is transplanted subsequent to the removal of the recipient's Descemet's membrane. The technique was performed in five eyes of five patients, with successful attachment of the graft and good postoperative visual recovery in all cases. Postoperative optical coherence tomography showed good graft attachment without interface abnormalities and a mean graft thickness was 28±5.6 µm. This study demonstrates the practicality of the technique, termed pre-Descemet's endothelial keratoplasty (PDEK), which can be a viable option in endothelial keratoplasty with some potential advantages.

Sleeveless-extrusion cannula for levitation of dislocated intraocular lens.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To characterise a sleeveless-extrusion cannula-based suction technique to levitate dislocated intraocular lens (IOLs) and review the surgical outcome. METHODS: This retrospective, non-comparative, single surgeon, interventional, consecutive case series examined 10 patients (10 eyes) who underwent the surgical procedure from October 2011 to December 2012. Reliability, reproducibility, and intraoperative and postoperative complications of the technique were analysed. RESULTS: The technique involved suction levitation of a 3-piece acrylic foldable IOL in six cases, 1-piece acrylic foldable IOL in three cases and a plate haptic IOL in one case. The IOL was exchanged in four eyes whereas the same IOL was repositioned in six eyes with sulcus repositioning in two eyes and glued intrascleral fixation in four eyes. Intraoperative suction loss and a subsequent IOL dislocation were reported in 1 (10%) eye. Early preoperative complications included pigment dispersion in 1 (10%) eye, grade 2 anterior chamber cellular reaction in 2 (20%) eyes and intraoperative corneal oedema in 1 (10%) eye which resolved with medical line of management. Intermediate and late complications included macular oedema in one patient (10%) which resolved considerably with medical line of management. No incidence of postoperative vitreous or retinal haemorrhage, retinal break or retinal detachment was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The early results demonstrate this surgical intervention as a reliable, reproducible and an effective alternative treatment option for levitation of dislocated IOLs with a low complication rate.

Clinical outcomes of intraocular lens scaffold surgery: a one-year study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and 1-year outcome of the intraocular lens (IOL) scaffold technique in eyes with soft to moderate nuclear remnants after intraoperative posterior capsule rupture (PCR). DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective, interventional, noncomparative, consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 20 eyes of 20 patients who had intraoperative PCR underwent IOL scaffold surgery in a tertiary clinic. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records of a consecutive series of patients who underwent IOL scaffold surgery from August 2011 to February 2013 was reviewed. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon, and a 3-piece, 6.0-mm optic, acrylic, foldable IOL with a modified C-loop haptic configuration was implanted in all eyes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The preoperative and postoperative parameters evaluated were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), specular microscopy, gonioscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, central macular thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), and anterior and posterior segment inflammation. The final visual outcome at 1 year was evaluated. RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, the mean postoperative UDVA and CDVA in Snellen's decimal equivalent was 0.58 ± 0.15 and 0.90 ± 0.17, respectively. The IOL was placed in the sulcus for 14 eyes and in the capsular bag for 3 eyes, and glued intrascleral fixation of IOL was performed in 3 eyes. The mean postoperative refractive error at the final examination was -0.4 ± 0.05 diopter (standard error of mean). Postoperative CDVA of 20/20 and 20/30 was achieved in 75% (15 eyes) and 25% (5 eyes), respectively. There was no correlation between preoperative specular count and percentage loss of cells (P = 0.602; r(2)=0.015). The mean central macular thickness at 1 year was 182.5 ± 11.79 µm. Clinical macular edema was observed in 1 of 20 eyes (5%). CONCLUSIONS: The IOL scaffold provided an effective, relatively noninvasive means of emulsifying moderate to soft nuclear remnants in eyes with intraoperative PCR, with a good visual outcome and a favorable complication rate.

Rotational lamellar scleral flap for the management of posttrabeculectomy bleb leak.

We describe a technique of rotational lamellar scleral flap for surgical repair in cases of posttrabeculectomy aqueous leak in patients with button holing or necrosis of the trabeculectomy flap. A rotational scleral flap is marked out from the sclera adjacent to the trabeculectomy site followed by a lamellar dissection to fashion the flap. Relaxing cuts are made at the base of the flap so as to ensure that the rotation flap adequately covers the site of aqueous leak. This flap is then secured to the underlying sclera and the cornea at the limbus.

Glued intraocular lens implantation for eyes with defective capsules: A retrospective analysis of anatomical and functional outcome.

PURPOSE: To analyze the anatomical and functional outcome of glued intra ocular lens (IOL) implantation technique and its modifications. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the patients who underwent glued intra ocular lens implantation from December 2007 to August 2010. Post operative uncorrected vision, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intra ocular pressure, IOL position, endothelial cells and anterior chamber reaction at their last follow up are analyzed from their concerned case sheets documentation. Subjective changes are analyzed via individual questionnaire. Immediate and late postoperative complications are also evaluated. Surgical modifications and the difference in the operated eyes are analyzed. RESULTS: Total 210 glued IOL eyes have been reviewed. Out of this 210, there are 152 (PMMA glued IOL), 21 (three piece foldable IOL), 5 (multifocal foldable IOL), 12 (pediatric glued IOL), 5 (20G sutureless vitrectomy), 2 (glued iris prosthesis) and 3 (transposition of posterior chamber IOL into anterior chamber). In combined surgeries there are, 5 (optical penetrating keratoplasty), 2 (descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty) and 3 (iridoplasty). The modifications in glued IOL are handshake technique, injectable or foldable glued IOL, Multifocal glued IOL and intraoperative 23/25G trocar cannula infusion. Decentration (1.97%), macular edema (1.97%) and optic capture (2.63%) are the post operative complications encountered in rigid glued IOL. Good patient satisfaction is seen in the eyes with IOL repositioning, IOL exchange and multifocal glued IOL. There is significant improvement in BCVA in PMMA IOL (p = 1.35 × 10(-5)) and foldable IOL (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Glued IOL seems to be a good alternative in IOL implantation in eyes with deficient capsules. The modifications in the existing technique decrease the learning time and risk for complications.