Short-term choroidal vascular changes after aflibercept therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate choroidal vascular changes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with aflibercept injection over a 3-month period. METHODS: Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography scans of 60 eyes with treatment-naïve nAMD and 60 unaffected fellow eyes were retrospectively analyzed. Data was collected at baseline and after 3 monthly intravitreal injections of aflibercept. The ImageJ software was used to binarize OCT scans and measure total choroid area (TCA), luminal area (LA), and stromal area (SA). Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was defined as the ratio of LA to TCA. RESULTS: After treatment, subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) in nAMD eyes significantly decreased from 210. 6 ± 61.6 to 194.6 ± 58.7 µm (P < 0.001), TCA from 1.620 ± 0.502 to 1.500 ± 0.451 mm2 (P < 0.001), LA from 1.075 ± 0.335 to 0.985 ± 0.307 mm2 (P < 0.001), SA from 0.545 ± 0.176 to 0.516 ± 0.153 mm2 (P = 0.005), and CVI from 66.36 ± 2.89 to 65.46 ± 2.87% (P = 0.009). The decrease of CVI after treatment was significantly correlated with baseline CVI (Rs = 0.466, P < 0.001), but not with the change in BCVA and presence of dry macula after treatment (always P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Choroidal thickness and vascularity significantly decreased after treatment with aflibercept in nAMD eyes. Besides the pharmacologic effect on the neovascular lesion, aflibercept may induce vascular changes also on the underlying choroid.

Ocular Surface Workup in Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Treated with Intense Regulated Pulsed Light.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate changes of signs and symptoms in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) treated with intense regulated pulsed light (IRPL), and to further investigate which parameter could predict positive outcomes of the procedure. Twenty-eight patients who bilaterally received three IRPL sessions at day 1, 15, and 45 satisfied the criteria and were included in the study. Non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), meibography, tear osmolarity, and ocular discomfort symptoms were measured before and 30 days after the last IRPL session. Qualified or complete success was defined in the presence of an improvement of symptoms associated with an increase of NIBUT (< or ≥ 20%). After IRPL treatment, median NIBUT and LLT increased from 7.5 to 10.2 s and 2.0 to 3.0, respectively (p <0.001); tear osmolarity decreased from 304.0 to 301.0 mOsm/L (p = 0.002). Subjective symptoms improved after IRPL in 26 patients. Qualified success was reached in 34 eyes, while complete success in 16 eyes. Patients with lower baseline break-up time (BUT) values showed better response to treatment (p = 0.04). In conclusion, IRPL improved signs and symptoms in MGD patients, while lower baseline NIBUT values were predictive of better response to IRPL.

A Review of Microinvasive Combined Phaco-Vitrectomy: Recent Technical Advances.

Combined cataract and vitreoretinal surgery results in better compliance in patients with posterior segment pathology and should be the preferred approach to reduce the high rate of cataract development after vitreoretinal surgery and to improve earlier visual acuity. Technological advances in both anterior and posterior segment surgery are leading to the development of instruments with a smaller diameter and more efficient tools, resulting in a minimizing of the tissue trauma related to the surgery, acceleration of functional recovery and increasing patient comfort. In this review we report on recent advances that allow this miniaturization process while maintaining the efficacy and safety of microinvasive combined surgical procedures, with a focus on pumps, illumination, phaco tip and the vitrectomy probe.

An unusual and spontaneous resolution of a total rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Spontaneous reattachment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is a rare event that involves the relief of vitreoretinal traction, closure of the retinal breaks, and reabsorption of subretinal fluid. Diffuse retinal pigmentary alterations within a sharply demarcated and convex margin are the most common findings within the areas corresponding to the reattached retina in all the cases described in the literature. The authors report the case of a 60-year-old man who experienced spontaneous reattachment of a total rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with gradual recovery of visual function and a completely restored retina. This is the first case reported that does not exhibit the ophthalmoscopic findings commonly described in the literature.

Vitrectomy for myopic traction maculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of vitrectomy in highly myopic eyes affected by a form of posterior vitreous traction termed myopic traction maculopathy (MTM). METHODS: In this retrospective case series, 24 highly myopic eyes with MTM underwent vitrectomy and release of vitreoretinal traction without final fluid/gas exchange. Nine eyes (37.5%) received a combined phacovitrectomy. Mean patient age was 58 years, mean refractive error was -16.8 dioptric spherical equivalent, and preoperative visual acuity ranged from 20/400 to 20/32 (mean, 20/80). Mean follow-up was 29.6 months. RESULTS: Twenty-three (95.8%) of 24 eyes had complete and stable resolution of MTM after a mean of 4.4 months. Mean visual improvement was 2.5 Snellen lines (range, 0 to 6 lines). Five eyes (20.8%), despite achieving complete retinal flattening, developed a macular hole that did not progress to macular detachment during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy without fluid/gas exchange leads to stable resolution of MTM and good visual improvement. Posterior retinal detachment probably precedes macular hole formation in highly myopic eyes.

Optical coherence tomography findings in myopic traction maculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the features and incidence of epiretinal traction and related retinal damage in degenerative myopia. DESIGN: Consecutive observational case series. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records and optical coherence tomography findings of 218 eyes with high myopia of 121 consecutive patients to detect the incidence and features of epiretinal traction-related macular damage. The degree of myopia ranged from -8 to -26 spherical equivalent (mean +/- SD, -16.93 +/- 5.74). Mean +/- SD axial length was 29.75 +/- 2.12 mm. Excluding eyes with possibly confounding features, 125 eyes were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Detection of epiretinal traction and related macular damage. RESULTS: Epiretinal traction was found in 58 (46.4%) of 125 eyes and retinal damage, in 43 eyes (34.4%). Macular retinoschisis was the most frequent form of macular damage (25 eyes [58%]), followed by retinal thickening, lamellar hole, and shallow retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Epiretinal traction is a frequent finding in degenerative myopia and, particularly if associated with the presence of staphyloma, can generate a form of macular damage unique to eyes with high myopia. This damage can affect up to one third of these eyes and should be considered as a separate cause of visual loss easily detected by optical coherence tomography at its early stages.

Role of OCT in the diagnosis and follow up of diabetic macular edema.

The aim is to present, along with a brief literature review, the results of OCT scan in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME), as well as examples of the utility of OCT for different therapeutic approaches. One-hundred and thirty-six eyes with diabetic retinopathy were analyzed with OCT to explore the different patterns of DME. Some eyes with DME were studied with OCT pre and postoperatively to determine the efficacy of photocoagulation and vitrectomy to restore a normal macular profile. Sixty-eight eyes with a central foveal thickness of 200 mu or more were considered "edematous". Three different patterns of DME were recognized and analyzed: macular thickening, cystoid macular edema and shallow retinal detachment. The change in macular profile and internal retinal structure after laser or surgical treatment are well visible with OCT. OCT contributes in understanding the anatomy of DME and the intraretinal damage and seems to be the technique of choice for the follow-up of macular edema. We think that this tool should always be used in monitoring the effect of therapies in future studies.

OCT in the monitoring of visual recovery after uneventful retinal detachment surgery.

The aim is to describe 5 cases of unexplained visual impairment after uneventful episcleral surgery associated with submacular lesions occurring post-operatively (bleb-like syndrome). The 5 cases were followed with biomicroscopy and OCT for up to 6 months. At biomicroscopy the 5 eyes presented no visible abnormalities or a yellow subfoveal dot. OCT demonstrated the presence of isolated or multiple subfoveal or submacular blebs. Some cases experienced partial or total slow spontaneous resolution, while other blebs remained stable for months or slightly enlarged. In conclusion, OCT can play an important role in the follow up of patients with unexplained visual impairment after episcleral surgery and diagnose the presence of small subfoveal shallow retinal detachments persistent for months after surgery. We think that OCT should be routinely considered in the follow-up of these patients.

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