[Intravitreal injections: Guidelines, methods and medicolegal issues]. / Injections intravitréennes : principes, techniques et aspects médicolégaux.

Intravitreal injection (IVI) of a drug allows for immediate intraocular concentrations of active ingredients higher than those obtained by intravenous injection while reducing the risk of systemic side effects. Today, IVI's play a central role in the treatment of many vitreoretinal diseases. With the aging of the population and the advent of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists, their indications have increased exponentially, creating structural, organizational and economic difficulties. IVI is now one of the most widely performed medical procedures in industrialized countries, and its indications are expected to expand further in the near future with the development of new molecules. Although the overall safety of this practice is proven, an IVI exposes the patient to a 0.05 % risk of endophthalmitis, the consequences of which are often dramatic. This article details the current recommendations, in particular regarding asepsis and antisepsis, and proposes a typical sequence for performing an IVI.

[Risk factors for failure of pre-cut eye bank UT-DSAEK grafts]. / Évaluation des greffes UT-DSAEK prédécoupées en banque multi-tissus.

INTRODUCTION: The main risk factors for graft failure in penetrating keratoplasty are well known. However, few studies have examined donor characteristics or more precise data on endothelial keratoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study at the Nantes University Hospital, aiming to identify factors predictive of one-year success or failure of eye bank UT-DSAEK endothelial keratoplasty grafts prepared between May 2016 and October 2018. The outcome measure was success or failure at 12months post keratoplasty. RESULTS: One hundred and five grafts were included: 93 successes and 12 failures at 12months. The failure rate was higher in 2016 compared to 2017 and 2018. The characteristics associated with higher failure rate were elderly donor, shorter time between harvesting and grafting, lower endothelial cell density, significant pre-graft endothelial cell loss, re-graft for Fuchs dystrophy, history of corneal transplant. DISCUSSION: Our results are consistent with those in the literature. However, some factors, such as the type of corneal harvesting or pre-graft endothelial cell loss, were not found. UT-DSAEK has demonstrated better results than DSAEK, but still appears to be somewhat inferior to DMEK. CONCLUSION: The main factor for graft failure in our study was an early re-graft within 12months. However, the low incidence of graft failure limits interpretation of these results.

[XEN 45® gel stent implantation in glaucoma surgery: Dual-center comparative study between steroid-induced glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma]. / Implantation du dispositif XEN 45® dans la chirurgie du glaucome : étude bicentrique bispective s'intéressant au glaucome cortisonique par rapport au glaucome primitif à angle ouvert.

INTRODUCTION: XEN 45® gel stent is an ab interno aqueous humor drainage device indicated for moderate glaucoma refractory to medical management. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). However, there are few studies on secondary glaucoma, including steroid-induced glaucoma (CG), defined as optic neuropathy induced by using local or systemic corticosteroids without increased flare. METHODS: We conducted a dual-center comparative cohort study between April 2019 and January 2021. 66 operated eyes were included, divided into two groups: POAG (56 eyes) and GC (10 eyes). The primary endpoint was the relative reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) at three months postoperatively in the GC group. Three outcomes were defined: total success, partial success and failure. RESULTS: The total success rate was 100% in the GC group and 42.6% in the POAG group. Preoperative IOP was 36.1±9.1mmHg and 19.0±7.3mmHg respectively. IOP reduction was 69.1±11.7% in the GC group and 21.8±30.3% in the POAG group. Patients were younger in the GC group (49.3±21.2 versus 71.1±8.4 years), and preoperative conjunctival preparation was longer in this group (12 versus 5 weeks). The needling rate was 17.9% in the POAG group and 10% in the GC group. CONCLUSION: The XEN 45® gel stent is effective in the treatment of steroid-induced glaucoma. Further studies will be required to identify predictive factors for success and to establish criteria for good candidacy.

[Impact of prematurity on the optic nerve]. / Impact de la prématurité sur l'aspect morphologique et tomographique du nerf optique.

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to the progress made in the past few years in pediatric intensive care as well as the increased survival of preterm infants, the consequences of premature birth are increasingly well documented. With regard to ophthalmologic complications, retinopathy of prematurity is well described, but the optic nerve may also be affected. The goal of this study is to compare the optic nerves of preterm infants as a function of their gestational period with a control group of the same age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study pairing a full-term infant with each preterm infant. Inclusion criteria were: any child from 5- to 10-years-old, separated into three sub-groups according to their degree of prematurity. Variables were: cup/disc ratio, ocular biometry, intraocular pressure and RNFL thickness. RESULTS: Thirty-seven preterm infants and 37 controls were included in the study. The mean age at the time of inclusion was 7.05 years for the preterm group and 7.19 years for the control group. No significant difference was observed in axial length or spherical equivalent (P=0.31 and P=0.98, respectively). No significant difference was observed in pachymetry or intraocular pressure (P=0.28 and P=0.22, respectively). We observed a significant increase of 0.1 in the cup/disc ratio of the preterm group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The preterm group cup/disc ratio was 0.36 versus 0.27 for the control group. No significant difference was observed in the 7 quadrants of RNFL between the two groups. However, when comparing infants born before 28 weeks gestation with the control group, we observed a mean decrease of 14.5 microns in the superior temporal sector (P=0.04), a 9 micron decrease in the global thickness G (P=0.03) and a 12.7 micron decrease in the nasal sector (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the case of the studied children (aged 5 to 10), the reduced RNFL fiber thickness is a phenomenon dependent essentially on the stage of prematurity. It would be useful to follow these preterm populations over the long term and to compare them to a matched control group to be able to obtain functional results.

[UT-DSAEK using grafts provided by a tissue bank, a one-year follow-up study of 79 grafts]. / UT-DSAEK avec greffons préparés en banque, suivi de 79 greffes sur un an.

INTRODUCTION: UT-DSAEK is a recent technique developed in order to obtain grafts thinner than a conventional DSAEK (less than 100 microns). The goal of this study was to evaluate the anatomic and clinical results over a period of one year for a retrospective series of UT-DSAEK procedures at the University Hospital of Nantes, using pre-cut grafts provided by a tissue bank, and to compare results with other existing techniques: DSAEK and DMEK. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center study, all patients requiring an endothelial graft over a one-year period were included. The criteria studied were visual acuity, graft thickness, pachymetry and specular microscopy, recorded on the preoperative visit, D7, M1, M3, M6 and M12. RESULTS: Seventy-nine grafts were performed on 75 patients. The mean age was 72 years. Between the 7th day and the end of the first year, the graft thickness in the visual axis decreased from 75±29 to 60±21 microns rapidly over the first three months. The pachymetry decreased from 706±95 microns preoperatively to 561±54 microns with the same kinetics. The cell density of the graft decreased from 2604±13 cell/mm2 prior to the procedure to 1551±124 cell/mm2 (40% loss) at one year. The preoperative visual acuity was 1.16 logMAR, rapidly improving to 0.65 logMAR at the first month and 0.40 logMAR at one year. CONCLUSION: This study provides a fair amount of data on the progression of UT-DSAEK grafts: a decrease in graft thickness over the first three months, corresponding to an increase in visual acuity over this same period, with a good endothelial survival rate. This technique opens new avenues for the treatment of endothelial diseases, being complementary to DMEK in terms of surgical indications.

[Saturday night retinopathy: A French case of post-compressive CRAO]. / Saturday night retinopathy : un cas français d'OACR post-compressive.

We report herein the first French case of Saturday Night Retinopathy. A 39-year-old man presented to the emergency room with unilateral vision loss in the left eye with redness but no pain. Visual acuity OS was "light perception" and OD 20/20. The left eye was hyperemic with a fixed, dilated pupil; fundus examination revealed a macular cherry-red spot within a pale, ischemic retina. The patient was admitted to a stroke centre. The neurological work-up and head CT were normal. He also underwent evaluation for possible carotid or cardiac etiologies, all of which were negative. Current smoking was the only cardiovascular risk factor found. The patient reportedly fell asleep face down at his kitchen table after consuming a large amount of alcohol, with his left eye pressed into his arm throughout the night. Six similar cases have been reported in the literature since 1973. The prognosis for vision is dismal. Only public awareness and prevention might avoid this serious functional disability.

[Validation of the French version of the health-related quality of life questionnaire for adult strabismus (AS-20)]. / Validation de la version française d'un questionnaire de qualité de vie de l'adulte strabique (AS-20).

INTRODUCTION: A growing number of articles have shown the negative impact of strabismus on self image, relationships with others and professional life. The AS-20 is a standardized questionnaire in English measuring the psychosocial impact of strabismus in adults. The goal of this study is to validate the AS-20 in the French language. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred and ninety one patients took part in the study: 131 had strabismus (group 1), 128 other ocular diseases (group 2) and 132 "normal" patients (group 3). RESULTS: The AS-20 scale showed good psychometrical properties in 2 or 4 dimensions: internal consistency was very good (Cronbach's alpha coefficient>0.9 in all dimensions and overall) and the reproducibility was satisfactory (intra class coefficient>0.7). The comparison of the scores in the 2 dimension scale showed significant differences between the groups (P<0.001): lower score in strabismus (63.9±18.3) than in other ocular diseases (73.5±17.8) and normal group (89.4±12.0) (divergent validity). The 4 dimension psychometric analysis was performed by removing 2 items and grouping the 18 others in 4 groups. It confirmed the divergent and convergent validity, internal consistency and reproducibility of the scale. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis were better with the 4 dimension scale than the 2 dimension scale (adjustment coefficients>0.9). CONCLUSION: We now have access to a health related questionnaire in French to quantify the impact of strabismus on quality of life and measure the results of treatment.

[Treatment of macular edema: Comparison of efficacy and tolerability of subconjunctival triamcinolone injections, sub-tenon's triamcinolone injections and intravitreal dexamethasone implant]. / Traitement des œdèmes maculaires : comparaison de l'efficacité et de la tolérance des injections sous-conjonctivales de triamcinolone, des injections sous-ténoniennes de triamcinolone et des injections intra-vitréennes de l'implant de dexaméthasone.

The area of uveitis is related to numerous pathological entities. One of the main causes of decreased visual acuity in these patients is macular edema. One aspect of the treatment includes cortosteroids used peri- and intra-ocularly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The goal of our work was to estimate the criteria of efficacy (on improvement in visual acuity and macular edema, as well as time to recurrence) and safety (on intraocular pressure and cataract) of these various routes of administration of corticosteroid after a single injection. We compared patients treated with Ozurdex® versus subconjonctival triamcinolone versus sub-tenon's triamcinolone. This is a retrospective study conducted in 2 tertiary centers, the university medical center of Nantes and La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital from November, 2011 to November, 2013. RESULTS: At presentation, 25 % of the patients displayed VA better than 5/10. During follow-up, this proportion increased to 45 % at M1, 50 % at M3, 49 % at M6 and 48 % at the end of follow-up. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to VA gain. The reductions in mean CMT compared with D0 were all statistically significant (improvement of one line in log-OCT). We observed an improvement in macular thickness of 88 % at M1, 86 % at M3, 61 % at M6 and 60 % at the end of follow-up, significant at each time, with no significant difference between the three groups. A comparison of time to anatomic vs. functional recurrence was performed, showing no difference. The largest increase in IOP was observed at M1, statistically different from the other time points. DISCUSSION: Intra- and periocular injections should be considered as an adjuvant therapy, since the majority of the conditions in question require systemic treatment. They allow for increased intravitreal concentrations with fewer systemic effects. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated neither any true superiority of any of the 3 treatments nor any difference in tolerability between the 3 groups.

[Safety and efficacy of subconjunctival triamcinolone injections in the management of uveitic macular edema: retrospective study of thirty-one cases]. / Efficacité et tolérance des injections sous-conjonctivales de triamcinolone dans la prise en charge des œdèmes maculaires uvéitiques : étude rétrospective sur trente et un cas.

Triamcinolone acetonide (Kenacort) is a corticosteroid that can be administrated by subconjunctival injection, with an extended release for up to three months. Our retrospective study aims to analyze safety and efficacy of subconjunctival triamcinolone injections in the treatment of uveitic macular edema. We included 31 eyes of 30 patients, who had one or several injections. We studied the progression of visual acuity, central macular thickness by optical coherence tomography (OCT), intraocular pressure, and presence or absence of cataract, on the day of injection (T0), and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after injection. Twenty-one patients had only one injection; 10 patients had 2. The 12-month follow-up showed an improvement in visual acuity with an initial mean of 0.36 ± 0.27 logMAR to 0.23 ± 0.33 logMAR at 3 months of follow-up (P<0.0004), and to 0.24 ± 0.21 logMAR at 12 months (P=0.0371), for a two-line improvement. A decrease in mean central macular thickness was measured by OCT, from a mean of 444 ± 112 µm (0.24 ± 0.11 logSD-OCT) at T0 to 355 ± 103 µm (0.14 $ ± 0.10 logSD-OCT) at 3 months (P=0.0002). We did not find a significant increase in intraocular pressure, and we diagnosed one cataract during follow-up but this occurred in the uninjected eye as well. Subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone acetonide is a safe and effective treatment of macular edema related to uveitis. Initial clinical monitoring is necessary to detect iatrogenic events.

[Trabeculotomy as first-line surgical treatment in pediatric glaucoma: surgical and visual outcomes from a 7-year retrospective study]. / Trabéculotomie de première intention dans le glaucome de l'enfant: devenir chirurgical et visuel sur une étude rétrospective de 7 ans.

INTRODUCTION: Intraocular pressure and visual outcomes in primary pediatric glaucoma treated with trabeculotomy. MATERIALS ET METHODS: All children undergoing trabeculotomy as first-line surgical treatment between January 2002 and January 2012 were included in a retrospective monocentric study. We report initial clinical features, surgical complications, ophthalmological outcome and clinical progression. RESULTS: Twenty-nine eyes of 16 children met the inclusion criteria and were treated with trabeculotomy as first-line treatment (mean age: 6 months). Median follow-up was 7 years. No major perioperative complications occurred, but minor complications were observed in 11 eyes. Mean pre-operative and initial post-operative intraocular pressures were 25.4 and 9.1mmHg respectively, thus a decrease of 16.3 points (63%). Overall surgical success rate was 89% at first follow-up, 72% at one year and 64% on last follow-up. A mean intraocular pressure of 15mmHg on no medications was achieved for two-thirds of eyes. After 7 years of follow-up, over 50% of eyes did not require a 2nd surgery. Visual acuity was at least 20/30 for 62% of eyes (83% for eyes requiring only trabeculotomy). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Trabeculotomy as first-line treatment of primary juvenile glaucoma is a safe and effective surgery in about two-thirds of cases. It allows pressure control and satisfactory visual outcome in the majority of children.

Heterologous expression of Arabidopsis NPR1 (AtNPR1) enhances oxidative stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants.

In Arabidopsis, NPR1 (non-expressor of pathogenesis related genes 1, AtNPR1) functions downstream of salicylic acid (SA) and modulates the SA mediated systemic acquired resistance. It is also involved in a cross talk with the jasmonate pathway that is essential for resistance against herbivores and necrotrophic pathogens. Overexpression of AtNPR1 in transgenic plants resulted in enhanced disease resistance. Recently, tobacco transgenic plants expressing AtNPR1 were shown to be tolerant to the early instars of Spodoptera litura (Meur et al., Physiol Plant 133:765-775, 2008). In this communication, we show that the heterologous expression of AtNPR1 in tobacco has also enhanced the oxidative stress tolerance. The transgenic plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to the treatment with methyl viologen. This tolerance was associated with the constitutive upregulation of PR1, PR2 (glucanase), PR5 (thaumatin like protein), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is the first demonstration of the novel function of heterologous expression of AtNPR1 in oxidative stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco.