ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the structure of vitreous body in asteroid hyalosis by low vacuum scanning electron microscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material of the study was samples of the vitreous body obtained from 7 patients aged from 62 to 72 years with vitreomacular traction syndrome during vitrectomy. In all cases, clinical manifestations of asteroid hyalosis (the presence of multiple point-like echo-positive inclusions) were identified during the preoperative examination. Samples for scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalysis were prepared without using fixation elements, total dehydration, staining or centrifugation, and according to the so-called principle of bougienage, which consists in partial separation of fractions of the gel-like tissue with a stream of saline. RESULTS: The conducted examinations made it possible to identify various types of local accumulations of mineral elements in the vitreous body in asteroid hyalosis - called asteroid bodies - that is, multiple complex rounded formations consisting of needle-shaped crystals of a radial fibrous structure. CONCLUSION: The developed algorithm, which includes intraoperative sampling of the vitreous body in conditions of its minimal hydration and a special technique for preparing samples for scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalysis, provides the capability for the in vivo assessment of morphological changes in hyaloid elements of the vitreous body. With that, asteroid bodies can be considered as markers of the vitreous structures that are difficult to visualize.
Subject(s)
Eye Diseases , Retinal Diseases , Eye Diseases/diagnosis , Eye Diseases/surgery , Humans , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Vision Disorders , Vitrectomy , Vitreous BodyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyze intravital structure of the vitreous body in asteroid hyalosis using digital ultrasound imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 64 patients (128 eyes) aged 62 to 73 years with opacities in the vitreous body characterized as asteroid hyalosis. RESULTS: The macrostructure of the vitreous body was evaluated based on the results of digital ultrasound imaging. The analysis covered various types of ultrasound images of the inner projection of the eye and the vitreous cavity. The study demonstrates the possibility of in vivo evaluation of the integrity of vitreous tracts, and the vitreous body as a whole. CONCLUSION: Ocular ultrasound images of patients with asteroid hyalosis acquired in vivo were used to evaluate the macrostructure of the vitreous body and determine the features of spatial defects.
Subject(s)
Eye Diseases , Vitreous Body , Aged , Humans , Middle Aged , Ultrasonography , Vision DisordersABSTRACT
The article analyzes existing information on clinical and experimental studies of vitreous changes in asteroid hyalosis, historical aspects of how this condition was studied over the past hundred years, its occurrence and pathogenesis. Results of various studies were used to evaluate current understanding of the forms and elemental composition of phospholipid mineral sedimentation on vitreous structures and methods of its examination. The problem of intravital assessment of the condition of vitreous body was analyzed, and a method was suggested for studying the macrostructure of hyaloid tracts and the state of the vitreous body by means of digital ultrasound in patients with asteroid hyalosis.
Subject(s)
Eye Diseases , Humans , Ultrasonography , Vitreous BodyABSTRACT
The article presents a clinical case of Fabry's disease accompanied by changes in the eye and gives detailed description of standard ophthalmological examination and results of some modern methods of assessing macro- and micro-structure of certain ocular tissues. Fabry's disease (also known as Anderson-Fabry disease, diffuse angiokeratoma of the body, hereditary dystonic lipidosis) is a progressive hereditary multi-systemic disease; more specifically, it is a progressive congenital defect in the metabolism of tissues of the human body. It is included in the list of orphan diseases. One of its local manifestations is development of dystrophic changes in the structure of the cornea with tendency to progress. Early diagnosis of Fabry's disease is crucial, but its extensive and 'mixed' symptoms often mask the true causes of pathological changes, which leads to late diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Fabry Disease , Cornea , HumansABSTRACT
Changes in ocular anatomy and topography that occur due to congenital development anomalies are often of complex, composite nature. Such pathologies are accompanied by not only refractive errors, but also changes in eye's macrostructure. Careful analysis of the changes is necessary to better understand the clinical picture. PURPOSE: To study the specifics of structural and morphological changes of the eye in certain ocular congenital pathologies and in some orphan diseases using the results of three-dimensional ultrasound analysis and digital acoustic imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients (119 eyes) with congenital ocular changes, some of which are registered as independent orphan diseases, as well as with systemic manifestations including congenital changes in eye membranes, lens and the vitreous body. The examination involved three-dimensional scanning followed by digital processing of the imaging data obtained using general medical ultrasound systems Voluson 730 Pro Kretz and Voluson E8. RESULTS: Digital ultrasound technologies significantly expand the scope of data on eye morphology in various congenital changes obtainable in vivo. CONCLUSION: The advantage of this investigation method is the possibility to reliably detect congenital spatially complex morphological deformations in the eye tissues, which in some cases are impossible to observe with other methods.
