ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the long-term natural history of idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasia (IJRT). METHODS: Record review in 2 university-based and 2 private vitreoretinal practices sought patients with IJRT documented by color photographs and fluorescein angiograms (FAs) during the period January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1993. Patients then had repeated examinations and FAs. RESULTS: Twenty patients with IJRT in 32 eyes had follow-up examinations. Fifteen patients had color photographs and FAs, and one had color photographs alone. Follow-up varied from 10 years to 21 years (average, 15 years). Six eyes were treated by laser photocoagulation at onset. Twenty-four of the 26 untreated eyes lost vision as measured by Snellen testing. Visual loss and morphologic progression depended on IJRT type. Six of 8 untreated eyes with type IA IJRT lost vision by >/ or = 3 lines (Snellen), 4 to 20/70 or worse. Vision loss was caused by progressive telangiectatic changes and intraretinal edema. Fifteen of 20 initially untreated eyes with type IIA IJRT developed either central retinal pigment epithelium membranes or subretinal neovascularization with loss of vision to 20/80 or less. CONCLUSION: IJRT prognosis depends on type and clinical features. Long-term prognosis for central vision is poor.
Subject(s)
Retinal Diseases/physiopathology , Retinal Vessels/pathology , Telangiectasis/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Fluorescein Angiography , Follow-Up Studies , Fovea Centralis , Humans , Laser Coagulation , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Retinal Diseases/diagnosis , Retinal Diseases/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Telangiectasis/diagnosis , Telangiectasis/surgery , Vision Disorders/diagnosis , Vision Disorders/physiopathology , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To develop an animal model for evaluation of femtosecond laser intrastromal refractive surgery. METHODS: Intrastromal photodisruption was performed in New Zealand Albino rabbits using a femtosecond laser system. This surgical pattern consisted of a 100 microm-tick pyramid of laser pulses starting 180 microm below the corneal surface. Animals underwent serial slit lamp examinations and corneal thickness measurements at 1,3,7,14, and 28 days, then monthly up to 1 year. RESULTS: Approximately 70 microm of central corneal thinning were seen at 1 week, remaining stable up to 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Intrastromal photodisruption with femtosecond lasers produced consistent changes in corneal thickness without loss of corneal transparency. These changes were more stable than those produced with excimer laser procedures in a similar animal model.
