The role of membrane-inner retina adherence in predicting simultaneous internal limiting membrane peeling during idiopathic epiretinal membrane surgery.

PurposeTo correlate the frequency and extent of simultaneous inadvertent internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal with characteristics of ERM adherence demonstrated on pre-operative spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).Patients and methodsThis is a prospective, observational, case series of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for idiopathic ERM. Inner retina-ERM adhesion was categorized as focal, broad or complete in five anatomic locations at macular area based on preoperative SD-OCT findings. The extent of spontaneous ILM peeling was quantified on a scale 0-100% in each of the aforementioned anatomic locations by the operating surgeons who were masked to the OCT characteristics. All operations were recorded with a high definition recording system and the area of simultaneous ILM peel was quantified by a second masked observer. The final extent of spontaneous ILM peel was calculated as the average of the two scores.ResultsThirty consecutive subjects who underwent surgery for idiopathic ERM were included in the study. Evidence of simultaneous ILM peeling was identified in 80.3% of individuals. With regards to the type of ERM-macula adhesion, inadvertent ILM peel was observed in 70% of the patients who pre-operatively showed complete adhesion, in 43% with broad adhesion and in only 21% with focal adhesion (P<0.001). The extent of the spontaneous ILM peel during removal of ERM was also significantly dependent on the type of ERM-inner retina adhesion. Total simultaneous ILM peel was observed in 59% of locations with complete ERM-macula adhesion but only in 22% and 7% of locations with broad and focal adhesion respectively (P<0.001).ConclusionsSimultaneous ILM peel is a frequent occurrence during ERM surgery, especially when there is complete or broad ERM adherence to the macula. The type of ERM-inner retina adhesion represents a valid predictor of the extent of simultaneous ILM peel during removal of ERM. Thorough evaluation of preoperative OCT may be a useful tool in determining a safer, more simplistic strategy in ERM surgery.

Long-term results of the management of silicone oil-induced raised intraocular pressure by diode laser cycloablation.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: To analyse the effectiveness and safety of cyclodiode treatment in eyes with silicone oil-related raised intraocular pressure (IOP) and to correlate the results with clinical features of treated eyes. METHODS: Retrospective review of case notes of all eyes that underwent cyclodiode treatment following injection of silicone oil at Moorfields Eye Hospital between April 1993 and January 2003 and were followed up for at least 1 year. RESULTS: In all, 38 patients were followed up for between 13 and 113 months. Totally, 17 had silicone oil in situ at the time of first treatment. The mean pretreatment IOP was 31.4 mmHg (SD 10.9), reducing to 18.6 mmHg (SD 8.6) at 1 year and to 13.9 mmHg (SD 8.4) at the final follow-up visit (P<0.001). Before treatment, 28 (73.7%) patients were on two or more topical medications. This was reduced to 18 (47.4%) patients (P=0.013) at 1 year and 13 (34.2%) patients (P=0.0007) at final follow-up. Use of oral acetazolamide for glaucoma was reduced from 16 (42.1%) patients precyclodiode to five (13.2%) patients at 1 year (P=0.0034) and three (7.9%) patients at the final visit (P=0.001). Four patients (10.5%) at 1 year and five patients (13.2%) at the final visit had hypotony (defined as IOP of less than 5 mmHg). One patient had enucleation 75 months following first cyclodiode treatment. CONCLUSION: Diode laser photocoagulation can successfully control silicone oil-induced raised intraocular pressure where medical treatment fails. Reduction of IOP appears to be maintained long term.

Vitrectomy for phacolytic glaucoma in a patient with homocystinuria.

PURPOSE: To determine the successful treatment of unilateral phacolytic glaucoma by vitrectomy and trabeculectomy in a patient with homocystinuria whose lens had dislocated into the vitreous at least 15 years earlier. METHODS: In a 32-year-old woman with homocystinuria, bilateral dislocation of the lens into the vitreous, and phacolytic glaucoma in her left eye a three-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The lens was removed and a trabeculectomy fashioned. Special precautions for general anesthesia included preoperative aspirin and compression stockings for thromboembolic prophylaxis and intraoperative dextrose infusion, 5%, to maintain intravascular volume and prevent hypoglycemia. RESULTS: The intraocular pressure and uveitis resolved postoperatively with improvement in the visual acuity and intraocular pressure, which returned to normal without further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Phacolytic glaucoma is best resolved by removal of the exciting lens material. Pars plana vitrectomy with the patient under general anesthesia can be carried out safely despite the risks traditionally associated with homocystinuria.

Necrotising fasciitis as a complication of botulinum toxin injection.

PURPOSE: To highlight the need for early diagnosis and treatment of the rare condition of necrotising fasciitis as a complication of botulinum toxin injection, and to illustrate that injections in immunocompromised patients carry a rare but serious risk. RESULTS AND METHODS: A case report is presented of an 80-year-old woman suffering from blepharospasm and chronic myeloid leukaemia, who developed necrotising fasciitis 3 days after a botulinum toxin injection. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic debilitating processes such as diabetes, alcoholism and polymyositis have been suggested as predisposing factors in the development of necrotising fasciitis. We believe this is the first reported case of necrotising fasciitis occurring secondary to a botulinum toxin injection. The fact that this infection extended through the fascial planes and led to the death of muscle was, probably, because an inoculum was introduced directly into the muscle at the time of botulinum toxin treatment. This may have led to its deep spread and difficulty in debriding the area. Chronic myeloid leukaemia does not in itself cause significant immunosuppression, but our patient was on anti-proliferative treatment and had a low leucocyte count, which may have been a predisposing factor in this case.