Ultrastructural analyses of internal limiting membrane excised from highly myopic eyes with myopic traction maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrastructure of the internal limiting membranes (ILMs) excised during vitrectomy from highly myopic eyes with myopic traction maculopathy (MTM). The clinical findings before and after the vitrectomy were compared. METHODS: Seven eyes of 7 patients with macular retinoschisis were studied. Four of these eyes also had a foveal detachment but without a retinal break. All the eyes underwent vitrectomy with the creation of a posterior vitreous detachment and ILM peeling. The excised ILMs were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: The retinas were reattached in all eyes after the vitrectomy. No retinal breaks including macular holes were identified intraoperatively. Transmission electron microscopy showed glial cells in 4 eyes, retinal pigment epithelium-like cells in 4 eyes, and myofibroblast-like cells in 4 eyes on the excised ILMs. A newly produced basement membrane appeared to merge with the ILM in 5 eyes. Thick collagen was seen in 2 eyes, and fibrous long-spacing collagen in the newly synthesized collagen fibers was seen in 3 eyes. The cellular components of the glial cells appeared to have migrated through the thinner parts of the retina or through a defect of the ILM in 2 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Cells that migrate onto the surface of the ILM synthesize new collagen, which can create tangential traction. This may explain the success of vitrectomy with ILM peeling in treating MTM in highly myopic eyes.

Vitrectomy and scleral imbrication in patients with myopic traction maculopathy and macular hole retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To determine the outcomes of vitrectomy with scleral imbrication in highly myopic eyes with either myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) or macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD). METHODS: The medical records of 17 patients who had undergone vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and scleral imbrication for MTM or MHRD were reviewed. The best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs), the axial length, the macular hole (MH) closure rate, and the shape of the posterior segment determined by optical coherence tomography were evaluated. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D-MRI) was also performed on five eyes. RESULTS: The postoperative BCVA improved significantly from 0.76 ± 0.39 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units to 0.53 ± 0.35 logMAR units (P = 0.0004). The axial length decreased from 29.42 ± 1.81 mm to 27.97 ± 1.71 mm at 1 month. The MTM was resolved or decreased in all eyes. The MH was closed in 44 % of the MHRD eyes, and the retina was reattached in all of the MHRD eyes. The horizontal distance between the optic disc and the bottom of the posterior staphyloma was significantly decreased at 1 month (P = 0.012) but not at later times. The 3D-MRI images showed a reduction in the distance between the bottom of the posterior staphyloma and the center of the eye (P = 0.029) and a flattening of the posterior staphyloma (P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy with ILM peeling and scleral imbrication may be helpful in treating MTM and MHRD by reducing the degree of curvature of the posterior staphyloma.

[Clinical Characteristics of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Highly Myopic and Phakic Eyes].

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in high myopic and phakic eyes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The subjects were 1174 eyes of phakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment detected in 1199 eyes that underwent initial vitreoretinal surgery between April 2006 and March 2011. Eyes with macular hole retinal detachment or secondary retinal detachment were excluded. The 486 eyes with high myopia (spherical equivalent ≤ -6.0 D or axial length ≥ 26.5 mm) and the 688 eyes with non-high myopia were compared. RESULTS: The mean age was significantly younger in the high myopia group (42.7 ± 14.2 years old, p < 0.001) with a single peak of higher incidence in 40 years old. The retinal detachment caused by retinal hole was significantly frequent in the high myopia group (p < 0.001) and that caused by retinal tear was less frequent (p = 0.021). The initial retinal attachment rate and the final attachment rate were not significant. In the fellow eye of the high myopia group, the incidence of retinal detachment and lattice degeneration were more frequent (16.7%, 20.4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of the retinal detachment in younger age and those caused by retinal holes were higher in the high myopia group. Higher incidence of retinal detachment and lattice degeneration in the fellow eyes of the high myopia group indicated that careful observation also in the fellow eyes was recommended.

[Comparison of Retinal Detachment Associated with Atopic Dermatitis with that of a Blunt Trauma].

PURPOSE: Retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis has been reported to have several similarities to retinal detachment with blunt trauma both in location and types of retinal breaks. To clarify the difference between these two types of retinal detachment, the clinical features of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis to those with blunt trauma were compared. METHOD: Among phakic eyes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment which underwent surgery in our clinic between 2006 and 2011, 51 eyes of 41 cases of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis (Atopy group) and 53 eyes of 51 cases of retinal detachment with blunt trauma (Trauma group) were compared. RESULTS: In the Atopy group, the patients were younger, and the incidence of cataracts and bilateral detachment were more frequent. In the Trauma group, the occurence was more frequent in men and associated vitreous hemorrhage and iritis were more frequent. Shallow retinal detachments and ciliary breaks located at the superotemporal quadrant were more frequent in the Atopy group and bullous detachments and retinal breaks located at the superonasal quadrant were more frequent in the trauma group. Oral dialysis and ciliary breaks were frequent in both groups. The initial retinal reattachment rates were similar between both groups but the final reattachment rate was worse in the trauma group. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis had many similarities to the detachment with blunt trauma in types of retinal breaks. However, it was distinct in featuring higher incidence of bilateral retinal detachment, cataracts, and ciliary breaks at the superotemporal quadrant.

Comparison of microinsicion vitrectomy and conventional 20-gauge vitrectomy for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of 23-gauge (G) and 25G vitrectomy to 20G vitrectomy on eyes with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: The medical records of 424 eyes of 347 patients with severe PDR were reviewed. There were 80 eyes that had 23G, 174 eyes that had 25G, and 170 eyes that had 20G vitrectomy. The incidences of postoperative vitreous hemorrhage, intraoperative retinal breaks, retinal detachment, and neovascular glaucoma were compared. RESULTS: The incidence of intraoperative retinal breaks was significantly lower in the 23G group (21 %) than in the 20G group (35 %, P = 0.03) but not in the 25G group (26 %, P = 0.057). The incidence of postoperative retinal detachment was not significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.73). The incidence of postoperative vitreous hemorrhage that developed ≥1 month after vitrectomy was not different whether the eyes had panretinal photocoagulation or not (P = 0.15). The incidence of postoperative neovascular glaucoma was significantly lower in the 25G group (3 %) than in the 20G group (11 %, P = 0.01) but not significant compared with that in the 23G group (8 %, P = 0.72). CONCLUSION: The lower incidence of intraoperative retinal breaks and postoperative neovascular glaucoma after microincision vitrectomy indicates that microincision vitrectomy should be considered for eyes with severe PDR.

Ultra-wide-field retinal images in an eye with a small-aperture corneal inlay.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the ultra-wide-field retinal images for a 53-year-old man who developed peripheral retinal tears in an eye implanted with a Kamra corneal inlay after laser in situ keratomileusis. The peripheral fundus was photographed using the ultra-wide-field Optos imaging system. The images had a dark ring in the center of the retinal images that moved with eye movement. Photographs of the peripheral retinal tears were taken by directing the eye laterally to move the dark ring away from the retinal tears. The retinal tears were photocoagulated while viewing the retina through a wide-angle contact lens and with the eye directed laterally. We recommend using a wide-angle viewing lens to examine and treat an eye implanted with a corneal inlay. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Two-year outcomes of pro re nata ranibizumab monotherapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration in Japanese patients.

PURPOSE: To describe outcomes of intravitreal ranibizumab using a pro re nata regimen for treatment-naive exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in Japanese patients over the first 2 years. METHODS: Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed of 48 eyes of 48 patients with treatment-naive exudative AMD who underwent intravitreal ranibizumab therapy. After three monthly injections (induction), patients were examined monthly, and subsequent injections were performed as needed (pro re nata) for any residual activity, by fundus biomicroscopy and imaging studies, regardless of severity. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (60%) of the patients were men, and 19 (40%) were women; the mean age was 76.1 years. Of the 48 eyes evaluated, 17 (35%) had findings consistent with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and five (10%) with retinal angiomatous proliferation. A mean of 6.0 ranibizumab injections were given in the first year, 3.5 in the second year, and 9.5 over the 2-year period. The best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution) improved significantly, from 0.35 at baseline to 0.21 at 12 months (P < 0.01), and remained stable at 0.21 at 24 months (P < 0.01). The mean central macular thickness decreased significantly, from 355.4 µm at baseline to 237.9 µm at 12 months (P < 0.01) and 247.7 µm at 24 months (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Improved visual acuity and decreased central macular thickness were observed and maintained over a 2-year period, in a Japanese population receiving 3 monthly induction injections followed by a pro re nata regimen of ranibizumab for exudative AMD.