A negative correlation of axial length with aqueous humor concentration of cytokines in patients with congenital cataracts.

Purpose: To investigate the association between cytokine (and related proteins) concentrations in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with congenital cataracts and preoperative and postoperative axial length. Methods: Samples from the AH were collected from 25 eyes of 17 patients with congenital cataracts who underwent congenital cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and Luminex xMAP technology were used to assess the concentration of cytokines or chemokines, and acute phase proteins in the AH. Axial lengths were measured before surgery and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Results: The mean protein concentrations were determined in the AH of patients with congenital cataracts. The following proteins were assessed: VEGF (9.89 ± 4.94 pg/ml), TNF-α (1.88 ± 0.12 pg/ml), TGF-ß2 (1622.88 ± 762.53 pg/ml), IL-1RA (110.78 ± 141.29 pg/ml), IL-1ß (1.85 ± 0.13 pg/ml), IL-2 (41.96 ± 14.48 pg/ml), IL-4 (9.75 ± 1.32 pg/ml), IL-5 (1.38 ± 0.09 pg/ml), IL-6 (2.31 ± 5.97 pg/ml), IL-10 (1.46 ± 0.47 pg/ml), IL-12p70 (21.50 ± 1.60 pg/ml), IL-15 (2.23 ± 0.18 pg/ml), IL-17A (1.22 ± 0.11 pg/ml), GM-CSF (2.80 ± 0.38 pg/ml), IFN-γ (9.20 ± 0.42 pg/ml), CCL2/MCP-1 (131.45 ± 90.45 pg/ml), CCL3/MIP-1α (87.14±3.83 pg/ml), CCL4/MIP-1ß (66.26 ± 2.22 pg/ml), CXCL10/IP-10 (13.99 ± 39.66 pg/ml), CCL11/eotaxin (27.17 ± 2.00 pg/ml), and PDGF-BB (0.43 ± 0.04 pg/ml). These data suggested a negative correlation between the level of VEGF in the AH and the preoperative axial length (r2 = 0.2615, p<0.01). Similarly, the level of GM-CSF and CCL11/eotaxin in the AH decreased with an increase in axial length (r2 = 0.2456, p = 0.01; r2 = 0.1758, p=0.037). At 1 year post-surgery, a negative correlation was observed between the level of PDGF-BB and the change in the axial length (r2 = 0.2133, p = 0.02). Axial elongation at 1 year post-surgery was 0.24 ± 0.34 mm. The predicted change in axial length at 1 year post-surgery was 1.05 ± 0.83 mm, and the actual axial elongation was statistically significantly smaller than the predicted change in healthy children (paired t test, p<0.01). Conclusions: Increased preoperative axial lengths were negatively correlated with AH levels of VEGF, GM-CSF, and CCL11/eotaxin. The level of PDGF-BB was negatively correlated with the change in axial length 1 year post-surgery. These data suggest that the concentrations of these proteins in the AH may have predictive value for changes in axial length in patients with congenital cataracts, and possibly provide a useful prognostic modality.

Do oblate eyeballs exist? A rare case of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in an elliptical globe.

A patient, being a moderate myope with an axial length of 24.71 mm, presented to us with a fresh rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and marked peripheral chorioretinal degeneration. Difficulty in maneuvering with the standard 23 gauge vitrectomy cutter, inability to identify the break due to poor peripheral contrast, inadequate laser uptake, and an unusual large silicon oil fill (7.3 ml) were a few findings raising suspicion. Postoperative ocular ultrasonography showed an oblate eyeball with a relatively longer oblique axis (26.1 mm) as compared to the axial length confirming our suspicion. Oblateness should be suspected when the chorioretinal degenerations are more marked in the periphery as compared to the posterior pole. Intraoperative difficulties should be kept in mind while operating such cases.

Outcomes of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in microphthalmos and nanophthalmos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in microphthalmos and nanophthalmos. SETTING: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Eyes with an axial length (AL) less than 21.0 mm had elective phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. RESULTS: One hundred three eyes (63 patients) were enrolled. The median AL was 20.65 mm (interquartile range [IQR], 20.26 to 20.86) and the median follow-up, 6.3 months. Complications occurred in 16 cases (15.5%). Zonular dehiscence, severe uveitis, and aqueous misdirection accounted for the majority of complications. Complication rates were 6 (7.3%) of 82 cases with an AL from 20.0 to 21.00 mm and 10 (47.6%) of 21 cases with an AL less than 20.0 mm (P=.0001). Only AL (odds ratio [OR], 0.52 per mm; P≤.0005) and abnormal intraocular pressure (IOP) of 22 mm Hg or more or on topical IOP control (OR, 10.1; P=.001) were significant independent risk factors for complications. For the cohort after adjusting for abnormal IOP, an AL less than 20.5 mm was associated with a 4 times higher odds of any complication (P=.028), an AL less than 20.0 mm was associated with a 15 times higher odds of any complication (P≤.0005), and an AL less than 19.00 mm was associated with a 21 times higher odds of any complication (P≤.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation in microphthalmos/nanophthalmos was challenging but appears safer than previously reported. A shorter AL and abnormal IOP were significant risk factors for complications.

Accuracy of intraocular lens power calculations in eyes with axial length <22.00 mm.

BACKGROUND: To assess the accuracy of Haigis, Holladay 1, Hoffer Q and SRK/T formulae in eyes with axial length of <22.00 mm. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 163 eyes of 97 patients undergoing phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: Ocular biometry was performed using IOLMaster laser interferometry. Predicted refractive outcomes before and after lens constant adjustment were compared to actual refractive outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean prediction (ME) and mean absolute errors (MAE) with standard deviations (±SD). RESULTS: Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was +5.44D ± 1.97D. Mean axial length was 21.20 mm ± 0.60 mm. Using standard IOL constants the MAE for Hoffer Q (0.62D, ±0.52D) and Holladay 1 (0.66D ± 0.52D) were significantly lower than SRK/T (MAE 0.91D ± 0.64D; P = <0.0005 and P = 0.001 respectively), but not Haigis (MAE 0.82D ± 0.83D, P = 0.071 and 0.22 respectively). MAEs for all formulae were significantly reduced by IOL constant adjustment (all P = <0.001). Following this there was no statistically significant difference in MAEs between formulae (range 0.50-0.57D, P = 0.57). Increasing MAE was significantly associated with reducing axial length and increasing IOL power for all formulae. For bilateral cases, prediction errors between eyes were significantly correlated across all formulae (all P = <0.0001) and explained 32-42% of the variance in prediction error between eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Prediction of postoperative refraction in patients with short axial lengths is challenging and at the limit of current, popular IOL formulae. There is now a clear need for prospective studies to assess latest generation IOL formulae such as Holladay 2 or Olsen in small eyes.

Mutational screening of six genes in Chinese patients with congenital cataract and microcornea.

PURPOSE: To identify mutations in 6 genes of 9 Chinese families with congenital cataract and microcornea. METHODS: Nine unrelated families with congenital cataract and microcornea were collected. Cycle sequencing was used to detect variants in the coding and adjacent regions of the crystallin alpha A (CRYAA), crystallin beta B1 (CRYBB1), crystallin beta A4 (CRYBA4), crystallin gamma C (CRYGC), crystallin gamma D (CRYGD), and gap junction protein alpha 8 (GJA8) genes. RESULTS: Upon complete analysis of the 6 genes, three mutations in 2 genes were detected in 3 families, respectively. These mutations were not present in 96 normal controls. Of the three mutations, two novel heterozygous mutations in GJA8, c.136G>A (p.Gly46Arg) and c.116C>G (p.Thr39Arg), were found in two families with congenital cataract and microcornea. The rest one, a heterozygous c.34C>T (p.Arg12Cys) mutation in CRYAA, was identified in three patients from a family with nuclear cataract, microcornea with axial elongation. No mutation in the 6 genes was detected in the remaining 6 families. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in GJA8 and CRYAA were identified in three families with cataract and microcornea. Elongation of axial length accompanied with myopia was a novel phenotype in the family with the c.34C>T mutation in CRYAA. Our results expand the spectrum of GJA8 mutations as well as their associated phenotypes.