Vitreomacular traction in diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: Vitreomacular traction (VMT) has unique presentations in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and clinical course of VMT in DR. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. METHODS: Thirty eyes from 30 patients with DR and concurrent VMT were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics were reported. Linear regression models were used to analyze the correlating factors for visual outcome. RESULTS: Of the 30 eyes, a thickened posterior hyaloid membrane was noted in all cases and multi-layered traction from different directions in 14 eyes (46.7%). Twenty-one eyes (70%) had tractional macular retinoschisis, seven (23.3%) had foveal detachment, five (16.7%) had a lamellar macular hole, and three (10%) had a full-thickness macular hole, including two with macular hole retinal detachment. Three eyes had spontaneous release of the VMT within 3 months of observation. For the remaining 27 eyes receiving operations, the VMT, full-thickness macular hole, and serous foveal detachment all resolved postoperatively with residual macular schisis in 6 eyes (22.2%) only. None of the baseline OCT characteristics were associated with postoperative BCVA (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: VMT in DR had a thickened posterior hyaloid, and many of them had multi-layered traction and/or concurrent macular retinoschisis. Lamellar macular hole, full-thickness macular hole, or concurrent retinal detachment may also occur. Spontaneous resolution of VMT rarely occurred, and those who underwent operation for VMT had improved vision and macular structures with resolution of the macular hole and retinal detachment.

Characteristics of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma in B-Scan Ultrasonography: A Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: To explore the characteristics of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) in B-scan ultrasonography. DESIGN: Single-center case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 106 eyes of 56 patients with biopsy-proven VRL and 86 eyes of 59 patients with uveitis were included. METHODS: B-scan ultrasonography of the included eyes was performed. Evaluated were the ultrasonographic signs as well as a special pattern termed centrifugal condensation, which refers to the peripherally hyperreflective appearance of the vitreous haze in ultrasonography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Posterior vitreous detachment, vitreoretinal adhesion, location of vitreous haze, thickening or occupying lesions of the retina, retinal detachment, and centrifugal condensation pattern of vitreous haze were evaluated through B-scan ultrasonography. The incidences of these signs were compared between the 2 groups; odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. RESULTS: The incidence of vitreoretinal adhesion in patients with VRL (6/106) was lower than in patients with uveitis (20/86; P = 0.001; OR: 0.195; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.073-0.522). The incidence of retinal thickening or occupying lesions in patients with VRL (21/106) was higher than that in patients with uveitis (1/86; P = 0.005; OR: 19.068; 95% CI: 2.455-148.265). The incidences of posterior vitreous detachment and retinal detachment were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.453 and P = 0.310, respectively). The centrifugal condensation pattern was more likely to be observed in patients with VRL (49/106) than in patients with uveitis (13/86; P < 0.001; OR: 4.831; 95% CI: 2.416-9.660). CONCLUSIONS: B-scan ultrasonography might help to provide clues for the suspicion of VRL. Thickening or occupying lesions of the retina and centrifugal condensation pattern of vitreous haze might be suggestive of VRL. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

RECURRENT FLOATERS AFTER LIMITED VITRECTOMY FOR VISION DEGRADING MYODESOPSIA.

PURPOSE: Limited vitrectomy improves vision degrading myodesopsia, but the incidence of recurrent floaters postoperatively is not known. We studied patients with recurrent central floaters using ultrasonography and contrast sensitivity (CS) testing to characterize this subgroup and identify the clinical profile of patients at risk of recurrent floaters. METHODS: A total of 286 eyes (203 patients, 60.6 ± 12.9 years) undergoing limited vitrectomy for vision degrading myodesopsia were studied retrospectively. Sutureless 25G vitrectomy was performed without intentional surgical posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) induction. CS (Freiburg Acuity Contrast test: Weber index, %W) and vitreous echodensity (quantitative ultrasonography) were assessed prospectively. RESULTS: No eyes (0/179) with preoperative PVD experienced new floaters. Recurrent central floaters occurred in 14/99 eyes (14.1%) without complete preoperative PVD (mean follow-up = 39 months vs. 31 months in 85 eyes without recurrent floaters). Ultrasonography identified new-onset PVD in all 14 (100%) recurrent cases. Young (younger than 52 years; 71.4%), myopic (≥-3D; 85.7%), phakic (100%) men (92.9%) predominated. Reoperation was elected by 11 patients, who had partial PVD preoperatively in 5/11 (45.5%). At study entry, CS was degraded (3.55 ± 1.79 %W) but improved postoperatively by 45.6% (1.93 ± 0.86 %W, P = 0.033), while vitreous echodensity reduced by 86.6% ( P = 0.016). New-onset PVD postoperatively degraded CS anew, by 49.4% (3.28 ± 0.96 %W; P = 0.009) in patients electing reoperation. Repeat vitrectomy normalized CS to 2.00 ± 0.74%W ( P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Recurrent floaters after limited vitrectomy for vision degrading myodesopsia are caused by new-onset PVD, with younger age, male sex, myopia, and phakic status as risk factors. Inducing surgical PVD at the primary operation should be considered in these select patients to mitigate recurrent floaters.

Anterior vitreous detachment and retrolental material during cataract surgery: incidence and risk factors, with pathological evidence.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of anterior vitreous detachment (AVD) and retrolental material occurrence in cataract surgery, determine the influence of surgical factors on it, and confirm the source of the material. SETTING: Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu Province, China. DESIGN: Prospective single-center study. METHODS: Age, sex, ocular complication, nuclear sclerosis grade, ultrasonic time, mean longitudinal power, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), total aspiration time, and estimated fluid usage were recorded for each patient. Retrolental anatomy was observed before and during surgery using real-time optical coherence tomography integrated into a microscope. The eyes with AVD were carefully observed and recorded during illumination with an optical fiber. Retrolental material was stained using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: 205 eyes from 205 patients were included in this study. Spontaneous AVD was found in 5 cases. Intraoperatively, AVD was identified in 115 eyes (56.1%). Retrolental material presence was observed in 75 eyes (36.6%). A logistic regression model showed that CDE and aspiration time had a statistically significant effect on AVD ( P < .05, 95% CI, 1.011-1.558; P < .05, 95% CI, 1.026-1.051), and CDE was positively correlated with retrolental material occurrence ( P < .05, 95% CI, 1.052-1.534). Samples from 5 cases expressed large amounts of αA- and ßA-crystallins. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous AVD is rare in phakic eyes. There was a marked increase in AVD during surgery, with retrolental material occurring in more than a third of cases. Higher CDE and longer total aspiration time were risk factors for AVD. Immunohistochemistry revealed that most of the retrolental materials were lens fragments.

Long-term outcomes of administration of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide after posterior vitreous detachment during pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

AIM: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administration after posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: A total of 189 eyes (152 patients) who underwent PPV for severe PDR were reviewed. Intravitreal injection of TA (IVTA) was administered during PPV in 118 eyes (PPV+IVTA group), and 71 eyes did not receive IVTA (PPV group). Immediately after PVD, when most of the vitreous and proliferative membranes were removed, 0.1 mL TA (40 mg/mL) was injected into the vitreous cavity in the PPV+IVTA group. All patients were followed-up for least 12 months. Visual outcomes and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: IVTA was helpful for proliferative membrane peeling and haemostasis during PPV. In the PPV+IVTA group, best-corrected visual acuity had significantly improved and the intraocular pressure was controlled well during the follow-up. The incidence of early recurrent vitreous haemorrhage after PPV was significantly lower in the PPV+IVTA group (1.7%) than in the PPV group (9.9%) (p=0.028). CONCLUSION: The administration of IVTA after PVD during PPV can effectively improve the final visual outcomes and prevent postoperative complications in patients with severe PDR.

Study of the Correlation Between Severity of Endophthalmitis and Posterior Vitreous Detachment Using a Rabbit Endophthalmitis Model.

Purpose: We have reported that the absence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is related to the onset and severity of infectious endophthalmitis, based on clinical experience. To demonstrate clinical findings in animal models, we created endophthalmitis models for the presence or absence of PVD and examined differences in severity. Method: We estimated a rabbit infectious eye model with and without PVD using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PVD(+) and PVD(-) groups). After injection of bacteria inoculation for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours, we evaluated the clinical score of the anterior chamber (n = 14). Removing the vitreous and retina from the enucleated eyeballs, the number of bacteria was counted using each specimen (n = 12). In addition, the number of inflammatory cells approximately 3 mm2 around the optic disc and histopathologic grading of intraocular inflammation was compared from histopathologic images (n = 7). Electroretinogram (ERG) was performed in experimentally infected rabbit eyes in both groups at three times after injection of the bacterial suspension. Results: There was no difference between the two groups in the clinical score of the anterior chamber of each time phase, but the bacterial cultures showed significantly fewer bacteria in the PVD(-) group 24 hours after bacterial inoculation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the number of inflammatory cells was significantly less in the PVD group (P < 0.05). As a result of ERG, the decreases of a- and b-waves in amplitude were significantly greater in the PVD(-) group than in the PVD(+) group. Conclusions: The present study confirms using animal models that the absence of PVD contributed to the severity of bacterial endophthalmitis.

Posterior vitreous detachment after cataract surgery in eyes with high myopia: an optical coherence tomography study.

PURPOSE: To compare the progression of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) after cataract surgery in eyes with high myopia with that in eyes without high myopia. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Eighty eyes of 80 patients with high myopia and 160 eyes of 160 patients without high myopia scheduled for phacoemulsification were recruited. PVD status was examined using swept-source optical coherence tomography at 2 days postoperatively (baseline) and at 3, 6, and 12 months postbaseline and classified into 5 stages: 0 (no PVD), 1 (paramacular PVD), 2 (perifoveal PVD), 3 (peripapillary PVD), and 4 (complete PVD). The PVD stage and incidence of progression to complete PVD of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: The mean PVD stage did not differ significantly between the groups at baseline or at 3 months postbaseline but was significantly more progressed in the high myopia group than in the nonhigh myopia group at 6 months and 12 months postbaseline (P ≤ 0.0201). The Kaplan-Meier survival rate for complete PVD was significantly lower in the high myopia group (P = 0.0129). After adjusting for age, sex, and baseline PVD stage, the hazard ratio for complete PVD was 1.68-fold higher in the high myopia group than in the nonhigh myopia group (P = 0.0326, 95% CI 1.04-2.70). CONCLUSION: After cataract surgery, PVD progressed significantly faster in eyes with high myopia than in eyes without high myopia, and the relative risk for complete PVD was 1.68-fold higher in eyes with high myopia, suggesting that highly myopic eyes are at considerably high risk for retinal disease postoperatively.

STARDUST SIGN AND RETINAL TEAR DETECTION ON SWEPT SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: The causes of floaters include posterior vitreous detachment and fundus hemorrhage, both of which are risk factors for retinal tears. We observed the vitreous of patients with floaters using swept source optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Fundus examination was performed, and the vitreous was observed using swept source optical coherence tomography in 202 eyes of 202 patients with floaters. Patients with uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and other fundus diseases were excluded. RESULTS: Swept source optical coherence tomography revealed posterior vitreous detachment in 145 of 202 eyes (71.8%) and dot reflex like stardust in the vitreous in 42 of 202 eyes (20.8%). Posterior vitreous detachment occurred in 35 of 42 eyes (83.3%) and 110 of 160 eyes (68.8%) in the stardust (+) and stardust (-) groups, respectively; a significant difference was observed (P <0.001). In the stardust (+) group, 11 of 42 eyes (26.2%) had retinal tears with posterior vitreous detachment and 21 of 42 eyes (50.0%) had fundus hemorrhage. Three of 160 eyes (1.9%) and 4 of 160 eyes (2.5%) in the stardust (-) group had retinal tears with posterior vitreous detachment and fundus hemorrhage, respectively. Both tears and fundus hemorrhage were more frequent in the stardust (+) group than in the stardust (-) group (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The stardust sign on swept source optical coherence tomography indicates the risk of retinal tear.

Progression of posterior vitreous detachment after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the progression of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) between eyes that underwent cataract surgery and eyes that did not undergo surgery in non-highly myopic patients. METHODS: One-hundred twenty-five eyes of 125 patients scheduled for phacoemulsification and 125 eyes of 125 age-matched patients who did not undergo surgery were enrolled. PVD status was evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography at 2 days (baseline), and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, and classified into five stages: 0 (no), 1 (paramacular), 2 (perifoveal), 3 (peripapillary), and 4 (complete). The PVD stage and incidence of progression to complete PVD were compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean PVD stage significantly progressed over the 12 months in the surgery group (P = 0.0004), but did not change significantly in the non-surgery group. The PVD stage did not differ significantly between groups at 2 days, or 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively, but was significantly more progressed in the surgery group than in the non-surgery group at 12 months (P = 0.0390). After adjusting for age, sex, axial length, and baseline PVD stage, the relative risk for progression to complete PVD was 7.1-fold higher in the surgery group than in the non-surgery group (P < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval 2.9-17.3). CONCLUSION: PVD progressed significantly faster in eyes after cataract surgery compared with eyes that did not undergo surgery, and the relative risk of progression to complete PVD was approximately seven-fold higher within 1 year, indicating that the risk for PVD-related diseases is high after cataract surgery.

Association of Aberrant Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Pathologic Tractional Forces With Myopic Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the tractional elements of pathologic myopia (PM; e.g. myopic traction maculopathy [MTM], posterior staphyloma [PS], and aberrant posterior vitreous detachment [PVD]) are associated with myopic macular degeneration (MMD) independent of age and axial length, among highly myopic (HM) eyes. Methods: One hundred twenty-nine individuals with 239 HM eyes from the Myopic and Pathologic Eyes in Singapore (MyoPES) cohort underwent ocular biometry, fundus photography, swept-source optical coherence tomography, and ocular B-scan ultrasound. Images were analyzed for PVD grade, and presence of MTM, PS, and MMD. The χ² test was done to determine the difference in prevalence of MMD between eyes with and without PVD, PS, and MTM. Multivariate probit regression analyses were performed to ascertain the relationship between the potential predictors (PVD, PS, and MTM) and outcome variable (MMD), after accounting for possible confounders (e.g. age and axial length). Marginal effects were reported. Results: Controlling for potential confounders, eyes with MTM have a 29.92 percentage point higher likelihood of having MMD (P = 0.003), and eyes with PS have a 25.72 percentage point higher likelihood of having MMD (P = 0.002). The likelihood of MMD increases by 10.61 percentage points per 1 mm increase in axial length (P < 0.001). Subanalysis revealed that eyes with incomplete PVD have a 22.54 percentage point higher likelihood of having MMD than eyes with early PVD (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated an association between tractional (MTM, PS, and persistently incomplete PVD) and degenerative elements of PM independent of age and axial length. These data provide further insights into the pathogenesis of MMD.

NATURAL COURSE OF VITREOMACULAR TRACTION IN EYES WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SPONTANEOUS RELEASE.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the natural course of vitreomacular traction (VMT) in patients with diabetic retinopathy and to evaluate the factors associated with VMT relief. METHODS: Seventy-four eyes of 65 patients with VMT accompanying diabetic retinopathy were evaluated retrospectively. The presence of intravitreal injection and the presence of panretinal photocoagulation were obtained from the medical records of the patients. Spontaneous release of VMT, the horizontal length of vitreomacular traction, the presence of hyperreflective retinal spots, the presence of the epiretinal membrane, and the grade of VMT were evaluated from the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images. Factors associated with the spontaneous release of VMT were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Spontaneous release was observed in 28 eyes (37.8%). The horizontal length of VMT was lower in the release of the VMT group compared with the persistent VMT group (P = 0.03). The persistent VMT group had a higher rate of hyperreflective retinal spots and epiretinal membrane compared with the release of the VMT group (respectively; P = 0.003 and P = 0.031). No statistically significant difference was observed between the release of VMT and persistent VMT groups in terms of intravitreal injection and panretinal photocoagulation treatment (respectively; P = 0.938 and P = 0.36). The absence of hyperreflective retinal spots was the most important prognostic factor for the spontaneous release of VMT (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Spontaneous release of VMT observed higher rates of patients without hyperreflective retinal spots, epiretinal membrane, and patients with lower horizontal length of VMT.

The effect of posterior vitreous detachment on aflibercept response in diabetic macular oedema.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on aflibercept response in treatment-naïve diabetic macular oedema (DME). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. METHODS: One hundred and fifty eyes of 150 treatment-naïve patients with DME were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups according to their PVD status: group 1 (no PVD during injections), group 2 (PVD during injections) and group 3 (PVD already present initially). Three consecutive aflibercept injections at intervals of 1 month were applied to all patients. The efficacy of the aflibercept treatment on DME was assessed by comparing changes in central retinal thickness (CRT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) values after three loading dose injections. RESULTS: After three consecutive injections, the mean reduction of CRT in groups 1, 2 and 3 were -199.6±106.9, -224.9±124.1 and -210.7±126.3, respectively. The decrease in CRT was significant in all groups (p<0.001 in all groups, paired-samples t-test); however, mean changes in CRT were similar among groups (all p>0.05, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)). The mean improvement in BCVA in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 6.6±0.9, 6.5±0.8 and 6.1±0.4 ETDRS letters, respectively. The improvement of BCVA was significant in all groups (p<0.001 in all groups, paired-samples t-test) and mean changes were similar between groups (p>0.05, one-way ANOVA). There was no significant relationship between the presence or development of PVD and the mean decrease of CRT and improvement of BCVA (for CRT r=-0.052, p=0.531 and for BCVA r=-0.078, p=0.342). CONCLUSION: In the present study, it was observed that the efficacy of aflibercept treatment in patients with DME did not depend on PVD status.

Vitreous Structure and Visual Function in Myopic Vitreopathy Causing Vision-Degrading Myodesopsia.

PURPOSE: Myopic vitreopathy features precocious fibrous vitreous liquefaction and early posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). It is unclear whether visual function is affected by myopic vitreopathy and PVD. This study assessed the relationships among axial length, structural vitreous density, PVD, and visual function. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. METHODS: Ultrasonography measurements were made of axial length, logMAR VA, contrast sensitivity function (CSF [Freiburg acuity contrast test]), and quantitative B-scan ultrasonography. RESULTS: Seventy-nine subjects (45 men and 34 women; mean age: 49 ± 14 years) were analyzed. Axial lengths ranged from 22 to 29.2 mm (mean: 24.9 ± 1.8 mm; myopic eyes: 26.35 ± 1.35 mm; and nonmyopic eyes: 23.45 ± 0.75 mm; P < .001). With increasing axial length there was greater vitreous echodensity (R: 0.573; P < .01) and degradation in CSF (R: 0.611; P < .01). Subgroup analyses found that myopic eyes (>- 3 diopters) had 37% more vitreous echodensity than nonmyopic eyes (762 ± 198 arbitrary units [AU] vs. 557 ± 171 AU, respectively; P < .001) and that CSF was 53% worse in myopic eyes (3.30 ± 1.24 Weber index [%W]) than in nonmyopic eyes (2.16 ± .59 %W; P < .001). Myopic eyes with PVD had 33% greater vitreous echodensity (815 ± 217 AU; P < .001) and 62% degradation in CSF (3.63 ± 2.99 %W) compared to nonmyopic eyes with PVD (613 ± 159 AU; 2.24 ± 0.69 %W; P < .001, each). Limited vitrectomy was performed in 11 of 40 cases (27.5%), normalizing vitreous echodensity and CSF in each case. CONCLUSIONS: Axial myopia is associated with increased fibrous vitreous liquefaction and echodensity, as well as profound degradation of CSF. PVD in myopic eyes is associated with even more structural and functional abnormalities, normalized by limited vitrectomy. These findings may explain some common complaints of myopic patients with respect to vision and quality of life.

Risk Factors for Onset or Progression of Posterior Vitreous Detachment at the Vitreomacular Interface after Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To study the incidence and risk factors for onset or progression of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) at the vitreomacular interface (VMI) after cataract surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with a history of phacoemulsification from April 2018 through April 2019 at the Keye Eye Center, Seoul, Korea, and postoperative monitoring for more than 2 months. METHODS: Cox proportional hazard ratios for the onset or development of PVD after cataract surgery in the presence of selected risk factors and demographic data were calculated. To evaluate the ocular risk factors, various ocular metrics, including spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, central subfield thickness, PVD status at macula and optic nerve head (ONH), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and ONH parameters from OCT scans, were used for the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Onset or development of PVD at the VMI. RESULTS: Among 988 eyes without PVD at baseline, 174 eyes (17.6%) showed changes in the VMI. Univariate analysis showed that age, SE, AL, PVD status at macula and ONH, and average and vertical cup-to-disc ratios (CDRs) were associated significantly with PVD onset or development (P = 0.046, P = 0.004, P = 0.040, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.008, and P = 0.042, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, PVD status at the macula and ONH and smaller CDR were associated with PVD onset or progression after cataract surgery after adjustment for age, SE, and AL (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of PVD onset or progression was dependent on PVD status and the CDR detected on OCT scans, not on age or AL, in a large patient cohort. Patients who show risk factors on OCT should be monitored carefully during the postoperative period.

Continued smoking and posterior vitreous adhesion in the elderly evaluated on swept-source optical coherence tomography.

In this cross-sectional study including 1150 eyes of 681 volunteers ≧ 65 years old without retinal pathology, factors affecting the progression of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) were investigated. PVD stages were diagnosed based on swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Linear mixed effect model was used to determine whether age, gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), dyslipidemia (DL), and smoking status were associated with various stages of PVD. As a result, the multivariable analysis disclosed that the associations between older age and higher PVD stages (estimate [95% CI], 0.031 [0.020 to 0.042]; P < 0.0001), and current smokers and lower PVD stages (estimate [95% CI], - 0.24 [- 0.43 to - 0.056]; P = 0.011) were statistically significant. In contrast, female gender was not an independent factor affecting PVD stages in the elderly. Our analysis indicated that higher PVD stages observed in female eyes may be due to confounding effect, in which current smokers were predominantly males (i.e., 12.6% among males vs. 3.9% among females, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, our findings suggest that continuous smoking is associated with an adherent vitreoretinal interface in the elderly.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment in Highly Myopic Patients.

Purpose: We compared the change in the state of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) between highly myopic eyes and non-highly myopic eyes using age- and sex-matched patients. Methods: Six hundred eyes of 600 patients with high myopia (axial length > 26.0 mm) or without high myopia were enrolled into each of six age categories with 50 eyes each: (1) 20 to 29 years, (2) 30 to 39 years, (3) 40 to 49 years, (4) 50 to 59 years, (5) 60 to 69 years, and (6) 70 to 79 years. The PVD status was evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography and classified into five stages: 0 (no PVD), 1 (paramacular PVD), 2 (perifoveal PVD), 3 (peripapillary PVD), and 4 (complete PVD). Results: In the high myopia and non-high myopia groups, the mean PVD stage increased significantly with the age category (P < 0.0001). The PVD stage was significantly greater in the high myopia group than in the non-high myopia group in all age categories (P ≤ 0.0395). In the age groups of patients 50 to 59 years old and 60 to 69 years old, complete PVD was detected in 54.0% and 73.9% of eyes, respectively, in the high myopia group and in 14.0% and 44.0% of eyes, respectively,in the non-high myopia group. Abnormal PVD characteristics of pathologic myopia were detected in 1.7% of eyes in the high myopia group. Conclusions: We precisely revealed, using age- and sex-matched patients, that partial PVD, including paramacular, perifoveal, and peripapillary PVD, and complete PVD develop at a significantly younger age in highly myopic eyes compared with non-highly myopic eyes, suggesting that PVD-related retinal pathologies occur younger in highly myopic patients.

Posterior vitreous detachment in patients with diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To compare the progression of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) during aging among eyes of diabetics with diabetic retinopathy (DR), eyes of diabetics without DR, and eyes of nondiabetics. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: One-hundred thirty-three diabetic eyes with DR (DR group), 254 diabetic eyes without DR (non-DR group), and 577 nondiabetic eyes (nondiabetic group) were divided into four age categories: 1) 40-49 years, 2) 50-59 years, 3) 60-69 years, and 4) 70-79 years. The PVD state was examined using swept source-optical coherence tomography and classified into five stages: 0 (non PVD), 1 (paramacular PVD), 2 (perifoveal PVD), 3 (vitreofoveal separation), and 4 (complete PVD). RESULTS: The PVD stage significantly progressed in the DR, non-DR, and nondiabetic groups (p <0.0001). At 40-49 and 50-59 years, the PVD stage did not differ significantly among the three groups. At 60-69 and 70-79 years, the PVD stage was significantly less progressed in the DR than the non-DR and nondiabetic groups (p ≤0.0027), and did not differ significantly between the non-DR and nondiabetic groups. At 70-79 years, complete PVD was detected in 40.6% of eyes in the DR group, 69.6% in the non-DR group, and 73.5% of eyes in the nondiabetic group. CONCLUSION: PVD progresses later in diabetic eyes with DR than in diabetic eyes without DR and nondiabetics eyes at 60 and 70 years of age, suggesting a stronger vitreomacular adhesion in diabetics with DR.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in myotonic dystrophy.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate retinal involvement in a cohort of patients affected by Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Both eyes of 30 patients and one eye of a 31st patient with genetically proven diagnosis of DM1 and both eyes of 20 healthy age- and gender-matched subjects were enrolled. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, fundoscopy, fundus autofluorescence, infrared imaging and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with central macular thickness measurement. DM1 patients showed statistically significant higher central macular thickness values than controls. In the DM1 group, butterfly (14.8%) and reticular (13.1%) pigment abnormalities were found with corresponding drusenoid deposit and focal disruption of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium layers. Compared with the controls, DM1 group had higher prevalence of epiretinal membrane. In the DM1 group, the prevalence of epiretinal membrane and retinal pigment epithelium alterations were directly correlated with age, whereas no correlation was found with disease duration, CTG expansion and MIRS score. In conclusion, in addition to the typical retinal pigment epithelium changes, DM1 is also associated with abnormalities of the vitreoretinal interface, particularly epiretinal membrane, resulting in central macular thickness increase. Both inner and outer retinal alterations were associated with increasing age, suggesting that DM1 may cause a premature aging of the retina.

STRICT POSTURING WITH OR WITHOUT BILATERAL PATCHING FOR POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT-RELATED VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE.

PURPOSE: To determine whether bilateral patching with posturing is superior to posturing alone in visualizing the superior retina in suspected posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)-related vitreous hemorrhage (VH). METHODS: Prospective randomized controlled trial: 80 patients with fundus-obscuring VH due to suspected retinal tear were randomized to strict posturing and bilateral patching overnight (Treatment A, 40 patients) or posturing (Treatment B, 40 patients). PRIMARY OUTCOME: Visualization of ≥4 clock hours superior retina. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: laser treatment, vitrectomy rate, and retinal detachment within 12 months. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis: In 38/40 (95%) with Treatment A and 32/40 (80%) with Treatment B, the confirmed diagnosis was PVD-related VH. Visibility of the superior retina for all patients: 29/40 (73%) after Treatment A and 21/40 (53%) after Treatment B (P = 0.07). Subgroup analysis for confirmed PVD-related VH; visibility of the superior retina: 29/38 (76%) after Treatment A and 15/32 (47%) after Treatment B (P = 0.01). In subgroup analysis, vitrectomy rate within 12 months was 61% (Treatment A) and 53% (Treatment B) (P = 0.63). Retinal detachment: eight patients after each treatment. CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected PVD-related VH, overnight bilateral patching was not superior to posturing alone in superior retina visualization, but in a post-hoc analysis of patients with confirmed PVD-related VH, bilateral patching was superior.