Intraoperative closure of large full thickness macular holes with perfluorocarbon liquid.

PURPOSE: To report the role of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) and passive extrusion for management of large full thickness macular holes (FTMHs). METHODS: A standard pars plana vitrectomy with induction of posterior vitreous detachment was performed for all patients. After internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel, a bubble of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) was injected over the posterior pole and passive extrusion of fluid was performed with a backflush instrument below the PFCL bubble, without touching the FTMH edges, until the FTMH centre was reached. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed formation of an inner retina roof in all cases and confirmed intraoperative FTMH closure. Complete PFCL removal was performed after fluid-air exchange and gas tamponade was utilised in all cases. RESULTS: Preoperative FTMH mean aperture size was 761um and standard deviation (SD) 100um (range 682-918um). FTMH closure was achieved in all eyes and visualised intraoperatively with OCT. After an average follow-up of 2 months, there was improvement in the mean BCVA and central scotoma. CONCLUSION: FTMH closure can be achieved intraoperatively with the use of PFCL and passive extrusion. The described surgical technique could be a valid alternative for repair of large FTMHs.

Surgical Outcomes in Uveitic Glaucoma: Long-Term Evaluation of Trabeculectomy, Non-Penetrating Deep Sclerectomy, Ex-PRESS Shunt and Ahmed Glaucoma Valve. A 3-Year Follow-Up Study.

PURPOSE: Uveitis can lead to secondary glaucoma, a condition with challenging management that can carry irreversible visual loss. Filtering surgery has demonstrated a higher failure rate, increased incidence of postoperative complications and reinterventions in uveitic patients. There is no consensus on the optimal surgical approach for uveitic glaucoma (UG) due to limited data comparing various intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering surgeries. This retrospective cohort aims to assess the clinical outcomes of trabeculectomy (TBT), non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS), Ex-PRESS shunt and Ahmed glaucoma valve, providing additional insights into the long-term IOP control and safety of filtering surgeries in UG. METHODS: The filtering surgery was performed on 32 eyes of 27 UG patients. Complete success was defined as IOP ≤ 18 mmHg or a 30% reduction. Qualified success allowed topical hypotensive treatment. RESULTS: Complete success was 40.63% (13/32) at 12 months and 36.67% (11/30) at 36 months. Qualified success was 84.38% (27/32) at 12 months and 63.33% (19/30) at 36 months. In the survival analysis, both NPDS and Ex-PRESS demonstrated decreased failure rates compared to TBT (NPDS vs TBT: HR = 0.20, p = 0.049; Ex-PRESS vs TBT: HR = 0.28, p = 0.13). One or more reinterventions were required in 34.38% (11/32) of the eyes. NPDS had the lowest incidence of hypotony. Secondary cataract was a common complication in all groups. CONCLUSION: Various filtering surgeries are safe and effective procedures for lowering IOP and reducing the requirement of topical antihypertensives in UG at 36 months. However, one-third of the patients will require another IOP-lowering procedure.

Persistent reduction of retinal microvascular vessel density in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyse the possible recovery or worsening in retinal microvasculature after 8 months in a previously studied COVID-19 cohort. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A cross-sectional case-control study and a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Participants were the subjects of our previous study who re-enrolled for a new examination including a fundus photograph (retinography), an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan and an OCT angiography. COVID-19 diagnosed patients were divided into three groups: group 1: mild disease, asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic subjects who received outpatient care; group 2: moderate disease and group 3: severe disease, both of which required hospital admission because of pneumonia. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (V.23.0). Cross-sectional intergroup differences were analysed by means of analysis of variance for normally distributed variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-normally distributed ones. In reference to the prospective part of the study (intragroup differences, baseline with 8-month comparison), a paired t-test was used for normally distributed data and Wilcoxon signed ranks sum for non-normally distributed data. RESULTS: The fovea-centered superficial and deep vascular densities were significantly diminished in severe cases compared with mild cases (p=0.004; p=0.003, respectively, for superficial and deep) and to controls (p=0.014; p=0.010), also in moderate cases to mild group (p=0.004; p=0.003) and to controls (p=0.012; p=0.024). In the longitudinal study, no significant statistical differences were found between baseline and 8-month follow-up vessel density values. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated persistent reduction in the central vascular area over time in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19.

Retinal microvascular abnormalities in patients after COVID-19 depending on disease severity.

BACKGROUND: Global pandemic SARS-CoV-2 causes a prothrombotic state without fully elucidated effects. This study aims to analyse and quantify the possible retinal microvascular abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case-control study. Patients between 18 and 55 years old with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within the last 3 months were included. RISK STRATIFICATION: group 1-mild disease (asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic); group 2-moderate disease (required hospital admission with no acute respiratory distress) and group 3-severe disease (subjects who developed an acute respiratory distress were admitted in the intensive care unit and presented interleukin 6 values above 40 pg/mL). Age-matched volunteers with negative serology tests were enrolled to control group. A colour photograph, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) and an angiography using OCT centred on the fovea were performed. RESULTS: Control group included 27 subjects: group 1 included 24 patients, group 2 consisted of 24 patients and 21 participants were recruited for group 3. There were no funduscopic lesions, neither in the colour images nor in the structural OCT. Fovea-centred vascular density (VD) was reduced in group 2 and group 3 compared with group 1 and control group (control group vs group 2; 16.92 vs 13.37; p=0.009) (control group vs group 3; 16.92 vs .13.63; p=0.026) (group 1 vs group 2; 17.16 vs 13.37; p=0.006) (group 1 vs group 3; 17.16 vs 13.63 p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Patients with moderate and severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia had decreased central retinal VD as compared with that of asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic cases or control subjects.

Ex-Press P50 device filtering failure due to non-visible intraluminal blockages.

PURPOSE: To describe Ex-Press P50 failures due to an internal blockage. METHODS: A retrospective series of 248 eyes of 219 patients with Ex-Press P50 surgery was conducted. Of these cases, 18 (7.2%) required surgical revision due to filtration failure with no visible blockages in the gonioscopy and no filtering bleb in the slit lamp examination. In all of these cases, we found fibrosis on the edges of the scleral flap. After dissecting the scleral flap, filtration through the implant was restored spontaneously in 10 (4.0%) cases. In two cases fibrous tissue was observed on the tip of the implant and was necessary to remove it. In 6 (2.4%) cases, there was no filtration despite no visible obstruction and attempts to restore the flow were unsuccessful, requiring extraction of the implant and reconverting to trabeculectomy. Two of the removed devices were sanded until the lumen was visible to ascertain the nature of the obstruction. RESULTS: In our series, the most common cause of failure was episcleral fibrosis. In 2.4% of the cases, the blockage was intraluminal and aqueous flow could not be restored. CONCLUSION: In the Ex-Press P50 implant an internal blockage, that is not visible through the proximal or distal orifices, may be the cause of failure. Unblocking by surgical maneuvers is not feasible due to the intraluminal design. These cases can be solved by extraction of the implant and conversion to trabeculectomy.