Effect of refractive errors on the results of botulinum neurotoxin administration in patients with infantile esotropia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of refractive errors on the results of patients followed up with infantile esotropia (IE) and treated with botulinum neurotoxin (BNT) injection. METHODS: The files of patients with IE who presented to the ophthalmology pediatric ophthalmology unit and underwent BNT injection into both medial rectus muscles between 2019 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Sixty eyes of 30 patients were included in the study. Patients with additional systemic or ocular diseases and those with a history of ocular surgery were excluded. Distance and near deviations were measured (with the prism cover test or Krimsky method) before and at the first, third, and sixth months after BNT injection. RESULTS: In Group 1 (n = 20) with a spherical equivalent of + 2.0 diopters (D) or less, the mean near and distance deviation value was both 36.8 ± 12.7 prism diopter (PD) before injection. In Group 2 (n = 10) with a spherical equivalent of above + 2.0 D, the near deviation was measured as 35.0 ± 7.1 PD and distance deviation as 31.8 ± 7.9. At six months after BNT injection, the near and distance deviation values were 20.6 ± 12.3 and 20.6 ± 11.6 PD, respectively in Group 1 and 10.1 ± 10.3 and 8.8 ± 10.8 PD, respectively in Group 2. The change in deviation did not statistically significantly differ between the groups (p > 0.05), but the distance and near deviation values were lower in Group 2 at sixth months after BNT injection. CONCLUSIONS: BNT injection is a preferred method in IE. Higher hypermetropic values seem to increase the success of BNT injection.

How to reduce conjunctival cyst formation after strabismus surgery?

PURPOSE: To determine our rate of conjunctival cyst developing after strabismus surgery and to minimize its formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 4026 eyes of 2662 patients were included in our retrospective analysis of, those that underwent strabismus surgery at the Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital Strabismus Unit between 2015 and 2021. Clinical characteristics and follow-up data of patients were recorded together with age, sex, and operation type. All patients were examined postoperatively on 1st day, 1st month and 6th month. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 15.66 ± 11.81 (1-59 years). While two eyes were operated on in 1494 patients, one eye was operated on in 1168 patients. The surgeries performed were recession and/or resection of the horizontal and vertical rectus muscles and inferior and superior oblique procedures. The conjunctival cyst was detected in 11 patients postoperatively between 20 days and 8 months. The cyst was detected on the nasal side in 7 cases and temporal in 4. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival cyst is a rare complication after strabismus surgery and it is thought to be caused by a proliferation of the conjunctival epithelium. In addition to proper closure of the conjunctiva, attention to personal hygiene, avoidance of contacts that may increase suture contamination, and attention to the fact that the operation period is not long are actions that can help prevent conjunctival cyst formation.

Retinal and choroidal microvasculature is altered after strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the retinal and choroidal microvasculature after strabismus surgery using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients who underwent horizontal rectus surgery for strabismus were included in this retrospective study. The unoperated fellow eyes were used as the control group. The macular microvasculature was assessed using a 3 × 3 scan pattern centred on the fovea preoperatively, and one week and one month postoperatively. The vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC) were automatically analyzed. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was calculated manually using the tool of the device. RESULTS: The VD in SCP demonstrated a significant difference between operated and fellow eyes at one week (p = 0.017). Moreover, a significant increase was observed in the mean VD values in SCP of operated eyes after surgery (p = 0.037). The VD in DCP exhibited no significant differences between operated and fellow eyes before and after strabismus surgery. However, there was a significant difference in VD was observed between operated and fellow eyes one week after surgery (p = 0.001). The mean VD in CC was significantly increased in the operated eyes one week after surgery compared to preoperative values (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that strabismus surgery may cause transient alterations both in retinal and choroidal microcirculation in the early postoperative period.

Macular and peripapillary microvasculature after dexamethasone injection in diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the microvascular changes in the macular and peripapillary area after intravitreal dexamethasone implant in diabetic macular edema (DME). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 31 eyes of 31 patients treated with a single dose dexamethasone implant for DME. All subjects underwent swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography imaging before (T0), and one month (T1), two months (T2), and four months (T4) after dexamethasone injection. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area of superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) was calculated by delineating the FAZ border using the measurement tool of the device. The vessel density (VD) of SCP and DCP and choriocapillaris (CC) in the macular and peripapillary area were automatically calculated. RESULTS: There was an insignificant reduction in FAZ area measurements of SCP after dexamethasone injection in DME patients (p = 0.846). The FAZ area of DCP were significantly smaller compared to T0 measurements at T1, T2, and T4 (p = 0.013, p = 0.031, and p = 0.029, respectively). The mean average parafoveal VD measurements were significantly decreased after dexamethasone injection in SCP and DCP (p = 0.004, p = 0.005). The peripapillary VD in retinal capillary plexuses and choriocapillaris showed no significant difference after dexamethasone injection. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal dexamethasone leads to a significant FAZ area decrease in DCP with a reduction in parafoveal VD measurements. In addition, no significant VD changes were observed in the peripapillary area after dexamethasone. These findings indicate that dexamethasone may improve macular ischemia with no significant effects on peripapillary microvasculature in DME patients.

Muscle belly union surgery with or without medial rectus recession for the treatment of high myopic strabismus fixus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of surgery involving the union of the superior rectus muscle and the lateral rectus muscle with or without medial rectus recession (MRc) for the treatment of high myopic strabismus fixus over a 20-year period. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent muscle belly union for the treatment of high myopic strabismus fixus were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified according to the timing of MRc. In group 1, MRc was performed before muscle union surgery; in group 2, MRc was performed concurrent with muscle union surgery; in group 3, MRc was not performed; in group 4, MRc was performed after muscle union surgery. RESULTS: A total of 50 eyes of 40 patients were included. Mean esotropia decreased from 57.27Δ ± 25.45Δ (range, 8Δ-100Δ) before surgery to 11.67Δ ± 13.85Δ (range, -18Δ to 45Δ) after (P < 0.001); mean hypotropia, from 6.05Δ ± 9.13Δ (range, 0Δ-13Δ) before to 1.20Δ ± 3.03Δ (range, 0Δ-10Δ) after (P < 0.001). Mean abduction improved from -2.82 ± 1.17 (range, -4 to 0) before to -0.75 ± 0.92 (range, -3 to 0) after (P < 0.001); mean elevation, from -1.62 ± 1.62 (range, -4 to 0) before to -0.57 ± 0.90 (range, -3 to 0) after (P < 0.001). Preoperative esotropia and postoperative limitation in abduction were significantly lower in group 3 (P = 0.03; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Muscle union surgery successfully corrected the restrictive esotropia and hypotropia. MRc in addition to muscle union surgery was not necessary for some patients, for whom preoperative esotropia was lower.

Assessment of Refractive Error Changes and Factors for Decompensation in Patients With Fully Accommodative Esotropia.

PURPOSE: To determine the factors affecting the risk of deterioration and evaluate the refractive error change in patients with fully accommodative esotropia. METHODS: Patients diagnosed as having fully accommodative esotropia (esotropic deviation that started before 7 years of age and less than 8 to 10 prism diopters [PD] of esotropia with full hyperopic correction and/or bifocals) were included in this retrospective population-based cohort study. Refractive error changes were recorded. For comparisons, patients were divided into two groups: nondecompensated fully accommodative esotropia group and decompen-sated fully accommodative esotropia group. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up time was 5.94 ± 0.31 years (range: 5 to 8 years). The changes in spherical equivalent in the younger than 7 years, 7 to 12 years, and 12 to 17 years groups were statistically significant (P < .001). The decrease of hypermetropia was 0.13 diopters/year between 7 and 12 years and 0.06 diopters/year between 12 and 17 years. Forty-one of 223 patients (18.4%) discontinued spectacle therapy during the follow-up period. Hyperopic error and presence of amblyopia were lower, whereas visual acuity level and presence of near-distance disparity were higher in the spectacle discontinuation group (P < .001, .007, .01, and 0.01, respectively). Deterioration of fully accommodative esotropia occurred in 30 of 223 patients (13.5%). Boys were more likely to require strabismus surgery (P = .32). The mean age at presentation, esotropia angle with and without refractive correction at both near and distance fixation, near distance disparity, and inferior oblique overaction were significantly higher in patients with decompensated fully accommodative esotropia. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperopic error increased from the initial level until 7 years of age, followed by a myopic shift thereafter. Few children had resolution of fully accommodative esotropia and could discontinue spectacle therapy. Children with male gender, higher esotropia angle, older age at presentation, near-distance disparity, and inferior oblique overaction experienced a greater deterioration of the fully accommodative esotropia. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2020;57(4):217-223.].