Evaluation of intravitreal injections as a risk factor for capsular rupture during cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether previous intravitreal injections are an independent risk factor for posterior capsular rupture (PCR) during cataract surgery after adjusting for known risk factors. DESIGN: Single-centre medical records analysis of a population-based cohort at a university-based referral centre. A retrospective cohort study has been conducted with inclusion of cataract surgeries done from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. PARTICIPANTS: All consecutive cataract surgeries done in patients of at least 18 years of age from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020 have been included. METHODS: Association between previous intravitreal injections and PCR rates has been analysed through univariable and multivariable generalized estimating equations (GEE). Other investigated risk factors were age, combined surgery, pseudoexfoliation, surgeon's experience, and type of cataract surgery. RESULTS: A statistically significant higher rate of posterior capsular rupture during cataract surgery has been found in patients with previous intravitreal therapy compared with patients with no history of intravitreal therapy (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.46, p = 0.008). However, after adjusting for confounding risk factors, no statistically significant effect was seen (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.89-1.21, p = 0.664). CONCLUSION: We found no association between history of intravitreal injections and PCR during cataract surgery after adjusting for known risk factors. Further studies upon interactions between history of intravitreal injections and known risk factors for PCR, especially pseudoexfoliation, are needed.

Closure rates and patterns after light silicone oil tamponade for persistent full-thickness macular holes.

PURPOSE: To report outcomes of re-vitrectomy using light silicone oil (SO) tamponade for persistent macular holes (MHs). METHODS: We reviewed cases of patients with full-thickness MHs that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with air/gas and were re-vitrectomized using light SO tamponade after primary non-closure (persistent MHs). Outcome measures included anatomic closure rates and patterns confirmed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: A total of 42 eyes of 41 patients with unsuccessful primary PPV with air/gas were included. After re-vitrectomy with light SO (1000-centistoke), 29 (69%) eyes demonstrated type 1 closure without neurosensory defects in OCT scans, whereas 9 eyes (21%) showed type 2 closure with persisting neurosensory defects. Available data (n = 21) showed a significant mean improvement of BCVA from 0.99 logMAR (SD 0.25, range 0.7-1.3) preoperatively to 0.74 logMAR (SD 0.42, range 0.2-1.5) postoperatively (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: The treatment of persistent MHs with PPV and light SO tamponade resulted in high closure rates.

Capsular tension ring as protective measure against in-the-bag dislocations after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of capsular tension ring (CTR) implantation on the development of in-the-bag (ITB) dislocations after cataract surgery. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology Graz, Graz, Austria. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent cataract operation between 1996 and 2017 were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the influence of CTR implantation and other predisposing factors (pseudoexfoliation [PEX], age, retinitis pigmentosa, sex, zonular weakness, uveitis, high myopia, and intraocular lens design and material) on ITB dislocations. RESULTS: ITB dislocations were found in 111 (0.16%) of 68199 eyes (46 632 patients). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for other predisposing risk factors, a CTR implantation was associated with a lower risk of an ITB dislocation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.80; P = .017). In eyes with PEX, a CTR implantation was associated with an HR of 0.16 (95% CI, 0.04-0.70; P = .015), whereas eyes without PEX had an HR of 0.80 (95% CI, 0.14-4.41; P = .793). A CTR implantation in eyes with zonular weakness resulted in a potentially lower risk (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.12-1.12; P = .078). CONCLUSIONS: According to the dataset, implantation of a CTR was a protective measure against an ITB dislocation. Especially in patients with zonular weakness and PEX, the CTR implantation was association with a lower risk of ITB dislocations. In patients without PEX, no association was established.

CHANGES OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY PARAMETERS AFTER INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING COMPARED WITH NONPEELING IN EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE SURGERY.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare microvascular changes of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeled and nonpeeled eyes in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes using optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS: Forty-two patients with epiretinal membranes underwent vitrectomy with (n = 22) or without ILM peeling (n = 20). The mean superficial capillary plexus foveal avascular zone area change between preoperative and three-month postoperative readings served as the main outcome measure. Secondary outcome parameters included mean changes in superficial capillary plexus parafoveal vessel density, central foveal thickness, retinal volume, and best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Mean superficial capillary plexus foveal avascular zone area change (µm 2 ) was 59 ± 74 in the ILM nonpeeling group compared with -12 ± 86 in the ILM peeling group ( P = 0.007). Similarly, mean superficial capillary plexus parafoveal vessel density change (%) was higher in the ILM nonpeeling group (ILM nonpeeling 4 ± 4, ILM peeling -2 ± 6, P = 0.003). The mean retinal volume reduction was higher in the ILM peeling group, and this difference also reached statistical significance ( P = 0.036). There were no intergroup differences in mean central foveal thickness change and mean best-corrected visual acuity change ( P = 0.409 and P = 0.440, respectively). Epiretinal membrane/ILM separation was achieved in 23 of 51 patients. CONCLUSION: The macular microvasculature demonstrated more remodeling in the ILM nonpeeling group after three months.

Influence of combined phacovitrectomy without tamponade on intraocular lens displacement and postoperative refraction.

PURPOSE: To compare phacoemulsification versus phacovitrectomy regarding postoperative intraocular lens (IOL) shift and refraction. METHODS: This prospective bilateral comparison study included 40 eyes of 20 patients. Inclusion criteria were combined phacovitrectomy without gas/air tamponade in one eye and cataract surgery in the contralateral eye with implantation of the same IOL. Postoperative anterior chamber depth (ACD) was compared between both groups 1-5 hr, 1 day and 8 weeks after surgery. Postoperative refraction was compared after 8 weeks using the Holladay I, HofferQ, SRK/T, Haigis and Barrett formulae. RESULTS: There were no intergroup differences in ACD (8 weeks: 0.02 mm absolute difference, SD 0.22, range -0.36 to 0.65, p = 0.401), mean absolute refractive error (8 weeks: Holladay I p = 0.452; HofferQ p = 0.475; SRK/T p = 0.498; Haigis p = 0.869; and Barrett p = 0.352) or percentages within the 0.5 D and 1.0 D range at any time-point. All formulae were optimized for the phacovitrectomy and the cataract groups. There was no correlation of macular thickness change and refractive error (cataract group r2 = -0.13, p = 0.58; phacovitrectomy group r2 = -0.10, p = 0.68). CONCLUSION: Combined phacovitrectomy without air/ gas tamponade caused neither ACD displacement nor refractive shifts compared to phacoemulsification alone. Surgically induced macular thickness change had no significant influence on postoperative refraction in this study. All five IOL formulae showed comparable postoperative refractive outcomes.

In-depth analysis of risk factors for pseudophakic retinal detachments and retinal breaks.

PURPOSE: To provide a detailed analysis of risk factors for pseudophakic retinal detachments (PRD) and pseudophakic retinal breaks (PRB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of cataract surgeries between 1996 and 2017 at a tertiary care hospital in Austria. A Cox proportional-hazard regression model was used to analyse risk factors for PRD and PRB. RESULTS: Sixty-five thousand six hundred and sixty-two eyes (45 043 patients) underwent phacoemulsification, and 393 eyes (cumulative incidence 0.6%) were diagnosed with PRD (327 eyes) or PRB (66 eyes) during the follow-up (median 7.1 years, range 0-21). Calculation of adjusted hazard ratios (HR) revealed a hierarchy of risk factors for either event including (from the highest to the lowest risk) posterior capsular rupture (PCR), patient age <65 years (compared with the age group >75 years), male gender and high myopia. Diabetes mellitus was associated with a lower risk. PCR was the strongest risk factor for PRD both in patients with and without perioperative vitrectomy (i.e. vitreous loss), but time to PRD was significantly reduced only following PCR with vitrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior capsular rupture, young patient age, male gender and high myopia were risk factors for PRD, but diabetes mellitus was associated with a lower risk. PCR had the strongest association with PRD, regardless of the need for perioperative vitrectomy due to vitreous loss. Time to PRD was reduced in patients with PCR and vitrectomy compared with PCR without the need for vitrectomy or uneventful surgery.

Vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema and the relevance of external limiting membrane.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relevance of external limiting membrane (ELM) on the visual and morphological results in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with epiretinal membrane (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. METHODS: Medical records of patients with DME who underwent PPV at our unit between January 2017 and December 2019 were reviewed. We assessed preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) using spectral domain OCT (optical coherence tomography). Exclusion criteria were previous PPV; incomplete data; concomitant diseases including retinal vein occlusion, age-related macular degeneration, uveitis; and a follow-up of less than 12 months. The surgeries were performed using 23- or 27-gauge vitrectomy. The ELM was graded depending on its configuration (grade 0 = intact, grade 1 to 3: disruption of varying extent). RESULTS: Ninety-nine eyes were enrolled. The postoperative follow up averaged 23.7 months. The preoperative and final BCVA averaged 0.71 ± 0.28 and 0.52 ± 0.3 logMAR, respectively (p = 0.002). The CMT averaged 515.2 ± 209.1 µm preoperatively and 327 ± 66.1 µm postoperatively (p = 0.001). Eyes with intact ELM (n = 8) had a significantly better BCVA compared to those with ELM disruption (0.28 ± 0.14 vs. 0.7 ± 0.25 logMAR, p = 0.01). The final CMT was similar among the groups (intact ELM: 317 ± 54.6 µm; ELM disruption: 334 ± 75.2, p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: PPV with ERM and ILM peeling is an effective treatment of DME. Eyes with intact ELM preoperatively had a significantly better final visual outcome. To maximize the benefit for patients with DME we recommend early PPV as long as ELM is intact.

Impact of intraocular lens characteristics on intraocular lens dislocation after cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: To assess the influence of intraocular lens (IOL) characteristics on IOL dislocations after cataract surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent cataract surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology Graz, Austria, between 1996 and 2017 were included and medical records were reviewed. Cox proportional-hazard regression models were used to assess the influence of IOL characteristics on IOL dislocation. RESULTS: From 68 199 eyes out of 46 632 patients (60.2% women, mean age: 73.71 SD±10.82 years), 111 (0.16%) had an in-the-bag (ITB) disloaction and 35 (0.05%) had an out-of-the-bag (OTB) dislocation. The HRs adjusted for predisposing factors significantly associated with a higher risk for an ITB dislocation were 2.35 (95% CI, 1.45 to 3.8) for hydrophilic IOLs, 2.01 for quadripode IOLs (95% CI, 1.04 to 3.86) and 1.61 (95% CI, 1.04 to 2.48) for haptic angulation. A lower risk was observed for three-piece IOLs (HR=0.58, 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.98) and larger overall IOL diameter (HR=0.79, 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.95). For an OTB dislocation, the HR associated with a higher risk was 18.81 (95% CI, 5.84 to 60.58) for silicone IOLs and 2.12 (95% CI, 0.62 to 7.29) for hydrophilic IOLs. Larger overall IOL diameter (HR 0.40, 95% CI; 0.25 to 0.63) showed a lower risk. CONCLUSION: Hydrophilic IOLs, quadripode IOLs and haptic angulation were associated with a higher risk for an ITB dislocation, whereas three-piece IOLs and a larger overall diameter were associated with a lower risk. Risk factors for OTB dislocation were silicone IOLs, hydrophilic IOLs and a smaller overall IOL diameter.