Non-endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy--technique, indications, and results.

PURPOSE: To describe the technique of non-endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (NEN-DCR), and its indications and results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective, non-randomized interventional case series, all consecutive cases presenting with epiphora between 2004 and 2006 were enrolled. Adult patients were divided into three subgroups: chronic nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO), NLDO with dacryocystitis (NLDO-DC), and recurrent NLDO with previous failed external DCR (REV-DCR). All procedures were performed by one surgeon (first author). An endonasal DCR was performed through a nasal speculum without the use of an endoscope. Success was measured by both improvement of the epiphora and patency of the lacrimal system during irrigation. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients (24 men, 71 women) underwent 99 NENDCR procedures; 54% of cases had NLDO, 32% had NLDO-DC, and 14% were REV-DCR. Mean duration of surgery was 30 minutes, and the average amount of intraoperative bleeding was 12 ml. After a minimum follow-up of 6 months, success was achieved in 96% of all patients, 94% in the NLDO group, 97% in the NLDO-DC group, and 92% in the REV-DCR group. The failure rate was 4% overall. Two patients failed from the NLDO group, one patient from the NLDO-DC group, and one patient from the REV-DCR group. No significant late complications were detected. CONCLUSION: The success rate of NEN-DCR compares favorably with external DCR. The technique is also useful in cases of NLDO-DC and DCR-REV.

Retained silicone sleeve as a cause of dacryocystorhinostomy failure.

Silicone sleeves are 1 method of stabilizing bicanalicular silicone intubation near the ostia during dacryocystorhinostomy surgery to prevent tube prolapse. Retained silicone sleeve following dacryocystorhinostomy is a rare and previously unreported complication that can occur despite endoscopic visualization during tube removal, particularly in narrow nasal passages. It is an easily reversible cause of dacryocystorhinostomy failure if identified.

Cataract surgery with toric intraocular lenses can optimize uncorrected postoperative visual acuity in patients with marked corneal astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To study the change in visual acuity and refraction after cataract surgery using a toric posterior chamber intraocular lens in patients with astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective case note analysis of cataract surgery involving toric lens implants performed at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was conducted. The pre- and postoperative visual acuities and refractions were recorded. RESULTS: Seven consecutive patients are described (5 men and 2 women) with a mean age of 62 years. They all underwent penetrating keratoplasty, and in every case, all sutures were removed (mean, 11.2 months before cataract surgery). A marked improvement in both unaided visual acuity and astigmatism was shown after the procedure. The average preoperative unaided acuity was 6/120 (range, 6/24 to counting fingers) compared with a postoperative unaided visual acuity average of 6/15 (6/9-6/24). The average preoperative cylinder was 10.12 D (range, 3.40-17.89 D); postoperatively, this fell to 2.75 D (range, 0.75-4.25). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery with toric intraocular lenses allows the correction of high degrees of regular corneal astigmatism. We discussed the potential advantages and complications of performing toric lens cataract surgery as a secondary procedure.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for cystoid macular edema in nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of cystoid macular edema from central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) was investigated. DESIGN: A noncomparative, prospective, interventional case series. METHODS: In a clinical practice, 18 patients were enrolled with nonischemic CRVO and cystoid macular edema. Two milligrams of triamcinolone acetonide were injected into the vitreous of only one eye from each patient. The outcome measures were 1-mm mean central retinal thickness on optical coherence tomography and visual acuity. RESULTS: Mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 2 months (SD, 1.3 months). Ten patients required repeated injections for recurrent cystoid macular edema (mean, 1.8 injections). Mean visual acuity significantly improved from 20/300 to 20/166 (P = .007) at 1 month, 20/100 (P = .0005) at 2 months, 20/130 (P = .007) at 3 months, and 20/150 (P = .02) at 6 months but deteriorated again to 20/270 (not significant) at 12 months. There was a significant improvement in retinal thickness from presentation 518 microm, to 363 microm (P = .03) at 1 month, 304 microm (P = .04) at 2 months, and 353 microm (P = .01) at 3 months but not from presentation at 6 months (mean, 383 microm) and 12 months (mean, 406 microm). Eleven patients suffered intraocular pressure rises requiring intervention. Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide did not prevent collateral circulation formation, which was seen in 10 patients. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal corticosteroid injection is very effective in reversing cystoid macular edema and improving visual acuity in recent-onset nonischemic CRVO in the first 6 months, but this is unfortunately not sustained at 1 year.