INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB IN PREGNANT PATIENT WITH MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANE. A CASE REPORT.

AIM: To present the case of a patient with myopic choroidal neovascular membrane (mCNV) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, who was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. CASE REPORT: The 34-year-old patient was referred to the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady in January 2020 for mCNV on her right eye (RE). The patient was in the 34th week of pregnancy. Initial best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 68 ETDRS letters. Spherical equivalent of the RE was -11.5 dioptres, axial length of the RE was 27.7 mm. Pigmented CNV with small haemorrhage was present on the retina of the RE. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the RE showed a hyperreflective mass above the retinal pigment epithelium, central retinal thickness (CRT) was 310 µm. OCT angiography confirmed the presence of a classic CNV in the macula of the RE. Two weeks later, the hyperreflective lesion and oedema in the macula of the RE increased, the CRT was 329 µm, BCVA remained stable. After discussion with the patient and the treating gynaecologist, intravitreal ranibizumab was administered in the RE in the 36th week of pregnancy. On check-up 3 weeks later, we observed the decrease of macular oedema to 276 µm and the improvement of BCVA to 78 ETDRS letters. The patient delivered a healthy baby girl in the 39th week of pregnancy via caesarean section, postnatal adaptation of the newborn was normal. During further visits, the BCVA improved to 83 ETDRS letters and the macular oedema disappeared completely. 8 months after the first ranibizumab injection, the CNV reactivated, BCVA decreased to 72 ETDRS letters, oedema was present in the macula and the CRT was 309 µm. Another ranibizumab was administered into the RE. The patient then discovered that she was pregnant; according to calculations, she was in the 3rd week of pregnancy at the time of the second ranibizumab injection. After the second injection, BCVA improved to 79 ETDRS letters, macular oedema on the OCT disappeared and CRT decreased to 264 µm. The pregnancy was terminated per patients request. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal administration of ranibizumab in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy led to the improvement of BCVA and decrease of macular oedema in the patient with mCNV. The injection had no adverse effect on the pregnancy or the postnatal adaptation of the newborn. However, it is always necessary to consider the risk/benefit ratio when administering intravitreal antiVEGF drugs in pregnant patients. Thorough discussion with the patient is necessary.

ARTEFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY SCREENING. A REVIEW.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this comprehensive paper is to acquaint the readers with evaluation of the retinal images using the arteficial intelligence (AI). Main focus of the paper is diabetic retinophaty (DR) screening. The basic principles of the artificial intelligence and algorithms that are already used in clinical practice or are shortly before approval will be described. METHODOLOGY: Describing the basic characteristics and mechanisms of different approaches to the use of AI and subsequently literary minireview clarifying the current state of knowledge in the area. RESULTS: Modern systems for screening diabetic retinopathy using deep neural networks achieve a sensitivity and specificity of over 80 % in most published studies. The results of specific studies vary depending on the definition of the gold standard, number of images tested and on the evaluated parameters. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of images using AI will speed up and streamline the diagnosis of DR. The use of AI will allow to keep the quality of the eye care at least on the same level despite the raising number of the patients with diabetes.

UVEAL EFFUSION SYNDROME. CASE REPORT.

PURPOSE: Purpose of this article is to present a case report of a patient with uveal effusion syndrome who underwent deep posterior sclerotomy. CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old patient with unilateral decrease in the best corrected visual acuity, ablation of choroid and secondary retinal detachment in the right eye was admitted to our clinic for examination in November 2017. At the first examination, the best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 0.3, in the left eye 1.0. Intraocular pressure was 16 mmHg in the right eye and 21 mmHg in the left eye. After performing ultrasound biomicroscopy of the anterior segment (Accutome, Keeler, USA), ultrasound sonography of the affected eye (Accutome, Keeler, USA), magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, abdominal ultrasound and blood tests, we concluded the finding as uveal effusion syndrome. We initiated a conservative treatment consisting of oral administration of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor in combination with topical use of prostaglandin analogue. Despite conservative treatment the best corrected visual acuity of the affected eye decreased to 0.05 so we proceeded to a surgical procedure - deep posterior sclerotomy with perioperative scleral sampling for histological examination (detection of glycosaminoglycans in the sclera wall by Alcian blue staining), which was negative. This histological result ranks the patient as the third type of uveal effusion syndrome (ie, non-nanophthalmic with a normal sclera). After the operation both the ablation of choroid and retinal detachment reattached and the best corrected visual acuity in the right eye improved to 0.3. After the subsequent cataract surgery, the ablation of choroid and retinal detachment occurred again, this time with spontaneous recovery. Postoperatively, the best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 0.5 and at the last check-up at our clinic 0.6. CONCLUSION: Deep posterior sclerotomy is a method of choice of surgical treatment for uveal effusion syndrome that does not respond to conservative therapy.

Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Macular Hole Using Different Types of Tamponades and Different Postoperative Positioning Regimens.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of different types of intraocular tamponade and different types of postoperative positioning on the closure of idiopathic macular hole (IMH). METHODS: Prospective randomized clinical trial enrolling 104 eyes of 100 patients (age, 57-87 years) undergoing MH surgery. All patients were operated on by an experienced surgeon using 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Patients were randomized according to the type of intraocular tamponade and postoperative positioning into the following four groups: SF6 + nonsupine reading position (n = 26) (group 1), air + nonsupine reading position (n = 25) (group 2), air + prone position (n = 26) (group 3), or SF6 + prone position (n = 27) (group 4). The follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: MH closure was achieved in 87 eyes (83.7 %) in the overall sample after the first surgery, with closure rates of 100%, 56%, 84.6%, and 92.6% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The group 2 was significantly less successful compared to the other three groups (p < 0.05). MH of sizes ≤400 µm was closed in 97.2% of cases after the first surgery, with no significant differences between groups (p = 0.219). MH with sizes over 400 µm was closed in 70.9% of cases after the first surgery, with both groups with air tamponade being significantly less successful than group 1. The nonsupine reading position was subjected to a better subjective evaluation in terms of postoperative comfort and quality of sleep, with no differences between air and SF6 tamponade tolerance. CONCLUSION: PPV with ILM peeling, intraocular tamponade, and positioning remains the basic surgical approach in the treatment of IMH. For MH ≤ 400 µm, a high closure rate can be achieved by combining air tamponade and nonsupine reading position. For macular holes >400 µm, the greatest anatomical success can be achieved by using the SF6 tamponade in combination with the nonsupine reading position.

Treatment of Vitreomacular Traction with Intravitreal Injection of Perfluoropropane.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of one intravitreal injection of expansile gas in the treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT). METHODS: A retrospective review of eyes with VMT treated with singl injection of 0,3 ml of 100% C3F8 gas was performed. The procedure was performed on an outpatient basis under topical anesthesia. RESULTS: Twelve consecutive patient (14 eyes) with symptomatic VMT underwent pneumatic vitreolysis. Mean extend of vitreomacular adhesion was 490,5 µm (408-751). A posterior vitreous detachment developed in 13 eyes (92,9 %) after a single gas injection, in 11 eyes (84,6 %) during the first month of follow-up, in 2 eyes within two month of injection. Mean baseline and last BCVA were 0,5 (0,16-0,18) and 0,67 (0,2-1,0) respectively (p.

ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OUTCOMES OF TREATMENT OF WET AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION WITH AFLIBERCEPT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate one-year follow-up outcomes of treatment with aflibercept in patients with newly diagnosed wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHOD: Retrospective evaluation of treatment of 28 eyes of 28 patients with an average age of 74.2 years who were treated with aflibercept at the Department of Ophthalmology at Královské Vinohrady University Hospital. All patients were treated according to the summary of product characteristics (SPC), i.e. with an initial 3 injections at monthly intervals, followed by 4 injections every 2 months. We evaluated the change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) optotypes, and the change of central retinal thickness (CRT) with the aid of optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: The average initial BCVA value was 61.5 letters of ETDRS optotype. After the initial 3 injections, BCVA improved to 70.5 letters, after one year of treatment there was a slight decrease to 68.1 letters. Better or same visual acuity was recorded in 25 eyes (89.3%), a deterioration occurred in 3 eyes (10.7%). CRT was reduced from an initial average value of 360.9 µm to 253.3 µm after the initial phase and to 233.8 µm after one year of treatment. At the end of the observation period, 25 eyes (89.3%) were without signs of activity of the pathology. No complications of treatment were recorded. CONCLUSION: In our cohort we confirm the efficacy and safety of the aflibercept preparation in patients with newly diagnosed wet form ARMD. By adhering to a fixed therapeutic regime it is possible to obtain similarly excellent results of treatment in real clinical practice as in clinical trials. Key words: aflibercept, anti-VEGF therapy, optical coherence tomography, wet form ARMD The authors of the study declare that no conflict of interest exists in the compilation, theme and subsequent publication of this professional communication, and that it is not supported by any pharmaceuticals company.

[Surgical Treatment of the Idiopathic Macular Hole by Means of 25-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy with the Peeling of the Internal Limiting Membrane Assisted by Brilliant Blue and Gas Tamponade]. / Chirurgické resení idiopatické makulární díry 25-gauge pars plana vitrektomií s peelingem vnitrní limitující membrány asistované briliantovou modrí a plynovou tamponádou.

UNLABELLED: 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with briliant blue assisted internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade for idiopatic macular hole. PURPOSE: The evaluation of anatomic and visual outcomes in idiopatic macular holes treated with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, briliant blue (BB) assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and gas tamponade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis. 53 eyes of 52 patients (39 women, 13 men) of mean age 68,8 years (58-83) with the diagnosis of stage 2, 3, or 4 macular holes according to Gass Classification from 6/2012 to 7/2014 were included. All patient undergone 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with brillinat blue assisted ILM peeling, gas tamponade (35 cases 15 % C3F8, 18 cases 20% SF6). 50 cases (94,3%) were performed in retrobulbar anesthesia, 3 cases in general anesthesia. Face-down positioning should have beeen maintained for three days. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography findings and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 6 months (1-22). Macular hole closure was achieved in 49 eyes (92,5%). The mean BCVA improved from 0,16 (0,5-0,05) to 0,5 (1,0-0,1). BCVA was improved by 3 and more ETDRS lines in 42 eyes (79,2%). CONCLUSION: 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with briliant blue assisted internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade is safe and effective method of macular hole therapy with high anatomic and functional effect.

[The incidence of endophtalmitis after the application of intravitreal injections in FNKV with regard to various prophylactic antibiotic regimens]. / Výskyt endoftalmitidy po aplikaci intravitreálních preparátu na Oftalmologické klinice FNKV s ohledem na ruzné profylaktické ANTIBIOTICKÉ rezimy.

AIM: Comparing the incidence of endophtalmitis at the Ophthalmologic clinic of FNKV after the application of intravitreal injections with regard to various prophylactic antibiotic regimens.Methodics: Comparing the number of endophtalmitis cases during the period of 2005-2011, when the intravitreal applications were secured by full antibiotic prophylaxis (Floxal)/Oftaquix gtt. 5xd 3 days before the application and 3 days after the application with the years of 2012-2013, when Vigamox gtt. was used during the preparation of the eye before surgery to prevent inflammatory changes. RESULTS: In the years of 2005-2013, 5005 injections were applied. In total we recorded three cases of endophthalmitis. In all cases, a pars plana vitrectomy with sample collection for culture and microbiological analysis was performed. During the years of 2005-2011, 2 651 injections were applied with two cases of endophtalmitis (0,075%, 1:1 325, both cases culture-negative). During the years of 2012-2013, 2 355 injections were applied with one case of endophtalmitis (0,042 %, 1:2 355, culture-positive). CONCLUSION: According to our experience, limited prophylactic antibiotic regimen does not increase the incidence of endophtalmitis in comparison with full prophylactic antibiotic regimen.

Workplace health promotion programs. An overview.

The development of workplace health promotion programs is a popular trend in corporate America. The workplace is considered to have great potential for health promotion and education because workers spend more than 30% of their waking hours at work. Corporate managers are attracted by the broad claims of benefits made for workplace health promotion programs, which include improving employees' health and fitness; decreasing medical and disability costs; reducing absenteeism; improving job satisfaction; increasing productivity; and enhancing the corporate image. Although these claims are not proven through scientific research, current evidence suggests the workplace health promotion programs can have a positive impact on employees. The trend of increasing numbers of corporations establishing health promotion programs should continue in the future.