Intraoperative Three-Dimensional Fluorescein Angiography-Guided Pars Plana Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: The Maximized Utility of the Digital Assisted Vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To show the usefulness of the intraoperative three-dimensional fluorescein angiography (3D-FA)-guided pars plana vitrectomy. METHODS: The NGENUITY 3D visualization system was used for the digital assisted vitrectomy. Three-dimensional fluorescein angiography-guided pars plana vitrectomy was performed in three patients with vitreous hemorrhage secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. We investigated both whether several angiographic findings can be successfully displayed on the screen during 3D-FA and whether pars plana vitrectomy can be performed simultaneously on the same screen while implementing 3D-FA. RESULTS: In all cases, the abnormal FA findings including hypofluorescence due to non-perfusion areas, and the hyperfluorescence due to macular edema and fibrovascular proliferative membrane were successfully displayed on the screen. The segmentation and delamination of fibrovascular proliferative membrane and panretinal photocoagulation for detected non-perfusion areas were able to be performed on the same screen while implementing 3D-FA. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional fluorescein angiography-guided pars plana vitrectomy is a novel approach that fully utilizes the advantages of digital assisted vitrectomy and a promising option for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF CYSTOTOMY WITH FIBRINOGEN CLOT REMOVAL FOR A CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO IDIOPATHIC MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 1: A CASE REPORT.

PURPOSE: To report the case of a patient with cystoid macular edema secondary to idiopathic macular telangiectasia (MacTel) Type 1, which was successfully treated by cystotomy and en bloc removal of the fibrinogen-rich component of the cystoid lesion. METHODS: An 80-year-old man was referred to our department because of a visual defect in his right eye. His best-corrected decimal visual acuity was 0.7 (Snellen equivalent, 20/30). A fundus examination revealed clustered temporal juxafoveal microaneurysms and foveal cystoid macular edema. The patient refused to undergo conventional treatments, including direct retinal photocoagulation for microaneurysms, intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection, and intravitreal triamcinolone injection. However, he provided consent to undergo cystotomy and en bloc removal of the fibrinogen-rich component of the cystoid lesion. RESULTS: His best-corrected decimal visual acuity was 0.2 (Snellen equivalent, 20/100) just before the surgery. A 27-gauge vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling was performed. Cystotomy was performed during the surgery, and the fibrinogen clot visible in the cystoid cavity was also removed. Cystoid macular edema rapidly disappeared after the surgery. Three years postoperatively, the patient had best-corrected decimal visual acuity of 0.5 (Snellen equivalent, 20/40) at the last medical examination, and the cystoid macular edema had not recurred. CONCLUSION: Cystotomy and en bloc removal of the fibrinogen-rich component of the cystoid lesion could be valid treatment options for cystoid macular edema secondary to MacTel Type 1.

INTRAOPERATIVE THREE-DIMENSIONAL FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY-GUIDED PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.

PURPOSE: To show surgical results of the intraoperative 3D fluorescein angiography-guided pars plana vitrectomy for branch retinal vein occlusion with vitreous hemorrhage and neovascularization elsewhere. METHODS: The NGENUITY 3D visualization system was used for the digital-assisted vitrectomy. Three-dimensional fluorescein angiography-guided pars plana vitrectomy was performed in three patients with branch retinal vein occlusion with vitreous hemorrhage and neovascularization elsewhere. RESULTS: In all eyes, the scatter retinal photocoagulations for a nonperfusion area, depicted as hypofluorescein, and the segmentation and delamination of the perivascular fibrovascular proliferative membrane, depicted as hyperfluorescein, could be safely performed on the same screen while implementing intraoperative 3D fluorescein angiography. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional fluorescein angiography-guided pars plana vitrectomy, a novel approach that fully uses the advantages of digital-assisted vitrectomy, can be one of the useful techniques for the treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion with vitreous hemorrhage and neovascularization elsewhere.

The contribution of the proximity of the retinal detachment to the fovea for postoperative metamorphopsia after 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for the primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical factors contributing to metamorphopsia after 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (27GPPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) to reveal whether the proximity of the preoperative retinal detachment to the fovea is associated with postoperative metamorphopsia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 77 eyes of 77 patients after 27GPPV for RRD. Patients were subdivided into three groups using optical coherence tomography findings: Group A, patients with RRD outside the vascular arcade; Group B, patients whose condition was present within the vascular arcade, but without foveal detachment; and Group C, patients with foveal detachment. RESULTS: The average metamorphopsia score (°) assessed with M-charts 12 months after surgery was 0.01 ± 0.04 in Group A (24 eyes), 0.08 ± 0.18 in Group B (20 eyes), and 0.49 ± 0.48 in Group C (33 eyes) (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that metamorphopsia at 12 months after surgery significantly correlated with the proximity of the retinal detachment to the fovea (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Metamorphopsia after 27GPPV for RRD correlated with the proximity of the preoperative retinal detachment to the fovea. Attention should be paid to the possibility of postoperative metamorphopsia development when retinal detachment is present within a vascular arcade even if the fovea is not involved.

Cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.

To demonstrate the long-term effect of cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for treatment-resistant cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Retrospective clinical study. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 22 eyes of 22 patients with treatment-resistant CME secondary to BRVO with 12 months observation after cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal. Patients included 11 women and 11 men. The mean ± SD age was 72.7 ± 10.2 years. LogMAR-converted best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was statistically better at 12 months after surgery (0.30 ± 0.30) than preoperative BCVA (0.39 ± 0.27) (p = 0.01). The central sensitivity of microperimetry (dB) was maintained during follow-up (preoperative sensitivity: 25.4 ± 4.1, postoperative sensitivity at 12 months after the surgery: 25.9 ± 4.2, p = 0.69). Twelve months after surgery, there was a significant improvement in the central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (303.7 ± 80.1) (µm) compared with the preoperative CRT (524.2 ± 114.8) (p < 0.01). In 12 months, CME recurred in 3 of 22 eyes. The preoperative reflectivity in cystoid cavity on OCT was significantly higher in patients with fibrinogen clot removal (n = 5) than in patients without fibrinogen clot removal (n = 17) (p < 0.01). For treatment-resistant CME secondary to BRVO, Cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal may be one of the treatment options.

LONG-TERM EFFECT OF CYSTOTOMY WITH OR WITHOUT THE FIBRINOGEN CLOT REMOVAL FOR REFRACTORY CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To show the long-term effect of cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of the medical records of 30 eyes of 30 patients with refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy who had followed up for 12 months after the surgery were performed. RESULTS: There were 15 men and 15 women. The mean ± SD age was 68.4 ± 7.9 years. The best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) at 12 months after the surgery (0.33 ± 0.25, Snellen equivalent, 20/42) was statistically better than the preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (0.45 ± 0.33, Snellen equivalent, 20/56) (P < 0.01). The central sensitivity on microperimetry (dB) was not statistically changed between preoperatively (24.0 ± 4.9) and 12 months after the surgery (24.1 ± 4.0) (P = 0.75). The central retinal thickness on optical coherence tomography (µm) at 12 months after the surgery (300.3 ± 99.0) was statistically improved compared with the preoperative central retinal thickness (565.6 ± 198.7) (P < 0.01). During the follow-up period, cystoid macular edema relapsed in seven of 30 eyes. The preoperative cystoid cavity reflectivity on optical coherence tomography in patients with fibrinogen clot removal (n = 16) was significantly higher than that in patients without fibrinogen clot removal (n = 14) (P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal may be a promising treatment option for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy.

Impact of different manufacturers and gauge sizes on the performance of backflush needle.

The present study aimed to identify the factors regulating aspiration rate (AR) of backflush needles and to compare those factors across various backflush needles from different manufacturers. The 27-gauge (27G), 25-gauge, and 23-gauge backflush needles from four different manufacturers, Alcon, MedOne, VitreQ, and DORC, were used for this experiment. AR was measured at four different aspiration vacuum levels: 100, 200, 400, and 650 mmHg. AR was significantly increased as the aspiration vacuum level increased when both aspirating balanced salt solution (BSS) and ethylene glycol; however, 27G products from VitreQ and MedOne were unable to aspirate ethylene glycol at the low aspiration vacuum level of 100 mmHg. When aspirating BSS at the high aspiration vacuum level of 650 mmHg, a smaller gauge number generally resulted in a significantly higher AR. AR, inner diameter, and cross-sectional area in Alcon products were significantly larger in any gauge, and the shaft length of Alcon products was significantly shorter than those of other manufacturers' products in any gauge. Cross-sectional area negatively correlated with the degree of shaft deflection (r2 = 0.21, p = 0.042). These results imply that AR differs significantly among backflush needles and among companies depending on the shaft cross-sectional area.

A Rare Case of Lens-Induced Uveitis with Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy and Massive Encapsulation of Fallen Nuclear Material.

We experienced a rare case of lens-induced uveitis (LIU) with severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) diagnosed upon finding lens nuclear material encapsulated by intravitreal proliferative tissue. A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of vision loss caused by unexplained uveitis in the right eye (OD). Seven months previously, a complicated cataract surgery that required unplanned anterior vitrectomy and transscleral suture of intraocular lens was performed on that eye at another clinic. Severe inflammation with dense vitreous opacity occurred in the OD postoperatively. Although topical and oral administration of steroids reduced the inflammation 7 months after the surgery, PVR with tractional retinal detachment was developed in the OD. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed for the treatment and diagnosis. PPV revealed the presence of lens nuclear fragments within the vitreous, which was approximately 60% the ordinary nucleus size and was encapsulated by intravitreal proliferative tissue. The nuclear fragments were extracted from a superior corneoscleral flap. Intraocular inflammation was reduced with postoperative topical and oral steroid treatments and the retina remained reattached 1 year after the PPV. In conclusion, uveitis with an episode of a complicated cataract surgery may suggest LIU.

A CASE OF RETINAL METASTASIS OF LARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA WITH HISTOPATHOLOGIC CONFIRMATION BY VITRECTOMY-ASSISTED EN BLOCK EXTRACTION.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To present a case report of retinal metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma that was diagnosed by a histopathologic finding from the surgically extracted tumor tissue. METHODS: A 66-year-old man, who was suffered from the treatment-resistant laryngeal carcinoma, was referred to our department because of visual field defect in his right eye. A fundus examination revealed a parafoveal white retinal lesion, which rapidly expanded to the central fovea and decreased the visual acuity. A tissue extraction by 27G pars plana vitrectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: The abnormal retinal tissue was extracted en block through 10-mm sclerocorneal tunnel during pars plana vitrectomy. The histopathologic findings revealed that the retinal lesion was retinal metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: We must keep in mind that retinal metastasis can be one of the differential diagnoses for white retinal lesions of unknown cause.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EN BLOC REMOVAL OF FIBRINOGEN-RICH COMPONENT OF CYSTOID LESION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA.

PURPOSE: To introduce the methodology and outcomes of en bloc removal of the component of cystoid lesion during pars plana vitrectomy as a novel approach for the treatment of cystoid macular edema and show evidence that the component is an aggregation of fibrinogen by mass spectrometry analysis. METHODS: The surgical en bloc extraction of the component of cystoid lesion was performed for cystoid macular edemas secondary to diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Perioperative change of best-corrected decimal visual acuity, and the central retinal thickness and the continuity of subfoveal ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane on optical coherence tomography were evaluated. Mass spectrometry was performed for the identification of protein constituting the component. RESULTS: Six eyes from six patients were included in the study. In all cases, central retinal thickness was improved after the surgery and remained stable during the follow-up period. Best-corrected decimal visual acuity and the continuity of ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane were kept in all cases during the follow-up period. The mass spectrometry analysis disclosed that the component was composed of fibrinogen. CONCLUSION: The en block removal of the component of cystoid lesion combined with pars plana vitrectomy may be a promising option for treatment of cystoid macular edema. The component of cystoid lesion is presumably a fibrinogen aggregate.

The comparison of the surgical outcome of 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment between air and SF6 gas tamponade.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the surgical results between air and 20% sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tamponade in 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (27GPPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: A retrospective, observational, and consecutive study. All patients underwent 27GPPV for RRD were divided into two groups. Group A comprised patients who underwent 20% SF6 gas tamponade. Group B comprised patients who underwent air tamponade. The anatomical success rate, visual outcome, and the type and frequency of complications were investigated and compared between the groups. All patients were followed-up for 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Seventy eyes were enrolled (Group A: 35 eyes, Group B: 35 eyes). Seventeen eyes in Group A and 13 eyes in Group B had RRD with superior retinal breaks, while 14 eyes in Group A and 19 eyes in Group B had RRD with inferior retinal breaks. There was no statistically difference in preoperative demographic date between the groups. The initial and final anatomical success rates were 97.1% and 100% in Group A and 94.3% and 100% in Group B, respectively. The success rates between the groups were not statistically different (p = 1). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (logMAR) at 12 months after surgery was -0.02 ± 0.14 in Group A and -0.03 ± 0.27 in Group B. The BCVA between the groups was not statistically different (p = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical results of air tamponade were not inferior to 20% SF6 tamponade in 27GPPV for RRD irrespective of retinal break locations in the present cohort.

Clinical factors contributing to postoperative aqueous flare intensity after 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for the primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To investigate the perioperative clinical factors, which contribute to the postsurgical aqueous flare intensity (AFI) following 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (27GPPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. METHODS: We performed retrospective analyses of the medical records of 47 eyes of 47 patients with primary RRD who had undergone 27GPPV with a wide-angle viewing system. AFI was measured preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the surgery. RESULTS: AFI was significantly increased 1 week after the surgery (p<0.01) and then decreased overtime. At 6 months after surgery it was still statistically significantly higher than preoperative AFI (p=0.03). There was no statistical difference between preoperative AFI and that at 12 months following surgery. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the number of retinal photocoagulations and the performance of scleral indentation had significant positive correlation with AFI at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, and at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative retinal photocoagulation and scleral indentation are probable causes of increased AFI after 27G PPV for RRD.