[Blunt ocular trauma. Part I: blunt anterior segment trauma]

Pharmaceutical In Situ Gel for Glaucoma: Recent Trends and Development with an Update on Research and Patents

Glaucoma is a progressive visual polyneuropathy characterized by retinal ganglion cell atrophy and optic nerve head changes. It's generally triggered due to increased intraocular pressure compared with the healthy eye. Glaucoma is treated with various medications in traditional eye drops, such as prostaglandins, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, beta-blockers, and others. Such treatments are difficult to use and produce lachrymal leakage and inadequate corneal permeability, resulting in lower availability. Ophthalmic in situ gels, introduced in past decades with tremendous effort, are among the finest various choices to solve the drawbacks of eye drops. Employing different polymers with pH-triggered, temperature-triggered, and ion-activated processes have been used to generate ophthalmic in situ gelling treatments. Once those preparations are delivered into the eye, they change phase from sol to gel, allowing the medicine to stay in the eye for longer. These formulations are known as smart gels as they turn into gelling fluids when administered into the eyes. The different mechanisms of in situ gel formulations are used for the management of glaucoma and are discussed in this review article.

Investigation of Retinal Vascular Parameters and Choroidal Vascular Index in Patients Developing Hyphema After Unilateral Blunt Trauma

BACKGROUND

To evaluate retinal and choroidal vascular changes in cases with hyphema after blunt ocular trauma that did not cause globe rupture or any retinal pathology.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 29 patients who developed hyphema after unilateral blunt ocular trauma (BOT). The other healthy eyes of the same patients were evaluated as the control group. Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) was used for imaging. In addition, choroidal parameters were compared by calculating the choroidal vascular index (CVI) and using choroidal thickness measurements by two independent researchers.

RESULTS

Superior and deep flow values were significantly decreased in the traumatic hyphema group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Parafoveal deep vascular density (parafoveal dVD) values were decreased in traumatized eyes compared to control eyes (p=0.000). Vascular density values were similar other than that. In addition, there was a significant decrease in optic disc blood flow (ODF) and optic nerve head density (ONHD) values compared to the control group (p<0.05). In addition, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of mean CVI values (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Non-invasive diagnostic tools such as OCTA and EDI-OCT can be used to detect and monitor early changes in retinal and choroidal microvascular flow in cases of traumatic hyphema.

Artificial iris: state of the art

Surgical correction of traumatic aniridia aims to improve the quality of vision, compartmentalize the anterior and posterior chamber, and re-establish a satisfying cosmetic appearance. Various types of prosthetic iris devices (PIDs) are available, which differ in technical difficulty of implant and design: artificial iris (AI)-intraocular lens prosthesis, endocapsular capsular tension ring-based PID, and customized AI. The choice depends on the preexisting clinical condition after severe ocular trauma and on patient functional and cosmetic expectations. This systematic review of the literature compared anatomical and functional outcomes of various types of PIDs. Of 185 articles found in the literature, 70 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. 5 subgroups of PIDs were Ophtec, artificial iris from Ophtec BV, Morcher GmbH, HumanOptics AG, and other prosthesis. Both glare and aesthetic outcome improved postoperatively; in comparison with other PIDs, intraocular pressure rise was higher in the Morcher group (40%), whereas prosthesis dislocation was higher in the Ophtec group (39%).

Value of ocular trauma score in predicting the incidence of secondary glaucoma after closed globe injury

AIM

To analyze the visual acuity (VA) and the incidence of secondary glaucoma among patients with closed globe injury (CGI). To determine the correlations between the ocular trauma score (OTS) with surgery rate, and evaluate the applicability of OTS in secondary glaucoma prediction and treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 265 patients (265 eyes) with CGI admitted to Xijing Hospital between January 2014 and December 2016. The clinical characteristics; VA, IOP, injury zone, surgery, and IOP-lowering medications were collected at the initial visit and at six months. The patients with secondary glaucoma were scored and assessed by the OTS system. The correlation of the anti-glaucoma surgery with the OTS was evaluated. The difference in the number of IOP-lowering medications between the initial visit and six months was analyzed.

RESULTS

The average age of the patients was 33.5 ± 20.7 years with 80.8% being males. The final VA outcome improved in its totality after treatment. 35 patients developed glaucoma, with an incident rate of 13.2% over six months. All glaucoma patients had an injury in zone I and II, and 12 of them had an injury in zone III. The severity of the OTS category showed a strong correlation with the anti-glaucoma surgery rate. After the surgical intervention, the number of IOP-lowering medications in OTS category 2, 3, and 4 significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

The OTS has predictive value in the incidence of secondary glaucoma after CGI. A patient with a low score is more likely to develop secondary glaucoma and might require surgical intervention.

Combined Post-Traumatic Total Aniridia and Glaucoma Management

We report a novel approach for managing traumatic total aniridia associated with secondary glaucoma. A 65-year-old male with symptoms of blurred vision, glare, and photophobia was managed in a district general hospital for post-traumatic aniridia associated with secondary glaucoma affecting the right eye. The patient previously suffered blunt ocular injury associated with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, which was treated with pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil (SO) tamponade and subsequent removal of SO (ROSO). Combined trabeculectomy and implantation of a foldable prosthetic iris (Reper NN Ltd) successfully addressed the dual pathology of aniridia and secondary glaucoma. In summary, the utilization of the trabeculectomy fistula can serve as the implant insertion site, which minimizes the requirement for additional incisions.

Reper intraocular lens with artificial iris: implantation techniques and outcomes

The authors describe the surgical techniques to implant a novel intraocular lens with artificial iris (Reper) in patients affected by traumatic aphakia and aniridia. Two surgical approaches are proposed: implantation by suture-loaded cartridge and "open sky" implantation combined with penetrating keratoplasty. The method of establishing the exact position of the scleral fixation points and the pre-assembly of the suture of Reper before its implantation are the main novel proposed surgical procedures. The rationale is to minimize surgical procedures in the anterior chamber and to prevent knot loosening and lens tilting. The simultaneous treatment of aphakia and aniridia with a single prosthesis, the stability of the Reper and the functional, anatomical and aesthetic outcomes obtained are the highlighted advantages in this study.

[Management of posttraumatic ocular hypotony]

The posttraumatic ocular hypotony (3% after ocular contusion, 50-74% after open globe injury) can lead to severe secondary damage of the eyeball. In addition to corneal folds, ciliary body and choroidal detachment, papilledema e vacuo and macular folds, the shrinking of the eye can lead to substantial visual impairment. Subsequently, the contralateral eye may react with ocular hypertension. The cause of the hypotony must be identified and causally treated. A preservation of the globe is possible if more than 210 ° of the ciliary body are intact. One of the major causes of posttraumatic hypotony is cyclodialysis. Smaller cyclodialysis clefts respond to a cycloplegic treatment, larger clefts require a surgical approach. The direct cyclopexy can be combined with primary wound repair or pole to pole surgery. An alternative consists of silicone oil endotamponade or occlusion of Schlemm's canal. The posttraumatic ocular hypotony is complex and requires exact diagnostics to be able to differentially and specifically treat the causes of hypotony.

Eye injury registries - A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Registries are integral to monitoring, surveying, treating, preventing and prognosticating trauma. The quantity and quality of data must justify a change or intervention in treatment and/or preventive strategies and must be collected while balancing the cost and time invested in the registry. This review documents the quality, completeness and operational and funding models for ocular trauma registries worldwide.

METHODS

The databases CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Informit Health Collection were searched using key word and mesh terms for: "Eye injury, "Ocular trauma", "Eye injury prevention", "Eye protection", "Registry". To find relevant unpublished articles and theses, clinicaltrials.gov, Trip, MedNar and Google Scholar were searched using the key words "eye injury" OR "ocular trauma" AND "registry*". No date or language restrictions were applied. The quality of registry data was assessed against published measures including design, operation and data quality.

RESULTS

The electronic search retrieved 528 distinct published articles; 61 articles were assessed for eligibility. Of the 61 articles identified, 28 were eligible to be included in the review, with cross-referencing identifying a further 7 articles. The source of most articles on ocular trauma registries was the United States, followed by Germany and China. Patient follow-up was conducted in 31 studies, with 6 months being the most frequently reported period. Issues with data quality included incomplete data such as presence or absence of eye protection and initial visual acuity. Attrition bias was controlled by the United States Eye Injury Register with follow-up. Patients without follow-up data were removed for some studies and this may have introduced bias.

CONCLUSION

National, state and hospital-based ocular trauma registries have contributed significantly to our understanding of ocular trauma. The United States has the most frequently cited and well-resourced ocular trauma registries. It is anticipated that this review will guide the development of future registries for ocular trauma in order to inform evidence-based prevention strategies and, ultimately, improve visual outcomes. We recommend the development of a consensus guidelines for international ocular trauma registry that includes mechanism and context of injury and visual outcomes, to permit international comparison that can be implemented at low cost with secure data capture.

The Probable Mechanism of Traumatic Angle Recession and Cyclodialysis

During blunt ocular trauma, the anteroposterior compressive forces confronted lead to consequent equatorial expansion of the globe. This may result in ciliary body trauma, typically manifesting as angle recession or cyclodialysis. The authors hypothesize that a likely asymmetric contraction between the longitudinal and circular ciliary fibers, and an intrinsic weak "oblique buffer zone" creates a plane of separation between the 2, resulting in angle recession. When stronger forces are met with, the equatorial expansion of the sclera may outperform the ability of the ciliary body to follow it, and the taut longitudinal ciliary fibers may subsequently disinsert from the scleral spur causing cyclodialysis. In addition to this, the routinely thought dismembering aqueous jets directed toward the angle may also accentuate ciliary body trauma. Therefore, the vivid distractive external forces along with the complex ciliary muscle anatomy and differential functionality may play a crucial role in causation of post-traumatic angle recession and cyclodialysis.

[Laser membranotomy of acute subhyaloidal hemorrhage after indirect ocular trauma]

INTRODUCTION

Subhyaloidal premacular hemorrhage (SPH) causes a painless acute loss of vision with central scotoma. Typically, it can be caused by vascular retinal diseases or in the context of a Valsalva retinopathy. Ocular trauma is a less common cause of SPH.

METHODS

This case report describes a 54-year-old male who presented with a painless decrease of vision in the left eye after blunt frontal trauma to the forehead during a car accident.

RESULTS

A car accident resulted in an abrupt deceleration of the head by hitting the windscreen. There was no direct trauma to the eyes. The initial visual acuity of the affected left eye was 0.1 and the visual acuity of the right eye was 1.0. Funduscopy verified an incomplete detachment of the posterior vitreous body with rupture of a retinal venous vessel of the temporal upper vascular arch and prominent SPH. Furthermore, a cystoid macular edema was detected. For internal drainage a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser membranotomy of the posterior vitreous body was performed 1 day after the trauma. On the first postoperative day visual acuity increased to 0.32 with a complete resolution of the macular edema. During the follow-up, visual acuity was 1.0 after 3 months and 1.25 after 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Acceleration and subsequent deceleration can result in a relevant transfer of force to the vitreoretinal interface as an indirect trauma. The Nd:YAG laser membranotomy is a minimally invasive treatment option for SPH after indirect ocular trauma.

Klassifikation biomedizinischer Forschungsberichte als Grundlage evidenzbasierter Medizin in der Augenheilkunde

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based medicine requires careful appraisal of published data derived from experimental and clinical studies. Based on classification of biomedical research reports, evidence levels can be determined and recommendations for therapeutic decisions can be made.

METHODS

A classification system for clinical studies was developed. It was evaluated in classifying the reports published in Der Ophthalmologe during 2003-2004 (study design: descriptive cross-sectional study, case series).

RESULTS

In the 2-year interval, 70 longitudinal and 95 cross-sectional studies were published. The vast majority of the longitudinal studies were interventional cohort studies. Not considering case reports, 73% of the original articles were longitudinal prospective studies, 1% were retrospective (case-control) studies, and 26% were cross-sectional studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The study design of all published articles could be classified using the classification system. This classification system proves to be applicable in the context of clinical studies in ophthalmology and may be helpful in the process of critical appraisal of the literature and synthesis of clinical evidence and an evidence-based recommendation.