Horizontal and vertical micropsia following macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal-detachment surgical repair

VALIDATION OF M-CHARTS FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF METAMORPHOPSIA FOLLOWING RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR

PURPOSE

To validate the quantitative assessment of metamorphopsia in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) using M-CHARTS by determining its correlation with subjective reporting of metamorphopsia with a validated metamorphopsia questionnaire (modified MeMoQ).

METHODS

The Research Ethics Board approved a prospective observational study carried out at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Patients with primary, unilateral RRD and healthy controls were included. Metamorphopsia at 3 months was assessed with modified MeMoQ and M-CHARTS.

RESULTS

One hundred patients (50 with RRD, 50 controls) were included. Seventy percent (35/50) of the RRD group had metamorphopsia with M-CHARTS and 80% (40/50) with MeMoQ. The modified MeMoQ and total M-CHARTS scores were significantly higher in patients with RRD compared with controls ( P < 0.0001). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.934 in the RRD group. Horizontal, vertical, and total M-CHARTS scores were significantly correlated with MeMoQ scores (r s  = 0.465, P = 0.0007; r s  = 0.405, P = 0.004; r s  = 0.475, P = 0.0005, respectively). M-CHARTS was 72.7% sensitive and 94.6% specific for detection of metamorphopsia (positive score ≥ 0.2), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.801. A stronger correlation was found in patients who scored ≥0.2 on the M-CHARTS and reported metamorphopsia with the MeMoQ (r s  = 0.454, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The authors have validated M-CHARTS as a tool to quantitatively assess metamorphopsia in patients with RRD, which is significantly correlated with patient-reported outcomes using the MeMoQ. A total score of ≥0.2 with M-CHARTS was more strongly correlated with MeMoQ.

[Disorders of the visual system following vitreoretinal and macular surgery]

The visual system is highly complex. Monocular or binocular disorders can develop, for example during tractive alterations of the macula, such as in epimacular membranes, and result in symptoms, such as double vision, aniseikonia or metamorphopsia. These symptoms are also observed following vitreomacular or vitreoretinal surgery, especially after treatment of large retinal detachment involving the macular area using pars plana vitrectomy or scleral buckle surgery but also as a result of vitreomacular interventions, such as membrane peeling in epimacular gliosis. Some patients have preoperatively existing latent conditions, which are not explicitly addressed during routine preoperative diagnostics. For patients and surgeons it is worth noting that these troublesome symptoms are often manifested in patients with good restoration of best corrected visual acuity following vitreomacular surgery. In such cases, patients tend to be dissatisfied with the surgical result despite good visual acuity. Treatment of postoperative metamorphopsia, aniseikonia and double vision is often difficult. In clinical studies, the maximum depth of tractive retinal folds has been described as a reliable morphological biomarker for the occurrence of metamorphopsia in epimacular gliosis. As metamorphopsia tends to postoperatively resolve slowly and even persist in ca. 30% of cases, this biomarker can have an impact on preoperative consulting and postoperative monitoring. Persistent binocular discomfort is often treatable by exact refraction correction and by applying a vertical and, if necessary, a horizontal prism. This often requires patience on the part of both the patient and the physician but is mostly successful due to fusion and adaptability.

Aniseikonia following intravitreal ranibizumab treatment for branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE

To quantify aniseikonia following intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and assess the relationship between aniseikonia and retinal microstructure.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

METHODS

This study included 50 patients undergoing IVR treatment for unilateral BRVO. The degree of aniseikonia and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was examined, and retinal microstructure was assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months after treatment. Based on OCT images, we assessed central retinal thickness (CRT), presence of the epiretinal membrane, and serous retinal detachment (SRD), as well as status of the external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone.

RESULTS

At baseline, mean aniseikonia was - 1.0 ± 2.5%, ranging from - 11.0 to + 6.0%. Nine out of 50 patients had micropsia (18%), one had macropsia (2%), and 40 had no aniseikonia (80%). After 6 months of treatment, mean aniseikonia was - 0.7 ± 1.5%, ranging from - 4.5 to + 3.5%. BCVA significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.001), but aniseikonia did not change (P = 0.73). In patients with BRVO who had micropsia (≤ - 2.0%) at baseline, mean aniseikonia significantly improved from - 4.8 ± 3.3% to - 0.9 ± 1.4% (P < 0.05). Aniseikonia after treatment significantly correlated with BCVA (P < 0.05) and the presence of SRD at baseline (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Majority of eyes with aniseikonia in BRVO had micropsia. The BCVA as well as the micropsia improved following treatment with IVR for BRVO. BCVA and the presence of SRD were predictors of post-treatment aniseikonia.

Comparison of the visual outcome between macula-on and macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment based on the duration of macular detachment

Objective

To compare the visual outcomes between macula-on and macula-off primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) based on the duration of macular detachment (DMD).

Methods and Analysis

Retrospective study including 96 eyes with RRD (34 macula-on and 62 macula-off) repaired between June 2012 and March 2020. The final visual acuity (VA) was compared after the patients were divided by the status of the macula and their DMD.

Results

The mean final VA of patients with macula-on RRD (group A) was logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.04±0.07, which was not statistically different from that of individuals with macula-off RRD with DMD ≤3 days (group B; logMAR 0.05±0.06) (p=0.79). There were statistically significant differences in the final VA between group A and patients with macula-off RRD with DMD of 4–7 days (group C; logMAR 0.15±0.15) (p=0.017) as well as between group A and those with macula-off RRD with DMD ≥8 days (group D; logMAR 0.36±0.29) (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the final VA between group B and C (p=0.33).

Conclusion

The mean final VA of patients with macula-on RRD was comparable to that of the macula-off patients with DMD ≤3 days. Our findings suggest that if macula-on RRD could not be immediately repaired, a repair within 72 hours may result in similar outcomes, even if the macula detaches within that time frame. However, once the macula detaches, we do not observe statistically significant differences in outcome for repairs done within 7 days.

Determining the Location of the Fovea Centralis Via En-Face SLO and Cross-Sectional OCT Imaging in Patients Without Retinal Pathology

Purpose

The purpose was to establish the position of the fovea centralis to the optic nerve via en-face, near-infrared spectral domain optical coherence tomography (NIR-OCT) in healthy patients. This may shed light on physiological variability and be used for studying subtle cases of foveal ectopia in macular pathology and after retinal detachment.

Methods

SD-OCT data of 890 healthy eyes were retrospectively analyzed. Exclusion criteria included axial myopia causing tilting of the optic disc, peripapillary atrophy >1/3 the width of the disc, macular images excluding greater than half of the optic disc, and patients unable to maintain vertical head positioning. Two independent reviewers measured the horizontal and vertical distance from the fovea to the optic disc center and optic disc diameter via cross-sectional and en-face scanning laser ophthalmoloscopy OCT imaging.

Results

890 eyes were included in the study. The right and left eyes differed in the horizontal distance from the fovea to the disc center (4359 vs. 4248 µm, P < 0.001) and vertical distance from the fovea to the disc center (464 µm vs. 647, P < 0.001). This corresponded to a smaller angle between the right and left eyes (6.07° vs. 8.67°, P < 0.001). Older age was associated with a larger horizontal (P = 0.008) and vertical distance (0.025). These differences persisted after correcting for axial length in the 487 patients with axial-length data.

Conclusions

This study compares the position of the fovea centralis among individuals without macular pathology on a micron level basis. The significant variability between right and left eyes indicates that contralateral eye evaluation cannot be reliably used. Rather, true foveal ectopia requires assessments of preoperative and postoperative NIR-OCT scans. This finding is relevant to retinal detachment cases and evaluation of subtle foveal ectopia.

Translational Relevance

This finding is relevant to retinal detachment cases and evaluation of subtle foveal ectopia.

Effect of Face-Down Positioning vs Support-the-Break Positioning After Macula-Involving Retinal Detachment Repair: The PostRD Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

A lack of consensus exists with regard to the optimal positioning regimen for patients after macula-involving retinal detachment (RD) repair.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of face-down positioning vs support-the-break positioning on retinal displacement and distortion after macula-involving RD repair.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A prospective 6-month single-masked randomized clinical trial was conducted at a multicenter tertiary referral setting from May 16, 2016, to May 1, 2018. Inclusion criteria were fovea-involving rhegmatogenous RD; central visual loss within 14 days; patients undergoing primary vitrectomy and gas surgery, under local anesthetic; patients able to give written informed consent; and 18 years old and older. Analysis was conducted following a modified intention-to-treat principle, with patients experiencing a redetachment or failure to attach the macula being excluded from analysis.

Interventions

Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive face-down positioning or support-the-break positioning for a 24-hour period postoperatively. Positioning compliance was not monitored.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The proportion of patients with retinal displacement on autofluorescence imaging at 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included proportion of patients with displacement at 2 months; amplitude of displacement at 2 and 6 months; corrected Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity; objective Distortion Scores; and quality of life questionnaire scores at 6 months.

Results

Of the 262 randomized patients, 239 were analyzed (171 male [71.5%]; mean [SD] age, 60.8 [9.8] years). At 6 months, retinal displacement was detected in 42 of 100 (42%) in the face-down positioning group vs 58 of 103 (56%) in the support-the-break positioning group (odds ratio, 1.77; 95%CI, 1.01-3.11; P = .04). The degree of displacement was lower in the face-down group. Groups were similar in corrected visual acuity (face-down, 74 letters vs support-the-break, 75 letters), objective D Chart Distortion Scores (range: 0, no distortion to 41.6, severe distortion; with face-down at 4.5 vs support-the-break at 4.2), and quality of life scores (face-down 89.3 vs support-the-break 89.0) at 2 and 6 months. Retinal redetachment rate was similar in both groups (face-down group, 12.2% and support-the-break group, 13.7%). Retinal folds were less common in the face-down positioning group vs the support-the-break positioning group (5.3% vs 13.5%, respectively; odds ratio, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.2-7.4; P = .03). Binocular diplopia was more common in the support-the-break group compared with the face-down positioning group (7.6% vs 1.5%, respectively; odds ratio, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.3-24.6; P = .03). Amplitude of displacement was associated with worse visual acuity (r = -0.5; P < .001) and distortion (r = 0.28; P = .008).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, findings suggest that face-down positioning was associated with a reduction in the rate and amplitude of postoperative retinal displacement after macula-involving RD repair and with a reduction in binocular diplopia. No association was found with visual acuity or postoperative distortion.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02748538.

Visual Acuity Inadequately Reflects Vision-Related Quality of Life in Patients After Macula-Off Retinal Detachment Surgery

Purpose

To determine the impact of postoperative visual function on the vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in patients after anatomically successful surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and to propose a classification to grade the extent of macular detachment using preoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans.

Methods

This prospective study evaluated 48 patients. At 12 months after surgery, visual function assessments were as follows: metamorphopsia (M-CHARTS), aniseikonia (New Aniseikonia Test), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS]), low contrast BCVA (10% ETDRS), color vision (Hardy Rand Rittler), and stereopsis (Titmus Fly). VRQoL was assessed by the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEIVFQ-25). Associations between visual function parameters and NEIVFQ-25 scores were evaluated. Preoperative OCT-scans were classified into six stages according to the extent of macular detachment based on an ETDRS-grid: incomplete perifoveal detachment (1), incomplete parafoveal detachment (2), incomplete foveal detachment (3), complete foveal detachment (4), complete parafoveal detachment (5), and complete perifoveal detachment (6).

Results

General vision and driving were the lowest scoring categories. General vision had the strongest correlation with low contrast BCVA (r = −0.41, P = 0.002), while driving had the strongest correlation with stereopsis (r = −0.39, P = 0.008). All macular detachments were graded stage 3 or beyond. Patients with stage 3 macular detachments had the highest visual function values compared to the other stages. The highest percentage of patients with metamorphopsia, aniseikonia and BCVA>0.1 logMAR was found in stages 5 and 6.

Conclusions

Macula-off RRD particularly affects general vision and driving. The extent of macular detachment is a potential predictor for visual function and can be graded using the proposed classification.

Smaller Foveal Avascular Zone in Deep Capillary Plexus Is Associated with Better Visual Acuity in Patients after Macula-off Retinal Detachment Surgery

Purpose

To associate the change in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and vessel density (VD) with final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in eyes after macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery, and to investigate the evolution of FAZ and VD during 12 months of follow-up.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated 47 patients with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and healthy fellow eyes. At 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 12.0 months postoperatively, optical coherence tomography angiography scans were obtained from both eyes on a 3.0 × 3.0 mm macula-centered grid. En face images of the superficial vascular plexus, intermediate capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus were used to quantify FAZ and VD. BCVA was assessed with ETDRS-charts (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution).

At 12 months postoperatively, the association between the change in optical coherence tomography angiography parameters and visual function in study eyes was evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient. We calculated the BCVA difference and the percentage difference of FAZ and VD between the study and control eye. The evolution of FAZ and VD was investigated with linear mixed-effects models with nested random effects (eyes nested within patients).

Results

At 12 months postoperatively, FAZ difference of the deep capillary plexus and BCVA difference were correlated (P = 0.0004, r_s = 0.5). Furthermore, there was no evidence that FAZ and VD changed during follow-up.

Conclusions

Although FAZ and VD remained stable during 12 months after surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, a smaller FAZ in the deep capillary plexus is associated with better BCVA.

Translational relevance

Reduction in FAZ area may be caused by angiogenesis to counteract ischemia, therefore therapeutic stimulation of angiogenesis could be beneficial to visual recovery.

Comparative analysis of metamorphopsia and aniseikonia after vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane, macular hole, or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

This study investigated postoperative changes in metamorphopsia and aniseikonia in eyes that underwent vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM), macular hole (MH), or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). In total, 166 eyes were included from 166 patients with ERM, MH, or RRD who underwent primary vitrectomy. Metamorphopsia and aniseikonia were quantified by M-CHARTS and the New Aniseikonia Test (NAT). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), M-CHARTS, NAT assessments, and OCT examination were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Of the 166 eyes, 65 had ERM, 21 had MH, 42 had macula-off RRD, and 38 had macula-on RRD. BCVA improved significantly between 1 and 6 months postoperatively in eyes with ERM, MH, and macula-off RRD (P = 0.0057, P = 0.0065, and P = 0.0021, respectively). M-CHARTS scores at 1 month postoperatively significantly decreased in eyes with ERM (P = 0.0034) and tended to decrease in eyes with MH (P = 0.068). NAT scores did not change between baseline and 1 month postoperatively in eyes with ERM or MH. Between 1 and 6 months postoperatively, M-CHARTS and NAT scores significantly decreased in eyes with macula-off RRD (P = 0.0064 and P = 0.0009, respectively), but not in eyes with ERM, MH, or macula-on RRD. At 6 months postoperatively, significant metamorphopsia was evident in 33.3% of eyes with ERM, 29.2% of eyes with MH, and 35.7% of eyes with macula-off RRD; 61.5% of eyes with ERM showed macropsia and 52.3% of eyes with macula-off RRD showed micropsia. In eyes with ERM, more central retinal thickness (CRT) correlated with postoperative BCVA, and deep retinal folds on enface OCT image correlated with postoperative metamorphopsia. In eyes with macula-off RRD, less CRT correlated with postoperative BCVA, and tended to correlate with postoperative micropsia. Macular morphologies could contribute to differences in postoperative visual acuity, metamorphopsia, and aniseikonia.

Changes in aniseikonia and influencing-factors following successful macula-off retinal detachment surgery

This study investigated the changes in the severity of aniseikonia after surgery for macula-off retinal detachment (RD), and the relationship between aniseikonia and retinal microstructures. The study included 26 eyes of 26 patients undergoing RD surgery. Visual acuity was measured preoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Degree of aniseikonia and OCT images were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The aniseikonia values (mean ± standard deviation) at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were −5.3 ± 4.2%, −4.4 ± 4.4%, and −3.1 ± 3.2%, respectively. Significant improvement was observed from 3 to 12 months postoperatively (P = 0.001). Twelve months postoperatively, 14 eyes had micropsia, 1 eye had macropsia, and 11 eyes were free of aniseikonia. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the severity of aniseikonia at 12 months postoperatively was significantly associated with postoperative development of cystoid macular edema (CME) and epiretinal membrane (ERM), as well as area of preoperative RD. In conclusion, although aniseikonia was gradually relieved after RD surgery during a 1-year follow-up period, approximately half of patients had aniseikonia and almost all of them had micropsia. Aniseikonia was associated with presence of postoperative CME, ERM, and area of preoperative RD.

Potential role of Müller cells in the pathogenesis of macropsia associated with epiretinal membrane: a hypothesis revisited

Pathophysiological explanations for metamorphopsia associated with retinal pathologies generally focus on photoreceptor organization disruption. However, the retinal microarchitecture is complicated, and we hypothesize that other retinal cells may also be involved. Metamorphopsia has been widely studied in eyes with epiretinal membranes and we revisit the idea that Müller cell displacement causes retinal macropsia. A PubMed query and related article search for the macula ultrastructure under normal and pathological conditions revealed an enormous amount of information, particularly ultrahigh definition optical coherence tomography and other retinal imaging modality studies. Findings of these imaging studies support our hypothesis that Müller cells, and not cone photoreceptors, are primarily responsible for macropsia in eyes with epiretinal membranes. More specifically, we conclude that displacement of Müller cell endfeet, and not photoreceptor cones, is a more likely the explanation for retinal macropsia associated with epiretinal membranes.

Rate and risk factors for the conversion of fovea-on to fovea-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment while awaiting surgery

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Progression of a fovea-on to a fovea-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) while awaiting surgery is rare.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patient records to identify patients in whom a fovea-on retinal detachment at presentation was found to be fovea off at surgery.

RESULTS

We identified 10 cases over 14 years which converted from fovea-on to fovea-off RRD while awaiting surgery. This represented 1.1% of RRDs that were fovea on at presentation (n=930). Nine out of 10 patients had superotemporal RRDs extending to at least the vascular arcade at presentation and all had superotemporal breaks within detached retina, which was significantly higher than the rate for other retinal detachments (100% vs 63%, p=0.02). There were 2.4 breaks per eye, similar to other retinal detachments. Six of the 10 patients converted to a fovea-off retinal detachment within a few hours and the rest by the following day. Visual outcomes were good, with eight patients maintaining their presenting visual acuity and two losing one Snellen line.

CONCLUSIONS

Offering same-day surgery to high-risk fovea-on RRDs may not significantly influence visual outcomes and would only prevent about half of the conversions to fovea off. Superotemporal retinal detachments extending to near the arcades are most at risk and might warrant posturing to limit spread of the detachment in the preoperative period.

Vision-related quality of life, metamorphopsia, and stereopsis after successful surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

PurposeTo determine the relationship between vision-related quality of life, metamorphopsia, and stereopsis after successful surgery to correct rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Patients and methodsData were obtained from 30 patients with RRD who had scleral buckle surgery or vitrectomy. Age, gender, duration of blurred vision, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), extent of detachment, and the location of retinal tears were measured before surgery. Approximately 1 year after surgery, stereopsis was measured with the Randot stereo test, visual acuity (VA) was measured using a Snell VA acuity measurement at a distance of 5 m and was presented as a linear LogMAR value, metamorphopsia was examined using an M-chart, and vision-related quality of life was determined using the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25).ResultsAll of the patients achieved anatomical retinal reattachment. There was a significant difference between preoperative BCVA (0.78±0.72) and BCVA 1 year postoperatively (0.25±0.25) (P<0.05). Twenty-three patients had visual distortion postoperatively, including vertical metamorphopsia (0.53±0.52°), and horizontal metamorphopsia (0.48±0.53°). Twenty patients had no stereopsis. The composite score of VFQ-25 was 76.60 postoperatively. Significant differences in postoperative BCVA, metamorphopsia, and VFQ-25 were found between macula-on and macula-off groups (all P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between VFQ-25 composite score and metamorphopsia (P<0.005); there was no significant correlation between VFQ-25 composite score and BCVA or stereopsis.ConclusionVision-related quality of life correlated with metamorphopsia, but did not correlate with VA or stereopsis.

Aniseikonia following pneumatic retinopexy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

PURPOSE

To evaluate the characteristics of aniseikonia in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) after pneumatic retinopexy.

DESIGN

Prospective, interventional case series study.

METHODS

Thirty patients who had undergone pneumatic retinopexy as the initial procedure for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were selected for this study. The principal outcomes included visual acuity, postoperative aniseikonia measured by the New Aniseikonia Test, anatomical success, and measurement of central retinal thickness using optical coherence topography (OCT). These outcomes were measured postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 37 years (range, 13-57 years), with 17 cases of macula-off RD and 13 cases of macula-on RD. All of these patients achieved anatomical success, proven by OCT after surgical repair. Three months after pneumatic retinopexy, 18 patients (60.0%) developed micropsic aniseikonia and aniseikonia was diagnosed in 15 patients (88.2%) in the macula-off RD group, leaving 2 patients (11.8%) unaffected. In the macula-on RD group, 3 patients (23.1%) were found to have aniseikonia, while 10 patients (76.9%) were unaffected. The presence of aniseikonia was strongly linked to the difference in central retinal thickness, between the operated eye and the fellow eye, measured at 12 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Aniseikonia after pneumatic retinopexy for rhegmatogenous RD may be related to the preoperative macular status. Macula-off RD patients had a higher incidence of aniseikonia, compared to macula-on RD patients, following retina reattachment. There was a moderate to high correlation between the grading of aniseikonia and the difference in central retinal thickness.

Morphision: a method for subjective evaluation of metamorphopsia in patients with unilateral macular pathology (i.e., full thickness macular hole and epiretinal membrane)

BACKGROUND

Lack of clinical tests to quantify spatial components of distortion in patients with full thickness macular holes (FTMH) and epiretinal membranes (ERM).

AIM

To develop a test for subjective evaluation of visual distortion in the central visual field around fixation in patients with unilateral FTMH or ERM.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Prospective case-control study carried out at tertiary referral center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients with unilateral macular disease (13 macular epiretinal membranes, 12 full-thickness macular holes), and nine controls (without ocular pathology) underwent ophthalmological examination with logMAR ETDRS visual acuity, near vision and contrast sensitivity assessed. Macular optical coherence tomography and metamorphopsia assessment using Morphision test was also carried out. This test consists of a set of modified Amsler charts for detection, identification, and subjective quantification of visual distortion in the central visual field around fixation. Morphision test content and construct validity, and reliability (test-retest method) were evaluated. Sixteen patients completed an unstructured survey on test performance and preference.

RESULTS

Every patient with unilateral FTMH or ERM identified a particular chart using Morphision test (content validity). None of the normal subjects without symptoms of metamorphopsia identified any distortion (construct validity). Test-retest showed a 100% consistency for frequency and 67% for amplitude. The mean amplitude difference between measurements was 0.02 degrees (SD = 0.038). The coefficient of repeatability was 0.075. There was a correlation between Morphision amplitude score and visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, individually.

CONCLUSIONS

Morphision test allowed detection and subjective quantification of metamorphopsia in the clinical setting in our patients with unilateral macular epiretinal membranes and full thickness macular holes.

Quick Referral and Urgent Surgery to Preempt Foveal Detachment in Retinal Detachment Repair

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the consultation and referral pathway and benefit of urgent surgery within 24 hours of outpatient clinic presentation on increasing the ratio of eyes with fovea-on at surgery and visual outcomes in retinal detachment cases.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective, interventional case series.

METHODS

A total of 106 eyes underwent an operation for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Standard vitrectomy or explant scleral buckling was performed. The ratio of eyes with fovea-on at the time of operation, anatomical success rate, and postoperative best corrected visual acuity were measured.

RESULTS

Of the106 eyes, 46 (43.4%) already were fovea-off at initial eye clinic visit, and 9 eyes became fovea-off during referral. Consequently, 55 patients (51.9%) were fovea-off when presenting to our outpatient clinic. Retinal detachment was within 1 disc diameter of the fovea in 9 of 51 eyes with fovea-on at outpatient clinic presentation, but surgery within 24 hours spared 6 eyes from foveal involvement. The anatomical success rate of primary surgery was 98.8% (81/82 eyes) by vitrectomy and 83.3% (20/24 eyes) by scleral buckling. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity of the fovea-on group was significantly higher (mean [SD], -0.019 [0.22] logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) than that of the fovea-off group (mean [SD], 0.32 [0.45] logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

More than half (51.9%) of our cohort had already been fovea-off by outpatient presentation. Therefore, efforts to urge patients to visit operating facilities promptly seem to be as important as the urgent surgeries themselves.

Characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and their relationship to visual outcome

AIMS

To examine pre-operative characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and their relationship to visual acuity (VA) following surgery.

METHODS

Review of prospectively completed electronic database. Baseline characteristics, retinal drawings and outcomes were analysed.

RESULTS

In all, 847 eyes from 847 patients with a mean age of 62.2 years, 60% males, and 56% right eyes were studied. Mean follow-up was 9.6 months. Preoperative VA correlated with final VA (r(2)=0.21, P<0.0001). Median postoperative VA was 6/9 (Logmar 0.18, quartiles=0.0-0.48) and was significantly related to anatomical success: 70.15% achieved 0.18 or better with fully attached retina and primary success, whereas only 8.33% achieved this when the retina was not fully attached at final follow-up (failure) (P<0.0001). Univariate analysis found multiple variables associated with achieving 0.18 postoperative vision, however, multivariate analysis revealed only primary anatomical success with surgery; absence of proliferative vitreo-retinopathy (PVR), better-presenting VA and fewer quadrants of detachment were associated with a better visual outcome (r(2)=0.26, P<0.0001). Patients with a clinically attached fovea achieved better vision than patients with a clinically detached fovea, independent of the visual loss duration. With foveal detachment however, postoperative VA was better in patients with 1-3 days of visual loss compared with 4-6 days (P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Failure of primary surgery, PVR, extensive RRD and poor-presenting VA are risk factors for poorer visual outcome following surgery for RRD. Fovea off RRD at presentation achieved poorer postoperative VA than fovea attached and visual outcome was poorer when there was a longer duration of visual symptoms.

Use of Bangerter filters with adults having intractable diplopia

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to describe the use of Bangerter filters in adults having intractable diplopia.

METHODS/CASE REPORTS

A series of adults having intractable diplopia caused by either cyclotorsion, retinal disease, monocular diplopia, or rapid alternating fixation who were treated with Bangerter filters is reported. Detailed case reports on 4 of the 10 patients are included.

CONCLUSION

Bangerter filters can be used to mitigate diplopia that cannot be eliminated with either prism, modification of the spectacle prescription, vision therapy, or extraocular muscle surgery. The weakest density filter that eliminates the diplopia should be prescribed. Prospective studies reporting the long-term efficacy and quality of life with the filters are needed.