Nd:YAG Laser Vitreolysis for Symptomatic Vitreous Floaters: Application of Infrared Fundus Photography in Assessing the Treatment Efficacy

Practical applications of vitreous imaging for the treatment of vitreous opacities with YAG vitreolysis

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the methodology and efficacy of using scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and dynamic optical coherence tomography (OCT) to identify and treat symptomatic vitreous floaters using yttrium-aluminum garnet laser vitreolysis (YLV).

METHODS

This is a case series highlighted from a cross sectional retrospective study conducted at the Vitreous Retina Macula Specialists of Toronto. Forty eyes from thirty-five patients were treated with YLV between November 2018 and December 2020 for symptomatic floaters and imaged with SLO and dynamic OCT. Patients were re-treated with YLV if they reported ongoing significant vision symptoms during follow-up which correlated to visible opacities on exam and or imaging. Three cases will be highlighted to present the practical applications of SLO and dynamic OCT imaging for YLV treatment.

RESULTS

Forty treated eyes were enrolled in this study, with twenty-six eyes (65%) requiring at least one repeat YLV treatment following the first treatment due to ongoing symptomatic floaters. Following the first YLV, there was a significant improvement in overall mean best corrected visual acuity compared to before treatment (0.11 ± 0.20 LogMAR units vs. 0.14 ± 0.20 LogMAR units, p = 0.02 (paired t test)). Case 1 demonstrates a dense, solitary vitreous opacity that has been localized with dynamic OCT imaging to track its movements and retinal shadowing with the patient's eye movements. Case 2 shows the utility of adjusting the fixation target to monitor the movement of vitreous opacities in real-time. Case 3 exhibits an association between decreased symptom burden and vitreous opacity density after YLV.

CONCLUSION

Image-guided YLV facilitates the localization and confirmation of vitreous opacities. SLO and dynamic OCT of the vitreous can provide a real-time evaluation of floater size, movement, and morphology, to help clinicians target treatment and monitoring of symptomatic floaters.

Patient-reported outcomes in patients with vitreous floaters: A systematic literature review

Seeking treatment for bothersome vitreous floaters is patient driven. To measure the impact of floaters and treatment on an individual's quality of life, patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) are essential. We review all studies using a PROM for patients with floaters. We evaluated content coverage against quality-of-life domains previously identified in other ophthalmic disorders, and against a qualitative study investigating quality-of-life issues in patients with floaters. We assessed measurement properties of PROMs using an extensive range of psychometric quality criteria. We identified 59 studies using 28 different PROMs. Many PROMs were not specifically developed for patients with floaters. Floater-specific PROMs were mostly based on content validation from an ophthalmologist or researcher perspective; two included a patient perspective. Using the outcomes of the qualitative study, we found that the floater-specific PROMs were narrow in their content coverage, with most items relating to visual symptoms and activity limitations. Testing the psychometric quality of PROMs was rare, and when employed mostly limited to responsiveness and known group validity. The remarkable high number of floater-specific PROMs reveals a need for such measurements in ophthalmology. Unfortunately, reporting on psychometric quality is limited, and content development is most often done without patient involvement.

Dynamic Infrared Imaging of Vitreous Floaters

Background and Objective

To evaluate the use of dynamic infrared (IR) imaging as a tool for the objective evaluation of symptomatic vitreous floaters and to correlate it with the patient symptomatology.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Retrospective study that examined 66 eyes of 44 patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic vitreous opacities. Patients were imaged using the Heidelberg Spectralis dynamic infrared (IR) image in video mode to record the vitreous movements and shadow artifacts within 30 degrees of the center of the macula. Patients were also asked how symptomatic their vitreous floaters were from absent to severe. After reviewing IR videos and OCT, a grading system was created to evaluate the floaters and a masked reader was asked to evaluate the videos and OCT based on the grading system created.

Results

A total of 66 eyes were identified and examined with the IR videos, 50 were symptomatic, and 16 were asymptomatic. After masked review and analysis of the IR videos, there were 4 characteristics that correlated with the patient's symptoms: size, location, movement, and density of obscuration of the OCT B Scan by the vitreous opacity. A table with grading of these characteristics was created to analyze how symptomatic patients were. A masked grader was asked to grade the videos and OCT using the grading system created. A positive correlation was found between the masked grader and the symptoms of patients. (0.70039; p < 0.00001).

Conclusion

Dynamic IR video capture of vitreous opacities is a new imaging technique that can qualitatively assess vitreous opacities in a way that correlates to a patient's symptoms. This imaging modality can provide a qualitative assessment of the patient's severity of symptoms based on the location, density, and movement of the visualized vitreous opacities in the imaged video.

Forms of Ocular Larval Toxocariasis in Childhood. A Review

The aim of this paper is to present an outline of forms of ocular manifestations of visceral larva migrans in children, as illustrated by the extensive photographic documentation. Ocular larval toxocariasis (OLT) has various clinical manifestations even in childhood age, in which age representation has an influence. The most common is presence of peripheral granuloma of the eye, frequently with a tractional vitreal streak leading from the retinal periphery to the optic nerve papilla. This is followed by granuloma of the posterior pole of the eye, usually reaching from the macular landscape to the central retinal periphery, always with vitritis. In children OLT may be manifested also in affliction of the optic nerve (cystic granuloma of the head of the optic nerve or neuropathy with vitreal reaction), fulminant endophthalmitis and in rare cases also diffuse chorioretinitis. The diagnosis rests upon a clinical ophthalmological finding, as well as laboratory examination of the levels of antibodies with potential eosinophilia. Histological examination may demonstrate spherical polypoid ossification in the choroid at the posterior pole of the eye as a consequence of fibrotisation and calcification, proceeding from the surrounding area of the absorbed larva. General combined treatment with antihelminthics and corticosteroids is arduous and does not always produce the desired effect in the sense of a satisfactory improvement of visual acuity. In differential diagnostics, manifestations of OLT in small children are still associated with retinoblastoma and a clinical picture of other intraocular diseases.

Visualization and Grading of Vitreous Floaters Using Dynamic Ultra-Widefield Infrared Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To describe the appearance of vitreous opacities using dynamic ultra-widefield infrared confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (IRcSLO). Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Eyes of patients complaining of myodesopsia were analyzed using dynamic ultra-widefield IRcSLO imaging (Nidek Mirante, Nidek Co., Ltd., Gamagori, Japan), and classified according to a vitreous opacity severity scale. Results: Thirty eyes of 21 patients were included in this study. The average age was 56 years. Symptom duration ranged from 1 to more than 365 days. The most common cause of vitreous floaters was posterior vitreous detachment (63.3%), followed by vitreous syneresis (23.3%), asteroid hyalosis (10%) and vitreous hemorrhage (3.3%). Opacities were classified as Grade 1 in three eyes (10%), Grade 2 in 10 eyes (33.3%), Grade 3 in 11 eyes (36.6%), Grade 4 in two eyes (6.6%) and Grade 5 in four eyes (13.3%). Patients with Grade 1 opacities were younger than patients with opacities Grade 2 or greater. A visible Weiss ring could be identified in 0% of eyes with Grade 1 opacities, 40% of eyes with Grade 2 opacities, 100% of eyes with Grade 3 opacities, and 100% of eyes with Grade 4 opacities. In patients with Grade 5 opacities, a Weiss ring could not be identified. Conclusion: Dynamic ultra-widefield IRcSLO imaging is a useful tool to evaluate patients with vitreous floaters. It allows for accurate visualization of the number, density, and behavior of the shadows that vitreous opacities project over a very wide area of the retina, which has a positive correlation with patient perception of floaters.

The effectiveness of laser vitreolysis for vitreous floaters in posterior vitreous detachment

Purpose

To determine the effectiveness of laser vitreolysis in terms of contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and vision-related quality of life (VRQol) for symptomatic floaters due to posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

Materials

This is an interventional study that involved 57 eyes of 45 patients with symptomatic floaters for more than 3 months. Patients underwent one to three sessions of vitreolysis via Neodymiun-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. We examined the CSF using the computer programs Freiburg Acuity and Contrast Test (FrACT) and VRQoL survey using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) before, and 1 month after, vitreolysis.

Results

Twelve patients had both eyes lasered and 33 patients had one eye lasered. The mean CSF improved from 3.20 ± 0.85%W to 2.64 ± 0.63%W 1 month after vitreolysis. Each use of the laser showed a significant mean difference in CSF (%W) as analyzed by paired t-test before and after the first laser (0.29 ± 0.49%W [P ≤ 0.001]); after the first and second laser (0.35 ± 0.53%W [P = 0.01]); and after second and third laser (0.21 ± 0.31%W [P = 0.02]). There was improvement in the median of four subscales in NEI VFQ-25 scores post treatment: general vision (z = -3.30, P = 0.001), near activity (z = 3.396, P = 0.001, distance activity (z = -2.788, P = 0.005), and mental health (z = -2.219, P = 0.026). The mean scores increased to 79.55 ± 9.45 from the baseline 75.06 ± 9.69 (P ≤ 0.001). No adverse events were recorded 1 month after the laser treatments.

Conclusion

Vitreolysis by Nd:YAG laser improved the CFS and VRQoL in symptomatic PVD patients.

Dietary Intervention With a Targeted Micronutrient Formulation Reduces the Visual Discomfort Associated With Vitreous Degeneration

Purpose

To investigate the impact of supplementation with a targeted micronutrient formulation on the visual discomfort associated with vitreous degeneration.

Methods

In this clinical trial, 61 patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters were randomized to consume daily, the active supplement consisting of 125 mg L-lysine, 40 mg vitamin C, 26.3 mg Vitis vinifera extract, 5 mg zinc, and 100 mg Citrus aurantium or placebo for 6 months. Change in visual discomfort from floaters, assessed with the Floater Disturbance Questionnaire, was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, letter contrast sensitivity, photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive and negative contrast polarity, and quantitative vitreous opacity areas.

Results

After supplementation, the active group reported a significant decrease in their visual discomfort from floaters (P < 0.001), whereas the placebo group had no significant change in their visual discomfort (P = 0.416). At 6 months, there was a significant decrease in vitreous opacity areas in the active group (P < 0.001) and an insignificant increase in vitreous opacity areas in the placebo group (P = 0.081). Also, there was a significant improvement in photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive contrast polarity in the active group after supplementation (P = 0.047).

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicate improvements in vision-related quality of life and visual function of patients suffering from vitreous floaters after supplementation with a formulation of antioxidative and antiglycation micronutrients. Notably, these improvements were confirmed by the decrease in vitreous opacity areas in the active group.

Translational Relevance

This targeted dietary intervention should be considered to support patients with symptomatic vitreous degeneration.

Nd:YAG laser vitreolysis and health-related quality of life in patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters

BACKGROUND

The treatment of floaters has consisted primarily of monitoring. The therapeutic approach is based on surgical removal or Nd:YAG laser treatment. The objective of this study was the assessment of the quality of life in patients treated with Nd:YAG laser for floaters.

METHODS

Single-center pretest-posttest design in a cohort of subjects treated with Nd-YAG laser with Ultra Q-Reflex technology. Health-related quality of life of the patients was measured before and after the intervention with the Visual Function Questionnaires VFQ-25 and VFQ-39. Anxiety level was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and safety parameters were also considered.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were included in the study. For the VFQ-25 baseline, the median was 73.05, interquartile range (19.25) versus a final median value of 93.76 (8.73) with p < 0.01. The baseline median for the extended version VFQ-39 was 74.60 (19.01) versus the final median of 95.01 (6.50) with p < 0.001. Regarding the anxiety, according to the STAI questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences between the baseline and the final conditions, with a baseline median of 38 (11) versus a final median of 18 (19); p < 0.001. When the analyses differentiated between patients with and without myopia, there were statistically significant differences for VFQ-25 and VFQ-39.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows an improvement in the health-related quality of life and a significant decrease in anxiety for patients that have undergone Nd: YAG Ultra-Q Reflex laser vitreolysis for floaters vaporization. The effect found is higher in myopic patients.

Safety and Efficacy of YAG Laser Vitreolysis for the Treatment of Vitreous Floaters: An Overview

Emerging evidence has suggested that the entoptic phenomena associated with vitreous opacities (i.e. vitreous floaters) are more bothersome than previously believed. In addition, the prevalence of vitreous floaters is likely increasing due to the evolving global pandemic of myopia. The use of YAG laser vitreolysis for the treatment of annoying vitreous floaters has attracted significant attention in recent years as the technique offers a number of potential advantages. Unfortunately, the currently available evidence that is needed to guide clinical practice is both very limited and contradictory. As a consequence, the technique remains highly controversial. A review of the existing literature sheds light on patient- and treatment-related factors that may significantly affect both the effectiveness and the safety of the procedure. The current article discusses important aspects of key publications on the topic, offers suggestions for clinical practice, and highlights unmet needs that should be addressed by future research.

Vitreous and Vision Degrading Myodesopsia

Macromolecules comprise only 2% of vitreous, yet are responsible for its gel state, transparency, and physiologic function(s) within the eye. Myopia and aging alter collagen and hyaluronan association causing concurrent gel liquefaction and fibrous degeneration. The resulting vitreous opacities and collapse of the vitreous body during posterior vitreous detachment are the most common causes for the visual phenomenon of vitreous floaters. Previously considered innocuous, the vitreous opacities that cause floaters sometimes impact vision by profoundly degrading contrast sensitivity function and impairing quality-of-life. While many people adapt to vitreous floaters, clinically significant cases can be diagnosed with Vision Degrading Myodesopsia based upon echographic assessment of vitreous structure and by measuring contrast sensitivity function. Perhaps due to the ubiquity of floaters, the medical profession has to date largely ignored the plight of those with Vision Degrading Myodesopsia. Improved diagnostics will enable better disease staging and more accurate identification of severe cases that merit therapy. YAG laser treatments may occasionally be slightly effective, but vitrectomy is currently the definitive cure. Future developments will usher in more informative diagnostic approaches as well as safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Improved laser treatments, new pharmacotherapies, and possibly non-invasive optical corrections are exciting new approaches to pursue. Ultimately, enhanced understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of Vision Degrading Myodesopsia should result in prevention, the ultimate goal of modern Medicine.