Pseudophakic ametropia management with toric implantable collamer lens with a central hole (case report)

A prospective pilot study using a low power piggy-back toric implantable Collamer lens to correct residual refractive error after multifocal IOL implantation

Purpose

To assess whether residual refractive error after in-the-bag multifocal intraocular lens (mIOL) implantation can efficaciously and safely be corrected with a piggy-back low power Visian Toric Implantable Collamer Lens^® (VTICL, STAAR Surgical) placed in the ciliary sulcus.

Patients and methods

Twenty-four eyes of 23 patients (mean age: 57.5 years) with diminished uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of ≥2 lines due to residual refractive error after mIOL implantation were included in the study. VTICL size was calculated using the standard STAAR Visian ICL calculation software for phakic eyes. Postoperative study visits (1 day, 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after VTICL implantation) included UDVA, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), VTICL axis alignment, vault (space between mIOL and VTICL), IOP and documentation of adverse events.

Results

At 6 months, mean UDVA (logMAR) increased from 0.26 preoperatively to −0.01 (P<0.001) while mean CDVA remained unchanged. Mean VTICL misalignment from the preoperative target axis was 5.3° and mean vault was 1385 µm. In the initial phase of the study, 2 VTICL had to be exchanged due to oversizing.

Conclusion

Piggy-back low power VTICL can efficaciously correct residual refractive error after mIOL implantation and significantly increase UDVA. Advantages of this novel surgical approach include: VTICL availability in small diopter steps, no significant surgical-induced astigmatism, atraumatic and reversible procedure.

Relationship between aqueous humor cytokine level changes and retinal vascular changes after intravitreal aflibercept for diabetic macular edema

The aim of this work was to investigate the changes in aqueous humor cytokine levels after intravitreal injection of aflibercept in diabetic macular edema (DME) and to evaluate the relationship between cytokines modifications and central macular thickness (CMT) and retinal/choroidal vascular changes using structural and functional optical coherence tomography (OCT). Aqueous concentrations of 38 cytokines were measured via multiplex bead assay. In addition, spectral domain OCT and OCT angiography with SSADA software (XR Avanti® AngioVue) were performed at baseline and after intravitreal injections. VEGF, IL-6, IL-5, IL-1β, Eotaxin, GRO, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-1RA, Flt-3L and IP-10 showed a statistically significant decrease through the follow-up (p < 0.05; p < 0.001), while Fraktalkine and GM-CSF significantly increased (p < 0.05). Best corrected visual acuity significantly increased and CMT significantly decreased during follow-up (p < 0.001 and p = 0.013). Superficial capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus density significantly increased (p < 0.001 and p = 0.014). A positive relation was found between GRO, VEGF, Fraktalkine, IP-10, IL-12p70 aqueous humor levels and CMT (p < 0.05; p < 0.001). Aflibercept is a primary anti-VEGF treatment producing a decrease of DME due to the reduction of vascular permeability, nevertheless other inflammatory cytokines showed modification after aflibercept intravitreal injections probably related to edema modification or to an interaction of aflibercept with other inflammatory cytokines.