Efficacy of vitrectomy and epiretinal membrane peeling in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration

Long-Term Outcomes of Vitrectomy for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane With Internal Limiting Membrane Removal in Patients With Good Preoperative Visual Acuity

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term visual results of vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal for idiopathic ERM in eyes with a preoperative visual acuity (VA) of 20/50 or better. Methods: This retrospective review of a consecutive case series comprised 337 patients. Of these, 36 eyes of 36 patients had ERM and ILM removal from 2017 to 2018. Inclusion criteria included a subjective decrease in VA, a preoperative VA of 20/50 or better, vitrectomy with ERM and ILM removal for ERM, and a minimum 6-month follow-up. Paired t tests were used to determine the statistical significance (P < .05) of VA changes postoperatively. Results: The mean (±SD) best-corrected logMAR VA improved to a maximum of 0.125 ± 0.09 (Snellen equivalent 20/26.4) at a mean of 11.1 months postoperatively (P < .001). The VA continued to significantly improve over the long term (mean, 41.6 months; range, 6-63; P < .001). Overall long-term data trended heavily toward VA improvement (25/36 patients [69.4%]) and stability (10/36 patients [27.7%)] after ERM and ILM removal, with only 1 patient (2.8%) having worse VA. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to ERM and ILM removal. Conclusions: Surgery to remove idiopathic ERM and ILM for patients with significant symptoms and good preoperative VA may result in excellent long-term visual results.

Sub-Retinal Injection of Human Lipofuscin in the Mouse - A Model of "Dry" Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Lipofuscin (LF) accumulates during lifetime in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and is thought to play a crucial role in intermediate and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In an attemt to simulate aged retina and to study response of retinal microglia and RPE cells to LF, we injected a suspension of LF into the subretinal space of adult mice. LF suspension was obtained from human donor eyes. Subretinal injection of PBS or sham injection served as a control. Eyes were inspected by autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography, by electroretinography and on histological and ultrastructural levels. Levels of cytokine mRNA were determined by quantitative PCR separately in the RPE/choroid complex and in the retina. After injection of LF, microglial cells migrated quickly into the subretinal space to close proximity to RPE cells and phagocytosed LF particles. Retinal function was affected only slightly by LF within the first two weeks. After longer time, RPE cells showed clear signs of melanin loss and degradation. Levels of mRNA of inflammatory cytokines increased sharply after injection of both PBS and LF and were higher in the RPE/choroid complex than in the retina and were slightly higher after LF injection. In conclusion, subretinal injection of LF causes an activation of microglial cells and their migration into subretinal space, enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines and a gradual degradation of RPE cells. These features are found also in an aging retina, and subretinal injection of LF could be a model for intermediate and late AMD.

Outcomes of Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Epiretinal Membrane in Eyes With Coexisting Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE

There has been limited evidence on the benefits of pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peel (PPV-MP) for epiretinal membrane (ERM) in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We sought to assess anatomic and functional outcomes of PPV-MP for ERM in this subset of eyes.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with dry AMD who underwent PPV-MP for ERM from January 1, 2010, to December 1, 2016.

METHODS

Visual acuity (VA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) as measured on spectral-domain OCT were recorded and analyzed for the preoperative, 6-month, and final follow-up visits. The presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity were recorded and compared with postoperative imaging. Conversion to neovascular AMD in eyes for which at least 2 years of follow-up were available, as confirmed by either OCT and/or fluorescein angiography and documentation of treatment with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor, was recorded and compared between case eyes that underwent PPV-MP versus fellow control eyes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative VA.

RESULTS

A total of 38 eyes from 38 patients met the study criteria. There was a significant improvement in the median (interquartile range, [IQR]) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] VA from 0.60 (IQR 0.46-1.00) (20/80, Snellen equivalent) at the preoperative visit, to 0.48 (IQR 0.30-0.70) (20/60, Snellen equivalent) at the 6-month follow-up visit (P = 0.04), and to 0.48 (IQR 0.30-0.70) (20/60, Snellen equivalent) at the final visit (P = 0.01). There was a significant median decrease in CFT at the final visit (P < 0.001) compared with the preoperative CFT. Only eyes with either CME or an intact EZ showed significant improvement in median logMAR VA at the final visit compared with the preoperative visit (P = 0.01 and P = 0.004, respectively). In a subgroup analysis of eyes for which a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were available, 4 of 25 (16.0%) vitrectomized eyes and 1 of 25 (4.0%) fellow control eyes progressed to neovascular AMD (P = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

PPV-MP appears to confer anatomic and functional improvement in eyes with ERM and coexisting dry AMD. Moreover, greater preoperative CFT, the presence of CME, and an intact EZ were predictors of VA improvement in these eyes.

Epiretinal Membrane Surgery Outcomes in Eyes with Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits: A Case Control Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate outcomes of epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery in eyes with subretinal drusenoid deposits (SRDDs) and to compare them with those with isolated ERM.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study of consecutive patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with ERM peeling.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-five patients with SRDDs on spectral-domain (SD)-OCT who underwent surgery for ERM were included in the study. From the same cohort, for each case, we selected 2 age-matched control participants (50 eyes with isolated ERM). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) also was matched as closely as possible.

METHODS

All participants underwent PPV and ERM peel for primary ERM.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative BCVA, improvement in BCVA, preoperative and postoperative central macular thickness, surgical complications, and development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were recorded.

RESULTS

At final examination, mean postoperative BCVA was significantly less for eyes with SRDDs (0.51 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution [logMAR] vs. 0.21 logMAR; P = 0.0001). Eyes with SRDDs demonstrated less improvement in BCVA after ERM surgery (0.13 logMAR vs. 0.30 logMAR; P = 0.0032). Eyes with SRDDs were significantly less likely to gain 2 or more Snellen lines of BCVA after ERM surgery (28% vs. 56%; P = 0.028). Three of 25 patients (12%) undergoing ERM surgery showed worsening of Snellen BCVA by 2 lines or more. Three of 25 eyes (12%) with SRDDs demonstrated advanced AMD after surgery, compared with 0 participants in the control group (P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Epiretinal membrane surgery in eyes with SRDDs is associated with less favorable visual outcomes. Fewer patients demonstrate gain in BCVA, whereas a significant number show a deleterious decline. After surgery, AMD incidence seems high and patients may have an increased risk of raised intraocular pressure. These findings require further study to establish whether this represents a causal relationship. Surgeons should be vigilant for these complications. Appropriate patient counseling during the consenting process must be made.

REABSORPTION OF ACQUIRED VITELLIFORM LESIONS IN VITREOMACULAR DISORDERS AFTER VITRECTOMY

PURPOSE

To describe cases of reabsorption of subretinal acquired vitelliform material (acquired vitelliform lesion [AVL]) associated with vitreomacular disorders after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and peeling of internal limiting membrane.

METHODS

Data of consecutive patients who underwent 25-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy for vitreomacular disorders at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Brussels (Belgium) were collected. Patients featuring AVL on fundus examination or on spectral domain optical coherence tomography were recruited. Patients were followed up for 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Four eyes of three consecutive white patients presenting AVL were included. Three cases were affected by macular pucker, whereas one case featured vitreomacular traction syndrome. Progressive flattening of the AVL after surgery was observed in three eyes of three patients. One eye did not show any resorption of the submacular accumulation. In two eyes, atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and the outer retinal layers was observed along with resolution of the AVL, with significant worsening of visual acuity postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

The outcome of surgery in cases of submacular AVL associated with vitreomacular interface syndromes could be heterogeneous and may depend on the duration of the disease and baseline optical coherence tomography characteristics of the lipofuscin accumulation.