Long-Term Changes of Macular Thickness after Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Optic Disc Pit Maculopathy: A Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate macular thickness (MT) changes, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with optic disc pit (ODP) maculopathy after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.

PROCEDURES

Our retrospective study included nine patients with ODP maculopathy, treated with either PPV (n = 5) or PPV with ILM peeling (n = 4). All participants, who had a mean long-term follow-up of 33.4 ± 7.0 months, underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and SD-OCT. Due to the preoperative macular elevation, the postoperative MT in the operated patients was compared with that of fellow eyes and with normative data.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in MT was noticed in all macular sectors of the operated cases at the last examination. The reduction was more evident in the group of PPV with ILM peeling. At the last examination of the follow-up, there was a statistically significant improvement regarding BCVA in both groups in comparison with baseline, while the two groups did not differ significantly in between (p = 0.245).

CONCLUSIONS

In the long-term follow-up period, our study demonstrated a significant reduction in MT in patients with ODP maculopathy treated with PPV, which was more profound in those cases where PPV included ILM peeling. .

Hemodialysis-induced alterations in macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To evaluate changes in macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) during a hemodialysis (HD) session in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease.

METHODS

72 eyes of 36 diabetic patients with and without macular edema were evaluated before and immediately after an HD session. Average and maximum macular thicknesses in the central disk (6 mm in diameter) and total macular volume were measured.

RESULTS

In the eyes with diabetic macular edema, maximum macular thickness within the central disk of 6 mm, and mainly in its peripheral parts, was significantly reduced by 31.18 ± 4.18 μm after HD (p < 0.001). Average macular thickness and total macular volume were also significantly reduced (p = 0.003 and 0.015, respectively). In diabetic eyes without edema, maximum macular thickness decreased significantly by 11.21 ± 1.98 μm after HD (p < 0.001), while average macular thickness and total macular volume decreased slightly (p = 0.034, p = 0.043). Best-corrected visual acuity failed to change. We found a significant association of macular thickness changes with osmolality reduction and the presence of macular edema.

CONCLUSION

HD decreases macular thickness in diabetic patients with macular edema, while there exists a less-pronounced effect in diabetic eyes without edema.

Optical coherence tomography findings in a case of cone-rod dystrophy

A patient with cone-rod dystrophy, who was examined thoroughly with biomicroscopy, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and electrophysiology, is presented. Although fluorescein angiography depicted only window-defect type of hyperfluorescence, optical coherence tomography disclosed detachment of the neurosensory retina, focal absence of the outer parts of the photoreceptors' layer in the fovea, and cystoid edema in the macula. To the authors' knowledge, these findings have not been described in cone-rod dystrophy so far.

Infliximab for diabetic macular edema refractory to laser photocoagulation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, 32-week study

OBJECTIVE

Because many patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) do not respond to focal/grid laser photocoagulation, the only currently approved treatment, alternatives are needed. Based on encouraging preliminary findings, we aimed to assess efficacy and safety of the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) monoclonal antibody infliximab in this condition.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Eleven patients with sight-threatening DME persisting after two sessions of laser photocoagulation received infliximab (5 mg/kg) intravenously at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14, followed by placebo at weeks 16, 18, 22, and 30, or vice versa. Blinding was maintained to week 32, when the final assessments were performed. Best corrected visual acuity evaluated by a mixed-models approach for imbalanced crossover design using the percentage difference as the outcome variable was the primary study end point. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) scores dropped from 31.6 +/- 5.1 (mean +/- SD) letters read at baseline to 28.8 +/- 11.6 letters read at week 16 in six placebo-treated eyes and improved to 35.4 +/- 11.2 letters read after infliximab. In contrast, visual acuity improved from 23.5 +/- 10.3 at baseline to 30.4 +/- 13.4 letters read at week 16 in eight infliximab-treated eyes and was sustained at completion of placebo treatment (31.4 +/- 12.1 letters read). The excess visual acuity in infliximab-treated eyes was greater by 24.3% compared with that in placebo-treated eyes (95% CI 4.8-43.7; P = 0.017). Infliximab treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

The positive results of this small phase III study suggest that larger and longer term trials should be conducted to assess the efficacy of systemic or intravitreal anti-TNF agent administration for primary treatment of DME.

Comparison of optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry in glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and suspected glaucoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To compare the performance of the newest generation optical coherence topography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (SLP-VCC) in eyes with glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and suspected glaucoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One eye each of 84 patients (30 with glaucoma, 26 with suspected glaucoma, and 28 with ocular hypertension) was included in the study. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was measured with both technologies and thickness parameters were compared in the three groups of eyes. The correspondence of RNFL thickness measurements with visual field function was also studied.

RESULTS

Average OCT-RNFL thickness was found to have a statistically significant difference between patients with glaucoma and either suspected glaucoma or ocular hypertension. A statistically significant correlation between the average RNFL thicknesses measured by the two different technologies was shown only in the glaucoma group. A significant correlation with visual field mean deviation was found for superior average RNFL thickness as measured by SLP and for nerve fiber indicator and average and inferior average RNFL thickness as measured by OCT in glaucomatous eyes. Regression analysis indicated nerve fiber indicator to be the most valuable factor in predicting mean deviation.

CONCLUSION

RNFL thickness measurements obtained with OCT and SLP-VCC correlate well only in eyes with more advanced glaucomatous damage. The nerve fiber indicator parameter derived by SLP correlated best with mean deviation.

Analysis of the Macula With Optical Coherence Tomography After Successful Surgery for Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

OBJECTIVE

To use optical coherence tomography to assess the in vivo pathologic findings associated with incomplete visual recovery in patients who have undergone anatomically successful surgery to treat proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

METHODS

Eligible patients were recruited in vitreoretinal outpatient clinics between April 1, 2002, and July 31, 2003. Patients were included who had undergone anatomically successful vitreoretinal surgery to treat proliferative vitreoretinopathy and, at least 3 months after surgery, had postoperative vision worse than expected (< or =6/12) with no identifiable cause at clinical examination. Patients underwent optical coherence tomography, stereo fundus fluorescein angiography was performed in a cohort of patients, and angiographic findings were compared with those on the optical coherence tomograms. Relevant clinical data were collected retrospectively from patient case notes.

RESULTS

A total of 35 patients were recruited. Optical coherence tomograms revealed cystoid macular edema in 23 patients (66%) but did not identify any other specific intraretinal disease. Location of edema (outer or inner retina), determined with stereo fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, correlated well.

CONCLUSIONS

Optical coherence tomography is a useful diagnostic tool for assessing poor postoperative visual acuity and can reveal disease undetected at clinical examination. Cystoid macular edema is a common finding on optical coherence tomograms in eyes with incomplete visual recovery after anatomically successful surgery to treat proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Optical coherence tomography study of tilted optic disk associated with macular detachment

PURPOSE

To describe the macular findings by optical coherence tomography in both eyes of a patient with tilted optic disk and visual decrease.

METHODS

A 35-year-old woman with bilateral tilted optic disk and serous macular detachment was examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

RESULTS

Fluorescein angiography demonstrated staining of the temporal rim of the staphyloma adjacent to the optic disk and hyperfluorescence of the diffuse pigmentary changes in the papillomacular area. Leakage points and serous macular detachment were not observed. The existing neurosensory detachment at the fovea became evident only by OCT.

CONCLUSIONS

The existence of subretinal fluid, which became evident only by OCT, supports the view that OCT could further contribute to the study of the asymptomatic pigmentary lesions of the macula that are present in 11% of eyes with tilted optic disk. The reason for the localized macular detachment remains unclear. Dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or leakage of the optic disk staphyloma rim could possibly explain the cause of fluid accumulation in the macula.

Evolution of a retinoma case in 21 years

A 35-year-old man was observed during a 21-year period with fundus color photography, fluorescein angiography, and B-scan ultrasonography for a presumed retinoma detected in his left eye during routine ophthalmoscopy in 1982. The patient was a carrier of the 13q14 retinoblastoma gene. His retinal lesion remained stable during the follow-up period without signs of malignant transformation. Retinomas are most commonly observed in patients with retinoblastoma and their relatives. In this case, none of the patient's parents, siblings, or children had evidence of a retinal tumor. Photographic documentation of the nonprogressive nature of this presumed retinoma is provided and demonstrates the absence of growth.

Optical coherence tomography appearance of "drusenoid" pigment epithelial detachment

A case of bilateral "drusenoid" pigment epithelial detachment that was studied with fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography is described. Fundus fluorescein angiography depicted staining of the drusen without any sign of pooling of the dye, whereas optical coherence tomography displayed detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium. These findings remained unchanged during a 10-month period.

Management of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with inferior breaks

BACKGROUND

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) with inferior breaks are usually treated by scleral buckling (SB) or pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or a combination of both methods. However, applying a SB during PPV may produce a risk of choroidal haemorrhage. Following a recent pilot study showing that such cases can be safely treated by PPV without SB the authors re-examined their management of RRD in which inferior breaks were present.

METHODS

All patients had a detached vitreous and a complex configuration of retinal breaks. A case-control study was performed to analyse the surgical methods and results of PPV on 48 consecutive patients with RRD associated with inferior breaks and 48 age/sex matched controls who underwent PPV for RRD without inferior breaks. Exclusion criteria were giant retinal tears, retinal dialysis, trauma, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade B or higher, schisis detachments, and eyes that had been operated previously for RRD. A simple algorithm was followed to manage patients with inferior breaks. All patients underwent a standard three port PPV with intraocular gas tamponade without supplementary SB. Patients were asked to posture face up or right or left side down for 1 week.

RESULTS

39 of the 48 patients (81.3%) with inferior breaks were treated successfully with one operation. 41 of 48 patients (85.4%) control patients achieved primary success. The final success rate was 95.8% in both groups. There was no statistical difference between the two groups. When all the cases of RRD were analysed (including external plomb/non-drain procedures) the primary success rate was 89% and final success rate 97.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown that acceptable success rates can be achieved using PPV alone to treat RRD with inferior breaks. Complications are minimised and patients in this high risk group have an 81% chance of primary success. Pars plana vitrectomy and gas will successfully reattach the retina and a supplementary SB, to support the inferior retina, is unnecessary as the intraocular gas, and face up or, right or left side down positioning will tamponade breaks satisfactorily.