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Purpose To investigate the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and combination of PDT and ranibizumab on aqueous humor levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Design Prospective randomized clinical trial. Method We included 20 eyes with treatment-naive PCV and 20 eyes undergoing cataract surgery as controls. PCV eyes were randomized to treatment with PDT alone or to a combination of ranibizumab and PDT on the same day. During 3 months, retreatment was not performed. Aqueous humors were collected at baseline and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment in the PCV group and during cataract surgery in the control group. VEGF levels were measured using multiplex bead immunoassay. Results At baseline, VEGF levels were significantly increased in PCV eyes compared with control eyes. A significant decrease in VEGF levels was found at 1 week after PDT treatment (n = 8) and at all time points after combination treatment (n = 12). With combination treatment, VEGF levels were decreased to values below the detection limit in all eyes at 1 week and 1 month and in 7 of 12 eyes at 3 months. There was no difference in the clinical profiles among the 2 treatment groups at each time point. Conclusion Decreased levels of VEGF detected 1 week after PDT for PCV seems to reflect acute damage of vascular endothelial cells, one of the VEGF expression sites in PCV. Concomitant ranibizumab resulted in a further decrease in VEGF to negligible levels, but this result did not affect the clinical results for 3 months.

Purpose To evaluate the co-occurrence of acute ischemic stroke and acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods We included 33 consecutive patients with acute RAO who underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging within 7 days of the onset of visual symptoms. The causes of RAO were classified according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria, which are based on clinical features and the results of etiological evaluations for atherosclerosis, cardioembolism and other prothrombotic conditions. We evaluated the prevalence of accompanying acute ischemic stroke in subjects with acute RAO and examined the relationships with etiological parameters. Results Acute ischemic stroke was detected in 8 (24.2%) subjects with RAO. Among these subjects, 3 (37.5%) patients did not exhibit any neurologic symptoms or signs. Most of the infarction patterns were small, multiple and scattered. All of the subjects with RAO who were positive for lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging had identifiable causes, whereas only 36% of the subjects who were negative for lesions had identifiable etiologies (P = .003). Carotid stenosis or cardioembolic sources were found more commonly in cases of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO; 7/18, 38.9%) than in cases of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO; 1/15 6.7%, P = .046). Conclusions Acute cerebral infarctions frequently accompany RAO. We recommend diffusion-weighted imaging for patients with RAO because the presence of lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging is accompanied by a significantly increased probability of identifying the cause.

PURPOSE: To report a case of visual field defect caused by damage of the nerve fiber layer associated with an internal limiting lamina defect after uneventful epiretinal membrane peeling. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: In the right eye, a 43-year-old male patient developed a nasal step and mild inferior arcuate scotoma after uneventful epiretinal membrane surgery without any associated glaucoma. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on the epiretinal membrane specimens. RESULTS: An epiretinal membrane specimen showed adhesion between epiretinal membrane and axons of nerve fiber layer in the area of the internal limiting lamina defect. CONCLUSION: Adhesion between epiretinal membrane and retinal tissue in the area of the internal limiting lamina defect may cause damage of the nerve fiber layer and visual field defect after epiretinal membrane peeling.