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Background: Clinically significant macular edema (CME) is the leading cause of visual loss after ophthalmologic surgery due to the release of inflammatory mediators promoted by the procedures. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of intravitreal Ozurdex® (700 µg dexamethasone) implants as a primary therapeutical option for post-surgical macular edema cases. Methods: Patients with post-surgical macular edema diagnosed by optical coherence tomography (Cirrus SD-OCT) and treated with Ozudex were selected for the current study. Data was retrospectively collected from medical records from January 2020 to December 2022 and included sex, age, laterality, and timeline of treatment (i.e. implant alone or at the time of silicon oil removal in cases requiring vitreorretinal surgery). Complications associated with treatment were also noted as well as the need of further treatments. The structural analysis focused on measuring central macular thickness (CMT—average thickness within the 1 mm circle of the ETDRS) from the internal limiting membrane to the Bruch's membrane complex, as well as the average total macular thickness including parafoveal and perifoveal regions determined by the device (CAT). The functional evaluation was based on the best-corrected visual acuity (VA) measured in logMAR. Results: A total of 46 participants were included (56.2% males, mean age: 60.9 ± 11.2 years old). A statistically significant change was observed in the postoperative versus the preoperative period for all parameters (p < 0.05). The mean VA difference was − 0.17 ± 0.24; CMT was − 109.22 ± 124.85 and CAT was − 14.76 ± 58.95. We observed a significant effect of the moment of Ozurdex implantation on VA improvement, so that cases with implantation at the time of oil removal showed lower improvement than cases with implantation at a distinct timing (Coef. 0.19, 95%CI: 0.02 to 0.36, p = 0.027). Eleven cases (23.9%) required further treatment such as new Ozurdex implantation (8 cases) or surgery (3 cases). Only one case (2.17%) showed increased intraocular pressure and underwent glaucoma surgery. Conclusions: Intravitreal Ozurdex implants significantly improved functional and structural aspects in post-surgical macular edema. The timing of implantation influenced VA improvement, with a distinct step approach showing better outcomes than at the time of oil removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia is the property of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia is the property of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Thalassemia is characterized by decreased or absent in the production of polypeptide chain of the hemoglobin molecule, is a condition most often hereditary, is common in people descended from countries around the Mediterranean sea. This study aimed to describe a case of adult patients, beta thalassemia, with symptoms of anemic framework and the importance of differential diagnosis of microcytic and hypochromic anemias. There were specific laboratory tests to classify the type thalassemia and emphasized the importance of conducting these tests to avoid mis diagnosis differentials, as initially occurred in this account, where it was suspected of iron deficiency anemia. The patient was diagnosed with thalassemia minor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusionSilicone oil (SO) has been used as a vitreous tamponade for decades. Surgical complications such as glaucoma, cataract, or emulsification are well known. Despite that, increasing case reports of unexplained visual loss after SO removal is concerning because there is no treatment available. This article describes practical complications related to SO use and advantages/disadvantages for consideration regarding the choice of a vitreous substitute in practice.A literature review was conducted for publications related to silicone oil, heavy silicone oil, and vitreous substitutes.This article summarizes the SO chemical and physical properties including both SO and heavy SO and postoperative complications such as corneal decompensation, glaucoma, hypotony, cataract, optic neuropathy. Surgical complications such as over/underfilling, SO migration/emulsification, sticky SO and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) simulating epiretinal membranes formation, recurrent retinal detachments, SO unexplained visual loss, and permanent SO, are described. A brief overview on potential vitreous substitutes is presented.The decision to use SO as vitreous substitute in daily practice is based on the severity of retinal diseases and surgeon experience. SO potential complications must not be underestimated. The pursuit of novel safer vitreous substitutes is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Routine alcohol testing of practicing physicians remains controversial since there are no uniform guidelines or legal regulations in the medical field. Our aim was to quantitatively study the acute and next-morning effects of breath alcohol concentration (BAC)-adjusted alcohol intake on overall simulated surgical performance and microtremor among senior vitreoretinal surgeons., Methods: This prospective cohort study included 11 vitreoretinal surgeons (>10 years practice). Surgical performance was first assessed using the Eyesi surgical simulator following same-day alcohol consumption producing a BAC reading of 0.06%-0.10% (low-dose), followed by 0.11%-0.15% (high-dose). Dexterity was then evaluated after a 'night out' producing a high-dose BAC combined with a night's sleep. Changes in the total score (0-700, worst-best) and tremor (0-100, best-worst) were measured., Results: Surgeon performance declined after high-dose alcohol compared with low-dose alcohol (-8.60±10.77 vs -1.21±7.71, p=0.04, respectively). The performance during hangover was similar to low-dose alcohol (-1.76±14.47 vs -1.21±7.71, p=1.00, respectively). The performance during hangover tended to be better than after high-dose alcohol (-1.76±14.47 vs -8.60±10.77, p=0.09, respectively). Tremor increased during hangover compared with low-dose alcohol (7.33±21.65 vs -10.31±10.73, p=0.03, respectively). A trend toward greater tremor during hangover occurred compared with high-dose alcohol (7.33±21.65 vs -4.12±17.17, p=0.08, respectively)., Conclusion: Alcohol-related decline in simulated surgical dexterity among senior vitreoretinal surgeons was dose-dependent. Dexterity improved the following morning but remained comparable to after low-dose alcohol ingestion. Tremor increased during hangover compared with same-day intoxication. Further studies are needed to investigate extrapolations of these data to a real surgical environment regarding patient safety and surgeon performance., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)