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Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) vitreolysis for symptomatic vitreous floaters as it remains a controversial procedure due to insufficient robust evidence in the literature for the maintenance of the results and absence of adverse effects., Methods: This is an observational extension to the previously presented prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Eight of thirteen subjects who underwent vitreolysis with YAG laser returned for a late reevaluation, 18 months after the procedure, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure., Results: All patients maintained the improvement in symptomatology noted after the procedure, with 25% showing complete improvement and a similar proportion (37.5%) reporting significant or partial improvement. Objective improvement in opacity was similar to that found at 6 months follow-up. The NEI-VFQ 25 quality of life questionnaire showed no statistically significant difference in responses between the 6th and 18th month. No adverse effects were noted on clinical examination or reported by patients., Conclusion: Vitreolysis efficacy observed at 6 months of follow-up was maintained until the eighteenth month, with all patients reporting improvement from the pre-procedure state. No late adverse effects were noted. A larger randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm the safety of the procedure.

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are widely used for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSCR), but their effectiveness remains unclear. This research was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this drugs for cCSCR., Methods: This is a review of randomized clinical trials (RCT) comparing MRAs to placebo in adults with cCSCR, using the effects of MRAs on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and adverse events as primary outcomes and the effects of MRAs on anatomical parameters as secondary outcomes: central subfield thickness (CST), subretinal fluid height (SFH) and central choroidal thickness (CCT). Our all-language online search included Medline (via PubMed), Central, Embase, Lilacs, Ibecs, and RCT registers platforms, as late as May 2021. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (version 2) to assess the methodological quality of each study and synthesized the results in meta-analyses using a random-effects model., Results: The search identified 302 records, five of which were eligible, totaling 225 cCSCR patients (aged 45-62 years; M/F ratio 3.1:1) treated for 1 to 12 months with spironolactone (50 mg/day) or eplerenone (50 mg/day) vs. placebo. Moderate-certainty evidence suggests MRAs result in little to no improvement in BCVA compared to placebo (SMD 0.22; 95% CI - 0.04 to 0.48; studies = 5; comparisons = 6; participants = 218; I 2  = 0%). Very low-certainty evidence suggests that, when compared to placebo, MRAs have a very uncertain impact on adverse effects (no meta-analysis was performed), and CST (MD 18.1; 95% CI - 113.04 to 76.84; participants = 145; studies = 2; I 2  = 68%). MRAs also result in little to no difference in SFH (SMD - 0.35; 95% CI - 0.95 to 0.26; studies = 5; comparisons = 6; participants = 221; I 2  = 76%; moderate certainty) and CCT (MD - 21.23; 95% CI - 64.69 to 22.24; participants = 206; studies = 4; comparisons = 5; I 2  = 85%; low certainty)., Conclusion: MRAs have little to no effect on BCVA. Evidence for adverse events and CST is very uncertain. MRAs also have little to no effect on SFH and CCT. These findings should be considered when prescribing MRAs for cCSCR. This research was previous registration in the PROSPERO platform (CRD42020182601)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Vitreous floaters are a common and inconvenient phenomena. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety in treating vitreous floaters using Nd:YAG laser vitreolysis., Methods: In this prospective double-blinded randomized clinical trial 24 eyes of twenty-four patients were randomized into intervention with YAG laser vitreolysis and control groups. Primary outcomes were visual disturbance on a 10-point scale, qualitative changes in a 4-level scale, contrast sensitivity measured with the Pelli-Robson table and the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25). Secondary results included objective change in vitreous opacities, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), variation in intraocular pressure (IOP) and other adverse events., Results: Twenty-one patients (21 eyes; 5 male, 16 female) were enrolled in this study (mean age 62 ± 7.9 years), three were lost during follow-up. In the YAG laser group, the 10-point visual disturbance score improved a mean of 4.7 points ( p  < 0.001) compared to the control group that improved 2.1 ( p  = 0.09). The YAG laser group reported greater subjectively symptomatic improvement (77%) than controls (25%). NEI VFQ-25 revealed improved general vision (75.8 versus 59.2; p  = 0.037) and in mental health at 6 months (84.3 versus 70.3; p  = 0.048). There was no significant difference in contrast sensitivity ( p  = 0.848) and in IOP ( p  = 0.505). No differences in adverse events between groups were identified., Conclusion: Vitreolysis with Nd:YAG laser improves visual results in patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters, without adverse events considered clinically relevant. Other trials with a larger number of participants are required to corroborate these results.

Purpose: To assess whether hyaloid adhesion is more prevalent in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than in control patients and to evaluate whether it is more prevalent in exudative AMD than in non-exudative AMD., Methods: This was a cross-sectional, controlled analytical study. Patients from the Ophthalmology Department of the Public Service Hospital of the State of São Paulo were included if they were diagnosed with AMD that was confirmed by fundus biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography. Patients were divided into three groups: patients without a vitreoretinal disease (controls), patients with exudative AMD, and patients with non-exudative AMD. For the optimal study of the vitreoretinal interface, all patients were subjected to spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT; Cirrus HD-OCT, version 4000; Carl Zeiss Meditec) and ultrasonography (UltraScan®, Alcon). Results with p values of ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: We assessed 75 eyes of 23 patients with AMD (14 women and nine men) and 15 the control patients (11 women and four men). In total, 33 eyes had AMD that was consistent with the inclusion criteria, of which 11 had the non-exudative form (non-atrophic) and 22 had the exudative form (11 active and 11 disciform scars). Adherence was observed in eight eyes in the control group (26.67%), in seven eyes with exudative AMD (31.82%), and in five eyes with non-exudative AMD (45.45%)., Conclusion: Patients with exudative and non-exudative forms of AMD did not present with higher vitreoretinal adhesion than control patients as assessed by SD-OCT and ultrasound. Moreover, patients with exudative AMD (neovascular membrane and disciform scar) did not reveal a higher adherence than those with non-exudative AMD when evaluated by the same methods.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular allergies in patients at the Hospital do Servidor Publico Estadual de Sao Paulo (HSPE) and the correlations with serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E levels., Methods: We performed a longitudinal study of patients with ocular allergies who were treated at the Cornea and Immunology and Allergy Department. Patients underwent an ophthalmologic examination to identify their primary presenting signs and symptoms. The allergy types were divided into 4 groups. We conducted the following laboratory tests and measurements: blood count, eosinophil count, total serum IgE, and specific IgE., Results: Among 61 patients, 16 (26.2%) had a clinical diagnosis of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, 23 (37.7%) had perennial allergic conjunctivitis, 19 (31.1%) had vernal keratoconjunctivitis, and 3 (4.9%) had atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Mixed dust mites were positive in 94.9% of patients. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (dp) and Dermatophagoides farinae (df) antigens were positive in 93.2% of patients followed by Blattella germanica, Blomia tropicalis, and mixed animal epithelia (81%, 75.9%, and 25.8%, respectively)., Conclusions: Perennial allergic conjunctivitis was the most prevalent disorder and demonstrated higher positivity in class V/VI for specific antigens (mixed dust mites, dp, and df), indicating high antigenicity. Dust mites, D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, B. germanica, and B. tropicalis were the primary triggers of the studied ocular allergies.

Purpose: To evaluate macular edema after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with implantation of intraocular lens by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT)., Methods: Prospective study was conducted in 62 eyes of patients underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of intraocular lens. Patients were evaluated before surgery and after surgery at day 1, week 1, week 2 and week 4. Visual acuity (VA), anterior chamber cells and 200 x 200 macular cube optical coherence tomography were measured., Results: After phacoemulsification there was an improvement in visual acuity, decreasing inflammation, and increased macular thickness and macular volume. There was one case of cystoid macular edema. There was a weak inverse correlation between visual acuity and central macular thickness, and between visual acuity and macular volume. We observed a week direct correlation between inflammation and macular volume., Conclusion: Subclinical macular edema develops even after uncomplicated cataract surgery in patients not predisposed. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography was able to detect small increases in macular thickness in the study period.

Purpose: To compare the modified Amsler grid to the Humphrey(®) 10-2 red visual field in chloroquine users for the detection of early maculopathy, and to correlate with the risk variables., Methods: The study included 116 eyes of 58 patients followed at the Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo, from April, 2006 to April, 2008. All users had normal fundus and more than 2 years of chloroquine therapy. Their clinical data were evaluated and they underwent visual acuity examination, fundus biomicroscopy, visual field and Amsler grid., Results: The incidence of early maculopathy was 7 to 10%, depending on the examination considered. The agreement between the Amsler grid and visual field was low. There was statistical significance with the use of high daily dose, elevated cumulative dose and low visual acuity in patients whose eyes had both abnormal tests; patient age and duration of treatment did not show good correlation in these cases, but their averages (67.4 years and 8.4 years, respectively) were within the range of high risk factors., Conclusions: The study suggests that Amsler can be useful in complementing the information on the visual field for chloroquine retinopathy periodic screening, especially for those patients who present high risk factors well established, selecting better candidates for objective tests, such as HD OCT and mfERG.

Purpose: To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) pre and post LASIK, correlating it to changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) and average simulated keratometry (K), as well as verifying the results of a corrective formula previously proposed., Methods: Longitudinal prospective study conducted in outpatients that underwent to LASIK. Patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, previously and 2 months after the surgery. Intraocular pressure was evaluated with Goldmann applanation tonometer between 9 am and 11 am, average simulated keratometry was evaluated using corneal topography and central corneal thickness was measured with ultrasound pachymetry, been considered the average of three measurements. Two patients were excluded due to surgery or eye disease, and previous use of topical steroids over the past three months. The surgeries were performed according to standard procedures. The formula [real IOP = IOP measured + (540 - ECC)/71 + (43 - K)/2.7 + 0.75 mmHg] proposed for correcting intraocular pressure was used., Results: Fifteen eyes of eight patients were evaluated, age ranged from 24 to 46 years (mean: 31.37 ± 7.27). There was a statistically significant difference between the measurements of intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness and average simulated keratometry pre and post-LASIK. (p=0.0001). It was observed that each 1D corrected underestimated the IOP 1.06 ± 0.59 mmHg (0.11 a 1.89 mmHg). The use of the corrective formula lead to 80% of eyes within 2.50 mmHg of preoperative intraocular pressure. Although, the two sets of data are statistically different (p=0.0266)., Conclusions: Post LASIK eyes presented lower intraocular pressure than preoperatively. Intraocular pressure was moderately correlated to central corneal thickness and weakly correlated to average simulated keratometry. With the use of the corrective formula, we were able to determine that 80% were within 2.50 mmHg of the preoperative intraocular pressure.

Purpose: To assess the epidemiologic profile and level of knowledge of diabetic patients about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR)., Methods: Cross-sectional study with patients seen at Retina and Vitreous sector of Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. The subjects were assigned into two groups: diabetic patients sent for first ophthalmologic evaluation (G1) and patient already followed in the sector (G2). The patients answered a questionnaire and were submitted to ophthalmologic examination. It had been used chi-square (x²), exact of Fisher and non-parametric of Mann-Whitney tests, with level of significance of 5%., Results: The total sample was composed for 357 patients (109 in G1 and 248 in G2). The majority of the patients were female, married, with incomplete basic education, age average of 63.3 years and affirmed to know what it is diabetes. However, 53.2% did not know their type of diabetes. The visual complications of diabetes are most known. Less of one third of the patients had heard of DR and 77.3% did not know if they had it. The majority of the patients had never received any explanation or lecture about diabetes or DR. Only 3.6% of the patients had participated of programs of education on diabetes. The visual acuity, in logMAR scale, was of 0.57 in OD and 0.51 in the OS. Half of the patients did not have DR., Conclusion: The majority of the patients have low knowledge about diabetes and its complications.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema on the visual acuity and intraocular pressure. To report the potential adverse events and to analyze the potential relationship between age and visual acuity and intraocular pressure variability., Methods: This clinical controlled study included 14 patients (28 eyes), 14 of the eyes received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The study group was compared to a control group of 14 eyes, without diabetic macular edema. The follow-up period was of 3 months., Results: Pressure spikes >21 mmHg occurred in 28.7% of eyes, with a significant difference of intraocular pressure between the study group and the control group in the first week after treatment. Visual acuity showed a significant improvement when compared with the control group since the second day after the treatment. There was no association between age and variability of visual acuity and intraocular pressure., Conclusion: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide showed to be effective for improving visual acuity in patients with diabetic macular edema, in the first three months of treatment. The incidence of intraocular hypertension was 28.7%, easily manageable.

The case of a 35 year-old male patient is reported. The patient had a clinical history of craniocerebral trauma and premacular hemorrhage of Terson syndrome in the left eye. After waiting for 45 days, without hemorrhage resolution, the patient received an intravitreal injection of sulfur hexafluoride gas and tPA; an almost complete hemorrhage absorption occurred after a week as well as a considerable improvement of visual acuity. In the report, relevant aspects of Terson syndrome and of intravitreal injection of gas and tPA are also described through a literature review.

Purpose: To evaluate different diagnostic methods for high risk chloroquine retinopathy due to prolonged use of chloroquine (more than 5 years) by systemic lupus erythematosus patients., Methods: Seventy-two eyes of 36 consecutive patients, followed in the Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, were analyzed from July 2007 to April 2008. Demographic and clinical data were evaluated in order to study risk factors and to compare the following different ophthalmological methods: visual acuity, biomicroscopy, fundus examination, retinography, fluorescein angiogram, visual field test and, color vision tests., Results: From 36 patients, 34 (94.4%) were female. The mean age was 39.9 +/- 9.8 years and the disease duration was 13.9 +/- 6.6 years. Besides chronic use of chloroquine, patients also showed high daily and cumulative doses. These high risk factors were not related to a higher retinopathy prevalence. Visual field showed 38.9% of retinopathy prevalence. Other ophthalmological methods failed in detecting most cases., Conclusion: High prevalence of retinopathy in high risk patients was observed by visual field test, but other ophthalmological methods failed in detecting alterations. Ophthalmological assessment of these patients should include visual field, even in the absence of clinical alterations.

The authors report a rare association of uveal effusion with presumed ocular tuberculosis in a male patient who presented clinical improvement with the systemic use of prednisone 40 mg/d and rifampicin 600 mg/d. In addition, relevant aspects of the uveal effusion such as the pathogenesis, evolution of the disease, differential diagnosis and treatment are described through a revision of the literature.

Purpose: To assess the effect of intravitreal injections of triamcinolone on macular thickness (Stratus-OCT), intra-ocular pressure and visual acuity, in the treatment of diabetic macular edema non-responsive to previous laser photocoagulation, over a 6-month period., Methods: The study included 21 subjects (22 eyes) who underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, measurements of visual acuity and intraocular pressure, and OCT, previously treated with at least 2 laser applications. The study participants were treated with 4 mg/0.1 ml intravitreal triamcinolone. Follow-up visits were scheduled for the 1st day after treatment, and after 1, 3 and 6 months. Visual and anatomical results, as well as possible complications associated with the intravitreal injection procedure were studied., Results: The study showed a significant reduction in mean macular thickness, assessed by OCT at 1, 3 and 6 months post-treatment (p=0.001), combined with an improvement of the mean visual acuity (p<0.001). Central macular thickness mean+/-SD value on the first visit was 399 (+/-121 microm); it was reduced by 39.9% (239+/-53 microm) at the first month (p<0.001), 35.5% (255+/-93 microm) at the third month (p<0.001), and 18.1% (326+/-135 microm) at the sixth month (p=0.001). The improvement in mean visual acuity was of 18 and 16 letters on the ETDRS table, on the 3rd and 6th month, respectively. Reported complications were an increase in intraocular pressure in seven eyes (33.3% of the cases)., Conclusions: A reduction in mean retinal thickness was observed throughout the entire follow-up period, with significant increase in macular thickness between the 3rd and 6th month. The mean visual acuity showed statistically significant improvement at the end of the follow-up period, but no change was noticed between the 3rd and 6th month.

Purpose: To describe a case of vasoproliferative tumor associated with presumed ocular tuberculosis treated with cryotherapy and intravitreal triamcinolone injection., Study Design/patient and Methods: Interventional case report. A 42-year-old female patient reported inflammation of the right eye 1 year ago, treated with oral prednisone for 30 days. She referred blurred vision in the right eye since childhood. Ophthalmologic examination showed 20/400 visual acuity in the right eye. Biomicroscopy and intraocular pressure were normal. Fundus examination showed vascularized elevated lesion, associated with serous retinal detachment and hard exudates at the inferior periphery. The lesion was surrounded by extensive area of hyperplastic retinal pigment epithelium. The macula showed attenuation of the foveal reflex. Ocular ultrasound showed a 2.25 mm height vascularized lesion. Serologic examination, hemogram and thorax RX were normal. PPD was considered strong reactor and tuberculosis was diagnosed after positive BK research. Considering the clinical aspects, the ocular diagnosis was vasoproliferative tumor associated with presumed ocular tuberculosis. Treatment with rifampicin, isoniazide and pyridoxine was started. We decided to treat the ocular tumor with cryotherapy and intravitreal triamcinolone injection (4 mg/ml). After 30 days, serous detachment was smaller and the tumor showed atrophic areas. Fluorescein angiography showed areas of vascular hyperfluorescence with slight extravasation and areas of blocked fluorescence due to RPE hyperplasia. Secondary vasoproliferative tumors are retinal glial proliferations and are associated with many ocular conditions that affect retina and choroid. Because of the great number of associated complications, with important visual loss, vasoproliferative tumors should be treated at the moment of diagnosis. Treatment of choice is cryotherapy. Intravitreal triamcinolone can be used as adjuvant treatment because of its angiogenic properties. Until the present moment, no ocular tuberculosis and vasoproliferative tumor association were reported in the literature. Treatment of secondary vasoproliferative tumors with cryoterapy and intravitreal triamcinolone appears as a new therapeutic choice. Further studies are necessary to prove the efficacy of this association.

To describe a case of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma with extensive retinal detachment treated with vitrectomy and endolaser photocoagulation. Interventional case report. A 41-year-old female patient was examined with a 7-day history of blurred vision and progression of visual loss in the right eye in the last 2 days. Ophthalmologic examination showed 20/400 visual acuity in the right eye and an extensive retinal detachment with an elevated red lesion on the posterior pole. Ocular ultrasound showed high a reflective membranes in the vitreous cavity (retinal detachment) and an homogeneous hiperecogenic solid lesion suggestive of choroidal hemangioma. Systemic investigation showed no abnormalities. Posterior pars plana vitrectomy with endophotocoagulation and injection of C3F8 gas was performed. After 15 days, an inferior retinal detachment was observed and the patient was submitted to a second vitrectomy with endophotocoagulation and silicon oil implant. After six months, the retina remains attached and the hemangioma shows no signs of exudation. Visual acuity remains 20/400. Posterior vitrectomy appears as an option for the treatment of circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas with extensive retinal detachment.

The author describes biochemical and structural effects of vitamins and antioxidants on the retina. The main substances present in diet food and vitamin supplies involved in the genesis of age-related macular degeneration are shown. Also reports on the outcomes of prospective studies related to the subject, by literature review are presented.

The authors describe a case of endogenous Candida albicans endophthalmitis in one extremely low birth-weight newborn refractory to endovenous amphotericin B treatment that presented resolution with the use of endovenous fluconazole. Clinical aspects of endogenous Candida albicans endophthalmitis are also pointed out by a review of the literature.

Aims/background: We evaluated the retinal toxicity of spartanamicin B and its efficacy in a rabbit model of Candidal endophthalmitis., Methods: Toxicity. Fourteen albino rabbit eyes were injected intravitreally with spartanamicin B (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 microg); 2 eyes received the vehicle alone. Efficacy. Ten rabbit eyes were inoculated with 3000 Candida organisms which caused endophthalmitis in 24 hours. Eight eyes were treated with intravitreal spartanamicin B in doses of 1, 2, 5, or 10 microg/0.1 ml; 2 untreated eyes served as controls., Results: Toxicity. The eyes injected with < or =10 microg and the control group eyes exhibited no clinical, histological, or electroretinographic evidence of retinal toxicity. Doses >10 microg caused vitritis. Efficacy. Clinical examination of the treated eyes showed a gradual improvement over 3-6 days; mild opacities remained until day 14. Results of cultures performed 15 days after infection were negative in all treated eyes., Conclusions: Intravitreally injected spartanamicin B (10 microg) is nontoxic to the retina, effective against C. albicans in the endophthalmitis model in the rabbit eye and caused no discernible histological changes in the retina.