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Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a significant cause of vision loss and requires appropriate surgical intervention. There are several approaches available, including observation, laser demarcation, pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling, and pars plana vitrectomy, which are chosen based on patient condition, surgeon experience, and national health insurance policies. Despite the various options, there is still no consensus on the optimal intervention. To address this, the Taiwan Retina Society assembled an expert committee with 11 experienced retina specialists to review the current evidence and develop a guideline with seven recommendations for managing RRD patients. Additionally, a survey was conducted with six questions to assess treatment patterns in Taiwan, which included input from the expert committee and an open poll at the 2023 Congress of the Taiwan Retina Society. This report provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge and expert consensus on the treatment of RRD, discussing the characteristics of current approaches and providing an overview of current treatment patterns in Taiwan. These findings aim to provide ophthalmologists with the best possible treatment for RRD., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2023, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Background: To report our 3-year experience of 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) for acute postoperative endophthalmitis at a tertiary referral center in southern Taiwan., Methods: This retrospective chart review study included 19 patients with acute postoperative endophthalmitis who underwent 23-gauge TSV from January 2011 to January 2015 at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Bacterial and fungal cultures from aqueous samples, vitreous samples, or both were performed., Results: Nineteen patients (12 male; 7 female) were included. The mean age was 72.4 ± 8.29 years. Acute postoperative endophthalmitis was noted in 18 patients after cataract surgery and in 1 patient after 23-gauge vitrectomy for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Upon presentation, visual acuity was less than hand movement for 80% of the patients. Chief complaints included blurred vision (19 patients, 100%), followed by pain (10 patients, 52.6%) and red eye (4 patients, 21%). All patients were administered an intravitreal injection (IVI) of antibiotics and 23-gauge TSV, and the average number of IVIs was 2.68 ± 1.73 (1-9 IVIs). The interval between their initial eye symptoms and vitrectomy was 4.11 ± 4.73 days (0-2 days), and the interval between diagnosis with endophthalmitis and a vitrectomy was 1.11 ± 1.52 days (0-6 days). The final visual acuity was no light perception for 1 patient (5.3%), between 6/60 and 6/12 for 8 patients (42.1%), and 6/12 or better for 9 patients (47.4%). No retinal detachment or hypotony was noted postoperatively in any case., Conclusion: 23-gauge vitrectomy is safe and effective for the management of acute postoperative endophthalmitis. Early diagnosis and treatment with 23-gauge vitrectomy may provide a good visual outcome., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Patient falls are the most common type of in-hospital accidents. The objective of this retrospective descriptive study was to describe the locations and characteristics of hospital-related falls. Data on patient characteristics, including locations and fall circumstances, were collected through incident reports and medical records. A total of 1822 falls were documented at a 921-bed, urban academic hospital center over a one-year period; 1767 (97.0%) of the falls occurred in the hospital setting, 55 (3.0%) in ambulatory care. The majority of falls (80.8%) occurred within inpatient units; the remainder within the greater hospital campus. In all, 73.4% of fallers had fall prevention protocols implemented prior to the fall. The youngest age group (≤49 years) had the highest percentage of fallers. This study provides novel insights into variables found to be associated with falling, including location of falls within the hospital campus, efficacy of fall prevention protocols, and age groups., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Choroidal metastasis is the most common type of intraocular tumor in adults, and in females the most common primary site is the breast. We report a case of unilateral choroidal metastasis with exudative retinal detachment as the initial presentation of recurrent breast cancer, and subsequent ophthalmic metastasis following diagnostic vitrectomy. A 49-year-old woman with a 7-year-history of well-treated bilateral breast cancer had been suffering from blurred vision in the left eye for 1 week. Ocular examination was normal except for superotemporal retinal detachment in the left eye. Neither retinal break nor choroidal mass was seen. The patient received scleral buckling and pneumatic retinopexy without significant improvement. Fluorescein angiography revealed a suspected choroidal metastasis in the left eye, but ocular ultrasonography did not show a visible choroidal mass. Two consecutive diagnostic vitrectomies with cytology could not confirm malignancy. A systemic workup was also negative. Six months later, two tumor masses were noted over two of the sclerotomy wounds of the left eye. Pathology showed adenocarcinoma compatible with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Ocular metastasis may present as infiltrative choroidal lesions with exudative retinal detachment without a visible mass. Invasive procedures, such as fine-needle aspiration biopsy and diagnostic vitrectomy, may risk tumor seeding., (2012 Published by Elsevier B.V)

Massive premacular hemorrhage can cause sudden visual loss. We sought to evaluate the efficacy, safety and visual outcome of nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery with intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (t-pa) for long-lasting thick premacular hemorrhage. This retrospective, interventional study examined three consecutive eyes of three patients who received nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery with intravitreal t-pa for the treatment of non-recent massive premacular hemorrhage. Detailed ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed pre- and postoperatively to evaluate the visual outcome, the resolution of premacular hemorrhage and the changes in lenticular opacity.In all three eyes, the premacular hemorrhage cleared after the procedure. Final best-corrected visual acuities improved from 6/30 to 6/10 in patient 1, 2/60 to 6/4 in patient 2, and 3/60 to 6/6 in patient 3. Operated and fellow eyes did not differ in terms of nuclear sclerosis. No complications from the procedure were noted.In these selected cases, nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery with intravitreal t-pa was an effective and safe alternative treatment for non-recent massive premacular hemorrhage., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the role of the primary gas tamponade on the final success rate of macular hole with retinal detachment (MHRD) in highly myopic eyes., Methods: Retrospective chart review of the patients diagnosed as MHRD in highly myopic eyes between 1992 and 2008 was done. Fifty-three highly myopic eyes (>-6.0 diopter, >26 mm of axial length, or visible posterior staphyloma) with a retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole were included. The main outcome measures were anatomic reattachment and final visual acuity., Results: Thirty-two of the 53 eyes received primary gas tamponade, and the reattachment of retina was achieved in 8 eyes (8/32, 25%). Twenty-one of the 53 eyes received primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without scleral buckle, and the reattachment of retina was achieved in 12 eyes (12/21, 57.1%). The final success rate after adjunctive operations was 96.9% in the primary gas tamponade group, and 85.7% in the primary PPV group. Stability of vision (improved or maintained) was achieved in 78.1% of the primary gas group, and 66.7% in the primary PPV group., Conclusion: Our results indicate that primary gas tamponade does not decrease the final success rate in the repair of MHRD in highly myopic patients. Since it is safe and time-saving, primary gas tamponade could be a good alternative for primary treatment in those who are not willing or eligible for more complicated surgeries., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Solar retinopathy is a retinal injury caused by direct or indirect sun-gazing and solar eclipse observation without protection. Subtle changes in the retinal damage might not be evident on fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. A 40-year-old veteran suffered from paracentral scotoma in his left eye shortly after unprotected solar eclipse observation about 1 month earlier. His visual acuity was 6/5 in the right eye and 6/6 in the left. Anterior segments were normal bilaterally. Dilated fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and central visual field testing did not reveal any abnormal findings. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography was used for evaluation, and a focal defect in the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor layer band was noted in the paracentral region of the fovea in the left eye, with central foveal thickness of 198 microm. Solar retinopathy is preventable with adequate eye protection. Education should be reinforced to the public. In mildly affected individuals with subtle retinal damage, Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography could be a useful imaging tool to detect the disease., (2010 Elsevier. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We report a patient with clinical ocular siderosis at the time of presentation but undetectable intraocular foreign body on computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography. A 24-year-old man suffered from right ocular injury when hammering metal on metal. Slit-lamp examination revealed a small corneal perforating wound and an iris hole, but no intraocular foreign body was found under fundus examination. There was also no evidence of intraocular foreign body on ultrasonography and orbital CT scan. About 1 month later, lens siderosis with cataract formation developed, and the patient received lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation. During the operation, a small (< 1 x 1 x 1 mm in size) intralenticular foreign body of metal material was found and removed. The patient's visual acuity improved from 6/20 to 6/6 on the next day. A patient suspected to have intraocular foreign body should be followed-up closely; it is better to remove the foreign body before siderosis bulbi occurs.

Background: Current photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) uses a standard radiant exposure of 50 J/cm2 at an irradiance of 600 mW/cm2. However, low-intensity PDT with verteporfin for neovascular tissue has been shown to be more effective than regular high-intensity PDT in an animal model of healthy choroids and corneal neovascularization. Low-intensity PDT also supposedly induces less retinal damage. In this study, we compared the effect of reduced-dose and standard light application PDT in an animal model of CNV., Methods: A laser injury model was used to induce CNV 3 weeks prior to PDT in brown Norway rats. The CNV lesions were then treated with verteporfin PDT with a dose of verteporfin 6.0 mg/m2 and 5 activating doses of light energy (43, 53, 63, 73 and 83 seconds). Closure of CNV was assessed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FAG). Histopathologic study was done after the last FAG., Results: PDT with verteporfin significantly reduced the CNV area compared with control non-treated groups 1 week after PDT (p < 0.05). Only those lesions treated for 63 seconds or longer retained their significantly attenuating effect on CNV up to 3 weeks after PDT. There was no significant difference between the inhibition effects induced by reduced-intensity light application for 63 or 73 seconds compared to the standard radiant exposure (83 seconds). Histopathologic study showed that eyes treated with PDT showed significantly less extent and vascularity of CNV lesion than control lesions., Conclusion: Reduced-intensity PDT with 63-second duration seemed to be as effective as standard dose for CNV suppression. Considering the possible retinal damage following standard PDT, the PDT dose might be adjusted to reduce side effects. Further preclinical study will provide more data on what constitutes appropriate dosimetry for effective and safe PDT in CNV.

Background: To document the characteristics of syphilitic patients who present with ocular uveitis clinically and are diagnosed by an ophthalmologist first., Methods: Retrospective chart review of uveitis patients in the department of ophthalmology between 1992 and 2004 was done. We included only those patients with positive serologic tests, active ocular uveitis, and record of detailed examination., Results: There were 8 syphilitic patients (14 eyes) who presented with ocular syphilis clinically and who were diagnosed by an ophthalmologist first. The ocular diagnosis included panuveitis (11 eyes, 78.6%), anterior uveitis (2 eyes, 14.3%), and posterior uveitis (1 eye, 7.1%). Two patients (25%) had unilateral eye involvement, and 6 patients (75%) had involvement in bilateral eyes. One patient (2 eyes) with panuveitis also had bilateral exudative retinal detachment and chronic angle closure glaucoma. All 8 patients were negative for human immunodeficiency virus. Dark field examination of aqueous humor in 2 cases revealed Treponema pallidum, which was confirmed by immunofluorescent test. Treatment included systemic penicillin in 7 patients and oral tetracycline in 1 patient (due to penicillin allergy). Visual function and uveitis improved after treatment in all patients., Conclusion: Syphilis can be presented initially as ocular uveitis without obvious systemic manifestation. Ophthalmologists play an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment of syphilis. If treated early enough, the response is good, even if the patient is allergic to penicillin. Awareness of the multiple manifestations of ocular syphilis is the key to early detection of the disease.

Background: The distribution of uveitis varies in different parts of the world, which is attributed to geographic, alimentary or genetic factors. Epidemiological studies in uveitis may be extremely important in an effort to better understand the etiology of the disease and the classification of its subtypes. The purpose of this study was to determine the profile and characteristics of endogenous uveitis in southern Taiwan., Methods: Retrospective chart review ofthe patients diagnosed and treated as endogenous uveitis in Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital from January 1991 to December 2000 was performed. Demographic data, past history, ophthalmic examination and other laboratory tests were recorded and analyzed., Results: One-hundred and sixty patients were collected, including 93 (58.1%) males and 67 (41.9%) female, with average age of 41.1 +/- 17.1 years (range 16-77), and mean follow-up period of 13.7 months. The diagnoses included 46 (28.8%) cases of acute anterior nongranulomatous uveitis (AAU), 26 (16.3%) cases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, 18 (11.3%) cases of intermediate uveitis, 14 (8.8%) cases of Behcet's disease, 26 (16.3%) cases of infectious origin, 7 (4.4%) cases of other diagnoses, and 23 (14.4%) undefined cases. Final visual acuity equal to or better than 0.5 was obtained in 78.2% of eyes of AAU, 65.4% of eyes of VKH disease, 48.1% of eyes of Behcet's disease, and 66.7% of eyes of intermediate uveitis., Conclusions: Acute anterior nongranulomatous uveitis was the most common endogenous uveitis, while VKH was the most common panuveitis in this series. As infectious origin contributes a significant proportion of endogenous uveitis, infectious etiology should be considered in any type of uveitis that responds poorly to conventional treatment.