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We treated 26 eyes of 25 young patients having a mean age of 30 years with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor for choroidal new vessel (CNV) formation overlying choroidal osteoma over a mean follow-up of 26 months. Mean number of injections was 2.4 at 6 months, 3.2 at 12 months, and 5.5 at 24 months. CNV was subfoveal in 14 eyes, juxtafoveal in 5, extrafoveal in 5, and peripapillary in 2. By paired comparison, mean decrease from baseline was 119.7 microns at 6 months (n=15;P=0.001), 105.3 microns at 1 year (n=10;P=0.03), and 157.6 microns at 2 years (n=7;P=0.08). BCVA improved by 3.3 lines at 6 months after therapy (n=26;P<0.001), 2.8 lines (n=20;P=0.01) at 1 year, and 3.1 lines (n=13;P=0.049) at 2 years. We conclude that intravitreal anti-VEGF injections improve vision in majority of eyes with CNV from choroidal osteoma.

To study the long-term course in patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia and report the effect of anti VEGF and laser treatment. A retrospective case series of 19 patients/38 eyes with symptomatic type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia was performed. Six eyes received intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (1–3 injections), four eyes received focal laser treatment. Follow up examinations comprised visual acuity, biomicroscopy, fluorescein angiography and assessment of macular morphology and thickness by time and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Mean follow-up time was 81 months (range 15–188 months) – the median added up to 80 months. Visual outcome at final visit varied substantially (20/200–20/20). On average visual acuity decreased 1,2 lines (range −0,5 to 6) by 3 years, 2 lines (range −0,5 to 7) by 5 years and 4,1 lines (range 0 to 12) by 10 years. Development of choroidal neovascularisation was observed in only one eye. There was no significant difference in visual acuity between eyes receiving no treatment, intravitreal bevacizumab or laser treatment after 3 and 5 years. Morphological studies by OCT revealed typical changes with retinal atrophy and intraretinal cysts. Visual acuity correlated with the eccentricity of the main manifestation–visual preservation was associated with mainly extrafoveal disease manifestation. Type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia is a chronic, often slowly progressing macular disease leading to retinal atrophy and visual impairment over decades. Thorough knowledge about the long term course of this disease is necessary to evaluate possible therapeutic options in the long run.

An association between coronary heart disease (CHD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has long been postulated but results from epidemiological case-control studies, and genetic analyses have been ambiguous. In this study we illuminate the association between AMD and CHD with respect to genetic and environmental risk factors, age of disease onset and AMD subgroups. AMD patients (n = 1036) and age-matched control subjects (n = 412) between 68 and 95 years of age were included in the case-control study. A medical history of CHD, cerebral stroke and arterial hypertension was determined for each individual. The assessment of interacting factors included the current use of systemic medications and smoking habits. Analysis of AMD associated genetic variants included frequent polymorphisms at the complement factor H (CFH, MIM 134370) gene (rs1061170 [p.Y402H], rs800292 [p.I62V]), the complement factor H-related 3 (CFHR3, MIM 605336)/complement factor H-related 1 (CFHR1, MIM 134371) locus (rs6677604; proxy for ΔCFHR3/CFHR1; r(2) = 0.97) as well as the age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2, MIM 611313) gene (rs10490924 [p.A69S]). Logistic regression identified a significant positive association of AMD with AMD-risk variants in CFH, ARMS2, and smoking ≥ 20 packs/year. A history of CHD and the current use of antihyperuricemic agents were inversely associated with the disease. Significantly fewer patients with rs6677604 nonrisk genotype A/A regularly used statins. ARMS2:p.A69S risk variant was significantly associated with exsudative AMD. AMD patients with risk variants at rs1061170 (CFH:p.Y402H) and ARMS2 and smokers (≥20 packs/year) were significantly earlier affected by AMD than those carrying the non-risk variants at each locus. Our data support three major conclusions. First, the age of AMD onset is significantly influenced by genetic and environmental risk factors. Second, in support of previous reports we also show that the ARMS2 rs10490924:T allele is significantly linked to exsudative AMD. And finally, a self-reported history of CHD was inversely associated with AMD in this study. Novel therapeutic strategies aiming at preventing the development of AMD may considerably differ from those that have been developed to treat cardiovascular disorders as both common disorders likely underlie different pathomechanisms.

A characteristic disease pattern may be reflected by retinal layer thickness changes in non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy measured using spectraldomain optical coherence tomography. Retinal layer segmentation is enabled by advanced software. In this study, retinal layer thicknesses in acute and chronic non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy were compared.A single-centre cross-sectional analysis was used.A total of 27 patients (20 age-matched healthy eyes) were included: 14 with acute (7 days) and 13 patients with chronic non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.Macular volume and 12° peripapillary ring optical coherence tomography scans were used.The peripapillary thicknesses of the following layers were determined by manual segmentation: retinal nerve fibres, ganglion cells + inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer + outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer + inner segments of the photoreceptors and outer segments of the photoreceptors to Bruch's membrane. Macular retinal layer thicknesses were automatically determined in volume cubes centred on the fovea.Peripapillary retinal swelling in acute nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy was attributable to retinal nerve fibre layer, ganglion cell layer/inner plexiform layer and outer nuclear layer/segments of the photoreceptors thickening. In chronic cases, peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer, macular ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer thinning were observed.In acute non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, the inner and outer peripapillary retinal layers are affected by thickness changes. In chronic cases, atrophy of the ganglion cells and their axons and dendrites is evident by inner retinal layer thinning.

RESUME Objective: To assess the 3-year visual outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab in inflammatory ocular neovascularization. Design: Experimental study. Methods: Retrospective multicenter consecutive case series in 81 patients with inflammatory ocular neovascularization refractory to standard therapy and treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. The outcome measures included improvement of best corrected visual acuity expressed as logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and paired comparison decrease in central foveal thickness by optical coherence tomography. Results: Mean best corrected visual acuity improved from baseline 0.699 (6/30 or 20/101) (SD 0.434) to 0.426 (6/16 or 20/53) (SD 0.428) (n 81; p 0.001), a gain of 2.7 lines (median 3 injections; 81 eyes; 81 patients). Paired comparisons revealed significant central foveal flattening at 3 years of 97.9 m( n 51; p 0.001). In a subgroup analysis, visual improvement was significant for ocular histoplasmosis (p 0.026); multifocal choroiditis (p 0.05); serpiginous choroiditis (p 0.028); ocular toxoplasmosis (p 0.042); and punctate inner choroidopathy (p 0.015). In a subgroup analysis, foveal flattening was significant for ocular histoplasmosis (p 0.004); multifocal choroiditis (p 0.007); serpiginous choroiditis (p 0.011); and punctate inner choroidopathy (p 0.001). Of the group, 5 eyes developed submacular fibrosis, 1 eye retinal pigment epithelial tear, and 1 eye macular ischemia in the context of vasculitis. Conclusion: At 3 years, intravitreal bevacizumab sustained significant visual improvement of 2.7 lines and significant foveal flattening of 98 m in a wide variety of inflammatory ocular diseases without major complications after a median of 3 injections. Objet : Evaluation du resultat visuel de 3 annees de traitement intravitreen au bevacizumab pour une neovascularisation oculaire

Background: The Wuerzburg bleb classification score (WBCS) aims at an objective and standardized assessment of the developing filtering bleb after trabeculectomy, in order to detect and treat bleb scarring at the earliest possible stage of development. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the early postoperative WBCS for the long-term outcome of trabeculectomy. Methods: The WBCS is a grading system for clinical bleb morphology. It evaluates the following parameters: vascularization, corkscrew vessels, encapsulation and microcysts. The WBCS of 113 eyes of 113 consecutive patients after trabeculectomy was determined 1 day, 1 and 2 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Complete success was defined as an intra-ocular pressure (IOP) 20% pressure reduction without glaucoma medication after 1 year. Results: A complete success rate of 73.9% and a qualified success rate of 82.4% were achieved 1 year after surgery. The average total bleb score during follow-up in the success group was always higher than in the failure group, but there was no statistically significant difference at any time. The bleb average score for eyes with an IOP of ≤12 mm Hg after 2 weeks was significantly higher (p = 0.005) than for eyes with an IOP ≧13 mm Hg at the end of follow-up. Conclusion: Patients with a higher early WBCS postoperatively had a significantly lower IOP 1 year after surgery. However, the study could not reveal a certain prognostic value of the early total bleb score using the WBCS for the long-term complete success of trabeculectomy.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) have been widely used to treat diabetic macular oedema (DMO). However, the indication criteria are not clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors which are decisive for long-term visual outcome after intravitreal drug treatment for eyes with DMO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eyes (37 patients) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab, TA, or sequentially with both for DMO with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were analysed retrospectively. The eyes with an increase of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the last visit were classified as gainers, and eyes with stable or decreased BCVA as non-gainers. Clinical and imaging findings were evaluated. RESULTS: BCVA significantly increased in 22 eyes and decreased in 28 eyes after a mean follow-up period of 14.6 ± 6 months after initial intravitreal intervention. Unfavourable for the long-term visual outcome was the presence of cystoid macular oedema (CMO, p < 0.001), whereas an early response at 5 weeks into therapy indicated a positive outcome (p = 0.016). The initial central macular thickness measured by OCT, the type of agent used in monotherapy, age and gender were without influence on long-term visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: An initial CMO is unfavourable for the prognosis of long-term visual outcome of DMO. Hence, benefit from intravitreal treatment with bevacizumab and/or TA is more likely in the early stages of chronic DMO before CMO has evolved. In eyes without CMO even a low number of injections is beneficial. An early response following intravitreal bevacizumab or TA is a predictor of long-term benefit.

Purpose: Transient ocular hypotony commonly occurs after 23-gauge (23G) vitrectomy. To assess possible causes, we visualized the sclerotomy site and pars plana by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Procedures: We prospectively analyzed the intraocular pressure (IOP) and findings related to clinical hypotony, assessed by AS-OCT, in 13 consecutive eyes of 13 patients receiving 23G vitrectomy. Five patients receiving a 20G vitrectomy served as controls. Results: The mean IOP after 23G vitrectomy was 11 mm Hg (range: 5–32 mm Hg; 13 eyes) at postoperative day 1. In contrast to controls, AS-OCT showed a scleral gap at the incision site in 22/39 sclerotomies (10/13 eyes), and subclinical choroidal detachment in 9/13 eyes. Conclusions: A scleral gap and choroidal detachment at the incision site are frequent findings following 23G vitrectomy. These subclinical features may account for postoperative hypotony as they are absent in 20G vitrectomy and scleral sutures. Hypotony following 23G vitrectomy is a self-limiting phenomenon and usually does not require therapeutic intervention.

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate differences in the outcome of bevacizumab or triamcinolone acetate (TA) treatment in patients with macular edema (ME) after central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Procedures: In a retrospective assessment 9 bevacizumab-treated patients and 9 TA-treated ones with ME after CRVO were pair-matched according to initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) as measured by Stratus optical coherence tomography. BCVA and CMT were the main endpoints. Results: The initial BCVA of 0.15 ± 0.1 increased not significantly by 1.0 ± 3.1 lines in the bevacizumab-treated patients after a mean of 10 months. The initial BCVA of 0.17 ± 0.1 decreased by –1.0 ± 5.2 lines after a mean of 13 months following initial TA injection. The only significant decrease in mean CMT by 239 ± 209 µm occurred 8 weeks after initial bevacizumab injection. Conclusions: Both substances are able to stabilize CMT and BCVA in ME after CRVO, but only bevacizumab was devoid of unfavorable intraocular pressure elevation.

Fingolimod is a potent drug in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Visual impairment due to fingolimod-associated macular edema (FAME) usually leads to discontinuation of fingolimod therapy. Methods : We report on a 24-year old woman with bilateral FAME. Results : We continued fingolimod and added oral acetazolamide, which led to recovery of visual acuity and regression of macular edema. However, fingolimod had to be discontinued when fluorescein angiography revealed an enlarged foveal avascular zone. Discussion and conclusion : Oral acetazolamide might be a treatment option for FAME, while ischemic conversion may be limiting. Ophthalmologic assessments are mandatory for follow-up when fingolimod therapy is continued after onset of FAME.

Background: The development of subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to angioid streaks poses a great therapeutic challenge. The relevance of the photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin is still unclear. We present the functional and anatomic outcome of 5 patients with CNV due to angioid streaks treated by PDT. Methods: We reviewed 4 eyes with subfoveal and 1 eye with juxtafoveal CNV in angioid streaks of 5 patients (4 male, 1 female) treated by PDT between 2000 and 2005. The age ranged from 20 to 74 years (median 63 years). PDT was performed according to the TAP criteria. Best corrected visual acuity was measured using ETDRS charts. Results: Visual acuity (VA) ranged between 20/ 63 and 20/32 (median 20/32) at first presentation and between 20/2000 (counting fingers) and 20/20 (median 20/400) at last presentation. Median follow-up time was 13 months with a range of 5 to 45 months. The visual acuity in one patient decreased by 1 line, in 3 patients by more than 6 lines whereas VA of one patient (juxtafoveal CNV) increased by 2 lines. PDT was repeated in 4 patients once because of persistent leakage and in one patient twice. At the end of the follow-up period a fibrous disciform lesion was seen in 4 patients, in one patient subfoveal membranectomy was performed due to a recurrence. Conclusions: In general, PDT of CNV is less favourable in angioid streaks than in AMD. However, in the natural course final VA is counting fingers. Therefore the good results of individual cases justify the PDT under a critical indication.

Die Sickerkissenvernarbung ist die Hauptkomplikation nach filtrierender Glaukomchirurgie. Die postoperative Nachsorge entscheidet daher uber Erfolg oder Misserfolg der Operation. Bereits vor der Operation kann durch eine antiinflammatorische Vorbehandlung und Absetzen oder zumindest Reduktion der Lokalmedikation ein gunstiger Effekt auf die Vernarbungsreaktion der Bindehaut erzielt werden. Mit konventioneller Nachsorge nach Trabekulektomie lasst sich nur bei etwa 40% der Patienten langfristig der Zieldruckbereich ohne Medikation erreichen. Durch das Konzept der intensivierten postoperativen Nachsorge kann die Erfolgsrate in 5 Jahren um etwa 25% gesteigert werden. Kern des Konzepts ist eine den Stadien der Wundheilung des Sickerkissens angepasste wundmodulierende Therapie. Die genaue Beachtung der Sickerkissenmorphologie ist Grundlage fur den Einsatz von topischen Steroiden und 5-Fluorouracil. Eine ausfuhrliche Aufklarung des Patienten und engmaschige Kontrollen sind Teil des Behandlungskonzepts. Um Nebenwirkungen der Antimetabolitentherapie zu vermeiden und die Erfolgsrate der filtrierenden Glaukomchirurgie weiter zu steigern, sind ein tieferes Verstandnis der Wundheilungsstadien und eine spezifische vernarbungshemmende Therapie notwendig.

Congenital cystic eye is a rare ocular and orbital malformation describing an intraorbital cavity lined by neuroglial tissue. Clinical and histopathologic findings of a 3-year-old boy with a congenital cystic eye are presented. A 4-year-old otherwise healthy boy with anophthalmia of the right eye was referred because of progressive volume enlargement of his congenital cystic lesion of the right orbit. Imaging techniques revealed a hyperintense cystic tumor with calcifications of the wall. There was no evidence of a globe, no communication to the intracranial space and a normal bony orbit. The mass was excised and a 20-mm silicone orbital implant inserted. Microscopic examination of the cyst revealed irregularly shaped layers of fibrovascular tissue lined by neuroglial tissue with calcified bodies and positive immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and neurofilament protein (NF). No structures like cornea, lens, retinal pigmented epithelium or rosettes were identified. Congenital cystic eye is a primary developmental abnormality of the globe caused by an invaginational arrest of the primary optic vesicle between the 2-mm and 7-mm stages of fetal development. The luminal neuroglial tissue contains dystrophic calcified bodies and degenerated primitive nerve fibers. The enlargement of the cyst may be due to fluid produced by glial tissue. The differential diagnoses for cystic anomalies without epithelial lining include microphthalmia with cyst, microphthalmia with cystic teratoma, ectopic brain tissue and meningoencephalocele.

To investigate whether patients with moyamoya angiopathy without obvious retinal pathologies such as retinal infarctions or the congenital morning glory anomaly may have subtle subclinical retinal changes.In this cross-sectional study, spectral domain optical coherence tomography was used to analyze the retinal morphology of 25 patients with idiopathic moyamoya angiopathy and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We analyzed the retinal vasculature with blue laser autofluorescence, lipofuscin deposits with MultiColor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and the optic nerve head (ONH) volume with a custom postprocessing algorithm. In addition to the total retinal thickness, semiautomated segmentation was used for segmentation of retinal layers in macular cross scans, macular volume scans, and peripapillary ring scans.The main finding was a pronounced reduction of the ONH volume in moyamoya angiopathy compared with controls (0.76 ± 0.45 mm(3) and 1.47 ± 0.50 mm(3), respectively; p0.0001), which was associated with a less pronounced reduction of the retinal nerve fiber layer in macular volume scans (0.97 ± 0.11 mm(3) and 1.10 ± 0.10 mm(3), respectively; p0.001). Autofluorescence and MultiColor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images revealed no pathologies except for one branch retinal artery occlusion.Our results indicate that even patients with moyamoya angiopathy who do not have obvious retinal abnormalities have retinal abnormalities. These can be detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and the association of ONH abnormalities with the vascular changes may suggest that idiopathic moyamoya angiography is a systemic disease involving abnormalities of the early mesodermal development.

Objective There is an unmet need for better diagnostic tools to further delineate clinical subsets of heterogeneous chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) to facilitate treatment decisions. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a non-invasive and reproducible nerve imaging technique. This study evaluates the potential of CCM as a diagnostic surrogate in CIDP and MMN. Methods In a cross-sectional prospective approach 182 patients and healthy controls were studied using CCM to quantify corneal nerve damage and immune cell infiltration. Results Patients with CIDP and MMN had a reduction in corneal nerve fiber (CNF) measures and an increase in corneal immune cell infiltrates. In CIDP, CNF parameters decreased with increasing duration of disease. The number of dendritic cells in proximity to corneal nerve fibers was increased in patients with early disease and correlated with the degree of motor affection. A further reduction in CNF parameters and an increase in non-dendritic cells was observed in patients with painful neuropathy. In CIDP patients with anti-neuronal antibodies the number of non-dendritic cells was increased. Interpretation Our findings suggest that corneal nerve fiber loss may reflect severity of neuropathy and quantification of distinct cells around the CNF plexus may help in stratifying CIDP subtypes, clinical course and disease activity. However, further longitudinal studies are required before CCM can be considered as a valid surrogate end point for patients with CIDP and MMN.

Die Online-Version des Originalartikels ist unter doi: 10.1007/s00347-016-0234-8 zu finden.

Background West Indian punctate keratopathy (WIPK) is characterized by stable, asymptomatic, white superficial corneal opacities. We examined this patient's lesions with in vivo confocal microscopy. Methods A 47-year-old North American male patient presented with bilateral, dense, punctate, white opacities of the corneal epithelium. Confocal microscopy was performed using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II/Rostock Cornea Module. Results The patient was of Afro-Caribbean descent. In vivo confocal microscopy showed hyporeflective areas with multiple small hyperreflective dots inside at the level of the basal corneal epithelium with an unaffected Bowman layer. There was no round cell infiltration. Conclusions West Indian punctate keratopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scattered spot-like opacities with a history of residence in the endemic West Indies. Inflammatory entities can be excluded by in vivo confocal microscopy.

To investigate the benefit of adding bevacizumab to intravitreal recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) and gas as initial therapy in subretinal hemorrhage and choroidal neovascularization because of age-related macular degeneration.Thirty-eight consecutive patients with recent (1-31 days) subretinal hemorrhage who were treated with intravitreal rTPA and gas (26 patients) or with intravitreal bevacizumab, rTPA, and gas (12 patients) were included in this retrospective analysis. In all patients, a standardized antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy was followed. Testing of best-corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopy, and fundus examination were performed at 4 weeks and 7 months.The mean pretreatment best-corrected visual acuity in the rTPA/gas group was 0.08 ± 0.09 and 0.12 ± 0.13 in the bevacizumab/rTPA/gas group. After 4 weeks, it was significantly higher in the bevacizumab/rTPA/gas group (0.25 ± 0.26) than in the rTPA/gas (0.08 ± 0.1) group (P0.05). Also, after 7 months, best-corrected visual acuity was significantly higher in the bevacizumab/rTPA/gas group (0.07 ± 0.07 vs. 0.24 ± 0.35; P0.05). Reading vision could be restored in 0% (rTPA/gas) versus 50% (bevacizumab/rTPA/gas). Stabilization (0 ± 2 lines) or improvement of best-corrected visual acuity was obtained in 62% (rTPA/gas) versus 84% (bevacizumab/rTPA/gas).From our retrospective pilot study, there is a strong indication that the addition of intravitreal bevacizumab is safe and superior to the displacement of submacular hemorrhages alone with rTPA and gas.

Aims: The use of the chemotherapeutic cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) causes an ocular toxic reaction, characterized by aspecific keratopathy. We examined the pathway of the damaged cells by in vivo confocal microscopy. Methods: Prospective study of 11 patients with acute myeloic leukemia treated with high-dose Ara-C. Ten eyes developed fluorescein-negative punctate keratopathy, and were examined by slit lamp and in vivo confocal biomicroscopy at days 1, 3–4 and 9–14 after the beginning of ocular symptoms. Results: In vivo confocal microscopy revealed disseminated highly reflective granular irregular intraepithelial elements in the central cornea, which affected about 3% of epithelial cells. At day 1 of symptoms, these elements were present only in the basal epithelial layer (median 275.5/mm2), at days 3–4 they were mainly found in the basal (187.5/mm2) but also in the apical layers (96/mm2), at days 9–14 they mainly presented in more superficial layers (115/mm2 apically vs. 15.5/mm2 in the basal layers). Discussion: The intraepithelial distribution of cells with a granular cytosolic signal evolved over time, reflecting the migration of the necrotic basal cells to the wing cell layer and finally to apical epithelial layers. The desquamation of the necrotic cells is related to the resolution of symptoms, according to the period of the epithelial cell turnover. By confocal microscopy, we could follow the intraepithelial route of cells damaged by Ara-C in vivo.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) in describing the morphology and outcome of encapsulated filtering blebs after bleb needling. Procedures: Prospective assessment of 9 patients – before, 2 days and 6 months after filtering bleb needling with 5-FU – using slit-lamp examination, Goldmann tonometry and OCT. Results: Before the needling, the average internal height of the cyst was 1.3 ± 0.8 mm. Two days after the needling procedure, the cyst collapsed in 5 patients. After 6 months, the average internal cyst height was 0.7 ± 0.4 mm. All patients with a collapsed cyst at day 2 after needling had controlled regulated IOP without glaucoma medication. Conclusions: The preoperative internal height of the cyst does not correlate with the outcome of the needling. A collapsed cyst at day 2 after needling is an indicator of controlled intraocular pressure, whereas a prominent cyst after 6 months indicates poor function.

Purpose To assess the long-term role of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA) in inflammatory ocular neovascularization. Design Retrospective multicenter consecutive case series of inflammatory ocular neovascularization. Methods settings: Multicenter institutional and private practices. study population: Patients with inflammatory ocular neovascularization in one or both eyes of varying etiologies who failed standard therapy. intervention: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. main outcome measures: Improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) expressed as logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR), and decrease in central foveal thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up. Results Mean logMAR BCVA (central foveal thickness) following intravitreal bevacizumab was as follows: baseline, 0.65 (6/27 or 20/90) (338 μm; 99 eyes of 96 patients); 6 months, 0.42 (6/16 or 20/53) (239 μm; 2.0 injections; 81 eyes); 12 months, 0.39 (6/15 or 20/49) (241 μm; 2.3 injections; 95 eyes); 18 months, 0.40 (6/15 or 20/50) (261 μm; 3.0 injections; 46 eyes); and 24 months, 0.34 (6/13 or 20/44) (265 μm; 3.6 injections; 27 eyes). Paired comparisons revealed significant visual improvement at 6 months of 2.4 lines ( P = .000), at 12 months of 2.5 lines ( P = .000), at 18 months of 2.5 lines ( P = .001), and at 24 months of 2.2 lines ( P = .013). Paired comparisons revealed significant central foveal flattening at 6 months of 78 μm ( P = .000), at 12 months of 85 μm ( P = .000), at 18 months of 90 μm ( P = .003), and at 24 months of 77 μm ( P = .022). Three eyes developed submacular fibrosis and 1 eye submacular hemorrhage. Conclusion Intravitreal bevacizumab led in the long-term to significant mean visual improvement of ≥2.2 lines and significant foveal flattening in a wide variety of inflammatory ocular diseases without major complications.

To correlate clinical filtering bleb function with characteristics as detected by in vivo confocal microscopy.In a case-matched cross-sectional study, 52 eyes of 48 patients were examined 1 day to 12.8 years after primary trabeculectomy (mean 375 d). The patients were examined clinically and by in vivo confocal microscopy (Rostock Cornea Module/Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II, Heidelberg Engineering, Inc, Heidelberg, Germany). Nine early and 17 late functioning blebs were pair-matched with malfunctioning blebs. Stromal fiber patterns, the number of intraepithelial and stromal cystic spaces, and the amount of cellular infiltrates were evaluated.Four stromal patterns (trabecular, reticular, corrugated, compacted) invisible to slit-lamp biomicroscopy could be distinguished by in vivo confocal microscopy. The trabecular pattern occurred only in functioning blebs, particularly early postoperatively. Intraepithelial cystic spaces were associated with functioning late blebs, whereas they were equally distributed in early blebs. In contrast, stromal cystic spaces indicate function in early blebs, whereas in late blebs the number of these cavities was similar in both groups. The density of intraepithelial and stromal round cells was higher in functioning late blebs compared with malfunctioning late blebs.In vivo confocal microscopy allows to assess filtering bleb structures that are invisible biomicroscopically. Some morphologic features detected by this technique seem to indicate filtering bleb function and time after surgery. The predictive value of these features deserves further clarification in a prospective longitudinal study.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse visual outcome, surgical complications and recurrence rates 3 years after removal of subretinal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: The study involved a retrospective analysis of 50 eyes of 50 patients who underwent surgical removal of CNV in AMD between February 1996 and June 1998. The minimum follow-up period was 36 months. Improvement or worsening of visual acuity (VA) was defined as a change of more than two lines. Results: The mean reduction in VA was 2.2 ± 6.9 lines. Visual acuity improved in 12 eyes, remained stable in 16 eyes and worsened in 22 eyes. Recurrence of CNV occurred in three eyes. Conclusion: After surgical excision of age-related subfoveal CNV, VA improved or stabilized in a large group of patients. Considering the development of VA and the low recurrence rate, surgical treatment seems to be beneficial compared to the natural course of CNV over a longterm follow-up of more than 3 years.

2054 Background: Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) is a very rare disorder, and the optimal treatment is yet to be defined. Here, we report clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with PIOL enrolled in the prospective German PIOL registry (PIOL-R). Methods: Patient data in this prospective, non-interventional multicenter study were compiled by standardized questionnaires sent to Ophthalmology and Hematology/Oncology centers in Germany. All histologically or cytologically confirmed immunocompetent PIOL patients were eligible. Results: Fifteen patients (8 female, median age 66 years, median Karnofsky performance status 90%) from 4 centers were included between August 2008 and January 2012. Median follow-up was 7 months. Median time from first occurrence of symptoms to PIOL diagnosis was 5 (range, 1-11) months. All PIOL were of diffuse large B-cell histology. Eight patients had concomitant (n=3), prior (n=2) and/or subsequent (n=4) parenchymal brain involvement. First-line treatment included methotrexate (MTX)-, rituximab- and/or ifosfamide-based systemic chemotherapy in 12 (including high-dose chemotherapy [HDCT] with autologous stem cell transplantation [ASCT] in 2), intraocular (i.o.) chemotherapy with MTX (n=2) and/or rituximab (n=6) in 7, and ocular radiation in one patient(s). Two patients received prophylactic intrathecal (i.th.) treatment with MTX and none had whole-brain irradiation. The PIOL remission rate was 100% (complete remission in 11/14 evaluable patients and partial remission in 3 patients). Four patients relapsed in the brain after 5, 6, 21 and 23 months and received salvage treatment with MTX and/or ifosfamide (n=3) and HDCT with ASCT (n=1). No ocular or systemic relapses were observed. Median progression-free survival was 23 (95% confidence interval, 19-26) months. All patients are alive. Conclusions: Although the awareness of PIOL and diagnostic possibilities have improved over the past 2 decades, time from symptom presentation to diagnosis seems to remain at previously reported levels. There appears to be a shift from local ocular treatments and radiation to systemic therapy as compared to anecdotal data with promising response and survival rates.

Background: Multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis is a rare disease. The educational merit of this case presentation results from the good documentation and the impressive ocular fundus pictures. Case presentation: We illustrate the 3-year course of disease in a 22-year-old myopic white woman with multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis and secondary choroidal neovascularization. The activity of the disease was evaluated clinically by optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography. Choroidal neovascularization was treated by intravitreal bevacizumab (2.5 mg/0.1 ml). Our patient lacked systemic therapy for the first 11 months because of noncompliance. Conclusions: The case is remarkable as the delayed onset of peripheral lesions and the additional existence of high myopia made diagnosis difficult. In addition, it demonstrates that full outbreak of disease with multiple central and peripheral fundus lesions and secondary choroidal neovascularization can develop without systemic treatment.