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Benjamin J Thomas, Yoshihiro Yonekawa, Jeremy D Wolfe, Tarek S Hassan Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA Objective: To compare the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab (RZB) or dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implant in cases of recalcitrant diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods: Retrospective, interventional study examining patients with symmetric bilateral, center-involved DME recalcitrant to treatment with RZB, who received DEX in one eye while the contralateral eye continued to receive RZB every 4–5 weeks for a study period of 3 months.Results: Eleven patients (22 eyes) were included: mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (VA) for the DEX arm improved from 0.415 (standard deviation [SD] ±0.16) to 0.261 (SD ±0.18) at final evaluation, and mean central macular thickness (CMT) improved from 461 µm (SD ±156) to 356 µm (SD ±110; net decrease: 105 µm, P=0.01). Mean logMAR VA for the RZB arm improved from 0.394 (SD ±0.31) to 0.269 (SD ±0.19) at final evaluation. Mean CMT improved from 421 µm (SD ±147) to 373 µm (SD ±129; net decrease: 48 µm, P=0.26).Conclusion: A subset of recalcitrant DME patients demonstrated significant CMT reduction and VA improvement after a single DEX injection. Keywords: aflibercept, bevacizumab, central macular thickness, macular edema, dexamethasone implant, diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, ranibizumab

Eric Nudleman,1 Jeremy D Wolfe,2,3 Maria A Woodward,4 Yoshihiro Yonekawa,2,3 George A Williams,2,3 Tarek S Hassan2,3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 2Beaumont Eye Institute, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, 3Associated Retinal Consultants, Royal Oak, 4Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Purpose: Antivascular endothelial growth factor injection is the mainstay of treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous studies have shown that switching treatment from ranibizumab to aflibercept led to an improvement in eyes with recalcitrant activity. Herein, we identify a unique subset of patients whose eyes with neovascular AMD were previously well controlled with ranibizumab injections were then worsened after being switched to aflibercept. Methods: This is a retrospective interventional case series. Eyes with neovascular AMD, previously well controlled with monthly injections of ranibizumab, which then developed worsening of subretinal fluid after being switched to aflibercept were included. Results: A total of 17 eyes were included. All eyes developed increased subretinal fluid when switched from ranibizumab to aflibercept. Fourteen patients were switched back to ranibizumab after a single injection of aflibercept and had subsequent rapid resolution of subretinal fluid. Three patients continued with monthly aflibercept injections for two subsequent months and demonstrated the persistence of the increased subretinal fluid until they were switched back to treatment with ranibizumab at which time the fluid resolved. No eye had persistent decline in visual acuity. Conclusion: Switching from intravitreal ranibizumab to aflibercept in eyes with well-controlled neovascular AMD may result in worsening in a subset of patients and resolves when therapy is switched back to ranibizumab. Keywords: anti-VEGF; intravitreal injection; macula; optical coherence tomography; retina

Nudleman E, Wolfe JD, Woodward MA, Yonekawa Y, Williams GA, Hassan TS. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2016;10: 1053–1057.A units error was published on page 1055, column 2, as “3.1%”; the correct units are “μm” (3.1 μm).Read the original article.

Objective To determine the role of ketogenic diet in the treatment of intractable epilepsy in children. Materials & Methods Sixty six consecutive children (1-16 years old) with intractable epilepsy whose seizure were not neurodegenerative nor febrile in origin were recruited. They received the ketogenic diet and we evaluated its effect on seizure frequency for 3 months. All these children had more than five seizures per week despite adequate therapy with at least 3-4 anticonvulsant medications. Carbohydrates were initially limited to 10 gr/day and fats constituted 75% of the total energy requirement. Response to the diet was categorized as free of seizure, 99%-75%, 50%-75%, 25%-49% and lower than 25% reduction (resistant to therapy). Results Fifty five patients (84%) out of 66 children initiating the diet continued it after 1 week. After 3 months, 80% of the patients kept the diet. After one week, one month and 3 months, there was a more than 50% decrease in the frequency of the seizures in 40 (60%), 50 (75%) and 39 (59%) of the patients, respectively. Three patients (4.5%) were seizure-free after 1 week, 12 (18%) were seizure-free after one month and 12 (18%) were seizure-free after three months and a significant relationship was found between seizure reduction and the type of epilepsy (p<0.017). Conclusion The ketogenic diet should be considered as an alternative therapy for children with intractable seizures. It is more effective than many of the new anticonvulsant medications and is well tolerated by children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comes up with criteria to make sure that the solutions to superlinear, half-linear, and noncanonical dynamic equations oscillate in both advanced and delayed cases; these criteria are comparable to the Hille-type and Ohriska-type criteria for the canonical nonlinear dynamic equations; and also these results solve an open problem in many existing works in the literature on dynamic equations. To demonstrate the importance of the results, some examples have been introduced., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

An inflammation-resolving polysialic acid-decorated PLGA nanoparticle (PolySia-NP) has been developed to treat geographic atrophy/age-related macular degeneration and other conditions caused by macrophage and complement over-activation. While PolySia-NPs have demonstrated pre-clinical efficacy, this study evaluated its systemic and intraocular safety. PolySia-NPs were evaluated in vitro for mutagenic activity using Salmonella strains and E. coli , with and without metabolic activation; cytotoxicity was evaluated based on its interference with normal mitosis. PolySia-NPs were administered intravenously in CD-1 mice and Sprague Dawley rats and assessed for survival and toxicity. Intravitreal (IVT) administration in Dutch Belted rabbits and non-human primates was assessed for ocular or systemic toxicity. In vitro results indicate that PolySia-NPs did not induce mutagenicity or cytotoxicity. Intravenous administration did not show clastogenic activity, effects on survival, or toxicity. A single intravitreal (IVT) injection and two elevated repeat IVT doses of PolySia-NPs separated by 7 days in rabbits showed no signs of systemic or ocular toxicity. A single IVT inoculation of PolySia-NPs in non-human primates demonstrated no adverse clinical or ophthalmological effects. The demonstration of systemic and ocular safety of PolySia-NPs supports its advancement into human clinical trials as a promising therapeutic approach for systemic and retinal degenerative diseases caused by chronic immune activation.

Purpose: Although pivotal trials have demonstrated efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, there is a paucity of clinical data about the long-term (>5 years) treatment., Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were actively treated, had received >40 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections, and were followed for ≥5 years. Snellen-corrected visual acuity, initial drug choice, and times elapsed between treatments were collected. Rates of endophthalmitis and outcomes of submacular hemorrhage were also evaluated., Results: A total of 88 patients (162 eyes) met the inclusion criteria: the average patient age was 86.3 years with an average follow-up period of 7.6 years. The average total number of injections per eye was 69 (18.0 SD); a total of 11,208 injections were given throughout the study period, and 6 cases (0.05%) of endophthalmitis were observed. Overall, there was a clinical and statistical difference in average Snellen-corrected visual acuity at Injections #2,#3, #4, #5, #6, #10, and #20, as compared with baseline ( P = 0.03, P < 0.01, P = 0.02, P < 0.01, P = 0.01, P = 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). Patients in the Snellen-corrected visual acuity subgroup 20/20 to 20/40 maintained vision until injection #30. Seven eyes experienced a visually significant submacular hemorrhage., Conclusion: This neovascular age-related macular degeneration cohort received on average eight anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections per year for approximately 8 years; eyes with good (≥20/40) initial baseline vision maintained their visual acuity, whereas those with worse Snellen-corrected visual acuity (≤20/50) had a robust initial improvement that diminished with time. Most patients were maintained on the same initial drug of choice and the rate of endophthalmitis was low.

Purpose: Retinal vasculitis or vascular occlusion (RV/RO) have been reported after brolucizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This systematic literature review evaluated RV/RO events after brolucizumab in real-world practice., Methods: Systematic literature searches identified 89 publications; 19 were included., Results: Publications described 63 patients (70 eyes) with an RV/RO event following brolucizumab. Mean age was 77.6 years and 77.8% of patients were women; 32 eyes (45.7%) received one brolucizumab injection before RV/RO. Mean (range) time to event from last brolucizumab injection was 19.4 (0-63) days, with 87.5% of events occurring within 30 days. Among eyes with preevent and postevent visual acuity (VA) assessments, 22/42 eyes (52.4%) showed unchanged (±0.08 logMAR) or improved vision from last recorded preevent assessment at latest follow-up, whereas 15/42 eyes (35.7%) showed ≥0.30 logMAR (≥15 letters) VA reduction. Patients with no VA loss were on average slightly younger and had a higher proportion of nonocclusive events., Conclusion: Most RV/RO events reported after brolucizumab in early real-world practice occurred in women. Among eyes with VA measurements, approximately half experienced VA loss; overall, about one-third had VA reduction of ≥0.30 logMAR at latest follow-up, with indications of regional variations., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Opthalmic Communications Society, Inc.)

Purpose: To report on the feasibility of 27-gauge (G) vitrectomy for pediatric patients., Methods: This study is an international, multicenter, retrospective, interventional case series. Participants were patients 17 years or younger who underwent 27-G vitrectomy for various indications., Results: The records of 56 eyes from 47 patients were reviewed. Mean age was 5.7 ± 5.2 years. Diagnoses included retinopathy of prematurity (Stages 3 with vitreous hemorrhage, 4A, 4B, and 5), Terson's syndrome, traumatic macular hole, posterior capsular opacification, endophthalmitis, and others. Instruments used were the 27-G infusion, 27-G vitreous cutter, 27-G light pipe, and 27-G internal limiting membrane forceps. Instrument bending was noted in one (1.8%) case. There were no cases with intraoperative complications, infusion issues, or postoperative endophthalmitis. There were 67/145 (46%) sclerotomies that required suturing, of which most (51/145) were sutured out of precaution. There were four cases (7.1%) that required conversion to a larger gauge and three cases (5.3%) that developed postoperative hypotony. Mean visual acuity improved from logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 1.32 (20/420) to 0.72 (20/105), after a mean follow-up of 125.1 days (P = 0.01). Anatomic success was achieved in 96.4% of eyes after a single surgery., Conclusion: Twenty-seven-gauge vitrectomy was safe and feasible in selected pediatric vitreoretinopathies. Further studies are warranted to examine indications and outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual outcomes and the affect of timing of surgical repair of fovea-splitting rhegmatogenous retinal detachments., Method: A retrospective, consecutive cohort from multiple surgeons at a single center. Fovea status (fovea-on, fovea-splitting, or fovea-off) was classified by preoperative optical coherence tomography. The primary outcome measure was the visual acuity at the last follow-up that was further correlated with the timing of surgical repair., Results: One hundred and ninety-five eyes were included with 62 fovea-on, 65 fovea-splitting, and 68 fovea-off detachments. The mean preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity for fovea-on, fovea-splitting, and fovea-off groups was 0.16 ± 0.21, 0.70 ± 0.56, and 1.67 ± 0.87, respectively (P = <0.001). Mean postoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity for fovea-on, fovea-splitting, and fovea-off groups were 0.07 ± 0.13, 0.10 ± 0.15, and 0.20 ± 0.22, respectively (P = <0.001). A statistically significant difference in mean postoperative logMAR visual acuity was found between fovea-off and fovea-on groups (P = 0.003) and between fovea-off and fovea-splitting groups (P = 0.013), however not between fovea-on and fovea-splitting groups (P = 0.827). Visual acuity improved when repair was performed earlier after presentation for fovea-on (R = 0.378, P = 0.002) and fovea-off groups (R = 0.277, P = 0.022), but not for the fovea-splitting group (R = 0.089, P = 0.481)., Conclusion: We described the favorable visual outcomes of surgery for fovea-splitting rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and correlated these with the timing of surgical repair, which may help guide the management of this urgent, vision-threatening condition.

Purpose: To evaluate the etiology, clinical course, and outcomes of eyes that suffered postendophthalmitis rhegmatogenous retinal detachments., Methods: A retrospective, consecutive case series was conducted of patients managed at Associated Retinal Consultants P.C. from January 2013 to December 2019. Patients were identified as having had endophthalmitis by ICD-9/10 codes. Those with endophthalmitis and/or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not managed at Associated Retinal Consultants from January were excluded., Results: Charts of 413 patients were reviewed and 19 met inclusion criteria. Incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment following infectious endophthalmitis was 4.6%. The most common inciting events for endophthalmitis was intravitreal injection (9 of 19) and cataract surgery (7 of 19). Fifteen of 19 patients were treated with an injection of intravitreal antibiotics and 4 underwent immediate vitrectomy with antibiotic injection. Biopsy cultures were obtained in 18 of 19 patients and yielded positive growth in 12 (66.7%). Seventeen of the 19 eyes were operable. Final retinal reattachment rate was 88.2% (15 of 17). Mean final logMAR visual acuity was 1.58 (Snellen 20/765). Factors associated with worse final visual acuity after surgical repair included preceding intravitreal injection (P = 0.001), streptococcus species (P = 0.024), presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (P = 0.015), and use of silicone oil during primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair (P = 0.010)., Conclusion: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments following endophthalmitis occur infrequently. Although most eyes can be repaired surgically, visual outcomes are often poor, particularly in eyes that were infected with streptococcal species and had associated proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical course of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) after developing endophthalmitis during their treatment with intravitreal injections., Methods: Multicenter, retrospective series., Results: From April 2013 to October 2018, 196,598 intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections were performed, with 75 cases of endophthalmitis (incidence 0.0381%). There was no association between intravitreal anti-VEGF drug (P = 0.29), anesthetic method (P = 0.26), povidone concentration (P = 0.22), or any intraprocedure variable and endophthalmitis incidence. Seventy-two patients (96%) were treated with intravitreal tap and inject , while 3 underwent immediate pars plana vitrectomy. After endophthalmitis resolution, 17 patients (22.7%) were not re-treated for nAMD (in 10 cases due to inactive disease; follow-up, 115 ± 8.4 weeks). Patients required less frequent anti-VEGF injections after infection (7.4 ± 0.61 weeks vs. 11.5 ± 1.8 weeks; P = 0.004). Preinfection logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.585 ± 0.053 (∼20/77). It worsened with endophthalmitis (1.67 ± 0.08, ∼20/935; P < 0.001) and again on postendophthalmitis treatment day 1 (1.94 ± 0.064; count fingers; P < 0.001), but improved after reinitiating nAMD therapy (1.02 ± 0.11; ∼20/209; P < 0.001). Better visual acuity on postendophthalmitis week 1 (P = 0.002) and reinitiation of nAMD treatment (P = 0.008) were associated with better final visual acuity, and streptococcal culture with worse visual acuity (P = 0.028). The postendophthalmitis treatment interval was associated with the anti-VEGF drug used (aflibercept = ranibizumab > bevacizumab; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Patients with nAMD required fewer injections after endophthalmitis, suggesting a biological change in disease activity. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration became quiescent in 13.3% of eyes. Most achieved better outcomes with anti-VEGF reinitiation.

Purpose: To report the anatomic and functional outcomes of autologous retinal transplantation (ART)., Design: Multicenter, retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series., Participants: One hundred thirty eyes of 130 patients undergoing ART for the repair of primary and refractory macular holes (MHs), as well as combined MH-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (MH-RRD), between January 2017 and December 2019., Methods: All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy and ART, with surgeon modification of intraoperative variables. A large array of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data was collected. Two masked reviewers graded OCT images. Multivariate statistical analysis and subgroup analysis were performed., Main Outcome Measures: Macular hole closure rate, visual acuity (VA), external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone (EZ) band integrity, and alignment of neurosensory layers (ANL) on OCT., Results: One hundred thirty ART surgeries were performed by 33 vitreoretinal surgeons worldwide. Patient demographics were: mean age of 63 ± 6.3 years, 58% female, 41% White, 23% Black, 19% Asian, and 17% Latino. Preoperative VA was 1.37 ± 0.12 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR; Snellen equivalent, approximately 20/500), which improved significantly to 1.05 ± 0.09 logMAR (Snellen equivalent, approximately 20/225; P < 0.001) after surgery (mean follow-up, 8.6 ± 0.8 months). Autologous retinal transplantation was performed for primary MH repair in 27% of patients (n = 35), for refractory MH in 58% of patients (n = 76; mean number of previous surgeries, 1.6 ± 0.2), and for MH-RRD in 15% of patients (n = 19). Mean maximum MH diameter was 1470 ± 160 μm, mean minimum diameter was 840 ± 94 μm, and mean axial length was 24.6 ± 3.2 mm. Overall, 89% of MHs closed (78.5% complete; 10% small eccentric defect), with a 95% closure rate in MH-RRD (68.4% complete; 26.3% small eccentric defect). Visual acuity improved by at least 3 lines in 43% of eyes and by at least 5 lines in 29% of eyes. Reconstitution of the EZ (P = 0.02) and ANL (P = 0.01) on OCT were associated with better final VA. Five cases of ART graft dislocation (3.8%), 5 cases of postoperative retinal detachment (3.8%), and 1 case of endophthalmitis (0.77%) occurred., Conclusions: In this global experience, patients undergoing ART for large primary and refractory MHs and MH-RRDs achieved good anatomic and functional outcomes, with low complication rates despite complex surgical pathologic features., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the refractive outcomes of sutureless intrascleral fixation of intraocular lens with pars plana vitrectomy., Method: A retrospective, consecutive cohort from multiple surgeons of a single center. Primary outcomes included spherical equivalent (SEQ) and change in SEQ (ΔSEQ) from preoperative intraocular lens power calculations. Secondary outcomes included refractive outcomes of fixation at 1.5 mm, 2 mm, and 2.5 mm posterior to the limbus., Results: In total, 84 eyes of 80 patients were included. Preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 1.21 ± 0.68 (20/320). The mean follow-up time was 2.33 ± 1.36 years. At 3 months, SEQ was -0.50 ± 1.59 D and ΔSEQ was 0.58 ± 1.49 D. At 1 year, SEQ was -0.55 ± 1.32 D and ΔSEQ was 0.39 ± 1.42 D. At the last follow-up, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.34 ± 0.34 (20/40), SEQ was -0.51 ± 1.44 D, and ΔSEQ was 0.57 ± 1.27 D. There was no difference between SEQ or ΔSEQ throughout follow-up (P = 0.97 and P = 0.96, respectively). At fixation distances more posterior to the limbus, mean ΔSEQ was more hyperopic at 3 months, 1-year, and the last follow-up (P = 0.02, P = 0.01, and P = 0.006, respectively)., Conclusion: Refractive outcomes for sutureless intrascleral fixation of intraocular lens with pars plana vitrectomy were favorable and showed stability postoperatively. These results may aid surgeons achieve better desired refractive outcomes for this technique.

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal periphery in patients with idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasis or macular telangiectasis Type 2 (MacTel2), using widefield fluorescein angiography., Methods: Single-center, retrospective, observational case series of 50 eyes of 50 patients with MacTel2 and 50 eyes of 50 age-matched controls., Results: Thirty-seven eyes in the MacTel2 group (74%) showed peripheral capillary nonperfusion or dropout, compared with 37 eyes in the control group (74%, P = 1.0). Morphologically, the MacTel2 group trended toward having a higher proportion of pruning-type capillary dropout (44%) compared with controls (28%), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Patients with MacTel2 had a higher incidence of microaneurysms compared with controls (MacTel2 56%; controls 42%; P = 0.048), independent of age or systemic risk factors. There was no difference in the incidence of venous-venous shunts (MacTel2 10%; controls 10%; P = 1.0), arteriovenous shunts (MacTel2 14%; controls 18%; P = 0.60), venous tortuosity (MacTel2 60%; controls 66%; P = 0.58), or arterial tortuosity (MacTel2 54%; controls 68%; P = 0.20), which was mild in most cases., Conclusion: We note a high incidence of peripheral vascular and retinal findings in both patients with MacTel2 and age-matched controls, using widefield fluorescein angiography. Patients with MacTel2 had significantly more microaneurysms, independent of age or other systemic risk factors.

Purpose: Infectious endophthalmitis is a devastating, yet rare, complication after intraocular surgery, trauma, and systemic illness. Given its rare incidence, few patients would be expected to experience more than 1 episode of infectious endophthalmitis in their lifetime. We reviewed our patients who were diagnosed with and treated for at least 2 separate episodes of endophthalmitis., Design: A retrospective, consecutive case series was conducted of patients managed at Associated Retinal Consultants PC (Royal Oak, Michigan) from January 2013 through December 2019., Participants: Patients were identified with the diagnosis of endophthalmitis by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Editions, codes., Methods: Those diagnosed and then treated either with a vitreous tap and intravitreal injection of antibiotics or with pars plana vitrectomy at least twice were included. Those treated multiple times for the same episode of endophthalmitis were excluded., Main Outcome Measures: Cause and risk factors for recurrent endophthalmitis., Results: Charts of 535 patients were reviewed, and 12 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age at initial presentation was 72.5 years, and 33.3% were men. Eight of the 12 patients (66%) experienced recurrent endophthalmitis in the same eye, and 4 of the 12 patients (33%) experienced separate episodes in different eyes. The average time between episodes was 604 days (range, 90-2366 days). The average follow-up from the second episode was 492 days (range, 119-1185 days). The most common cause for both the first and second episodes was recent intravitreal injection (50% and 58.3%, respectively) followed by surgery associated (41.6% and 33.3%, respectively). The cause was the same for the first and second episodes of 8 patients (75%). Of the 24 recorded episodes of endophthalmitis, culture results were positive in 41.6%, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus being the most common bacteria identified., Conclusions: Recurrent endophthalmitis is rare and seen most commonly after intravitreal injections. Most patients in this series showed culture-negative results. Each successive episode of endophthalmitis was associated with a worse final visual outcome. The cumulative number of intravitreal injections may be an independent risk factor for recurrent postinjection endophthalmitis., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Anthropometric measurements and proportions of the female body play a significant role in plastic and reconstructive surgery. This study is aimed to identify the descriptive measurements of the breast in a sample population of young nulliparous Saudi women., Methods: Fifty-four nulliparous Saudi women of 20-25 years old, with no physical or developmental deformity, and body mass index (BMI) of 20-25 kg/m 2 were recruited. The following parameters were measured: body weight, height, BMI, sternal notch-nipple length for each breast (SN), internipple distance (IND), distance from nipple to inframammary fold (IMF), distance from edge of areola to the IMF, and areolar diameter (AD)., Results: The mean values of age, BMI, height, and weight of the participants were 22.1 ± 1.2 years, 21.8 ± 3.1 kg/m 2 , 162.1 ± 5 cm, and 57.4 ± 8.6 kg, respectively. The mean values of the breast parameters were 19.8, 20.3, 7.7, 5.4, and 4.5 cm for SN, IND, distance from nipple to IMF, distance from lower end of the areola to IMF, and AD, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found only in the distance from edge of areola to IMF between the right and left breasts, with the parameter significantly higher in the left breast ( P < 0.05, n = 54). A positive correlation between weight and BMI was found in SN, IND, distance from nipple to IMF, and AD., Conclusion: These study results will be useful for the comparison of anthropometric breast values of young Saudi women with those of women from other nationalities., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Purpose: Epiretinal proliferation is a distinct clinical entity from epiretinal membrane that classically is associated with lamellar macular holes, but its prevalence and association with full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) have not been well described. We characterized macular hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (MHEP) and its effects on long-term surgical outcomes., Design: Multicenter, interventional, retrospective case-control study., Participants: Consecutive eyes that underwent surgery for FTMH with a minimum of 12 months follow-up., Methods: All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, removal of any epiretinal membranes, and gas tamponade, with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Spectral-domain OCT imaging was obtained before and after surgery., Main Outcome Measures: Improvement in visual acuity and single-surgery hole closure rates in eyes with, versus without, MHEP at 12 months., Results: Seven hundred twenty-five charts were analyzed, and 113 patients met inclusion criteria. Of 113 eyes with FTMH, 30 (26.5%) showed MHEP. Patients with FTMH and MHEP were older (P < 0.002) and more often men (P = 0.001), and showed more advanced macular hole stages than those without MHEP (P = 0.010). A full posterior vitreous detachment was more common in eyes with MHEP (P < 0.004). Twelve months after surgery, FTMH with MHEP patients showed significantly less improvement in visual acuity (P = 0.019) with higher rates of ellipsoid and external limiting membrane defects (P < 0.05) and with a higher rate of failure to close with 1 surgery compared to FTMH without MHEP (26.7% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.002]). Peeling the ILM was associated with improved rates of hole closure in FTMH with MHEP (P < 0.001). Multivariate testing confirmed that the presence of MHEP was an independent risk factor for less visual improvement (P = 0.031) and for single-surgery nonclosure (P = 0.009) and that ILM peeling improved single-surgery closure rates (P = 0.026)., Conclusions: We found that FTMH with MHEP showed poorer anatomic and visual outcomes after vitrectomy compared with FTMH without MHEP. Internal limiting membrane peeling was associated with improved closure rates and should be considered when MHEP is detected before surgery., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: To determine the incidence of endophthalmitis after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy at our institution and to identify potential risk factors for endophthalmitis occurring after injection., Design: Retrospective, single-center cohort study., Participants: All patients who received an intravitreal injection of an anti-VEGF medication between January 1, 2014, and March 31, 2017., Methods: Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases billing codes were used to identify instances of anti-VEGF administration and cases of endophthalmitis. Medical records and injection technique were reviewed carefully in each case. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed in a stepwise fashion to determine independent predictors of endophthalmitis based on injection protocol., Main Outcome Measures: Incidence of endophthalmitis after injection and odds of endophthalmitis by injection technique with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: A total of 154 198 anti-VEGF injections were performed during the period of interest, resulting in 58 cases of endophthalmitis (0.038% [1:2659]). After adjustment for confounders, both 2% lidocaine jelly (odds ratio [OR], 11.28; 95% CI, 3.39-37.46; P < 0.001) and 0.5% Tetravisc (Ocusoft, Richmond, TX; OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.15-13.50; P = 0.03) use were independent risk factors for endophthalmitis after injection. Lid speculum use, povidone iodine strength (5% vs. 10%), injection location (superior or inferior), conjunctival displacement, use of provider gloves, use of a strict no-talking policy, use of subconjunctival lidocaine, and topical antibiotic use were not statistically significant predictors of endophthalmitis after injection. There was no difference in endophthalmitis rate among the anti-VEGF agents (bevacizumab, ranibizumab 0.3 mg, ranibizumab 0.5 mg, and aflibercept)., Conclusions: The incidence of endophthalmitis after anti-VEGF injections is low. Use of lidocaine jelly or Tetravisc may increase the risk of endophthalmitis after injection., (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To describe surgical outcomes and structural characteristics of intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted with transconjunctival sutureless intrascleral (SIS) fixation in human eyes., Design: Retrospective interventional surgical case series involving live and cadaveric human eyes., Methods: In this study, we investigated the surgical outcomes and structural anatomy of secondary IOLs implanted with the SIS technique in human eyes. All cases involving SIS IOL fixation performed at a single academic center from January 1, 2012, through July 30, 2016, were reviewed to describe the surgical technique, common indications, clinical outcomes, and the rate of common operative complications. To investigate the structure of SIS-fixated IOLs in vivo, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and intraoperative endoscopy were analyzed to describe anatomical outcomes. The primary anatomical outcomes were the optic pupillary centration and location of haptic externalization. Results were correlated with cadaveric human eyes that underwent the SIS-IOL technique. Cadaveric eyes were imaged and analyzed using high-resolution photography for centration, stress measurements at the haptic-optic junction, and qualitative descriptors of IOL optic and haptic position., Results: A total of 122 consecutive patients who underwent IOL placement using SIS technique were included in the study with mean follow-up of 1.52 years (range, 0.4-4.5 years). The majority (75%) of patients received a new 3-piece IOL for primary aphakia or after IOL exchange. The other patients (25%) had a dislocated 3-piece IOL that was rescued using the SIS technique. Preoperative mean Snellen visual acuity was 20/633 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution = 1.501). At the final visit, the mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/83 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution = 0.6243) and final mean spherical equivalent was -0.57 diopters. The most common complications were vitreous hemorrhage (22% of eyes), which resolved spontaneously in most cases, and cystoid macular edema. The rates of IOL dislocation, IOL decentration, haptic erosion, IOL tilting, iris capture, and endophthalmitis were low. Intraoperative endoscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated a securely fixated IOL and well-centered optic without iris or ciliary body touch. Structural study of cadaveric eyes confirmed IOL optic and haptic anatomy observed during live human surgery. The ab interno haptic insertion was the anterior pars plana, away from the iris, ciliary processes and ora serrata. The degree of haptic externalization was correlated with the degree of strain on the haptic-optic junction. The angle of the haptic-optic junction in SIS-fixated IOLs (33.97°) was not significantly different compared with overlaid native nonfixated IOL (32.93°) but increased slightly with degree of haptic tip externalization (36.26 and 39.16 for 2 and 3 mm haptic externalizations, respectively)., Conclusion: In this comprehensive study, we demonstrate the surgical outcomes achieved with SIS fixation of IOLs. Surgical and postoperative complications do occur, albeit at a low rate, and can effectively be managed with excellent anatomical and visual outcomes. The structural and anatomical data in this study may help guide SIS placement and optimize long-term surgical results.

Importance: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) is a leading cause of vision loss. The optimal screening protocol to detect choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in fellow eyes of patients undergoing treatment for unilateral CNV has not been determined., Objective: To compare the visual outcomes of eyes with established, active nvAMD in index eyes with outcomes of fellow eyes that subsequently developed CNV during the management protocol., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective single-center case series conducted at a private vitreoretinal practice, data were collected for all patients treated for bilateral nvAMD between October 1, 2015, and October 1, 2016, for whom we could determine the date of index eye and fellow eye conversion to nvAMD (n = 1600). Per institutional protocol, patients were screened for new CNV in the fellow eye at every office visit. Patients were excluded if they had a condition that could result in marked asymmetric vision loss., Exposures: Development of nvAMD., Main Outcomes and Measures: Visual acuity (VA) at the time of diagnosis of nvAMD and at equivalent time points following conversion to nvAMD for both index eyes and fellow eyes., Results: A total of 264 patients met the inclusion criteria; 197 (74.6%) were women and 253 (95.8%) were white, and the mean (SD) age was 79.1 (8.2) years at time of index eye conversion to nvAMD and 80.6 (8.2) years at time of fellow eye conversion to nvAMD. Fellow eyes presented with better VA (mean VA, 20/50 [0.40 logMAR]) compared with index eyes (mean VA, 20/90 [0.67 logMAR]) at the time of conversion (difference, 14 letters [0.27 logMAR]; 95% CI, 10-17 [0.20-0.34]; P < .001). Index eyes did not achieve the same level of VA as fellow eyes after an equivalent postconversion follow-up of approximately 20 months (mean VA: index eye; 20/70 [0.56 logMAR]; fellow eye, 20/50 [0.40 logMAR]; difference, 8 letters [0.15 logMAR]; 95% CI, 4-11 [0.08-0.22]; P < .001). No difference was detected between the mean number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections received by fellow eyes and index eyes (9.7 vs 10.0 injections, respectively)., Conclusions and Relevance: This retrospective study suggests that fellow eyes of previously treated patients with nvAMD may achieve better VA than their index eye counterparts after an equivalent amount of follow-up. This may be because the CNV was detected and treated earlier and at a better level of VA, although it is unknown whether the frequent office visits, VA measurements, or optical coherence tomography testing was responsible for the detection at a better level of VA.

This study aims to (1) evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of ERα, ERα36 and ERβ in combination in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and nearby non-tumorous tissue (2) correlate their expression pattern with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of the patients; this may provide a new insight into prediction of the disease outcome and understanding its progression. The three markers showed positive cytoplasmic (± membranous) staining pattern in tumor cells. The tubules in the nearby non-tumorous tissue showed either nuclear (± cytoplasmic) staining pattern (ERα and ERβ) or only cytoplasmic staining pattern (ERα36). The mean of cytoplasmic expression of ERα, ERα36 and ERβ was significantly higher in association with poor prognostic factors: larger tumor size (P<0.0001) for each, late clinical stage (P<0.0001) for each, higher nuclear grade (P = 0.003, P = 0.002 and P = 0.022) respectively, and presence of lymphovascular invasion (P<0.0001, P = 0.006 and P<0.0001) respectively. We have demonstrated for the first time that patients whose tumors express high cytoplasmic levels of ERα, ERα36 or ERβ experience shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. The independent role of ER subunits as markers of poor prognosis is proven only for ERβ and ERα36 but not ERα. In conclusion, our results indicate that the main staining pattern of ERα, ERα36 and ERβ in RCC is cytoplasmic with relation of this pattern to bad prognosis. So we can suggest the assessment of these receptors as markers of poor prognosis in RCC patients., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of the intravitreal dexamethasone implant as the treatment for recalcitrant macular edema after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair., Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records was performed on 17 consecutive patients (17 eyes) with recalcitrant macular edema associated with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair who were treated with a single or multiple injections of an intravitreal dexamethasone 0.7-mg implant (Ozurdex; Allergan Inc) at two centers. Main outcomes of the study were change in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity, measurement of central foveal thickness, and macular cube volume as measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography and frequency of complications., Results: The mean age was 67 years (range, 51-78 years). All 17 patients received previous topical therapy and 12 of them had previous administration of intravitreal triamcinolone with persistence of macular edema. Baseline mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/100 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 0.75; range, 0.18-1.3 ±0.37) in the affected eyes. There was a statistically significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity at 1 month (P < 0.001) and 3 months (P = 0.01). Mean baseline central foveal thickness was 505 μm, and mean macular cube volume was 10.62 mm. There was a statistically significant decrease in central foveal thickness and macular cube volume at 1 month (505-290 μm, P = 0.013 and 10.62-9.13 mm, P < 0.0001) and 3 months (P = 0.01). All patients developed recurrence of macular edema at 3 months, which required retreatment. The average number of implants was 4 (range, 1-14). No adverse effects such as retinal detachment or endophthalmitis occurred. Two patients experienced an increase in intraocular pressure that was controlled with topical therapy., Conclusion: Macular edema that occurs in eyes after successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment can be chronic and recalcitrant, and may be successfully and safely treated with the dexamethasone intravitreal implant.

Background and Objective: To describe a novel technique of scleral indentation and transillumination for single-surgeon, unassisted vitrectomy and vitreous base shaving enhanced with a digital heads-up display system (NGENUITY 3D Visualization System; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX)., Patients and Methods: This technique was utilized in six eyes of six patients during vitrectomy surgery for common vitreoretinal surgical diagnoses. In each case, the transillumination was performed with the traditional intraocular light pipe set at 100% power, placed obliquely just posterior to the vitreous base insertion, with or without a transillumination adapter. The visualization of the vitreous cavity was digitally enhanced using a heads-up display system (NGENUITY 3D) with light amplification settings increased to near-maximal gain. In each case, the adequacy of the surgical view was judged intraoperatively by two independent surgeons who shared the same surgical view as the primary surgeon., Results: In this series, the surgical view provided by the scleral transillumination was deemed adequate to safely perform surgery in five of six cases. In the one patient in whom this was not the case, vitrectomy was completed using traditional endo-illumination and scleral depression performed by a skilled assistant. Lighter fundus pigmentation, myopia, thin sclera, and absence of dense peripheral media opacities were associated with improved view with scleral transillumination. There were no intraoperative complications., Conclusion: Digitally enhanced scleral transillumination affords surgeons another option for safe and effective simultaneous scleral depression and illumination for unassisted peripheral vitrectomy. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:436-439.]., (Copyright 2018, SLACK Incorporated.)

Purpose: To derive novel insights into the pathophysiology of vancomycin-related hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculopathy (HORV) through a careful clinicopathologic correlation., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathologic course of 2 consecutive patients who developed HORV. The clinical history, multimodal imaging, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and intraoperative and histologic findings are reported., Results: Both patients presented with decreased vision and eye pain within 1 week following otherwise uncomplicated cataract extraction and were diagnosed with HORV after endophthalmitis was ruled out. Both patients presented with significant ocular discomfort that progressively worsened, and both experienced a dismal visual outcome despite early aggressive medical and surgical therapy. One patient requested enucleation for a blind and painful eye. Upon histologic examination of this eye, the iris and ciliary body appeared to be infarcted with separation of the iris and ciliary epithelia from their adjacent stromal components. These findings were corroborated by UBM of the second patient. Histologic examination of the posterior segment demonstrated severe hemorrhagic necrosis of the neurosensory retina and an occlusive nonarteritic vasculopathy of the retina and choroid. The choroid was thickened by prominent nongranulomatous chronic inflammation accompanied by a glomeruloid proliferation of small vessels. The inflammatory infiltrate was almost exclusively confined to the choroid and consisted of predominantly T cells. There was conspicuous absence of inflammatory cells in the retina and no histologic evidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis., Conclusions: HORV is a rare condition that can lead to profound vision loss. Significant ocular pain can be a presenting sign of HORV in cases with severe iris and ciliary body ischemia. Although it has been suggested that HORV is a form of leukocytoclastic retinal vasculitis, the histologic findings herein indicate that the pathophysiology is more complex. It is grounded in a necrotizing retinal vasculopathy in the absence of retinal vasculitis, chronic nongranulomatous choroiditis, and an unusual glomeruloid proliferation of endothelial cells in the choroid and elsewhere in the eye., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the preoperative features, intraoperative management, and postoperative outcomes of recurrent macular holes that developed after initial successful repair with small-gauge vitrectomy techniques., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 392 eyes with idiopathic macular holes successfully treated with small-gauge vitrectomy. Thirteen of these eyes underwent reoperation after macular hole reopening. We assessed patient demographics, visual acuity, postoperative anatomical success, potential precipitating clinical factors of hole reopening, and details of the surgical repairs of these eyes., Results: Macular hole reopening occurred in 13 (3.3%) of 392 eyes in a mean of 28 months (range, 1-120 months) after initial repair. All 13 recurrent holes closed after a second vitrectomy, but 4 (31%) holes reopened again and had vitrectomy. Of these, 2 reopened a third time. Ultimately, 11 (85%) holes were closed at the most recent follow-up. The mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/81 before initial repair, 20/148 after the first reopening, 20/115 after repair of the first reopening, and 20/55 after repair of >1 reopening. Ten of 13 (77%) patients had, or later developed, macular holes in the other eye during follow-up., Conclusion: Reoperation successfully achieved hole closure and ultimate visual improvement in most eyes with recurrent macular holes. Most patients with recurrent holes previously had, or later developed, full-thickness macular holes in the other eye.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant in combination with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents for treatment resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD)., Methods: This study was designed as a single-center, retrospective interventional case series. Consecutive patients with treatment-resistant nvAMD underwent simultaneous combined injection of anti-VEGF agent and dexamethasone intravitreal implant. Eighteen patients with mean age of 81.5 years were included. Patients received average of 26.3 anti-VEGF injections before dual therapy, with mean follow up of 8.2 months after dual therapy., Results: Dual therapy produced a significant mean decrease in CFT (126.3 μm), compared to a mean increase of 29.9 μm when treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy (p=0.0017). Patients also had mean decrease in MCV of -0.85 mm 3 with dual therapy compared with anti-VEGF monotherapy (p=0.0014). There was a moderate correlation between the number of prior anti-VEGF injections and the magnitude of anatomic response, suggesting that shorter disease duration may positively influence response to combined treatment. Although there was a slight trend towards improved mean visual acuity after dual therapy, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Nevertheless, with combination treatment, 33% of patients gained one or more lines of vision. Dual therapy resulted in a significantly lower number of required anti-VEGF injections (4.25 vs 5.33) and an increase of the anti-VEGF injection-free interval to 1.41 months from 1.12 months during the 6 months following dual therapy compared to the same interval before dual therapy. Dual therapy was well tolerated; two eyes developed mild IOP elevation effectively managed with topical therapy and one patient developed worsening cataract., Conclusions: Combined treatment of anti-VEGF with the dexamethasone intravitreal implant is a viable alternative for treatment-resistant nvAMD, and may reduce treatment burden. Earlier treatment with dual therapy may be beneficial to maximize anatomic and visual outcomes in these patients.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) for diabetic macular edema (DME) in vitrectomized eyes., Methods: This interventional retrospective consecutive case series included vitrectomized eyes undergoing IDI placement for treatment of recalcitrant DME between June 2011 and June 2014. All patients had previously received anti-VEGF therapy (ranibizumab or bevacizumab). Primary endpoints were changes in visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline values one month after device implantation. Secondary endpoints were VA and CRT changes at 3 months., Results: A total of 8 eyes of 8 patients met the inclusion criteria. One month after IDI placement, there was a significant (p = 0.01) improvement in VA from 0.79 ± 0.52 logMAR (20/123 Snellen equivalent) to 0.64 ± 0.55 logMAR (20/88), meanwhile CRT improved from 455.75 ± 123.19 to 295.00 ± 90.39 μm (p = 0.02). These findings persisted at 3 months., Conclusion: In vitrectomized eyes previously treated with anti-VEGF agents for recalcitrant DME, implantation of the IDI appears to be efficacious in improving VA and CRT at 1-month with the observed benefits persisting for at least for 3 months.

Background and Objective: The authors report the technique of using the 27-gauge (G) vitreous cutter through 25-G valved cannulas to allow hybrid instrumentation of both gauges., Patients and Methods: Vitrectomy is initiated with standard placement of 25-G valved cannulas, followed by insertion of a 27-G vitreous cutter through the 25-G cannulas., Results: The hybrid procedure emphasizes the advantages of both platforms: The 25-G cutter is more efficient for core vitrectomy and is more rigid to facilitate peripheral vitrectomy; the 25-G platform enjoys a wider armamentarium of instrumentation options; and the smaller profile of the 27-G cutter can be maneuvered more easily into tight surgical planes to act analogous to vertical scissors, with the added benefits of aspiration and spatula-like features. The authors illustrate this technique in three cases: diabetic tractional retinal detachment with dense plaques, posterior stage 4B retinopathy of prematurity, and sutureless scleral fixation of an intraocular lens., Conclusions: Hybrid use of the 25-G and 27-G platforms offers greater versatility for the management of complex vitreoretinal conditions., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background and Objective: Intravitreal corticosteroids may accelerate the normalization of macular morphology after vitrectomy and epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling. The authors compared the visual and anatomic outcomes of eyes undergoing this procedure with the intraoperative use of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX) (Ozurdex; Allergan, Irvine, CA) versus triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) (Triesence; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX)., Patients and Methods: Interventional, retrospective, consecutive, case-control study., Results: Fifty-five participants were included (DEX = 19; IVTA = 36). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months in both the DEX (P = .40, .45, .02, .08, respectively) and IVTA (P < .01, = .10, < .01, < .01) arms. Similarly, central macular thickness (CMT) improved at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months in both the DEX (P < .01, = .03, < .01, < .01) and IVTA (P < .01, < .01, < .01, < .01) arms. There were no statistical differences between DEX and IVTA regarding BCVA and CMT., Conclusion: Both intraoperative DEX and IVTA, used at the completion of vitrectomy and at membrane peeling for epiretinal membrane, were effective in improving visual and anatomic outcomes, though there was a trend toward greater significance with IVTA., (Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.)

Background: Exudative age-related macular degeneration is commonly treated with intravitreal injection of medications containing antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factors, including ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) and bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech). To the best of our knowledge, hyphema has not previously been reported as a complication of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab or bevacizumab., Methods: Retrospective case series., Results: Three patients developed hyphema after intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medications: one after ranibizumab and two after bevacizumab. Two patients were pseudophakic and taking warfarin in combination with low-dose aspirin, and one was phakic and not taking any coagulation-altering medications. A total of 26,184 intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or bevacizumab were given during the study period, for an estimated incidence of hyphema after intravitreal injection of approximately 1 in 10,000., Conclusion: The authors describe hyphema, either gross or microscopic, as a complication of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medications. In all three patients, best-corrected vision returned to baseline after resolution of the hyphema and subsequent injections occurred without complication.

Introduction: All previous experimental and clinical repairs of flexor tendons in zone II have used either a grasping or a locking technique. In this article, a combined (grasping and locking) repair was compared biomechanically to its grasping and locking components., Methods: Using fresh flexor profundus adult sheep tendons, three techniques of tendon repair were tested biomechanically: the 'three figure-of-eight sutures' (a six-strand grasping technique), the 'locked cruciate repair' (a four-strand locked technique) and the 'combined technique' (a 10-strand repair using both the figure-of-eight and cruciate sutures). All repairs were tested to single-cycle tensile failure using a computerised tensometer. For each repair, the 2-mm gap force and the ultimate breaking (failure) force were recorded., Results: Biomechanically, the combined repair was found to be the strongest regarding both gap and failure (P<0.025; two-tailed by the Mann-Whitney test)., Conclusion: The combined 10-strand repair is stronger biomechanically than its grasping and locking components., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine if a difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) exists after small-gauge pars plana vitrectomy randomized to fluid versus 80% sterile air fill., Methods: Ninety-two eyes undergoing 23-gauge and 25-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy were randomized to fluid versus air fill, and IOP was measured at 5 different time points., Results: There is no difference in the mean IOP for eyes undergoing small-gauge pars plana vitrectomy randomized to fluid versus air fill after vitrectomy. Using 23-gauge instrumentation, the mean immediate and 2-hour postoperative IOPs were statistically lower than the mean preoperative IOP. The mean Postoperative Day 1 and Week 1 IOPs were statistically higher than the mean immediate postoperative IOP. Using 25-gauge instrumentation, the mean IOP was not statistically different at any time points in the 2 groups. When comparing 23-gauge with 25-gauge instrumentation, the immediate postoperative IOP was statistically lower and the rate of suture closure for sclerotomies was higher for 23-gauge vitrectomy., Conclusion: When performing 23-gauge or 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, there was no difference in mean IOP for fluid- versus air-filled eyes. However, the mean IOP in the immediate postoperative period was statistically lower, and there was a higher rate of suture closure for 23-gauge compared with 25-gauge instrumentation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes and complications of 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for the management of retained lens fragments after complicated cataract surgery., Methods: This is a retrospective consecutive case series of 17 patients who presented with retained lens fragments, ranging from mostly cortex to the entire lens, which were managed using only 25-gauge instrumentation., Results: Eight men and 9 women (mean age, 73.1 years) were followed for a mean of 4.5 months after 25-gauge vitrectomy for removal of retained lens fragments. Mean preoperative visual acuity was 20/427 and mean final postoperative visual acuity was 20/62. Mean surgical operating time was 48.5 minutes. Mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 24.5 mmHg and mean 1-day postoperative intraocular pressure was 17.9 mmHg. No cases required the use of a phacofragmatome, no sutures were required to close the sclerotomies, and there were no cases of postoperative hypotony. Cystoid macular edema and glaucoma developed postoperatively in 29.4% and 5.9% of eyes, respectively. There were no cases of postoperative retinal detachment or endophthalmitis., Conclusion: A 25-gauge vitrectomy technique, without the use of a phacofragmatome, may be a suitable alternative to 20-gauge vitreous surgery using a phacofragmatome in the management of retained lens fragments after complicated cataract surgery. Clinical outcomes and complication rates are comparable to those found in the literature for 20-gauge surgery.

Purpose: : To evaluate the anatomical and visual outcomes of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repairs performed using 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy., Methods: : A retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series including 53 consecutive eyes of 52 patients who underwent 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy to repair primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was performed. Variables collected for the study were patient demographics, lens status, preoperative visual acuity, and macular status. Outcome measures included single-operation anatomical success rate, final anatomical success rate, postoperative visual acuity, and surgical complications., Results: : The retina was reattached with a single operation in 39 (74%) of 53 eyes. The final anatomical success rate was 100%. The mean time to redetachment was 72 days (range, 13-334 days). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (64%) and development of new retinal breaks (43%) were the most common reasons associated with redetachment. Mean visual acuity improved from 20/100 to 20/60 (P = 0.001); 55% of eyes had final vision of 20/40 or better. Three eyes (6%) developed postoperative choroidal hemorrhage. Three eyes (6%) developed visually significant macular pucker that required surgery. No postoperative hypotony or endophthalmitis was observed., Conclusions: : Repair of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments using 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy resulted in excellent final anatomical success rate and postoperative visual outcomes. However, redetachments due to new tears and/or proliferative vitreoretinopathy resulted in a lower single-operation success rate than those reported with 20-gauge systems.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen, OSI Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) as primary therapy for previously untreated choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) associated with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)., Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed data of 90 patients with newly diagnosed wet AMD in which pegaptanib was used as primary therapy. Inclusion criteria included CNV of any angiographic subtype and size. Exclusion criteria included any lesion previously treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), intravitreal triamcinolone, or thermal laser. Outcome measures included pre and post-treatment changes in best-corrected visual acuity, lesion size, lesion angiographic characteristics, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements. Patients were injected every 6 weeks and fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT imaging were performed after every three injections. Safety assessment was performed by complete ophthalmologic examination pre- and post-injection., Results: Of the patients undergoing primary treatment with pegaptanib, the lesion characteristics were 80% (72/90) occult, 13% (12/90) minimally classic, and 7% (6/90) predominantly classic. Lesion sizes were 50% (45/90) 4 DA. The mean follow-up was 9.1 +/- 2 months (range 6-14 months). Gain of >or=3 lines of vision occurred in 20% (18/90) of patients, stabilization of vision (prevention of three lines of vision loss) occurred in 70% (63/90) of patients, and loss of >or=3 lines of vision occurred in 10% (9/90) of patients, resulting in a 90% response rate. In the patients who gained >or=3 lines of vision, the average number of injections was 3.5. One case of endophthalmitis was recognized., Conclusions: Pegaptanib as primary therapy for naïve CNV lesions offers a 90% rate of improvement or stabilization of vision-outcomes that exceed those reported in the VISION trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of self-reported decrease in visual acuity within 7 days of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to describe the anatomical and clinical course of patients with documented significant visual loss., Methods: Consecutive records of all patients with exudative AMD treated with PDT over a 16-month period at a community-based retina referral practice were reviewed for instances of self-reported visual change within 7 days of treatment. The primary outcome measure was Snellen visual acuity. Secondary outcome measures were fluorescein angiography (FA) and anatomical findings., Results: Among 1,894 PDT treatments performed for 821 patients, there were 32 instances (for 30 patients) of self-reported visual change within 7 days of PDT. A decrease in > or =2 lines of Snellen visual acuity was documented for 10 patients (1.2% of patients or 0.5% of treatments), and all occurred within 3 days of PDT (median, 1 day) in all patients. Median pre-PDT vision was 20/60 (range, 20/50 to 20/200). Vision within 3 days after PDT was 20/100 or worse in all 10 cases and counting fingers or worse in 3. Subretinal hemorrhage occurred in four cases. FA of eyes without hemorrhage showed a circular area of choroidal hypoperfusion (corresponding to the PDT spot) in all five eyes with persistence of the hypofluorescence up to 4 months later. Visual improvement after the initial acute decrease was seen in 3 patients (30%; 95% confidence interval, 7-65%) by 3 months after PDT., Conclusions: Acute visual decrease after PDT for AMD is uncommon. Visual recovery may occur in some patients, but a precise estimate is difficult to determine given the small sample size.

Purpose: To report longer-term outcomes in eyes undergoing 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy., Design: Retrospective, noncomparative, case series., Methods: Chart review of the initial 45 consecutive patients (45 eyes) that underwent TSV by one surgeon (T.S.H.) for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (n = 15), refractory diabetic macular edema (n = 11), idiopathic macular hole (n = 10), and nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage (n = 9). All patients had at least 6-month follow-up. Main outcome measures included visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications., Results: Mean follow-up was 13 months (range 6 to 25 months). Mean overall preoperative VA vs last postoperative VA was 20/229 and 20/65, respectively (P < .0001). Statistically significant VA improvement was seen for each patient subgroup. Mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 16.9 mm Hg (range 10-26 mm Hg). On postoperative day 1, week 1, and week 4, median intraocular pressure was 14.6 mm Hg (range 8-17 mm Hg), 17.6 mm Hg (range 8-38 mm Hg), and 17.7 mm Hg (range 9-33 mm Hg), respectively. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative complications were 1 inferior retinal detachment (2.2%) 4 weeks after macular hole repair, 1 macular hole (2.2%) 6 months after epiretinal membrane peel, and 23 worsening cataracts in 29 phakic eyes (79.3%)., Conclusions: Less surgically complex vitreoretinal pathology may be successfully repaired with TSV. After a mean follow-up of more than 1 year, minimal complications were seen, and none was specifically related to the sutureless nature of the procedure.

Objective: To describe the clinical course of patients 55 years and younger with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)., Design and Methods: Retrospective, noncomparative case series. Medical records of 67 patients were reviewed for demographic, photographic, clinical, and visual acuity (VA) data. Data from 57 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up (mean, 29.2 months) were analyzed statistically., Main Outcome Measures: Best-corrected visual acuity and incidence of intraocular neovascularization., Results: Of 67 consecutive patients (55% men; mean age, 45 years), the median presenting VA was 20/50. Forty-five patients (67%) were found to have at least 1 systemic disease. In 57 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up, the final VA was 20/40 or better in 42%, 20/50 to 20/100 in 18%, and 20/200 or worse in 40%. Visual decline was most common within 3 to 6 months of CRVO onset. Visual improvement was uncommon after 12 months. Of the 22 patients with a presenting VA of 20/40 or better, 36% declined to 20/400 or worse at the most recent examination. Of the 10 patients with a presenting VA of 20/200 to 20/400, 8 improved to 20/60 or better. None of the 6 patients with a presenting VA of counting fingers or worse improved. Intraocular neovascularization was diagnosed at 1 to 9 months following CRVO in 10 patients (18%). Neovascularization of the anterior segment developed in 6 patients (11%), including neovascular glaucoma in 3 (5%). The occurrence of neovascularization appeared to be unrelated to sex, age, presence of associated disease, duration of symptoms, or presenting VA., Conclusions: Younger patients with CRVO have a variable clinical course. Presenting VA does not appear to be predictive of visual or anatomic outcome. As a significant number of patients with good vision at presentation develop legal blindness, therapeutic intervention during periods of visual decline may be considered in these patients.

Purpose: To present a current series that determined the effect of duration of macular detachment (DMD) and patient age on postscleral buckle (SB) visual acuity (VA) and anatomic results., Design: Retrospective, noncomparative, observational case series., Participants: Ninety-four consecutive patients (94 eyes) with primary, uncomplicated, macula-off retinal detachments, a preoperative VA of 20/200 or worse, and a precise history of when macular function was lost., Intervention: Standard explant scleral buckle technique performed by multiple surgeons., Main Outcome Measures: Visual acuity, anatomic reattachment, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy., Results: Visual acuity after SB of 20/40 or better was seen in 71% of eyes with a DMD of 10 days or fewer, 27% of eyes with a DMD of 11 days to 6 weeks, and 14% of eyes with a DMD of more than 6 weeks. Eyes achieved a mean VA after SB of 20/41 after a DMD of 10 days or fewer, 20/121 after a DMD of 11 days to 6 weeks, and 20/178 after a DMD of more than 6 weeks. No decrease in VA was seen within the 1- to 10-day period or the 11 days to 6 week period of DMD. Patients 60 years of age or less achieved a mean VA after SB of 20/47 compared with 20/81 for patients between 61 to 75 years of age and 20 of 96 in patients more than 76 years of age. Duration of macular detachment and patient age had no statistically significant effect on final anatomic reattachment after SB, reoperation rate, or proliferative vitreoretinopathy., Conclusions: Eyes with primary, uncomplicated, macula-off retinal detachment repaired with SB achieve excellent postoperative VA if repaired within the first 10 days of macular detachment. These results are better than the VA in eyes repaired after 11 days to 6 weeks and more than 6 weeks of macular detachment. Patients 60 years of age and younger obtained better postoperative VA than older patients. Duration of macular detachment and patient age did not significantly effect anatomic outcomes.

Purpose: To determine visual outcomes and the incidence of retinal detachment in eyes presenting with posterior vitreous separation and dense fundus-obscuring vitreous hemorrhage., Design: Retrospective consecutive noncomparative interventional case series., Participants: Thirty-six eyes (15 right eyes and 21 left eyes) of 34 patients (18 female and 16 male) ranging in age from 42 to 94 years. Mean follow-up was 14 months., Methods: A comparison of the best-corrected initial visual acuities versus final visual acuities after spontaneous resolution of vitreous hemorrhage or surgical intervention. The number of eyes that were found to have retinal tears or that had a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment develop was documented. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution-converted visual acuities was used for comparison. Categorical data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, and population means were compared by Student's t test., Main Outcome Measures: Final mean visual acuities, number of eyes with at least one retinal tear, location of retinal tears, number of eyes that had retinal detachment develop, and the number of eyes repaired with scleral buckling surgery and/or pars plana vitrectomy., Results: Twenty-four of 36 eyes (67%) were found to have at least one retinal break (range, 0-4 breaks), with 88% of breaks located in the superior retina. Eleven eyes (31%) had more than one retinal break. Fourteen of 36 eyes (39%) had a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment develop that was repaired with pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckling. An additional 14 eyes (39%) underwent vitrectomy for nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage. The incidence of retinal detachment in eyes with a history of retinal detachment in the contralateral eye was 75% (P = 0.04). Seven of 14 eyes (50%) with retinal detachment had coexisting proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Most retinal breaks and detachments occurred in emmetropic or myopic eyes. For all 36 eyes the mean preoperative visual acuity was 20/1233, and the mean final visual acuity was 20/62 (P < 0.0001). Eyes that had a macula-off retinal detachment develop had worse final visual outcomes (20/264; P = 0.01), as did eyes that had proliferative vitreoretinopathy develop (20/129; P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Acute, spontaneous, nontraumatic posterior vitreous separation with dense fundus-obscuring vitreous hemorrhage is associated with a high incidence of retinal tears and detachment. Close follow-up with clinical examination and ultrasonography is necessary, because many of these eyes may eventually require surgical intervention. Aggressive management with early vitrectomy should be considered when there is a history of retinal detachment in the contralateral eye.