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Kirika Kanai, Yuro Igawa, Midori Tachibana, Yuji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Katsumoto, Masayuki Shibuya, Tatsukata Kawagoe, Jun Makita, Kei Shinoda Departments of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama, 350-0495, JapanCorrespondence: Kei Shinoda, Departments of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, Faculty of Medicine, 38 Moro-Hongo Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan, Tel +81-49-276-1250, Fax +81-49-295-8002, Email shinok@saitama-med.ac.jpPurpose: To determine the physiological status of the retina by electroretinography (ERG) using skin electrodes and the RETevalTM system in eyes that had undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil (SO) tamponade. The vitrectomy was performed for a retinal detachment and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Design: Retrospective case series.Methods: ERGs were recorded with the RETevalTM system (LKC Technologies Inc. Gaithersburg, MD; Welch Allyn, Inc. Skaneateles Falls, NY) from eight eyes with PDR before and after the SO removal. The amplitudes and implicit times of the a- and b-waves of the ERGs before the SO removal were compared to that after the SO removal.Results: ERGs were recordable in four eyes before and after the SO removal and the a- and b-amplitudes improved in three eyes and worsened in one eye after the SO removal. In the remaining four eyes, ERGs were non-recordable both before and after the SO removal.Conclusion: These results indicate that ERGs picked up by skin electrodes can be used to assess the physiology of the retina in eyes with a SO tamponade. The flat ERGs in the SO-filled eye indicated the presence of diffuse retinal damage which was confirmed by the flat ERGs after the SO removal.Plain Language Summary: There has been an increasing number of reports on evaluating the retinal function using electroretinography (ERG) with skin electrodes. The main advantage of this system is the ability to record ERGs with a skin electrode that does not touch the cornea and ocular surface. This reduces the risk of infection especially in the postoperative period and in clinical situations where infection is suspected. In addition, there have been only a few reports evaluating the function of the retina by ERG in SO-filled eyes.We recorded ERGs with the RETeval (LKC Technologies Inc. Gaithersburg, MD; Welch Allyn Inc. Skaneateles Falls, NY) device, a relatively new ERG recording system that uses skin electrodes and is less invasive. We recorded ERGs from eight SO-filled eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In 4 SO filled eyes, the amplitudes increased in three eyes after the SO removal. In the other four eyes, ERGs were non-recordable before and after the SO removal. These results suggest that the RETeval system that uses skin electrodes can be used to assess the retinal function in PDR eyes with a SO tamponade. We suggest that the absence of ERGs in the SO filled eyes was not due to the electrical non-conductive effects of SO but may indicate the presence of diffuse retinal damage which was confirmed after the SO removal.Keywords: electroretinogram, pars plana vitrectomy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, silicone oil, skin electrode

Yuki Komi,1 Takeshi Katsumoto,1 Yuji Yoshikawa,1 Masayuki Shibuya,1 Takuhei Shoji,1,2 Jun Makita,1 Kei Shinoda1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, Iruma, Saitama, Japan; 2Koedo Eye Institute, Kawagoe, Saitama, JapanCorrespondence: Kei Shinoda, Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan, Tel +81-4-9276-1250, Fax +81-4-9295-8002, Email shinok@saitama-med.ac.jpRationale: Development and spontaneous closure of a macular hole (MH) in a vitrectomized eye is relatively rare. We report our findings in a case in which vitrectomy was performed successfully to treat a vitreous hemorrhage (VH), but a MH developed eight months later. The MH spontaneously closed 2 weeks later, but then reopened. A second vitrectomy was performed with insertion of the internal limiting membrane flap into the MH which led to the successful closure of the MH. The purpose of this article is to present an explanation of how MH developed in this eye without vitreous traction.Patient: A 64-year-old woman visited an eye clinic with vision reduction in her right eye of 3 days duration. A VH was detected in the right eye and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed. A retinal tear was detected which was the origin of the VH. The vision was restored to a decimal visual acuity of 1.2. Eight months later, the patient noticed that her vision was distorted and was referred to our hospital.Diagnosis: Optical coherence tomographic (OCT) images showed a thin epiretinal membrane on the macula, cystoid changes in the macular area, and a full-thickness MH.Interventions: The MH closed spontaneously in two weeks, however a lamellar MH with an epiretinal proliferation (EP) developed 11 months later. Two months later, OCT showed cyst-like changes in the retina and a full-thickness MH. A second PPV was performed with the insertion of the ILM flap and EP into the MH to close the MH. Her visual acuity improved, and distorted vision was not present.Lessons: Clinicians should be aware that a MH can develop in a vitrectomized eye without vitreous traction but can close spontaneously. We conclude that careful follow-up examinations are necessary even in vitrectomized eyes.Plain Language Summary: We report our findings in a case in which a macular hole (MH) developed 8 months after vitrectomy and spontaneously closed but then reopened. Finally, the MH was closed after a second vitrectomy. Optical coherence tomographic images showed changes in the macular microstructure, eg, the presence of a thin epiretinal membrane on the retina, cystoid changes in the retina, and a full-thickness MH. We discuss the mechanism of MH development and surgical treatment.Keywords: epiretinal proliferation, full-thickness macular hole, lamellar macular hole, optical coherence tomography, spontaneous closure, vitrectomy

Yuji Yoshikawa, Takuhei Shoji, Junji Kanno, Hisashi Ibuki, Kimitake Ozaki, Hirokazu Ishii, Hiromi Inami, Kei Shinoda Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, Iruma, Saitama, JapanCorrespondence: Kei ShinodaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, 350-0495 Morohogo 38, Iruma, Saitama, JapanTel +81 49-276-1250Fax +81 49-295-8002Email shinodak@med.teikyo-u.ac.jpPurpose: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allows noninvasive observation of the retinal vasculature, and image analysis can be used to calculate the retinal vessel density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area. A previous study showed that macular vessel density and the signal strength index (SSI) of OCTA images increased significantly after cataract surgery. However, the effect of aging on OCTA analysis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate age-related changes in macular vascularization while excluding the effects of cataracts.Patients and Methods: OCTA imaging of the macula was performed in adult patients who had undergone cataract surgery between February 2018 and May 2019 and in young healthy participants between April 2017 and April 2018.Results: The median (quartiles) age of the overall study population was 59.0 (27.0, 69.0) years, and no severe refractive error was observed (axial length: 24.2 ± 1.3 [mean ± SD] mm; spherical equivalent: 0.75 [− 2.25, 0.00] diopter). When we investigated the relationship between macular vessel density and age after excluding the effects of cataracts, we found that the macular vessel density showed age-related changes even in the absence of the effects of the SSI. However, the FAZ area was not affected by age.Conclusion: Macular vessel density decreased with age, even when the effects of cataracts were excluded. The effects of age and cataracts should be considered when designing studies and interpreting OCTA findings of the retinal vasculature.Keywords: optical coherence tomography angiography, macular vessel density, foveal avascular zone, aging, cataract surgery

Yuji Yoshikawa, Takuhei Shoji, Junji Kanno, Hisashi Ibuki, Kimitake Ozaki, Hirokazu Ishii, Yoshikazu Ichikawa, Itaru Kimura, Kei Shinoda Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan Purpose: To evaluate microvascular changes in the macular area of eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) without macular involvement (macula-on RRD) using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). Patients and methods: Five patients with macula-on RRD were eligible for analysis. All patients underwent SS-OCTA examination (Triton) for the macular area. The healthy fellow eyes were included as controls. The vessel density (VD) was calculated using binarization, and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was measured. The VD and FAZ area were compared between the eyes with RRD and the fellow eyes using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The patients’ clinical characteristics were as follows: age, 49.0 years (21.0, 54.0) (median [25, 75th percentile]); preoperative best-corrected visual acuity, -0.08 (-0.08, 0.11) for RRD and -0.08 (-0.08, -0.03) for the fellow eye (P=0.50); and axial length, 27.0 (25.1, 28.7) mm for RRD and 27.4 (25.6, 28.5) mm for the fellow eye (P=0.31). The parafoveal VD was not significantly different between the eyes with RRD and the fellow eyes (P=1.00 for the superficial retina and P=0.44 for the whole retina). The FAZ area was also similar for the eyes with RRD and the fellow eyes (P=0.31 for the superficial retina and P=0.13 for the whole retina). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the macular microvasculature remains intact in eyes with macula-on RRD. Keywords: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, macula, optical coherence tomography angiography, vessel density

Yuji Yoshikawa,1 Takuhei Shoji,1 Junji Kanno,1 Itaru Kimura,1 Masanori Hangai,2 Kei Shinoda1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan; 2Hangai Eye Institute, Saitama, Japan Purpose: To evaluate the ability of enhanced-depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to detect vascular signals inside the glaucomatous optic disc.Patients and methods: Ten glaucomatous eyes of 8 subjects and 11 nonglaucomatous eyes of 7 subjects underwent EDI and conventional OCTA for optic disc analysis. The optic disc vessel density (VD) at maximum scan depth (2 mm) was compared between the 2 methods and between glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes. Regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting disc VD.Results: The median (25th, 75th percentile) of the visual field mean deviation was –20.5 (–25.1, –13.5) dB in glaucoma. The disc VD measured with the EDI method was significantly greater than that measured with the conventional method in glaucoma and nonglaucoma. The disc VD was also significantly lower in glaucoma than in nonglaucoma. The disc VD and mean deviation were significantly and positively correlated in both methods (conventional: R2=0.27, EDI: R2=0.22).Conclusion: The correlation between disc VD and glaucoma severity was comparable between conventional and EDI measurements. Images obtained with EDI-OCTA have the additional benefit of revealing more vascular signals in deeper layers. The disc VD, as determined by both conventional and EDI-OCTA methods, may be an indicator of glaucoma severity. Keywords: optical coherence tomography angiography, enhanced-depth imaging, vessel density, glaucoma severity, mean deviation

Yuki Yoshikawa,1,2 Junji Uchida,3 Chiharu Akazawa,4 Nobuhiko Suganuma2 1Faculty of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan; 2Department of Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; 3Department of Urology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; 4Faculty of Nursing, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among kidney transplant recipients is associated with physical and psychosocial characteristics. Furthermore, pregnancy and childcare may be particularly challenging for women. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between patients’ psychosocial characteristics and HRQOL, specifically for recipients who have given birth after their kidney transplant.Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 59 kidney transplant recipients who had given birth after transplantation. The tools used were the Medical Outcomes Scale, the Kidney Transplantation Self-Management Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and The Maternal Consciousness Scale.Results: Mean age was 42.3±7.2 years, and the mean age at the time of transplant was 28.2±4.6 years. A total of 82 fetal outcomes were evaluated. Maternal age was 33.6±4.1 years, duration of gestational period was 35.3±3.3 weeks, and birth weight was 2,303.8±592.5 g. HRQOL results were nearly the same as stratified national norms. The physical component summary was positively correlated with the MSPSS (p=0.025), and self-care behavior was positively correlated with the mental component score (p=0.029) and MSPSS (p=0.016). A structural equation model revealed that self-care behavior and the patient–health professions partnership indirectly affected physical health through social support.Conclusion: Self-management indirectly affects physical health through social support. To create a supportive environment through monitoring and consultation with patient families, child-rearing kidney transplant recipients should be encouraged to improve their self-management skills to improve their quality of life. Social support for self-management may contribute to improve HRQOL for women who experience pregnancy and child-rearing after transplantation. Keywords: kidney transplant, quality of life, pregnancy, child-rearing, social support