Intravitreal bevacizumab in congenital retinal macrovessel with retinal arteriolar macroaneurysm

Congenital retinal macrovessel (CRM) refers to an aberrant vessel, usually a vein, which traverses the macula and supplies both sides of the horizontal raphe. It is a rare condition, mostly asymptomatic and discovered on routine examination. We describe a case of both arterial and venous CRM with a macroaneurysm along the arterial CRM that presented with decreased vision due to prominent lipid exudation at the macula. Treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab resulted in a favourable anatomical as well as functional outcome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this unusual presentation of CRM, and its successful management with intravitreal bevacizumab.     

早产儿视网膜病变发病情况分析

目的 分析早产儿视网膜病变(ROP)的发病情况.方法 回顾性分析2005年9月至2008年5月来就诊的胎龄小于36周、体重低于2500g的210例早产儿的眼底筛查情况及高危因素.结果 210例早产儿中,ROP的发生率为12.9%,其中ROP3期以上的发生率为3.8%;低孕周、低体重、出生后吸氧时间过长、严重的新生儿疾病的早产儿ROP发生率高;双生子ROP发生率(20.5%)高于单生子(10.8%),且ROP发生严重.结论 低孕周、低体重、出生后吸氧时间过长、患严重的新生儿疾病、非单生子等是引起早产儿视网膜病变的高危因素.     

早产儿视网膜病变筛查结果分析

目的 了解早产儿视网膜病变(ROP)的发病情况,并探讨相关危险因素.方法 对符合ROP筛查标准的早产儿201例(402只眼),用间接眼底镜进行眼底筛查,记录眼底检查情况.结果 出生孕周27～ 36周,出生体重750～ 2500g早产儿201例,正压给氧48人次,持续1～17d.鼻导管吸氧53人次,持续1～55d,无1例出现ROP.结论 严格控制吸氧可以控制ROP的发病.     

Effectiveness and future implications of COVID-19-related risk stratification for managing retinopathy of prematurity: The Indian twin cities retinopathy of prematurity study report number 10

Purpose:To evaluate the effectiveness and future implications of COVID-related risk stratification for managing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Methods:A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center from the beginning of the lockdown in India from 23 March 2020 till the end of the first phase of lockdown on 29 May 2020. We evaluated 200 prematurely born infants (< 34 weeks of gestational age) using the new safety guideline protocols for low-risk babies developed in conjunction with the Indian ROP Society for care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low risk included babies born at more than 30 weeks of gestational age, post menstrual age 34 weeks or above at presentation, more than 1000 grams of birth weight, and stable systemically with good weight gain.Results:New guidelines were implemented in 106 (53%) infants who were low risk while 94 (47%) infants with high risk were followed up as per the old guidelines. Out of the 106 infants (212 eyes) managed by the new guidelines, good outcome (group 1) was seen in 102 (96.2%) infants. Twenty-seven of the 102 infants had some form of ROP and 5 of these infants needed treatment. None of the low-risk babies with no detachment at presentation managed by new guidelines required surgery later (group 2). Two (1.9%) infants came with retinal detachment at presentation and underwent successful surgery (group 3) and two infants (1.9%) were lost to follow up.Conclusion:New risk stratification during the COVID-19 pandemic was an efficient and safe strategy in managing low-risk ROP babies.     

Virus containment box for retinopathy of prematurity screening and laser

Purpose:Health care workers are susceptible to contracting infection with COVID-19 by aerosol transmission. This is a risk while examining and/or treating an un-sedated neonate in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening and treatment. But screening for neonates for ROP and treating with laser, when required, should not be delayed to avoid the blindness. We describe a cost-effective method of containing aerosols generated during such a procedure in an un-sedated baby.Methods:An acrylic transparent containment box was prepared to accommodate an average-sized infant. The box had four walls and a roof. The floor was open to place the container box over the baby. The walls have two types of openings, large ones to allow passage of hands to examine the baby, small ones to enable passage of oxygen tubing when required. A simulation was created to examine the impact of aerosol spray on examining healthcare personnel.Results:The cost of the acrylic box was negligible. It could be assembled locally with available acrylic sheets and craftsmen. It was not difficult to examine the baby inside the box, and the simulation demonstrated that it protected the health personnel from the aerosol contamination.Conclusion:The described method is likely to increase healthcare personnel''s confidence not to delay or deny ROP screening and laser treatment and save the babies from blindness.     

Spontaneous regression of retinopathy of prematurity:incidence and predictive factors

AIM:To evaluate the incidence of spontaneous regression of changes in the retina and vitreous in active stage of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP) and identify the possible relative factors during the regression.METHODS: This was a retrospective, hospital-based study. The study consisted of 39 premature infants with mild ROP showed spontaneous regression (Group A) and 17 with severe ROP who had been treated before naturally involuting (Group B) from August 2008 through May 2011. Data on gender, single or multiple pregnancy, gestational age, birth weight, weight gain from birth to the sixth week of life, use of oxygen in mechanical ventilation, total duration of oxygen inhalation, surfactant given or not, need for and times of blood transfusion, 1,5,10-min Apgar score, presence of bacterial or fungal or combined infection, hyaline membrane disease (HMD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), duration of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and duration of ROP were recorded.RESULTS: The incidence of spontaneous regression of ROP with stage 1 was 86.7%, and with stage 2, stage 3 was 57.1%, 5.9%, respectively. With changes in zone Ⅲ regression was detected 100%, in zoneⅡ 46.2% and in zoneⅠ 0%. The mean duration of ROP in spontaneous regression group was 5.65±3.14 weeks, lower than that of the treated ROP group (7.34±4.33 weeks), but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.201). GA, 1min Apgar score, 5min Apgar score, duration of NICU stay, postnatal age of initial screening and oxygen therapy longer than 10 days were significant predictive factors for the spontaneous regression of ROP (P＜0.05). Retinal hemorrhage was the only independent predictive factor the spontaneous regression of ROP (OR 0.030, 95%CI 0.001-0.775, P=0.035).CONCLUSION:This study showed most stage 1 and 2 ROP and changes in zone Ⅲ can spontaneously regression in the end. Retinal hemorrhage is weakly inversely associated with the spontaneous regression.     

双目间接检眼镜联合RetCam Ⅱ进行ROP筛查的比较研究

目的:研究联合使用双目间接检眼镜与RetCam Ⅱ广域数字眼底照相系统的必要性,分析联合使用两种方法进行早产儿视网膜病变(retinopathy of prematurity,ROP)筛查的结果。方法:2009-10-01/2010-10-31通过使用计算机辅助的双目间接检眼镜成像系统和RetCam Ⅱ对我院眼科门诊、新生儿科病房和新生儿重症监护室的早产低出生体重儿进行定期的眼底检查,眼底定期复查至早产儿的鼻、颞侧周边视网膜完全血管化为止。对确诊患儿建立图像和数据档案,及时追踪其病变发展与转归,当病情进展至阈值前期和阈值期病变时进行手术治疗,术后定期复查至其病变已完全消退或静止无进展。最后对确诊患儿资料进行统计分析。结果:在筛查时间内,对1431例符合早产儿视网膜病变筛查条件的早产低出生体重儿(胎龄27～35周;出生体质量0.8～2.5kg)进行眼底检查和定期复查,确诊ROP患儿111例(7.76%),其中单独使用RetCam Ⅱ检查发现ROP确诊者53例,对疑似病例同时使用计算机辅助双目间接检眼镜成像行检查后ROP确诊者58例。定期复查后病变消退者占67.57%,病变进展为ROPⅠ型阈值前期者19例和ROP阈值期及以上者15例,34例患儿进行视网膜激光光凝术,31例术后效果良好,2例ROP4A期患者术后效果不明显。结论:本研究发现早产儿孕周越小,出生体质量越低,ROP的发生率越高,其病变程度越重,需要及时筛查早期干预治疗。通过联合使用计算机辅助的双目间接检眼镜成像系统和RetCam Ⅱ进行早产儿眼底检查有助于提高ROP的诊断率,有利于资料客观保存和ROP筛查培训。     

Assessment and management of retinopathy of prematurity in the era of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) continues to rise due to the improved survival of very low birth weight infants in developed countries. This epidemic is also fueled by increased survival of preterm babies with variable use of oxygen and a lack of ROP awareness and screening services in resource-limited regions. Improvements in technology and a basic understanding of the disease pathophysiology have changed the way we screen and manage ROP, educate providers and patients, and improve ROP awareness. Advancements in imaging techniques, expansion of telemedicine services, and the potential for artificial intelligence-assisted ROP screening programs have created opportunities to improve ROP care in areas with a shortage of ophthalmologists trained in ROP. To address the gap in provider knowledge regarding ROP, the Global Education Network for Retinopathy of Prematurity (GEN-ROP) created a web-based tele-education training module that can be used to educate all providers involved in ROP, including non-physician ROP screeners. Over the past 50 years, the treatment of severe ROP has evolved from limited treatment modalities to cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation. More recently, there has been growing evidence to support the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for the treatment of severe ROP. However, VEGF is known to be important in organogenesis and microvascular maintenance, and given that intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment can result in systemic VEGF suppression over a period of at least 1–12 weeks, there are concerns regarding adverse effects and long-term ocular and systemic developmental consequences of anti-VEGF therapy.Future research in ophthalmology to address the growing burden of ROP should focus on cost-effective fundus imaging devices, implementation of artificial intelligence platforms, updated treatment algorithms with optimal use of anti-VEGF and careful investigation of its long-term effects, and surgical options in advanced ROP. Addressing these unmet needs will aid the global effort against the ROP epidemic and optimize our understanding and treatment of this blinding disease.     

糖尿病患者HbA1c水平与白内障术后黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度的相关性研究

目的：探讨糖尿病患者糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)水平与白内障术后黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度的相关性。

方法：回顾性分析2013-09/2016-06在我院眼科行白内障手术的糖尿病视网膜病变患者119例119眼,根据术前HbA1c水平将患者分为低HbA1c组(HbA1c≤7.0%,60例60眼)和高HbA1c组(7.0%结果：术前1d,高HbA1c组和低HbA1c组患者的HbA1c水平分别为8.29%±2.19%和5.38%±1.49%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),高HbA1c组患者5个区域黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度均显著高于低HbA1c组(P<0.05)。术后7d,两组患者5个区域黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度均高于术前1d(P<0.05),且高HbA1c组显著高于低HbA1c组(P<0.05)。直线回归分析显示,术前1d、术后7d CSF及A1～A4 5个区域黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度与术前HbA1c水平均呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。

结论：糖尿病患者术前HbA1c水平与白内障术前、术后黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度均有显著相关性,对于监测白内障术后黄斑水肿的发生发展有重要的临床意义。     

‘Stop-and-Slide’ technique for trocar insertion during lens-sparing vitrectomy for retinopathy of prematurity

The modern-day trocar cannula systems meant for adult eyes pose a challenge in infant''s eyes with stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) undergoing lens-sparing vitrectomy. This is primarily owing to the length of the trocar, globular lens, smaller axial length, and anteriorly displaced retina. We describe an inexpensive modification of the technique of trocar insertion in such cases wherein the trocar is inserted partially till the cannula impinges the sclera and thereon, the cannula slides over the trocar into the vitreous cavity. This obviates the need for complete insertion of the trocar into the vitreous cavity and hence limits the chances of inadvertent injury to the crystalline lens or the anteriorly lifted retina. We have experience in using this technique in 52 eyes of 44 infants over the past 2 years with no episode of iatrogenic lens touch or retinal break during trocar insertion.     

Adult retinopathy of prematurity: outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and retinal tears

PURPOSE: To describe the results of retinal tears and rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RD) in adults with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). DESIGN: Noncomparitive interventional case series. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of 216 eyes of 108 patients, 15 years or older, followed for up to 23 years (median, 6.2 years). RESULTS: One eye was initially seen with an RD, and during follow-up 30 eyes had an RD develop. An additional surgical procedure was required in 7 of the 31 eyes (23%) with an RD. Four eyes were initially seen with retinal tears, and during follow-up 19 eyes had a retinal tear develop. Seven of the 23 eyes (30%) with a retinal tear had initial repair fail. Eyes with minimal cicatricial changes from ROP were still at high risk for tears and detachments developing. Eighty percent of eyes with retinal tears and 60% of eyes with an RD that started with vision >20/60 maintained that level of vision at the final examination. CONCLUSION: In patients with a history of premature birth, features of fundus examinations do not correlate with the occurrence of a retinal tear or RD. Repair of a tear or detachment in such a patient is more likely to require multiple procedures but can still be associated with good visual results. Physicians should consider widespread relief of vitreoretinal traction for a tear or detachment in any patient with a history of premature birth.     

Evaluation of clinical profile and screening guidelines of retinopathy of prematurity in an urban level III neonatal intensive care unit

Purpose:To evaluate the clinical profile and screening guidelines of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in an urban level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods:Infants with ≤2000-gm birth weight or <34 weeks gestational age were prospectively screened for ROP in an urban level III NICU between January 2018 and December 2020, based on national screening guidelines. Standard guidelines were used for ROP classification and treatment.Results:In total, 211 infants completed screening; 46 (21.8%) infants developed ROP and 13 (6.2%) had type 1 (laser treatable) ROP. Of the 46 infants with ROP, 44 (95.65%) had zone 2 and two (4.34%) had zone 1 disease. In the 102 infants with ≤1500-gm birth weight, the incidence of ROP and type 1 ROP were 41.18% and 11.76%, respectively. Out of the 109 infants with >1500-gm birth weight, four (3.67%) developed ROP and one (0.91%) infant (an outborn) required treatment.Conclusion: The majority of infants developing ROP in a level III urban NICU had ≤1500-gm birth weight. Zone 1 ROP was uncommon. Incidence of ROP in heavier infants (>1500-gm birth weight) was low, and treatment was required in a rare instance. In an urban NICU, the burden of ROP screening and treatments shifts to small and low-birth-weight infants.     

Late-onset retinal detachment associated with regressed retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE: To study the characteristics of late-onset retinal detachments in patients with regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the condition of their fellow eyes. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective review of 29 patients (38 eyes) who had been treated at two institutions, one in the US and the other in Japan, between 1986 and 1997. The age at the time of treatment ranged from 6 to 51 years (mean=23.1). Five of the 38 eyes with tractional detachment were treated with either open-sky vitrectomy, closed vitrectomy, or scleral buckling; 27 of the 38 eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment underwent scleral buckling or closed vitrectomy or both. The remaining 6 of the 38 eyes had subclinical rhegmatogenous detachment and were treated with photocoagulation or cryopexy, or followed without treatment. The most characteristic retinal breaks were multiple holes with a prevalence of equator and posterior types. RESULTS: Overall, anatomical reattachment was accomplished in 27/32 eyes (84%) that underwent surgery. Two thirds of the patients who underwent vitrectomy either initially or at a later time had poor postoperative visual acuity. More than half of the fellow eyes had retinal detachment and others had various characteristic fundus changes of regressed ROP. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term, probably life-long follow-up of high-risk patients is necessary so that diagnosis and treatment can be instituted at an early stage of retinal detachment.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-634G/C) polymorphism and retinopathy of prematurity: a meta-analysis

Purpose

Vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphism (VEGF-634G/C, rs 2010963) has been considered a risk factor for the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, the results remain controversial. Therefore, the aim of the present meta-analysis was to determine the association between VEGF-634G/C polymorphism and ROP risk.

Methods

Published literature from PubMed and other databases were retrieved. All studies evaluating the association between VEGF-634G/C polymorphism and ROP risk were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random or fixed effects model. A total of six case-control studies including 355 cases and 471 controls were included.

Results

By pooling all the studies, we found that VEGF-634G/C polymorphism was not associated with ROP risk at co-dominant and allele levels and no association was also found in dominant and recessive models. While stratifying on ethnicity level no association was observed in Caucasian and Asian population.

Discussion

This meta-analysis suggests that VEGF-634G/C polymorphism may not be associated with ROP risk, the association between single VEGF-634G/C polymorphism and ROP risk awaits further investigation.