Macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia

AIM:To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular thickness in the amblyopic eye with that in the sound eye of children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia using optical coherence tomography (OCT).METHODS: A prospective, nonrandom, intraindividual comparative cohort study includes 72 children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia in a single center. Macular thickness, macular foveola thickness, and peripapillary RNFL thickness were compared between the amblyopia eyes and the contralateral sound eyes.RESULTS:There were 38 male and 34 female patients, with a mean age as 9.7±1.9 years (range, 5–16 years). Hyperopic was +3.62±1.16D (range +2.00D to +6.50D) in the amblyopic eyes, which was significantly higher in the control eyes with +0.76±0.90D (range 0D to +2.00D) (P < 0.01). The mean peripapillary RNFL thickness was 113.9±7.2µm and 109.2±6.9µm in the amblyopic eye and the normal eye, respectively, reaching statistical significance (P = 0.02). The mean macular foveola thickness was significantly thicker in the amblyopic eyes than the contralateral sound eyes (181.4±14.2µm vs 175.2±13.3µm, P < 0.01), but the 1mm, 3mm or 6mm macular thickness central macular thickness was not significantly different. Degree of anisometropia in the contralateral eyes was not significantly correlated with differences of peripapillary RNFL, macular foveola thickness or central macular thickness.CONCLUSION:Eyes with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia are found thicker macular foveola and peripapillary RNFL than the contralateral eyes in children.     

The Relationship between Higher-order Aberrations and Amblyopia Treatment in Hyperopic Anisometropic Amblyopia

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and amblyopia treatment in children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia.

Methods

The medical records of hyperopic amblyopia patients with both spherical anisometropia of 1.00 diopter (D) or more and astigmatic anisometropia of less than 1.00 D were reviewed retrospectively. Based on the results of the amblyopia treatment, patients were divided into two groups: treatment successes and failures. Using the degree of spherical anisometropia, subjects were categorized into mild, moderate, or severe groups. Ocular, corneal, and internal HOAs were measured using a KR-1W aberrometer at the initial visit, and at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups.

Results

The results of the 45 (21 males and 24 females) hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia patients who completed the 12-month follow-up examinations were analyzed. The mean patient age at the initial visit was 70.3 months. In total, 28 patients (62.2%) had successful amblyopia treatments and 17 patients (37.8%) failed treatment after 12 months. Among the patient population, 24 (53.3%) had mild hyperopic anisometropia and 21 (46.7%) had moderate hyperopic anisometropia. When comparing the two groups (i.e., the success and failure groups), ocular spherical aberrations and internal spherical aberrations in the amblyopic eyes were significantly higher in the failure group at every follow-up point. There were no significant differences in any of the HOAs between mild and moderate cases of hyperopic anisometropia at any follow-up. When the amblyopic and fellow eyes were compared between the groups there were no significant differences in any of the HOAs.

Conclusions

HOAs, particularly ocular spherical aberrations and internal spherical aberrations, should be considered as reasons for failed amblyopia treatment.     

Assessing amblyogenic factors in 100 patients with congenital ptosis

AIM: To study the frequency of amblyogenic factors in patients with congenital ptosis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 114 eyes of 100 patients with congenital ptosis more than 1 year old were included. Amblyopia was defined as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) less than 10/10 or a difference between the two eyes of at least 2/10. In patients too young to be measured by the linear Snellen E test, fixation behavior was observed. Different types of amblyopia were assessed for each patient as: 1) anisometropic amblyopia: astigmatic anisometropia ≥1 dpt, hyperopic spherical anisometropia ≥1 dpt, myopic spherical anisometropia ≥-3 dpt (with cycloplegia); 2) strabismic amblyopia, and 3) stimulus deprivation amblyopia (SDA). Then the total incidence of amblyopia and each type of it were obtained. Patients with uni- and bi-lateral ptosis were also compared. RESULTS: The incidence of amblyopia in ptotic eyes was 39/114 (34.2 %), and for each specific cause was: refractive amblyopia in 29.8%, SDA in 10.5%, strabismic amblyopia in 4.3%. Amblyopia was more frequent in severe ptosis, 76% in patients with covered optical axes (OA), compared to non-covered OA (22.5%). In unilateral ptosis with covered OA, astigmatic anisometropic amblyopia was more frequent, and in bilateral ptosis with at least one eye covered OA, spherical anisometropic amblyopia was more frequent. In both unilateral and bilateral ptosis, SDA was more common if the OA was covered. CONCLUSION: As refractive anisometropic amblyopia is more prevalent than SDA, paying attention to all causes of amblyopia may be important in preventing amblyopia in a child with a ptotic eye.     

Improvement of visual acuity in children with anisometropic amblyopia treated with rotated prisms combined with near activity

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a new modality for improving visual acuity (VA) in pediatric patients with anisometropic amblyopia.METHODS: Retrospective and interventional case series. Medical records of 360 children with anisometropic amblyopia treated with a modality that included rotated prisms, lenses, and near activities from January 2008 to January 2012 were analyzed. Characteristics such as improvement of VA and contrast sensitivity in amblyopic eyes and resolution of amblyopia (VA≤0.1logMAR or a difference of ≤2 lines in logMAR between the eyes) were assessed.RESULTS: Among the patients, the mean VA of the amblyopic eyes improved from 0.48logMAR (SD=0.16) to 0.12logMAR (SD=0.16) and the mean VA improvement was 0.36logMAR (SD=0.10, P<0.001). Resolution of amblyopia was achieved in 233 of 360 patients (64.72%). The mean time for resolution of amblyopia was 8.05 weeks (SD=4.83) or 14.14 sessions (SD=8.76). Among the study group, refraction error did not change significantly after treatment (P=0.437). We found that better baseline VA may be related to success and shorten the time to amblyopic resolution.CONCLUSION: VA and contrast sensitivity improved with rotated prisms, correcting lenses, and near activities in children with anisometropic amblyopia. The VA improvement by this modality was comparable to other methods. However, the time to resolution of amblyopia was shorter with this method than with other modalities. Rotated prisms combined with near acuity could provide an alternative treatment in children with anisometropic amblyopia who can’t tolerant traditional therapy method like patching.     

Factors influencing stereoacuity levels after surgery to correct unilateral developmental cataracts in children

AIM:Toevaluate factors influencing stereoacuity after surgery to correct unilateral developmental pediatric cataracts.METHODS:We retrospectively surveyed110 patients who had undergone removal of unilateral acquired developmental cataracts and primary posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation between February 1992 and December 2009. In all patients, stereoacuity was assessed using the Titmus test at the last follow-up period of minimum 2 years after surgery. Patients were divided into two groups according to the extent of stereoacuity:group 1 (n=42) had stereoacuity values≤100sec/arc and group 2 (n=68) values >100sec/arc. The values of ten parameters associated with stereoacuity were measured in each group:Cataract types, preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eyes, preoperative inter-ocular difference of BCVA, age at cataract surgery, operative method, secondary cataract, postoperative strabismus, postoperative BCVA of the affected eyes, postoperative inter-ocular difference of BCVA, and anisometropia.RESULTS:The extent of stereoacuity was significantly associated with both operative method and secondary cataract (P=0.000 and P=0.016, respectively). All patients in whom the posterior capsule was preserved, had poor stereoacuity >100sec/arc. Significant correlations with the extent of stereoacuity were found with postoperative strabismus (P=0.048), postoperative BCVA of the affected eyes (P=0.002), anisometropia (P=0.034).CONCLUSION:Postoperative stereoacuity was better in patients who underwent either optic capture or anterior vitrectomy after posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, and who didn’t develop secondary cataracts or strabismus postoperatively. Furthermore, postoperative BCVA of the affected eyes, and anisometropia influenced the stereoacuity of the patients surgically treated for unilateral developmental pediatric cataracts.     

Part-time occlusion therapy for amblyopia in older children

Aim:

To compare the efficacy of part-time versus full-time occlusion for treatment of amblyopia in children aged 7-12 years.

Materials and Methods:

Prospective interventional case series. One hundred children between 7-12 years of age with anisometropic (57), strabismic (25) and mixed (18) unilateral amblyopia were randomized (simple randomization) into four groups (25 each) to receive two hours, four hours, six hours or full-time occlusion therapy. Children were regularly followed up at six-weekly intervals for a minimum of three visits.

Statistical Analysis:

Intragroup visual improvement was analyzed using paired t-test while intergroup comparisons were done using ANOVA and unpaired t-test.

Results:

All four groups showed significant visual improvement after 18 weeks of occlusion therapy (P<0.001). Seventy-three (73%) of the total 100 eyes responded to amblyopia therapy with 11 eyes (44%), 17 eyes (68%), 22 eyes (88%) and 23 eyes (92%) being amblyopia responders in the four groups respectively, with the least number of responders in the two hours group. In mild to moderate amblyopia (vision 20/30 to 20/80), there was no significant difference in visual outcome among the four groups (P=0.083). However, in severe amblyopia (vision 20/100 or worse), six hours (P=0.048) and full-time occlusion (P=0.027) treatment were significantly more effective than two hours occlusion.

Conclusion:

All grades of part-time occlusion are comparable to full-time occlusion in effectiveness of treatment for mild to moderate amblyopia in children between 7-12 years of age unlike in severe amblyopia, where six hours and full-time occlusion were more effective than two hours occlusion therapy.     

The relationship between the visual prognoses of branch retinal artery obstruction and foveal thickness on OCT

Purpose

To determine the correlation between the prognosis of branch retinal artery obstruction (BRAO) and the foveal thickness or outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

Twenty-one eyes (21 patients) in patients with resolved, non-complicated BRAO and a normal control of 10 eyes (10 volunteers) were used in this study. The average macular thickness, foveal thickness and ONL thickness at central fovea were measured in both the patients and the control group using spectral domain OCT. The thickness between the patient group and the control group were compared and correlation between the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and each thickness was determined.

Results

The average age of the patients was 52 ± 5.8 years. The average macular thickness, foveal thickness and ONL thickness at the central fovea of the patients were significantly (p < 0.001, p = 0.023, p = 0.021, respectively) thinner than that of the control group. Both the foveal thickness (r_s = 0.56, p = 0.008) and ONL thickness (r_s = 0.86, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with BCVA. There was no significant correlation between the average macular thickness and BCVA.

Conclusions

The foveal thickness and ONL thickness at the fovea was positively correlated with the BCVA in patients with resolved BRAO.     

Factors affecting visual outcome of myopic choroidal neovascularization treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy

AIM: To evaluate the visual outcomes of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathological myopia and the impact of novel risk factors affecting the final visual outcome.METHODS:Interventional case series of 18 consecutive patients with pathological myopia treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Inclusion criteria were spherical equivalent -6D or worse or features of pathological myopia on retinal examination. The main outcome measure was final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).RESULTS:Of 18 eyes, 13 (72.2%) avoided moderate visual loss (≥3 lines of LogMAR BCVA) and 5 eyes (27.8%) improved by at least 1 line after 1 year. Patients with LogMAR BCVA ≤0.3 (Snellen equivalent 20/40) at one year were younger than those with BCVA >0.3 (mean age 39.0 vs 61.6 years, P=0.001). A higher proportion of eyes with greatest linear dimension (GLD) of ≤1000µm avoided moderate visual loss (100% vs 50%, P=0.026). Among patients who were treated within 2 weeks of visual symptoms, 88.9% avoided the loss of 3 or more lines compared to 55.6% for those who presented later. The mean improvement in LogMAR BCVA of those with GLD ≤1000µm was +0.12 compared to a loss of 0.55 LogMAR units for those with GLD >1000µm (P=0.02). Visual outcomes were not associated with gender or refractive error.CONCLUSION: Good visual outcome in myopic CNV is associated with younger age, smaller lesion size and earlier initiation of treatment. These factors are relevant for ophthalmologists considering treatment options for myopic CNV.     

Assessment of Functional Vision Score and Vision-Specific Quality of Life in Individuals With Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose

To determine the relationship between the American Medical Association''s (AMA) functional vision score (FVS) and vision-specific quality of life in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients using the National Eye Institute''s Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25).

Methods

One hundred eight patients with RP participated in the study. We measured best-corrected visual acuity, conducted Goldmann perimetry, and collected the self-reported NEI-VFQ 25. The FVS was calculated using the functional field score (FFS) and the functional acuity score (FAS). The correlations of the VFQ composite scores to the FVS, FFS, and FAS were determined using correlation and regression analyses.

Results

FVS was highly correlated to the BCVA (r=0.69, p<0.001), the FFS (r=0.86, p<0.001) and the FAS (r=0.73, p<0.001). Significant correlations of the VFQ composite score to the BCVA (r=0.60, p<0.001), FFS (r=0.44, p<0.001), FAS (r=0.60, p<0.001), FVS (r=0.58, p<0.001) were also found. However, the correlation strengths of BCVA, FVS, FAS, and FFS to NEI-FVQ were not different.

Conclusions

In RP patients, the vision-specific quality of life was correlated with the AMA guidelines'' FVS, FFS, and FAS. Their correlation degrees to NEI-FVQ were not different. This result suggests that vision-specific quality of life can be explained by both visual acuity and visual field in RP patients.     

Central 10-degree visual field change following trabeculectomy in advanced open-angle glaucoma

Purpose

To prospectively examine changes in the central visual field (VF) in patients with advanced open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with advanced late stage after trabeculectomy for 12 months.

Design

Prospective interventional case series.

Methods

In all, 27 eyes of 27 OAG patients at a single center with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≥40/200 and a mean total deviation of test locations of the 10-2 program of the Humphrey VF analyzer of ≤−20 dB preoperatively were enrolled. Intraocular pressure (IOP), VF parameters of the 10-2 program, and BCVA were examined for 12 months after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. Slopes of VF parameters and their correlation with presumed risk factors were studied.

Results

IOP decreased from 19.7±5.8 to 9.7±2.6 mm Hg (P<0.001) over postoperative 1 year. The slopes of all VF parameters did not significantly differ from zero (P>0.33), and none of the presumed factors significantly correlated with the slopes of those parameters (P>0.14). There were two eyes (7%) and one eye (4%) with ≥2 lines of deterioration in BCVA (decimal fraction) at 1 and 12 months, respectively, after surgery with no apparent causes.

Conclusions

Trabeculectomy resulted in little change in the central 10-degree VF, but significant decrease in BCVA without apparent causes might occur approximately 5% of the cases.     

Characterization of human retinal vessel arborisation in normal and amblyopic eyes using multifractal analysis

AIM:To characterize the human retinal vessel arborisation in normal and amblyopic eyes using multifractal geometry and lacunarity parameters.METHODS:Multifractal analysis using a box counting algorithm was carried out for a set of 12 segmented and skeletonized human retinal images, corresponding to both normal (6 images) and amblyopia states of the retina (6 images).RESULTS:It was found that the microvascular geometry of the human retina network represents geometrical multifractals, characterized through subsets of regions having different scaling properties that are not evident in the fractal analysis. Multifractal analysis of the amblyopia images (segmented and skeletonized versions) show a higher average of the generalized dimensions (Dq) for q=0, 1, 2 indicating a higher degree of the tree-dimensional complexity associated with the human retinal microvasculature network whereas images of healthy subjects show a lower value of generalized dimensions indicating normal complexity of biostructure. On the other hand, the lacunarity analysis of the amblyopia images (segmented and skeletonized versions) show a lower average of the lacunarity parameter Λ than the corresponding values for normal images (segmented and skeletonized versions).CONCLUSION:The multifractal and lacunarity analysis may be used as a non-invasive predictive complementary tool to distinguish amblyopic subjects from healthy subjects and hence this technique could be used for an early diagnosis of patients with amblyopia.     

Visual function 5 years or more after macular translocation surgery for myopic choroidal neovascularisation and age-related macular degeneration

Purpose

To evaluate the changes in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 1 year and after ≥5 years after macular translocation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or myopic choroidal neovascularisation (mCNV).

Methods

The medical records of 61 consecutive patients who underwent macular translocation with 360° retinotomy for AMD (35 eyes) or mCNV (26 eyes) were reviewed. Overall, 40 patients, 17 mCNV and 23 AMD, were followed for at least 5 years. BCVA and area of the Goldmann visual field (VF) measured before, 12 months after surgery, and at the final visit.

Results

In the 23 AMD eyes followed for ≥5 years, the mean preoperative BCVA was 1.149±0.105 logMAR units, which significantly improved to 0.69±0.06 logMAR units at 1 year (P<0.001). This BCVA was maintained at 0.633±0.083 logMAR units on their final examination. In the 17 eyes with mCNV followed for ≥5 years, the mean preoperative BCVA was 1.083±0.119 logMAR units, which was significantly improved to 0.689±0.121 logMAR units at 1 year (P=0.001). This BCVA was maintained at 0.678±0.142 logMAR units on their final examination. The area of the VF was significantly decreased at 12 months and did not change significantly thereafter.

Conclusions

Our results show that macular translocation surgery significantly improves the BCVA and significantly decreases the VF area of eyes with mCNV or AMD after first 1 year. The BCVA and VF area do not change significantly from the values at 1 year for at least 5 years.     

Prognostic factors for visual outcomes 2-years after intravitreal bevacizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization

Purpose

To determine the pre-treatment ocular factors significantly associated with the visual outcome 24 months after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).

Methods

A total of 23 eyes of 23 patients with mCNV were treated with IVB followed by as needed therapy. The efficacy of IVB was evaluated by the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 24 months after the initial treatment. Forward stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of pre-treatment factors on the BCVA and the improvement of the BCVA at 24 months.

Results

The mean pre-IVB BCVA was 0.74±0.30 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units, and it improved to 0.43±0.31 logMAR units after 1 month (P<0.001, paired t-test). The improvement was maintained at 24 months (0.46±0.40, P<0.005). The mean number of IVB performed during the 24 months was 1.35±0.71. Forward stepwise regression analysis showed that the pre-IVB CNV size (standardized β=0.52, P<0.01) and BCVA (standardized β=−0.44, P<0.05) significantly affected the visual acuity change after 24 months. The CNV size was the only factor that significantly affected the BCVA after 24 months (standardized β=0.56, P<0.01).

Conclusions

IVB with as needed therapy for mCNV led to a rapid and sustained visual improvement. Smaller CNV size was a significant prognostic factor that predicts better visual acuity. Patients with lower pre-treatment BCVA had better visual recovery than those with better pre-treatment BCVA, however, this may be due to a ceiling/floor effect.     

Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography of eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane: correlation between macular morphology and visual function

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the macular morphological changes associated with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) using high-resolution Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), as they correlate with visual acuity and microperimetry (MP-1).

Methods

In all, 24 eyes (19 subjects) with iERM were imaged prospectively using FD-OCT with axial resolution of 4.5 μm and transverse resolution of 10 to 15 μm. MP-1 and Stratus OCT were carried out in a subset of eyes.

Results

The mean log of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.18±0.16 (range: −0.08 to 0.48, Snellen equivalent 20/15⁻¹ to 20/60). ERM was visualized in all 24 eyes with FD-OCT and in 17 eyes (85%) of 20 eyes imaged with Stratus OCT. Although BCVA correlated with macular thickening in the central 1 mm sub-field of the Stratus ETDRS (P=0.0005) and macular volume (central 3 mm area) on FD-OCT (P<0.0001), macular thickening on thickness map and volume correlated poorly with decrease in macular sensitivity on MP-1 (P=0.16). On FD-OCT, foveal morphological changes correlated best with decrease in BCVA, the strongest being central foveal thickness (P<0.0001). Other significant changes included blurring of the foveal inner segment–outer segment (IS–OS) junction and/or Verhoeff''s membrane, vitreal displacement of foveal outer nuclear layer and foveal detachment (P<0.05). Foveal IS–OS junction disruption was seen in 25% of eyes on Stratus OCT but in none of the eyes on FD-OCT.

Conclusion

FD-OCT allowed improved visualization of ERM and associated foveal morphological changes that correlated best with BCVA. Macular thickening correlated weakly with decreased macular function as assessed by MP-1.     

Application of multifocal visual evoked potentials in the assessment of visual dysfunction in macular diseases

Purpose

To evaluate the use of AccuMap multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP) in visual dysfunction caused by macular diseases.

Methods

Forty-eight eyes with known macular diseases underwent AccuMap mfVEP and microperimetry 1 (MP1) assessments. Evaluation of mfVEP abnormality was based on an amplitude deviation probability plot and the AccuMap Severity Index (ASI). Correlation analyses of the mean mfVEP amplitude corresponding to a radius of 2°, 5°, and 10° of the central visual field, minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and MP1 mean sensitivity of the corresponding areas were performed.

Results

Among the 48 affected eyes, AccuMap mfVEP detected an abnormality of the central visual field in 45 eyes, with a sensitivity of 93.8%. The mean mfVEP amplitudes within a radius of 2°, 5°, and 10° of the central visual field were found to be positively correlated with BCVA (P<0.01 for all groups). The mean amplitudes also positively correlated with the MP1 mean sensitivity value of the corresponding visual field (P<0.01 for all groups). In the group with stable fixation or predominantly central fixation, the mean mfVEP amplitudes did not correlate with the BCVA or the MP1 mean sensitivity value. Regardless of the fixation status, the ASI was found to correlate with both the BCVA and the total MP1 mean defect value.

Conclusion

Objective perimetry using AccuMap mfVEP might be applied in the assessment of macular function, with the ASI offering a potentially useful indicator for evaluating macular dysfunction.     

Evaluation of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, macula and ganglion cell thickness in amblyopia using spectral optical coherence tomography

AIM:To investigate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macula and ganglion cell layer thicknesses (GCC) in amblyopic eyes with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).METHODS:Thirty six patients with a history of unilateral amblyopia and thirty two children who had emmetropia without amblyopia were included in this study.In this institutional study, 36 eyes of 36 patients with amblyopia (AE), 36 fellow eyes without amblyopia (FE), and 32 eyes of 32 normal subjects (NE) were included. RNFL, GCC and macular thickness measurements were performed with RS-3000 OCT Retina Scan (Nidek Inc CA. USA).RESULTS:The mean global thicknesses of the RNFL were 113.22±21.47, 111.57±18.25, 109.96±11.31µm in the AE, FE, and NE, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference for mean global RNFL thickness among the eyes (P=0.13). The mean thicknesses of the macula were 258.25±18.31, 258.75±19.54, 248.62±10.57μm in the AE, FE and NE, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference for thickness of macula among the eyes (P=0.06). The GCC was investigated into two parts:superior and inferior. The mean thicknesses of superior GCC were 102.57±13.32, 103.32±10.64, 100.52±5.88μm in the AE, FE, and NE, respectively. The mean thicknesses of inferior GCC were 103.82±12.60, 107.82±12.33, 105.86±10.79μm in the AE, FE and NE, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference for thickness of superior and inferior GCC between the eyes (P=0.63, P=0.46).CONCLUSION:The macular thicknesses of AE and FEwere greater than the NE, although it was not statistically significant. Amblyopia does not seem to have a profound effect on the RNFL, macula and GCC.     

Comparison of the short-term effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide and bevacizumab injection for diabetic macular edema

Purpose

To compare the short-term effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) with those of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods

The present retrospective, comparative case study included 58 eyes of 35 consecutive patients (IVTA group, 20 eyes; IVB group, 38 eyes) with DME. IVTA (4 mg) or IVB (1.25 mg) injection was performed under local anesthesia. The effects of injection for DME were evaluated using best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) by optical coherence tomography and intraocular pressure (IOP) by applanation tonometer. Patients underwent eye examinations, including BCVA, CMT, and IOP at pre-injection, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injection.

Results

BCVA (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) ± SD at pre-injection, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injection was 0.67 ± 0.40, 0.56 ± 0.35 (p = 0.033), 0.55 ± 0.33 (p = 0.041), and 0.43 ± 0.31 (p = 0.001) in the IVTA group and 0.51 ± 0.31, 0.42 ± 0.26 (p = 0.003), 0.43 ± 0.32 (p = 0.001), and 0.43 ± 0.27 (p = 0.015) in the IVB group, respectively. CMT (µm) ± SD at pre-injection, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after injection was 400.4 ± 94.9, 332.8 ± 47.4 (p = 0.002), 287.5 ± 49.1 (p = 0.007), and 282.5 ± 49.6 (p = 0.043) in the IVTA group and 372.6 ± 99.5, 323.2 ± 72.4 (p = 0.077), 360.9 ± 50.3 (p = 0.668), 368.2 ± 88.6 (p = 0.830) in the IVB group, respectively.

Conclusions

The effects of IVTA for BCVA were more favorable than were those of IVB and were consistent throughout the eight weeks after injection. IVTA significantly reduced CMT during the eight weeks after injection, while IVB did not.     

Surgical outcomes of macular buckling techniques for macular retinoschisis in highly myopic eyes

Purpose

To report the anatomic and visual results following macular buckling for patients with macular retinoschisis related to high myopia.

Methods

Thirty-nine highly myopic eyes (mean refractive error −16.7 D; range, −9 to −24 D) of 36 patients (mean age 59 years; range, 35–79 years) presenting with macular retinoschisis associated with a posterior staphyloma, who underwent combined vitrectomy and macular buckling were evaluated. Main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. Three cases were excluded due to short follow-up (less than 3 months). The mean follow-up was 16 months.

Results

The mean BCVA increased from 0.76 to 0.43 LogMAR (p = 0.001). Visual acuity improved in 30 eyes (83.3%), remained stable in three eyes (8.3%) and decreased in three eyes (8.3%). OCT showed resolution of foveoschisis with foveal reattachment in all eyes. None of the evaluated patients developed a macular hole during follow-up.

Conclusion

Macular buckling associated with vitrectomy results in good anatomic and visual outcomes in patients with myopic foveoschisis.     

Unilateral amblyopia: Optical coherence tomography findings

Purpose

This study was performed to measure the macular and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with unilateral amblyopia.

Methods

Measurement of the Retinal nerve fiber layer and Macular Retinal Layer thickness for both amblyopic and normal fellow eyes by (OCT) was carried out at king Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Results

Ninety-three patients with unilateral amblyopia between the ages of 5 years and 12 years were included. The macular retinal thickness and the RNFL thickness were measured using OCT. The mean macular retinal thickness was 259.3 μm and 255.6 μm, and the mean RNFL thickness was 112.16 μm and 106 μm, in the amblyopic eye and the normal eye, respectively. OCT assessment of RNFL thickness revealed a significantly thicker RNFL in amblyopic eye (P < 0.0001), but no statistically significant difference was found in macular retinal thickness (P = 0.195).

Conclusion

The amblyopic process may involve the RNFL, but not the macula. However, further evaluation is needed.