6-month Best-corrected Visual Acuity Research Articles

Patterns and Predictors of Successful Treatment Discontinuation in Retinal Vein Occlusions With Macular Edema in the Real World.

To identify factors associated with successful treatment discontinuation in eyes with retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) and macular edema (ME) in real-world settings. Retrospective study of 214 eyes with RVO and ME with 24-month follow-up at five academic centers. Regression analyses identified factors associated with (1) successful treatment discontinuation for at least 6 months without fluid recurrence and (2) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 24 months. Forty percent of eyes with branch RVO and 35% with central RVO (CRVO) / hemi-retinal RVO (HRVO) successfully discontinued therapy without fluid recurrence, with median time to discontinuation of 6 and 7 months, respectively. Lower 6-month central subfield thickness was associated with greater likelihood of treatment discontinuation within 24 months for eyes with CRVO/HRVO (P = .001), whereas better 6-month BCVA was associated with better 24-month BCVA for all RVO subtypes (P < .001). Early anatomic response at 6 months is associated with greater likelihood of stopping treatments. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:84-92.].

Comparison of the Success Rate of Two Different Marking Techniques (F-Mark and Asymmetric Triangular Mark) to Orient the Donor Graft During Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

We evaluated the effects of various graft-marking techniques on surgical results in patients undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. In this single-center retrospective study, 65 eyes from 55 patients that had received various types of marking or no marking and that had been used for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty endothelial graft preparation were included. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the marking technique used: group I (F-marked graft; 17 eyes), group II (asymmetric triangle-marked graft; 12 eyes), and group III (unmarked graft; 36 eyes). The main outcome measurements were best-corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness, postoperative complications, rebubbling, and secondary keratoplasty rates. In groups I, II, and III, rates of patients with 6-month best-corrected visual acuity ≥ 20/32 were 35.7%, 77.8%, and 71.9%, respectively (P = .04). The mean 6-month endothelial cell density decrease for each group was 43.3%, 48.8%, and 46.4%, respectively (P = .589), whereas the mean 6-month central corneal thickness decrease for each group was 7.7%, 15.8%, and 34.0%, respectively (P = .001). Rates of primary graft failure for groups I, II, and III were 35.3%, 8.3%, and 13.9%, respectively. Rebubbling was performed in 21.5% of eyes, and secondary keratoplasty was required in 29.2% of eyes. Although graft-marking techniques for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty greatly facilitate graft positioning during surgery, both the potential toxic effects of alcohol on the endothelium when marking with gentian violet dye and the risk of graft detachment with asymmetric marking must be considered.

Clinical Evaluation of the "Lifeline Suture" Technique for DSAEK in Cases Without Posterior Capsule Using a Novel Donor Insertion Device.

This study investigated preliminary clinical outcomes of a suture pull-through technique for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) termed the "lifeline suture" technique using a newly developed donor inserter (NS Endo-Inserter: NSI; Hoya Co, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) in cases of bullous keratopathy without posterior capsule. Six aphakic eyes without posterior capsule from 6 patients (mean age 73.8 ± 11.9 years) with bullous keratopathy were enrolled. DSAEK alone or as a vitreocorneal surgery was performed. Donor tissue was pulled into the anterior chamber using the NSI and a 9-0 polypropylene "lifeline suture" to prevent donor tissue from slipping into the vitreous cavity, which was removed at the end of surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative complications and 6-month postoperative central donor endothelial cell densities were measured and compared with preoperative values along with 6-month best-corrected visual acuity. All donors were successfully loaded into the NSI and then pulled into the anterior chamber using the lifeline suture. No intraoperative complications, graft dislocation, or primary graft failures were noted. Six months postsurgery, mean endothelial cell density was 2027 ± 747 cells/mm (mean loss 27.2 ± 28.1%) and mean best-corrected visual acuity improved to 0.31 decimal (P = 0.018). In this preliminary case series of bullous keratopathy without posterior capsule, DSAEK outcomes using the novel NSI donor inserter with lifeline suture were comparable or better than the results expected with conventional strategies. Thus, this technique enabled apparently safe DSAEK, preventing donor migration into the vitreous cavity while maintaining a stable anterior chamber, and is suitable for complex eyes including aphakia, lacking posterior capsule, or avitreal.

Efficacy and Safety of 23-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy/Silicone Oil Tamponade Combination for Treatment of Pediatric Post-Traumatic Endophthalmitis

ABSTRACTPurpose: To determine (i) the etiology, epidemiology, mechanism of injury, and risk factors associated with open globe injuries (OGIs) in children and (ii) visual outcomes of pediatric patients with post-traumatic endophthalmitis following 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with silicone oil tamponade (SOT).Methods: A total of 107 consecutive patients, <15 years of age, who had been diagnosed with post-traumatic endophthalmitis between September 2009 and October 2015, were included in this 6-year retrospective study. All patients had undergone a combined PPV and SOT procedure. We reviewed records and analyzed several parameters, including age, gender, wound anatomy, intraocular foreign body characteristics, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and anatomic re-attachment of the vitreous. Visual acuity (VA) was evaluated by comparing the Ocular Trauma Scores (OTS) system with BCVA (as assessed by Fisher’s exact test).Results: Patients included 70 (65.42%) boys and 37 (34.58%) girls (mean, 7.84 ± 2.31 years). Mean follow-up time was 13.31 ± 3.15 months. Zone-1 injuries accounted for 15 of 107 (14.02%) cases, while Zones-2 and -3 accounted for 69 of 107 (64.49%), and 23 of 107 (21.50%) cases, respectively. Lens trauma was noted in 53 of 107 (49.53%) eyes. Our analysis showed that the 6-month BCVA, as assessed by OTS, differed significantly between groups OTS-1 (p = 0.001) and OTS-2 (p = 0.012). No significant difference was observed in group OST-3 (p = 1.000). Total retinal attachment was achieved in 99 of 107 eyes (92.52%).Conclusions: Following combined PPV/SOT for post-traumatic endophthalmitis, VAs were not only favorable, but also often better than those predicted by OTS. Increased awareness of the very serious nature of endophthalmitis is expected to help in the development of a comprehensive strategy designed to educate both parents and children, and to minimize the number of preventable pediatric OGIs.

Inner-Retinal Irregularity Index Predicts Postoperative Visual Prognosis in Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane

To investigate the correlation between the inner-retinal irregularity index and visual outcomes before and after idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. Retrospective cohort study. We analyzed 66 eyes of 66 patients with idiopathic ERM. Ophthalmic examinations included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements, metamorphopsia assessment, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography before surgery and 1, 3, and 6months post-surgery. Correlations between the inner-retinal irregularity index, defined as the length ratio between the inner plexiform layer and retinal pigment epithelium, and visual outcomes before and after ERM surgery were evaluated and compared with the correlation between the central foveal thickness, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, interdigitation zone defect, and visual outcomes. Inner-retinal irregularity index and central foveal thickness were significantly correlated with BCVA and metamorphopsia at each follow-up examination (all P < .05). The interdigitation zone defect correlated with BCVA at 3 and 6months post-surgery (P<.001 and P < .015, respectively). However, GC-IPL thickness was not correlated with visual outcomes at any follow-up examination. The preoperative interdigitation zone defect was correlated with 6-month BCVA (P= .035) and the preoperative inner-retinal irregularity index was significantly correlated with the 6-month BCVA and marginally correlated with the 6-month metamorphopsia (P= .018 and P= .097, respectively). The inner-retinal irregularity index was significantly correlated with visual outcomes before and after ERM surgery. This index can be used as a new surrogate marker for inner-retinal damage and a predictive prognostic marker in ERM.

A Randomized, Prospective, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of a Novel Zinc-Monocysteine Compound in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that daily use of zinc-monocysteine (ZMC) supplement will be well tolerated and result in improved macular function in persons with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Eligible, consenting subjects were randomized to either ZMC 25 mg or placebo twice daily for 6 months. Both ZMC and placebo groups enrolled 40 participants, with best corrected visual acuity 20/25 to 20/70, macular drusen, and pigment changes. Masked personnel determined baseline, 3- and 6-month best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and light flash recovery time. Differences between ZMC and placebo were analyzed by a one-sided unpaired t-test of the paired differences between baseline and 3- and 6-month timepoints for right and left eyes separately. Results: By 6 months the ZMC group showed improved visual acuity (p < 0.0001) and contrast sensitivity (p < 0.0001). Macular light flash recovery time shortened in the ZMC group at 3 months by 2.1 sec (left eye, p = 0.0001) to 3.6 sec (right eye, p < 0.0001), and at 6 months by 7.2 sec (left eye, p < 0.0001) to 7.4 sec (right eye, p < 0.0001). This variable had no improvement in the placebo group. ZMC had a gastrointestinal irritation rate of under 2%. Conclusion: ZMC 25 mg twice daily was well tolerated and was associated with improved macular function in comparison to a placebo in persons with dry AMD.

Herpetic Eye Disease Study: A Controlled Trial of Oral Acyclovir for Herpes Simplex Stromal Keratitis

To evaluate the efficacy of oral acyclovir in treating stromal keratitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) in patients receiving concomitant topical corticosteroids and trifluridine. The authors performed a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial in 104 patients with HSV stromal keratitis without accompanying HSV epithelial keratitis. Sample size was chosen so that a 5%, one-tailed test would have an 80% chance of detecting a doubling of the median time to treatment failure. Patients were randomized to receive a 10-week course of either oral acyclovir (400 mg 5 times daily, n = 51) or placebo (n = 53). All patients also received a standard regimen of topical prednisolone phosphate and trifluridine. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed weekly during the 10-week treatment period, every 2 weeks for an additional 6 weeks, and at 6 months after entry into the trial. The median time to treatment failure (defined as worsening or no improvement of stromal keratitis or an adverse event) was 84 days (95% confidence interval, 69-93 days) for the acyclovir group and 62 days (95% confidence interval, 57-90 days) for the placebo group. By 16 weeks, 38 patients (75%) in the acyclovir group and 39 patients (74%) in the placebo group had failed treatment. Also by that time, the keratitis had resolved with trial medications, and there was no subsequent worsening in nine patients (18%) in the acyclovir group and ten (19%) in the placebo group. None of these results were significantly different between the two groups. However, visual acuity improved over 6 months in significantly more patients in the acyclovir group than in the placebo group. There was no statistically or clinically significant beneficial effect of oral acyclovir in treating HSV stromal keratitis in patients receiving concomitant topical corticosteroids and trifluridine with regard to time to treatment failure, proportion of patients who failed treatment, proportion of patients whose keratitis resolved, time to resolution, or 6-month best-corrected visual acuity. Visual acuity improved over 6 months in more patients in the acyclovir group than in the placebo group.