Tamponade Agent Research Articles

"Sterile hypopyon following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection".

To report five cases of post-operative sterile endophthalmitis in patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection for retinal detachment. Review of the medical records of five patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection at Southend University Hospital and the Royal Eye Infirmary, Derriford Hospital for rhegmatogenous or tractional retinal detachment. All five patients presented with signs of anterior chamber inflammation exhibiting flare, fibrin and hypopyon in the early or late post-operative period following vitrectomy with silicone oil injection. Treatment with topical antibiotics and steroids was commenced, with rapid resolution of the anterior chamber inflammatory reaction and no further intervention required. The use of silicone oil as a tamponade agent for retinal detachment can rarely induce sterile anterior chamber inflammation with signs resembling infectious endophthalmitis. Onset of symptoms, absence of pain and good response to topical steroids can help differentiate between the two entities.

Volume measurement of the vitrectomised eye and its applications in practice.

To estimate the vitreous cavity replacement volume after pars plana vitrectomy and analyze its correlation with axial length and refractive error. Observational cross-sectional study on 103 eyes undergoing vitrectomy. Fluid-air exchange was performed using a soft-tip cannula connected to a PVC tubing, the distal end of which opened into a 10-cc syringe without the plunger. The collected fluid was measured (and correction factors applied) to estimate the vitreous cavity volume. The mean axial length of 103 eyes was 23.43 ± 1.54 mm. The mean vitreous cavity volume was 4.46 ± 0.83 mL (2.8-8.1 mL). There was a strong positive correlation between axial length and vitreous volume, which was stronger for pseudophakic and aphakic groups than for phakic groups. Accurate assessment of vitreous cavity volume can enable precise quantification of tamponade, intravitreal drugs, and intravitreal chemotherapeutic agents. This will allow better surgical outcomes, decreased toxicity, and increased cost-effectiveness due to lesser wastage. To estimate the vitreous cavity replacement volume after pars plana vitrectomy and analyze its correlation with axial length and refractive error.

Comparative Analysis of Macular and Optic Disc Perfusion Pre and Post Silicone Oil Removal: A Machine Learning Approach.

In the realm of ophthalmic surgeries, silicone oil is often utilized as a tamponade agent for repairing retinal detachments, but it necessitates subsequent removal. This study harnesses the power of machine learning to analyze the macular and optic disc perfusion changes pre and post-silicone oil removal, using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) data. Building upon the foundational work of prior research, our investigation employs Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to create predictive models based on OCTA scans. We conducted a comparative analysis focusing on the flow in the outer retina and vessel density in the deep capillary plexus (superior-hemi and perifovea) to track perfusion changes across different time points. Our findings indicate that while machine learning models predict the flow in the outer retina with reasonable accuracy, predicting the vessel density in the deep capillary plexus (particularly in the superior-hemi and perifovea regions) remains challenging. These results underscore the potential of machine learning to contribute to personalized patient care in ophthalmology, despite the inherent complexities in predicting ocular perfusion changes.

Wetting of the retinal surface by perfluorocarbon liquid: implications for its use as an endotamponade agent and intraoperative tool in retinal detachment surgery

Perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs) are essential in ophthalmology due to their unique properties, such as higher density than water, inert chemical nature, and optical transparency. They serve as crucial tools in retinal detachment surgery, acting as both intraoperative aids and short-term tamponade agents. However, the interactions between PFCLs and the retinal surface are not fully understood, limiting insights into potential complications. This study investigates the interfacial interaction between perfluorodecalin (PFCL) and the retinal surface. Wetting behavior of animal retinas by water and PFCL was analyzed, revealing water droplets’ floating phenomenon in PFCL and calculating the critical radius for this effect. Dynamics of water spreading over the retina were examined. A model experiment demonstrated that water’s tendency to float over PFCL, interacting with a hydrophilic surface like the retina, could create traction and damage the retinal surface. These findings enhance our comprehension of physical processes at the PFCL/retina interface and offer practical insights for improving ophthalmic surgical procedures.

Case Series and Review Article: Perfluorocarbon Heavy Liquid as a Short-Term Tamponade after Vitrectomy for Inferior Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

This is to report outcomes of three cases with inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) which were treated with vitrectomy and perfluorocarbon heavy liquid (PFCHL) insertion as short-term tamponade. We also aim to summarise the surgical outcomes and complications from the recent studies in PFCHL usage in vitrectomy surgeries. The mean tamponade period for our case series was 11 days. Two patients developed ocular hypertension, while another developed hypotony with subsequent retinal redetachment. Migration to the anterior chamber causing pupillary block glaucoma also occurred in one patient, requiring laser peripheral iridotomy. Previous studies reported that PFCHL is particularly useful for more complex cases of retinal detachment including giant retinal tears, inferior retinal tears, chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), inferior RRD and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) due to its unique physical properties. However, it is not recommended as tamponade for long duration due to possible retinal toxicity. Otherwise, most of the complications due to PFCHL can be managed either medically or surgically. PFCHL can be a useful post-operative tamponade agent in vitreoretinal surgeries. Close post-operative monitoring is crucial for the potential complications from PFCHL.

Duration after Macular Hole Surgery for Stabilisation of Visual Acuity: A Long-term Retrospective Review

The purpose of the study is to determine the median duration for visual recovery to achieve visual stability and visual acuity gain after macular hole surgery in our local population. This was a retrospective study. Patients with full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) from surgical logs were included between January 2009 and December 2019. The patients' medical records were reviewed for pre-, intra-, and post-operative data collection. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited and analysed. Data collected from the medical record pre-operatively, which included baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), interval of symptoms development to surgery, any ocular co-morbidities, optical coherence tomography (OCT) for size and stage of macular hole and central subfield thickness (CST). Intra-operative notes included whether vitrectomy with or without phacoemulsification and with the internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel or ILM flaps, types of dye, and tamponade agent used. Post-operative data included BCVA and CST on each visit, types of macular hole closure, or any complications. Data were analysed using SPSS.Thirty-one patients were diagnosed with FTMH. Sixteen patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were included and analysed. Fifteen patients (93.75%) achieved successful macular hole closure after the primary operation. The median duration BCVA reached at stability was 19.5 months (IQR 9 – 26.25), and visual acuity gained by 0.44 LogMAR (IQR 0.165 – 0.565). Ten patients (62.5%) underwent combined PPV with phacoemulsification. CST showed improvement from baseline, 444 (IQR 347.5 – 519.75) to 273 (IQR 232 -285.5), 230 (IQR 221.5-255), and 270 (IQR 254-322) at the period interval of 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, and 6 to 12 months respectively. Gas C3F8 and membrane blue were commonly used as tamponade agents and dyes, and PPV with ILM peel was the common surgery performed. Six patients (40%) achieved type 1 macular hole closure within 12 months of follow-up. Despite the small sample size, our study provided practical information regarding patient’s expectations of when their vision can become stable after macula hole surgery in our local population.

Sustained-release drug delivery systems.

The design and development of a sustained-release drug delivery system targeting the administration of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to the eye could overcome the limitations of topically administered eye drops. Understanding how to modify or design new materials with specific functional properties that promote the attachment and release of specific drugs over longer time periods, alongside understanding clinical needs, can lead to new strategic opportunities to improve treatment options. In this paper we discuss two approaches to the design or modification of materials to produce a sustained therapeutic effect. Firstly, we discuss how the synthesis of a peptide hydrogel from a naturally-derived antimicrobial material led to the design of a bandage contact lens which may be able to be used prophylactically to reduce post-surgery infection. Secondly, we discuss how silicone oil tamponade agents used to treat retinal detachments can have adjunctive behaviour to enhance the solubility of the anti-proliferative drug retinoic acid and produce a sustained release over several weeks. These studies are the result of close partnerships between clinical ophthalmologists, materials scientists, and chemists, and illustrate how these partnerships can lead to comprehensive understandings that have the potential to change patient outcomes.

Glue-Assisted Retinopexy for Retinal Detachments Study Report 2: Fibrin Glue As a Surgical Adjunct in Complex Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: To present the successful application of fibrin glue as a surgical adjunct in the management of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: In this retrospective case series, fibrin glue was used as a surgical adjunct in 5 cases of complex RRD. In each case, standard pars plana vitrectomy and laser retinopexy were performed by the same surgeon. Fibrin glue was used intraoperatively as a tamponade to seal the breaks because the isolated use of conventional tamponade agents was not feasible given the variable nature of the complex RRDs, the anatomy of the eye, or an inability to maintain postoperative positioning. Results: In 1 patient previously treated for a large corneoscleral tear, fibrin glue was used to seal a large iatrogenic retinal break caused by a fragmatome-related surge that led to a quadrantic RD. In 2 patients treated for combined RRD, fibrin glue was used with silicone oil to manage recurrent RRD with incompletely drained thick subretinal fluid and blood. In 2 other cases, fibrin glue was applied to manage RRD in congenital aniridia with advanced glaucoma and aphakia. In all cases, retinal attachment without serious adverse effects was attained over a follow-up ranging from 4 to 6 months. Conclusions: Fibrin glue is an effective, safe surgical adjunct in complex RRD. It can be used to transiently seal a retinal break when use of a conventional tamponade agent is not possible or not sufficient alone.

SECONDARY GLAUCOMA AFTER VITREORETINAL SURGERY: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVASIONAL STUDY

Introduction & ObjectivesSecondary glaucoma is the most common complication after vitreoretinal surgery. Pars PlanaVitrectomy (PPV) is a common surgical procedure aimed at removing vitreous gel and replacing itwith variety of substances denominated tamponades. Vitreous removal and replacement may causeincreased intraocular pressure (IOP). The IOP can be reduced with medical treatment or surgery.The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of secondary glaucoma after vitreoretinalsurgery in National Eye Center Cicendo Hospital from January 2019 - December 2020.
 MethodsThis study was a retrospective descriptive study which data were obtained from medical records.Data such as age, gender, vitrectomy tamponades, IOP, onset of glaucoma, and glaucoma treatmentwere collected.
 ResultsOne hundred fifty-three eyes were referred to Glaucoma Unit with increasing IOP after vitreoretinalsurgery. PPV with tamponade was done in 141 eyes (92.16%) and silicone oil (SO) 1000 centistokes(cSt) was the most used tamponade in 101 eyes (66.07%). Secondary glaucoma with open angle wasthe most common type in 124 eyes (81.04%). Secondary glaucoma developed in 4-7 weeks aftersurgery, with the highest IOP recorded at 31-40 mmHg. The IOP decreased after SO evacuation withinitial glaucoma treatment in 121 eyes (79.09%), and glaucoma surgery was performed in 32 eyes(20.91%).
 ConclusionSilicon oil as a tamponade agent after PPV may cause rise IOP in the post-operative period.Evacuation SO needs to be done after retinal adhesion to prevent secondary glaucoma. Therefore,timely detection and anti-glaucoma treatment are important to decreased IOP, or filtration surgerycan be performed.

Incidence of Postoperative Epiretinal Membrane Development Following 23-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Complex Diabetic Tractional Retinal Detachment: A Comparative Study of Silicone Oil and Balanced Salt Solution Tamponade

BACKGROUND: Tractional retinal detachment (TRD) poses a significant threat to vision in diabetic patients, necessitating surgical intervention. However, the choice of tamponade agent (silicone oil vs. balanced salt solution [BSS]) and the presence of incomplete hemostasis during surgery can influence postoperative complications, specifically the development of epiretinal membranes (ERMs). METHODS: This prospective study involved 235 patients undergoing 23-Gauge pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic TRD with incomplete hemostasis. Patients were categorized into two groups based on tamponade agent used. ERM development was assessed clinically and through optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: Among the cases with incomplete hemostasis and residual preretinal hemorrhage, 71.80% of those in the silicone oil group developed ERMs, in contrast to 11.76% in the BSS. Notably, 46.2% of silicone oil cases with ERMs required reoperation, whereas 47.4% remained ERM-free. DISCUSSION: The choice of tamponade agent was a crucial determinant in ERM development, with silicone oil exhibiting a significantly higher incidence. Moreover, silicone oil cases with macular tractional effects had a substantial proportion of ERMs necessitating reoperation. These findings underscore the importance of vigilant postoperative monitoring. CONCLUSION: In cases involving incomplete hemostasis during vitrectomy for diabetic TRD, the use of silicone oil as a tamponade agent is associated with a substantially increased risk of postoperative ERM development. Clinically, this highlights the need for meticulous patient management. Further research is warranted to validate these results and explore long-term outcomes.

Improved Outcomes with Heavy Silicone Oil in Complex Primary Retinal Detachment: A Large Multicenter Matched Cohort Study

PurposeTo establish whether Densiron® 68, a heavier-than-water endotamponade agent, is an effective alternative to conventional light silicone oil in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery for eyes with inferior breaks in the detached retina and severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy. DesignCohort study of routinely collected data from the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) and British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons (BEAVRS) vitreoretinal database between 2015 and 2022. ParticipantsAll consecutive eyes that underwent primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery using either Densiron® 68 or light silicone oil as an internal tamponade agent. MethodsTo minimize confounding bias, we undertook 2:1 nearest neighbor matching on inferior breaks, large inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachments, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and, for visual analyses, baseline visual acuity between treatment groups. We fit regression models including prognostically relevant covariates, treatment-covariate interactions, and matching weights. We used g-computation with cluster-robust methods to estimate marginal effects. For nonlinear models, we calculated confidence intervals using bias-corrected cluster bootstrapping with 9 999 replications. Main Outcome MeasuresPresence of a fully attached retina and visual acuity at least two months after oil removal. ResultsOf 1061 eyes enrolled, 426 and 239 were included in our matched samples for anatomical and visual outcome analyses, respectively. The primary success rate was higher in the Densiron® 68 group (113 of 142; 80%) compared to the light silicone oil group (180 of 284; 63%), with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.90 (95% CI 1.63 to 2.23, P < 0.001). We also observed a significant improvement favoring Densiron® 68 of -0.26 logMAR in postoperative visual acuity between the two groups (95% CI -0.43 to -0.10, P = 0.002). The anatomical benefit of using Densiron® 68 in eyes with inferior retinal breaks and large detachments was more pronounced among eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy Grade C. We found no evidence of visual effect moderation by anatomical outcome or foveal attachment. ConclusionsDensiron achieved higher anatomical success rates and improved visual outcomes compared to conventional light silicone oil in eyes with inferior retinal pathology and severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Risk factors of post-operative optic nerve injury after vitrectomy: a systematic review

Background Vitrectomy is a common procedure used to treat various disorders in the back of the eye. Although it is generally considered safe and effective, there is a risk of complications, including optic nerve damage, which can lead to vision problems. The aim of this study is to determine risk factors of optic nerve injury after vitrectomy for various indications. Methods We conducted a systematic review through literature search via Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, as well as a hand search of relevant journals with the keywords: “(postoperative optic nerve injury) AND (vitrectomy) AND (risk factor)”. The inclusion criteria were: (1) patients with postoperative optic nerve injury after vitrectomy, (2) clinical trial, case-control, or cohort study, (3) analyzing risk factors of optic nerve injury after vitrectomy, (4) published in the last 15 years and conducted in English. For risk of bias assessment, we used the risk of bias (RoB) 2.0 for randomized controlled trials and the ROBINS-E tool for observational studies. Results Thirteen eligible studies were included in this study. We found that damage to the optic nerve can happen either during or after a vitrectomy procedure. This is linked to four main risk factors: removing the internal limiting membrane, having a lower average ocular perfusion pressure, using silicone oil as a tamponade agent, and using ICG as an ILM staining agent. Conclusions Removing the internal limiting membrane, having a lower average ocular perfusion pressure, using silicone oil as a tamponade agent, and using ICG as an ILM staining agent were associated with the occurrence of optic nerve injury following vitrectomy. Our study has limitations, including more retrospective studies than prospective ones and difficulties in combining and analyzing information from individual studies. Additionally, merging data from various studies is challenging due to differences in original research. PROSPERO registration CRD42023453533 (22/08/2023).

Microvascular changes after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair: A comparative study based on gas tamponade agent.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gas tamponade on microvascular changes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Participants in this study were 48 patients with RRD, who were treated with PPV and gas tamponade without internal limiting membrane peeling. All participants underwent slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography at month 6 postoperatively. The fellow untreated eyes were also examined and served as the control data. A statistically significant enlargement in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in both the superficial (p = 0.002) and the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.01) was noticed 6 months postoperatively in patients with RRD treated with PPV compared to the fellow eyes. The foveal avascular zone perimeter was increased in the operated eyes in the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.0003) and the foveal avascular zone circularity was decreased in both the superficial (p = 0.045) and the deep capillary plexus (p < 0.001) compared to the fellow eyes. The vessel density was not significantly different between the operated and the fellow eyes in the superficial and the deep capillary plexus. The vessel density and the foveal avascular zone parameters were comparable between the C3F8 and SF6 groups. Specific microvascular indices as measured by OCTA were statistically different between the operated and the fellow eyes in the superficial and deep capillary plexus. C3F8 and SF6 as gas tamponades did not seem to differ in their impact on the microvascular parameters.

Complications Related to Air and Perfluorocarbon Gas in Vitreoretinal Surgery

Intraocular gases have been used in vitreoretinal surgery for many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate intraoperative and postoperative complications of gas tamponades used in vitreoretinal surgery. Vitreoretinal surgery is known to induce cataract development. With that, cataract progression is related to lens exposure to intraocular gas, the duration of exposure, patient’s age, and the magnitude of vitreous removal. With exposure to intraocular gas, lens becomes strongly refractive, resulting in high miyopia and temporary visual impairment. The other complications of intraocular gases are gas migration, increased intraocular pressure, corneal complications and recurrent retinal detachment. Nevertheless, gases are frequently preferred tamponade agents in vitreoretinal surgery.

In-Office Suprachoroidal Viscopexy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair

In-office suprachoroidal viscopexy (SCVEXY) is a minimally invasive technique for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair that can be performed with no incision, no tamponade agent, and no positioning requirements. This technique has the potential to be a step forward in the armamentarium to treat RRDs. To describe in-office SCVEXY for RRD repair. In this single-case report with short follow-up, a man in his 50s with pseudophakia and recent visual loss presented to St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, with a fovea-off RRD in the right eye, extending from 6 to 10 o'clock, with no visible causative retinal break. Injection of suprachoroidal sodium hyaluronate, 1%, in the region of the suspected break, using a 30-gauge needle with a custom-made guard that exposed only 1 mm of the needle. Ability to perform in-office SCVEXY and to obtain a visible choroidal indentation. After the procedure, a dome-shaped choroidal convexity was present in the superior temporal area. The patient achieved macular reattachment in less than 24 hours with no postoperative abnormalities, such as outer retinal folds, residual subfoveal fluid, or retinal displacement, with rapid recovery of the outer retinal bands on optical coherence tomography. The optical coherence tomography scans acquired in the area of the choroidal convexity demonstrated the location of the viscoelastic material in the suprachoroidal space. Laser retinopexy was applied in the suspected region of the retinal tear, and the patient was able to resume normal activity immediately after the procedure with no restrictions. Suprachoroidal viscopexy is feasible as an in-office technique to create a temporary choroidal buckle for RRD repair. It is a minimally invasive procedure with the potential to maximize anatomical outcomes of integrity and postoperative functional outcomes in RRD because its mechanism of action does not require drainage of subretinal fluid or intraocular gas tamponade. Nevertheless, this was a single-case report with short follow-up, which limits the ability to determine the procedure's benefits, potential adverse events, failure rates, and best-case selection. Further work is required to refine the procedure and assess its efficacy and safety.

Vision-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Treated With Pars-Plana Vitrectomy: Impact of Gas Tamponade.

To investigate changes in vision-related quality of life in patients treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and compare groups according to the type of gas tamponade used. Participants in this study were 48 patients with RRD who were treated with PPV and gas tamponade (sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) or perfluoropropane (C3F8)) without internal limiting membrane peeling. All participants underwent slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, axial-length measurement, and completed the Vision Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) at month six postoperatively. We compared VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores in the SF6 and C3F8 groups and investigated any correlations between age, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length, and VFQ-25 scores. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups (axial length, macular status, retinal detachment extent, duration of symptoms, and lens status) were comparable between the two groups. We found a statistically significant decrease in general vision (GV), ocular pain (OP), and driving (D) scores in the C3F8 group compared to the SF6 group. The VFQ-25 composite score was comparable in the two groups. Similarly, all other subscales of the VFQ-25 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Age and BCVA did not significantly correlate with VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores. Specific VFQ-25 subscales were decreased in patients with RRD treated with C3F8 as a gas tamponade compared to SF6. This finding warrants further research in the tamponade agents used in PPV surgeries.

Incidence of Epiretinal Membrane Formation After Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Giant Retinal Tear-Associated Retinal Detachment.

To report the incidence of postoperative epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation after primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for giant retinal tear associated retinal detachment (GRT-RD) repair as well as its clinical characteristics and visual outcomes at a level one trauma and tertiary referral academic center. Patients with primary RD repair for GRT-RD at West Virginia University from September 2010 to July 2021 were identified using the ICD-10 codes (H33.031, H33.032, H33.033 and H33.039). Imaging studies including optical coherence tomography (OCT) were manually reviewed pre- and post-operatively for ERM formation after PPV for GRT-RD repair in patients who underwent PPV or combined PPV and scleral buckle (SB). Univariate analysis was performed to analyze clinical factors for ERM formation. The study included 17 eyes of 16 patients who underwent PPV for GRT-RD. Postoperative ERM was observed in 70.6% (13 of 17 eyes) of the patients. Anatomic success was achieved in all patients. The mean (range) preoperative and final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR units by macula status was 0.19 (0-0.5) and 0.28 (0-0.5) for macula-on and 1.7 (0.5-2.3) and 0.7 (0.2-1.9) for macular-off GRT-RDs. Clinical variables including use of medium-term tamponade with perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL), cryopexy, endodiathermy, number of tears or total clock hours of tears did not correlate with an increased risk of ERM formation. Post-vitrectomized eyes for GRT-RD repair have a significantly higher incidence of ERM formation, nearing 70% in our study. Surgeons may consider prophylactic ILM peel at the time of removal of tamponade agents or weigh in ILM peel at the time of primary repair, a more challenging surgical technique in our opinion.

Surgical Audit for the Outcome of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The purpose of the study was to audit the primary and final success rate for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery performed between 2017 and 2022 at the Department of Ophthalmology in Salmanyia Medical Complex, the Kingdom of Bahrain. In addition, secondary outcomes for our study include assessments of risk factors for recurrence, final visual outcomes and complication rates. Prospective observational study showed data analysis of case series for 75 RRD patients operated during the study period. All patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study and evaluated by a specialized vitreoretinal surgeon before and after their operation. All patients were operated by the same surgeon (M.A) in the study period. Data collected from the hospital's electronic medical recording system (I-Seha) include macular state, pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, duration of symptoms, the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), retinal breaks and their locations, any ocular comorbidities associated in the perioperative period such as increase in intraocular pressure or development of cataract, and operative notes related to the type of primary, secondary, and tertiary surgery if needed. A total number of 70 eyes from 70 patients with the majority of male patients (74.28%, n = 52) were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 54.75 years (range: 11-91 years). Most of the patients 48.57% presented within 6 days of symptoms. Nearly 77.1% of the operated cases were macula off, whereas 22.85% were macula on. Thirty-six of the eyes (51.4%) had complex RRD with a combination of PVR (34.2%). Sixty-three of the eyes (51.4%) underwent standard 23G pars plana vitrectomy, while the combined surgery with a scleral buckle was performed on 9 eyes (12.8%). Five patients underwent pneumatic retinopexy and two patients had primary scleral buckles. Combined phacoemulsification with vitrectomy in selected cases was performed on 13 eyes (18.5%). Different tamponading agents were used 35 eyes (50%) silicon oil, 17 eyes (24%) C3F8, and 18 eyes (25%) SF6. The primary reattachment rate after one operation was 77.1% (54 eyes). The final reattachment rate following a second or third procedure was 95.7%. The mean postoperative visual acuity was 6/18 (range: 6/6 to hand motions). Thirty percent of the cohort of patients had a visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Sixteen out of the 70 eyes redetached (22.8%) and 10 of those eyes (62.5%) were classified as "complex" preoperatively which is thought to be a significant risk factor for failure. Our audit overall met international success rates despite the presence of some complex scenarios which required multiple surgical interventions. The primary use of gas or silicon oil did not influence reattachment rates but had a statistical significance when it came to final visual outcomes.

Conjunctival Pigmentation Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV) for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: Risk Factors and Outcomes.

To investigate the incidence and the risk factors for conjunctival pigmentation at the sclerotomy sites following valved and non-valved cannula pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) performed by different surgical techniques. This is a prospective observational study which included 70 eyes of 70 patients who underwent PPV for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Twenty-eight eyes were operated using 25G non-valved cannulas (Group A), 22 eyes using 25G non-valved cannulas (Group B), and 20 eyes using 25G valved cannulas (Group C). The evaluated clinical parameters include the surgical technique, the patients' age, the number of retinal tears, the tamponade agent, the presence of residual sub-retinal fluid (SRF), and the duration of postoperative posturing. Group A was associated with significant conjunctival pigmentation at up to 6 months after PPV. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade was associated with less conjunctival pigmentation at 3 months follow-up visit [odds ratio, OR 0.09 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.01; 0.67)], whereas the presence of residual SRF was a significant risk factor for postoperative pigmentation at 1-year follow-up visit [OR 5.89 (95% CI 1.84; 23.12)]. The area of measured pigmentation was also positively correlated to the number of retinal tears at all follow-up visits over 2 years. Six patients presented with conjunctival pigmentation at 2 years follow-up visit. New vitrectomy techniques with valved cannulas prevent the postoperative appearance of conjunctival pigmentation. The number of retinal tears, the presence of SRF, and the use of long-standing tamponade agents were the most significant predisposing factors. The post-vitrectomy conjunctival pigmentation gradually reduces over time.

Anatomical and functional outcomes of short-term DensironXTRA heavy silicone oil for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: a comparative case series

To assess the safety and efficacy of short-term DensironXTRA tamponade for repair of complicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD). This is a retrospective consecutive case series of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal DensironXTRA and a comparator group with gas (sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) or perfluoropropane (C3F8)) tamponades by a single surgeon between January 2017 and November 2020 at a tertiary care centre. A total of 121 eyes with DensironXTRA and 81 comparator eyes with a gas tamponade were included. The DensironXTRA group had a significantly higher number of cases with inferior breaks (82% vs. 48%; p < 0.0001) and a history of previous PPV for RRD (64% vs. 12%; p < 0.0001). DensironXTRA was removed after a median period of 70 (IQR: 48.5–105.5) days. There was similar anatomical success in both the comparator gas tamponade and DensironXTRA groups (98.8% vs. 97.5%, p = 0.6506). Although both groups experienced a significant improvement in visual acuity, this change was significantly higher in the comparator gas tamponade group versus DensironXTRA group (p = 0.0017). There was no significant change in IOP in the DensironXTRA group (mean difference − 0.7; 95% CI − 1.753 to 0.331, p = 0.1785). The rates of complications were low and not significantly different between the two groups. There was no evidence for central macular thinning with DensironXTRA compared to the contralateral eye without RRD as well as with DensironXTRA in situ versus after its removal. DensironXTRA is a promising short-term tamponade agent with good anatomical and functional outcomes and low rates of complications for the repair of complicated RRDs.