The optimal surgery to repair rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is unknown. The purpose of this trial was to compare outcomes of pneumatic retinopexy (PnR) versus pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) ...for the management of primary RRD.
Prospective, randomized controlled trial.
Patients with RRD demonstrating a single retinal break or a group of breaks in detached retina within 1 clock hour above the 8- and 4-o'clock meridians, with any number, location and size of retinal breaks or lattice degeneration in attached retina.
Patients were randomized to undergo either PnR or PPV. Macula-on and macula-off patients were assigned to intervention group by stratified randomization and were treated within 24 and 72 hours, respectively.
The primary outcome was 1-year Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity (VA). Important secondary outcomes were subjective visual function (25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire), metamorphopsia score (M-CHARTS), and primary anatomic success.
One hundred seventy-six patients were recruited between August 2012 and May 2016. ETDRS VA after PnR exceeded that after PPV by 4.9 letters at 12 months (79.9±10.4 letters vs. 75.0±15.2 letters; P = 0.024). Mean ETDRS VA also was superior for the PnR group compared with the PPV group at 3 months (78.4±12.3 letters vs. 68.5±17.8 letters) and 6 months (79.2±11.1 letters vs. 68.6±17.2 letters). Composite 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire scores were superior for PnR at 3 and 6 months. Vertical metamorphopsia scores were superior for the PnR group compared with the PPV group at 12 months (0.14±0.29 vs. 0.28±0.42; P = 0.026). Primary anatomic success at 12 months was achieved by 80.8% of patients undergoing PnR versus 93.2% undergoing PPV (P = 0.045), with 98.7% and 98.6%, respectively, achieving secondary anatomic success. Sixty-five percent of phakic patients in the PPV arm underwent cataract surgery in the study eye before 12 months versus 16% in the PnR group (P < 0.001).
Pneumatic retinopexy should be considered the first line treatment for RRD in patients fulfilling Pneumatic Retinopexy versus Vitrectomy for the Management of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Outcomes Randomized Trial (PIVOT) recruitment criteria. Pneumatic retinopexy offers superior VA, less vertical metamorphopsia, and reduced morbidity when compared with PPV.
IMPORTANCE: Variability in response to anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) remains a significant clinical challenge. Biomarkers could help ...anticipate responses to anti-VEGF therapy. OBJECTIVES: To investigate aqueous humor cytokine level changes in response to intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for the management of DME, and to determine the association between baseline aqueous levels and anatomic response. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this prospective multicenter cohort study, 49 participants with diabetes mellitus complicated by center-involving DME, with a central subfield thickness of 310 μm or greater on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), were recruited from December 22, 2011, to June 13, 2013 and statistical analysis were performed from March 1, 2017, to June 1, 2017. A total of 48 participants proceeded to follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: Participants received monthly injections of ranibizumab, 0.5 mg, for 3 months. Aqueous fluid for cytokine analysis was obtained at baseline and repeated at the 2-month visit. Multiplex immunoassay was carried out in duplicate for VEGF, placental growth factor, transforming growth factor beta 2, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, vascular intercellular adhesion molecule, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Baseline and 2-month change in aqueous cytokine levels, 3-month change in SD-OCT central subfield thickness and macular volume (MV), and the statistical association between baseline aqueous cytokine levels and these measures of anatomic response to ranibizumab in center-involving DME. RESULTS: Among the 48 participants, the mean (SD) age was 61.9 (7.1) years and 36 participants (75.0%) were men. The following cytokines were lower at month 2 vs baseline: ICAM-1 (median change, −190.88; interquartile range IQR, −634.20 to −26.54; P < .001), VEGF (median change, −639.45; IQR, −1040.61 to −502.61; P < .001), placental growth factor (median change, −1.31; IQR, −5.99 to −0.01; P < .001), IL-6 (median change, −38.61; IQR, −166.72 to −2.80; P < .001), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (median change, −90.13; IQR, −382.74 to 109.47; P = .01). When controlling for age, foveal avascular zone size, and severity of retinopathy, multiple linear regression determined that increasing baseline aqueous ICAM-1 was associated with a favorable anatomic response, in terms of reduced SD-OCT MV at 3 months (every additional 100 pg/mL of baseline ICAM-1 was associated with a reduction of 0.0379 mm3; P = .01). Conversely, increasing baseline aqueous VEGF was associated with a less favorable SD-OCT MV response at 3 months (every additional 100 pg/mL of baseline VEGF was associated with an increase of 0.0731 mm3; P = .02) and was associated with lower odds of being a central subfield thickness responder (odds ratio, 0.868; 95% CI, 0.755-0.998). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Elevated aqueous ICAM-1 and reduced VEGF levels at baseline are associated with a favorable anatomic response to ranibizumab in DME, although there is not always direct correlation between anatomic and visual acuity response.
•Primary Orbital and Ocular adnexal Lymphoma represents 8% of all extra nodal lymphomas, and it is the most common primary orbital malignancy in adults.•Lymphoma treatment generally may include ...radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, immunomodulating therapy, primary antibiotic treatment, surgical excision, or combination therapy. The choice of treatment depends on systemic staging and the tumor histopathologic type at the initial presentation.•Radiotherapy at a dose of 20–25 Gy fractionated in 10–15 sessions with use of lens shielding, whenever indicated, is an efficacious and safe option for Primary Orbital and Ocular adnexal Lymphoma treatment, with excellent local control and low incidence of late manageable ocular toxicities.
To report the efficacy and toxicity of External beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) as a sole treatment for MALT and Follicular Primary Orbital and Ocular adnexal Lymphoma (POOAL)
Retrospective review of all POOAL patients treated with EBRT utilizing megavoltage photon or electron beam radiotherapy between 2003 and 2015. Patient demographics, tumour extent and pathology, radiotherapy techniques, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. The actuarial rates of tumour control and radiation toxicities were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates.
This study included 167 tumours, of which MALT lymphoma involved 149 (89 %). The conjunctiva and orbit were equally involved as the predominant site (48 %). Megavoltage photon radiotherapy was used in 60 % of predominantly orbital lymphoma and Electron beam with lens shielding in 77 % of the conjunctival lymphoma. The majority (95 %) were treated with a total dose of 25 Gy in 10 fractions. Local control rate was 98 % (CI: 93–100 %) at 5 years. The long-term RT toxicities included dry eye in 27 eyes (16 %) and cataract in 22 (13 %). None of the patients developed significant structural or functional radiation toxicity.
External Beam Radiotherapy, with lens shielding whenever indicated, at a dose of 20–30 Gy delivered over 10–20 fractions is an efficacious and safe primary treatment option for POOAL lymphoma, with excellent local control and low incidence of late manageable ocular toxicities.
PurposeThe quality of biological fluid samples is vital for optimal preanalytical procedures and a requirement for effective translational biomarker research. This study aims to determine the effects ...of storage duration and freeze-thawing on the levels of various cytokines in the human aqueous humour and vitreous samples.Methods and analysisHuman ocular aqueous humour and vitreous samples were obtained from 25 eyes and stored at −80°C for analysis. All samples were assayed for 27 cytokine biomarker concentrations (pg/mL) using a multiplex assay. Four sample storage durations following sample collection were evaluated (1 week, 3 months, 9 months and 15 months). Additionally, samples underwent up to three freeze-thaw cycles within the study period.ResultsAmong the 27 cytokine biomarkers, concentrations of four cytokines (Interleukin (IL)−2, IL-10, IL-12 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB) were significantly decreased by storage duration at all time points, as early as 3 months following sample collection (range of 9%–37% decline between 1 week and 15 months, p<0.001). Freeze-thawing of up to three cycles did not significantly impact the cytokine biomarker concentrations in aqueous humour or vitreous. Separability of patient-specific cytokine biomarker profiles in the principal component analysis remained relatively the same over the 15 months of storage duration.ConclusionThe findings from this study suggest that several intraocular cytokine biomarkers in human aqueous humour and vitreous samples may be susceptible to degradation with long-term storage, as early as 3 months after collection. The overall patient-specific cytokine biomarker profiles are more stable than concentrations of individual cytokines. Future studies should focus on developing guidelines for optimal and standardised sample handling methods to ensure correct research findings about intraocular biomarkers are translated into clinical practice.
Abstract Objective To examine the spectrum and sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates derived from all culture-positive aqueous and vitreous samples submitted for culture and sensitivity analysis ...at our institution over a 10-year period. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants A total of 368 culture-positive aqueous and vitreous samples from 265 patients were reviewed. Methods Over a decade extending from January 2000 through December 2009, all culture-positive aqueous and vitreous specimens at our institution were identified. Isolated bacterial pathogens and their in vitro antibiotic sensitivities were analyzed. Results Approximately 86.4% of patients had positive cultures for either staphylococci ( Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci CNS) or streptococci. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in only 9.8% of patients. From 2000 to 2004, 81.2% and 55.9% of CNS isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and cefazolin, respectively, compared with 41.2% and 23.5% of isolates in the last 5 years. Over the study period, ceftazidime retained 100% efficacy against the gram-negative isolates tested. Vancomycin was 99.6% effective against the gram-positive isolates tested. Conclusions The microbiology of pathogens in endophthalmitis is evolving, with an increase in streptococcal isolates and a decrease in CNS. The apparent lack of efficacy of conventionally used antibiotics and the emergence of increasingly resistant strains of bacteria may have significant implications in the management of bacterial endophthalmitis.
To describe and evaluate the efficacy of a novel technique, scleral needling (SN), for securing 23- and 25-gauge leaking sclerotomies in microincision vitrectomy surgery.
A retrospective comparative ...review of consecutive cases of 23- and 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy performed by a single vitreoretinal surgeon before the introduction of the SN technique (pre-SN; November 2016 to January 2017) and after the introduction of the SN technique (post-SN; November 2017 to January 2018) was conducted. The SN technique was implemented as an alternative to suturing, using a 30-gauge needle inserted perpendicularly through the full thickness of the sclera adjacent to the scleral opening, with the needle then immediately removed and sclerotomy closure confirmed.
A total of 203 eyes, 105 from pre-SN and 98 from post-SN, were included in the study. The number of eyes requiring suture closure was significantly reduced from 39% in the pre-SN group to 2% in the post-SN group (P < 0.001). The mean postoperative intraocular pressure and incidence of hypotony on Days 1 to 2, Days 3 to 20, and Days 21 to 50 was not significantly different between the pre-SN and post-SN groups. No major complications associated with the SN technique were noted during the study period.
The SN technique is a safe and simple method for effectively securing leaking sclerotomies in microincision vitrectomy surgery.
Choroidal melanoma (CM) and ciliary body melanoma (CBM) are the two most common subtypes of uveal melanoma. Starting from the observation that CBM tends to have a higher metastatic potential than CM, ...we hypothesized that specific cytogenetic abnormalities could be associated with tumor location - reflecting distinct genetic signatures that would drive the risk of distant spread.
Chromosomal alterations were investigated by molecular cytogenetic techniques in 217 and 97 patients with CM and CBM, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of distant metastasis.
Patients with CBM had larger tumor sizes (P < 0.001), higher disease stages (P < 0.001), and more frequently showed distant metastasis (P = 0.002) than those with CM. On analyzing the entire study cohort, we found that specific chromosomal alterations - including chromosome 8p loss (P < 0.001), 1p loss (P < 0.001), and monosomy 3 (P < 0.005) - were independent predictors of distant metastasis. Based on a decision-tree learning algorithm, we identified three specific subgroups of patients with uveal melanoma at high risk of distant spread. Monosomy 3 occurred significantly more frequently in patients with T3 CBM tumors.
Specific cytogenetic abnormalities - including chromosome 8p loss, 1p loss, and monosomy 3 - are independent risk factors for distant metastasis in uveal melanoma. Larger tumor size at presentation and monosomy 3 contribute to a higher metastatic risk in patients with CBM.