PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of pars plana filtration with multiple laser perforation of the uvea in neovascular glaucoma patients following proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: In 18 eyes of 13 patients, after a fornix-based conjunctival incision, two 9 x 3 mm, thin, rectangular scleral flaps were created 3-6 mm posterior to the limbus. The remaining layers of sclera under each flap were removed. The exposed uvea was irradiated at a mean of 60.6 spots with an argon laser just to the point of perforation. After the posterior chamber fluid escaped, the flaps were sutured. RESULTS: The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 36.4 +/- 9.0 mm Hg. After an average follow-up of 16.6 +/- 5.9 months, the mean final postoperative IOP was 16.6 +/- 4.4 mm Hg. The postoperative IOP was below 21 mm Hg in 3 (16.7%) of the 18 eyes without medication, in 14 (77.8%) on anti-glaucoma eye drops, and in 16 (88. 9%) on anti-glaucoma eye drops and an oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Snellen visual acuity improved by more than 2 lines in 7 of the 18 eyes, worsened by this amount in 3, and remained within baseline +/- 2 lines in 8. CONCLUSION: This procedure is an effective treatment for neovascular glaucoma patients following proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Acetazolamide↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multicenter retrospective study of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis.

PURPOSE: Epidemiological and clinical study of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study. RESULTS: We analyzed the records of 417 eyes of 348 patients operated on during 5 years from 1989 to 1993 and followed up for more than 6 months by vitreo-retinal specialists in 33 hospitals throughout Japan. The number of eyes operated on increased yearly from 42 in 1989 to 132 in 1993. These cases associated with atopic dermatitis were 2.3% of the average number of eyes operated on for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment during the same period, but when restricted to the Kanto area or further to Tokyo only, the percentage was as high as 3.8% and 4.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics of retinal detachment previously reported, such as traumatic slapping or rubbing of the lids by patients as the most likely pathogenetic factor, and high incidence of cataract and proliferative vitreoretinopathy, were confirmed. The primary surgical procedure was scleral buckling in 78% of the cases and vitreous surgery in 22%, and initial and final reattachment rates were 75.3% and 92.6%, respectively.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Histological and immunohistochemical study of idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

We used electron microscopy and light-microscopic immunohistochemistry of cellular and extracellular markers to characterize the cellular and extracellular components of 15 surgically resected idiopathic epiretinal membranes (IEMs). Ten specimens from the eyes with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) consisted of inner limiting membrane, collagen layer and a flattened cell layer. Six out of the 10 specimens were also examined immunohistochemically, and fibronectin and type I, II, III and IV collagens were identified in a characteristic lamellar construct in the IEMs. On the other hand, 5 specimens obtained from the eyes without PVD consisted mainly of a thick layer of collagen fibrils with or without a flattened cell layer. Two of the 5 specimens were also examined immunohistochemically, and the collagen fibrils in the specimens were identified as type II collagen. Glial cells (glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive cells) were also identified in 3 specimens. These results indicate that there are some variations in the IEMs.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term visual outcomes of vitrectomy for cystoid macular edema due to nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term surgical outcome of vitrectomy for cystoid macular edema due to nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 25 consecutive eyes (25 patients) with cystoid macular edema due to nonischemic CRVO treated with vitrectomy was performed. All patients underwent a pars plana vitrectomy with the creation of a posterior vitreous detachment if still attached. Simultaneous phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation was also performed in phakic eyes. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and changes in macular edema shown by contact-lens biomicroscopy. The mean follow-up time was 49 months (range, 16-108). RESULTS: The median BCVA before surgery was 0.31 and the median BCVA at last follow-up was 0.67. The BCVA at the last follow-up improved at least two Snellen lines in 17 (68%), remained unchanged in 4 (16%), and worsened in 4 (16%). The BCVA was 20/40 or better in 3 eyes (12%) preoperatively and in 18 eyes (72%) at the last follow-up. During the follow-up, four patients progressed to ischemic CRVO; one of them had neovascular glaucoma requiring surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that vitrectomy appears to be a possibly effective treatment in some eyes with cystoid macular edema associated with nonischemic CRVO.

Aged↗