Amaryllis Avakian

Efficacy and tolerability of a gatifloxacin/prednisolone acetate fixed combination for topical prophylaxis and control of inflammation in phacoemulsification: a 20-day-double-blind comparison to its individual components

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of 0.3% gatifloxacin and 1% prednisolone (Zypred®) versus the individual components used separately (Zymar® and Predfort®) for infection prophylaxis and inflammation control after cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of 108 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation was conducted. After random assignment, 47 eyes received the fixed combination of topical 0.3% gatifloxacin/1% prednisolone drops, and 61 eyes received the same doses of the individual components as separate solutions four times a day for 15 days. Baseline and postoperative assessments were made on postoperative days 1, 7, 15, and 20. RESULTS: All objective (best corrected visual acuity, sign of active ocular inflammation, central and incisional corneal edema, the number of cells per high-power field in the anterior chamber, and intraocular pressure) and subjective (eye pain, photophobia, burning sensation, itching, and foreign body sensation) criteria of efficacy were similar in both groups, with no significant differences. Group I included 47 eyes that received the fixed combination of gatifloxacin/prednisolone acetate eye drops and a placebo eye drop solution. Group II included 61 eyes that were treated with 0.3% gatifloxacin and 1% prednisolone acetate eye drops separately. The intraocular pressure was slightly higher in Group II (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with the fixed-dose combination of gatifloxacin/prednisolone eye drops was as effective as the non-fixed combination in preventing infection and controlling inflammation after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

Comparison of central corneal edema and visual recovery between liquefaction and conventional phacoemulsification in soft cataracts

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to assess central corneal edema and visual recovery after cataract surgery performed according to two technologies: conventional ultrasonic and liquefaction (Aqualase®). METHODS:This is a prospective contralateral study in wich 20 patients with comparable preoperative conditions were submitted to cataract surgery were evaluated. Preoperative assessment involved complete ophthalmological examination and the study included patients with bilateral cataracts up to grade 2, according to the Lens Opacity Classification System II. The same cristaline fracture technique was used in all cases, and surgical procedures were performed by the same experienced surgeon, using two technologies: liquefaction or conventional phacoemulsification. Postoperative central corneal edema was measured by corneal optical pachymetry (Orbscan II®) on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 10th postoperative days. RESULTS:None of the 20 patients submitted to surgery was lost during the postoperative follow-up or excluded from the analysis. On the first postoperative, the visual acuity average was 0.031 logMAR in the Aqualase® group and 0.043 logMAR in the conventional surgery group. No statistical difference was detected in the assessment of visual acuity throughout the postoperative period. Central corneal pachymetry varied from 543.93 + 34.69 preoperatively to 545.08 ± 25.67 on the last day of follow-up in the Aqualase® group, and from 543.13 + 30.62 to 536.08 + 34.89 in the conventional technique group, without statistical significance. CONCLUSION:This study suggests that both techniques are equally effective for surgery on lenses with grade I or II cataract, and that they provide similar results in terms of visual recovery and central corneal edema.

Lente intraocular multifocal refrativa: a performance visual e qualidade de vida em implantes bilaterais versus unilaterais

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo e comparar acuidade visual, sensibilidade ao contraste, velocidade de leitura e a qualidade de vida pos-operatoria de pacientes pseudofacicos unilaterais ou bilaterais com lentes intraoculares multifocais ReZoom. METODOS: Estudo comparativo, prospectivo, nao aleatorio incluindo 38 olhos de 24 pacientes, separados em um grupo com implante bilateral (14 pacientes) e outro com implante unilateral (10 pacientes). O exame oftalmologico completo incluiu acuidade visual nao corrigida pre-operatoria para perto, intermediario e para longe, acuidade visual com melhor correcao, topografia corneal, sensibilidade ao contraste, velocidade de leitura e escala de satisfacao realizado 60 dias apos a cirurgia. A analise estatistica foi realizada por meio dos testes de Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney e Qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Os resultados comparando funcao visual, sensibilidade ao contraste, velocidade de leitura e escala de satisfacao foram semelhante entre os grupos. CONCLUSAO: Nao houve diferenca estatistica entre os resultados comparando funcao visual, sensibilidade ao contraste, velocidade de leitura e escala de satisfacao entre os grupos.

Comparação do efeito nas culturas de humor aquoso de gatifloxacina 0,3% aplicado três dias antes de facoemulsificação e e antes do pré-operatório

Purpose: To determine the effect on human aqueous humor cultures of topical gatifloxacin 0.3% applied four times a day three days before phacoemulsification compared to topical gatifloxaxin 0.3% applied and same-day surgery. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with cataract without other ocular diseases were randomly assigned to Groups A and B before phacoemulsification. Group A received topical gatifloxacin 0.3% same-day surgery and Group B received gatifloxacin 0.3% four times a day three days before phacoemulsification. After the procedure the aqueous humor was aspirated for cultures on agar-blood, agar-chocolate, saboraud and TSB and smeared for bacterioscopy. RESULTS: Group A presented 40% of the bacterioscopies with cocci gram +, Group B presented 17.6% of the bacterioscopies with cocci gram +. These results are not statistically significant (p=0,098). Five cases (25%) from Group A presented positive cultures for S. epidermidis, which was significantly higher than Group B, which did not present positive cultures for any bacteria or fungus (p=0,027). CONCLUSION: Gatifloxacin 0.3% applied three days before phacoemulsification significantly lowered the rate of positive aqueous humor cultures when compared to immediate application of this antibiotic before surgery in this study.