An-Ning Chao

Visual Acuity, Optical Components, and Macular Abnormalities in Patients with a History of Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE To examine the optical components and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in children with a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to identify any associations between the OCT findings and the visual acuities of the patients. DESIGN Prospective, case-controlled study. PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS Children who were between 6 and 14 years of age were divided into the following 4 groups: Patients with a history of threshold ROP who had been treated using laser therapy or cryotherapy (group 1), patients with regressed ROP who had not received any treatment (group 2), patients who were born prematurely but who had no history of ROP (group 3), and normal full-term children (group 4). The posterior poles of the eyes of all of the patients seemed to be normal. METHODS Visual acuities, optical components, and macular thicknesses were measured in 4 groups of patients, and comparisons between the groups were made. Macular thicknesses were measured using OCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual acuity (VA), optical components, and OCT findings. RESULTS We enrolled 133 patients in the study. Patients in group 1 had significantly thicker foveas than the other patients, as demonstrated by OCT, and this finding was negatively correlated with gestational age. The incidence of abnormal foveal contours among patients in group 1 was significantly higher than among the rest of the patients. Retention of the inner retinal layers was noted in group 1 patients; however, the structure of the outer retina remained intact. Greater degrees of myopic shift and astigmatism, steeper corneal curvatures, shallower anterior chamber depths, and thicker lenses were noted in previously treated ROP patients. These findings corresponded with poor VA and high refractive errors in group 1 patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a history of threshold ROP are more likely to show abnormal foveal development and have a poorer visual prognosis than other patient groups despite a fundus with no macular dragging, disc dragging, or retinal detachment. A steeper corneal curvature, shallower anterior chamber, and greater lens thickness are the main changes in the optical components in these patients.

Traumatic Pediatric Retinal Detachment following Open Globe Injury

Purpose: It was the aim of this study to describe the clinical features and surgical outcomes of retinal detachment following open globe injuries in a pediatric population. Methods: The study was a retrospective chart review of 33 children who had undergone surgery for retinal detachment after open globe injury. Results: The mean age was 11 years (range 4–18) and the mean follow-up period was 57.1 months (range 6–204). Twenty-five patients (76%) were males. Of the open globe injuries, 21 (64%) were penetrations, 6 (18%) intraocular foreign bodies, and 6 (18%) ruptures. Eighteen retinal detachments (55%) were identified by B-scan. Eighteen eyes (55%) had total retinal detachment and 23 eyes (70%) showed macular involvement. Twenty-one eyes (64%) presented with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade C or worse. Retinal reattachment was successful in 12 eyes (36%). Best-corrected visual acuity of 20/100 or better was noted in 4 eyes (12%) preoperatively and in 12 eyes (35%) postoperatively. Features seen in patients with a poor surgical outcome included undetermined or light perception only preoperative vision (p = 0.012), diagnosis by B-scan (p = 0.003), the presence of PVR grade C or worse (p = 0.001), total retinal detachment (p = 0.001), and macula-off status (p = 0.016). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that retinal detachment caused by open globe injuries in the pediatric population is associated with worse surgical results and unsatisfied visual outcomes. Early vitrectomy, before a diagnosis of retinal detachment is made by serial echographic examinations, may be considered to reduce the incidence of PVR. Further clinical research is required to identify ways to improve the outcomes for these patients.

Reducing the incidence of early postoperative vitreous haemorrhage by preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 635–640

Association of severity of conjunctival and corneal calcification with all-cause 1-year mortality in maintenance haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND Conjunctival and corneal calcification (CCC) is the most common form of metastatic calcification in patients with chronic renal failure. The aim of this study is to investigate if severity of CCC correlates with vascular calcification and mortality in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. METHODS One hundred and nine MHD patients were recruited. CCC was evaluated by external eye photographs, and was graded and scored according to modified Porter and Crombie classification system described by Tokuyama et al. Chest X-ray examination was used to evaluate aortic arch calcification. Geographic, haematological, biochemical and dialysis-related data were obtained. The patients were analysed for traditional and non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease stratified by severity of CCC. All patients were followed up for 1 year to investigate the risks for mortality. RESULTS Forty-three, 35 and 31 patients had mild (scores ≤ 4), moderate and severe (scores ≥ 9) CCC at baseline, respectively. With trend estimation, patients with severe CCC had a significantly higher percentage of severe aortic arch calcification. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hypertension, haemodialysis duration and corrected calcium level were associated with scores of CCC in MHD patients. Moreover, age, corrected calcium-phosphate level, and moderate and severe CCC were associated with grades of aortic arch calcification. At 1-year follow-up, 11 of 109 (10.1%) patients had died. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that age, corrected calcium and severe CCC were significant risk factors for all-cause 1-year mortality in MHD patients. Each increment of one score of CCC is associated with a 26.4% increased risk for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS Severity of CCC, which is easily obtained at bedside, acts as an independent predictor for all-cause 1-year mortality in MHD patients.

Modified 23-Gauge Vitrectomy System for Stage 4 Retinopathy of Prematurity

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of a novel, modified 23-gauge vitrectomy system in the treatment of stage 4 retinal detachment in retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS Consecutive patients with stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity treated with modified 23-gauge vitrectomy were included in this medical record review. Major novel modifications included the use of a small infusion cannula, a 20-gauge blade for the creation of sclerotomies in the pars plicata, and a 23-gauge endoilluminator and vitreous cutter. Conjunctival dissection and suturing of sclerotomies were performed using this modified 3-port, 23-gauge vitrectomy technique. Anatomic success and surgical complications were analyzed. RESULTS Twenty-six eyes of 17 patients were included and analyzed. The mean (SD) gestational age was 28.0 (2.5) weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1199 (449) g. Mean postmenstrual age at the time of vitrectomy was 40.5 (3.0) weeks. Overall, 20 eyes (77%) achieved retinal attachment in a single operation, and 23 eyes (88%) achieved retinal attachment after multiple procedures. Postoperative complications included disc dragging (5 eyes [19%]), cataracts (4 [15%]), glaucoma (2 [8%]), persistent vitreous hemorrhage (1 [4%]), and posterior synechia (1 [4%]). CONCLUSIONS This 23-gauge vitrectomy system seems to be a safe and effective approach for treatment of stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity. This modified system combines the benefits of 20- and 23-gauge vitrectomy and offers safer insertion of infusion cannulas in smaller eyes, more working space in pediatric eyes, a cutting port that is closer to the retina, and a faster cutting speed with less vitreous traction during the operation.

A Report on Endophthalmitis Following Three Different Surgical Techniques of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction

Small incision cataract surgery by phacoemulsification has become a popular method of cataract operation in recent decade because it has the advantages of less post-operative astigmatism & rapid visual rehabilitation. However, post-operative infectious endophthalmitis still remains one of the most concerned complications of cataract surgery. This is a retrospective study to investigate the incidence of post-operative endophthalmitis among various techniques of extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Total 560 cases were divided into three groups according to the operative method used: Conventional ECCE (288 eyes, Group Ⅰ), Phacoemulsification with suture(147 eyes, Group Ⅱ) and Phacoemulsification without suture(185 eyes, Group Ⅲ). Our results showed that one patient from group Ⅱ and one patient from group Ⅲ developed post-operative endophthalmitis respectively. Theres no statistical difference (P＞0.05) among the three operation methods regarding the incidence of endophthalmitis. The other factors such as wound width, surgical time and the number of suture placed at wound do not attribute to a higher risk of post-operative endophthalmitis. In conclusion, the post-operative endophthalmitis is equally low in traditional ECCE & small incision cataract surgery.