D. R. Lucena

A single intraoperative sub-tenon's capsule injection of triamcinolone and ciprofloxacin in a controlled-release system for cataract surgery.

PURPOSE To compare intraoperative injection of triamcinolone and ciprofloxacin in a controlled-release system (DuoCat) with prednisolone and ciprofloxacin eye drops after cataract surgery. METHODS In this randomized, double-masked, controlled trial, a total of 135 patients undergoing cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 67 patients treated after surgery with prednisolone 1% and ciprofloxacin 3% eye drops four times daily (week 1), three times daily (week 2), twice daily (week 3), and once daily (week 4) and 0.3% ciprofloxacin drops four times daily (weeks 1 and 2), and 68 patients treated at the end of surgery with a sub-Tenons injection of 25 mg triamcinolone and 2 mg ciprofloxacin in biodegradable microspheres. The patients were examined on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. The main outcome measures were postoperative anterior chamber cell and flare, intraocular pressure (IOP), lack of anti-inflammatory response, and presence of infection. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between the groups in anterior chamber cell (P > 0.14) and flare (P > 0.02) at any postoperative visits. The mean (99% confidence interval) differences in IOP between the prednisolone and triamcinolone groups on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 were -0.4 mm Hg (-2.1 to 1.3), 0.0 mm Hg (-1.4 to 1.3), 0.0 mm Hg (-1.1 to 1.1), -0.2 mm Hg (-1.1 to 0.8), and -0.1 mm Hg (-1.1 to 0.9), respectively. No patient had a postoperative infection. CONCLUSIONS One injection of DuoCat had a therapeutic response and ocular tolerance that were equivalent to conventional eye drops in controlling inflammation after cataract surgery. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00431028.).

Comparison of corneal changes after phacoemulsification using BSS Plus versus Lactated Ringer's irrigating solution: a prospective randomised trial

Background/aims To compare two intraocular irrigating solutions, Balanced Salt Solution Plus (BSS Plus) versus Lactated Ringers (Ringer), for the preservation of corneal integrity after phacoemulsification. Methods 110 patients undergoing phacoemulsification were randomised to either BSS Plus (n=55) or Ringer (n=55) as the irrigating solution. Patients were examined at baseline and at 1, 8, 15, 30 and 60 days postoperatively. Evaluations included specular microscopy to evaluate endothelial cell density (ECD) and endothelial cell size variability (CV), and corneal pachymetry for central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement. Results Groups were well balanced regarding baseline ECD, CV and CCT (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between ECD reduction in group BSS Plus 13.1±2.0% and Ringer 9.2±1.9% (p<0.05) at day 60 or in any study visit. There was no statistically significant difference between CV increase in group BSS Plus 23.0±3.0% and Ringer 20.2±4.0% (p<0.05) at day 60 or in any study visit. CCT was significantly increased (p<0.05) at 1, 8, 15 and 30 days postoperatively, returning to baseline at 60 days in both groups. There was no significant difference in CCT increase in both groups at any visit. Interestingly, there were statistically significant correlations between ECD loss and phacoemulsification time (p<0.0001) and ECD loss and irrigation solution volume (p<0.0001) in the Ringer group, but not in the BSS Plus group. Conclusions Ringers solution was similar to BSS Plus for corneal preservation in atraumatic cataract surgery. However, our study demonstrates that there is a trend towards lower postoperative endothelial cell density for surgeries with longer phacoemulsification time and higher irrigation volumes if Ringer is used. Trial registration number NCT00801358.

Controlled transscleral drug delivery formulations to the eye: establishing new concepts and paradigms in ocular anti-inflammatory therapeutics and antibacterial prophylaxis.

Importance of the field: The use of topical agents poses unique and challenging hurdles for drug delivery. Topical steroids effectively control ocular inflammation, but are associated with the well-recognized dilemma of patient compliance. Although administration of topical antimicrobials as prophylaxis is acceptable among ophthalmologists, this common practice has no sound evidence base. Developing a new antimicrobial agent or delivery strategy with enhanced penetration by considering the anatomical and physiological constraints exerted by the barriers of the eye is not a commonly perceived strategy. Exploiting the permeability of the sclera, subconjunctival routes may offer a promising alternative for enhanced drug delivery and tissue targeting. Area covered in this review: Ocular drug delivery strategies were reviewed for ocular inflammation and infections clinically adopted for newer class of antimicrobials, which use a multipronged approach to limit risks of endophthalmitis. What the reader will gain: The analysis substantiates a new transscleral drug delivery therapeutic approach for cataract surgery. Take home message: A new anti-inflammatory and anti-infective paradigm that frees the patient from the nuisance of topical therapeutics is introduced, opening a large investigative avenue for future improved therapies.

Roturas retinianas em retinocoroidite por toxoplasmose: série de casos

This study is a retrospective case series aiming to evaluate the relation between toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis scars and the occurrence of retinal tears. Ten patients with retinal tear and toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis examined at the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto Clinics Hospital, between January 2007 and April 2008, were included. Fisher test and qui-square test with significance level of p<0.05 were used. Eight cases (80%) had retinal detachment. Twelve tears were found and localized mostly in the temporal superior periphery (6 cases, 50%). No statistically significant association between retinal tear and chorioretinal scar localization was observed considering five retinal quadrants (p=0.0828) or three zones (p=0.2507). The occurrence of retinal tears in patients with uveitis may be related to early posterior vitreous detachment caused by the intraocular inflammatory process. No correlation was observed between the localization of retinal tears and chorioretinal scars in this study, which suggests a causative factor not directly related to the presence of a scar.

Uso de C3F8 no descolamento da membrana de Descemet pós-facectomia

INTRODUCTION: Descemets membrane detachment is a rare but serious complication following cataract surgery. Extensive detachments that affect the visual axis may result in poor vision and require penetrating corneal grafts. Some alternatives have been used to reattach Descemets membrane: air bubble, transcorneal sutures and intracameral viscoelastic gel plus SF6 or C3F8 gas. PURPOSE: To describe the use of non-expanding (16%) intracameral C3F8 to reattach Descemets membrane, in six patients, following cataract surgery. METHODS: The patients mean age was 71.3 ± 9.3. Four of the patients were females and two masculine. Immediately afters the gas injection the patient was submitted to slit-lamp evaluation to verify the position of Descemets membrane. The patients who had eyes with central or superior detachments were told to sit upright for two days. The patients whose eyes had inferior detachments were asked to lie on their back. RESULTS: All patients had successful reattachment of Descemets membrane after the gas injection. We observed increase in intraocular pressure in one case. The corneal edema regressed after the second day with total resolution by the fourth day. Visual acuity improved in all cases after regression of the edema and remained stable after forty-five days. CONCLUSION: The use of non-expanding C3F8 alone for reattaching Descemets membrane is reported for the first time in the Brazilian literature. Improvement in visual acuity is fast, the method is safe, effective and easily performed under topical anesthesia.

Study of asphericity coefficient and longitudinal spherical aberration surface corneal

Objective: To correlate the asphericity coefficient (Q) with longitudinal spherical aberration (LSA) of the corneal surface, also correlating each of these variables with the average keratometry Methods: An observational study was conducted by collecting preoperative data from the medical records of individuals candidate cataract surgery, i.e., patient sex and age, as well as Q, LSA of the corneal surface and mean keratometry (Km). Patients who had been subjected to any corneal surgical procedure who would alter Q, LSA and Km measuements were excluded. The corneanl topograph selected, fixedly, a 4.5 mm area of the anterior surface of the cornea for the measurement of Q and LSA, having the pupillary axis as the central point, since the occurrence of LSA is relevant in dim environments in individuals with a pupil wider than 3 mm Results: The sample consisted of 70 eyes of 35 individuals, 24 of them women (68.6%) and 11 men (31.4%) ranging in age from 48 to 89 years (mean: 69.97 ± 8.29). Km ranged from 41.00 to 46.50 D, with a mean of 43.94 ± 1.48D, and mean Q of the corneal surface was -0.15 ± 0.15. Six corneas showed a spherical design (Q= 0.0) and only one showed an aspheric design with Q = -0.50, generating an LSA of 0.0. Mean LSA of the corneal surface was +0.33 ± 0.14 μm. Only one eye showed an LSA equal to 0.0μm, and five showed an LSA of +0.10 to +0.30μm. No eye showed a negative LSA of the corneal surface. There was no correlation between Km and Q (r = -0.005 / p = 0.965) or between Km and LSA (r = 0.167 / p = 0.170). A correlation (r = 0.962 / p = 0.000) was observed between Q and LSA Conclusion: There was a correlation between Q and LSA of the corneal surface. There was no correlation between the sphericity coefficient or longitudinal spherical aberration with the average keratometry.