Elise Philippakis

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY SHOWS DEEP CAPILLARY PLEXUS HYPOPERFUSION IN INCOMPLETE CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION.

PURPOSE To analyze optical coherence tomography angiography images of retinal capillary perfusion in incomplete central retinal artery occlusion. METHODS Case report of a 63-year-old male white patient with transient vision loss in the left eye related to central retinal artery occlusion, secondary to left internal carotid thrombosis. Optical coherence tomography angiography images were captured with Angiovue (Optovue, Inc., Freemont, CA). Retinal capillary bed was segmented into the superficial and deep capillary plexus. Each blood flow angiography image was associated with an en face optical coherence tomography image and an optical coherence tomography B-scan showing the level of segmentation. RESULTS In the left eye, visual acuity was 20/20 five days after transient vision loss. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed a normal superficial capillary plexus but the deep capillary plexus was not distinguishable compared with the right eye, although the posterior pole appeared well perfused on fluorescein angiography. Retrobulbar Doppler ultrasound confirmed a reduced blood flow velocity in the left central retinal artery. CONCLUSION In this case of incomplete and transient central retinal artery occlusion, the deep capillary plexus was poorly visible on optical coherence tomography angiography, which could be due to its elective hypoperfusion and explain the ischemic whitening of the inner nuclear layer, previously described as paramacular acute middle maculopathy. However, the reason why the deep capillary plexus is more sensitive to reduced blood flow in the central retinal artery is not fully understood. In a case of partial central retinal artery occlusion, optical coherence tomography angiography allowed showing elective poor perfusion of the retinal deep capillary plexus.

POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES UNDERGOING VITRECTOMY.

Purpose: To assess the rate of complete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in highly myopic eyes requiring vitreoretinal surgery based on intraoperative observations. Methods: Monocentric retrospective observational case series of consecutive highly myopic patients whose eyes underwent 25 G 3-port pars plana vitrectomy between 2009 and 2012. Patients were operated on for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, macular hole with retinal detachment, myopic foveoschisis, and myopic macular hole. Patient records were reviewed focusing on the intraoperative assessment of PVD which was assisted in most cases by a visualization agent. Results: Ninety-six eyes of 95 patients whose mean age was 62.15 ± 12.4 years (29–95) were included. Complete PVD was observed in 52.1% of eyes. The PVD rate varied depending on the disease (P < 0.0001). It was high in retinal detachment and epiretinal membrane (85 and 74.2%, respectively) and low in myopic foveoschisis and myopic macular hole (14.3 and 10%, respectively). Complete PVD was found in 42.9% of macular hole with retinal detachment. Conclusion: In highly myopic eyes, the rate of complete PVD varied widely depending on the vitreoretinal disease operated on. The posterior vitreous cortex was often detached from the retina in retinal detachment and epiretinal membrane but was most often attached in myopic foveoschisis and macular hole.

Size and vitreomacular attachment of primary full-thickness macular holes

Purpose To study the relationship between the size of primary full-thickness macular hole (MH) and the vitreomacular attachment status. Design Single-centre retrospective observational case series. Methods The records of 100 consecutive eyes operated for primary full-thickness MH were retrospectively reviewed. The vitreous status and MH diameter were assessed on the preoperative optical coherence tomography scans. MH were classified depending on the presence or absence of vitreomacular traction (VMT) and their size as small (<250 µm), medium (250–400 µm) and large (>400 µm), as suggested in the International VMT Study Group Classification. Results 22% of MH had VMT and 13% had both VMT and a diameter <400 µm. The MH diameter was not significantly different depending on the presence or absence of VMT (respectively, 339±134 and 423±191 µm (p=0.094)), with large overlap between groups. Small, medium and large MH were similarly distributed regardless of the presence or absence of VMT (p=0.69). Conclusions Our series of 100 MH did not reveal any significant relationship between the MH size and the presence or absence of VMT. Only 13% of MH had VMT and a diameter <400 mm, then were eligible for intravitreal ocriplasmin as a possible treatment.

Indocyanine-green-guided targeted laser photocoagulation of capillary macroaneurysms in macular oedema: a pilot study

Aims In longstanding diabetic macular oedema (DME) or retinal vein occlusion (RVO), capillary macroaneurysms may develop. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) has been shown to optimise their detection. Here, we report the anatomical and functional outcome of the elective photocoagulation of capillary macroaneurysms. Methods A retrospective, interventional, two-centre study. In eyes with chronic macular oedema and severe hard exsudates due to diabetic retinopathy or RVO, the presence of capillary macroaneurysms (defined by a diameter larger than 150 µm) was assessed by ICGA and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Capillary macroaneurysms were selectively photocoagulated, the presence of photothrombosis within the lumen being assessed by immediate OCT. Results Four eyes from three patients with DME and five eyes from five patients with RVO were included. The median duration of visual loss was 4 years. Median initial visual acuity (VA) was 20/200. The median number of capillary macroaneurysms per eye was 2 (range, 1–8) and their median size was 410 µm (range, 154–603). Six months after photocoagulation, there was a significant reduction in macular thickness (mean±SD, 528 µm±200 vs 271 µm±152, p<0.05) and improvement of VA (mean log MAR, 0.82 vs 0.58, p<0.05). Conclusions During macular oedema with severe hard exsudates due to DME or RVO, systematic detection of capillary macroaneurysms by ICGA followed by their OCT-controlled photocoagulation may be of interest. These results may contribute to re-evaluate the role of photocoagulation in the management of longstanding macular oedema.

Incidence of Macular Holes in the Fellow Eye without Vitreomacular Detachment at Baseline

Purpose: To determine the rate of macular holes (MH) occurring in the fellow eyes of eyes with MH depending on the vitreomacular interface at baseline. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients operated on for idiopathic MH, with persistent vitreofoveal attachment in the fellow eye assessed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Follow-up lasted 6 months or more, and the main outcome was the occurrence of an MH. Results: The 77 fellow eyes included had a mean follow-up of 34.11 ± 22.3 months (6–78.4). At baseline, 31 eyes had vitreomacular traction (VMT), 35 vitreomacular adhesion, and 11 no posterior vitreous detachment. MH occurred in 19.5% of the cases (15/77). The rate of MH was significantly higher among the eyes with VMT than among the eyes without VMT at baseline (35.5 vs. 8.7%; p = 0.009). Conclusion: One-third of eyes with VMT at baseline identified by SD-OCT will develop an MH in the following 5 years.

Measurement of full-thickness macular hole size using en face optical coherence tomography

PurposeTo assess the feasibility and interest of measuring macular hole (MH) size using en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) compared with manual diameter measurements on B-scans.MethodsAmong our previously published series of 100 patients operated for primary MH, patients whose images were acquired with Cirrus 5000 HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec) with a quality signal strength >5/10 were included. Three segmentations (internal limiting membrane, horizontal, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)) were compared for obtaining the most appropriate en face image. MH surface areas were measured using ImageJ software. Mean diameters calculated from surface areas (diameter=2 × √(surface area/π)) were compared with those measured on B-scans.ResultsNineteen patients were included with a mean age of 72±8 years (56–86) and a female predominance (3/16). The mean absolute difference between horizontal and vertical diameters measured on B-scans was of 54±47 μm (0–180) without reaching significance (P=0.874). RPE segmentation provided the best en face image and was feasible without and with adjustment, respectively, in 79% and 100% (cases with vitreomacular traction) of cases. No significant difference in mean diameters was observed between those calculated from en face images (435±143 μm (195–693)) and those measured on horizontal B-scans (426±139 μm (214–705), P=0.482).ConclusionMeasuring MH size on en face OCT images is feasible, reliable, and eliminates the potential bias related to manual measurements on B-scans. Its integration into OCT devices would offer an automated and easy-to-use option for clinical practice.