Francisco J. Muñoz-Negrete

Phacoemulsification in eyes with functioning filtering blebs: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) control in eyes with a previous functioning filtering bleb and no glaucoma medication. DESIGN Prospective, nonrandomized comparative (self-controlled) trial. PARTICIPANTS Forty-seven patients (49 eyes) who underwent phacoemulsification after successful trabeculectomy, with at least 12 months of follow-up. INTERVENTION Clear corneal phacoemulsification and implantation of a foldable intraocular lens in eyes that underwent a previous successful trabeculectomy. The time between both procedures was always greater than 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Preoperative and postoperative IOP, the number of glaucoma medications, bleb appearance, and visual acuity were recorded at each follow-up examination. Success was defined as no need for glaucoma medications, bleb needling, or further glaucoma surgery for IOP control after phacoemulsification. Preoperative and intraoperative factors were evaluated for an association with postoperative failure using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS The mean (+/- standard deviation) IOP before phacoemulsification was 12.24 (+/- 4.68) mmHg, and it increased 3.94, 3.76, 1.39, 2.04, and 1.57 mmHg on the first postoperative day, after 1, 6, and 12 months, and at the last visit, respectively. At each interval, the mean IOP was significantly higher than the preoperative value (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.049, 0.01, and 0.01, respectively). Nevertheless, the mean IOP after phacoemulsification was always lower than before trabeculectomy (P = 0.000). At the last visit, glaucoma medication was required in 17 eyes (34.7%). The success rates after phacoemulsification were 83.6%, 68.2%, and 55.7% at 6 months and 1 and 2 years, respectively (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis). The number of glaucoma medications used increased at all follow-up visits (P < 0.005). Bleb size decreased after phacoemulsification (P = 0.000). An IOP before phacoemulsification of greater than 10 mmHg was associated with postoperative failure (P = 0.002). Similarly, bleb failure and the need for glaucoma medication were associated with higher IOPs before phacoemulsification. CONCLUSIONS Phacoemulsification significantly increased IOP and the number of glaucoma medications in eyes with preexisting functioning filtering blebs. Eyes with higher IOPs before phacoemulsification had worsened postoperative IOP control and bleb failure.

Comparison of toric intraocular lenses and peripheral corneal relaxing incisions to treat astigmatism during cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and spherical IOL implantation with peripheral corneal relaxing incisions to manage astigmatism during phacoemulsification. SETTING: Ophthalmology Service, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. DESIGN: Prospective randomized comparative case series. METHODS: Eyes with cataract and corneal astigmatism (1.00 to 3.00 diopters [D]) had toric IOL implantation or peripheral corneal relaxing incisions. Outcome measures were visual outcomes, slitlamp assessment, digital toric IOL axis determination, spectacle need, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Three months postoperatively, the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.13 ± 0.10 (SD) in the toric IOL group and 0.19 ± 0.12 in the relaxing incisions group; the UDVA was better than 0.20 in 75% of eyes and 60% of eyes, respectively. Refractive cylinder decreased significantly in both groups, with a mean residual refractive astigmatism of 0.61 ± 0.41 D in the toric IOL group and 1.32 ± 0.60 D in the relaxing incisions group (P<.01). The mean toric IOL rotation was 3.65 ± 2.96 degrees, with no significant differences between slitlamp and digital photograph measurements. There was a trend toward better mesopic contrast sensitivity with glare in the toric IOL group. There were no differences in VF‐14 or patient satisfaction results; 15% of patients in the toric IOL group and 45% in the relaxing‐incision group required distance spectacles postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Although refractive astigmatism decreased in both groups, toric IOL implantation was more effective and predictable, resulting in greater spectacle independence. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Follow-up of mild papilledema in idiopathic intracranial hypertension with optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE To evaluate optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with mild papilledema associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. METHODS Patients with papilledema underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including peripapillary RNFL analysis with OCT (Fast RNFL thickness 3.46; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) at diagnosis and 3, 6, and 12 months after presentation. Age- and sex-matched control subjects underwent a similar evaluation. Changes in RNFL overall thickness and by quadrant and interocular differences were evaluated and studied regarding changes in visual field global indices (mean deviation [MD] and pattern SD [PSD]). RESULTS Both eyes of 22 patients with mild papilledema and 22 control subjects were included. At diagnosis, the RNFL thickness was 183.3 +/- 74.7 microm and 74.9% (78.5 microm) greater than in control eyes. Mean RNFL thicknesses in all quadrants were significantly greater in eyes with papilledema (P = 0.000). The mean average RNFL was significantly correlated with the MD (sigma = -0.451, P = 0.002) and PSD (sigma = 0.370, P = 0.013) at diagnosis. The RNFL thickness decreased significantly (P = 0.000), whereas the mean MD and the mean PSD improved (P = 0.000 and P = 0.005, respectively) at each follow-up visit. Regression analysis showed that for every 10 microm of mean RNFL thickness increase at baseline, there was a 0.6-dB decrease in MD at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Peripapillary RNFL thickness abnormalities assessed by OCT in patients with mild papilledema were quantitatively correlated with visual field sensitivity losses. The data support the possible use of OCT as a noninvasive quantitative method of monitoring the amount and evolution of papilledema.

Visual Field Index Rate and Event-Based Glaucoma Progression Analysis: Comparison in a Glaucoma Population

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare event-based glaucoma progression analysis (GPA) I with new GPA II software and pattern deviation-based trend analyses (visual field index [VFI]) to detect progression in a glaucoma population. Methods: This was a retrospective study that included 90 eyes of 90 patients with a minimum of five reliable visual field tests and a follow-up period of at least 2 years. Results: Event-based GPA II detected progression in 16.7% of eyes in which trend analysis VFI failed. GPA detected progression 6.8 months earlier than VFI. GPA I and II showed excellent agreement (k = 0.94). Agreement between VFI and mean deviation (MD) linear analysis and with GPA criteria was k = 0.52 and k = 0.48, respectively. Mean rates of progression of MD and VFI were −0.41 dB and −1.30% annually, respectively (rho = 0.824; p<0.0001). Using VFI, mean follow-up time was 6.12 and 4.89 years (p = 0.004) and the mean number of visual field tests was 7.33 and 6.01 (p = 0.023) in eyes with and without progression, respectively. Conclusions: Event-based software GPA I and II had excellent agreement. Event analysis showed earlier and greater sensitivity for detecting progression than VFI analysis and both had only moderate agreement. Trend analysis VFI is likely to detect progression in patients with a greater number of visual field tests and a longer follow-up time. The VFI analysis seems to be more accurate than MD analysis for determining rate of progression.

Late in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation requiring explantation: risk factors and outcomes

PurposeTo study the predisposing factors for late in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation and to analyze the outcomes after explantation surgery.MethodsIn this retrospective multicentre study, 61 eyes were enrolled. The main inclusion criterion was in-the-bag spontaneous IOL dislocation after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract extraction. Only eyes with serious dislocation that required IOL explantation were eligible. Follow-up after explantation surgery of at least 3 months was required. Exclusion criteria were complicated cataract surgery, out-of-the-bag IOL dislocation, and dislocations that occurred in the first year after the cataract surgery. The main outcome measures were predisposing factors for dislocation, interval between cataract surgery and dislocation, surgical treatment at the time of explantation, preoperative and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and postoperative complications.ResultsHigh myopia was detected in 12 cases (19.7%) and it was the main predisposing factor. Mean time interval from cataract surgery to dislocation was 7.5 (SD 5.2) years. The dislocated in-the-bag IOL was replaced with a scleral fixated IOL (36.1%), angle-supported anterior chamber IOL (31.1%), sulcus repositioning (18%), or posterior chamber iris sutured IOL (4.9%). Finally, 9.8% of the patients were left aphakic. Mean CDVA improved significantly after surgery (P=0.005). Final CDVA of 20/40 or better was achieved in 29 cases (47.5%).ConclusionsHigh myopia was the main risk factor for late in-the-bag IOL dislocation. Surgical treatment significantly improved the CDVA in our sample and was associated with a low complication rate.

OCT: New perspectives in neuro-ophthalmology

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become essential to evaluate axonal/neuronal integrity, to assess disease progression in the afferent visual pathway and to predict visual recovery after surgery in compressive optic neuropathies. Besides that OCT testing is considered a powerful biomarker of neurodegeneration and a promising outcome measure for neuroprotective trials in multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) technology allows quantification of retinal individual layers. The Ganglion Cell layer (GCL) investigation has become one of the most useful tools from a neuro-ophthalmic perspective. It has a high correlation with perimetry, is predictive of future progression and is a highly sensitive, specific of several neuro-ophthalmic pathologies. Moreover the superior correlation with clinical measures compared to peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) suggests that GCL analysis might be a better approach to examine MS neurodegeneration. In disorders with optic disk edema, such as ischemic optic neuropathy, papillitis and papilledema, reduction in RNFL thickness caused by axonal atrophy is difficult to distinguish from a swelling resolution. In this setting, and in buried optic nerve head drusen (ONHD), GCL analysis may provide more accurate information than RNFL analysis and it might be an early structural indicator of irreversible neuronal loss. Enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) provides in vivo detail of ONHD, allowing to evaluate and quantify the drusen dimensions. OCT is improving our knowledge in hereditary optic neuropathies. Furthermore, there is growing evidence about the role of OCT as an adjunctive biomarker of disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinsons disease.

Topical plus intracameral lidocaine versus retrobulbar anesthesia in phacotrabeculectomy : Prospective randomized study

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of topical and retrobulbar anesthesia for phacotrabeculectomy. Setting: Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. Methods: This prospective study comprised 60 patients (60 eyes) having phacotrabeculectomy surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups receiving topical anesthesia plus intracameral lidocaine 1% or retrobulbar anesthesia. Patients were asked to document the discomfort they experienced during the administration of the anesthetic agent, during surgery, and postoperatively using a numeric pain scale. Complications and surgical conditions were also evaluated. Results: The retrobulbar group reported significantly more discomfort during administration of the anesthetic agent than the topical group (P < .001). The topical group reported significantly more discomfort intraoperatively (P < .01). Eyelid squeezing and eyeball movement were more common in the topical group; however, neither was a problem to the surgeon. There was no difference in surgical conditions (P = .38) or the postoperative pain scores between the 2 groups (P = .06). One patient receiving topical anesthesia developed a suprachoroidal hemorrhage intraoperatively. Conclusions: Topical anesthesia supplemented with intracameral lidocaine was an effective alternative to retrobulbar anesthesia for phacotrabeculectomy. Although the degree of patient discomfort was significantly higher during surgery under topical anesthesia, the method avoids the pain and complications associated with a retrobulbar injection.

Comparative Diagnostic Accuracy of Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measures by Cirrus and Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Objective. To estimate sensitivity and specificity of several optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements for detecting retinal thickness changes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), such as macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness measured with Cirrus (OCT) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness measured with Cirrus and Spectralis OCT. Methods. Seventy patients (140 eyes) with RRMS and seventy matched healthy subjects underwent pRNFL and GCIPL thickness analysis using Cirrus OCT and pRNFL using Spectralis OCT. A prospective, cross-sectional evaluation of sensitivities and specificities was performed using latent class analysis due to the absence of a gold standard. Results. GCIPL measures had higher sensitivity and specificity than temporal pRNFL measures obtained with both OCT devices. Average GCIPL thickness was significantly more sensitive than temporal pRNFL by Cirrus (96.34% versus 58.41%) and minimum GCIPL thickness was significantly more sensitive than temporal pRNFL by Spectralis (96.41% versus 69.69%). Generalised estimating equation analysis revealed that age (P = 0.030), optic neuritis antecedent (P = 0.001), and disease duration (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with abnormal results in average GCIPL thickness. Conclusion. Average and minimum GCIPL measurements had significantly better sensitivity to detect retinal thickness changes in RRMS than temporal pRNFL thickness measured by Cirrus and Spectralis OCT, respectively.

Cup-to-disc ratio: agreement between slit-lamp indirect ophthalmoscopic estimation and stratus optical coherence tomography measurement

PurposeTo determine agreement between slit-lamp indirect ophthalmoscopy and Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) when assessing cup-to-disc ratios (CDRs).MethodsTwenty-five ocular hypertensive subjects and 56 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were included. Estimation of vertical (VCDR) and horizontal (HCDR) cup-to-disc ratio with slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy was made by three glaucoma specialists along with OCT scanning of optic nerve head. Agreement between OCT and specialists was measured by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland and Altmans scatterplots, and a regression coefficient of the average difference.ResultsThe mean VCDR and HCDR was significantly higher (P<0.001) with OCT than that estimated by the specialists, with the difference ranging from 0.08 to 0.11, and from 0.13 to 0.18, respectively, depending on the specialist. Difference was higher (P<0.001) for cuppings below 0.3, and looses significance for larger VCDR cuppings (above 0.7). ICC for VCDR was 0.87 among specialists, and ranges from 0.82 to 0.75 when comparing OCT and specialists. ICC for HCDR was 0.83 among specialists and 0.74 between OCT and specialists. When data were plotted according to the Bland–Altman method, as the cupping increased, the agreement also increased.ConclusionsThere is very good agreement among the specialists when estimating CDRs by stereoscopic slit-lamp biomicroscopy. OCT shows higher values than the specialists; the greatest differences occurred when assessing small CDRs and the differences diminished as the cupping increased. These two methods of measurement are not interchangeable, and the difference must be considered, especially in discs with smaller CDRs.

Phacoemulsification in previously vitrectomized patients: an analysis of the surgical results in 100 eyes as well as the factors contributing to the cataract formation.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of phacoemulsification with clear corneal incision in previously vitrectomized patients as well as factors affecting the development time and type of cataract occurring after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). METHODS The authors conducted a prospective study of 100 consecutive eyes of patients who developed a cataract after PPV. Three groups were established based on the underlying vitreoretinal pathology. The main outcome measurements were intraoperative and postoperative complications and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS The median interval between PPV and phacoemulsification was 11.5 months. Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy required phacoemulsification earlier (p=0.018). Posterior subcapsular cataracts developed more frequently in patients <50 years (73.7%, p=0.000) and affected those who underwent vitrectomy primarily for complicated retinal detachment (48.8%, p=0.046). Intraoperative complications included posterior capsular tears (4%), luxated nucleus into vitreous (2%), and zonular dialysis (5%). Postoperative complications were vitreous hemorrhage (6%), retinal redetachment (4%), pupillary synechiae (6%), ocular hypertension (4%), and Seidel phenomenon (3%). Posterior Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was required in 44% of eyes. BCVA was improved in 85% of cases at the end of follow-up (median, 15.5 months). Twenty-one patients with one functioning eye (61.9%) demonstrated visual improvement compared with 79 patients with bilateral vision (91.1%; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS The technique allows stable improvement in BCVA through long follow-ups. It is more risky than in nonvitrectomized eyes. The visual results after phacoemulsification in vitrectomized eyes seem to be limited by retinal comorbidity and surgical complications. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2006; 16: 52-9).