Gianluigi Bolognesi

Vessel density analysis in patients with retinitis pigmentosa by means of optical coherence tomography angiography

Aims To describe the vascular abnormalities in patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods Cross-sectional case series; patients with RP presenting at the Medical Retina Service of the Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan were recruited. Inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of RP, clear ocular media, adequate pupillary dilation, and stable fixation. Patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), biomicroscopy, short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-FAF), and 3×3 Swept Source OCT-A. 30 healthy subjects were chosen as controls. The main outcome was identification of abnormalities in density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), along with abnormalities of the choriocapillaris (CC). Results 16 patients (32 eyes) were recruited (6 females, 37.4%). Mean age was 53±18 years; mean BCVA was 0.5±0.3 LogMAR. Vessel density analysis disclosed a statistical significant difference in the SCP (29.5±6.8 vs 34.1±4.3; p=0.009) and in the DCP (28.7±7.5 vs 35.5±5.7; p=0.001) between the patients and the controls. No difference was found at the level of the CC (51±4.4 vs 51.3±2.2; p=0.716). RP patients showed a bigger foveal avascular zone at the DCP level compared to controls (p<0.001). Conclusions This study showed that most of the vascular impairment in patients affected by RP localised in the DCP, with relative sparing of the SCP and CC. DCP alterations were more pronounced outside the hyper-autofluorescent ring on SW-FAF. Vascular impairment may preclude good treatment outcomes in RP patients.

ICGA-GUIDED LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION OF OCCULT CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)‐guided laser photocoagulation in eyes with fluorescein angiographic evidence of occult choroidal neovascularization (O‐CNV) in patients with age‐related macular degeneration (ARMD) with or without pigment epithelium detachment (PED). Methods: Eighty eyes of 79 consecutive patients with O‐CNV underwent laser treatment of a clearly outlined extrafoveal ICGA hyperfluorescent area, presumed to be focal CNV. Four types of presumed CNV were treated: Group 1 (20 eyes), CNV beneath the PED; Group 2 (23 eyes), CNV at the margin of the PED; Group 3 (10 eyes), parapapillary CNV and PED; and Group 4 (27 eyes), macular CNV without PED. Median follow‐up was 17.5 months (range, 6‐24 months). Results: After 1 year, 15% of the eyes in Group 1, 30% in Group 2, 100% in Group 3, and 52% in Group 4 had obliteration of the presumed CNV. After 1 year, visual acuity was stable or improved in 18% of Group 1, in 37.5% of Group 2, in 100% of Group 3, and in 73% of Group 4. The remaining eyes worsened. Conclusions: Indocyanine green angiography‐guided laser treatment may improve or stabilize visual acuity in some eyes with O‐CNV. The best outcome is seen in eyes with presumed parapapillary CNV, probably made up of choroidal telangiectases in many cases. The type and location of the presumed CNV influence prognosis after laser treatment considerably. A randomized, controlled clinical study appears necessary to investigate the efficacy of ICGA‐guided laser treatment in different types of presumed CNV. The inclusion criteria for further trials need to be defined with precision, as data from patients with different choroidal vascular abnormalities have been pooled until now.

Vascular abnormalities in patients with Stargardt disease assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography

Aims To describe the vascular abnormalities in patients affected by Stargardt disease (STGD1) by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods Cross-sectional case series, with the following inclusion criteria: diagnosis of STGD1, clear ocular media, and stable fixation. Patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-FAF) (HRA Heidelberg, Germany), 3×3 Swept Source OCT-A (Topcon Corporation, Japan). Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area was manually outlined and removed from the vessel density analysis (ImageJ). Main outcome was vessel density assessment in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), in the deep capillary plexus (DCP), and in the choriocapillaris (CC) of patients with STGD1. Results Nineteen patients (36 eyes) were recruited for the study (10 females, 52.6%). Mean age was 33±5.7 years and mean BCVA was 0.6±0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. Thirty-six healthy age-matched subjects (one eye for each patient) acted as a control group. Qualitative analysis of OCT-A revealed areas of reduced vascular density in superficial and DCPs. CC showed focal defects partially corresponding to the flecks on SW-FAF imaging. Quantitative analysis of OCT-A disclosed a statistically significant difference in the density of the SCP (0.302±0.062 vs 0.365±0.042; p=0.0002) and the DCP (0.303±0.081 vs 0.399±0.045; p<0.001) compared with controls. To analyse CC, patients with STGD1 were divided into two groups, according to the presence of chorioretinal atrophy. Patients with atrophy showed significantly lower CC density compared with controls (p=0.0003) and patients without atrophy (p=0.001). Patients with STGD1 showed a larger FAZ at the SCP level compared with controls (p=0.012). Conclusions Vascular impairment in patients affected by STGD1 is concentrated in superficial and the deep retinal plexuses. Patients with atrophic changes have a greater reduction in CC density compared with controls (‘dark atrophy’). Morphological vascular evaluation may become an important step for predicting STGD1 treatment outcomes.

Sedative effect of acupuncture during cataract surgery Prospective randomized double-blind study

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing anxiety in patients having cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. SETTING: Vita‐Salute University of Milan and IRCCS H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. METHODS: In a prospective randomized double‐blind controlled trial, anxiety levels before and after cataract surgery in 3 groups (A = no acupuncture, B = true acupuncture starting 20 minutes before surgery, C = sham acupuncture starting 20 minutes before surgery) were compared using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Twenty‐five patients scheduled for inpatient phacoemulsification were enrolled in each group. All surgeries were performed using topical anesthesia. Exclusion criteria were refusal to provide informed consent, use of drugs with sedative properties, psychiatric disease, pregnancy, knowledge of the principles of acupuncture, anatomic alterations, or cutaneous infections precluding acupuncture at the selected acupoints. RESULTS: Preoperative anxiety levels were significantly lower only in Group B (P = .001). Anxiety in Group B was significantly lower than in Group A (P = .001) and Group C (P = .037). Regarding postoperative anxiety, the mean VAS score was 39 ± 5 in Group A, 19 ± 3 in Group B, and 31 ± 4 in Group C. The difference was significant only between Group A and Group B (P = .003). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture was effective in reducing anxiety related to cataract surgery under topical anesthesia.

Accidental injection of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the crystalline lens

new onset CMO (10%). The proportion of relapses treated with systemic steroids significantly reduced from 70% prediabetes to 56% postdiabetes diagnosis. Adding local steroid injection while on systemic steroids increased from 4% to 15% (p = 0.003, chi-square test). No significant difference was observed in the uveitis relapse treatment success preversus postdiabetes diagnosis (Table 1). Of the 96 eyes with uveitis and DM, one eye developed a clinically significant macular oedema after 3 years and required grid laser treatment, while seven eyes of six patients (7.3%) developed non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which occurred at a median of six (range, 2–11) years. While one previous study explored the visual outcome of 36 patients with diabetes who later developed uveitis (Oswal et al. 2013), our study further explores the synergistic effect of uveitis and diabetes by examining the effect of newly diagnosed diabetes on the eyes with uveitis and the effect of diabetes on uveitis treatment strategies. In conclusion, the concurrent diagnosis of DM in uveitis patients is associated with a significant reduction in visual acuity within the first 2 years. More uveitis relapses were treated with local steroid injection rather than increasing systemic corticosteroid dose, without affecting the ability to control uveitis relapses. It is important to optimize treatment protocols for DM and uveitis when occur concurrently.

Indocyanine green angiography in age-related macular degeneration with occult neovascularization

This study has been conducted to assess the sensitivity of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) with occult CNV at fluorescein angiography (FA) and to establish their eligibility for laser photocoagulation. Three hundred eighty-three eyes of 355 consecutive patients with occult CNV at FA were studied by ICGA; occult CNV with or without pigment epithelial detachment (PED) were detected as well. Eligibility for laser treatment was established on the basis of the ICGA-guided CNV extension and localization. Out of 157 eyes (41%) with occult CNV and PED, 74 (47.1%) showed focal ICGA CNV, 35 eyes (22.3%) had plaque CNV. Thirty-five eyes with PED (22.3%) appeared serous without CNV, and in 13 eyes (8.3%) no CNV was detectable because of large hemorrhages. Out of the 226 eyes (59%) presenting occult CNV without PED, 94 eyes (41.6%) had plaque CNV, and 58 (25.7%) had focal CNV. In 74 eyes (32.7%), there was no detectable CNV or only an ill-defined ICGA appearance. ARMD with PED is closely associated with focal CNV, while plaque CNV is largely found in exudative ARMD without PED (p < 0.001). Considering all the cases examined by ICGA, CNV was evident in 261 eyes (68%) occult at FA. Extrafoveal CNV laser treatment was recommended for 103 eyes (27%). Our results suggest that ICGA may be useful in the diagnosis and management of ARMD with occult CNV at FA increasing the number of patients eligible for laser treatment.

Near-infrared fundus autofluorescence in multiple evanescent white-dot syndrome

Purpose To report the near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIR-FAF) pattern in 2 cases of multiple evanescent white-dot syndrome (MEWDS). Methods Three consecutive patients with MEWDS underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including color photograph, blue-light fundus autofluorescence, NIR-FAF, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Main outcome measure was the identification of NIR-FAF pattern. Results Fluorescein angiography showed patchy hyperfluorescence of the whitish dots. Indocyanine green angiography showed hypofluorescent spots throughout the examination. Blue-light fundus autofluorescence disclosed a speckled pattern without extension to the foveal area, whereas NIR-AF showed several hypoautofluorescent lesions involving also the fovea, which corresponded to the whitish dots visible on biomicroscopy and to the hypofluorescent lesions detectable on ICGA. Conclusions Near-infrared fundus autofluorescence is characterized by hypoautofluorescent spots corresponding to the inflammatory lesions typical of MEWDS and can be considered as a valuable noninvasive technique to diagnose and monitor patients with MEWDS.

Optical coherence tomography in Best vitelliform macular dystrophy

Purpose To analyze spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-specific findings in the different stages of vitelliform macular dystrophy (VMD). Methods Thirty-seven patients were prospectively recruited. All the patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), biomicroscopy, and SD-OCT. The examined findings were vitelliform material, neurosensory detachment, intraretinal hyperreflective foci, and the status of external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone, and retinal pigment epithelium. The primary outcome was the stratification of SD-OCT findings in each VMD stage. Secondary outcomes included the description of different characteristics related to intraretinal hyperreflective foci. Results Outer retinal layers were preserved almost exclusively in stage 1 (range 70%-100%), whereas their disruption and absence were typical of stages 2 to 4 (83%-100%) and stage 5 (67%-83%), respectively. Vitelliform material was found always in stages 2 and 3, 89% of stage 4, and rarely in stage 5 (33%). Neurosensory detachment was to some extent representative of stages 3 and 4 (80% and 72%, respectively) when compared with the other stages (p<0.001). Hyperreflective foci (16% of all eyes) demonstrated a progressive increase across stages 2 to 4, with slightly reduced figure in stage 5. These foci were located in the outer nuclear and plexiform layers, showed different sizes, and were not associated with a visual acuity reduction (p = 0.64). Conclusions A progressive deterioration of the outer retinal layers was noticeable in more advanced stages of VMD. The reduction of vitelliform material from stage 3 to 4 was paralleled by an increased evidence of neurosensory detachment. Although showing different size and location, hyperreflective foci did not correlate with worse BCVA.

Indocyanine green angiography follow-up of plaque choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

In 1992 Yannuzzi and coworkers published the first report on digital indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), used to investigate occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV)1. That report identified a new ICGA pattern of CNV, referred to as plaque CNV. Four years later, there is still very little information about the natural course of plaque CNV, so this study was designed to cast some light on the question.

Indocyanine green angiography in the juvenile haemorrhagic choroidopathy

Juvenile haemorrhagic choroidopathy (JHC) is an idiopathic syndrome marked by macular choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients under the age of 50. We used fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) to examine 17 patients with macular CNV and JHC. CNV was always unilateral. On ICGA examination the CNV were weakly fluorescent in 59% of cases, hyperfluorescent in the remaining 41%.ICGA showed up the following alterations: a) areas with diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence at the posterior pole or in the peripapillary region in 11 affected eyes (65%), in the fellow eye too in 5 patients; b) areas of choroidal hypofluorescence at the posterior pole but also outside the vascular arcades in 2 affected eyes (12%).In conclusion, ICGA does not appear indispensable for detecting CNV in JHC but this method does show up diffuse choroidal alterations not detectable with FA. The pathogenetic implications of the ICGA findings are discussed.