Giuseppe Lo Giudice

Carotenoids in Age-related maculopathy Italian study (CARMIS): Two-year results of a randomized study

Purpose The high concentration of carotenoids in the macula, plus evidence linking oxidative stress to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and carotenoids to antioxidation, generated the hypothesis that higher antioxidant intakes can prevent AMD. The aim of this study was to determine whether nutritional supplementation with a targeted nutritional supplement improves visual acuity and visual function in AMD. Methods In this multicenter, prospective open-label randomized study, 145 patients were randomly assigned to 2 different treatment groups. Interventions were lutein (10 mg), zeaxanthin (1 mg), astaxanthin (4 mg; AZYR SIFI, Catania, Italy), and antioxidants/vitamins supplementation formula or no dietary supplementation for 2 years. Primary outcome was mean changes in visual acuity (VA) at 12 and 24 months. Other measures included contrast sensitivity (CS) and National Eye Institute visual function questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) scores at 12 and 24 months. Results Patients in the treated group showed stabilization of VA with significantly (p=0.003) better VA scores (81.4±7.2) compared to the nontreated group (76.8±8.9) at 24-month follow-up. An improvement in CS (p=0.001) and final mean NEI VFQ-25 composite scores at 12 and 24 months higher in treated group compared to nontreated group were also shown (p<0.001). Conclusions Patients treated with lutein/zeaxanthin and astaxanthin together with other nutrients were more likely to report clinically meaningful stabilization/improvements in VA, CS, and visual function through 24 months compared with nontreated subjects. Further studies are needed with more patients and for longer periods of time.

Combination of Photodynamic Therapy and Intraocular Triamcinolone for Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Long-Term Chorioretinal Macular Atrophy

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) treatment combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs PDT alone for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. METHODS Prospective randomized study. Eighty-four patients were enrolled to receive PDT (n = 41) or IVT treatment followed by PDT (n = 43) within approximately a 7- to 15-day interval. All patients were naive to treatment. At baseline and each follow-up visit at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (VA), fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography were performed. Mean changes in VA and retreatment rate were considered as primary outcome indicators. Analysis of vascular choroidal changes documented by indocyanine green angiography and fundus autofluorescence measurements were also performed. RESULTS Mean VA increased at 1 month of follow-up but decreased progressively by the 24-month point in both groups (P = .74). The retreatment rate was significantly lower (P < .001) in the combined therapy group. Choroidal hypoperfusion/nonperfusion (P < .001) and areas with decreased/absent fundus autofluorescence within the PDT spot area were significantly greater with combined therapy (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Combination IVT treatment with PDT seemed to be more effective for managing neovascular age-related macular degeneration, but long-term analysis failed to demonstrate functional benefits.

Single-session photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal bevacizumab for retinal angiomatous proliferation.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of single-session photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) in the treatment of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) in age-related macular degeneration. Methods: In this pilot study, eight patients with RAP underwent indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)-guided single-session verteporfin PDT followed by intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) within a 0-day ± 1-day interval. All patients were naïve to treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography, ICGA, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed at baseline and at each follow-up visit. All patients received three consecutive monthly IVB injections; thereafter, retreatment with bevacizumab was performed in the case of worsening BCVA or a deterioration of angiographic or OCT findings. Results: All patients had 9 months of follow-up. Complete resolution of angiographic leakage was achieved in all eyes at 9 months. A significant improvement in the mean BCVA was observed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months after combined treatment (P = 0.004). Visual acuity improved in 62.5% and was stable in 37.5% of cases. No patients had a decrease in BCVA of three or more lines during follow-up. Mean central macular thickness was significantly reduced in all patients (P < 0.0001) as controlled at 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 9-month intervals from initial treatment. The mean number of injections for the 9 months were 3.2 ± 0.4. No ocular complications or systemic events developed. Conclusion: Sequenced combined treatment with single-session PDT and IVB injections may be useful in treating RAP, reducing or eliminating retinal edema, and improving or stabilizing visual acuity. Further investigations are warranted to outline the appropriate treatment paradigm for combination therapy.

Large-spot subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy for chronic serous macular detachment

Purpose: To report the effect of subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in treating serous detachment of the neurosensory retina secondary to chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CCSC). Methods: Seven eyes from five patients with CCSC, persistent serous detachment of the neurosensory retina and a clinical course of between 12 and 60 months were treated. All eyes received large-spot TTT guided by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Subthreshold TTT was performed using an 810 nm diode laser with a spot size of 3.0 mm (power was set at 350 mW). Treatment was applied for 60 seconds to the areas of choroidal hyperfluorescence on ICGA. Results: The mean number of TTT sessions was 1.4 ± 0.5. All eyes were followed up for at least 6 months (mean 9.6 ± 3.2 standard deviation; range 6–12 months). The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity was significantly better compared with baseline. All TTT-treated eyes had stable or improved vision (P < 0.001). Mean optical coherence tomography (OCT) central foveal thickness was significantly lower in all patients (P < 0.001) compared with pretreatment OCT, with a reduction in subretinal fluid and resolution of serous detachment associated with anatomical fovea restoration. No patient had any treatment-related side effects. Conclusion: Modified subthreshold TTT appears to have a beneficial effect in treating patients with CCSC and persistent neurosensory detachment. The encouraging results and lack of visually significant complications suggest that further investigation is warranted.

Intravitreal ranibizumab for naive extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab on extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Eighteen eyes affected by extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration were prospectively enrolled in this study. After an initial intravitreal ranibizumab, all patients were reevaluated monthly over 12 months of follow-up. Further retreatments were performed on a pro re nata basis, depending on detection of any type of fluid on optical coherence tomography and/or the presence of leakage on fluorescein angiography. Primary outcome measures were mean changes in best-corrected visual acuity and the proportion of eyes gaining at least 15 letters (3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] lines) at the end of the follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were central macular thickness variations and changes in choroidal neovascularization size. Results: Mean best-corrected visual acuity presented a significant improvement during the follow-up period, being 0.3 ± 0.2 logMAR at baseline and 0.2 ± 0.2 logMAR at the 12-month examination (P < 0.001). An improvement of at least 3 EDTRS lines was achieved by 6 eyes (33.3%), whereas 6 patients (33.3%) gained 1 to 2 lines. The mean central macular thickness at baseline was 314 ± 87 &mgr;m, changing to 268 ± 65 &mgr;m at the 12-month examination (P = 0.003). The mean lesion size was 1.4 ± 1.4 mm2 and remained stable throughout the follow-up, being 1.8 ± 2.9 mm2 at 12 months (P = 0.64). Conclusion: Intravitreal ranibizumab administered after a pro re nata regimen with monthly evaluation is a beneficial approach for the management of extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration over 12 months of follow-up. Further studies are warranted to confirm our preliminary results.

Outcomes of 195 consecutive patients undergoing 2-port pars plana vitrectomy with slit-lamp illumination system for posterior segment disease: a retrospective study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 2-port 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with a slit-lamp illumination system in different vitreoretinal pathologies. Design: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series. Methods: One hundred and ninety-five consecutive eyes of 195 patients underwent 20-gauge 2-port pars plana vitrectomy with a combination of slit-lamp illumination and a plano-concave contact lens, at the San Paolo Ophthalmology Center, from September 2005 through November 2007. Postoperative visual acuity at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months; intraoperative and postoperative complication rate; and surgical time were evaluated. Results: All patients completed 6 months of follow-up. The mean overall visual acuity was 0.74 ± 0.03 (mean ± SD) at baseline, improving to 0.56 ± 0.03 (P < 0.0001), 0.48 ± 0.03 (P < 0.0001), and 0.43 ± 0.03 (P < 0.0001) at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative complications included retinal detachment in three patients, epiretinal membrane recurrence in three eyes, persistent macular hole in four eyes, and phthisis in one eye. Cataract formation was observed in 25 eyes. The total mean surgical time was 28.3 ± 10.1 minutes. No one had hypotony after the surgical procedure, and no cases of endophthalmitis were observed. Conversion to standard three-port vitrectomy was not necessary in any of the cases. Conclusion: Two-port 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with slit-lamp illumination is a safe and effective procedure for posterior segment surgeries.

RETINAL ABNORMALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH A MUTATION OF THE NUCLEOTIDE 683 IN VON HIPPEL-LINDAU DISEASE

Abstract Background: von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a hereditary cancer syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk of developing tumors in multiple organs, including eyes, cerebellum, spinal cord, kidneys, inner ear, adrenal glands and pancreas. Methods: We performed a fundus examination and fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in both eyes of a young woman affected by VHL with bilateral pheochromocytoma, retinal angioma, retinal microaneurysms and unusual alterations of the deep retinal layers. A molecular analysis of the VHL gene was carried out. Results: Ophthalmoscopy disclosed in her right eye a small retinal hemangioma, some microaneurysms in both eyes at the posterior pole and multiple, small, whitish, dome-shaped lesions scattered in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the posterior retina. Fluorescein angiograms revealed in the early phase multiple hyperfluorescent spots that showed progressive discoloration in the late phase of angiography. Some of these spots were ophthalmoscopically undetectable. The late phase of ICG angiography showed some small hyperfluorescent points located at the level of the RPE, and some of them corresponded to the hyperfluorescent spots seen on fluorescein angiography. The molecular analysis revealed the presence of a „missense” mutation of the VHL gene at nucleotide 683. Conclusions: Alterations in the RPE have never been observed in the VHL syndrome. We describe an unusual case of VHL with a capillary hemangioma associated to diffuse alterations with the RPE of the posterior retina. The possibility exists that these lesions form part of the eye modifications in VHL.

Optical coherence tomography angiography of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma treated with photodynamic therapy

We describe features of a circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) by means of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). A 40-year-old man had a complaint of decreasing visual acuity in his left eye for 10 days. A diagnosis of CCH was confirmed by fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. An OCT-A study of choroidal lesion before and after PDT was carried out. Segmented en face OCT-A of CCH showed multiple irregular connected vascular channels with hyperflow and a capillary-like lesion. Absent and/or reduced intrachannel flow in most of the intratumoral vessels was shown by OCT-A soon after treatment (2 days), with normalization of vascular flow 7 days and 1 month after PDT. OCT-A was able to noninvasively visualize intrinsic vasculature of CCH showing vascular remodeling after PDT.

Retinal epithelitis as ocular side effects of oral biphosphonates

Alendronate is a new bisphosphonate, primarily used for the treatment of osteoporosis and several other bone diseases. Herein we report a case of a patient showing an acute retinal pigment epithelitis (ARPE) following oral administration of alendronate due to osteoprosis. A 50-year old female referred to our observation complaining visual blurring and metamorphopsia in her left eye. She did not report ocular impairment in the past. Her clinical history was unremarkable for any systemic disease except she had being suffering for osteoporis for 6 months treated by means administration of oral alendronate. Her visual acuity was 20/40 OS and 20/20 OD respectively. There was no vitritis or anterior uveitis. At fundus examination subtle clumps of hyperpigmentation surrounded by a paler halo of hypopigmentation around macula of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were shown in OS. In the right eye ophthalmoscopy showed some cluster of irregular pigmentation above the fovea associated with slight hypopigmentation surrounding the clump. Fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed an irregular patchy area of early hypofluorescence, surrounded by hyperfluorescence, while fading in the late phase (Figure 1A). Earlyphase and midphase indocyanine green angiography (ICG) showed a patchy macular hypofluorescence in both eyes (Figures 1B and 1C). Similar disseminated spots of hypofluorescence were shown at the periphery nasally to the optic disk; hypofluorescent halo with a petaloid like appearance of the macular area was observed in OS on late ICG. Patient discontinued treatment with alendronate. She underwent weekly ocular examination up to 4 weeks. Her symptoms improved in OS with VA of 20/20 in 1 week after discontinuation. FA and ICG revealed some patched areas of irregular hypofluorescence surrounding the old spots due to filling defect of choroidal vessels and characterized by late staining of dye on FA and no leakage (Figures 2A and 2B). Hypofluorescent areas were shown on both intermediate and late ICG phases with reducing size compared to the acute phases in the same areas.

Partial-thickness corneal tissue restoration after a chemical burn.

Purpose We describe a case of full-thickness corneal restoration after an acute corneal burn with an acid agent. Methods A 32-year-old male reported painful discomfort, redness, photophobia, and a decrease in visual acuity in the left eye after a unilateral burn with an acid agent. Slit-lamp examination revealed massive corneal melting involving necrotic sequestrum of the entire corneal surface. Surgical approach was carried out in order to preserve residual ocular tissues. Results Extensive corneal–conjunctival layer curettage of the necrotic tissue was performed showing perfectly clear undamaged deep lamellar corneal layers. The patient underwent multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation and total capsular–conjunctival flap in order to preserve ocular tissue from further melting or corneal perforation. A complete and spontaneous “restitutio ad integrum” of the corneal layers was shown during the follow-up. The cornea was perfectly clear with restored normal anatomical architecture. Conclusion In this case, a spontaneous full-thickness corneal tissue restoration occurred after an acute chemical burn. Studies about the mechanisms whereby different cells interact and replicate within the stroma may unveil the biology behind corneal regeneration and transparency.