Gracner T

Die Vorhersagefaktoren einer erfolgreichen selektiven Lasertrabekuloplastik bei Offenwinkelglaukom

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine factors that predict successful selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG). PATIENTS AND METHODS In 122 eyes suffering from OAG, treatment was carried out with a frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before the treatment and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78 and 84 months thereafter. Success was defined as an IOP reduction exceeding 20 % of the pretreatment IOP. Correlations between successful SLT and baseline IOP, age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, family history of glaucoma, previous anterior segment surgery, the grade of trabecular meshwork pigmentation, laser energy used, and local antiglaucoma therapy were determined. RESULTS The mean follow-up time was 43.4 months (SD: 25.6). The mean pretreatment IOP was 22.5 mmHg (SD: 2.8). The success rate after 12 months determined from the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was 88 %, after 24 months 79 %, after 36 months 67 %, after 48 months 58 %, after 60 months 49 % and after 84 months 48 %. We found statistically significant negative correlation betweens successful SLT and the grade of trabecular meshwork pigmentation (r = -0.234; p = 0.01), diabetes mellitus (r = -0.223; p = 0.014). We found no statistically significant correlations between successful SLT and baseline IOP, age, sex, hypertension, family history of glaucoma, previous anterior segment surgery, laser energy used, local antiglaucoma therapy. CONCLUSION SLT success in OAG with a mean follow-up time of 43.4 months was significantly predicted by the lower grade of trabecular meshwork pigmentation and the absence of diabetes mellitus.

Optical coherence tomography findings in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND The aim of the present prospective study was to compare retinal thickness between normal healthy subjects and chronic renal failure patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis (HD) as well as to determine whether there was any correlation between age and duration of HD treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 24 eyes of 12 HD patients and 32 eyes of 16 controls underwent optical coherence tomographic scanning (OCT) in the central disc of 6000 mum in diameter. RESULTS The mean retinal thickness was measured in the inner temporal, superior, nasal and inferior quadrants. There was a highly significant difference in the inner quadrants between controls and HD patients (p < 0.005). The mean retinal thickness was also measured in all outer quadrants. The differences between HD patients and controls were highly significant (p < 0.005). The average reduction in retinal thickness in HD patients compared to the controls in the inner quadrants was 7.9% or 22 microm (279.0 in controls, 257.0 in HD patients) and 7.3% or 17.7 microm in the outer quadrants (244.5 in controls, 226.8 in HD patients). The average reduction in all quadrants was 7.7% or 20.1 microm (262 in controls, 241.9 in HD patients). The differences between HD patients and controls were highly significant in all quadrants (p < 0.001). No differences in foveal thickness between controls and HD patients were found. The reduction of retinal thickness was correlated with the age of HD patients, but not with the duration of HD treatment. CONCLUSION OCT revealed a significant reduction of retinal thickness in HD patients. The reduction was significant in all quadrants and was correlated to the age of HD patients. No differences in foveal retinal thickness were found.

Augensymptome als Initialzeichen von Wegener-Granulomatose

OBJECTIVE Wegeners granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic, necrotising, granulomatous vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Ocular involvement is present in up to 60 %. The aim of our study was firstly to evaluate the presence of ophthalmic manifestations as the first sign of WG in patients without obvious systemic manifestations of WG, and secondly to evaluate the clinical manifestation of ocular symptoms as the initial signs of WG. METHODS The medical records of all patients with a diagnosis of WG examined at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology during the 5-year period from January 2003 to January 2008 were reviewed. Initial manifestation of WG, initial ocular presentation, biopsy results, laboratory testing results, treatment and the final outcome were determined. Only patients in whom WG was not diagnosed at the time of the ocular symptoms were included in the study. RESULTS Fifteen patients diagnosed with WG were identified. Six patients (40 %) developed no ocular symptoms before and after WG was diagnosed. Two patients (13.3 %) had a systemic disease first and subsequently developed ocular symptoms. Seven patients (46.7 %) had ocular symptoms as the first signs of WG (necrotising sclerokeratitis in two patients, peripheral ulcerative keratitis in two patients, non-granulomatous uveitis in one patient, anterior necrotising sclerokeratitis and nodular posterior scleritis with serous retinal detachment in one patient, severe retinal and chorioidal vascular occlusions with ischaemic optic disc neuropathy and complete visual loss in one patient). CONCLUSIONS In nearly 50 % of patients with WG, ocular symptoms were observed as the initial signs before WG was diagnosed. The initial symptoms may be obscure and may vary from one patient to another. Knowledge of the ocular initial symptoms of WG is very important and can contribute to a better prognosis and prevention of visual loss.

Der überraschende Fund und die Entfernung eines riesigen Kunststoff-Fremdkörpers durch die Hornhautwunde aus dem Glaskörperraum mit gutem Endergebnis

Background: Presented is a patient whose history showed that during a hammer-blow on a piece of iron something had flown into his left eye. Clinical investigation revealed a 9-mm long, horizontal, paracentrally located, penetrating corneal wound. Temporally in the same region the iris was torn in its entire width. The lens appeared opaque and seemed to be cut in two parts. Radiological investigation revealed no foreign body. Methods: The operative treatment presented a surprise: the white piece, which had been considered to be a part of the traumatic cataract, was actually the edge of a large plastic foreign body lying in the vitreous cavity. The exciting and complicated procedure of removing this 12 × 9 × 2 mm large foreign body through the corneal wound as well as the reconstruction of the anterior segment of the eye are demonstrated. Results: Seven months after the injury the corneal wound is very tender, the corneal sutures have not been removed, and the retina of the aphakic eye is undamaged. Visual acuity with a contact lens is 0.6 - 0.7. Conclusions: Operative treatment of patients with a penetrating eye injury is always demanding and difficult and requires a lot of experience. Particularly in apparently hopeless cases, an optimum primary care is of greatest importance.