Jiwoong Lee

Outcomes of idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane removal with and without internal limiting membrane peeling: a comparative study.

PurposeTo compare visual acuity and macular morphology after epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal with and without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.MethodsWe studied a retrospective interventional case series of 40 eyes in 40 patients with ERM. All patients underwent standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy. In 19 eyes, the ERM alone was removed. In 21 eyes, the ERM was removed and ILM peeling was performed.ResultsMean best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in both the non-ILM peeling and the ILM peeling groups (P = 0.001, P = 0.000). Mean central macular thickness (CMT) decreased significantly in both groups (P = 0.001, P = 0.001). However, there was a significant difference in postoperative CMT between the two groups (P = 0.025). The mean postoperative CMT was significantly higher in the ILM peeling group than in the non-ILM peeling group. Sixteen eyes (84.2%) in the non-ILM peeling group had a normal foveal contour with a foveal depression on postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT), while nine eyes (42.9%) in the ILM peeling group had a foveal depression (P = 0.01).ConclusionsPostoperative OCT revealed that thickening of the macula with loss of the normal foveal contour was more frequent in the ILM peeling group. However, these morphological differences did not result in functional differences in terms of visual outcome.

In Vivo Corneal Endothelial Safety of Intracameral Bevacizumab and Effect in Neovascular Glaucoma Combined With Ahmed Valve Implantation

PurposeTo evaluate the corneal toxicity of intracameral bevacizumab in rabbit eyes and also the effects of intracameral bevacizumab in neovascular glaucoma patients combined with Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. Materials and MethodsIntracameral bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) was injected into 5 eyes of 5 New Zealand white rabbits. A balanced salt solution (0.05 mL) was injected intracamerally in another 5 rabbits as a control. The corneal thickness, endothelial cell counts, and intraocular pressure were measured before and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the intracameral injection of bevacizumab and a balanced salt solution. Scanning electron microscopic examinations were performed at 1 and 4 weeks after injection. In the clinical cases, 6 patients who received an intracameral injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg) and Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation were enrolled. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and regression of iris rubeosis by iris fluorescein angiography were recorded before and at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after the intracameral bevacizumab injection and Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. ResultsNo morphologic and functional changes in the corneal endothelial cells were observed in the rabbit eyes after the intracameral bevacizumab and balanced salt solution injections. Iris rubeosis regression was observed in all eyes within 1 week after the injection. The visual acuity remained stable or improved, and the intraocular pressure was controlled in all eyes throughout the follow-up period. There were no ocular and systemic complications associated with the combined procedure. ConclusionsAn intracameral injection of bevacizumab may be a safe alternative treatment for iris rubeosis in neovascular glaucoma when combined with Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation.

A Case of Primary Intraocular Lymphoma Treated by Intravitreal Methotrexate

A 40-year-old female visited our clinic for visual disturbance of the right eye, in which a few creamy-yellow retinal lesions and visual field constrictions were noted. She had been treated for primary CNS lymphoma and was in complete remission. After failure to follow-up for three months, she lost vision in the right eye, at which time active panuveitis was seen. Decreased vision and field constriction was observed in the left eye. Her left eye showed a granular pattern and dye leakage from the vessels and disc on fluorescein angiography and small RPE humps were seen in optical coherence tomography (OCT). Diffuse large malignant B-cells with strong immunoreactivities with CD20 immunostaining were seen in the epiretinal membrane biopsy specimen. Intravitreal injections of methotrexate (MTX) (800 µg/0.1 ml in the right eye, 400 µg/0.05 ml in the left eye) were performed twice weekly for one month, once weekly for the following month, once every two weeks for the next month, followed by nine monthly injections. Both eyes were free from malignant cells on vitreous biopsy six months later. There was no leakage seen by angiography, but the granular pattern persisted. Visual field constriction was slightly improved, and the small RPE humpsdetachments seen in OCT disappeared. EOG Arden ratio was decreased in both eyes, and b wave amplitude of scotopic ERG was decreased in the left eye. She was free from recurrence until six months later. No ocular complications except minimal opacity of the crystalline lenses were noted in both eyes.

A Case of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection for the Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularization in Angioid Streaks

A 56-year-old Korean woman presented with decreased visual acuity of the right eye. She had a history of two photodynamic therapy treatments for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to angioid streaks in her left eye with central scarring and low visual acuity. She was diagnosed with subfoveal CNV due to angioid streaks in her right eye and treated with six intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg / 0.05 mL) injections over one year. Best corrected visual acuity improved from 20 / 125 at baseline to 20 / 50 at the final visit. The area of CNV had changed into a fibrotic scar by the final visit, and fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography revealed no evidence of leakage. Optical coherence tomography showed that central macular thickness decreased from 311 µm at baseline to 203 µm with complete resolution of subretinal and intraretinal fluid at the final visit. Intravitreal bevacizumab for CNV associated with angioid streaks prevented the progression of disease and resulted in the improvement of visual acuity after one year of follow-up in our patient.

Relationship between corneal biomechanical properties and structural biomarkers in patients with normal-tension glaucoma: a retrospective study

BackgroundWe evaluated the relationships between corneal biomechanical properties and structural parameters in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).MethodsAll subjects were evaluated using an Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) measuring corneal hysteresis (CH) and the corneal resistance factor (CRF). Central corneal thickness (CCT), Goldmann applanation tonometric (GAT) data, axial length, and the spherical equivalent (SE), were also measured. Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy was performed with the aid of a Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT III). We sought correlations between HRT parameters and different variables including CCT, CH, and the CRF. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify significant associations between corneal biomechanical properties and optic nerve head parameters.ResultsWe enrolled 95 eyes of 95 NTG patients and 93 eyes of 93 normal subjects. CH and the CRF were significantly lower in more advanced glaucomatous eyes (P = 0.001, P = 0.008, respectively). The rim area, rim volume, linear cup-to-disc ratio (LCDR), and mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were significantly worse in more advanced glaucomatous eyes (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.001). CH was directly associated with rim area, rim volume, and mean RNFL thickness (P = 0.012, P = 0.028, and P = 0.043) and inversely associated with LCDR (P = 0.015), after adjusting for age, axial length, CCT, disc area, GAT data, and SE. However, in normal subjects, there were no significant associations between corneal biomechanical properties and HRT parameters.ConclusionsA lower CH is significantly associated with a smaller rim area and volume, a thinner RNFL, and a larger LCDR, independent of disc size, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and age.

A case of transient myopia after blunt eye trauma

The patient developed bilateral functional disturbance in the retina. Ophthalmoscopically no fundus abnormality was detected, but the swift work-up with mfERG and pattern reversal VEP revealed that the pathognomonic site was localized in the retina. Ocular ischemia, such as chorioretinal circulatory failure and ischemic optic neuropathy, has been reported to occur in association with pregnancy, delivery, and hemorrhagic shock following either injury or surgery. Although it has been reported that hypertension associated with toxemia of pregnancy can lead to retinal circulation disorders, it is conceivable that ocular ischemia induced by hemorrhagic shock was the main cause in this case because the symptoms were detected right at the end of the operation. The reversible visual fi eld disturbance, suggesting choroid circulation failure more than retinal circulation, but additional examinations such as indocyanine green angiography or electrooculography were needed for the differential diagnosis. Fundus angiography could not be performed; instead, we collected corroborative evidence by mfERG. Interestingly, the clinical fi ndings were similar to those of acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement (AIBSE) syndrome, except that the symptoms were secondary and bilateral, and the visual fi eld defects followed the retinal vascular arcade in part. This single case cannot be expanded to a general fi nding, but it may provide insight into a circulatory disturbance as one possible underlying pathology in some reported cases of AIBSE.

The Relationship Between Bruch's Membrane Opening-Minimum Rim Width and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and a New Index Using a Neural Network

Purpose We evaluate the relationship between Bruchs membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT) and develop a new parameter combining BMO-MRW and pRNFLT using a neural network to maximize their compensatory values. Methods A total of 402 subjects were divided into two groups: 273 (validation group) and 129 (neural net training) subjects. Linear quadratic and broken-stick regression models were used to explore the relationship between BMO-MRW and pRNFLT. A multilayer neural network was used to create a combined parameter, and diagnostic performances were compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs). Results Regression analyses between BMO-MRW and pRNFLT revealed that the broken-stick model afforded the best fit. Globally, the tipping point was a BMO-MRW of 226.5 μm. BMO-MRW and pRNFLT were correlated significantly with visual field. When differentiating normal from glaucoma subjects, the neural network exhibited the largest AUROC. When differentiating normal from early glaucoma subjects, the overall diagnostic performance decreased, but the neural network still exhibited the largest AUROC. Conclusions The optimal relationship between BMO-MRW and pRNFLT was revealed using the broken-stick model. Considerable BMO-MRW thinning preceded pRNFLT thinning. The neural network significantly improved diagnostic power by combining BMO-MRW and pRNFLT. Translational Relevance A combined index featuring BMO-MRW and pRNFLT data can aid clinical decision-making, particularly when individual parameters yield confusing results. Our neural network effectively combines information from separate parameters.