Maria T. Sandinha

Identification of monosomy 3 in choroidal melanoma by chromosome in situ hybridisation.

Background/aims: In uveal melanoma monosomy 3 is emerging as a significant indicator of a poor prognosis. To date most cytogenetic studies of uveal melanoma have utilised fresh tissue or DNA extracted from tissue sections. In this study chromosome in situ hybridisation (CISH) was used to study monosomy 3 in tissue sections. The copy number of chromosome 3 was determined and related to patient survival. Methods: Archival glutaraldehyde or formalin fixed, paraffin embedded material was obtained from 30 metastasising and 26 non-metastasising choroidal melanomas. Hybridisations were performed using centromere specific probes to chromosomes 3 and 18. Chromosome 18 was included as a control as previous abnormalities in uveal melanoma have not been described. Chromosomal imbalance was defined on the basis of changes in both chromosome index and signal distribution. Results: CISH was successfully performed on both glutaraldehyde and formalin fixed tissue. Four cases were unsuccessful because of extensive tumour necrosis. All cases were balanced for chromosome 18. Monosomy 3 was detected in 15 of the 26 cases of metastasising melanoma; the 26 non-metastasising tumours were all balanced for chromosome 3. Monosomy 3 was significantly associated with metastases related death. Conclusion: CISH can successfully identify monosomy 3 in archival glutaraldehyde or formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections. Similar to previous studies monosomy 3 is a significant predictor of metastases related death.

The Plane of Vitreoretinal Separation and Results of Vitrectomy Surgery in Patients Given Ocriplasmin for Idiopathic Macular Hole

PURPOSE We assessed whether ocriplasmin (OCP) given to patients with idiopathic macular hole (IMH) results in an altered plane of vitreoretinal (VR) separation compared to patients without OCP exposure. METHODS A prospective study was done of 12 patients with IMH and vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) given OCP. Patients in whom the IMH failed to close underwent vitrectomy with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM). The intraoperative staining pattern of the ILM using Brilliant Blue G (BBG) and examination of the excised ILM with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were compared to results of a matched cohort of 31 patients with IMH who had not received OCP. RESULTS Among 12 patients treated with OCP, VMA release occurred in 7 (58%) and hole closure was achieved in 3 (25%). Vitrectomy was done on the nine patients without hole closure. In seven of these nine (78%) the ILM had less than 5% of its vitreous surface covered in residual material on TEM, which was significantly less than in the control group (5/31, 16%, P = 0.001). In two OCP patients, large amounts of vitreous side material were present, but the rim of the hole stained evenly with BBG, suggesting that epiretinal material had avulsed with VR separation, a pattern not seen in any of the control patients. All patients had IMH closure after vitrectomy and visual results were not significantly different from the control group. CONCLUSIONS Ocriplasmin facilitates more complete VR separation in patients undergoing surgery for IMH, although it does not result in more eccentric epiretinal tissue release.

Predicting macular hole closure with ocriplasmin based on spectral domain optical coherence tomography

PurposeTo assess the preoperative features of patients with idiopathic macular hole (IMH) and vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) treated with ocriplasmin (OCP) that can predict successful closure.MethodData were prospectively collected on all patients with IMH treated with OCP in three British ophthalmic centres. Several preoperative variables were recorded including the IMH base diameter (BD), minimum linear diameter (MLD), and VMA width measured on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Several other IMH indices were derived including a ‘width factor’, defined as the BD minus the MLD in μm. The occurrence of VMA release and hole closure were used as the main outcome measures.ResultsThirty-three patients in total with IMH were treated with OCP. Two patients developed rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and were excluded. The mean age of the remaining 31 patients was 71 years, and 71% were female. VMA release occurred in 19 of the 31 (61%) patients and macular hole closure in 11 (35%). Width factor was the most predictive feature for closure on multivariate analysis. The deviance R2 was 67% (P<0.001). An IMH with a width factor of <60 μm had a 95% certainty of closure, whereas if >290 μm then there was less than a 5% chance of closure. Neither VMA width nor MLD alone was associated with VMA release or closure.ConclusionsPatients with macular holes where the BD was close in size to the MLD had an improved probability of closure than holes with wider base configurations.

Outcomes of delayed vitrectomy in open-globe injuries in young patients.

Purpose: The timing of vitrectomy for severe penetrating eye injury to the posterior segment remains controversial; this is particularly pertinent if patients are children and young adults. We present our results of the surgical procedure in young patients after penetrating eye injury using a delayed approach. Methods: Noncomparative interventional study of patients up to 29 years of age who had vitreoretinal surgery for penetrating eye injury. Surgical procedure was performed in seven eyes of six patients. Posterior vitrectomy was performed because of hemophthalmos after waiting for a mean of 49 days (range, 17-90 days) after posterior vitreous detachment was confirmed on ultrasound examination. Results: The mean postoperative follow-up period was 22 months (range, 9-35 months). Of the 7 patients, 6 (85.7%) achieved visual acuity (Snellen acuity) of 6/12 or better and 4 eyes (57.1%) reached 6/6. At the last follow-up, all patients were pseudophakic, 2 required secondary lens implants, and retinal detachment developed in 1 patient. Conclusion: This consecutive case series underlines the fact that a delayed approach is compatible with good visual prognosis in relatively young patients.

Does bariatric surgery prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy

PurposeTo assess the changes in diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients post bariatric surgery and report on the risk factors that may be associated with it.Patients and methodsRetrospective observational study of T2DM patients who underwent bariatric surgery in a UK specialist bariatric unit between 2009 and 2015. Preoperative and postoperative weight, HbA1c, and annual DR screening results were collected from medical records. Patients with preoperative retinal screening and at least one postoperative retinal screening were eligible for analysis. Multivariate analysis was used to explore significant clinical predictors on postoperative worsening in DR.ResultsA total of 102 patients were eligible for analysis and were followed up for 4 years. Preoperatively, 68% of patients had no DR compared to 30% with background retinopathy, 1% pre-proliferative retinopathy, and 1% proliferative retinopathy. In the first postoperative visit, 19% of patients developed new DR compared to 70% stable and 11% improved. These proportions remained similar for each postoperative visit over time. Young age, male gender, high preoperative HbA1c, and presence of preoperative retinopathy were the significant predictors of worsening postoperatively.ConclusionBariatric surgery does not prevent progression of DR. Young male patients with pre-existing DR and poor preoperative glycaemic control are most at risk of progression. All diabetic patients should attend regular DR screening post bariatric surgery to allow early detection of potentially sight-threatening changes, particularly among those with identifiable risk factors. Future prospective studies with prolonged follow-up are required to clarify the duration of risk.

Accuracy of B-scan ultrasonography in acute fundus obscuring vitreous hemorrhage using a standardized scanning protocol and a dedicated ophthalmic ultrasonographer

Purpose To assess the accuracy of B-scan ultrasound (U/S) in diagnosing cases of acute fundus obscuring vitreous hemorrhage (FOVH) using a standardized scan protocol and dedicated ophthalmic ultrasonographer. Methods Consecutive patients presenting with acute FOVH of unknown cause, between January 2013 and December 2014, were prospectively recruited. Patients underwent a scan performed by a dedicated ultrasonographer, utilizing a systematic scan sequence and using an ocular specific U/S device. The U/S findings were compared to the findings during vitrectomy or after spontaneous hemorrhage clearance. Results Fifty-eight eyes (58 patients) were included. An underlying rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and retinal tears without RRD were reported in nine and 14 patients, respectively. Nineteen of these patients underwent vitrectomy, and the other four underwent laser retinopexy or cryopexy alone. An additional six patients with suspected but uncertain retinal tears underwent vitrectomy, during which tears were confirmed in three, two had retinal vessel avulsions, and one had retinal new vessels. There was “complete” agreement between the B-scan findings and clinical findings in 78% of patients, “partial” agreement in 19%, and agreement was not tested in 3%. When the agreement was “partial”, the disagreements did not affect patient management. The sensitivity was 100% for the detection of RRD, and for the detection of new retinal tears in patients without retinal detachment. Conclusion B-scan U/S scan was highly sensitive in identifying the pathology in acute FOVH. Our results show an improvement from previously reported results, likely related to the standardized scan protocol and dedicated ophthalmic ultrasonographer.

Smart phone ophthalmoscopy: a potential replacement for the direct ophthalmoscope

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate a commercially available smartphone ophthalmoscope, D-EYE, as compared with the direct ophthalmoscope when used by a cohort of final-year medical students in a prospective study.MethodsTwo-hundred fundal examinations were performed on the eyes of 10 mannequins featuring 5 unique fundal images by 20 final-year medical students from Newcastle University. Each student examined the five fundal images twice, once each with a direct ophthalmoscope and D-EYE in a random order. Students recorded their findings at the optic nerve, macula, and retina in an objective questionnaire, and the findings were analysed by an observer masked to the examination technique.ResultsStudents provided more accurate clinical descriptions of their findings when using D-EYE as opposed to using the direct ophthalmoscope (p < 0.05). In addition, we found that students were overall more likely to make a correct diagnosis based on their findings when using D- EYE compared with the direct ophthalmoscope.ConclusionOur study suggests that the use of a smartphone-based alternative to the direct ophthalmoscope may improve the accuracy and quality of fundal examinations by non-ophthalmologists.

Photoreceptor Outer Segment on Internal Limiting Membrane after Macular Hole Surgery: Implications for Pathogenesis

Purpose: This report presents a case, which highlights key principles in the pathophysiology of macular holes. It has been hypothesized that anteroposterior (AP) and tangential vitreous traction on the fovea are the primary underlying factors causing macular holes [Nischal and Pearson; in Kanski and Bowling: Clinical Ophthalmology: A Systemic Approach, 2011, pp 629-631]. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has subsequently corroborated this theory in part but shown that AP vitreofoveal traction is the more common scenario [Steel and Lotery: Eye 2013;27:1-21]. Methods: This study was conducted as a single case report. Results: A 63-year old female presented to her optician with blurred and distorted vision in her left eye. OCT showed a macular hole with a minimum linear diameter of 370 µm, with persistent broad vitreofoveal attachment on both sides of the hole edges. The patient underwent combined left phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel and gas injection. The ILM was examined by electron microscopy and showed the presence of a cone outer segment on the retinal side. Post-operative OCT at 11 weeks showed a closed hole with recovery of the foveal contour and good vision. Conclusion: Our case shows the presence of a photoreceptor outer segment on the retinal side of the ILM and reinforces the importance of tangential traction in the development of some macula holes. The case highlights the theory of transmission of inner retinal forces to the photoreceptors via Müller cells and how a full thickness macular hole defect can occur in the absence of AP vitreomacular traction.