Michael Dollin

The role of topical antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection.

OBJECTIVE To compare the incidence of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection with and without topical postinjection antibiotic prophylaxis. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. PARTICIPANTS All patients treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or aflibercept for a variety of retinal vascular diseases at a single, large retina practice between January 1, 2009, and October 1, 2012, were included. METHODS The total numbers of patients and injections were determined from a review of billing code and practice management records. Endophthalmitis cases were determined from billing records and from an infection log. All cases of endophthalmitis were confirmed with chart review. A 28-month period when topical antibiotics were prescribed after intravitreal injection was compared with a 9-month period when topical antibiotics were not prescribed. Patients treated during an 8-month transition period were excluded to allow for the conversion of antibiotic prescription practices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of endophthalmitis, visual acuity outcomes, and microbial spectrum. RESULTS During the study period, a total of 117 171 intravitreal injections were performed (57 654 injections during the topical antibiotic period, 24 617 during the transition period, and 34 900 during the no-antibiotic period), with a total of 44 cases of suspected endophthalmitis (0.038%; 1 in 2663 injections), 17 of which showed culture-positive results (0.015%; 1 in 6892 injections). During the 28-month topical antibiotic period, there were 28 cases of suspected endophthalmitis (0.049%; 1 in 2059 injections), 10 of which showed culture-positive results (0.017%; 1 in 5765 injections). During the 9-month no-antibiotic period, there were 11 cases of suspected endophthalmitis (0.032%; 1 in 3173 injections), 4 of which showed culture-positive results (0.011%; 1 in 8725 injections). Topical antibiotic use was associated with a trend toward increased risk of suspected endophthalmitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-3.10) and culture-positive endophthalmitis (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.47-4.83). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection is low. Using postinjection topical antibiotic drops does not reduce the risk of endophthalmitis developing and is associated with a trend toward higher incidence of endophthalmitis.

Paracentral acute middle maculopathy in nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE To better characterize a novel spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) presentation, termed paracentral acute middle maculopathy, to describe this finding in patients with nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), and to support a proposed pathogenesis of intermediate and deep retinal capillary ischemia. DESIGN Retrospective observational case series. METHODS Clinical histories, high-resolution digital color imaging, red-free photography, fluorescein angiography, near-infrared reflectance, and spectral-domain OCT images of 484 patients with acute CRVO from 2 centers were evaluated for the presence of coexisting paracentral acute middle maculopathy. RESULTS Of 484 patients diagnosed with CRVO, 25 (5.2%) demonstrated evidence of concurrent paracentral acute middle maculopathy. Patients averaged 51 years of age and presented with complaints of paracentral scotomas. All patients demonstrated hyper-reflective plaquelike lesions at the level of the inner nuclear layer by spectral-domain OCT and showed corresponding dark-gray lesions on near-infrared reflectance and perivenular deep retinal whitening on color fundus photography. There was no fluorescein angiographic correlate to these lesions. On follow-up spectral-domain OCT imaging, the lesions had resolved into areas of inner nuclear layer atrophy with persistence of scotomas. CONCLUSIONS Paracentral acute middle maculopathy refers to characteristic hyper-reflective spectral-domain OCT lesions involving the middle layers of the retina at the level of the inner nuclear layer that may develop in response to ischemia of the intermediate and deep capillary plexuses. This series is the largest to describe this spectral-domain OCT finding to date, and it is the first to associate it with nonischemic CRVO.

Scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses using gore-tex suture with concurrent 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

In the absence of capsular support, options for intraocular lens (IOL) placement include anterior chamber intraocular lenses, iris-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCIOLs), and scleral-fixated PCIOLs. In a 2003 Ophthalmic Technology Assessment report for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Wagoner et al supported the effective use of these varying fixation techniques in the appropriate clinical setting, without clear superiority of one method. The choice of surgical technique depends on many factors, including comorbid ocular conditions and anatomical considerations. For surgeons treating patients with history of trauma or complicated cataract surgery, vitrectomy is often required along with IOL placement. Herein, we describe an effective technique for ab externo scleral fixation of PCIOLs using GoreTex (W.L. Gore & Associates, Newark, DE) suture, initially described by Slade et al, modified to include concurrent 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

Microbial spectrum and outcomes of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection versus pars plana vitrectomy

Purpose: To compare infectious organisms and visual outcomes of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection (IVI) with endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Methods: Retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series of patients diagnosed with presumed infectious endophthalmitis after IVI of an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medication or PPV between January 1, 2009, and October 1, 2012, from one center. Main outcome measures were infectious organism and final visual acuity. Results: Forty-four cases of presumed infectious endophthalmitis (17 culture positive) occurred after IVI and 19 cases (9 culture positive) occurred after PPV. Of note, 56.3% of culture-positive IVI cases were due to bacteria associated with oral flora, primarily Streptococcus species, compared with none in the PPV group (P = 0.01). There was a trend approaching significance for IVI patients to have lost ≥3 lines of visual acuity compared with PPV patients at final follow-up (P = 0.07). Within the IVI group, patients were more likely to have lost ≥6 lines of visual acuity at final follow-up when endophthalmitis was due to an organism associated with oral flora (P = 0.007). Conclusion: Endophthalmitis after IVI has a higher likelihood of being due to oral flora compared with endophthalmitis after PPV. Among IVI patients, worse visual outcomes occurred when endophthalmitis was due to oral flora.

25-gauge Trocar Cannula For Acute Endophthalmitis-related In-office Vitreous Tap And Injection: Patient Comfort and Physician Ease of Use.

Purpose: To assess comfort and procedural facility using a 25-gauge trocar cannula as a port to diagnose and treat acute endophthalmitis compared with a standard vitreous tap and injection technique. Methods: Eighteen consecutive patients with acute endophthalmitis were randomized into two treatment arms: 1) Standard vitreous tap and injection technique, and 2) A technique where a valved 25-gauge trocar cannula is inserted through the pars plana as done in sutureless vitrectomy surgery and subsequent vitreous sampling and injections are performed through the port. A standardized anesthetic protocol was used and subjects were masked to the technique performed. Primary outcomes measured were patient comfort using a Wong–Baker pain scale and standardized physician ease-of-use scoring scale. Secondary outcomes included vitreous sampling success rate and volume of vitreous sample. Results: No significant differences were found when comparing patient comfort (P = 0.340), physician ease-of-use scores (P = 0.796), vitreous sample volume (P = 0.149), successful vitreous taps (P = 0.620), and microbiologic yield (P = 1.000) between treatment arms. There were no adverse events. Conclusion: The 25-gauge trocar technique provides a safe, well-tolerated, and equally effective alternative to the standard vitreous tap and injection technique for delivery of intravitreal antibiotics, and procuring of vitreous sample, requiring a single sharp penetration.

Pars Plana Lensectomy After Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

The use of femtosecond laser during cataract surgery is increasing, as it may potentially improve accuracy, safety and refractive outcomes. However, posterior capsule rupture with retained lens material can occur, necessitating vitreoretinal intervention. The authors report the first videographically documented case of removal of retained lens material after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.