Narumichi Yamamoto

Corticosteroid- responsive asymmetric neuropathy with a myelin protein zero gene mutation.

A patient with hereditary neuropathy presented with asymmetric distal weakness. On nerve biopsy, there was demyelination and onion-bulb formation, and molecular analysis revealed that the patient was heterozygous for an MPZ mutation. The patient improved with corticosteroid treatment.

Triamcinolone Acetonide Facilitates Removal of the Epiretinal Membrane and Separation of the Residual Vitreous Cortex in Highly Myopic Eyes with Retinal Detachment due to a Macular Hole

Purpose: To study the usefulness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection during vitrectomy in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole. Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 6 patients with retinal detachment resulting from a highly myopic eye with a macular hole. After separation of the posterior hyaloid and removal of any visible epiretinal membrane, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. Excised specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. Results: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the entire epiretinal membrane and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex were completely removed. Successful reattachment was performed without retinal damage in all cases. Electron microscopy revealed a cellular epiretinal membrane within a collagenous matrix lining the smooth internal surface of the internal limiting membrane. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide were encountered. Conclusion: Intraoperative visualization of the epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex with triamcinolone acetonide was found to be a useful adjunct to vitrectomy. Using triamcinolone acetonide during vitrectomy may facilitate both removal of the epiretinal membrane around the macular hole and separation of the residual vitreous cortex from the retina in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment.

Posterior capsule staining and posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis in congenital cataract

We report 2 cases of indocyanine green (ICG) staining used for posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) in congenital cataract combined with anterior vitrectomy. In the first case, because of corneal opacity, the visibility of the posterior capsule was poor without staining. After the extraction of the cataract, a PCCC was performed after ICG staining of the posterior capsule. In the second case, after cataract removal, ICG staining was used to better visualize the posterior capsule. In both cases, the PCCC was successfully completed because of better visualization of the stained posterior capsule flap against the transparent anterior hyaloid face of the vitreous. Clear visual axes have been maintained.

Double Visualization Using Triamcinolone Acetonide and Trypan Blue during Stage 3 Macular Hole Surgery

Purpose: To study the usefulness of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue for facilitating visualization and dissection of the posterior vitreous cortex and internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitrectomy in idiopathic stage 3 macular holes. Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 10 eyes of 10 patientswith idiopathic stage 3 macular holes. After core vitrectomy had been performed, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. After separation of the visualized posterior vitreous cortex, trypan blue was injected over the macular area. Excised specimens were examined by electron microscopy. Results: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the posterior vitreous cortex and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The posterior vitreous cortex and residual vitreous cortex were completely removed. The ILM of the retina was stained faint blue and was successfully removed in all patients. Electron microscopy revealed that the triamcinolone-acetonide-visualized layer and the trypan-blue-stained layer had different histological features. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue were encountered. Conclusion: Double visualization of the posterior vitreous cortex and ILM using triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue during vitrectomy may facilitate separation of the posterior vitreous cortex from the retina and removal of the ILM around the macular hole in patients withidiopathic stage 3 macular holes.

Trypan-Blue- and Endoillumination-Assisted Phacoemulsification in Eyes with Vitreous Hemorrhage during Combined Cataract and Vitreous Surgery

Purpose: To study the safety and usefulness of trypan blue application and conventional endoillumination for enhancing visualization during phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation in cases of cataract with vitreous hemorrhage. Methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients with cataract and coexisting vitreous hemorrhage underwent combined trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation with vitrectomy. In a two-step surgery, after staining the anterior capsule with trypan blue, continuous circular capsulorhexis was performed; then, phacoemulsification was performed using conventional endoillumination. Specular microscopy was performed before and 3 months after surgery on eyes that underwent trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification and on control eyes that underwent standard phacoemulsification to evaluate the toxic effect of trypan blue on corneal endothelial cells. Results: Trypan blue application improved visualization of the anterior capsule, and a complete capsulorhexis could be performed in all eyes. In all 10 eyes, endoillumination was required to visualize the lens structure, and phacoemulsification could be accomplished. Specular microscopy revealed that there was no significant difference in the level of corneal endothelial cell loss between the trypan-blue- and endoillumination-assisted phacoemulsification group and the control group. Conclusion: The described double visualization technique may assist phacoemulsification in selected cases of cataract with vitreous hemorrhage.

Detection of CMV DNA in the aqueous humor of AIDS patients with CMV retinitis by AMPLICOR CMV test.

The present study was performed to detect the cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in the aqueous humor from the eyes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with CMV retinitis. Detection of CMV DNA in the aqueous humor in the eyes with active CMV retinitis was compared with detection of CMV DNA in inactive retinitis. CMV DNA in the aqueous humor was evaluated before and after treatment with intravitreal injection of ganciclovir. CMV DNA in the aqueous humor was measured by AMPLICOR CMV test. Forty-two eyes of 35 AIDS patients were diagnosed ophthalmoscopically as having CMV retinitis that was subclassified as either active or inactive. The active and inactive CMV retinitis cases were distinguished based on clinical evaluations and fundus photographs. The results showed that 37 of the 42 eyes (88.1%) were positive for CMV DNA prior to treatment, while in 29 of these 37 eyes (78.4%), the aqueous humor became CMV DNA-negative after the treatment. Successful treatment with the intravitreal injection of ganciclovir was associated with a reduction in the detection of CMV DNA in the aqueous humor. CMV DNA was not detected in the aqueous humor of patients with quies cent CMV retinitis. In conclusion, the AMPLICOR CMV test was found to be a reliable tool for differentiating active and inactive CMV retinitis, and is useful for helping to select the optimal treatment regimen. The intravitreal injection of ganciclovir is highly effective in reducing detectable CMV DNA in the aqueous humor.

Intraocular and Plasma HIV-1 RNA in HIV-infected Patients with CMV Retinitis and HIV-infected Controls

HIV-1 RNA was quantified in intraocular specimens and plasma from AIDS patients with CMV retinitis undergoing therapeutic vitrectomy and in 8 control subjects undergoing cataract surgery using the Amplicor RT-PCR-based assay. The HIV-1 RNA concentration in the intraocular specimens was significantly lower than in plasma. Patients with CMV retinitis and plasma HIV-1 RNA concentrations > 100,000 copies/ml generally had detectable HIV-1 RNA in their intraocular specimens. These findings point to the risk of percutaneous injury from a sharp instrument used in HIV-infected patients during ophthalmic surgery and possible transmission of HIV during such surgery. Prevention of percutaneous contact will require the use of surgical instruments that reduce the likelihood of injury, as well as the wearing of double gloves during surgery.

Causes of blindness and the results of cataract surgical intervention in the Micronesian islands: a retrospective study.

Since 1983, we have delivered eye care to inhabitants of the Micronesia islands a total of 18 times over an 18-year period. Approximately 14,000 islanders were examined. We diagnosed a total of 1226 blind eyes and 1231 eyes with low vision. Unoperated cataract (n=765, 62.4%) was the leading cause of blindness in our data, and 611 cataract operations were performed. The preoperative visual acuity of the patients who underwent cataract surgery was less than 20/200. Visual acuity improved in 588 cases (96.2%) after the surgery. Sight-threatening complications occurred in 1.1% (7) of the eyes after the surgery, which is comparable to the rate in developed countries. Corneal opacity secondary to infection (11.2%) was the second leading cause of blindness in our data. Diabetic retinopathy (9.9%) was a cause of low vision in our data, and the number of eyes diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in each district increased over the years. Glaucoma was the cause of blindness in 1.9% of the blind eyes, although the percentage may actually have been higher because visual loss was assessed only by reduced visual acuity. The demand for correcting refractive errors that caused a visual acuity of less than 20/60, was evident throughout the region. The majority of blind individuals in this study were suffering from operable cataract and good results were obtained with cataract surgery in this region. Further training of local medical staff would significantly improve eye care services in Micronesia.

Intraocular lens roll-up technique: Foldable IOL implantation using forceps through incisions smaller than 3.2 mm

&NA; We describe the intraocular lens (IOL) roll‐up technique, which uses lens forceps to insert 3 types of foldable polyacrylic IOLs with optic diameters of 6.0 mm through small sclerocorneal incisions comparable to those used by injector systems.

Detection of CMV in Plasma and Aqueous Humor Specimens from AIDS Patients with CMV Retinitis using the Amplicor CMV test

A DNA hybridization test (the Amplicor CMV test) for CMV DNA was used to detect CMV DNA in paired plasma and aqueous humor specimens from 37 AIDS patients with ophthalmoscopically diagnosed CMV retinitis. CMV was detected in 25/37 (67.6%) plasma specimens and in 32/37 (86.5%) aqueous humor specimens. Thus, the Amplicor CMV test using aqueous humor specimens seems to be a useful diagnostic test for CMV retinitis and one that is more sensitive than determination of CMV DNA in plasma specimens.