Omesh P. Gupta

Short-term Outcomes of 23-gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy

PURPOSE To report the initial experience and safety profile of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. DESIGN Retrospective, multicenter, consecutive, interventional case series. METHODS The inclusion criteria for this study included eyes that underwent primary, 23-gauge PPV for various indications including, but not limited to, epiretinal membrane, nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage, idiopathic macular hole, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD), and postoperative follow-up of at least 12 weeks. Exclusion criteria included history of prior vitrectomy, glaucoma filtration surgery, or administration of gas at expansile concentrations. Main outcome measures included best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications. RESULTS Ninety-two patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall VA improved from 20/238 (range, 20/25 to hand motions [HM]) preoperatively to 20/82 (range, 20/20 to HM) postoperatively (P < .001). Each surgical indication experienced a statistically significant VA improvement. Intraoperative complications included retinal tears observed in two eyes (2.2%). Sclerotomy sutures were required intraoperatively in two eyes (2.2%). Postoperative complications included postoperative day 1 hypotony in six eyes (6.5%), a retinal tear in one eye (1.1%), and a recurrent RD in one eye (1.1%). No cases of endophthalmitis were observed. CONCLUSIONS Intraoperative and postoperative complications were rare in this series of 23-gauge vitrectomy. Postoperative day 1 hypotony was the most common complication observed. All cases of postoperative hypotony resolved at postoperative week 1 without intervention. Retinal tear or detachment was an uncommon complication in the intraoperative and postoperative settings. Postoperative endophthalmitis was not noted in this case series.

Treatment Outcomes After 3 Years in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using a Treat-and-Extend Regimen

PURPOSE To determine 3-year treatment outcomes after 1 to 3 years of ranibizumab or bevacizumab therapy using a treat-and-extend regimen in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN Retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series. METHODS We treated 212 eyes from 196 patients diagnosed with treatment-naive neovascular AMD between January 2009 and March 2013; they were treated with either ranibizumab or bevacizumab for a minimum of 1 year, using a treat-and-extend regimen. The main outcome measures were change from baseline best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (BCVA), proportion of eyes losing <3 BCVA lines, proportion of eyes gaining ≥ 3 BCVA lines, change from baseline central retinal thickness, and mean number of injections at 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up. RESULTS The mean follow-up period was 1.88 years (median, 2 years). At baseline, mean BCVA was 20/139; it improved to 20/79 (P < 0.001) after 1 year of treatment and was maintained at 20/69 and 20/64 at 2 and 3 years follow-up (P < 0.001), respectively. At baseline, mean central retinal thickness was 351 μm and significantly decreased to 285 μm, 275 μm and 276 μm at 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up (P < 0.001), respectively. Patients received, on average, 7.6, 5.7 and 5.8 injections over years 1, 2 and 3 of treatment, respectively. At final follow-up, 94% of eyes had lost <3 lines BCVA, and 34.4% of eyes had gained ≥ 3 lines BCVA. CONCLUSIONS The treat-and-extend regimen is effective in achieving and maintaining visual and anatomic improvements in patients with neovascular AMD for up to 3 years of treatment.

Bevacizumab for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using a Treat-and-Extend Regimen: Clinical and Economic Impact

PURPOSE To evaluate the visual outcomes, number of injections, and direct medical cost of a treat-and-extend regimen in managing neovascular age-related macular degeneration with intravitreal bevacizumab. DESIGN Retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series. METHODS Seventy-four eyes of 73 patients with treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration from a single clinical practice were treated monthly with intravitreal bevacizumab until no intraretinal or subretinal fluid was observed on optical coherence tomography. The treatment intervals then were lengthened sequentially by 2 weeks until signs of exudation recurred and then were reduced accordingly to maintain an exudation-free macula. Main outcomes measured included mean change from baseline visual acuity, proportion of eyes losing fewer than 3 and gaining 3 or more Snellen visual acuity lines at 1 year of follow-up, annual mean number of injections, optical coherence tomography mean central retinal thickness change from baseline, mean maximum period of extension, adverse events, and mean direct annual medical cost. RESULTS The mean follow-up period was 1.41 years. Mean Snellen visual acuity improved from 20/230 at baseline to 20/109 at 12 months (P < .001) and 20/106 at 24 months (P < .001). The mean number of injections over the first year was 7.94. The mean optical coherence tomography central retinal thickness decreased from 316 to 239 μm at 12 months (P < .001). The mean direct medical cost over the first year was

Hypotony after 25-gauge vitrectomy using oblique versus direct cannula insertions in fluid-filled eyes.

3493.85. CONCLUSIONS Eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration experienced significant visual improvements on average when managed with intravitreal bevacizumab using a treat-and-extend regimen with fewer patient visits and injections along with lower costs compared with a fixed, monthly dosing regimen.

The competency of pars plana vitrectomy incisions: a comparative histologic and spectrophotometric analysis.

Purpose: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) and rates of postoperative hypotony with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) without tamponade using oblique versus direct cannula insertions. Methods: A prospective consecutive series of eyes that underwent 25-gauge PPV without tamponade using an oblique cannula insertion technique was compared with a historical consecutive series of eyes that underwent 25-gauge PPV without tamponade using direct cannula insertions. IOP was recorded before surgery, on postoperative day 1, and on postoperative week 1. Results: Ninety-five eyes had 25-gauge PPV without tamponade, 55 with oblique cannula insertions and 40 with direct insertions. With oblique insertions, there was no statistically significant difference between mean IOPs measured before surgery, on postoperative day 1, and on postoperative week 1. Only 1 (1.8%) of the 55 eyes had hypotony (IOP, ≤5 mmHg) on postoperative day 1. With direct insertions, mean postoperative day 1 IOP was significantly lower than mean preoperative IOP (P = 0.009). Mean preoperative and postoperative week 1 IOPs were similar. Four (10%) of 40 eyes had hypotony on postoperative day 1. Conclusions: Oblique cannula insertions may be superior to direct cannula insertions for lowering rates of absolute and relative postoperative day 1 hypotony in 25-gauge PPV without tamponade.

The economics of telemedicine for vitreoretinal diseases.

PURPOSE To compare the relative competency of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) sclerotomies. DESIGN Laboratory investigation. METHODS PPV was performed in human cadaveric eyes using 20-gauge (20 G), 23-gauge (23 G), and 25-gauge (25 G) instrumentation. India ink was applied over a sclerotomy site while the intraocular pressure was varied. The presence of India ink particles (IIPs) along incisions was evaluated by histologic analysis. Spectrophotometric absorbance levels of vitreous aspirates were measured. RESULTS PPV was performed in a control eye and two eyes, each using standard 20 G, standard 23 G, perpendicular 25 G, and beveled 25 G instrumentation incisions. IIPs were not detected in the 20 G incisions either on histology or by spectrophotometry. IIPs were detected along the entire incision length in one of two eyes with 23 G sclerotomies and confirmed by spectrophotometry. IIPs were detected along the entire incision length in one of two eyes with 25 G perpendicular sclerotomies and confirmed by spectrophotometry in both eyes. IIPs were noted partially along the length in one of the two beveled 25 G eyes, but not detected in either eye by spectrophotometry. CONCLUSIONS During the early postoperative period, sutureless vitrectomy incisions may allow entry of ocular surface fluid. These findings may provide a pathophysiologic mechanism for the reported increased risk of endophthalmitis in small-gauge vitrectomy surgery.

A Value-Based Medicine Cost-Utility Analysis of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

Purpose of review A literature review was conducted presenting the current data on the economics of telemedicine in vitreoretinal diseases. Recent findings There have been an increasing number of studies evaluating the cost–effectiveness of telemedicine for vitreoretinal diseases. The availability of ophthalmologists able to screen for these conditions is limited. Teleophthalmology has been playing a larger role in screening for diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and age-related macular degeneration. Many telemedicine programs are currently being investigated and implemented. Summary Telemedicine is a cost-effective means for screening diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. It can alleviate some of the burden of this growing public health problem. However, the large initial cost associated with beginning a teleophthalmology retinal screening program is a barrier to implementation. Additional studies are needed in the area of telemedicine for age-related macular degeneration.

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

PURPOSE To perform a reference case, cost-utility analysis of epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery using current literature on outcomes and complications. DESIGN Computer-based, value-based medicine analysis. METHODS Decision analyses were performed under two scenarios: ERM surgery in better-seeing eye and ERM surgery in worse-seeing eye. The models applied long-term published data primarily from the Blue Mountains Eye Study and the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Visual acuity and major complications were derived from 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy studies. Patient-based, time trade-off utility values, Markov modeling, sensitivity analysis, and net present value adjustments were used in the design and calculation of results. Main outcome measures included the number of discounted quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs) gained and dollars spent per QALY gained. RESULTS ERM surgery in the better-seeing eye compared with observation resulted in a mean gain of 0.755 discounted QALYs (3% annual rate) per patient treated. This model resulted in

Ranibizumab for eyes previously treated with pegaptanib or bevacizumab without clinical response.

4,680 per QALY for this procedure. When sensitivity analysis was performed, utility values varied from

The risk of fellow eyes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

6,245 to