Panagiotis Stavrakas

Long-term results of half-fluence photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose To report long-term functional and anatomic results of safety-enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) with half-dose verteporfin for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods A retrospective analysis of 29 eyes of 27 patients with chronic CSC was performed. All eyes received half-dose PDT. Visual acuity, central foveal thickness, and angiographic features were evaluated. Results Mean follow-up time was 20 months (range 12-40). Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.45±0.23 logMAR to 0.08±0.08 logMAR. Twenty-five eyes (86%) had a complete resolution of the subretinal fluid after only one session and 4 eyes had recurrences, 3 of them at the same leaking area observed at baseline. At the end of the follow-up all eyes (100%) showed resolution of the subretinal fluid. There was no visual loss secondary to exaggerated response to the PDT, nor any other adverse events. Conclusions The long-term results of this study further support the safety and effectiveness of safety-enhanced PDT with half dose of verteporfin for the treatment of chronic CSC.

The use of amniotic membrane in trabeculectomy for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma: a prospective study

Background To investigate the effectiveness of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on improving the outcomes of trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods Fifty-nine eyes affected by primary open-angle glaucoma were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Thirty-two eyes underwent amnion-shielded trabeculectomy (study group) and 27 eyes underwent trabeculectomy without any antimetabolites (control group). Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) <21 mmHg without any medications at 24 months follow-up. The two groups were compared in terms of IOP, bleb morphology, bleb survival and risk of failure, glaucoma medications, and complications. Results There was no statistically significant difference in terms of postoperative IOP between the two groups and at 24 months median IOP was 15.5 mmHg for the AMT group and 16 mmHg for the control group. IOP postoperative reduction was 8 mmHg for the AMT group versus 6 mmHg for the non AMT group (P = 0.276). Two patients from the study group developed IOP >21 mmHg in contrast to seven patients from the classic trabeculectomy group. The study group had 61.0% less risk of developing IOP >21 mmHg (P = 0.203). No major complications in the AMT group were observed. AMT blebs were diffuse with mild vascularization. Conclusion In patients with POAG, AMT showed favorable effects on bleb survival, however data failed to provide firm evidence that AMT could be used as a routine procedure in trabeculectomy.

Current Perspectives of Prophylaxis and Management of Acute Infective Endophthalmitis.

Endophthalmitis is an intraocular inflammatory condition which may or may not be caused by infective agents. Noninfectious (sterile) endophthalmitis may be attributable to various causes including postoperative retained soft lens matter or toxicity following introduction of other agents into the eye. Infectious endophthalmitis is further subdivided into endogenous and exogenous. In endogenous endophthalmitis there is hematogenous spread of organisms from a distant source of infection whereas in exogenous endophthalmitis direct microbial inoculation may occur usually following ocular surgery or penetrating eye injury with or without intraocular foreign bodies. Acute infective endophthalmitis is usually exogenous induced by inoculation of pathogens following ocular surgery, open-globe injury and intravitreal injections. More infrequently the infective source is internal and septicemia spreads to the eye resulting in endogenous endophthalmitis. Several risk factors have been implicated including immunosuppression, ocular surface abnormalities, poor surgical wound construction, complicated cataract surgery with vitreous loss and certain types of intraocular lens. Comprehensive guidelines and recommendations on prophylaxis and monitoring of surgical cases have been proposed to minimize the risk of acute endophthalmitis. Early diagnosis and prompt management of infective endophthalmitis employing appropriately selected intravitreal antibiotics are essential to optimize visual outcome.

Anatomical and Functional Results Following 23-Gauge Primary Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: Superior versus Inferior Breaks

Purpose In this retrospective study, we evaluated the anatomical and functional outcomes of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment primarily treated with pars plana vitrectomy in regard to the location of the breaks. Methods. 160 eyes were enrolled in this study, divided into two groups based on break location: the superior break group (115 eyes) and the inferior break group (45 eyes). The main endpoint of our study was the anatomical success at 3 months following surgery. Results Primary retinal reattachment was achieved in 96.5% of patients in group A and in 93.3% in group B (no statistically significant difference, OR 1.98, 95% CI: 0.4, 7.7). Mean BCVA change and intraoperative complication rate were also not statistically significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05, OR: 1.0, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.01, resp.). Statistical analyses showed that macula status, age, and preoperative BCVA had a significant effect on mean BCVA change (p = 0.0001, p = 0.005, and p = 0.001, resp.). Conclusion This study supports that acceptable reattachment rates can be achieved using PPV for uncomplicated RRD irrespective of the breaks location and inferior breaks do not constitute an independent risk factor for worse anatomical or functional outcome.

Anatomic and functional outcomes of retinectomy for the management of complicated retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy

The aim of this study is to report the anatomic and functional outcomes of retinectomy for the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), comparing them with previously reported data and determining prognostic factors. Fifty-one eyes of 51 patients with established PVR grade C in which retinectomy was performed were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Primary outcome measures were anatomic success rate and final visual acuity. Secondary outcome measures were intraoperative complications, number of re-operations, and postoperative hypotony. Prognostic factors in relation to retinal re-attachment and final visual acuity were retrospectively analyzed. The rate of complete retinal re-attachment after one operation was 80% and after two operations it was 84%. At the end of the follow-up, the macula was attached in 96% of the cases. Mean LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly from 2.45±0.66 preoperatively to 1.37±0.75 at the end of the follow-up (P<0.001). BCVA improved in 37 eyes (72%), remained the same in eleven eyes (22%) and worsened in three eyes (6%). Postoperative hypotony was observed in 2% of cases. Postoperative BCVA was significantly correlated with preoperative BCVA (P<0.001), extension of PVR (P=0.013), preoperative use of gas instead of silicone oil (SO) (P=0.01), and removal of SO (P=0.05). SO was left in situ in 35% of eyes. In conclusion, retinectomy is a surgical option providing good anatomical and reasonable visual outcomes in complicated retinal detachment with PVR. Better preoperative visual acuity, lesser extension of PVR, and the use of gas tamponade during the primary repair are relevant factors for a successful outcome whereas re-proliferation of epiretinal membranes seems to be the main reason of anatomical failure.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment due to a macular hole in a patient with pars planitis: a case report

We report a rare case of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment due to a full-thickness macular hole in a young patient with pars planitis. This study was an interventional case report. A 38-year-old Asian man presented with acute reduction of vision in his left eye. His past ocular history revealed a precedent of two intravitreal steroid injections in his left eye, and fundoscopy revealed a total bullous retinal detachment along with 360° snowbanking at the pars plana. Precise preoperative visualization of the posterior pole was impossible due to a dense nuclear cataract. During surgery, an unexpected full-thickness macular hole with no associated epiretinal membrane was observed, which resulted in the retinal detachment. This case of chronic pars planitis complicated with a full-thickness macular hole resulting in retinal detachment was successfully treated with vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling, and perfluoropropane tamponade. Visual acuity improved from hand movements to 6/36 Snellen at 12 months postsurgery. This case report illustrates the rare but possible association between pars planitis with macular hole formation and subsequent retinal detachment, underlying the beneficiary outcome of vitrectomy surgery both diagnostically and therapeutically.

Pseudoexfoliation and Opacification of Intraocular Lenses

Purpose: To report two cases of spoke-like intraocular lens (IOL) opacification that resembles pseudoexfoliation of the crystalline lens. Methods: Case series presentation. Results: Patient 1 developed a circle of spoke-like opacification on the anterior IOL surface7 years after phacoemulsification. Patient 2 had paracentral anterior surface IOL opacification 18 months after cataract extraction and clinical pseudoexfoliation in the fellow eye. Conclusion: Spoke-like anterior IOL opacification should raise the suspicion of pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

The Impact of Epiretinal Membrane in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment: A Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Study

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the impact of epiretinal membrane (ERM) on anatomical and functional results in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth (anti-VEGF) injections. Methods: Participants in the study were 48 patients with either wet AMD alone (AMD group, n = 27) or AMD and ERM (AMD/ERM group, n = 21). All patients received intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (three monthly injections and PRN thereafter) and were followed up for at least 12 months. All participants had best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement and spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at each visit, while fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline and then at the discretion of the physician. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in BCVA at month 12 compared to baseline in each group (p < 0.001 for both groups), while the two groups did not differ significantly regarding BCVA at the end of the follow-up (p = 0.056). Additionally, there was a statistically significant reduction in CRT in both groups at month 12 (p < 0.001 for AMD group and p = 0.004 for AMD/ERM group) with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.183). Patients in the AMD group had a lower percentage of subretinal fluid (25.9%) than patients in the AMD/ERM group (52.4%) at the end of the follow-up, while ellipsoid zone disruption was found to be more profound in the AMD/ERM group (38.1%) than in the AMD group (18.5%). Patients in the AMD/ERM group needed more injections (7.1 ± 2.0 injections) than patients in the AMD group (4.8 ± 1.7 injections). Conclusions: Patients in the AMD/ERM group had a higher percentage of subretinal and intraretinal fluid and ellipsoid zone interruption during the follow-up period. Anti-VEGF treatment appeared to have a beneficial effect in both groups, although the AMD/ERM group needed more injections compared to the AMD group.