Tomomi Yamakoshi

Differences in macular morphology between polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and exudative age-related macular degeneration detected by optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the differences in the optical coherence tomographically determined macular morphology in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) from eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) quantitatively. Methods: The medical records of 208 eyes of 203 Japanese patients with PCV or exudative AMD who were newly treated for choroidal neovascularization were reviewed. The six linear, low-resolution, high-speed scans of 6 mm were analyzed using a manually assisted computer algorithm, which allowed us to manually draw spline lines arbitrarily on the images so that the subretinal fluid and neurosensory retina could be segmented. The thickness of the neurosensory retina and height of the serous retinal detachment (SRD) within the central 3-mm and 6-mm areas were calculated. Results: SRDs were observed in 53% (63/119) of the eyes with exudative AMD and in 78% (69/89) of the eyes with PCV (P < 0.001). The height of the SRD was 21.9 ± 3.7 &mgr;m (±SEMs) in eyes with exudative AMD and 56.3 ± 7.4 &mgr;m in eyes with PCV (P < 0.001). The thickness of the neurosensory retina was 300.0 ± 5.2 &mgr;m in eyes with exudative AMD and 275.8 ± 4.7 &mgr;m in eyes with PCV (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Eyes with PCV are characterized by a higher incidence of SRDs, greater SRD height, and less intraretinal edema than eyes with exudative AMD.

Triamcinolone-Assisted Removal of Internal Limiting Membrane Enhances the Effect of Vitrectomy for Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during vitrectomy to treat diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: In this nonrandomized study, we retrospectively analyzed the medical charts of 107 eyes that had undergone three-port vitrectomy to treat DME. The ILM was peeled in 65 eyes and not peeled in 42 eyes (ILM ON group). Indocyanine green (ICG) was used on 36 eyes (ICG group) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on 29 eyes (TA group) to make the ILM more visible. Results: In all groups, the mean foveal thickness was significantly decreased after surgery. Visual acuity (VA) improved gradually after the surgery and was significantly better than the preoperative VA at 6 months in the ICG group and at 3 months in the TA group. Compared with the ILM ON group eyes, the eyes in the TA group had significantly better improvement of VA. Conclusion: TA-assisted ILM peeling may improve the VA outcome to treat DME.

Contents Vol. 41, 2009

Anatomy, Pathology and Cell Biology A. Prescott, Dundee Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics J. Graw, Neuherberg Clinical and Epidemiological Research M. Kojima, Kahoku Clinical Retina P. Wiedemann, Leipzig Cornea and Ocular Surface C. Marfurt, Gary, Ind. Glaucoma C. Erb, Berlin Immunology and Microbiology U. Pleyer, Berlin Lens and Cataract S. Varma, Baltimore, Md. Miscellaneous U. Pleyer, Berlin Neuro-Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences P. Aydin, Ankara Ocular Oncology M. Jager, Leiden Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology A. Wegener, Bonn Retina and Retinal Cell Biology M. Boulton, Gainesville, Fla. P. Wiedemann, Leipzig Editorial Board