Wolfgang Lieb

Color Doppler imaging of the ocular ischemic syndrome

PURPOSE This study describes hemodynamic characteristics of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and posterior ciliary arteries in 16 eyes of 11 patients with the ocular ischemic syndrome. Understanding the hemodynamic characteristics of the retrobulbar circulation may elucidate the natural history and pathophysiology of the ocular ischemic syndrome and perhaps form the basis for rational treatment of this condition. METHODS Color Doppler imaging, a procedure that permits rapid noninvasive imaging of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and posterior ciliary arteries, was used to quantitate peak systolic blood flow velocities and vascular resistance (pulsatility index) within these vessels in study group eyes and in an age-matched control population. RESULTS We demonstrated markedly reduced ocular ischemic syndrome central retinal and posterior ciliary artery peak systolic velocities compared with control group eyes. Central retinal and posterior ciliary artery vascular resistance (pulsatility index) was greater in ocular ischemic eyes versus control group eyes. Reversal of ophthalmic artery blood flow was detected in 12 of 16 ocular ischemic syndrome eyes. Study group eyes with poor vision had no detectable posterior ciliary arterial blood flow. CONCLUSION Color Doppler imaging quantitates hemodynamic characteristics of the retrobulbar circulation in the ocular ischemic syndrome. There is markedly reduced peak systolic velocity and increased vascular resistance in ocular end arteries such as the central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries. Ophthalmic artery reversal of flow seems to represent collateral blood flow to lower resistance vascular beds. Posterior ciliary artery hypoperfusion may correlate with poor vision in the ocular ischemic syndrome.

Optic Nerve Sheath Decompression May Improve Blood Flow in Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

PURPOSE The purposes of this study are to evaluate the retrobulbar circulation in progressive nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and to assess changes in blood flow after optic nerve sheath decompression (ONSD). METHODS Twenty-five patients with progressive NAION were studied using color Doppler imaging (CDI) before and after ONSD. Blood flow velocities and vascular resistance were calculated for the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and posterior ciliary arteries in each eye. Contralateral eyes served as the control group. RESULTS Preoperatively, the study group demonstrated significantly lower blood flow velocities in the central retinal artery (P < 0.002) and posterior ciliary arteries (P < 0.02) when compared with the contralateral control group. Postoperatively, there was a significant increase in blood flow velocity in the ophthalmic artery (P < 0.04) and the central retinal artery (P < 0.05) as well as a significant decrease in vascular resistance in the posterior ciliary arteries (P < 0.02) in the study group. There were no significant changes in blood flow velocity or vascular resistance in the contralateral control group. Long-term follow-up on eight patients suggests a persistence of this trend. Seventeen of the 25 operated eyes demonstrated a postoperative improvement in visual function, defined as a gain of two lines or more in Snellen visual acuity or at least 20 degrees of visual field expansion. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that eyes with acute NAION have impaired blood flow when compared with the contralateral control group. Furthermore, they suggest that ONSD may improve blood flow to the ischemic optic nerve halting the progression of visual loss and in some cases improving visual function.

Intensified postoperative care versus conventional follow-up: a retrospective long-term analysis of 177 trabeculectomies.

PurposeTo evaluate the long-term outcome of trabeculectomy under the conditions of intensified postoperative care (IPC) compared with conventional follow-up.MethodsOne hundred and seventy-seven consecutive primary trabeculectomies (168 patients) with a median follow-up of 4.5 years were retrospectively analyzed at the University Eye Hospital, Würzburg. Seventy-three trabeculectomies (70 patients) were followed by the surgeon under the conditions of IPC (group 1), and 104 trabeculectomies (98 patients) were followed by other ophthalmologists without IPC (group 2). The following measures to control wound healing were predominantly used in group 1: (1) increase in topical steroid administration if corkscrew vessels were present; (2) repeated injections of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at the beginning of bleb scarring; and/or (3) needling plus 5-FU administration if an encapsulated bleb developed. Postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was defined as “successful” when it did not exceed 21 mmHg and was at least 20% lower than the treated preoperative IOP. Stable visual acuity was defined as ±1 line.ResultsThe success rates of IOP control were about 95% in both groups. In the IPC group 45 of 73 eyes fulfilled all success criteria without additional anti-glaucoma medication (61.6%), whereas in conventional follow-up only 33 of 104 eyes fulfilled all success criteria without medication (31.7%).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that a much higher proportion of filtering blebs reach target IOP without medication if measures of IPC are consistently used by a glaucoma specialist when necessary.

Color Doppler imaging of arterial blood flow in central retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE The hemodynamics of the retrobulbar arterial circulation of patients with central retinal vein occlusion were evaluated in order to better understand the pathophysiology of this disease. METHODS Color Doppler imaging was used to measure the peak systolic velocity and vascular resistance (pulsatility index) in the retrobulbar arteries of involved eyes and clinically healthy fellow eyes of patients with central retinal vein occlusion and in the control eyes of age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. RESULTS Average peak systolic velocity was significantly lower and average vascular resistance was significantly higher in the central retinal artery of involved eyes of patients with central retinal vein occlusion compared with clinically healthy fellow eyes and compared with control eyes. There also was a trend toward higher vascular resistance in the central retinal artery of clinically healthy fellow eyes of patients with central retinal vein occlusion compared with control eyes. In the ophthalmic arteries and short posterior ciliary arteries, vascular resistance was significantly higher in both the involved eyes and clinically healthy fellow eyes of patients with central retinal vein occlusion compared with control eyes. CONCLUSION Color Doppler imaging parameters of the central retinal artery circulation were abnormal in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion, suggesting impaired arterial blood flow associated with this disease. The high vascular resistance in the central retinal arteries, ophthalmic arteries, and short posterior ciliary arteries of both involved and clinically healthy fellow eyes of patients with central retinal vein occlusion suggests that diffuse small vessel disease may predate and contribute to the development of central retinal vein occlusion.

Optic Nerve Decompression Improves Hemodynamic Parameters in Papilledema

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to examine changes in color Doppler imaging parameters before and after optic nerve sheath decompression (ONSD) for chronic papilledema caused by pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). METHODS Color Doppler imaging was performed within 48 hours before surgery and within 48 hours after the procedure using a color Doppler unit with a 7.5-MHz phased linear transducer. Pulsed Doppler spectrum analyses were recorded digitally on videotape from the ophthalmic, central retinal, and short posterior ciliary arteries, using a 0.4 x 0.6-mm sample volume. RESULTS Blood flow velocities in the ophthalmic, short posterior ciliary, and central retinal arteries of 24 eyes were significantly decreased compared with a healthy age-matched group. Eyes with visual acuities worse than 20/30 before surgery had significantly decreased velocities in the ophthalmic, short posterior ciliary, and retinal arteries, whereas in eyes with visual acuities better than 20/30, only the short posterior ciliary and central retinal arteries demonstrated decreased velocities. In addition, Goslings pulsatility index was increased for the central retinal artery but not the ophthalmic or short posterior ciliary arteries. Thirteen eyes improving in visual acuity and field after ONSD demonstrated significant improvement in all color Doppler imaging parameters for the short posterior ciliary arteries. The ophthalmic artery diastolic velocity also increased significantly but the central retinal artery parameters did not change. The eyes that remained stable or worsened did not demonstrate significant postoperative changes. CONCLUSION These results suggest that some of the visual loss from chronic papilledema may be due to ischemia, and worsening visual acuity correlates with greater impairment of the retrobulbar circulation. One of the mechanisms by which ONSD improves visual function may be reversal of this ischemic process.

Ligneous conjunctivitis in a girl with severe type I plasminogen deficiency

Abstract Background: Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare form of chronic recurrent pseudomembranous disease and may be associated with systemic membranous pathological changes. Recently ligneous conjunctivitis has been linked to severe type I plasminogen deficiency. We report on a patient with plasminogen deficiency and severe bilateral ligneous conjunctivitis. A new treatment approach and its outcome in this patient are described. Case report:We present the case of a 9-month-old Turkish girl with massive swelling of the eyelids and hard white pseudomembranes on both lids. The conjunctival smear was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae. The clinical diagnosis was: ligneous conjunctivitis with superinfection. Histological investigation showed fibrin as major component of the pseudomembranes. The coagulation analyses revealed decreased plasminogen activity (<5%; normal 80–120%) and decreased plasminogen antigen (<0.4 mg/dl; normal 6–25 mg/dl). The failure of surgical therapy led to the attempt at treatment with intravenous lys-plasminogen. A significant improvement of the ocular symptoms occurred; stabilization with no recurrent pseudomembranes could be achieved for 6 months after treatment. Discussion: The initial amelioration of symptoms in our patient after systemic replacement therapy confirms the etiological importance of plasminogen deficiency in the development of ligneous conjunctivitis. Curative treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis is still not available. However, intravenous application of plasminogen offers new possibilities in therapy, although long-term treatment seems necessary.

Transvenous embolization of carotid cavernous fistulas via the superior ophthalmic vein.

Abstract.Background: Treatment of choice for symptomatic carotid–cavernous and cavernous–dural fistulas is neuroradiologic intervention via the femoral artery. Owing to the location of the fistula and/or to anatomic variations, a direct surgical approach via the superior ophthalmic vein may be necessary for embolization. Methods: Three patients presented with exophthalmos, episcleral venous congestion, chemosis, restricted eye movement, and secondary glaucoma. One patient had visual impairment and scotoma due to compression of the optic nerve by the fistula. The tentative diagnosis of an arteriovenous fistula was confirmed in two cases by color Doppler imaging and in all three cases with cerebral arterial angiography (two carotid–cavernous fistulas, one cavernous–dural fistula). After an unsuccessful transarterial attempt, embolization via the superior ophthalmic vein was chosen. Results: In all three patients the preparation of the superior ophthalmic vein was performed without any complications. In two cases the fistula could be embolized completely with platinum coils. In one patient the placement of the microcatheter was impossible, because of an abnormal vascular pattern. Later on the fistula was successfully embolized by an approach via the femoral vein. All three patients had complete resolution of symptoms. There were no recurrences. Conclusion: Embolization of carotid–cavernous and cavernous–dural fistulas by a surgical approach via the superior ophthalmic vein represents safe and effective treatment when standard transarterial access is impossible. The cooperation of an orbital surgeon and an invasive neuroradiologist can be of benefit for this rare group of patients.

Changing concepts in the management of retinoblastoma.

For many years the most common treatment for retinoblastoma has been enucleation, generally performed on the affected eye in children with unilateral sporadic disease and on the more severely affected eye in children with bilateral disease. With refinements in conservative treatment methods, however, the affected eye now often may be salvaged and useful vision retained. Emphasizing this trend, we present our current approaches to managing retinoblastoma based on our experience with 324 patients, outlining our indications and pointing out a number of misconceptions about the role of enucleation, photocoagulation, cryotherapy, and radiotherapy in treating this condition. We also sketch some recent findings regarding the genetics of retinoblastoma and consider ways in which such research may lead to improved management of the disease.

Myxoma of the orbit: a clinicopathologic report

A 27-year-old white man developed proptosis of his left eye over a period of 2 years. It was associated with vertical diplopia and displacement of the left globe down and laterally. Ultrasonography showed a cystic mass in the superior orbital region. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a solid, well-defined lesion behind the globe displacing the optic nerve medially. A transfrontal craniotomy revealed a nodular mass in the posterior and superior orbit, which extended anteriorly up to the globe. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy proved the tumor to be a myxoma.

Erbium-YAG laser-assisted preparation of deep sclerectomy

Abstract Background: Deep sclerectomy and viscocanalostomy are becoming more and more popular as non-penetrating filtering procedures. The purpose of the present study was to simplify the technique of this procedure and to reduce the rate of unintended perforations during the preparation of the deep lamella. Methods: 20 enucleated porcine eyes were used. A superficial lamellar scleral flap with an area of 5×5 mm as for trabeculectomy was surgically prepared. Using a pulsed erbium:YAG laser the deep lamella (220±40 µm) with an area of 4×3 mm was removed. Ablation was performed with an energy of 40–100 mJ, a frequency of 1–10 Hz and a spot size of 500 µm and 1 mm (divergent beam). During the procedure the intraocular pressure was kept constant by continuous infusion. Finally the eyes were analyzed histologically. Results: After initial trials it was possible to ablate the remaining deep corneoscleral lamella with the erbium:YAG laser without perforating into the anterior chamber. Starting with an energy of 70–85 mJ and a reduction to 40–60 mJ when reaching deeper layers, a spot size of 500 µm and a 10 Hz repetition rate gave the highest safety and efficiency in preparation. After a learning curve it was possible to preserve Descemet’s membrane and intact trabecular meshwork in 10 consecutive operations as demonstrated by histology. Conclusion: Erbium:YAG laser- assisted deep sclerectomy offers an alternative to microsurgical preparation of the deep scleral lamella. The thermal damage is minimal (10–40 µm) and scarring may therefore not be stimulated.