Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C for glaucoma secondary to emulsified silicone oil after pars plana vitrectomy: three-years follow up

Background/Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) secondary to emulsified silicone oil (SO) after pars plana vitrectomy. Methods: A single-center, prospective study was conducted, from December 2014 to December 2019, on 56 consecutive patients with an uncontrolled elevation of IOP after SO removal. The primary end-point was the IOP at the three-years follow-up visit. Complete surgical success was defined as an IOP ranging from 7 mmHg to 18 mmHg without glaucoma medication. Qualified success was defined as IOP ? 21 mmHg with one or two topical medications. Results: Fifty-six patients with mean (standard deviation) age of 56.6 (13.1) years had a mean baseline IOP of 42.3 (39.3 to 45.3) mmHg, which reduced to 18.6 (17.9 to 19.3) mmHg at 3 years after surgery (P < 0.0001). 17 (30.4%) eyes were classified as complete success, 21 (37,5%) as qualified success, and 18 (32.1%) as failure. In all treated patients, the number of antiglaucoma medications was significantly reduced from 2.85 (0.77) to 1.63 (0.62), p<0.0001. Conclusion: Trabeculectomy with MMC may be an option for lowering IOP in patients with OAG secondary to emulsified SO which was not controlled with maximum antiglaucomatous medical treatment.

Vitrectomy in Congenital Vitreous Pathologies

Congenital vitreous diseases are the result of embryological development defects of the vitreous. These diseases have a wide spectrum including congenital vitreous disorders and genetically impaired vitreous structure. Also, these diseases are the first diseases that should come to mind in vitreous and retinal pathologies seen in the early age group. In many of them, pars plana vitrectomy has an important role in the treatment. Due to the disease pathophysiology and age of the patients, they differ from the standard pars plana vitrectomy. In this review, congenital vitreous pathologies and the vitrectomy method applied in the treatment of these pathologies will be discussed.

Vitrectomy in Lens and Glaucoma Pathologies

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is currently used as an effective method in many posterior segment pathologies. Although the most common indication is retina and vitreous pathologies, PPV is also preferred in some cases associated with lens and glaucoma. In case the crystalline lens or artificial intraocular lens, which is a product of industrial development, falls into the vitreous, it is essential to remove it mostly with the PPV approach. In some types of secondary glaucoma, especially malignant glaucoma, successful results are obtained in terms of visual prognosis and complications with vitreoretinal surgery techniques.

Vitrectomy for Vitreous Opacities

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery in vitreous opacities is an effective treatment method that increases patient satisfaction. However, due to the risks associated with PPV surgery, its application in vitreous floaters is controversial. Instead, performing sutureless, minimally invasive PPV surgery with 25 gauge trocars on floaters may reduce the risks. For surgical treatment, it is important to select appropriate patients, evaluation of the risk and benefit balance of PPV, and application the treatment.

Vitrectomy in Endophthalmitis

Developing due to infectious and noninfectious causes, endophthalmitis is a serious condition requiring urgent intervention which can lead to eye loss. In recent years, medical and surgical approaches had great improvement in the treatment of endophthalmitis. Early diagnosis and therapy are very important in endophthalmitis. By prompt and accurate treatment, good outcomes are established. In order to get successful results, the combination of intravitreal antibiotic and pars plana vitrectomy approach is the best treatment modality. Early pars plana vitrectomy eliminates infective agents, suitable media, and toxins while amplifying the action of intravitreal antibiotics.

Influence of pars plana vitrectomy on ocular surface using noninvasive Keratograph 5M

AIM: To evaluate the influence of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on ocular surface using Keratograph 5M. METHODS: Totally 30 consecutive patients (30 eyes) undergoing primary 23-gauge PPV were recruited in the study. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was performed. Ocular surface parameters, including tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive tear break up time (NITBUT) and bulbar redness score were obtained preoperatively, in 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12wk postoperatively by Keratograph 5M. Correlations between all the clinical parameters were analyzed further. RESULTS: The percentages of both photophobia and gritty within 4wk after PPV were significantly higher than pre-operation, while they decreased to the preoperative levels in both 8wk and 12wk postoperatively. The percentage of sore eyes in the first week postoperatively was significantly higher than pre-operation, but there were no significant differences between the percentages of pre-operation and 2, 4, 8, and 12wk postoperatively. OSDI score increased significantly within 4wk postoperatively, but it returned to the preoperative level in 8 and 12wk. TMH increased with 2wk postoperatively, but there were no significant differences compared with preoperation. Both NITBUT-first and NITBUT-average shortened significantly within 8 weeks postoperatively, but they gradually improved to the preoperative levels in 12wk. Bulbar redness score was significantly higher than the preoperative level within 4wk postoperatively, but it returned to the preoperative level in 8wk. NITBUT-first and NITBUT-average had a significant positive correlation at each visit. TMH had a significant positive correlation with NITBUT-average in the first week postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Keratograph 5M can provide a reliable noninvasive method to assess the influence of PPV on the ocular surface. PPV may cause various changes in both symptoms and signs of ocular surface damages at the early stage, while all these changes will return to preoperative levels gradually in 12wk postoperatively.

Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Vitrectomy with 360° Laserpexy or Scleral Encircling in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Purpose: To compare long-term clinical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with intraoperative 360° laserpexy and pars plana vitrectomy combined with scleral encircling for the treatment of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Methods: This retrospective, comparative case study included 70 patients who had at least 1 year of follow-up after vitrectomy for primary uncomplicated RRD from 2015 to 2019. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I included 34 patients who underwent PPV + 360° laserpexy (LP), while group II included 36 patients who underwent PPV + scleral encircling (SE). Main outcome measures were the anatomical success rate, the functional success rate, final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and the incidence of post-operative complications. We also examined the long-term changes in axial length, corneal curvature, and refractive error before and after surgery.Results: LP and SE groups showed no significant differences with respect to the primary anatomical success rate (97.05% and 94.44%, respectively; p = 0.592) or the functional success rate (BCVA ≥ 20/40 at final follow-up; 82.35% and 77.78%, respectively; p = 0.635). Detachment reoccurred in three cases (one in the LP group and two in the SE group) because of proliferative vitreoretinopathy; both cases in the SE group had successful anatomical re-attachment after repeating the PPV procedure. Complications included post-operative epiretinal membrane and cystic macular edema, as well as increased intraocular pressure.Conclusions: Primary vitrectomy combined with 360° laserpexy has effectiveness similar to vitrectomy combined with scleral encircling in patients with RRD in long-term clinical outcomes.

To Amputate or Not to Amputate: Management of Iatrogenic LASIK Flap Dehiscence and Epithelial Ingrowth with Overlying Pseudopterygium

A 73-year-old male with a history of myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) 20 years earlier presented with a late LASIK flap dehiscence, epithelial ingrowth, conjunctivalization, and the development of a pseudopterygium in the right eye. The findings were consistent with surgical trauma, likely occurring after corneal epithelial debridement to improve visualization during pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment repair 3 months earlier. The patient underwent epithelial ingrowth debridement, LASIK flap reapproximation and suturing, and a conjunctival limbal autograft from the contralateral eye. The surgery was completed successfully without the need for flap amputation. Postoperatively, the patient had an uneventful course with a well-healing conjunctival graft and no interface opacity or evidence of recurrent pseudopterygium of the right eye. The graft and corneal topography remained stable after subsequent cataract surgery.