Prevalence of focal lamina cribrosa defects in eyes with pachychoroid disease spectrum

AIM: To determine the prevalence of focal lamina cribrosa (LC) defect among patients with pachychoroid disease spectrum (PDS) in the absence of peripapillary retinoschisis. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study comprised of 180 patients with PDS, including polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), central serous chorioretinopathy, and pachychoroidal neovasculopathy. Medical records and optic nerve head evaluations conducted using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging were reviewed. As a control group, 236 patients who underwent ophthalmologic evaluation for vitreous floaters, without obvious ocular disease, were also included. RESULTS: The mean age of the PDS group, which included 118 male patients (65.6%), was 57.4±11.1y. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age (P=0.710) or sex (P=0.248). Six patients (3.3%) in the PDS group and none in the control group showed focal LC defect (P=0.318). Among the six patients with focal LC defect in the PDS group, four eyes had PCV, one eye was the fellow eye of a PCV eye, and one eye had pachychoroidal neovasculopathy. CONCLUSION: Focal LC defect can be defected in patients with PDS in the absence of peripapillary retinoschisis. However, the prevalence of focal LC defect was not different significantly between PDS patients and those who did not have PDS.

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.

Development and persistence of patient-reported visual problems associated with serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants

BACKGROUND: The majority of antidepressants inhibit serotonin reuptake and include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and the serotonin reuptake inhibiting tricyclic antidepressants. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate and describe the range and impact of reported adverse visual effects linked to serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants. METHODS: Using data from a global database of patient spontaneous reports of drug adverse events, we systematically identified eligible reports of visual problems linked to the use of serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants. We analyzed these data using simple descriptive statistics to present the range and impact. RESULTS: We identified 124 reports of visual problems. Reports originate from 18 countries and involve 11 different drugs. The most commonly reported symptoms were vision blurred/visual acuity reduced (n = 79, 63.7%), night blindness (n = 22, 17.7%), vitreous floaters (n = 21, 16.9%), photophobia (n = 19, 15.3%), diplopia (n = 15, 12.1%), palinopsia (n = 13, 10.5%), visual field defect (n = 12, 9.7%), photopsia (n = 11, 8.9%) and visual snow syndrome (n = 11, 8.9%). 74 patients indicated that the side effect was bad enough to affect everyday activities, 62 had sought health care, and 50 indicated that their work had been affected. 49 patients reported an enduring vision problem after discontinuation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants can produce a range of adverse effects on vision that in some cases can be long-lasting after discontinuation of the drug. Further efforts are needed to understand the mechanisms involved, the incidence among those prescribed these medications, and identify any risk or mitigation factors.

Objective intraoperative assessment of vitreous f loaters localization in YAG-laser vitreolysis

Purpose. To develop an optical method for assessing the localization of vitreous floaters in the vitreous cavity and to evaluate its efficacy compared to ultrasound assessment. Material and methods. The study included 35 patients (35 eyes) with Weiss ring. All the patients underwent echobiometry, as well as measurement of the distance from the vitreous floaters (VF) to the lens posterior capsule or towards retina by ultrasound and developed optical methods. Results. The mathematical modeling and the diopter difference between the slit-lamp oculars were used to develop a formula for the safe position of the VF in the vitreous cavity calculation. A comparative analysis of ultrasound and optical methods measurement results have showed their comparability. The values of the "limits of agreement" with 95% confidence intervals were: -0.02 [-0.07; 0.01] - the lower "consistency limit" and 0.25 [0.20; 0.29] - the upper "consistency limit". The average difference between methods with a 95% confidence interval was 0.11 [0.08; 0.13]. Conclusions. The developed optical method for assessing the safe localization of VF in the vitreous cavity showed comparable results with the ultrasound measurements. Futhermore, optical method allows to intraoperatively control the safe distance from the VF to the intraocular structures, thereby reducing the risk of YAG-vitreolysis complications. Key word: YAG laser vitreolysis, vitreous floaters, safe distance of vitreous floaters.

Navigated single-capture 3D and cross-sectional wide-field OCT of the mid and peripheral retina and vitreoretinal interface

Purpose: Assess the mid and peripheral neuroretina and vitreoretinal interface using a novel Navigated Single-Capture 3D and Cross-Sectional Wide-Field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (WF SS-OCT) technology with correlation to Multi-Wavelength Ultra-Widefield Imaging (MW UWFI) and Histopathology reference. Methods: Retrospective observational study. A total of 74 patients (148 eyes) were imaged using WF SS-OCT and Navigated Single-Capture twelve 23 mm cross-sectional radial scan pattern at 15° intervals. Image diagnosis included: congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium, choroidal nevus, ora serrata pearls, retinal tuft, lattice, snail track, cobblestone degeneration, retinal hole, retinal tear, degenerative retinoschisis, peripheral laser retinopexy, white without pressure, vitreous floaters, subclinical peripheral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD), and tractional RD in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. WF SS-OCT images were correlated with MW UWFI and histopathological references where available. Results: WF SS-OCT successfully imaged structural features in all diagnoses with significant improvement in diagnostic capability and increased the diagnosis of specific features such as vitreoretinal attachment, full thickness hole or tear and subretinal fluid. Histopathological correlation was available for five (5) different peripheral retinal pathologies imaged by both WF SS-OCT and MW UWFI and good anatomical correlation was observed in all diagnosis. Conclusions: Navigated Single-Capture 3D and Cross-Sectional WF SS-OCT provides detailed anatomic information of the mid and peripheral neuroretina and vitreoretinal interface, allowing early recognition of vision-threatening features that may influence clinical management, particularly in an era of telemedicine or when there is limited or no access to Indirect Ophthalmoscopy with 360° Scleral Indentation.

Long Term Evaluation of the Efficacy And And Safety of Nd:Yag Laser Vitreolysis for Symptomatic Vitreous Floaters

PURPOSE: this study evaluates the long-term safety and efficacy of Nd:YAG vitreolysis for symptomatic vitreous floaters, as it remains a controversial procedure due to the lack of robust evidence in the literature for its maintenance of the results and absence of adverse effects. METHODS: this is an observational extension to the previously presented prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial study. Eight of thirteen subjects who underwent vitreolysis with YAG laser returned for a late reevaluation, 18 months after the procedure, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure.RESULTS: all patients maintained the improvement in symptomatology noted after the procedure, with 25% showing complete improvement, and a similar proportion (37.5%) reporting significant or partial improvement. Objective improvement in opacity was similar to that found at 6 months follow-up. The NEI-VFQ 25 quality of life questionnaire showed no statistically significant difference in responses between the sixth and eighteenth month. No adverse effects were noted on clinical examination or reported by patients.CONCLUSION: vitreolysis efficacy observed at 6 months of follow-up was maintained until the eighteenth month, with all patients reporting improvement from the pre-procedure state. No late adverse effects were noted. A larger randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm the safety of the procedure.