Prognostic Factors for Low Visual Acuity after Cataract Surgery with Vitreous Loss

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to find prognostic factors associated with low visual acuity in patients experiencing vitreous loss during cataract surgery. Methods. A retrospective, noncomparative, interventional, case study of patients experiencing vitreous loss during cataract surgery. Data collected included demographics, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length (AL), presence of ocular comorbidity affecting central vision, timing of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, position of the implanted lens, and the presence of corneal sutures. Low visual outcome was defined as BCVA < 20/40. Results. Overall, 179 patients (60.3% males) with a mean age of 73 ± 12 years and axial length of 23.5 ± 1.3 mm with a mean follow-up of 12 ± 13 months were included. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, low visual outcome was independently associated with persisting postoperative complications (OR 6.25, 95% CI 1.378–30.9), preexisting ocular comorbidities (OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.1–18.00), and secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implant (OR 10.36, 95% CI 1.8–60.00). Conversely, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for dislocated fragments of lens material, age > 70 years, gender, axial length, degree of surgeon, corneal suturing, and anterior chamber lens implantation were not found to have significant associations with low visual outcomes ( P > 0.05 ). Conclusions. Low visual outcome after vitreous loss during cataract surgery was associated with ocular comorbidities, secondary IOL implantation, development of cystoid macular edema, and additional surgical complications.

Visual Acuity Outcomes after Phacoemulsification in Eyes with Good Visual Acuity before Cataract Surgery

Objective: To analyze cataract surgery outcomes and related factors in eyes presenting with good visual acuity. Subject and Methods: Retrospective longitudinal of patients undergoing phacoemulsification between the years 2014-2018 in Moorfields Eye Hospital and satellite units. Pre- and postoperative visual acuity (unaided, with glasses, with pinhole) were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were age≥40 years and pinhole visual acuity ≥6/9 preoperatively. Exclusion criteria were no postoperative visual acuity data. VA change variable was also defined according to postoperative visual acuity being above or below the Snellen 6/9 threshold. Results: 2720 eyes were included in the analysis. The unaided LogMAR visual acuity improved from 0.54 to 0.20 (p<0.001), the LogMAR visual acuity with glasses improved from 0.35 to 0.05(p<0.001) and the LogMAR pinhole visual acuity improved from 0.17 to 0.13(p<0.001). 8.1% of patients had Snellen visual acuity <6/9 postoperatively. Mean follow up period was 23,6±9.9 days. In multivariate logistic regression, factors associated with visual acuity <6/9 postoperatively were: age [OR=0.96, 95% CI (0.95, 0.98), p<0.001], vitreous loss [OR=0.21, 95% CI (0.08, 0.56), p=0.002] and iris trauma [OR=0.28, 95% CI (0.10, 0.82) p=0.02]. No significant adverse events occurred. Conclusions: Visual acuity improved significantly overall in this group of patients, although at least 8.1% of them did not reach their pinhole preoperative visual acuity. Worse visual acuity outcomes were associated with increasing age, vitreous loss and iris trauma. The 6/9 vision threshold may not be able to accurately differentiate those who may benefit from cataract surgery and those who may not.

Iris Melanoma: Management and Prognosis

Iris melanomas represent 2–5% of uveal melanomas. Iris melanomas vary in their size, shape, degree of pigmentation and clinical behavior. The main local clinical complications of iris melanomas are tumor vascularization, ectropion uvea, pupillary distortion, pigment dispersion, sector cataract, chronic uveitis, hyphema and glaucoma with irreversible optic nerve damage. The most effective treatment for iris nevus and melanoma remains debatable; treatment modalities have been proposed depending on the local status as well as the age and general condition of the patient. A melanocytic iris nevus is usually observed until documented progression is identified. In this case, radiotherapy or surgical resection is generally performed. Cataract, glaucoma and limbal stem cell deficiency are usually secondary to radiotherapy, while incomplete tumor excisions, which could lead to recurrence, hemorrhage, vitreous loss, dislocated lens, iridocyclitis, macular edema, retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataract, are related to surgical resection. In some cases, a combination of radiotherapy and surgery is used. Conservative treatment is an efficient alternative to enucleation and allows good local tumor control.

Pseudophakic Retinal Detachment; Risk Factors, Pathogenesis, Clinical Characteristics, and Management

Since cataract surgery is the most common intraocular procedure, it also is the most common risk factor for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. It has been realized that 20-40% of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments occur in eyes that have undergone cataract extraction. The risk of pseudophakic retinal detachment can be increased in myopic patients, in those patients in whom vitreous loss had occurred at the time of cataract surgery, and in patients undergoing Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. This review mentions about the risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical and management of pseudophakic retinal detachment.

Aphakic Retinal Detachment; Risk Factors, Pathogenesis, Clinical Characteristics, and Management

Aphakia is one of the major risk factors for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). Predisposing factors such as myopia, male gender, vitreous loss, young age facilitate the development of RD. Generally, aphakic RD does not any symptoms. Retinal breaks are located more in the superior retinal quadrant, equatorial, or near the Ora Serrata and are tended to small size. Pars plana vitrectomy and/or scleral buckling have a similar functional and anatomical outcome in treatment.

An anomalous foveal OCT-sign after posterior capsule rupture in cataract surgery: Complicated cataract surgery maculopathy

Purpose: To report a series of novel optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) foveal abnormalities, that we called “T-sign,” that were noticed after a complicated cataract surgery with posterior capsule rupture and vitreous loss. Methods: Retrospective case series of persistent foveal changes that incurred after anteroposterior vitreo-foveal traction secondary to phacoemulsification in presence of posterior capsule rupture. Results: The study included three eyes of three patients that incurred in complicated cataract surgery and intraoperative vitreo-foveal traction. During 8-month follow-up period peculiar abnormalities in fundus examination and in OCT scans were reported in all cases. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification in presence of posterior capsule rupture could induce a vitreo-foveal strain that could be transmitted to the cone outer segment tips (COST line) and inner–outer segment (IS/OS) junction. This focal stress is liable for “T-sign,” a persistent SD-OCT abnormality that induce a visual impairment and a slight metamorphopsia in the fixation point. Summary statement All over the world, more than 9.5 million cataract surgeries are completed each year.1 During surgery, many intraoperative complications could occur, and capsule rupture with vitreous loss is a frequent event. Phacoemulsification in presence of a wide posterior capsule rupture and vitreo-macular adhesion could induce a typical modification of the foveal structure and a permanent visual impairment.

Clinical Investigation into Posterior Capsule Rupture in Phacoemulsification Operations Performed by Surgery Trainees

This retrospective cohort study investigated the occurrence rate, correlative factors, and prognosis of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) in phacoemulsification operations conducted by surgery trainees. This study assessed the first 200 phacoemulsification surgeries performed by six surgery trainees between August 2016 and December 2018. Cases were divided into two groups depending on whether they fell within the first 100 surgeries performed by a trainee (first 100 cases group) or the last 100 surgeries (last 100 cases group). The following clinical data were analyzed: the occurrence rate of PCR, whether this complication arose in the phaco or irrigation/aspiration (IA) phase, the occurrence of vitreous loss, retinal detachment, and dropped nucleus, the site of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, and postoperative visual acuity. Thirty-nine of the 1200 cases (3.25%) experienced PCR. The occurrence rates of PCR and vitreous loss were higher in the first 100 cases group than in the last 100 cases group (P=0.015 and P=0.017). PCR occurred more frequently in the phaco phase in the first 100 cases group and in the IA phase in the last 100 cases group (P=0.012). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of site of IOL implantation, the occurrence of retinal detachment or dropped nucleus, and postoperative visual acuity. With a supervising surgeon and the selection of suitable cases, the occurrence rate of PCR in phacoemulsification operations performed by surgery trainees could be controlled to the desired level. The phase in which PCR most frequently occurred and the likelihood of vitreous loss differed depending on the level of surgical experience of the trainees. It is a lengthy process for surgery trainees to reach the stage at which they can manage PCR and complex cataract surgery independently.