Efficiency and Safety of Binocular Cataract Phacoemulsification

A literature review is presented on the comparative assessment of two options for conducting cataract phacoemulsification — monocular phacoemulsification of cataract, (delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery, DSBCS) and binocular phacoemulsification of cataract (immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery, ISBCS). It has been established that to date in the literature there is a sufficient amount of data indicating the positive aspects of ISBCS, associated with faster rehabilitation, better functional results, as well as time, financial, and economic aspects. The safety of ISBCS is determined by the minimum likelihood of postoperative bilateral endophthalmitis with careful selection of patients, the required surgeon qualifications and strict adherence to the surgical protocol. Comparatively, in accordance with the results obtained, postoperative refractive indices, the value of the maximum corrected distance visual acuity, the frequency of complications and the degree of patient satisfaction were the same regardless of whether the bilateral cataract surgery was performed simultaneously or sequentially. The effectiveness of ISBCS is determined by quick rehabilitation, the need for only one pair of glasses, a decrease in visits to the clinic, the absence of anisometropia between operations, as well as only one general anesthesia (if necessary). The experience of clinics where such procedures were carried out shows that after ISBCS, minor refractive errors occur, while they are almost always symmetrical, characterized by a slight deviation from the target refraction and rapid recovery of binocular and stereoscopic vision. In financial terms, in accordance with the calculations carried out, the cost of DSBCS in various countries may be higher than the cost of ISBCS by 10.8–47.9 %. In absolute terms, simultaneous cataract surgery on two eyes (Finland) saved €449 per patient in medical costs and €739 after travel and home care costs were included. Taking into account the cost of lost work time, the savings were €849 per patient. The wider distribution of ISBCS is associated with the approval of the ophthalmological community and insurance companies, as well as the development of standardized teaching materials for practicing ophthalmologists.

Prospective Interventional Non-Comparative Non-Randomized Clinical Study of A Topical Synergic Compound to Mitigate Presbyopia Effects

Purpose To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel compound with low -dose pilocarpine, brimonidine and oxymetazoline (PBO) in the near vision of a group of healthy presbyopic individuals. Design Prospective, consecutive, noncomparative, nonrandomized interventional study. Subjects Twenty-six healthy presbyopic patients presented from August to September 2021 to our clinic and were willing to participate in the study. Methods PBO compound was instilled in both eyes to assess its effect in near vision one hour after instillation.Main Outcome Measures Under corrected near visual acuity using the Jaeger notation, under corrected and corrected distance visual acuity, photopic and scotopic pupil diameter was registered before and one hour after instillation of the compound. Results Baseline binocular Jaeger notation was 5.86 +/-1.39 SD range (3-9). One hour after drop instillation, binocular Jaeger was 2.53 +/ 1.71 SD range (1 – 6) (p ≤ 0.0001) Lines gained 3.30 +/-1.40 SD range (0 – 6). Mean photopic pupilar diameter was 3.69 mm +/- 0.67 SD range (2.5 – 5 mm). Mean scotopic pupilar diameter was 4.61 mm +/- 0.78 SD range (3 – 6 mm). The mean photopic pupilar diameter was 2.27 mm +/-052 SD (1.5 – 3) (p ≤ 0.000). Scotopic pupilar diameter was 2.63 mm +/-0.53 SD range (2 – 3) (p ≤ 0.000). One patient reported no improvement in near vision. (3.8%). One patient reported dim vision rated 5 in a VAS (1 –10) (3.8%). Conclusion Low-dose pilocarpine, brimonidine, and oxymetazoline showed efficacy, improving near-distance vision one hour after instillation in a group of presbyopic patients, and safety showed few and transient secondary effects.

Eight-Year Outcomes of Implantation of Posterior Chamber Phakic Intraocular Lens With a Central Port for Moderate to High Ametropia

Purpose: To assess the 8-year clinical outcomes of implantation of an implantable collamer lens (ICL) with a central port (KS-Aquaport; EVO-ICL) for moderate to high myopia and myopic astigmatism.Methods: This retrospective study comprised a total of 177 eyes of 106 patients with spherical equivalents of −7.99 ± 3.33 D [mean ± standard deviation], who underwent EVO-ICL implantation. We evaluated the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability, and adverse events of the surgery, at 1 month, and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 years postoperatively.Results: The logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (LogMAR) uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were −0.07 ± 0.17 and −0.20 ± 0.09, respectively, at 8 years postoperatively. The safety and efficacy indices were 1.18 ± 0.24 and 0.89 ± 0.28, respectively. At 8 years, 83 and 93% eyes were within ± 0.5 D and ± 1.0 D of the targeted correction, respectively. Change in manifest refraction from 1 month to 8 years postoperatively was −0.13 ± 0.30 D. Three eyes (1.7%) that developed cataracts had a slight pre-existing peripheral anterior subcapsular cataract formation required simultaneous ICL extraction and cataract surgery at 2 or 3 years or ICL size change (1 size up) at 7 years postoperatively. We found that neither significant intraocular pressure (IOP) rise (including pupillary block) nor significant endothelial cell loss occurred in any case throughout the 8-year observation period.Conclusions: Current ICL implantation with central port technology offered good continuous outcomes for all measures of safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability for correcting moderate to high myopic errors over a long period, thereby suggesting its long-term viability as a surgical approach for the treatment of such eyes.

One-Year Analysis of the Refractive Stability, Axial Elongation and Related Factors in a High Myopia Population after Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation

Purpose: To investigate the refractive stability, axial length changes and their related factors in a high myopia population after Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) implantation.Methods: This prospective study included 116 eyes of 116 patients divided into several groups based on the spherical equivalent refractive error (SE)—SE > -6D, -12 ≤ SE < -6D and SE < -12D groups—and axial length (AL)—AL < 28mm and AL ≥ 28mm groups. The uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, refraction, axial length and intraocular pressure were followed for 1 year.Results: SE changed from -11.53 ± 5.25D preoperatively to -0.33 ± 0.70D at 1 week, and further changed to -0.48 ± 0.77D at 1 year after ICL implantation, with average progression being -0.15 ± 0.37D from 1 week to 1 year after surgery. Axial length changed from 27.95 ± 2.33mm preoperatively to 27.98 ± 2.36mm 1 year after surgery, with an average axial elongation of 0.03 ± 0.12mm. The mean axial elongation rate was 0.05mm/year in the SE < -12D group, being significantly faster than the other SE groups (P < 0.05); it was 0.06mm/year in the AL ≥ 28mm group, being significantly faster than the AL < 28mm group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Patients with high myopia and long axial length showed a continuous myopic progression and axial elongation at an adult age after ICL surgery, especially those with myopia higher than -12.0D and AL longer than 28.00mm.

Customized versus Standard Epithelium Profiles in Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy

Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TransPRK) is an established surface ablation technique used to correct refractive errors. Using anterior segment optical coherence (AS-OCT), it is now possible to measure the epithelium thickness and input these data into the laser platform. In this study, we explore whether better results were obtained in this way. To this end, we retrospectively analyze the results from a low-myopia group treated with a customized epithelium thickness, as measured using AS-OCT, and compare them with the results from a group treated with an optimized standard epithelium thickness. The customized epithelium profile group contains more eyes with vision better than 20/20, and more eyes in this group gain one line of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). In conclusion, with the customized epithelium thickness, we obtain superior results using TransPRK in low-myopia corrections.

Association Between Types of Posterior Staphyloma and Refractive Error After Cataract Surgery for High Myopia

Purpose: To investigate the association between different types of posterior staphyloma (PS) and refractive error (RE) after cataract surgery in patients with high myopia.Methods: This retrospective study included 113 eyes of 113 highly myopic patients with PS. PS was detected using a wide-field fundus imaging system. PS was classified into wide macular, narrow macular, and other types. RE equaled the actual spherical equivalent (SE) minus the targeted SE values 3 months after cataract surgery.Results: The rates of wide macular, narrow macular, and other types of PS were 46.02, 39.82, and 14.16%, respectively. There were no significant differences in best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) or SE among the three classifications of PS before cataract surgery (P &gt; 0.05). However, postoperative BCDVA and SE were significantly different among the three types of PS patients (P &lt; 0.05). The average RE values were 0.98 ± 1.00 D, 0.19 ± 0.87 D, 0.13 ± 0.59 D, respectively; the statistical differences of RE were &lt;0.01, &lt;0.01, and 0.81 (wide macular vs. narrow macular, wide macular vs. other types, narrow macular vs. other types), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that higher hyperopia RE after surgery was associated with wide macular staphyloma (P &lt; 0.001), more myopic SE (P = 0.003), and increased BCDVA (P = 0.002) before surgery.Conclusions: Wide macular PS may be associated with more hyperopic RE; it may serve as a critical biomarker of hyperopic RE after cataract surgery in highly myopic patients.

Changes in post-keratoplasty astigmatism after suture removal: refraction vs tomography vs aberrometry

AIM: To analyse the changes in magnitude and orientation of astigmatism after suture removal (SR) in keratoplasty eyes as measured by refraction, tomography, and aberrometry. METHODS: Twenty-six eyes of 25 patients after optical keratoplasty requiring SR to reduce the astigmatism during the follow-up period were prospectively included. Eyes with poor quality topography scans or if there were no sutures in the steepest semi meridian were excluded. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, corneal tomography and aberrometry were performed on all patients before and after SR. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 40.8±14.4y. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 23 eyes (89%) and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty was done in 3 eyes (11%). There was a statistically significant reduction in the magnitude of refractive, tomographic and aberrometry astigmatism after SR (P<0.001) at 2h after suture removal. The mean net reduction of the astigmatism was greater as measured by corneal tomography compared to refractive astigmatism (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant change in refractive astigmatism between 2h and 2mo after SR (P=0.55). Vector calculations demonstrated a greater amount of undercorrection in the tomography group and the rotational error was more towards counterclockwise direction. Mean monocular logMAR CDVA improved from 0.57 D to 0.49 D after SR (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The net reduction in the magnitude of astigmatism after SR is greater in the tomography and aberrometry groups. With one episode of SR, there is no difference in the aberration profile.

Refractive amblyopia among children aged 4–12 years in a hospital-based setting in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Background: Refractive amblyopia is the most common cause of amblyopia in the Gaza Strip. However, the pattern of this condition has not yet been studied in this region. This study aimed to determine the pattern of refractive amblyopia in Gazan children aged 4?12 years.Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study using a purposive sampling method. Children aged 4?12 years who attended the Children’s Unit at Gaza Ophthalmic Hospital, Gaza Strip, Palestine from September 2019 to July 2020, were examined. A comprehensive eye test was conducted for all participants. Those who failed the eye examinations and were diagnosed with refractive amblyopia were included in the study. Demographic data and amblyopic refractive error patterns were analyzed accordingly.Results: Of the 107 children, 72.9% were newly diagnosed with refractive amblyopia. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of age of the children who participated was 7.85 ± 1.55 years. Approximately two-thirds of the patients were female (57.9%). Unilateral amblyopia was predominant in 60.7% of the cases. Moderate amblyopia was common (81.9%). A total of 149 amblyopic eyes were examined in total, with a mean ± SD (range) of best-corrected distance visual acuity and spherical equivalent of 0.45 ± 0.19 (0.2 to 1.3) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and + 0.76 ± 4.51 diopters (- 10.25 to + 11.50). Astigmatism was the most common amblyogenic factor (53.7%) among children with amblyopia.Conclusions: The frequency of refractive amblyopia was 72.9%, and meridional amblyopia accounted for the highest percentage. Girls were more commonly affected than boys. The majority were in the 7-year-old age group. Most cases were unilateral with moderate refractive amblyopia. Our study yields insights into the patterns of refractive amblyopia among children in the Gaza Strip.

Removing residual cortical material during cataract surgery: Visco polishing and the grindstone effect as a new surgical technique

Purpose To describe a new technique for removing residual cortical material adjacent to posterior lens capsule during cataract surgery with the help of cohesive ophthalmic viscosurgical devices. Methods In this technique, if there are still cortical remnants and lens epithelial cells left after the routine irrigation–aspiration and polishing at the final steps of cataract surgery, the capsule is filled to about one-third with a highly viscous cohesive ophthalmic viscosurgical device. Rinsing is performed from the anterior chamber with the water jet directed tangentially to the ophthalmic viscosurgical device bolus and towards the posterior capsule, which creates a turbulence creating a “grindstone effect”. The ophthalmic viscosurgical device bolus transforms into a ball and starts to rotate very quickly within the capsule, grinding away the cortical remnants. Results In the first series of 62 cases, there were no intra-operative or post-operative complications. At day 1 there was no corneal oedema and no hypertension of intraocular pressure. Visual outcomes were good with a mean best corrected distance visual acuity of −0.01 ± 0.11 logMAR. Conclusion This technique appears to be effective and fast in removing persistent cortical remnants from the surface of the posterior capsule, while minimising risks such as capsule aspiration during irrigation/aspiration. There is limited pressure and mechanical force applied on the capsule; the anterior chamber and the corneal endothelium remain safe since the ophthalmic viscosurgical device stays inside the capsular bag to its high cohesiveness and molecular weight. More data on a larger cohort of patients is planned to confirm these results and evaluate long-term effects on posterior capsule opacification.

Five-year outcomes of EVO implantable collamer lens implantation for the correction of high myopia and super high myopia

Background To evaluate the long-term safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability of implantable collamer lens with a central hole (EVO ICL) implantation for correcting high myopia (HM) and super high myopia (SHM). Methods This prospective study evaluated 83 eyes of 46 patients who were divided into groups based on their spherical equivalent refractive error (SE): HM group (− 12 D ≤ SE < − 6 D) and SHM group (SE < − 12 D). They were followed up for 5 years after ICL implantation; assessments of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refractive error, axial length, intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cell density, and vault were conducted, and a questionnaire was administered. ResuIts At 5 years postoperatively, the safety indices of the HM and SHM groups were 1.03 ± 0.10 and 1.32 ± 0.39, and the efficacy indices were 0.83 ± 0.25 and 0.86 ± 0.32, respectively. In the HM group, 60.47% and 79.07% of the eyes were within ± 0.50 D and ± 1.00 D of the attempted correction, while it was achieved for 22.50% and 47.50% of the eyes in the SHM group, respectively. The SE of the HM group decreased from − 9.72 ± 1.41 D preoperatively to 0.04 ± 0.39 D 1 month postoperatively and − 0.67 ± 0.57 D 5 years postoperatively, while in the SHM group, it decreased from − 15.78 ± 3.06 D preoperatively to − 0.69 ± 0.97 D 1 month postoperatively and − 1.74 ± 1.19 D 5 years postoperatively. Conclusion EVO ICL implantation is safe, effective, and predictable for correcting HM and SHM. CDVA improved more after surgery for SHM, but the growth of axial length still needs attention.