A Modified Intrascleral Intraocular Lens Fixation Technique Using 27-Gauge Blunted Needles with Fewer Intraocular Manipulations

A new method for intraocular lens (IOL) fixation in the scleral tunnel using two common 27G blunted needles and an ultrathin 30G needle with fewer intraocular manipulations was developed. Half-depth scleral flaps were prepared, and vertically angled sclerotomies were performed under each scleral flap, 2 mm from the limbs with a 20G microblade or a 26G needle. Two bent 27G blunted needles connected the sclerotomy and corneoscleral incisions. One haptic was inserted into this bent 27G blunted needle extraocularly and extruded through the sclerotomy site. Each haptic was inserted into the lumen of the preplaced ultrathin 30G needle and buried into the scleral tunnel. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the outcomes of this new technique in patients with at least 3 months’ follow-up data. Iris capture of the IOL was not observed in any case, and IOL repositioning was not performed either. Astigmatism induced by intraocular aberration was almost as same as that with other methods. Our technique can be performed in any operation room without any extra instruments. This trial is registered with UMIN000044350.

Cannula breakage during 25G+ minimally invasive vitrectomy: a case report

Background With the continuous improvement of surgical instruments in vitrectomy, the use of a trocar and cannula not only optimizes the incision process but also facilitates insertion and withdrawal of instruments during the procedure. Nevertheless, incision-related complications have also been reported in the literature. However, cannula fractures during 25G+ minimally invasive vitrectomy have rarely been reported. Case presentation A 62-year-old man underwent 25G+ pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. At the beginning of the operation, we used a trocar with a cannula to perform the sclerotomy. After the trocar was pulled out, the cannula was not seen on the surface of the sclera. Thus the inside and outside of the eye were carefully searched. The broken cannula tip was found in the ciliary body corresponding to the superonasal sclerotomy site and was subsequently removed. Conclusions Awareness regarding the risk of intraoperative fractures of 25G+ minimally invasive ocular surgical instruments is imperative. Whenever a broken or missing cannula is encountered, the residual part should be immediately extracted to avoid revision surgeries and postoperative complications.

Combined pars plana glaucoma drainage device placement and vitrectomy using a vitrectomy sclerotomy site for tube placement: a case series

Purpose The purpose of this study is to report the safety and efficacy of pars plana glaucoma drainage devices with pars plana vitrectomy using one of the vitrectomy sclerotomy sites for tube placement in patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods Retrospective case series of 28 eyes of 28 patients who underwent combined pars plana glaucoma drainage device and pars plana vitrectomy between November 2016 and September 2019 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication burden, best corrected visual acuity, and complications. Statistical tests were performed with R and included Kaplan-Meier analyses, Wilcoxon paired signed-rank tests, and Fisher tests. Results Mean IOP decreased from 22.8 mmHg to 11.8 mmHg at 1.5 years (p = 0.002), and mean medication burden decreased from 4.3 to 2.1 at 1.5 years (p = 0.004). Both IOP and medication burden were significantly lower at all follow-up time points. The probability of achieving 5 < IOP ≤ 18 mmHg with at least 20% IOP reduction from preoperative levels was 86.4% at 1 year and 59.8% at 1.5 years. At their last visit, three eyes (10.7%) achieved complete success with IOP reduction as above without medications, and 14 eyes (50.0%) achieved qualified success with medications. Hypotony was observed in 1 eye (3.6%) prior to 3 months postoperatively and 0 eyes after 3 months. Visual acuity was unchanged or improved in 23 eyes (82.1%) at their last follow-up. Two patients had a visual acuity decrease of > 2 lines. Two eyes required subsequent pars plana vitrectomies for tube obstruction, and one eye had transient hypotony. Conclusions The results of pars plana glaucoma drainage device and pars plana vitrectomy using one of the vitrectomy sclerotomy sites for tube placement are promising, resulting in significant IOP and medication-burden reductions through postoperative year 1.5 without additional risk of postoperative complications. Inserting glaucoma drainage devices into an existing vitrectomy sclerotomy site may potentially save surgical time by obviating the need to create another sclerotomy for tube placement and suture one of the vitrectomy ports.

Combined Pars Plana Glaucoma Drainage Device Placement and Vitrectomy Using a Vitrectomy Sclerotomy Site for Tube Placement: A Case Series

Background: The purpose of this study is to report the safety and efficacy of pars plana (PP) glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs) with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) using one of the vitrectomy sclerotomy sites for tube placement in patients with refractory glaucoma.Methods: Retrospective case series of 28 eyes of 28 patients who underwent combined PP GDD and PPV between November 2016 and September 2019 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication burden, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications. Statistical tests were performed with R and included Kaplan-Meier analyses, Wilcoxon paired signed-rank tests, and Fisher tests.Results: Mean IOP decreased from 22.8 mmHg to 11.4 mmHg at 1.5 years (p = 0.009), and mean medication burden decreased from 4.3 to 1.7 at 1.5 years (p = 0.009). Both IOP and medication burden were significantly lower at all follow-up time points. The probability of achieving 5 ≤ IOP ≤ 18 mmHg with at least 20% IOP reduction from preoperative levels was 77.7% at 1 year and 45.8% at 1.5 years. At their last visit, four eyes (14.3%) achieved complete success with IOP reduction as above without medications, and 13 eyes (46.2%) achieved qualified success with medications. Visual acuity was unchanged or improved in 23 eyes (82.1%) at their last follow-up. Two patients had a visual acuity decrease of >2 lines. Two eyes required subsequent PPV for tube obstruction, and one eye had transient hypotony.Conclusions: The results of pars plana GDD and vitrectomy using one of the vitrectomy sclerotomy sites for tube placement are promising, resulting in significant IOP and medication-burden reductions through postoperative year 1.5 without additional risk of postoperative complications. Inserting GDDs into an existing vitrectomy sclerotomy site may potentially save surgical time by obviating the need to create another sclerotomy for tube placement and suture one of the vitrectomy ports.

Scleral Buckling with a Noncontact Wide-Angle viewing System in the Management of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Purpose To introduce a modified scleral buckling surgery using noncontact wide-angle viewing system and intraocular illumination in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) without proliferative retinopathy. Methods A modified scleral buckling surgery using noncontact wide-angle viewing system with a 25-G optic fiber through sclerotomy site was performed in 22 eyes of 22 patients with RRD. Twelve women and 10 men were included. The mean age was 49.23 ± 15.19 years. The mean refraction of myopia was -4 D (range -3 to -7 D). The mean duration of RRD was 6.64 ± 3.14 days. The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 0.02 to 0.8. Mean follow-up was 9.59 ± 2.24 months. Proliferative retinopathy was grade A in 8 eyes and grade B in 14 eyes. Results This surgery was performed successfully and retinal attachment was achieved in all eyes at the final follow-up. The postoperative BCVA increased in all eyes. No complication was encountered related to this technique. Conclusions This modified scleral buckling surgery brings a panoramic and upright view and easy surgical maneuvers. It may be an additional approach for the management of RRD.

Cryo-compression of sclerotomy sites after transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy

Purpose: Transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy(TSV) has become more commonly performed, but the incidence of sclerotomy site leakage is becoming an issue. We have developed a new and easy sclerotomy closure technique using cryotherapy, and named it ‘cryo-compression’.Methods: After the removal of the cannula, sclerotomy sites’ cryotherapy was performed with the setting of one cryospot for each site and ten seconds for each spot. After cryotherapy, firm pressure was maintained for more than 30 seconds. Immediately after compression, when any degree of leakage was detected, a single transconjunctival suture with 8-0 vicryl was placed. Postoperatively, topical steroid and antibiotics eyedrops were administrated.Results: Sixteen patients undergoing 23-gauge vitrectomy with this technique were reviewed retrospectively. The postoperative one- and six-hour intraocular pressures (IOPs) were significantly lower than preoperative IOP, but postoperative one-day and one-week IOPs were not different from preoperative IOP. Incidence of hypotony was 12.5% (N = 2/16 eyes) at only one hour but all eyes recovered. Intraoperative suture at sclerotomy sites was placed in eight of the 48 sclerotomies(16.7%) and suture placement was not required postoperatively. No cases of severe intraocular inflammation or endophthalmitis were indentified.Conclusions: Our short-term results are fairly respectable, so we think that the ‘Cryocompression’ technique is helpful to obtain sclerotomy closure in TSV.