Chronic ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in rabbits: clinical and histopathological

METHODS. Fifteen rabbits were divided into three equal groups of CT subconjunctival-only (SC) and subconjunctival plus intravitreal (SCþIV) inoculation, and controls. Both noncontrol groups received a bilateral SC injection (BSI) and the SCþIV group additionally received a unilateral IV injection (UII) of CT L2 culture, whereas the controls received a BSIþUII of phosphate-buffered saline. During 6 months post injection, the animals were investigated for PS inflammation and infection clinically and microbiologically (cell culture, ELISA, and realtime PCR). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and direct immunofluorescence in situ reaction were used to reveal the signs of tissue inflammation and infection. RESULTS. In the SC group, mild PS disorders (eight eyes) involving vitreal infiltration, the following posterior vitreous detachment and chorioretinitis, and severe PS disorders (two eyes) in the form of panuveitis, were developed. In the SCþIV group, mild (three and three eyes that received SC-only and SCþIV injections, respectively) and severe (two and two eyes that received SC-only and SCþIV injections, respectively) PS disorders were developed. A high titer (1:32-1:128) of CT-specific IgM antibody was present in sera from all the noncontrol animals. The CT antigen was detected in the conjunctiva and PS structures (the vitreous, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid) in 100% and 40% to 75% of all the noncontrol animals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. Conjunctival or intraocular inoculation with CT may result in invasion of the PS structures and durable persistence thereof, with the development of inflammatory and then degenerative changes. These data might advocate for expanding the role of chronic CT infection in etiology and pathogenesis of vitreoretinal disorders

Retro-Mode Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Planning for Navigated Macular Laser Photocoagulation in Macular Edema

Purpose. To compare treatment areas and navigated macular laser photocoagulation (MLP) plans suggested by retro-mode scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (RM-SLO) image versus optical coherence tomography (OCT) central retinal thickness map and treatment planning among retina specialists. Methods. Thirty-nine eyes with diabetic or branch retinal vein occlusion-related ME undergoing navigated MLP with navigated photocoagulator had OCT and RM-SLO taken. OCT map and RM-SLO image were imported to the photocoagulator and aligned onto the retina. Two retina specialists placed laser spot marks separately based on OCT and RM-SLO images in a random fashion. The spots placed by each physician were compared between OCT and RM-SLO and among physicians. The areas of retinal edema on OCT and RM-SLO of the same eye were also compared. Results. The average number of laser spots using RM-SLO and OCT template was 189.6±77.4 and 136.6±46.8, respectively, P=0.003. The average area of edema on RM-SLO image was larger than that on OCT map (14.5±3.9 mm2 versus 10.3±2.8 mm2, P=0.005) because of a larger scanning area. There was narrow variability in treatment planning among retina specialists for both RM-SLO (P=0.13) and OCT (P=0.19). Conclusion. The RM-SLO image superimposed onto the fundus of the same eye can be used to guide MLP with narrow variability in treatment planning among retina specialists. The treatment areas suggested by RM-SLO-guided MLP plans for ME were shown to be larger than those suggested by OCT-guided plans

Clinical Study Combination of Navigated Macular Laser Photocoagulation and Anti-VEGF Therapy: Precise Treatment for Macular Edema under Dry Retinal Conditions

Purpose. To compare the controllability of navigated macular laser photocoagulation (MLP) in dry versus edematous retina and validate that pretreatment diagnostic images can be used as basis for navigated MLP after the macular edema (ME) has been resolved. Materials and Methods. Group 1 was divided into subgroup 1 (dry retina MLP) and subgroup 2 (MLP in ME) for comparisons of laser-burn diameters. In group 2, the areas and locations of ME before an intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF (IVAV) were compared with those of recurrent ME. Results. The average actual diameter as percentage of planned diameter of laser burn in subgroup 1 (11 DME eyes, 6 BRVO eyes) versus subgroup 2 (5 DME eyes, 8 BRVO eyes) was 115.1 ± 9.1% versus 167.2 ± 13.8% (based on retro-mode scanning laser ophthalmoscopy), and 118.1 ± 14.8% versus 176.1 ± 11.6% (based on OCT) (p < 0 001). In group 2 (6 DME eyes, 6 BRVO eyes), difference in mean ME area before IVAV and that in recurrent edema was insignificant ( p > 0 05). Conclusion. The controllability of navigated MLP in dry retina is improved compared to edematous retina. This study validates that pretreatment diagnostic images can be used as basis for navigated MLP after the edema has been resolved

Combination of Navigated Macular Laser Photocoagulation and Anti-VEGF Therapy: Precise Treatment for Macular Edema under Dry Retinal Conditions

Purpose. To compare the controllability of navigated macular laser photocoagulation (MLP) in dry versus edematous retina and validate that pretreatment diagnostic images can be used as basis for navigated MLP after the macular edema (ME) has been resolved. Materials and Methods. Group 1 was divided into subgroup 1 (dry retina MLP) and subgroup 2 (MLP in ME) for comparisons of laser-burn diameters. In group 2, the areas and locations of ME before an intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF (IVAV) were compared with those of recurrent ME. Results. The average actual diameter as percentage of planned diameter of laser burn in subgroup 1 (11 DME eyes, 6 BRVO eyes) versus subgroup 2 (5 DME eyes, 8 BRVO eyes) was 115.1 ± 9.1% versus 167.2 ± 13.8% (based on retro-mode scanning laser ophthalmoscopy), and 118.1 ± 14.8% versus 176.1 ± 11.6% (based on OCT) (p<0.001). In group 2 (6 DME eyes, 6 BRVO eyes), difference in mean ME area before IVAV and that in recurrent edema was insignificant (p>0.05). Conclusion. The controllability of navigated MLP in dry retina is improved compared to edematous retina. This study validates that pretreatment diagnostic images can be used as basis for navigated MLP after the edema has been resolved

Navigated Pattern Laser System versus Single-Spot Laser System for Postoperative 360-Degree Laser Retinopexy

Purpose. To compare three 360°-laser retinopexy (LRP) approaches (using navigated pattern laser system, single-spot slit-lamp (SL) laser delivery, and single-spot indirect ophthalmoscope (IO) laser delivery) in regard to procedure duration, procedural pain score, technical difficulties, and the ability to achieve surgical goals. Material and Methods. Eighty-six rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients (86 eyes) were included in this prospective randomized study. The mean procedural time, procedural pain score (using 4-point Verbal Rating Scale), number of laser burns, and achievement of the surgical goals were compared between three groups (pattern LRP (Navilas® laser system), 36 patients; SL-LRP, 28 patients; and IO-LRP, 22 patients). Results. In the pattern LRP group, the amount of time needed for LRP and pain level were statistically significantly lower, whereas the number of applied laser burns was higher compared to those in the SL-LRP group and in the IO-LRP group. In the pattern LRP, SL-LRP, and IO-LRP groups, surgical goals were fully achieved in 28 (77.8%), 17 (60.7%), and 13 patients (59.1%), respectively (p>0.05). Conclusion. The navigated pattern approach allows improving the treatment time and pain in postoperative 360° LRP. Moreover, 360° pattern LRP is at least as effective in achieving the surgical goal as the conventional (slit-lamp or indirect ophthalmoscope) approaches with a single-spot laser

Clear Corneal Phacovitrectomy with Posterior Capsulorhexis and IOL Implantation in Management of Selective Vitreoretinal Cases

Purpose. To describe our technique, clear corneal phacovitrectomy with posterior capsulorhexis (CCPV), for the management of selected posterior segment intraocular foreign body (IOFB), posteriorly dislocated lens fragments (PDLF), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) cases. Methods. This was a single-center retrospective interventional case series. In 21 patients (21 eyes) we performed phacovitrectomy through three clear corneal tunnel incisions (CCTI) and posterior capsulorhexis to remove IOFB (n=8), PDLF from the vitreous cavity after complicated phacoemulsification (n=6), and vitreous hemorrhage and epiretinal membranes in PDR (n=7). The procedure was completed with implantation of a hydrophobic acrylic IOL through the CCTI. Results. The mean visual acuity (logMAR) was 0.90 preoperative and improved to 0.26 over a mean follow-up of 8.7 months (range, 6–12 months). The intraocular lens was implanted into the capsular bag (n=12) or onto the anterior capsule (n=9). One PDR patient experienced an intraprocedural complication, hemorrhage from isolated fibrovascular adhesions. One IOFB patient developed apparent anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy and required a repeat intervention. Conclusion. Selected vitreoretinal IOFB, PDLF, and PDR cases can be successfully managed by a combined surgical approach involving clear corneal phacovitrectomy with posterior capsulorhexis and implantation of an IOL, with good visual outcome and a low complication rate

High Frequency of Latent Conjunctival C. trachomatis, M. hominis, and U. urealyticum Infections in Young Adults with Dry Eye Disease

Aim. To determine the frequency of detection of conjunctival C. trachomatis (CT), M. hominis (MH), and U. urealyticum (UU) infections in young adults with dry eye disease (DED), since these infections may potentially produce the chronic subclinical inflammation characteristic of DED. Materials and Methods. The study included subjects of 25–45 years of age, divided into the DED (n=114) and nondry eye control (n=98) groups, with the diagnosis based on self-reported complaints, biomicroscopy, the Schirmer I test, and break-up time. All patients had conjunctival scrapings taken to detect CT, MH, and UU with direct fluorescent-antibody assay kits. Results. At least one of the three microorganisms was found in 87.7% of the DED patients versus 8.2% of the controls. Of all the DED patients, 63.2%, 50.8%, and 42.1% were found to be infected with CT, MH, and UU, respectively. Multiple pathogens were identified in 65% of the DED patients found to be infected. CT infection was detected in 6.1% of the controls. Conclusion. C. trachomatis, M. hominis, and U. urealyticum were detected with high frequency in the conjunctiva of young adults with DED and may be an important risk factor for DED in them

High frequency of latent Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

AIM: To determine the frequency of detection of ocular and extraocular Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in non-high myopes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: This was a single-center, nonrandomized, prospective, case-control study. One hundred and four patients were divided into a study group with RRD (n=63) and a control group with traumatic retinal detachment (n=41). Samples of subretinal fluid (SFR), conjunctival, urethral/cervical swabs, and blood were collected. The frequency of detection of CT infection in SRF samples was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and cell culture, whereas that in conjunctival swabs was determined by PCR and DFA, and those in urethral/cervical swabs and blood were determined by DFA. Yates Chi-square test (with Bonferroni correction) and two-tailed Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: SRF CT infection was detected more frequently in the study group (50.8%-71.4%) than in the control group (9.8%-12.2%) by all the methods used (P<0.01). The frequency of detection of conjunctival CT infection by DFA was higher in the RRD patients compared with the controls (81.0% vs 24.4%, P=0.004). The PCR detected conjunctival CT infection more often in the study group than in the controls (46.0% vs 9.8%, P=0.007). The DFA detected CT in blood specimens almost as frequently as in urogenital specimens, for the RRD patients (61.2% vs 63.5%) and the controls (7.3% vs 9.8%). CONCLUSION: CT infection is detected with high frequency in non-high myopes with RRD