Autologous Internal Limiting Membrane Transplants Successfully Close a Large Parafoveal Retinal Hole

　Parafoveal retinal holes (PRHs) are one of the complications that can occur after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during macular surgery. Here we describe a patient in whom an exceptionally large PRH (1,069-μm dia.) was successfully closed by repeated autologous ILM transplantation

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defect and Paracentral Scotoma after Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling with a Nitinol Loop

Internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling is an important maneuver in vitrectomy for macular holes (MHs). A nitinol loop is a surgical instrument designed to create an edge on the ILM and peel the ILM safely and consistently. The effect of using a nitinol loop for ILM peeling on the retina is not clear. We report here on a case of an idiopathic full-thickness MH in an adult woman, in whom retinal damage was revealed after her ILM was peeled using a nitinol loop

Impact of Polyp Regression on 2-year Outcomes of Intravitreal Aflibercept Injections: A Treat-and-Extend Regimen for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

We conducted intravitreal aflibercept injections (IVAs) for 37 Japanese patients (28 males, 9 females, mean age 73.4 years) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), with a treat-and-extend regimen (TER). We evaluated the impact of polyp regression after a loading dose (2-mg IVA 1×/month for 3 months) on the patients' 2-year treatment outcomes. Thirty-seven eyes were treated with IVA by a TER for 2 years. We divided the patients into 2 groups based on their polyp status after the loading dose: polyp regression (PR+) (n=19) and no polyp regression (PR−) (n=18). We compared the groups’ best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), recurrence rate, total number of injections, and final treatment interval. Both the BCVA and CRT were significantly improved by the treatment in both groups, with no between-group difference in the amount of change (p=0.769). In the polyp regression (+) group, recurrence was significantly less common (p=0.03), the mean total number of injections was significantly lower (p=0.013), and the mean treatment interval was significantly longer (0.042). Regarding the 2-year outcomes for PCV, the eyes with post-loading-dose polyp regression demonstrated less frequent recurrence and required fewer numbers of injections compared to the eyes without polyp regression

Formulas to Estimate Appropriate Surgical Amounts of Unilateral Recession-Resection in Intermittent Exotropia with Distance-Near Disparity

The purpose of this study was to derive new formulas to provide an optimal surgical procedure and optimal amount of recession-resection (RR) surgery in intermittent exotropia (IXT) with a disparity in angle of deviation depending on the fixation distance. The records of 117 consecutive patients with IXT who underwent RR surgery between March 2008 and December 2011 at Okayama University Hospital were retrospectively examined. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed using the observed corrective angle of deviation at distance or near fixation as the dependent variable, and amounts of lateral rectus muscle (LR) recession (mm) and medial rectus muscle (MR) resection, and age at surgery (years) as independent variables. Two simultaneous formulas were derived: corrective angle of deviation at distance fixation (°)=1.8×recession (mm)+1.6× resection (mm)+0.15×age (years)–6.6, and corrective angle at near fixation (°)=1.5×recession (mm)+1.7× resection (mm)+0.18×age (years)–3.8. Comparisons of coefficient values of the formulas between distance and near fixation revealed that LR recession was more affected by the corrective angle in distance than near fixation. MR resection was more affected at near than distance fixation. We found that our new formulas estimated the appropriate amount of unilateral RR surgery

Results of a Treat-and-Extend Regimen of Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injection for Macular Edema due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

To investigate the effectiveness of a treat-and-extend regimen (TAE) of intravitreal ranibizumab injections (IVR) for macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). We retrospectively examined 35 eyes of 35 patients with ME due to BRVO who underwent TAE for 1 year. Patients whose treatment interval extended to 12 weeks were switched to a pro re nata regimen (PRN; TAE to PRN group), while TAE was continued for patients whose treatment interval was less than 12 weeks (continued TAE group). Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and predictive factors for inclusion in the TAE to PRN group were analyzed. BCVA and CRT both improved significantly at 1 year compared with baseline (p<0.001). Sixteen eyes (45.7%) were included in the TAE to PRN group, while 19 eyes (54.3%) were included in the continued TAE group. BCVA in the TAE to PRN group was significantly better than that in the continued TAE group at 1 year (p=0.047). BCVA at baseline and macular BRVO were significant predictive factors for inclusion in the TAE to PRN group. TAE was effective for improving BCVA and CRT. The TAE to PRN group showed significantly better prognosis

Two-year Results of Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injections Using a Treat-and-extend Regimen for Macular Edema due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

We investigated the effectiveness of a treat-and-extend regimen (TAE) of intravitreal ranibizumab injections for macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). We retrospectively examined 2-year results of 32 eyes of 32 patients who underwent TAE to treat ME due to BRVO. The patients whose treatment interval extended to ≥ 12 weeks were switched to a pro re nata regimen (PRN). For the patients whose treatment interval was <12 weeks, TAE was continued. At 2 years, 10 eyes had required no additional injections after the initial treatment period [recurrence(−) group], whereas the other 22 eyes required additional treatment [recurrence(+) group]. Among the recurrence(+) patients, 11 eyes (34.4% of total) were eventually switched from TAE to PRN; the other 11 eyes (34.4%) continued TAE for 2 years. Visual acuity and central retinal thickness were significantly improved in both the recurrence(+) and (−) groups, and there was no significant betweengroup difference in visual acuity at 2 years. Univariate analyses revealed significant differences in visual acuity (p=0.004), age (p=0.014), and vessel occlusion site (p=0.018) between these groups. Our results suggest that TAE may be effective for BRVO patients with lower visual acuity, older age, and occlusion of a major vein

Differences in the Stability and Amount of Postoperative Exodrift with Age after Unilateral Lateral Rectus Muscle Recession and Medial Rectus Muscle Resection of Intermittent Exotropia

We investigated variances in the stability and amount of postoperative exodrift among age groups of intermittent exotropia (XPT) patients who underwent unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection. We analyzed the cases of 110 consecutive patients who underwent the surgery in 2004-2011, dividing the patients into groups by their age at surgery: <10, 10-19, and ≥20 years. We performed a regression analysis (dependent variable: postoperative exodrift (°); independent variable: number of days post-surgery) using the formula of curve lines. When the tangent line slope was = 0.01 (°/days) for each group, we defined the numbers of days until alignment became stable as the ‘stable days.’ We evaluated the between-group differences in the amount of exodrift calculated for the stable days. The coefficients and coefficients of determination for the fitting curves were: <10 year group: f(x)=12.2 (1−e−0.0183x) (r2=0.588, p<0.05); 10-19 year group: f(x)=10.0 (1−e−0.0178x) (r2=0.453, p<0.05); ≥20 year group: f(x)=3.40 (1−e−0.0382x) (r2=0.217, p<0.05). There were 389 , 388, and 153 stable days, and the estimated postoperative exodrift with long-term follow-up was 11.5±3.7°, 9.3±4.4°, and 4.1±3.6° for the < 10 year, 10-19 year, and ≥ 20 year groups, respectively (≥20 year vs. other 2 groups, p<0.05). Longer periods and more postoperative exodrift were associated with younger age at surgery. The postoperative evaluation was approx. ≥ 1 year post-surgery in patients aged < 20. These findings may contribute to evaluating XPT’s success rate and prognoses