Functional and anatomical evaluation of the effect of nepafenac in prevention of macular edema after phacoemulsification in diabetic patients

AIM: To evaluate the effect of prophylactic administration of nepafenac in prevention of macular edema occurring in diabetic patients after phacoemulsification and to investigate the correlation between optical coherence tomography(OCT) foveal thickness and multifocal electroretinogram(MF-ERG) parameters.METHODS: The study included two groups. Group 1 included 50 diabetic patients with senile cataract(50 eyes, 30 females, 20 males, aged 55±7 y) received nepafenac 0.1% eye drop. Group 2 included another 50 diabetic patients with senile cataract(50 eyes, 22 female, 28 males, aged 53.8±8 y) did not receive nepafenac. All patients were followed up for 3 mo postoperatively. OCT and MF-ERG were done preoperative and at 1 wk, 1, 2 and 3 mo.RESULTS: The mean foveal thickness was statistically significantly lower in Group 1. Five eyes in Group 2 developed clinical cystoid macular oedema(CMO)(10%), and no patients in Group 1 developed central macular thickening more than 50 μm. There were insignificant differences in MF-ERG amplitudes and latencies between the two groups except in the five eyes that developed CMO, there statistically significant reduction of MF-ERG amplitude with increase in foveal thickness. CONCLUSION: Perioperative nepafenac reduces the incidence of CMO following uncomplicated phacoemulsification significantly. Nepafenac has no side effects.

Long-term results of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in Egyptian population

AIM： To evaluate the long-term results and complications of Ahmed glaucoma valve （AGV） implantation in a cohort of Egyptian patients. METHODS： A retrospective study of 124 eyes of 99 patients with refractory glaucoma who underwent AGV implantation and had a minimum follow-up of 5y was performed. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination and intraocular pressure （lOP） measurement before surgery and at ld, weekly for the 1st month, 3, 6mo, and ly after surgery and yearly afterward for 5y. lOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry and/or Tono-Pen. Complications and the number of anti-glaucoma medications needed were recorded. Success was defined as lOP less than 21 mm Hg with or without anti-glaucoma medication and without additional glaucoma surgery. RESULTS： Mean age was 23.1±19.9y. All eyes had at least one prior glaucoma surgery, lOP was reduced from a mean of 37.2±6.8 to 19.2±5.2 mm Hg after 5y follow-up with a reduced number of medications from 2.64±0.59 to 1.81±0.4. Complete and qualified success rates were 31.5% and 46.0% respectively at the end of follow-up. The most common complications were encapsulated cyst formation in 51 eyes （41.1%）, complicated cataract in 9 eyes （7.25%）, recessed tube in 8 eyes （6.45%）, tube exposure in 6 eyes （4.8%） and corneal touch in 6 eyes （4.8%）. Other complications included extruded AGV, endophthalmitis and persistent hypotony. Each of them was recorded in only 2 eyes （1.6%）. ~ CONCLUSION： Although refractory glaucoma is a difficult problem to manage, AGV is effective and relatively safe procedure in treating refractory glaucoma in Egyptian patients with long-term follow-up. Encapsulated cyst formation was the most common complication, which limits successful lOP control after AGV implantation. However, effective complications management can improve the rate of success.

Trabeculectomy with Ologen implant versus perfluoropropane gas bubble for open angle glaucoma in pseudophakic eyes

AIM:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of augmented trabeculotomy with Ologen versus perfluoropropane in management of pseudophakic glaucoma.METHODS:This is a comparative randomized study included 57 pseudophakic eyes of 57 patients with medically uncontrolled open angle glaucoma(OAG).Twentynine patients were allocated in group I(trabeculectomy with Ologen;trab-ologen group),while 28 patients were assigned in group II(trabeculectomy with perfluoropropane gas bubble;trab-C3 F8 gas bubble group).RESULTS:The intraocular pressure(IOP)was significantly reduced in both study groups at all postoperative follow up intervals(1 wk,3,6,12,18,24,30 and 36 mo,P<0.001).The differences between the mean IOP values of both groups remained statistically insignificance during the early 12 months of follow up.However,the trab-ologen group achieved a statistically significant reduction over the trab-C3 F8 gas bubble group during the last 24 months of follow up.CONCLUSION:Augmentation of trabeculectomy with either Ologen implant or perfluoropropane gas bubble are associated with strict long term IOP control and evident safety in medically-uncontrolled pseudophakic eyes with OAG.

Beneficial effects of vincamine with thioctic acid and lutein on retinal and optic nerve functions in an opaque media

AIM: To detect whether the combination of vincamine, thioctic acid and lutein will improve the retina and optic nerve functions in cases of an opaque media with an optic nerve and/or a retinal defect or not.METHODS: Totally 2000 patients(2000 eyes) of corneal opacities with defects in the optic nerve or/and the retinal functions were studied. Every patient received three types of drugs: thioctic acid with cyanocobalamine, vincamine, and lutein. The drugs were given daily for 3-12 mo according to patient’s responses. Full field flash electroretinogram(ERG) and flash visual evoked potential(VEP) were done before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo sequentially. Patients were followed up for 12 mo.RESULTS: In the 2000 eyes, 1000 eyes had both moderate optic nerve and retinal function defects;and 840 eyes out of the 1000 improved with the medical treatment. Another 500 eyes out of the 2000 eyes had extinguished retinal function with normal optic nerve function and only 125 eyes of them improved. The 290 out of the 2000 eyes had severe defects in optic nerve with normal retinal function and 130 of them improved. Another 210 eyes have mild optic nerve and retinal function defects and 194 improved.CONCLUSION: The combination of vincamine, thioctic acid with cyanocobalamine, and lutein improved both retina and optic nerve functions mainly in mild and moderate defect than in severe cases.

Intraluminal stenting versus external ligation of Ahmed glaucoma valve in prevention of postoperative hypotony

AIM:To compare intraluminal stenting and external ligation of Ahmed glaucoma valves(AGV)for refractory glaucoma management and postoperative hypotony prevention.METHODS:This randomized prospective blind study included 30 eyes of 25 patients(age range:44-56y)with refractory glaucoma.This study was conducted from September 2018 to January 2020.The study included two groups,AGV with intraluminal stenting group(n=15 eyes)and AGV with external ligation group(n=15 eyes).Follow-up period was one year postoperatively.The primary outcome was intraocular pressure(IOP)and its association with the number of postoperative glaucoma medications.IOP≤21 mm Hg without medications indicated complete success while IOP≤21 mm Hg with medications indicated qualified success;and IOP<6 mm Hg was defined as hypotony.RESULTS:After a year of follow-up,IOP was significantly reduced in the intraluminal stenting group than in the external ligation group(11.67±0.89 vs 14.2±4.0 mm Hg,respectively,P=0.024).Postoperative hypotony was more common in the external ligation group(2 cases,13.33%)than in the intraluminal stenting group(1 case,6.67%).CONCLUSION:Application of intraluminal stenting or external ligation during AGV surgery usually prevents postoperative hypotony(transient and persistent)that occurs in conventional AGV surgery.

Two-stage procedure in the management of selected cases of keratoconus: clear lens extraction with aspherical IOL implantation followed by WFG-PRK

AIM： To assess the objective and subjective results of a two-stage procedure for management of keratoconus： clear lensectomy with aspherical intraocular lens（IOL） implantation followed by wave front-guided photorefractive keratotomy（WFG-PRK）.METHODS： This prospective interventional non-randomized study included patients aged 35 years old or more with grade I and II stable keratoconus, a clear visual axis, minimal corneal thickness（MCT） 420 μm or more and average keratometric reading（K） less than 54 diopter（D）. Refraction of all selected eyes should be-8.00 D sphere or more with less than-6.00 D cylinder and could be corrected two lines or more with spectacles or contact lenses. All studied eyes underwent a two-stage approach treatment： first refractive lens exchange and aspherical IOL implantation followed, after at least 3 mo, by WFGPRK. Pre and postoperative complete ophthalmological examination were performed. Topographical, visual and aberrometric results were recorded and evaluated during 6 mo follow up period. Moreover, patient satisfaction and other subjective outcomes were also analyzed.RESULTS： The 13 eyes of 11 patients diagnosed with stable keratoconus and aged from 39 to 49 y（42.4±6.2 y） were enrolled in the study. At baseline, 8 eyes had grade I and 5 eyes had grade II keratoconus. The manifest sphere was-10.3±4.2 D（ranged from-8.0 to-14.0 D） and the manifest cylinder was-4.2±1.2 D（ranged from-1.75 to-5.50 D）. After the two-stage procedure, sphere and cylinder reduced significantly to-0.43±0.22 D and-1.3±0.72 D respectively（P〈0.001）. There was also a highly significant improvement in the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity（UDVA） from logMAR 1.41±0.49 preoperatively to 0.51±0.16 postoperatively（P〈0.001） and the mean corrected distance visual acuity（CDVA） from 0.76±0.24 preoperatively to 0.49±0.13 after the operation（P〈0.001）. All aberrometric and mesopic vision parameters and most of the topographical indices demonstrated highly significant improvement that remains stable until the end of follow up. All recorded subjective data revealed a high degree of patient satisfaction.CONCLUSION： Two-stage approach（clear lens exchange with monofocal IOL followed by WFG-PRK） in selected cases of keratoconus is a safe, effective and highly predictable procedure with satisfactory visual and refractive results.

Does the scleral encircling band provide a protective effect against the progression of diabetic retinopathy?

AIM: To evaluate the effect of scleral encircling bands on the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR) in diabetic patients.METHODS: The medical records of diabetic patients who underwent unilateral retinal detachment(RD) surgery using scleral buckle and encircling band were reviewed retrospectively. Both eyes of patients were included in the study: one eye in each patient had a scleral buckle with encircling band(the operated eye) and the other one is the non-operated eye. The demographic characters, duration of diabetes and period between surgery and the last recall visit were retrieved from each patient. All the cases underwent fundus photo and fluorescein angiography(when indicated) to confirm the DR staging.RESULTS: Totally 25 patients fulfilled the inclusion and the exclusion criteria were become eligible for the study. A total of 50 eyes of 25 patients were enrolled in this analysis. The mean period of time passed from surgery with encircling band and the last reassessment visit was 12.5±2 y. Even though DR could develop in the operated eyes, it was at a less degree of severity compared to the non-operated eyes of same patients(P=0.027).CONCLUSION: Scleral encircling bands have protective effects against the development and progression of DR.

Changes of anterior segment parameters after horizontal rectus muscles recession versus resection

Background:To record the corneal,and anterior chamber depth changes after performing recession versus resection of horizontal recti muscles.Methods:Consecutive patients who underwent isolated lateral rectus muscle recession or resection February 2014 to January 2015 were prospectively studied.Refractive error(spherical equivalent);K1,K2,and mean k reading,anterior and posterior corneal elevation;and anterior chamber depth were measured(Pentacam)before,1 month,and 3 months after surgery.Patients who could not maintain reliable fixation and those with a history of eye surgery were excluded.Pre-and postoperative measurements were compared by analysis of variance.Results:A total of 36 eyes of 23 patients(average age,16 years)were included.Rectus muscle recession was performed in 24 eyes;and resection was performed in 12 eyes.Statistically significant changes in mean keratometry of recession group only.Central anterior elevation,and central anterior chamber depth were significant when both groups are compared at first month after surgery.Changes became regressive at the end of the third month.Although a significant change of central anterior elevation persisted.Conclusions:In recession group,the mean K was the only statistically significant variable by the first postoperative month.Comparing the both groups,the anterior corneal elevation,and central anterior chamber depth revealed a significant difference by the end of the first postoperative month.After 3 months,all parameters showed a statistical insignificant difference between the recession and resection groups except the anterior corneal elevation.