Natural history of persistent subretinal fluid following the successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

AIM:To provide a detailed description of the natural history of persistent subretinal fluid(SRF)after successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD)and its association with visual outcome.METHODS:This was a prospective long-term follow-up for eyes undergoing scleral buckling(SB)surgery for maculaoff RRD.Examinations were carried out preoperatively and postoperatively at 1,3,6,9 and 12 mo,until persistent SRF had completely resolved.One month postoperatively,optical coherence tomography(OCT)was used to classify SRF into three patterns:bleb-like loculated(BL),shallow-diffused(SD),and multiple blebs(MB).Serial OCT imaging was used to evaluate morphological changes in SRF until its complete disappearance.Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of persistent SRF.RESULTS:A total of 59 patients(59 eyes)were included.There were no statistical differences between two groups at baseline,except for the proportion of patients with high myopia and a younger age.One month after surgery,OCT detected persistent SRF in 49 eyes(83.1%).The 3 morphological patterns of SRF were observed in 27 eyes(55.1%)with BL,13 eyes(26.5%)with SD,and 9 eyes(18.4%)with MB.The mean time for complete absorption differed significantly across the three SRF patterns(F=8.097,P=0.001),which was 8.8±6.1,20.1±12.1,and 16.7±10.2 mo in BL,SD,and MB,respectively.In 9 of the 13 eyes with SD,the pattern transformed into MB type.In cases involving MB,the size and number of blebs decreased gradually until they had been completely absorbed.Eyes with persistent SRF were more likely to demonstrate disruption of the ellipsoid zone(49.0%vs 10%,P=0.034).The final best-corrected visual acuity of two groups was 0.37±0.11(with SRF)vs 0.34±0.12(without SRF)logMAR(P=0.499),respectively.CONCLUSION:High preoperative myopia and younger age are associated with persistent SRF.BL is the most commonly observed pattern with the shortest duration and gradually disappeared.Most cases involving SD SRF transform into MB type during resolution.The size and number of the MBs decrease gradually until they were completely absorbed.The absence of persistent SRF may contribute to slow visual recovery in the short-term but does not influence the final visual outcome.

Persistent subretinal fluid after successful scleral buckle surgery for macula-off retinal detachment

Background After successful scleral buckle and cryotherapy for macular-off retinal detachment （RD）, some patients have poor visual acuity without any clinically detected macular change, and the unsatisfactory postoperative visual acuity is difficult to explain. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of subretinal fluid （SRF） after successful scleral buckle surgery for macula-off RD. Methods Twenty-eight eyes from 28 patients were included in this study. The patients underwent scleral buckle surgery combined with cryopexy for macular-off RD. After surgery, all eyes underwent thorough ophthalmologic examinations including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, best-corrected visual acuity （BCVA） test, and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. The BCVA prior to the operation, duration of RD, the duration of postoperative retinal reattachment, BCVA when SRF was observed, period required for the SRF to become undetectable, and the BCVA at the final follow-up were included in the clinical data for this study. Optical coherence tomography （OCT） and B-ultrasonography were used to confirm SRF, and fluorescein angiography （FFA） was carried out in several patients. BCVA when SRF was observed and BCVA at the final follow-up were evaluated using a paired t test. Correlations between BCVA before the operation and duration of RD and BCVA at the final follow-up were analyzed using the Pearson correlation test. The type of SRF under OCT and BCVA at the final follow-up were compared using one-way analysis of variance （ANOVA）. Results Postoperative retinal reattachment was achieved in 1.0-7.0 days （average, （2.7±.2.1） days）. After retinal reattachment, SRF was detected in all eyes by OCT 2 weeks postoperative, while B ultrasonography found no changes. The mean IogMAR BCVA was 0.35±0.27 at the time of the detection of SRF. The period for SRF to become undetectable ranged from 2.0 to 11.0 months （average, （6.3±2.3） months）. The time of follow-up ranged from 24.0 to 36.0 months （average, （28.9±3.4） months）. The mean IogMAR BCVA improved to 0.30±0.23 at the final follow-up, which was significantly different from the mean IogMAR BCVA at the time of SRF detection （paired t-test, t=3.82, P 〈0.05）. Postoperative OCT images were classified into three categories. FFA was carried out in 10 eyes and revealed no leakage or strain in the lesions. BCVA before the operation was significantly correlated with BCVA at the final follow-up （r=0.56, P 〈0.05）. No significant correlation was observed between BCVA at the final follow-up and duration of RD （r=0.23, P=0.22）. One-way analysis of variance （ANOVA） showed no significant difference between the type of SRF under OCT and BCVA at the final follow-up （F=0.21, P=0.81）. Conclusions The presence of persistent SRF after successful scleral buckle surgery for macular-off rhegmatogenous RD may influence the BCVA or anatomic attachment. SRF was detected in all eyes by OCT at 2 weeks after the operation Residual detachment persisted for almost a year after surgery in certain patients. Fluorescein angiography revealed no leakage or strain in the lesions.

Volumetric fluid analysis of fixed monthly anti-VEGF treatment in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

·AIM:To evaluate visual outcomes and changes in fluid after administering monthly anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)injections to treat neovascular agerelated macular degeneration(n AMD)with subretinal fluid(SRF)and pigment epithelial detachment(PED).·METHODS:This prospective study included eyes with n AMD previously treated with as-needed anti-VEGF injections.The patients were treated with six monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.Quantitative volumetric segmentation analyses of the SRF and PED were performed.The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),and SRF and PED volumes.·RESULTS:Twenty eyes of 20 patients were included in this study.At the 6-month follow-up,BCVA and PED volume did not change significantly(P=0.110 and 0.999,respectively)but the mean SRF volume decreased from 0.53±0.82 mm3 at baseline to 0.08±0.23 mm3(P=0.002).The absorption rate of the SRF volume was negatively correlated with the duration of previous antiVEGF treatment(P=0.029).Seven of the 20 eyes(35%)showed a fluid-free macula and significant improvement in BCVA(P=0.036)by month 6.·CONCLUSION:Quantifying the SRF can precisely determine the patient’s responsiveness to anti-VEGF treatment of n AMD.

Aflibercept combined with triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of diabetic macular edema:optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography

AIM:To analyze the relationship between optical coherence tomography(OCT)and OCT angiography(OCTA)imaging in patients with diabetic macular edema(DME)who are treated with a combination of aflibercept and triamcinolone acetonide(TA).METHODS:A total of 76 eyes newly diagnosed DME were included in this study.They were randomly assigned to receive either aflibercept or a combination of aflibercept and TA.Injections once a month for a total of three injections.Central macular thickness(CMT),number of hyperreflective foci(HRF),height of subretinal fluid(SRF),and area of foveal avascular zone(FAZ)were evaluated using OCT and OCTA at baseline and after each monthly treatment.RESULTS:Both groups showed improvement in best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and reduction in macular edema after treatment,and the difference in BCVA between the two groups was statistically significant after each treatment(P<0.05).The difference in CMT between the two groups was statistically significant after the first two injections(P<0.01),but not after the third injection(P=0.875).The number of HRF(1mo:7.41±8.25 vs 10.86±7.22,P=0.027;2mo:5.33±6.13 vs 9.12±8.61,P=0.034;3mo:3.58±3.00 vs 6.37±5.97,P=0.007)and height of SRF(1mo:82.39±39.12 vs 105.77±42.26μm,P=0.011;2mo:36.84±10.02 vs 83.59±37.78μm,P<0.01;3mo:11.57±3.29 vs 45.43±12.60μm,P<0.01)in combined group were statistically significant less than aflibercept group after each injection,while the area of FAZ showed no significant change before and after treatment in both groups.CONCLUSION:The combination therapy of aflibercept and TA shows more significant effects on DME eyes with decreased HRF and SRF.However,both aflibercept and combination therapy show no significant change in the area of FAZ.

Oral eplerenone for the management of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

AIM: To examine eplerenone(Inspra, Pfizer), a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, as a treatment option for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy(CSCR).METHODS: A retrospective consecutive case series was conducted for patients receiving oral eplerenone for chronic CSCR. At baseline and each follow-up visit,spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)imaging was performed, including manual measurements of the height and diameter size of subretinal fluid. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in subretinal fluid following initiation of therapy.RESULTS: A total of 17 eyes of 13 patients treated with25 and 50 mg of oral eplerenone per day were identified.Subretinal fluid(SRF) decreased over time following eplerenone therapy(P = 0.007 and P =0.002, diameter and height respectively). Maximum SRF height decreased from a mean of 131.5 μm at baseline to 15.3 μm at day181+. SRF diameter decreased from an average of 2174.4μm at baseline to 46.9 μm at day 181 +. Log MAR visual acuity improved from 0.42(Snellen equivalent: 20/53) at baseline to 0.29(Snellen equivalent: 20/39) at day 181 +(P = 0.024). Central subfield thickness(CST) decreased from 339.5 μm at baseline to 270.3 μm at day 181+(P = 0.029).CONCLUSION: Eplerenone therapy resulted in significant anatomic and visual improvements in eyes with chronic CSCR.