Outcomes of surgical (pars plicata and limbal lensectomy, vitrectomy) and non-surgical management of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV): an analysis of 54 eyes

Surgical outcomes of posterior persistent fetal vasculature syndrome: cases with tent-shaped and closed funnel-shaped retinal detachment

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To determine the role of vitreoretinal surgery (VRS) for two different forms of posterior persistent fetal vasculature syndrome (PFVS); with tent-shaped tractional retinal detachment (TRD) and closed funnel-shaped TRD.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Retrospective, single surgeon, consecutive case series of 52 eyes of 44 patients with posterior PFVS who underwent VRS. Cases were divided into "tent-shaped TRD" and "funnel-shaped TRD" groups based on the preoperative TRD configuration. Associated anomalies, functional and anatomical outcomes were evaluated. The cosmetic appearance was defined as poor if there was phthisis bulbi, gross buphthalmos, or corneal opacification; acceptable if there was apparent leukocoria; and excellent if none were noted at the last follow-up.

RESULTS

Thirty eyes of 29 patients presented with tent-shaped TRD; 70% of which obtained counting fingers or better vision and 90% showed significant reversal of tenting achieving retinal reattachment. The cosmetic appearance was excellent in 87%. Two eyes (7%) became phthisic. Twenty-two eyes of 15 patients presented with funnel-shaped TRD and leukocoria; 45% achieved LP vision and 70% of patients with bilateral pathology had LP in at least one eye. The cosmetic appearance was acceptable to excellent in 73%. Three eyes (14%) became phthisic, one (5%) of which required enucleation. The median follow-up time was 16 (6-71) months.

CONCLUSIONS

VRS often provides functional vision and anatomy in posterior PFVS with tent-shaped TRD morphology. In the funnel-shaped TRD morphology, where no treatment has historically been recommended, surgery may be considered with an aim of restoring light perception and globe preservation, particularly in bilateral cases.

Outcomes and surgical management of persistent fetal vasculature

Objective

To analyse outcomes in different forms of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV).

Methods and analysis

Retrospective cohort study at a university-based practice of children presenting with PFV between 2011 and 2020. Exclusion criteria was surgical management outside of our institution and follow-up less than 1 month. Wilcoxon and Student’s t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Forty-six eyes of 45 patients presented with PFV at 16.7±31.3 (median 2.8) months old with 32.6±29.8 (median 22.5) months of follow-up. Types of PFV included: mild combined anterior-posterior (23 eyes, 50%), severe combined anterior-posterior (18 eyes, 39%), severe anterior (3 eyes, 7%), mild anterior (1 eye, 2%) and posterior (1 eye, 2%). Thirty-two eyes (70%) underwent PFV surgical correction; lensectomy (13 mild combined), vitrectomy (3 mild combined), sequential lensectomy then vitrectomy (3 severe combined), combined lensectomy-vitrectomy (11 severe anterior or severe combined), laser retinopexy (1 mild combined). Five eyes required additional vitrectomy surgery for retinal detachment, fold or cyclitic membrane. Nine eyes developed glaucoma, six requiring Intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering surgery. At final follow-up, 32 eyes had at least form vision and 6 eyes were aversive to light. Eight eyes, all which were severe combined, and four that did not undergo PFV surgery, were unable to detect light due to phthisis bulbi (7) and optic nerve hypoplasia (1).

Conclusions

Classification of PFV is important in determining surgical approach with severe cases often requiring both lensectomy and vitrectomy for optimal anatomic and functional outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Safety in Congenital Cataract Eyes with Three Pathological Types of Posterior Capsule Abnormalities

Purpose

To observe the clinical characteristics of 3 pathological types of posterior capsule abnormalities (PCAs) in congenital cataracts (CCs) and evaluate the surgical safety in these eyes.

Methods

This study involved 239 children (367 eyes) with CC who underwent cataract surgery at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. All surgery videos were collected for detailed reviews. Intraoperative and postoperative complications (within 3 months) were all recorded.

Results

The 3 pathological types of PCAs, namely, persistent fetal vasculature (PFV), posterior capsule defect (PCD), and posterior lenticonus (PLC), presented in 129 (35.1%) CC eyes, while 238 (64.9%) eyes were recorded as CC without PCA. The percentages of PFV, PCD, and PLC were 10.9%, 26.7%, and 5.4% in CC eyes (n = 367), respectively. The most common concomitant of PFV eyes was PCD (42.5%), and PFV was the most frequent (17.3%) one in PCD eyes. PLC was only associated with PFV (15%) and PCD (50%). The occurrence rates of surgical complications ranged from 0 to 5.4%, and no statistical difference was found between the eyes with and without PCA (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

PFV, PCD, and PLC play a very important role in the CCs. The effect of fetal vessels in PFV eyes might be an abnormally strong attachment on the posterior capsule, leading to PLC and PCD. Even in PCA patients, severe surgical complication can also be avoided with well-designed and skilled operation. This trial is registered with NCT03905044 at http://ClinicalTrials.gov.

Visual and Anatomical Outcomes With Vitrectomy in Posterior or Combined Persistent Fetal Vasculature in an Asian Population

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To investigate clinical features and surgical outcomes of vitrectomy in posterior or combined persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) in an Asian pediatric population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study was a retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series relating the surgical outcome of PFV. Eyes that underwent pars plicata vitrectomy and/or lensectomy for posterior or combined PFV between 2006 and 2015 were included. The main outcome measures were the anatomic and functional results as well as the complications after the vitrectomy with or without lensectomy.

RESULTS

A total of 25 eyes of 18 patients younger than 8 years of age were included in the study. The mean age of the patients receiving first pars plicata vitrectomy and/or lensectomy was 15.2 months ± 21.7 months (range: 1 month to 83 months). Postoperatively, successful anatomic correction in the posterior segment was observed in 20 eyes (80%). In addition, 19 of the 25 eyes (76%) had visual acuity (VA) better than 20/4000, and the mean logMAR VA of these 19 eyes was 1.74 (range: 0.48 to 2.30). The mean change of axial length of the eyes receiving surgery was 0.7 mm ± 1.4 mm (range: -1.0 mm to 2.4 mm; P = .18). None of the patients ended up with phthisis or glaucoma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that vitrectomy and/or lensectomy in patients with posterior or combined PFV with macular involvement may result in an acceptable anatomical outcome; however, the functional outcome remained poor despite surgical intervention in these patients. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:377-384.].

Regression of fetal vasculature and visual improvement in nonsurgical persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous: a case report

Background

Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) is a rare congenital developmental ocular disorder caused by incomplete regression of the embryonic hyaloid vasculature. Here we report a case of nonsurgical unilateral anterior PHPV that was managed by amblyopia treatment and resulted in an improvement of visual acuity and regression of the fetal vasculature.

Case presentation

A three-year-old girl was diagnosed with unilateral anterior PHPV in the left eye, manifested with posterior pole cataract, posterior capsule opacification, tunica vasculosa lentis, and a floating hyaloid artery connected to the retrolental mass. The plaque was not large enough to fill the pupil, and conservative management along with amblyopia treatment was conducted. Nineteen months later, the visual acuity in the affected eye improved from 20/100 to 20/50 with correction, and the fetal vasculature regressed gradually and finally into a nonperfusion ghost vessel.

Conclusions

In PHPV-affected children, regression of the fetal vasculature may be observed, and conservative management and amblyopia treatment may be helpful for visual improvement.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12886-019-1173-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Retinal detachments in the pediatric population

In this review, we present a concise summary of the more commonly seen types of retinal detachments (RDs) that one can encounter in pediatric patients. A spectrum of diseases from rhegmatogenous RD in Stickler syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and choroidal coloboma to exudative RD in Coats disease, to tractional RD in persistent fetal vasculature, and combined RDs in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy are described with the management pearls for each.

Outcomes of small gauge pars plicata vitrectomy for patients with persistent fetal vasculature: a report of 105 cases

AIM

To evaluate the surgical outcomes in eyes with persistent fetal vasculatures (PFV) managed by small gauge pars plicata vitrectomy.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with PFV treated by small gauge pars plicata vitrectomy at Beijing Tongren Eye Center between January 2010 and January 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 118 eyes of 105 patients with PFV were included and undergone small gauge pars plicata vitrectomy, of which 84 (71.2%) eyes had lensectomy and 16 (13.6%) eyes had lens aspiration and immediate intraocular lens implantation. The percentage of sutured scleral incision of 23 gauge vitrectomy (71.7%, 33/46) was higher than that of the 25 gauge vitrectomy (18.1%, 13/72). At last follow-up, visual acuity remained stable in 34 eyes (28.8%) and improved in 84 eyes (71.2%). Age at surgery (less than 2y), anterior type of PFV, and immediate IOL implantation were associated with postoperative improved visual acuity. Sixty five (55.1%) eyes had retinal detachment preoperatively, among which 33 (50.8%, 33/65) eyes had retinal reattachment or partial retinal reattachment.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that cases with PFV have a potential for developing good visual acuity after small gauge pars plicata vitrectomy with favorable anatomic outcomes and acceptable rate of serious surgical complications.

Current Status of IOL implantation in pediatric eyes: an update

INTRODUCTION

Pediatric cataracts are a huge problem worldwide, and with improving techniques and technology, the surgical treatment and postoperative visual rehabilitation are improving. Despite intraocular lenses(IOLs) being the standard of care for adult cataract surgery, this issue is still somewhat controversial, particularly in young children and infants due to lack of unequivocal evidence. This review therefore summarises the findings from recent studies on the aspect of IOL implantation in pediatric eyes. Areas covered: An extensive literature search was undertaken for published articles on congenital/developmental pediatric cataracts, and IOL implantation, where literature pertinent to traumatic and subluxated cataracts was not included in the review. Pubmed was used for literature search, and keywords entered were : pediatric, cataract surgery, intraocular lens, persistent fetal vasculature, outcomes, complications, visual performance with intraocular lenses. Expert commentary: Recent literature supports IOL implantation in most cases of congenital / developmental pediatric cataracts, and it seems like the way forward. However, the jury is still out on IOL implantation in infants, particularly in bilateral cataracts. Thus, surgeons must be extremely cautious in planning primary IOL implantation in infant eyes, and if they do perform IOL implantation, rigorous followup is mandatory.

Intraocular lens implantation in unilateral congenital cataract with minimal levels of persistent fetal vasculature in the first 18 months of life

Purpose

To describe the incidence of unilateral congenital cataract associated with minimal (ultrasonically undetectable) levels of persistent fetal vasculature in the first 18 months of the life and to report surgical methods for intraocular lens implantation, using 25-gauge vitrectomy system.

Methods

Retrospective review was made on 16 consecutive patients with bilateral or unilateral congenital cataract in the first 18 months of the life who underwent surgery at Okayama University Hospital after the introduction of the 25-gauge vitrectomy system from October 2005 to March 2013. As the standard of care at this hospital in the study period, intraocular lenses were not implanted in children with bilateral cataract while intraocular lenses were implanted in those with unilateral cataract.

Results

Ten children with bilateral cataract underwent lensectomy in both eyes with a 25-gauge vitreous cutter under irrigation with a 25-gauge infusion cannula, inserted from two side ports at the corneal limbus. Six children with unilateral cataract underwent intraocular lens implantation and posterior capsulotomy after lens aspiration from limbal side ports. No patient showed vitreous abnormalities on ultrasound examinations before the surgery. At the surgery, all 10 children with bilateral cataract showed no additional abnormalities. In contrast, 3 children with unilateral cataract at the age younger than 12 months showed white fibrous tissue in the anterior vitreous integrated with the posterior lens capsule while the other 3 children with unilateral cataract at the age from 12 to 18 months did not have vitreous abnormalities. The fibrous tissue was cut together in the process of posterior capsulotomy from a 25-gauge trocar inserted at 1.5 mm posterior from the corneal limbus.

Conclusions

Unilateral congenital cataract in the first 12 months of the life has a high incidence for the association with anterior type of persistent fetal vasculature which could not be detected by preoperative ultrasound examinations. Intraocular lens implantation was technically feasible in unilateral cataract with or without minimal levels of persistent fetal vasculature in the first 18 months of the life.

Infant Aphakia Treatment Study: effects of persistent fetal vasculature on outcome at 1 year of age

BACKGROUND

The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study is a randomized trial that compares the treatment of unilateral congenital cataract with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation versus aphakic contact lens (CLs). The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes for infants with lens opacity associated with persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) to those without.

METHODS

Retrospective subgroup analysis of grating visual acuity at 1 year of age and adverse events up to 1 year after surgery in eyes identified intraoperatively as having evidence of mild PFV from the IATS.

RESULTS

Of 83 infants, 18 (22%: 11 CL, 7 IOL) had PFV. Median logMAR visual acuity was 0.88 for patients with PFV and 0.80 for patients without PFV (P = 0.46). One or more adverse events up to 1 year after surgery occurred in 12 infants (67%) with PFV and 30 infants (46%) without PFV (P = 0.18). The incidence of adverse events was significantly greater in patients with PFV compared with patients without PFV in the CL group (55% vs 20%, P = 0.049) but not in the IOL group (86% vs 71%, P = 0.65), possibly because all children receiving IOLs had greater rates of adverse events when compared with aphakic children (73% vs 29%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Aphakic infants with mild PFV treated with CL had a greater incidence of adverse events after lensectomy compared with children with other forms of unilateral congenital cataract; nevertheless, similar visual outcomes at 1 year after surgery were obtained.

Bilateral persistent fetal vasculature in an adult: Clinical manifestations and surgical outcomes

A 23-year-old man presented with bilateral persistent fetal vasculature (PFV). Examination revealed bilateral cataracts, lens subluxation, elongated ciliary processes, and persistent hyaloid vessel remnants with mild posterior segment involvement. Extracapsular cataract extraction combined with posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy was performed in the right eye; lensectomy, posterior capsulectomy, anterior vitrectomy, superior peripheral iridectomy, and anterior chamber intraocular lens implantation were performed in the left eye. Postoperatively, the corrected distance visual acuity improved (20/100 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye) and the cosmetic appearance was satisfactory. This case shows that in rare cases of bilateral PFV, the natural course can be benign, with functional, although amblyopic, vision. In selected cases, late surgical intervention can improve vision and cosmetic appearance.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Early vitrectomy effective for bilateral combined anterior and posterior persistent fetal vasculature syndrome

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to review our surgical experience with patients with bilateral combined anterior and posterior persistent fetal vasculature syndrome (PFVS).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients seen in our tertiary care pediatric retinal practice from 1988 to 2008 with a potential diagnosis of bilateral PFVS with posterior involvement. Clinical diagnosis required the presence of either bilateral persistent hyaloidal stalk tissue with retinal involvement or bilateral dense retrolental fibrovascular plaques (usually with no posterior view preoperatively) without a family history or genetic testing consistent with Norrie disease or familial exudative vitreoretinopathy.

RESULTS

Chart review showed 22 vitrectomized patients with clinical findings consistent with bilateral PFVS with posterior involvement who did not have a family history or genetic testing consistent with Norrie disease or familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. All 22 of these patients with posterior retinal involvement also had anterior findings and thus can be classified as combined anterior and posterior PFVS. Of the 13 patients with visual acuity follow-up data, 9 patients (69%) maintained at least light perception vision in at least 1 eye at last follow-up. Of the 28 operated eyes in 16 patients with follow-up data, 3 eyes (11%) were phthisical at last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Children with bilateral PFVS with posterior retinal involvement have a dismal visual prognosis if left unoperated. In this relatively large series of a rare condition, we find that vitrectomy with or without lensectomy is beneficial in bilateral combined anterior and posterior PFVS in two regards: maintenance or restoration of vision and avoidance of phthisis bulbi.

Microcornea, posterior megalolenticonus, persistent fetal vasculature, and coloboma: a new syndrome

PURPOSE

To report a newly identified syndrome of bilateral microcornea, posterior megalolenticonus, persistent fetal vasculature, and chorioretinal coloboma (MPPC).

DESIGN

Noncomparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight patients with MPPC syndrome.

METHODS

Clinical data collected retrospectively included visual acuity, findings on office examination as well as examination under anesthesia, and, in some cases, fluorescein angiography. Intraoperative findings and postoperative visual acuity and clinical findings were recorded when surgical intervention was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical description, intraoperative findings, and surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

All patients were found to have microcornea with corneal diameters of less than 8 mm. In all cases, the crystalline lens was found to be retrodisplaced with massive enlargement and a dramatic posterior lenticonus (posterior megalolenticonus), and the ciliary processes frequently were drawn to the lens capsule. A stalk of persistent fetal vascular tissue extended from the posterior pole of the lens to the optic disc. Posterior chorioretinal coloboma was present in all cases. Some cases also exhibited grossly dysplastic retina. Presentation frequently was asymmetric. Eight eyes of 6 patients underwent lensectomy, vitrectomy, membrane peeling, and fluid-Healon exchange (Healon OVD [sodium hyaluronate]; Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA) with functional vision in at least 4 of the 5 patients with postsurgical follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral microcornea, posterior megalolenticonus, persistent fetal vasculature, and chorioretinal coloboma syndrome is a distinct syndrome previously unreported, to the authors' knowledge, and appropriate surgical intervention may result in significantly improved visual function.