Are all primary retinal detachments the same? Anatomic and functional differences between phakic and pseudophakic patients

BACKGROUND

Given differences in the pathogenic mechanisms underlying primary retinal detachment (RD) as a function of the status of the lens, the objective was to explore differences between pseudophakic and phakic patients with primary RD.

METHODS

A retrospective study including 821 patients who underwent surgery for RD [491 cases of phakic and 330 of pseudophakic RD (pRD and psRD, respectively)] in our hospital between 2012 and 2020.

RESULTS

The mean age was 58.24 ± 12.76 years in the pRD group and 66.87 ± 11.18 years in the psRD group (p = 0.001). There were more men in both groups (70% and 64.23% of pseudophakic and phakic patients, respectively; p = 0.07). The most common location for the RD was superior in both groups (43.94% and 51.93% of pseudophakic and phakic patients, respectively), rates of inferior and total RD were somewhat higher in the psRD group (31.82% and 13.33% in pseudophakic vs 25.25% and 11.0% in phakic patients, p = 0.001). In pseudophakic and phakic patients respectively, macular involvement in 69.09% and 62.73% of cases (p = 0.067). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was significantly more common in the psRD group (7.88% vs 3.6% in phakic patients, p = 0.01).The rate of final anatomic reattachment differed markedly between groups, with a higher rate in phakic (94.03%) than pseudophakic (87.27%) patients (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The specific pathogenic mechanism involved in psRD seems to be responsible for worse evolution characteristics which are associated with poorer final anatomic and functional outcomes in pseudophakic patients.

[Heavy silicone oil (Densiron® 68) in proliferative vitreoretinopathy: 4 years of experience]

METHOD

Prospective observational study including 10 patients (age range: 27-74 years) with recurrent retinal detachment (RD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and 2.8 mean unsatisfactory previous surgeries. Densiron® was injected in all patients, with surgical retinectomy being required in 70% of them. Minimum follow-up time was 12 months.

RESULTS

The mean length of time before Densiron® withdrawal was 4 months. Three patients (30%) presented with a new RD. The main complication detected was cataract development. No relationship was found between re-detachments and tamponade time, baseline disease or RD evolution time. Densiron® may be a good option in cases of recurrent RD in which previous treatment with scleral buckle, gas and/or 1,000/5,000 silicone oils has proven to be unsatisfactory.

Dacryocystitis: Systematic Approach to Diagnosis and Therapy

The objective of this paper is to review the main findings of the largest studies on the etiopathogenesis and microbiology of the development of dacryocystitis and to formulate clinical and surgical guidelines based on said studies and on our experience at Cruces Hospital, the Basque Country, Spain. The most common sign of this entity is the distal nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and this should be treated to prevent clinical relapse. The time when surgery should be indicated mainly depends on the clinical signs and symptoms, age and general status of a patient. Given the germs isolated in cases of dacryocystitis, antibiotic therapy against Gram positive (S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, S. epidermidis) and Gram negative bacteria (H. influenzae, P. aeruginosa) should be administered, orally in adults and intravenously in pediatric patients, prior to surgery. Gentamicin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid have been found to be effective against the bacteria commonly implicated in the etiopathogenesis of this entity.

[Successful Boston keratoprosthesis in a patient with Lyell's syndrome]

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a woman readmitted to our service to receive treatment for severe ophthalmic manifestations due to Lyell's syndrome. This intense affectation of the ocular surface along with limbal stem cell deficiency are grounds for treatment with Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis, which provided a stable and very satisfactory functional result.

DISCUSSION

As noted in this case report, the Boston Type 1 keratoprosthesis seems to be a viable option after multiple failed corneal grafts or in situations with a poor prognosis for primary penetrating keratoplasty because of limbal stem cell deficiency, such as Lyell's syndrome.

[Pigmentary epitheliopathy multifocal acute placoid associated with paralysis of VI cranial par]

CLINICAL CASE

We report the case of a 24-year-old patient who attended our hospital with an acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) which was later confirmed by fluorescein angiography. One month after presentation the patient developed a right VI nerve palsy.

DISCUSSION

APMPPE is an acute-onset bilateral inflammatory disease causing impaired vision. Although it is thought to be benign, neurologic manifestations have been described even months after presentation. There is no previous report of APMPPE associated with VI nerve palsy.

[Progressive geographic chorioretinopathy associated with Alagille syndrome]

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a patient with the genetic diagnosis of Alagille Syndrome, who has attended our hospital since 1992, and has shown a progressive bilateral chorioretinopathy with severe deterioration in visual acuity.

DISCUSSION

Ocular abnormalities associated with Alagille Syndrome are variable and can affect most ocular structures. Although severe visual threat or progressive ocular disease associated with Alagille syndrome have not yet been described, our patient has shown a marked decrease in visual acuity and a clear progression of the chorioretinal atrophy.

[Prospective randomized trial comparing Discovisc versus Healon in phacoemulsification]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the intraoperative behaviour of both, DisCoVisc and Healon used as viscoelastics in cataract surgery.

METHOD

We prospectively evaluated 35 patients with cataracts who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group A included 17 patients in where Healon was used as a viscoelastic, whereas group B included 18 patients in where the viscoelastic used was DisCoVisc. After each procedure, the surgeon filled in a questionnaire describing the behaviour of the viscoelastic during the different stages of phacoemulsification.

RESULTS

DisCoVisc behaved as both cohesive and dispersive viscoelastic during capsulorrhexis, phacoemulsification and viscoelastic aspiration, whereas Healon acted as a cohesive substance during all surgical stages. DisCoVisc enabled better visualization and transparency during all the surgical stages and maintains the capsular bag better during the intraocular lens implantation. Viscoelastic aspiration was easier with Healon.

CONCLUSIONS

DisCoVisc is a new viscosurgical device with both cohesive and dispersive properties, which avoids using two different viscoelastics to improve the performance at different surgical stages. DisCoVisc has been shown to be more transparent and provides better anterior chamber maintenance when compared with Healon. Healon was more easily aspirated due to its cohesive character.

[Floppy-iris syndrome associated with tamsulosin. A prospective case-control study]

OBJECTIVE

The main objectives of this study were: To assess the incidence of the intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome associated with tamsulosin and to analyse the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications as compared to a control group. Secondary objectives were: to describe the pupillary modifications associated with tamsulosin and to quantify the endothelial cell loss.

METHODS

A prospective review of 38 eyes of 38 patients was performed. Patients were assigned to two different groups. Group 1 (cases) included 19 eyes of 19 male patients taking tamsulosin, and group 2 (controls) included 19 eyes of 19 male patients not taking tamsulosin.

RESULTS

Only two patients (10%) of our study had the complete triad seen in floppy-iris syndrome; 9 patients (47%) showed 2 of the 3 main features of the syndrome and only 2 patients showed iris billowing during phacoemulsification. None of the patients in group 2 showed any of the characteristic intraoperative features. The complication rate was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome occurred in 67% of the patients treated with tamsulosin. The only postoperative secondary effect was a lower pupil reactivity in patients taking tamsulosin.