Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde最新文献

Background: Anti-VEGF therapy is the standard treatment for exudative neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) caused by the development of macular neovascularisation (MNV) with associated fluid exudation. The therapeutic strategies (T&E or PRN) assumed a scarring transformation of the MNV and exit strategies and were formulated accordingly. The present study investigates this hypothesis as a real-life long-term analysis.

Patients: 150 eyes of 97 patients were continuously followed up over a mean period of 5.1 years (1 - 14 years) after initiation of anti-VEGF therapy between 2009 - 2017 until 2022. Treatment was based on the PRN regimen analogous to the IVAN study with ranibizumab, aflibercept or bevacizumab. The length and intensity of therapy were evaluated.

Results: Of these 150 eyes, 119 (79.3%) required ongoing anti-VEGF therapy, while in 18 eyes (12.0%) therapy could be discontinued due to stabilisation of the situation. In 13 eyes (8.7%), therapy was discontinued due to deterioration in visual acuity to < 0.05. With ongoing therapy, therapy was often protracted, with an indication for therapy at the last documented doctor's visit, while stabilisation was often achieved within the first 2 years of treatment. The treatment intensity increased to 7.7 - 8.0 injections/year, especially after 2013, with the introduction of OCT-based treatment criteria. Most eyes (74.8%) with ongoing therapy required 6 - 9 injections/year even in the last three years of treatment.

Conclusion: The fact that in the present study there is a long-term and intensive need for therapy in the majority of patients (approx. 80%) with exudative nAMD, supports the assessment that nAMD should be regarded as a chronic disease. Therefore, a proactive treatment strategy with consistent therapy at any sign of lesion activity might be recommended. Particularly in view of the risk of irreversible loss of vision, long term adherence of patients is also crucial for the best possible long term therapeutic outcome.

Background: The main complication of primary pterygium surgery is the recurrence of the pterygium. In the present study, we aimed to compare a classical technique and facilitated tenon-free conjunctival autograft preparation and a limited tenon removal technique in pterygium surgery in terms of recurrence rate, complications, and operation duration.

Material and methods: This is a retrospective, comparative, observational study. Group 1 comprised 120 eyes of 115 patients who underwent pterygium excision with a new facilitated tenon-free conjunctival-limbal autograft preparation and limited tenon removal technique between May 2017 and October 2019. Group 2 comprised 117 eyes of 113 patients who underwent pterygium excision with a conventional conjunctival-limbal autograft technique between January 2016 and May 2017.

Results: The mean follow-up time after surgery was 18.2 ± 5.8 months in group 1 and 19.1 ± 6.3 months in group 2 (p = 0.25). The mean operation duration was 5.54 ± 1.22 (4 - 7) minutes in group 1 and 8.23 ± 1.26 (8 - 10) minutes in group 2 (p = 0.02). Flap edema was present in 33 eyes (28.2%) in group 2 and in 11 eyes (9.16%) in group 1. Flap edema was significantly higher in group 2 (p < 0.001). At the end of the 1-year follow-up of the patients, we observed recurrence in only one (0.83%) eye in group 1 and 14 (11.96%) eyes in group 2. The recurrence rate of group 1 was significantly less than that of group 2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The simplified technique of tenon-free conjunctival autograft preparation and limited tenon removal yielded better clinical outcomes without serious complications. Additionally, this technique shortened the surgical time and reduced surgeon-dependent factors.

Glaucoma filtration surgery has been a standard surgical therapy for decades. An increasing knowledge about wound healing processes in the eye, the introduction of antimetabolite treatment and continuous improvements of the surgical technique helped making trabeculectomy - the prototype filtration surgery - a very effective therapeutic tool. However, best results will only be regularly achieved with a high level of experience and time dedicated to postoperative follow-up. Furthermore, the potential for severe early and late complications still remains high. Thus, novel stent-based filtration surgery approaches, such as the Preserflo and the XEN shunt have been introduced. This review presents these three bleb-forming filtration procedures, covering the basic principles of surgical technique, data on effectivity as well as complications.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a relatively common retinal disorder that leads to central vision impairment, often with a high recurrence rate. The exact etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms have not been fully elucidated but are likely to be associated with hyperpermeability of the choroidal capillaries and failure of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), leading to serous detachment of the neurosensory retina. Multimodal imaging plays a critical role in the diagnostic approach and monitoring of CSCR. Fortunately, the natural course of the disease is usually self-limiting, with spontaneous resolution and total fluid reabsorption. However, some patients may exhibit recurrences or persistent subretinal fluid (chronic CSCR), leading to progressive and irreversible RPE atrophy or photoreceptor damage. Thus, to prevent permanent visual loss, individualized treatment should be considered. Recent developments in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach have contributed to better outcomes in patients with CSCR. More studies are required to improve our understanding of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, with a significant impact on the management of this challenging clinical entity. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about the clinical features, diagnostic workup, and therapeutic approach of CSCR.

Purpose: To compare measurements of the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and assess the agreement between three different devices for spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Material and methods: The RNFL thickness of both eyes of 23 normal subjects older than 40 years was measured using Canon HS100, Topcon Maestro, and NIDEK RS-3000 devices. Both eyes of each subject were scanned in random order. All scans were completed on the same day in the morning. The average and four quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) of RNFL thickness were measured. To determine the differences in RNFL thickness, analysis of variance for repeated measurements was performed. A Bland-Altman plot was plotted, and coefficients of determination were calculated.

Results: A total of 46 eyes of 23 subjects were enrolled in this study. The average RNFL thickness as determined by the three OCT devices was correlated (p < 0.001), but differed significantly between the three devices, as most were quadrant measurements. The mean average RNFL thickness was 98.5 ± 6.6 µm as measured by Canon HS100, 108.5 ± 8.8 µm as measured by Topcon Maestro, and 104.9 ± 9.0 µm as measured by NIDEK RS-3000. Topcon Maestro showed the highest average RNFL thickness value. Bland-Altman plots revealed considerable agreement among the three devices, except for the inferior quadrants between Topcon Maestro and NIDEK RS-3000 measurements. All three devices reveal considerable coefficients of determination values for mean RNFL thickness (0.917 - 0.127).

Conclusion: Although the peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements taken with Canon HS100, Topcon Maestro, and NIDEK RS-3000 were in good agreement, they were not interchangeable in clinical practice, as the values differed significantly.

Purpose: To compare two glaucoma drainage devices with subconjunctival filtration (MicroShunt and XEN) for open-angle glaucoma (OAG), with respect to effectiveness and safety.

Patients and methods: This is a single center, retrospective, interventional study. In total, 106 eyes of 95 patients with OAG underwent surgery. Of these patients, 51 eyes of 45 patients received a MicroShunt implantation and 55 eyes of 50 patients received an XEN implantation. Failure was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) lower than 5 or higher than 17 mmHg at the end of follow-up after 2 years, the need for surgical revision, secondary glaucoma surgery, or loss of light perception. Outcome was rated as complete success or qualified success, depending on whether it was achieved with or without anti-glaucomatous medications. Postoperative complications and interventions were also documented for both groups.

Results: In the MicroShunt group, mean IOP decreased from 20.6 ± 7.5 mmHg at baseline to 13.0 ± 3.9 mmHg (p < 0.0001) after 2 years. In the XEN group, mean IOP was lowered from 22.5 ± 7.9 mmHg to 13.5 ± 4.2 mmHg (p < 0.0001). In both groups, the mean number of medications was significantly reduced (MicroShunt 2.7 ± 1.2 to 0.9 ± 2.5; p < 0.0001 vs. XEN 3.2 ± 0.9 to 1.1 ± 1.5; p < 0.0001). In regard to success rates, 37% of MicroShunt patients achieved complete success and 57% qualified success at the end of follow-up. In the XEN group, rates were 25 and 45%, respectively. Patient demographics differed between the two groups with respect to age (MicroShunt 72.8 ± 8.7 vs. XEN 67.7 ± 9.0 years; p = 0.002). Postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion: Both MicroShunt and XEN are effective in significantly reducing IOP and glaucoma medications in OAG, and with a good safety profile.