Nowadays, one of the most challenging aspects of retinoblastoma (RB) therapy is how to control the resistant or recurrent viable vitreous seeds, for which intravenous chemotherapy appears to be ineffective. Recently, intravitreal chemotherapy offers another option to control advanced stage and vitreous seeds of RB, and may be a promising new approach to RB therapy. However, intravitreal injection for RB patients raises considerable controversy due to concerns of possible extraocular extension along the injection route, and should not replace the primary standard of care for bilateral RB or group E eyes of RB. Close follow-up and further studies are needed to determine appropriate indications, to determine the effective drugs and concentrations, to optimize RB therapy protocols and to investigate the relationship between long-term efficacy and toxicities.
Endophthalmitis caused by intravitreal injection is a rare disease which impair patients’s vision. In recent years, with the increase of the diseases and frequency of intravitreal injections, the incidence of endophthalmitis has increased. Standardizing each step of intravitreal injections is an important method to reduce postoperative endophthalmitis. Despite the current availability of prevention strategies providing by a lot of clinical trials, there are considerable variations and a lack of consensus and inconsistencies in clinical practice. Understanding the existing key measures, standardizing the operation of intravitreal injection in my country, and minimizing the incidence of infective endophthalmitis are of positive significance for improving the treatment of ophthalmology, especially fundus diseases.
Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with poor prognosis and the optimal treatment has yet to be determined. Its treatment has evolved from enucleation to ocular radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy and intravitreal chemotherapy. Radiotherapy can effectively eradicate tumor cells but ocular recurrences are common. Systemic chemotherapy has become the mainstream option but there are problems with only-partial response of PVRL and high rate of recurrence. Intravitreal chemotherapy, primarily used as adjunctive to systemic chemotherapy, has achieved high remission rate and low rate of recurrence as well as with limited ocular complications. The tumor cells were cleared and the visual function preserved. However, issues about the drug applied, treatment protocols and goals of intravitreal chemotherapy, whether for visual preservation or survival improvement, are worthy for further study.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX) in the treatment of active non-infectious uveitis macular edema (NIU-ME).MethodsA retrospective observational study. From February 2018 to February 2019, 23 patients (26 eyes) were included in the study who were diagnosed with NIU-ME at the Department of Ophthalmology, Central Theater Command General Hospital and received intravitreal DEX treatment. Among 23 patients, there were 8 males (8 eyes) and 15 females (18 eyes); the average age was 46.9 years; the average course of disease was 9.2±2.4 months. All the affected eyes underwent BCVA and intraocular pressure examination; at the same time, OCT was used to measure the central retinal thickness (CMT) of the macula. Snellen visual acuity chart was used for visual inspection. The average BCVA of the affected eye was 0.281±0.191, the average intraocular pressure was 16.2±0.8 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and the average CMT was 395.4±63.7 μm. Among the 23 patients, 8 patients had middle uveitis and 15 patients had posterior uveitis. Seven patients had received intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone, 5 patients had been treated with methylprednisolone combined with immunosuppressive agents, and 11 patients had not received any treatment. All the affected eyes were treated with DEX intravitreal injection. Patients received repeated visual acuity, intraocular pressure and OCT examination with follow-up after injection. During the follow-up period, patients with recurrence of edema or poor efficacy, systemic methylprednisolone and intravitreal reinjection of DEX, triamcinolone acetonide or methotrexate should be considered based on the patient's own conditions. We observed the changes of BCVA, intraocular pressure and CMT before and after injection in the affected eyes, and analyzed the variance of a single repeated measurement factor. At the same time, we observed the occurrence of ocular adverse reactions and systemic complications.ResultsAfter treatment 1.2±0.4, 3.3±0.3, 6.7±1.1, 9.2±1.1, 12.2±0.6 months, the BCVA of the affected eyes were 0.488±0.296, 0.484±0.266, 0.414± 0.247, 0.411±0.244 and 0.383±0.232; CMT was 280.2±42.7, 271.0±41.4, 292.5±42.9, 276.2±40.5, 268.4±26.6 μm, respectively. Compared with before treatment, the BCVA and CMT of the all eyes increased after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (F=30.99, 5 196.92; P＜0.000). Among 23 eyes completed a 12-month follow-up, 13 eyes (56.5%) received 2 injections, 3 eyes (13.0%) received 3 injections, and other 7 eyes (30.4%) received only 1 injection. After treatment 1.2±0.4 months, 5 patients (6 eyes) with intraocular pressure＞25 mmHg gradually returned to normal after treatment with two eye drops for lowering intraocular pressure; 1 patient (2 eyes) with intraocular pressure＞40 mmHg, the intraocular pressure gradually returned to normal after 3 kinds of eye drops for lowering intraocular pressure.ConclusionIntravitreal injection of DEX in the treatment of NIU-ME can improve the visual acuity of the affected eye and reduce CMT.
Corticosteroids, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, antibiotics and antiviral were the main 4 classes of drugs for intravitreal injection. Depending on the class and volume of medication, age and gender of patients, ocular axial lengths or vitreous humour reflux, intraocular pressure (IOP) can be elevated transiently or persistently after intravitreal injection. Transient IOP elevation occurred in 2 weeks after intravitreal injection, and can be reduced to normal level for most patients. Only a small portion of such patients have very high IOP and need intervention measures such as anterior chamber puncture or lowering intraocular pressure by drugs. Long term IOP elevation is refers to persistent IOP increase after 2 weeks after intravitreal injection, and cause optic nerve irreversible damage and decline in the visual function of patients. Thus drug or surgical intervention need to be considered for those patients with high and long period of elevated IOP. Large-scale multicenter clinical trials need to be performed to evaluate the roles of the drug and patients factors for IOP of post-intravitreal injection, and to determine if it is necessary and how to use methods reducing IOP before intravitreal injection.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of parsplana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with 0.7 mg dexamethasone sustained-release Ozurdex intravitreal implantation in the treatment of children with ocular toxocariasis (OT). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. Fifty-three pediatric patients (53 eyes) diagnosed with OT and underwent PPV in Beijing Tongren Eye Center of Beijing Tongren hospital from March 2015 to December 2021 were included. There were 30 males and 23 females, with an average age of 7.07±3.45 (4-14) years; all were unilateral. Color Doppler imaging, fundus color photography, optical coherence tomography examinations were performed for patients who can cooperated with the examiners. Forty-three eyes were examined by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA); 47 eyes were examined by intraocular pressure; 29 eyes were examined by ultrasound biomicroscopy. According to the location of granuloma, OT was divided into posterior pole granulomatous type (posterior type), peripheral granulomatous type (peripheral type), and chronic endophthalmitis type. According to whether Ozurdex was implanted into the vitreous cavity after PPV, the children were divided into the oral glucocorticoid group after PPV (group A) and the PPV combined with vitreous cavity implantation of Ozurdex group (group B), 37 cases with 37 eyes and 16 cases with 16 eyes, respectively. There was no significant difference in age (t=0.432), sex composition ratio (χ2=0.117), BCVA (χ2=0.239), and clinical type (χ2=0.312) between the two groups (P＞0.05). The follow-up time after surgery was ≥5 months. The intraocular pressure at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, the changes of BCVA and the occurrence of complications such as concurrent cataract and epimacular membrane were observed at the last follow-up, and the incidence of obesity in the children during the follow-up period was recorded. The measurement data between groups was compared by independent sample t test; the enumeration data was compared by χ2 test. ResultsOne month after the operation, the intraocular pressure of group A and group B were 15.17±6.21 and 25.28±10.38 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) respectively; the intraocular pressure of group B was significantly higher than that of group A, the difference was statistically significant (t=0.141, P=0.043). At the last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the percentage of visual acuity improvement between the two groups (χ2=0.315, P=0.053); there was no significant difference in the incidence of concurrent cataract and epimacular membrane (χ2=0.621, P＞0.05). Among the 37 cases in group A, 32 cases (86.5%, 32/37) developed obesity symptoms during the follow-up period. ConclusionPPV combined with intravitreal implantation of Ozurdex and oral glucocorticoid after PPV can effectively improve the visual acuity of the affected eye; the incidence of complications is similar, however, the incidence of obesity after oral glucocorticoid is higher.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg (DEX) for treatment of macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods This study was a six-month, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial with a 2-month open-label study extension. Patients with branch or central RVO received DEX (n=129) or sham procedure (n=130) in the study eye at baseline; all patients who met re-treatment criteria received DEX at month 6. Efficacy measures included Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography. Results Time to ≥15-letter BCVA improvement from baseline during the first 6 months (primary endpoint) was earlier with DEX than sham (P＜0.001). At month 2 (peak effect), the percentage of patients with ≥15-letter BCVA improvement from baseline was DEX: 34.9%, sham: 11.5%; mean BCVA change from baseline was DEX: 10.6±10.4 letters, sham: 1.7±12.3 letters; and mean CRT change from baseline was DEX: −407±212 μm, sham: −62±224 μm (all P＜0.001). Outcomes were better with DEX than sham in both branch and central RVO. The most common treatment-emergent adverse event was in-creased intraocular pressure (IOP). Increase sin IOP generally were controlled with topical medication. Mean IOP normalized by month 4, and no patient required incisional glaucoma surgery. Conclusions DEX had a favorable safety profile and provided clinically significant benefit in a Chinese patient population with RVO. Visual and anatomic outcomes were improved with DEX relative to sham for 3 - 4 months after a single implant.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and vitreous injection of mouse never growth factor (mNGF) in the high myopia macular hole (HMMH). MethodsA prospective study. Thirty-one patients (33 eyes) with HMMH diagnosed in Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University from August 2020 and February 2021 were selected. Before surgery, all included patients were subjected to a complete ophthalmologic evaluation including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), macular microperimetry and axial length measurement. The BCVA examination was carried out using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted into logarithm of minimum resolution angle (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. The included subjects were accepted the treatment of PPV combined with ILM peeling and vitreous injection of mNGF (combined group) or PPV united with ILM peeling (simple group), 15 cases with 16 eyes, 16 cases with 17 eyes, respectively. There were no significant differences in logMAR BCVA (t=0.836), macular hole (MH) diameter (t=0.657), visual acuity (VA) (t=0.176), the missing length of external limting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) (t=1.255, 0.966) between two groups (P＞0.05). The follow-up time was at least 6 months. The BCVA, closure rate of MH, integrity of ELM and EZ and recovery of VA in macular area were compared and observed between the two groups after surgery. The logMAR BCVA, VA, the deficient lengths of ELM and EZ at different time points were compared by independent-samples t-test between two groups and analysis of variance was used to compare the repeated measurement data of each group. Fisher test was performed for comparison of count data. ResultsSix months after surgery, MH closure rates in the simple group and the combined group were 88.24% (15/17) and 93.75% (15/16), respectively, with no significant difference (P=0.523). At 3 and 6 months after surgery, the integrity recovery of ELM in the combined group was better than that in the simple group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.282, 3.101; P＜0.05). At 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, EZ deletion length in the combined group was lower than that in the simple group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=1.815, 2.302, 2.784; P＜0.05). Compared with 1 week after surgery, VA in macular area of the combined group increased at 1, 3 and 6 months, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.007, ＜0.001, ＜0.001). At 3 and 6 months after surgery, VA in macular area of affected eyes in the combined group was higher than that in the simple group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=1.897, 2.250; P＜0.05). There was an interaction effect between the surgical method and the follow-up time. The postoperative time was prolonged, and the VA in macular area was decreased in the simple group and increased in the combined group, with statistical significance (F=12.963, P＜0.001). The BCVA and BCVA changes in the two groups increased with the extension of postoperative time. The improvement of BCVA and the difference of BCVA changes in the combined group were significantly higher than those in the simple group at different time points after surgery, with statistically significant differences (F=12.374, 21.807, 5.695, 4.095; P＜0.05). ConclusionPPV combined with ILM peeling and vitreous injection of mNGF is more effective than PPV with ILM peeling for HMMH, improving both anatomical and functional outcomes.
Noninfectious uveitic macular edema (NIU-ME) is a major cause of visual impairment in patients with uveitis. Intravitreal route can control inflammation rapidly, reduce macular edema, and improve vision with relatively lower doses of the drug. Currently, several intravitreal injection drugs have been used for the treatment of NIU-ME. Cataract and elevated intraocular pressure are the major complications. Due to its efficacy and safety, intravitreal drugs have gradually become an effective alternative to systemic treatment, especially in patients with unilateral disease. However, more studies are needed on drug selection, timing of injection and combination therapy in clinical practice. There are various treatments for NIU-ME, and the ultimate treatment should be individualized based on the severity of the disease, the risk/benefit ratio of each therapy, and the patient's tolerance.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal injection (IVI) of expansile gas alone to treat idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH).MethodsThis is a prospective interventional case series. Twenty FTMH patients (26 eyes) who underwent IVI with expansile gas alone were enrolled in this study. There were 5 males (5 eyes) and 21 females (21 eyes), with the mean age of (59±12) years. All patients received the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photography and three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. The BCVA was measured using the international standard visual acuity chart, and the results were converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity. The diameters of macular holes and the interface between vitreous and macular were observed by OCT (Topcon, OCT-2000). Based on the diameter, the holes were classified as small FTMH (equal or lesser than 250 μm), medium FTMH (more than 250 μm but equal or lesser than 400 μm) and large FTMH (more than 400 μm). The mean BCVA was 0.85±0.29. There were 7, 10 and 9 eyes with small, medium and large FTMH. There were 10 eyes with vitreous- macular traction (VMT). All the eyes received IVI of 0.2 ml C3F8 followed facedown positioning for 7-14 days. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 23 months. The BCVA, FTMH closure and complications were observed. If holes failed to close at 1 month after IVI, vitrectomy combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and C3F8 tamponade would be performed for these eyes.ResultsFTMHs was able to close in 17/26 eyes (65.4%) had hole closure, failed to close in 9 /26 eyes (34.6%). All 10 eyes with VMT achieved vitreous-macula separation after IVI of gas. The eyes failed in the closure initially with IVI of gas alone, all succeed with hole closure after vitrectomy combined with ILM peeling and C3F8 tamponade. The closure rate of small (6 eyes), medium (8 eyes) and large FTMH (3 eyes) was 85.7%, 80.0% and 33.3% respectively. The diameter of FTMHs in holes-closure eyes and failed-closure eyes was (307.8±122.8), (431.6±128.4) μm respectively, the difference was significant (t=−2.407, P=0.024). VMT was found in 6 eyes and 4 eyes in holes-closure group and failed-closure group, respectively, the difference was significant (t=−2.196, P=0.038). The mean preoperative BCVA was 0.51±0.36. There was a significant difference between pre-and postoperative BCVA (t=4.758, P＜0.05). Two eyes developed local retinal detachment, which achieved hole closure and retinal reattachment after vitrectomy.ConclusionIVI of expansile gas alone is an effective way in treating FTMH with a diameter smaller than 400 μm and with VMT before surgery.