Surgical treatments for macular hole and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment are the most common and principle procedures for vitreoretinal specialists. The surgical success rate reached 95.0% and above for vitrectomy, macular surgeries with ILM peeling, or local/total scleral buckling. However, the postoperative visual function recovery is nowhere near good enough. Specialists must pay more attention to the visual function recovery of those patients. Postoperative macular anatomical and functional rehabilitation for macular hole and scleral buckling procedures need a long period of time. At present, the postoperative visual acuity for macular hole depends on many factors, such as macular hole closure conditions, surgical procedures, microsurgical invasive ways, skills of membrane peeling, usage of dye staining, and tamponade material choice. It also depends on residual subretinal fluid under macular area for patients received scleral buckling. It is important for us to investigate these factors affecting recovery of macular anatomy and function, and thus develop some drugs to improve the macular function recovery.
Objective To observe the clinical manifestations, therapeutic efficacy and results of bacterial culture of seven patients of scleral buckle (SB) infection after scleral bulking surgery. Methods Seven patients (seven eyes) underwent SB removal for SB infections were enrolled in this study. The patients included four males (four eyes) and three females (three eyes). The patients aged from 12 to 69 years, with a mean age of 42.7 years. There were four right eyes and three left eyes. The duration (interval between primary surgery and SB removal) ranged from two weeks to ten years, with a mean of 47.5 months. Six patients were concurrent with systemic disease. All the patients were examined for visual acuity, slit lamp microscope and indirect ophthalmoscope examination. Some patients also received external eye examination and fundus photography. Whether SB exposure or not and the clinical manifestations were observed. SB removal was performed in all the patients and the SB were sent to the laboratory for bacterial culture. The follow-up time ranged from two weeks to eight months, with a mean of 3.2 months. Whether infections recurrence and retinal detachment or not were observed. Results SB exposure was in three eyes. Obvious ocular pain and swelling, conjunctival hyperemia and visible yellow-white discharge in the conjunctival sac were presented in two eyes; irritation and discharge were in one eye. No SB exposure was in four eyes. Ocular pain and swelling, conjunctival hyperemia and visible yellow-white discharge in the conjunctival sac were presented in two eyes. Repeated subconjunctival hemorrhage and diplopia were presented in one eye. Visual acuity decline, conjunctival sac discharge and total retinal detachment were in one eye. All patients had no intraocular inflammation. The infection was controlled after SB removal and the retina was attached during the follow-up. The bacterial culture were all positive, which included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylcoccus epidermidis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Gram positive corynebacterium, Aspergillus flavus, Kocuria roseus, Streptococcus oralis, Maxwell Corynebacterium. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of SB infection and the pathogenic microorganisms are variable. SB removal can control the infection.
ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of segmental scleral buckling and vitrectomy with/without lensectomy on the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 4a, 4b and 5. MethodsOne hundred and thirty-four ROP infants (181 eyes) diagnosed as stage 4a, 4b and 5, and performed with segmental scleral buckling or vitreous with/without lensectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The operated 4a-, 4b- and 5- stage eyes were 40, 51 and 90 eyes. The operational method depended on the location and severity of fibrovascular membrane. Of 181 eyes, segmental scleral buckling was referred for 37 eyes which include 23 eyes with 4a stage and 14 eyes with 4b stage; vitrectomy was referred for 50 eyes which include 14 eyes with 4a stage, 29 eyes with 4b stage and 7 eyes with 5 stage; vitrectomy with lensectomy was referred for 94 eyes which include 3 eyes with 4a stage, 8 eyes with 4b stage and 83 eyes with 5 stage. The effect was classified as success, improved and failure. Failure includes lost eye. Follow-up for 4a, 4b and 5 stage patients are 34, 31 and 29 months respectively. ResultsSegmental scleral buckling was referred for 37 eyes, success in 23 eyes (62.16%), improved in 11 eyes (29.73%), failure in 3 eyes (8.11%). Vitrectomy was referred for 50 eyes, and success in 20 eyes (40.00%), improved in 22 eyes (44.00%), and failure in 8 eyes (16.00%). In the total of 94 eyes underwent vitrectomy with lensectomy, 20 eyes was success (21.28%), improved in 17 eyes (18.08%), failure in 57 eyes (60.64%). In 40 stage 4a eyes, 33 successes (82.50%), 6 improved (15.00%) and 1 failure (2.50%). In 51 stage 4b eyes, 11 successes (21.57%), 30 improved (58.82%) and 10 failures (19.61%). For 90 stage 5 eyes, 14 successes (17.50%), 19 improved (23.75%) and 57 failures (71.25%). The therapeutic effect of segmental scleral buckling for stage 4a was better than that for stage 5 (χ2=6.707,P=0.035). The difference of therapeutic effect of vitrectomy for different stage was significant (χ2=21.010,P=0.000); stage 4a was the best; stage 4b was the second, stage 5 was the worst. The therapeutic effect of vitrectomy with lensectomy for stage 5 was worse than that for stage 4a and 4b (χ2=16.066,P=0.003). ConclusionThe surgery patterns of ROP was determined based on the disease severity, the surgery effects of stage 4a and 4b were better than stage 5, which had nothing to do with the surgical procedures.
The human sclera accounts for 95% of the surface of the eyeball, providing ample contact area which is suitable for targeted trans-scleral ocular drug delivery. Currently there are several tans-scleral sustained-release strategies, including intra-scleral delivery, episcleral delivery, as well as tans-scleral iontophoresis. Different devices and methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, for example, intra-scleral delivery is somehow invasive, and episcleral delivery device needs to be made thin to prevent erosion of conjunctiva, iontophoresis needs to be frequently repeated as of its short-term effect. With the development of bio-material engineering technology, episcleral microfilm could become an ideal drug delivery route for posterior segment ocular diseases.
Objective To observe the hemodynamic changes in the retina and choroid after scleral buckling surgery in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). MethodsA prospective clinical observational study. A total of 25 eyes of 25 patients with RRD who underwent scleral buckling surgery in Tianjin Eye Hospital from February to April 2024 were included in the study. Among them, 10 were male and 15 were female. Age was 17-68 years old. All cases were monocular. The surgical eye and the contralateral healthy eye were divided into the affected eye group and the contralateral healthy eye group respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), scanning source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA), and axial length (AL) measurements were performed 3 months after surgery. SS-OCTA examination of macular area was performed by VG200 of Visual Microimaging (Henan) Technology Co., LTD. Scanning range 21 mm×26 mm. According to the partitioning method of the early treatment group of glycosuria retinopathy, the retina within 21 mm of the macular fovea was divided into concentric circles with the macular fovea as the center and diameters of 1-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-21 mm, respectively. The built-in software of the device was used to record the central area (12 mm×12 mm in the fovea of the macula) and the peripheral area (12-21 mm range) retinal superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC) blood density and choroidal vascular index (CVI), choroidal vascular volume (CVV), and 1-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-21 mm above concentric circles (S), nasal side (N), temporal side (T), and lower side (I) SCP, DCP, and RPC blood flow density. Quantitative data between the two groups were compared by independent sample t test or Wilcoxon signed rank test. The correlation between retinal and choroid blood flow parameters and postoperative BCVA was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. ResultsCompared with the opposite healthy eye group, SCP blood density in the central area (Z=−4.372), DCP blood density in the central area (Z=−2.829), and CVI in the peripheral area (Z=−2.138) were decreased in the affected eye group, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). SCP: in the affected eye group, the blood flow density in T3-6 mm, T6-12 mm, N6-12 mm and T12-21 mm regions decreased, while the blood flow density in I6-12 mm regions increased, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). DCP: blood flow density in S6-12 mm, I6-12 mm, S12-21 mm and I12-21 mm regions decreased significantly, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). RPC: blood flow density decreased significantly in T6-12 mm and I12-21 mm, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). CVI: T6-12 mm, S12-21 mm, T12-21 mm, I12-21 mm significantly decreased, and T1-3 mm, S12-21 mm significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Correlation analysis showed that AL growth was positively correlated with CVV in central region (r=0.408, P=0.040) . The number of pad pressure was negatively correlated with the blood density of central DCP (r=−0.422, P=0.030). ConclusionsAfter scleral buckling operation, the blood flow density and choroidal blood flow parameters in RRD affected eyes are lower than those in contralateral healthy eyes in some areas. The increase of AL is positively correlated with CVV in the central region, and the wider the range of pad pressure, the worse the recovery of DCP blood density.
Thinning and atrophy of sclerotic tissues play an important role in the development of high myopia. High myopic eyes had the thickest sclera at the posterior pole and the thinnest sclera at the equator. Most clinical studies found that scleral thickness was negatively correlative with the axial length. Patients complicated with posterior staphyloma had even thinner sclera, and its height was negatively related with the scleral thickness. At present, the main measurement methods for scleral thickness of high myopic eyes include histological measurement, enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT), and swept-source OCT. Following the development of OCT technique, it gradually becomes feasible to carry out studies on sclera thickness in mildly and moderately myopic populations, which is helpful to illuminate the mechanism of action of sclera on the onset and progression of high myopia.
Myopic foveoschisis (MF) has mild early symptoms, however, its course is progressive. When the secondary macular detachment or macular hole occurs, it can cause severe vision loss. Therefore, it is generally believed that MF patients should undergo surgical intervention early after the onset of symptoms to prevent them from further developing into a macular hole or macular hole retinal detachment.It is generally believed that the traction of the vitreous cortex and posterior scleral staphyloma to the retina plays an important role in the occurrence and development of MF. The operation mode is divided into vitreoretinal surgery and macular buckling, the former release the retinal traction via the vitreous body and the latter reattaches the retina via the extrascleral approach. There is no consensus on whether to perform internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade in vitreoretinal surgery and the fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling has become a hot topic in recent years. Compared with vitreoretinal surgery, macular buckling can release the traction of the retina caused by posterior scleral staphyloma, but it cannot relieve the traction in the tangential direction of the retina. Vitreoretinal surgery and extrascleral surgery seems to make up the shortcomings of both, however, the effect of treatment on patients still needs further verification. In clinical work, it is necessary to conduct individualized analysis of MF patients, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each operation, and choose the most suitable operation mode for patients with different conditions. In the future, the emphasis of our work is to develop operation mode with great curative effect and less complications.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of retinal morphology and function of macular-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after scleral bulking. MethodsIn this prospective study, 42 eyes of 41 patients who underwent scleral bulking were enrolled. There were 26 males (27 eyes) and 15 females (15 eyes), with an average age of (33.78±11.21) years. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, indirect ophthalmoscope, visual fields, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and B scan of ocular ultrasound were measured for all patients. The average BCVA was 0.29±0.18. The retinal detachment time was (21.12±3.71) days. The mean visual field defect (MD) was (13.54±6.44) dB. The mean loss variance (LV) was (8.43±2.11) dB. All the patients were performed cryotherapy and sub-choroidal fluid drain out. The mean follow-up was 12.4 months (from 6 to 24 months). At two weeks, 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery, the changes of BCVA, visual fields, retinal morphology and subretinal fluid were observed. ResultsIndirect ophthalmoscope combined with B scan showed the time of retinal reattachment was (7.32±2.53) days. Subretinal fluid was found completely absorbed by OCT with a mean of (7.82±3.52) months. At 12 months after surgery, subretinal fluid was completely absorbed in 37 eyes (88.10%). In these 37 eyes, 15 eyes had normal retinal microstructure, 5 eyes had neuroepithelial cystoid edema; 12 eyes had disrupted inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction, and 5 eyes had disrupted IS/OS and external limiting membrane (ELM). BCVA at 6 months after surgery was no significant difference with that at 12 months after surgery (t=-0.636, P=0.529). At 12 months after surgery, there were 4 retinal patterns on OCT examination, including normal retinal microstructure, neuroepithelial cystoid edema, IS/OS line disruption, and IS/OS and ELM disruption. The BCVA difference among these 4 groups was significant (F=52.42, P < 0.05). The BCVA difference between eyes with or without residual subretinal fluid was significant (t=-5.747, P=0.000). At 1, 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery, the MD were (11.38±2.53), (10.14±2.19), (9.17±2.13), (6.63±1.70), (5.71±1.89), (5.14±1.69) dB respectively, with a significant difference between these time-points (F=63.528, P=0.00). However, the MD at 6 months after surgery was no significant difference with that at 12 months after surgery (t=1.442, P=0.157). At 12 months after surgery, there were 12 eyes with normal MD, 30 eyes with higher MD. There was no significant difference between surgery eyes with higher MD and fellow eyes in MD (t=-1.936, P=0.06). The MD value was positively correlated to the time of retinal detachment in patients with normal retinal microstructure (r=0.84, P=0.00). There were differences in LV during different periods after surgery (F=57.25, P=0.00). ConclusionsThe retinal microstructure, visual acuity, visual fields were gradually improved after scleral bulking. The patients had better vision with normal retinal microstructure. The time of retinal detachment positively correlated with visual fields damage.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 25G illumination aided scleral buckling surgery for treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods This is a retrospective case control study. Fifty-seven RRD patients (57 eyes) were enrolled in this study. There were 35 males (35 eyes) and 22 females (22 eyes). The patients were randomly divided into ophthalmoscope group (29 patients, 29 eyes) and illumination group (28 patients, 28 eyes). There was no differences in the data of gender, age, onset time, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) and information of retinal tears between the two groups (P＞0.050). The patients in the ophthalmoscope group received operation of conventional scleral buckling with binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. The patients in the illumination group received scleral buckling surgery with the aid of intraocular illumination and noncontact wide-angle viewing system. The follow-up was ranged from 6 to 12 months. The BCVA, intraocular pressure, fundus examination and complications were observed and recorded. Results The difference of operation time between two groups was significant (t=2.124, P=0.031). In the ophthalmoscope group, 26 eyes (89.7%) achieved retinal reattachment, 3 eyes (10.3%) failed in retinal reattachment. In the illumination group, 26 eyes (92.8%) achieved retinal reattachment, 2 eyes (7.2%) failed in retinal reattachment. There was no difference of retinal reattachment rate (P=1.000). Five eyes failed in retinal reattachment, 3 eyes received sclera buckling surgery, 2 eyes received vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. The final reattachment ratios were both 100%. BCVA increased in both groups compared with pre-surgery BCVA (t=4.529, 5.108; P＜0.001). The difference of BCVA between two groups was not significant (t=0.559, P=0.458). There was no significant difference of intraocular pressure and complications before and after surgery in both two groups (t=−1.386, −1.437; P=0.163, 0.149). The difference of intraocular pressure between two groups was not significant (t=0.277, P=0.730). Subretinal hemorrhage occurred in 1 eye in the ophthalmoscope group. There was no iatrogenic retinal break, choroidal hemorrhage and endophthalmitis in the two groups. Conclusion 25G intraocular illumination aided buckling surgery for treatment of RRD is fast, safe and effective.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical efficacy of scleral buckling surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) of 376 patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed about 376 patients (391 eyes) who underwent scleral buckling surgery in Chengdu Aidi Eye Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. There were 214 males (224 eyes) and 162 females (167 eyes). There were 15 binocular cases and 361 monocular cases. The average age was 37.16±16.36 years. The average course of disease was 3 months. There were 1 to more than 10 retina holes for all patients. Retinal breaks occur in all quadrants and at ora serrata. The preoperative average BCVA was 0.27 and the postoperative average BCVA was 0.41. Retinal detachment ranges was observed in 268 eyes in 1 quadrant, 97 eyes in 2-3 quadrants, 26 eyes in total, and 231 eyes with macular involvement. There were 376 eyes treated with scleral buckling, 9 eyes treated with scleral buckling combined with scleral encircling, 6 eyes treated with scleral encircling. The average follow-up time was 5 months. Postoperative follow-up was conducted to observe retinal reduction, BCVA, complications and patient compliance.ResultsAfter the first operation, retinal reattachmnents were successfully achieved in 375 eyes (95.91%); 16 eyes (4.09%) failed in retinal reattachmnents. Eight eyes were treated with scleral buckling again, 5 eyes were treated with vitrectomy silicone oil filling, and 3 eyes were treated with air injection. After the second operation, retinal reattachmnents were ultimately achieved in 16 eyes (100.00%). The average BCVA after operation was 0.15. Postoperative intraocular pressure increased by 45 eyes (11.51%). The intraocular pressure increased from the next day to 3 days after operation. The intraocular pressure was completely controlled 1-3 days after the treatment of topical medication and 20% mannitol. Vitreous and subretinal hemorrhage in 1 eye caused by drainage of the subscleral liquid. There was no cases withpostoperative infection.ConclusionThe retinal reattachment rate is 95.91% in 376 patients with RRD treated by scleral buckling surgery, and the visual acuity has significantly improved.