1/390. Cataracts, bilateral macular holes, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment induced by lightning. PURPOSE: To report ocular injuries, including a unilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, induced by lightning. METHOD: Case report. A 30-year-old man was injured by lightning. RESULTS: The patient developed a severe decrease in visual acuity in both eyes, an afferent pupillary defect in his left eye, bilateral cataracts, posterior vitreous detachments, macular holes, and an inferotemporal retinal detachment with an associated flap retinal tear in his left eye. CONCLUSIONS: This is a case of bilateral cataracts, posterior vitreous detachments, macular holes, and a unilateral retinal detachment associated with lightning. We postulate that the heating of the retinal surface, the concussive forces on the eye, and a sudden lateral contraction of the attached vitreous resulted in bilateral posterior vitreous detachments and a unilateral peripheral retinal break. ( info) |
2/390. Macular hole formation: new data provided by optical coherence tomography. OBJECTIVE: To establish the sequence of events leading from vitreofoveal traction to full-thickness macular hole formation. methods: Both eyes of 76 patients with a full-thickness macular hole in at least 1 eye were examined by biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Sixty-one fellow eyes had a normal macula. Optical coherence tomograms showed central detachment of the posterior hyaloid over the posterior pole in 19 cases (31%) and a perifoveal hyaloid detachment not detected on biomicroscopy in 26 cases (42%). In the 4 impending macular holes, optical coherence tomography disclosed various degrees of intrafoveal split or cyst, with adherence of the posterior hyaloid to the foveal center and convex perifoveal detachment. In the 14 stage 2 holes, eccentric opening of the roof of the hole was observed, and in the 24 stage 3 holes, the posterior hyaloid was detached from the entire posterior pole. CONCLUSIONS: In fellow eyes of eyes with macular holes posterior hyaloid detachment begins around the macula, but the hyaloid remains adherent to the foveolar center, indicating the action of anteroposterior forces. This results in an intraretinal split evolving into a cystic space, and then to the disruption of the outer retinal layer and the opening of the foveal floor, thus constituting a full-thickness macular hole. ( info) |
3/390. Visual field change in eyes with retinal pigment epithelial tear. PURPOSE: To study the effects of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) deprivation on retinal sensitivity with serial automated static perimetry in cases of RPE tear involving the foveal area. methods: Two eyes with a tear of the RPE were diagnosed as such on biomicroscopic and fluorescein angiographic examination. Static perimetry was performed in the follow-up study with the Humphrey field analyzer central 10-2 program. RESULTS: The first patient showed a dense scotoma corresponding to a defect in the RPE, which showed mild deterioration throughout the follow-up period from 2-11 weeks after the development of RPE tear. In contrast, the second patient showed preserved visual acuity and an absence of central visual field defects, despite an apparently denuded bruch membrane involving the fovea during 8-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Apparent RPE defect in eyes with RPE tears may or may not be associated with severe visual field defects. The pathophysiology of the disease should be studied, considering these perimetric findings. ( info) |
| OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of a malignant glaucoma-like syndrome following pars plana vitrectomy. DESIGN: Two interventional case reports. INTERVENTION: The first patient was treated with a neodymium:YAG laser peripheral iridectomy with hyaloidectomy and with intracameral tissue plasminogen activator. The second patient was treated with a posterior approach iridectomy through residual hyaloid, zonules, and iris. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Axial anterior chamber depth and intraocular pressure (IOP). RESULTS: The interventions resulted in deepening of the anterior chambers and normalization of IOPs. CONCLUSION: A pseudomalignant glaucoma syndrome may be related to obstruction of aqueous flow, either by residual anterior hyaloid or by fibrin and other inflammatory debris at the level of the ciliary body-zonular apparatus. Treatment of this syndrome involves restoring aqueous flow to the anterior chamber by disrupting the residual anterior hyaloid or clearing fibrin or inflammatory debris. The clinician should not disregard the possibility of a pseudomalignant glaucoma syndrome following vitrectomy despite the fact that vitrectomy has traditionally been considered a curative treatment for malignant glaucoma. ( info) |
5/390. Juvenile retinoschisis: imaging findings. We present the CT and B-scan sonographic findings in an infant with juvenile retinoschisis, a rare hereditary eye disease, which usually follows an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern. ( info) |
| BACKGROUND: Retinal pigment epitheliopathy, a recognized finding in eyes that have undergone macular hole surgery, may limit visual outcome and predispose to the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). This study reports on the features and outcomes of CNV following otherwise successful surgery for idiopathic macular holes. methods: Case series including three eyes of two patients who developed CNV following macular hole surgery. RESULTS: choroidal neovascularization developed 3 to 30 months after macular hole surgery. The CNV was crescent-shaped, surrounding a central area of retinal pigment epithelial mottling that corresponded to the site of the macular hole in all three cases. All neovascular membranes were adjacent to the fovea and were associated with substantial leakage of fluorescein. The macular hole remained closed in all cases. CONCLUSION: choroidal neovascularization is a rare complication following macular hole surgery. Retinal pigment epitheliopathy and defects in the Bruch's membrane, pre-existing or secondary to surgery, may be predisposing factors. ( info) |
7/390. Retinal tears associated with panuveitis and Behcet's disease. To report retinal tears formation in 3 eyes of 2 patients with active panuveitis and Behcet's disease. We describe 2 patients that were diagnosed and treated for Behcet's disease with active panuveitis. Retinal tears developed while the inflammation was active. The patients were treated with topical, oral steroids, and cyclosporine therapy for bilateral panuveitis. One patient presented with a retinal tear located at the periphery of the active retinal lesion. The other had multiple tears associated with active retinal lesions in both eyes. argon laser photocoagulation was performed in both patients as soon as the tears were detected. Ocular inflammation was controlled with this therapy, and only a few mild flare-ups occurred. The patients have been followed up for 8 and 16 months, respectively. During this period no new retinal tears have developed. Although retinal tear formation is rarely associated with Behcet's panuveitis, the clinician should be aware of this as a possible complication. When structural changes are present in the vitreous, detailed ophthalmoscopy is indicated to assess for retinal tears. If a tear is detected in a patient with panuveitis and Behcet's disease, laser photocoagulation therapy should be performed immediately to prevent retinal detachment. ( info) |
8/390. Optical coherence tomography images of spontaneous macular hole closure. PURPOSE: To investigate optical coherence tomography images of spontaneous macular hole closure. METHOD: Case report. In a 60-year-old woman with full-thickness macular hole, posterior vitreous detachment, and previous branch retinal vein occlusion, we observed the entire course of spontaneous macular hole closure by use of optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Spontaneous macular hole closure began as the inward protrusion of the tissue around the margin of the macular hole. The protruding tissue then connected to bridge the macular hole, which mimicked a foveal retinal detachment. The bridged tissue gradually thickened, and the foveal detachment and perifoveal cysts resolved. The fovea eventually regained its normal configuration. CONCLUSIONS: The bridging of the protruding retinal tissue over the macular hole plays a key role in spontaneous macular hole closure. ( info) |
9/390. Ulnar neuropathy as a complication of macular hole surgery. OBJECTIVE: To report a series of patients manifesting ulnar neuropathy as an extraocular complication following macular hole surgery and facedown positioning. methods: Retrospective chart review of 7 patients identified by the operating surgeon as developing ulnar neuropathy during the immediate postoperative period after undergoing vitrectomy surgery with fluid-gas exchange for macular hole followed by at least 1 week of strict facedown positioning. RESULTS: All 7 patients developed symptoms of ulnar neuropathy, including paresthesias, dysesthesias, pain, weakness, and muscle atrophy. Signs included abnormal electromyogram, prolonged nerve conduction velocities, and impaired neurologic clinical test results in patients examined. Symptoms did not resolve with cessation of facedown positioning, and with follow-up ranging from 3 to 24 months all patients had persistent symptoms. All patients had positioned themselves with their arms continuously flexed. Three of 7 patients had placed pressure directly on their bent elbows. CONCLUSIONS: Ulnar neuropathy is an extraocular complication of macular hole surgery that can be attributed to arm position during postoperative facedown positioning. Surgeons performing macular hole surgery should caution their patients to minimize the amount of time spent with their elbows in a flexed position. Particular effort should be made to minimize pressure on the bent elbow. ( info) |
10/390. Transscleral diathermy: an additional tool in the management of retinal detachment due to posterior breaks in highly myopic eyes. PURPOSE: To investigate the usefulness of transscleral diathermy for the treatment of retinal detachment due to breaks located at the posterior pole in areas of advanced chorioretinal atrophy or staphyloma in highly myopic eyes. methods: We reviewed the charts of seven consecutive patients who were operated on between 1984 and 1994 and for whom transscleral diathermy was used during intraocular retinal reattachment surgery to reduce posterior staphyloma. Mean refraction of the seven eyes was -24 diopters (range -16 to -35 diopters). RESULTS: After surgery, which included diathermy, the retina was reattached in six eyes (86%) that also had undergone vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade, but remained detached in one eye (14%) that had undergone pneumopexy and diathermy; in this eye, the retina was subsequently reattached after vitrectomy and silicone oil injection. Silicone oil was removed from all seven eyes after a mean duration of 2.5 months. During a mean follow-up of 3 years, a recurrent retinal detachment developed in one eye 8 months after silicone oil removal. This retina was reattached after reinjection of silicone oil. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes, closure of posterior holes in areas of advanced chorioretinal atrophy or staphyloma can be achieved by transscleral diathermy in conjunction with vitrectomy and temporary silicone oil tamponade. The main benefit of transscleral diathermy results from its posterior pole scleral buckling effect due to shrinkage of the sclera. ( info) |