Appropriate classification and staging is the basis for the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic macular hole (IMH). According to the appearance of vitreous and retina determined by optical coherence tomography, IMH can be classified as primary or secondary IMH, and IMH with or without vitreous attachment; Vitreous attachment can be further classified as vitreomacular adhesion or vitreomacular traction. According to the measured horizontal diameter, IMH can be classified as large, middle and small IMH. This new classification system and comprehensive parameters improve the traditional Ⅳ-stage theory, with a better description of the occurrence and development of IMH process. It should be used as the general principal to guide IMH classification, evaluation of surgical indications, selection of operative method, and estimation of surgical outcome. Ganglion cell damage caused by internal limiting membranes (ILM) peeling is the major concern in the IMH vitreoretinal surgery. For complicated and large IMH, inverted ILM flapping can improve the closure rate; ILM peeling and postoperative face-down posture are not necessary for IMH less than 250um in diameter. The current vitreoretinal surgery trend to treat IMH is personalized surgical treatment, following the existing evidence-based medical evidence, and based on the new classification information, ocular and systemic features of each patient.
Myopic traction maculopathy is a general term for a class of diseases including vitreomacular traction, foveoschisis, and macular hole. Posterior staphyloma plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of myopic traction maculopathy. At present, there is no uniform standard for the timing and method of surgery for myopic traction maculopathy. Based on OCT examination, the classification of traction maculopathy and the degree of visual function damage are important basis for judging the timing of surgery at this stage. Pars plana vitrectomy has been widely used in the treatment of myopic traction maculopathy, but for those with a long axis, the operation is complicated and the effect is not ideal. Macular buckling can effectively alleviate the traction caused by posterior staphyloma, but this surgery has a certain learning curve for clinicians, surgical materials need to be improved and perfected, and more evidence-based medical evidence is needed. We believe that with the continuous clinical understanding of myopic traction maculopathy, surgical treatment will be more rationalized and better treatment results will be achieved.
Vitrectomy is the preferred surgical method for diabetic retinopathy, especially in the stage of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy involves all aspects of vitrectomy, which is one of the signs of maturity of retinal surgeons. With the application of minimally invasive vitrectomy and perioperative anti-neovascularization drugs, indications and timing of surgery, perioperative medication, management of vitreous, and whether combined with cataract surgery have changed greatly, and new understanding is needed. Evidence-based clinical research on the timing of diabetic retinopathy surgery and perioperative drug use should be carried out to provide a new theoretical basis for the surgical treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Pathological myopia, characterized by progressive elongation of the axial length and formation of posterior staphyloma, is accompanied by chorioretinal irreversible degeneration. It is also the focus and biggest challenge of myopia control and blindness prevention. For managing progressive early-onset pathologic myopia and myopic traction maculopathy, episcleral pressurization of macula is a practical option. It can be divided into posterior scleral reinforcement surgery and macular buckling surgery according to the presence or absence of operative top pressure ridge after surgery, both of which are different in terms of implanted materials, procedures and indications. The implanted materials, procedures and indications are different between the two. Under the background of soaring prevalence of myopia, it is necessary to modify and cautiously popularize the techniques of episcleral pressurization of macula to provide high level clinical evidence for management of pathological myopia.
ObjectiveTo investigate the successful signs of laser photocoagulation or endolaser combined vitrectomy for congenital optic disc pit (ODP) with serous macular detachment.MethodsA retrospective case analysis. Twelve eyes of 12 patients with congenital ODP complicated with serous macular detachment diagnosed in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from 2003 to 2018 were included in this study. There were 2 males (2 eyes) and 8 females (8 eyes). The average age was 30.17 years old. Retinal laser photocoagulation and/or vitrectomy were performed in all the eyes. The optic disc and macular area were scanned using the tracking mode of the Germany Heidelberg Spectralis OCT instrument. The " dam-sign” change was a retinal choroidal scar on the channel between the ODP and the macula on the OCT image after treatment. The eyes were divided into a " dam-sign” change group (group A, 10 eyes) and no " dam-sign” change group (group B, 2 eyes). The BCVA of eyes in group A was 0.03-0.6. In group A, 1 eye was treated with laser photocoagulation alone, 9 eyes were treated with vitrectomy combined with laser photocoagulation. The BCVA of eyes in group B was 0.1. All the eyes in group B underwent vitrectomy combined with laser photocoagulation. The follow-up was ranged from 6 to 174 months. The same equipment and method before treatment were used for 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment. The BCVA, absorption of subretinal fluid (SRF) and the formation of " dam-sign” change were observed.ResultsAt the last follow-up, the BCVA of eyes in group A was 0.4-1.0 (0.4 in 1 eye, 0.5 in 3 eyes, 0.6 in 2 eyes, 0.8 in 3 eyes, 1.0 in 1 eye). In 9 eyes treated with vitrectomy combined with laser photocoagulation, SRF was completely absorbed. In 1 eye treated with laser photocoagulation alone, SRF remained in small amount. The BCVA of the two eyes in group B was 0.03 and 0.3, respectively; and SRF was not absorbed in both of them.ConclusionsThe " dam-sign” change near optic disc after laser photocoagulation can promote SRF absorption and improve BCVA. It can be used as a success indicator after treatment.
Myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) is one of the most common macular degeneration in highly myopic eyes, which is the main cause of visual impairment. MTM is a slowly progressing disease. Macular retinoschisis (MRS), macular detachment and macular hole are the three main manifestations of MTM. Under the combined action of various traction mechanisms, MTM may manifest as stable anatomical structure, progressing or spontaneous improvement. The possibility of spontaneous improvement of MTM is small and the degree of improvement of BCVA varies, while the risk of deterioration of MTM increases with its development. Attention should be paid to patient follow-up and timely surgical treatment to prevent MTM from further threatening the patients’ vision in clinically.
Objective To observe the long-term efficacy and safety of macular buckling (MB) in the treatment of high myopia traction maculopathy. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2014 to December 2017, 57 eyes of 57 patients with high myopia traction maculopathy who underwent MB treatment at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University were included in the study. Among them, there were 15 males with 15 eyes, average age was 51.80±10.72 years; there were 42 females with 42 eyes, average age was 59.14±11.51 years. There were 21 eyes of 21 cases with highly myopic macular hole with macular detachment (MHMD), and 36 eyes in 36 cases with highly myopic foveoschisis with macular detachment (FSMD), and they were grouped accordingly. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and axial length (AL) measurements. The standard logarithmic visual acuity chart was used for BCVA examination, which was converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. All patients underwent MB, either on its own or combined with vitrectomy. Patients with significant vitreous macular traction on OCT were treated with combined surgery. One, 3, 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after the operation, the same equipment and methods before the operation were used to conduct related examinations, and the long-term efficacy and safety of the two groups of eyes were observed. ResultsBefore surgery, the logMAR BCVA of eyes in MHMD group and FSMD group were 1.35±0.47 and 1.17±0.59, respectively; 4 years after surgery, they were 1.02±0.49 and 0.73±0.55, respectively. The BCVA improved significantly at postoperative 4 years than preoperative in both groups (P=0.039, 0.001). In the eyes with MHMD, the BCVA was found to be significant improved 3 years after surgery (P=0.042). Whereas, in the eyes with FSMD, the BCVA was found to be significantly improved 3 months after surgery (P=0.013). Macular reattachment was achieved in 100% of cases, while macular hole closure rate was achieved in 66.7% in the MHMD group. In the FSMD group, either macular reattachment rate or the foveoschisis resolution rate was 97.2%. After surgery, choroidal neovascularization was observed in 2 eyes, and 3 eyes with intraretinal cyst. ConclusionMB may represent a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of high myopia maculopathy.
Objective To study the effect of down-regulation of Claudin-3 mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) of shRNA on the cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro. Methods RGCs isolated from mouse eyes were divided into normal control group, AAV-shScramble group, and AAV-shClaudin-3 group. The RGCs in AAV-shScramble group and AAV-shClaudin3 group were treated with AAV-shScramble and AAV-shClaudin-3 respectively 24 hours after cell seeding. Dynamic live cell fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the transfection efficiency 96 hours after transfection. Immunofluorescent staining of β-tubulin was used to measure the length of RGCs′ axon. 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was used to observe the nuclei of apoptotic cells. The mRNA level of Claudin-3 and VEGF was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of Claudin-3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 was determined by Western blot. Results The positive transfection rate was more than 50% in both AAV-shScramble group and AAV-shClaudin-3 group. The length of RGCs' axon in AAV-shClaudin-3 group was shorter than that in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=22 363.274,P＜0.05). Down-regulation of Claudin-3 accelerated RGCs' apoptosis with nuclei shrinkage, tapering, and nucleolus formation of apoptotic bodies. The mRNA levels of Claudin-3 and VEGF in AAV-shClaudin-3 group were lower than those in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=257.408, 160.533;P＜0.05). The protein levels of Claudin-3, VEGF and Bcl-2 in AAV-shClaudin-3 group were lower than those in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=129.671, 420.552, 62.669;P＜0.05), while the protein level of Caspase-3 in AAV-shClaudin-3 group was higher than that in normal control group and AAV-shScramble group (F=231.348,P＜0.05). Conclusion Down-regulation of Claudin-3 increases the expression of Caspase-3, reduces the expression of VEGF and Bcl-2, accelerates RGCs' apoptosis and inhibit the RGCs' axon growth.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macular morphology and blood flow after minimally invasive vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (sNPDR). MethodsA prospective clinical study. From January 2020 to April 2021, 17 consecutive sNPDR patients with 17 eyes who were diagnosed and received PPV treatment at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University were included in the study. There were 12 males with 12 eyes and 5 females with 5 eyes; the average age was 55 years old; the average duration of diabetes was 11 years; the average glycosylated hemoglobin was 7.9%. Before the operation and 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation, all the affected eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), standard 7-field fundus color photography, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). An OCTA instrument was used to scan the macular area of the affected eye with in the range of 3 mm×3 mm to measure the central subfoveal thickness (CST), the thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the macular area, the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density and perfusion density in the macular area, macular avascular zone (FAZ) area, a-circularity index (AI). Before the operation and 6 months after the operation, the least significant difference test was used for the pairwise comparison. ResultsBefore the operation, 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation, the FAZ area of the macular area were 0.34±0.14, 0.35±0.10, 0.37±0.10, 0.36±0.13 mm2, respectively; AI were 0.52±0.13, 0.54±0.11, 0.57±0.10, 0.60±0.11; CST was 282.6±66.7, 290.4±70.9, 287.2±67.5, 273.2±49.6 μm; GCC thickness were 77.1±15.5, 74.3±13.9, 72.6±16.2, 78.5±18.3 μm; the thickness of RNFL was 97.9±13.8, 101.3±14.6, 97.7±12.0, 96.1±11.4 μm, respectively. The overall blood flow density of SCP in the macula were (16.79±1.43)%, (16.71±1.82)%, (17.30±2.25)%, (17.35±1.22)%; the overall perfusion density were 0.32±0.02, 0.32±0.03, 0.33±0.03, 0.33±0.02, respectively. After the operation, the CST increased first and then decreased; the thickness of RNFL increased 1 month after the operation, and then gradually decreased. Comparison of the parameters before and 6 months after the operation showed that the AI improved, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.049); the difference in FAZ area and the thickness of CST, GCC, and RNFL was not statistically significant (P=0.600, 0.694, 0.802, 0.712); There was no statistically significant difference in the retina SCP blood flow density and perfusion density in the macular area (P=0.347, 0.361). ConclusionCompared with before surgery, there is no significant change in macular structure and blood flow density in sNPDR patients within 6 months after minimally invasive PPV.