Intraocular silicone implant to treat chronic ocular hypotony: an in vivo trial.

Purpose: The management of chronic ocular hypotony and complicated proliferative vitreoretinopathy-related retinal detachment represents a challenge. Being non-absorbable and non-biodegradable, a silicone oil implant is expected to restore the volume and the intraocular pressure of the globe, as well as to approximate the detached retina. Further advantages could be a long-term tamponade potential, absence of toxicity, and prevention of silicone oil emulsification or anterior chamber oil-prolapse.

Intraocular silicone implant to treat chronic ocular hypotony-preliminary feasibility data.

Purpose: Ocular hypotony secondary to proliferative vitreoretinopathy-related retinal detachment, trauma or inflammation is difficult to treat. Besides endotamponades such as silicone oil, vitreous implants such as iris diaphragms or balloons have been developed to stabilize the eye and to prevent phthisis of the globe. Vitreous implants tested thus far exhibit a seam at the attachment site of the hemispheres, or micropores.

Thrombophilia in patients with retinal vein occlusion: a retrospective analysis.

Background: To assess the prevalence of thrombophilia in patients with central (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: In 139 patients with CRVO (n = 88) and BRVO (n = 51) and in 40 healthy controls factor VIII, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, activated protein C resistance, anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), homocysteine, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation were assessed retrospectively.

Results: Elevated factor VIII activity and the homozygous MTHFR C677T mutation were significantly more often found in CRVO and BRVO cases compared to controls.

Human complement factor H and factor H-like protein 1 are expressed in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Background: A common haplotype in the gene for the regulator of the alternative pathway of complement activation factor H has been linked to individual predisposition to age- related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: In this study, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, i.e.

Effects of coagulation on the autofluorescence pattern of ARPE-19 cells: an in vitro study.

Objective: Changes in fundus autofluorescence (AF) are observed in various retinal disorders. Lipofuscin accumulation within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a source of fundus AF (FAF); however, the causes of short-term increases in FAF observed in inflammatory conditions or after laser treatment are unknown. Here, we describe an RPE cell culture model that is useful for investigations of FAF.

Surface-modified silicone foils for intraocular implantation.

Background: Implantation of silicone materials like iris diaphragms into the eye can be complicated by cell migration and attachment. We studied polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foils coated with isocyanate terminated, star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol-stat-propylene glycol) (NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO)) equipped with heparin towards the inhibition of cell attachment without influencing cell viability.

Methods: Mouse fibroblasts L929 were cultured and seeded onto sterilized pieces of either uncoated NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO) or heparin-NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO) loaded foils.

Improving the quality of multifocal visual evoked potential results by calculating multiple virtual channels.

Purpose: To introduce a method for improvement of multifocal VEP (mfVEP) recordings by prediction of waveforms at multiple positions on the surface of the skull.

Methods: Fifteen healthy participants (mean age 24 ± 3.8 years) underwent mfVEP recordings from 3 surface positions.

Detection of heat shock protein 70 in choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to age related macular degeneration.

Background: Heat shock proteins are acute phase proteins that are upregulated in inflammation or following thermal stress. We analyzed the presence of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) in choroidal neovascular (CNV) membranes secondary to AMD after treatment with verteporphin photodynamic therapy (PDT) or transpupillary thermo therapy (TTT) to determine whether treatment correlated with the presence of Hsp70.

Results: CNV membranes were removed by pars plana vitrectomy (ppV) and subretinal extraction.

CFH, C3 and ARMS2 are significant risk loci for susceptibility but not for disease progression of geographic atrophy due to AMD.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent cause of blindness in Western societies. Variants in the genes encoding complement factor H (CFH), complement component 3 (C3) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) have repeatedly been shown to confer significant risks for AMD; however, their role in disease progression and thus their potential relevance for interventional therapeutic approaches remains unknown.

Methodology/principal Findings: Here, we analyzed association between variants in CFH, C3 and ARMS2 and disease progression of geographic atrophy (GA) due to AMD.

Retinal pigment epithelium tears after intravitreal bevacizumab in pigment epithelium detachment.

Purpose: To evaluate pigment epithelium detachment (PED) secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab with regard to incidence of retinal pigment epithelium tears (RIPs).

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: Institutional study of 31 eyes with PED in exudative AMD receiving intravitreal bevacizumab.

Amplitude calculation in multifocal ERG: comparison of repeatability in 30 Hz flicker and first order kernel stimulation.

Background: In multifocal flicker stimulation, each step of the M-sequence consists of four consecutive flashes with a frequency of 30 Hz. The resulting amplitudes can be calculated by means of a discrete fourier transformation (DFT). With this method, amplitudes can be calculated without having to localise peaks and troughs and set cursors.

Fundus near infrared fluorescence correlates with fundus near infrared reflectance.

Purpose: To analyze the occurrence of near infrared (NIR) fluorescence in relation to NIR reflectance, blue-light-excited autofluorescence, angiograms, and funduscopy.

Methods: Observational consecutive case series in patients with macular diseases. Imaging was performed with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope for NIR reflectance, blue-light-excited autofluorescence, NIR fluorescence, and fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiograms.

Translocation of iris pigment epithelium in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration: long-term results.

Purpose: To report the practicability and efficacy of autologous iris pigment epithelium (IPE) translocation in exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) over 1 year.

Methods: The consecutive interventional case series included 56 patients with exudative ARMD. During vitrectomy the submacular neovascular membrane (CNV) was removed and IPE cells, harvested from a peripheral iridectomy, were injected into the submacular space.

Indocyanine-green-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery--a follow-up study.

Background: Macular hole surgery including vitrectomy and peeling of epiretinal membranes and the internal limiting membrane (ILM) has become a standard procedure in retinal surgery. Poor visualization of the ILM is an obstacle for successful surgery. Recently, indocyanine green (ICG) has been reported to be a helpful intraocular substance in identifying these membranes.

[Treatment of Acute Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) by Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy (HBO)--Pilot study with 21 patients].

Background: Central retinal artery occlusion causes severe loss of vision. Treatment trials include massage of the globe, paracentesis, antiglaucomatous eye drops, haemodilution or lysis therapy, which in individual cases did improve the visual outcome, although in general the prognosis remains poor. In this study we applied hyperbaric oxygenation treatment additionally to haemodilution to overcome retinal ischaemia until spontaneous recanalisation of the central retinal artery occurs.