[Selective vital dyes in macular surgery : Do they increase the probability of intraoperative identification of the internal limiting membrane also for an experienced surgeon?].

Background: Various vital dyes exist on the market for intraoperative internal limiting membrane (ILM) identification. The aim of this study was to verify the added value of these dyes for ILM identification and in the difficulty of ILM peeling during pars plana vitrectomy (ppV) by a single surgeon highly experienced in this operation.

Material And Methods: In this study 400 ppV surgical reports involving ILM peeling were retrospectively analyzed.

MuSIC report III: tumour microcirculation patterns and development of metastasis in long-term follow-up of melanocytic uveal tumours.

Purpose: To statistically determine differences in microcirculation patterns between nevi and uveal melanomas and the influence of these patterns on metastatic potential in the long-term follow-up of 112 patients with melanocytic uveal tumours. In vivo markers indicating malignancy and metastatic potential have implications for treatment decision.

Methods: Primary diagnosis and work-up included clinical examination, fundus photography, standardized A and B scan echography as well as evaluation of tumour microcirculation patterns via confocal fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).

Osteopontin as a serologic marker for metastatic uveal melanoma: results of a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the protein osteopontin (OPN) as a potential new marker for screening and detection of metastatic uveal melanoma.

Design: Prospective, clinical study.

Methods: Twenty-eight plasma samples of 27 patients with uveal melanoma were analyzed, and the OPN plasma levels were quantified.

Trypan blue in macular pucker surgery: an evaluation of histology and functional outcome.

Purpose: To evaluate possible adverse effects of trypan blue on the ultrastructure of the human retina, to report on functional outcome of macular pucker surgery with and without the use of trypan blue, and to evaluate the ultrastructure of tissue harvested during surgery.

Design: Experimental study and prospective matched-pair analysis of two consecutive, interventional case series.

Methods: Possible adverse effects on the ultrastructure of the human retina by trypan blue were evaluated in three donor eyes in an experimental study using trypan blue in concentrations of 0.

Functional outcome after trypan blue-assisted vitrectomy for macular pucker: a prospective, randomized, comparative trial.

Purpose: To evaluate functional outcome after the intraoperative application of 0.06% trypan blue during vitrectomy for macular pucker.

Design: Prospective, randomized, comparative study.

Evaluation of minimally invasive therapies and rationale for a prospective randomized trial to evaluate selective intra-arterial lysis for clinically complete central retinal artery occlusion.

Objectives: To determine the effect of commonly used minimally invasive treatments for clinically complete nonarteritic central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and design a prospective randomized trial to evaluate selective intra-arterial lysis for this condition.

Methods: In this retrospective noncomparative case series, all medical records of patients with a diagnosis of CRAO treated at the Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany, from 1994 through 1999 were reviewed for treatments administered and course of visual acuity.

Main Outcome Measures: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at initial and last visit.

Complex microcirculation patterns detected by confocal indocyanine green angiography predict time to growth of small choroidal melanocytic tumors: MuSIC Report II.

Purpose: Multiple independent laboratories have confirmed the histologic observation that some tumor microcirculation patterns (MCPs) in uveal melanomas are associated strongly with death resulting from metastatic disease. Because these patterns are imageable with confocal indocyanine green angiography (ICG), we designed a prospective study to evaluate whether these angiographically detectable MCPs predict time to tumor growth.

Design: Observational case series, prospective, non-randomized.

An orthotopic model for human uveal melanoma in SCID mice.

The microcirculation of primary uveal melanomas, their precursors, and their metastases is distinctive. Medium-sized and even large primary uveal melanomas typically lack significant zones of necrosis, suggesting that either these tumors are relatively well perfused or they are capable of growth in a severely blood-deprived microenvironment. In addition to normal choroidal vessels that are incorporated into nevi and most primary uveal melanomas, aggressive primary and metastatic uveal melanomas tend to contain patterns of extracellular matrix that surround spheroidal or cylindrical packets of tumor cells.

The effect of prinomastat (AG3340), a synthetic inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases, on uveal melanoma rabbit model.

Purpose: We studied the effects of intravitreally administered prinomastat on the take rate and growth of uveal melanoma after xenograft implantation in rabbit uveal melanoma model.

Methods: Uveal melanoma xenograft was implanted to suprachoroidal space in each eye of 24 pigmented rabbits which were immunosuppressed with cyclosporine. One week after surgery, the eyes were randomized to receive prinomastat or the vehicle of the prinomastat intravitreally every week for 4 weeks.

Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Background: Choroidal hemangioma presents a therapeutic dilemma. Although it is a benign tumor, it may lead to massive exudation of subretinal fluid and a loss of visual function. Argon laser photo-coagulation in a grid pattern may be followed by initial absorption of subretinal fluid, but recurrence is common.