Impact of intravitreal injection therapy on contrast sensitivity in patients with nAMD and DME.

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate changes in contrast sensitivity (CS) during therapy with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: Prospective, uncontrolled, multicenter study on patients with neovascular AMD or DME who underwent intravitreal injection therapy with Ranibizumab, Aflibercept, or Bevacizumab was conducted. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CS measured by Mars Letter Contrast Sensitivity Test (MLCS) and Freiburg Visual Acuity and Contrast Test (FrACT) in logCS were evaluated before 3 consecutive VEGF inhibitor injections, which followed the pro renata regimen in treatment-naïve and pretreated eyes with a maximum of 9 injections.

[Effectivity and Safety of a Modified Tip Design in Torsional Phacoemulsification].

Background: Torsional mode phacoemulsification results in more effective fragmentation of the nucleus due to a different movement of the phacotip. In this clinical study, we investigated the influence of a modified tip design and active fluidics on the efficacy of phacoemulsification and safety for the corneal endothelium.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized 2 : 1 study in which 40 patients were operated on with the mini-flared Kelman Tip using the Infiniti System (group 1), and 20 patients were operated on with the Intrepid Balanced Tip and the Centurion System.

[Role of Intraoperative Indirect Channelography in Glaucoma Stent Implantation].

Several glaucoma stents are available to surgically reduce the intraocular pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). In comparison to conjunctival opening procedures, the advantages of microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) are relatively atraumatic ab-interno procedures through a paracentesis, conjunctival sparing for later filtrating surgery, and possible combined cataract surgery. In this overview, the principle of intraoperative indirect channelography as a decision criterion for the individual selection of glaucoma stent implantation is presented.

[Improvement of Phaco Tip Geometry During Torsional Phacoemulsification].

Background: Advanced cataract with hard lens nuclei frequently challenge the ophthalmologic surgeon when doing phacoemulsification. In the present study, we examined the effect of a new phaco tip design during cataract surgery.

Patients And Methods: 100 patients were assigned to two groups.

Diode laser cyclophotocoagulation versus cyclocryotherapy in the treatment of refractory glaucoma.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (DCPC) and cyclocryotherapy (CCT) in the treatment of refractory glaucoma and compare the postoperative complications and discomfort rates.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study, 40 eyes of 40 patients with refractory glaucoma were randomly assigned in 2 groups of 20 eyes each to receive either DCPC or CCT. Patients underwent follow-up examinations on the first 3 days and then 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after initial treatment.

Biometric evaluation of keratoconic eyes with slit lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate slit lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography for morphological imaging and morphometrical measurements in keratoconic eyes.

Methods: Using slit lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography, we examined 32 eyes of 20 consecutive patients with keratoconus and described morphological attributes of the cornea. Furthermore, in a subgroup of 19 eyes, we measured morphometrical values of the cornea and compared these values with those of an age-matched control group of 19 normal eyes.

Significance of the riboflavin film in corneal collagen crosslinking.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of the preocular riboflavin film in ultraviolet-A (UVA) absorption in corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL).

Setting: Eye Laser Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany.

Methods: The absorption of UVA light was measured in human donor and porcine postmortem corneas with and without riboflavin film using 3 solutions: standard dextran-riboflavin, methylcellulose-riboflavin, and hypoosmolar riboflavin-sodium chloride without dextran.

Influence of corneal curvature on central and paracentral pachymetry with optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been found to be valuable to measure the corneal thickness (CT). The purpose of this clinical study was to determine the influence of corneal curvature on central and paracentral pachymetry with slit lamp-adapted OCT using a linear scanning geometry.

Methods: In a prospective, comparative observational study, a total of 77 consecutive patients (77 eyes) participated.

Potential use of riboflavin/UVA cross-linking in bullous keratopathy.

Background: Collagen cross-linking of the cornea has been shown by us to have an antiedematous effect in the cornea. The aim of the present study was to examine if this effect can be used for the treatment of bullous keratopathy.

Methods: This clinical interventional case series included 3 patients (3 eyes) with bullous keratopathy due to pseudophakia, corneal transplant rejection, and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy.

Hydration behavior of porcine cornea crosslinked with riboflavin and ultraviolet A.

Purpose: To examine the influence of a new crosslinking treatment on corneal swelling properties that correlate with the degree of crosslinking.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Vivantes-Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.

Methods: Twenty freshly enucleated porcine eyes were crosslinked by applying the photosensitizer riboflavin and ultraviolet-A (UVA) light (370 nm, 3 mW/cm2) for 30 minutes.

Online optical coherence pachymetry to evaluate intraoperative ablation parameters in LASIK.

Purpose: The ablation of corneal tissue with the excimer laser can be variable and can lead to miscorrections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate intraoperative ablation parameters during laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with online optical coherence pachymetry (OCP).

Methods: In a prospective, nonrandomized, comparative clinical study, the ablation parameters were continuously assessed intraoperatively with online OCP (Heidelberg Engineering, Lübeck, Germany) in 45 myopic and 10 hyperopic LASIK treatments.

Management of the red eye for the primary care physician.

For the primary care physician, the occurrence of a red eye is a frequent and prominent finding of a disease process in patients. A careful history and simple examination with the observation of typical clinical signs are important for the management of this common disorder. The causes can be classified as painful red eye, trauma, and other common conditions.

Imaging interface fluid after laser in situ keratomileusis with corneal optical coherence tomography.

A 41-year-old myopic patient who had laser in situ keratomileusis 6 months earlier was treated for a complete retinal detachment (RD) with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Surgical treatment consisted of an encircling band, pars plana vitrectomy, and silicone oil filling. Postoperatively, the patient developed marked corneal edema with no increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) as measured by applanation tonometry.

Influence of cataract surgery on corneal endothelial cell density estimation.

Purpose: To assess the effect of cataract surgery on semiautomated human corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) estimation using noncontact specular microscopy.

Methods: In this prospective clinical study, 62 consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery were studied. To evaluate possible variations of accuracy and agreement under clinical circumstances, the corneal ECD was determined before and after cataract surgery.

Noncontact goniometry with optical coherence tomography.

Objective: To assess the value of noncontact goniometry with optical coherence tomography (OCT) compared with current clinical parameters in the evaluation of the anterior chamber angle (ACA).

Design: Prospective observational study of 138 eyes of 109 patients.

Methods: The ACA parameters and angle-opening distance (AOD) were measured with slitlamp-adapted OCT goniometry.

Continuous monitoring of corneal thickness changes during LASIK with online optical coherence pachymetry.

Purpose: To assess the continuous intraoperative monitoring of central corneal thickness (CCT) changes during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using online optical coherence pachymetry (OCP).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Vivantes Klinikum Neukolln, Berlin, Germany.

Methods: In this prospective nonrandomized comparative clinical case series of consecutive patients, 32 eyes having LASIK for myopia, myopic astigmatism, or hyperopia were continuously monitored intraoperatively in real time with online OCP integrated into a clinical excimer laser.

Lamellar keratotomy to correct astigmatism in cataract surgery.

Background: For the correction of astigmatism in cataract surgery, several incisional procedures have been developed. In this study, a modification of lamellar keratotomy was evaluated to correct astigmatism in cataract surgery.

Methods: Prospectively 32 eyes of 25 patients with a preoperative astigmatism greater than 1.

Monitoring corneal structures with slitlamp-adapted optical coherence tomography in laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To monitor corneal structures with slitlamp-adapted optical coherence tomography (OCT) in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.

Methods: In this prospective, nonrandomized, comparative clinical case series of consecutive patients who had LASIK for myopia and myopic astigmatism, the corneal structures were studied with slitlamp-adapted OCT at a wavelength of 1,310 nm.

Influence of indocyanine green staining on the biomechanical strength of porcine internal limiting membrane.

Purpose: Indocyanine green (ICG) has recently been introduced to stain selectively the internal limiting membrane (ILM) of the retina for ILM peeling. The aim of the present in vitro study was to examine the effect of ICG staining on the biomechanical properties of porcine ILM.

Methods: Two parallel 10 x 7 mm strips of central retina were prepared from each of the 40 porcine eyes.