A cell culture technique for human epiretinal membranes to describe cell behavior and membrane contraction in vitro.

Purpose: To introduce a human cell culture technique for investigating in-vitro behavior of primary epiretinal cells and membrane contraction of fibrocellular tissue surgically removed from eyes with idiopathic macular pucker.

Methods: Human epiretinal membranes were harvested from ten eyes with idiopathic macular pucker during standard vitrectomy. Specimens were fixed on cell culture plastic using small entomological pins to apply horizontal stress to the tissue, and then transferred to standard cell culture conditions.

Assessment of intravitreal ocriplasmin treatment for vitreomacular traction in clinical practice.

Purpose: To assess treatment effects following intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin for vitreomacular traction (VMT), with or without full-thickness macular hole (FTMH), in real-life setting.

Methods: This is a monocentric, retrospective, consecutive series of 82 eyes from 82 patients who underwent ocriplasmin treatment between July 2013 and December 2016. We included 57 eyes with pure VMT, 17 eyes with small FTMHs, and eight eyes with medium FTMHs.

DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION OF A LAMELLAR MACULAR HOLE WITH LAMELLAR HOLE-ASSOCIATED EPIRETINAL PROLIFERATION.

Purpose: To describe evolution and progression of a lamellar macular hole (LMH) with "lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP)" using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence.

Methods: Observational case report.

Results: We report on a 63-year-old male patient demonstrating a complete history of LMH development with LHEP occurring during a follow-up period of 8 years.

[Efficacy and Safety Profile of Ocriplasmin Treatment - an Update].

Pharmacological vitreolysis with ocriplasmin is an effective treatment option for eyes with vitreomacular traction. Pre-marketing and post-marketing clinical studies revealed an improvement of visual function in ocriplasmin treated eyes and showed a release of traction in up to 78% of cases. Treatment success is related to patient selection based on positive predictive factors.

Progression of lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation and retinal changes during long-term follow-up.

Purpose: To report on progression of lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) in eyes with lamellar macular holes (LMH) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and to correlate with intraretinal changes and visual function.

Methods: From a retrospectively reviewed series of 167 eyes with non-full-thickness macular holes, we exclusively included a subgroup of 34 eyes with LMH and LHEP by SD-OCT evaluation. In these eyes, area of LHEP, intraretinal changes of defect diameter, central retinal thickness, defects of the ellipsoid zone and occurrence of a contractive epiretinal membrane were analysed.

VITRECTOMY FOR INTERMEDIATE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION ASSOCIATED WITH TANGENTIAL VITREOMACULAR TRACTION: A CLINICOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION.

Purpose: To describe the morphologic characteristics of the vitreomacular interface in intermediate age-related macular degeneration associated with tangential traction due to premacular membrane formation and to correlate with optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and clinical data.

Methods: Premacular membrane specimens were removed sequentially with the internal limiting membrane from 27 eyes of 26 patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration during standard vitrectomy. Specimens were processed for immunocytochemical staining of epiretinal cells and extracellular matrix components.

Correlative Microscopy of Lamellar Hole-Associated Epiretinal Proliferation.

Purpose. To describe morphology of lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) removed from eyes with lamellar macular holes (LMH). Methods.

Functional and Morphological Correlations before and after Video-Documented 23-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Membrane and ILM Peeling in Patients with Macular Pucker.

Purpose. To assess functional and morphological alterations following video-documented surgery for epiretinal membranes. Methods.

Pathology of Internal Limiting Membrane Specimens Following Intravitreal Injection of Ocriplasmin.

Purpose: To describe ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry of internal limiting membrane peelings after unsuccessful treatment with ocriplasmin, to compare with untreated eyes, and to correlate with clinical imaging data.

Design: Interventional comparative case series.

Methods: Internal limiting membrane specimens were removed from 10 eyes with small macular holes and vitreomacular traction during vitrectomy after intravitreal ocriplasmin injection without release of traction or closure of macular holes during follow-up.

Lamellar Hole-Associated Epiretinal Proliferation in Comparison to Epiretinal Membranes of Macular Pseudoholes.

Purpose: To compare immunocytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of "lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation" in lamellar macular holes with "conventional epiretinal membrane" in macular pseudoholes.

Design: A consecutive observational case series, laboratory investigation.

Methods: We analyzed surgically excised flat-mounted internal limiting membrane specimens and epiretinal membrane specimens removed from 25 eyes of 25 patients with lamellar macular holes (11 eyes) and macular pseudoholes (14 eyes) using interference and phase-contrast microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy.

Epiretinal membrane characteristics correlate with photoreceptor layer defects in lamellar macular holes and macular pseudoholes.

Purpose: To report on epiretinal membrane (ERM) characteristics and photoreceptor layer integrity of lamellar macular holes (LMHs) and macular pseudoholes (MPHs), and to compare with clinical course in operated and untreated eyes.

Methods: We consecutively reviewed the charts of patients with LMH and MPH between 2003 and 2013. For clinical analysis, we included 87 eyes (48 with LMH, 39 with MPH) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months.