Clinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of preservative-free triamcinolone (triesence [triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension] 40 mg/ml) for visualization during pars plana vitrectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of preservative-free triamcinolone (TRIESENCE(R) suspension) for visualization during pars plana vitrectomy.

Methods: This phase III, observer-masked study was conducted in 6 centers by 10 surgeons and enrolled 60 patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy. Preservative-free triamcinolone (up to 4 mg) was administered to all patients to enhance visualization of vitreous and membranes.

Anecortave acetate (15 milligrams) versus photodynamic therapy for treatment of subfoveal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To compare 1-year safety and efficacy of anecortave acetate 15 mg with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in patients eligible for initial PDT treatment.

Design: Prospective, masked, randomized, multicenter, parallel group, active control, noninferiority clinical trial.

Participants: Five hundred thirty patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration were randomized to treatment with either anecortave acetate 15 mg or PDT.

Rescue of exposed scleral buckles with cadaveric pericardial patch grafts.

Purpose: To describe a new method for salvaging externally exposed silicone scleral exoplants (buckles) to avoid removal and the consequent risk of retinal redetachment.

Design: A retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.

Participants: Four patients with exposed, clinically uninfected scleral buckles after initial surgery for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Experimental ocular surgery with a high-repetition-rate erbium:YAG laser.

Purpose: To evaluate the performance in ocular surgery and the ocular tissue interactions resulting from increasing the maximum repetition rate of a pulsed-mode erbium:YAG laser system from 30 to 200 pulses per second.

Methods: An erbium:YAG laser was used that emitted at 2.94 microm with an output graduated from 0.

Measurement and modeling of thermal transients during Er:YAG laser irradiation of vitreous.

Background And Objective: We investigated the transient thermal behavior of vitreous in order to understand the local thermal effects of laser output, and to predict the potential for unintentional injury during Er:YAG laser vitreoretinal surgery.

Study Design/materials And Methods: The output of a free-running Er:YAG laser (2.94 microns, 300 microseconds FWHM) was delivered through a fiberoptic and applied to en bloc samples of bovine vitreous.