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Lamellar macular hole is a macular lesion characterized by a partial thickness foveal defect and commonly associated with epiretinal proliferation. In this report, we present two cases of spontaneous closure of lamellar macular holes by extension of epiretinal proliferation filling the retinal defect. Purpose: To report two cases of spontaneous closure of lamellar macular holes with epiretinal proliferation (ERP). Methods: Observational cases report. Results: Two patients affected with lamellar macular hole showed progressive and spontaneous closure of the hole associated with ERP development. At presentation, both patients presented with irregular foveal contour, and foveal cavitation with apparent loss of retinal tissue. In both cases, ERP, also called "lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation", was present and increased in size over time. This proliferation progressively developed across the hole with apparent restoration of the foveal contour and preservation of visual acuity. Conclusion: This report describes two cases of lamellar macular hole in which ERP increased over time, resulting in lamellar macular hole closure. Such observations may suggest a spontaneous healing process driven by glial cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a combination of hemodynamic choroidal alterations and increased central venous pressure may lead to the accumulation of peripapillary subretinal and intraretinal fluid. Central venous pressure variations with posturing may be responsible for the spontaneous resolution of these abnormalities. Purpose: To report the case of a patient with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome and recurrent and spontaneous resolving peripapillary neurosensory retinal detachments associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Methods: Case report imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography, fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography. Results: A 47-year-old woman presented with unilateral blurred vision and metamorphopsia in her left eye and was diagnosed with peripapillary serous retinal detachments associated with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome. Cardiologic examination was remarkable for heart failure secondary to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. Neurosensory detachments spontaneously resolved after 1 day but recurred again three days from baseline. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography illustrated choroidal hyperpermeability associated with pachyvessels, whereas optical coherence tomography angiography displayed numerous areas of choriocapillaris nonperfusion, more severe in the left eye of the patient. Conclusion: In pulmonary arterial hypertension, hemodynamic changes caused by increased central venous pressure and endothelin-1 may explain the development of exudative retinal detachment and choroidal ischemia. The pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the peripapilary location of the fluid and the thick choroid, as with the peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome, are explored and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report a case of branch retinal artery wall rupture and subsequent branch retinal artery occlusion occurring during a routine pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane and internal limiting membrane peeling. Methods: Case report. Multimodal imaging including fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), en face OCT, and OCT angiography were performed. Results: An 86-year-old woman presented with a symptomatic epiretinal membrane in the right eye. Pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane and internal limiting membrane peel was performed. During the peel, spontaneous preretinal and intraretinal hemorrhage emanating from an adjacent branch retinal artery developed. At postoperative Week 1, OCT showed retinal thinning and hyperreflectivity suggestive of vascular accident. At postoperative Year 1, OCT imaging revealed retinal atrophy while fluorescein angiography demonstrated the arterial occlusion, and OCT angiography illustrated reduction in retinal perfusion in the region of the branch retinal artery occlusion. Conclusion: The authors report an unusual case of retinal arterial wall rupture and hemorrhaging during routine pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peel resulting in a branch retinal artery occlusion and subsequent retinal atrophy. Surgeons must limit stress on the underlying retina during membrane peel to avoid this surgical complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To assess the frequency of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF) in patients scheduled for cataract surgery and to evaluate its association with pupil dilation, lens nucleus hardness, intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma, age, and sex. Setting Ourense University Hospital, Ourense, Spain. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods This study evaluated eyes scheduled for cataract surgery between January 2013 and July 2013. Pseudoexfoliation was diagnosed in phakic eyes that showed central and/or peripheral white deposits on the lens surface, pupillary margin, or both. Dilated pupils were evaluated with a portable pupil chart. Nucleus hardness was assessed according to the Lens Opacities Classification System III. Diagnosis of glaucoma was based on International Society Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology criteria. Results Of the 1763 eyes (1093 patients) evaluated, 381 (21.6%) were diagnosed with PXF. The frequency of PXF increased with age from 6.0% in people between 50 year and 60 years to 31.66% in those older than 80 years. In PXF eyes, nuclear cataracts were significantly harder than in non-PXF eyes ( P < .001). The mean IOP was significantly higher in PXF eyes than in non-PXF eyes ( P = .002). The frequency of glaucoma was higher in PXF eyes (17.4%) than in non-PXF eyes (9.4%), with a statistically significant difference ( P < .001). In PXF eyes, the pupil was significantly smaller than in non-PXF eyes ( P < .001). Conclusions The frequency of PXF was high in the study population and increased with age. Eyes with PXF were associated with significantly harder nuclear cataracts, smaller pupils, and glaucoma. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe macular pucker contraction patterns with en face optical coherence tomography (OCT), to provide a correlation with metamorphopsia scores, and to discuss the protective role of the Henle fiber layer (HFL) against tangential traction., Methods: Retrospective, institutional, observational, and consecutive case series. Clinical charts, M-charts scores, and structural and en face OCT imaging of patients diagnosed with macular pucker were reviewed., Results: A 120 eyes of 114 consecutive patients diagnosed with macular pucker were included. En face OCT patterns of macular pucker contraction were foveal in 51 of 120 eyes (42.5%) and extrafoveal in 69 of 120 eyes (57.5%). Foveal macular puckers had regular, a concentric, circle morphology in the HFL (46/51 eyes, 90.2%), whereas extrafoveal membranes had irregular, distorted, circular HFL morphology (62/69 eyes, 89.8%; P < 0.001). Foveal contraction morphology and regular HFL pattern, as well as extrafoveal contraction morphology and an irregular HFL pattern, highly correlated one with another (P < 0.001 in both cases). Foveal macular puckers with regular HFL patterns had significantly less vertical and horizontal M-charts scores as compared with extrafoveal membranes with irregular HFL (P < 0.001 in both cases). Ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane defects were rare in the parafoveal region (5/120 eyes, 4.2%). Visual acuity did not correlate with metamorphopsia scores (P = 0.903)., Conclusion: En face OCT imaging identifies macular pucker contraction patterns that correlate with metamorphopsia scores and that can be used alongside the current structural OCT staging system to guide clinicians in the surgical decision-making process.

Purpose: Analyze the peripheral vitreoretinal interface with widefield optical coherence tomography., Methods: Retrospective chart analysis and widefield optical coherence tomography in 120 consecutive cases of rhegmatogenous pathology., Results: There were 166 lesions in 120 eyes, including 106 horseshoe tears, 22 operculated holes, 30 nonoperculated holes, six giant tears, and two peripheral lamellar defects followed for 6.1 ± 1.2 months. Posterior vitreous detachment was present in all eyes (101/101, 100%) with tears and operculated holes, but only in 5/19 eyes (26.3%) with nonoperculated holes ( P < 0.001). Axial vitreous traction was evident at the anterior edge of horseshoe tears (106/106, 100%), but not the posterior border (18/106, 17%, P < 0.001). Operculated holes located posterior to the vitreous base were free from vitreous traction, displaying a morphology similar to the macular hole. Nonoperculated holes were farther anterior with signs of tangential traction in 23/30 (76.7%) cases. Peripheral vitreoschisis was more often associated with nonoperculated holes (25/30, 83.3%), than horseshoe tears (17/106, 16%; P < 0.001). Horseshoe tears and nonoperculated holes were more often associated with retinal detachment (58/106 [54.7%] and 15/30 [50%], respectively) than operculated holes (5/22, 22.7%), P = 0.023., Conclusion: Peripheral vitreoretinal interactions are similar to vitreomaculopathies, with axial and vitreoschisis-related tangential traction playing different roles in different rhegmatogenous pathologies. Peripheral optical coherence tomography improves understanding of pathophysiology and risks of retinal detachment.

Purpose: To describe and report the anatomical and functional outcomes of a novel sutureless peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC)-assisted scleral fixation of three-piece IOL., Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent scleral fixation surgery performed by a single surgeon was conducted. In all cases, a novel scleral fixation technique of three-piece IOL was performed with the aid of a 24-gauge PIVC cannula. Patients were followed up at postoperative months 1, 3, and 6., Results: Thirteen eyes of 12 patients were included in the analysis. Preoperatively, mean best-corrected visual acuity was 1.26 ± 0.82 LogMar (20/364 Snellen Equivalent), and it improved significantly at all follow-up endpoints being of 0.52 ± 0.25 LogMar at 1 month (20/66 Snellen Equivalent, P = 0.02), 0.4 ± 0.22 LogMar at 3 months (20/50 Snellen Equivalent, P = 0.007) and 0.37 ± 0.2 LogMar (20/47 Snellen Equivalent, P = 0.008) at 6 months postoperatively. No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were registered. Postoperatively, there were no cases of conjunctival erosions. Over the follow-up period, in all the included cases, the IOL remained centered and stable., Conclusion: The PIVC-assisted scleral fixation technique may be a safe and reliable surgical option for secondary IOL placement in cases of insufficient capsular support., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have received no financial support for this study. Each author confirms that he or she has no commercial associations that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Purpose: To investigate whether age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has an influence on the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of lamellar macular holes (LMHs)., Methods: Clinical records and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images of 756 eyes of 423 consecutive patients diagnosed with AMD were reviewed and analyzed. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to identify degenerative or tractional LMH subtypes and assess their morphology. The clinical and optical coherence tomography findings of AMD eyes with LMH were compared with those of a control group of eyes with LMH without AMD from a previously published report., Results: Lamellar macular holes were identified in 25 eyes of 23 patients (3.3%; 25 of 756). Seventeen of 25 eyes (68%) presented with degenerative LMH and underlying late neovascular AMD. Mean best-corrected visual acuity was worse in eyes with AMD and LMH eyes than in those with AMD and no LMH (20/230 vs. 20/98; P = 0.02). The mean outer diameter was greater in the group with degenerative LMH with concomitant AMD than in the control group of degenerative LMH without AMD (1,323.9 ± 999.1 µm vs. 905.9 ± 356.8 µm, respectively; P = 0.01)., Conclusion: The incidence of degenerative LMH increased in advanced forms of AMD, whereas the presence of tractional LMH subtype may be unrelated to AMD evolution.

Purpose: To quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the microvascular and structural abnormalities associated with inner retinal dimpling after internal limiting membrane peeling for full-thickness macular holes using sequential en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography., Methods: Thirteen eyes of 13 patients with idiopathic full-thickness macular holes were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling, and gas tamponade. Subjects were evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative Months 1, 3, and 6. At each visit, patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, en face OCT and OCT angiography. The morphology and number and proportionate area of inner retinal dimples were analyzed. Vessel density of the superficial vascular complex at all visits was also measured., Results: Inner retinal dimples were identified 1 month after surgery in all cases. The number and proportionate area of inner retinal dimples significantly increased over the follow-up period (P = 0.05). Preoperative vessel density of the superficial vascular complex was 17.9 ± 1.9 and did not change significantly over the follow-up period (P = 0.15)., Conclusion: Inner retinal dimples are identified with en face OCT as early as the first month after internal limiting membrane peeling for idiopathic full-thickness macular holes and progressively increase in number and proportionate area in the subsequent 3 to 6 months after surgery. This may be the result of progressive deturgescence of the nerve fiber layer in the postoperative period.

Purpose: Functional and anatomical outcomes of vitrectomy with membrane peeling were compared in tractional lamellar macular holes (LMH)/macular pseudoholes (MPH) versus degenerative LMH., Methods: This multicenter retrospective study enrolled patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The association of spectral domain optical coherence tomography parameters with preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was analyzed., Results: Seventy-seven (74.8%) tractional LMH/MPH and 26 (25.2%) degenerative LMH were included. Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity was better in tractional LMH/MPH (0.39 ± 0.2 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution, 20/50 Snellen equivalent) than degenerative LMH (0.56 ± 0.2 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution, 20/66 Snellen equivalent; P < 0.001). Premacular membranes were found in all tractional LMH/MPH, whereas LMH-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) was present in all degenerative LMH. Primary anatomical success was achieved in 97/103 eyes (94.2%), with foveal restoration occurring earlier in degenerative LMH (1.6 ± 2.3 vs. 3.3 ± 3.6 months; P = 0.025). Best-corrected visual acuity improved in both tractional LMH/MPH and degenerative LMH (P < 0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively) but was better in tractional LMH/MPH (P = 0.001)., Conclusion: The presence of premacular membranes and absence of LMH-associated epiretinal proliferation in all tractional LMH/MPH further distinguishes this from degenerative LMH. Best-corrected visual acuity improved in both subgroups but more so in tractional LMH/MPH. Complete anatomical restoration of foveal microanatomy was rare in degenerative LMH, reflecting significant morphological and pathophysiological differences between the two lesions.

Purpose: To describe the functional and anatomical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane and internal limiting membrane peel in eyes with and without ectopic inner foveal layers (EIFLs)., Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, patients diagnosed with idiopathic epiretinal membranes who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane and internal limiting membrane peel were enrolled, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Preoperative and postoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. The association of the EIFL and other spectral domain optical coherence tomography parameters with preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was analyzed., Results: One hundred eleven eyes of 107 patients were included. Preoperatively, the EIFLs were present in 56 of 111 eyes (50.4%). The presence of EIFL was significantly associated with lower preoperative and postoperative BCVA (P < 0.001). Ectopic inner foveal layer thickness was negatively correlated with preoperative BCVA (r = 0.58, P < 0.001). Postoperatively, the EIFL persisted in 51 of 56 eyes (91%) with Stage 3 and 4 epiretinal membranes. Ectopic inner foveal layer thickness decreased significantly after surgery (P < 0.001), but postoperative EIFL thinning had no direct effect on postoperative change in BCVA. At 12 months from surgery, EIFL thickness maintained a significant negative correlation with BCVA (r = 0.55, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The presence of EIFL should be considered a negative prognostic factor for postoperative anatomical and functional recovery.

Purpose: To describe the sequential evolution of outer retinal tubulations (ORTs) in patients diagnosed with choroidal neovascularization and/or retinal pigment epithelium atrophy., Methods: Retrospective evaluation of spectral domain optical coherence tomography of a consecutive cohort of patients with various retinal conditions., Results: We reviewed the clinical findings of 238 eyes of 119 consecutive patients (54 men and 65 women) with a mean age of 76.2 ± 14.2 years (range: 57-90) and a mean follow-up of 3 ± 1.6 years (range 1-7). Over the follow-up period, ORTs were diagnosed in 67 of 238 eyes (28.1%), 9 of which were imaged with sequential, eye-tracked spectral domain optical coherence tomography dating from the beginning of ORT formation. The presence of geographic atrophy and subretinal hyperreflective material at baseline were found to be risk factors for ORT development (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Outer retinal tubulations were divided into forming versus formed morphologies. The latter was comprised open and closed ORTs of which the open subtype was the most common. The formation of ORTs was significantly associated with microcystic macular lesions in the inner nuclear layer and the downward displacement of the outer plexiform layer, referred to as the outer plexiform layer subsidence sign (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Outer retinal tubulation is a frequent optical coherence tomography finding in eyes with choroidal neovascularization and geographic atrophy. Open ORTs with progressive scrolled edges and shortened diameter were significantly associated with microcystic macular lesions in the inner nuclear layer and the outer plexiform layer subsidence sign.

Purpose: Pars plana vitrectomy has been reported to increase the risk of ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. The authors conducted a systematic review of randomized and nonrandomized studies to compare the incidence of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in vitrectomized versus nonvitrectomized eyes., Methods: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE until August 2016. Data on ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma incidence and mean intraocular pressure after at least 1 year were pooled using random-effects metaanalysis models. Because only nonrandomized studies were retrieved, ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias in the review., Results: Seven included studies had a paired design to compare the outcomes of vitrectomized versus fellow eyes, with mean follow-up of least 12 months. Four studies (851 patients) provided data on open-angle glaucoma: incidence in vitrectomized versus non-vitrectomized eyes was 7.8% and 4.8%, respectively, yielding a metaanalytic odds ratio of 1.67 (95% CI: 1.08-2.57). Six studies (1,060 patients) reported on the occurrence of ocular hypertension, which was 5.8% in vitrectomized eyes versus 3.1% in fellow eyes (odds ratio: 2.03, 95% CI: 0.97-4.22), without significant differences in the mean postoperative intraocular pressure (mean difference 0.31 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.26 to 0.89)., Conclusion: Although the review found increased risk of open-angle glaucoma with pars plana vitrectomy, the studies were heterogenous or inconsistent regarding ocular hypertension and intraocular pressure increase. Larger studies should be conducted in homogenous cohorts of patients undergoing macular surgery, excluding complex conditions such as retinal detachment or diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of microincisional 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and gas tamponade in the treatment of myopic traction maculopathy., Methods: A prospective nonrandomized multicenter study was designed. Patients with myopic traction maculopathy without macular hole and retinal detachment were included in the study between January 2009 and May 2012. All patients underwent microincisional 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with ILM peeling and 12% C3F8 gas tamponade. In all cases, brilliant blue G staining of the ILM was performed. All patients were prospectively evaluated. The evolution of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular thickness were recorded., Results: Myopic traction maculopathy resolved in 28 of the 30 patients (93%) included. Mean follow-up was 33.8 ± 13 months (range, 24-60 months). Mean time of myopic traction maculopathy resolution after surgery was 2.65 ± 1.4 months. At 1 month after surgery, one patient developed a macular hole and another one a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. After 2 years, another patient developed a retinal detachment. Statistically significant improvements in macular thickness compared with baseline were found at all follow-up visits (P < 0.001, Student's t-test). At final visit, BCVA improved significantly compared with baseline (P = 0.044, Wilcoxon's test). However, a statistically significant improvement in visual acuity was achieved only in eyes with a preoperative Snellen visual acuity ≥ 20/63 (P = 0.027). In contrast, the final BCVA of eyes with worse preoperative visual acuity (<20/63) did not improve significantly (P = 0.41, Wilcoxon's test)., Conclusion: Microincisional 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with ILM peeling and gas tamponade is effective in the treatment of myopic traction maculopathy, with low postoperative complications. Globally, both BCVA and macular thickness improved significantly during the follow-up period. However, greater visual acuity improvements were only seen in eyes with preoperative BCVA equal to or better than 20/63 Snellen equivalent. Some concerns remain about the risk of macular hole formation after ILM peeling. Further studies are necessary to investigate this issue.

Purpose: Primarily to assess and compare the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in previously vitrectomized and nonvitrectomized eyes at our institution. Secondarily to assess and compare the prevalence of OAG in eyes those were phakic and pseudophakic/aphakic at the time of vitrectomy., Methods: A cross-sectional prevalence study was designed. Patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy at our institution from January 2006 to December 2011 and had not been diagnosed with OAG before the surgical procedure were contacted by phone. Those patients who agreed to participate were invited to the University Hospital of Ourense (Spain) for a comprehensive ophthalmic assessment, including Perkins tonometry, gonioscopy, examination of the optic disk, and a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scan of the optic nerve head. The definition of OAG was based on standardized criteria, modified versions of the Rotterdam Study, and those published by Foster et al., Results: Among 472 eligible patients, 182 responded and agreed to participate in our study. Of these, 26 were excluded. Finally, 312 eyes of 156 patients were included in the analysis. Fifteen vitrectomized (8.9%) and 3 nonvitrectomized (2%) eyes were diagnosed with OAG. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.02, chi-square test). Differences in the prevalence of OAG between eyes those were phakic and pseudophakic/aphakic at the time of vitrectomy were not statistically significant (P = 0.48, chi-square test)., Conclusion: Our study supports the hypothesis of an increased risk of OAG after vitrectomy. Prevalence of OAG in vitrectomized eyes was significantly higher compared with nonvitrectomized ones. However, we were not able to demonstrate significant difference in the prevalence of OAG between eyes those were phakic or aphakic/pseudophakic at the time of vitrectomy.