Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs have become the firstline medications for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Its efficacy and safety have been confirmed by evidence-based medicine and a large number of clinical studies. However there are several issues need to be discussed before reaching a consensus for the clinical application of anti-VEGF drugs. These issues include, but not limited to the individual treatment regimen for different CNV lesions, the best anti-VEGF drug regimen, the indications and schemes of combination therapy, the factors affecting the efficacy, the potential risks of systemic and local deliveries. How to establish a reasonable personalized regimen of anti-VEGF drugs is the 1st issue need to be explored. Ranibizumab will come into China market soon. We need utilize the existing evidence-based medical research findings; take our advantages of rich resources of patients to investigate those issues to further promote the anti-VEGF applications in China.
The therapeutic effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) was determined by a number of factors. Comprehensive thorough analysis of clinical features, imaging results and treatment response can predict the potential efficacy and possible vision recovery for the patient, and also can optimize the treatment regime to make a personalized therapy plan. Precise medicine with data from genomics, proteomics and metabolomics study will provide more objective and accurate biology basis for individual precise treatment. The future research should focus on comprehensive assessment of factors affecting the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy, to achieve individualized precise diagnosis and treatment, to improve the therapeutic outcome of nAMD.
We reviewed 44 eyes of pseudophakic(PC-IOL)retinal detackment in which 12 eyes had their posterior lenticular capsules broken,7 of them during the operation and 5 after postoperative YAG laser eapsulotomy.Eleven of the 12 eyes (91.7%) had their retinal detached within 1 year after cataract extraction associated with Intraocular lens implantation,and 18 eyes in 32 eyes(56.3%) with intact po6terior lenticular capsules had their retinae detached within 1 year.The difference between the above conditions was statistically significant (Plt;0.05), Thirty-six of 44 eyes(81.8%) had their detached retinae reattaehed after surgical treatmint. And we found that advanced proliferative vitroretinopethy and failure of detection of retinal breaks played important role for failure of surgical treatment in this series. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1994,10:74-76）
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the common causes of visual impairment. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has become the preferred therapy for DME because of significant visual improvement. Early and intensive anti-VEGF therapy combined with other individualized treatments are currently the main strategy for DME treatment. Considering the complexity of DME and limitations of anti-VEGF therapy, there are still many problems and difficulties in the treatment of DME. Optimizing treatment strategies, strengthening management of the clinical course and developing new drugs, could improve the efficacy and maintain the improvement of visual acuity and visual performance.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of full macular coverage micropulse laser in the treatment of refractory macular edema secondary to Irvine-Gass syndrome.MethodsA retrospective case study. From April 2018 to November 2019, 21 cases of Irvine-Gass syndrome patients with 24 eyes were included in the study. Among them, there were 11 females with 12 eyes and 10 males with 12 eyes; the average age was 54.5±10.1 years. All the affected eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination. BCVA was performed using a standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and the results were converted into the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity when recording. The frequency domain OCT instrument was used to measure the foveal retinal thickness (CMT) and the retinal volume (MRV) of the macular area with a diameter of 1, 6 mm. All the affected eyes were treated with a micropulse laser under the threshold of 577 nm, with a spot diameter of 200 μm, an exposure time of 200 ms, a power of 400 mW, and a 5% duty cycle. The treatment scope was in the upper and lower vascular arches of the macula, covering the entire macula (including the fovea). One or 3 months after treatment, the eyes with macular edema were treated twice with micropulse laser, the method was the same as before. 1, 3, and 6 months after the treatment, the same equipment and methods as before the treatment were used for related inspections. The changes of BCVA, CMT, MRV and the occurrence of complications in the affected eye were observed.ResultsThe average logMAR BCVA of the eyes before treatment and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment were 0.440±0.320, 0.333±0.286, 0.250±0.245, 0.166±0.184, and the average CMT were 395.88±79.21, 349.17±78.07, 317.67±53.72, 285.29±37.03 μm, respectively; the average MRV of diameter 1, 6 mm were 0.310±0.063, 0.275±0.060, 0.245±0.035, 0.221±0.219 mm3 and 9.866±0.846, 9.494±1.002, 9.005±0.885, 8.190±0.850 mm3. Compared with before treatment, the BCVA of the eyes at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment was significantly increased (t=5.060, 5.564, 6.466), and CMT was significantly decreased (t=4.854, 5.777, 7.349), and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01); the average MRV of diameters 1, 6 mm decreased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant (1 mm diameter: t=4.527, 5.394, 7.380; P＜0.01; diameter 6 mm: t=4.577, 7.980, 11.209; P＜0.01). The average number of micropulse laser treatments for the affected eye was 1.25 times.ConclusionFull macular coverage micropulse laser can safely and effectively treat refractory macular edema secondary to Irvine-Gass syndrome and can be used as an alternative treatment.
Corticosteroids, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, antibiotics and antiviral were the main 4 classes of drugs for intravitreal injection. Depending on the class and volume of medication, age and gender of patients, ocular axial lengths or vitreous humour reflux, intraocular pressure (IOP) can be elevated transiently or persistently after intravitreal injection. Transient IOP elevation occurred in 2 weeks after intravitreal injection, and can be reduced to normal level for most patients. Only a small portion of such patients have very high IOP and need intervention measures such as anterior chamber puncture or lowering intraocular pressure by drugs. Long term IOP elevation is refers to persistent IOP increase after 2 weeks after intravitreal injection, and cause optic nerve irreversible damage and decline in the visual function of patients. Thus drug or surgical intervention need to be considered for those patients with high and long period of elevated IOP. Large-scale multicenter clinical trials need to be performed to evaluate the roles of the drug and patients factors for IOP of post-intravitreal injection, and to determine if it is necessary and how to use methods reducing IOP before intravitreal injection.
ObjectiveTo observe the alterations of microvascular structure in patients with macular edema (ME) associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) before and after anti-VEGF drug therapy.MethodsA retrospective case study. Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with unilateral BRVO-ME at Department of Ophthalmology in Beijing Hospital during November 2016 to June 2018 were enrolled in this study. There were 14 males (14 eyes) and 18 females (18 eyes), with the mean age of 57.81±10.58 years, and the mean course of the disease of 12.13±7.13 d. The affected eyes was defined as the eyes with BRVO-ME. All the affected eyes received intravitreal anti-VEGF drug injections (3+PRN). BCVA and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed on the BRVO and fellow eyes before and after intravitreal anti-VEGF drug injections. The scanning region in the macular area was 3 mm×3 mm. Macular blood flow density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), macular hemodynamics parameters [foveal avascular area (FAZ) area, perimeter (PERIM), acircularity index (AI) and vessel density within a 300um width ring surrounding the FAZ (FD-300)] and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured in all eyes. Paired samples t-test and Univariate Linear Regression were used in this study.ResultsComparing with fellow eyes, the mean macular blood flow density measured in the entire scan was lower in BRVO-ME eyes in the SCP (t=6.589, P=0.000) and DCP (t=9.753, P=0.000), PERIM (t=4.054, P=0.000) ), AI enlarged in BRVO-ME eyes (t=4.988, P=0.000), FD-300 was lower in BRVO-ME eyes (t=2.963, P=0.006), FAZ area enlarged in BRVO-ME eyes (t=0.928, P=0.361). The blood flow density in the DCP was the parameter most significantly correlated with BCVA and FAZ area (r=0.462, −0.387;P＜ .05). After 3 intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drug, the CRT and FD-300 decreased, BCVA increased (t=9.865, 3.256, −10.573; P＜0.05), PERIM and AI was not changed significantly (t=0.520, 2.004; P＞0.05). The blood flow density in the SCP decreased (t=2.814, P＜0.05), but the blood flow density in the DCP was not changed significantly (t=0.661, P=0.514). Contrarily, comparing with after 1 anti-VEGF drug injection, the blood flow density in the DCP increased after 2 anti-VEGF drug injections (t=3.132, P＜0.05). FAZ area enlarged in BRVO-ME eyes (t=5.340, P＜0.001). Comparing with last anti-VEGF drug injection, FAZ area enlarged after every anti-VEGF drug injection (t=2.907, 3.742, 2.203; P＜0.05).ConclusionsIn BRVO-ME eyes, the blood flow density in the SCP and DCP are decreased. The blood flow density in the DCP is positively correlated with BCVA and negatively correlated with FAZ area. After anti-VEGF drug therapy, the blood flow density is decreased in the SCP and increased in the DCP, FAZ area enlarged gradually, PERIM and AI are not changed significantly.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab and (or) triamcinolone combined with laser photocoagulation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) during one year period. MethodsThe data of 31 eyes from 31 consecutive patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO during one year follow-up visit were retrospectively analyzed. Mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) logMAR was (0.74±0.36) and mean central retinal thickness (CRT) was (484.48±164.81)μm at baseline. All patients received standardized clinical comprehensive examinations including vision, intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography for diagnosis before treatment. All patients received intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab (0.05 ml) at first visit. The continue PRN treatment were based on the visual acuity changes and the optical coherence tomography findings. Eyes received combined triamcinolone acetonide 0.05 ml (40 mg/ml) and ranibizumab for macular edema recurrence after two injections of ranibizumab and received laser photocoagulation during 10-14 days after third injections of ranibizumab. Mean injection of ranibizumab was 3.52±2.01, 15 eyes with triamcinolone acetonide (0.84±1.21), 21 eyes with laser photocoagulation (0.97±0.95) and 12 eyes with three treatment. Compared the visual acuities and CRTs of the first and the last visits by statistical analysis. ResultsMean visual acuity improved significantly to 0.42±0.33 logMAR (t=6.611, P=0.000). Mean improvement of visual acuity was 2.90±3.07 lines. A gain of three or more logarithmic lines was evaluated in 20/31 eyes (64.52%) at the last visit. Mean CRT was (326.19±117.80)μm (t=4.514, P=0.000).Mean reduction of CRT was (333.58±134.17)μm. A decrease of 100μm of CRT was evaluated in 17/31 eyes (54.84%). No severe ocular and systematic side effect was found. ConclusionThe efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab and (or) triamcinolone combined with laser photocoagulation for macular edema secondary to BRVO were assured.