水口 忠

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the incidence of bilateral macular holes (MHs), and to investigate the incidence and characteristics of retinal abnormalities in the fellow eyes, using high-definition optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Medical records from 724 consecutive patients diagnosed with full-thickness MHs, who underwent surgery at Fujita Health University Hospital from May 2015 to March 2022, were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the exclusion criteria, 658 patients with idiopathic MHs were included. B-scan OCT images of the fellow eyes were used to identify vitreoretinal interface abnormalities, such as MHs, epiretinal membranes (ERMs), vitreomacular traction syndrome (VMTS) and lamellar macular holes (LMHs). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 65.9±9.0 years. There were 292 males (44.4%) and 366 females (55.6%). There were 39 fellow eyes with MHs (5.9%), 77 with ERMs (11.7%), 32 with VMTS (4.9%) and 11 with LMHs (1.7%). Thirty-four fellow eyes (5.2%) could not be classified and 469 fellow eyes were normal (71.3%). Furthermore, the 39 bilateral MHs were divided into four stages according to the Gass classification, as follows: stage 1, 32 eyes (82.1%); stage 2, none (0%); stage 3, 5 eyes (12.8%); and stage 4, 2 eyes (5.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Vitreoretinal interface abnormalities, such as MHs, ERMs, VMTS and LMHs, are more common in the fellow eyes of patients with MHs than in the healthy population. The fellow eyes of patients with MHs should be carefully followed using OCT.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of modified internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique combined with vitreous surgery for treating macular holes and examine the outcomes in visual function and anatomic macular hole closure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, observational. METHODS: Between July 1, 2015, and October 1, 2019, the modified inverted ILM flap technique combined with vitreous surgery was used to treat idiopathic macular holes, postoperative progression was then followed for at least 6 months in 96 participants (98 eyes). We modified the method by removing the lower half of the ILM while peeling and inverting the upper half. The mean age of the participants was 65.9 ± 11.9 years (41 men (42.7%) and 55 women (57.3%)). Retrospective evaluations of macular hole diameter, corrected visual acuity, and macular hole closure rates were performed using data from medical records. RESULTS: The mean macular hole diameter was 623.6 ± 207.4 μm. The mean corrected visual acuity (logMAR) was 0.79 ± 0.27 before surgery and 0.46 ± 0.35 at 1, 0.35 ± 0.39 at 3, and 0.31 ± 0.36 at 6 months Post surgery, showing significant differences before and after surgery (p = 2.30 × 10- 2). The macular hole closure rate was 98%. CONCLUSION: The modified inverted ILM flap technique combined with vitreous surgery was an effective method for treating macular holes, resulting in improvement in closure and visual acuity.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of, and risk factors for, epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery after an initial pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: The records of consecutive patients (3,495 eyes of 3,387 patients) who underwent RRD repair at Fujita Health University Hospital between January 1, 2008, and February 28, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 1,736 eyes without an ERM in preoperative optical coherence tomography were included in this study. RESULTS: The incidence of ERM surgery after RRD repair was 2.4%. The mean time from RRD repair to ERM surgery was 19.5±27.2 months. The odds ratios after adjusting for age and sex were as follows: the preoperative visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, logMAR), 2.17 (p=0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-5.16); axial length, 1.38 (p=0.002; 95% CI, 1.12-1.72); 20-gauge vitreous surgery instruments, 3.82 (p<0.0001; 95% CI, 2.02-7.16); internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, 0.28 (p=0.033; 95% CI, 0.05-0.92). ERM surgery improved visual acuity from 0.36 to 0.01 logMAR, even at ≥1.5 years after RRD repair. CONCLUSIONS: Careful follow-up is required in the following cases: long axial length before RRD repair, low visual acuity, use of 20-gauge vitreous surgery instruments, and a lack of ILM peeling.

<sec><title>Introduction</title> The ability to reduce illumination levels is generally accepted as one of the main benefits of a three-dimensional heads-up system (3D system: Ngenuity®; Alcon, CA, USA). Some studies have focused on illumination reduction in vitreoretinal procedures; however, information regarding illumination reduction in cataract surgery has not been published. </sec><sec><title>Purpose</title> This study aimed to compare the illumination of the operational field with a 3D system and a standard microscope eyepiece during cataract surgery. </sec><sec><title>Subject and methods</title> We retrospectively evaluated 91 eyes of 84 consecutive patients who were undergoing cataract surgery at our hospital. We used the 3D system and the eyepiece on alternative days. We determined the minimum light intensity required for safe surgery using the foot switch of the microscope (OMS800; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). Illuminance on the ocular surface and the minimum illuminance required for the operation were calculated from the minimum light intensity. </sec><sec><title>Results</title> The 3D system was used in 45 eyes (3D group), and the eyepiece was used in 46 eyes (eyepiece group). The values of minimum illuminance in the 3D group were significantly lower than those in the eyepiece group (3D: 5500 ± 2000 lux, eyepiece: 11,900 ± 1800 lux; p &lt; 0.001*). In addition, the illuminance of the operational field was reduced by 60.4% on average using the 3D system. </sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title> With real-time digital processing and automated brightness control, the 3D system reduced ocular surface illumination by 50% or more. Hence, the 3D system may contribute to reducing the risk of retinal phototoxicity and patient photophobia. </sec>

OBJECTIVES: We compared the effects of sub-Tenon's capsule anesthesia (STA) and trans-Tenon's capsule retrobulbar anesthesia (TTRBA) in 68 patients with epiretinal membrane. METHODS: Either STA or TTRBA was induced with 3 mL of lidocaine (2%) before vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification and aspiration (phacovitrectomy). Akinesia was evaluated by range of eye movement (ROEM) in upward, downward, nasal, and temporal directions at 4, 10, and 30 minutes after injection. Analgesia was evaluated with a visual analogue pain score, which ranged from 0 to 10. RESULTS: The mean cumulative ROEMs were 1.44±1.02 corneal diameters (CDs) at 4 minutes, 0.55±0.76 CDs at 10 minutes, and 0.26±0.33 CDs at 30 minutes in patients who received STA; these values were 0.39±0.35 CDs at 4 minutes, 0.22±0.30 CDs at 10 minutes, and 0.13±0.29 CDs at 30 minutes in patients who received TTRBA. At both 4 and 10 minutes, the cumulative ROEMs in all directions, as well as the temporal ROEMs, were significantly larger in patients who received STA than in patients who received TTRBA. Pain scores did not significantly differ between groups at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: STA and TTRBA produced identical degrees of analgesia, but akinesia was slower in patients who received STA. TTRBA might be preferable for patients undergoing brief vitrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether age correlates with amplitude and latency, when full-field electroretinography (ERG) is performed using skin electrodes. The ability of pulse reference power line noise reduction (PURE) to dampen the noise associated with the use of skin electrodes, was also investigated. METHODS: ERG was performed on 77 eyes in 77 healthy subjects (mean age: 55.6±19.0 years; age range: 9 to 86 years). Subjects with -5D or higher myopia, Emery-Little grade III or higher cataracts, retinal disease, uveitis, glaucoma, ≤5 mm mydriasis, or a history of intraocular surgery other than cataract surgery, were excluded. The active, reference, and ground electrodes were placed on the lower eyelid, outer canthus, and earlobe, respectively. Responses were averaged 10 times for dark-adapted (DA) ERGs, and 32 to 64 times for light-adapted (LA) ERGs. Noise was removed using the PURE method. RESULTS: The DA ERGs without PURE were so noisy that the amplitude or latency could not be determined, whereas those with PURE were comparatively quieter. ERG with PURE demonstrated a significant negative correlation between age and amplitude and a significant positive correlation between age and latency. CONCLUSIONS: We could record the measurable ERG waveforms with skin electrodes by using the PURE method, especially in fewer averaged conditions. It is suggested that skin electrode with PURE is suitable to examine the pathological ERGs, and other types of electrodes. It is recommended that the aging effect should be taken into consideration when pathological ERGs are evaluated.

<sec><title>Purpose:</title> We report a novel technique for visualizing the posterior surface of the lens nucleus during phacoemulsification. </sec><sec><title>Surgical Technique:</title> Hydro-dissection was performed using a solution of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide powder without preservatives mixed with 3 ml BSS-plus, and triamcinolone acetonide was clearly identifiable underneath the posterior surface of the lens nucleus. Using a phaco-tip, the nucleus was shaved to the level of the triamcinolone acetonide and could be easily divided. The remnant triamcinolone acetonide was aspirated as much as possible from the lens cortex with an infusion/aspiration tip. </sec><sec><title>Subjects and Evaluation Technique:</title> Twenty-eight eyes in 28 patients with cataracts were enrolled in this study. Triamcinolone acetonide-assisted phacoemulsification was performed in 13 eyes in 13 patients (triamcinolone acetonide-phacoemulsification group), and normal phacoemulsification was performed in 15 eyes in 15 patients (phacoemulsification group). Intraocular pressure was measured in all patients pre-operatively, 1 day after, and 1 week after surgery. Corneal endothelial cell density was measured pre-operatively and 1 month after surgery. The time of surgical phacoemulsification (surgical phaco time) was measured from the video of the surgery. </sec><sec><title>Results:</title> Surgery was successively performed in all eyes. Pre-operative and post-operative intraocular pressures and cell densities did not significantly differ between the two groups. Surgical phaco time was shorter in the triamcinolone acetonide-phacoemulsification group than in the phacoemulsification group (157.1 ± 51.7 s vs 225.3 ± 45.1 s; p = 0.006). </sec><sec><title>Conclusion:</title> The triamcinolone acetonide-assisted phacoemulsification procedure is safe and useful for visualizing the posterior surface of the lens nucleus and facilitates removal of the lens nucleus by phacoemulsification. </sec>