Interocular symmetry of the foveal avascular zone area in healthy eyes: a swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography study.

Purpose: To determine the presence or absence of interocular differences in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in healthy eyes.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: We examined 236 healthy eyes of 118 consecutive subjects (mean age, 39.

Two-year Results of Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injections Using a Treat-and-extend Regimen for Macular Edema due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

We investigated the effectiveness of a treat-and-extend regimen (TAE) of intravitreal ranibizumab injections for macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). We retrospectively examined 2-year results of 32 eyes of 32 patients who underwent TAE to treat ME due to BRVO. The patients whose treatment interval extended to ≥ 12 weeks were switched to a pro re nata regimen (PRN).

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREOPERATIVE FOVEAL MICROSTRUCTURE AND VISUAL ACUITY IN MACULA-OFF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT: Imaging Analysis by Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: To visualize foveal microstructures in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using swept source optical coherence tomography preoperatively and postoperatively and to investigate the relationship between foveal microstructures and postoperative visual acuity.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 42 eyes of 42 consecutive patients diagnosed with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent anatomically successful repair surgery and were followed up for 6 months. We used swept source optical coherence tomography to investigate the relationship between preoperative and postoperative continuity of both the external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (Ez) and preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity.

Outcomes of vitrectomy combined with subretinal tissue plasminogen activator injection for submacular hemorrhage associated with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To examine the outcomes of vitrectomy with subretinal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) injection and postoperative intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection for submacular hemorrhage (SMH) associated with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Study Design: Retrospective, consecutive case series.

Methods: Patients who underwent vitrectomy for SMH associated with PCV and who were followed up for at least 12 months were included.

EN FACE IMAGE-BASED ANALYSIS OF RETINAL TRACTION CAUSED BY EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VISUAL FUNCTIONS.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between retinal traction caused by epiretinal membrane and visual functions.

Methods: In this institutional study, en face swept-source optical coherence tomography images of 141 eyes of 130 patients with epiretinal membrane were analyzed to investigate maximum depth of retinal folds, which represents retinal traction strength and the distribution pattern of retinal folds. We investigated the relationships between the maximum depth and distribution pattern of retinal folds and visual functions as well as the effects of membrane peeling.

ADVERSE EFFECT OF MACULAR INTRARETINAL HEMORRHAGE ON THE PROGNOSIS OF SUBMACULAR HEMORRHAGE DUE TO RETINAL ARTERIAL MACROANEURYSM RUPTURE.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical course of submacular hemorrhage associated with ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm using swept-source optical coherence tomography.

Methods: This study included 23 eyes of 23 consecutive patients diagnosed with submacular hemorrhage associated with ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm. Cases underwent displacement of submacular hemorrhage (vitrectomy + subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator + air tamponade) and were followed up for 6 months after surgery.

The influence of subretinal injection pressure on the microstructure of the monkey retina.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of subretinal injection pressure on the microstructure of the retina in a monkey model.

Methods: After vitrectomy, balanced salt solution was injected subretinally into one eye each of four cynomolgus monkeys while controlling the injection pressure. Initially, a pressure of 2 psi was used, and this was gradually increased to determine the minimum required pressure.

Successful resolution of coats disease by photodynamic therapy: a case report.

Background: Coats disease is a retinal disease characterized by exudative retinal detachment due to abnormal retinal blood vessels. Coats disease is generally treated using laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy to ablate the abnormal retinal blood vessels. However, if abnormal blood vessels are present near the posterior pole of the eye and there is a severe exudative change there, it is difficult to perform these standard treatments.

Embedding of lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation combined with internal limiting membrane inversion for the treatment of lamellar macular hole: a case report.

Background: We recently reported that lamellar macular hole (LMH) with lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) can be effectively treated by embedding the LHEP into the retinal cleavage to improve foveal contour and visual acuity. Here, we report a case of LMH with LHEP for which we performed embedding of the LHEP combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) inversion. We then evaluated the effects of this surgery on macular morphology and visual functions.

Impact of Polyp Regression on 2-year Outcomes of Intravitreal Aflibercept Injections: A Treat-and-Extend Regimen for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

We conducted intravitreal aflibercept injections (IVAs) for 37 Japanese patients (28 males, 9 females, mean age 73.4 years) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), with a treat-and-extend regimen (TER). We evaluated the impact of polyp regression after a loading dose (2-mg IVA 1×/month for 3 months) on the patients' 2-year treatment outcomes.

Results of a Treat-and-Eextend Regimen of Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injection for Macular Edema due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

To investigate the effectiveness of a treat-and-extend regimen (TAE) of intravitreal ranibizumab injections (IVR) for macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). We retrospectively examined 35 eyes of 35 patients with ME due to BRVO who underwent TAE for 1 year. Patients whose treatment interval extended to 12 weeks were switched to a pro re nata regimen (PRN; TAE to PRN group), while TAE was continued for patients whose treatment interval was less than 12 weeks (continued TAE group).

Assessment of Lamellar Macular Hole and Macular Pseudohole With a Combination of En Face and Radial B-scan Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging.

Purpose: To investigate lamellar macular hole (LMH) and macular pseudohole (MPH) using a combination of en face and radial B-scan OCT.

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Methods: Setting: Institutional study.

A novel cell exclusion zone assay with a barrier made from room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber.

Objective: To examine the usefulness of room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone rubber as a barrier material for cell exclusion zone assays.

Methods: We created barriers using three types of RTV silicone rubber with differing viscosities. We then assessed the adherence of these barriers to culture dishes and their ease of removal from the dishes.

Factors affecting foveal avascular zone in healthy eyes: An examination using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography.

Objective: To examine factors affecting foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in healthy eyes using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 144 eyes of 144 individuals (77 women, 67 men) with a best corrected visual acuity of at least 20/20 and no history of ocular disorders. The area of the superficial FAZ was assessed using OCTA.

The Role of Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap in Macular Hole Closure.

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of macular hole (MH) closure following the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) technique.

Methods: We performed the inverted ILM flap surgical technique as an experimental MH model in monkeys, and investigated the process of MH closure immunohistochemically. We then investigated the effects of type IV collagen, fibronectin, and laminin, which are constituent proteins of the ILM, on the proliferation and migration of cultivated Müller cells (MIO-M1).

Retinal sensitivity after displacement of submacular hemorrhage due to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: effectiveness and safety of subretinal tissue plasminogen activator.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of displacement of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) caused by polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by assessing retinal sensitivity using microperimetry.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 consecutive PCV patients with SMH. All patients underwent vitrectomy, subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator, and fluid-air exchange, followed by antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy using a pro re nata regimen.

Suppressive effect of AMP-activated protein kinase on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells plays a central role in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator of energy homeostasis, on the EMT in RPE cells. In this study, EMT-associated formation of cellular aggregates was induced by co-stimulation of cultured ARPE-19 cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (10 ng/ml) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 (5 ng/ml).

Surgical Outcome of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membranes with Intraretinal Cystic Spaces.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence ratio, localization, and surgical outcomes of intraretinal cystic spaces in idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 432 eyes of 398 consecutive patients with idiopathic ERM who underwent vitrectomy and ERM peeling from January 2012 to September 2015. We selected cases with intraretinal cystic space prior to surgery, detected by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

One-year outcomes of a treat-and-extend regimen of intravitreal aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the 1-year treatment outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept injections (IVA) using a treat-and-extend regimen for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods: Thirty-seven eyes with treatment-naive PCV treated with IVA using a treat-and-extend regimen for 1 year were reviewed retrospectively. The main outcome measures were changes in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT), and the treatment interval at 1 year.

Factors Affecting Choroidal Vascular Density in Normal Eyes: Quantification Using En Face Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: To quantify the vascular density of the choroid of normal eyes and to identify the influencing factors using en face images obtained with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS OCT).

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-three eyes of 163 healthy volunteers (83 female; mean age 42.

Efficacy of vitrectomy and inner limiting membrane peeling in age-related macular degeneration resistant to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, with vitreomacular traction or epiretinal membrane.

Purpose: We assessed the efficacy of vitrectomy and inner limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, followed by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, anti-VEGF-resistant age-related macular degeneration (AMD) due to vitreomacular traction (VMT) or epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods: We identified six patients with anti-VEGF-resistant AMD due to VMT or ERM amongst a total of 588 patients with AMD (821 eyes) referred to Okayama University Hospital between February 2012 and May 2014. These patients underwent vitrectomy to release the VMT (4 cases) or remove the ERM (2 cases), along with ILM peeling.

Successful displacement of a traumatic submacular hemorrhage in a 13-year-old boy treated by vitrectomy, subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator and intravitreal air tamponade: a case report.

Background: The natural course of submacular hemorrhage resulting from traumatic choroidal rupture generally has a poor outcome unless treated. The intravitreal injection of gas only or gas with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been reported to be effective, but has also been reported to induce severe complications such as retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage. Recently, we reported a safe and effective procedure for treating submacular hemorrhage due to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with a low dose of rt-PA.

Planned foveal detachment technique for the resolution of diffuse diabetic macular edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a novel surgical procedure for diffuse diabetic macular edema (DME), performed in conjunction with conventional vitrectomy.

Methods: This prospective, interventional case series involved 20 eyes of 18 consecutive DME patients with best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) between 0.301 and 1.

Case report: successful closure of a large macular hole secondary to uveitis using the inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique.

Background: Macular holes (MHs) are one of the complications of posterior uveitis that can significantly disturb vision. Conventional MH surgery (vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, and gas tamponade) has been reported to show lower closure rates in patients with MHs secondary to uveitis than in patients with idiopathic MHs. Recently, the inverted ILM flap technique has been reported to be effective for treating refractory MHs.