Medical hypothesis discovery and innovation in ophthalmology

Editorial/No abstract

Subluxated cataracts secondary to blunt injury are a challenge to treat from the construction of rhexis to IOL insertion. For that reason, we designed a new glued endocapsular ring (ECR)/ segment (ECS) for subluxated cataracts and IOLs for sutureless fibrin glue assisted trans-scleral fixation of the capsular bag. The glued ECR/segment stabilizes the capsular bag intra and post-operatively, allowing for sutureless fibrin glue assisted trans-scleral fixation. The segment gives vertical, horizontal and rotational stability as well as forniceal expansion. The advantages to this approach include easier implementation; faster surgery; easy adjustability; sturdier scleral fixation; fewer chances of segment drop into vitreous and lack of suture-related complications. Our hypothesis is that a glued versus sutured ECR/ECS will be more viable and stable on the sclera in the long term. Less pseudophakodonesis will also lead to a more stable capsule-bag complex and reduce the risk of posterior segment complications such as retinal detachment and cystoid macular edema. The nature of the device also makes its removal, if required, much more straightforward than the sutured rings/segments. This device can be used in patients with subluxated cataracts, colobomatous lens or subluxated IOLs.

We demonstrate that changes in the behaviour of the contractile ciliary muscle accompanied by augmented rigidity of the lens are the most important aspects in the loss of accommodation. With ultrabiomicroscopy (UBM), we demonstrated that the performance of the ciliary muscle is diminished and accompanied by rigidity of the lens. Both lens thickness and trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD) were the parameters that showed major alterations with the loss of accommodation in patients of different ages. The results indicated that the differences between these parameters in farsightedness and nearsightedness in the different groups of patients were positively correlated.

The purpose would be to describe and evaluate a novel technique of episcleral macular buckling in postvitrectomy recurrent macular hole retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes. A 7mm silicone sponge strengthened with a U-shaped 0.5mm orthodontics stainless steel wire fed along its length and hand-bent to produce L-shaped buckle of appropriate shape and length, is used. The episcleral macular buckling has performed on 15 highly myopic eyes (axial length > 30mm) with recurrent macular hole retinal detachment following silicone oil removal. Buckle localization has been performed by manipulating the long arm of the exoplant, under direct internal visualization, scleral marking and suturing. Successful retinal reattachment with improvement in visual acuity achieved in all 15 eyes. Closure of the macular holes was confirmed by Optical Coherence Tomography. The anatomical and functional outcomes of this new technique of macular buckling appears to provide an effective and feasible means of retinal reattachment and hole closure in postvitrectomy recurrent macular hole detachment in highly myopic eyes.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be an endothelial cell-specific mitogen and an angiogenic inducer in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated to increase retinal vessel permeability by increasing the phosphorylation of tight junction proteins. Recent work has found elevated levels of VEGF in ocular fluids of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Thus, it makes sense to consider anti-VEGF treatments in the management of PDR. The purpose of the current research is to determine if intravitreal bevacizumab as anti-VEGF is helpful in the management of complications of PDR.

Letter to the Editor/ No abstract