Background: To evaluate efficacy and safety of combined pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and scleral fixated intraocular lens (SFIOL) surgery as a single procedure.
Methods: Retrospective interventional case series done at a tertiary eye care center in Northern India. Eleven patients who underwent combined PPV and SFIOL surgery were included and analyzed retrospectively.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 43.36±15.12 years (range, 22–64 years). Eight were male. Mean baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.78±0.63 logMAR units while the mean post-operative BCVA at 6 months follow-up was 0.37±0.29 logMAR units, the visual gain being statistically significant (P=0.021). None of the patients had a drop in BCVA with nine patients having final BCVA better than 0.48 logMAR units. Choroidal detachment (CD) was the only notable complication, seen in three patients. Other complications included two cases of intraoperative retinal breaks, a case each of reversible corneal edema, ocular hypertension and cystoid macular edema.
Conclusions: Combined PPV and SFIOL is an efficacious procedure for managing IOL/lens dislocation and aphakia in a single surgery. There may be short-term reversible complications with no impact on final visual gain.
Abstract: Encapsulated-cell therapy (ECT) is an attractive approach for continuously delivering freshly synthesized therapeutics to treat sight-threatening posterior eye diseases, circumventing repeated invasive intravitreal injections and improving local drug availability clinically. Composite collagen-alginate (CAC) scaffold in ECT contains an interpenetrating network that integrates the physical and biological merits of its constituents, including biocompatibility, mild gelling properties and availability. An injectable CAC system that supported the growth of HEK293 cells with sustainable glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) delivery has been developed. Continuous GDNF delivery was detected in culture and in healthy rat eyes for at least 14 days. The gels were well tolerated with no host tissue attachment and contained living cell colonies. Most importantly, gel implantation in dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons rat eyes for 28 days retained photoreceptors while those gels containing higher initial cell number yielded better photoreceptor rescue effect. This rescue effect is clinically relevant as photoreceptor death is a common pathology in many retinal diseases. Moreover, since cells including autologous cells can be genetically engineered to secrete various therapeutic agents, CAC gel offers a flexible system design and is a potential treatment option for other chronic neurodegenerative diseases.
Abstract: RAF near point rule (RNPR) is a routinely used instrument in ophthalmology and optometry practice as well as for research purposes to measure the near point of convergence (NPC). The measurement of NPC is an important criterion for diagnosis and management of convergence insufficiency. The RNPR forms an important tool for ophthalmic clinicians however, only a very little is understood about it. This article tries to describe and review the designs, measurement techniques, merits and demerits of the RNPR and establish the need for its modification. It recommends that clinicians and researchers consider these findings while measuring NPC with the RNPR.
Abstract: Glaucoma is now the second leading reason of blindness in the world and is characterized by gradual loss of retinal ganglion cells. Stem cells have the ability to regenerate human structures. Although there are still problems unsolved, stem cell therapy might provide brighter future for treatment of glaucoma.
