Stellate multiform amelanotic choroidopathy (SMACH) is a rare choroidal disease that can cause persistent subretinal fluid (SRF). It is more common in young individuals, with a similar male-to-female ratio, it is most often unilateral, and its clinical manifestations are diverse. The pathogenesis of SMACH is not well understood, but it may be a form of congenital choroidal dysplasia. The progressive impact of the lesion on the choroidal capillaries and the retinal pigment epithelium may be the cause of SRF. Its characteristic multimodal imaging changes include optical coherence tomography showing hyperreflective fibrous-like changes located in the inner choroidal stroma. Typical finger-like projections arranged in a stellate configuration are best seen on near-infrared imaging, indocyanine green angiography, and en face optical coherence tomography. The lesion is stable, with no progressive changes, and is unresponsive to treatment. Clinicians have limited knowledge about SMACH, which can lead to patients undergoing unnecessary or inappropriate treatments. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and recognize SMACH early in clinical practice.
Perifoveal exudative vascular anomalous complex (PEVAC) is a very rare macular vascular disease characterized by an isolated large aneurysmal lesion in the fovea, with accompanied by small retinal hemorrhage and exudation. The main clinical symptoms of the patients are various degree of impaired vision. Clinically, it is often confused with type 1 macular telangiectasia and type 3 macular neovascularization. A thorough understanding of the clinical features of PEVAC is particularly important for its differential diagnosis. Due to the unclear pathogenesis of PEVAC, there is no specific treatment for the cause of disease. Most scholars use intravitreal injection against vascular endothelial growth factor drugs for treatment, but can not improve patients' visual acuity. At present, many attempts have been made to eliminate abnormal exudation of the lesion, maintain visual function and achieve a good prognosis by simple or combined laser photocoagulation. At present, it is still necessary to explore the pathogenesis of PEVAC, improve the understanding of the disease, and find a better treatment plan.
Objective To observe the angiographic features of patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) by ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography (UWFA) and compare with the conventional 7 standard field (7SF) imaging. Methods This is a retrospective clinical description study. Fifty-eight eyes of 56 RVO patients were included. There were 25 males (26 eyes) and 31 females (32 eyes). The age ranged from 25 to 69 years, with a mean age of (48.12±18.56) years. The course of disease was from 2 days to 25 months, with a mean course of (12.78±11.35) months. Thirty eyes were diagnosed with central RVO (51.72%), 26 eyes were diagnosed with branch RVO (44.83%) and 2 eyes were diagnosed with hemicentral RVO (3.45%). Retinal laser photocoagulation was performed in 11 eyes (18.97%). All patients received examinations of UWFA (British Optomap 200Tx imaging system) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Using the protocol for obtaining 7SF images as described in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study, 7 circular regions with a range of 30 degrees were combined as the 7SF template to determine the observation area. This template was then overlaid on the UWFA image to identify the potential viewable area of 7SF. The visualized retinal area, retinal non-perfusion area, retinal neovascularization area, and laser spot area of UWFA and 7SF were quantified by a retinal specialist. In addition, the OCT images of the affected eye were observed and analyzed to confirm the existence of macular edema. Correlation analysis was done between retinal non-perfusion, retinal neovascularization and macular edema detected by UWFA. Results The results of UWFA and 7SF examination were the same. Compared with 7SF, UWFA showed 3.53 times more retinal visual area, 3.31 times more non-perfusion area, 1.94 times more neovascularization area, and 3.59 times more laser spots (t=72.13, 4.69, 1.76, 5.78;P=0.000, 0.005, 0.102, 0.000). Lesions of 11 eyes (18.97%) were found outside the range of 7SF images. By UWFA, non-perfusion area correlated with neovascularization and macular edema (χ2=12.13, 4.82;P=0.000, 0.028;C=0.42, 0.28). Non-perfusion area anterior to the equator have significantly correlations with macular edema (χ2=6.32,P=0.012,C=0.31), but non-perfusion posterior to the globe equator have no relevance with macular edema (χ2=2.88,P=0.090, C=0.22). Conclusions UWFA can detect more peripheral retinal lesions than 7SF images. By UWFA, non-perfusion area has correlation with neovascularization and macular edema.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of eotaxin-1(CCL11), eotaxin-2(CCL24)and eotaxin-3(CCL26)in ranibizumab treated light-injured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells ARPE-19 and investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist to the expressions of eotaxins. MethodsCultured human RPE cells(8th-12th generations)were divided into light-injured group, ranibizumab treated group and normal control group. Cells of the three groups were exposed to the blue light at the intensity of(600±100) Lux for 12 h to establish the light injured model, while cell culture dishes of the normal control group were wrapped with double-layer foil. The cells of ranibizumab treated group were treated with VEGF-A antagonist(ranibizumab)at the final concentration of 0.125 mg/ml for 24 hours directly after the illumination. The mRNA and protein of VEGF-A, eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, eotaxin-3, NF-κB were determined by Real time-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, immunohistochemical staining at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours after light damage. ResultsThe mRNA and protein level of VEGF-A, eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, eotaxin-3, NF-κB in the light-injuried group increased significantly compared to that in normal control group (P < 0.05). After treating with ranibizumab, the expression of eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, eotaxin-3, NF-κB were significantly suppressed (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe suppression of over-expression of VEGF in human RPE may down-regulate the expression of eotaxins, via the suppression of NF-κB.
ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of internal limiting membrane (ILM) flip coverage with ILM multilayer tamponade in the treatment of highly myopic macular hole-associated retinal detachment (MHRD). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From November 2019 to June 2022, 53 cases and 53 eyes of MHRD patients who were examined and diagnosed at the Eye Centre of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were included in the study. Among them, 21 cases and 21 eyes were male and 32 cases and 32 eyes were female. The age was (55.28±11.40) years. The patients were categorized into two groups: the ILM coverage group (from November 2019 to September 2020) and the ILM multilayer tamponade group (from October 2020 to June 2022) based on their surgical procedures. The ILM coverage group comprised of 11 cases involving 11 eyes, while the ILM multilayer tamponade group comprised of 42 cases involving 42 eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography were conducted. BCVA was measured using standardized international visual acuity charts and transformed to logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity for statistical analysis. The affected eyes were all treated with standard transciliary flattening three-channel 23-gauge vitrectomy. The inverted ILM flap technique was combined with flap coverage in the inverted group, while the ILM multilayer tamponade group used circular ILM stripping to preserve the ILM in the macular area and ILM flap around the macular hole with multilayer ILM tamponade. Postoperative follow-up was carried out for a minimum of 6 months. Relevant examinations were conducted during the follow-up using the same equipment and methods as those used before surgery. The BCVA, as well as the closure of macular hole, resurfacing of the retina, and development of macular hyperplasia, were observed. ResultsIn the ILM-covered group, the macular hole was closed in 7 out of 11 eyes after 1 week of surgery. At 1 month after surgery, the macular hole was closed in all treated eyes. At 6 months after surgery, the macular hole was closed in 9 eyes, while 2 eyes were reopened. In 42 eyes from the ILM-multilayer tamponade group, the macular hole closed after surgery in 41 eyes. At 6 months postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of eyes in ILM-covered and ILM-multilayer tamponade groups was 0.91±0.29 and 1.05±0.39, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (t=1.140, P=0.260). The BCVA of the eyes in both groups showed a significant improvement compared to the preoperative period with a statistically significant difference (t=8.490, 13.840; P＜0.000 1); 6 months after surgery, 10 out of 11 eyes in the ILM coverage group had a restored retina with no detectable macular hyperplasia; 42 eyes in the ILM multilayer tamponade group had a restored retina, but 19 of these eyes had detectable macular hyperplasia. ConclusionsEither ILM flap coverage or ILM multilayer tamponade contributes to high myopic MHRD closure and improved visual acuity. Compared to ILM flap coverage, ILM multilayer tamponade results in higher and earlier rates of macular hole closure and lower rates of macular hole reopening. However, ILM multilayer tamponade may lead to a higher proportion of macular hyperplasia formation without affecting visual acuity recovery at 6 months after surgery.