Retinal degeneration mainly include age-related macular degeneration, retinitispigmentosa and Stargardt’s disease. Although its expression is slightly different, its pathogenesis is photoreceptor cells and/or retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cel1 damage or degeneration. Because of the 1ack of self-repairing and renewal of retinal photoreceptor cells and RPE cells, cell replacement therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating such diseases.The stem cells currently used for the treatment of retinal degeneration include embryonicstem cells (ESC) and various adult stem cells, such as retinal stem cells (RSC), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). and mesenchyma1 stem cells (MSC). Understanding the currentbasic and clinical application progress of ESC, iPSC, RSC, MSC can provide a new idea for the treatment of retinal degeneration.
ObjectiveTo observe the application value and therapeutic efficacy of wide-field digital pediatric retinal imaging system (RetcamⅢ) fundus fluorescein angiograms (FFA) assisted photocoagulation on familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). MethodsThe study included 46 eyes of 34 patients with staging 2 FEVR. All patients received color fundus photography and FFA under general anesthesia. The blood vessel reliability of color fundus photography and FFA was comparatively determined. Binocular indirect ophthalmoscope laser photocoagulation was applied to peripheral retina with abnormal leakage as indicated by FFA, the wavelength was 532nm, the duration was 0.25 s and the energy was 200-280 mW. After laser photocoagulation, fundus imaging and FFA was repeated. Further laser photocoagulation was immediately added to areas with vessel leakage but missing the photocoagulation. After treatment, the mean follow-up duration was 14.4 months. The follow up focused on neovascularization, exudative lesions, vitreous traction and merging of photocoagulation spots within 3 months, and on fibrosis membrane resulting in macular traction, tractional retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage or Coats disease-like retinal exudates after 3 months. ResultsIt was hard to identify the blood vessels based on the color fundus images and some avascular zone maybe missed. Neovascularization can't be determined by shape of the blood vessels. On the other hand, those new blood vessels can be easily recognized by FFA as leakage sites at the boundary of avascular zone. The surgeon could quickly and accurately locate the FEVR area guided by the color fundus images and FFA from same angle under binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. During the treatment, there was no retinal FEVR area missed laser photocoagulation for all patients. There was no neovascularization, exudative lesions, vitreous traction within 3 months, and no fibrosis membrane, tractional retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage or Coats disease-like retinal exudates after 3 months. There were no ocular and systemic complications during and after the FFA and laser photocoagulation. ConclusionWide-field RetcamⅢFFA can help retinal specialists to identify abnormal neovascularization, locate the lesion area, and thus increase the success rate of laser photocoagulation, reduce the ocular and systemic complications for FEVR.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs. photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Methods A computerized search was conducted in Pubmed, OVID, Chinese Biological Medicine Database（CBM）,China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI） by using key words ldquo;polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, photodynamic therapy, intravitreal anti-VEGFrdquo; in Chinese and/or English combined with manually searching of bibliographies of pertinent articles, journals and literature reference proceedings. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-RCT were collected. The search time was ranged from establishment of each database to September, 2011. The search was no 1imitation in language. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),resolution and recurring of lesions, decrease or complete resolution of pigment epithelial detachment （PED）,visual extinction or blindness rate,the rate of subretinal hemorrhage were analyzed by RevMan 5.0 software. Results In total, one RCT and four non-RCTs (273 patients) were included in the meta-analysis involving 148 patients in single treatment group and 125 patients in combined treatment group. The results of metaanalyses showed that there was no significant difference between two groups in the mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution BCVA at six months ［standard mean difference=0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.12- 0.14,P=0.84］and 12 months ［standard mean difference = 0.04, 95%CI: -0.16-0.25,P=0.69 after treatment. There was no significant difference between two groups in the resolution of lesions ［odds ratio (OR)=1.38,95%CI:0.74-2.55,P=0.31］ at the months after treatment and decrease or complete resolution of PED (OR=0.67,95%CI:0.12-3.69,P=0.65) at 12 months after treatment. There was no significant difference between two groups in the recurring of lesions (OR=1.14, 95% CI:0.58-2.24,P=0.71) and lost of ge; three lines vision or blindness rate (OR=1.20, 95%CI:0.34-4.18,P=0.78) at 12 months after treatment. The rate of subretinal hemorrhage in combine treatment group was significant lower than single treatment group (OR=0.41, 95%CI:0.18 -0.94,P=0.04). Conclusions The incidence of subretinal hemorrhage occurred in patients with PCV after intravitreal anti-VEGF combined with PDT is much lower than that after single PDT.But the visual improvement, resolution of lesions and recurring of lesions of combined treatment need further studied to see if it is better than single PDT.
Objective To observe the clinical manifestation and treatment effect of Coatsprime; disease in adulthood. Methods The clinical data of 18 adult patients with Coatsprime; disease from 1980 to 2006 at the department of ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital which had been diagnosed by ocular fundus examination and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), were retrospectively analyzed. The follow-up period was one year. Coatsprime; response diseases in all the patiens were excluded, such as history of radiation therapy, intraocular inflammation, retinal vascular occlusion, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and more leakage of diabetic retinopathy. The patients, 14 males and 4 females, 11 left eyes and 7 right eyes, all of them occurs in unilateral; aged from 37 to 55 years with the average age of 43 years; the initial diagnostic vision was 0.02 to 1.5, the visual value was 0.1. 17 patients (17 eyes) were treated by laser photocoagulation, 1 patient was treated by release of retinal operation with condensation. The mean follow up period was 3.7 years (ranged from 1 to 15.3 years). Results In 18 patients (18 eyes), vitreous clear in 14 eyes, vitreous few muddy in 4 years when initial diagnosis. The optic discs in 18 eyes are normal. Lesions confined to one or two quadrant, for the most are in the temporal(15/18 eyes), less are in Bice (4/18 eyes), only one eye at top; two eyes lesions involved in 2 quadrant. There are typical retinal vascular anomalies expansion, miliary aneurysm, arterial aneurysm, macroaneurysms and capillary without perfusion areas; yellowwhite hard leakage by a large block or cluster in Lesion corresponding region. More than half of the eyes with macular edema or leakage; limited retinal detachment in 4 eyes, the range was very wide in 1 eye; retinal hemorrhage in 3 eyes. After treatment the exudation or the hemorrhage were absorbed and retinas were reset. Compared the visual acuity with before treatment, mostly (64.3%) improved 2 lines or keep in 1.2-1.5, no one decreased over 2 lines. The last vision was 0.02-1.5, the visual value was 0.1. Conclusions Coatsprime; disease in adulthood diagnosed in first time has similar characteristics with children, such as vascular anomaly of retina, fundus exudation. The differences including limited area of involvement, less hemorrhages, mild damage on macular, slow development of lesions in follow-up period and better visual prognosis. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：279-282）
ObjectiveTo compare the visual outcomes of treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab alone or in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). MethodsIn this retrospective and comparative study, 36 eyes of 36 patients with PCV were enrolled. Eighteen eyes received 0.5 mg (0.05 ml) ranibizumab injection only (simple injection group) and the other 18 eyes underwent combination therapy of ranibizumab injection and PDT (combination treatment group). Intravitreal ranibizumab was given at the third day after PDT. Re-treatment was considered in clinic examination. The minimum re-treatment interval was 3 months for combination therapy and 1 month for ranibizumab. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at baseline and each follow-up visit at 1, 3, 6, 12 month was measured as a primary outcome, and complications also observed in every follow-up. ResultsNo complications occurred in these 36 patients during the treatment or follow-up, such as retinal detachment, sustained high intraocular pressure, retinal holes, intraocular inflammation, and systemic adverse reactions. The average times of ranibizumab injections of simple injection group and combined treatment group were (3.00±0.84) and (1.89±0.68) times respective, and the difference was significant (t=4.370, P=0.000). The logMAR BCVA of the first and third month after initial treatment between two groups were significant different (t=0.668, 0.940; P>0.05). However, there was no significant difference between them at the 6th and 12th month (t=2.188, 2.547; P<0.05). In the last follow-up, the logMAR BCVA were improved in simple injection group and combination treatment group compared to the pre-treatment values (t=3.351, 9.408; P=0.012, 0.000). In simple injection group, visual acuity was improved in 3 eyes (16.7%), stable in 13 eyes (72.2%) and decreased in 2 eyes (11.1%). In combination treatment group, visual acuity was improved in 4 eyes (22.2%), stable in 13 eyes (72.2%) and decreased in 1 eyes (5.6%). ConclusionsIntravitreal ranibizumab injection and combined with PDT are both effective to improve vision in patients with PCV. Visual acuity was the same between the two treatments in 3 months after initial treatment; however 6 to 12 months after first treatment, patients received PDT combined with intravitreal ranibizumab injection had better visual acuity than those received the intravitreal ranibizumab injection only.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and to investigate the primary treatment tentatively. MethodsA systematic search of Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and the Wanfang Data was performed to identify all comparative studies that compared the outcomes of PDT alone, intravitreal VEGF inhibitors alone and combined intravitreal VEGF inhibitors and photodynamic therapy. Outcomes of interest included the regression and recurrence rate of polypoidal lesions, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), therapeutic times, and the occurrence rate of adverse events. 2 randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 19 non-RTCs were identified. According to treatment methods, the data extracted was classified to 3 groups, analyzed with odds ratio (OR), weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95%confidence interval (95%CI). ResultsMeta-analysis suggests that the regression rate of polypoidal lesions (OR=0.34, 0.07; 95%CI=0.13-0.88, 0.02-0.36) and BCVA (WMD=0.25, 0.11; 95%CI=0.14-0.36, 0.01-0.21) in combined therapy group were significantly better than those in PDT group and intravitreal VEGF inhibitors group (P < 0.05). The recurrence rate of polypoidal lesions in PDT group was significantly lower than intravitreal VEGF inhibitors group (OR=0.35, 95%CI=0.16-0.74, P=0.006). BCVA (P=0.025) and the occurrence rate of adverse events (OR=60.36, 95%CI=6.04-603.50, P=0.000 5) in intravitreal VEGF inhibitors group were significant better than PDT group. ConclusionsCombined treatment appeared to be superior to PDT alone or intravitreal VEGF inhibitors alone. Combined treatment takes priority over all others in the primary treatment of PCV.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) with intravitreal ranibizumab injection in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). MethodsTwenty-four PCV patients (24 eyes) were enrolled in this retrospective case study.All patients were assessed by the examinations of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity chart, color fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optic coherence tomography (OCT). The mean visual acuity was (33.41±19.43) letters; the mean macular retinal thickness was (343.63±88.60) μm. Patients received PDT first, and intravitreal injected ranibizumab 0.5 mg (0.05 ml) 72 hours later. Treatments were repeated as a single intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with or without PDT if the monthly follow-up indicated that it was necessary. The average follow-up period was 13.1 months. The average treatment times were analyzed for each eye. Systemic and ocular adverse events were observed. Visual acuity, macular retinal thickness and leakage of PCV before and after the treatment were analyzed. ResultsIntravitreal ranibizumab injections was repeated (2.8±1.6) times per eye on average, and intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with PDT was repeated (0.4±0.5) times per eye on average. No systemic and ocular adverse effects were found during and after combined therapy. In the last follow-up, the mean visual acuity of ETDRS was (44.21±17.24) letters, improved by 10.8 letters (t=-4.77, P<0.01).Visual acuity was improved in 11 eyes (45.8%) and stable in 13 eyes (54.2%). FFA and ICGA showed complete closed PCV in 17 eyes (70.8%), partial closed PCV in 7 eyes (29.2%). OCT image showed that the retinal edema was disappeared in 19 eyes (79.2%) and alleviated in 5 eyes (20.8%). The mean macular retinal thickness was (171.33±38.06) μm, which was 172.30 μm less than that of pre-treatment values (t=11.96, P<0.05). ConclusionPhotodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal ranibizumab injections for PCV is safe and effective, with visual acuity improvement, reduction of retinal edema and PCV leakage.
Choroidal nevus is one of the most common benign melanocytic tumor. The prevalence rate of choroidal nevi is 0.15% - 10.00%, which is high among whites and low among colored people, and is obvious higher in male than that in female. Secondary changes in the surrounding retina of the benign tumor, such as subretinal fluid and choroidal neovascularization, may result in vision loss. This benign tumor carries risks for transformation into malignant melanoma. The factors predictive of transformation into melanoma included greater thickness, subretinal fluid, visual symptoms, orange lipofuscin pigment, tumor location (tumor margin near optic disc), ultrasonography hollowness and absence of halo. Early identification of the related features which impair visual acuity is important for early treatment and better prognosis, and it is especially important to monitor the tendency of malignant transformation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) could provide detailed information which aid in diagnosing, differentiating and monitoring of choroidal nevi. OCT and optical coherence tomography angiography are emerging as excellent techniques to investigate choroidal melanocytic lesions. The treatment modalities, such as laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelium growth factor, have been proved to be effective for choroidal nevi with secondary changes. In the future, the relevant researches should be imposed to provide more detailed information in order to explore the nature and characteristics of this disease.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological disease, characterized by increased intracranial pressure and papilledema, and often associated with headache, transient loss of vision and pulsatile tinnitus. IIH typically occurs in women of childbearing age. Over 90.0% of patients are with obesity or over weighted. Loss of sensory visual function is the major morbidity associated with IIH and some patients even develop into blindness. Most patients will have varied degrees of visual impairment, or even a few become blind. Frisén grading system, visual field examination and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography can be used to evaluate and monitor the IIH papilledema functionally and morphologically. In recent years, IIH treatment trials in other countries confirmed that, weight loss and low-salt diet combined with acetazolamide treatment has a clear improvement for IIH patients with mild visual impairment. In-depth understanding of the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria and the main treatment has important clinical significance for IIH patients
Retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) is a genetic distinct subgroup of exudative age-related macular degeneration which shows a rapid and severe vision loss and high recurrence rates. The pathophysiological mechanisms of RAP is unclear. Recent histopathologic study and en face optical coherence tomography angiography have furthered our understanding of RAP. Clinical features frequently associated with RAP include bilateral disease, presence of reticular pseudodrusen and pigment epithelial detachments. Indocyanine green angiography is the gold standard diagnostic tool. Recently, more and more accurate optical coherence tomography has improved the acknowledgement of stage and diagnosis of RAP. The treatment efficacy of RAP is highly dependent on the stage. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy is currently the first line of treatment. Other treatment options including combination of photodynamic therapy with antiangiogenic agent intravitreal injections also achieve a reasonable therapeutic outcome. There remain several important questions such as pathogenesis and treatment regimen, to be answered in future RAP research studies.