ObjectiveTo observe the effectiveness and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with inner limiting membrane (ILM) removal and 41G microneedle subretinal injection of balanced salt solution (BSS) in the treatment of refractory macular hole. MethodsA prospective clinical study. From January to June 2023, 20 cases (20 eyes) of refractory macular hole patients diagnosed through examination at The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. The basal diameter of the affected eye's basal diameter (BD) was ＞1 000 μm. Macular hole index (MHI) was ＜0.5. The affected eye received treatment with 23G PPV combined with ILM removal and 41G microneedle subretinal injection of BSS. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), microperimetry, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed before and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after surgery for the affected eye. BCVA examination was performed using standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and convert it to logarithmic minimum resolution angle (logMAR) visual acuity for statistical purposes. MP-3 microperimetry was used for micro view examination, record the mean sensitivity (MS) of the retinal within a 12° range of the fovea. OCTA was used to measure the area of the avascular zone of the macula (FAZ), perimeter of the FAZ (PERIM), retinal vascular length density (VLD), and vascular perfusion density (VPD). The changes in BCVA, MS, FAZ area, PERIM, VLD, VPD before and after surgery were compared and analyzed. After the same time, the closure of macular hole and the occurrence of complications after surgery were observed. Single factor analysis of variance was used to compare the observation indicators at different times before and after surgery. The correlation between various observation indicators and preoperative minimum diameter (MD), BD, and hiatus height at 6 months after surgery were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. ResultsAmong the 20 cases with 20 eyes, there were 2 males with 2 eyes and 18 females with 18 eyes. Age was (61.45±8.56) years old. The logMAR BCVA, MS, FAZ area, PERIM, VLD, and VPD of the affected eye were 1.46±0.21, (16.20±5.81) dB、(0.40±0.17) mm2, (2.89±0.99) mm, (6.23±3.59) mm−1, (0.17±0.10)%, respectively. Six months after surgery, out of 20 eyes, macular hole closure and incomplete closure were 18 (90.0%, 18 /20) and 2 (10.0%, 2 /20) eyes, respectively. The logMAR BCVA, MS, FAZ area, PERIM, VLD, and VPD were 0.80±0.20, (22.20±4.60) dB, (0.18±0.10) mm2, (1.83±0.80) mm, (9.54±2.88) mm−1, (0.31±0.14)%. Compared with before surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The correlation analysis results showed a positive correlation (P＜0.05) between preoperative BD and postoperative 6-month PERIM and VPD. There was a negative correlation between preoperative MD and postoperative VLD at 6 months (P＜0.05). There was a negative correlation between preoperative MHI and logMAR BCVA and VPD at 6 months after surgery (P＜0.05). No complications such as elevated or decreased intraocular pressure, damage to retinal pigment epithelium, retinal hemorrhage, endophthalmitis, or retinal detachment occurred after surgery in all affected eyes. ConclusionMinimally invasive PPV combined with ILM removal and 41G microneedle subretinal injection of BSS can effectively improve the closure rate of refractory macular hole patients in the short term, improve vision, and have good safety.
ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with subretinal or intravitreal injection of Conbercept for the treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema (DME). MethodsA retrospective case control study. From June 2022 to March 2024, 32 eyes of 32 patients with refractory DME diagnosed at The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. All patients had received regular treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs or corticosteroid drugs for at least 5 times, and had undergone focal retinal laser photocoagulation or panretinal laser photocoagulation, the central macular thickness (CMT) persisted or decreased by less than 50 μm. All affected eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography (OCT), microperimetry, and laboratory glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing. BCVA was measured using a standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for statistical analysis. CMT was measured using an OCT device. Microperimetry was performed using an MP-3 microperimeter, recording the mean sensitivity (MS) of the retina within a 12° range of the fovea. The affected eyes were treated with 23G PPV combined with internal limiting membrane peeling and either macular subretinal or intravitreal injection of Conbercept, and were divided into subretinal injection group and the intravitreal injection group, each consisting of 16 cases and 16 eyes. The same equipment and methods as before surgery were used for related examinations at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery. Changes in BCVA, CMT, and MS were observed and compared, as well as the number of additional anti-VEGF treatments required within 6 months after surgery. Intergroup comparisons were made using independent samples t tests, and repeated measures data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. ResultsThe age (t=－0.271), gender composition (χ2=0.001), duration of diabetes (Z=－0.868), HbA1c (t=－0.789), intraocular pressure (t=1.689), logMAR BCVA (t=1.393), CMT (t=－0.613), MS (Z=－0.132), and the number of anti-VEGF injections (t=－0.752) between the subretinal injection group and the intravitreal injection group showed no statistically significant differences (P＞0.05). The within-subject effects comparison of BCVA, CMT, and MS at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery compared to pre-surgery for all affected eyes showed statistically significant differences (F=8.060, 125.722, 39.054; P＜0.05). The overall comparison of logMAR BCVA between the subretinal and intravitreal injection groups post-surgery showed no statistically significant difference (F=0.662, P=0.422), however, comparisons of CMT (F=4.540) and MS (F=6.066) showed statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). At 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery, comparisons of logMAR BCVA between the two groups showed no statistically significant differences (t=－0.123, 0.239, 1.087; P＞0.05), comparisons of CMT showed statistically significant differences (t=－3.474, －4.832, －2.482; P＜0.05), comparisons of MS showed statistically significant differences at 1 and 3 months (t=－2.940, －2.545; P＜0.05), but not at 6 months (t=－1.527, P＞0.05). At 6 months post-surgery, the number of additional intravitreal anti-VEGF injections required in the subretinal and intravitreal injection groups showed a statistically significant difference (Z=－2.033, P=0.042). During the follow-up period and at the final follow-up, no complications such as injection site bleeding, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, macular hole, or retinal pigment epithelial tear or atrophy occurred in all affected eyes. ConclusionCompared with intravitreal injection, subretinal injection of Conbercept for the treatment of refractory DME has more advantages in reducing macular edema and improving visual function in the macular area, and also reduces the number of postoperative anti-VEGF drug treatments.