Multicenter randomized controlled studies can recruit more subjects in a relatively short period of time, avoiding the bias of single research institution studies, resulting in reliable conclusions and providing strong guidance to clinical practice. They are the most scientific and most reliable methods to evaluate clinical researches. However, there are few multicenter clinical trials in China as Chinese doctors are often trapped in difficulties in clinical research, including imperfect research system, lack of experience, capital investment deficient, the tension in the doctor-patient relationship and so on. Although the above problems are related to medical system architecture of our country in a certain extent, compared with the overseas, we also have our own advantages, such as resource of our patients, doctors, and diseases type. Pay attention to discovering of new type of diseases, looking for genetics discipline, and exploring new medical technology is an important task of clinical research. We have plenty of high level ophthalmology centers at present, which provide favorable conditions for launching multi-center clinical trial studies. We have good reasons to believe that, if we can effectively exploit the resources in our hands, carefully observe and discover clinical problems, there will be more convincing clinical results present in the world after bring up hypothesis boldly while prove it conscientiously and carefully.
The concept of treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) has evolved dramatically with the understanding of its pathogenesis recently. Initial clinical studies found that CSC is a selflimiting disease, therefore advocated observation or conservative treatment was recommended. Further study by fundus fluorescein angiography indicated that CSC results from barrier dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which leads to serous RPE and (or) neural retinal detachment; so laser photocoagulation to close RPE leakage points by its thermal effects became a strategy to treat CSC. Recent study by indocyanine green angiography revealed that increased choroidal vascular permeability can induce high hydrostatic pressure and focal RPE detachment, resulting in mechanical breakage of RPE barrier. This is likely the major pathological basis of CSC now. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can embolize of choroidal capillary network, thereby preventing choroidal leakage caused by increased capillary permeability, and thus cure the CSC. However the search for the pathogenesis and better treatment of CSC is far from over. Further investigation about pathogenesis and improvement of diagnosis and treatment is an urgent need for clinic work, but also major issues challenging the wisdom of an ophthalmologist. We need to work together to promote more and better clinical and basic research of CSC.
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a common macular disease, mainly manifested as a plasma detachment of the macula. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for CSC, but with the shortage of the photosensitizer Verteporfin, the effective treatment of CSC has become a common concern for ophthalmologists. In this paper, based on the latest research results on the relationship between the changes in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer and the natural course of the disease and PDT therapy, we propose that patients with CSC should receive effective treatment as early as possible to prevent irreversible damage to visual function due to the thinning of the outer nuclear layer. In addition to PDT, it is recommended that laser photocoagulation or subthreshold micropulse laser treatment of the leaking spot should be considered first, depending on the presence of the leaking spot and its location in relation to the macula center. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy can be considered if there is a combination of choroidal neovascularization and/or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Other treatments that have not been demonstrated to be effective in evidence-based medicine are not recommended.
The classical surgical operations for foveoschisis in high myopia are vitrectomy, artificial posterior vitreous detachment, removal of the pre-macular vitreous cortex, removal of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) and intraocular gas tamponade, with some minor variations on those basis, including no removal of the ILM or ILM peeling with preservation of the fovea area; with or without gas filling, long-term silicone oil tamponade, etc. All the procedures have achieved certain efficacy and the foveoschis can be fully or partially relieved and the visual acuity can be improved to different degrees. It is worthwhile to emphasize, the most common and serious complication of the surgery is the occurrence of full-thickness macular hole or even postoperative macular hole retinal detachment. To address the risk of such complications, a safe and effective outcome can be achieved in the majority of cases by using ILM peeling with preservation of the fovea area. For high-risk cases where the operator is concerned about intraoperative or postoperative macular hole, a long-term silicone oil tamponade without ILM removal is proposed to prevent the risk of surgery-related macular hole formation.
The etiology of intraocular inflammatory disease and its diagnosis is complicated. Currently available and newly emerging systemic and ocular examinations are of important to determine etiology of intraocular inflammatory disorders. But there also exists multiple misunderstanding, and the strategy of their application is not well defined, or even exaggerated. Unprincipled or randomly selection of auxiliary examination would not help for etiology determination, but bring unnecessary pain and economic burden to patients. Establishment of diagnosis thinking of intraocular inflammatory disease is helpful to standardize the diagnosis process of the disease, improve the diagnostic efficiency, and relief patients from the pain and financial burden that caused by too many useless examinations.
Central serous chorioretinitis (CSC) is a kind of choroidal retinopathy characterized by choroidal vasodilatation and hyperpermeability, retinal pigment epithelial cell lesions and serous retinal detachment. Various imaging examinations and imaging techniques have been used to describe the characteristics of the retina and choroid. Fundus manifestations of different types of CSC has both generality, and have their respective characteristic. The classification of CSC and its differentiation from other diseases including the choroidal neovascularization and pachychoroidopathy spectrum depending on varieties of fundus imaging techniques. The current study aims to review the various performance characteristics of CSC especially for chronic CSC with multimodal imaging and the current research progress, so as to provide reference for ophthalmologists to more comprehensively and intuitively understand the clinical characteristics and potential pathogenesis of CSC, and also to provide basis for multimodal imaging assisted diagnosis and treatment.
ObjectiveTo observe the safety and efficacy of regime that based on aqueous cytomegalovirus-DNA (CMV-DNA) load and IL-8 determination for therapeutic monitoring and local treatment cessation of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).MethodsA prospective case series study. A total of 14 CMVR patients (22 eyes) after allogeneic HSCT diagnosed in Ophthalmology Department of Peking University People's Hospital between January 2016 and December 2018 were involved in this study. All patients were CMV-DNA seronegative at baseline and were treated with intravitreous injection of ganciclovir (IVG, 3 mg in 0.05 ml) twice per week for 4 times in the induction stage and once a week in the maintenance stage. Aqueous humor sample was collected during the first time of IVG every week. CMV-DNA and the level of IL-8 were measured by real time quantitative PCR and ELISA, respectively. During follow-up, negative CMV-DNA (＜103/ml) or level of IL-8＜30 pg/ml in aqueous sample was set as local treatment cessation. Then patients were followed every 2 weeks for at least 6 months. BCVA, intraocular pressure and fundus examination were taken for each visit. The BCVA examination was performed using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted into logMAR visual acuity. BCVA and intraocular pressure at the baseline and the last follow-up were compared by the Student t matching test.ResultsOf the 14 CMVR patients (22 eyes) after allogeneic HSCT, 8 patients (16 eyes) were bilateral, 6 patients (6 eyes) were unilateral. At the baseline, the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.814±0.563, the intraocular pressure was 17.2±7.8 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), the mean aqueous CMV-DNA load was (3.43±4.96)×105/ml, the mean level of IL-8 was 518±541 pg/ml. At cessation of local treatment, the median number of intravitreal injections was 5 times. Nine eyes showed negative CMV-DNA in aqueous humor, of which, 7 eyes showed negative IL-8 in aqueous. CMV-DNA could still be detected in 13 eyes, while IL-8 was negative. Only one eye’s retinal lesion was completely quiet. Six months after local treatment cessation, the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.812±0.691, the intraocular pressure was 14.8±5.4 mmHg; which was not significantly different from baseline (t=-0.107, 1.517; P=0.916, 0.137). Recurrence of CMVR happened in only 1 eye because of systemic EB virus infection. Retinal lesions progressively improved and became completely quiet in all the remaining 20 eyes. In 22 eyes, iatrogenic vitreous hemorrhage occurred due to low platelet count during treatment (＜30×109/ml) in 4 eyes. When the treatment was terminated for 6 months, the fundus of hematoma absorption was clearly visible. At the time of CMVR diagnosis, there were 2 eyes (9%) with posterior subcapsular opacity, which may be caused by systemic glucocorticoid therapy after allogeneic HSCT.ConclusionAqueous CMV-DNA load and level of IL-8 could be used as quantitative variables for monitoring the therapeutic effect and determining time for local treatment cessation for CMVR after HSCT safely and efficiently.
Purpose To assess the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy,autologous platelet concentrate and gas tamponade for the treatment of full-thickness idiopathic macular holes. Methods The procedures consisted of pars plana vitrectomy with removal of posterior cortical vitreous，air-fluid exchange, instillation of autologous platelet concentrate onto the posterior pole and 20%～30%SF6 tamponade,were performed in treating 6 eyes of 6 patients with idiopathic macular holes. The patients were instructed to lie in a supine position for l hour after surgery,then adviced to remain in a facedown position for 2 weeks. Results Flattening of the surrounding retina and closure of the hole were achieved postoperatively in all the 6 affected eyes.Visual acuity improved two lines or more in 5 eyes (83.3%).Four eyes(66.7%)reached a postoperative visual acuity of 0.3 or more. Retinal detachment ocurred in one eye owing to peripheral new hole formation. Conclusion Pars plana vitrectomy, autologous platelet concentrate and gas tamponade for the treatment of full-thickness idiopathic macular holes are able to close macular hole and improve the visual acuity. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1998,14:14-15)
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is one of the representative pachychoroid spectrum disease. Although fundus fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography can be used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of CSC, they are invasive examinations, which may bring certain risks in clinical application and cannot help us obtain quantitative parameters. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), as a non-invasive and quantitative examination, is an important imaging tool for understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of CSC. With the advancement of OCTA, the swept-source OCTA has a satisfying scanning depth, a wider scanning range and a higher resolution. The development of OCTA broadens the horizons of the pathogenesis of CSC, promotes the understanding of the pathophysiology of CSC, and sheds new light for its clinical diagnosis and treatment. Based on OCTA, the choroid and retina in eyes with CSC are presented with qualitative and quantitative changes in vascular system. OCTA-guided CSC treatment and the discovery of prognostic markers based on OCTA challenge the application of traditional imaging techniques in CSC. With the continuous improvement and progress of OCTA technology, traditional angiography combined with OCTA will bring great benefits to the diagnosis and treatment of CSC. This review summarizes the quantitative application of OCTA in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of CSC.