The internal limiting membrane (ILM) is the structural interface between the vitreous and retina. As the basement membrane of retinal Müller cells, it serves as a protective barrier and provides biomechanical strength for the central retina.1-3 It also acts as a scaffold for cellular proliferation for myofibroblasts, fibrocytes, and retinal pigmented epithelial cells. ILM removal ensures separation of the posterior hyaloid from the macular surface, which can relieve macular traction4,5 and prevent postoperative epiretinal membrane formation.6,7 Thus, vitrectomy with ILM peeling has become an increasingly utilized and vital component in surgical intervention for various vitreoretinal disorders.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Retinopathy of prematurity presents differently in developing versus developed countries, which may be due to environmental as well as racial differences.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of infants screened for ROP at a single neonatal intensive care unit. Risk factors were reviewed. Main outcome measures were rates of plus disease or treatment-requiring ROP by race.RESULTS: The study included 497 infants screened for ROP in an urban neonatal intensive care unit. Gestational age, birth weight, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were independent risk factors for both plus disease and treatment-requiring ROP with type 3 multivariate analysis. Self-identified white race was also a risk factor for plus disease and treatment-requiring ROP. Race was significantly associated with maternal age, multiple births, and blood transfusions.CONCLUSION: In the study population, white race was an independent risk factor for plus disease and ROP treatment.
Pre-retinal arterial loops are usually incidental findings during examinations in healthy individuals. They are rarely associated with arterial occlusion, with only nine previously reported cases in the literature. The authors report a case of a pre-retinal arterial loop associated with a branch retinal artery occlusion in a myopic young man. They also report the first documented optical coherence tomography scan through the loop causing the branch retinal artery occlusion.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To evaluate anatomic and clinical outcomes of pneumatic retinopexy for treatment of primary retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Noncomparative, single-center, consecutive, interventional case series evaluating all patients treated between 2000 and 2012. Patients with less than 1 month of follow-up or coexisting neovascular age-related macular degeneration, uveitis, endophthalmitis, or prior posterior segment surgery were excluded. RESULTS Sixty-three eyes of 63 patients with primary retinal detachment treated with pneumatic retinopexy were included. Median follow-up was 10.3 months. Single-operation success (SOS), defined as anatomic reattachment with pneumatic retinopexy alone, occurred in 40 eyes (63%). The retina was successfully reattached in 21 of the other 23 eyes (91%) with one additional surgery. There was no difference in visual acuity outcomes between SOS and additional surgical intervention (P = .85). New or missed breaks were identified in 19 of 63 eyes (30%). Postoperative subretinal fluid was observed in 22 of 63 eyes (35%) and persisted at last follow-up in two of 63 eyes (3%). At final follow-up, the retina was fully attached in 97% of eyes. CONCLUSION Pneumatic retinopexy remains a reasonably successful option in the management of primary retinal detachment. No difference in best corrected visual acuity outcomes in eyes achieving SOS versus those requiring additional surgery was demonstrated.
