Objective: The aim of this study was to compare visual acuity improvement after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery using air and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tamponade. Secondary objectives were to evaluate Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ) scores and central retinal thickness (CRT) changes.Design: This was a prospective, randomized study.Participants: Thirty-two patients were prospectively randomized, 19 to the air group and 13 to the SF6 group.Methods: This study has enrolled patients with ERM from clinical practice of 4 vitreoretinal surgeons. Preoperative and postoperative data included best -corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with the use of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart, VFQ scores, CRT, and cataract staging. Pars plane vitrectomy with ERM peeling was performed on all patients, either with partial air tamponade or with complete SF6 tamponade.Results: Mean BCVA improved by 0.07 logMAR (3.5 ETDRS letters) in the air group and by 0.09 logMAR (4.5 ETDRS letters) in the SF6 group (p = 0.58). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to BCVA, VFQ scores, and CRT. The groups had similar rates of cataract progression and adverse events.Conclusions: ERM peeling with partial air tamponade or with complete SF6 tamponade have similar outcomes in terms of BCVA, VFQ scores, CRT, cataract development, and adverse events.

OBJECTIVE:To compare macular hole (MH) closure and visual acuity improvement after vitrectomy using SF6 versus C3F8 gas tamponade. The secondary purposes were to report the cumulative incidence of cataract development at 1 year after MH surgery and the proportion of complications.DESIGN:Prospective, randomized study.PARTICIPANTS:Thirty-one patients were prospectively randomized to the SF6 group and 28 patients to the C3F8 group.METHODS:Preoperative data included MH minimum diameter, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cataract staging, and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. Postoperative data included optical coherence tomography confirmation of the closure at 6 weeks and 1 year, and ETDRS BCVA and cataract development/extraction, both 1 year after the MH surgery.RESULTS:Primary MH closure was achieved in 93.3% in the SF6 group and 92.9% in the C3F8 group. Mean ETDRS BCVA improved by 17.7 letters in the SF6 and 16.9 letters in the C3F8 group. The difference in cumulative incidence of cataract development and extraction between both groups was not statistically significant. Regardless of the dye used, similar results were achieved. Finally, the proportion of adverse events was similar in both groups.CONCLUSIONS:MH surgery with SF6 gas achieves results similar to C3F8 in terms of visual acuity improvement, MH closure, cataract development/extraction, and adverse events.

Objective: To compare macular hole (MH) closure and visual acuity improvement after vitrectomy using SF6 versus C3F8 gas tamponade. The secondary purposes were to report the cumulative incidence of cataract development at 1 year after MH surgery and the proportion of complications.Design: Prospective, randomized study.Participants: Thirty-one patients were prospectively randomized to the SF6 group and 28 patients to the C3F8 group.Methods: Preoperative data included MH minimum diameter, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) best corrected visual acuity (BOVA), cataract staging, and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. Postoperative data included optical coherence tomography confirmation of the closure at 6 weeks and 1 year, and ETDRS BCVA and cataract development/extraction, both 1 year after the MH surgery.Results: Primary MH closure was achieved in 93.3% in the SF6 group and 92.9% in the C3F8 group. Mean ETDRS BCVA improved by 17.7 letters in the SF6 and 16.9 letters in the C3F8 group. The difference in cumulative incidence of cataract development and extraction between both groups was not statistically significant. Regardless of the dye used, similar results were achieved. Finally, the proportion of adverse events was similar in both groups.Conclusions: MH surgery with SF6 gas achieves results similar to C3F8 in terms of visual acuity improvement, MH closure, cataract development/extraction, and adverse events.

OBJECTIVE:To compare multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) retinal function and the anatomical and visual outcomes of macular hole surgery performed with indocyanine green (ICG) or trypan blue (TB).DESIGN:Prospective, randomized study.PARTICIPANTS:Twenty-five eyes of 24 patients.METHODS:Patients underwent a pars plana vitrectomy with removal of the internal limiting membrane. In 14 eyes, internal limiting membrane visualization during macular hole repair was performed using TB, and ICG was used in 11 eyes. The examination protocol (performed before surgery and at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery) included optical coherence tomography, mfERG (mfERG-103 hexagons), and assessment of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS).RESULTS:Closure of macular hole was achieved in 100% of the cases. In the TB group, P1 amplitude and implicit time improved significantly at 12 months after surgery (P < 0.05), whereas in the ICG group, significant improvement occurred at both 6 (P < 0.05) and 12 months (P < 0.01). BCVA improved significantly in both groups at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.01). Both groups also showed a statistically significant CS improvement at spatial frequency of 6 cycles per degree (P = 0.01) 1 year postoperatively. At 12 months, improvement of P1 amplitude and implicit time, BCVA, and CS was not different between groups.CONCLUSIONS:In this study, the use of TB or ICG appears to yield similar improvement in terms of BCVA, CS, and mfERG amplitude and implicit time changes at 12 months.

Objective To compare the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration using an as-needed treatment regimen. Design Retrospective chart review. Participants One hundred and ninety two eyes of 184 patients. Methods Patients received an initial treatment of 3 monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or bevacizumab and retreatment is individually considered for each patient on the basis of optical coherence tomography, angiography, and clinical examination. Results Fifty eyes treated with ranibizumab and 142 eyes treated with bevacizumab were included. The average age of the patients at baseline was 76.9 ± 8 years and 76.4 ± 8 years in the ranibizumab and bevacizumab group respectively. Mean visual acuity improved from 0.69 to 0.55 logMAR at 12 months in the ranibizumab group and from 0.70 to 0.67 logMAR in the bevacizumab group. At 12 months, 92% of eyes treated with ranibizumab had lost fewer than 0.3 logMAR, as compared with 83% in the bevacizumab group. The ranibizumab group received a mean of 4.92 injections, compared to 4.75 injections in the bevacizumab group over 12 months. After the first 3 injections, 20% of patients in the ranibizumab group and 26% in the bevacizumab group never needed another injection. Conclusions An approach based on clinical onset and choroidal neovascularization progression at angiography may provide benefit by reducing the number of intravitreal injections required.