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BACKGROUND: Due to the long life expectancy, retinal detachment is a special threat to visual acuity in children and adolescents. This study presents the clinical features of retinal detachment in childhood and adolescence up to the age of 20 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort was selected comprising 259 patients who suffered from unilateral or bilateral retinal detachment, were not older than 20 years of age at the first diagnosis of the first or only affected eye and had undergone surgery at least once at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Medical Center of Munich during a period of 18 years (1980-1998). This patient collective was retrospectively analyzed with respect to the clinical features of the first retinal detachment. The group consisting of only one affected eye or the first affected eye (259 eyes) was included. The fellow eyes affected later were excluded (19 eyes). RESULTS: The time period between the first visual symptoms and the diagnosis of retinal detachment was on average 9.6 weeks and the most commonly manifested symptom was loss of vision (36.3% of patients). In 40.2% of the patients the detachment was discovered fortuitously. The most frequent presentation (34.0%) was a 2-quadrant retinal detachment and was (sub)total in 27.0% of eyes. Macular detachment was found in 154 eyes (59.5%). The commonest type of retinal break was a tear near the ora serrata (36.1% of all breaks). Giant tears (12.8% of all breaks) occurred preferentially in the area of the ora serrata, round atrophic holes were identified especially in the area of the equator, often in the form of a chain of holes. Breaks most frequently occurred in the inferior temporal quadrant. In 22.4% of retinal detachments no break was found even intraoperatively. A primary proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) of at least stage C was involved in 25.5% of detachments. CONCLUSION: In childhood and adolescence a characteristic delay of diagnosis enables a large sized expansion of the retinal detachment with frequent macular involvement and a high proportion with (sub)total detachment and severe primary PVR. Tears in the ora serrata area, giant tears, multiple round atrophic holes in the area of the equator and a high rate of undetectable breaks are the intrinsic characteristics of juvenile retinal detachment.

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PURPOSE: To compare two calculators for toric intraocular lens (IOL) calculation and to evaluate the prediction of refractive outcome. METHODS: Sixty-four eyes of forty-five patients underwent cataract surgery followed by implantation of a toric intraocular lens (Zeiss Torbi 709 M) calculated by a standard industry calculator using front keratometry values. Prediction error, median absolute error, and refractive astigmatism error were evaluated for the standard calculator. The predicted postoperative refraction and toric lens power values were evaluated and compared after postoperative recalculation using the Barrett calculator. RESULTS: We observed a significant undercorrection in the spherical equivalent (0.19 D) by using a standard calculator (p ≤ 0.05). According to the Baylor nomogram and the refractive influence of posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA), undercorrection of the cylinder was lower for patients with WTR astigmatism, because of the tendency of overcorrection. An advantage of less residual postoperative SE, sphere, and cylinder for the Barrett calculator was observed when retrospectively comparing the calculated predicted postoperative refraction between calculators (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: Consideration of only corneal front keratometric values for toric lens calculation may lead to postoperative undercorrection of astigmatism. The prediction of postoperative refractive outcome can be improved by using appropriate methods of adjustment in order to take PCA into account.

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BACKGROUND: Smart Data means intelligent data accumulation and the evaluation of large data sets. This is particularly important in ophthalmology as more and more data are being created. Increasing knowledge and personalized therapies are expected by combining clinical data from electronic health records (EHR) with measurement data. OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated the possibilities to consolidate data from measurement devices and clinical data in a data warehouse (DW). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An EHR was adjusted to the needs of ophthalmology and the contents of referral letters were extracted. The data were imported into a DW overnight. Measuring devices were connected to the EHR by an HL7 standard interface and the use of a picture archiving and communications system (PACS). Data were exported from the review software using a self-developed software. For data analysis the software was modified to the specific requirements of ophthalmology. RESULTS: In the EHR 12 graphical user interfaces were created and the data from 32,234 referral letters were extracted. A total of 23 diagnostic devices could be linked to the PACS and 85,114 optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans, 19,098 measurements from IOLMaster as well as 5,425 pentacam examinations were imported into the DW including over 300,000 patients. Data discovery software was modified providing filtering methods. CONCLUSION: By building a DW a foundation for clinical and epidemiological studies could be implemented. In the future, decision support systems and strategies for personalized therapies can be based on such a database.

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Development of an intraocular lens (IOL) as a drug delivery device has been pursued for many years and is a promising concept in modern cataract surgery. Common postoperative conditions such as posterior capsule opacification (PCO), intraocular inflammation or the rare but severe complications of cataract surgery like endophthalmitis are potential therapeutic targets for a drug-eluting IOL. There are three techniques of pharmacological IOL modification: Firstly, surface modification of the IOL ("coating"); secondly, IOL optic modification ("soaking") and lastly, loading the IOL haptics with a slow release system. The last option does not interfere with the IOL optics at all. Therefore, a broad spectrum of pharmacological agents needs to be assessed in preclinical and clinical studies to determine which agent/IOL combination is safe and efficient. For pharmacological PCO prophylaxis, erufosine-loaded IOLs are of great clinical interest. Heparin-coated IOLs might become clinically relevant for attenuation of intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery and cefuroxime-loaded IOLs for endophthalmitis prophylaxis.

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BACKGROUND: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect on the anatomic surgical success with the changeover from 20 Gauge (G) (n = 206) to 23 G (n = 107) pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: 313 consecutive patients were retrolective-prospectively analysed. Several parameters including lens status, number of retinal breaks, extent of retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and refractive error were examined. Primary success rate was defined as anatomic success after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The secondary success rate was determined as anatomic success after one further operation if necessary. Moreover recurring retinal detachment after initial success was registered. In additional to the analysis over all patients, cases were grouped according to the severity of the preoperative baseline situation. RESULTS: Primary success rate was 87.4 % for 20 G PPV and 87.9 % for 23 G PPV, secondary success rate was 95.6 % for 20 G PPV and 94.4 % for 23 G PPV. 13.9 % (20 G) and 7.4 % (23 G) of patients with initially reattached retina after one surgery developed recurrent retinal detachment in the follow-up and were successfully treated in 17/25 and 7/7 cases. With 20 G PPV a primary success rate of 85 % was obtained in phakic eyes and 89.6 % in pseudophakic eyes, respectively. However, primary success rate with 23 G PPV was 90.4 % for phakic eyes and 85.5 % for pseudophakic eyes. For simple, medium and severe cases, the primary success rate decreased from 97.1 to 92.4 and 74.2 % in 20 G PPV, whereas no obvious tendency appeared for 23 G PPV (93.9, 83.7, 88 %). In 20 G PPV surgery the lens status had no influence on the primary success rate (p > 0.05), for medium and severe cases in 23 G PPV better results were obtained in phakic eyes (88.5 and 93.3 %) compared to pseudophakic eyes (78.3 and 80 %, n. s.). CONCLUSION: 20 G PPV as well as 23 G PPV are good surgical techniques in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Overall the miniaturisation of surgical instruments seems to be without any disadvantage for the surgical success.

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BACKGROUND: In times of increased digitalization in healthcare, departments of ophthalmology are faced with the challenge of introducing electronic clinical health records (EHR); however, specialized software for ophthalmology is not available with most major EHR sytems. The aim of this project was to create specific ophthalmological user interfaces for large inpatient eye care providers within a hospitalwide EHR. Additionally the integration of ophthalmic imaging systems, scheduling and surgical documentation should be achieved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The existing EHR i.s.h.med (Siemens, Germany) was modified using advanced business application programming (ABAP) language to create specific ophthalmological user interfaces for reproduction and moreover optimization of the clinical workflow. RESULTS: A user interface for documentation of ambulatory patients with eight tabs was designed. From June 2013 to October 2014 a total of 61,551 patient contact details were documented. For surgical documentation a separate user interface was set up. Digital clinical orders for documentation of registration and scheduling of operations user interfaces were also set up. A direct integration of ophthalmic imaging modalities could be established. CONCLUSION: An ophthalmologist-orientated EHR for outpatient and surgical documentation for inpatient clinics was created and successfully implemented. By incorporation of imaging procedures the foundation of future smart/big data analyses was created.

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BACKGROUND: Clinicopathological studies of the vitreoretinal interface (VRI) improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of vitreal maculopathy, facilitate differential diagnoses and help to develop new treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive overview on clinicopathological correlations of the VRI. METHODS: A semi-structured literature search was performed in the Medline and Embase databases for relevant original studies on clinicopathological correlations of vitreal maculopathy, in addition to the latest books and review articles. RESULTS: Age-related vitreous changes with persistent vitreomacular adhesions on the retinal surface promote cellular migration and proliferation onto the vitreal side of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), thereby cementing the vitreomacular adhesions and strengthening the traction forces on retinal layers. Cellular or fibrocellular proliferation at the vitreomacular interface can be seen in all vitreal maculopathies. Furthermore, vitreoschisis in the context of anomalous posterior vitreous detachment causes the presence of vitreous cortex collagen fibrils on the vitreal side of the ILM which is associated with epiretinal membrane formation. Glial cells, hyalocytes and myofibroblasts represent the major cell types in the epiretinal cell proliferation. Glial cells and hyalocytes are capable of transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts which possess strong contractive properties and are well known for the production of extracellular matrix components. CONCLUSION: Removing vitreomacular adhesions and vitreous cortex collagen fibrils from the retinal surface is most important for successful treatment. In cases with epiretinal cell proliferation, however, removal of the ILM during macular surgery is mandatory to avoid reproliferation and recurrence. Improving the detection of epiretinal cell proliferation and cell distribution in patient eyes by optical coherence tomography or by introduction of new technologies should be addressed in the future.

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Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the standard examination for assessment of the vitreoretinal interface (VRI); therefore, it is essential to select the appropriate scan modalities to detect the total amount of morphological changes, not only at the VRI but also in all layers of the retina and in both the foveal and parafoveal areas. For the success of a surgical intervention in the treatment of vitreomacular interface disorders, morphological changes, especially in the outer retinal layers, have been determined to be of prognostic interest in high-resolution OCT. This article gives an overview of current OCT examination procedures as well as correlative aspects of morphological and functional findings.

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PURPOSE: Some studies have shown a significant reduction of postoperative pain by additional regional anesthesia in 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (20-G-ppV) with the patient under general anesthesia (AN). This observational study examined whether the advantages of additional retrobulbar anesthesia can also be observed with 23-gauge vitrectomy in AN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surgery was performed in 130 patients under AN of which 88 received an additional retrobulbar block (group AN+) and 42 patients were treated without additional injection of retrobulbar anesthesia (group AN) using bupivacaine 0.5 % and mepivacaine 1%. The AN was performed with fentanyl and propofol. Postoperatively, the subjective patient pain was recorded using a numeric scale and the use and amount of analgesic drugs in the postoperative course were monitored. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 53.6 ± 16.8 years, 52.6% of the patients were male, 31.5% were staged as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) level I, 52.3% as ASA II and 15.4% as ASA III. At no time did the study show a statistically significant difference in pain frequency, intensity and analgesic consumption. However, the results suggest that patients in the AN+ group tended to experienced delayed and more intense postoperative pain, which is also reflected in the postoperative use of pain relief medications. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not show any advantage by additional retrobulbar anesthesia regarding postoperative analgesia compared to an adequate treatment with peripheral acting analgesics during surgery and the early postoperative period.

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BACKGROUND: Eye diseases that are relevant regarding their macroeconomic costs and their impact on society include cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related maculopathy, glaucoma and refractive errors. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of direct and indirect costs for major eye disease categories for Germany, based on existing literature and data sources. METHODS: A semi-structured literature search was performed in the databases Medline and Embase and in the search machine Google for relevant original papers and reviews on costs of eye diseases with relevance for or transferability to Germany (last research date October 2013). In addition, manual searching was performed in important national databases and information sources, such as the Federal Office of Statistics and scientific societies. RESULTS: The direct costs for these diseases add up to approximately 2.6 billion Euros yearly for the Federal Republic of Germany, including out of the pocket payments from patients but excluding optical aids (e.g. glasses). In addition to those direct costs there are also indirect costs which are caused e.g. by loss of employment or productivity or by a reduction in health-related quality of life. These indirect costs can only be roughly estimated. Including the indirect costs for the eye diseases investigated, a total yearly macroeconomic cost ranging between 4 and 12 billion Euros is estimated for Germany. CONCLUSION: The costs for the eye diseases cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related maculopathy, glaucoma and refractive errors have a macroeconomic relevant dimension. Based on the predicted demographic changes with an ageing society an increase of the prevalence and thus also an increase of costs for eye diseases is expected in the future.

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BACKGROUND: To evaluate the outcome of surgical management of advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the conjunctiva (American Joint Committee Cancer-classification >III) and the rate of recurrences after treatment during follow-up. Second, to investigate the incidence of orbital exenteration during follow-up. METHODS: Thirty-eight cases with SCC >grade T3 AJCC were retrospectively analysed at a University Eye Hospital Munich. Tumour stage, type of treatment, follow-up time, risk factors and--if present--recurrence were documented. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 24.2 months (22.3-71 months). The most frequent surgical procedure was local tumour excision (n=25 patients, 71%). Orbital exenteration was performed in 10 patients (28%). Twenty patients (57%) did not show a progressive disease during follow-up. Of the patients with primary local excision, 13 (52%) had recurrence. Average time to recurrence for all treated patients was 24 months in the mean (minimum 4 months, maximum 68 months, SD, 22). Patients following orbital exenteration had recurrence of disease in 20% (n=2). None of the patients with primarily local tumour excision required an orbital exenteration. CONCLUSION: Advanced-stage SCC can be treated surgically. An extensive surgical approach is sometimes inevitable. Patients with surgical excision of advanced-stage disease should be reviewed closely as recurrences may occur and even after more than 5 years. However, on early detection, most of these recurrences can be handled by local excision.

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INTRODUCTION: After cataract surgery, residual lens epithelial cells migrate and proliferate within the capsular bag resulting in posterior capsule opacification (PCO). The up-regulation of TGF-ß2, EGF and FGF-2 has been identified as a key factor in PCO pathogenesis leading to actin fiber assembly and alterations in the migration pattern. In this in vitro study, the influence of Erlotinib as a selective EGFR inhibitor is investigated on the cellular features indicated, which might promote a future clinical application. METHODS: Expression of EGF, FGF-2 and TGF-ß2 was measured using RT-PCR and ELISA in human lens epithelial cells (HLEC). Computational data of an in vitro time lapse microscopy assay were used for statistical analysis of single cell migration with a particular focus on cell-cell interaction; cell velocity distribution; and displacement before, during and after mitosis. The effect of Erlotinib on the actin-cytoskeleton was evaluated using Alexa Fluor 488 Phalloidin and epifluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: EGF and TGF-ß2 mRNA expression and protein levels are reduced by Erlotinib, while FGF-2 expression remained stable. Overall fluidity of cell-cell interaction is less in the presence of Erlotinib compared to the control and the velocity distribution across all cells becomes less uniform within the cell cluster. After mitosis, HLEC move significantly faster without EGFR inhibition, which can be completely blocked by Erlotinib. Furthermore, Erlotinib diminishes the amount of actin stress fibers and the stress fiber diameter. CONCLUSION: As a novel effect of Erlotinib on HLEC, we describe the down-regulation of EGF and TGF-ß2 expression, both are crucial factors for PCO development. Cellular movement displays complex alterations under EGFR inhibition, which is partly explained by actin fiber depletion. These findings further underline the role of Erlotinib in pharmacologic PCO prophylaxis.

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BACKGROUND: Posterior uveitis comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases with inflammatory alterations of the posterior fundus and is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of wide-field fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in patients with non-infectious posterior uveitis and chorioretinal alterations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study 73 eyes from 51 patients were included. Best-corrected visual acuity, wide-field color and FAF images achieved by a wide-field scanning laser opththalmoscope (SLO, Optomap P200Tx, Optos PLC, Dunfermline UK) and a full ophthalmological examination were obtained from each patient. A systematic analysis of chorioretinal alterations detected with FAF and color images was conducted followed by the evaluation of the diagnostic information of wide-field FAF compared to the clinical finding and wide-field color images. RESULTS: Of the 73 eyes included in the study 52 showed peripheral alterations. In 32 cases wide-field FAF images revealed a greater number and more extensive chorioretinal alterations than the corresponding wide-field color images of the posterior fundus. CONCLUSIONS: In this study wide-field FAF images showed more chorioretinal alterations than seen in funduscopy or in color SLO images. Therefore, wide-field FAF images offer important additional information for detection and documentation of peripheral and central chorioretinal alterations.

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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to establish the correlation between functional and morphological aspects before and 12 months after macular hole surgery. METHODS: In this prospective, interventional, consecutive study 16 eyes of 16 patients were included. All eyes received a successful transconjunctival 23-gauge vitrectomy with ILM peeling after initial diagnosis and maximum duration of symptoms of two months. Preoperatively and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively determinations of best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR), a 10° microperimetry (MP-1) and a spectral-domain based optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examination were performed. The photoreceptor layer (inner and outer segment, IS/OS) was evaluated based on SD-OCT images and correlated with data assessed by microperimetry analysis in the foveal and parafoveal region. RESULTS: After three months a stabilisation of BCVA with regeneration of the IS/OS line, an improvement of the fixation behaviour and the macular sensitivity could be observed. A significant restitution of the IS/OS line was observed after 12 months. Best corrected visual acuity, mean overall macular sensitivity and fixation improved significantly within the twelve month observation period (p < 0.05). Comparison of patients with at least two lines of visual acuity gain with patients having less than two lines of visual acuity gain 12 months after surgery showed no statistically significant difference in regeneration of the IS/OS integrity in the fovea (p = 0.433), but a difference was seen in the parafoveal region. A postoperative visual acuity gain of at least two lines was significantly more often seen in eyes with postoperative continuous IS/OS line in the parafoveal sectors compared to eyes with persistent IS/OS defects (p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Correlations of morphological and functional improvements can be observed after successful micro-invasive macular hole surgery. The extent of the preoperative IS/OS defect, particularly in the parafoveal region, is a good predictive parameter for the postoperatively obtained macular sensitivity. The prediction of the postoperative visual acuity should not be made on the basis of a single clinical, anatomic finding.

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BACKGROUND: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) represents a major challenge in the postoperative management of cataract patients. Spreading, migration and contraction of residual human lens epithelial cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PCO. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of the alkylphosphocholine (APC) erufosine on these cellular features as well as on PI3K/Akt, a crucial pathway in PCO pathogenesis. METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells were cultured under standard cell culture conditions. Cell spreading was analyzed on fibronectin-coated wells and chemokinetic migration was assessed by time-lapse microscopy. For evaluation of cell-mediated collagen matrix contraction, the cells were seeded into collagen gels and incubated with an APC in different non-toxic concentrations before the surface area was measured on day 6. The activity of PI3K/Akt was assessed by an ELISA kit after incubation of the cells with different APC concentrations. RESULTS: Human lens epithelial cell spreading and migration were attenuated by APCs as follows: 7 % spreading, 48 % migration (0.1 µM APC), and 32 % spreading, 68 % migration (1.0 µM APC). APC concentrations of 0.1 µM reduced collagen gel diameter by 5 %, and 1.0 µM by less than 1 %, compared to untreated, cell-populated gels that resulted in a cell diameter contraction of 36 %. PI3K was downregulated in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The crucial cellular features of PCO pathogenesis are attenuated by the APC erufosine via downregulation of the PI3K pathway. Thus, erufosine might become a valuable tool for pharmacologic PCO prophylaxis in the future.

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A 39-year-old patient presented with acute visual loss of the left eye. Although the initial ophthalmological and neurological examinations were uneventful, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed optic canal narrowing and compression of the optic nerve secondary to a prominent posteriorly misplaced ethmoidal cell (so-called Onodi cell). Endonasal ethmoidectomy with decompression of the infected Onodi cell was performed. Microbiological testing showed growth of Haemophilus influenzae. Despite early surgical intervention vision could not be restored.

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