Ophthalmologica - Highlights from the peer-reviewed journal of EURETINA

                  New guidelines for intravitreal injections This month’s issue of Ophthalmologica includes the updated EURETINA guidelines for intravitreal injections. Based on a review of the recent literature on the subject the article highlights important aspects of pre- and post-injection management and provides evidence-based suggestions for a standardised and structured approach. It includes suggestions regarding IOP spikes and patients with other ocular diseases or previous ocular surgery. It also includes discussions of the controversies regarding anaesthesia and antisepsis. A Grzybowski et al, “2018 Update on Intravitreal Injections: Euretina Expert Consensus Recommendations”, Ophthalmologica 2018, Volume 293, Issue 3. Belts as good as sutures for scleral 
buckle procedure Installing scleral buckles using a belt loops sutureless technique appears to be as safe and effective as using a conventional scleral buckle suturing technique for repair of retinal detachment, with similar anatomic and functional outcomes, according to a new study. The retrospective consecutive case series study showed that successful anatomic attachment and appropriate buckle height were achieved among all 18 eyes treated with PPV and sutureless belt loops and all 17 eyes treated with combined pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and scleral buckling. There was one case of re-detachment in each group during the follow-up. No cases of buckle infection, extrusion or intrusion were noted during the follow-up period. G Landa et al, “Sutureless Belt Loops versus Sutured Buckle Technique in Combination with Vitrectomy for Retinal Detachment Repair: A Comparative Analysis”, Ophthalmologica 2018, Volume 293, Issue 3. Dexamethasone implant effective in 
DME refractory to anti-VEGF Repeated intravitreal DEX injections can bring about significant improvements in visual acuity and reductions in central retinal thickness in diabetic macular oedema (DME) patients refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, according to a new study. The two-centre retrospective case series included 40 eyes of 31 refractory DME patients treated with the DEX implant for at least two consecutive cycles. Best corrected visual acuity improved by a mean of 7.0 letters from baseline to month two (p < 0.001), and by a mean of 5.1 letters between the first and second cycles. In addition, mean central retinal thickness was reduced by 194µm two months after the first implantation and by -134 ± 150µm two months after the second implantation. K Hatz et al “Repeated Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Oedema Unresponsive to Anti-VEGF Therapy: Outcome and Predictive SD-OCT Features”, Ophthalmologica 2018, Volume 293, Issue 3.  

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