<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The aim of this study is to establish if air can be considered as a safe substitute for long-lasting tamponade agents for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treatment, regardless of the position or the number of retinal breaks. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this study, 230 consecutive patients (236 eyes) who underwent a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for primary RRD with air or SF<sub>6</sub> tamponade from January 2014 till March 2020 were analyzed. The main outcome measure was the rate of an anatomically attached retina without the presence of any tamponade agent for at least 3 months postoperatively. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Our overall success rate in treating RRD with PPV in cases involving superior, inferior, and also multiple breaks is 88.5% (146/165 eyes) with air tamponade and 80.3% (57/71 eyes) with SF<sub>6</sub> 20% tamponade. Preoperative characteristics were almost similar between the two groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our study shows encouraging results for RRD treated with air tamponade, not only for superior breaks but also for inferior and multiple breaks. Thorough removal of vitreous traction, aspiration of subretinal fluid, and sealing of all the retinal breaks are mandatory elements to treat RRD. After this is accomplished, air tamponade seems to be a safe and effective agent for primary RRD. In order to clarify the use of intravitreal gases or air in the treatment of primary RRD with PPV, a randomized controlled prospective study should be realized in the future.
Introduction A prospective study was carried out in Belgium to determine the proportion of subjects with a moderate to high risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), identified using the STARS ® (Simplified Théa AMD Risk-Assessment Scale) questionnaire, who were in need of nutritional supplementation, by assessing the vitamin D, zinc oxide and fatty acid profile status. Methods This multicentre cross-sectional pilot study involved 50 Belgian subjects with no or early AMD, aged > 55 years who were at moderate to high risk for AMD. Subjects were assessed using the STARS ® questionnaire, visual acuity assessment, an optical coherence tomography scan of the macula and fundus photography. Blood samples were collected, and serum analyses were performed to determine the the omega-6:omega-3 (Ω6:Ω3) ratio and the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), zinc and cupric oxides and vitamin D. Results Abnormal serum levels for at least one of the micronutrients was detected in 94% of the subjects. Lower than optimal vitamin D levels were found in 76% of the participants, and 68% of the subjects demonstrated at least one abnormal fatty acid profile. The Ω6:Ω3 ratio was above the reference range for normal values in 54% of the subjects; DHA and EPA levels were below the reference range in 60 and 46% of the subjects, respectively; and zinc oxide concentration was below the reference range in 50% of the subjects. Only 12% of the subjects exhibited cupric oxide deficiency. Conclusion In this study, the STARS ® questionnaire was used for early identification of patients at moderate to high risk of AMD in real life. These patients presented a suboptimal nutritional status. Further research is needed to determine if specific diet modification or micronutrient supplement intake delays the onset or slows down the progression of AMD in these subjects. Trial Registration Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.Gov, identifier: NCT04482465. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s40123-021-00335-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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