The purpose of this study is to compare anatomical and visual outcomes after using silicone oil (SO) or C 3 F 8 gas as tamponades after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for retinal detachment (RD) associated with giant retinal tears (GRTs). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for cases that underwent PPV for GRT-associated RD. We excluded eyes that had prior vitreoretinal surgery, a history of ocular trauma or worse than grade B proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Baseline demographic and ocular characteristics, surgical details and postoperative anatomical and visual outcomes were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results: We included 88 eyes; 48 eyes had C 3 F 8 gas and 40 eyes had SO as a tamponading agent. Mean age was 39 years. All eyes underwent 23G PPV with no adjuvant scleral buckling and phacovitrectomy was performed for all phakic eyes. Final retinal reattachment was achieved in 86 eyes (97.7%). One eye from each group had recurrent RD. Postoperative vision was significantly better in the gas group (p= 0.008). Prolonged increase of IOP developed in 6 eyes in the SO group and 5 eyes in the gas group. Prolonged uveitis developed in 4 eyes in the gas group and 6 eyes in the oil group (P= 0.04). Epiretinal membranes (ERM) developed in 10 eyes in the gas group and 9 eyes in the oil group. We found no significant difference between both groups regarding postoperative glaucoma or ERM formation. Conclusion: Both agents achieved similar favorable anatomical outcomes in a series of eyes with fresh GRT-associated RD and low-grade PVR, with better visual outcome and less frequent uveitis associated with the use of gas tamponade.

Background: Epiretinal membranes (ERMs) have been reported after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) can prevent post-PPV ERM formation but has a potential negative impact on macular structure and function. Purpose: To investigate the anatomical and functional outcomes of ILM peeling during PPV for primary RRD. Methods: This was a prospective nonrandomized study that included 60 eyes of 60 patients with a primary maculaoff RRD and less than grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Eyes were allocated into 2 groups; Group A underwent PPV without ILM peeling and Group B had ILM peeling. At postoperative month 6, all patients underwent retinal imaging using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography and macular function was assessed using multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG). Baseline characteristics and postoperative anatomical and visual outcomes were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results: We enrolled 30 eyes of 30 patients in each group. In Group A, mean age was 44.6 years, while the mean age of Group B patients was 49.9 years. Postoperative LogMAR visual acuity was significantly better in Group A than in Group B (p < 0.001). ERMs were demonstrated on OCT in 13.3% of Group A and none of Group B patients (p = 0.04). Retinal dimples were found in 53.3% of Group B and none of Group A eyes (p < 0.001). OCTA showed a greater vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) in Group A compared to Group B eyes (p = 0.046), while no difference was found regarding deep capillary vessel density (p = 0.7). Mean amplitude of mfERG P1 wave was significantly higher in Group A eyes than in Group B (p = 0.002). Both the SCP vessel density and P1 amplitude were positively correlated with visual acuity (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that ILM peeling prevents ERM development in eyes undergoing PPV for uncomplicated macula-off RRD, but potential damage to macular structure and function were found. Trial registration Retrospectively registered on 09/24/2019 on ClinicalTrials.gov with an ID of NCT04139811.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To study the anatomical and functional outcomes of using epimacular amniotic membrane graft (AMG) to close myopic macular holes (MMHs) in patients with recurrent retinal detachment (RD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with recurrent MMH-RD were enrolled in a single-arm, prospective study. Pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of any residual internal limiting membrane, preserved AMG was placed over the macular hole (MH) after air-fluid exchange, all patient left on 16% of C 2 F 6 . RESULTS: Fourteen patients (11 females and three males) with an average age of 58.7 years were included; follow-up was 6 months. Thirteen patients (93%) showed retinal reattachment and closure of the hole confirmed by optical coherent tomography. The mean logMAR of best-corrected visual acuity improved to 1.38 compared to 2.2 preoperatively ( P < .002, paired t -test), with no serious intraoperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Epimacular AMG for MMH-RD is a safe and effective treatment for closure of myopic MHs. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51:101–108.]

Repetitive paired associative stimulation (rPAS) repeatedly pairs electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the contralateral motor hand area (M1) at 5 Hz frequency. So far, there are only few studies concerning the effects of PAS on the modulation of EEG power. Hence, aim of the present study was to investigate rPAS long term after-effects on cortical excitability looking at EEG power spectra. In four experimental sessions, separated by 2 weeks interval, 12 awake subjects received rPAS of the right median nerve and left M1 at a fixed interval (ISI) of 25 ms (real condition), 5 Hz-TMS on left M1, 5 Hz-ENS, of the right median nerve, and rPAS with changing ISI (sham condition). We measured peak-to-peak MEP amplitude, evoked from the target muscle (right abductor pollicis brevis muscle) at rest and the absolute power (POW) in four frequency bands: α (8-12 Hz), β (13-30), θ (4-7) and δ (1-3), under rest conditions. All these parameters were evaluated in three detection blocks: baseline, immediately after and after 30' from the end of the conditioning protocol. Real rPAS induced a long-lasting homotopic cortical excitability modulation, as indexed by MEP amplitude increase, that was paralleled by a long-lasting reduction of α/β-POW and by a widespread θ-δ-POW modulation. rPAS applied over the sensory-motor cortex induced an LTP-like plasticity, as indexed by a robust reduction in the α/β POW positively correlated with the MEP amplitude increase. rPAS25ms may be a useful tool for motor neurorehabilitation promoting a sensory-motor coupling within β oscillations.