Microsoft Word - abstracts 28-1-12


53      Vol. 28, No. 1, Jan – Mar, 2012 Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 

Abstracts 
Edited By Dr. Qasim Lateef Chaudhry 

 
 
Efficacy and Safety of Long-term Corticosteroid Eye 
Drops after Penetrating Keratoplasty:  
A Prospective, Randomized, Clinical Trial 
 
Shimazaki J, Iseda A, Satake Y, Shimazaki-Den S 
Ophthalmology 2012; 119: 668-73. 
 
In a prospective, randomized clinical trial, Shimazaki 
et al (p. 668) have found that prolonged use of 0.1% 
fluorometholone helps to prevent rejection following 
penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Of the initial 42 
patients in this 12 – month trial randomly assigned to 
either the steroid group (treated with 0.1% 
fluorometholone 3 times a day) or the non-steroid 
group (discontinuation of steroid eye drops), 4 in the 
steroid group and 6 in the no-steroid group did not 
complete the trial. Of the remaining patients, 1 patient 
in the steroid group and 6 in the non-steroid group 
developed endothelial rejection at an average of 
5.2±4.5 (mean ± standard deviation) months after they 
entered the study – a significant difference. In contrast, 
the researchers did not detect a significant difference 
between the groups in visual acuity, intraocular 
pressure, epithelial damage, tear – film break-up time, 
cataract progression, infection, or incidence of 
systemic side effects. The authors conclude lose – dose 
corticosteroids should be considered in PKP patients, 
even in those at low risk of rejection. 
 
Correlation between Clinical Features, Magnetic 
Resonance Imaging, and Histopathologic Findings in 
Retinoblastoma: A Prospective Study 
 
Chawla B, Sharma S, Sen S, Azad R, Bajaj MS, Kashyap 
S, Pushker N, Ghose S 
Ophthalmology 2012; 119: 850-6. 
 
Chawla et al (p. 850) present findings from what they 
maintain is the first prospective study on the relation-
ship among clinical features, magnetic resonance 
imaging (MRI) and histopathologic findings in eyes 

primarily enucleated for retinoblastoma. The study 
involved 75 patients with Group E retinoblastoma. 
The investigators found neovascularization of the iris, 
raised intraocular pressure, shallow anterior chamber, 
and tumor volume correlated well with high-risk 
histopathology. They note the accuracy of MRI in 
detecting choroidal invasion was 68% – a figure found 
in earlier, similar reports. This shows that microscopic 
invasion of the choroid may be missed on MRI. 
Detection of ciliary body invasion was more accurate 
(93.3%) compared with previous studies, and MRI 
correctly detected scleral invasion in all affected eyes, 
with no false positive findings. Given the limitations 
of MRI in reliably predicting microscopic infiltration 
of the choroid and optic nerve, the authors conclude 
any decision to treat with neoadjuvant chemotherapy 
based on suspected post-laminar invasion on MRI is 
not justified without histopathologic evidence of 
disease. 
 
Outcomes of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) versus 
perfluoroethane (C2F6) gas tamponade for non-
posturing macular – hole surgery 
 
Rahman R, Madgula I, Khan K 
Br J Ophthalmol 2012; 96: 185-8. 
 
Rahman et al compared the outcomes of non-posturing 
macular hole surgery (39 eyes) using sulfur 
hexafluoride (SF6) gas versus perfluoroethane (C2F6) 
gas tamponade. All patients underwent 23G transcon-
junctival phakovitrectomy without prone posturing in 
the postoperative period. Primary hole closure was 
achieved in 89.75% in the C2F6 group and 87.2% in the 
SF6 group. Two weeks after surgery, SF6 was 
completely absorbed in all cases, and the mean VA 
improved to 0.5 log MAR; however, it remained at 1.9 
log MAR in the C2F6 group. Overall, macular-hole 
surgery with SF6 gas achieved similar results to C2F6 
but absorbed faster, allowing quicker visual 
rehabilitation.