To investigate the penetration of voriconazole, a new-generation triazole antifungal agent, into the vitreous and aqueous humor after oral administration. Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized clinical study included 14 patients scheduled for elective pars plana vitrectomy surgery between December 1, 2002, and February 28, 2003, at the Cullen Eye Institute, Houston, Tex. Aqueous, vitreous, and plasma samples were obtained and analyzed from 14 patients after oral administration of two 400-mg doses of voriconazole taken 12 hours apart before surgery. Assays were performed by means of highperformance liquid chromatography. Results: Mean ± SD voriconazole concentrations in plasma (n=14), vitreous (n = 14), and aqueous (n=11) were 2.13±0.93 µg/mL, 0.81±0.31 µg/mL, and 1.13±0.57 µg/mL, respectively. Mean±SD sampling times after oral administration of the second voriconazole dose for plasma, vitreous, and aqueous were 2.4±0.6 hours, 3.0±0.5 hours, and 2.9 ± 0.5 hours, respectively. The percentages of

Twenty-eight patients with advanced neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were given a single intravitreous injection of an E1-, partial E3-, E4-deleted adenoviral vector expressing human pigment epithelium- derived factor (AdPEDF.11). Doses ranging from 10(6) to 10(9.5) particle units (PU) were investigated. There were no serious adverse events related to AdPEDF.11 and no dose-limiting toxicities. Signs of mild, transient intraocular inflammation occurred in 25% of patients, but there was no severe inflammation. Six patients experienced increased intraocular pressure that was easily controlled by topical medication. All adenoviral cultures were negative. At 3 and 6 months after injection, 55 and 50%, respectively, of patients treated with 10(6)-10(7.5) PU and 94 and 71% of patients treated with 10(8)-10(9.5) PU had no change or improvement in lesion size from baseline. The median increase in lesion size at 6 and 12 months was 0.5 and 1.0 disk areas in the low-dose group compared with 0 and 0 disk areas in the high-dose group. These data suggest the possibility of antiangiogenic activity that may last for several months after a single intravitreous injection of doses greater than 10(8) PU of AdPEDF.11. This study provides evidence that adenoviral vector-mediated ocular gene transfer is a viable approach for the treatment of ocular disorders and that further studies investigating the efficacy of AdPEDF.11 in patients with neovascular AMD should be performed.

No abstract

To the report 20-year follow-up data for patients receiving a scleral buckle for treatment of a primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Methods: Nonconsecutive, retrospective case series. We identified 227 eyes with primary RRD who were treated with a scleral buckle, and for whom at least 20 years of follow-up data were available. Results were classified into 3 subgroups: retina reattached with 1 procedure; retina reattached with 1 or more additional vitreoretinal procedures; or retina detached at 20 years.Results: One hundred eighty-six eyes (82%) achieved retinal reattachment with 1 scleral buckling procedure and with a median final visual acuity of 20/40 at 20 years of follow-up. An additional 30 eyes (13%) achieved reti-nal reattachment after 1 or more additional vitreoretinal procedures, with a median final visual acuity of 20/50. Eleven eyes (5%) were detached at the 20-year follow-up examination, with a final visual acuity in all eyes of no light perception.Conclusions: Scleral buckling for primary RRD achieves anatomical efficacy and preservation of central vision in the majority of eyes at 20 years' follow-up. The 1-operation success rate was 82%, overall success rate was 95%, and median final visual acuity was 20/40. This study may serve as a basis for comparison with the long-term results of other surgical techniques used in the treatment of primary RRDs.

No abstract