Purpose:
The aim of this study was to test the discomfort experienced during intravitreal injections with eyelid retraction between an eyelid speculum, cotton-tipped applicator (CTA), and unimanual eyelid retraction techniques.
Methods:
In total, 99 patients receiving intravitreal bevacizumab were enrolled into this prospective study. Participants were randomized to one of the three methods, given subconjunctival 2% lidocaine and then injected in the superior temporal quadrant. Immediately after the procedure, each patient was given a visual analog scale (VAS) to rate their discomfort.
Results:
The mean pain scores for eyelid retraction with unimanual, CTA, and speculum groups were 0.788 (standard deviation [SD] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.448–1.128), 0.945 (SD 1.28, 95% CI 0.600–1.291), and 1.561 (SD 1.28, 95% CI 1.210–1.912), respectively. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test revealed a significant difference between the groups (
P
= 0.006).
Post hoc
analysis also revealed a difference in mean pain scores between the speculum and both the CTA and the unimanual methods.
Conclusion:
Our study shows that the unimanual and CTA methods for eyelid retraction are significantly less painful for patients compared to the speculum method. Patient comfort is of the utmost importance as intravitreal injections are performed millions of times a year with most patients requiring multiple injections.
Purpose
Terson syndrome presents with retinal and vitreous hemorrhages in patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage or after acutely elevated intracranial pressure. The source of this hemorrhage has been debated and may originate either from direct extension of intracranial hemorrhage or more likely from the peripapillary retinal vessels.
Observations
A 39-year-old woman presenting with nausea, vomiting, floaters and papilledema with normal neuroimaging was diagnosed ultimately with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome. She had a right vitreous hemorrhage and bilateral subretinal and intraretinal hemorrhages which were consistent with Terson like syndrome. Her symptoms resolved with acetazolamide over one month and the retinal and vitreous hemorrhages significantly improved over two months.
Conclusions and importance
This case with initial presentation of pseudotumor cerebri syndrome causing a Terson like syndrome may help elucidate the mechanism behind the etiology of these hemorrhages from leaking peripapillary vessels.
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