Aim: Learn about the development and changes in foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and vascularity of retina in the surrounding zone, depending on the duration in young diabetic patients type 1 (T1DM). Methods: As part of regular one-year examinations of young T1DM patients at the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital Královské Vinohrady in Prague (Czech Republic, EU) from January to December 2019, OCT angiography using the device Spectralis (Heidelberg Engineering) was included. Forty patients aged 18 to 30 years were examined, median 21 years. T1DM was diagnosed in childhood and lasted for more than 10 years. At the same time, a control group of forty individuals of similar age, without metabolic and other general disease was examined, normal visual acuity and physiological fundoscopic finding were obligatory. The FAZ size was evaluated in both groups (using built-in function "Draw Region"), also its shape, density decrease and change in character of vascularity of the retina was assessed. Results: In the control group, the FAZ area ranged from 0.06 to 0.4 mm², with an average of 0.253 ± 0.092 mm² and a median of 0.27 mm². It was not affected by a fundamental change in its round shape and the surrounding capillary netting was regular and reasonably dense. In T1DM patients, the FAZ area was in a wider range, from 0.05 to 0.64 mm², an average of 0.300 ± 0.132 mm², and a median of 0.31 mm². The difference in FAZ across-the-board evaluation was statistically significant (p = 0, 009). Diabetic preretinopathy (DpR) was defined by the irregularity of the capillary density up to the manifestation of non-perfusion, in 61% of cases the size of the FAZ was changed. In diabetic retinopathy (DR) there was always an irregularity of the FAZ shape with its enlargement, manifestation of non-perfusion, capillary dilatation and rare microaneurysms. Conclusion: Changes in FAZ size corresponded to the stage of T1DM on the fundoscopic finding of the eye depending on its duration. The initial increased amount of foveal capillaries, which resulted in decreased FAZ area, was followed by a gradual decrease in capillaries and increased FAZ area, consistent with the manifestations of DpR. It was accompanied by a change in capillary density in macula to eventual non-perfusion. On the contrary, the increase in the FAZ area and its irregularity accompanied by non-perfusion of the capillary net and microaneurysms corresponded to the development of DR already.

Aim: The authors assessed the development of intraocular changes in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) from the onset of the disease leading to diabetic retinopathy (DR). The quote: “There must be an intermediate stage between the physiological intraocular finding and the diabetic retinopathy itself “, (prof. Jan Vavřinec). Methods: A two-year study (2018 and 2019) was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Teaching Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady in Prague (Czech Republic). There were 54 patients aged 17–42 years, the detection of T1DM ranged between the 1st and 14th year of life, with a duration of 12–35 years. Individual patients were always examined simultaneously by three methods: CS (contrast sensitivity), SD-OCT (spectral domain optical coherence tomography) and OCT-A (optical coherence tomography-angiography). We examined 106 eyes once and in a comprehensive manner. Results: We have shown that there is an intermediate stage between the physiological finding on the retina and DR, so-called diabetic pre-retinopathy (DpR). Subsequent redistribution of the observed into two DpR subgroups was derived from the size of the FAZ, either with its smaller area or with a larger area determining the microvascularity of the central area of the retina. The results of both other methods were assigned to these values. For SD-OCT, the depth of the fovea (the difference between the central retinal thickness and the total average retinal thickness) was determined, which was affected by the increased the macular cubature. In all patients it was on average 10.3 μm3. The retina in the central area was significantly strengthened compared to the healthy population at the level of significance p ≤ 0,001. We divided the actual DpR into an image: DpR1 in 26.5 % of eyes – condition with an average shallower fovea only by 21.5 μm below the level of the surrounding retina and an average narrower FAZ: 0.165 mm2 and with a more significant decrease in CS; DpR2 in 40.5 % of eyes – condition with average deeper fovea by 42 μm, i.e., more significantly and average larger FAZ: 0.325 mm2 with lower decrease of CS. At the same time, other changes in microvascularity were noted, such as disorders in the sense of non-perfusion in the central part of the retina of various degrees. This finding differed significantly from changes in already established (non-proliferative) NPDR in 36 % of eyes, when a significant decrease in CS with normal visual acuity was found 4/4 ETDRS. Statistical differences in CS between DpR1 and DpR2 and NPDR were determined – always p ≤ 0.001. The average depth of the fovea was NPDR: 29.5 μm. NPDR had the largest average FAZ: 0.56 mm2. Also significant were the most significant changes in non-perfusion and especially the presence of microaneurysms. Conclusions: These three non - invasive methods helped to monitor the dynamics of the development of ocular changes in T1DM of better quality than the determination of visual acuity and ophthalmoscopic examination. Increased retinal volume induced hypoxia of visual cells with subsequent dual autoregulatory mechanism conditioning two types of diabetic pre-retinopathy before the onset of DR.

Précis: Deep sclerectomy (DS) with the Esnoper Clip drainage implant in patients with uncontrolled primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) achieved a complete success rate of 87.2% at the 1-year follow-up.Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of DS followed by Esnoper Clip implantation in patients with uncontrolled POAG. Materials and Methods:In a prospective, consecutive, interventional study, we investigated 39 eyes of 35 patients with uncontrolled POAG who underwent DS with Esnoper Clip implantation. Complete ophthalmologic examinations including corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP), were performed preoperatively, and at 1 day, at 1 week as well as at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Moreover, any goniopunctures and glaucoma medications required postoperatively were noted. Results:The mean preoperative IOP was 20.8 ± 5.2 mm Hg and it decreased to 13.9 ± 3.1 mm Hg at 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.001). The number of glaucoma medications decreased from 2.9 ± 0.7 preoperatively to 0.3 ± 0.8 after 1 year (P < 0.001). The complete success rate (IOP ≤ 21 mm Hg without glaucoma medication) and the qualified success rate (IOP ≤ 21 mm Hg with or without glaucoma medication) were 87.2% and 94.9%, respectively. Goniopuncture was performed in 33.3% of cases. No significant corrected visual acuity changes were registered at the final follow-up. Perioperative complications consisted of 3 micro-perforations of the trabeculo-descemet membrane. Postoperative complications included: hyphema (6 eyes), hypotony (6 eyes), shallow anterior chamber (3 eyes), choroidal detachment (4 eyes)-all of which were resolved without surgical intervention during the first postoperative month-and conjunctival dehiscence, which required resuture (2 eyes). Conclusion:Deep sclerectomy with the Esnoper Clip implant was safe and effectively lowered IOP in patients with uncontrolled POAG.