PurposeTo evaluate choroidal blood flow changes in eyes with high myopia according to the pulsatile components of ocular blood flow analysis.MethodsA total of 104 subjects (52 males and 52 females) were included in this study. One eye of each participant was randomly selected and assigned to one of four refractive groups, designated as, hyperopes (n = 20; refractive error, ≥+1.00 diopter [D]), emmetropes (n = 28; refractive error, ±0.75 D), lower myopes (n = 33; refractive error, -1.00 to -4.75 D), and high myopes (n = 23; refractive error, ≤-5.00 D). Components of pulse amplitude (OBFa), pulse volume (OBFv), pulse rate (OBFr), and pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) were analyzed using a blood flow analyzer. Intraocular pressure and axial length were measured.ResultsPulsatile components of OBFa, OBFv, and POBF showed positive correlations with refractive error and showed negative correlations with axial length (r = 0.729, r = 0.772, r = 0.781, respectively, all p < 0.001; r = -0.727, r = -0.762, r = -0.771, respectively, all p < 0.001). The correlations of refractive error and axial length with OBFr were irrelevant (r = -0.157, p = 0.113; r = 0.123, p = 0.213). High myopes showed significantly lower OBFa, OBFv, and POBF than the other groups (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsAxial length changes in high myopes potentially influence choroidal blood flow, assuming the changes are caused by narrowing of the choroidal vessel diameter and increasing rigidity of the choroidal vessel wall. These finding explains the influence of axial length on OBFa, OBFv, and POBF, but not on OBFr. Thus, changes in axial length and the possible influence of these changes on the physical properties of choroidal vessels is the mechanism believed to be responsible for putting high myopes at risk for ocular vascular diseases.

Purpose To determine the origin of epiretinal proliferation (EP), a condition that is occasionally observed in lamellar hole and macular hole cases, and EP outcomes after vitrectomy. Methods This is a retrospective observational case review of 17 eyes with EP that underwent vitrectomy, EP dissection, and internal limiting membrane peeling between January 2013 and December 2016. Surgical specimens of EP tissue were successfully obtained from 5 cases and they were analyzed after immunohistochemical staining. Postoperative outcomes, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular configuration in spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, were reviewed. Results Mean BCVA improved from 0.54 ± 0.36 logarithms of the minimum angle of resolution preoperatively to 0.32 ± 0.38 logarithms of the minimum angle of resolution postoperatively ( p = 0.002). BCVA improved in 13 eyes and remained unchanged in four eyes. No cases experienced vision decline after surgery. All 17 patients' lamellar hole or macular hole were successfully closed. Despite hole closure, ellipsoid zone defects were not corrected in 11 of the 17 patients. In immunohistochemical analyses, anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein and pan-keratin (AE1/AE3) were positive, but synaptophysin, anti-α-smooth muscle actin, and anti-CD68 were negative. Conclusions The epiretinal proliferative membrane seems to originate from Müller cells, not from the vitreous. It is unclear whether retinal pigment epithelia also contribute to EP formation. Gentle handling and preservation of the epiretinal proliferative tissue is crucial for successful surgical outcomes.

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between preoperative measurements of macular microstructures and aniseikonia after epiretinal membrane removal. Methods: This retrospective study included 32 eyes of 32 patients who underwent epiretinal membrane surgery and were followed up for 12 months. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the thicknesses of the ganglion cell layer–inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer retinal layer in macular microstructures. The new aniseikonia test was used to measure vertical and horizontal aniseikonia scores. Results: There was a significant decrease in central macular thickness and ganglion cell layer–inner plexiform layer thickness at 6 and 12 months postoperatively (all P < 0.001). Vertical aniseikonia scores, horizontal aniseikonia scores, and INL and outer retinal layer thicknesses did not show significant changes. Vertical aniseikonia scores and horizontal aniseikonia scores were significantly associated with INL thicknesses of each meridian at each follow-up time point (all P < 0.05). Preoperative vertical and horizontal INL thicknesses were correlated with vertical aniseikonia scores and horizontal aniseikonia scores at 12 months postoperatively (P = 0.014 and P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Aniseikonia values did not change after epiretinal membrane removal and were associated with INL thickness before and after surgery. Thus, preoperative INL thickness could be used as a predictor of surgical prognosis in epiretinal membrane patients.

To report keratitis with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, which occurred in a healthy patient after wearing contact lenses for 6 months. A 24-year-old male patient visited our hospital with ocular pain. This patient had a history of wearing soft contact lenses for 6 months, about 10 hours per day. At initial presentation, slit lamp examination showed corneal stromal infiltrations and small epithelial defect. Microbiological examinations were performed from corneal scrapings, contact lenses, and the contact lens case and solution. The culture results from contact lenses, contact lens case and solution were all positive for Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. Thus, we could confirm that the direct cause of keratitis was contamination of the contact lenses. The patient was treated with 0.3% gatifloxacin. After treatment, the corneal epithelial defect was completely healed, and a slight residual subepithelial corneal opacity was observed. We diagnosed keratitis with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica in a healthy young male wearing soft contact lenses. We conclude that Elizabethkingia meningoseptica should be considered as a rare but potential pathogen for lens-related keratitis in a healthy host.

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