Biomedical subjects

Sabine Kurz

Publications and source records attributed to Sabine Kurz.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Epidemiological evaluation of intraoperative antibiosis as a protective agent against endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and to retest recent findings on the protective effect of intraoperative antibiosis and the promoting effect of the clear corneal as compared to sclerocorneal incision. DESIGN: Survey study. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred thirty-eight ophthalmosurgical centers in Germany. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Responder specific endophthalmitis incidence. RESULTS: A total of 310 (58%) questionnaires were computed resulting in an overall count of 404 356 cataract surgeries and 291 self-reported endophthalmitis cases (crude rate 0.072%). The risk of postoperative endophthalmitis for sclerocorneal versus clear corneal incisions was not significantly reduced (relative risk 0.97, 99% confidence interval 0.69-1.38). The hypothesis of a protective effect of intraocular antibiosis could be confirmed by a significantly decreased risk ratio of 0.69 (99% confidence interval 0.48-0.99) indicating a significant benefit from intraoperative intraocular antibiosis. A similar tendency was observed for an intraoperative periocular antibiosis with a significantly reduced risk ratio of 0.68 (99% confidence interval 0.49-0.96). These risk estimates had been adjusted for the size of the surgical center: a significantly reduced risk ratio of 0.70 (99% confidence interval 0.49-0.98) for postoperative endophthalmitis was observed for local centers. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas this 2001 appraisal of a survey in 1996 could not reproduce the benefit of sclerocorneal incision, the protective effect of intraoperative intraocular antibiotic prophylaxis could be confirmed. However, the results of this survey have to be interpreted with care, since it is not based on individual case information, but rather on aggregate questionnaire data.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗

PubMed2006

Effect of a closed foldable equator ring on capsular bag shrinkage in cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a closed foldable equator ring (CFER) versus a conventional capsular tension ring (CTR) on capsular bag shrinkage. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. METHODS: In this prospective study, 70 eyes of 70 patients were randomized to 2 groups using a 1:1 block scheme. After uneventful cataract surgery, a capsular measuring ring was implanted in all eyes to measure the capsular bag diameter in vivo. In Group 1, a CTR was implanted in the capsular bag. In Group 2, a CFER was inserted. Biometric characteristics such as axial length and the horizontal and vertical corneal radii were measured preoperatively. The capsular bag diameter and capsulorhexis diameter were measured intraoperatively and 2 or 3 days as well as 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant or clinically relevant between-group differences in covariants such as axial length, vertical and horizontal corneal radii, and capsulorhexis diameter. Eyes with the CTR had slight but statistically significant capsular bag shrinkage from a median of 10.4 to a median of 10.2 mm after 3 months (P<.001). Eyes with the CFER also had slight but statistically significant capsular bag shrinkage from a median of 10.3 to a median of 10.2 mm 3 months postoperatively (P = .021). At baseline, the CTR group had a larger capsular bag diameter, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups at the 3-month follow-up (P = .669). CONCLUSIONS: No clinically relevant capsular bag shrinkage was observed after implantation of a CFER or a CTR. The expected capsular bag shrinkage was the same in both groups.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Biaxial microincision versus coaxial small-incision clear cornea cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical outcomes of biaxial microincision (1.5 mm) and coaxial small-incision (2.75 mm) clear cornea cataract surgery. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy eyes of 70 patients were examined at a German university eye hospital. INTERVENTION: The 70 patients (70 eyes) were assigned randomly (1:1) to a biaxial or conventional coaxial incision group. Both groups underwent phacoemulsification using pulsed ultrasound energy with variable duty cycles, followed by microincision intraocular lens implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), astigmatism, laser flare photometry value, effective phacoemulsification time (EPT), and endothelial cell count were evaluated. RESULTS: The treatment groups did not differ in baseline characteristics (median BCVA of 20/40 preoperatively in both groups, P = 0.97). On postoperative day 1, BCVA was better in the biaxial group than in the coaxial group (20/25 vs. 20/33, P = 0.018). Eight weeks after surgery, median BCVAs were 20/20 in the biaxial group and 20/25 in the coaxial group (P = 0.015). Median changes in astigmatism were -0.15 diopters (D) in the biaxial group and -0.31 D in the coaxial group. Neither clinically relevant nor statistically significant differences were found in laser flare photometry values. Effective phacoemulsification time was >3 seconds in only 34% of biaxial procedures, versus 68% of coaxial procedures (P = 0.013). At 8 weeks after surgery, endothelial cell counts were decreased similarly in the biaxial (14.5%) and coaxial (14.1%) groups (P = 0.408). CONCLUSIONS: With the biaxial microincision technique, EPT is shorter and BCVA improves more rapidly, with no difference in astigmatism, laser flare photometry results, or endothelial cell count relative to the coaxial small-incision technique for phacoemulsification.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Capsular bag shrinkage after implantation of a capsular bending or capsular tension ring.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of a capsular bending ring (CBR) or tension ring (CTR) on capsular bag shrinkage. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, and Department of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. METHODS: In 92 eyes of 92 patients, a capsular measuring ring (CMR) was implanted after phacoemulsification to measure capsular bag size in vivo. Patients were randomized into 3 groups: The first received a CMR and CBR, the second received a CMR and CTR, and the third received a CMR alone. Measurements were performed preoperatively, intraoperatively, during the first 3 postoperative days, and after 1 and 3 months. Preoperative biometric characteristics such as axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth were determined. Primary clinical end points were capsular bag size and capsulorhexis diameter measured intraoperatively and by means of slitlamp biomicroscopy and retroillumination photography postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no clinically relevant group differences in AL, anterior chamber depth, or capsulorhexis diameter. Eyes implanted with the CBR showed shrinkage of the capsular bag from 10.6 to 10.4 mm after a median of 3 months (sign test; P = .023); eyes with a CTR showed comparable median capsular bag shrinkage from 10.5 to 10.2 mm (P<.001), whereas eyes without a CTR showed a median shrinkage from 10.5 to 10.0 mm (P<.001). Intraindividual shrinkage was of a similar, although significantly different, order among these groups (median shrinkage 0.15 versus 0.23 and 0.38 mm, respectively; all pairwise Wilcoxon test; P = .050, P = .020, P<.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Capsular shrinkage can be inhibited by a CBR and, to lesser extent, a CTR; the gain in shrinkage prevention is limited when compared with a CMR, however. This conclusion can be drawn only for the specific CBR or CTR and hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) used in this study. Reduction of capsular bag shrinkage after CTR implantation may reduce IOL dislocation and tilt and help to maintain postoperative visual acuity.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Spring constants of capsular tension rings.

PURPOSE: To determine the spring constants of several types of capsular tension rings (CTRs). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. METHODS: Fourteen models of CTRs provided by 9 companies were tested; all were 11.0 mm in diameter. The CTRs were positioned in a special retainer of a material-testing machine and compressed at a constant speed of 10.0 mm per minute. The distance and force values were recorded, and each CTR model was tested 3 times using a new specimen each time. The resulting measurements were used to calculate a mean spring constant for each CTR model. RESULTS: All tested CTRs showed linear proportionality between force and compression distance. Test results were repeatable and precise. Capsular tension rings of the same model had comparable mechanical properties, and different models had different mean spring constants ranging from 0.8162 to 4.5501 mN/mm. CONCLUSIONS: The spring constant of a CTR is a suitable mechanical characteristic to facilitate the choice of CTR model. A CTR with a low spring constant may be advantageous for the management of zonular dialysis, whereas a CTR with a higher spring constant may reduce capsular bag shrinkage more effectively.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMed2004

Monocular versus binocular pupillometry.

PURPOSE: To quantify differences between monocular and binocular pupil size measurement under scotopic and mesopic conditions. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, and Department of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. METHODS: Computerized dynamic pupillometry (P2000 SA, Procyon Instruments Ltd.) was used at 3 illumination levels: scotopic at 0.03 lux, mesopic low at 0.82 lux, and mesopic high at 6.4 lux. One hundred forty eyes of 70 healthy volunteers without ocular pathology were examined. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. In the first group, the pupil diameter was measured binocularly first. In the second group, monocular measurement was performed first. For statistical analysis, data description was based on medians and quartiles of the respective pupil diameter measurements. Intraindividual significance was based on sign tests, and interindividual comparison were based on 2-sample Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: In all eyes, statistically significant differences were found in pupil size, with higher values for the monocular measurement under low and high mesopic conditions (P=.000). For scotopic conditions, a trend toward higher values in monocular measurement was observed that approached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that binocular measurement may imitate the patient's life conditions more realistically. Therefore, in eyes with a large pupil diameter with the risk for postoperative scotopic phenomena, binocular measurement should be considered before refractive surgery.

Adolescent↗