title: Optical coherence tomography imaging in the management of the Argus II retinal prosthesis system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a real-life experience with the Argus II retinal prosthesis system in blind patients with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or choroideremia (CHM), focusing on the pivotal role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in both preoperative and postoperative management.
  
  
  METHODS
  This hospital-based case series included 3 blind patients who were uneventfully implanted with Argus II epiretinal device. These patients (2 with RP and 1 with CHM) were selected during the Argus™ II Retinal Prosthesis System PostMarket Surveillance Study Protocol. Complete screening procedures had involved 66 eyes of 33 patients afferent to the Center for Retinitis Pigmentosa of the Veneto Region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative OCT examination resulted in the exclusion of 8 eyes in 4 patients with bilateral posterior staphyloma diagnosing unexpected staphylomatous macular patterns in 2 patients with RP and no sign of pathologic myopia. Postoperative OCT study of Argus II proximity to retinal surface indicated a plausible correlation between electrode-retina distance and perceptual threshold in 2 of our 3 patients. In particular, during the first 6 months of follow-up, the patient with the closest contact between device and macula showed a continuous vision-related improvement in the performance of several real-life tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings illustrate the modalities by which each different OCT examination is an essential tool to optimize safety and efficacy profiles during Argus II protocol. Optical coherence tomography will be crucial for future investigative approaches on patient selection criteria and next-generation implant design.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara - Italy.|Center for Retinitis Pigmentosa of Veneto Region, ULSS 15 Alta Padovana, Camposampiero, Padova - Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Nadai
authors.affiliation: Center for Retinitis Pigmentosa of Veneto Region, ULSS 15 Alta Padovana, Camposampiero, Padova - Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piovan
authors.affiliation: Center for Retinitis Pigmentosa of Veneto Region, ULSS 15 Alta Padovana, Camposampiero, Padova - Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Binotto
authors.affiliation: Center for Retinitis Pigmentosa of Veneto Region, ULSS 15 Alta Padovana, Camposampiero, Padova - Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zamengo
authors.affiliation: Center for Retinitis Pigmentosa of Veneto Region, ULSS 15 Alta Padovana, Camposampiero, Padova - Italy.
authors.forename: Marzio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chizzolini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015794:Choroideremia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D057488:Visual Prosthesis