Ocular tuberculosis masquerading as atypical ocular toxoplasmosis

Ocular tuberculosis is a great mimicker of various uveitis entities. We present a case of a 29-year-old male who came in with blurring of vision and floaters in the left eye. On examination, the left eye had anterior chamber cells and vitritis associated with retinitis. He had no other symptoms. The initial presentation was consistent with ocular toxoplasmosis, and he was started on oral sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and showed a good response to the treatment. However, work-up revealed negative toxoplasma antibody titers but a positive M. tuberculosis interferon-gamma release assay test and Mantoux test, making the diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis more likely. The patient was shifted to antituberculous therapy, which eventually resulted in the resolution of the inflammation with a recovery of the visual acuity. The diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis requires a detailed medical history as well as microbiologic and immunologic studies. A high index of suspicion by the treating ophthalmologist is necessary to reveal the diagnosis

Large graft tectonic penetrating keratoplasty in a case of severe aspergillus keratitis

Penetrating keratoplasty is indicated for cases of severe microbial keratitis, particularly if associated with impending corneal perforation. The case report details a 45-year-old male farmer who consulted for blurring of vision in the left eye after an incident wherein mud was flung onto his eye during farming. He noted eye redness and a growing opacity on his left eye. He was initially treated with topical antimicrobial and corticosteroid medication which did not resolve his symptoms. He presented with a visual acuity of hand movement on the affected eye. Slit lamp examination showed a large protruding mound-like plaque, occupying almost the entire corneal surface of the left eye, with associated scleritis. The ocular ultrasound was unremarkable. The patient was diagnosed with fungal keratitis, which culture from corneal scraping showed to be from an infection with Aspergillus . A tectonic penetrating keratoplasty with 360-degree iridectomy, lens extraction, and anterior vitrectomy was immediately done, and a regimen consisting of topical natamycin was started. Despite the severe presentation of the fungal corneal infection, the eye was fortunately salvaged

Combined central retinal artery and vein occlusion following trabeculectomy

Retinal vascular events may occur as rare complications of glaucoma procedures due to various factors, including exacerbation of ischemia in patients with pre-existing vascular comorbidities, toxic effect of mitomycin-C, and decompression retinopathy. We present the case of a 47-year-old hypertensive male who underwent trabeculectomy for advanced glaucoma in his right eye. At 3 weeks postoperatively, he presented with a drop in visual acuity to light perception with a spike in intraocular pressure. On examination, there was increased bleb vascularity as well as rubeosis. Fundoscopy revealed findings consistent with both central retinal artery occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion. Combined central retinal artery and vein occlusion is a rare retinal vascular condition. Neovascular glaucoma can occur as a sequelae of the ischemic process in the retina. Despite treatment, there is a poor visual prognosis, with the affected eye usually becoming blind from optic atrophy and neovascularization

Neurosarcoidosis, Coccidioidomycosis, or Both!

Amir Akhavanrezayat,1 Wataru Matsumiya,1,2 Prapatsorn Ongpalakorn,1 Hashem H Ghoraba,1 Chris Or,1 Hassan Khojasteh Jafari,1 Gunay Uludag Kirimli,1 Cigdem Yasar,1 Ngoc Trong Tuong Than,1 Irmak Karaca,1 Moosa Zaidi,1 Azadeh Mobasserian,1 Negin Yavari,1 Vahid Bazojoo,1 Yong Un Shin,1 Albert John Bromeo,1 Quan Dong Nguyen1 1Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; 2Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, JapanCorrespondence: Quan Dong Nguyen, Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, 2452 Watson Court, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, USA, Tel +1 650 723 9386, Email [email protected]: To report a case of neurosarcoidosis (NS) who was initially diagnosed as Coccidioidomycosis immitis (CI) infection.Observations: A 57-year-old diabetic man presented with sudden painless diminution of vision, metamorphopsia, and color vision deficits in the left eye (OS) for one month. His vision was 20/20 in the right eye (OD) and 20/40 OS. Ophthalmic examination revealed left relative afferent pupillary defect, blurred optic nerve margin, creamy chorioretinal infiltration around the optic disc, and mild macular edema. OD examination was non-revealing. Chest CT scan with contrast showed calcified mediastinal lymph nodes, but biopsy of the lymph nodes was normal. Brain and orbit MRI demonstrated soft tissue abnormality with enhancement in left orbital apex with involvement of the extraocular muscles. CSF culture was negative, but complement fixation had positive titer of 1:2 for CI. The patient was diagnosed with CI meningitis, and antifungal therapy was initiated. Slight visual and symptomatic improvement was observed, which was not completely satisfactory. Biopsy of extraocular orbital muscle five months later revealed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation, leading to initiation of prednisone trial therapy. Nine months later, the patient was referred to a tertiary center owing to persistence of optic disc edema OS. PET CT was consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Antifungal treatment was discontinued, and oral prednisone with methotrexate was initiated. Subsequently, methotrexate was replaced by infliximab to further manage ocular inflammation and neurologic symptoms which was effective. Vision was 20/20 OD and 20/30 OS at the most recent visit.Conclusion and Importance: Signs and symptoms of neurosarcoidosis and coccidioidomycosis can be similar and deceiving. The index case underscores importance of considering appropriate differential diagnoses in patients with similar symptoms and signs who may respond to preliminary designated treatment but not to the optimal extent. Considering such possibility could assist clinicians in managing the patients timely and efficiently.Keywords: neurosarcoidosis, coccidioidomycosis, sarcoidosis, ocular involvemen