Combined pars plana vitrectomy and Baerveldt glaucoma implant placement for refractory glaucoma

To evaluate outcomes of combined pars plana vitrectomy and Baerveldt glaucoma implant (PPV-BGI) placement for refractory glaucoma

Drug-Induced Toxic Maculopathies

Many drugs besides chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may induce toxic maculopathy. Most toxicity effects are reversible upon discontinuation, resulting in minimal or no visual loss. Understanding the mechanism and pattern of macular toxicity is of great importance to recognize early stages to avoid irreversible vision loss

Vision Changes in a Pregnant Woman

Pregnancy is responsible for multiple hormonal, metabolic, hematologic, cardiovascular, and immunologic changes believed to increase the risk of manifesting variable forms of retinopathy

Peripheral Retinal Abnormalities

Peripheral retinal abnormalities are common and usually not consequential, but might obfuscate patient management

Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of blindness in children from developing countries. Ocular findings are part of a larger syndrome of vitamin A deficiency that includes anemia, growth retardation, immune suppression, and malnutrition, potentially leading to death. Early ophthalmic diagnosis allows prevention of definitive visual loss and, ultimately, death

Noninvasive, High-Resolution Functional Macular Imaging in Subjects With Retinal Vein Occlusion

Several imaging modalities have been developed to characterize ischemia inherent in retinal vascular diseases. This study aims to predict the impact and to better establish the mechanisms of visual deterioration. A high-resolution functional imaging device is used, yielding quantitative data for macular blood flow and capillary network features in healthy eyes and in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). This prospective, cross-sectional, comparative case series measured blood flow velocities (BFVs) and noninvasive capillary perfusion maps (nCPMs) in macular vessels in patients with BRVO/CRVO and in healthy controls using the Retinal Function Imager (RFI; Optical Imaging, Rehovot, Israel). Twenty-two eyes of 21 subjects were studied (eight with CRVO, five with BRVO, and nine controls). A significant decrease was observed in the BFVs of both arterioles and venules in the affected macular region of patients with CRVO and BRVO (2.84 ± 1.21 mm/s and 2.67 ± 1.43 mm/s in CRVO/BRVO arterioles, respectively, vs. 4.23 ± 1.04 mm/s in healthy controls, P < .001; and 1.64 ± 0.51 mm/s and 1.60 ± 0.41 mm/s in CRVO/BRVO venules, respectively, vs. 2.88 ± 0.93 mm/s in healthy controls, P < .001). BFVs in non-affected macular regions of patients with BRVO were not statistically different from BFVs in healthy eyes (3.84 ± 1.04 mm/s and 3.17 ± 1.39 mm/s in BRVO patients vs. 4.23 ± 1.04 mm/s and 2.88 ± 0.93 mm/s in healthy controls' arterioles and venules, respectively; P ≥ .1). nCPMs allowed high-resolution imaging of the macular vasculature and successfully demonstrated ischemic areas in the RVO groups. The RFI provided high-resolution functional imaging of the retinal microvasculature and enabled quantitative measurement of BFVs in patients with RVO. Diminished flow velocity in arterioles and venules raises the possibility that RVO represents a panvascular compromise not confined to just venous stasis or its secondary arteriolar effects. The RFI offers potential to help with diagnosis and management of RVO cases. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:799-809.]

The Assessment of Blood Flow Velocities in Retinal Collaterals in Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract Purpose Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular disease characterized by capillary dropout and resultant retinal ischemia which then leads to retinal vascular remodeling. Our goal was to assess blood flow velocities in retinal collateral vessels in healthy and diabetic subjects with various stages of DR. Methods In our pilot study, we enrolled five eyes of five healthy subjects (H), five eyes of four subjects with diabetes and no retinopathy (DM), three eyes of three subjects with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (MDR), and five eyes of four subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Following routine ophthalmic examination, all subjects were imaged using a retinal function imager (RFI; Optical Imaging Inc., Rehovot, Israel). The built-in software of the RFI was used to identify and segment retinal collaterals with measurement of the blood flow velocities (BFV). One-way ANOVA was performed for BFV, followed by Newman-Keuls post hoc test. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results The total number of collateral segments involved in the study was 30, 31, 21, and 39 in the H, DM, MDR, and PDR groups, respectively. The BFVs in the collaterals were significantly lower in PDR (H: 1.86 ± 0.67, DM: 1.91 ± 0.71, MDR: 1.71 ± 0.53, PDR: 1.37 ± 0.58 mm/s). The PDR group showed a statistically significant difference in the comparisons to all groups (p = 0.012, p = 0.008, and p = 0.043 for the H, DM, and MDR groups, respectively), while no other comparisons between the groups were significant. Conclusion We observed decreased BFV in retinal collaterals in PDR that may be due to the extensive capillary dropout and retinal ischemia. Further studies are needed for the noninvasive functional assessment of retinal microvascular changes in DR to better understand the underlying pathophysiology

Exploratory study of non-invasive, high-resolution functional macular imaging in subjects with diabetic retinopathy

To evaluate a high-resolution functional imaging device that yields quantitative data regarding macular blood flow and capillary network features in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Prospective, cross-sectional comparative case-series in which blood flow velocities (BFVs) and non-invasive capillary perfusion maps (nCPMs) in macular vessels were measured in patients with DR and in healthy controls using the Retinal Functional Imager (RFI) device. A total of 27 eyes of 21 subjects were studied [9 eyes nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 9 eyes proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 9 controls]. All diabetic patients were type 2. All patients with NPDR and 5 eyes with PDR also had diabetic macular edema (DME). The NPDR group included eyes with severe ( =3) and moderate NPDR ( =6), and were symptomatic. A significant decrease in venular BFVs was observed in the macular region of PDR eyes when compared to controls (2.61±0.6 mm/s and 2.92±0.72 mm/s in PDR and controls, respectively, =0.019) as well as PDR eyes with DME compared to NPDR eyes (2.36±0.51 mm/s and 2.94±1.09 mm/s in PDR with DME and NPDR, respectively, =0.01). The RFI, a non-invasive imaging tool, provides high-resolution functional imaging of the retinal microvasculature and quantitative measurement of BFVs in visually impaired DR patients. The isolated diminish venular BFVs in PDR eyes compared to healthy eyes and PDR eyes with DME in comparison to NPDR eyes may indicate the possibility of more retinal vein compromise than suspected in advanced DR

Salmon patch-associated vitreous hemorrhage in non-proliferative sickle cell retinopathy masquerading as infectious uveitis

To report three cases of non-proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (NPSR) with vitreous hemorrhage masquerading as infectious uveitis. Three patients were referred from ophthalmologists to our practices with clinical findings suggestive of infectious uveitis. The first patient was referred for new-onset floaters in both eyes, bilateral vitritis and dome-shaped lesions on B-scan ultrasound. He was initially treated for tuberculosis uveitis due to a positive purified protein derivative test. The second patient was referred with floaters and hazy vision in the setting of recent fever and headache and was also reported to have vitritis and unilateral yellow vitreoretinal lesions on fundoscopy. She was initially treated for toxoplasmosis and endogenous endophthalmitis. The third patient presented with flashes, floaters, and decreased vision four months after a ring-enhancing lesion was found on brain imaging, and was found to have unilateral vitritis with yellow vitreoretinal lesions. He was initially started on topical steroids and cycloplegics empirically for uveitis. All patients were ultimately diagnosed as having manifestations of NPSR, including vitreous hemorrhage, and dehemoglobinized salmon patch hemorrhages. NPSR can occasionally masquerade as infectious uveitis. Obtaining a detailed history with relevant ancillary testing, along with performing a careful physical exam to recognize important clues, can help the physician arrive at the correct diagnosis in these equivocal cases

Punctal Congestion Syndrome: A Reversible, Functional Punctal Stenosis Causing Epiphora in the Setting of Chronic Pretarsal Conjunctivitis.

PurposeTo describe a reversible syndrome of epiphora, functional punctal stenosis, and chronic pretarsal conjunctivitis associated with corticosteroid or corticosteroid-antibiotic eyedrop use.MethodsThis is an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review of patients diagnosed with epiphora, punctal stenosis, and chronic conjunctivitis by a single surgeon (B.J.W.). These patients were subsequently invited to participate in a prospective study involving allergy skin patch testing for ophthalmic drops, common excipients, and active ingredients.ResultsThirteen patients received a diagnosis of punctal congestion syndrome. The average age was 63 years (range, 41-93) and 69.2% were female. Findings were bilateral in 61.5%. All had used preserved drops in the affected eye(s). Various antecedent diagnoses resulted in treatment with preserved drops. Patients experienced epiphora for an average of 3.8 months (median, 3 months; mode, 3 months; range, 1-8 months) prior to presentation. Two patients had undergone punctoplasty which failed to resolve symptoms. 92.3% of patients had been taking tobramycin-dexamethasone drops, loteprednol drops, or a combination of both prior to presentation. All were taken off preserved drops. 69.2% were also treated with a preservative-free loteprednol etabonate 0.5% ophthalmic ointment taper. All improved. Partial relief of symptoms was achieved by an average of 1.6 months (median, 2 months; mode, 2 months; standard deviation, ±0.7 months) and resolution of symptoms by 2.5 months (median, 2 months; mode, 2 months; standard deviation, ±1.7 months). One patient underwent patch testing with strong positive reactions to formaldehyde and neomycin and a weak positive reaction to gentamicin.ConclusionsFunctional punctal stenosis is associated with topical ophthalmic preparations, especially preserved corticosteroids and antibiotic-corticosteroid combinations. Treatment consists of removal of all preserved eyedrops. Symptoms often improve over several months