Compass Fundus-Guided Perimetry in Geographic Atrophy

To evaluate compass (CMP), a recently introduced device that combines scanning ophthalmoscopy, automated perimetry, and eye tracking, for fundus-guided perimetry (microperimetry) with the purpose of correlating perimetric retinal sensitivity (PRS) and retinal geographic atrophy (GA) features

Short-term Changes in Retinal and Choroidal Relative Flow Volume after Anti-VEGF Treatment for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration

The effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents on the native ocular vasculature are poorly understood. This pilot study aimed to assess short-term changes in retinal and choroidal perfusion after anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular exudative age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) using the relative flow volume (RFV) parameter derived from laser speckle flowgraphy. Ten treatment-naïve nAMD patients underwent measurements of mean, maximum, minimum, and differential RFV within a retinal arteriolar segment and a choroidal vessel segment outside the neovascular area. Measurement of retinal RFV (rRFV), choroidal RFV (cRFV), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) was repeated 9 and 35 days after a single anti-VEGF injection. The treatment caused a statistically significant decrease in the mean rRFV, mean cRFV, and SCT during the follow-up (p < 0.05). At the intermediate visit, the mean cRFV and SCT were −17.6% and −6.4% compared to baseline, respectively. However, at the final measurement, the mean cRFV was not different from the baseline value, which indicated waning of the anti-VEGF effect. In conclusion, a single anti-VEGF injection in treatment-naïve nAMD resulted in a decrease in retinal arteriolar and choroidal perfusion, according to the RFV parameter, which is a promising tool to simultaneously assess retinal and choroidal perfusion changes in response to anti-VEGF therapy

Profile of ocular and systemic characteristics in Möbius sequence patients from Brazil and Italy

PURPOSE: To compare the profiles and clinical findings of a series of patients with Möbius sequence from Brazil with a series from Italy. METHODS: This is a multicenter study, which includes 46 Möbius sequence patients from Brazil and 20 from Italy. Socio-demographic, gestational, and neonatal profile characteristics were collected from interviews with the guardians of the Möbius sequence patients and compared. The Möbius sequence patients were submitted to an ophthalmologic examination and systemic malformations were also evaluated. RESULTS: Misoprostol was used in the first trimester of pregnancy by 26 (56.5%) of the mothers of the Möbius sequence patients in the Brazilian series and was not used by any of the Italian mothers. The mean age of the Brazilian Möbius sequence patients was 89.95 ± 7.79 months and the mean age of the Italian patients was 102.6 ± 22.94 months (P=0.6105; Mann-Whitney test). Brazilian mothers had a significantly lower education level (P=0.0002; Fisher's exact test) and Italian mothers had significantly more stable relationships (p=0.0002; Fisher's exact test). The frequency of ocular and systemic abnormalities was similar in both series. CONCLUSION: Adverse events during pregnancy varied between both groups. A history of misoprostol use during early pregnancy was present only in Brazilian mothers, who had lower levels of education and less frequent stable marital statuses. Clinical findings were similar between both groups of patients. OBJETIVO: Comparar o perfil de características oculares e sistêmicas de uma série de pacientes com sequência de Möbius do Brasil com uma da Itália. MÉTODOS: Esse estudo multicêntrico incluiu 46 pacientes com sequencia de Möbius do Brasil e 20 da Itália. As características dos perfis sociodemográfico, gestacional e neonatal foram coletadas a partir de entrevistas com os responsáveis dos pacientes e comparadas. Os pacientes foram submetidos a um exame oftalmológico e malformações sistêmicas foram avaliadas. RESULTADOS: O misoprostol foi usado no primeiro trimestre da gestação por 26 (56,5%) mães brasileiras e por nenhuma italiana. A média de idade dos pacientes brasileiros com sequência de Möbius foi de 89,95 ± 7,79 meses e dos italianos 102,6 ± 22,94 meses (P=0,6105; teste de Mann-Whitney). Mães brasileiras tinham significantemente menor escolaridade (P=0,0002; teste exato de Fisher) e mães italianas tinha relacionamentos estáveis mais frequentemente (P=0,0002; teste exato de Fisher). A frequência de anormalidades oculares e sistêmicas foi semelhante entre as séries. CONCLUSÃO: Eventos adversos durante a gestação variaram entre os grupos. O uso de misoprostol pelas mães precocemente na gestação foi relatado apenas por mães brasileiras, que tinham menor escolaridade e status conjugal estável menos frequentemente. Achados clínicos foram semelhantes entre os grupos

Visual outcome and poor prognostic factors in acute retinal necrosis syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the impact of selected clinical parameters on the mid-/long-term visual outcome of patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) Design: A retrospective cohort study Methods: Setting: Two University Hospitals (Parma, Italy; Lausanne, Switzerland). Participants: Thirty-nine non-HIV patients (39 eyes) with ARN, as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction on intraocular samples. The following potential predictors were tested using linear regression models: age, sex, etiology, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on admission, delay between ARN symptom onset and treatment initiation, and surgery (performed or not). Main outcome: BCVA at the final follow up Results: Thirty-nine of 39 non-HIV patients (22 men and 17 women; mean age, 50 years) diagnosed with ARN were enrolled in the study. Etiologies were: varicella-zoster virus in 25 eyes (64%), herpes simplex viruses in the remaining 14 eyes. The average follow-up duration was 19 ± 13 months. All patients had undergone systemic antivirals; surgery was performed in 16 eyes. The mean delay between onset of visual symptoms and antiviral treatment initiation was 15 ± 31 days (range, 1–180 days). The mean BCVA at baseline was 0.83 ± 0.75 logMAR, while the mean final BCVA was 0.75 ± 0.81 logMAR. Both initial BCVA and treatment delay (TD) were significantly correlated with the final BCVA (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Initial BCVA and TD seem to be significant predictors of mid-/long-term visual outcome in non-HIV patients affected by ARN

Atypical presentation of juvenile multiple sclerosis in a patient with COVID-19

Purpose: To report our experience with a case of a very atypical clinical onset of multiple sclerosis in a young boy during a COVID-19 infection. Case report: A 16-year-old boy was referred to our ophthalmology clinic with a complete isolated bilateral horizontal gaze palsy. The condition had onset suddenly 2 weeks prior and he had no associated symptoms, as well as no significant medical history. His corrected visual acuity was 0.0 logMAR in both eyes. While hospitalized, he was found infected with COVID-19. Subsequent brain MRI showed multiple lesions typical of a yet undiagnosed MS, as well as an active pontine plaque which was highly probable the cause of the horizontal gaze palsy. High-dose steroid treatment was initiated 1 week later, after the patient exhibited negative COVID-19 test results. Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of MS are rarely seen in male teenagers and only a few cases of isolated bilateral horizontal gaze palsy have been reported as the initial manifestation, but never during concomitant COVID-19 infection. We presume that the presence of COVID-19 may have been a neuroinflammatory trigger of underlying MS

Longitudinal Study of Optic Disk Perfusion and Retinal Structure in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate optic disk perfusion and neural retinal structure in patients with subacute Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and LHON carriers, as compared with healthy controls. Methods: This study included 8 patients with LHON in the subacute stage, 10 asymptomatic carriers of a LHON-associated mitochondrial DNA mutation, and 40 controls. All subjects underwent measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness using optical coherence tomography and optic disk microvascular perfusion (Mean Tissue [MT]) using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG). Patients were re-examined after a median interval of 3 months from the baseline visit. Results: LHON carriers had higher values of RNFL thickness, GCIPL thickness, and disk area than controls (P < 0.05), whereas MT was not different between the two groups (P = 0.936). Median MT and RNFL thickness were 32% and 15% higher in the early subacute stage of the disease than in controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001). MT declined below the values of controls during the late subacute stage (P = 0.024), whereas RNFL thickness declined later during the dynamic stage (P < 0.001). GCIPL thickness was lower in patients with LHON than in controls independently of the stage of the disease (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The high blood flow at the optic disk during the early subacute stage may be the consequence of vasodilation due to nitric oxide release as compensation to mitochondrial impairment. Optic disk perfusion as measured by LSFG is a promising biomarker for LHON diagnosis and monitoring as well as an objective outcome measure for assessing response to therapies

Neuro-Ophthalmological Presentation and Successful Treatment of Invasive Sphenoid Sinus Aspergillosis in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

We describe the case of a patient who developed a typical orbital apex syndrome due to an invasive form of sphenoid sinus aspergillosis two weeks after induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia

anatomia ed embriologia

trattato per studenti del corso di laurea magistrale in medicina e chirurgia, utilizzabile e consigliabile anche per le scuole di specializzazione in oftalmologi

Serological and Radiological Conversion in Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy

To describe the atypical presentation of a seronegative case of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) which was initially misinterpreted as orbital myositis secondary to adjacent maxillary sinus muco-pyocele. The serological and radiological conversion observed during the follow-up allowed a correct diagnosis and an appropiate treatment