Imported Intraocular Gnathostomiasis with Subretinal Tracks Confirmed by Western Blot Assay

We report a case of intraocular gnathostomiasis diagnosed by western blot assay in a patient with subretinal tracks. A 15-year-old male patient complained of blurred vision in the right eye, lasting for 2 weeks. Eight months earlier, he had traveled to Vietnam for 1 week and ate raw wild boar meat and lobster. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and anterior chamber examination revealed no abnormalities. Fundus examination showed subretinal tracks in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography showed linear hyperfluorescence of the subretinal lesion observed on fundus in the right eye. Ultrasound examination revealed no abnormalities. Blood tests indicated mild eosinophilia (7.5%), and there was no abnormality found by systemic examinations. Two years later, the patient visited our department again for ophthalmologic evaluation. Visual acuity remained 20/20 in both eyes and the subretinal tracks in the right eye had not changed since the previous examination. Serologic examination was performed to provide a more accurate diagnosis, and the patient's serum reacted strongly to the Gnathostoma nipponicum antigen by western blot assay, which led to a diagnosis of intraocular gnathostomiasis. This is the first reported case of intraocular gnathostomiasis with subretinal tracks confirmed serologically using western blot in Korea

Prognostic Factors for Recovery of Vision in Canine Optic Neuritis of Unknown Etiology: 26 Dogs (2003–2018)

Optic neuritis (ON) is a recognized condition, yet factors influencing recovery of vision are currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors for recovery of vision in canine ON of unknown etiology. Clinical databases of three referral hospitals were searched for dogs with presumptive ON based on clinicopathologic, MRI/CT, and fundoscopic findings. Twenty-six dogs diagnosed with presumptive ON of unknown etiology, isolated (I-ON) and MUE-associated (MUE-ON), were included in the study. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively, and the association of complete recovery of vision with signalment, clinicopathologic findings, and treatment was investigated. Datasets were tested for normality using the D'Agostino and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Individual datasets were compared using the Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann-Whitney U-test. For multiple comparisons with parametric datasets, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, and for non-parametric datasets, the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to test for independence. For all data, averages are expressed as median with interquartile range and significance set at p < 0.05. Twenty-six dogs met the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 230 days (range 21–1901 days, mean 496 days). Six dogs (23%) achieved complete recovery and 20 dogs (77%) incomplete or no recovery of vision. The presence of a reactive pupillary light reflex (p = 0.013), the absence of fundoscopic lesions (p = 0.0006), a younger age (p = 0.038), and a lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total nucleated cell count (TNCC) (p = 0.022) were statistically associated with complete recovery of vision. Dogs with I-ON were significantly younger (p = 0.046) and had lower CSF TNCC (p = 0.030) compared to the MUE-ON group. This study identified prognostic factors that may influence complete recovery of vision in dogs with ON. A larger cohort of dogs is required to determine whether these findings are robust and whether additional parameters aid accurate prognosis for recovery of vision in canine ON

Bilateral Lateral Rectus Palsies in High Altitude Illness

A 50-year-old man with high altitude illness had bilateral lateral rectus palsies when he went to the Himalaya at 5,000 meters. He had no other neurological signs, except headache. He received acetazolamide, prednisone, and spent time in a hyperbaric chamber; but unfortunately he showed no improvement. Two months later, his diplopia completely resolved itself without any treatment, after his descent to a lower altitude

Four Episodes of NAION in One Patient

We reported an interesting case experiencing four episodes of NAION

Horner Syndrome as a Rare Presentation of Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Case Report

Acquired Horner syndrome comprises a constellation of clinical signs, including ipsilateral eyelid ptosis, miosis, and facial anhidrosis. The etiologies vary depending on age and location of the lesion. Pathologies involving the cervical part of the internal carotid artery (ICA) which have mainly been reported include dissection or tumor invasion. Herein, we report a rare association of Horner syndrome with ICA stenosis

Occupational Blindness from Chronic Methanol Intoxication

Objective: To describe three patients with occupational blindness from chronic methanol intoxication. Case presentation: Three patients who worked in the same industry of methylated spirit manufacture for more than 1 year developed bilateral visual loss from inhaled methanol intoxication. Ophthalmological, neurological examinations and blood methanol levels were undertaken. Two male and one female patients developed a sudden onset of bilateral blindness. Blood and urine methanol levels obtained from the male patients at 48 and 72 hours after their cessation to methanol exposure were negative. Those from the female patient at 9 hours after their cessation to methanol exposure were 73.78 mg/dl. Their final visual acuity was not improved after the treatment. Conclusion: Chronic methanol intoxication from inhalation is likely to produce ocular problems with mild systemic toxicity with severe ocular problems which eventually result in permanent blindness. The risk assessment of occupational health and safety should be seriously taken into account to avoid harmful effect of hazards in the workplace