Safety of high-dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as low-cost alternative to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents in lower-middle-income countries

Hammouda Hamdy Ghoraba,1,2 Mahmoud Leila,3 Sameh Mohamed Elgouhary,4 Emad Eldin Mohamed Elgemai,2,5 Haithem Mamon Abdelfattah,2,6 Hashem Hammouda Ghoraba,2 Mohamed Amin Heikal7 1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 2Department of Retina, Magrabi Eye Hospital, Tanta, Egypt; 3Retina Department, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt; 5Department of Ophthalmology, Damanhour Teaching Hospital, Damanhour, Egypt; 6Department of Ophthalmology, Banha Teaching Hospital, Banha, Egypt; 7Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of high-dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) as affordable low-cost alternative to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [anti-VEGF] agents) in lower-middle-income countries.Patients and methods: This was a retrospective interventional non-comparative case series. The study recruited patients who received 20 mg IVTA for treating various retinal and optic nerve diseases over the past 5 years. Main outcome measure was assessment of complications secondary to high-dose IVTA. The crosstabs procedure was used to display the interaction between the variables tested. The ANOVA test was used to analyze the differences among group means.Results: The study included 207 eyes of 168 patients. The main indication for high-dose IVTA were diabetic macular edema 64%, and macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion 19%. The mean follow-up period post-injection was 22 months. Mean number of injections was 1.3. Cataract developed in 54% of eyes. Glaucoma developed in 18.5% of eyes. Glaucoma surgery for intractable glaucoma attributed to high-dose IVTA was needed in 1% of eyes. Endophthalmitis and retinal detachment developed in one patient each.Conclusion: High-dose IVTA is a safe and cost-effective alternative to anti-VEGF agents. Cataract formation and intraocular pressure rise do not pose major adverse effects when weighed against the risk of vision loss due to inability to afford anti-VEGF treatment. Keywords: high-dose IVTA, cost-effectiveness of anti-VEGF, ICER of anti-VEGF per QALY&nbsp

Aqueous misdirection following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection

Hammouda H Ghoraba,1,2 Ali Ahmed Ghali,3 Hosam Othman Mansour2,3 1Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 2Magrabi Eye Hospital, Cairo, Egypt; 3Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt Purpose: To report a retrospective series of seven phakic eyes of seven patients suffering from a malignant glaucoma-like syndrome following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil (SO) injection.Materials and methods: Seven eyes with retinal detachment treated with pars plana vitrectomy with or without scleral buckling with SO tamponade. This was followed by cataract extraction to manage the elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).Results: This was a retrospective review of seven cases that received pars plana vitrectomy and SO with or without scleral buckling for different causes of retinal detachment (three were rhegmatogenous and four were tractional). After a period ranging from 1 week to 1 month, they presented with malignant glaucoma-like manifestations; high IOP, shallow axial anterior chamber, and remarkable decrease of visual acuity. Atropine eye drops and anti-glaucoma medical treatment (topical and systemic) had been tried but failed to improve the condition. Dramatic decrease of IOP and deepening of the axial anterior chamber was observed in all cases in the first postoperative day after phacoemulsification and posterior chamber foldable intraocular lens implantation with posterior capsulotomy.Conclusion: Aqueous misdirection syndrome may be observed following pars plana vitrectomy and SO tamponade. This must be differentiated from other causes of post vitrectomy glaucoma. Cataract extraction with posterior capsulotomy controls the condition. Keywords: malignant glaucoma, pars plana vitrectomy, silicone oi

Different techniques of transconjunctival cannulated vitrectomy versus conventional non-cannulated vitrectomy in various vitreoretinal disorders

Hammouda H Ghoraba,1,2 Sameh M Elgouhary,3 Amin F Ellakwa3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 2Vitreoretinal Unit, Magrabi Eye Hospital, Tanta, Egypt; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Menoufiya University, Menufia, Egypt Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of different methods of transconjunctival cannulated vitrectomy versus conventional non-cannulated vitrectomy in various vitreoretinal disorders. Methods: A prospective randomized study was done from August 2009 to February 2011. The study included 129 eyes of 122 patients, randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 comprised 34 eyes operated on using transconjunctival 20-gauge cannula Claes system. Group 2 comprised 32 eyes operated on using transconjunctival cannulated 23 gauge system. Group 3 comprised 27 eyes operated on using combined 20-gauge non-cannulated and 23-gauge transconjunctival cannulated system. Group 4 comprised 36 eyes operated on using conventional non-cannulated 20-gauge system. Results: The four groups were demographically similar. Anatomical outcome was achieved in all cases. Vision was improved in 29 eyes (85.3%) in group 1, 23 eyes (71.9%) in group 2, 19 eyes (70.4%) in group 3, and 26 eyes (72.2%) in group 4. There was no statistical difference between the four groups 1-day postoperative (P=0.405) and 1-week postoperative intraocular pressure (P=0.254). The number of sutureless sclerotomies was 68 (66.6%) in group 1, 78 (81.3%) in group 2, 50 (61.8%) in group 3, and 0 in group 4. Hypotony occurred in one eye (2.9%) in group 1, three eyes (9.4%) in group 2, two eyes (7.4%) in group 3, and no eyes in group 4. Operative endophthalmitis did not occur in any one of the four groups. Conclusion: Final anatomical and functional outcomes were not related to the type of sclerotomy used (cannulated or non-cannulated), the gauge used (20 or 23), the route (transconjunctival or transscleral), or type of suture used. The advantages of small-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy were patient comfort, early ambulation, and preservation of the conjunctiva. This should be weighed against the cost of this cannula system. Keywords: 20 gauge, 23 gauge, PPV, sutureless vitrectom

Long-term follow-up of vitrectomy, with or without 360° encircling buckle, for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment due to inferior retinal breaks

Hamouda Hamdy Ghoraba,1,2 Adel Galal Zaky,3 Amin Faisal Ellakwa31Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, 2Opthalmology Department, El Magrabi Eye Hospital, Tanta, 3Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Cairo, EgyptObjective: The aim of this study was to report and compare the anatomic and functional results of primary vitrectomy with and without 360° encircling scleral buckle (SB) for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) due to inferior retinal break(s).Background: A variety of options, including SB, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without SB, and pneumatic retinopexy have been described as methods to repair RRDs. The use of additional SB with vitrectomy for RRD associated with inferior breaks has been a recent controversy after the introduction of transconjunctival cannula systems.Patients and methods: A retrospective, interventional, comparative case study was performed. In this study, we reviewed 105 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy for primary RRD with inferior retinal break(s) at the vitreoretinal center, performed by a single surgeon. Ninety four patients (94 eyes) were followed up for at least 4 months after silicon oil removal (SOR), and were analyzed. They were divided into two groups: group I included 50 patients who underwent PPV alone + silicon oil (SO); and group II included 44 patients who underwent PPV with 360° SB + SO. The essential parameters were single-operation success rate (SOSR) before SOR, incidence of retinal redetachment after SOR, and final visual acuity.Results: SOSR was obtained in 89 eyes (47 [94%] in group I and 42 [95.5%] in group II). From overall 59 phakic retinal detachments (RDs), SOSR was obtained in 56 eyes (30 in group I [93.8%] and 26 in group II [96.3%]) while from overall 35 aphakic or pseudophakic RDs, SOSR was obtained in 33 eyes (17 in group I [94.4%] and 16 in group II [94.1%]). Retinal redetachments after SOR occurred in three patients in group I and two patients in group II. Visual acuity improvement was greater in group I than in group II before SOR.Conclusion: Both surgical procedures had similar reattachment rates. The addition of 360° SB to PPV + SO might not have additional benefits in patients with RD due to inferior retinal break.Keywords: pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckle, rhegmatogenous retinal detachmen

Long term result of silicone oil versus gas tamponade in the treatment of traumatic macular holes

Hammouda H Ghoraba1, Amin F Ellakwa2, Ali A Ghali31Tanta University, Magrabi Eye Hospital, Tanta, Egypt; 2Menoufiya University, Shebin Elkom, Menoufiya, Egypt; 3Alazhar University, Damitta, EgyptPurpose: To compare the effectiveness of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with either silicone oil or gas tamponade for the treatment of traumatic macular holes.Methods: A retrospective comparative study included 22 patients who were operated on by PPV for repair of traumatic macular holes with either silicone oil tamponade (nine patients) or perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade (13 patients).Results: Twenty-two cases were reviewed to assess the anatomical and visual outcomes of surgery with silicone oil tamponade in nine cases (40.9%) vs 14% C3F8 gas tamponade in 13 cases (59.1%). The age of the silicone oil-treated patients ranged from 10 to 40 years (mean 27.4 ± 11.3 years), while that of the gas-treated patients ranged from 19 to 35 years (mean 26.54 ± 5.68 years). Female patients accounted for 33.3% of the silicone oil group and 30.77% of the gas-treated group. The minimal follow-up time for the silicone oil-treated group was 13 months, with a maximum of 18 months after silicone oil removal. The minimal follow-up time for the gas-treated group was 12 months and the maximum was 24 months. The rate of hole closure after the primary operation with oil tamponade was significantly lower than that with gas tamponade (66.67% vs 92.3%; P = 0.022). With re-operations, the final rate of hole closure was higher in the gas group (100%) than in the silicone oil group (77.8%). The final postoperative decimal visual acuity for the gas group was significantly better than for the oil group (0.433 vs 0.245; P = 0.047).Conclusions: C3F8 gas was a more effective tamponade than silicone oil in achieving initial closure of traumatic macular holes. Eyes receiving an oil tamponade required significantly more re-operations to achieve hole closure than did eyes undergoing a gas tamponade. Final visual acuity was better for gas-treated eyes than for silicone oil-treated eyes.Keywords: C3F8 gas, macular hole, silicone oil, trauma, vitrectom

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