Cystoid macular edema

We review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and etiology of cystoid macular edema (CME). Inflammatory, diabetic, post-cataract, and macular edema due to age-related macular degeneration is described. The role of chronic inflammation and hypoxia and direct macular traction is evaluated in each case according to different views from the literature. The different diagnostic methods for evaluating the edema are described. Special attention is given to fluoroangiography and the most modern methods of macula examination, such as ocular coherence tomography and multifocal electroretinography. Finally, we discuss the treatment of cystoid macular edema in relation to its etiology. In this chapter we briefly refer to the therapeutic value of laser treatment especially in diabetic maculopathy or vitrectomy in some selected cases. Our paper is focused mainly on recent therapeutic treatment with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide and anti-VEGF factors like bevacizumab (Avastin), ranibizumab (Lucentis), pegaptamid (Macugen), and others. The goal of this paper is to review the current status of this treatment for macular edema due to diabetic maculopathy, central retinal vein occlusion and post-cataract surgery. For this reason the results of recent multicenter clinical trials are quoted, as also our experience on the use of intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF factors and we discuss its value in clinical practice

Initial clinical experience of ranibizumab therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To describe the visual acuity and safety outcomes for the first 50 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with ranibizumab at Moorfields Eye Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of case notes from the first 50 consecutive patients with Primary Care Trust funding for ranibizumab therapy for nAMD. Visual acuity outcomes and adverse events were noted, as were service delivery-related indicators. RESULTS: The mean (±standard deviation) age of the 50 patients was 81 ± 17 years. The mean follow-up of patients was 13.6 ± 2 (range 7.7-18) months. The mean change in visual acuity ± standard error was +4.6 ± 2.2 letters at the end of follow-up, with 26% gaining 15 letters or more. The mean (median) number of injections was 4.7 (4.5) per 12-month period. The mean (median) delay in Primary Care Trust funding approval was 35 days (32 days) prior to the final appraisal document from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. CONCLUSIONS: The real-world outcomes of ranibizumab therapy in this initial cohort of patients with nAMD are comparable with those reported in the pivotal, randomized, controlled trials using fewer injections and a prn strategy of retreatment to achieve the gain in visual acuity

A Case of a Young Asymptomatic Woman with Optic Disc Drusen and Vasculitis

Purpose: We present the case of a young woman with optic disc drusen and peripheral vasculitis. Methods: Diagnosis was based on fundoscopic, optical coherence tomography as well as fluorescein angiography (FA) findings. Results: An asymptomatic 34-year-old female patient with no systemic pathology was referred to our hospital from her optician for retinal findings. Fundoscopy revealed mild disc swelling that could be attributed to the presence of optic disc drusen in both eyes. There was fundoscopic evidence of periphlebitis in the periphery confirmed by FA findings. Conclusions: In our case, the unique feature was the presence of optic disc drusen and retinal periphlebitis. The patient’s disc configuration may have contributed to a predisposition for vasculitis in addition to vessel tortuosity

Spontaneous traumatic macular hole closure in a 50-year-old woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Traumatic macular holes (TMH) are well-known complications of ocular contusion injury. Spontaneous closure occurs in approximately 50% of cases, but rarely after the age of thirty. We report a case of spontaneous closure of a full thickness macular hole due to a blunt trauma and we suggest possible mechanisms for this closure.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 50-year-old Greek woman was referred with a history of reduced best-corrected visual acuity after blunt trauma to her right eye. Diagnosis was based on fundoscopic, optical coherence tomography as well as fluorescein angiography findings with follow-up visits at two days, 20 days and five months. Fundoscopy revealed a full-thickness TMH with a minor sub-retinal hemorrhage and posterior vitreous detachment. The presence of a coagulum in the TMH base was observed. Subsequently, TMH closure was observed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The clot in the TMH base, potentially a hemorrhage by-product containing a significant quantity of platelets, may have simulated the clot observed after autologous serum use, thus facilitating a similar effect. This may have stimulated glial cell migration and proliferation, thus contributing to spontaneous hole closure.</p

Alström’s Syndrome, Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, or Retinitis Pigmentosa? A Case of Misdiagnosis

A case of a patient with the Alström syndrome (AS) that was misdiagnosed as Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy or retinitis pigmentosa for 13 years is presented. AS is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the ALMS1 gene. AS may lead to abnormal ciliary formation and function. AS affects metabolism, and symptomatology includes type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, hypogonadism and gynecomastia in males, progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, cardiomyopathy, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and chronic progressive kidney disease. The onset of the above symptoms may vary significantly. The ophthalmic manifestation is early onset cone-rod dystrophy that starts as progressive vision loss, photophobia, and nystagmus in the first months of life. An accurate diagnosis may enable specialists to facilitate a significantly positive effect in the everyday life of a patient. Genetic counseling may also be recommended for these patients. Diagnosis was confirmed by DNA testing, thus highlighting its necessity in everyday practice

Choroidal neovascularization due to punctate inner choroidopathy: long-term follow-up and review of literature

Dimitrios Brouzas, Antonios Charakidas, Tryfon Rotsos, Marilita M Moschos, Helen Loukianou, Chryssanthy Koutsandrea, Ioannis Ladas, Stefanos BaltatzisFirst Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, GreeceIntroduction: The aim of the article was to report on the long-term follow-up of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) cases secondary to punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) either treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) or followed without treatment. A comprehensive review of existing literature on the various treatment modalities is incorporated.Methods: Nine eyes of 8 female patients with CNV due to PIC were followed retrospectively for an average of 105 months (range, 36&amp;ndash;162 months). Mean age of the patient cohort on presentation was 28 years (range, 21&amp;ndash;39). Four eyes were treated with PDT, whereas in 4 patients, including 1 with bilateral involvement, the disease followed its natural course without treatment. Snellen visual acuity and the extent of neovascularization and subretinal fibrosis were evaluated on presentation and at the end of the follow-up period.Results: Improvement of vision was observed in 6 eyes (66.7%), including all cases treated with PDT, and in 2 of 5 eyes left untreated. The size of the neovascular lesion, including both CNV and subretinal fibrosis, increased in all cases left untreated (55.6%) and remained stable in all cases treated with PDT (44.4%).Conclusion: Without treatment, the CNV due to PIC is slowly progressive. Our short cohort appears to have benefited from PDT in terms of maintaining visual acuity and stabilizing the extent of CNV and fibrosis.Keywords: PIC natural course, PIC treatmen

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Foveal Neovascularization in Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose: To report a case of foveal neovascularization in a patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy as seen on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: Multimodal imaging was used for diagnostic investigation. Patient: A 61-year-old male with a 16-year history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was referred to our medical retina department for examination and management. Meticulous fundus examination and multimodal imaging revealed proliferative diabetic retinopathy lesions, including neovascularization located in the foveal area. Results: OCT-A allowed us to detect the neovascular lesion, confirm that it originated from perifoveal capillaries, estimate its retinal depth, and evaluate the vessel blood flow in multiple layers. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of OCT-A imaging of foveal neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy. OCT-A is a very useful examination for the diagnostic investigation of patients with diabetic retinopathy