Current Surgical Options for the Management of Pediatric Glaucoma

Currently, there are numerous choices for the treatment of pediatric glaucoma depending on the type of glaucoma, the age of the patient, and other particularities of the condition discussed in this review. Traditionally, goniotomy and trabeculotomy ab externo have been the preferred choices of treatment for congenital glaucoma, and a variety of adult procedures adapted to children have been utilized for other types of pediatric glaucoma with variable results and complications. More recently, seton implantations of different types have become more popular to use in children, and newer techniques have become available including visualized cannulation and opening of Schlemm’s canal, deep sclerectomy, trabectome, and milder more directed cyclodestructive procedures such as endolaser and transcleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation. This paper reviews the different surgical techniques currently available, their indications, results, and most common complications to allow the surgeon treating these conditions to make a more informed choice in each particular case. Although the outcome of surgical treatment in pediatric glaucoma has improved significantly, its treatment remains challenging

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Traumatic globe rupture after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty

We report a case of traumatic globe rupture following blunt trauma in the left eye of a 20-year-old male who had undergone deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus. Extrusion of the crystalline lens and prolapse of vitreous through the inferior 180° donor host junction was noted. After the repositioning of the graft, anterior vitrectomy and repair of graft host junction, the graft regained clarity in eight weeks with good visual recovery

Transcorneal Tube Erosion of an Ahmed Valve Implant in an Adult

Ahmed valve implants are currently used to manage high-risk complicated adults and pediatric glaucoma when standard filtration surgery is unsuccessful. Despite its success, the Ahmed valve shunt has significant complications particularly in the anterior segment. We report an unusual case of transcorneal tube erosion of an Ahmed valve implant in an adult that resulted from long-standing tube-corneal touch. Periodic observation of tube position is recommended

Nodular episcleritis in a young patient

1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; and 2 Glaucoma Division; 3 Department of Pathology, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital; 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Assir Central Hospital, Abha; 5Anterior Segment Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Purpose: To report a case of nodular episcleritis at the limbus associated with corneal deposits in a young patient. Methods: Observational case report. Results: A 16-year-old Saudi girl developed a pinkish-white, soft, well-demarcated mass, 6 x 5 mm in size and 1 mm in height, in the superonasal limbal area of the right eye. It was associated with yellowish deposits in the adjacent cornea. Histopathological evaluation of the excised lesion revealed chronic inflammation in the deep layer of the episclera with infiltration by lymphocytes and epithelioid cells, in addition to capillary proliferation. Subsequently, the patient didn’t develop any systemic manifestation or recurrence during the one-year follow-up period. Conclusion: Although nodular episcleritis tends to occur in an older age group, it can also present in young patients. Surgical excision can result in an excellent clinical outcome

Altered Expression of Fibrosis Genes in Capsules of Failed Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implants

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implant is an aqueous shunt device used to control intraocular pressure in glaucoma. Implant failure results from impervious encapsulation of the shunt plate causing increased hydraulic resistance and raised intraocular pressure. We hypothesized that deregulation of fibrosis pathway contributes to capsular resistance. We tested this by studying fibrosis related gene expression in failed AGV implants.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Differential gene expression was examined in failed AGV capsules and compared to normal control tenon. Following total RNA extraction, 84 key genes in fibrosis pathway were examined by real-time PCR using RT² Profiler PCR Array. Relative gene expression was calculated using ΔΔC_t method. Gene specific TaqMan assays were used to validate select genes with ≥2 fold differential expression in the array expression profile.</p><p>Results</p><p>We observed differential expression in several genes in the fibrosis pathway. Almost half (39/84) of examined genes showed ≥2 fold differential expression in majority of capsules examined on the array. TaqMan assays for select genes including CCN2 (CTGF), THBS1, SERPINE1, THBS2, COL3A1, MMP3, and IL1A in an increased validation sample set showed significant changes in expression (p value from <0.001 to 0.022) at a high frequency in concurrence with our array results.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Pathway-focused analyses identified candidate genes with altered expression providing molecular evidence for deregulation of the fibrosis pathway in AGV failure.</p></div

Histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of capsular tissue around failed Ahmed glaucoma valves

<div><p>Impervious encapsulation around Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) results in surgical failure raising intraocular pressure (IOP). Dysregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and cellular factors might contribute to increased hydraulic resistance to aqueous drainage. Therefore, we examined these molecules in failed AGV capsular tissue. Immunostaining for ECM molecules (collagen I, collagen III, decorin, lumican, chondroitin sulfate, aggrecan and keratan sulfate) and cellular factors (αSMA and TGFβ) was performed on excised capsules from failed AGVs and control tenon’s tissue. Staining intensity of ECM molecules was assessed using Image J. Cellular factors were assessed based on positive cell counts. Histopathologically two distinct layers were visible in capsules. The inner layer (proximal to the AGV) showed significant decrease in most ECM molecules compared to outer layer. Furthermore, collagen III (p = 0.004), decorin (p = 0.02), lumican (p = 0.01) and chondroitin sulfate (p = 0.02) was significantly less in inner layer compared to tenon’s tissue. Outer layer labelling however was similar to control tenon’s for most ECM molecules. Significantly increased cellular expression of αSMA (p = 0.02) and TGFβ (p = 0.008) was detected within capsular tissue compared to controls. Our results suggest profibrotic activity indicated by increased αSMA and TGFβ expression and decreased expression of proteoglycan (decorin and lumican) and glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate). Additionally, we observed decreased collagen III which might reflect increased myofibroblast contractility when coupled with increased TGFβ and αSMA expression. Together these events lead to tissue dysfunction potentially resulting in hydraulic resistance that may affect aqueous flow through the capsular wall.</p></div