A lack of ongoing diabetes is an important factor in preserving eyes from late or suboptimally treated endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the possible factors for preserving the eyes after late or suboptimally treated endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) liver abscess.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted with KP liver abscess from January 1991 to June 2012.ResultsSix hundred and ninety-three patients with KP liver abscess were recorded, in which endophthalmitis was identified in 53 cases (65 eyes, 8.29%). Diabetes was significantly associated with the development of endophthalmitis (p = 0.014). Eleven eyes received their last ocular treatment ≥10 days and final vision ≥ counting fingers, and were defined as benign type KP endophthalmitis. The absence of diabetes was the only consistent candidate factor for benign type KP endophthalmitis.ConclusionA lack of ongoing diabetes is an important factor in preserving eyes with late or suboptimally treated endogenous endophthalmitis second to KP liver abscess

One-year real-world outcomes of ranibizumab 0.5 mg treatment in Taiwanese patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a subgroup analysis of the REAL study

AIM: To assess the effectiveness and safety of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in Taiwanese patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by performing a retrospective exploratory subgroup analysis of the REAL study. METHODS: REAL was a 12-month, observational, prospective, non-interventional phase IV post-marketing surveillance study conducted at 9 centers in Taiwan. The study collected data as part of the routine patient visits from the medical records of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg according to local standard medical practice and local label and/or reimbursement guidelines. The presence of PCV at baseline was determined using indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: At baseline, PCV was diagnosed in 64 of the 303 enrolled patients (21.1%). Of these, 41 patients (64.1%) had received prior treatment; 15 (23.4%) patients had received ranibizumab. The intent-to-treat population included 58 patients; 47 (80%) who received ranibizumab and 11 (20%) who received ranibizumab plus photodynamic therapy (PDT; 9 patients received once, 2 patients received twice). Bevacizumab was used as a concomitant medication in a similar percentage of patients who received ranibizumab (43%, n=20) or ranibizumab plus PDT (45%, n=5). In patients who received ranibizumab, visual acuity (VA) at baseline was 50.1±12.9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, and the gain at month 12 was 1.1±17.8 letters. In patients who received ranibizumab plus PDT, VA at baseline was 51.4±15.9 letters, and there was a marked gain in VA at month 12 (14.0±9.2 letters, P=0.0009). In the intent-to-treat population, the reduction in central retinal subfield thickness from baseline at month 12 was 69.6±122.6 µm (baseline: 310.8±109.8 µm, P=0.0004). The safety results were consistent with the well-characterized safety profile of ranibizumab. CONCLUSION: In real-world settings, ranibizumab 0.5 mg treatment for 12mo results in maintenance of VA and reduction in central retinal subfield thickness in Taiwanese patients with PCV. Improvements in VA are observed in patients who received ranibizumab plus PDT. There are no new safety findings

Significant Prognostic Factors for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease in the Early Stage

This study identified possible prognostic signs in the acute stage of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in a retrospective chart review of all patients diagnosed with VKH disease between 1991 and 2001. Those who were diagnosed more than 1 month after the onset of ocular symptoms were excluded. Data recorded included age, sex, clinical features, systemic manifestations, recurrence, treatment, complications, and final visual acuity. Exudative retinal detachment was ranked into 3 grades (grade 1: within peripapillary 3 disc diameters and arcade; grade 2: larger than grade 1 but no inferior retinal detachment; grade 3: inferior or total retinal detachment). Of the 31 patients, 19 were males and 12 were females. Mean age at presentation was 38.55 % 10.63 years. The mean follow-up period was 33.09 months. Extraocular manifestations were present in 17 cases. Four patients had at least one complication, including cataract in seven eyes and glaucoma in one eye. Forty-nine eyes (79%) had a final visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Final visual acuity was significantly better in younger patients (p = 0.023) and those who had less extensive retinal detachment (p = 0.006), no pigmentary change (p = 0.008) and no complications (p = 0.030). The visual prognosis of VKH disease is variable, though generally favorable. In the acute stage, the extent of retinal detachment may be an important risk factor for visual outcome. Further study of this factor as an indicator for treatment is necessary

Recent advances in managing and understanding uveitis [version 1; referees: 3 approved]

Uveitis is a sight-threatening disease entity with intraocular inflammation that arises from various causes. It mainly affects working-age individuals and may lead to irreversible visual loss if not treated properly in a timely manner. This article reviews recent advances in the management and understanding of uveitis since 2014, including treatment with new immunosuppressive therapies that use biological agents, local therapy with steroid implants, and imaging studies for the evaluation of uveitis

Macular Hole in Behcet's Disease

Behcet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown cause, characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions. Ocular involvement occurs in 60-80% of patients with Behcet's disease and presents as panuveitis in most cases. Posterior segment involvement may lead to irreversible alterations and significant vision loss. The development of a partial or full-thickness macular hole, though rarely reported, may cause serious vision loss. In this report, we present two cases of macular hole in the worse eye of bilateral cases of Behcet's disease, and discuss the possible mechanisms and management in such cases

Macular edema might be a rare presentation of hydroxychloroquine-induced retinal toxicity

The aim of this study is to report a rare case of macular edema as a presentation of hydroxychloroquine-related retinal toxicity. We presented a case of a 46-year-old female patient using hydroxychloroquine for underlying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with blurred vision over the left eye. Uveitis and macular edema were found initially. Systemic survey did not reveal any other etiology. Topical corticosteroid was given under the impression of RA-related uveitis. The uveitis resolved 1 week later, but macular edema persisted in spite of treatment. Under the suspicion of drug-related complication, we try to discontinue hydroxychloroquine. Her symptoms improved gradually after cessation of hydroxychloroquine, and further serial image study confirmed subsiding of the macular edema without any further treatment. Except the well-known signs of the retinal toxicity, macular edema might be a rare presentation of hydroxychloroquine-related retinal toxicity