RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN DISAPPEARANCE AFTER DEVELOPMENT OF MACULAR NEOVASCULARIZATION.

PURPOSE: To explore changes in reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) number and location after the development of macular neovascularization (MNV) in eyes with prior intermediate age-related macular degeneration, focusing on different retinal regions differently affected by MNV. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal study included intermediate age-related macular degeneration eyes with RPD that developed MNV. Reticular pseudodrusen were assessed at baseline when MNV was diagnosed (MNV stage) and after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Three regions of interest were considered: MNV area, subretinal fluid (SRF) area, and a marginal area of 1,000 µm around SRF (marginal zone). Reticular pseudodrusen counts were compared with age- and sex-matched control eyes with RPD that did not develop MNV. RESULTS: Reticular pseudodrusen number exhibited a significant decrease after MNV development in the MNV area (P = 0.048) and in the area with SRF (P = 0.078). A statistically significant decrease was also disclosed in the marginal area around SRF (P = 0.002), associated with larger SRF areas. Control eyes did not show any significant change in the RPD count. CONCLUSION: Reticular pseudodrusen reduction after MNV development suggests a complex interplay involving the MNV itself, the presence of SRF, and trophic changes. The results of this study highlight the role of MNV in retinal nutritional balance and provide intriguing results in the RPD life cycle.

THE PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ACUTE HENLE FIBER LAYER HYPERREFLECTIVITY IN PLACOID DISEASES.

PURPOSE: To investigate the pathophysiology and prognostic significance of acute Henle fiber layer (HFL) hyperreflectivity in placoid diseases by examining its relationship with impaired choroidal flow and persistent photoreceptor disruption. METHODS: Retrospective-prospective observational study on patients with placoid diseases. Indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed during the acute phase and follow-up. Impaired choroidal flow, HFL hyperreflectivity, and persistent ellipsoid zone disruption, their colocalization index, and their associations with initial and final visual acuity were explored. RESULTS: Sixteen eyes from eight patients (mean age, 25.3 ± 6.44 years) were included (median follow-up, 13.5 months). Quantitative analysis revealed significant correlations between areas of impaired choroidal flow, HFL hyperreflectivity, and persistent ellipsoid zone disruption (correlation coefficients of 0.69, 0.63, and 0.46, respectively). Impaired choroidal flow area exceeded HFL hyperreflectivity (P = 0.002) and ellipsoid zone disruption (P = 0.003). A noteworthy 94% nonrandom overlap between HFL hyperreflectivity and ellipsoid zone disruption was observed. Worse initial visual acuity correlated with foveal involvement (P = 0.0002), thicker choroid (P = 0.001), larger impaired choroidal flow areas (P = 0.02), and thinner outer retina post lesion inactivation (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Henle fiber layer hyperreflectivity predicted photoreceptor recovery potential in placoid diseases. If HFL hyperreflectivity corresponds to acute HFL damage, it may suggest more severe involvement of the entire photoreceptor length.

Benefits of dark chocolate intake on retinal vessels functionality: a randomized, blind, crossover clinical trial.

There is a lack of knowledge about the effect of flavanols-rich dark chocolate intake on the anatomy and functionality of retinal vessels. The aim of this study prospective, randomized, blind, crossover clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05227248, 07/02/2022) was to evaluate the effect of dark-chocolate intake on the functionality and anatomy of the retinal vessels in healthy subjects using dynamic vessel analyzer (DVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Twenty eyes of 20 healthy subjects (mean age, 24.4 ± 1.6 years; 12 females) were enrolled. Participants were randomized to consume 20 g of dark chocolate or 7.5 g of milk chocolate. Visual function, DVA and OCT-A parameters were evaluated before chocolate consumption and two hours later. One week later, the same participants were tested before and after consuming the opposite chocolate. Using OCT-A, no differences were disclosed in terms of perfusion density changes after dark-chocolate and milk-chocolate intake analyzing all chorioretinal plexuses (p > 0.09 in all analyses). Using DVA, a significant increase in the arterial dilation percentage after flicker stimulation was disclosed comparing baseline (2.750 ± 2.054%) with values after the dark chocolate intake (4.145 ± 3.055%, p = 0.016). This difference was not disclosed after the milk chocolate intake (p = 0.465). We disclosed that a reasonable amount of flavanols-rich chocolate in healthy subjects has benefic functional short-term effects in retinal vessels measured with DVA. This suggests a potential role of dark chocolate intake on retinal vessels. Further studies with long-term follow-up are warranted to show if the chronic assumption of dark chocolate could play a favorable role in the prevention of retinal diseases.

The Silent Masquerade: Clinical and Imaging Features of Asymptomatic Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To report and characterize ocular features of asymptomatic vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) associated with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), by examining clinical and multimodal imaging characteristics and comparing with symptomatic VRL. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: Patients with cytologically or molecularly confirmed VRL were included. Patients were classified into three groups: primary VRL (PVRL), symptomatic VRL associated with PCNSL (PCNSL-S), or asymptomatic VRL associated with PCNSL (PCNSL-AS). Data encompassing demographics, visual symptoms, visual acuity (VA), and imaging characteristics were collected. Cross-sectional analyses of quantitative and categorical variables among groups were performed with one-way ANOVA and multinomial linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The study included 104 eyes from 56 patients with VRL. Twenty-nine patients (52%) were diagnosed with PVRL, and 27 patients (48%) were diagnosed with VRL associated with PCNSL. Among these, 17 (63%) reported visual symptoms (PCNSL-S), whereas 10 (37%) were asymptomatic (PCNSL-AS). PCNSL-AS patients exhibited better VA than PVRL patients (0.11 vs 0.76 LogMAR, P = 0.04) and distinct clinical features, with lower rates of anterior segment involvement (odds ratio [OR] = 0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-0.84; P < .01) and vitritis (OR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.11-0.91; P = .03). Subretinal infiltration was less common in PCNSL-AS cases compared to PVRL (OR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.02-1.11; P = 0.06) and PCNSL-S (OR: 0.08; 95% CI 0.01-0.69 P = 0.05) and was associated with worse VA (estimate = 0.55 LogMAR; 95% CI 0.29-0.8; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This study describes distinctive clinical and imaging features of asymptomatic VRL associated with PCNSL, characterized by better VA and less severe ocular involvement. The findings highlight the pivotal role of multimodal imaging in facilitating early detection of VRL in the staging of PCNSL. Future guidelines for PCNSL management should consider the necessity of diagnosing patients with asymptomatic VRL.

Eco-sustainability in ophthalmology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current state of eco-sustainability in ophthalmology, highlighting key practices, recent advancements, and areas requiring improvement. This review aims to provide ophthalmologists with a comprehensive overview of sustainable practices that can reduce environmental impact. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have identified several areas within ophthalmology where sustainable practices can be implemented including multidose eyedrops, adjusting surgical packs, making package inserts available electronically, and reusing surgical instruments. Moreover, there is an increasing emphasis on waste reduction both in the surgical and clinical setting, by decreasing the use of unnecessary materials and implementing more efficient use of recycling programs. Telemedicine has also emerged as a sustainable option, reducing the carbon footprint associated with patient travel. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain, particularly in balancing the cost and accessibility of sustainable options with traditional practices. SUMMARY: Eco-sustainability in ophthalmology is gaining momentum as the medical community aims to reduce its environmental impact. While progress has been made, further efforts are required to overcome financial and logistical barriers to widespread implementation. Continued research, education, and policy development are essential to advancing eco-sustainable practices, ensuring that environmental considerations become an integral part of ophthalmic care.

Pachy-Reticular Pseudodrusen.

PURPOSE: To characterize the features of a peculiar association between reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and pachychoroid (pachy-RPD) and to compare them with eyes affected by RPD and normal/leptochoroid. DESIGN: Observational, retrospective, case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: Among a cohort of patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we selected eyes with RPD and pachychoroid (i.e., choroidal thickness of >50 µm). A control group of RPD eyes but without pachychoroid (i.e., a choroidal thickness of <250 µm) was included. METHODS: Number and stages of RPD were evaluated in each ETDRS subfield. Furthermore, choroidal perfusion was investigated using the choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choriocapillaris perfusion density (PD) on structural OCT and OCT angiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Description of the multimodal imaging features of pachy-RPD and differences with RPD associated with normal/leptochoroid. RESULTS: Among 111 RPD eyes, 37 were included in the pachy-RPD group and 74 in the control group. Patients with pachy-RPD were significantly younger than patients with RPD and normal/leptochoroid (mean age, 75 ± 16 and 82 ± 7 years, respectively; P = 0.002). Total RPD number was comparable between the 2 groups (P = 0.220). However, pachy-RPD eyes showed a significantly higher number of stage 1 RPD in comparison to the controls (P < 0.001), and a lower number of stage 3 (P < 0.001) and stage 4 RPD (P = 0.052). The CVI and choriocapillaris PD were greater in pachy-RPD than in the control group (P < 0.001 and P= 0.010, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pachy-RPD are characterized by a different distribution of RPD stages (i.e., more early stages and fewer advanced stages) in comparison to RPD with normal/leptochoroid. Furthermore, pachy-RPD eyes showed greater perfusion indices of the choroid. These features suggest that the presence of pachychoroid could be a protective factor in the RPD evolution to the advanced AMD forms. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Unraveling the Spectrum of Uveitis: Insights from an Epidemiological Study in a National Referral Center in Northern Italy.

PURPOSE: Uveitis embraces a heterogeneous group of vision-threatening inflammatory conditions. Understanding uveitis epidemiology, etiology, and clinical findings is fundamental for a prompt diagnosis and optimal patient management. The aim of the study is to report the epidemiology of uveitis in a national referral center in Northern Italy and investigate the visual prognosis. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at Uveitis Service (Ospedale San Raffaele) between June 2016 and May 2023. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and etiological diagnoses of uveitis patients were collected, and visual prognosis was longitudinally explored. RESULTS: 1105 patients with uveitis were included in the study, while 47 patients presented neoplastic masquerade syndrome and have been excluded. The population had a slight majority of females (M/F ratio = 0.76), mean age was 47 years. 25% presented infectious uveitis, primarily due to herpetic etiology, toxoplasmosis, and tuberculosis. Non-infectious uveitis was the most prevalent diagnosis (38%), with sarcoidosis, HLA-B27-associated uveitis, and Fuch's uveitis as prominent causes. Anatomically, anterior segment was most frequently involved (41%). Significant improvement in visual acuity was observed at follow-up, particularly in patients with infectious uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sheds light into the epidemiological landscape of uveitis in Northern Italy, reflecting changing patterns due to factors such as migration and changing sexual habits. In particular, higher percentages of syphilis have been observed, compared to other European reports. The distribution of non-infectious uveitis reflects other epidemiological European series. Higher percentages of neoplastic masquerade syndromes support the need of early recognition. Our findings offer precious insights for uveitis epidemiology and daily clinical practice.

Ocular complications of SAVI: A unique case of bilateral uveitis and retinal vasculitis.

Purpose: To describe a case of bilateral panuveitis in a patient with Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING)-Associated Vasculitis with Onset in Infancy (SAVI). Observations: A 45-year-old patient diagnosed with SAVI presented bilateral panuveitis and uncontrolled secondary intraocular hypertension due to structural complications from uveitis. Multimodal imaging revealed the presence of intraretinal fluid and bilateral vasculitis. The patient was started with systemic methotrexate. Conclusions and importance: This case is essential to characterize ocular involvement in patients with SAVI. Awareness of these ocular manifestations is crucial for timely management and improvement of visual prognosis.

Multimodal Imaging of Vitreo-Retinal Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Review.

PURPOSE: Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare lymphoma affecting the vitreous and the retina. Clinical diagnosis is challenging and often delayed and may lead to aggravated prognosis. This study aims to review multimodal imaging findings in VRL. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive narrative review of the multimodal imaging findings that might be useful in the detection of VRL lesions. RESULTS: The most frequent ocular manifestations of VRL are vitritis, and retinal and sub-retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE) infiltrations. Color Fundus Photography (CFP) detects vitreous haze, optic nerve, retinal and sub-RPE infiltration. Ultra-wide field imaging allows visualization of different patterns of vitreous haze and monitoring of VRL evolution through the detection of chorio-retinal atrophy (CRA). Fundus Autofluorescence shows granular hypo- and hyper-autofluorescent pattern. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) reveals vitreous cells, vertical hyper-reflective lesions and sub-RPE infiltrates. Fluorescein Angiography (FA) shows hypo or hyperfluorescent round lesions at the late stages of the examination, while Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) detects round areas of focal hypo-fluorescence in the early phases that gradually enlarge in the late phases. B-scan ultrasonography detects vitreous opacities and homogeneous hyperreflective corpuscular material in the vitreous, and is a strongly recommended tool in suspecting VRL and is particularly useful when vitreous haze is impeding retinal examination. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic vitrectomy with cytopathological analysis remains the gold standard for VRL diagnosis, however multimodal imaging allows the identification of suggestive retinal and vitreal lesions for early suspicion, diagnosis, and treatment and monitoring disease progression and response to treatment.

Long-term predictors of anti-VEGF treatment response in patients with neovascularization secondary to CSCR: a longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: To identify the baseline predictors of anti-VEGF treatment response at 3 years in patients affected by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). METHODS: In this retrospective longitudinal study, medical records of patients diagnosed with CNV secondary to CSCR and treated using anti-VEGF injections between April 2015 and May 2020 were reviewed. The potential qualitative and quantitative predictors of treatment response were identified or measured based on the multimodal imaging examination available for each patient at the baseline, including structural OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and OCT-angiography (OCT-A). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine eyes from 29 patients affected by CNV complicating CSCR were included in the study. At the end of the 3-year follow-up, the mean BCVA was 20/50 Snellen equivalent (0.38 ± 0.36 LogMAR), and no significant difference with baseline BCVA (0.37 ± 0.29 LogMAR) was found (p = 0.9). Twenty out of 29 eyes (69%) had active lesions at the end of the follow-up. At multivariate analysis, none of the included features was independently associated with the 3-year BCVA outcome. Pigment epithelium detachment (PED) height (ß = 0.017, p = 0.028) and outer limiting membrane (OLM) preservation at the fovea (ß = -5.637, p = 0.026) were independently associated with the CNV activity at 3 years. CONCLUSION: PED height and OLM obliteration at the fovea might be considered baseline predictors of lesion activity at 3-year follow-up in patients with CNV secondary to CSCR treated with anti-VEGF therapy.

Combined wide-field imaging in grading diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To detect retinal neovascularization elsewhere (NVE), of the optic disc (NVD) and intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA) in treatment naive diabetic retinopathy (DR) and compare these findings by using 90° Wide-Field Colour Fundus Photography (WF CFP), Wide-Field Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) and the combination of WF CFP and OCTA through overlay software. METHODS: Patients with treatment naive severe non-proliferative DR or proliferative DR were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent WF-CFP and OCTA in the same day. Two readers independently analysed WF-CFP, SD-OCTA and the overlay of the two techniques. The degree of agreement between the two raters and between different techniques (WF CFP, OCTA, WF CFP combined to OCTA) were measured with Cohen's Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: Thirty-one eyes from 21 patients (10 males, mean age 63 ± 15 years) were included. Inter-rater agreement by using WF-CFP in detection of NVE, NVD and IRMA was respectively 0.62, 0.22 and 0.55. OCTA scored values of inter-rater agreement of 0.86, 0.87 and 0.92 in detection of NVE, NVD and IRMA, respectively. By combining WF-CFP and SD-OCTA, inter-rater agreement in detection of NVE, NVD and IRMA was 0.93, 0.94 and 0.89, respectively. CONCLUSION: Inter-rater agreement in detection of NVE, NVD and IRMA was substantial, fair and moderate, respectively. OCTA provided almost perfect values of inter-rater agreement in NVE, NVD and IRMA detection. Combining WF-CFP and OCTA further empowered concordance values in detection of NVE and NVD. Combining OCTA and WF-CFP is the best performance to detect NVE and NVD.

Anterior segment involvement in vitreoretinal lymphoma: clinical manifestations, molecular findings and in vivo confocal microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Intermediate and posterior manifestations of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) are well characterised. However, there is limited information on anterior segment involvement in VRL. This study aimed to describe the anterior manifestations of VRL, and their association with molecular testing. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with biopsy-proven VRL. Study variables included anterior segment manifestations, findings from slit-lamp photos and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) when available. MYD88 L265P mutation and cytology in the aqueous humour, retinal and systemic findings were also analysed. RESULTS: The analysis included 108 eyes of 55 VRL patients. Anterior segment involvement was present in at least one visit in 55 eyes (51%) of 33 patients (60%); it included keratic precipitates (dendritiform with branching and irregular margins in 33 eyes, dust-like in 16 eyes and large granulomatous in 12 eyes), cells in the anterior chamber (51 eyes) and posterior synechiae (2 eyes). IVCM was available for 41 eyes and showed different morphologies of keratic precipitates, including floral, spikes and mulberry patterns (66%, 56% and 20%, respectively). MYD88 L265P mutation in the aqueous humour was detected in 10/21 (48%) eyes with no anterior segment involvement and 24/37 (65%) eyes with anterior segment involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior segment manifestations are often present in VRL and include dendritiform and dust-like keratic precipitates. IVCM in VRL can identify different patterns associated with keratic precipitates. MYD88 L265P mutation in the aqueous humour of VRL patients can also be found in eyes without significant anterior segment involvement.

Endogenous Endophthalmitis Secondary to Infected Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a severe intraocular infection due to hematogenous spread of bacteria from an extraocular site. Recognition of the primary source of hematogenous spread of bacteria is essential to establish an adequate therapy and avoid other major complications. Infected cutaneous tumor has never been reported as a possible source of EE. PURPOSE: To describe the first case of EE due to hematogenous spread of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus from an infected cutaneous basal cell carcinoma. Systemic antibiotic therapy and surgical excision of the cutaneous lesion were performed. CONCLUSION: Severe and long-standing skin infections should be considered as a rare cause of EE.

Subretinal hyperreflective material in retinal and chorioretinal disorders: A comprehensive review.

Subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) is a common and remarkable optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarker whose importance is emerging in several retinal and chorioretinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, pathologic myopia, posterior uveitis, vitelliform lesions and macular dystrophies, and rarer disorders. Multimodal imaging, also thanks to the introduction of OCT angiography, allowed a deeper characterisation of SHRM components and its morphological changes after treatment, suggesting its usefulness in clinical practice. We discuss and summarize the nature, multimodal imaging characteristics, and prognostic and predictive significance of SHRM in the different retinal and choroidal disorders in which it has been described.

Morphometric Risk Factors for Drusenoid Pigment Epithelium Detachment Collapse and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Atrophy Expansion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment (dPED) growth rate, incidence of dPED collapse, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy enlargement rate following dPED collapse and their impact on visual acuity (VA). Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal study on 44 eyes. Serial spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging were performed. Qualitative features and quantitative dPED-related metrics were assessed. The surface-to-volume ratio (S/V) was computed to evaluate dPED shape irregularity. AF imaging was utilized to measure RPE atrophy area in eyes experiencing dPED collapse. Regression models were used to analyze associations among VA, dPED growth rate, and RPE atrophy enlargement rate. Cox regression was used to identify risk factors for dPED collapse. Results: Significant correlations were observed between dPED area, surface, and volume (P < 0.05 for all pairs). The dPED metrics were inversely correlated with the S/V. Incidence of dPED collapse was 22 per 100 eye-years over a mean follow-up of 59 ± 41 months. Eyes experiencing collapsed dPED had worse baseline VA (P < 0.001). RPE hypertransmission (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.68, P = 0.004) and hyper-reflective foci (HR = 3.45, P = 0.02) were risk factors for dPED collapse; a higher S/V ratio was protective (HR = 0.78, P = 0.03). A faster rate of RPE atrophy enlargement was associated with a faster rate of dPED volume increase (r = 0.47, P = 0.02) and worse VA over time (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Risk stratification in patients with dPED can be aided by identifying risk factors for dPED collapse. Identifying factors associated with RPE atrophy enlargement may have implications for treatment decision making.

A comprehensive overview of diagnosis, imaging and treatment of vitreoretinal lymphoma.

Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare B-cell intraocular neoplasia characterized by poor long-term prognosis and lack of effective therapies. It mainly involves the vitreous humor, the retina, and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), although anterior segment involvement can occur. VRL is classified as a lymphoma of immune privileged sites, along with testis lymphoma and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). VRL and PCNSL are strictly connected indeed: 80% of VRL develop PCNSL, while 20% of patients with PCNSL present VRL during natural history of lymphoma. Due to the lack of worldwide consensus about diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up timing, VRL represents one of the most challenging ocular affections.VRL commonly masquerades as a posterior uveitis, and misdiagnosis often occurs because of partial response to topical steroids. Gold standard for diagnosis is cytological analysis of vitreous humor. However, this technique lacks sensitivity and supplemental molecular analyses can improve the diagnostic process. Multimodal imaging allows ophthalmologists to empower their clinical suspicion and a comprehensive examination can highlight typical features of VRL and justify further invasive procedures.There is no consensus about VRL therapy, and none of the therapeutical scheme has demonstrated to prevent cerebral involvement and improve patient's overall survival. Intravitreal injections of chemotherapeutics drugs, ocular radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy can be considered in the treatment of VRL. Once cerebral involvement occurs, systemic chemotherapy must be included in the treatment as a life-saving therapy. Further multicentric studies are required to find out the best treatment of patients with VRL.

Presumed Müller Cell Activation in Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the foveal changes occurring in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) using multimodal imaging techniques with a specific focus on hyper-reflective dots (HRDs). Methods: This was a retro-prospective observational study including 35 eyes with active MEWDS. Structural and en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed, with follow-up visits at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 2 months from baseline. HRD percentage area (HRD % area) was calculated in a 600 µm fovea centered circle on en face OCT, after background subtraction and image binarization. HRD % area was compared with 23 fellow control eyes. Longitudinal changes in the HRD % areas were assessed using repeated-measure statistics. Results: HRDs were observed as scattered hyper-reflective spots on the vitreoretinal interface on en face OCT images, colocalizing with HRDs or vertical hyper-reflective lines on structural OCT images. The baseline evaluation showed a significantly higher HRD % area in MEWDS eyes compared to fellow eyes (0.10 ± 0.03 vs. 0.08 ± 0.04, P = 0.01). The HRD % area correlated positively with LogMAR visual acuity and inversely with the duration of symptoms. Longitudinal analysis revealed a significant reduction in the HRD % area over time. There was no significant interaction between the rate of HRD disappearance and clinical or demographic factors at baseline. Conclusions: As HRD potentially represents the end-feet projections of activated Müller cells on the retinal surface, this study supports the involvement of Müller cells in the pathogenesis of the disease. The findings highlight the potential of en face OCT imaging for monitoring the progression of MEWDS.

Subclinical Angioid Streaks with Pseudodrusen: A New Phenotype of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

INTRODUCTION: To describe subclinical angioid streaks (AS) as a frequent, peculiar age-related macular degeneration (AMD) phenotype, comparing features of eyes with subclinical AS with those of eyes with AMD without AS. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study. Among a patient cohort with AMD, we selected patients without known causes for AS whose eyes showed signs of angioid streaks (AS) on structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) but not on fundus examination. Selected OCT features of AS were Bruch's membrane (BM) breaks and large BM dehiscences. RESULTS: Among 543 eyes of 274 patients with AMD (mean ± standard deviation: 82 ± 7 years), 73 eyes of 46 patients (81 ± 7 years; p = 0.432) showed AS features on OCT (OCT AS) that were not visible on fundus examination. Estimated prevalence of subclinical age-related AS was 13.4% (95% confidence interval 10.3-16.3%) in this AMD population. Fifty-three eyes (73%) with AS features were affected by peripapillary atrophy, often with a "petaloid-like" pattern, similar to typical features of AS disease. Almost all cases (97%) presented reticular pseudodrusen (RPD), with (41%) or without (59%) drusen showing a significant difference in RPD prevalence in OCT AS eyes in comparison to AMD eyes without subclinical AS using generalized estimating equations (P < 0.001). Among the 73 subclinical AS cases, 71 were affected by late AMD (57 with macular neovascularization, 14 with geographic atrophy), showing a more advanced AMD stage in comparison with AMD eyes without subclinical AS (P < 0.001). The following OCT features were disclosed: BM breaks in 100% of cases and BM dehiscences in 37%. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical AS in eyes with AMD is a peculiar phenotype of the disease, with features suggesting a primary involvement of Bruch's membrane and clinical similarities with mild, late-onset pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Diagnostic and therapeutic results of aqueous real-time polymerase chain reaction in infectious uveitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed primarily at describing the results of aqueous real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and reporting the rate of therapeutic modifications directly attributable to this procedure (profitability). Our secondary outcome was to compare demographic and clinical characteristics between patients with RT-PCR positivity and those with RT-PCR negative results. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study conducted at the Uveitis Service of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) between November 2016 and July 2022. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with infectious uveitis suspect (anterior, intermediate, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis). METHODS: Patients with suspected infectious uveitis underwent aqueous RT-PCR for detection of herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Toxoplasma gondii. RESULTS: Sixty-five eyes of 61 patients (60 ±16 years of age; 54% males) were included. Aqueous RT-PCR tested positive in 58% and negative in 42% of patients. CMV and HSV-1 were the most frequently detected pathogens. RT-PCR confirmed clinical suspicion in 38% of patients and altered the presumed etiologic diagnosis and treatment in 20% of patients. Profitability was associated with CMV positivity. HSV-1 positivity was related to iris atrophy. CMV positivity was correlated with keratic precipitates. Vitritis and retinitis were related to VZV, CMV, and T. gondii detection. Synechiae, retinitis, and neuritis were related to positive tests regardless of the pathogen investigated. Early complications related to paracentesis were rarely reported. CONCLUSION: Aqueous RT-PCR was a safe semi-invasive tool to confirm a presumptive diagnosis and to change initial suspicion in ambiguous cases of herpetic uveitis. Thus aqueous RT-PCR may alter therapeutic management.