Infectious Posterior Uveitis - Toxoplasmosis, Treponema, Tuberculosis (TTT). / Infektiöse posteriore Uveitis ­ Toxoplasmose, Treponema, Tuberkulose (TTT).

Toxoplasma gondii, Treponema pallidum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the most important infectious causes of posterior uveitis. The epidemiology, clinical picture, diagnostic and treatment strategies of these diseases are presented.

Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Infectious Posterior Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To describe and illustrate the main optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of infectious uveitis. METHODS: Narrative review. RESULTS: Posterior segment OCT in patients with infectious uveitis reveals posterior hyaloid face precipitates, superficial retinal precipitates and infiltrates, foveolitis, retinitis, neuro-retinitis, choroidal granulomas, and choroiditis as main imaging biomarkers. Some of these features are specific to the underlying causing etiology and may support the diagnosis and the initiation of treatment. Some OCT features disappear completely with resolution; some others are associated with irreversible retinal damage. CONCLUSIONS: OCT identifies different features of infectious uveitis into the vitreous, the retina, and the choroid. OCT characteristics, combined with other multimodal imaging features, are helpful in the differential diagnosis of infectious uveitis, the early detection of complications, and the assessment of the response to therapy.

Understanding the Role of Pro-resolving Lipid Mediators in Infectious Keratitis.

Keratitis is a sight-threatening inflammatory condition of the cornea that can be caused by both infectious and non-infectious agents. Physical or chemical trauma are typically related to non-infectious keratitis, which may then become secondarily infected or remain non-infected. Etiology of infectious keratitis is most often associated with bacteria; but viruses, fungi, and parasites are common causative pathogens as well. As a global concern, common risk factors include: systemic immunosuppression (secondary to malnutrition, alcoholism, diabetes, steroid use), previous corneal surgery (refractive corneal surgery, penetrating keratoplasty), extended wear contact lens use, pre-existing ocular surface diseases (dry eye, epithelial defect) and ocular trauma (agriculture- or farm-related) [1-8]. Annual rates of incidence include nearly one million clinical visits due to keratitis in the United States, while it has been reported that roughly two million people develop corneal ulcers in India. Clinically, patients may show signs of eye pain (ranging from mild to severe), blurred vision, photophobia, chemosis and redness. Pathogenesis is generally characterized by rapid progression, focal white infiltrates with underlying stromal inflammation, corneal thinning, stromal edema, mucopurulent discharge and hypopyon, which can lead to corneal scarring, endophthalmitis, and perforation. In fact, corneal opacity is not only a complication of keratitis, but among the leading causes of legal blindness worldwide. Despite that empirical treatment effectively controls most of the pathogens implicated in infectious keratitis, improved clinical outcomes are not guaranteed. Further, if treatment is not initiated in a timely manner, good visual outcome is reduced to approximately 50% of keratitis patients [9]. Moreover, resultant structural alterations, loss of tissue and an unresolved host response remain unaddressed through current clinical management of this condition.

Ocular Autoimmune Systemic Inflammatory Infectious Study - Report 3: Posterior and Panuveitis.

PURPOSE: To report the pattern of posterior and panuveitis at a tertiary referral center in Singapore. METHODS: Subgroup retrospective analysis of 334 new posterior and panuveitis cases, from the Ocular Autoimmune Systemic Inflammatory Infectious Study (OASIS) database. Descriptive analysis was performed and visual outcome and complications were reported. RESULTS: The etiology for posterior uveitis and panuveitis was infectious in 162 patients (48.5%), non-infectious in 144 patients (43.1%), and idiopathic in 28 patients (8.4%). More patients with bilateral disease had a non-infectious etiology (n = 82, 50.9%) (p = 0.012). The most common complication was epiretinal membrane (n = 20, 12.3%) for the infectious group and cystoid macular edema (n = 12, 8.3%) for the non-infectious group. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of etiologies in our cohort varies from other studies. Understanding the variations and demographic associations allows the diagnosis and management of posterior and panuveitis to be further improved.

Impact of superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis: a case series and literature review.

Purpose: To present nine new cases of superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis (SOVT) and compare these with the literature, and to assess the impact of SOVT for the clinician. Methods: Using the data bases of the Department of Ophthalmology of the AMC, we searched for patients with radiologically evidenced SOVT between January 2006 and December 2014. In addition, a PubMed search, using the mesh term 'superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis', was done. Results: We found nine patients with SOVT. In three patients, SOVT was related to dural arteriovenous fistulae. In one patient, it was caused by the acute reversal of warfarin by vitamin K. In two patients, an infectious cause was found. In three patients, the cause of SOVT was not found despite screening for coagulation and other disorders. All patients presented with eyelid swelling, proptosis, and/or motility impairment. We found complete recovery in four patients. Three patients had mild sequelae and two patients had severe visual impairment. In the literature, we found 60 cases reporting on SOVT with various aetiologies. Clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes were comparable to our findings. Conclusion: Our case series and literature review show that SOVT can occur simultaneously with cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) but can also be a separate entity. Clinical presentation can mimic orbital cellulitis (OC) or CST and when no signs of OC can be found, an alternative cause for SOVT should be sought. When timely and adequate treatment is conducted, the prognosis is predominantly favourable.

Proptosis ocular a causa de la infección-enfermedad por VIH-sida / Ocular proptosis caused by HIV-AIDS infection-disease

RESUMEN Se presenta a un paciente que ingresó en el antiguo Hospital Provincial Clínico Quirúrgico Docente "José Ramón López Tabrane", de Matanzas. El motivo del ingreso fue una proptosis ocular derecha de instauración súbita en el curso de la infección-enfermedad por VIH-sida. Se le realizaron múltiples estudios para poder definir la causa, y, pese a imponer tratamiento oportuno, falleció a los 15 días del mismo. La epidemia de sida continúa creciendo mundialmente. El conocimiento de las manifestaciones oculares; tanto las alteraciones del segmento anterior como las del posterior, y las infecciones asociadas, permiten mayor posibilidad de preservar la función visual en estos pacientes (AU).

ABSTRACT We present the case of a patient who entered the former Provincial Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital "José Ramón López Tabrane", of Matanzas. The cause of admission was a sudden right ocular proptosis in the course of an HIV-AIDS infection-disease. Many different studies were carried out to define the cause, and although he was timely treated, he died 15 days after the treatment. The AIDS epidemic is still growing around the world. The knowledge of ocular manifestations, the alterations of the anterior segment as much as the alterations of the posterior one, and the associated infections allow a higher possibility of preserving the visual function in these patients (AU).

Autoimmunity, Autoinflammation, and Infection in Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To review the pathogenesis of uveitis in light of recent advances in our understanding of innate and adaptive immune responses and their regulation. DESIGN: Perspective. METHODS: Methods included a review of prevailing views on the pathogenesis of uveitis and an analysis of developments in immunology that impact on its conceptual basis, particularly the concept of immunologic tolerance and its loss in autoimmunity. Importantly, the role of infection in the pathogenesis of uveitis is evaluated. RESULTS: The results comprise a reappraisal of the pathogenesis of anterior vs posterior uveitis in the context of the blood-retinal barrier and its relation to autoimmune, autoinflammatory, and infectious uveitis. Autoimmunity is seen as a possible cause of certain forms of uveitis but definitive proof is lacking. Autoinflammatory disease, involving activated innate immune mechanisms, is considered causative in a second set of uveitis conditions. A place for infection in uveitis generally is proposed within a unifying concept for the pathogenesis of uveitis. CONCLUSION: Infection may be implicated directly or indirectly in many forms of noninfectious or undifferentiated uveitis. In addition to the growing recognition that foreign antigen, including reactivatable infectious agents, might hide within ocular tissues, the possibility that a dysregulated microbiome might generate T cells that cause immune-mediated ocular inflammation has now been demonstrated experimentally. An uncontrolled, overexuberant host immune response may cause continuing irreversible tissue damage even after the infection has been cleared.

Clinical Patterns and Causes of Uveitis in a Referral Eye Clinic in Qatar.

PURPOSE: To determine the patterns and causes of uveitis in a referral eye clinic in Qatar. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on all cases of uveitis that presented to the Uveitis Clinic at Hamad Medical Corporation from March 2007 to February 2011. All patients had detailed ocular, medical examination, and uveitis work up. RESULTS: The study included 310 patients. Anterior uveitis was noted in 53.2% of cases (165/310), followed by panuveitis 16.8% (52/310), intermediate uveitis 16.5% (51/310), and posterior uveitis 13.6% (42/310). Causes of uveitis were determined in 69.7% (216/310) of cases. The most commonly identified causes of uveitis in our study were presumed ocular tuberculosis (14.5%), Fuchs uveitis (11.0%), Behçet disease (7.4%), and VKH disease (6.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior uveitis is the most common anatomic/clinical form of uveitis in Qatar and the etiologic diagnosis of uveitis should focus in particular on presumed ocular tuberculosis, Fuchs uveitis, Behçet disease, and VKH disease.

Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE: The role of uveitis, an uncommon ocular disease, is often neglected in research and treatment of autoimmune conditions. The study described the spectrum of uveitis at a referral center in North Italy, and compared that to a previously published series of patients. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with uveitis diagnosed from 2013 to 2015 at the Immunology Eye Unit, Arcispedale S. M. Nuova-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy. We examined patient characteristics, disease spectrum, and etiologies. RESULTS: In total, 990 cases of uveitis were identified, who were mostly female (59%) with a median age at presentation of 44 years (interquartile range = 29-57). Anterior uveitis was most frequent (53.5%), followed by panuveitis (22.8%), posterior (16.2%), and intermediate uveitis (5.5%). Anterior herpetic uveitis (15.6%), Fuchs uveitis (9.7%), and HLA-B27 positive anterior uveitis (7.7%) were the most common specific diagnoses. Compared with the previous series, we observed an increased incidence of uveitis, and a different pattern of diagnoses. Rates of herpetic, HLA-B27 positive uveitis, and presumed ocular tuberculosis were higher, but Fuchs uveitis was less frequent. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of uveitis appears to be changing, very likely due to population-level increases in infectious diseases, to the availability of new diagnostic tests and to the interdisciplinary approach used in patient diagnosis.

[Mixed infections and inflammatory ophthalmic diseases: clinical and laboratory observations]. / Mikst-infektsii i vospalitel'naia oftal'mopatologiia: kliniko-laboratornye nabliudeniia.

In recent years, all medical specialists, including ophthalmologists, have been facing the problem of mixed infections. Recurrent inflammation in the anterior and posterior eye segments is often a result of infection by more than one variety of pathogens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over the period 2013-2016, 34 patients (14 men and 20 women) with different inflammatory processes in the eye who appeared DNA-positive for mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum) and/or chlamydiae (Chlamydia trachomatis) (PCR testing of tear fluid and/or urine) were followed up. All patients were examined for intensive production of herpesvirus, adenovirus, and enterovirus DNA in biological fluids. After being consulted by related specialists, all the patients started local and systemic (antibacterial and antiviral) therapy. In the end of the latter, laboratory tests were repeated. RESULTS: Among all the clinical forms, anterior segment inflammation (i.e. of conjunctiva, cornea, and the anterior vascular tract) prevailed - 76%. In most patients, mycoplasmas and/or chlamydiae formed associations with herpesviruses (n=19; 56%). Bacterial DNA alone (mycoplasma and/or chlamydia) was detected in 12 cases (35%). In 4 cases, mycoplasma and/or chlamydia DNA was detected in tear fluid, in 19 patients - in urine, and in 10 patients - in both secreta. Local and systemic causal treatment enabled resolution of the complaints and symptoms and yielded negative results of follow-up laboratory tests. CONCLUSION: More than a half of the patients demonstrated concomitant viral-bacterial infection (22 cases). The presence of bacterial/viral DNA in biological secreta, as revealed by PCR, reflects the systemic nature of the infection process and, thus, necessitates engagement of related specialists (dermatologists, urologists, gynecologists).

Relationship between anesthesia and postoperative endophthalmitis: A retrospective study.

Previous study showed that patients under general anesthesia (GA) had nasopharyngeal secretions on the face at the end of ocular surgery, especially in propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), it might induce postoperative endophthalmitis. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to compare the incidence of endophthalmitis after ocular surgery under topical, inhalation anesthesia, and propofol-based TIVA in our medical center from 2011 to 2015.A total of 21,032 patients were included, and we evaluated epidemiologic factors, systemic diseases, other ocular pathologic characteristics, complications during the surgery, technique of ocular surgery, method of antibiotic prophylaxis, vitreous culture, and vision outcome in these patients.Fifteen endophthalmitis cases among 21,032 operations reported, equaling an incidence of 0.071%. The incidence rates under topical, inhalation anesthesia, and propofol-based TIVA were 0.083%, 0.039%, and 0%, respectively (P = 0.39). Moreover, the risk of endophthalmitis under GA (0.024%) was significantly lower than topical anesthesia (0.083%) (P < 0.001). We also found that elder was the risk factor for endophthalmitis following ocular surgery.In conclusion, propofol-based TIVA or inhalation anesthesia did not increase the risk of endophthalmitis after ocular surgery. Thus, GA was not a risk factor for postoperative endophthalmitis. By contrast, elder was the risk factor for postoperative endophthalmitis.

PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR LATE VITREORETINAL SEQUELAE OF INFECTIOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS: Surgical Management and Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To report the visual acuity outcomes after pars plana vitrectomy for delayed vitreoretinal sequelae of infectious endophthalmitis. All eyes were initially treated with intravitreal antibiotics (Abx). METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective, consecutive case series. RESULTS: Forty-two eyes met the study criteria. The mean follow-up was 48 weeks (SD ± 61.8). Mean interval from Abx to pars plana vitrectomy was 13 weeks (SD ± 14.3, range 2-70). Indications for pars plana vitrectomy included vitreous opacities (VO) (n = 22), epiretinal membrane (n = 9), and retinal detachment (n = 11). LogMAR visual acuity improved from 1.87 (Snellen equivalent: 20/1,482) preoperatively to 1.35 (Snellen equivalent: 20/447) at final evaluation (P < 0.001). LogMAR visual acuity improved significantly for patients with vitreous opacities (P < 0.01) and retinal detachment (P = 0.02) but not for patients with epiretinal membranes (P = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Patients with infectious endophthalmitis can gain vision if they have a pars plana vitrectomy for delayed sequelae such as vitreous opacities or for retinal detachment.

Knowledge and awareness of ocular allergy among undergraduate students of public universities in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Ocular allergy is a growing public health problem that greatly impacts the day-to-day life of sufferers and their families. Other aspects of their activities of daily living such as schooling, professional, and social life are affected hence an increased awareness and knowledge of ocular allergies, their detection and treatment is paramount. This study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of ocular allergy among undergraduate students of public universities in Ghana. METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among 1000 students from three selected public universities in Ghana. Each respondent completed a questionnaire that had questions concerning awareness and knowledge of ocular allergy. RESULTS: Out of the 1000 students, 347 (34.7 %) were aware of ocular allergy. Of these 347 students, the level of knowledge of ocular allergy was generally low. Majority of the students had their source of information about ocular allergy from the media and the internet. There was statistical significant association among awareness of ocular allergy, sources of information and programme of study (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Level of awareness among university students is generally low. Students' programmes of study influenced their knowledge of ocular allergy. Public health measures are recommended to help educate students on the prevention and control of ocular allergy as well as the complications associated with this condition.

Paediatric patients with sudden vision impairment - An overview of MRI findings.

PURPOSE: Sudden visual impairment in children occurs sporadically but, when present, needs urgent attention. Optimal management strategies and timely recognition are required. Often psychogenic disorders are the cause in school-age children; however, this is a diagnosis of exclusion. Therefore, MRI plays an important role in ruling out pathology along the optic pathways or helping with the diagnosis of underlying life threatening diseases, such as hydrocephalus or intracranial mass. The purpose of this study was first to evaluate non-traumatic (tumoural and non-tumoural) causes of acute vision impairment; and, second, to assess whether conventional cerebral and orbital MR imaging is helpful for children with sudden visual impairment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the MRI scans and clinical findings of 95 children (47 male, 48 female; median age: 12.5 years, range: from 2 to 17 years) who presented symptoms of monocular or bilateral acute vision impairment. RESULTS: Patients with acute visual impairment were usually older than 7 years. In 36% of the patients a correlation between the MRI findings and the clinical symptoms was found. The most common causes of visual impairment were: infectious diseases (16%), migraine (12%), autoimmune diseases (11%), optic nerve neuritis with unknown aetiology (8%), neoplasms (8%), idiopathic intracranial hypertension (5%) and orthostatic hypotension (4%). Still, in 23% of the patients the cause remained unclear. CONCLUSION: Acute vision impairment is frequently caused by infectious diseases, migraine, autoimmune diseases or tumours in children. MRI is highly recommended, especially in the case of children younger than 5 years of whom clinical assessment can be difficult.

Rare case of bilateral perforated corneal ulcer due to gonococcal infection, managed with temporary periosteal graft.

A 17-year-old female patient was referred to Kirana Ophthalmology Unit, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, with a 10-day history of redness and swelling of the eyes, and inability to open them. Other symptoms included pain, blurred vision and excessive yellowish-white discharge from both eyes. There was a history of multiple sexual partners. The patient was assessed with bilateral perforated corneal ulcer due to gonococcal infection, based on the findings of intracellular and extracellular Gram-negative diplococci found on the Gram staining examination. The cornea in both eyes showed perforation with iris prolapse inferiorly. The perforations were treated with temporary periosteal grafts. The grafts remained in place after the surgery. Final uncorrected visual acuity was 6/20 in the right eye and 6/24 in the left eye, a few months after surgery.

[Management of uveomeningitis in internal medicine: Proposal for a diagnostic work-up]. / Prise en charge diagnostique des uvéoméningites en médecine interne.

Uveomeningitis relates to an inflammatory state extending from iris and ciliary bodies to the choroid behind the eye. Because of a close contact between eye and brain, and barrier disruption, the inflammation can spread into the central nervous system (CNS). We review the clinical manifestations of uveitis, which are known to provide helpful clues to the diagnosis and describe the infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions classically associated with the uveomeningitis. Inflammatory or auto-immune diseases are probably the most common clinically recognized causes of uveomeningitis associated with a significant pleiocytosis. These entities often cause inflammation of various tissues in the body, including ocular structures and the meninges (i.e., sarcoidosis, Behçet's disease, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome). The association of an infectious uveitis with an acute or a chronic meningo-encephalitis is unusual but occasionally the eye examination may suggest an infectious etiology or even a specific organism responsible for an uveomeningitis. One should consider the diagnosis of primary ocular-CNS lymphoma in patients of 40 years of age or older with bilateral uveitis, especially with prominent vitritis, showing poor response to corticosteroid therapy. Finally, an algorithm for the diagnostic approach of uveomeningitis is proposed.

Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Myopia, Infection and Inflammation.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a significant cause of vision loss in all age groups. The most common cause of CNV is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, CNV can also occur as a secondary manifestation of various inherited and acquired conditions, including pathologic myopia, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, angioid streaks, and various hereditary, traumatic or inflammatory disorders. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography are useful tools in the diagnosis and evaluation of CNV. Treatment options are similar to those for CNV secondary to AMD, specifically anti-angiogenic therapy, but including laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy and surgery. Anti-angiogenic therapy has been associated with better visual outcomes than other treatment modalities and is now advocated as the first-line therapy for CNV secondary to myopia, infection and inflammation.