Myopic shift in pediatric cataract surgery associated with age and surgical complications.

PURPOSE: To investigate predictors for myopic shift after pediatric cataract surgery after at least 3 years follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional and retrospective study. METHODS: This study included patients treated for congenital or infantile cataract operated up to 5 years of age between 2010 and 2017. Patients were recruited for ophthalmologic evaluation. Surgical and medical data were acquired in medical charts. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to look for potential risk factors for myopic shift. RESULTS: This study evaluated 81 eyes of 50 patients, with 62 (77%) being bilateral cases, 48 (59%) with intraocular lens implantation, and 37 (74%) patients being strabismic. Age at surgery was 7.7 (3.7-30.5) months and at evaluation was 93.5 (55.1-113.0) months. Total myopic shift was -4.32 ± 3.25 D, significantly greater in patients operated on up to 6 months of life (-5.73 ± 3.14 D). The distant best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.6 (0.3-1.0) log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Regarding myopic shift, in univariate analysis, older age at surgery is a protective factor (+0.08 D for each month older, P = 0.001). The presence of strabismus (-2.52 D, P = 0.014), aphakia (-2.45 D, P = 0.006), distant BCVA (-0.15 D per 0.1 logMAR, P = 0.024), and surgical complications (-3.02 D, P = 0.001) are risk factors. In multivariate analysis, older age at surgery (+0.06 D, P = 0.012) and surgical complications (-2.52 D, P = 0.001) remain significant. CONCLUSION: In pediatric cataract surgery, myopic shift is greater when surgery is performed in a younger age and if associated with surgical complications.

Strabismus development after pediatric cataract surgery associated with age at surgery, intraocular lens implantation, and visual acuity outcome.

PURPOSE: Approximately half of the children operated on for cataracts develop strabismus. We determined what factors predict its development. METHODS: In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, children who underwent cataract surgery before age 5 between 2010 and 2017 in a tertiary center in Brazil were identified from medical records. Subsequently, patients were invited for an ophthalmological examination to assess visual acuity, refraction, and strabismus (constant or intermittent heterotropy of any magnitude). In addition, age at surgery, cataract laterality, intraocular lens implantation, surgical complications, nystagmus, anisometropia, and elapsed time between surgery and the present examination were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Surgery was performed in 74 eyes of 46 patients (21 males). The median age at surgery was 6.4 (3.7-29.6) months, and the interval between surgery and this examination was 32.5 (18.0-53.0) months. Strabismus was present in 33 (72%) patients, 35% had esotropia and 33% exotropia. One patient had strabismus surgery before the examination. Age at surgery (OR 0.95; p-value .018), IOL implantation (OR 0.08; p-value .027), and current visual acuity on the worse eye (OR 1.16; p-value .036) were associated with strabismus. CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus development after pediatric cataract surgery is associated with age at surgery, intraocular lens implantation, and visual-acuity outcomes of the worse eye.

Natural history and predictors for progression in pediatric keratoconus.

We studied the demographic and clinical predictors associated with keratoconus progression in a pediatric population. Retrospective cohort study. We evaluated 305 eyes without previous surgeries from 168 patients, 9 to < 18 years old, and with a minimum 36-month follow-up in a hospital corneal ambulatory. We used Kaplan-Meyer survival curves; the dependent variable (main outcome measure) was the interval time (months) until the event, defined as an increase of 1.5 D in the maximum keratometry (Kmax), obtained with Pentacam. We evaluated the predictors: age (< or ≥ 14 years), sex, keratoconus familial history, allergy medical history, and the baseline tomographic parameters: mean keratometry (Km), Kmax (< or ≥ 55 D); and thinnest pachymetry (TP). We used log-rank tests and compared median survival times for right (RE)/left eyes (LE) and better (BE)/worse eyes (WE). A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. The patients' mean ± SD age was 15.1 ± 2.3 years old; 67% were boys, 30% were < 14 years, 15% had keratoconus familial history, and 70% were allergic. The general Kaplan-Meyer curves showed no differences between RE/LE or BE/WE. RE with allergy and LE with Kmax ≥ 55 D had smaller survival times ((95%CI 9.67-32.1), p 0.031 and (95%CI 10.1-44.1), p 0.042, respectively). For BE and WE, Kmax ≥ 55 D had smaller survival times ((95% CI 6.42- ), p 0.031 and (95%CI 8.75-31.8), p 0.043, respectively). Keratoconus progression was similar between RE/LE and BE/WE. Steepest corneas are predictors of faster progression. Allergy is also a predictor of keratoconus progression in RE.

Causes of functional low vision in a Brazilian rehabilitation service.

There is limited information on functional low vision (FLV) in Latin America, especially in individuals under 50 years of age. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 1393 consecutive subjects seen at a Brazilian tertiary rehabilitation service, from February 2009 to June 2016. We collected sociodemographic, clinical data, and information on optical aids and spectacle prescription. Subjects were divided into three age groups: 0 to 14 years old (children), 15 to 49 years old (young adults), and 50 years or older (older adults). The main etiologies leading to FLV in children were cerebral visual impairment (27.9%), ocular toxoplasmosis (8.2%), and retinopathy of prematurity (7.8%). In young adults, retinitis pigmentosa (7.4%) and cone/rod dystrophy (6.5%) were the most frequent, while in older adults, age-related macular degeneration (25.3%) and diabetic retinopathy (18.0%) were the leading causes. Our results indicate that preventable diseases are important causes of FLV in children in the area, and proper prenatal care could reduce their burden. The increasing life expectancy in Latin America and the diabetes epidemic are likely to increase the demand for affordable, people-centered rehabilitation centers, and their integration into health services should be planned accordingly.

Herpes simplex keratitis revisited / Ceratite por Herpes simples revisitada

ABSTRACT The degree to which viral infection and the host's immune reaction to viral particles participate in the inflammatory process across various forms of herpetic keratitis has remained controversial. This fact has created conflicts regarding the classification of and therapeutic planning for such morbidities. This review aims to stimulate reflection on the classifications' adequacy, nomenclatures, and therapeutic approaches related to these entities.

RESUMO O grau de participação da infecção viral e da reação imunológica do hospedeiro às partículas virais no processo infamatório das diferentes formas de ceratites herpéticas ainda é objeto de controvérsia. Esse fato gera conflitos de classificação e planejamento terapêutico relativos a essas morbidades. Esta revisão visa estimular a reflexão sobre a adequabilidade das classificações, nomenclaturas e abordagens terapêuticas dessas entidades.

Herpes simplex keratitis revisited.

The degree to which viral infection and the host's immune reaction to viral particles participate in the inflammatory process across various forms of herpetic keratitis has remained controversial. This fact has created conflicts regarding the classification of and therapeutic planning for such morbidities. This review aims to stimulate reflection on the classifications' adequacy, nomenclatures, and therapeutic approaches related to these entities.

Limitations and advances in new treatments and future perspectives of corneal blindness / Limitações e avanços em novos tratamentos e perspectivas futuras na cegueira corneal

ABSTRACT This review is intended to describe the therapeutic approaches for corneal blindness, detailing the steps and elements involved in corneal wound healing. It also presents the limitations of the actual surgical and pharmacological strategies used to restore and maintain corneal transparency in terms of long-term survival and geographic coverage. In addition, we critically review the perspectives of anabolic agents, including vitamin A, hormones, growth factors, and novel promitotic and anti-inflammatory modulators, to assist corneal wound healing. We discuss the studies involving nanotechnology, gene therapy, and tissue reengineering as potential future strategies to work solely or in combination with corneal surgery to prevent or revert corneal blindness.(AU)

RESUMO O presente trabalho traz uma revisão das abordagens terapêuticas para a cegueira da córnea. O estudo detalha as etapas e os elementos envolvidos na cicatrização da córnea. Ele mostra as limitações das estratégias cirúrgicas e farmacológicas usadas para restaurar e manter a transparência da córnea em termos de sobrevida a longo prazo e alcance geográfico. As perspectivas dos agentes anabólicos, incluindo vitamina A, hormônios, fatores de crescimento e novos moduladores pró-mitóticos e anti-inflamatórios para auxiliar a cicatrização da ferida na córnea, são revisadas criticamente. Aqui, apresentamos estudos envolvendo nanotecnologia, terapia gênica e reengenharia de tecidos como possíveis estratégias futuras para atuar de maneira isolada ou combinada com a cirurgia da córnea para prevenir ou reverter a cegueira corneana.(AU)

Ocular findings among patients surviving COVID-19.

To describe the medium-term ophthalmological findings in patients recovering from COVID-19. Patients recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation, including presenting and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractometry, biomicroscopy, tonometry, break-up time and Schirmer tests, indirect ophthalmoscopy, color fundus picture, and retinal architecture evaluation using optical coherence tomography. Socio-demographic data and personal medical history were also collected. According to the severity of systemic manifestations, patients were classified into mild-to-moderate, severe, and critical. Sixty-four patients (128 eyes) were evaluated 82 ± 36.4 days after the onset of COVID's symptoms. The mean ± SD duration of hospitalization was 15.0 ± 10.7 days. Seven patients (10.9%) had mild-to-moderate, 33 (51.5%) severe, and 24 (37.5%) critical disease. Median [interquartile ranges (IQR)] presenting visual acuity was 0.1 (0-0.2) and BCVA 0 (0-0.1). Anterior segment biomicroscopy was unremarkable, except for dry eye disease, verified in 10.9% of them. The mean ± SD intraocular pressure (IOP) in critical group (14.16 ± 1.88 mmHg) was significantly higher than in severe group (12.51 ± 2.40 mmHg), both in the right (p 0.02) and left eyes (p 0.038). Among all, 15.6% had diabetic retinopathy, and two patients presented with discrete white-yellowish dots in the posterior pole, leading to hyporreflective changes at retinal pigment epithelium level, outer segment, and ellipsoid layers. The present study identified higher IOP among critical cases, when compared to severe cases, and discrete outer retina changes 80 days after COVID-19 infection. No sign of uveitis was found.

Limitations and advances in new treatments and future perspectives of corneal blindness.

This review is intended to describe the therapeutic approaches for corneal blindness, detailing the steps and elements involved in corneal wound healing. It also presents the limitations of the actual surgical and pharmacological strategies used to restore and maintain corneal transparency in terms of long-term survival and geographic coverage. In addition, we critically review the perspectives of anabolic agents, including vitamin A, hormones, growth factors, and novel promitotic and anti-inflammatory modulators, to assist corneal wound healing. We discuss the studies involving nanotechnology, gene therapy, and tissue reengineering as potential future strategies to work solely or in combination with corneal surgery to prevent or revert corneal blindness.

Three-year follow-up in advanced pediatric keratoconus: thin corneas may not have pachymetry properly assessed after crosslinking.

AIM: To analyze the crosslinking (CXL) effects in pediatric keratoconus, and to identify the patients' corneal characteristics whose pachymetry could not be adequately evaluated by Scheimpflug method after procedure. METHODS: Consecutive pediatric patients with progressive keratoconus underwent CXL were included. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spheric equivalent (SE) were measured before and after CXL. After CXL, groups 1 and 2 were divided based on the posterior surface Pentacam quality specifications (QS): "OK" (Group 1) and "not OK" (Group 2). The mean (RmF and RmB) and minimum (RminF and RminB) radius of curvatures of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, and the thinnest pachymetry (Pmin) were measured preoperatively at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36mo. Haze was annotated. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (14 men, mean age 14±1.8y) and median Kmax of 59.9 D initially and 61.4 D preoperatively were treated. BCVA was not different before and 24mo after CXL. Group 2 statistically differed to group 1 in that SE was more myopic before and with no difference 24mo after CXL; RmF and RmB were steeper and Pmin was thinner pre-surgically. Group 2, in which pachymetric changes could not be adequately evaluated after surgery, presented with significant RmF flattening, a shift to hyperopia, and more haze after CXL. CONCLUSION: Patients whose pachymetry could not be adequately evaluated after CXL had steeper and thinner corneas before surgery. The predictive factors for impaired QS after CXL are RmF, RmB, and Pmin. In advanced keratoconus, alternative methods to analyze pachymetry and the posterior surface should be considered.

Complex strabismus: a case report of hypoplasia of the third cranial nerve with an unusual clinical presentation.

Congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders are a group of complex strabismus syndromes that present as congenital and non-progressive ophthalmoplegia. The genetic defects are associated with aberrant axonal targeting onto the motoneurons, development of motoneurons, and axonal targeting onto the extraocular muscles. We describe here the surgical management of a 16-year-old boy who presented with complex strabismus secondary to hypoplasia of the third cranial nerve and aberrant innervation of the upper ipsilateral eyelid.

Clinical, Demographic, and Tomographic Aspects Related to Iris Mammillations Among Patients With Keratoconus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: Iris mammillations (IM) were previously described in patients with keratoconus, but the clinical implications of this finding have never been studied. Our aim was to investigate demographic, tomographic, and clinical characteristics potentially associated with the presence of IM among patients with keratoconus. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed among patients with keratoconus in a public-affiliated university hospital. All patients under follow-up were considered eligible to participate in the study. Participants were evaluated by 2 trained ophthalmologists and submitted to corneal tomography (Pentacam). Selected demographic, clinical, and tomographic characteristics were assessed and compared among participants with IM (IM group) and without IM (No-IM group) using the Wilcoxon test or 2-tailed Fisher exact test, as appropriate. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 106 subjects and 19 (17.9%) presented with IM. The median age and interquartile range were 18 years old (14-24) in the IM group and 20 years old (17-24) in the No-IM group (P = 0.135). The female proportion was 47.3% in the IM group and 52.8% in the No-IM group (P = 0.801). Median (interquartile ranges) pachymetric values of the right eyes were 498 (466-525) for the IM group and 459 (421-482) for the No-IM group (P = 0.005). For the left eyes, the values were 490 (456-523) in the IM group and 450 (418-485) in the No-IM group (P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with keratoconus presenting with IM have thicker corneas than those without IM. Follow-up studies should be performed to evaluate the clinical implications of this finding.