Choroid cavitation associated with macular coloboma. Multimodal study. Image en face.

Intrachoroidal cavitation is a finding identified with OCT initially described in myopic patients, it also appears in non-myopic patients. It can occur in both the peripapillary area and the posterior pole. Macular coloboma is a defect of embryonic development of the posterior pole, in structural OCT the absence of the retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal vessels is essential. In this case, intrachoroidal cavitation circumscribes the macular coloboma, in the absence of an intercalary membrane. The en face image allows us to assess the relationship between the two structures as well as their magnitude.

Citrobacter koseri, an unusual exogenous endoftalmitis.

Citrobacter koseri is a bacillus that causes infrequent endophthalmitis. 6% of cultures in endophthalmitis are Gram -, and as in these, C. koseri is associated with a poor visual prognosis. We present a 65-year-old man who works in an animal laboratory. He went to emergencies with loss of vision in his left eye due to a vitreous hemorrhage. A vitrectomy was performed and 3 days later, endophthalmitis was diagnosed. Vancomycin and Ceftazidime were applied in eye drops and in two intravitreal injections. 24 h later he returned with a lens extrusion. Due to the severity of the condition, an evisceration was performed. Subsequently, the samples confirm the microorganism. We assume that the entry point for the bacterium was the sclerotomies through the exposed suture material, after handling rodent feces.

Inter- and intra-observer agreement in the measurement of macular holes by optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A full-thickness macular hole ("FTMH") is a foveal lesion caused by a defect in the full thickness of the neurosensory retina. Its diagnosis and the indication for surgical treatment take into account the measurement of the hole according to the tool provided by the OCT. This measurement can be performed by several ophthalmologists during the follow-up of a patient. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is intra-individual and inter-individual variability in these measurements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of OCT b-scan images with a diagnosis of FTMH. Measurements of the minimum diameter of the FTMH were performed using the hand-held tool available on the DRI-Triton (Topcon, Japan) at 1:1 and 1:2 scales, on different days, by 2 retina specialists and 2 residents. These measurements were compared to assess inter-observer and intra-observer correspondence. RESULTS: Thirty-four images were analysed. For intra-observer variability, a correlation index higher than 0.98 was obtained in all cases. For inter-observer variability, the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.97) for the 1:1 scale, and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.97) for the 1:2 scale. CONCLUSIONS: OCT-measured AMEC size values are reproducible between ophthalmic specialists and residents and are independent of the imaging scale at which the measurement is made.

Iatrogenic macular hole during liquid perfluorocarbon injection in retinal detachment surgery.

To describe a macular hole development during intravitreal injection of perfluorocarbon liquid used to repair a regmatogenous retinal detachment. CLINICAL CASE: A 73-year-old man presented with superotemporal regmatogenous retinal detachment. During surgery, along the perflorocarbon liquid injection, a full thickness macular developed and perfluorocarbon was accumulated in subretinal space. Perfluorocarbon liquid was then extracted through the macular hole. Postoperatively, ocular coherence tomography confirmed the existence of a full-thickness macular hole. One month later, this macular hole was successfully treated with the use of an Inverted internal limiting membrane flap. Intravitreous liquid PFC injection is a resource to aid in subretineal fluid exit. A number of complications, both intra and postoperative, have been associated with the use of PFC. This is the first reported case of a complete macular hole secondary to PFC injection.

Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis after intravitreal dexamethasone implant.

CLINICAL CASE: 49-year-old man with diabetic macular edema refractory to antiangiogenics, it is decided to perform therapy with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, California, United States of America). Seven days after treatment, he showed acute endophthalmitis suggestive signs. Despite the intravitreal injection of antibiotics, the patient got worse. Vitreous sampling was repeated for Gram and cultures, and vitrectomy was performed via pars plana. The culture suggested the development of Brevibacterium species. Through an additional test, the presence of Brevibacterium casei was confirmed. Despite the treatment adjusted by antibiogram, retinal ischemia and macular atrophy was evident. DISCUSSION: Brevibacterium casei is a Gram-positive bacterium, barely pathogenic, that mainly affects immunodepressed patients. Only two cases of endophthalmitis are described, one endogenous and the other one secondary to vegetal trauma. This is the first case of endophthalmitis, secondary to an ophthalmological procedure.

Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis after intravitreal dexamethasone implant. / Endoftalmitis aguda por Brevibacterium casei tras implante intravítreo de dexametasona.

CLINICAL CASE: A 49-year-old man with diabetic macular edema refractory to antiangiogenics was treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, California, USA). Seven days after treatment, he showed acute endophthalmitis suggestive signs. Despite the intravitreal injection of antibiotics, the patient got worse. Vitreous sampling was repeated for Gram and cultures, and vitrectomy was performed via pars plana. The culture suggested the development of Brevibacterium species. Through an additional test, the presence of Brevibacterium casei was confirmed. Despite the treatment adjusted by antibiogram, retinal ischemia and macular atrophy was evident. DISCUSION: Brevibacterium casei is a Gram-positive bacterium, barely pathogenic, that mainly affects immunodepressed patients. Only two cases of endophthalmitis are described, one endogenous and the other one secondary to vegetal trauma. This is the first case of Brevibacterium casei endophthalmitis, secondary to an ophthalmological procedure.

Hypertensive acute granulomatous anterior uveitis as a side effect of topical brimonidine. / Uveítis anterior aguda hipertensiva granulomatosa bilateral como efecto adverso a brimonidina tópica.

CLINICAL CASE: The case concerns an 81-year-old woman on treatment with a topical fixed combination of timolol and brimonidine who was diagnosed in the Emergency Department with acute anterior granulomatous hypertensive uveitis. The patient responded favourably to the withdrawal of the eye drops without showing any subsequent relapse. DISCUSSION: Uveitis due to brimonidine is a rare adverse effect, but it must be known. Once the diagnosis is suspected, the effective treatment is the withdrawal of brimonidine, with or without the addition of topical corticosteroids to control inflammation depending on the severity of the condition. It is a process with an excellent prognosis.

Analysis and follow-up of type 1 choroidal neovascularisation with optical coherence tomography-angiography after antiangiogenic treatment. / Análisis y seguimiento con angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica de neovascularización coroidea tipo 1 en degeneración macular tras tratamiento antiangiogénico.

AIM: To describe the characteristics of type 1 choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) using two different optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) devices sequentially during a standard protocol of three intravitreal injections of an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). METHODS: The study included 6 eyes with naïve neovascular ARMD. Macular OCT-A images were acquired using AngioPlex Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, USA) and DRI OCT Triton SS-OCT Angio (Topcon, Medical Systems, Inc. Oakland, NJ, USA). The macular OCT-A scan covered an area of 3×3mm. Distinct morphological patterns and quantifiable features of the neovascular membranes were studied on en face projection images, which were taken at different stages of the follow-up. RESULTS: Treatment response could be estimated using the OCT-A criteria of CNV activity. Higher activity scores before treatment resulted in a greater decrease in the membrane area. The estimated net decline in area ranged from 83.5% to 1.4%. The OCT-A performed one-week after treatment revealed the greatest area reductions. CONCLUSIONS: OCT-A provides new possibilities for the non-invasive assessment of features of neovascular networks and CNV structural morphology. Newly described activity criteria can also guide therapeutic decisions, and help in evaluating responses. Quantitative and qualitative information can be provided with this technique. However, further software development and future investigation are essential to define the role of this tool on a daily basis.

Genetic analysis in retinoblastoma and peripheral blood correlation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the importance of intratumoral genetic analysis in the diagnosis of germ-line mutations in patients with retinoblastoma. To underline the importance of performing these genetic tests in every case of retinoblastoma. METHOD: Intratumoral genetic analysis of RB1 mutation was performed on 17 enucleated eyes that were non-responsive to conservative treatment. Patients had no family history of retinoblastoma, and lesions were always single. The identified mutations were then also studied in peripheral blood analysis. RESULTS: There were 12 (70.6%) cases with positive results in intratumoral analysis. In 8 cases (47.1%) mutation of both RB1 alelli were detected, and in 4 (23.5%) cases only one allele was found mutated. In 5 patients (29.4%) no mutation was identified. In the first hit, mutations comprised 7 frameshift or nonsense and 2 splice, whereas in the second hit, one splice mutation, 2 nonsense and 8 loss of heterozygosity were identified. Among 6 patients where intratumoral analysis detected a single mutation associated with a loss of heterozygosity, the peripheral blood analysis was able to detect the same mutation in 3 cases (50%). CONCLUSIONS: Intratumoral genetic analysis of sporadic retinoblastoma can detect germ-line mutations. These patients are at higher risk of bilateralization and development of second tumors or trilateral retinoblastoma. Genetic screening is recommended in every patient diagnosed with retinoblastoma.

[Genetic analysis results of patients with a retinoblastoma refractory to systemic chemotherapy]. / Resultados del analisis genético de los pacientes con retinoblastoma resistente a quimioterapia sistémica.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genetic alterations identified in the RB1 gene in retinoblastoma patients who do not respond to systemic chemotherapy. METHODS: A genetic analysis was performed on 115 patients with retinoblastoma, 40 of whom had received systemic chemotherapy, and 29 of them had bilateral disease. Descriptive and retrospective study. Non-responders were considered as patients who are finally enucleated. RESULTS: Patients with deletion type mutations are those with less preservation of the eyeball (Pearson Chi-square, P=.055). Patients with an impaired nonsense-frameshift type are more likely to preserve the eyeball. Of the 3 patients who had undergone bilateral enucleation, 2 of them had deletions and one missense alteration. Survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier curve) shows that patients with deletion type mutations are more resistance to chemotherapy, are suffering higher rates of enucleation, and for a shorter period of time (log rank [Mantel-Cox] with a significance level of P=.053), which are also associated with increased rate of being bilateral. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a genotype show increased resistance to chemotherapy should be evaluated more closely and treated with various therapeutic weapons early. Patients that have deletions in the RB1 gene are at increased risk of chemoresistance. It is likely that other genetic alterations other than RB1 gene may be related to tumor aggressiveness and treatment resistance.