Revisiting the role of surgery in the treatment of Graves' disease.

Graves' disease (GD) can be managed by antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgery. Thyroidectomy offers the highest success rates for both primary and persistent disease, yet it is the least recommended or utilized option reaching <1% for primary disease and <25% for persistent disease. Several surveys have found surgery to be the least recommended by endocrinologists worldwide. With the development of remote access thyroidectomies and intraoperative nerve monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, combined with current knowledge of possible risks associated with RAI or failure of ATDs, revaluation of the benefit to harm ratio of surgery in the treatment of GD is warranted. The aim of this review is to discuss possible reasons for the low proportion of surgery in the treatment of GD, emphasizing an evidence-based approach to the clinicians' preferences for surgical referrals, surgical indications and confronting traditional reasons and concerns relating to the low referral rate with up-to-date data.

Neurological complications of modern radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Radiotherapy is one of the mainstay treatment modalities for the management of non-metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC). Notable improvements in treatment outcomes have been observed in the recent decades. Modern radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and charged particle therapy, have significantly improved tumor target conformity and enabled better preservation of normal structures. However, because of the intricate anatomy of the head and neck region, multiple critical neurological structures such as the brain, brainstem, spinal cord, cranial nerves, nerve plexuses, autonomic pathways, brain vasculature, and neurosensory organs, are variably irradiated during treatment, particularly when tumor targets are in close proximity. Consequently, a diverse spectrum of late neurological sequelae may manifest in HNC survivors. These neurological complications commonly result in irreversible symptoms, impair patients' quality of life, and contribute to a substantial proportion of non-cancer deaths. Although the relationship between radiation dose and toxicity has not been fully elucidated for all complications, appropriate application of dosimetric constraints during radiotherapy planning may reduce their incidence. Vigilant surveillance during the course of survivorship also enables early detection and intervention. This article endeavors to provide a comprehensive review of the various neurological complications of modern radiotherapy for HNC, summarize the current incidence data, discuss methods to minimize their risks during radiotherapy planning, and highlight potential strategies for managing these debilitating toxicities.

Ocular surface and glaucoma, a mutual relationship. Practical suggestions for classification and management.

The chronic use of glaucoma medications could improve the development of an ocular comorbidity, the glaucoma therapy-related ocular surface disease. This could be related to the exposure of the conjunctiva to preservatives, but also active compounds such as prostaglandin analogues may improve the risk of ocular surface inflammation. Inflammation has a negative impact on tolerability and adherence to eyedrops and to the outcome of filtration surgery as well. A stratification of glaucoma patients based not only on visual field progression but also on glaucoma therapy-related ocular surface disease would be desirable for a strategic management. Early diagnosis, individualized treatment, and safe surgical management should be the hallmarks of glaucoma treatment. One of the main issues for the proper and successful management of patients is the right timing, effectiveness and safety for both medical and surgical treatment options leading to a precision medicine in glaucoma disease as the best modern treatment.

Bilateral Isolated Spherophakia in Two Young East European Siblings: A Case Report.

A 19-year-old Caucasian woman was referred to the emergency room and thereafter to the department of ophthalmology complaining for bilateral decrease of visual acuity and severe pain. A complete ophthalmological evaluation was performed. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was LogMAR 0.3 in the right eye (RE) and LogMAR 0.5 in the left eye (LE). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 28 and 38 mm Hg in the RE and LE, respectively. The patient showed a shallow anterior chamber and spherical equivalent refractive error -29.0 diopters (D) in the RE and -30.0 D in the LE. The diagnosis of bilateral angle closure glaucoma, secondary to highly myopic, forward dislocated lens was made, in the setting of spherophakia. The ultra-sound biomicroscopy images confirmed the diagnosis. Clear lens extraction was promptly performed with resolution of ocular hypertension and restoration of BCVA. In view of the frequent systemic association, family members also underwent ophthalmological evaluation. The 13-year-old sibling showed mild myopia and borderline IOP. He was administered topical ß-blockers and observation. Genetic counseling did not reveal mutations usually associated with spherophakia or systemic conditions. This case report highlights the variable spectrum of clinical expression in spherophakia; therefore, ophthalmological treatment should be tailored according to clinical presentation. Systemic evaluation and genetic counseling are also recommended in the suspicion of spherophakia.

Grading the surgical difficulty of cataract phacoemulsification.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To propose a new grading system to preoperatively evaluate the difficulty of phacoemulsification surgery according to the anatomic condition of a patient's eye. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective case series, a grading system covering the entire cataract spectrum was developed and field-tested in 400 consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification. For each eye, nine anatomic parameters were evaluated and a level of severity was assigned. The system identifies five levels of surgical difficulty based on the combined degree of severity of each parameter considered. RESULTS: Preoperative score and intraoperative difficulty closely corresponded in the first 400 test cases. Analysis using the Fleiss-Cohen kappa coefficient showed substantial agreement between preoperative and intraoperative scores (k value = 0.76; 95% confidence interval = 0.71 to 0.81). CONCLUSION: A grading system of the preoperative difficulties of each phacoemulsification procedure is provided. This system is easy to complete and interpret and can be transmitted to the surgeon, patient, and anyone who may subsequently examine the case.

Comparative study of the effects of 2% ibopamine, 10% phenylephrine, and 1% tropicamide on the anterior segment.

PURPOSE: To assess in normal and glaucomatous eyes the effect of the dopaminergic drug 2% ibopamine on visual acuity, IOP, pupil size and anterior segment geometry, compared with 10% phenylephrine and 1% tropicamide. METHODS: Fifteen healthy subjects and 15 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, aged from 40 to 70 years (mean age: 54.8 +/- 9.6), were recruited into this open prospective study. After instillation of 2% ibopamine, refraction, visual acuity, pupil diameter, IOP, five A-scan ultrasonographic parameters, and 15 ultrasound biomicroscopy parameters were evaluated. The study was repeated with assessment of the same parameters 20 to 30 days later in 10 subjects (5 normal and 5 with glaucoma), using first 10% phenylephrine and then 1% tropicamide. A second group of 15 healthy subjects, aged from 45 to 70 years (mean age: 53.5 +/- 8.6) was examined to evaluate the dose-response effect and time course on pupil diameter, of ibopamine, phenylephrine, and tropicamide. RESULTS: After 40 minutes 2% ibopamine induced a marked mydriatic effect (from 5 to 9.1 mm; P < 0.0001) greater than that produced by 10% phenylephrine (from 4.7 to 7.9 mm; P < 0.0001) or 1% tropicamide (from 4.6 to 6.9 mm; P < 0.0001), with no changes in refraction or visual acuity. IOP was significantly increased only in patients with glaucoma after instillation of either 2% ibopamine (from 22.2 to 24.8 mm Hg; P < 0.0001) or 1% tropicamide (from 21.2 to 23.6 mm Hg; P = 0.004), whereas 10% phenylephrine induced no statistically significant changes. Ibopamine (2%) caused a significant increase in iris thickness with a reduction of the sulcus ciliaris and posterior chamber depth. The anterior chamber angle (ACA) showed a mean 5 degrees widening with an increase in scleral-iris angle (SIA) and sclera-ciliary process angle. In 11 (37%) of 30 cases, separation of the pupil border and lens surface occurred, whereas contact was maintained only with the zonule in the other 19 (63%) of 30. The changes after 10% phenylephrine instillation were similar, although only the increase in iris thickness and SIA was statistically significant. Tropicamide (1%) induced a slight but significant increase in SIA. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the potent mydriatic effect of 2% ibopamine, which is greater than that of either 10% phenylephrine or 1% tropicamide, as well as its ability to induce an increase in intraocular pressure when used in patients with glaucoma alone. These data support the hypothesis that the widening of the ACA induced by 2% ibopamine is due to posterior rotation of the iris plane and ciliary processes. These changes are quantitatively greater than those induced by 10% phenylephrine and 1% tropicamide and are related to the greater mydriatic effect of the drug.

Effects of 0.005% latanoprost on ocular anterior structures and ciliary body thickness.

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of 0.005% latanoprost on the anterior segment geometry and ciliary body thickness using ultrasound biomicroscopy. Intraocular pressure, refraction, visual acuity, and pupil size were also evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with untreated ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma (mean age: 59.3 +/- 9.9 years) were recruited into this prospective, controlled, open trial. Before and after 1 week of 0.005% latanoprost administration, the following parameters were tested: refraction, visual acuity, pupil diameter, intraocular pressure, 5 conventional ultrasonographic A-scan variables, 16 ultrasound biomicroscopy parameters, and the ultrasound biomicroscopy ciliary body thicknesses at a distance of 1500 microns (CBT1), 2000 microns (CBT2), and 2500 microns (CBT3) from the scleral spur. RESULTS: Latanoprost 0.005% caused a marked intraocular pressure-lowering effect in all patients (from 22.8 +/- 3.1 mm Hg to 14.1 +/- 2.9 mmHg; -38%, P < 0.0001), without any refractive, visual acuity, or pupillary alterations. The A-scan echobiometry variables were unchanged, while ultrasound biomicroscopy confirmed a significant posttreatment increase of CBT2 (from 434 +/- 140 microns to 536 +/- 127 microns; +102 microns, P = 0.01) and CBT3 (from 319 +/- 103 microns to 412 +/- 100 microns; +93 microns, P = 0.003) compared with controls (CBT2: from 493 +/- 165 microns to 473 +/- 135 microns, -20 microns, P = NS; CBT3: from 388 +/- 130 microns to 365 +/- 87 microns, -23 microns, P = NS). None of the changes observed in the other UBM parameters was statistically significant. No significant correlation was detected between ciliary body thickness increase and intraocular pressure-lowering effect. CONCLUSION: The increase of ciliary body thickness, which was measured in vivo by ultrasound biomicroscopy and associated with the intraocular pressure-lowering effect, indirectly supports the mechanism of uveoscleral outflow enhancement induced by latanoprost. These data are in agreement with the biochemical hypothesis of the passage of the aqueous flow through the extracellular spaces of the ciliary muscle.

Autonomic system activity and 24-hour blood pressure variations in subjects with normal- and high-tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: As suggested by findings of abnormal responses to posture in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), cardiovascular autoregulation may also be defective in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Both 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the head-up tilt test were performed in 17 subjects with NTG and in 13 subjects with high-tension POAG (ht-POAG). These groups were compared with 17 age-matched healthy individuals. Subjects undergoing cardiovascular therapy were excluded. RESULTS: No significant differences in diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure and heart rate were found between the groups. A significant reduction in diurnal heart rate variability was found in NTG (12.1 +/- 2.8 bpm) compared with the ht-POAG (15.0 +/- 2.4 bpm, P < 0.01) and control groups (15.8 +/- 3.0 bpm, P = 0.01]). Nocturnal diastolic blood pressure variability was also reduced in NTG (6.9 +/- 2.2 mm Hg) compared with controls (8.6 +/- 2.3 mm Hg, P < 0.05]) as was heart rate variability (6.3 +/- 1.4 vs 8.3 +/- 2.6 in ht-POAG, P < 0.05), suggesting blunted blood pressure and heart rate modulation in NTG subjects. Spectral analysis of short-term heart rate variability showed a significant reduction of total power in the supine position (1064 +/- 600 in NTG vs 1688 +/- 889 ms2 in controls, P < 0.05]). This was not accompanied either by a physiological reduction in total power or in a high-frequency component during the passive orthostatic stimulus. These differences tend to become more prominent in the clinically more severe forms of NTG (as identified by scores based on the extent of optic disk excavation, visual field damage, and progression of disease). This would suggest a correlation between the extent of autonomic disorder and severity of glaucoma. The alpha index (root-square of low-frequency heart rate to low-frequency blood pressure ratio) was lower in the supine position in NTG subjects (8.1 +/- 3.1 vs 10.6 +/- 3.3 ms/mm Hg in controls, P < 0.05), confirming the reduced baroreflex sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the hypothesis that dysfunction of autonomic control of the cardiovascular response may be a contributing pathogenetic factor in NTG, inducing a chronic ischemia of the optic nerve.

Fungal keratitis following deep lamellar keratoplasty.

A young man affected from keratoconus was submitted to deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK). The day after, the presence of pseudochamber between the donor and the recipient cornea was observed by the slit-lamp and the patient was submitted to the injection of an air bubble into the anterior chamber. Approximately six days later, multiple, whitish patches mostly located in the centre of the lamellar interface were noticed. Medical treatment was started immediately but no improvement was observed and penetrating keratoplasty was performed. Although this organism has been described as a microbial pathogen in blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, canaliculitis, dacryocystitis, and endophthalmitis, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of keratitis after DLK caused by Actinomyces species.

Efficacy and safety of ab interno excimer laser trabeculotomy in primary open-angle glaucoma: two years of follow-up.

Ab interno trabeculotomy was performed using the recently developed XeCl excimer laser in 21 eyes of 21 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma refractory to medical therapy. The patients were followed at the Eye Department of S. Antonio Hospital in Padova, for an average of 25.3 +/- 1.3 months. Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity and ocular complications were evaluated. The laser procedure was quick and relatively easy, with minimal manipulation of tissues; complications were clinically insignificant. At the last follow-up, a marked IOP-lowering effect compared to baseline was observed (from 24.8 +/- 2.0 to 16.9 +/- 2.1 mm Hg; -31.8%, p < 0.0001). Nineteen patients (90.5%) had an IOP lowering of 20% or more; however, 8 of these eyes (38.1%) required additional IOP-lowering medical therapy. The procedure failed in 2 cases (9.5%) despite additional therapy. In conclusion ab interno excimer laser trabeculotomy seems effective to decrease IOP, serves to reduce the number of antiglaucoma medications and is relatively safe, proving to be a promising therapeutic option in glaucoma surgery.

Evaluation of the new Ocuton S tonometer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intra- and interobserver variability of the Ocuton S tonometer, its correlation with Goldmann tonometry, the reliability of self-tonometry and the safety of the instrument. METHODS: Thirty-five healthy subjects and 45 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), aged from 38 to 80 years (mean age: 64.6 +/- 12.2 years), underwent tonometry with the Ocuton S tonometer in one eye chosen at random. The intra- and interobserver variability between two operators (kappa coefficient), the Ocuton S/Goldmann correlation and the reliability of self-tonometry were evaluated by performing two tonometries on each patient in subgroups. Each tonometry was considered as the mean of three consecutive measurements. Central ultrasonic pachymetry, keratometry and corneal biomicroscopy were also evaluated. RESULTS: The intra- and interobserver variability ranged from 0.38 to 0.66. The difference between the means of intraocular pressure (IOP) with the Ocuton S (24.4 +/- 4.7 mmHg) and the Goldmann tonometer (18.1 +/- 4.7 mmHg) was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Linear regression analysis revealed a good Ocuton S/Goldmann correspondence (r = 0.88, p = 0.0001). However, IOP values detected with the Ocuton were consistently overestimated, compared to those detected with the Goldmann tonometer. The correlation between corneal thickness and IOP was statistically significant both for the Goldmann (r = 0.510, p = 0.021) and for the Ocuton S tonometer (r = 0.520, p = 0.019). No correlation was found between keratometry and IOP. The mean measurement obtained by self-tonometry (21.9 +/- 3.6 mmHg) showed no statistically significant difference when compared to the mean measurement obtained by an expert operator (21.3 +/- 3.4 mmHg). CONCLUSION: The Ocuton S tonometer is a safe instrument that can be used easily by the patient. However, in comparison to the Goldmann tonometer, it overestimates IOP and requires further technical and methodological refinements in order to ensure greater reliability.