VITRECTOMY FOR VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION: Visual Outcomes, Prognostic Factors, and Sequelae.

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage (VH) associated with retinal vein occlusion and to identify prognostic indicators. METHODS: Interventional, retrospective consecutive case series between 2015 and 2021. RESULTS: The study included 138 eyes of 138 patients (64 female and 74 male); 81 patients had branch retinal vein occlusion and 57 had central retinal vein occlusion. The mean age was 69.8 years. The mean duration between the diagnosis of VH and surgery was 79.6 ± 115.3 (range, 1-572) days. The mean follow-up was 27.2 months. The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity significantly improved from 1.95 ± 0.72 (Snellen equivalent, 20/1782) to 0.99 ± 0.87 (20/195) at 6 months and to 1.06 ± 0.96 (20/230) at the final visit (both P < 0.001). The visual acuity at 6 months improved by three or more lines in 103 eyes (75%). Postoperative complications during follow-up included recurrent VH in 16 eyes (12%) (of which 8 eyes underwent reoperations), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in six eyes (4%), and new neovascular glaucoma in three eyes (2%). Worse final visual acuity was significantly associated with older age ( P = 0.007), concurrent neovascular glaucoma ( P < 0.001), central retinal vein occlusion ( P < 0.001), worse preoperative visual acuity ( P < 0.001), postoperative new neovascular glaucoma ( P = 0.021), and postoperative retinal detachment ( P < 0.001). The duration of VH was not associated with visual outcomes ( P = 0.684). Preoperative antivascular endothelial growth factor injections and tamponade did not prevent postoperative recurrent VH. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy is effective for VH associated with retinal vein occlusion, regardless of the duration of hemorrhage. However, pre-existing risk factors and postoperative sequelae may limit visual recovery.

Utility of blood as the clinical specimen for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis using uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented loop-mediated isothermal amplification and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays based on REP-529 sequence and B1 gene.

BACKGROUND: Ocular infection with Toxoplasma gondii is a major preventable cause of blindness, especially in young people. The aim of the present study was to assess detection rate of T. gondii DNA in blood samples of clinically diagnosed of ocular toxoplasmosis using uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented loop-mediated isothermal amplification (UDG-LAMP) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) based on REP-529 and B1. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen patients with clinically diagnosed ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) were participated in the study as well as 200 control patients. Peripheral blood samples were assessed using UDG-LAMP and qPCR techniques targeting REP-529 and B1. RESULTS: Detection limits of qPCR using REP-529 and B1 were estimated as 0.1 and 1 fg of T. gondii genomic DNA, respectively. The limits of detection for UDG-LAMP using REP-529 and B1 were 1 and 100 fg, respectively. In this study, 18 and 16 patients were positive in qPCR using REP-529 and B1, respectively. Based on the results of UDG-LAMP, 15 and 14 patients were positive using REP-529 and B1, respectively. Results of the study on patients with active ocular lesion showed that sensitivity of REP-529 and BI targets included 64 and 63%, respectively using qPCR. Sensitivity of 62 and 61%, were concluded from UDG-LAMP using REP-529 and B1 in the blood cases of active ocular lesion. qPCR was more sensitive than UDG-LAMP for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in peripheral blood samples of patients with clinically diagnosed toxoplasmic chorioretinitis. Furthermore, the REP-529 included a better detection rate for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood samples, compared to that the B1 gene did. Moreover, the qPCR and UDG-LAMP specificity assessments have demonstrated no amplifications of DNAs extracted from other microorganisms based on REP-529 and B1. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the current study suggest that qPCR and UDG-LAMP based on the REP-529 are promising diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood samples of patients with active chorioretinal lesions.

Indications for surgical management of retained lens fragments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Retained lens fragments are a relatively rare occurrence after cataract surgery. While no definite guidelines for the surgical management or timing of surgery of this complication exist, surgery is indicated for patients with large lens fragments, persistent inflammation, secondary glaucoma, corneal edema, retinal tears or detachments, and associated endophthalmitis. The aim of this review is to summarize the current surgical management of retained lens material. RECENT FINDINGS: The Intelligent Research in Sight registry database of 2.26 million patients who underwent cataract surgery in the US indicated that 0.18% (1 in 563) had secondary removal of retained lens fragments in the anterior chamber in the operating room within 1 year of the original cataract surgery. The risk of returning to the operating room for retained lens material removal was greater among men, smokers, patients with Medicaid or military insurance, and those who had complex cataract surgery. Medical management with topical corticosteroids or observation may be considered for small lens fragments, but surgical removal remains the mainstay of the treatment for large lens fragments. SUMMARY: Retained lens fragments following cataract surgery may result in various vision-threatening complications. Understanding the risk factors, diagnosis, and surgical management of retained lens fragments are critical to preserving good visual outcomes. Vitrectomy is effective in patients with posterior nuclear fragments, retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, or uncontrolled glaucoma not responding to medical management. The best timing for surgery for retained lens fragments should be further investigated in a prospective study.

Stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis and an approach to the differential diagnosis of macular star.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to introduce stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis (SNIFR) and its differential diagnosis. We summarize findings from case reports and series published in the last few years on the clinical and imaging findings in SNIFR. RECENT FINDINGS: SNIFR presents as either a unilateral or bilateral macular star on fundus examination without clinical or imaging evidence of exudation or frank vitreomacular traction. optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging shows schisis cavities in the Henle fibre and outer plexiform layers that correspond to the stellate en face findings. Visual acuity is usually minimally affected, and the presence of significant vision loss should prompt high clinical suspicion for alternate diagnoses. SUMMARY: SNIFR is a recently characterized clinical entity that serves as an important addition to the differential diagnosis of a macular star. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be distinguished from other causes of macular star such as neuroretinitis, vitreomacular traction, ocular manifestations of malignant hypertension, congenital juvenile X-linked macular schisis, myopic maculopathy, optic pit maculopathy, nicotinic acid maculopathy or taxane maculopathy among others.

Outcomes after switching eyes that were stable on aflibercept to ranibizumab versus continuing aflibercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To describe outcomes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) eyes that were stable on aflibercept but switched to ranibizumab compared to eyes maintained on aflibercept over the same period. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, eyes switched from aflibercept to ranibizumab due to intraocular inflammation (IOI) concerns with aflibercept were identified. Data was gathered from 3 visits pre-switch, switch visit (Sw), and 3 visits post-switch (P1, P2, P3). Similar data was gathered on eyes eligible to switch but continued on aflibercept with the middle visit considered the "presumed switch." Outcome measures included visual acuity (VA) and central foveal thickness (CFT). RESULTS: A total of 142 eyes were analyzed with 71 in each of the switch and aflibercept groups. In the switch group, mean CFT increased from 165.7 µm at Sw to 184.7 µm at P1 (p = 0.009), 180.9 µm at P2 (p = 0.007), and 183.3 µm at P3 (p = 0.004). VA changed from logMAR 0.43 (20/54) at Sw to 0.49 (20/61) at P1 (p = 0.02), 0.54 (20/69) at P2 (p = 0.008), and 0.53 (20/68) at P3 (p = 0.04). In the aflibercept group, no significant change in CFT was found over the same period. VA changed from logMAR 0.56 (20/72) at the "presumed switch" to 0.58 (20/76) at P1 (p = 0.085), 0.62 (20/83) at P2 (p = 0.001), and 0.59 (20/77) at P3 (p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: nAMD eyes that were stable or improving on aflibercept but were switched to ranibizumab worsened, while those in a comparable group maintained on aflibercept remained fairly stable, suggesting a potential efficacy difference between the two drugs.

REFRACTIVE ERROR CHANGE DURING TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Protocol T Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy on the refractive error in eyes with diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Post hoc analysis of Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research protocol T. Spherical equivalent (SE) was calculated for study and fellow eyes at baseline, 1-year, and 2-year visits. The SE change of the eyes with edema was compared with those with resolved edema. The correlation between refractive error changes and central subfield thickness was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 543 study eyes, SE changed from -0.17 (2.04) D at baseline visit to -0.16 (2.14) D at 2 years giving a hyperopic shift of 0.04 (0.82) D (P = 0.022). Among fellow eyes, mean (SD) SE changed from -0.19 (2.1) D at baseline to -0.11 (2.1) D at 2 years, giving a hyperopic shift of 0.12 (0.84) D (P = 0.001). No significant difference in SE shift was found between eyes with and without edema at 2 years in phakic (0.12D and 0.08 D, P = 0.87) and pseudophakic eyes (-0.24D and -0.08D, P = 0.30). The SE shift was not correlated with central subfield thickness change at the end of the second year (r = 0.02, P = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Diabetic macular edema patients have minimal changes in refractive error. The correction of refractive error may be considered during treatment, regardless of the presence of edema.

SECONDARY EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE AFTER LASER RETINOPEXY FOR RETINAL TEAR OR LOCALIZED RETINAL DETACHMENT: Surgical Outcomes and Optical Coherence Tomography Structural Analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess visual acuity and optical coherence tomography outcomes after repair of secondary epiretinal membrane (ERM) after prior laser retinopexy for retinal tear with or without localized retinal detachment. METHODS: Retrospective, consecutive series. A previously described optical coherence tomography grading scheme was used for imaging analysis. RESULTS: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients were included, of which 16 (38.1%) had a concurrent localized retinal detachment. Mean logMAR visual acuity prelaser retinopexy was 0.15 ± 0.13 (Snellen 20/28), which worsened to 0.56 ± 0.42 (Snellen 20/72) before ERM surgery (P < 0.001). The mean visual acuity improved to 0.36 ± 0.30 (Snellen 20/45, P < 0.001) 3 months postsurgery and to 0.31 ± 0.32 (Snellen = 20/40, P < 0.001) at the final follow-up. Most eyes exhibited advanced ERM characteristics (n = 19 [45.2%] Stage 3 and n = 15 [35.7%] Stage 4 characteristics). The presence of inner microcystic changes (P = 0.008) and ellipsoid zone disruption (P = 0.009) at postoperative Month 3 were associated with worse final visual acuity. Eyes undergoing ERM surgery ≤180 days from laser retinopexy (n = 16, 38.1%) were younger (P = 0.024) and more likely to have Stage 4 ERM characteristics (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Secondary ERM after laser retinopexy may occur rapidly (<180 days) and exhibit significant anatomic alterations. The presence of inner microcystic changes and ellipsoid zone disruption postoperatively were optical coherence tomography features associated with worse final visual acuity.

CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER DEXAMETHASONE INTRAVITREAL IMPLANT.

PURPOSE: To report a case series of endophthalmitis associated with intravitreal dexamethasone injections in a single practice and to discuss the clinical findings and visual outcomes of each case. METHODS: All endophthalmitis cases following intravitreal dexamethasone injections performed from January 1, 2014 to October 20, 2020 were identified using Wills Eye/MidAtlantic billing records. The diagnosis, clinical information, and microbiology were confirmed for each case. Data were analyzed using Excel (Microsoft Excel, Redmond, WA). RESULTS: Four cases of endophthalmitis were identified from 3,925 intravitreal dexamethasone injections in a single practice and one case was referred from an outside institution, resulting in an incidence of 0.102% (1 in 981 injections). Mean age was 82.3 years (range, 63-88 years) with a mean of 11.3 intravitreal dexamethasone injections performed (range, 2-30 injections) before endophthalmitis. Cases presented with endophthalmitis a mean (SD) of 3.6 (1.64) days after causative injection. Three cases grew gram-positive organisms. All patients responded to intravitreal antibiotics. Mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity at causative injection, endophthalmitis presentation, 3 months, and last follow-up was 0.44 (20/55), 2.22 (20/3,319), 1.18 (20/303), and 1.46 (20/577), respectively. CONCLUSION: Endophthalmitis following intravitreal steroid injections may occur more frequently than other intravitreal injections. Dexamethasone-attributed endophthalmitis remains uncommon, and prompt intravitreal antibiotic treatment seems to be effective in this series.

Survey of Vitreoretinal Specialists in the United States Regarding Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To evaluate the attitudes, beliefs, and practice patterns of vitreoretinal specialists regarding the utilization of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify features which may predict future telemedicine use. Methods: An 11-question anonymous survey was completed electronically in July 2020 by vitreoretinal specialists practicing in the United States. Results: The survey response rate was 13.0% (361/2,774). Thirty-five respondents (9.7%) had used telemedicine before March 1, 2020; after March 1, 2020, 170 (47.1%) reported using telemedicine (p < 0.001). Of the 170 respondents who reported telemedicine use, a majority (65.3%;111/170) performed 0-5 patient visits per week. Female retina specialists, younger physicians, and those with prior telemedicine usage were more likely to use telemedicine. Barriers to telemedicine use included concern for misdiagnosis (332/361, 92.0%), inability to obtain optical coherence tomography imaging (330/361, 91.4%), inability to obtain fundus imaging (327/361, 90.6%), lack of access to and/or comfort with the technology (261/361, 72.3%), potential legal liability (229/361, 63.4%), and low reimbursement (227/361, 62.9%). The majority of respondents (225/361; 62.3%) reported that telemedicine without ancillary imaging was not an acceptable way to evaluate patients. However, 59.2% (214/361) would find telemedicine acceptable if remote imaging was available. Conclusions: The pandemic led to a rapid adoption of telemedicine by vitreoretinal specialists. The majority of specialists using telemedicine performed five or fewer visits per week. The availability of remote imaging may increase confidence in clinical outcomes with a subsequent increase in utilization of telemedicine by vitreoretinal specialists.

Full-thickness macular holes after surgical repair of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.

PURPOSE: Full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) formation following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair may limit post-operative visual acuity and often requires a return to the operating room, but little is known about this phenomenon. METHODS: This study included all patients with a FTMH that developed after RRD repair from January 1, 2015-July 31, 2020. The main outcome was the rate of FTMH formation following RRD repair as well as characteristics of FTMH following RRD repair that spontaneously close. RESULTS: There were 470 eyes with a diagnosis of both a FTMH and a RRD during the study period. Of these, 27 (0.28%) developed a FTMH following RRD repair. The median time to FTMH diagnosis was 91 days (25th, 75th quartiles 40, 204 days). The mean minimum hole diameter was 514.5 ± 303.6 microns. There were 4 FTMHs (14.8%) that spontaneously closed without surgical intervention. The spontaneous closure was noted from 4 to 12 weeks after the initial diagnosis of the FTMH. These holes were smaller than the holes that did not close spontaneously (mean minimum diameter 161.8 ± 85.2 vs 588.7 ± 279.3 microns, p = 0.0058). Of the 27 post-operative FTMHs, there were 23 eyes (85%) that underwent surgical intervention with pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling. Nineteen eyes (83%) closed with one surgery, 20 eyes (87%) ultimately closed, while 3 eyes (11.1%) did not close. CONCLUSIONS: FTMH is relatively uncommon to occur following RRD repair with a prevalence of 0.28% in our series with 87% of these holes achieving closure following surgery or spontaneously. Approximately 15% of FTMHs following RRD repair closed spontaneously and these holes were significantly smaller.

SURGICAL FAILURES AFTER PRIMARY SCLERAL BUCKLING FOR RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT: Comparison of Eyes With and Without Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)-related surgical failure and non-PVR-associated failure after scleral buckling for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: In this single-center, retrospective, consecutive case series, eyes with surgical failure after scleral buckling for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were identified. Eyes with surgical failure were categorized as PVR-associated and non-PVR-associated failure, and these groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 530 scleral buckling procedures performed, 69 were surgical failures (13%), of which 27 of the 530 (5%) were due to PVR and 42 of the 530 (8%) were from non-PVR causes. Patients with PVR-associated failure were more likely to be smokers (P < 0.001), have a delayed presentation after symptoms (P = 0.011), have preoperative vitreous hemorrhage (P = 0.004), and have preoperative PVR (P = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression models showed that the odds of PVR-associated failure were greater in eyes with preoperative vitreous hemorrhage (odds ratio, 8.2; P = 0.048), preoperative PVR (odds ratio, 22.7; P = 0.023), and among previous smokers (odds ratio, 28.8; P < 0.001). Thirty-two of 69 patients (46%) required one additional surgical intervention, and 37 of the 69 patients (53%) required two or more additional interventions to achieve final reattachment. CONCLUSION: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy-related surgical failure after primary scleral buckling was 5%. Risk factors for PVR-associated failure parallel those commonly referenced for pars plan vitrectomy, including smoking history, preoperative vitreous hemorrhage, and preoperative PVR.

Multifocal electroretinogram in diabetic macular edema and its correlation with different optical coherence tomography features.

PURPOSE: To evaluate multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) parameters in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) and its correlation with vision and optical coherence tomography (OCT) features. METHODS: Fifty-four eyes of 27 subjects with DME due to nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy were evaluated. MfERG responses were measured in three concentric rings. Macular thickness was measured by OCT in each segment of the three concentric rings, and mfERG rings were superimposed on the macular thickness map. The correlation between macular thickness in specific points of the thickness map and changes of the mfERG parameters in the corresponding points of the mfERG field map was evaluated and the relationship between the OCT and mfERG changes and changes of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was investigated. The central foveal B-scans of SD-OCT were used to evaluate any correlation between the external limiting membrane (ELM) status, ellipsoid zone (EZ) status, presence of cysts or disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), and mfERG parameters at the central corresponding area. RESULTS: The mean of BCVA was 0.5 ± 0.3 in logMAR, and the central macular thickness was 392.6 ± 123.4 microns. The central ring P1 and N2 amplitudes had a significant correlation with BCVA in univariate and multivariate analyses (P = 0.001 for both, r = - 0.346 and r = - 0.646, respectively). There was a significant correlation between retinal thickness and the N1 amplitude in the central ring (P = 0.02, r = - 0.343). Outer retinal layer disruption (ELM and EZ) correlated with prolonged P1 implicit time at the corresponding location (P = 0.005, r = 0.068). The presence of the DRIL was associated with reduced P1 and N2 amplitudes (P = 0.037, r = - 0.284 and P = 0.019, r = - 0.562, respectively). A significant correlation was also found between the presence of cysts and a lower central P1 amplitude (P = 0.033, r = - 0.376). CONCLUSION: In diabetic patients, discrete changes of some parameters in the central ring of the mfERG field map (e.g., P1 and N2 amplitudes) have a significant correlation with both structural OCT abnormalities in the corresponding points of the thickness map (like DRIL, intraretinal cyst and ELM/EZ disruption) and BCVA. Predictive models such as those described in this report may make it possible to identify the relationship between specific anatomical and functional characteristics in diabetic retinopathy.

Pseudo inferior oblique overaction, clinical findings, mechanism, and surgical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical findings of the pseudo inferior oblique overaction (IOOA) syndrome and the outcomes of strabismus surgery and to discuss the mechanisms proposed for this disease. METHODS: This syndrome is defined by Y pattern strabismus with exotropia in upgaze. There is marked abduction and hypertropia of the adducting eye when elevation is carried out in side gaze, but there is no hypertropia of the adducting eye in horizontal side gaze. Sixteen patients were included and surgery was performed in 14 patients. Success of the surgical intervention was defined as correction of the Y pattern, orthotropia in primary position, upgaze, and downgaze. RESULTS: Thirteen of the sixteen patients were female. The mean age was 9.6 ± 6.1 years. The mean follow-up time was 14.7 ± 16.9 months. Pre-operatively, 12 patients were orthophoric, and four patients were exophoric (4 to 8 PD) in primary position. In downgaze, all patients were orthophoric. Mean exotropic deviation in upgaze was 25.06 ± 5.9 (18 to 40 PD). Fourteen patients underwent surgery with 2-mm bilateral lateral rectus recession and full tendon supraplacement in seven cases, and 2/3 tendon supraplacement in the other seven patients. The success rate of surgery was 92.8% after the first operation, which reached 100% after a second surgical procedure was performed on one of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus surgery is effective in correcting the Y pattern in patients with pseudo IOOA. A 2/3 tendon supraplacement combined with 2-mm recession of the lateral rectus muscles is the preferred treatment.

Assessing the Validity of Measurements of Swept-source and Partial Coherence Interferometry Devices in Cataract Patients.

SIGNIFICANCE: The validity of measurements of OA-2000 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan), a new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometer, was evaluated in comparison with IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) as a reference method for optical biometry in cataract patients. PURPOSE: This article compares the validity of measurements between OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, axial length, lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and keratometry readings were obtained by the OA-2000 and IOLMaster 500. Two measurements were taken by each method. Patients in which any one of the biometry methods could not be performed owing to severity of the cataract were excluded from the study. Repeatability of measurements was presented by coefficient of variation, and Bland-Altman method was used for evaluating the agreement between the two biometers. RESULTS: Fifty-eight eyes of 58 cataract patients with mean ± standard deviation age of 61.4 ± 8.3 years were included in this study. Intraclass correlation ranged from 0.898 to 0.901 and showed good to excellent reliability. It was good for keratometry 1 (0.898) and excellent for keratometry 2 (0.992), axial length (0.999), and anterior chamber depth (0.901). Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between the swept-source optical coherence tomography and partial coherence interferometry devices for axial length, anterior chamber depth, and mean keratometry, with narrow 95% limits of agreement (-0.09 to 0.1 mm, -0.33 to 0.54 mm, -0.97 to 1.03 D, respectively), and also indicated small mean difference (0.01 for axial length, 0.11 for anterior chamber depth, 0.03 for mean keratometry, respectively) for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: OA-2000 as a new swept-source optical coherence tomography has an excellent repeatability for measurement of biometric data in cataract patients, comparing with the standard partial coherence interferometry biometer (IOLMaster 500).

The Role of Inferior Turbinate Fracture in the Management of Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of inferior turbinate fracture in the treatment of congenital nasolacrimal obstruction combined with first attempt probing in children younger than 36 months. METHODS: This prospective case-control study was conducted on 230 eyes from 176 children aged 12 to 36 months with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. All patients underwent simple probing under general anesthesia. Inferior turbinate fracture was performed in case group combined with first probing. Patients were followed up 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Total success rate was 91.2% for patients with turbinate fracture and 86.4% for patients without turbinate fracture. The difference between success rates was not statistically significant (p = 0.269). The authors did not find significant difference between cases and controls in age subgroups. Success rate in combined case and control groups in patients younger than 24 months (success rate: 91.7%) was significantly higher than those older than 24 months (success rate: 71.9%; p = 0.001). In univariate logistic regression analysis, age ≥24 months showed a negative association with the success rate (odds ratio = 0.232; 95% confidence interval: 0.91-0.59; p = 0.002). Other factors like sex, bilaterality of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, method of probing were not significantly associated with response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Inferior turbinate fracture does not improve the outcomes of simple probing and is not recommended during the first attempt in treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Late probing (after 24 months of age) may have a higher failure rate, and increased age is the important factor that predicts failure in probing simple congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Serologic Tests of IgG and IgM Antibodies and IgG Avidity for Diagnosis of Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

This prospective study was aimed to detect acute and chronic ocular toxoplasmosis by comparison of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibody levels and IgG avidity test. One hundred and seventeen patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) who referred to the Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran were included in this study. Of the patients, 77 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG, and 8 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM. IgG avidity test revealed 11, 4, and 102 cases were low, intermediate, and high, respectively, and 6.8% and 9.4% of cases were positive for IgM and IgG avidity tests, respectively (P=0.632). Agreement (Kappa value) between paired tests IgG-IgM, IgG-IgG avidity, and IgM-IgG avidity was 0.080, 0.099, and 0.721, respectively (P<0.05). This study showed that conventional serologic tests (IgM and IgG levels) and IgG avidity correlate well each other and can be used to differentiate recent infections from old OT. It seems that reactivated old infections rather than recently acquired infections are majority of Iranian OT patients.

A Comparison between Clinical and Metabolic Features of Renal Calyceal Microlithiasis and Overt Urolithiasis in Different Pediatric Age Groups.

INTRODUCTION: This study assesses the differences in the presentations, complications and metabolic abnormalities of children with renal calyceal microlithiasis (RCM) and overt urolithiasis in different pediatric ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 465 children with urolithiasis were investigated retrospectively. Patients were categorized based on their ages to infancy, early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence. When the hyperechogenic spots on ultrasound imaging were <3 mm, they were considered RCM, and if they were ≥3 mm, they were considered overt urolithiasis. RESULTS: Metabolic abnormalities were detected in 71%; hyperuricosuria in infants, hyperoxaluria in younger children and hypocitraturia in older children were the most common metabolic abnormalities. Hypercalciuria was the only metabolic abnormality that was significantly associated with overt urolithiasis in all pediatric ages (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.21-4.19). The clinical presentations were not significantly different between RCM and overt urolithiasis; however, complications such as urinary tract infection was significantly higher with overt urolithiasis in infancy (p = 0.01), early childhood (p = 0.02), middle childhood (p = 0.007) and adolescence (p = 0.01). Also, growth retardation was significantly higher with overt urolithiasis in infancy and early childhood (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Most children with urolithiasis have underlying urinary metabolic abnormalities that differ according to the child's age. Despite these differences, hypercalciuria is significantly associated with overt urolithiasis in all pediatric ages. Clinical and laboratory features cannot differentiate RCM and overt urolithiasis; however, complications are significantly higher with overt urolithiasis.

Trends in Geographic Distribution of Visual Disability - United States, 2010-2019.

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe changes in the geographic distribution of self-reported visual impairment (VI) over the last decade (2010-2019) in the U.S. METHODS: Our study was an analysis of publicly available data collected between 2010 and 2019 from the Census Bureau American Community Survey. RESULTS: The mean overall prevalence of self-reported VI from 2010 to 2019 was 2.31% in the United States, and there was a significant increase in VI over the past decade from 2.25% in 2010-2014 to 2.37% in 2015-2019 (p < .001). VI was significantly higher in rural counties (3.58%), compared to urban (3.10%) or metropolitan counties (2.18%) (p < .001). In terms of geographic region, the South of the United States had the highest rate of VI (2.63%) (p < .001). For age groups > 17-years-old in the 2010-2019 data, women had higher rates of VI compared to men. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of self-reported visual impairment has risen and disproportionately affects certain communities. This includes individuals living in the South, in rural counties, and women.

Outcomes following repair of early-onset versus delayed-onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachments after acute posterior vitreous detachment.

AIM: To report anatomical and functional outcomes after surgical repair of acute-onset vs delayed-onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RDs) following acute posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). METHODS: A retrospective, comparative interventional cohort study where patients presenting to a single-centre retina practice between October 2015 and March 2020 with delayed RDs (diagnosed ≥42 days after initial presentation of acute PVD) were compared with a 2:1 age-matched and gender-matched acute RD cohort (PVD and RD at initial presentation). The primary outcome was the final attachment rate and single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) at 3 months after RD repair. RESULTS: A total of 210 eyes were analysed-70 in the delayed RD group and 140 in the acute RD group. SSAS was 58/70 (82.9%) for the delayed RD group and 112/140 (80%) for the acute RD group (p=0.71). At the time of RD diagnosis, mean (SD) logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (VA) was 0.51 (0.70) (Snellen, 20/65) in the delayed RD group vs 1.04 (0.92) (Snellen, 20/219) in the acute RD group (p<0.001). Mean VA was better at 1 and 3 months post-repair in the delayed RD group (p=0.005 and 0.041, respectively) but similar by 6 months, 12 months and at the final visit post-repair (p=0.48, 0.27, and 0.23, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed-onset RDs occurring ≥6 weeks after initial presentation to a retina specialist with an acute PVD generally had better VA at the time of RD diagnosis and faster post-surgical visual recovery compared with acute-onset RDs diagnosed at the initial presentation. No significant difference in anatomic outcomes was seen between the two groups.

Risk factors for surgical failure after primary scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for surgical failure after scleral buckling (SB) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair. DESIGN: Single-centre retrospective consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who underwent SB for repair of primary RRD at Wills Eye Hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2018, were included. METHODS: Single-surgery anatomic success (SSAS) rate and risk factors associated with surgical failure were evaluated. A multivariable logistic regression model was completed to assess the effect of demographic, clinical, and operative variables on SSAS rate. RESULTS: A total of 499 eyes of 499 patients were included. Overall SSAS rate was 86% (n = 430 of 499). Using multivariate analysis, surgical failure was more likely in males (adjusted odds ratio [adjusted OR] = 2.98; 95% CI, 1.58-5.62; p = 0.0007) with a macula-off status on preoperative examination (adjusted OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.10-4.20; p = 0.03) and preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (adjusted OR = 4.26; 95% CI, 1.10-16.5; p = 0.04). Time interval between initial examination and surgery (p = 0.26), distribution of buckle or band material used (p = 0.88), and distribution of tamponade used (p = 0.74) were not significantly different between eyes with and without surgical failure. CONCLUSION: Male sex, macula-off status, and preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy were factors with increased odds of surgical failure after SB for primary RRD repair. Operative characteristics, such as type of band or use of tamponade, were not associated with surgical failure.