EFFECT OF PHYSICIAN FACE MASK USE ON POSTINJECTION ENDOPHTHALMITIS.

PURPOSE: To examine the impact of physician face mask use on the rates and outcomes of postinjection endophthalmitis. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective, comparative cohort study comparing endophthalmitis rate and visual acuity of eyes that developed endophthalmitis after antivascular endothelial growth factor injections at Mayo Clinic Rochester (MCR) and at Mayo Clinic Health System sites depending on physician masking. RESULTS: A total of 164,824 injections were performed at MCR and Mayo Clinic Health System sites. Of these, 66,098 injections were in the no mask group and 98,726 injections were in the mask group. Overall, there were no differences in the rates of infectious endophthalmitis in the no mask versus mask cohorts (overall: no mask: 20 cases [0.0303%] vs. mask: 41 cases (0.0415%); P = 0.24; infectious: no mask: 12 cases [0.018%] versus mask: 13 cases [0.0132%]; P = 0.42). At MCR alone, there was a significant reduction in infectious endophthalmitis between the no mask versus mask groups (no mask: 9 cases [0.0297%] versus mask: 2 cases [0.003%]; P < 0.001). Only 2 cases of infectious endophthalmitis occurred at MCR after the face mask policy was implemented (1 in 30,000 injections). At presentation and at 6 months, the average visual acuity was similar for patients who developed endophthalmitis between the no mask versus mask groups. CONCLUSION: Physician face mask use did not affect the rate or outcome of postinjection endophthalmitis. However, there was a significant reduction at MCR after masking along with other quality improvement measures, including performance of injections in a dedicated procedure room and preparation of patients by nurses, that led to a low rate of endophthalmitis.

Angiographic dark choroid in systemic non-hereditary amyloidosis.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel finding of angiographic dark choroid in a patient with systemic non-hereditary amyloidosis. OBSERVATION: A 43-year old female with systemic light-chain amyloidosis associated with advanced kidney disease presented with metamorphopsia and blurry vision in both eyes of 1 year duration. Examination revealed subretinal yellowish deposits in the central macula and mid-periphery with patchy RPE mottling bilaterally. OCT demonstrated thickened choroid with a widened hyporeflective sub-Bruch's choriocapillaris band. FAF showed hypoautofluorescence of the central maculae with hyperautofluorescence flecks perifoveally. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated normal vascular filling without leakage and peripheral microaneurysms. The FA also revealed a strikingly diminished diffuse lack of choroidal fluorescence throughout all angiographic phases in both eyes which has not been previously described in this condition. CONCLUSIONSAND IMPORTANCE: This case demonstrates that patients with systemic amyloidosis may exhibit attenuation of choroidal signal ("dark choroid") on fluorescein angiography, possibly due to accumulation of amyloid material in the sub-RPE space.

Ultra-low-dose (boom-boom) radiotherapy for management of recurrent ocular post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

PURPOSE: To report a case of recurrent iris post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) treated with ultra-low-dose (boom-boom) radiotherapy (RT). OBSERVATIONS: A 12-year-old Caucasian male with a history of bilateral, recurrent iris PTLD of the extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MALT) type presented with persistent bilateral anterior chamber cellular infiltration, which was incompletely controlled on topical corticosteroids, and with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in the right eye secondary to steroid response. The patient was diagnosed with PTLD recurrence and was successfully treated with ultra-low-dose RT to both eyes in 2 fractions of 2 Gy. At 15 month follow-up the patient maintained complete disease control with normal IOP off all topical ophthalmic medications. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Ultra-low-dose RT for ocular PTLD of the MALT subtype represents a novel therapeutic approach that may provide a durable treatment response and could be considered as either primary or adjuvant therapy for this rare condition.