Factors determining visual outcome in endogenous Candida endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To determine factors affecting the visual outcome of eyes with endogenous Candida endophthalmitis. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 44 eyes from 36 patients diagnosed with candida endophthalmitis at 2 tertiary referral uveitis centers. Outcome measures included the development of retinal detachment and the occurrence of visual loss (visual acuity of <20/40) and severe visual loss (visual acuity of ≤ 20/200). RESULTS: Twenty four of 44 eyes (55%) had visual loss and 16 of 44 eyes (32%) had severe visual loss by the end of the study. Early vitrectomy significantly reduced the risk of retinal detachment (P = 0.02). Factors associated with poor visual outcome included poor presenting visual acuity (relative risk = 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.55; P < 0.05) and centrally located fungal lesions (relative risk = 5.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.52; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Candida endophthalmitis is associated with a high rate of visual loss, particularly in patients with poor presenting visual acuity or centrally located lesions. Early vitrectomy reduces the risk of retinal detachment.

Long-term outcomes of needle revision of trabeculectomy blebs with mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil: a comparative safety and efficacy report.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term comparative outcomes for needle revision with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (MMC) of failed trabeculectomy blebs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective database search was made for all patients who had needle revision with subconjunctival antimetabolite injections on the slit lamp from August 2001 to April 2006. Needle revisions were augmented with MMC instead of 5-FU from December 2003. Ninety-eight eyes of 95 consecutive patients (45 with MMC and 53 with 5-FU) with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included. 5-FU (5 mg) or MMC (0.02 mg), with 0.1 mL of 2% lignocaine was injected subconjunctivally at least 10 minutes before the revision procedure in the clinic. No patient from the MMC group received subsequent 5-FU injections. RESULTS: The 5-FU group had significantly longer mean follow-ups (P<0.001) of 53.0+/-18.12 months compared with 33.3+/-9.0 months in the MMC group. The 5-FU group had a significantly higher number of needle revisions than MMC group (1.9+/-1.0 vs. 1.2+/-0.5, P=0.001). Twenty-five eyes (47%) of the 5-FU group and 36 eyes (80%) of the MMC group had a single needle revision (P=0.009). The probability of maintaining intraocular pressure between 5 and 16 mm Hg with no glaucoma medication or further surgical procedure was 71% (62%-88%) and 45% (33%-60%) at 1 year and 61% (49%-78%) and 30% (20%-46%) at 2 years in the MMC and 5-FU groups, respectively. MMC use (hazard ratio=2.18, 95% confidence interval, 1.25-3.81, P=0.006) and intraocular pressure drop immediately after needling as a continuous variable (hazard ratio=1.06, 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.13.8, P=0.03) were significantly associated with success. Twelve eyes (22.6%) with failed 5-FU needling had subsequent MMC needle revisions, 5 of which were successful by the study criterion. Eyes with 5-FU needle revision were more likely to fail within the first 6 months (P=0.02). Serious complications included blebitis in 3 (5.7%) and 1 (2.2%), delayed bleb leaks in 9 (17.0%) and 1 (2.2%) eyes in the 5-FU and MMC groups, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the complication rates between the groups. Aqueous misdirection was observed in 1 (2.2%) eye of MMC group and delayed suprachoroidal hemorrhage in 1 (1.9%) eye of 5-FU group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that MMC is more effective than 5-FU for needle revision of failed trabeculectomy blebs.

The eye in systemic sepsis.

Metastatic or endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a serious consequence of systemic sepsis. It is defined as intraocular infection resulting from haematogenous spread of organisms in which the initial focus of infection is at a site distal to the eye. A red/sore eye in a patient with a known septic focus needs urgent attention as EE can be a major cause of visual loss. Early diagnosis and treatment are associated with better visual outcome. This article focuses on the two main causes of EE, namely bacterial and fungal infections, and also briefly mentions dissemination of cytomegalovirus to the eye in immunocompromised patients. Although conscious patients may notice an ocular problem, unconscious or very sick patients may not; vigilance by medical staff in looking for early signs of this is extremely important.