The Use of Hand-Held Digital Otoscope as a Basic Nasal Endoscopy Tool for Lacrimal Evaluation and Pedagogy Instrument.

PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of a hand-held digital otoscope for nasal endoscopy and as a pedagogy tool for residents and fellows in patients undergoing external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery. METHODS: A digital otoscope (MS450-NTE, Teslong Inc., USA) comprising a digital screen device and a connectible camera probe was used for performing nasal endoscopy. Inspection of nasal cavities was performed pre-, intra-, and post-operatively in sequential patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, who underwent DCR or lacrimal probing. Images (1920 × 1080 pixels) and videos (1280 × 720 pixels) were captured. The device was also used for training residents and fellows in performing nasal endoscopy, and to teach basic concepts. RESULTS: The digital otoscope could be used for routine outpatient nasal examination and for performing minor procedures. 53.8% (n = 13) of ophthalmology trainees had never observed nasal endoscopy and 84.6% could not identify more than one major structure correctly prior to the current training. Post-training, all trainees could independently perform nasal endoscopy with the device and 76.9% identified all structures correctly. CONCLUSION: A digital otoscope with a camera probe is a handy tool for nasal endoscopy and pedagogy. Low-cost gadgets such as this device can effectively be used for performing outpatient nasal endoscopy when expensive endoscopes are unavailable and in peripheral healthcare centers.

Central and peripheral contrast sensitivity in thyroid eye disease.

PURPOSE: Assessment of central and peripheral contrast sensitivity (CS) in thyroid eye disease (TED) with and without dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 33 eyes of 18 treatment-naïve TED patients and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls for comparative analysis. A detailed ophthalmic examination included visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure measurement, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and CS testing (central and four peripheral regions) using Spaeth-Richman Contrast Sensitivity test was done. RESULTS: The average age of TED patients was 47.17 ± 13.99 years and a female preponderance was noted (66.66%, n = 12). Twenty-five eyes (75.8%) were diagnosed as TED without DON, while eight eyes (24.2%) had DON. Nine eyes (27.2%) were in the active stage of disease and 29 eyes (87.8%) had proptosis. The difference in mean logMAR visual acuities between TED patients and controls was statistically insignificant (P = 0.189), but a significant difference was noted in central and total CS score (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). On CS comparison between DON and non-DON eyes, a significant difference in average scores was noted in central and all peripheral areas (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). With increasing clinical activity score, a statistically significant reduction was noted in CS in three out of four peripheral regions (Spearman correlation, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Visual function compromise can be detected in TED in the presence of intact VA, by testing CS. Peripheral CS deteriorates with increasing inflammation and in DON. Serial monitoring of both central and peripheral CS may help in diagnosing DON early.

Blood within the bone: orbital intraosseous venous malformation.

PURPOSE: Description of clinical features, radiological characteristics, and management strategies in primary orbital intraosseous venous malformation (OIVM) with pertinent literature review. METHODS: A retrospective analysis including clinical, radiologic, operative, and histopathological data of six cases of histopathologically proven OIVM was done. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using online databases and augmented with manual search to identify reported cases of OIVM. RESULTS: Study data showed five females and one male in young to middle-age group, with an average age of 30 years (range: 20-48 years). Proptosis was noted in five cases (83.33%), and the duration of symptoms ranged from 6 months to 10 years. Frontal and zygomatic bones were most frequently affected and expansile bony lesion was the most common CT scan finding. Three patients underwent pre-operative embolization of feeders followed by en bloc excision of mass and surgical reconstruction (50%); one patient was managed with partial excision (16.66%) while two were regularly followed-up after incision biopsy (33.33%). Histopathology revealed vascular spaces with endothelial lining, separated by bony trabeculae in all patients. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 48 months and no recurrence or progression were noted. CONCLUSIONS: OIVM is an exceptionally rare disorder with a gradually progressive benign course. Ophthalmologists need to be mindful of this entity during patient evaluation as it has propensity for large volume blood loss intra-operatively, owing to its vascular nature. Complete excision with reconstruction of resultant defect is the preferred treatment strategy and without known recurrence.

Post-chemotherapy changes in retinal pigment epithelium in retinoblastoma eyes.

OBJECTIVE: Histopathological analysis of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) changes in retinoblastoma (RB) cases who received pre-surgical chemotherapy. DESIGN: Laboratory-based observational study. METHODS: Five-year analysis was performed to identify Retinoblastoma cases who underwent enucleation after receiving systemic chemotherapy. Grossly, RPE cells were observed in flat preparation in small calottes by staining with fluorescein stain in the raw specimens. They were documented under the objective of compound microscope and compared with hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides in the permanent tissue sections. RESULTS: Out of 51 cases of RB, post-chemotherapy enucleation was performed in 17 cases. Mean age of enucleation was 3.2 years. Endophytic RB (11 cases, 64.71%) was more common than the exophytic variety. Choroidal involvement was noted in 8 cases (47.06%), and optic nerve involvement was seen in 5 cases (29.4%). Focal and diffuse RPE changes were seen in one case each (5.88%). Central RPE cell changes near the cell nucleus were seen in all 17 cases (100%), which were documented by both fluorescein and Hematoxylin and eosin stain (100%). Drusens were observed in 8 cases (47.06%), and RPE proliferations were seen in 3 cases (17.65%). CONCLUSION: The study highlights the characteristic histopathological RPE changes after systemic chemotherapy in RB cases. These changes may be attributable to cell nucleus damage after chemotherapy.

Navigation-guided transcaruncular orbital optic canal decompression in indirect traumatic optic neuropathy: long-term outcomes.

PURPOSE: To determine the surgical outcomes using navigation-guided transcaruncular orbital optic canal decompression (NGTcOCD) and investigate the relationship between visual prognosis. visual evoked potential (VEP), association with DeLano type of optic canal and Onodi cells in patients with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy (TON). DESIGN: Prospective observational. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients with indirect TON unresponsive to steroid therapy were divided into three groups where Group I comprised of cases with optic canal fracture who underwent NGTcOCD, Group II without optic canal fracture who underwent NGTcOCD and Group III, no-decompression group who chose not to undergo NGTcOCD. An improvement in visual acuity (VA) at 1 week, 3 months and 1 year and amplitude and latency of VEP at 1 year were considered as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: The mean VA improved from 2.55±0.67 and 2.62±0.56 LogMAR at presentation to 2.03±0.96 and 2.33±0.72 LogMAR at final follow-up among Group I and Group II patients, respectively (p<0.001 and p=0.01). Statistically significant improvement observed among both the Groups in VEP amplitude (p=<0.01) and among Group II in VEP latency (p<0.01). Both Group I and Group II patients have better outcomes than patients in no-decompression group. VA at presentation and Type 1 DeLano optic canal were observed as significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: NGTcOCD serves as a minimally invasive transcaruncular route to the optic canal which enables ophthalmologists to perform decompression from the anterior-most orbital end under direct visualisation. Patients with indirect TON with or without optic canal fracture and unresponsive to steroid therapy when managed with NGTcOCD have shown comparable and superior outcomes.

Malignant choroidal melanoma with vitreous seeds: supported by histopathology and field emission scanning electron microscopy study.

Aim: To report an exceptionally rare case of malignant choroidal melanoma with vitreous seeding, supported by histopathological and field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) studies. Case report: A 58-year-old male with painless diminution of vision in his left eye for past 1 month was found to have a brown retrolental mass lesion on slit lamp examination in the left eye. Detailed fundus examination revealed choroidal melanoma in the left eye with pigmented seeds extending into the vitreous cavity and associated exudative retinal detachment. Ocular imaging was consistent with the diagnosis. Results: The eyeball was enucleated and the tumor was considered as stage IIB (AJCC 8th edition classification). Metastatic workup of the patient was negative. One half of the eyeball was subjected to field emission scanning electron microscopy to further study the nature and appearance of vitreous seeds. Discussion: Vitreous seeding in choroidal melanoma has been reported only in a handful of cases in literature. Histopathological confirmation of vitreous seeds was done in our case and morphological detailing was performed using FESEM study. Conclusions: Treatment naïve choroidal melanoma can very rarely have vitreous seeds. Early enucleation in such cases carries a favorable prognosis.

Parasitic Eye Diseases: Nuances in Rapid Identification and Advanced Microscopy.

AIM: To study parasitic eye diseases in a tertiary institute of North-east India by live examination of parasites, rapid staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS: A 12-year retrospective analysis was performed and all patients diagnosed with ocular parasitic diseases were identified. Examination under a compound microscope, fluorescein staining, and scanning electron microscopy were done. RESULTS: A total of 160 ocular parasitosis cases were identified. The cases for which rapid staining and SEM studies were done included Cysticercosis (n = 18, 11.25%), Hydatidosis (n = 5, 3.13%), Dirofilariasis (n = 5, 3.13%), Thelaziasis (n = 3, 1.87%), and Gnathostomiasis (n = 2, 1.25%). Live examination was performed in 11 cases (6.63%) and 8 cases (4.82%) underwent scanning electron microscopy. . CONCLUSION: Fluorescein staining for identification of parasites and SEM study helped in detailing microscopic and ultrastructural findings.

Normative database for Spaeth Richman contrast sensitivity test for Indian eyes.

Purpose: To ascertain normative database of contrast sensitivity (CS) using Spaeth/Richman CS test (SPARCS) in the Indian population. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 200 healthy individuals, and CS was tested in both eyes of each participant using SPARCS. A detailed ocular examination was done before enrollment to rule out pathologies that may affect CS. A practice test was performed in the right eye (OD), followed by uniocular testing in each eye and a final binocular test. Results: Data of 400 eyes of 200 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria was evaluated. The average age of subjects was 46.57 ± 16.77 years (range 21-79 years), with a slight female preponderance (53%, n = 106). A statistically significant decline in average SPARCS scores was noted with increasing age (P < 0.05), ranging from 86.68 (20-29 years age group) to 67.44 (70-79 years age group). Higher scores were noted in binocular testing than uniocular testing (Interclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.83; P < 0.001). Females achieved statistically significant higher total scores in uniocular SPARCS testing (both OD and OS), but there was no significant difference noted between the two genders in binocular testing. Correlation between practice and main tests was statistically Significant with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.54 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Normative database for SPARCS was established for Indian eyes, with a decreasing trend noted in peripheral as well as central CS scores with increasing age.

IgG4-related disease as multiple head and neck swellings: supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

A 66-year-old North-East Indian male presented with bilateral eyelid swelling, ptosis, and bilateral submandibular gland enlargement. Dry skin on both arms was another peculiar complaint. Contrast enhanced CT scans revealed homogenously enhancing, diffusely enlarged lacrimal glands and blood investigations showed raised serum IgG4 levels. Histopathology from lacrimal gland biopsy showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates in storiform pattern. Immunohistochemistry showed 35% plasma cells positive for IgG4. A diagnosis of IgG4-related disease was made, due to supportive histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and serum IgG4 levels. The patient showed excellent response to systemic immunomodulators. Abbreviations: IgG4-RD = IgG4-related disease, CECT = Contrast-enhanced computed tomography, ACE = Angiotensin converting enzyme, IHC = Immunohistochemistry, HPF = high power field, IgG4-ROD = IgG4-related ophthalmic disease, ACR/ EULAR = American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism.

Crouzon syndrome and the eye: An overview.

The current literature review aims to evaluate the ocular findings and associated ophthalmic features in Crouzon syndrome. Craniosynostoses are syndromes characterized by premature fusion of sutures of the skull and Crouzon syndrome is the most common of the craniosynostosis syndromes. Early fusion of sutures results in craniofacial anomalies, including abnormalities of the orbits. To prepare this review of the ophthalmic findings in this disorder, an organized search on online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Ovid was carried out. The key terms searched were "Crouzon", "craniosynostosis", "eye" and "ophthalmic", and 51 research items were found. A total of 17 articles were included after scrutiny of the databases and a further 25 articles were added after augmented search. A detailed review was performed from the final 42 articles. A comprehensive description of associated anomalies is given along with the author's own technique of surgical management in cases with Crouzon syndrome having bilateral luxation bulbi with exposure keratopathy. However, for optimum management of cranial and oculo-facial dysmorphisms, a multidisciplinary team of specialists is required.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder post-COVID-19 infection: A rare case report from Northeast India.

Multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder may be seen in the acute setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or even post-recovery. Such patients may present with optic neuropathy along with weakness in the back and lower limbs. Ascending paralysis can present with respiratory distress in acute COVID-19 infection and may even prove to be fatal. We report a unique case of a 16-year-old female with past history of COVID-19 infection having optic neuropathy, and radioimaging showing demyelinating plaques in the central nervous system with spinal cord edema. Serology showed positivity for rheumatoid arthritis, and the patient was managed with steroids and rituximab.

Change in contrast sensitivity and OCT parameters in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Background: Deterioration in peripheral contrast sensitivity (CS) can be an indicator to detect progressive deterioration of visual function in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in central and peripheral CS and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters and in patients with IIH. Design and Methods: In this pilot observational study, data of 20 eyes of 10 'treatment-naïve' IIH patients were analyzed. Detailed ocular examination was performed including CS assessment using both Pelli-Robson (PR) test and Spaeth-Richman Contrast Sensitivity Test (SPARCS) along with the OCT for macular and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters. A comparative analysis was done for CS and OCT parameters from baseline to a follow-up visit > 12 months (range: 18-24 months). Results: The study population had a female preponderance (80%, n = 8), and mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 ± 10.3 years. Mean follow-up period was 21.2 months (range: 15-24 months). At presentation, 6/6 visual acuity was noted in 75% eyes (n = 15) while all eyes had 6/6 vision at the last follow-up. Average PR score increased from 1.96 ± 0.36 to 2.30 at the last visit (Wilcoxon test: V = 0.0, p ⩽ 0.001) while average SPARCS score (total) increased from 71.85 ± 9.10 to 77.55 ± 6.20 (Paired t-test: t = -2.3, p = 0.035). Change in SPARCS score was significant in average total score (p = 0.035), and quadrant-wise score in superonasal (p = 0.014), inferonasal (p = 0.001), and inferotemporal (p = 0.021) quadrants. Same trend in SPARCS scores was observed when eyes with and without recurrence were analyzed. Statistically significant difference in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (p = 0.007) and macular thickness (MT) in nasal quadrant (p = 0.006) was seen between the eyes with recurrence and without recurrence. Conclusion: Peripheral CS showed significant difference in all eyes over time. It showed significant change in eyes with recurrence, even in the presence of intact visual acuity and preserved central CS. Changes in RNFL thickness and nasal MT could differentiate eyes which developed recurrence from normal eyes.