Diagnosis, Classification, and Assessment of the Underlying Etiology of Uveitis by Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Review.

Recent years have seen the emergence and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostic decision support systems. There are approximately 80 etiologies that can underly uveitis, some very rare, and AI may lend itself to their detection. This synthesis of the literature selected articles that focused on the use of AI in determining the diagnosis, classification, and underlying etiology of uveitis. The AI-based systems demonstrated relatively good performance, with a classification accuracy of 93-99% and a sensitivity of at least 80% for identifying the two most probable etiologies underlying uveitis. However, there were limitations to the evidence. Firstly, most data were collected retrospectively with missing data. Secondly, ophthalmic, demographic, clinical, and ancillary tests were not reliably integrated into the algorithms' dataset. Thirdly, patient numbers were small, which is problematic when aiming to discriminate rare and complex diagnoses. In conclusion, the data indicate that AI has potential as a diagnostic decision support system, but clinical applicability is not yet established. Future studies and technologies need to incorporate more comprehensive clinical data and larger patient populations. In time, these should improve AI-based diagnostic tools and help clinicians diagnose, classify, and manage patients with uveitis.

PARACENTRAL ACUTE MIDDLE MACULOPATHY FOLLOWING ORAL INTAKE OF SUMATRIPTAN.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this report was to describe a case with paracentral acute middle maculopathy after oral intake of sumatriptan. METHODS: Case presentation. RESULTS: One patient showed typical findings on fundoscopic examination and optical coherence tomography consistent with paracentral acute middle maculopathy following oral intake of sumatriptan. CONCLUSION: Sumatriptan may be a trigger for paracentral acute middle maculopathy.

Differential Diagnosis of Vitritis in Adult Patients.

The term "vitritis" refers to the presence of a cellular infiltration of the vitreous body, usually in the context of an intraocular inflammation, but not exclusively. Intermediate uveitis is the most prominent cause of vitritis, including infectious and auto-immune/auto-inflammatory etiologies. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapies should not be started before ruling out the infectious causes of vitritis, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. Other situations can mimic intermediate uveitis such as amyloidosis and ocular tumors. Primary intraocular lymphoma should always be suspected in case of vitreous infiltrations in individuals aged over 50 years.

Association of Anterior Uveitis With Acute Zika Virus Infection in Adults.

Importance: Acute anterior uveitis has been reported to be associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in case reports and retrospective studies based on systemic clinical signs of ZIKV and positive serologic tests. Objective: To describe the ophthalmic findings associated with systemic ZIKV infection during the 2016 ZIKV outbreak in Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study assessed adult patients with red eye and virologic or serologic confirmation of acute ZIKV infection who were admitted to the Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2017, for a systematic ophthalmologic examination. All patients with anterior uveitis also underwent a complete uveitis workup to rule out other causes of uveitis. Patients were excluded from the study if they had active uveitis and a history of uveitis or positive serology for other infectious diseases including dengue fever virus and chikungunya virus. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2017. Exposures: Patients with confirmed ZIKV infection underwent full ophthalmic examination at study inception and 3, 6, and 12 months. Main Outcomes and Measures: Description of the presenting ocular characteristics, management, and outcome. Results: Of 62 total patients with a red eye, 32 (51.6%) had no uveitis (mean [SD] age, 27.8 [3.7] years; 26 women [81.3%]) and 30 (48.4%) had anterior uveitis (mean [SD] age, 27.5 [3.8] years; 26 women [86.7%]), which was bilateral in all cases. Acute anterior uveitis was nongranulomatous and without synechiae, exhibiting mild anterior chamber reaction with small keratic precipitates. Ocular hypertension occurred in 25 patients (83.3%) with uveitis at presentation and persisted in 15 patients (50%) at 1 year despite antiglaucoma therapy and control of uveitis. Uveitis responded to topical steroids in all cases. Intraocular pressure was within normal limits for all patients without uveitis throughout the follow-up period. Conclusions and Relevance: Anterior uveitis was present in almost half of patients with a red eye and acute systemic ZIKV infection; the uveitis was usually bilateral and often associated with increased intraocular pressure. These results suggest that ophthalmic evaluation should be performed in patients with red eye and acute ZIKV infection to potentially detect and manage hypertensive anterior uveitis.

Drug-induced uveitis: A review.

Uveitis maybe induced by the use of various medications known as drug-induced uveitis (DIU), though rare it is an important cause of uveitis which one needs to be aware of. The drugs may be administered through any route including systemic, topical, and intravitreal. Ocular inflammation can be in the form of anterior, intermediate, posterior or pan uveitis, and rarely may present as episcleritis and scleritis. Identification of drug as the offending agent of uveitis is important as many a times stopping the drug may help recover the uveitis or the concomitant use of corticosteroids. An extensive literature review was done using the Pubmed. An overview of DIU is provided as it is important for us to be aware of this clinical entity.

Expert opinion on the management and follow-up of uveitis patients during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

INTRODUCTION: Routine medical and ophthalmic care is being drastically curtailed in the context of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Uveitis patients require particular attention because of their theoretical risk of viral infection, in the context of therapeutic immunosuppression. AREAS COVERED: This collaborative work proposes practical management and follow-up criteria for uveitis patients in the context of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. EXPERT OPINION: Management should proceed as usual when access to health care possible in patients who do not belong to a group at high risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, and in uncontrolled uveitis cases. In case of reduced access to eye clinics or high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients' management should be stratified based on their clinical presentation. In non-severe uveitis cases, the use of systemic steroids should be avoided, and local steroids preferred whenever possible. In uncontrolled situations where there is real risk of permanent visual loss, high-dose intravenous steroids and/or systemic immunosuppressants and/or biotherapies can be administered depending on the severity of eye disease. Immunosuppressive therapy should not be withheld, unless the patient develops SARS-CoV2 infection.

Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Treatment of Bilateral Candida Chorioretinitis Complicated with Choroidal Neovascularization.

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to describe a case of bilateral Candida chorioretinitis complicated with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and effectively treated with combined intravitreal bevacizumab and amphotericin B.Results: An 83-year-old patient was diagnosed with Candida chorioretinitis in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography revealed CNV. Treatment using combined intravitreal bevacizumab and amphotericin B was initiated followed by a 4-weekly regimen of bevacizumab, eventually resulting in the regression of the subretinal fluid and intraretinal edema.Conclusion: Our study supports the combined use of intravitreal bevacizumab and amphotericin B in the management of CNV in Candida chorioretinitis.

Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy following Oral Intake of Adrenergic Flu Treatments.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report a case series of patients with acute macular neureretinopathy in which patients concomitantly used ephedrine or pseudo-ephedrine. METHODS: This is a retrospective case review. RESULTS: Two patients with retinal findings consistent with acute macular neuroretinopathy are presented. CONCLUSION: Acute macular neuroretinopathy should be considered in any young patient with unexplained loss of vision and exposed to direct or indirect adrenergic stimulation.

Submacular hemorrhage in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: A synthesis of the literature.

Large submacular hemorrhage, an uncommon manifestation of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, may also occur with idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Submacular hemorrhage damages photoreceptors owing to iron toxicity, fibrin meshwork contraction, and reduced nutrient flux, with subsequent macular scarring. Clinical and experimental studies support prompt treatment, as tissue damage can occur within 24 hours. Without treatment the natural history is poor, with a mean final visual acuity (VA) of 20/1600. Reported treatments include retinal pigment epithelial patch, macular translocation, pneumatic displacement, intravitreal or subretinal tissue plasminogen activator, intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs, and combinations thereof. In the absence of comparative studies, we combined eligible studies to assess the VA change before and after each treatment option. The greatest improvement occurred after combined pars plana vitrectomy, subretinal tissue plasminogen activator, intravitreal gas, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, with VA improving from 20/1000 to 20/400. The best final VA occurred using combined intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator, gas, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, with VA improving from 20/200 to 20/100. Both treatments had an acceptable safety profile, but most studies were small, and larger randomized controlled trials are needed to determine both safety and efficacy.

PAX6 Expression and Retinal Cell Death in a Transgenic Mouse Model for Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: PAX6 is a highly conserved protein essential for the control of eye development both in invertebrates and vertebrates. PAX6 expression persists in the adult inner retina, but little is known about its functions after completion of retinal differentiation. Therefore, we investigated PAX6 expression in wild-type and calcitonin receptor-like receptor transgenic (CLR(SMαA)) mice with angle-closure glaucoma. METHODS: Intraocular pressure was measured by indentation tonometry in anesthetized mice. Eyes of mice of both genotypes were enucleated at various ages and retinas were processed for morphological analysis and PAX6 immunostaining. The content of PAX6 in retinal extracts was estimated by Western blot analysis. Retinal expression of glaucoma-related genes was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Control mice showed normal retinal morphology between p22 and p428 with steady PAX6 expression in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL). CLR(SMαA) mice examined between p22 and p82 exhibited increased intraocular pressure and a progressive decrease in cell number including PAX6-expressing cells in the GCL. The INL was not affected up to postnatal day 42. Later, a significant increase in PAX6-expressing cells concomitant with an overall loss of cells was observed in the INL of CLR(SMαA) as compared with control mice. Retinal up-regulation of glaucoma-related genes was furthermore observed. CONCLUSIONS: Distinctive changes of PAX6 expression in the inner retina of CLR(SMαA) mice suggest a role in regulatory mechanisms involved in glaucoma-related retinal cell death. The selective increase of PAX6 expression in the degenerating INL of CLR(SMαA) mice may represent an attempt to preserve retinal cytoarchitecture.

Uveal effusion syndrome.

The terms uveal effusion, choroidal effusion, ciliochoroidal effusion, ciliochoroidal detachment, and choroidal detachment have been used interchangeably in the literature. These labels all describe an abnormal collection of fluid that expands the suprachoroidal space, producing internal elevation of the choroidal. There are various inflammatory and hydrostatic conditions that can cause uveal effusion, but in some cases no obvious cause exists. In this setting, patients are thought to have a distinct, primary abnormality of the choroid or sclera, called uveal effusion syndrome (UES). UES may be idiopathic, or associated with hypermetropia, and should be considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Histological studies show amorphous glycosaminoglycan-like material filling the interfibrillary spaces of excised scleral tissue, with disruption of collagen fibers. In some patients there may be reduced macromolecular diffusion that interferes with the normal transscleral egress of albumin out of the eye, perhaps causing choroidal fluid retention due to altered osmotic forces. An alternative, and perhaps complementary hypothesis, is that swollen sclera compresses the transscleral vessels with resulting fluid retention. Patients with UES are most typically middle-aged men who have a relapsing remitting clinical course. There is often co-existing, shifting subretinal fluid that may involve the macula. Chronic disease may lead to secondary retinal pigment epithelial (leopard spot) changes and permanently reduced visual acuity. Treatment with systemic steroids does not appear to be effective. Surgical decompression of the vortex veins as they pass through the sclera has been described, but the most common treatment is full-thickness sclerectomies to provide an exit for choroidal fluid. The largest case series suggests that this produces an anatomic improvement in approximately 83% of treated eyes after a single procedure and in about 96% after one or two procedures. Final visual acuity improves by two or more lines in 56% of the eyes, is stable in 35%, and worsens in 9%. Although extremely rare, UES is a serious condition that is difficult to treat and can lead to severe and permanent visual loss in both eyes.

Risk for eye splash injury during administration of intraocular injections: a study of retina specialists and fellows.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of eye protection and frequency of eye splash events during intraocular injections as well as infection risk awareness among retina specialists and fellows in training. METHODS: In a prospective survey of practicing retina specialists and retina fellows, frequency of use and type of eye protection employed during intraocular injections, frequency of eye splash occurrences, description of the eye splash event, number of procedures performed, and awareness of transconjunctival infection risk were investigated. RESULTS: Sixty-four ophthalmologists responded to the questionnaire: 40 retina fellows and 24 retina specialists. The response rate was 100%. Twenty-five percent of the fellows and 33.3% of the specialists reported using eye protection, including corrective glasses, during all intraocular injections. Two of the retina fellows and none of the specialists used special forms of eye protection. Retina fellows had a mean +/- SD of 2.1 +/- 1.3 years experience and the specialists had a mean +/- SD of 10.4 +/- 6.7 years experience in performing intraocular injections. The mean number of injections +/- SD performed by the fellows and specialists was 23 +/- 14.6 and 35 +/- 11.9 per month, respectively. Twelve conjunctival or corneal splash occurrences were reported by six fellows and two retina specialists. Eleven splash events occurred due to reflux of fluid during administration of subconjunctival anesthetic injection, and one event occurred during an anterior chamber tap. Splash events were significantly more likely to occur during procedures performed by fellows, with a relative risk of 8.4 for unprotected procedures (P< 0.001, Fisher exact test). Most (87.5%) of the participants were aware of the risk for transconjunctival viral infection. CONCLUSION: Special eye protection is seldom used during administration of intraocular injections. Although the risk for eye splash during administration of subconjunctival anesthetic before intraocular injections is relatively small, protective measures may be considered when treating high-risk patients.