Changes in intraocular pressure following intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with history of glaucoma filtration surgery.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate changes in intraocular pressure following intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection, specifically in patients undergoing glaucoma filtration surgery. METHODS: The degree of increase in intraocular pressure was compared retrospectively among three groups. Group 1 comprised patients who underwent prior glaucoma filtration surgery (54 eyes). Group 2 included patients with or suspected glaucoma without such surgical history (20 eyes). Group 3 included patients without glaucoma (33 eyes). Pressure measurements were taken before the injection and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months post-injection. A subgroup analysis was performed for pressure > 35 mmHg, > 30 mmHg, > 25 mmHg, and a difference > 10 mmHg between the peak and baseline pressure. RESULTS: Group 1 consistently displayed lower pressures compared with Group 2, with significant difference at both 1- and 6-month post-injections (15.09 mmHg vs. 18.10 mmHg, P = 0.042 and 13.91 mg vs. 17.25 mmHg, P = 0.040). The proportion of patients in Group 1 and Group 3 with pressures > 25 mmHg, > 30 mmHg, and a difference > 10 mmHg did not significantly differ (15.6% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.231; 3.1% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.867; and 17.1% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.231). Notably, Group 2 exhibited a significantly higher proportion within each category (> 25 mmHg, 24.0%; > 30 mmHg, 20.0%; > 10 mmHg difference, 28.0%). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal dexamethasone implant did not increase the risk of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with a history of glaucoma filtration surgery compared with patients with suspected glaucoma; the risk was similar to those without glaucoma.

A very early steroid responder after cataract surgery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Increased intraocular pressure (IOP), a side effect of corticosteroid eye drops, typically develops during the first few weeks of administration, and steroid response is not generally considered a cause of increased IOP immediately after cataract surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, I report a rare case of increased IOP due to steroid eye drops immediately after surgery. A man in his 80s presented with vision loss. Bilateral cataracts and pseudoexfoliation syndrome were confirmed. Postoperative eye drops including steroid eye drops were started immediately after cataract surgery in the right eye. High IOP was observed at the next and subsequent morning visits, but IOP normalized when steroid eye drops were discontinued. After surgery on the left eye, steroids were not administered postoperatively, and no increase in IOP was observed. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights that a very early steroid response may be potential cause of elevated IOP immediately after cataract surgery.

Evaluation of the outcome of long-tube shunt implant surgery in uveitic glaucoma patients by analyzing the background of uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of long-tube shunt surgery (LTSS) without valve in uveitic glaucoma (UG) eyes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 45 UG eyes that underwent only LTSS or LTSS combined with trabeculectomy (TLE) (LTSS/TLE). The UG eyes were analyzed by categorizing them into granulomatous/non-granulomatous, steroid responder/non-responder, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (POAG background)/non-POAG (non-POAG background). All granulomatous UG eyes received a continuous 3-times-daily administration of topical betamethasone post-LTSS. RESULTS: The eyes consisted of granulomatous (37 eyes, 82%)/non-granulomatous (5 eyes, 11%), steroid responder (19 eyes, 42%)/non-steroid responder (13 eyes, 29%), and 20 eyes with POAG or POAG background (p = 0.0022, 83%) among 24 cases of unilateral UG. The 5-year survival rates of only LTSS and LTSS/TLE were 66% and 100%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival-curve estimates in the non-granulomatous group were 100% for 6-year postoperative period, while the granulomatous group showed a gradual decrease along the 6-year (81%) postoperative period. The 5-year survival rates in the steroid responder group and the non-steroid responder group eyes were 74% and 78%, respectively. No intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation was observed in the positive steroid responder eyes post-LTSS. CONCLUSIONS: LTSS and LTSS/TLE were both effective in UG. Positive steroid response may be masked by LTSS in the positive responder eyes. Continuous administration of topical betamethasone post-LTSS may be important for preventing an IOP spike by suppressing inflammation in the anterior chamber. LTSS combined with TLE may be recommended in eyes with granulomatous UG, and the coexistence of a POAG/POAG background.

Unexplained Bilateral Simultaneous Corneal Graft Rejection in a Healthy 18-Year-Old Male.

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of unexplained bilateral corneal graft rejection one year after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in an otherwise healthy individual, who was compliant with topical fluorometholone maintenance therapy. OBSERVATIONS: An 18-year-old gentleman, who underwent successful, sequential, non-simultaneous, bilateral PK for advanced keratoconus, presented one year later with an acute endothelial rejection episode involving both eyes simultaneously. The rejection episode was reversed with a high dose of intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone pulse therapy over three days, topical cyclosporine-A 1%, and prednisolone acetate 1%, and then maintained on cyclosporine-A 1% eye drops, as the patient was a steroid responder. Conclusion and importance: Bilateral corneal graft rejection, although rare, can occur even several months after successful PK. Prompt management is crucial for the successful reversal of an acute corneal graft rejection episode. In steroid responders, Cyclosporine-A 1% can play a role in reducing the need for, or frequency of, potent steroid eye drops in the acute phase, and as a long-term steroid-sparing agent for maintenance.

Risk of intraocular pressure elevation after topical steroids in children and adults: A systematic review.

Topical steroids may induce a rise in intraocular pressure. The risk may increase with prolonged use, high frequency of administration, young age, higher ocular penetrance and higher anti-inflammatory potency. We aimed to study this relationship by comparing published rates of intraocular pressure elevation following administration of topical steroids and compared the risk of higher versus lower dosage regimes, high- versus low-potency/penetration steroids and adults versus children. Data sources used were Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Scopus, CINHAL Plus and LILACS. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials of topical steroids versus any other topical steroid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, placebo or vehicle, or a different mode of administration administered for 7 days or longer that reported intraocular pressure elevation from baseline as >10, 6-15 or >15 mm Hg in adults or children. Risks of bias were reviewed using the GRADE quality approach. Data were extracted into the software package, RevMan, Version 5 (Cochrane Collaboration). In total, 43 studies were included. Meta-analysis was not possible. Topical steroids of lower anti-inflammatory potency, and with reduced intraocular penetration, are associated with reduced incidence of intraocular pressure elevation. A comparison of data in children and adults is limited by the use of different reporting systems. The principal obstacle to meta-analysis is the different reporting systems used to categorise intraocular pressure elevation. We recommend future studies should report intraocular pressure elevation >10 mm Hg from baseline to allow meta-analysis of data.

Long-Term Control of Macular Edema With Adalimumab After Cataract Surgery in a Japanese Child With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Case Report and Review of 26 Japanese Patients.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis is rare in the Japanese population. In this article, we report a child whose macular edema was controlled for years after cataract surgery with adalimumab, and reviewed 26 Japanese patients in the literature. In this case report, a 4-year-old boy developed band keratopathy, posterior iris synechiae, and complicated cataract in both eyes. Oral prednisolone prescribed at another hospital was discontinued due to high intraocular pressure in both eyes as a steroid responder. At the age of 5 years, he started oral methotrexate 8 mg weekly for recurrent bilateral iridocyclitis and then underwent lensectomy with core vitrectomy in both eyes. Planned intraocular lens implantation was cancelled at surgery because the anterior vitreous had severe inflammatory opacity with diffuse retinal edema in both eyes. Due to persistent macular edema in both eyes 5 months postoperatively, at the age of 6 years, he began to use adalimumab injection 20 mg every 2 weeks. The macular structure depicted by optical coherence tomography became normal in 2 months. At final visit at the age of 11 years, he had the best-corrected visual acuity of 0.8 in the right eye and 0.4 in the left eye, with adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks and methotrexate 8 mg weekly. In conclusion, macular edema persistent despite oral methotrexate after cataract surgery could be controlled for long term by adalimumab in a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. In the Japanese literature, only 26 additional cases with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis have been reported so far.

Non-infective Unilateral Panuveitis: Topical Steroids and Posterior Vitrectomy as a Cheap and Safe Alternative to Modern Treatment Modalities.

Uvea of the eye is a term that includes the iris, choroid, and ciliary body. Inflammation of all layers of the uvea is called panuveitis. Panuveitis can even spread to involve the optic nerve, retina, vitreous humor, or lens. This process can lead to redness and pain in the eye, blurring of vision, and even blindness. The condition is usually treated with topical steroids, but it becomes difficult in steroid-responders. Here, we present the case of a rare non-infective unilateral case of panuveitis that was successfully treated in an unorthodox manner.

The rescue effect of adalimumab in the treatment of refractory pediatric panuveitis complicated with steroid-induced glaucoma.

We report the rescue effects of adalimumab (HUMIRA®) therapy in a case of refractory pediatric panuveitis complicated with steroid-induced glaucoma. A 13-year-old girl had suffered from blurred vision since January 2013. Bilateral idiopathic panuveitis with macular edema (ME) was diagnosed. She had previously been treated with systemic steroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and mycophenolate. All treatments had failed to suppress the ocular inflammation and ME persisted. Intravitreal dexamethasone implant injections were given to both eyes and ME subsided; however, complications with steroid-induced glaucoma and cataract occurred. ME also recurred following absorbance of the dexamethasone implant. After administration of subcutaneous adalimumab injections every 2 weeks, inflammatory activity was well controlled and ME subsided. Phacoemulsification and posterior intraocular lens implantation were performed in both eyes. Menorrhagia and anemia were noted 9 months after adalimumab treatment. Thereafter, adalimumab was reduced and her anemia improved. Her vision had remained 20/20 for 33 months. Refractory pediatric uveitis usually requires more aggressive treatment. Intraocular glucocorticoid releasing implant could be used to lessen the possible systemic side effects in children. Intravitreal dexamethasone implant was effective in treating the inflammatory ME but could be complicated with steroid glaucoma and cataract. Tumor necrosis factor-blocking agents have been used to treat chronic, refractory uveitis in adults as well as children. Adalimumab was a favorable biological agent in steroid-responding pediatric patient of refractory noninfectious uveitis but could be complicated with menorrhagia. Long-term follow-up and more cases are mandatory.

A retrospective analysis of intraocular pressure changes after cataract surgery with the use of prednisolone acetate 1% versus difluprednate 0.05%.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of topical prednisolone acetate 1% (PA) used after routine cataract surgery to the effect of difluprednate 0.05% (DFBA) used for the same indication on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: An electronic query was created to gather information from all cataract surgeries between January 2010 and January 2015 within the electronic health record database at Barnet Dulaney Perkins, a multicenter, multiphysician private practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Information collected included age, sex, diabetes status, glaucoma history, medication regimen (use of PA or DFBA), and IOP before surgery, 5-10 days postoperatively (TP1) and 3-6 weeks postoperatively (TP2). Postoperative IOP measurements were compared to baseline IOP measurement in each patient. RESULTS: Regardless of steroid used, all patients in this study experienced an increase in IOP within TP1 and returned to baseline IOP (±2.0 mmHg) by TP2. Patients who received DFBA showed a statistically significant increase in IOP at TP1 compared to those on PA (P<0.001) with the mean IOP an average 0.60 mmHg higher (95% CI =0.3, 0.9). The odds ratio of a clinically significantly increased IOP at TP1 (defined as overall IOP ≥21 mmHg and an increase of ≥10 mmHg) in DFBA-treated patients was 1.84 (95% CI =1.4, 2.6). In patients treated with PA, 3% reached a significantly increased IOP, compared to 4.4% of patients in the DFBA group (P<0.05). Risk factors for increased IOP were identified, and include advanced age (>75) (P<0.005) and a history of glaucoma (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In postoperative cataract patients, use of DFBA increased the risk of a clinically significant IOP increase.