Outer Retinal Hyperreflective Dots: A Potential Imaging Biomarker in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

PURPOSE: To investigate hyperreflective dots (HRDs) on baseline OCT in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Consecutive primary fovea-off RRDs presenting between January 2012 and September 2022. METHODS: Visual acuity (VA) was obtained at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Baseline foveal OCT scans were graded for the presence of HRDs in the outer retina, morphologic stage of RRD in the parafovea, and foveal photoreceptor integrity (intact, patchy or complete loss of the bacillary layer). Epiretinal membrane (ERM) and cystoid macular edema (CME) were graded after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in each morphologic stage with HRDs present on OCT and their association with postoperative VA. Secondary outcomes included association with the height of foveal detachment, duration of central vision loss, RRD extent, and development of ERM/CME. RESULTS: A total of 351 patients were included. The presence of HRDs by morphologic stage of RRD was 0% in stage 1, 4.5% (2/42) in stage 2, 13% (7/54) in stage 3a, 16% (20/126) in stage 3b, 48% (40/83) in stage 4, and 85% (35/41) in stage 5. Hyperreflective dots were associated with increasing stage of RRD (P < 0.001), reduced integrity of foveal photoreceptors (P < 0.001), and reduced postoperative VA at 3, 6, and 12 months (P < 0.001), after excluding visually significant cataracts and adjusting for covariates. There was also a significant association between HRDs and height of foveal detachment, duration of central vision loss, and RRD extent (P < 0.001). Hyperreflective dots were neither associated with postoperative ERM formation nor with its severity (P = 0.27). Nevertheless, they were associated with the occurrence of CME at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P = 0.01; P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperreflective dots have been hypothesized to consist of intraretinal inflammatory cells. We found that HRDs were significantly associated with the morphologic stage, extent, duration, and height of the RRD before surgery and with reduced VA and CME after surgery. Our results suggest that HRDs are associated with photoreceptor degeneration, as longstanding and extensive RRDs are more likely to present with HRDs. The association of HRDs with CME provides insight into the possible importance of inflammatory processes in RRD before and after surgery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Four-Year Survival Comparison of Endothelial Keratoplasty Techniques in Patients With Previous Glaucoma Surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare 4-year survival outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in eyes with previous glaucoma surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective, comparative case series, including patients with previous trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage device implantation, who later underwent either DMEK (n = 48) or DSAEK (n = 41). Follow-up was limited to 12 to 60 months to prevent bias. Primary outcomes were graft survival and rejection. Secondary outcomes were best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), detachment/rebubble, endothelial cell loss, and intraocular pressure elevations. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, follow-up duration, and preexisting glaucoma parameters did not differ significantly between the groups. Graft survival probability after DMEK and DSAEK was 75% and 75% at 1 year, 63% and 50% at 2 years, 49% and 44% at 3 years, 28% and 33% at 4 years, and 28% and 29% at 5 years, respectively (P = 0.899 between the groups). Graft rejection rates were 20.8% and 19.5%, respectively (P = 1.000). Primary failure, rebubbling, endothelial cell loss, and intraocular pressure elevation did not differ significantly between the groups. Preoperative BSCVA did not differ between the groups (P = 0.821). Postoperative BSCVA was significantly better in the DMEK group at 6, 12, and 24 months (P < 0.001, P = 0.022, and P = 0.047, respectively). In a multivariable model (R2 = 0.576), the type of surgery was the only significant factor affecting postoperative BSCVA, in favor of DMEK (coefficient value -0.518, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In eyes with previous glaucoma surgery, DMEK and DSAEK had comparably low survival and comparably high rejection rates. Postoperative visual acuity might be better after DMEK in this setting.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as a sixth nerve palsy and Horner's syndrome.

The combination of a sixth nerve palsy and ipsilateral Horner's syndrome localises the disease process to the posterior cavernous sinus and can be a result of various pathologies in this region. A 74-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 9-month history of binocular horizontal diplopia worse when looking left. She was found to have a left sixth nerve palsy and Horner's syndrome and MRI revealed an enhancing soft tissue mass in the nasopharynx with involvement of the bones of the skull base and invasion of the left cavernous sinus. Endoscopic biopsy of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of non-keratinising squamous cell carcinoma, which was Epstein-Barr virus positive. She was treated with radiation therapy. Patients with a sixth nerve palsy and ipsilateral Horner's syndrome should have urgent neuroimaging with careful attention to the cavernous sinus since sympathetic fibres join the sixth nerve for a short distance in this location.

Effect of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy on Corneal Nerves.

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a trophic factor for corneal nerves (CNs). Despite its widespread use to treat a variety of retinal diseases, the effect of repetitive intravitreal (IV) anti-VEGF injections on CN is not known. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. CN parameters were compared between eyes in 39 individuals who received anti-VEGF injections in one eye only. Next, we compared CN parameters between 50 eyes of 50 individuals with a history of IV anti-VEGF injections and 80 eyes of 80 individuals without a history of injection. In vivo confocal microscopic examination was conducted using the ConfoScan 4. Images were analyzed by the Corneal Nerve Analysis tool. Paired and independent t test methodologies were used to compare nerve parameters, and multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to control for potential confounders. RESULTS: In 39 patients (own controls), eyes with a history of IV injection had lower CN length density, total length, nerve fibers, bifurcations, and branches (P < 0.005) compared to the fellow eyes without injection. Similar findings were seen in the eyes of 50 individuals with a history of injection compared to 80 individuals without injection. A history of IV injections and ethnicity remained significantly associated with the CN length density and explained 32% of the variability (R = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: We found decreased CN parameters in eyes with a history of anti-VEGF injections compared to eyes without such a history.