Influence of the Vitreoretinal Interface on the Treatment with Anti-VEGF for Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of the vitreoretinal interface on the outcomes of different ranibizumab regimens for exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective subanalysis of 2 prospective clinical trials. Patients were treated with ranibizumab for 12 months according to 3 different regimens: pro-re-nata (PRN), treat and extend (T&E), and monthly. Vitreoretinal interface was assessed for absence (group ON) or presence (group OFF) of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). RESULTS: We included 64 eyes from 64 patients. Visual improvement was poorer for group ON (0.3 ± 10.7 letters) than for group OFF (9.2 ± 13.3; p = 0.007). A significant difference in letters of improvement between groups was observed in the PRN cohort (ON: -5.0 ± 12.9; OFF: 11.4 ± 11.9; p = 0.003), but not in the cohorts with monthly (ON: 5.7 ± 7.8; OFF: 7.9 ± 15.2; p = 0.735) or T&E (ON: 4.3 ± 4.3; OFF: 7.8 ± 11.1; p = 0.424) treatment. CONCLUSION: The negative impact of absence of PVD is regimen dependent, with monthly dosing providing similar outcomes to PVD patients. In the absence of PVD (group ON), PRN should be avoided, and T&E might be an alternative.

Análise epidemiológica dos acidentes com material biológicos em um hospital oftalmológico / Epidemiological analysis of accidents with biological material in an eye hospital

Objetivo:Analisar a ocorrência e as características dos acidentes com material biológico em um hospital oftalmológico no nordeste do Brasil.Métodos:Estudo transversal, com análise retrospectiva dos dados dos pacientes, realizada por meio de um levantamento dos acidentes com material biológico notificados à Comunicação de Acidentes de Trabalho (CAT) durante o período de 2010 a 2013.Resultados:Foram notificados 34 acidentes, sendo 26 (76,5%) em trabalhadores do gênero feminino e 8 (23,5%) masculino. A média de idade foi 30,0 ± 5,9 anos. Quarenta e oito (82,3%) acidentes aconteceram no bloco cirúrgico da sede do hospital, 15 (44,1%) foram com auxiliares/técnicos de enfermagem, 8 (23,5%) com instrumentadores, 5 (14,7%) com médicos em treinamento, 4 (11,8%) com médicos formados e 2 (5,9%) com equipe de profissionais de limpeza. Os acidentes foram do tipo percutâneo em 30 (88,2%) casos e por contato com mucosa em 4 (11,7%). Em 28 (82,4%) casos o acidente foi no membro superior, 4 (11,8%) na face e 2 (5,9%) em membros inferiores. O acidente ocorreu durante o ato cirúrgico em 12 (35,3%) e 10 (29,4%) durante a manipulação do material após o procedimento cirúrgico. Os acidentes aconteceram com funcionários que possuíam média de dois anos de experiência e após 5,5 horas trabalhadas.Conclusão:Os acidentes com material biológico em um hospital oftalmológico foram mais frequentes em profissionais auxiliares/técnicos de enfermagem, durante o ato cirúrgico e manipulação do instrumental após cirurgia. Este trabalho, portanto, demonstrou a importância de identificar riscos de acidentes laborais entre profissionais de saúde na área de oftalmologia.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and characteristics of accidents with biological material in an ophthalmology hospital in the Northeast of Brazil.Methods:Retrospective descriptive study on ducted through a survey of biological material accidents notified by Comunicação de Acidentes de Trabalho (CAT) during 2010-2013.Results:34 accidents were reported, 26 (76.5%) workers were females and 8 (23.5%) were males. The mean age was 30.0 ± 5.9 years. Forty-eight (82.3%) accidents occurred in the surgical room of the hospital, 15 (44.1%) were with auxiliary / practical nurses, 8 (23.5%) with surgical technologists, 5 (14.7%) with training physicians, 4 (11.8%) with trained physicians and 2 (5.9%) with cleaning staff. Accidents were with percutaneus in 30 (88.2%) cases, and contact with mucosa in 4 (11.7%). In 28 (82.4%) cases the accident was in the upper limb, 4 (11.8%) in the face, and 2 (5.8%) in the lower limbs. The accident occurred during surgery in 12 (35.3%) and 10 (29.4%) during manipulation of the material after surgery. The injuries occurred with employees who had an average of two years of experience and after 5.5 hours worked.Conclusion:Occupational accidents with biological material in an ophthalmology hospital were more frequent with auxiliary/practical nurses, during surgery and in the manipulation of instruments after surgery.This study demonstrated the importance of identifying risks of occupational accidents among health professionals in ophthalmology.

Visual function and macular architecture in patients with inactive zone 2 and 3 toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis / Função visual e arquitetura macular em pacientes com retinocoroidite toxoplásmica inativa nas zonas 2 e 3

ABSTRACTPurpose:To evaluate the visual function and architecture of the central and peripapillary retina in patients with inactive toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis outside the macular and peripapillary regions (zones 2 and 3).Methods:Cross-sectional study of 20 eyes (18 patients) with zone 2 and 3 toxoplasmic scars and visual acuity ≥20/25. Patients underwent Humphrey 10-2 perimetry, contrast sensitivity (Mars test), and color vision testing (L'Anthony desaturated D-15). The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thicknesses were determined by optical coherence tomography.Results:The patients' mean age was 27.4 ± 10.3 years, and the mean duration of remission was 6.15 ± 5.19 months. Abnormal contrast sensitivity and color vision were observed in three (15.0%) and four eyes (20.0%), respectively. Mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) fell outside the 95% normal confidence limits of the perimeter's database in 14 (70.0%) and seven eyes (35.0%), respectively. Foveal and mean RNFL thicknesses were within the normal limits in all eyes. Eyes with zone 2 retinochoroiditis had lower foveal sensitivity than eyes with zone 3 lesions (p=0.041). Eyes with a longer duration of remission had a higher MD (r=0.575; p=0.013) and a lower PSD (r=-0.593; p=0.010).Conclusions:Despite normal central and peripapillary retinal architecture, eyes with inactive zone 2 and 3 toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis can present with abnormal color, contrast, and macular perimetric sensitivity. Zone 2 retinochoroiditis was associated with lower foveal sensitivity, and a longer duration of retinochoroiditis remission was associated with better perimetric parameters (MD and PSD).

RESUMOObjetivo:Avaliar a função visual e arquitetura da retina central e peripapilar em pacientes com retinocoroidite toxoplásmica inativa fora da região macular e peripapilar (zonas 2 e 3).Métodos:Estudo transversal de 20 olhos (18 pacientes) com cicatrizes toxoplásmicas nas zonas 2 e 3 com acuidade visual ≥20/25. Os pacientes foram submetidos à perimetria Humphrey 10-2, teste de sensibilidade ao contraste (Teste Mars) e teste de visão de cores (L'Anthony D-15 dessaturado). As espessuras da camada de fibras nervosas da retina (CFNR) e da mácula foram determinadas pela tomografia de coerência óptica.Resultados:A média de idade dos pacientes foi 27,4 ± 10,3 anos, e a duração média da remissão da retinocoroidite foi de 6,15 ± 5,19 meses. Alterações na sensibilidade ao contraste e cores foram observada em, respectivamente, 3 olhos (15,0%) e 4 olhos (20,0%). Os índices perimétricos mean deviation (MD) e pattern standard deviation (PSD) estiveram fora do intervalo de confiança de 95% do perímetro em 14 olhos (70,0%) e 7 olhos (35,0%), respectivamente. A espessura foveal e da CFNR média estiveram dentro do limite da normalidade em todos os olhos. Olhos com retinocoroidite na zona 2 tiveram menor sensibilidade foveal que olhos com lesões na zona 3 (p=0,041). Olhos com remissão de longa duração tiveram um MD mais alto (r=0,575; p=0,013) e um PSD mais baixo (r=-0,593; p=0,010).Conclusão:Apesar da arquitetura normal da retina central e peripapilar, olhos com retinocoroidite inativa nas zonas 2 e 3 podem apresentar anormalidades da visão de cores, sensibilidade ao contras e perimetria macular. A retinocoroidite na zona 2 está associada a uma menor sensibilidade foveal. Longos intervalos de remissão da retinocoroidite estiveram associados a melhores parâmetros perimétricos (MD e PSD).

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with uveitis in an emergency eye care center in Brazil.

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with uveitis in an emergency eye care center. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study of patients with active uveitis admitted between May 2012 and July 2012 to an emergency eye care center. RESULTS: The majority of patients were male (63.2%), with a mean age of 43.2 years; 66.2% patients were of mixed ethnicity, 22.5% were Caucasian, and 11.3% were black. Anterior uveitis was observed in 70.1% patients, posterior uveitis in 26.5%, and panuveitis in 3.4%; no patient was diagnosed with intermediate uveitis. All patients had a sudden and acute presentation. The most frequent symptoms were ocular pain (76.9%), redness (59.8%), and visual blurring (46.2%). The majority of patients had unilateral disease (94.9%) with a mean symptom duration of 6.2 days. Diffuse and anterior uveitis were associated with ocular pain (p<0.001). Scotomata and floaters were more frequent in patients with posterior uveitis (p=0.003 and p=0.016, respectively). Patients with anterior uveitis presented with better visual acuity (p=0.025). Granulomatous keratotic precipitates were more frequent in patients with posterior uveitis (p=0.038). An etiological diagnosis based on the evaluation at the emergency center was made in 45 patients (38.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Acute anterior uveitis was the most frequent form of uveitis. Initial patient evaluation provided sufficient information for deciding primary therapy and aided in arriving at an etiological diagnosis in a considerable number of patients.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with uveitis in an emergency eye care center in Brazil / Características clínicas e epidemiológicas das uveítes em um serviço de urgência oftalmológica no Brasil

Purpose: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with uveitis in an emergency eye care center. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study of patients with active uveitis admitted between May 2012 and July 2012 to an emergency eye care center. Results: The majority of patients were male (63.2%), with a mean age of 43.2 years; 66.2% patients were of mixed ethnicity, 22.5% were Caucasian, and 11.3% were black. Anterior uveitis was observed in 70.1% patients, posterior uveitis in 26.5%, and panuveitis in 3.4%; no patient was diagnosed with intermediate uveitis. All patients had a sudden and acute presentation. The most frequent symptoms were ocular pain (76.9%), redness (59.8%), and visual blurring (46.2%). The majority of patients had unilateral disease (94.9%) with a mean symptom duration of 6.2 days. Diffuse and anterior uveitis were associated with ocular pain (p<0.001). Scotomata and floaters were more frequent in patients with posterior uveitis (p=0.003 and p=0.016, respectively). Patients with anterior uveitis presented with better visual acuity (p=0.025). Granulomatous keratotic precipitates were more frequent in patients with posterior uveitis (p=0.038). An etiological diagnosis based on the evaluation at the emergency center was made in 45 patients (38.5%). Conclusions: Acute anterior uveitis was the most frequent form of uveitis. Initial patient evaluation provided sufficient information for deciding primary therapy and aided in arriving at an etiological diagnosis in a considerable number of patients. .

Objetivo: Analisar as características clínicas e epidemiológicas das uveítes em um serviço de atendimento oftalmológico de urgência. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, observacional de pacientes com uveíte ativa admitido entre maio e julho de 2012, em um serviço de atendimento oftalmológico de emergência. Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino (63,2%) e a média de idade foi de 43,2 anos; 66,2% dos pacientes tinham etnia mista, 22,5% eram brancos e 11,3% negros. Uveíte anterior foi observada em 70,1% dos pacientes, uveíte posterior em 26,5%, e panuveíte em 3,4%, nenhum foi diagnosticado com uveíte intermediária. Todos os pacientes tiveram apresentação súbita e aguda. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram: dor ocular (76,9%), hiperemia conjuntival (59,8%) e baixa visual (46,2%). A maioria dos pacientes tinha doença unilateral (94,9%), com duração média dos sintomas de 6,2 dias. Uveítes anteriores e difusas foram associadas com dor ocular (p<0,001). Escotomas e a "floaters" foram mais frequentes na uveíte posterior (p=0,003 e p=0,016, respectivamente). Pacientes com uveíte anterior apresentaram melhor acuidade visual (p=0,025). Precipitados ceráticos granulomatosos foram mais frequentes em pacientes com uveíte posterior (p=0,038). Um diagnóstico etiológico com base na avaliação inicial no serviço de emergência foi possível em 45 pacientes (38,5%). Conclusão: A uveíte anterior aguda foi a uveíte mais frequentemente encontrada no serviço de urgência oftalmológica. A avaliação inicial do paciente forneceu informações suficientes para a conduta terapêutica primária, e possibilitou diagnóstico etiológico em um número considerável de pacientes. .