Atypical herpes zoster ophthalmicus with madarosis of upper eyelid, recurrent iridocyclitis and atrophic multifocal chorioretinopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Ocular involvement due to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection includes conjunctivitis, scleritis, keratitis, uveitis, and necrotizing retinitis. Non-necrotizing chorioretinopathy as a late manifestation has been described. CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old immunocompetent man developed herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) in the right V1 dermatome with acute anterior uveitis (AAU) treated with oral valaciclovir and topical steroid and a chalazion in the upper eyelid with associated madarosis. Four months later, he presented recurrence of the AAU and multiple areas of chorioretinal atrophy on fundoscopy. Biopsy of the upper eyelid lesion revealed granulomatous inflammation of the eyelid margin and polymerase chain reaction study (PCR) tested positive for VZV-specific DNA. The iridocyclitis was resolved with oral valaciclovir at maximum doses with minimal choroidal pigmentary changes. DISCUSSION: VZV ophthalmic infection starts by reactivation from the trigeminal ganglion, and it spreads to the isthmus of the pilosebaceous follicles and the epidermis, which can cause involvement of follicle and sebaceous glands. Chorioretinopathy is a rare form of late-onset non-necrotizing herpetic uveitis characterized by atrophic-appearing hypopigmented lesions, the pathogenesis of which is unknown. A direct viral infection or secondary to occlusive choroidal vasculitis is postulated at the level of the choriocapillaris and more recently it has been referred to as "choroidal vitiligo" due to possible involvement of choroidal melanocytes, as occurs in cases of cutaneous vitiligo due to VZV infection.

The outcome of initial mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of secondary glaucoma associated with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcome of mitomycin C (MMC)-augmented trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI)-related glaucoma in 1-year follow-up period. METHODS: This retrospective study included 50 eyes with FHI-related glaucoma those had underwent initial trabeculectomy with MMC (0.2 mg/ml-3 min). Thirty-one of them had single-dose bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) into the bleb area just at the end of the surgery, while 19 eyes did not have. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and the mean number of anti-glaucomatous medications were evaluated. The IOP value ≤ 21 mmHg was defined as complete or qualified surgical success in terms of using medical anti-glaucomatous treatment. Bleb height and vascularity were evaluated with Indiana bleb grading system. Paired sample t test, t test, Chi-square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The preoperative IOP values of bevacizumab and without bevacizumab groups were 32.8 ± 4.5 mmHg and 32.8 ± 4.5 mmHg, respectively, and they decreased to 17.5 ± 4.6 mmHg and 17 ± 5.2 mmHg at the final visit (p < 0.001 for all values). There were no significant differences in postoperative IOP and the number of medications between the groups at the final visit. In bevacizumab group, complete success was achieved in 100% within the third month but decreased to 22.5% (complete) and 74.1% (qualified) at the first year. In the other group (without bevacizumab group), complete success was achieved in 94.7% within the third month but decreased to 15.8% (complete) and 84.2% (qualified) at the first year. CONCLUSION: Initial trabeculectomy with MMC and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection was found to have lower rates of complete success with relatively acceptable qualified success rates in the management of FHI-related glaucoma. Subconjunctival bevacizumab was not found to have additional effect to improve the surgical success.

Digital droplet polymerase chain reaction analysis of common viruses in the aqueous humour of patients with Posner-Schlossman syndrome in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: To compare the detection results consistency of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), and determine the value of ddPCR for viral detection in the aqueous humour. METHODS: A total of 130 aqueous humour samples were collected, including 60 patients with Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) in case group and 70 elderly patients with senile cataract in control group. The target nucleic acid fragments of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus in aqueous humour were analysed by qPCR and ddPCR, respectively, for the diagnosis and curative effect monitoring of pathogen-induced PSS. Samples with inconsistent results were verified by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: There were 27 and 20 HCMV-positive cases detected in the case group by ddPCR and qPCR, respectively. ddPCR increased the sensitivity for the HCMV virus detection from 400 to 100 copies/mL. No other pathogens were found in this study. The results of ddPCR were consistent with that of next generation sequencing. The mean (SD) of Lg (HCMV copies/mL) detected by ddPCR and qPCR were 1.66 (1.92) and 1.10 (1.61), respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with qPCR, results of ddPCR showed better consistency with validity of clinical treatment. All patients with ddPCR-positive results had good validity on antiviral therapy, exhibiting anterior chamber inflammation remission, resolution of corneal oedema and good IOP control within 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: HCMV was the leading cause of pathogen-induced PSS in the Chinese population. ddPCR was a promising tool for early detection, accurate diagnosis and therapeutic validity monitoring of pathogen-induced PSS. The high sensitivity of ddPCR could avoid repeated anterior chamber tap.

Intraocular Lymphoma Masquerading as Recurrent Iridocyclitis: Findings Based on in vivo Confocal Microscopy.

PURPOSE: To emphasize the application prospects of in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in distinguishing intraocular lesions from inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. METHODS: Retrospective case report. RESULTS: A patient with neoplastic masquerade syndrome initially underwent IVCM examination. After six separate intravitreal injections of 400 mg/0.1 ml methotrexate, IVCM revealed a complete remission of intraocular lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: Although IVCM findings alone are not enough to diagnose intraocular neoplasm with absolute certainty, they can provide useful indication for distinguishing between intraocular inflammatory diseases and neoplasms.

Isolated oculocutaneous sarcoidosis in a teenage male: a rare case report.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease with multisystem involvement characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas. It can affect virtually every organ of the body, with lung involvement being most common occurring in >90% of patients. Other organs affected are skin, eye and liver. Skin involvement is common, affecting 25-35%. Here we present a rare case of a 15 year-old male with isolated oculocutaneous sarcoidosis without systemic involvement.

Revisión con aguja tras implante de válvula de Ahmed en la ciclitis heterocrómica de Fuchs / Needle revision after Ahmed valve implantation in the management of Fuch´s heterochromic cyclitis

La ciclitis heterocrómica de Fuchs es una uveítis crónica que puede ser asintomática por años o expresar solo la heterocromía antes que aparezca cualquier otro signo. El glaucoma se considera una de las complicaciones más difíciles de tratar, y requiere cirugía en múltiples ocasiones. Los dispositivos de drenaje están siendo cada vez más utilizados como alternativa de tratamiento quirúrgico en estos casos. Asiste a la consulta médica una paciente de 36 años de edad, con antecedentes de uveítis crónica unilateral del ojo izquierdo asociado a catarata y glaucoma descompensado, a pesar del tratamiento médico. Se presenta con 50 VAR de visión y presión intraocular de 32 mmHg. Se realizó cirugía combinada: facoemulsificación e implante de válvula Ahmed modelo S2 con mitomicina C (0,2 mg/mL) durante cinco minutos. Se diagnostica ampolla de filtración encapsulada en la octava semana. Se realiza revisión con aguja y subconjuntival de 1 mg de bevacizumab (avastin) subtenoniano en área de la filtrante. La inyección se repite días alternos hasta completar tres dosis según protocolo institucional. Se logran cifras de presión intraocular de 17 mmHg y agudeza visual mejor corregida de 95 VAR a los 18 meses posoperatorios(AU)

Fuch´s heterochromic cyclitis is chronic uveitis that may be asymptomatic for years or may express heretochromia just before the onset of any other sign. Glaucoma is considered one of the most difficult complications to be treated and requires multiple surgeries. Drainage devices are increasingly used as a surgical treatment option in these cases. Here is the case of a 36 years-old woman with a history of unilateral chronic uveitis in her left eye associated to cataract and decompensate glaucoma despite the medical therapy. She presented with 50 VAR visual acuity and 32 mmHg intraocular pressure. She underwent combined surgery based on phacoemulsification and S2 model Ahmed valve implantation with mitomycin C (0,2 mg/mL) for 5 minutes. The diagnosis was encapsulated filtering bleb at the 8th week of operation. Subconjuctival needle revision with one mg of subtenial bevacizumab (avastin) in the bleb area was performed. Injection was administered every other day till completion of three doses according to the institutional protocol. Eighteen months after the surgery, the intraocular pressure was 17nnHg and the best corrected visual acuity reached 95 VAR best corrected visual acuity(AU)

Optical coherence tomography characteristics of epi-iridic membrane in a child with recurrent hyphema and presumed juvenile xanthogranuloma.

We report a case of spontaneous hyphema in a 6-month-old girl with no history of trauma and no visible iris mass. Subtle green-blue heterochromia was noted in the right eye. The iris crypts in the right eye appeared flattened by a thin, transparent layer on the iris surface. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) disclosed a thin homogenous membrane overlying the entire iris surface in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed diffuse hyperfluorescence without neovascularization. These features were suggestive of diffuse iris juvenile xanthogranuloma. Sub-Tenon's triamcinolone acetate plus topical corticosteroids eyedrops resolved the condition within 1 month.

Frequency of iridocyclitis in patients with early psoriatic arthritis: a prospective, follow up study.

OBJECTIVE: The occurrence of iridocyclitis (IC) in early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been rarely assessed. The primary end-point of this study was to evaluate the frequency of IC at onset in patients with early PsA. METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of IC in a clinical series of consecutive, new outpatients with early PsA observed between January 2000 and December 2009. All patients met the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria for PsA and had a disease duration ≤12 months. The following clinical patterns were considered: peripheral PsA (oligoarthritis ≤4 and polyarthritis ≥5 involved joints), axial PsA and mixed. IC diagnosis was made by the ophthalmologist. Follow-up visits were scheduled at baseline and every 4 months with interval shortening in the case of urgent clinical problems. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-two patients, 137 (57%) women and 105 (43%) men (mean age 50.33 ± 11.7 years; mean symptom duration 9.38 ± 3.1 months) were studied. One hundred and thirty-two (51%) patients had peripheral PsA, 41 (17%) axial and 69 (28%) mixed. Twenty-six episodes of IC were recorded at diagnosis in 22 (9%) patients, 17 (77.3%) female and five (22.7%) male; 11 (50%) patients had peripheral PsA, two (9.1%) axial, and nine (40.9%) mixed; 5/22 (22.7%) patients were B27-positive. IC recurred in 2/22 (9%) patients over the follow-up period. Mean follow-up duration was 51 ± 23.2 months. Dactylitis was significantly more frequent in patients with IC compared to those without this feature (P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: IC occurred in 9% of 242 patients with early PsA with no association with the clinical pattern and B27 positivity. This frequency is higher than previously reported.

Ocular Behçet disease: current therapeutic approaches.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To alert physician to timely recognition and current treatment of recurrent hypopyon iridocyclitis or panuveitis in ocular Behçet disease (OBD). RECENT FINDINGS: Interferon-α, rituximab, intravitreal triamcinolone, and biological response modifiers by tumor necrosis factor inhibitors such as infliximab and adalimumab are being used increasingly for the treatment of severe sight-threatening ocular inflammation including retinal vasculitis and cystoid macular edema (CME). SUMMARY: Biological agents offer tremendous potential in the treatment of OBD. Given that OBD predominantly afflicts the younger adults in their most productive years, dermatologist, rheumatologist, internist, or general practitioners supervising patients with oculo-articulo-oromucocutaneous syndromes should be aware of systemic Behçet disease. Early recognition of ocular involvement is important and such patients should strongly be instructed to visit immediately an ophthalmologist, as uveitis management differs from extraocular involvements with high ocular morbidity from sight-threatening complications due to relapsing inflammatory attacks in the posterior segment of the eye. A single infliximab infusion should be considered for the control of acute panuveitis, whereas repeated long-term infliximab infusions were proved to be more effective in reducing the number of episodes in refractory uveoretinitis with faster regression and complete remission of CME.

Incidence and long-term outcomes of toxic anterior segment syndrome at Aravind Eye Hospital.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and long-term outcomes of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) at a single institution. SETTING: Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: The records of all eyes developing TASS during a 1-year period after cataract surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes, including corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraocular pressure, and complications, were recorded at the 1-month and 6-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: Toxic anterior segment syndrome occurred in 60 eyes (0.22%) in 26 408 consecutive cataract surgeries. Although there were 2 identifiable clusters of TASS, 52% of cases were sporadic. The mean duration until resolution of severe iridocyclitis was 6.11 days ± 2.19 (SD). Of the 24 eyes (40%) with a follow-up of at least 6 months (mean 11.24 ± 2.3 months), 6 (24%) had atrophic iris changes, 1 (4%) had cystoid macular edema, 3 (12.5%) developed anterior capsule phimosis, and 4 (16%) had posterior capsule opacification (PCO). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean CDVA at 1 month (0.08 ± 0.06 logMAR) (n = 60) and the mean final CDVA (0.11 ± 0.1 logMAR, minimum 6 months; n = 24) (P=.42). CONCLUSIONS: Although it is impossible to generalize for all etiologies, this study found that TASS is uncommon but not rare, responded to intensive topical antiinflammatory medication, and was usually associated with a good visual outcome. Anterior capsule contraction and PCO were the principal delayed-onset complications beyond those present 1 month postoperatively.

Optic neuritis associated with adalimumab in the treatment of uveitis.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors such as adalimumab are increasingly used in the treatment of ocular inflammatory disease refractory to standard therapies. There is evidence that TNF inhibitors are associated with demyelinating neurologic events. OBJECTIVE: The authors report a case of optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis developing in association with the use of adalimumab for the treatment of bilateral chronic granulomatous iridocyclitis and multifocal choroiditis. They also review the available literature on cases of optic neuritis occurring in the setting of TNF inhibition. RESULTS: The authors identified 21 cases of optic neuritis associated with TNF inhibition; 36% of cases with available MRI results had evidence of other demyelinating lesions in the CNS. CONCLUSIONS: The strong association between TNF inhibitors and CNS demyelination may represent an adverse effect of these drugs. Ophthalmologists should recognize the relationship between TNF inhibitors and demyelinating disease, as it can present initially with visual symptoms.

[Ocular involvement in spondyloarthropathies: HLA B27 associated uveitis]. / Augenbeteiligung bei Spondyloarthritiden: HLA-B27-assoziierte Uveitis.

The most frequent extraarticular manifestation in spondyloarthropathies (SpA) is eye involvement, which is found in 30%-50% of patients. HLA B27 positive patients in particular--mostly those in the subgroup with ankylosing spondylitis--are affected. Prevalence of uveitis increases with duration of disease. Typical eye involvement is sudden-onset unilateral anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis). Most cases respond well to topical corticosteroids. Frequently relapsing or chronic cases may require oral corticosteroids in addition to classical immunosuppressive drugs and, to an increasing extent, also TNF-alpha inhibitors. In the case of the latter, monoclonal antibodies are preferred over receptor antagonists. Acute anterior uveitis may occur as a minimal variation or initial symptom of SpA. These patients should also be seen by a rheumatologist since undiagnosed SpA may be present in a significant percentage and should be included in therapeutic considerations.

[Extraintestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease]. / Ekstraintestinale manifestationer ved inflammatorisk tarmsygdom.

Extraintestinal manifestations are relatively common in chronic inflammatory bowel disease and affect joints, skin, eyes and bile ducts. The most frequent rheumatologic manifestations are peripheral arthritis and axial arthropathies. Erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangraenosum are common dermatological manifestations, while episcleritis, iridocyclitis and uveitis are common ophthalmological complications. Conventional drugs and biologicals have proven effective in the treatment of several of the manifestations, including peripheral arthritis, pyoderma gangraenosum and episcleritis.

Retinal thickening in iridocyclitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of retinal thickening (RT) in eyes with iridocyclitis and to examine the correlations among anterior chamber (AC) inflammation, RT, and visual acuity. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. METHODS: Records were reviewed of patients seen at the Duke University Eye Center Uveitis Clinic from January 2002 through March 2008. Patients with unilateral iridocyclitis without panuveitis, vitreitis, pars planitis, posterior uveitis, or a combination thereof who had undergone optical coherence tomography (OCT) of both eyes were included. The AC cell grade and OCT-RT measurements were recorded. Subretinal fluid and intraretinal cysts were determined from OCT scans according to Duke Reading Center guidelines. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were studied. RT typically was present in a ring-like distribution around the fovea. The median difference between the study eye and fellow eye in RT was statistically significant for total macular volume (TMV) and for all OCT subfields (P < .001). In the study eye, there was a modest correlation between the RT and AC cell grade for the OCT-TMV (P = .039; r(2) = 0.1) and the subfield comprised of the quadrants in the outer ring on OCT (P = .027; r(2) = 0.12), and between RT and visual acuity for OCT-TMV and all but the central subfields (P = .003 to .007; r(2) = 0.261 to 0.227). RT decreased after anti-inflammatory therapy. CONCLUSIONS: RT is strongly associated with iridocyclitis and decreases after treatment. RT, as determined by OCT, is a useful clinical parameter to evaluate patients with iridocyclitis and to monitor response to treatment.

Kinetics of aqueous flare, intraocular pressure and virus-DNA copies in a patient with cytomegalovirus iridocyclitis without retinitis.

BACKGROUND: A case report of recurrent unilateral granulomatous iridocyclitis with ocular hypertension without retinitis caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) in an immunocompetent patient. METHODS: Aqueous humor was analysed by multiplex PCR to detect viral DNA, and real-time PCR was used to evaluate virus copies before and after anti-virus treatments. Inflammation of the anterior chamber was evaluated by a laser flare photometry. RESULTS: Genomic DNA of CMV - but not of other herpes viruses - was detected in the aqueous humor. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed 2.3 x 10(5) copies/ml of CMV DNA from the specimen. Oral valganciclovir was added to the ongoing treatment, which consisted of topical corticosteroid, timolol and latanoprost as well as systemic acetazolamide, resulting in the reduction of aqueous flare correlated with the reduction of virus copies in aqueous humor. CONCLUSIONS: In this case of CMV-related iridocyclitis in an immunocompetent patient, specific additional anti-viral therapy was effective in controlling inflammation of anterior chamber but, as is so often the case, it was unable to control intraocular pressure. We show that inflammatory activity correlated well with the number of virus copies in the aqueous humor.

Iridocyclitis associated with angle-supported phakic intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate incidence, features, risk factors, and prognosis of iridocyclitis after angle-supported phakic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. SETTING: Private practice, Siena, Italy. METHODS: This retrospective analysis comprised 356 consecutive eyes of 212 patients. In myopic eyes, the ZSAL-4 IOL (205 eyes of 125 patients) or the ZSAL-4 Plus IOL (106 eyes of 63 patients) was used. In hyperopic eyes (45 eyes of 24 patients), the Type 54 IOL was implanted. Haptic posterior angulation was 19 degrees (ZSAL-4), 23 degrees (ZSAL-4 Plus), and 14 degrees (Type 54). RESULTS: Clinically significant iridocyclitis occurred in 11 eyes (3.1%) of 11 patients. Mean patient age was 37.3 years +/- 9.4 (SD). Sixty-four percent were male (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8 to 7.4, not statistically significant). Iridocyclitis was observed in 4.4% of hyperopic eyes (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.3 to 7.4; not statistically significant) and in 2.9% of myopic eyes. In myopic eyes, it followed the implantation of ZSAL-4 IOL in 3.9% of eyes (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 0.5 to 33.6; not statistically significant), and of ZSAL-4 Plus IOL in 1%. Mean time from surgery was 8.5 +/- 10.6 months). Presentation included aqueous flare (100%), posterior synechiae (82%), blurred vision (82%), redness (36%), pain (27%), IOL precipitates (18%), and angular synechiae (9%). Only 1 patient had recurrences, leading to IOL explantation and cataract surgery. After topical therapy, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was fully recovered in 9 of 11 eyes. CONCLUSION: Iridocyclitis can occur months or years after the implantation of angle-supported phakic IOLs. No statistically significant risk factors were identified. Functional prognosis is generally good.

Diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus iridocyclitis without retinal necrosis.

AIM: To describe the diagnostic and therapeutic management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior uveitis unassociated with retinal necrosis in immunocompetent patients. METHODS: Patients referred between 2001 and 2003 for management of unilateral, chronic, recurrent uveitis associated with secondary glaucoma underwent extensive investigation including laboratory tests for herpes virus infections. Specific antiviral treatment was initiated in all cases and the level of ocular inflammation was evaluated during the follow up. RESULTS: Five patients, three men and two women, were included. Median age was 50 years old (range 30-80 years). Anterior unilateral uveitis without iris atrophy was observed in all cases. Uveitis was chronic in three cases and recurrent in two cases. Glaucoma was observed in all patients with a median intraocular pressure of 30 mm Hg (range 22-43 mm Hg). Five patients responded initially to specific anti-CMV therapy. Even though glaucoma surgery was necessary in two cases, both ocular inflammation and glaucoma were controlled in all cases. Relapses occurred in three cases after cessation of therapy, requiring prolonged maintenance therapy with valganciclovir. CONCLUSIONS: CMV infection and specific antiviral therapy should be considered in all cases of relapsing or chronic iridocyclitis and secondary glaucoma. Maintenance regimens of valganciclovir may be necessary to prevent further relapses.