Epidemiology of ocular trauma in the Indigenous vs non-Indigenous population in the Top End.

IMPORTANCE: Epidemiological data on visually significant ocular trauma in the Top End of the Northern Territory. BACKGROUND: Our main objective is to determine whether Indigenous patients are disproportionately affected by visually significant ocular trauma as compared to non-Indigenous patients. DESIGN: This was a retrospective audit at the Royal Darwin Hospital in the Top End of the Northern Territory during January 2013 to June 2015. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 104 ocular trauma patients were included; 43 were Indigenous and 61 were non-Indigenous. METHODS: Medical records of patients with ocular trauma between January 2013 and June 2015 (except simple, non-penetrating corneal foreign bodies and abrasions) were reviewed. Vision loss was defined by visual acuity: mild ≥6/18, moderate 6/18-6/60, severe ≤6/60 following World Health Organization standards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The study included the incidence of ocular trauma patients by ethnicity (Indigenous vs non-Indigenous). Our secondary outcome included vision loss, mechanism of injury, open vs closed injury, age, remoteness and alcohol involvement. RESULTS: A total of 104 patient charts were reviewed; 43 (41%) were Indigenous and 61 (59%) were non-Indigenous. Alleged assault was the greatest contributor to ocular trauma in both groups (74% in Indigenous vs 39% non-Indigenous). Severe vision loss was more prevalent in the Indigenous vs non-Indigenous patients (30% vs 16%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Indigenous patients were disproportionately affected by visually significant ocular trauma compared to non-Indigenous patients. This research provides important data on ocular trauma in the Northern Territory. Further prevention strategies are needed to reduce vision loss in this population.

Primary Assessment of the Patient With Orbital Fractures Should Include Pupillary Response and Visual Acuity Changes to Detect Occult Major Ocular Injuries.

PURPOSE: Sight-threatening injuries associated with orbital fractures are of major concern to maxillofacial surgeons whom are often the first asked to assess these patients. Eliciting signs and symptoms that are predictive of these injuries would allow expedited ophthalmic consultation and appropriate management. We hypothesized that abnormal pupillary response is predictive of major ocular injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients with facial fractures was instituted with review of all associated ophthalmic injuries. The primary predictor variables were the presence or absence of post-traumatic ocular symptoms and signs (visual acuity change, diplopia, flashes and floaters, pain on globe movement, abnormal pupillary response, restriction of eye movement, and visual field defects). Secondary predictors were pattern of fracture and mechanism of fracture. The primary outcome variable was the presence or absence of major ocular injury assessed during formal ophthalmology consultation. Descriptive statistics were calculated as categorical values. Correlation between the presence or absence of predictors and outcome (major ocular injury) was calculated using χ2 analysis, with the significance value set at P ≤ .01. RESULTS: The study included 75 patients (25% of whom were female patients) with a mean age of 41 ± 22 years. We recorded 165 minor ocular injuries and 43 major ocular injuries. The mechanisms of injury included assault (48%, n = 36), motor vehicle accident (21%, n = 16), fall (17%, n = 13), sport (11%, n = 8), and occupational (3%, n = 2). The fracture pattern included zygomaticomaxillary (36%, n = 27), isolated orbital floor (25%, n = 19), complex (20%, n = 15), and isolated orbital nonfloor (19%, n = 14). Of the primary outcome predictors, only abnormal pupillary response (odds ratio, 36; P < .001) and subjective visual acuity changes (odds ratio, 10; P < .001) were predictive of major ocular injury. The mechanism of injury and pattern of fracture were not predictive of major ocular injury. CONCLUSIONS: During primary assessment of the patient with orbital fractures, abnormal pupillary response and subjective visual acuity changes are key predictors of occult major ocular injury.

Turning a blind eye: HTLV-1-associated uveitis in Indigenous adults from Central Australia.

PURPOSE: We describe the first two cases of HTLV-1 associated uveitis to be associated with HTLV-1c subtype infection. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Uveitis was demonstrated in two Indigenous Australian men, both of whom had high HTLV-1c proviral loads in peripheral blood. Visual outcomes were poor in each case. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of HTLV-1c infection as a cause of uveitis in Australia, and HTLV-1 serology should be included in the basic uveitis work-up in HTLV-1-endemic areas.

Uveitis in Tumor Patients Treated with Immunological Checkpoint- and Signal Transduction Pathway-Inhibitors.

PURPOSE: New tumor therapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors and small molecule inhibitors of MEK and BRAF have increased the patient's survival rate but can be burdened with severe side-effects including uveitis. Here, we show the spectrum, treatment, and outcome of uveitis types induced by tumor treatment. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we have included 54 patients from different centers who were developing uveitis under tumor therapy. A 16-item questionnaire was analyzed for type, treatment, and outcome of uveitis and type of tumor treatment, which we have correlated here. RESULTS: Irrespective of the tumor treatment, most patients developed anterior uveitis. All patients received corticosteroids and some additional immunosuppressive treatments. Cessation of tumor therapy was necessary only in a minority of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular autoimmunity should be differentiated from toxic effects of cancer treatment and timely recognized since it can be generally well controlled by anti-inflammatory treatment, preserving the patient's vision without cessation of the tumor treatment.

UVEITIS CAUSED BY TREATMENT FOR MALIGNANT MELANOMA: A CASE SERIES.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To report the largest case series to date of uveitis occurring in association with immunomodulatory therapy for malignant melanoma. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter case review. Twenty-two patients with uveitis occurring in association with either immunotherapy or targeted immune therapy for malignant melanoma were identified. RESULTS: Of 22 patients, 11 had anterior uveitis in isolation. The remainder showed a variety of clinical features including panuveitis, ocular hypotony, papillitis, cystoid macular edema, and melanoma-associated retinopathy. Most patients responded well to treatment. CONCLUSION: We report the largest case series to date of patients with uveitis secondary to drug treatment for malignant melanoma. These cases are likely to increase in number in the future as newer immunomodulatory therapies for cancers are developed and the indications for these drugs increase. A dilemma arises when patients respond well to these drugs but develop vision-threatening side effects.

Acute myopic shift in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

PURPOSE: To describe a rare case of acute, transient myopic shift occurring as a feature of a flare of systemic lupus erythematosus. OBSERVATIONS: A 22-year-old Indigenous Australian woman with diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus was admitted with blurry vision and periorbital oedema. She had a refractive error of -7.50 DS in the right eye and -3.50 DS in the left eye and cotton wool spots throughout the posterior poles of the retina of each eye. Treatment with intravenous and oral steroids resulted in rapid resolution of myopia and improvement in visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Systemic lupus erythematosus disproportionately affects more indigenous than non-indigenous Australians with greater disease burden and severity. This case describes a rare manifestation of this disease.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Review and Update on Emerging Therapies.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder affecting 1 in 3000 births. This familial tumor predisposition syndrome is diagnosed clinically and affects the skin, bones, and nervous system. Malignant tumors can arise in childhood or adulthood and are the most common cause of mortality in this population. Early diagnosis and management led by a multidisciplinary team remains the standard of care, particularly in the management of optic pathway glioma. Emerging concepts in the genetic patterns of this condition have led to the introduction of new treatment modalities that target the mitogen-activated protein kinase and the mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. In this review, the role of the ophthalmologist and approach to screening for optic pathway glioma are outlined based on previous recommendations. Updates on choroidal involvement, as a diagnostic criterion, will also be discussed, further highlighting the pivotal role of the ophthalmologist in the diagnosis and management of this complex condition.

Severe acute endogenous endophthalmitis with Staphylococcus epidermidis in a systemically well patient.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a devastating intraocular infection caused by haematogenous spread of bacteria or fungi, usually in people with immune deficiency. This case report is unusual as a systemically well patient with normal immune function and no identifiable locus of infection rapidly developed a fulminant endogenous endophthalmitis from an organism which does not usually produce aggressive virulence determinants. Endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis is an ongoing diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for ophthalmologists as it is relatively rare, often initially presents as uveitis, and requires a high index of suspicion for prompt diagnosis and treatment. The treatment of endogenous endophthalmitis is still controversial due to a lack of clinical trials. Potential treatments include systemic antibiotics, peri-ocular injections, intravitreal injection of antibiotics and possibly corticosteroids, pars plana vitrectomy, or a combination of some of these.