A Pilot Nonrandomized Controlled Trial Examining the Use of Artificial Tears on the Radioactivity of Tears After Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) is an adverse effect of high dose radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for thyroid carcinoma. There are currently no established preventive measures. This study assesses whether preservative free artificial tears (PFATs) can decrease the 131I sodium iodide (131I) activity in the tears of patients following RAI therapy for thyroid carcinoma, and potentially serve as a preventive measure for RAI-associated NLDO. Methods: This non-randomized prospective pilot clinical trial recruited contact-lens wearing patients undergoing RAI therapy for thyroid cancer to self-administer PFATs into the right eye for four days starting on the day of RAI ingestion. Left eyes were the controls. While wearing contacts, patients self-administered PFATs per the following-Day 1: every 15 minutes for 2 hours, then every 30 minutes until bedtime, day 2: every hour for at least 12 hours, day 3: four times a day, and day 4: two times a day. Contact lenses were changed daily, and all lenses were collected one week later. Levels of 131I activity were measured by a well counter, decay-corrected, and converted to units of becquerel. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the 131I activities of the experimental and control eyes. Results: Sixteen eyes of eight patients treated with an average of 145.7 mCi (range 108-159) of 131I for papillary thyroid cancer were included. On day 1, artificial tears decreased the geometric mean 131I activity by 26% in the experimental eyes (p = 0.008). Artificial tears also decreased the geometric mean area under the curve over four days by 23% (p = 0.002). Conclusions: 131I is present in the tears following RAI therapy for thyroid carcinoma. Frequent PFATs starting on the day of RAI ingestion may decrease the level of 131I in the tears. This finding could have implications for lowering the risk of NLDO. Future multi-center clinical trials are needed to determine whether the use of artificial tears after RAI therapy may decrease the risk of NLDO. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04327999.

Short-term Optic Disc Cupping Reversal in a Patient With Mild Juvenile Open-angle Glaucoma Due to Early Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report a case of optic disc cupping reversal in an adult without significant intraocular pressure-lowering treatment. PATIENT: A 20-year-old female with a history of mild juvenile open-angle glaucoma who developed subjective blurred vision and a decrease in cupping of her optic discs. RESULTS: Dilated examination demonstrated decreased cup-to-disc ratios in both eyes with a slight blurring of the disc margin in the right eye. The appearance of both optic discs returned to baseline after weight loss therapy. CONCLUSIONS: An unexplained reduction of optic nerve cup-to-disc ratio should prompt a workup for other etiologies, such as increased intracranial pressure. Baseline photographs not subjected to computerized scan obsolescence are extremely useful in monitoring the long-term appearance of asymmetric optic discs as an adjunct to the clinical examination.

Spontaneous Resolution of Presumed Idiopathic Elevated Episcleral Venous Pressure.

PURPOSE: To report a case of presumed idiopathic elevated episcleral venous pressure (EVP) initially requiring medical management. METHODS: We present a case report of a 28-year-old white man presenting with eye redness and soreness as a referral to the glaucoma service. He was diagnosed with idiopathic elevated EVP after systematic workup. RESULTS: Unilateral elevated intraocular pressure was detected along with dilated episcleral vessels, mild cupping of optic nerve head, and blood in Schlemm's canal, yet negative angiographic imaging and hypercoagulable labs. Topical antiglaucoma medication normalized intraocular pressure, which then maintained with resolution of episcleral vessel caliper and blood in Schlemm's canal after discontinuation of medication. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of spontaneous resolution of presumed idiopathic elevated EVP, persisting after discontinuation of medical therapy and without surgical intervention.

The bioceramic implant: evaluation of implant exposures in 419 implants.

PURPOSE: To compare the rate of exposure in the immediate 3-month postoperative follow-up period with the rate of exposure after the immediate postoperative period in 419 anophthalmic patients with a bioceramic (aluminum oxide) orbital implant. METHODS: This is a retrospective, clinical case series of 419 patients who received a bioceramic orbital implant. All patients who presented to five oculofacial surgeons (D.J., S.G., J.D., S.K., L.M.) from January 1, 2000, to June 1, 2007, who received a bioceramic orbital implant and had a minimum of 3 months of follow-up were included in this study. The authors analyzed age, gender, type of surgery, implant size, peg system, follow-up duration, time of pegging, and problems encountered. The data from the patients with greater than 3 months of follow-up with exposure of the bioceramic implant are detailed in this report. RESULTS: There were 353 patients followed for 3 to 96 months with an average of 30 months of follow-up (median 23 months). Implant exposure occurred in 32/353 bioceramic implants (9.1%). Six of the 32 (19%) exposures occurred during the 90-day postoperative period (average 2.1 months). Twenty-six (81%) exposures occurred outside of the 90-day postoperative period (average 27.5 months, range 4-82 months). CONCLUSIONS: Implant exposures can occur anytime postimplant placement. This review discovered an implant exposure rate of 9.1%, with the majority of the exposures occurring after the postoperative follow-up period. Patients with porous orbital implants should be followed on a long-term basis to detect this complication.

The bioceramic orbital implant: experience with 107 implants.

PURPOSE: To assess the problems associated with the Bioceramic (Aluminum oxide, Al(2)O(3)) orbital implant. METHODS: A consecutive case series of 107 patients receiving a Bioceramic orbital implant by two surgeons over a 3-year period were reviewed. The authors analyzed patient age, type of surgery, size of implant, peg system, follow-up duration, time of pegging, complications encountered, and treatment. RESULTS: Seven patients were lost to follow-up after 2 months, leaving 100 patients who were followed from 3 to 38 months (average, 13.4 months). Three patients died during the follow-up period (one with 2 months' follow-up, one with 7 months' follow-up, and the third with 9 months' follow-up). Implant-related problems occurred in 11 (11%) patients. Discharge occurred in 5 (5%) patients, implant exposure in 2 (2%), socket discomfort in 1 (1%), trochleitis in 1 (1%), and conjunctival thinning in 2 (2%). Peg problems occurred in 11 (34.3%) of 32 pegged patients: discharge in 4 (12.5%) and in 1 patient (3.1%) each, pyogenic granuloma, conjunctiva overgrowing the peg, implant exposure around the sleeve, clicking, accumulation of black material, and broken peg during insertion. Infection did not occur in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: The Bioceramic orbital implant represents an alternative porous orbital implant that is biocompatible with orbital tissues, easy to manufacture, structurally strong, and less expensive than other commercially available porous orbital implants (e.g., Bio-Eye hydroxyapatite implant). Problems encountered with its use are similar to those seen with the Bio-Eye orbital implants but appear to occur less often. The incidence of exposure associated with the Bioceramic implant is less than that reported for the Bio-Eye.

Hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate coatings on aluminium oxide orbital implants.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate have been used as bone graft substitutes as they facilitate and promote tissue ingrowth. We carried out a study to examine uncoated and coated aluminium oxide (alumina) spherical orbital implants and assess whether the coatings influence fibrovascular ingrowth. METHODS: The aluminium oxide spheres (three coated with hydroxyapatite, three coated with calcium metaphosphate and three uncoated) were manufactured at the School of Materials Engineering, Yeungnam University, Kyongsan, Kyongbuk, Korea. The implants were examined macroscopically and with scanning electron microscopy and were analysed chemically by means of x-ray powder diffraction and x-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry. Implantation of three hydroxyapatite-coated, three calcium metaphosphate-coated and three uncoated aluminium oxide spheres was done in nine adult male New Zealand albino rabbits. Implant vascularization was evaluated at 4, 8 and 12 weeks by means of histopathological sectioning. RESULTS: All three types of implant had multiple interconnected pores. The coatings increased the size of the trabeculae from 150 microm to 300 microm. As a result, the pores appeared slightly smaller but still ranged in size from 300 microm to 750 microm, compared to 400 microm to 800 microm in the uncoated implants. The coatings also increased the weight of the implants slightly. The implants were all strong mechanically. They were made up primarily of aluminium oxide. The coated implants contained significant amounts of calcium oxide (a contaminant). There was no clinical difference in the socket response between the three groups. Histopathologically, fibrovascularization occurred uniformly throughout each implant at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after implantation. INTERPRETATION: The hydroxyapatite and calcium metaphosphate coatings did not appear to facilitate or inhibit fibrovascular ingrowth at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Longer-term studies are need to determine whether the coatings play a role in long-term acceptance and retention of the implants.