Posterior segment manifestations of Takayasu arteritis: A narrative review.

Ocular symptoms can be the presenting manifestation of Takayasu arteritis (TA) or could be indicative of disease reactivation. A review of published literature related to posterior segment manifestations of TA by using the keywords "Takayasu arteritis," "ophthalmic manifestations," "retina," "retinopathy," "ocular," "optic nerve," and "optic neuropathy" was performed. In total, 62 case reports and 12 case series were included. The majority of the articles were from Asia (n = 47, 64%). Females outnumbered males in the ratio of 7:1. The mean age of patients was 33 years (range: 8-78 years, SD: 13.5 years). In 58% (n = 41 out of 71) cases, ocular symptoms were the presenting manifestation of the underlying disease. Hypotensive retinopathy was found in 70% of eyes, and hypertensive retinopathy was found in 27%. The mean presenting visual acuity (VA) was +1.03 logMAR (range: -0.12 to 3, SD: 1.07), and at the final follow-up was +1.02 logMAR (range: -0.12 to 3, SD 1.17). VA improved in 34% (n = 29/86), remained stable in 45% (39/86), and worsened in 21% (18/86). The mean follow-up was 9 months (range: 0.5-204, SD: 16 months).

Systemic biomarkers of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm babies.

PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) progression is an inter-play of various perinatal and neonatal angiogenic and inflammatory cytokines. A small subset of ROP progresses to ROP requiring treatment. The present study was conducted with the aim to determine whether levels of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum and urine at the time of first ROP screening visit could be a biomarker for the prediction of development of treatable ROP. METHOD: Prospective single-center observational study of preterm babies screened for ROP. Blood and urine samples were collected as a part of routine sampling at initial ROP screening visit and stored at -80 °C for further processing. The babies were followed up and grouped into 'Group A' comprising of 35 babies who developed treatable ROP and 'Group B' comprising of 36 babies with regressed ROP or no ROP. The evaluation of blood and urine samples was done for IL6, IL8 and VEGF by solid-phase sandwich RayBio® Human ELISA kit. RESULTS: The median serum values for IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in Group A and Group B were 5.8 pg/ml (IQR 1.5,128.5) and 8.7 pg/ml (IQR 1.5,30.5), 55.9 pg/ml (IQR 28.0, 392.9) and 27.0 pg/ml (IQR 20.5,444.9) and 26.6 pg/ml (IQR 6.3, 39.4) and 30.0 pg/ml (IQR9.2,70.3), respectively. Group A had significantly increased levels of IL-8 (p < 0.05). However, AUROC curve for serum IL-8 demonstrated suboptimal discriminating ability. CONCLUSION: Babies developing ROP requiring treatment had significantly increased levels of IL-8 in the serum at the time of initial screening. However, it could not serve as predictor for treatable ROP.

Lightning injuries of the posterior segment of the eye.

Lightning causes serious injuries and deaths worldwide every year. Ophthalmic injuries due to lightning are due to direct or indirect transmission of electric current, resistance-induced heat, and heat-induced shock wave. PubMed search of articles related to posterior segment injuries caused by lightning using keywords (lightning injury, ophthalmic manifestations, ocular injuries, and posterior segment) was conducted, and 19 case reports in 17 articles including 29 eyes with lightning injury to the posterior segment of the eye from 1984 to 2019 were reviewed. The majority of case reports (n = 10, 53%) were from North America. Eleven patients (58%) were in the age group of 10-30 years. Most patients (n = 10, 53%) had bilateral injury. The macula was the most common site of involvement with retinal pigment epithelial changes (n = 14, 48%) being the most common manifestation. A variety of other retinal, vitreous, and electrophysiological abnormalities have also been reported. We conclude that although lightning injuries are usually mild injuries, with vision remaining, either stable or showing some improvement in the majority of cases, severe visual loss due to optic atrophy and maculopathy may occur in long term.

Efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in treatment naïve eyes with diabetic macular edema: Real world experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in treatment naïve eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of treatment naïve eyes with DME which received intravitreal dexamethasone implant between January 2016 and March 2018 was done. Demographic details of the patients, ocular examination findings at baseline and on follow up visits were noted. Morphological features of DME and central macular thickness were noted on optical coherence tomography at each visit. The details regarding additional treatment for macular edema on follow up were noted. RESULTS: Sixty five eyes were included in the study. The mean age was 59.14 ± 9.59 years. The follow up ranged from 6 to 48 months. Psuedophakic eyes showed visual improvement whereas the phakic eyes showed stable vision. The central foveal thickness showed significant reduction (p = 0.05) in all the eyes. The best corrected visual acuity at final follow up (+0.65 logMAR) was slightly less as compared to baseline (+0.62 logMAR). Retreatment was needed in 37% eyes and antiglaucoma medications in 8% eyes. Cataract progression was noted in 24 eyes (37%); 17 eyes (26.1%) underwent surgery. Notably, 27 eyes (41.5%) had some degree of macular ischemia at baseline. And five eyes (7.7%) showed progression of retinopathy leading to vitreous hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone implant is helpful in reducing the macular thickness and stabilizing the vision in treatment naïve DME; requiring less number of treatment sessions. However, it does not prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy. The visual improvement may be affected by cataract and macular ischemia.

Cavitary retinoblastoma: clinical observations.

AIM: A retrospective case series describing the clinical features and treatment outcomes in eye with cavitary retinoblastoma. METHODS: Case records of patients diagnosed with cavitary retinoblastoma from 2013 to 2017 were reviewed and their demographic details, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Thirteen tumours from ten eyes of ten patients were included. Mean age at diagnosis was 36 months (median = 30, range = 2-60 months). Mean number of cavities per tumour were two (median 1, range 1-5). Sixty-two percent of tumours had primary cavities, 23% had secondary cavities, while 15% had both types. Mean basal tumour diameter at presentation was 10.9 mm, and at final follow-up was 10.4 mm. Mean tumour thickness at presentation was 7.7 mm, and at final follow-up was 6.5 mm. Majority of tumours (46%) showed type 2 regression pattern. Tumour recurrence was noted in 1(8%) eye. Cavity rupture with release of vitreous seeds was observed in one eye. Two (20%) eyes with vitreous seeds were treated with intravitreal chemotherapy. Two eyes were advised enucleation, one due to tumour recurrence and the other due to persistent vitreous seeds. No patients had metastasis or death. Mean follow-up was 54 months (median 20, SD 66.82, range 3-183). CONCLUSION: Cavitary tumours have variable presentations, are often associated with vitreous seeds, and in some cases the latter emanates from them as well. Cavitary tumours tend to maintain stable tumour dimensions.

Evaluation of complications and visual outcome in various nucleus delivery techniques of manual small incision cataract surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate various methods of nucleus delivery in manual small incision cataract surgery, with reference to visual outcome, intraoperative, and postoperative complications. Methods: In this prospective randomized interventional study, five groups of 40 cases each were constituted, with reference to nucleus delivery technique: (a) phacosandwich, (b) fishhook, (c) irrigating vectis, (d) viscoexpression, and (e) anterior chamber maintainer (ACM). Visual outcome, intraoperative, and postoperative complications were evaluated in detail. Follow-up was done on first and seventh postoperative days (PODs) and then at fourth and eighth postoperative weeks. Results: The most common intraoperative complication was intraoperative miosis, followed by intraoperative hyphema, seen more in phacosandwich and irrigating vectis groups. The most common postoperative complication was striate keratopathy followed by transient postoperative corneal edema and AC inflammatory response, seen more in phacosandwich and fishhook groups. With reference to visual acuity, on the first POD 95% cases of ACM group achieved visual acuity >+0.5 logMAR unit. The difference in the visual outcome among groups was statistically significant. On fourth and eighth postoperative weeks, best-corrected visual acuity among various groups was comparable. Conclusion: ACM and viscoexpression are effective techniques for early visual rehabilitation. Fishhook has limited utility in softer nuclear grades and black cataracts. Phacosandwich is more suitable for nuclear sclerosis Grades 3-4. Irrigating vectis, viscoexpression, and ACM technique are effective techniques for all grades of nucleus Postoperative surgical-induced astigmatism was comparable in all techniques.

INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE CHANGES AFTER DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT IN PATIENTS WITH GLAUCOMA AND STEROID RESPONDERS.

PURPOSE: To assess the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after dexamethasone (DEX) implant in patients with glaucoma or history of steroid responders. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients who received DEX implant was conducted in a tertiary care center in India. Demographic details and IOP measurements at preinjection and postinjection were collected. The proportion of patients with and without IOP rise after DEX implant was noted, and the number of antiglaucoma medications to control the IOP was analyzed. The changes in IOP were also compared in the group with no glaucoma/steroid responder. RESULTS: A total of 815 patients, 767 patients in the nonglaucoma group and 48 patients in the glaucoma referral group, who underwent DEX implant were included in this study. The overall mean (SD) age of study participants was 56.3 (SD = 12.6) years. The overall mean (SD) IOP at baseline and at follow-up after injection for both nonglaucoma and glaucoma referral groups was found to be significant (P < 0.001). The differences in IOP measurements across follow-ups after DEX implant were found to be significant in both nonglaucoma (P < 0.001) and glaucoma referral groups (P < 0.001). Among the study patients in the IOP-rise group, 46.43% had maximum IOP rise in 1-week follow-up and 39% in 2-week follow-up, where 78.6% showed IOP controlled with 1 antiglaucoma medication. CONCLUSION: The rise in IOP after DEX implant was noted within first 2 weeks, which can be managed with topical antiglaucoma medications. Hence, with a close early follow-up monitoring of IOP, and timely medical intervention, DEX implant can be performed in patients with glaucoma.

Outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery in eyes with pre-existing glaucoma drainage devices.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery in eyes with preplaced glaucoma drainage device (GDD) with respect to intraocular pressure (IOP) control as well as success of retinal detachment (RD) surgery. METHODS: It is a retrospective case series. The case records of patients who underwent RD surgery after GDD implantation from 2000 to 2014 were screened. The demographic data, ocular examination findings at all visits, details pertaining to retinal detachment and its repair, and the postoperative course was documented. RESULTS: Twelve patients were included in study. The mean age of patients was 24.3 years (median 11 years; range 3-72 years). Male: Female ratio was 3:1. Mean duration between GDD and RD was 24 months (4 days-91 months). Of the ten eyes that underwent surgery, nine eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, and in one eye scleral buckling was done. GDD was removed only in one eye. At final follow-up, retina was attached with controlled IOP in 6 (60%) eyes, of which 5 (50%) had improvement in best corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy was required in almost all cases for the management of RD in eyes with preplaced GDD. Retinal reattachment with good IOP control could be achieved in 60% of eyes. Removal of the drainage device was not essential for the effective management of the RRD in most cases. With multidisciplinary approach, close follow-up and timely intervention, vision can be preserved along with glaucoma control and successful retinal reattachment.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of vasoproliferative tumors in Indian participants.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to describe the clinical features and treatment outcomes of vasoproliferative tumors (VPT) in Indian participants. METHODS: This study design was a retrospective case series in a tertiary eye care center. Case records of patients diagnosed with VPT from 2011 to 2015 were reviewed, and their demographic details, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes were documented. Baseline and follow-up visual acuity and tumor dimensions were statistically compared by applying paired t-test. Statistical analysis used SPSS version 14. RESULTS: Twenty-two tumors from 19 eyes of 17 patients were included. Mean age at presentation was 43.5 years (range: 15-68 years). Mean presenting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was + 1.10 logMAR. Sixty-eight percent eyes had secondary tumors. Most common association of secondary VPT was Coats disease followed by retinal vasculitis, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, and traumatic chorioretinopathy. Ten tumors (45%) involved the inferior quadrant. Tumor-associated features were intra/subretinal exudates, vitritis, subretinal fluid, vitreous hemorrhage, preretinal fibrosis, epiretinal membrane, and subretinal blood. Treatment included cryotherapy, intravitreal or oral steroids, laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy with encirclage, cryotherapy with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, and observation. Complications included tumor recurrence, retinal detachment, raised intraocular pressure, neovascularization of iris, and cataract. Ninety-five percent VPT regressed at mean 21 months (Median: 17 months; Range: 3-64 months). Mean final BCVA was + 1.21 logMAR. CONCLUSION: VPTs are commonly unilateral, unifocal, and located anterior to equator in inferior fundus. Secondary tumors are more common than primary tumors. Treatment achieves tumor regression in majority of cases.