Masqueraders of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS).

PURPOSE: To describe disorders that can masquerade as multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who presented with clinical findings compatible with a diagnosis of MEWDS but were ultimately diagnosed with an alternative inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic disorder. METHODS: Clinical records and multimodal imaging findings including fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA) were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inclusion criteria to be defined as a masquerade syndrome for MEWDS included the presence of disseminated grayish-white outer retinal spots that were hyperautofluorescent on FAF and associated with ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption on OCT. RESULTS: Twenty-two eyes of 13 patients were identified. All patients presented with the classic findings of MEWDS listed above. A MEWDS-like presentation was bilateral in nine of 13 patients (69%). Final diagnosis was determined on the basis of additional investigations including serologies and biopsy. These diagnoses included syphilis (three patients), lymphoma (three patients), idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (two patients), idiopathic retinal phlebitis (one patient), idiopathic acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (one patient), sarcoidosis (one patient), tuberculosis (one patient), and cancer-associated retinopathy (one patient). The outer retinal lesions and imaging findings resolved with treatment for the associated systemic disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread grayish-white outer retinal spots associated with hyperautofluorescence on FAF and disruption of the EZ on OCT are not pathognomonic for MEWDS. A high index of suspicion must be maintained for masqueraders of MEWDS, which can include serious inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic disorders.

Effectiveness and safety of accelerated (9 mW/cm2) corneal collagen cross-linking for progressive keratoconus: a 24-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness and safety of accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus over a 24-month period and to explore potential prognostic factors for post-treatment visual outcome and progression. METHODS: A retrospective, non-comparative, interventional case series. All patients who underwent accelerated epithelium-off CXL, using 9 mW/cm2 ultraviolet-A irradiation for 10 min, for progressive keratoconus in Sunderland Eye Infirmary, UK, between May 2014 and July 2016 were included. All patients completed 24 months' post-CXL follow-up. Significant post-CXL progression of keratoconus was defined as >1 D increase in Kmax from preoperative to 24-month visit. RESULTS: Fifty-two eyes of 48 patients were included. At 24-month post-CXL, there was a significant improvement in corrected-distance visual acuity (CDVA; -0.05 LogMAR; p = 0.026), Kmax (-1.68 D; p < 0.001), K1 (-0.64 D; p = 0.002) and Kmean (-0.50 D; p = 0.009). The proportion of eyes with CDVA ≥ 0.3 LogMAR significantly improved from 43 (82.7%) eyes preoperatively to 50 (96.2%) eyes at 24 months (p = 0.026). Corneal haze (12, 23.1%) was the only postoperative complication and no adverse event was noted. Final CDVA was associated with lower CDVA (p = 0.002) and greater Kmax (p = 0.018) at baseline. Post-CXL progression of keratoconus was associated with greater preoperative Kmax (p = 0.12) and Kmean (p = 0.11), though statistical significances were not achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated CXL (9 mW/cm2) serves as an effective and safe treatment for halting the progression of keratoconus and stabilising the vision over a 24-month period. Our observation suggests that accelerated CXL might be more effective in stabilising keratoconus of milder severity; however further larger studies are required to elucidate this finding.

Bilateral Birdshot Retinochoroiditis and Retinal Astrocytoma.

Background. This case highlights the importance of recognising multiple pathologies within the eye which may not necessarily be linked. Both birdshot retinochoroiditis and astrocytoma are rare conditions. The case underlines the need for early identification and treatment of birdshot retinochoroiditis with steroids and disease modifying drugs. Astrocytoma in the absence of tuberous sclerosis is also uncommon. Case Presentation. A 36-year-old male presented with 3-month history of bilateral progressive flashing lights and floaters. He was systemically well with no significant past medical history. Fundal examination revealed retinal vasculitis and active creamy lesions in the choroid radiating from the optic nerve. In the supranasal periphery of the right eye there was a raised white, jagged lesion protruding into the vitreous. Fluorescein angiogram and indocyanine green showed marked venous vasculitis, hypofluorescence, and disc leakage in keeping with birdshot retinochoroiditis. The supranasal lesion features were in keeping with astrocytoma and this was thought to be a coincidental finding. Conclusions. Retinal astrocytoma may be present as an isolated ocular finding; however, patients must still be investigated for tuberous sclerosis which is the most common association. Birdshot retinochoroiditis typically responds well to steroid therapy, and disease modifying drugs should be considered as soon as possible.