Choroidal Thickness in Birdshot Retinochoroiditis Over a 2-Year Period.

PURPOSE: To evaluate 2-year choroidal changes in eyes with birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC). METHODS: Thirteen patients (26 eyes) with BRC were prospectively evaluated during a 2-year period with standard automated perimetry (SAP), fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography (Spectralis Heidelberg Retinal Angiograph + optical coherence tomography). Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography was performed. RESULTS: Eight patients (61%) were females; the patients mean age was 60 ± 4.7 (range 49-66) years. At baseline, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.08 ± 0.2 and foveal sensitivity threshold (FST) at SAP was 34.04 ± 2.6; at 2-year visit, no significant changes were observed (BCVA 0.06 ± 02, p = 0.1 and FST 34.36 ± 2.6, p = 0.1). In all cases, at the 2-year visit, a significant reduction of choroidal thickness was present only at the fovea (p = 0.01). The rate of foveal choroidal thinning was 1.8 ± 1.6 µm per month. When compared to baseline, suprachoroidal fluid (SCF) was more frequent (42.3 vs. 23%; p = 0.002). The amount of foveal choroidal thinning was associated with the presence of SCF at baseline (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: In patients with BRC, foveal choroidal thinning and increase of SCF at 2-year follow-up can be observed, even in the absence of visual loss.

Five-Year Trends in Multifocal Electroretinogram for Patients With Birdshot Chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate temporal trends in multifocal ERG (mfERG) parameters and analyze their relationships with anatomic and functional markers in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR). DESIGN: Prospective observational case series. METHODS: Sixteen BSCR patients were include and underwent 2 standardized follow-up (FU) visits within 5 years following a baseline examination, including mfERG, visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF), Lanthony desaturated panel D-15 test for color vision, quality of life (QoL), fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: A significant trend toward a decrease in absolute N1 amplitude values was observed over the follow-up period (P < .001) while N1 implicit time remained unchanged. In contrast, P1 amplitude decreased (P < .001) and P1 implicit time increased (P < .001) over the same period. No significant temporal change was found for VA, color vision score, foveal threshold, mean deviation of VF, and QoL. After adjusting for time to FU, increasing N1 and P1 IT were both associated with decreasing values of logMAR, foveal threshold, and QoL and with increasing color vision score and mean deviation of VF. A significant relationship was observed between decreasing P1 amplitude values and increasing mean deviation of VF. Lower absolute values of N1 amplitude were associated with venous vasculitis, whereas lower P1 amplitude values correlated with alteration of the outer retina in OCT. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive deterioration in mfERG during a 5-year period is detected in BSCR, whereas classical functional test results were unchanged. This study suggests a better sensitivity of mfERG in monitoring the retinal function of BSCR patients.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for rapid diagnosis of postoperative endophthalmitis.

This study describes an innovative strategy for rapid detection and identification of bacteria causing endophthalmitis, combining the use of an automated blood culture system with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry methodology. Using this protocol, we could identify 96% of 45 bacterial strains isolated from vitreous samples collected in acute post-operative endophthalmitis patients.