An eternal hunt for glaucoma.

In the first issue of Graefe's Archive from 1854, Albrecht von Graefe wrote about glaucoma. Glaucoma comes from the Greek word "glaukos," gleaming, which was first used by Homer around 800 BCE. Since then, glaukos and glaucoma have taken on many different meanings. The terms blindness, cataract and glaucoma were used interchangeably and twisted together in incomprehensible contexts. Over 2500 years of glaucoma theories were upset by the discovery of the ophthalmoscope in 1851. The first reports of increased intraocular pressure appeared in the mid-seventeenth century, but it took over 200 years for this elevated pressure to be accepted by the ophthalmological community. The discovery of glaucoma simplex in 1861 was an important step forward. What did doctors know about glaucoma before 1850 and why did it take so long to classify glaucoma in its various categories? And why is it that we still do not know what the cause is for primary open angle glaucoma? I will try to answer some of these questions after a historical overview.

Ocular melanosis in the adult Cairn Terrier population within the United Kingdom.

PURPOSE: Prospective investigation to determine the prevalence of ocular melanosis in adult Cairn Terriers within the United Kingdom using a previously established staging scheme. METHODS: Ophthalmic assessment was performed on adult Cairn Terriers, recruited from various geographic locations within the United Kingdom. Examination included gonioscopy, rebound tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and indirect ophthalmoscopy, performed by one examiner (AM). RESULTS: A total of 93 dogs were examined, including 52 females and 41 males, aged between 15 months and 16 years 4 months. Sixty of 93 dogs (64.5%) were >7 years of age. Nine of 93 dogs (9.6%) demonstrated changes consistent with ocular melanosis. Four of 9 (44.4%) had Stage 1 disease and 5 of 9 (55.6%), Stage 2. Stages 3 or 4 were not identified in any dogs. Mean intraocular pressures in affected and unaffected dogs were 14.7 mmHg (range 12-17 mmHg) and 12.8 mmHg (range 5-21 mmHg), respectively. Incomplete pupil dilation was noted in affected dogs following pharmacologic mydriasis. CONCLUSION: Ocular melanosis was identified in approximately 10% of examined dogs, over half were dogs of breeding age (<7 years of age). It is possible that Grade 1 disease could go undetected, prior to obvious scleral pigment accumulation (Grade 2 disease). It is therefore recommended that dogs undergoing pre-breeding screens have pre-dilation assessment of the anterior segment using slit lamp biomicroscopy with subsequent gonioscopy to clearly assess for circumferential thickening of the iris base that might otherwise go undetected. Additionally, regular reassessment of breeding dogs is advised as disease progression could be rapid.

Mapping the locus for ocular melanosis in Cairn Terriers.

OBJECTIVE: To map the disease locus for familial ocular melanosis (OM) in the Cairn Terrier. ANIMALS STUDIED: Cairn Terriers with OM and normal control dogs. PROCEDURE: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 63 OM-affected and 31 control Cairn Terriers, followed by haplotype analysis. A significantly associated single-nucleotide polymorphism was genotyped in a larger group of OM-affected and control Cairn Terriers. The coding and splice-site regions of genes mapping within the confidence interval were sequenced. RESULTS: A ~9.2 Mb region of chromosome 11 was significantly associated with OM. Haplotype analysis narrowed the region to 1.49 Mb. Genotyping of a SNP within the region showed 86% of OM-affected dogs were homozygous or heterozygous for the risk allele, whereas 78% of unaffected dogs were homozygous for the nonrisk allele. Sequencing of the coding regions and splice sites of four genes (c9orf72, IFNK, the 5' end of MOB3B, and the 3' end of LINGO2) and of a microRNA (MIR876) did not detect any genetic variants unique to OM-affected dogs. CONCLUSION: OM in Cairn Terriers maps to a 1.49 Mb region of chromosome 11. This accounts for 86% of OM cases in our DNA bank. A second locus may account for the OM phenotype in the remaining 14% of cases. Sequencing of coding regions and splice sites of positional candidate genes and a microRNA did not reveal any genetic variants unique to affected dogs. Further studies are required to elucidate the DNA variant causal for OM in Cairn Terriers and to understand the disease mechanism.

Identifying new drugs and targets to treat rapidly elevated intraocular pressure for angle closure and secondary glaucomas to curb visual impairment and prevent blindness.

A multitude of pharmacological compounds have been shown to lower and control intraocular pressure (IOP) in numerous species of animals and human subjects after topical ocular dosing or via other routes of administration. Most researchers have been interested in finding drug candidates that exhibit a relatively long duration of action from a chronic therapeutic use perspective, for example to treat ocular hypertension (OHT), primary open-angle glaucoma and even normotensive glaucoma. However, it is equally important to seek and characterize treatment modalities which offer a rapid onset of action to help provide fast relief from quickly rising IOP that occurs in certain eye diseases. These include acute angle-closure glaucoma, primary angle-closure glaucoma, uveitic and inflammatory glaucoma, medication-induced OHT, and other secondary glaucomas induced by eye injury or infection which can cause partial or complete loss of eyesight. Such fast-acting agents can delay or prevent the need for ocular surgery which is often used to lower the dangerously raised IOP. This research survey was therefore directed at identifying agents from the literature that demonstrated ocular hypotensive activity, normalizing and unifying the data, determining their onset of action and rank ordering them on the basis of rapidity of action starting within 30-60 min and lasting up to at least 3-4 h post topical ocular dosing in different animal species. This research revealed a few health authority-approved drugs and some investigational compounds that appear to meet the necessary criteria of fast onset of action coupled with significant efficacy to reduce elevated IOP (by ≥ 20%, preferably by >30%). However, translation of the novel animal-based findings to the human conditions remains to be demonstrated but represent viable targets, especially EP2-receptor agonists (e.g. omidenepag isopropyl; AL-6598; butaprost), mixed activity serotonin/dopamine receptor agonists (e.g. cabergoline), rho kinase inhibitors (e.g. AMA0076, Y39983), CACNA2D1-gene product inhibitors (e.g. pregabalin), melatonin receptor agonists, and certain K+-channel openers (e.g. nicorandil, pinacidil). Other drug candidates and targets were also identified and will be discussed.

A case report of interstitial keratitis and secondary glaucoma after cataract surgery that may be related to late congenital syphilis.

BACKGROUND: The destruction of blood eye barrier and the administration of corticosteroid eyedrops after phacoemulsification surgery can lead to the replication of the local potential pathogens. With the rapid increase and popularization of cataract surgery, all kinds of rare postoperative complications have appeared. Here, we report a case of interstitial keratitis and secondary glaucoma after cataract surgery, which may be related to late congenital syphilis, which eventually led to blindness in the right eye. We hope that the timely report of this case will enable doctors to pay more attention to the possibility of potential pathogen replication after cataract surgery, and enable more patients to receive reasonable and effective treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old female was referred to our clinic for investigation with a 1-week history of moderate pain in the right eye and ipsilateral headache in January 2020. She had cataract surgery on her right eye two years ago and on her left eye one year ago. The intraocular pressure (IOP) in the right eye was 43.2 mmHg and that in the left eye was 28.5 mmHg. Her right eye underwent medication, trabeculectomy and finally was subjected to ciliary body photocoagulation to control the IOP. The IOP of the left eye was well controlled by regular use of eye drops. In addition to the elevated IOP, the inflammation of the anterior segment and corneal stroma was found. Before cataract surgery, bilateral corneal opacities was revealed, but after cataract surgery, interstitial keratitis in both eyes was gradually aggravated, during the follow-up period from 2019 to 2021. She informed us that she had suffered from decreased vision in both eyes and was diagnosed with bilateral keratitis and congenital syphilis at the age of 20. In 2018, the serologic test for syphilis was positive in blood (Chemiluminescence analysis (CLIA): + ; Toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST): + , titer was 1:1). However, four tests for TRUST were negative in 2019 and 2020, so she was not treated for syphilis. CONCLUSION: This case of glaucoma and interstitial keratitis might be secondary to ocular inflammation caused by late congenital syphilis. The ocular inflammation and the activation of syphilis may be related to cataract surgery.

Clinical Differences between Posner-Schlossman Syndrome Patients with Intermittent Intraocular Pressure Elevation and Glaucomatous Damage.

INTRODUCTION: Although there is abundant evidence that Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) can lead to secondary glaucoma, data on the clinical differences between PSS patients with secondary glaucoma and those with intermittent intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation are sparse. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 52 patients (52 eyes) diagnosed with PSS and admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2019 and February 2022. Demographic characteristics and clinical features were gathered from admission records. Patients were divided into two groups: 27 cases with intermittent IOP elevation (group A) and 25 cases with secondary glaucoma (group B and C). Of the secondary glaucoma cases, 18 were further divided into the topical IOP-lowering medications group (group B) and 7 into the glaucoma surgery group (group C). Clinical characteristics of different groups were compared. RESULTS: Compared to the intermittent IOP elevation group, PSS patients with secondary glaucoma had a longer course of disease, a higher incidence of iris depigmentation, lower best corrected visual acuity, lower endothelial cell density, and higher interferon-γ (IFN-γ) concentration and cytomegalovirus (CMV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) copy number in the aqueous humor (all p < 0.05). Group C presented a higher CMV DNA copy number in the aqueous humor than groups A and B (p < 0.05). Compound trabeculectomy proved effective in group C, with a functional filter bleb and well-controlled IOP without disease progression after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Distinctive characteristics existed between PSS patients with secondary glaucoma and those with intermittent IOP elevation. Compound trabeculectomy appears to be an effective treatment option when IOP cannot be controlled through topical medications.

[Rehabilitation of patients with posttraumatic aniridia and secondary glaucoma]. / Reabilitatsiya patsientov s posttravmaticheskoi aniridiei i vtorichnoi glaukomoi.

Secondary glaucoma is one of the main problems of rehabilitation of patients with traumatic damage of the iris. PURPOSE: This study analyzes the long-term results of rehabilitation of patients with posttraumatic aniridia and glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 310 patients (310 eyes) with posttraumatic aniridia who had artificial iris-lens diaphragm (ILD) MIOL-Raduzhka implanted in 2002-2022. Before ILD implantation, 61 patients (22.8%) had secondary glaucoma. Among them 35 patients (11.3%) underwent various modifications of glaucoma surgery. In 26 patients (8.6%), intraocular pressure (IOP) was compensated medically before ILD implantation. RESULTS: Until the third month after ILD implantation, there was a trend for IOP increase in some patients. Decompensation was noted in 8 (22.9%) out of 35 patients who had underwent glaucoma surgery. IOP decompensation was observed in 21 (80.8%) of 26 cases in patients with glaucoma compensated by drugs before ILD implantation. After ILD implantation, glaucoma appeared for the first time in 21 patients (6.8%) out of 310. In order to compensate IOP after ILD implantation, Ahmed valve implantation was performed most often - in 35 cases (70%) out of 50, deep sclerectomy - in 5 cases (10%), non-penetrating deep sclerectomy - in 4 cases (8%), micropulse transscleral laser cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) - in 5 cases (10%), endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) - in 1 case (2%). CONCLUSION: ILD implantation in patients with posttraumatic aniridia and secondary glaucoma should be performed with IOP compensated without hypotensive therapy and not earlier than 6-12 months after glaucoma surgery. The most optimal glaucoma surgery types in this group of patients are Ahmed valve implantation and MP-TSCPC.

Clinical characteristics of virus-related uveitic secondary glaucoma: focus on cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of secondary glaucoma related to cytomegalovirus (CMV)- and varicella zoster virus (VZV)-positive uveitis. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we enrolled patients with anterior uveitic secondary glaucoma. All the patients underwent aqueous and serum analyses for viral antibody through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among the 60 included patients, 22 had CMV-negative Posner-Schlossman syndrome (CMV-negative PSS), 25 had CMV-positive PSS, and 13 had VZV-positive anterior uveitis secondary glaucoma (VZV-AUSG). We evaluated the following main indicators: age, disease duration, intraocular pressure (IOP), cup-to-disc ratio, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cell (CEC) count, ocular morphological changes, and medical treatments. RESULTS: We found that 53.2% (25/47) patients with PSS were CMV-positive. Patients with CMV-positive PSS had a larger cup-to-disc ratio (p = .043), lower CEC density (p = .017), more severe CEC loss (p < .001), and more iris depigmentation (p = .006) than CMV-negative PSS patients. Compared with patients with CMV-positive PSS, those with VZV-AUSG were older (p = .003), presented a higher IOP (p = .015), and had poorer BCVA (p < .001). Patients with CMV-positive PSS and VZV-AUSG all accepted ganciclovir treatment, and those with CMV-positive PSS used fewer antiglaucoma agents simultaneously compared with CMV-negative PSS (p = .005) and VZV-AUSG (p < .001). All three groups had a comparable proportion of patients requiring antiglaucoma surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We observed some distinctive clinical features in CMV-positive PSS compared with CMV-negative PSS. Further, we found that patients with VZV-AUSG presented with a higher IOP and worse visual acuity, and required more antiglaucoma medication than those with CMV-positive PSS.

Outcomes of the infantile cataract surgery: case series with a 5-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To present the 5-year outcomes obtained from the infantile cataract surgery in pediatric population. METHODS: Medical records of all patients with unilateral or bilateral infantile cataract who had undergone lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy with or without intraocular lens implantation before 10 years of age were evaluated. Patients with any history of ocular trauma, retinal or corneal dystrophy, ocular or orbital surgery, retinopathy of prematurity, raised intraocular pressure at the time of diagnosis, or incomplete follow-up sessions were excluded from the research. RESULTS: A total of 85 eyes belonged to 52 patients were analyzed. Bilateral and unilateral diseases were present in 33 (63.5%) and 19 (36.5%) patients, respectively. After performing the first operation, 43 (50.6%) eyes still remained aphakic. The mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of the aphakic and pseudophakic eyes was estimated as 0.77 ± 0.52 and 0.43 ± 0.39 logMAR with no statistical difference. The age at the time of performing the cataract surgery was not associated with the final CDVA in either group. Complications in the anterior segment structures were noted in 39 (45%) eyes. Strabismus and amblyopia were noted in 52 (61%) and 75 (88.2%) eyes, respectively. Glaucoma was found in 17 (20%) eyes with no correlation with the final CDVA, age at the time of cataract surgery, or the status of the lens. CONCLUSION: Due to high prevalence rates of amblyopia, strabismus, and glaucoma after the infantile cataract surgery, specific attention should be paid to these complications in each follow-up examination.

Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation for secondary glaucoma post-vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ahmed glaucoma valv (AGV) implantation is one of the successful surgical methods in secondary glaucoma that develops after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). In our study, we aimed to evaluate the 1-year results of AGV implantation in patients with a history of PPV. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 26 patients who underwent AGV implantation after PPV were included in our retrospective study. Fourteen of 26 patients had AGV implantation due to neovascular glaucoma (NVG) and 12 of them had secondary refractory galucoma. Data of these two groups of patients were evaluated in terms of IOP reduction, number of medication use, surgical complete and qualified success, surgical failure, and complications. RESULTS: The mean IOP was 29.54 ± 4.87 mmHg at the preoperative of AGV implantation and 12.88 ± 4.17 at the twelfth month visit in overal group. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of IOP in preoperative and all postoperative visits (p > 0.05). The mean intervals between PPV and AGV implantation were 67 ± 34 days in NVG and 391 ± 500 days in non-NVG group (p = 0.017). In overall group, 91.7% of patients had improvement in BCVA at the twelfth month visit. Complete and qualified surgical success rates were 75%, 83.3% in NVG group and 50%, 91.7% in non-NVG group, respectively. There was no devastating complication in both groups. CONCLUSION: AGV implantation is a safe and effective surgical method in uncontrolled IOP elevations after PPV. While surgical success and failure rates were similar between etiologies, the time required for AGV implantation after PPV was shorter in NVG etiology.

High prevalence of angle-closure glaucoma in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and mechanisms of secondary glaucoma in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. METHODS: This retrospective, longitudinal observational study analyzed the demographic data, disease stage, glaucoma development, intraocular pressure, best-corrected visual acuity, lens status, optic nerve, gonioscopy, management, and visual outcomes of VKH disease. Clinical features were used to categorize the stage of VKH disease. VKH eyes were divided into two groups, with or without glaucoma, undergoing further analysis, including statistical analysis. RESULTS: 305 eyes of 155 patients with VKH disease with a median follow-up of 22 months were included. Secondary glaucoma developed in 67 (22%) eyes, most of which (64.2%) had chronic recurrent VKH at presentation. Angle-closure was present in 55 (82.1%) of glaucoma eyes. Peripheral anterior and posterior synechiae were present in 58 (86.6%) and 51 (76.1%) eyes, respectively. Pupillary block and posterior synechiae resulted in iris bombé in 17 (25.4%) eyes with glaucoma. At the last visit, visual acuity was worse in eyes with glaucoma (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found that angle-closure disease is a significant cause of secondary glaucoma in VKH. Eyes with glaucoma were more likely to present in the chronic recurrent stage of the disease.

Secondary glaucoma caused by a special type of persistent fetal vasculature.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and surgical outcomes in infants with glaucoma secondary to a special anterior-anterior type of persistent fetal vasculature (AAPFV). METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of infants who underwent of the synechialysis, pupilloplasty, with or without lensectomy and limbal vitrectomy due to AAPFV and with at least 6 months of postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included. The median age at surgery was 4.0 months (interquartile range: 7 months). The mean follow-up was 21.0 ± 11.3 months. All patients achieved a normal anterior chamber, improved pupillary configuration, and normal intraocular pressure (IOP), except one that developed phthisis bulbi at the last visit. A total of 81.8% (9/11) eyes exhibited improved corneal transparency. Histopathologic findings of four pupillary membranous specimens under light microscopy showed similar components compared with PFV. Two eyes developed postoperative complications, including retinal detachment and hyphema, requiring additional surgeries. Postoperative visual acuity changed from no light perception to light perception in 6/9 patients. CONCLUSIONS: AAPFV is a special type of PFV with a potential for secondary glaucoma. Surgery treatment may offer better vision with improved cosmetic outcomes and a better controlled IOP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the local institutional review board (IRB) (Approval No. XHEC-D-2021-043, Ethical Committee of Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China).

COMPARISON OF FREE RADICAL LIPID PEROXIDATION PROCESSES IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GLAUCOMA.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To investigate and compare the effects of free radical lipid peroxidation, antioxidant supply and the state of hydro- and hemodynamics of the eye on the course and progression of the glaucoma process in patients with primary and secondary glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: We observed 123 patients with primary and secondary glaucoma and 58 apparently healthy individuals, constituting the control group. The first group included 62 patients diagnosed with primary compensated glaucoma. The remaining 61 patients, who constituted the second group of subjects, were included in the study with a diagnosis of secondary compensated glaucoma. RESULTS: Results: Clinical examination of patients with primary compensated glaucoma in winter demonstrates a statistically significant decrease in intraocular fluid production, decreased outflow and reduced actual intraocular pressure, whereas in summer and autumn these figures were less pronounced. Observations of patients with secondary compensated glaucoma also showed a statically significant decrease in the production of chamber fluid and a decrease in the coefficient of outflow in winter. Similar tendencies were confirmed by hemodynamic changes. During this period, the relative pulse volume of the blood entering the eye is significantly reduced, in the summer and autumn period, the deficit of blood supply to the eye is less pronounced. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The results of the research indicate the proliferative form of peroxide mechanisms in the pathogenesis of glaucoma of both types, which is the basis for using inhibitors of free radical lipid oxidation - antioxidant preparations - in the comprehensive therapy of these diseases. The identified features of clinical and biochemical disorders, based on the season of examination, are the basis for the development of differentiated regimens for the use of antioxidants in the treatment of glaucoma.

A case of bilateral sclerouveitis with secondary glaucoma right eye.

Infectious scleritis is rare and most commonly herpetic in origin. We report an unusual bilateral subacute presentation of scleritis with uveitis and glaucoma which responded to treatment with acyclovir. A 47-year-old male coast guard personnel presented with 2 months history of bilateral red eye. He was initially managed elsewhere as conjunctivitis, and on examination had bilateral diffuse redness of the eyes persisting with phenylephrine, with scleral edema and mild globe tenderness. Investigations for underlying autoimmune systemic illness were normal. He showed inadequate response to topical steroids and cycloplegics and developed uveitis and glaucoma while on steroids. He was then given tablet acyclovir with antiglaucoma topical medications with which he showed rapid response and complete resolution. The case is being reported for highlighting this unusual bilateral presentation of scleritis with uveitis and glaucoma with possible viral etiology.

Atopic dermatitis as a risk factor for severe visual field loss in youth-a retrospective cohort study of glaucoma under steroid treatment.

PURPOSE: To assess the characteristics of glaucoma patients who received systemic or topical steroid treatment. METHODS: Patients who received steroid treatment were selected from a total of 4256 patients at our tertiary referral center of glaucoma management between August 2011 and October 2017. Clinical characteristics of the subjects were extracted from clinical records. To evaluate the factors influencing highest intraocular pressure during observation (max-IOP) or mean deviations (MDs) of visual field at the first and last visits, univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-two eyes of 196 patients were included in this study. The most frequent disease as the reason for steroid treatment was atopic dermatitis (58 eyes) followed by autoimmune diseases. The patients with atopic dermatitis were significantly younger (38.0 ± 11.2 years old, p < 0.001) and had lower MD (- 9.3 ± 9.1 dB at first visit, p = 0.01; - 10.6 ± 9.2 dB at last visit, p = 0.004) than those with other diseases. In multivariate regression analysis, age and MD at first visit, max-IOP, and atopic dermatitis were correlated with MD at last visit. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that patients with atopic dermatitis carry the risk of irreversible visual field loss even in youth. For earlier detection of high intraocular pressure, reinforcement of ophthalmological screening in management of atopic dermatitis should be recommended.

Histologic, immunohistochemical, and scanning electron microscopic comparison of pre-iridal monocellular and fibrovascular membranes in normal and glaucomatous canine globes.

OBJECTIVES: (i) To evaluate immunohistochemical labeling of pre-iridal monocellular and fibrovascular membranes and (ii) describe the light and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) characteristics of these membranes in glaucomatous and normal/control canine globes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All globes were evaluated with light microscopy. Immunohistochemical labeling for CD18, Smooth muscle actin (SMA), and CD117 was completed on 40 canine globes with congenital/anterior segment dysgenesis-associated glaucoma (n = 10), primary/goniodysgenesis-associated glaucoma (n = 10), secondary glaucoma (n = 10), and normal/control globes (n = 10). SEM was completed on 10 globes: 5 with monocellular membranes, 3 with fibrovascular membranes, and 2 without a histologically detectable membrane. RESULTS: Monocellular membranes were detected in all normal/control globes with light microscopy and appeared to be morphologically very similar to those in diseased globes. CD18 labeling was detected in 9/10 monocellular membranes in normal/control globes, 15/23 monocellular, and 7/8 fibrovascular membranes in globes with glaucoma. SMA and CD117 labeling was not detected in monocellular membranes of normal/control globes. SMA was expressed in 10/23 monocellular and 7/8 fibrovascular membranes of glaucomatous globes. CD117 was expressed in 7/23 monocellular and 5/8 fibrovascular membranes of glaucomatous globes. SEM of monocellular membranes revealed a continuous sheet of mostly spindle cells and few individual round cells that extended over the anterior iris face in normal/control and all glaucomatous globes. CONCLUSION: Pre-iridal monocellular membranes are a normal component of the anterior iris surface, and CD18 immunoreactivity suggests some cells within these are of leukocytic origin. SMA and CD117 labeling of monocellular membranes in glaucomatous, but not normal/control globes, suggest metaplastic cellular change secondary to intraocular pathology related to glaucoma.

Micropulse trans-scleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in refractory glaucoma: an initial experience in Indian eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of micro-pulse trans-scleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) in Indian eyes with refractory glaucoma. METHODS: A prospective interventional short-term study was carried out with relatively small sample size of 55 eyes with refractory glaucoma. All eyes had visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements at baseline, 1 week (1w), 1 month (1 m) and 3 months (3 m). A single surgeon treated all eyes with recommended MP-TSCPC treatment settings. Surgical success was defined as achieving an IOP between 8-21 mmHg or achieving > 20% IOP reduction. RESULTS: The age of participants was 56.98 ± 15.74 years. Our study had more number of males. VA (in logMAR) at baseline was 1.38 ± 0.99. VA was 1.43 ± 0.93 at 1w, 1.47 ± 0.94 at 1 m and 1.47 ± 0.96 at 3 m (p > 0.05 for all). IOP (in mmHg) at baseline was 30.38 ± 10.70. IOP was 15.72 ± 6.85 at 1w, 16.98 ± 8.72 at 1 m and 17.60 ± 8.40 at 3 m (p < 0.001 for all). At 3 m, 49 (89.1%) eyes had surgical success. Surgical success was lesser in primary open angle glaucoma (p = 0.03). IOP at baseline showed significant correlation with percentage reduction in IOP at each review (p < 0.05). Use of glaucoma medication reduced from 2.94 ± 0.98 to 2.01 ± 1.16 at 3 m (p < 0.001). At 3 m, hypotony was noted in 4 (7.3%) eyes and reduction in visual acuity was seen in 15 (27.3%) eyes. CONCLUSION: Initial experience in Indian eyes has shown that MP-TSCPC is safe and effective for refractory glaucoma. Patients can expect significant IOP lowering along with reduction in number of topical medications required for control of IOP.

Comparison of visual field defect progression in secondary Glaucoma due to anterior uveitis caused by three types of herpes viruses.

PURPOSE: To clarify the prevalence of secondary glaucoma (SG) and its speed of progression in patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV)-anterior uveitis (AU), varicella zoster virus (VZV)-AU, and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-AU. METHODS: In total, 170 patients with herpetic AU were enrolled in this retrospective observational case series. Patients with visual field (VF) defects and glaucomatous disc abnormalities were diagnosed with SG. Moreover, the speed of SG progression was defined as decreasing mean deviation (MD) values per year. SG prevalence and annual MD-value decrease were compared among the three types of herpetic AU. RESULTS: SG prevalence was 16%, 9%, and 72% in patients with HSV-AU, VZV-AU, and CMV-AU, respectively. Patients with CMV-AU had the highest SG prevalence (odds ratio = 3.15; 95% confidence interval = 1.15-8.65; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the annual MD-value change was significantly higher in SG caused by CMV-AU than in that caused by HSV/VZV-AU (-2.6 ± 2.4 dB/year and -0.45 ± 0.54 dB/year, respectively; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that patients with CMV-AU may have a higher risk and faster speed of progression of SG than patients with HSV/VZV-AU. Therefore, clinicians should monitor glaucoma onset and VF-defect progression in patients with CMV-AU.

Side effects of proton beam therapy of choroidal melanoma in dependence of the dose to the optic disc and the irradiated length of the optic nerve.

PURPOSE: To analyze the impact of the dose to the optic disc and the irradiated length of the optic nerve on radiation-induced optic neuropathy, radiation-induced retinopathy, iris neovascularization, secondary glaucoma, enucleation, and local tumor control after proton beam therapy (PBT) of choroidal melanoma. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 1129 patients, who received primary PBT for the treatment of choroidal melanoma with a dose of 60 cobalt gray equivalents (CGE) between 1998 and 2013 at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Germany. Kaplan-Meier curves and logrank test have been used for time-to-event analyses. Adjustment for potential confounders was done using multiple Cox regression models with forward and backward selection. RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between the irradiated length of the optic nerve and the dose to the optic disc (correlation coefficient, 0.93). Multivariate Cox regression revealed the dose to the optic disc as an independent predictive risk factor for the development of radiation-induced optic neuropathy (p < 0.001, HR 1.023, 95 CI 1.016-1.029), iris neovascularization (p < 0.001, HR 1.013, 95% CI 1.008-1.019), secondary glaucoma (p < 0.001, HR 1.017, 95% CI: 1.011-1.023) and enucleation (p < 0.001, HR 1.037, 95% CI 1.020-1.053). The irradiated length of the optic nerve was not a statistically independent predictive risk factor in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Our data implicate the predominance of the dose to the optic disc over the irradiated length of the optic nerve regarding radiation-induced optic neuropathy, iris neovascularization, secondary glaucoma, and enucleation.

Surgical outcomes of Glaucoma associated with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of glaucoma associated with Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome (ARS) is poorly described in the literature. The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of various glaucoma surgeries on intraocular pressure (IOP) management in ARS. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at a university hospital-based practice of patients diagnosed with ARS between 1973 and 2018. Exclusion criterion was follow-up less than 1 year. The number of eyes with glaucoma (IOP ≥ 21 mmHg with corneal edema, Haabs striae, optic nerve cupping or buphthalmos) requiring surgery was determined. The success and survival rates of goniotomy, trabeculotomy±trabeculectomy (no antifibrotics), cycloablation, trabeculectomy with anti-fibrotics, and glaucoma drainage device placement were assessed. Success was defined as IOP of 5-20 mmHg and no additional IOP-lowering surgery or visually devastating complications. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In 32 patients identified with ARS (median age at presentation 6.9 years, 0-58.7 years; median follow-up 5.4 years, 1.1-43.7 years), 23 (71.9%) patients were diagnosed with glaucoma at median age 6.3 years (0-57.9 years). In glaucomatous eyes (46 eyes), mean IOP at presentation was 21.8 ± 9.3 mmHg (median 20 mmHg, 4-45 mmHg) on 1.0 ± 1.6 glaucoma medications. Thirty-one eyes of 18 patients required glaucoma surgery with 2.2 ± 1.2 IOP-lowering surgeries per eye. Goniotomy (6 eyes) showed 43% success with 4.3 ± 3.9 years of IOP control. Trabeculotomy±trabeculectomy (6 eyes) had 17% success rate with 14.8 ± 12.7 years of IOP control. Trabeculectomy with anti-fibrotics (14 eyes) showed 57% success with 16.5 ± 13.5 years of IOP control. Ahmed© (FP7 or FP8) valve placement (8 eyes) had 25% success rate with 1.7 ± 1.9 years of IOP control. Baerveldt© (250 or 350) device placement (8 eyes) showed 70% success with 1.9 ± 2.3 years of IOP control. Cycloablation (4 eyes) had 33% success rate with 2.7 ± 3.5 years of IOP control. At final follow-up, mean IOP (12.6 ± 3.8 mmHg, median 11.8 mmHg, 7-19 mmHg) in glaucomatous eyes was significantly decreased (p < 0.0001), but there was no difference in number of glaucoma medications (1.6 ± 1.5, p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: In our series, greater than 70% of patients with ARS have secondary glaucoma that often requires multiple surgeries. Trabeculectomy with anti-fibrotics and Baerveldt glaucoma drainage devices showed the greatest success in obtaining IOP control.