[Intravitreal ranibizumab for management of choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks: a case report]. / Traitement par injection intravitréenne de ranibizumab de néovaisseaux choroïdiens compliquant des stries angioïdes : à propos d'un cas.

Angioid streaks are biomicroscopically observable manifestations that frequently lead to choroidal neovascularization. Traditional treatments used to include laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy. Over the past few years, anti-VEGF therapies have been used as an alternative treatment. The case of a 54-year-old patient who received anti-VEGF therapy (ranibizumab) for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks is reported. The patient received two injections that led to complete resolution of intraretinal fluid and reduction in lesion size. After 1 year of follow-up, the patient has presented no recurrence. This case illustrates the efficacy of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for choroidal neovascularization in angioid streaks. Further prospective studies on a larger number of patients should help establish the best treatment and follow-up strategies.

Acute anticholinergic syndrome from Atropa belladonna mistaken for blueberries.

PURPOSE: To report the first case in the ophthalmic literature of acute anticholinergic syndrome after ingestion of Atropa belladonna mistaken for blueberries. METHODS: A 36-year-old woman presented to our ophthalmic emergency department with complaints of blurry vision, lightning flashes, disorientation, loss of balance, agitation, and anxiety for 24 hours. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral pupillary dilatation and paresis of accommodation. Additional symptoms of the anticholinergic syndrome were elicited on further questioning. RESULTS: Anticholinergic intoxication was suspected and the patient admitted to have eaten six "blueberries" found in the forest the previous day. The patient identified Atropa belladonna as the source of the berries she had eaten when shown photographs of the plant and its fruit. The recommendations of the Swiss Toxicological Information Centre were followed and physostigmine, the antidote for severe poisoning when 10 or more berries are ingested, was not administered. CONCLUSIONS: Accidental ingestion of Atropa belladonna berries may cause patients to first consult an ophthalmologist. It is important to recognize the anticholinergic syndrome caused by such intoxication in order to make a proper diagnosis, avoid unnecessary testing, and provide expedient appropriate treatment when required.

Corneal nerves alterations in various types of systemic polyneuropathy, identified by in vivo confocal microscopy.

BACKGROUND: In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a newly developed application to assess corneal nerve morphology. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the role of IVCM in the assessment of various types of polyneuropathy, and to define alterations of corneal nerves in such conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with various types of polyneuropathy were characterized by clinical neurological and ophthalmic examinations, as well as by electroneuromyography (ENMG). Full thickness IVCM of corneal nerves was carried out on all patients and 15 age-matched eyes using Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II). The subbasal nerve plexus were statistically analysed regarding long nerve fiber density, nerve branch density, nerve thickness, nerve bead number and nerve tortuosity. RESULTS: In subbasal nerve plexus, the following three parameters were significantly reduced in patients with polyneuropathy compared to controls: long nerve fibre density (p < 0.01), nerve branch density (p < 0.001), and nerve bead number (p = 0.001). In addition, the average grade of nerve tortuosity was 2.87 +/- 0.97 in the polyneuropathic group and 1.17 +/- 0.68 in the control group (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: IVCM allows a non-invasive, in vivo study of corneal nerves with high resolution. It therefore appears invaluable in clinical investigations. IVCM appears to be valuable in a large variety of polyneuropathic conditions.