Foveal hyper-reflective vertical lines detected by optical coherence tomography: Imaging features, literature review and differential diagnoses.

PURPOSE: To describe foveal hyper-reflective vertical lines (FVL) as a specific morphological finding on structural spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and discuss its differential diagnosis. METHODS: Observational case series. Ten patients (10 eyes) with FVL were meticulously examined at the Ophthalmology Department, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Detailed analysis of SD-OCT findings, clinical records, and retinal imaging was conducted to establish correlations between FVL and various underlying conditions. RESULTS: We established the following list of settings, supported by the clinical context and ancillary investigations, in which SD-OCT displayed FVL: inflammation (1 eye), mechanical (1 eye), resorption of fluids of various origins (4 eyes), macular telangiectasia (1 eye), age-related macular degeneration (1 eye), diabetic retinopathy (1 eye) and scar (1 eye). CONCLUSIONS: FVL can be observed in various underlying conditions. Recognition of this pattern and formulation of an appropriate differential diagnosis is of interest for correctly diagnosing and treating patients whose structural OCT harbors this yet overlooked finding.

Optimizing axial length measurement success in advanced cataract patients through pupil dilation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of pharmacologic pupil dilation on axial length (AL) measurement in patients with dense cataracts and previous failed AL measurements carried out without pupil dilation. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: All participants underwent swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometry. Patients with unsuccessful AL measurements due to dense cataract underwent an additional SS-OCT biometric evaluation after pupil dilation, and the SS-OCT AL measurement was compared to the immersion ultrasound. RESULTS: The study included 3668 eyes of 3668 patients who underwent SS-OCT between October 2021 and March 2023. Of them, 102 eyes (2.8%) had failed AL measurements because of dense cataract. Eighty-seven of those 102 eyes underwent a repeat SS-OCT biometric exam following pharmacologic pupil dilation, after which AL measurements were successfully achieved in 27 (31.0%) of the 87 eyes. These measurements were found to be consistent with immersion ultrasound, supporting the validity of SS-OCT biometer measurements post dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic pupil dilation improved the rate of successful SS-OCT biometrically measured AL in patients with failed AL measurement due to dense cataract.

Pain perception during intravitreal injections is related to the timing of instilling anesthetic eyedrops.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between the timing of instilling anesthetic eyedrops prior to intravitreal injection and the patient's perception of pain associated with the injection. METHODS: A prospective observational study which included 192 eyes of 192 patients. Time interval between instillation of Oxybuprocaine-0.4% and Tetracaine-0.5% eyedrops upon checking-in and injection was measured and pain level was evaluated by the 101-point-Numeric Rating Scale. RESULTS: We found significant correlation between time interval from the first eyedrops to injection and injection related pain. The lowest pain score (11 ± 18) was found in the 11-15 min group, while the highest was found in the 0-6 min (26 ± 25) and in the > 35 min (31 ± 28) groups. The highest percentage of patients without pain was found in the 11-15 min (64%), followed by the 7-10 min (56%) and 16-20 min (47%) groups. 10% or 17% of the 0-6 min or > 35 min. groups, respectively, reported no pain. No patients in 11-15 min group reported severe pain versus 10% in the 0-6 min and 17% in the > 35 min groups. The highest percentage of patients with 'absent-to-mild' pain was in the 11-15 min (89%) and the 7-10 min (87%) compared to all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of first dose of anesthetic eyedrops within 11-15 min before intravitreal injection yields the lowest levels of injection-related pain, with 7-10 min being second best. Administration of eyedrops outside of this time-window results in higher pain levels avoidable with more attention to the timing issue.

Analysis of the ESCRS Calculator's Prediction Accuracy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate prediction accuracy of formulas included in the ESCRS-Online-IOL-Calculator using standard keratometry (K) or total keratometry (TK). SETTING: Hospital-based academic practice. DESIGN: Retrospective case-series. METHODS: Participants: 523 cataract patients (523 eyes). Outcome Measures: trimmed-means of the spherical equivalent prediction error (SEQ-PE, trueness), precision and absolute SEQ-PE (accuracy) of all seven formulas available on the ESCRS-Online-IOL-Calculator as well as the mean (Mean-All) and median (Median-All) of the predicted SEQ refraction of all formulas. Sub-group analyses evaluated the effect of axial length on formula accuracy. RESULTS: Trimmed-mean SEQ-PE range of all formulas varied from -0.075 to +0.071D for K-based and from -0.003 to +0.147D for TK-based calculations, with TK-based being more hyperopic in all formulas (p<0.001). Precision ranged from 0.210 to 0.244D for both K-based and TK-based calculations. Absolute SEQ-PE ranged from 0.211 to 0.239D for K-based and from 0.218 to 0.255D for TK-based calculations. All formulas, including Mean-All and Median-All, showed high accuracy with 84-90% of eyes having SEQ-PEs within 0.50D.Myopic trimmed-mean SEQ-PEs significantly different from zero were observed in long eyes for Pearl DGS (-0.110D, p=0.005), Hill RBF (-0.120D, p<0.001) and Hoffer QST (-0.143D, p=0.001), and in short eyes for EVO 2.0 (-0.252D, p=0.001), Kane (-0.264D, p=0.001), Hoffer QST (-0.302D, p<0.001), Mean-All (-0.122D, p=0.038) and Median-All (-0.125D, p=0.043). CONCLUSION: Prediction accuracy of all ESCRS IOL Calculator formulas was high and globally comparable. TK-based calculations did not increase prediction accuracy and tended towards hyperopia. Observations indicating formula superiority in long and short eyes merit further evaluation.

Acquired brown syndrome in a child with acute rheumatic fever.

PURPOSE: To describe a rare case of acquired Brown syndrome (ABS) associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF). CASE REPORT: a healthy 9-year-old girl developed polyarthritis, carditis, and elevated inflammatory markers 10 days after suffering from a sore throat. She was diagnosed with ARF and was treated with systemic antibiotics and high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). After 2 weeks, despite improvement of ARF symptoms, the patient presented with binocular vertical diplopia, periorbital pain, and limited elevation in adduction of the left eye. Imaging revealed a thickened trochlea-superior oblique tendon complex, and ABS due to trochleitis was diagnosed. The patient underwent a successful regional corticosteroid injection as a second-line treatment, and within a month, all signs and symptoms of ABS resolved. CONCLUSIONS: ABS is an infrequent yet possible manifestation of ARF.

Effects of delay in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of COVID-19-related delay in intravitreal injection timing on macular structure and visual acuity (VA) among patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). METHODS: We reviewed demographic and clinical data and macular ocular computerized tomographic images of 34 patients (48 eyes, group A) who did not follow their injection schedule during the first wave of COVID-19 and compared them to 46 patients (71 eyes, group B) who did. Functional worsening was defined as a loss of at least 0.1 in decimal VA. Anatomic worsening was defined as new or increased subretinal/intraretinal fluids or new hemorrhage. RESULTS: The planned mean ± standard deviation intervals between the intravitreal injections were 5.7 ± 2.7 weeks for group A and 5.5 ± 2.4 weeks for group B (P = 0.60). The actual intervals were 13.6 ± 6.8 (7.9 ± 5.2 weeks' delay) and 5.3 ± 2.4 weeks (no delay), respectively (P < 0.001). The best corrected visual acuity worsened in 23 group A eyes (47.9%) and in 6 group B eyes (8.5%) (odds ratio [OR] 9.97, P < 0.001). Anatomic features indicative of nvAMD worsening were detected in 31 group A eyes (64.6%) and in 16 group B eyes (22.5%) (OR 5.73, P < 0.001). A new macular hemorrhage was observed in 4 group A eyes (8.3%) and in no group B eyes (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Delay in timely retinal care during the COVID-19 restrictions period resulted in short-term negative outcomes, including macular bleeding, in nvAMD patients.