Endogenous fungal endopthalmitis treated with intravitreal caspofungin in a COVID-19 recovered patient: A case report.

We present a case of endogenous fungal endophthalmitis in a nondiabetic, nonhypertensive patient who recovered from COVID-19 infection. Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent individual is quite uncommon. The organism in our patient was resistant to amphotericin and voriconazole and was successfully treated with intravitreal caspofungin. The rarity of an opportunistic nosocomial infection in an immunocompetent person with a drug-resistant organism prompted us to write this report.

Positioning of a morbidly obese patient during retinal surgery.

A body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2 is classified as obese, and a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 is classified as morbidly obese. Obese people are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular complications like ischemic heart diseases, congestive cardiac failure, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among other health issues. Central obesity can also increase the pleural pressure and cardiac filling pressures, thus increasing the intracranial (ICP) and intraocular pressure (IOP). These clinical co-morbidities can make retina surgeries, which require patient in supine position for 45-90 minutes, a challenging task. We present our experience in the intraoperative positioning of such a patient who underwent surgery for retinal detachment.

An International Comparison of Baseline Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Initiation of Anti-VEGF Therapy for DME.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. The object of this study is to compare global differences of baseline characteristics of patients undergoing initiation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for DME. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included diabetic patients with foveal-involving retinal edema secondary to DME as documented by fundus exam and optical coherence tomography who were undergoing initiation of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs. Variables were collected to find possible risk factors and to create an epidemiological profile of DME patients undergoing initiation of anti-VEGF agents. RESULTS: Nine hundred two patients were selected. Mean age was 62.4 (±11) years, 49.7% were Caucasians, 57.6% were male, and 96% had type two diabetes with an average disease duration of 181.7 months ± 113 months. Of the patients included, 74.7% suffered from hypertension, 26.6% from cardiovascular disease, 12.1% from cerebrovascular disease, 12.8% from peripheral vascular disease, and 12.8% from renal insufficiency. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 65 (±20) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, central subfield thickness was 364 (±162) µm, cube volume 11.1 ± 3.1 mm3, cube average thickness 328.8 µm ± 61 µm, and 63.9% had nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Comparison between U.S. versus international patients, and patients with BCVA 70 letters or less versus more than 70 letters were performed, significant differences were acknowledged, and risk factors were recognized. CONCLUSION: There were key differences in the epidemiologic profile between patients presenting with DME in the U.S. and internationally. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:e300-e310.].

Comparison of sutured versus sutureless scleral-fixated intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the intermediate-term anatomic and visual results of scleral-fixated intraocular lens (IOL) implantation using 4-point suture fixation or transscleral sutureless fixation. SETTING: Tertiary referral eye care center in South India. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Medical records of consecutive patients who had scleral-fixated IOL surgery from January 1, 2010, to March 31, 2014, with more than 1 year of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Indication for scleral-fixated IOL implantation was aphakia after cataract extraction or trauma. The surgical technique was based on individual surgeon preference. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), previous surgery, type of trauma, surgical technique, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred nine cases were analyzed. The mean follow-up was 18.9 months ± 8.7 (SD). The majority of eyes experienced an improvement in UDVA after surgery; 93 eyes (86%) had a Snellen equivalent corrected distance visual acuity of 6/12 or better. The baseline characteristics and final visual outcomes in the sutured scleral-fixated IOL group (n = 52) and sutureless scleral-fixated IOL group (n = 59) were comparable. Patients with previous trauma (n = 52) were predominantly men and were significantly younger than those in the cataract group. The visual and refractive outcomes were comparable between eyes with previous trauma and eyes with previous cataract surgery. Transient cystoid macular edema was the most common complication (12%); retinal detachment occurred in 5 cases (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Scleral-fixated IOLs provided excellent visual rehabilitation of aphakic eyes without capsular support. The sutured technique and sutureless technique appear to be equally good in eyes with aphakia after cataract surgery or trauma. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Metastatic Serratia endophthalmitis associated with extravasation injury in a preterm neonate.

The authors report a case of a preterm neonate who presented with lid edema, corneal edema, and an inflammatory membrane with whitish exudates in the pupillary area, suggestive of endophthalmitis. There was also a cutaneous ulcer with an eschar on the right wrist at the site of extravasation associated with previous intravenous catheter. Cultures from the ulcer and vitreous samples both grew Serratia marcescens with identical antibiotic sensitivity and resistance patterns. The ocular infection was rapidly progressive and did not respond to administered medical and surgical therapy leading to subsequent phthisis bulbi. Serratia can cause endophthalmitis refractory to antibiotics and despite aggressive and timely treatment can have an unfavorable outcome. This report aims at highlighting the possibility of metastatic infection from an extravasation injury with a potentially fatal outcome.

Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 1 with Ruptured Retinal Arterial Macroaneurysm Post Intravitreal Bevacizumab.

A 50-year-old Indian male presented with defective vision in the right eye for 6 months. He was diagnosed to have idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT) type 1 associated with diffuse macular edema and multiple retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAM). Intravitreal bevacizumab was administered for the treatment of macular edema, following which there was a rupture of a preexisting RAM with multilevel retinal hemorrhages. The hemorrhage gradually resolved over time with foveal thinning noted at last visit. We report this case for the rare occurrence of IMT type 1 and also the possibly associated rupture of RAM post intravitreal bevacizumab injection.

Crystalline deposits in the macula - tamoxifen maculopathy or macular telangiectasia?

INTRODUCTION: Tamoxifen citrate is an anti-estrogen agent used in the treatment of breast carcinoma. Crystalline maculopathy is a rare complication of tamoxifen therapy. The clinical picture resembles that of idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT) Type 2, which is a more common clinical entity. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of crystalline maculopathy secondary to tamoxifen and highlight the importance of the medical history and investigations in differentiating it from IMT Type 2. CASE: A diabetic female with a past history of breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen came to the hospital for a routine eye check-up. Crystalline deposits were seen in the parafoveal region in both the eyes.The spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed foveal cysts in the inner retinal layer and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were within normal limits. CONCLUSION: While tamoxifen maculopathy is reversible on stopping the therapy, IMT needs a long-term follow-up to monitor the potential risk of loss of vision due to choroidal neovascularization, hence necessitating the distinction between these two different clinical entities.