[Neuro-ophthalmological assessments in the Ophthalmology Department at University Medical Center, Brest: retrospective study of 269 patients (January 2004-October 2009)]. / Bilans neuro-ophtalmologiques dans le service d'ophtalmologie du CHU de Brest : étude rétrospective sur 269 patients (janvier 2004-octobre 2009).

AIMS: To evaluate the neuro-ophthalmological assessments carried out in the ophthalmology department of the university medical center, Brest, identifying the population seen, the examinations performed, the pathologies treated and patient outcomes, so as to suggest solutions to improve quality of care. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study over a period of more than five years, between January 1st, 2004 and October 31st, 2009. Data were collected from each patient's chart with the help of a standardized spreadsheet including epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and treatment data. RESULTS: Analysis of the 269 charts reveals that optic neuropathies are the most frequently encountered etiologies. In addition to the standardized assessment currently used on the service, we suggest adding a specific neuro-ophthalmological clinical intake form so as to standardize and perfect the diagnostic approach. CONCLUSION: Optimization of quality of care in neuro-ophthalmology involves a multidisciplinary approach, requiring close collaboration between ophthalmologists, neurologists and radiologists. A careful, regular analysis of our practice patterns with respect to scientific advances should improve consistency and quality of care for our patients.

[Chronic endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: a report of two cases]. / Endophtalmie chronique après chirurgie de la cataracte: à propos de deux cas.

Delayed postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery remains a rare complication. We report two cases of patients who presented with marked intraocular inflammation following uncomplicated cataract surgery. The patients did well for the first weeks after surgery (6 and 5 weeks). Both patients presented with visual impairment, inflammatory red eye, and a whitish plaque on the anterior surface of intraocular lenses. Posterior segment examination was normal in both cases. The two patients were treated with systemic antibiotic therapy as well as intravitreal and/or intracameral injections of antibiotics. The exact organism involved could not be identified in either patient. Each patient regained a final 20/25 visual acuity. Based on the clinical courses of these patients, the various possible therapeutic approaches for delayed postoperative endophthalmitis are discussed. This report underlines the problem of reaching the differential diagnosis between inflammation recurrence and delayed postoperative endophthalmitis as well as obtaining positive culture results if the latter diagnosis is suspected.

[Optical coherence tomography follow-up of a case of solar maculopathy]. / Suivi d'un cas de maculopathie solaire par OCT.

Solar maculopathy is caused by sun-gazing without protection and in most cases appears to be reversible. Retinal damage may be caused by photochemical changes combined with a rise in temperature at the time of sun observation. We report a case of bilateral solar retinopathy following direct sun gazing after observation of the partial eclipse on 3 October 2005. A 25-year-old Caucasian man presented 24 h after watching the eclipse with symptoms of blurred vision and a bright positive central scotoma. Total direct viewing time was approximately 5 min. While observing the eclipse, the patient kept both eyes open. On presentation, his visual acuity was 20/25 in his right eye and 20/32 in his left eye. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed a bilateral yellowish-white spot in the center of the foveal region. Static visual field examination did not disclose any absolute scotoma but a decrease in the foveal threshold was noted in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination revealed a bilateral increased reflectivity of the inner foveal retina that was greater in the left eye. This finding was associated with a hyporeflective area of the underlying retinal pigment epithelium: choriocapillaris complex and an increase in retinal thickness. Eight days later, visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. Funduscopy showed the yellow lesion had vanished. Four months after exposure, funduscopy was normal and OCT scan showed normal reflectivity of all retinal layers in the fovea. However, static visual field examination disclosed a decreased foveal threshold on the left eye. We compare the OCT findings in this patient with the data reported in the literature. Indeed, various OCT findings have been reported depending on the intensity and frequency of sun exposure. This observation demonstrates that OCT appears to be potentially useful in the evolutive follow-up of solar maculopathy, and emphasizes the importance of eye safety during solar eclipse observation.

[A novel mutation of the OPA1 gene responsible for isolated autosomal dominant optic atrophy in two brothers]. / Nouvelle mutation du gène OPA1 responsable d'une atrophie optique dominante isolée chez deux frères.

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy, or Kjer disease, is the most frequent form of autosomal dominant optic neuropathy. We report a novel mutation of the OPA1 gene in two brothers with autosomal dominant optic atrophy and describe their clinical features. The two patients, aged 41 and 37, presented with a bilateral visual impairment that had been detected at the age of 4 in both of them. Their ophthalmoscopic examinations disclosed a bilateral optic atrophy and their Goldmann visual fields showed cecocentral scotomas. The patients thought their disease might be a Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy; however, mutations had ever been sought. When first seen by us, they wished to know whether their disorder might be transmitted to their children. They had a family history of visual impairment. We carried out mtDNA sequencing but we did not identify any primary or rare Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy mutations. On the other hand, the 30 coding exons of the OPA1 gene and the intron-exon junctions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. A novel mutation of the OPA1 gene was found in both brothers: a deletion of four nucleotides in intron 19, associated with anomalous splicing, demonstrating the pathogenicity of the mutation. These molecular analyses contributed to identifying a novel mutation of the OPA1 gene with a clinical phenotype of isolated optic atrophy.

[Long-term effects of iterative diving on visual field, color vision and contrast sensitivity in professional divers]. / Retentissement à long terme de la plongée sous-marine sur le champ visuel, la vision des couleurs et la sensibilité au contraste du plongeur professionnel.

PURPOSE: To assess long-term functional effects of iterative diving, we studied visual field, color vision, and contrast sensitivity in 21 French Navy professional divers and 21 controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study investigated a population of 21 divers and 21 controls. All subjects were male. The inclusion criterion for divers was a total number of dives greater or equal to 1,000. Exclusion criteria for the two groups were glaucoma, ocular hypertension, smoking, and vasospastic risks. Additional exclusion criteria for controls were any history of diving practice and of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The visual field was examined with a Humphrey Central 30-2 threshold test. Moreover, we explored spatial contrast sensitivity using Metrovision Moniteur Ophtalmologique "STAT" program and color vision with desaturated 15 hue test. RESULTS: None of the divers had any loss of spatial contrast sensitivity. There was a high frequency of yellow-blue axis color vision defects (45.2%) in the diver group. Regarding visual field, corrected pattern standard deviation was significantly higher in divers (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that iterative diving may cause subclinical functional effects on vision. Further studies will be needed to determine the exact setting of this repercussion upon macula and/or the optic nerve.

[Orbital myositis associated with ulcerative colitis]. / Myosite orbitaire et rectocolite ulcéro-hémorragique.

We report a rare case of a 32-year-old Caucasian man who presented with a 2-month history of progressive proptosis in his left eye with no visual impairment nor diplopia. He had suffered from ulcerative colitis for 3 years before presentation. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated mild proptosis and isolated enlargement of the left superior rectus muscle. Laboratory examination results showed no evidence of other ocular or systemic disease. He was treated with a short course of systemic steroids. His intestinal and eye conditions quickly improved over the following weeks. After a 1-year follow up, the orbital myositis remains unchanged and the digestive condition is satisfactory with a long-term mesalazine therapy. To our knowledge fewer than 10 cases of orbital myositis associated with ulcerative colitis have been reported in the literature. We present and discuss a new case with a concomitant evolution between these two disorders.

[Onset of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy in association with borreliosis]. / Révélation d'une neuropathie optique héréditaire de Leber dans un contexte de borréliose.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of Lyme disease in the presence of an acute optical neuritis always raises a difficult diagnostic problem. We present a case of Lyme-associated Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). OBSERVATION: A 17-year-old Eurasian young man presented with left-eye visual impairment for 1 month. This loss of vision acuity in the left eye is related to an optic neuropathy. Mitochondrial DNA testing showed a G to A substitution at position 11778 confirming a diagnosis of LHON. The family history disclosed a case of LHON in a maternal cousin. The mother's family is Asian. Besides, serum examination of anti-Borrelia antibodies was performed and was positive against Borrelia burgdorferi garinii. The patient history indicated that he had been possessing a dog and was living in an endemic area of Lyme disease. But he did not recall receiving a tick bite nor having any erythema chronicum migrans. Initial examination showed bilateral green-red axis colour vision defects which made us fear bilateralisation of the optic neuropathy, which occurred 2 months later (that is 3 months after the onset of symptoms on the left eye). An antibiotic treatment by ceftriaxone was administered for 4 weeks all in all; and a long term ubidecarenone therapy was established. At present, after a 1-year follow up, the eyes' conditions remains unchanged. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this would be the first case reporting such an association, in which we can discuss the fortuitous character or the role of the infectious factor in the developing of the mitochondrial pathology. This observation also raises the problem of the positive diagnosis of Lyme disease when tick bite and erythema are absent or underestimated.

[Abducens nerve palsy in spontaneous intracranial hypotension]. / Paralysie du nerf abducens secondaire à une hypotension intracrânienne spontanée.

Described by Schaltenbrand (1940), spontaneous intracranial hypotension is an unusual syndrome, sometimes revealed by an abducens nerve palsy motivating the patient to consult emergency ophthalmology services. The Authors report the case of a 50-Year-old Turkish woman who presented with diplopia due to a left abducens nerve palsy. These symptoms were associated with headache and nausea. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement with gadolinium. A lumbar puncture showed low spinal fluid pressure (6 cm H2O), leading to the diagnosis of palsy by spontaneous intracranial hypotension. First, a classic treatment was prescribed with no result: increased water intake, corticoid therapy, and rest. Then a blood patch consisting of an injection of autologous blood by lumbar puncture between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae to plug the spontaneous leak of spinal fluid, with success. A review of the literature provides information on the physiopathological mechanism, the clinical and imaging symptoms, and the treatment.

[Subhyaloid hemorrhage following a Valsalva maneuver]. / Hémorragie rétrohyaloïdienne secondaire à une manoeuvre de Valsalva.

The authors present a case of a 48-year-old man complaining of a temporal nasal scotoma without visual impairment, occurring after sneezing. The perception of scotoma is explained by a retrohyaloidal hemorrhage sparing the optical axis. The hemorrhage, resulting from the break of two superior temporal veins, disappeared within 8 months without after effects. The authors explain the responsible mechanisms and analyze the different cases published in the literature.

[Postoperative visual improvement in spheno-orbital meningioma: a case report]. / Récupération fonctionnelle après chirurgie d'exérèse d'un méningiome sphéno-orbitaire. A propos d'une observation.

A 59-year-old woman complained of right eye proptosis and visual impairment (20/100) lasting 2 months. CT and MRI scans disclosed a right spheno-orbital meningioma ranging over the optic foramen and cavernous sinus. Histopathology revealed transitional meningioma. Visual acuity (20/25), visual field, and proptosis were improved after surgery at the time of the ophthalmologic examination 6 months later. We present an additional case and review the available literature concerning postoperative visual outcome.

[Uncomplicated orbital varix: a difficult therapeutic problem]. / Varice intraorbitaire non compliquée: un problème thérapeutique difficile.

The authors describe a case of right orbital varix discovered in a 34-year-old female. She was referred by her ophthalmologist because she was experiencing a functional disorder with esthetic consequences. With physical effort, she had intermittent exophthalmia and moderate diplopia. The symptoms disappeared with rest. The diagnosis was made by NMR examination before and after the Vasalva maneuver. Because of the patient's excellent visual acuity, we did not propose a therapeutic solution.

[Mixed retinal thrombosis in a patient carrying prothrombin gene mutation in a homozygote state]. / Thrombose mixte rétinienne chez un patient porteur d'une mutation du gène de la prothrombine, à l'état homozygote.

We reported a case of a thrombosis of the retinal and central artery and vein in a 44-year-old patient, with high-grade T-cell lymphoma. Cardiovascular family history and a medical history of cerebral ischemia caused by in situ fibrinolysis, led to perform thorough hematologic and genetic examinations. These disclosed a prothrombin gene G 20210 a variant in a homozygous state. In a heterozygous state, this mutation leads to an increase in plasma prothrombin rate of the order of 30%. Therefore, it is considered to be a major risk factor for venous thrombotic disease. Otherwise, acute leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may induce thrombosis of retinal artery and vein by means of an optic nerve infiltration, as well as beta-thalassemia, ocular trauma and retrobulbar anesthesia. Retinal central artery and vein are seldom both involved; whereas occlusions of their branches are more frequent.

Conjunctival epithelial neoplasias in organ transplant patients receiving cyclosporine therapy.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of conjunctival epithelial neoplasias occurring after long-term systemic cyclosporine therapy in organ transplant recipients. METHODS: Case report. Each patient underwent an excision of an extensive limbal conjunctival lesion, followed by a histopathologic analysis. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination results revealed a carcinoma in situ and a squamous cell carcinoma in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Recurrence occurred in patient 1, who needed topical mitomycin C 0.02% treatment. No recurrence was observed in patient 2 after a follow-up of 24 months. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of its kind after longterm systemic cyclosporine therapy. Further studies will be needed to determine the exact role of cyclosporine in the induction of conjunctival epithelial neoplasias and the need for regular ophthalmologic examination of transplant recipients.