RETINAL HYPOPERFUSION DETECTED BY WIDE-FIELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHIC ANGIOGRAPHY IN A CASE OF RETINAL RACEMOSE HEMANGIOMA.

PURPOSE: Retinal racemose hemangioma is a rare, unilateral, nonhereditary, arteriovenous malformation characterized by the appearance of dilated and tortuous retinal vessels. Retinal racemose hemangioma can develop complications associated with retinal ischemia, such as vitreous hemorrhage, retinal vein occlusion, and neovascular glaucoma. Here, a case of retinal racemose hemangioma with retinal hypoperfusion detected by wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography was reported, which was not unambiguously illustrated by fluorescein angiography. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 57-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for the evaluation of severe retinal vascular tortuosity, dilation, and retinal hemorrhages in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed arteriovenous communications temporal to the fovea and multiple microaneurysms surrounded by retinal hemorrhages at the midperipheral temporal fundus. In fluorescein angiography, multiple hyperfluorescent lesions with leakage corresponding to microaneurysms were observed in the temporal and lower midperipheral areas; however, nonperfused areas were apparently absent. By contrast, wide-field optical coherence tomographic angiography clearly showed low-density retinal capillaries in the superotemporal quadrant in comparison with those in the inferotemporal quadrant. CONCLUSION: Wide-field optical coherence tomographic angiography detected sparse retinal capillaries, which were not well illustrated by fluorescein angiography, in a patient with retinal racemose hemangioma. This indicates the presence of low-grade retinal hypoperfusion caused by altered retinal hemodynamics, potentially leading to ischemia-related retinal disorders during a prolonged course, in patients with clinically quiescent retinal racemose hemangioma.

The Feasibility of Using Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging to Identify Ocular Pathologies amongst Those with Systemic Medical Disease Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility at a University Hospital.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of ultra-widefield (UWF) imaging to identify ocular pathologies amongst in- and out-patients in a tertiary university hospital. METHODS: We followed a prospective double-blinded multicenter clinical study. In total, 634 patients from a university hospital with pulmonary, cardiovascular, and endocrine diseases were examined by two teams by conventional slit-lamp biomicroscopy (CBM). UWF images with Optos Tx200 were taken and subsequently graded independently by two retina specialists and graders from two reading centers for the presence of pre-defined pathologies. Interrater reliability was calculated using Fleiss statistical software. An independent, trained and certified ophthalmologist with retinal subspecialty (BL) classified all UWF images with retinal hemorrhages by severity and interrater agreement. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 502 patients. The Moorfields Eye Hospital Reading Center, London, UK (RM), reported the highest number of cases with retinal pathologies (378), and the Reading Center GRADE Bonn, Germany (RB), did so for cases with optic disc cupping (466). Two retinal consultants (R1 and R2) from the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Campus Giessen, Germany, noted optic disc pathologies. R1 reported 151 cases with optic disc pallor, while R2 reported only 39 disc pathologies. Both for clinical and for image readers, the early changes had equally low interrater reliability. The presence of at least 3 retinal hemorrhages had the highest interrater reliability (0.59). CONCLUSIONS: UWF imaging is convenient to identify overt retinal pathologies in patients at risk of ocular complications of their systemic disease who are attending hospital clinics. Imaging the eye allows for remote retinal assessment and for placing the patient into the appropriate clinical pathway for ophthalmology. PRECIS: UWF-imaging in a population of in- and out-patients at a university hospital who are at risk of retinal complications is effective to detect overt retinal pathologies and allows for tele-ophthalmology approaches to be enabled for placing the patients into the appropriate clinical pathways.

Animal models of pediatric abusive head trauma.

BACKGROUND: Abusive head trauma (AHT), previously known as the shaken baby syndrome, is a severe and potentially fatal form of traumatic brain injury in infant children who have been shaken, and sometimes also sustained an additional head impact. The clinical and autopsy findings in AHT are not pathognomonic and, due to frequent obfuscation by perpetrators, the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse are often unclear. The concept has evolved that the finding of the combination of subdural hemorrhage, brain injury, and retinal hemorrhages ("the triad") is the result of shaking of an infant ("shaken baby syndrome") and has led to the ongoing controversy whether shaking alone is able to generate sufficient force to produce these lesions. OBJECTIVE: In an attempt to investigate whether shaking can engender this lesion triad, animal models have been developed in laboratory rodents and domestic animal species. This review assesses the utility of these animal models to reliably reproduce human AHT pathology and evaluate the effects of shaking on the immature brain. RESULTS: Due largely to irreconcilable anatomic species differences between these animal brains and human infants, and a lack of resemblance of the experimental head shaking induced by mechanical devices to real-world human neurotrauma, no animal model has been able to reliably reproduce the full range of neuropathologic AHT changes. CONCLUSION: Some animal models can simulate specific brain and ophthalmic lesions found in human AHT cases and provide useful information on their pathogenesis. Moreover, one animal model demonstrated that shaking of a freely mobile head, without an additional head impact, could be lethal, and produce significant brain pathology.

Birth-related retinal hemorrhages: The Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital universal newborn eye screening (SUCH-NES) study.

PURPOSE: To report the prevalence, related factors, and characteristics of birth-related retinal hemorrhages (RHs) according to their severity in healthy newborns using a telemedicine network and wide-field digital retinal imaging (WFDRI). METHODS: Newborns who underwent WFDRI at 61 obstetrics/gynecology hospitals between January 2017 and December 2019 were enrolled. Demographics and related factors were compared among newborns with and without RHs. The newborns' eyes were divided into the minimal, mild, moderate, and severe groups according to the number of RHs, and characteristics like bilaterality, laterality, involved retinal layer, involved zone, macular and/or optic nerve (ON) involvement were compared. RESULTS: Among 56247 newborns, 13026 had birth-related RHs (23.2%). Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD) showed the highest association with RHs (odds ratio, 19.774; 95% confidence interval, 18.277-21.393; P < 0.001) on multivariate analysis. Bilateral RHs (8414/13026; 64.59%) were more common than unilateral RHs (4612/13026; 35.41%); however, unilateral RHs (2383/4217; 56.51%) were more common than bilateral RHs (1834/4217; 43.49%) in the minimal group. RHs showed no laterality differences between the two eyes (P = 0.493). Most RHs were intraretinal (18678/21440; 87.12%), and 2328 (31.65%) eyes with preretinal hemorrhage were observed in the severe group. Zone I RHs were common in the minimal (7072/7090; 99.75%), mild (4953/4960; 99.86%), and moderate (2013/2035; 98.92%) groups; zone I and II RHs were common in the severe group (4843/7355; 65.85%); and RHs in zone III were rare (7/21440; 0.03%). Most RHs showed no macular and/or ON involvement in the minimal and mild group; however, this was common in the severe group (7111/7355; 96.68%). CONCLUSIONS: Birth-related RHs were common in healthy newborns and were significantly associated with NSVD. RHs were usually bilateral, intraretinal, and distributed posterior to the retina, but severe RHs had unique characteristics. Future long-term and longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the prognosis of severe RHs.

Fatal intracranial hemorrhage due to infantile acute lymphoblastic leukemia mimicking abusive head trauma.

We report the case of a 2-month-old infant who was found moribund in her crib. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was performed before autopsy. As the baby had a severe subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhage, and encephalopathy on PMCT, abusive head trauma (AHT) was tentatively diagnosed. At autopsy, no scalp hemorrhages or skull fractures were found; however, the classic triad of AHT was present, mainly on the right side. Additionally, there was dark red discoloration around the heart, and the liver, spleen, and pancreas were enlarged. Peripheral blood was macroscopically cloudy with marked leukocytosis. After careful histological examination, B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was diagnosed. All the macroscopic lesions could be attributed to ALL. The manner of death was natural. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of infantile ALL mimicking AHT on PMCT images. This case demonstrates the importance of a comprehensive systematic approach to considering differential diagnosis when PMCT shows multiple intracranial hemorrhages suggestive of AHT in an infant.

Functional and structural outcome after vitrectomy combined with subretinal rtPA Injection with or without additional intravitreal Bevacizumab injection for submacular hemorrhages.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the functional and anatomical outcome after vitrectomy with subretinal rtPA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) combined with or without an intravitreal Bevacizumab injection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, consecutive case series of 31 pseudophakic patients with submacular hemorrhage (SMH) due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with vitrectomy, subretinal rtPA and pneumatic air displacement with or without an additional intravitreal Bevacizumab injection. The primary endpoints were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central macular thickness (CMT) measured by SD­OCT. The secondary endpoint was a displacement of hemorrhage from the subretinal space three months after surgery. RESULTS: 31 eyes of 31 patients were treated with vitrectomy and subretinal rtPA. 17/31 were treated simultaneously with an intravitreal Bevacizumab injection (group +B) and 14/31 without (group -B). The mean visual acuity improved significantly in both groups (from 1.37±0.39 to 1.03±0.57 logMAR in +B and from 1.48±0.48 to 1.01±0.38 logMAR in group -B, p<0.05). The mean CMT decreased in group +B from 607±179 µm to 424±205 µm (p = 0.2) and in group -B from 722±216 µm to 460±202 µm (p<0.05). A central displacement of the hemorrhage could be achieved in 47% in group +B, whereas in group -B displacement could be achieved in 50% (p = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy with subretinal rtPA injection and air tamponade with or without simultaneous intravitreal Bevacizumab injection displaces SMH and improves BCVA effectively. In comparison, the postoperative outcome is comparable regardless of whether or not intravitreal bevacizumab is applied simultaneously.

Longitudinal changes in superficial microvasculature in glaucomatous retinal nerve fiber layer defects after disc hemorrhage.

Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy, possibly involving vascular dysfunction, leading to the death of retinal ganglion cells and their axons. Disc hemorrhage (DH) is known to be closely associated with the widening of retinal nerve fiber layer defect (NFLD); however, it has not been well elucidated how DH affects retinal microvasculature. We aimed to investigate the association between DH history and longitudinal changes in superficial retinal microvasculature in NFLD. We enrolled 15 glaucoma patients with DH history (32 glaucomatous NFLD locations, with or without DH history). NFLD-angle, superficial retinal vessel density (VD), and decreased superficial retinal microvasculature (deMv)-angle were assessed using optical coherence tomography angiography for at least three times over time. The mean follow-up period and OCT/OCTA scan interval were 21.3 ± 5.4 months (range, 12-28) and 6.8 ± 0.4 months (range, 2-18), respectively. Linear mixed-effects models showed that the presence of DH history was significantly associated with an additional NFLD-angle widening of 2.19 degree/year (P = 0.030), VD decrease of 1.88%/year (P = 0.015), and deMv-angle widening of 3.78 degree/year (P < 0.001). These changes were significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.001). Thus, the widening of NFLD was closely associated with deMv, and DH was associated with a subsequent decrease in superficial retinal microvasculature in NFLD.

Retinal changes in COVID-19 hospitalized cases.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the retinas of severely or critically ill COVID-19 patients during their hospital stay, at varying time points after symptoms onset. This was a case series observed during May 2020 in two referral centers for COVID-19 treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 47 eyes from 25 hospitalized patients with severe or critical confirmed illness were evaluated. A handheld retinal camera was used to acquire bilateral fundus images at several time points after symptoms onset. Electronic health records were retrospectively analyzed and clinical data collected. Severe and critical diseases were noticed in 52% (13/25) and 48% (12/25) of enrolled patients, respectively. Retinal changes were present in 12% (3/25) of patients: a 35 year-old male demonstrated bilateral nerve fiber layer infarcts and microhemorrhages in the papillomacular bundle, but required mechanical ventilation and developed severe anemia and systemic hypotension, acute kidney injury and neurologic symptoms during the course of the disease (critical illness); a 56 year-old male, who required full enoxaparin anticoagulation due to particularly elevated D-dimer (>5.0 mcg/mL), demonstrated unilateral and isolated flame-shaped hemorrhages; and a 49 year-old hypertensive male showed bilateral and discrete retinal dot and blot microhemorrhages. The other 22 patients evaluated did not demonstrate convincing retinal changes upon examination. There was no correlation between disease severity and admission serum levels of CRP, D-dimer and ferritin. This was the first study to show that vascular retinal changes may be present in not insignificant numbers of severe or critical COVID-19 inpatients. These retinal changes, only seen after morbid developments, were likely secondary to clinical intercurrences or comorbidities instead of a direct damage by SARS-CoV-2, and may be important and easily accessible outcome measures of therapeutic interventions and sentinels of neurologic and systemic diseases during COVID-19 pandemic.

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Characteristics of pachychoroid neovasculopathy.

Recently, several research groups have reported a newly recognized clinical entity of choroidal neovascularization, termed pachychoroid neovasculopathy. However, its characteristics have yet to be well described. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of pachychoroid neovasculopathy regardless of treatment modality. This study included 99 eyes of 99 patients with treatment-naïve pachychoroid neovasculopathy. Mean initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.20 ± 0.32 logMAR, and did not change (P = 0.725) during follow-up period (mean ± SD, 37.0 ± 17.6 months). Subretinal hemorrhage (SRH) (≥ 4 disc areas in size) occurred in 20 eyes (20.2%) during follow-up. Age, initial BCVA, central retinal thickness, SRH (≥ 4 disc areas in size) and treatment (aflibercept monotherapy) were significantly associated with the final BCVA (P = 0.024, < 0.001, 0.031, < 0.001, and 0.029, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed initial BCVA and presence of SRH to be significant predictors of final BCVA (both P < 0.001). Polypoidal lesions were more common in the SRH group than in the non-SRH group (85.0% vs 48.1%, P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in the frequency of the risk allele in ARMS2 A69S, CFH I62V, CFH Y402H between these groups (P = 0.42, 0.77, and 0.85, respectively). SRH (29.1% vs 9.1%, P = 0.014) and choroidal vascular hyperpermiability (65.5% vs 43.2%, P = 0.027) were seen more frequently in the polypoidal lesion (+) group than in the polypoidal lesion (-) group. There was considerable variation in lesion size and visual function in patients with pachychoroid neovasculopathy, and initial BCVA and presence of SRH at the initial visit or during the follow-up period were significant predictors of final BCVA.

Fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment in eyes with subretinal hemorrhage secondary to neovascular AMD or PCV: a morphologic predictor associated with poor treatment outcomes.

To evaluate the influence of fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment (FVPED) on treatment outcomes in eyes with subretinal hemorrhage secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This retrospective study included 83 eyes diagnosed with fovea-involving submacular hemorrhage secondary to neovascular AMD or PCV. All the patients were treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Eyes showing definite FVPED, which involves the subfoveal region, were included in the FVPED group. Eyes without subfoveal PED, shallow irregular PEDs, or serous/hemorrhagic PED were stratified to the non-FVPED group. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at diagnosis, at 3 months, at 12 months, and lesion re-activation after initial treatment were compared between the two groups. The mean size of hemorrhage was 8.6 ± 7.6 disc diameter areas. In the FVPED group, the mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution BCVA was 1.11 ± 0.49 at diagnosis, 0.89 ± 0.58 at 3 months, and 1.05 ± 0.63 at 12 months. In the non-FVPED group, the values were 0.97 ± 0.56, 0.56 ± 0.55, and 0.45 ± 0.50, respectively. The BCVA at 3 months (P = 0.036) and at 12 months (P < 0.001) was significantly worse in the FVPED group than in the non-FVPED group. In addition, the incidence of lesion reactivation was greater in the FVPED group (83.3%) than in the non-FVPED group (38.5%) (P < 0.001). The presence of subfoveal FVPED was associated with a high incidence of lesion re-activation and poor treatment outcomes in eyes with subretinal hemorrhage. This result suggests that different treatment strategies are needed between eyes with and without FVPED.

Modeling retinal detachment associated with hemorrhage by Monte Carlo simulation.

In this work we study fundus reflection in the case of retinal detachment. Vitreous humor builds up beneath the retina through a break in the retina or when there is traction on the retina. Further, we assume that this detachment is associated with hemorrhage in regions both above and below the retina. To investigate hemorrhage, we assume erythrocytes to be spheres of different radii. Then we apply Mie scattering theory to these spheres and calculate the scattering coefficient, the absorption coefficient, and the anisotropy factor. Using these parameters, we apply Monte Carlo simulation to calculate reflection. In order to model fundus reflection under retinal detachment, we define three types of reflection: reflection from the vitreous body, retinal reflection where photons are reflected from the retinal vitreous interface once, and retinal reflection where photons are reflected many times from the retinal vitreous interface.

Relationship Between Nerve Fiber Layer Hemorrhages and Outcomes in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the depth and pattern of retinal hemorrhage in acute central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and to correlate these with visual and anatomic outcomes. Methods: Retinal hemorrhages were evaluated with color fundus photography and fluorescein angiography at baseline and follow-up. Snellen visual acuity (VA), central foveal thickness (CFT), extent of retinal ischemia, and development of neovascularization were analyzed. Results: 108 eyes from 108 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 63.6 ± 16.1 years with a predilection for the right eye (73.1%). Average follow-up was 17.2 ± 19.2 months. Mean VA at baseline was 20/126 and 20/80 at final follow-up. Baseline (P = 0.005) and final VA (P = 0.02) in eyes with perivascular nerve fiber layer (NFL) hemorrhages were significantly worse than in eyes with deep hemorrhages alone. Baseline CFT was greater in the group with perivascular hemorrhages (826 ± 394 µm) compared to the group with deep hemorrhages alone (455 ± 273 µm, P < 0.001). The 10 disc areas of retinal ischemia was more common in patients with perivascular (80.0%) and peripapillary (31.3%) versus deep hemorrhages alone (16.1%, P < 0.001). Neovascularization of the iris was more common, although this differrence was not significant, in the groups with peripapillary (14.3%) and perivascular (2.0%) NFL versus deep hemorrhages alone (0.0%). Conclusions: NFL retinal hemorrhages at baseline correlate with more severe forms of CRVO, with greater macular edema, poorer visual outcomes, and greater risk of ischemia and neovascularization. This may be related to the organization of the retinal capillary plexus. The depth and pattern of distribution of retinal hemorrhages in CRVO may provide an easily identifiable early biomarker of CRVO prognosis.

Disc Hemorrhages Are Associated With the Presence and Progression of Glaucomatous Central Visual Field Defects.

PRECIS: In this prospective cohort study, disc hemorrhages were associated with more severe central damage on 24-2 and 10-2 visual fields (VFs), and faster progression globally on 24-2 VFs and centrally on 10-2 VFs. PURPOSE: To study the relationship between disc hemorrhage (DH) and the presence and progression of glaucomatous central VF damage. METHODS: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed on data from the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) cohort. Two masked investigators reviewed disc photographs for the presence and location of DH. 24-2 central VF damage was based on the number of test locations within the central 10 degrees of the 24-2 field pattern deviation and their mean total deviation (MTD). 10-2 central VF damage was based on pattern deviation and MTD. Main outcome measures were the association between DH and presence of central VF damage and between DH and worsening of VF. RESULTS: DH was detected in 21 of 335 eyes (6.2%). In the cross-sectional analysis, DH was significantly associated with more severe central damage on 24-2 [incidence rate ratio=1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02-2.12; P=0.035] and 10-2 VFs (incidence rate ratio=1.81; 95% CI=1.26-2.60; P=0.001). In the longitudinal analysis, DH eyes progressed faster than non-DH eyes based on 24-2 global MTD rates (difference in slopes, ß=-0.06; 95% CI=-0.11 to -0.01; P=0.009) and 10-2 MTD rates (ß=-0.10; 95% CI=-0.14 to -0.06; P< 0.001), but not 24-2 central MTD rates (ß=-0.02; 95% CI=-0.078 to 0.026; P=0.338). CONCLUSION: DH was associated with the presence and progression of central VF defects. DH identification should prompt intensive central VF monitoring and surveillance with 10-2 fields to detect progression.

Morphological Analysis of Retinal Microvasculature to Improve Understanding of Retinal Hemorrhage Mechanics in Infants.

Purpose: In this experimental study, we quantify retinal microvasculature morphological features with depth, region, and age in immature and mature ovine eyes. These data identify morphological vulnerabilities in young eyes to inform the mechanics of retinal hemorrhage in children. Methods: Retinal specimens from the equator and posterior pole of preterm (n = 4) and adult (n = 9) sheep were imaged using confocal microscopy. Vessel segment length, diameter, angular asymmetry, tortuosity, and branch points were quantified using a custom image segmentation code. Significant differences were identified through two-way ANOVAs and correlation analyses. Results: Vessel segment lengths were significantly shorter in immature eyes compared to adults (P < 0.003) and were significantly shorter at increasing depths in the immature retina (P < 0.04). Tortuosity significantly increased with depth, regardless of age (P < 0.05). These data suggest a potential vulnerability of vasculature in the deeper retinal layers, particularly in immature eyes. Preterm retina had significantly more branch points than adult retina in both the posterior pole and equator, and the number increased significantly with depth (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The increased branch points and decreased segment lengths in immature microvasculature suggest that infants will experience greater stress and strain during traumatic loading compared to adults. The increased morphological vulnerability of the immature microvasculature in the deeper layers of the retina suggest that intraretinal hemorrhages have a greater likelihood of occurring from trauma compared to preretinal hemorrhages. The morphological features captured in this study lay the foundation to explore the mechanics of retinal hemorrhage in infants and identify vulnerabilities that explain patterns of retinal hemorrhage in infants.

Hemorrhagic Retinopathy and Optic Nerve Sheath Hemorrhage Associated With Fatal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from a Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Due to Segmental Fibromuscular Dysplasia.

Fibromuscular dysplasia is an idiopathic, nonatheromatous, and noninflammatory arterial disease that most commonly affects the renal and carotid arteries. We report a child with subarachnoid and ocular hemorrhage associated with an aneurysm due to fibromuscular dysplasia. Computed tomography following a witnessed collapse revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage and severe cerebral edema. An autopsy confirmed the radiographic findings and detected bilateral retinal hemorrhages, optic nerve sheath hemorrhages, and a ruptured saccular aneurysm due to focal fibromuscular dysplasia involving the intracranial right vertebral artery. This case documents a fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage in a child with an intracranial saccular aneurysm caused by fibromuscular dysplasia. The associated retinal hemorrhages are easily detected by postmortem monocular indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Association between focal lamina cribrosa defects and optic disc haemorrhage in glaucoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To explore the relationship between focal lamina defect (LD) size and optic disc haemorrhages (DH) in glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: Radial B-scan images at 15° intervals obtained using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed on a group of subjects previously assessed for DH every 3 months over a period of 5 years. EDI-OCT scans were assessed for the presence of focal lamina cribrosa defects by a single observer. RESULTS: 119 eyes from 62 subjects (44 females, 18 males) were analysed. 44 eyes (37%) were noted to have at least 1 LD, and of those, eight eyes had more than one defect. 68 eyes (57%) were observed to have at least one DH occur over the course of monitoring. 48 eyes (40%) had recurrent DH, with a mean of 5.17 haemorrhages over the 5-year period. Type 1 focal LD (p=0.0000, OR 7.17), glaucoma progression (p=0.0024, OR 0.32) and ArtDiff (p=0.0466, OR 1.04) were significantly associated as predictors of DH. No correlation between the size of the LD and DH occurrence (p=0.6449, Spearman rank correlation) was found. CONCLUSION: Focal lamina cribrosa hole-type defects were significantly associated with an increase in DH occurrence over the preceding 5 years. The lack of association between defect size and DH suggests that DH and lamina defects may have separate links to the glaucomatous process.

Histopathological Changes and Clinical Outcomes following Intervention for Sub-Internal Limiting Membrane Haemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Haemorrhage confined to the sub-internal limiting membrane (ILM) space can be associated with good visual recovery. There is controversy as to the best management of purely sub-ILM haemorrhage, which ranges from observation to immediate surgical intervention. METHODS: We studied a retrospective case series of patients with sub-ILM haemorrhage who underwent vitrectomy with subsequent histological analysis of the removed ILM. RESULTS: Sixteen patients underwent vitrectomy for sub-ILM haemorrhage. Five patients had underlying Terson syndrome, 6 had ruptured macro-aneurysms, and 5 had Valsalva retinopathy. Seven patients demonstrated cellular proliferation on the retinal surface of the ILM with staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and cytokeratin 7, as well as CD68pg and Prussian blue. All but 1 of these cases were isolated from patients undergoing surgery >4 weeks following initial symptoms, the other presented at >2 weeks. Serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) was available in 8 patients; serial OCT in patients with delayed intervention demonstrated persistent inner retinal layer hyper-reflectance. Fourteen of 15 patients demonstrated symptomatic recovery and showed visual improvement with acuity ranging from -0.1 to 1.8 (mean 0.43) within 3 months of intervention (1 was lost to follow-up). The post-operative vision was 0.11 logMAR (mean; range -0.1 to 0.4) at 3 months in the group with intervention within 2 weeks of symptoms, and 0.9 logMAR (mean; range 0.0 to HM) in the group with delayed surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical intervention for sub-ILM haemorrhage resulted in good visual outcomes; delayed surgery may lead to proliferative vitreoretinopathy-like changes on the inner retinal surface of the ILM, and untreated cases may demonstrate persistent inner retinal changes potentially limiting visual prognosis despite subsequent surgical intervention.