Diagnosis and classification of optic neuritis.

There is no consensus regarding the classification of optic neuritis, and precise diagnostic criteria are not available. This reality means that the diagnosis of disorders that have optic neuritis as the first manifestation can be challenging. Accurate diagnosis of optic neuritis at presentation can facilitate the timely treatment of individuals with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Epidemiological data show that, cumulatively, optic neuritis is most frequently caused by many conditions other than multiple sclerosis. Worldwide, the cause and management of optic neuritis varies with geographical location, treatment availability, and ethnic background. We have developed diagnostic criteria for optic neuritis and a classification of optic neuritis subgroups. Our diagnostic criteria are based on clinical features that permit a diagnosis of possible optic neuritis; further paraclinical tests, utilising brain, orbital, and retinal imaging, together with antibody and other protein biomarker data, can lead to a diagnosis of definite optic neuritis. Paraclinical tests can also be applied retrospectively on stored samples and historical brain or retinal scans, which will be useful for future validation studies. Our criteria have the potential to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, provide information on optic neuritis disease course that can guide future treatment trial design, and enable physicians to judge the likelihood of a need for long-term pharmacological management, which might differ according to optic neuritis subgroups.

Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Conjunctival Pedicle Graft Revision Combined With Repeated Pericardium Allograft for Exposed Glaucoma Drainage Devices.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and long-term results of conjunctival pedicle graft (CPG) technique for revision of exposed glaucoma drainage device (GDD). DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with exposed GDD between 2011 and 2016 who underwent tube revision with CPG were included. Data from demographic variables, glaucoma subtype, previous surgeries, GDD type and location, patch graft nature, intraocular pressure, and intraoperative and long-term complications were collected. RESULTS: Eight eyes from 7 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 61 years old (range, 51 to 80), median time to erosion was 23.4 months (range, 5 d to 45.1 mo), median number of operations before exposure was 3 (range, 1 to 5), and 6 tubes had an inferior location (75%). Average follow-up after repair was 24.3 months (range, 5.2 to 59.8 mo). No significant intraoperative adverse events were noted and visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and number of medications remained unchanged at 1 month after repair in all cases. We report 1 case of repeated tube exposure 24 months after CPG in a 51-year-old Afro-Caribbean woman with 5 previous operations. CONCLUSIONS: With an average follow-up of >2 years, we provide additional long-term evidence that CPG is a safe and effective technique for treating exposed tubes. We did not experience any complications and report 1 reexposure case in a young Afro-Caribbean patient with extensive previous conjunctival scarring.

Phacoemulsification plus endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation versus phacoemulsification alone in primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco-ECP) compared to phacoemulsification alone in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: We performed a retrospective notes review of 99 consecutive clinical records of patients with POAG from 2 London eye departments. A total of 69 patients who underwent phaco-ECP and 30 sex- and age-matched control patients who underwent cataract surgery alone were included. Data on intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity (VA), number of ocular hypotensive medications, and postoperative complications were collected over 12 months. The primary outcome measure was defined as an IOP within normal limits (<21 mm Hg) and at least a 20% reduction in IOP from baseline. RESULTS: Mean IOP was significantly decreased in both groups after 1 year (p<0.001 from baseline). The success rate was significantly higher in the phaco-ECP group (69.6%) than in the phaco group (40%) after 1 year (p = 0.004). Reduction in mean IOP and number of medications was also greater in the phaco-ECP group after 1 year (IOP reduction: 4.5 ± 5.13 mm Hg vs 1.83 ± 3.61 mm Hg; p = 0.007; number of medications reduction: 0.73 ± 0.71 vs 0.23 ± 0.56; p = 0.001). Both groups achieved a similar improvement in VA. There was a higher incidence of minor and self-limiting complications in the phaco-ECP group (p<0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Phaco-ECP resulted in a greater reduction in IOP and number of medications than phacoemulsification alone in POAG.

Actualización en retinoblastoma / Updates in retinoblastoma

El retinoblastoma es un tumor de baja frecuencia, que se manifiesta por leucocoria o estrabismo. El pronóstico de la enfermedad es dramáticamente distinto si el diagnóstico es hecho tempranamente, por lo que nuevas estrategias por promover su diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento multidisciplinario están cobrando especial importancia en países en vías de desarrollo, que aún presentan elevadas tasas de mortalidad de la enfermedad.

Pathophysiological basis for the prophylaxis of preeclampsia through early supplementation with antioxidant vitamins.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder that remains a major cause of maternal and foetal morbidity and death. To date, no treatment has been found that prevents the development of the disease. Endothelial dysfunction is considered to underlie its clinical manifestations, such as maternal hypertension, proteinuria, and edema; however, the precise biochemical pathways involved remain unclear. A current hypothesis invokes the occurrence of oxidative stress as pathogenically important, as suggested by the fact that in PE, the placental and circulating levels of lipid peroxidation products (F2-isoprostanes and malondialdehyde [MDA]) are increased and endothelial cells are activated. A potential mechanism for endothelial dysfunction may occur via nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation by oxidative stress. Alternatively, the idea that the antiangiogenic placental soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 factor (sFlt1) is involved in the pathogenesis of this disease is just emerging; however, other pathophysiological events seem to precede its increased production. This review is focused on evidence providing a pathophysiological basis for the beneficial effect of early antioxidant therapy in the prevention of PE, mainly supported by the biological effects of vitamins C and E.