Risk Factors for Legal Blindness in 77 Japanese Patients with Endogenous Endophthalmitis: A Multicenter Cohort Study from J-CREST.

PURPOSE: We investigated potential predictive factors for visual prognosis in Japanese patients with endogenous endophthalmitis. DESIGN: Retrospective observational multicenter cohort study. METHODS: We examined the characteristics of 77 Japanese patients with endogenous endophthalmitis and performed statistical analyses of these real-world data. The primary endpoint was the identification of factors associated with visual prognosis. We examined differences between patients in the better vision and legal blindness groups at 12 weeks after treatment initiation. RESULTS: The five risk factors for visual impairment at 12 weeks after treatment initiation were presence of pressure injuries, severe clinical symptoms (presence of eye pain and ciliary injection), pathogen identification, and poor best-corrected visual acuity at baseline. Staphylococcus aureus and fungus were associated with a better visual impairment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous endophthalmitis remains a severe ocular infection; however, it can be managed with rapid treatments, as well as other advances in medical knowledge and technology.

A multicentre study of the risk factors associated with recurrence of central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate potential clinical and multimodal imaging factors in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) recurrence. METHODS: The study was performed at nine Japanese medical institutions for patients who had experienced an active CSC episode. Demographic data and medical history were reviewed retrospectively. Significant differences in chronic manifestation, leakage site, leakage point number, leakage intensity, choroidal hyperpermeability, central retinal thickness (CRT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness were analysed between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups. RESULTS: In total, 538 eyes (538 patients) diagnosed with CSC (402 men, 136 women; mean age: 53.4 ± 11.9 years) were enrolled. Among them, 253 eyes (47.0%) developed ≥1 recurrence (follow-up: 15.9 ± 13.5 months, range 3-86 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that a history of corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 5.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-21.92; p = 0.015), bilateral disease (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.47-10.6; p = 0.007), chronic manifestations (OR, 7.12; 95% CI, 2.93-17.28; p < 0.001), non-intense fluorescein leakage (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.44-7.75; p = 0.005) and initial CRT (OR, 0.997; 95% CI, 0.993-0.999; p = 0.049) were significantly associated with CSC recurrence. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created, and the area under the curve for the multivariate logistic regression model of these five factors was 0.814. CONCLUSION: Patients with CSC who received corticosteroids and had bilateral disease, chronic manifestation, non-intense fluorescein leakage on fluorescein angiography or a relatively thinner CRT should be closely monitored to identify whether they are at high risk of recurrence.

Risk factors and characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy with later development of macular neovascularisation detected on OCT angiography: a retrospective multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors and characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with subsequent macular neovascularisation (MNV) detected on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We included patients from six institutions who were initially diagnosed with CSC and subsequently did or did not develop MNV detected by OCTA. Potential influencing factors were identified by evaluating the patients' baseline demographics, multimodal fundus imaging, treatment options, recurrence and outcomes in both groups. RESULTS: We enrolled 176 eyes in 152 patients (112 men, 40 women; mean age: 52.1±10.4 years) with a mean follow-up of 30.4±16.3 months. Secondary MNV was present in 23 eyes (13.1%), and non-MNV was observed in 153 eyes (86.9%) by OCTA. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11; p=0.014), chronic CSC (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.12 to 8.30; p=0.029), leakage sites within the fovea on fluorescein angiography (OR 7.60; 95% CI, 1.89 to 30.48; p=0.004) and recurrent fluid within the first year (OR 5.12; 95% CI 1.66 to 15.77; p=0.012) were risk factors for subsequent MNV. Moreover, eyes with CSC complicated with MNV were characterised by poor visual acuity and low complete fluid resolution rates. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with MNV secondary to CSC were older age, higher rates of chronic CSC and recurrence, and foveal leakage points on fluorescein angiography.

ASSOCIATION OF FLOW SIGNALS WITHIN POLYPS ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY WITH TREATMENT RESPONSES AFTER COMBINATION THERAPY FOR POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of blood circulation within the polypoidal lesions by OCT angiography in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after combination therapy with aflibercept and photodynamic therapy. METHODS: A total of 46 eyes from 46 patients who underwent the combination therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy were followed for more than 6 months. OCT angiography, covering an area 6 mm2 × 6 mm2 including the macula, were performed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months and 6 months post-treatment. RESULTS: The subretinal fluid resolved within 3 months after treatment in 44 eyes (95.7%), and 27 eyes (58.7%) showed no recurrence, with no additional treatment. Seventeen eyes (37.0%) showed recurrence, and two eyes (4.3%) showed poor response. On OCT angiography at 2 weeks after treatment, flow signals were detected in 3 of 27 eyes (11.1%) without recurrence and in 8 of 19 eyes (42.1%) with recurrence or poor responses. A detectable flow signal at 2 weeks was significantly associated with recurrence or poor response (P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Persistent flow signals within polyps on OCT angiography at 2 weeks after combination therapy suggest less effectiveness of the initial treatment.

Clinical characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy in patients by age.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with age. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. METHODS: One-hundred and forty-seven CSC patients were classified into three age groups (aged <50 years (younger group; n=53), 50-70 years (middle group; n=68), and >70 years (senior group; n=26)) and the characteristics were compared. Bilateral ophthalmic evaluation included the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalents, fundus examination, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: The male/female ratio became lower at more advanced ages (P=0.011). Bilateral macular abnormalities were observed more frequently in the senior group than the other groups (p=0.018) and multiple drusen were characteristic in the senior group (p<0.0001). The more advanced age groups displayed a worse BCVA (P=0.002). The rate of eyes with flat retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) elevation on OCT was significantly higher in the middle group than the other groups (P=0.024). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) was thickest in the younger group (P<0.0001). Unifocal leakage on FA and choroidal vascular hyperpermeability were mostly found in eyes of the younger group (P<0.001,P=0.020). CONCLUSION: CSC cases in those aged >70 years were associated with an increased proportion of women and having bilateral macular abnormalities, multiple drusen, and multifocal leakage sites. The BCVA and the SCT decreased with age. Patients with CSC aged 50-70 years had the highest rate of flat RPE elevation on OCT. These characteristics need to be considered to make an accurate diagnosis, particularly in elderly patients.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in 314 Japanese Patients with Bacterial Endophthalmitis: A Multicenter Cohort Study from J-CREST.

Bacterial endophthalmitis is an intraocular infection that causes rapid vison loss. Pathogens can infect the intraocular space directly (exogenous endophthalmitis (ExE)) or indirectly (endogenous endophthalmitis (EnE)). To identify predictive factors for the visual prognosis of Japanese patients with bacterial endophthalmitis, we retrospectively examined the bacterial endophthalmitis characteristics of 314 Japanese patients and performed statistics using these clinical data. Older patients, with significantly more severe clinical symptoms, were prevalent in the ExE group compared with the EnE group. However, the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was not significantly different between the ExE and EnE groups. Bacteria isolated from patients were not associated with age, sex, or presence of eye symptoms. Genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus were more prevalent in ExE patients than EnE patients and contributed to poor final BCVA. The presence of eye pain, bacterial identification, and poor BCVA at baseline were risk factors for final visual impairment.

Characteristics and treatment responses of cystoid retina associated with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To detect the characteristics of cystoid retina associated with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using multimodal imaging and to evaluate anatomical and functional responses for treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series METHOD: This retrospective study included 21 eyes of 17 patients with the treatment for combined cystoid retinal changes and submacular fluid associated with CSC. Multimodal imaging analysis including cross-sectional OCT, en face OCT, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and fundus autofluorescence were performed to assess the characteristics of cystoid changes. In 21 eyes of 17 patients, clinical courses after treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen of 17 patients were men (82.4%), and the mean age was 63.2. Fluorescein angiography revealed one or more focal leakages in all eyes, and intense leakage, due to peripapillary atrophy and from areas showing retinal pigment epithelial atrophy, was observed in 11 eyes and 12 eyes respectively. En face OCT visualized cystoid retinal changes as honey-comb like areas, and this was observed in the papillomacular region in 16 eyes (76.2%). After reduced-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT), combination of anti-VEGF and PDT, or photocoagulation, subretinal fluid resolved in 20 eyes (95.2%), and complete resolution of cystoid retinal changes was obtained in 13 eyes (61.9%). CONCLUSION: Cystoid retinal changes can be associated with patchy retinal pigment epithelial atrophy and with peripapillary atrophy in CSC eyes. Laser treatment is beneficial for resolving cystoid retina as well as subretinal fluid.

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy and Blood Serotonin Concentrations.

BACKGROUND: To investigate blood serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) concentrations and their relationships with selected characteristics in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: This was a prospective study including 93 patients with active CSC. Blood concentrations of 5-HT, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol were measured in patients with CSC. Selected patient characteristics, including disease history (acute or chronic), medication use, smoking history, mood status, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), findings on fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and anatomical changes were evaluated during follow-up. RESULTS: Eleven of the 93 patients had low 5-HT concentrations (<57 ng/mL) (12%, eight men and three women; mean age 55 years); we identified no significant relationship with acute/chronic disease status. The patients with low 5-HT were significantly more likely to have five or more fluorescein leakage sites (p = 0.0275), recurrence of subretinal fluids (p < 0.0001), and failure to achieve significant improvement in BCVA during follow-up (p = 0.862) than patients with 5-HT within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Blood serotonin concentrations may influence the pathophysiology and prognosis of CSC.

Effects of cataract surgery in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of cataract surgery in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: The primary endpoint in this prospective, observational study was patient satisfaction at 6 months after cataract surgery in patients with nAMD. Secondary endpoints comprised changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), M-chart score, central retinal thickness (CRT), AMD status, and number of AMD treatments. All examinations were performed before surgery, and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Fifty patients (52 eyes) were included in this study (32 men; mean age, 76.1 ± 7.1 years). Thirty-nine patients (75.0%) reported satisfaction with cataract surgery. BCVA significantly improved at all postoperative timepoints (all p < 0.0001), whereas differences in M-chart scores were not statistically significant. The number of eyes with BCVA ≤ 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) increased from 21 to 38; however, CRT did not change. The number of AMD treatments did not change during follow-up. All questionnaire scores showed postoperative improvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that final BCVA ≤ 0.3 logMAR was significantly associated with patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery significantly improved vision in Japanese patients with nAMD, without affecting AMD status. Patients were satisfied with cataract surgery, especially with respect to improvement of distance vision.

Predictive Biomarker for Progression Into the Sunset Glow Fundus of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease, Using Adaptive Binarization of Fundus Photographs.

Purpose: The sunset glow fundus (SGF) appearance in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease was evaluated by means of adaptive binarization of patients' fundus photographs. Methods: Twenty-nine Japanese patients with acute VKH were enrolled in this study. We evaluated one eye of each patient, and thereby divided the patients into two groups; SGF+ and SGF- at 6 months after treatment. We compared patient age, gender, and spherical equivalent refractive error (SERE) and choroidal thickness measured using optical coherence tomography. We also compared the choroidal vascular appearance index (CVAI), derived by adaptive binarization image processing of fundus photographs, between the two groups. Measurements of choroidal thickness and CVAI were taken at the onset of disease, and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. The sunset glow index (SGI), as previously reported, was calculated using color fundus photographs, and compared to the CVAI. Results: Eight patients (27.6%) were categorized into the SGF+ group. At all time points, the mean CVAI in the SGF+ group was significantly greater than that in the SGF- group. No significant difference was observed in choroidal thicknesses at any time point. The SGI was significantly greater in the SGF+ group at 6 months. Conclusions: CVAI could be a new predictive biomarker for the development of SGF in patients with VKH disease. Translational Relevance: Detecting SGF is important for management of patients with VKH, and CVAI may indicate the possibility of developing into SGF, although the color fundus photographs do not yet show SGF at that time.

Comparative analysis of metamorphopsia and aniseikonia after vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane, macular hole, or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

This study investigated postoperative changes in metamorphopsia and aniseikonia in eyes that underwent vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM), macular hole (MH), or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). In total, 166 eyes were included from 166 patients with ERM, MH, or RRD who underwent primary vitrectomy. Metamorphopsia and aniseikonia were quantified by M-CHARTS and the New Aniseikonia Test (NAT). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), M-CHARTS, NAT assessments, and OCT examination were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Of the 166 eyes, 65 had ERM, 21 had MH, 42 had macula-off RRD, and 38 had macula-on RRD. BCVA improved significantly between 1 and 6 months postoperatively in eyes with ERM, MH, and macula-off RRD (P = 0.0057, P = 0.0065, and P = 0.0021, respectively). M-CHARTS scores at 1 month postoperatively significantly decreased in eyes with ERM (P = 0.0034) and tended to decrease in eyes with MH (P = 0.068). NAT scores did not change between baseline and 1 month postoperatively in eyes with ERM or MH. Between 1 and 6 months postoperatively, M-CHARTS and NAT scores significantly decreased in eyes with macula-off RRD (P = 0.0064 and P = 0.0009, respectively), but not in eyes with ERM, MH, or macula-on RRD. At 6 months postoperatively, significant metamorphopsia was evident in 33.3% of eyes with ERM, 29.2% of eyes with MH, and 35.7% of eyes with macula-off RRD; 61.5% of eyes with ERM showed macropsia and 52.3% of eyes with macula-off RRD showed micropsia. In eyes with ERM, more central retinal thickness (CRT) correlated with postoperative BCVA, and deep retinal folds on enface OCT image correlated with postoperative metamorphopsia. In eyes with macula-off RRD, less CRT correlated with postoperative BCVA, and tended to correlate with postoperative micropsia. Macular morphologies could contribute to differences in postoperative visual acuity, metamorphopsia, and aniseikonia.

Effectiveness of polypoidal lesion-selective photodynamic therapy with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 24-month effectiveness of polypoidal lesion-selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with branching vascular networks (BVNs) involving the fovea with 1 or more polyps. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six eyes from 25 PCV patients treated with polypoidal lesion-selective PDT combined with aflibercept were included in the study. The main outcome measure was change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and the secondary outcome measures were changes in central retinal thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT), status of exudation at 24 months, and number of additional treatments. RESULTS: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients showed treatment-naïve PCV, and 12 eyes of 11 patients were switched from anti-VEGF monotherapy. The baseline mean logMAR BCVA was 0.43, and this had increased significantly, by 0.31, at 24 months (P = .034). The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) and central choroidal thickness (CCT) were significantly lower at all time points than those at baseline. The mean number of additional injections of aflibercept was 3.1 (range, 0-9), and that of additional PDT treatments was 0.5 (range, 0-2). CONCLUSION: Polypoidal lesion-selective PDT with aflibercept was effective for relatively large, fovea-involved PCV, with significant visual improvement at 24 months.

Choroidal thickness estimation from colour fundus photographs by adaptive binarisation and deep learning, according to central serous chorioretinopathy status.

This study was performed to estimate choroidal thickness by fundus photography, based on image processing and deep learning. Colour fundus photography and central choroidal thickness examinations were performed in 200 normal eyes and 200 eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Choroidal thickness under the fovea was measured using optical coherence tomography images. The adaptive binarisation method was used to delineate choroidal vessels within colour fundus photographs. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the choroidal vascular density (defined as the choroidal vasculature appearance index of the binarisation image) and choroidal thickness. The correlations between choroidal vasculature appearance index and choroidal thickness were -0.60 for normal eyes (p < 0.01) and -0.46 for eyes with CSC (p < 0.01). A deep convolutional neural network model was independently created and trained with augmented training data by K-Fold Cross Validation (K = 5). The correlation coefficients between the value predicted from the colour image and the true choroidal thickness were 0.68 for normal eyes (p < 0.01) and 0.48 for eyes with CSC (p < 0.01). Thus, choroidal thickness could be estimated from colour fundus photographs in both normal eyes and eyes with CSC, using imaging analysis and deep learning.

Flanged intraocular lens fixation via 27-gauge trocars using a double-needle technique decreases surgical wounds without losing its therapeutic effect.

PURPOSE: Intraocular lens (IOL) fixation using a sutureless 27-gauge needle intrascleral IOL implantation technique requires six surgical wounds. We developed a modified technique using two 27-gauge trocars for vitrectomy and indwelling flanged IOL haptics to reduce the number of surgical wounds. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Hyogo College of Medicine. DESIGN: This retrospective study enrolled 54 patients who had undergone IOL scleral fixation between January 2016 and April 2019. METHODS: Patients who underwent IOL scleral fixation and were observed for >12 weeks were analysed using medical record data. Before October 2017, patients underwent normal flanged IOL scleral fixation. Between November 2017 and April 2019, patients underwent the modified method (flanged IOL via 27-gauge trocars with double-needle technique). Primary end-point was superiority or non-inferiority of modified IOL scleral fixation compared with normal IOL scleral fixation for visual acuity (VA). Changes in corneal endothelium cell number, refractivity, astigmatisms and surgery-related complications, were secondary end-points. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Raw VA and best collected VA (BCVA) were significantly improved in all eyes (p-). There were no statistical significances in raw VA, BCVA and surgery-related complications between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the modified technique were not inferior compared with the original technique although it was less invasive. Therefore, flanged IOL fixation via trocars using a double-needle technique is a useful technique for IOL implantation.

En Face Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging of the Choroid in a Case with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy during the Course of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: A Case Report.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) develop serous retinal detachment; however, the treatment of each disease is totally different. Steroids treat VKH but worsen CSC; therefore, it is important to distinguish these diseases. Here, we report a case with CSC which was diagnosed by en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging during the course of VKH disease. A 50-year-old man was referred with blurring of vision in his right eye. Fundus examination showed bilateral optic disc swelling and macular fluid in the right eye. OCT showed thick choroid, and en face OCT images depicted blurry choroid without clear delineation of choroidal vessels. Combined with angiography findings, this patient was diagnosed with VKH disease and treated with steroids. Promptly, fundus abnormalities resolved with the reduction of the choroidal thickness and the choroidal vessels became visible on the en face images. During the tapering of the steroid, serous macular detachment in the right eye recurred several times. Steroid treatment was effective at first; however, at the fourth appearance of submacular fluid, the patient did not respond. At that time, the choroidal vessels on the en face OCT images were clear, which significantly differed from the images at the time of recurrence of VKH. Angiography also suggested CSC-like leakage. The tapering of the steroids was effective in resolving the fluid. Secondary CSC may develop in the eye with VKH after steroid treatment. En face OCT observation of the choroid may be helpful to distinguish each condition.