Cystoid macular edema and visual loss as sequelae to interferon alpha treatment of systemic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus infection and interferon treatment may be associated with retinopathy but visual function is generally unaffected. This paper reports the rare occurrence of unilateral macular edema with visual loss. We present an interventional case report with fundus photograph and optical coherence tomography (OCT). A 48-year-old white male with hepatitis C, treated with a six-month course of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin, complained of gradual reduction in the vision of his left eye. Visual acuities were 20/16 right and 20/400 left with clinical examination and OCT confirming cystoid macular edema. This report shows that cystoid macular edema may rarely occur in association with hepatitis C infection and/or interferon therapy. Physicians and ophthalmologists should be alert to this potential but infrequent association as the resultant visual loss is a significant potential complication that should be discussed when obtaining informed consent for interferon treatment.

Pole to pole intraocular transit of tarantula hairs-an intriguing cause of red eye.

This intriguing case report provides novel images and a description of the anterior and rarer posterior segment findings seen in ocular inflammation associated with tarantula spider hair exposure. We present an interventional case report of a 9-year-old boy who presented with a red, sore eye. Slit lamp examination revealed right eye injection, multiple small hairs at differing levels of the cornea with associated opacities and inflammation within the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Only after detailed and repeated questioning did the aetiology become apparent. Conservative management in the form of topical steroid and antibiotics was commenced and he did well with no obvious sequelae in the medium term. Healthcare personnel (and indeed pet shop owners, arachnid enthusiasts and even parents) should be aware of the potential ocular complications of tarantula hair exposure and clinicians should perhaps specifically ask about pet-keeping when presented with an unusual red eye.

Outcome of raised intraocular pressure in uveitic eyes with and without a corticosteroid-induced hypertensive response.

PURPOSE: To compare the management and outcome of raised intraocular pressure (IOP) in uveitis patients with a corticosteroid hypertensive response and those who are noncorticosteroid responders and to determine the impact of intraocular corticosteroid use on IOP in uveitic eyes. DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Eight hundred and ninety-one uveitis patients were observed in a specialized clinic over 3 months. The main outcome measures were frequency, characterization, management, and outcome of uveitis-related ocular hypertension and glaucoma. RESULTS: Of 891 patients with uveitis, 191 (275 eyes) had IOP elevation (21.4%). Of these, 95 (34.5%) eyes had glaucoma. IOP elevation attributed to corticosteroid-response (61.1%) was controlled more easily than that resulting from other causes (38.9%), requiring fewer eye drops (mean, 2.06 vs 2.52; P = .009) and less filtration surgery (8.9% vs 22.4%). Among eyes with uveitis and raised IOP, elevated IOP developed in 18 eyes (6.5%) after intravitreal triamcinolone, including 64.7% to 30 to 39 mm Hg and 35.3% to 40 mm Hg or more. Prostaglandin analogs were used in 49.2% of 246 eyes; no increase in inflammation was seen in these eyes. CONCLUSIONS: In this tertiary center series, most instances of raised IOP were attributable to corticosteroid response. Raised IOP induced by corticosteroid response was controlled more easily and less often resulted in optic nerve or visual field changes of glaucoma. Although intravitreous triamcinolone was associated with substantial risk of corticosteroid-response IOP elevation, all cases were controlled medically without experiencing glaucomatous injury. Prostaglandin-induced uveitis was not observed despite extensive use of prostaglandin IOP-lowering agents.

TINU-associated retinal pigment epithelium detachments: a possible novel posterior segment feature.

PURPOSE: To report a case of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU) with novel posterior segment features of bilateral vitritis and retinal pigment epithelial detachments. METHODS: This is an interventional case report with fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms of a 9-year-old girl presenting with bilateral acute anterior uveitis 4 months after a diagnosis of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. RESULTS: Visual acuities remained normal throughout the 6-month period of follow-up. The anterior and posterior uveitis settled, although retinal pigment epithelial detachments persisted and may be related to the underlying disease process in TINU or exogenous steroid treatment, or both. CONCLUSIONS: The idiopathic inflammatory response seen in TINU is traditionally associated with an anterior uveitis. This case demonstrates that there may be more extensive ocular involvement and that posterior uveitis and retinal pigment epithelial detachments may represent emerging features of atypical cases of TINU.

Undiagnosed patent foramen ovale presenting as retinal artery occlusion-an emerging association.

Purpose. To report patent foramen ovale (PFO) as the cause of retinal artery occlusion in a young and previously fit male and discuss the appropriate medical and surgical management options. Methods. Interventional case report with serial fundus photographs of an 18-year-old male presenting to the eye casualty with sudden onset left visual loss. Results. Visual acuities were 6/24 left and 6/4 right with a left afferent pupillary defect. Slitlamp examination confirmed a left hemiretinal artery occlusion and subsequent cardiology review with transoesophageal echocardiography revealed patent foramen ovale which was closed surgically. Conclusions. PFO is not uncommon and is often covert but predisposes individuals to embolic events. These events may be ophthalmic with visual sequelae and so ophthalmologists, physicians, and other healthcare personnel should be aware of this important and emerging association.

Giant eccrine hidrocystoma presenting with unilateral ptosis and epiphora.

PURPOSE: To report the presentation and management of an atypical and advanced case of hidrocystoma of the eyelids with associated functional complications. METHODS: Interventional case report with clinical photographs at presentation, intra-operative photographs, and histology. RESULTS: A 55-year-old lady who presented with massive upper and lower eyelid swellings causing mechanical ptosis and epiphora, respectively, was managed by surgical excision of the lesions. Histology confirmed eccrine hidrocystoma. CONCLUSIONS: Eccrine hidrocystoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses and such lesions may cause significant functional and cosmetic morbidity despite their histologically benign nature.

Nature of subretinal fluid in patients undergoing vitrectomy for macular hole: a cytopathological and optical coherence tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Outer retinal defects (ORDs) may occur after surgical closure of full thickness macular holes (FTMH) and be associated with delayed visual recovery. This may be due to the nature of the subretinal fluid (SRF) cuff and/or the loss of retinal elements. METHODS: Vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel was performed for FTMH. After fluid-air exchange, SRF was either aspirated from the hole (group 1) or left in situ (group 2). The SRF specimens obtained were examined by light microscopy and correlated with optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: In group 1, cellular material was found in 6 out of 12 cases. Photoreceptors were seen in 3 and macrophages in 3 cases. Nine of 12 holes closed and ORDs were seen in 3 of these. In group 2, 7 out of 8 holes closed, with 4 having ORD. There was no difference in visual acuity (LogMAR) for closed holes at 3 months between groups 1 (0.61, range 0.3-1) and 2 (0.51, range 0.3-0.78) nor between patients with ORD (0.57, range 0.3-1.0) or without ORD (0.57, range 0.3-1.0). CONCLUSIONS: SRF from FTMH may contain macrophages and photoreceptors. Such photoreceptor loss may contribute to reduced retinal function. ORDs occur commonly in spite of fluid aspiration, but their presence is still compatible with good vision. Aspiration of SRF did not appear to confer added benefit in this series.

Inferior oblique schwannoma: diagnosis and management.

INTRODUCTION: Orbital schwannoma accounts for less than 5% of orbital tumours and few cases arising in the superior orbit are reported in the literature. PURPOSE: To present, to our knowledge, the first report of inferior oblique-associated orbital schwannoma. METHODS: Interventional case report with clinical photographs, MRI imaging, intra-operative photographs and histology. RESULTS: A 68 year-old man presented with decreased right vision and double vision in downgaze. Examination revealed a right 3 mm ptosis, hypertropia and limitation of depression. Exploration and excision, via anterior orbitotomy, and histological examination confirmed a schwannoma located within the right inferior oblique muscle. Vision normalised post-operatively and there has been no clinical or radiological recurrence of the lesion at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: This rare case highlights that schwannoma may occur in association with the inferior oblique complex and we suggest that schwannomas should now be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients present with a clinically-suspected or radiologically-proven orbital mass.

Diplopia due to maxillary sinus mucocoele.

Mucocoeles are cyst-like lesions of the paranasal sinuses, which may rarely erode through the bony orbit and so displace or compress orbital contents. Such patients may present to ophthalmologists and other health care professionals with diverse problems including facial pain and swelling, proptosis, double vision, ptosis, infra-orbital anaesthesia, epiphora and optic nerve dysfunction with reduced vision. We present an illustrated interventional case report of an 81-year-old gentleman with a 2-week history of swelling around the left lower eyelid and malar region associated with double vision both in the primary position and particularly downgaze. We discuss the aetiology, diagnosis and contemporary management of maxillary mucocoeles and also the Caldwell-Luc procedure. The article serves as a reminder that maxillary mucocoeles may slowly and covertly invade the orbit and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with proptosis, globe displacement and an orbital or adnexal mass.

Ocular features of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome.

Sjogren-Larson syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive neurocutaneous disorder characterized by a triad of intellectual disability, spastic diplegia or tetraplegia and congenital ichthyosis with associated ocular features, which include pigmentary changes in the retina. The usual presentation of crystalline maculopathy is from the age of 1-2 years onwards. Herein, a case of Sjogren-Larson syndrome in a 25-year-old woman is presented to highlight the ocular findings.

Traumatic aniridia after small incision cataract extraction.

INTRODUCTION: Phacoemulsification and falls are both common in the elderly population. We present a case of acquired total aniridia and vitreous haemorrhage occurring as a result of trauma in a pseudophakic eye. METHODS: Interventional case report with history, clinical photograph and discussion with literature review. RESULTS: A previously healthy 74-year-old Caucasian female was referred with a painful left eye and poor vision following a fall and trauma to the left side of her face. Initial examination confirmed visual acuity of perception of light with total hyphaema and vitreous haemorrhage. Subsequent examination revealed complete aniridia with an intact capsular bag and well-centred posterior chamber intraocular lens and attached retina. Final visual acuity after treatment was 6/9. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt trauma may cause total iris disinsertion in and expulsion from pseudophakic eyes. This relatively novel injury may present increasingly commonly to casualty departments and ophthalmologists.