Ocular severe involvement in oculofaciocardiodental syndrome: Description of a case series.

BACKGROUND: Oculofaciocardiodental (OFCD) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting ocular, facial, dental, and cardiac systems, being an X-linked condition caused by pathogenic variants in the BCL-6 corepressor gene (BCOR). We report a case series of three female patients with OFCD syndrome with severe glaucoma. RESULTS: Three female patients with OFCD syndrome with different variants involving BCOR gene, in heterozygosity: a seven-years-old girl with an insertion (c.2037_2038dupCT), a nine years-old girl with a microdeletion in the X (p21.2-p11.4)) spanning the BCOR gene; and a 25 years-old female with a deletion (c.3858_3859del). Systemic involvement is variable among patients ranging from one patient mainly with ocular and dental involvement to one with associated intra-auricular and intra-ventricular defects. All the patients presented with congenital cataracts diagnosed in the first days of life. Cataract surgery was performed without incidents between 6 and 16 weeks of age in all the patients. Postoperatively, the three patients developed ocular hypertension and glaucoma with the need for surgical interventions, including trabeculectomy, Ahmed valve implantation, and cyclophotocoagulation. CONCLUSION: OFCD syndrome characterizes by a severe ocular involvement with glaucoma as a characteristic feature. Ocular hypertension after cataract surgery in these patients is challenging, almost always needing surgery during childhood. Therefore, we consider BCOR disruption may predispose to a higher incidence of glaucoma due to its aggressiveness and early onset on our case series. The awareness of these complications is crucial to an adequate follow-up of the patients.

Laser-Induced Ocular Hypertension in a Mouse Model of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and thus to blindness. There are numerous experimental models used for the study of this pathology. Among the different models, episcleral vein photocoagulation is one of the most widely used. In this model there is a transient increase in intraocular pressure that returns to normal values about 7 days after induction of ocular hypertension (OHT). In addition, typical glaucoma changes, such as loss of RGC, thinning of the optic nerve fiber layer, and glial activation, occur in this model. All these changes have been described in detail over time after OHT induction. In this chapter, we describe the detailed method of OHT induction in Swiss albino mice by diode laser photocoagulation of limbal and episcleral veins.

Silicone Oil-Induced Ocular Hypertension Glaucoma Model (SOHU) in Rodent and Nonhuman Primate.

In this chapter, we describe a clinically relevant inducible and reversible ocular hypertension glaucoma model, which mimics the secondary glaucoma that can be a postoperative complication when silicone oil (SO) is used as a tamponade agent in human vitreoretinal surgery. First, we detail the procedures for generating SO-induced ocular hypertension (SOHU) in mouse and describe the two variations of this model that simulate common but distinct glaucoma types. We also describe separately the related procedures for measuring IOP and removing SO to return IOP to normal. Lastly, we describe the extension of the SOHU model in nonhuman primate (NHP), which recapitulates the severe neurodegeneration of acute human glaucoma but with unique dynamic changes of IOP due to the tolerance of the NHP ciliary body. The SOHU glaucoma model is, therefore, suitable for assessing experimental therapies for neuroprotection and regeneration, with or without treatment to lower IOP (SO removal), and consequently for translating relevant findings into novel and effective clinical treatments for glaucoma and other neurodegenerations. This model is straightforward, does not require special equipment or repetitive procedures, closely simulates clinical situations, and may be applicable to diverse animal species although minor modifications may be required.

Inhibition of NOX4 with GLX351322 alleviates acute ocular hypertension-induced retinal inflammation and injury by suppressing ROS mediated redox-sensitive factors activation.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction plays an essential role in the etiology of ischemic/hypoxic retinopathy caused by acute glaucoma. NADPH oxidase (NOX) 4 was discovered as one of the main sources of ROS in glaucoma. However, the role and potential mechanisms of NOX4 in acute glaucoma have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the NOX4 inhibitor GLX351322 that targets NOX4 inhibition in acute ocular hypertension (AOH)-induced retinal ischemia/hypoxia injury in mice. Herein, NOX4 was highly expressed in AOH retinas, particularly the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL). Importantly, the NOX4 inhibitor GLX351322 reduced ROS overproduction, inhibited inflammatory factor release, suppressed glial cell activation and hyperplasia, inhibited leukocyte infiltration, reduced retinal cell senescence and apoptosis in damaged areas, reduced retinal degeneration and improved retinal function. This neuroprotective effect is at least partially associated with mediated redox-sensitive factor (HIF-1α, NF-κB, and MAPKs) pathways by NOX4-derived ROS overproduction. These results suggest that inhibition of NOX4 with GLX351322 attenuated AOH-induced retinal inflammation, cellular senescence, and apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of the redox-sensitive factor pathway mediated by ROS overproduction, thereby protecting retinal structure and function. Targeted inhibition of NOX4 is expected to be a new idea in the treatment of acute glaucoma.

Real life experience following combined excimer laser trabeculostomy and phacoemulsification in eyes with ocular hypertension or mild glaucoma and cataract.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and excimer laser trabeculostomy (ELT) in eyes with cataract and mild controlled glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). METHODS: Single-centre analysis of eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and ELT between 2017 and 2021. Change in intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication requirements, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), complications and re-interventions were evaluated. Success was defined as a reduction ≥20% from preoperative IOP, an IOP ≤ 14 mmHg or a reduction in glaucoma medication requirements with an IOP equal or lower than the preoperative IOP. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 658 ± 64 days. Mean preoperative IOP was 17.76 ± 4.88 mmHg, it decreased to 15.35 ± 3.10 mmHg at 1 year (n = 37) (p = 0.006) and to 14.00 ± 3.78 at 3 years (n = 8) (p = 0.074). Mean number of glaucoma medication requirements decreased from 2.02 ± 1.0 preoperatively to 1.02 ± 0.96 at 1 year (n = 37) (p < 0.001) and to 1.63 ± 0.92 at 3 years (n = 8) (p = 0.197). Complete success was achieved in 17.7% of eyes and qualified success in 54.8%. Two eyes of 2 patients had early postoperative hyphema. Two eyes of 1 patient underwent filtering surgery 2 months after the procedure, and 2 eyes of 1 patient underwent laser trabeculoplasty 3.8 years after the procedure due to uncontrolled IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Combined phacoemulsification and ELT is effective and safe in eyes with mild glaucoma or OHT and cataract. It significantly reduced IOP and glaucoma medication requirements 1 year after surgery.

Complications Occurring Through 5 Years Following Primary Intraocular Lens Implantation for Pediatric Cataract.

Importance: Lensectomy with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is often used in the management of nontraumatic pediatric cataract, but long-term data evaluating the association of age and IOL location with the incidence of complications are limited. Objective: To describe the incidence of complications and additional eye surgeries through 5 years following pediatric lensectomy with primary IOL implantation and association with age at surgery and IOL location. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study used Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group cataract registry data from 61 institution- and community-based practices over 3 years (June 2012 to July 2015). Participants were children younger than 13 years without baseline glaucoma who had primary IOL implantation (345 bilateral and 264 unilateral) for nontraumatic cataract. Data analysis was performed between September 2021 and January 2023. Exposures: Lensectomy with primary IOL implantation. Main Outcome and Measures: Five-year cumulative incidence of complications by age at surgery (<2 years, 2 to <4 years, 4 to <7 years, and 7 to <13 years) and by IOL location (sulcus vs capsular bag) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The cohort included 609 eyes from 491 children (mean [SD] age, 5.6 [3.3] years; 261 [53%] male and 230 [47%] female). Following cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation, a frequent complication was surgery for visual axis opacification (VAO) (cumulative incidence, 32%; 95% CI, 27%-36%). Cumulative incidence was lower with anterior vitrectomy at the time of IOL placement (12%; 95% CI, 8%-16%) vs without (58%; 95% CI, 50%-65%), and the risk of undergoing surgery for VAO was associated with not performing anterior vitrectomy (hazard ratio [HR], 6.19; 95% CI, 3.70-10.34; P < .001). After adjusting for anterior vitrectomy at lens surgery, there were no differences in incidence of surgery for VAO by age at surgery (<2 years, HR, 1.35 [95% CI, 0.63-2.87], 2 to <4 years, HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.44-1.68], 4 to <7 years, HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.72-1.56]; P = .74) or by capsular bag vs sulcus IOL fixation (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.36-4.17; P = .75). Cumulative incidence of glaucoma plus glaucoma suspect by 5 years was 7% (95% CI, 4%-9%), which did not differ by age after controlling for IOL location and laterality. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, a frequent complication following pediatric lensectomy with primary IOL was surgery for VAO, which was associated with primary anterior vitrectomy not being performed but was not associated with age at surgery or IOL location. The risk of glaucoma development across all ages at surgery suggests a need for long-term monitoring.

AZAR eye and vision cohort study.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), currently, 2.2 billion people are living with visual impairment worldwide, of which almost half could have been prevented. There are both modifiable and unmodifiable factors leading to visual disability and, ultimately, blindness. Several population-based studies in different parts of Iran have tried to determine these factors concerning their specific population and environment-related characteristics. AZAR Eye and Vision cohort is the second-largest cohort study in the whole country. AZAR Eye and Vision cohort is the ophthalmologic branch of AZAR cohort which is the largest eye cohort study in the country, which is trying to determine the prevalence and incidence of visual impairment, blindness, and other major ophthalmologic conditions and their associated risk factors in East Azerbaijan province located in Iran, a middle eastern country. A recently emerging phenomenon is the drying of the ultra-salty lake of Urmia located in the West Azerbaijan province which is a direct neighbor of our studied population and has caused recurrent salt storms in the immediate near areas. This phenomenon could adversely affect visual health via different conditions which our study will elucidate. The enrollment phase took place between 2014 and 2017 and 11,208 participants were enrolled out of 15,000 participants in the primary cohort. The resurvey phase will begin five years after the enrollment phase. In this phase, 30% of the participants are randomly selected to be reexamined and complete questionnaires. The participants showing any issues such as diabetes and being a glaucoma suspect will be included in the resurvey phase, too. Data categories gathered include demographics, lifestyle factors, past medical and drug histories, and a diet quality and quantity questionnaire including 130 edible items. Urine, hair, nail, and 25-ml blood samples, were collected from the participants. Then they were referred to an optometrist to complete an ophthalmologic questionnaire and undergo eye examination and lensometry. Then they underwent slit-lamp examinations and pictures were taken of the lens and fundus. People with suspected visual impairment were referred to an ophthalmology clinic. The data are processed and a four-level quality check is performed on each block. The most common visual impairment is cataracts. This study's most important aim is to evaluate the effect of local environmental and ethnic factors on eye diseases in this specific population.

A Comparison of Ocular Complications after 0.7 mg Dexamethasone Implant versus 2 mg of Intravitreal Triamcinolone in Vitrectomized Eyes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rates of complications in eyes that received a dexamethasone (DEX) implant (0.7 mg) or intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) (2 mg) to treat postvitrectomy macular edema (ME). DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative, case series. SUBJECTS: A total of 148 eyes (147 patients); 75 eyes (75 patients) in the DEX group and 73 eyes (72 patients) in the IVT group. METHODS: The medical records of patients who received an intravitreal DEX 0.7 mg (Ozurdex) or triamcinolone (2 mg) (Triesence) for postvitrectomy ME between July 2014 and December 2021 with a minimum follow-up of 3 months were reviewed. Ocular hypotony and ocular hypertension were defined as intraocular pressure of < 6 mmHg and > 24 mmHg, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The rates of complications. RESULTS: The follow-up duration was 2.5 ± 1.6 years, with no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.398). The rate of transient ocular hypotony per eye and per injection was significantly higher in the DEX group (10 eyes [13%], 30 of 443 injections [7%]) compared with the IVT group (2 eyes [3%], 2 of 262 injections [0.8%]) (P = 0.039 and < 0.001, respectively). Mean visual acuity significantly decreased at the time of ocular hypotony (P = 0.031), but returned to preinjection level after resolution of the hypotony after a median of 12 days. The incidence of ocular hypertension was higher in the DEX group (23 eyes [31%]) than the IVT group (16 eyes [22%]), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.307). Ocular hypertension was controlled with observation or topical medication. There were no between-group differences in the incidence of vitreous hemorrhage (DEX, 3 eyes [4%]; IVT, 1 eye [1%]; P = 0.632) or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (DEX, 3 eyes [4%]; IVT, 0 eyes [0%]; P = 0.253). Four eyes (5%) experienced migration of the DEX implant into the anterior chamber. No eye developed endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ocular hypotony, which causes transient visual impairment, was significantly higher in vitrectomized eyes treated with DEX compared with eyes treated with IVT. Injections other than the inferotemporal quadrant or rotating injection sites may be recommended. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Peptains block retinal ganglion cell death in animal models of ocular hypertension: implications for neuroprotection in glaucoma.

Ocular hypertension is a significant risk factor for vision loss in glaucoma due to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This study investigated the effects of the antiapoptotic peptides peptain-1 and peptain-3a on RGC death in vitro in rat primary RGCs and in mouse models of ocular hypertension. Apoptosis was induced in primary rat RGCs by trophic factor deprivation for 48 h in the presence or absence of peptains. The effects of intravitreally injected peptains on RGC death were investigated in mice subjected to retinal ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). I/R injury was induced in mice by elevating the IOP to 120 mm Hg for 1 h, followed by rapid reperfusion. Ocular hypertension was induced in mice by injecting microbeads (MB) or silicone oil (SO) into the anterior chamber of the eye. Retinal flatmounts were immunostained with RGC and activated glial markers. Effects on anterograde axonal transport were determined by intravitreal injection of cholera toxin-B. Peptain-1 and peptain-3a inhibited neurotrophic factor deprivation-mediated RGC apoptosis by 29% and 35%, respectively. I/R injury caused 52% RGC loss, but peptain-1 and peptain-3a restricted RGC loss to 13% and 16%, respectively. MB and SO injections resulted in 31% and 36% loss in RGCs following 6 weeks and 4 weeks of IOP elevation, respectively. Peptain-1 and peptain-3a inhibited RGC death; the loss was only 4% and 12% in MB-injected eyes and 16% and 15% in SO-injected eyes, respectively. Anterograde transport was defective in eyes with ocular hypertension, but this defect was substantially ameliorated in peptain-injected eyes. Peptains suppressed ocular hypertension-mediated retinal glial activation. In summary, our results showed that peptains block RGC somal and axonal damage and neuroinflammation in animal models of glaucoma. We propose that peptains have the potential to be developed as therapeutics against neurodegeneration in glaucoma.

Prevalence of Ocular Surface Disease and Associated Risk Factors in Glaucoma Patients: A Survey Study of Ophthalmologists.

Objectives: This survey study of ophthalmologists investigated the prevalence and clinical manifestations of ocular surface disease (OSD) in glaucoma patients, assessment methods used, risk factors, glaucoma drugs considered responsible, and treatment approaches. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire prepared jointly by the Turkish Ophthalmological Association Cornea and Ocular Surface Society and Glaucoma Society using SurveyMonkey was sent to ophthalmologists via e-mail. The distribution of parameters was compared with chi-square test and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Forty-five percent of the ophthalmologists reported that OSD was evident in least 25% of their patients. The most common symptom was redness (91.9%), while the most common ocular surface finding was conjunctival hyperemia (75.6%). The tests considered to be the most important in ocular surface assessment were ocular staining (38.7%) and tear film break-up time (TBUT) (21.9%). Ninety percent of the physicians stated that the main cause of OSD was benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in medications. Prostaglandin analogs and alpha-2 agonists were reported to be the most common medications causing OSD. In case of OSD, the ophthalmologists often switch to a glaucoma drug from a different group (38%), a non-preservative glaucoma drug (33.7%) or a drug with a preservative other than BAC (20.4%). Most physicians prescribed artificial tears (84.6%). Conclusion: In this cross-sectional survey study, ophthalmologists detected varying rates of OSD in glaucoma patients depending on chronic drug use and BAC exposure. Although ocular surface examination was performed by physicians, tests such as TBUT and ocular surface staining were rarely used. Detecting OSD in glaucoma patients and planning personalized treatment increase patient comfort, drug compliance, and treatment effectiveness. For this reason, it is important to prepare an algorithm for the management of comorbid OSD in glaucoma patients.

Oral administration of a dual ETA/ETB receptor antagonist promotes neuroprotection in a rodent model of glaucoma.

Purpose: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease associated with elevated intraocular pressure and characterized by optic nerve axonal degeneration, cupping of the optic disc, and loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The endothelin (ET) system of vasoactive peptides (ET-1, ET-2, ET-3) and their G-protein coupled receptors (ETA and ETB receptors) have been shown to contribute to the pathophysiology of glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether administration of the endothelin receptor antagonist macitentan was neuroprotective to RGCs and optic nerve axons when administered after the onset of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in ocular hypertensive rats. Methods: Male and female Brown Norway rats were subjected to the Morrison model of ocular hypertension by injection of hypertonic saline through the episcleral veins. Following IOP elevation, macitentan (5 mg/kg body wt) was administered orally 3 days per week, and rats with IOP elevation were maintained for 4 weeks. RGC function was determined by pattern electroretinography (PERG) at 2 and 4 weeks post-IOP elevation. Rats were euthanized by approved humane methods, and retinal flat mounts were generated and immunostained for the RGC-selective marker Brn3a. PPD-stained optic nerve sections were imaged by confocal microscopy. RGC and axon counts were conducted in a masked manner and compared between the treatment groups. Results: Significant protection against loss of RGCs and optic nerve axons was found following oral administration of macitentan in rats with elevated IOP. In addition, a protective trend for RGC function, as measured by pattern ERG analysis, was evident following macitentan treatment. Conclusions: Macitentan treatment had a neuroprotective effect on RGCs and their axons, independent of its IOP-lowering effect, suggesting that macitentan may complement existing treatments to prevent neurodegeneration during ocular hypertension. The findings presented have implications for the use of macitentan as an oral formulation to promote neuroprotection in glaucoma patients.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines in aqueous humor from dogs with anterior uveitis and post-operative ocular hypertension following phacoemulsification, primary glaucoma, and normal healthy eyes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in aqueous humor (AH) from dogs with anterior uveitis and post-operative ocular hypertension (POH) following phacoemulsification, in AH from dogs with primary glaucoma, and in normal healthy eyes with no signs of anterior uveitis or other ocular diseases. METHODS: An exploratory study including 21 samples of AH collected from 15 dogs; post-phacoemulsification with anterior uveitis and POH ('POH group', n = 10 samples), primary glaucoma ('glaucoma group', n = 6 samples), and normal ('normal group', n = 5 samples). Target mass spectrometry via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM-MS) with the Canine Cytokine SpikeMix™ as internal standard was used to measure the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. RESULTS: The MRM-MS method measured 15 pro-inflammatory cytokines. Tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels in AH were different between all three groups (glaucoma>POH>normal) (p = .05, p = .02, respectively). Additionally, IL-6 was higher in the 'POH group' compared to the 'glaucoma group' (p = .04) and IL-4 was higher in the 'POH group' compared to the 'normal group' (p = .04). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was positively associated with increased AH levels of IL-18 (Spearman correlation = .64, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: MRM-MS using the Canine Cytokine SpikeMix™ as an internal standard was established as a method to detect pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in canine AH. The study demonstrated increased levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-18, and TNFα in AH from canines with POH following phacoemulsification. Primary glaucomatous eyes had the highest levels of IL-18 and TNFα which may indicate that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of primary glaucoma in dogs.

Increased Risk of Ocular Hypertension in Patients With Cushing's Disease.

PRCIS: An increased risk of ocular hypertension was seen in Cushing's disease. INTRODUCTION: Systemic steroid use is a significant risk factor for increased intraocular pressure (IOP). The incidence of ocular hypertension may rise to 30%-40% of the general population due to topical or systemic glucocorticoid usage. However, the incidence of ocular hypertension in endogenous hypercortisolemia, as well as the ophthalmological outcomes after endocrine remission due to surgical resection, remain unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IOP, visual field, and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were documented in all patients with Cushing's disease (CD) admitted to a tertiary pituitary center for surgery from January to July 2019. Patients with acromegaly and patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) during the same study period served as controls. We calculated the odds ratio (OR), identified the risk factors of developing ocular hypertension, and presented postoperative trends of the IOP. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients (38.4±12.4 y old) with CD were included. The IOP was higher in patients with CD (left 19.4±5.4 mm Hg and right 20.0±7.1 mm Hg) than in patients with acromegaly (left 17.5±2.3 mm Hg and right 18.6±7.0 mm Hg, P =0.033) and patients with NFPA (left 17.8±2.6 mm Hg and right 17.4±2.4 mm Hg, P =0.005). A total of 21 eyes (20.2%) in patients with CD were diagnosed with ocular hypertension compared with 4 eyes (4.7%) in the acromegaly group and 4 eyes (4.5%) in the NFPA group. The OR of developing ocular hypertension in patients with CD was 5.1 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-25.1, P =0.029] and 6.6 (95% CI, 1.8-30.3, P =0.007) when compared with the 2 control groups. Among patients with CD, those with a higher urine-free cortisol were more likely to develop ocular hypertension (OR=19.4, 95% CI, 1.7-72.6). The IOP decreased at 1 month after surgery in patients with CD, and the change was sustained for 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk of ocular hypertension was seen in CD and suggests that endogenous hypercortisolemia should be considered as part of the glaucoma assessment. This result warrants the discretion of both ophthalmologists and neuroendocrinologists.

Automated diagnosing primary open-angle glaucoma from fundus image by simulating human's grading with deep learning.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Although deep learning methods have been proposed to diagnose POAG, it remains challenging to develop a robust and explainable algorithm to automatically facilitate the downstream diagnostic tasks. In this study, we present an automated classification algorithm, GlaucomaNet, to identify POAG using variable fundus photographs from different populations and settings. GlaucomaNet consists of two convolutional neural networks to simulate the human grading process: learning the discriminative features and fusing the features for grading. We evaluated GlaucomaNet on two datasets: Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) participants and the Large-scale Attention-based Glaucoma (LAG) dataset. GlaucomaNet achieved the highest AUC of 0.904 and 0.997 for POAG diagnosis on OHTS and LAG datasets. An ensemble of network architectures further improved diagnostic accuracy. By simulating the human grading process, GlaucomaNet demonstrated high accuracy with increased transparency in POAG diagnosis (comprehensiveness scores of 97% and 36%). These methods also address two well-known challenges in the field: the need for increased image data diversity and relying heavily on perimetry for POAG diagnosis. These results highlight the potential of deep learning to assist and enhance clinical POAG diagnosis. GlaucomaNet is publicly available on https://github.com/bionlplab/GlaucomaNet .

Optic Disc Drusen in Patients With Ocular Hypertension: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: The identification of glaucomatous optic neuropathy in the setting of optic disc drusen (ODD) is a challenge, and the decision of whether to offer treatment in the form of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction is controversial. Here, we present a series of patients with coexisting ocular hypertension and ODD to evaluate clinical features, treatment options, and progression of optic neuropathy. In addition, a review of the literature on ODD with elevated IOP is provided. METHODS: Six patients with ODD and a history of ocular hypertension are presented. Components of the examination and imaging modalities used to establish the diagnosis of ODD were recorded and a description of ocular hypertension history, glaucoma testing, and the potential treatment of IOP were also provided. RESULTS: In this series, 4 of 6 patients with concurrent ocular hypertension and ODD showed progression of optic neuropathy as assessed by visual field or retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Of the 2 patients who did not show evidence of progression, 1 was treated with IOP-lowering medications and 1 was observed off treatment. Of the 4 patients who showed evidence of progression, all 4 were initially treated with IOP-lowering medications and 2 ultimately went on to have trabeculectomy surgery. In the patients with progressive optic neuropathy, lowering the IOP seemed to halt the progression suggesting there was a pressure-sensitive component. CONCLUSIONS: Distinguishing changes to the optic nerve, particularly the structural changes at the lamina cribrosa of true glaucomatous optic neuropathy in the setting of ODD, is a challenge. Careful consideration of risk factors including age, presenting features, progression indicators, and management goals is to be accounted for in the decision to offer treatment. We see the presence ODD in the patients with ocular hypertension as an additional risk for progressive changes to the nerve fiber layer and visual field that needs to be considered when determining whether to initiate therapy. Our data suggest that treatment of IOP in the patients with ocular hypertension with ODD and evidence of progression reduces the risk of further progression. Further work is needed to determine whether progression of optic neuropathy in the setting of coexisting ODD and ocular hypertension is related mechanistically to predominantly an ODD-type process, a glaucomatous process, or a combination thereof.

Urrets-Zavalia syndrome following cataract surgery in dogs: A case series.

Background: In human medicine, Urrets-Zavalia syndrome (UZS) is a well-recognized but uncommon postoperative complication characterized by a fixed dilated pupil, accompanied by iris atrophy and glaucoma. Although it was originally reported in 1963 after penetrating keratoplasty surgery for keratoconus, it has been associated with various ophthalmic procedures such as cataract surgery. The condition has not been previously published in the veterinary literature. Case Description: Three client-owned diabetic dogs that developed UZS´s triad after cataract surgery are described. Despite uneventful phacoemulsification in the six eyes, five developed moderate-to-severe postoperative ocular hypertension. Although intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes were initially controlled, fixed dilated pupils accompanied by iris atrophy and chronic ocular hypertension were seen in the five affected eyes. Aggressive medical and surgical management maintained vision in three of those eyes. In one eye, uncontrolled IOP led to blindness. Conclusion: This is the first published description of UZS in dogs, occurring after phacoemulsification. Although no exact, demonstrable causative element could be determined, we believe that should be considered a triggering condition for this syndrome, as it directly affects the ocular blood flow autoregulation and intrinsic uveal tissue integrity. Until the contrary is proved, diabetes mellitus might be considered as a risk factor for developing this syndrome after cataract surgery in dogs.

Cataract extraction and intraocular pressure-lowering agents delivery: A nationwide French study between 2005 and 2017.

PURPOSE: Cataract and glaucoma are among the leading causes of blindness worldwide in older people, and they are often concomitant. To assess topical intraocular (IOP)-lowering agents delivery changes after cataract extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Longitudinal matched exposed-unexposed study from the French national healthcare database from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2017. We compared individuals using topical IOP-lowering agents who underwent bilateral cataract extraction with individuals matched on IOP-lowering agents load, age, and sex who did not undergo cataract extraction. IOP-lowering agents number of drops was assessed 12 months before the first cataract extraction and compared with number of drops 12 months after the second cataract extraction. RESULTS: About 1194 individuals treated with IOP-lowering agents were included, 597 exposed to bilateral cataract extraction and 597 unexposed to any surgery (total mean age 74.8 ± 8.3 years; 69.0% women). Mean IOP-lowering agents delivery at baseline was 1.4 daily drops in both groups. The mean number of drops decreased greater in the exposed than unexposed group (-25.5% vs -3.5%; p < 0.0001). Overall, 159 (26.6%) and 48 (8.0%) individuals in the exposed and unexposed groups interrupted medication (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A decrease of around one quarter of IOP-lowering agents delivery was observed after cataract extraction in the present real-life study with a longstanding interruption observed in one quarter of patients. Phacoemulsification as a standalone procedure reduces IOP-lowering agents delivery in ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Cataract Surgery Lowers Intraocular Pressure and Medication Use in the Medication Group of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular hypotensive medication use after cataract extraction in the Medication Group of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of randomized clinical trial data. METHODS: We included 92 participants (n = 149 eyes) of the Medication Group of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study who underwent cataract surgery in at least 1 eye during the study and 531 participants (n = 1004 eyes) of the Medication Group who did not undergo cataract surgery. We defined the "split date" as the first study visit that cataract surgery was reported for the cataract surgery group and the 15th visit in the control group to equalize the median number of visits. We then compared the 2 groups at visits relative to this split date. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difference in preoperative and postoperative IOP, and number of classes of ocular hypotensive medications between the cataract and control group over a 72-month period. RESULTS: Cataract surgery significantly decreased the number of ocular hypotensive medications at all postoperative visits (mean, -0.4 medications; P ≤ .005) through the 48-month postoperative visit when compared with the control group. At the split date, approximately 23% of eyes were medication free and 41% had a reduced medication burden. Cataract surgery resulted in a decrease in IOP (P < .001), but the difference in IOP between the groups reduced over time and became nonsignificant after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery in patients with ocular hypertension produced sustained reductions in the average number of ocular hypotensive medications and transient reductions in IOP.

High rate of conversion from ocular hypertension to glaucoma in subjects with uveitis.

AIMS: To examine presentation, management and long-term sequelae of ocular hypertension and uveitic glaucoma. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of all subjects with uveitic glaucoma or ocular hypertension seen in Auckland uveitis clinics over the last 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 188 eyes of 139 subjects with uveitic glaucoma or ocular hypertension were included for analysis. Total follow-up was 1854.5 eye years (mean 9.9 years). The mean age at uveitis diagnosis was 49.3 years. 52.5% of subjects were male. The most common diagnoses were idiopathic uveitis (29.3%), sarcoidosis (13.3%), herpes zoster (6.9%), HLA-B27 uveitis (6.9%), tuberculosis (5.9%) and Posner-Schlossmann or cytomegalovirus (CMV) uveitis (5.3%). Median intraocular pressure (IOP) at diagnosis was 35 mm Hg (IQR 29-45). 144 eyes (77.0%) developed glaucoma during the follow-up period, of whom 41 lost some central vision due to glaucoma. Oral acetazolamide was required for IOP control in 64.5%, 50 eyes underwent trabeculectomy, 18 eyes required a tube and 6 underwent minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. CONCLUSION: Rapid progression was observed from ocular hypertension to uveitic glaucoma. Uveitic glaucoma is aggressive, with high likelihood of requiring surgical management and high risk of central vision loss. Close collaboration between uveitis and glaucoma specialists is required to maximise outcomes for these patients.