Stroke Risk and Risk Factors in Patients With Central Retinal Artery Occlusion.

PURPOSE: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is mechanistically similar to a stroke. Current guidelines recommend a standardized and systematic evaluation of risk factors for patients who have had a stroke. This study evaluates the yield of this evaluation in patients with CRAO and frequency of stroke in this population. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: We evaluated the diagnostic yield of an expedited inpatient evaluation of cerebrovascular risk factors in a cohort of patients presenting with an acute CRAO within the period from 2009 to 2017 at an academic hospital. Vital signs and laboratory parameters, including low-density lipoprotein level, hemoglobin A1c fraction, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, platelet count, and troponin level, were collected. Echocardiography, cardiac telemetry, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebrovascular imaging were obtained to screen for strokes and vascular risk factors. All new diagnoses and clinical treatments stemming from the inpatient evaluation were documented. Outcomes included the frequency of stroke on MRI, hypertensive emergency, critical carotid disease, or critical cardiac disease, including high-grade valvular lesions, new myocardial infarction, or arrhythmias. We documented the frequency of a change in medication, acute surgical intervention, or new diagnosis of systemic disease as a result of the inpatient evaluation. Finally, we evaluated the rate of symptomatic stroke, myocardial infarct, and death risk in the 24 months after CRAO. RESULTS: In this cohort of 103 patients with CRAO and systematic risk factor screening, 36.7% of patients had critical carotid disease, 37.3% had coincident acute stroke, 33.0% presented with hypertensive emergency, 20.0% had a myocardial infarction or critical structural cardiac disease, 25% underwent an urgent surgical intervention, and 93% had a change in medication as a result of the inpatient evaluation. Patients with CRAO had similar risk of subsequent stroke, myocardial infarction, and death as patients with high-risk transient ischemic attack. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CRAO are at significant risk of future cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and often have undiagnosed risk factors that may be modifiable.

An abnormal ocular motor manifestation of Joubert syndrome.

Joubert syndrome is a congenital neurodevelopmental disorder primarily affecting the midbrain and hindbrain. It is characterized by ataxia, hypotonia, and developmental delay as well as apnea or abnormal ocular motor function. We describe and present a video of a child with Joubert syndrome with an alternating skew deviation in primary position rather than on lateral gaze, which is a more characteristic phenotype of this condition.

Gender and Racial Disparities in Cases of Autoenucleation.

OBJECTIVE: This review demonstrates the gender and racial disparities among patients who have committed ocular autoenucleation. DESIGN: Peer-reviewed articles were identified and reviewed on the basis of a literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE and Ovid/EMBASE databases from all available literature to date. RESULTS: We identified 60 cases of autoenucleation published in contemporary literature with nine attempted cases. The ratio of men to women who have committed autoenucleation is 8:1. Only 28 cases of autoenucleation included confirmed reports of racial makeup. 17 out of 28 cases were White, eight out of 28 cases were Hispanic or Asian, and only three cases were Black. White patients account for 61% of the cases, while Black patients make up 11% and other races constitute 28%. The common underlying psychiatric motivations among autoenucleation patients include biblical interpretations, religious delusions, and paranoia of the eye. The most common associated psychiatric disorders among patients with autoenucleation include schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: Autoenucleation largely occurs amongst male patients with active psychiatric disorders. Our findings challenge previously published reviews where the incidence of autoenucleation is reported as equal for the two sexes. A higher incidence among the White population is also suggested. This is the first time gender and racial disparity have been demonstrated with respect to autoenucleation.

Ophthalmic Disparities in Transgender Patients.

Transgender individuals experience unique challenges with regards to discrimination and access to health care. Further, their unique health-care needs and challenges lead to greater rates of morbidity. This article seeks to review the unique biology of transgender patients and the effects of cross-sex hormone therapy on ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic pathology. Attention is given to topics in neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, and retinal disease.