EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE WITH FOVEAL HERNIATION: Visual and Surgical Outcomes.

PURPOSE: Foveal herniation occurs when neuroretinal tissue protrudes through and above the level of an epiretinal membrane. This study describes the visual symptoms and spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings associated with foveal herniation and evaluates the postoperative visual, anatomical, and surgical outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective review of patients diagnosed with epiretinal membrane identified 59 patients with preoperative foveal herniation on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Data regarding visual symptoms, preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness, macular volume, and size of foveal herniation were collected, and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 58 of the 59 patients with foveal herniation underwent surgical epiretinal membrane peeling, with foveal contour restored in 53.5% of patients after surgery. Average BCVA improved from 20/80 to 20/40 Snellen equivalent at most-recent postoperative visit (P < 0.0001). The average central retinal thickness decreased from 632 µm to 432 µm (P < 0.0001) and the average macular volume decreased from 11.3 mm3 to 9.5 mm3 (P < 0.0001) at 3 months postoperatively. Preoperatively, greater herniation height was associated with worse BCVA (P = 0.008), greater central retinal thickness (P = 0.01), retinoschisis, cystoid macular edema, foveolar detachment, ellipsoid zone abnormality, and external limiting membrane abnormalities (P < 0.05). Postoperatively, there was a decrease in retinoschisis, cystoid macular edema, foveolar detachment, ellipsoid zone, and external limiting membrane abnormality (P < 0.05) on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. CONCLUSION: Patients with larger foveal herniation height had greater preoperative central retinal thickness, worse preoperative and postoperative BCVA, and more intraretinal abnormalities on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Surgical epiretinal membrane peeling in patients with foveal herniation resulted in a significant improvement in patients' BCVA and microstructural abnormalities.

Incidence of Delayed Vitreous Hemorrhage in Patients With Retinal Tears Associated With Bridging Vessels.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to determine if outcomes in patients presenting with retinal tears with bridging vessels (BVs) differ from those without BVs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A case control study of all patients presenting with retinal tears during a 3-year period was completed. Comparisons were made between patients with and without BVs. Variables included vitreous hemorrhage (VH) at presentation, delayed VH, initial and final visual acuity, need for surgery, and retinal detachment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the number of patients with a VH at presentation (75% vs 28%; P < .0001), delayed VH (31% vs 7.5%; P = .001), and incidence of pars plana vitrectomy (16% vs 1.3%; P = .002) in the BV cohort. There was no significant difference in time to VH (9.4 vs 38.8 days; P = .32) or final visual acuity (20/25 vs 20/25; P = .45) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a BV is an important prognostic indicator for risk of delayed VH. Documenting the presence of a BV allows for appropriate patient counseling. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2022;53:502-505.].

Seasonal and Environmental Variations in Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injection: A Six-year Review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate seasonal and environmental variations on the incidence and outcomes of postinjection endophthalmitis. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted including all patients diagnosed with post-injection endophthalmitis between 2013-2018. Associations between climate variables and endophthalmitis incidence were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 423,297 injections administered, seasonal distribution in spring, summer, autumn, and winter was 26%, 27%, 25%, and 22%, respectively. Of 171 cases of endophthalmitis identified, seasonal distribution over the spring, summer, autumn, and fall was 25%, 23%, 26%, and 26%, respectively. Endophthalmitis incidence was not correlated with monthly precipitation (p = 0.45), monthly snowfall (p = 0.49), or monthly temperature (p = 0.65). Worse visual outcomes at initial endophthalmitis presentation were correlated with increased precipitation level (p = 0.025) but were not correlated with snowfall level (p = 0.228) or mean monthly temperature (p = 0.132). Although there were no seasonal variations of visual acuity at endophthalmitis presentation (p = 0.894), odds of final visual acuity returning to within two lines of pre-endophthalmitis visual acuity were worse among patients with endophthalmitis diagnosed in the spring (OR, 0.041; p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous work on postcataract endophthalmitis, seasonal and weather factors were not associated with post-injection endophthalmitis risk or bacterial species isolated. Visual outcomes at initial endophthalmitis presentation were correlated with precipitation, and worse visual outcomes were seen in patients who developed endophthalmitis in the spring.

Outcomes of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair in Eyes With Preoperative Grade B or C Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy.

Purpose: This work evaluates the anatomic and functional outcomes of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) with preoperative grade B and C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) vs eyes without PVR. Methods: As a multi-institutional, interventional, retrospective study of all patients undergoing primary RRD surgical procedures from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015, this study evaluated the visual acuity (VA) outcomes and single-surgery anatomic success rates (SSAS) of patients with primary grade B and C PVR at the time of RRD repair. Results: A total of 2486 eyes underwent primary RD surgery during the study period, of which 153 eyes (6.2%) had documented preoperative PVR grade B or C. Eyes without PVR had better SSAS compared with eyes with grade B or C PVR (87% vs 83% vs 75%, respectively, P < .0001). Eyes without PVR also had better final mean (SD) logMAR VA (0.35 [0.47]; 20/45 Snellen equivalent) than eyes with PVR of grade B (0.50 [0.56]; 20/63 Snellen equivalent) or grade C (P < .0001). In only eyes with preoperative PVR, there were no significant differences in final VA or SSAS on multivariate analysis based on surgical approach or use of retinectomy or membrane peeling alone in the intraoperative management of PVR. Conclusions: Eyes with primary preoperative grade B and C PVR appear to have significantly worse VA outcomes and lower surgical success rates. Surgical approach and management of PVR membranes did not appear to affect VA or success rates, indicating that preoperative PVR severity may dictate these outcomes.

Cryptococcal Meningitis Presenting as Endophthalmitis in an Otherwise Asymptomatic Patient.

Purpose: Cryptococcus neoformans is a budding yeast that has a tropism for the central nervous system where it may cause meningitis, which has a high mortality rate. Endophthalmitis is rare and typically occurs in the setting of meningitis and disseminated disease. This report describes an atypical presentation of cryptococcal endophthalmitis and outlines the appropriate workup and management for this disease. Methods: A case report is presented. Results: A 66-year-old man on chemotherapy who presented with blurry vision without any extraocular symptoms was diagnosed with cryptococcal endophthalmitis and found to have underlying bloodstream and central nervous system infection on subsequent workup. He was treated with intravenous and intravitreal antifungals and remained systemically well, although a large subretinal mass lesion remained stable at 2-month follow-up. Conclusions: Cryptococcal endophthalmitis may be the initial presentation of disseminated cryptococcal disease. If vitreous cultures grow Cryptococcus, clinicians should presume that meningitis is present, regardless of symptoms, until proven otherwise.

Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: an update on recent advances.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Prevention and management of postcataract endophthalmitis remain quite relevant for anterior segment and vitreoretinal surgeons. Although the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study, published in 1996, remains the only level 1 evidence for the management of postcataract endophthalmitis, recent advances have resulted in an evolution of practice patterns. The aim of this review is to summarize the literature regarding postcataract endophthalmitis with a focus on the last 18 months. RECENT FINDINGS: The IRIS registry indicates the rates of endophthalmitis are decreasing in the United States, and the outcomes appear to be improving. Intracameral moxifloxacin has become more widely accepted and intracameral vancomycin has been shown to be associated with retinal vasculitis. The role of systemic antibiotics and vitrectomy is unclear and practice patterns vary widely. SUMMARY: Although practice patterns vary, prevention and treatment of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery continues to improve. More uniform guidelines regarding surgical and medical therapy are necessary but the standard of prompt referral to a vitreoretinal specialist for immediate intravitreal antibiotics remains the most important intervention in the management of postcataract endophthalmitis.