Streptococcus vestibularis atypical infectious keratits after intracorneal ring segment implantation.

PURPOSE: To report the first case of an atypical infectious keratitis caused by Streptococcus vestibularis after ICRS implantation. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old man underwent intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation for the treatment of a pellucid marginal corneal degeneration (PMCD) in his both eyes (OU). Three weeks after the surgery of the right eye (OD), the patient presented with pain, redness, and vision loss in his OD. BCVA was 20/100 Snellen equivalent in the OD. Slit-lamp examination revealed punctate whitish infiltrates along the ring segment with associated corneal stromal edema in the OD. Corneal scrapings were obtained for gram satins and bacterial and fungal cultures, and topical treatment with hourly ciprofloxacin was started. Two days later, corneal stromal edema worsened with involvement of the ring channel. Thus, the ring segment was removed and sent for cultures, and the ring channel was irrigated with vancomycin. Culture from ring segment came back positive for Streptococcus vestibularis, so topical targeted antiobiotherapy with vancomycin and erythromycin was applied. At 3 weeks of follow-up, BCVA was of 20/40 Snellen equivalent in the OD and a subtle corneal leucoma in the OD was observed in the slit-lamp examination. CONCLUSION: Although infectious keratitis is a rare and serious disorder associated with ICRS implantation, its early recognition and management is essential in order to avoid sight-threatening complications. Thus, a prompt obtainment of corneal curettage samples and removal of ring segment becomes decisive to initiate a targeted antiobiotherapy.

The first case of fungal endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus nidulans: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

SIGNIFICANCE: Fungal endogenous endophthalmitis is an uncommon and potentially blinding infection. Aspergillus is a causative organism in immunocompromized although is virulent enough to afflict immunocompetents. Their propensity to affect macula usually results in a dismal prognosis; thus, improving visual outcome has always been challenging to clinicians. A. nidulans has only rarely been implicated in exogenous endophthalmitis. PURPOSE: To report the first case of A. nidulans endogenous endophthalmitis. CASE REPORT: An asthmatic 42-year-old female presented with sudden unilateral vision loss due to a submacular abscess that progressively worsened in a matter of days. Vitreous PCR analysis after an urgent vitrectomy was positive for A. nidulans with no active systemic foci found. Oral and intravitreal Voriconazole was prescribed but multiple reactivations led to three vitrectomies in total alongside with subretinal Voriconazole, abscess aspiration, and endolaser. There was complete resolution of the infection and, although visual acuity was poor due to macular scar, enucleation was avoided. CONCLUSION: Although uncommon, we must consider Aspergillus as the causative organism in apparently immunocompetent patients with history of recent systemic corticosteroids treatment, especially if they suffer a broncopulmonary disorder. Aspergillus is an aggressive organism so a high index of suspicion along with early diagnosis and prompt treatment is the key for better outcomes. We highlight A. nidulans as the causative agent as there are no other reported cases.

Case Report: Tapioca Iris Melanoma: An Uncommon Presentation of an Uncommon Tumor.

SIGNIFICANCE: Iris tumors are rare conditions, and there is a relative paucity of recent published data on its broad clinical spectrum. Tapioca iris melanoma is a rarer yet devastating form with wide and challenging differential diagnoses because of its amelanotic nodular appearance. PURPOSE: This study aimed to report the challenging presentation of an uncommon iris melanoma, describing the clinical and histological findings and comparing them with the existing published data. CASE REPORT: An uncommon clinicopathological report on the tumor unusual localization, patient age, absence of elevated IOP and heterochromia, and negative S-100 stain that caused diagnostic uncertainty is presented. The patient remains free of metastatic disease 7 years after a complete tumor full-thickness excision. CONCLUSIONS: Tapioca iris melanomas are uncommon tumors with a presentation/surgical management that differs from other malignant tumors. Ophthalmologists should consider it among the vast differential diagnoses when observing amelanotic lesions, even without the hallmark signs being evident.

Case Report: Nutritional and Toxic Optic Neuropathy: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

SIGNIFICANCE: Nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies are rare disorders characterized by visual impairment due to optic nerve damage by a toxin, usually with coexisting nutritional deficiencies. Its pathophysiology is still unclear, and multiple mechanisms implicated act synergistically to bring about this condition. The decline in its incidence and its confusing clinical appearance make diagnosing nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies challenging. PURPOSE: This is an observational clinical case report of an atypical clinical case of a nutritional and toxic optic neuropathy with a subacute presentation and papilledema at the time of diagnosis. The patient provided written informed consent for medical information and images to be published. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old man presented with progressive, painless bilateral decrease in central vision over 15 days. The patient had a long-standing history of alcohol abuse and was a heavy smoker. The examination revealed dyschromatopsia, 20/400 visual acuity on both eyes, and no relative afferent pupillary defect. Funduscopy revealed bilateral papilledema. A visual field test showed generalized depression with centrocecal involvement in the left eye. Laboratory studies evidenced decreased vitamin B12/B1 and red blood cell folate levels, increased acute phase reactants, hypertransaminasemia, and macrocytic anemia. Serologies and methanol in urine were negative. After the discontinuation of tobacco use and alcohol accompanied by vitamin supplementation, our patient's visual field, visual acuity, and papilledema improved remarkably. After 5 months, visual acuity and funduscopy were normal. CONCLUSIONS: Although some hallmark signs were visible in this case, its subacute presentation and the presence of papilledema at diagnosis caused some diagnostic uncertainty. Nutritional and toxic optic neuropathy is a rare and challenging diagnosis because of a lack of biomarkers. Eye care clinicians should consider nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies to prevent severe and irreversible visual damage resulting from underdiagnosis and mismanagement.

CRMP-5-IgG Antibody: role in the bilateral uveitis with swollen disc.

Autoimmunity against collapsin response-mediator protein-5 (anti-CRMP-5) has been associated with ocular inflammation in paraneoplastic syndrome. We present a 59-year-old Caucasian man with optic neuritis and vitreous cells in both eyes (OU), at different stages. Despite the fact that the patient did not have any systemic disease, we suspected a paraneoplastic syndrome and requested CRMP-5-IgG and a mediastinoscopy. After performing the tests, a small cell lung carcinoma was diagnosed. Autoantibody CRMP-5-IgG positivity and optic neuritis combined with vitreous inflammation was defined as a paraneoplastic entity, avoiding vitreous biopsy and allowing us to suspect malignancy before systemic symptoms appeared.

Analysis of anatomical biomarkers in subtypes of diabetic macular edema refractory to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treated with dexamethasone implant.

INTRODUCTION: To analyze functional and anatomical outcomes in subtypes of diabetic macular edema treated with a single dexamethasone implant and to assess the usefulness of a pro-re-nata treatment among subtypes. METHODS: Retrospective study in morphologic patterns of diabetic macular edema (diffuse retinal thickening n = 15; cystoid macular edema n = 38, and serous retinal detachment n = 17) recalcitrant to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, treated with dexamethasone implant. Examinations included timing to recidive of diabetic macular edema, best-corrected visual acuity, and central subfield macular thickness at 2, 4, and 6 months. RESULTS: In previously treated patients with a mean of 6.64 ± 3.69 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections, the best-corrected visual acuity improved from 61.64 ± 13.71 to 65.71 ± 14.65 as per the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol (p = 0.009) and central subfield macular thickness change from 447.46 ± 110.82 to 354.39 ± 80.46 µm (p < 0.005). The best-corrected visual acuity improvement was better in the diffuse retinal thickening group (68.67 ± 13.81 vs 65.26 ± 14.04 in cystoid macular edema and vs 64.12 ± 17.06 in serous retinal detachment), whereas higher central subfield macular thickness thinning was observed in serous retinal detachment group (368.47 ± 29.96 to 310.27 ± 67.47 in diffuse retinal thickening, vs 445.92 ± 105.06 to 364.39 ± 80.28 and 520.59 ± 122.96 to 370.94 ± 81.73 in cystoid macular edema and serous retinal detachment, respectively). Cystoid macular edema group was the group with more recurrences after 6 months (86.8% vs 66.7% in diffuse retinal thickening and 70.6% in serous retinal detachment). CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone implant is effective for all persistent diabetic macular edema subtypes with sustained functional and morphologic gains in the first 6 months.

Atypical papillitis: An isolated manifestation of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is a rare condition caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Despite typical symptoms including fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash, sometimes we cannot find those due to the lack of physician consultation in those early stages. If this disease is left untreated, infection could spread to the nervous system causing neuroborreliosis, an atypical and complicated manifestation of this disease. We present the case of an atypical papillitis, probably caused by this bacterium. We suspected this because of the results on the indirect test bloods and the improvement of the symptoms after treatment. This entity should be considered as a possible diagnosis of atypical optical neuropathies, particularly if it occurs in an endemic area.

An objective scatter index cutoff point as a powerful objective criterion for preoperative nuclear cataract decision-making based on ROC analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between clinical cataract surgery indication and the objective scatter index (OSI) by defining the optimal OSI cutoff point in the surgery scheduling. SETTING: Ophthalmology service, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain. DESIGN: Prospective triple-masked randomized single-center study. METHODS: Patients with cataractous eyes were recruited, and those with anterior segment disease, abnormal posterior pole, and/or previous ocular surgery were excluded. The principle of double-pass aberrometry was used by the main investigator to determine an OSI, after measuring subjective refraction and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and then slitlamp evaluation was carried out by an independent researcher. The surgical decision was based on the current protocol according to the European guidelines. Correlation between the surgical decision, CDVA, and OSI were analyzed and an OSI discriminative value was calculated, implementing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The study comprised 106 eyes (73 patients). The analysis established an inverse linear correlation between OSI and CDVA (r = -0.455, P < .0001). The comparison of the mean OSI between the surgical group (7.05 ± 4.65 [SD]) and the nonsurgical group (2.92 ± 1.88), revealed statistically significant differences (P = 5.04 × 10-9). The OSI score 3.2 was determined as the optimal cutoff value to discriminate surgical treatment (sensitivity 80%, specificity 84%). CONCLUSIONS: An optimal OSI value, according to an ROC curve calculation, was capable of providing clinicians with a powerful criterion for preoperative decision-making, thus suggesting an end to the subjectivity implicit in the cataract surgery decision-making process.

Ocular loiasis affecting a child and its assessment by Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

A 9-year-old girl from Equatorial Guinea presented to the emergency department complaining of foreign body sensation in her right eye. A thin and large, translucent, slowly moving, coiled worm was observed underneath the conjunctiva. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed hyperreflective small areas surrounded by larger hyporeflective areas into the subconjunctival space. Loa loa microfilaria was evidenced on blood test. Surgical extraction of the subconjunctival worm was intended on slit lamp and under sedation in the operating room, but it was unsuccessful due to poor cooperation and rapid migration of the larva into the sub-Tenon's space. The patient received two cycles of oral albendazole and one cycle of diethylcarbamazine before achieving complete microfilaria seroconversion. Abbreviations: AS-OCT = Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography, PCR = Polymerase Chain Reaction, DEC = diethylcarbamazine.