Three cases of recalcitrant Paecilomyces keratitis in Southern California within a short period.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this report is to describe the risk factors, clinical course, and characteristics of three cases of Paecilomyces keratitis presenting concurrently within three months in the same location. We used in vivo confocal microscopy and histopathology to corroborate our clinical findings. OBSERVATIONS: Three eyes of three elderly patients with culture-proven Paecilomyces keratitis were included in this series. These patients resided within a 15-mile radius and presented to a tertiary care eye institute in Southern California between February and April 2022. All three eyes experienced a prolonged, recalcitrant course with recurrence of keratitis in donor corneal tissue despite antifungal therapy and multiple therapeutic penetrating keratoplasties. In vivo confocal microscopy, histopathology, and microbiologic findings corroborated the diagnosis of fungal keratitis with Paecilomyces. With surgical intervention and extensive medical therapy, all three cases resolved after the addition of oral Posaconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Paecilomyces is a rare cause of infectious keratitis. Herein we report three similar cases in elderly patients. All had prolonged, recalcitrant infections that required multiple treatment modalities. Our cases, which were supported by in vivo confocal microscopy and histopathology, highlight the importance of timely and aggressive therapy to prevent recurrence.

Genome editing in the treatment of ocular diseases.

Genome-editing technologies have ushered in a new era in gene therapy, providing novel therapeutic strategies for a wide range of diseases, including both genetic and nongenetic ocular diseases. These technologies offer new hope for patients suffering from previously untreatable conditions. The unique anatomical and physiological features of the eye, including its immune-privileged status, size, and compartmentalized structure, provide an optimal environment for the application of these cutting-edge technologies. Moreover, the development of various delivery methods has facilitated the efficient and targeted administration of genome engineering tools designed to correct specific ocular tissues. Additionally, advancements in noninvasive ocular imaging techniques and electroretinography have enabled real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy and safety. Herein, we discuss the discovery and development of genome-editing technologies, their application to ocular diseases from the anterior segment to the posterior segment, current limitations encountered in translating these technologies into clinical practice, and ongoing research endeavors aimed at overcoming these challenges.

Quantifying Color Vision Changes Associated With Cataracts Using Cone Contrast Thresholds.

Purpose: To evaluate effects of age and simulated and real cataractous changes on color vision as measured by the high-definition cone contrast test (CCT). Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers from two cohort studies performed CCT using best-corrected visual acuity, filters, mydriasis, and pinhole correction. Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients seen in eye clinics evaluated the relationship between age and color vision, and age and lens status in 355 eyes. Last, 25 subjects underwent CCT before and after cataract surgery. Results: CCT scores were most reliable in the nonmydriatic condition without pinhole correction. Progressively dense brown filters produced small decreases in S-cone sensitivity. Linear regression analysis of phakic subjects showed a decline for all cone classes with age. Rate of decline was greater for S-cones (slope = -1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.30 to 0.86) than M-cones (slope = -0.80; 95% CI, -1.03 to -0.58) and L-cones (slope = -0.66; 95% CI, -0.88 to -0.44). CCT scores increased for S-cones but reduced for L- and M-cones in pseudophakic subjects compared with phakic patients. CCT scores after cataract surgery increased for S-cones, M-cones, and L-cones by 33.0 (95% CI, 8.6 to 57.4), 24.9 (95% CI, 3.8 to 46.0), and 22.0 (95% CI, -3.2 to 47.3), respectively. Conclusions: CCT assessment allows for clinically practical quantitation of color and contrast vision improvement after cataract surgery and aging patients who note poor vision despite good visual acuity. Translational Relevance: CCT testing, which quantifies hereditary and acquired color deficiency, can also quantify the degree of cataract severity and, combined with other parameters, can provide more precise guidance for cataract extraction to optimize patient care.

Complicated case of Mycobacterium abscessus conjunctivitis in Sjögren's syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report a case of conjunctivitis due to Mycobacterium abscessus in the setting of keratoconjunctivitis sicca due to Sjögren's syndrome in the absence of other known risk factors such as surgery, trauma or immunosuppressive therapy. OBSERVATIONS: A 61-year-old woman with a history of keratoconjunctivitis sicca secondary to Sjögren's syndrome presented with dryness, irritation, redness, and discharge in her left eye for 2 months. She was diagnosed with chronic conjunctivitis and began a regimen of moxifloxacin and an ocular ointment of dexamethasone, neomycin, and polymyxin with no improvement of symptoms. Concurrent cultures grew Mycobacterium abscessus and the patient began treatment with amikacin drops, oral clarithromycin and intravenous imipenem, followed by amikacin drops, oral clarithromycin, and oral clofazimine, but her course was complicated by a perforated corneal ulcer that required a corneal patch graft. The patient eventually recovered despite persistent colonization. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: We present a case of Mycobacterium abscessus conjunctivitis in a patient with keratoconjunctivitis sicca secondary to Sjögren's syndrome without previous history of surgery, trauma, or other known risk factors. Because of low suspicion and clinician awareness, ocular nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection may have a delayed diagnosis and treatment. Clinicians should consider NTM in the differential diagnosis in patients with autoimmune disease such as Sjögren's syndrome. Treatment may be lengthy, requiring topical and systemic antibiotics and is often complicated due to resistance.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis after treatment with topical difluprednate in an aphakic eye of an immunocompetent patient.

PURPOSE: To report a case of an immunocompetent 64-year-old man who developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis after using topical difluprednate. OBSERVATIONS: A 64-year-old man with type 2 diabetes developed hemorrhagic retinitis while using topical difluprednate after penetrating keratoplasty. Polymerase chain reaction of the vitreous was positive for CMV DNA. Complete blood count was within normal limits and 4th generation human immunodeficiency virus assay was negative. The retinitis resolved with oral valgancyclovir and intravitreal foscarnet injections. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: CMV retinitis may occur after topical difluprednate in an immunocompetent patient.

Long-Term Results of Femtosecond Laser-Enabled Keratoplasty With Zig-Zag Trephination.

PURPOSE: To report long-term visual and astigmatism outcomes in cases of zig-zag femtosecond laser-enabled penetrating keratoplasty (FLEK). METHODS: Retrospective review. Three hundred thirty-five eyes of 287 patients underwent (FLEK) with a zig-zag incision pattern. Patients were assessed preoperatively and underwent postoperative comprehensive examinations at standard intervals of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and 6 months thereafter. Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity and spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity and manifest and topographical (Mrx cyl and Topo cyl) astigmatism were compared with preoperative values. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-five eyes received FLEK with zig-zag configuration. Data are presented for the last recorded visit before any refractive procedure. Sutures were removed in 202 of 335 eyes at an average time to removal of 1.3 ± 1.1 years, and a mean follow-up period of 2.9 ± 2.1 years (range 0-10 years). After full suture removal, mean uncorrected distance visual acuity and spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity were logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 0.84 (Snellen 20/138) ± 0.55 and 0.33 (Snellen 20/42) ± 0.33, respectively. Mean Mrx cyl and Topo cyl of these groups were 3.38 ± 2.22 and 4.77 ± 3.15, respectively. Of the total number of grafts, the rate of graft rejections was 14.0%, and the failure rate was 5.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The femtosecond laser-generated zig-zag-shaped incision results in lower manifest and topographical astigmatism than the reported average for conventional penetrating keratoplasty. Graft rejection and failure rates are similar to published data for conventional penetrating keratoplasty.

Granulomatous Uveitis and Conjunctivitis Due to Common Variable Immune Deficiency: A Case Report.

Purpose: To describe a case of granulomatous anterior uveitis and histologically confirmed chronic granulomatous conjunctivitis in the presence of common variable immune deficiency (CVID). Methods: Interventional case report. Results: A 72-year-old female with a history of CVID treated with regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions developed chronic conjunctivitis and granulomatous anterior uveitis. She responded to topical steroids, but there was recurrence upon cessation of steroid therapy. Conjunctival biopsy demonstrated micro-granulomas in the stroma and epithelium. Treatment with IVIG was maintained throughout. Conclusion: Although rare, a diagnosis of CVID should be considered in patients with recurrent conjunctivitis and uveitis of unknown etiology, especially if there is a clinical history suggestive of defective immunity. They tend to respond well to continued steroid therapy, and IVIG therapy should not be stopped.

Penetrating Keratoplasty Using the Femtosecond Laser: A Comparison of Postoperative Visual Acuity and Astigmatism by Suture Pattern.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of 3 common suturing techniques on eyes that received femtosecond laser-enabled penetrating keratoplasty (FLEK) with a zig-zag configuration at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California- Irvine, California. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of a series of 319 eyes of 286 patients who underwent FLEK with a zig-zag configuration. One hundred fifty-seven eyes had running sutures, 136 eyes had simple interrupted sutures, and 26 eyes had combined sutures (single running and simple interrupted). The main outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and topographic astigmatism (TCyl). These parameters were recorded for the first year of follow-up regardless of suture removal status and also after full suture removal. RESULTS: At 3 months, the BSCVA of the running, interrupted, and combined suture groups was 0.22 (±0.2), 0.41 (±0.3), and 0.29 (±0.1), respectively (P < 0.01). The mean TCyl of the running, interrupted, and combined groups at 3 months was 3.95 (±2.7), 6.41 (±4.4), and 5.44 (±3.3) D, respectively (P < 0.01) All sutures were removed in 190 of 319 eyes, and at the last recorded visit, the mean BSCVA was 0.18 (±0.2), 0.34 (±0.2), and 0.19 (±0.2) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in the running, interrupted, and combined groups, respectively (P < 0.01) and mean TCyl was 4.51 (±2.8), 5.62 (±3.7), and 4.57 (±2.9) D, respectively (P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Better visual acuity after full suture removal was observed in the running suture group; however, the subgroups of patients with keratoconus were similar after all sutures were removed.

CHIKUNGUNYA-ASSOCIATED UVEITIS AND EXUDATIVE RETINAL DETACHMENT: A CASE REPORT.

PURPOSE: To report the first known case of bilateral granulomatous panuveitis secondary to chikungunya fever in the United States, acquired by a U.S. citizen traveling from an endemic region. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 47-year-old woman presented with 10 days of bilateral decreased vision and photophobia concurrent with a febrile illness contracted while visiting the Dominican Republic. She presented with bilateral granulomatous panuveitis and exudative retinal detachments. Extensive workup was negative with the exception of positive chikungunya virus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M titers. Initially, she responded to corticosteroid treatment but developed recurrent inflammation 3 months after completing the initial treatment. Immunomodulatory therapy was initiated at the time of recurrence, and with immunomodulatory therapy alone her inflammation has been controlled for 6 months. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chikungunya fever-related uveitis is increasing with the recent epidemics throughout the Americas. Inflammation can occur during the febrile illness or months later and can manifest in a variety of ways. Posterior segment inflammation is more commonly a delayed presentation. Previous reports suggest that chikungunya fever-related uveitis responds well to corticosteroid therapy. This is the first reported case of recurrent inflammation. Given the wide variety of presentations, chikungunya fever-related uveitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of all at-risk patients presenting with acute ocular inflammation, particularly those traveling from endemic regions.

Fundus image diagnostic agreement in uveitis utilizing free and open source software.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the adequacy of image agreement regarding uveitis based on color fundus and fluorescein angiography images alone, and to use free and open source applications to conduct an image agreement study. DESIGN: Cross-sectional agreement study. PARTICIPANTS: Baseline fundus and fluorescein images of patients with panuveitis, posterior, or intermediate uveitis enrolled in the Multi-center Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) trial. METHODS: Three fellowship-trained specialists in uveitis independently reviewed patient images using ClearCanvas™ and responded using Epi Info™. The diagnoses of the 3 reviewers were compared with the MUST clinician as a gold standard. A rank transformation adjusted for the possible variation in number of responses per patient. Chance-corrected interobserver agreement among the 3 reviewers was estimated with the ι coefficient. Confidence interval (CI) and SE were bootstrapped. RESULTS: Agreement between the diagnoses of the respondents and the baseline MUST clinician's diagnosis was poor across all diagnostic categories, ι = 0.09 (95% CI, 0.07-0.11). The agreement among respondents alone also was poor, ι = 0.11 ± 0.02 (95% CI, 0.08-0.13). The specialists requested more patient historical and clinical information to make a diagnosis on all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The role in distinguishing the multiple conditions in uveitis appears to be limited when based on fundus imaging alone. Future studies should investigate different categories of clinical data to supplement image data. Freely available applications have excellent utility in ophthalmic imaging agreement studies.

Retinal blood flow velocity in patients with active uveitis using the retinal function imager.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest a link between macular edema and retinal blood flow velocity (RBFV). The effects of inflammation in the retinal blood vessels are not clearly understood. We want to evaluate the differences in retinal blood flow velocities of patients with active uveitis and healthy controls using the retinal function imager (RFI) and determine the correlation between retinal blood flow velocity and central macular thickness in uveitis patients. METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes of 24 patients with active anterior uveitis and 51 eyes of 51 normal control subjects were enrolled. Retinal blood flow velocities evaluated by RFI and central macular thickness evaluated by optical coherence tomography (SLO-OCT) were obtained. Differences among the groups were assessed using Stata statistical software. RESULTS: Ten eyes had uveitic cystoid macular edema (CME). Median (first quartile, third quartile) venous velocity for uveitic eyes with CME, uveitic eyes without CME, and controls were 2.09 (1.92, 2.44), 2.64 (2.32, 2.86), and 2.82 (2.39, 3.53) mm/s respectively. Median (first and quartile) arterial velocity for uveitic eyes with CME, uveitic eyes without CME, and controls were 3.79 (3.61, 4.09), 3.46 (2.86, 4.12), and 3.93 (3.35, 4.65) mm/s. Uveitic eyes with CME had significantly lower venous velocity than controls (P = 0.044). There was a strong linear relationship between venous velocity and central retinal thickness (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal venous velocities were significantly decreased in eyes with uveitic CME relative to controls. Decreased venous velocity was correlated with increased central retinal thickness in uveitic eyes.

Research in Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation, 2011 to 2012.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to provide ophthalmologists with an update of recent research and developments in the areas of ocular immunology and uveitis. DESIGN: This is a literature review. METHODS: A 1-year search (July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012) of the English language literature on PubMed was conducted using the search terms ocular immunology, ocular inflammation, uveitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, panuveitis, pediatric uveitis, scleritis, choroiditis, retinitis, uveitic glaucoma, uveitic cataract, hypotony, immunomodulators, immunosuppressive therapy, corticosteroids, drug-induced uveitis, sarcoidosis, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus, herpes zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, optical coherence tomography, mucous membrane pemphigoid, experimental autoimmune uveitis, and endotoxin-induced uveitis. Approximately 10% of articles studied were included in this article. RESULTS: This review incorporates original articles encompassing new insights and updates to the field of uveitis and ocular immunology. Particular consideration was given to randomized, controlled clinical trials as well as analyses of larger cohorts; however, smaller studies and case reports involving new aspects of treatment/diagnosis or expanding the understanding of disease processes were also included. CONCLUSIONS: Review of the literature reflected an improved understanding of uveitic disease and treatments, especially in the areas of immunomodulatory therapy, uveitic cystoid macular edema, toxoplasmosis, and sarcoidosis. Results from the Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Study and the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment trial, especially, yielded useful information in a number of areas. By its nature, this review cannot be all inclusive but is meant to focus on the literature and results most relevant to ophthalmologists in practice.

Baylisascaris Procyonis Induced Diffuse Unilateral Subacute Neuroretinitis in New York City.

Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) secondary to raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) infection has been reported in rural and suburban areas of North America and Europe with extant raccoon populations. Here, we present a case of Baylisascaris-induced DUSN from the densely populated borough of Brooklyn in New York City and alert urban ophthalmologists to consider this etiology even in areas not typically thought to be associated with endemic risk factors. Infected raccoons also occur in urban settings, and urban patients may be exposed in surrounding areas. Most patients with Baylisascaris ocular larva migrans-DUSN will not have concomitant neurologic disease; this fact and larval neurotropism are both misconceptions regarding this infection.

Incidence of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery in patients with and without uveitis using optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after cataract surgery among eyes with and without uveitis using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine risk factors for postoperative CME among eyes with uveitis. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative cohort study. METHODS: Single-center, academic practice. Forty-one eyes with uveitis and 52 eyes without uveitis underwent clinical examination and OCT testing within 4 weeks before cataract surgery and at 1-month and 3-month postoperative visits. The main outcome measure was incidence of CME at 1 and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Both uveitic and control eyes gained approximately 3 lines of vision (P = .6). Incidence of CME at 1 month was 12% (5 eyes) for uveitis and 4% (2 eyes) for controls (P = .2). Incidence of CME at 3 months was 8% (3 eyes) for uveitis and 0% for eyes without uveitis (P = .08). Eyes with uveitis treated with perioperative oral corticosteroids had a 7-fold reduction in postoperative CME (relative risk [RR], 0.14; P = .05). In uveitic eyes, active inflammation within 3 months before surgery increased the risk of CME when compared with eyes without inflammation (RR, 6.19; P = .04). CME was significantly associated with poorer vision (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with well-controlled uveitis may obtain similar outcomes to control eyes after cataract surgery (up to 3 months). Use of perioperative oral corticosteroids and control of uveitis for more than 3 months before surgery seemed to decrease the risk of postoperative CME among uveitic eyes in this study.

A method of reporting macular edema after cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To validate a method of reporting postcataract macular edema (ME) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: : Data were analyzed for 130 eyes followed prospectively for ME after uncomplicated cataract surgery. Each eye underwent OCT within 4 weeks before surgery and at 1 month and 3 months after surgery. ME was defined by observation of cystoid changes by OCT. RESULTS: Incidence of ME was 14% (95% confidence interval, 8-20). Average increase in baseline center point thickness (CPT) +/- SD at 1 month for eyes with and without ME was 202 +/- 113 microm and 8 +/- 19 microm, respectively (P < 0.001), which resulted in a 1-letter loss (-0.02 logMAR [logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution]) and a 3-line gain (0.29 logMAR) in vision, respectively (P < 0.001). Percent change in baseline CPT +/- SD for eyes with and without ME was 115 +/- 67% and 6 +/- 11%, respectively (P < 0.001). A > or =40% increase in baseline CPT accurately determined 100% of eyes with ME and 99% of eyes without ME. CONCLUSIONS: A > or =40% increase in baseline CPT, determined by OCT, offers a valid and objective method of reporting clinically relevant postcataract ME. Standardized reporting of postcataract ME would allow objective assessment and comparison of treatment outcomes among clinical studies.

Comparison of antimetabolite drugs as corticosteroid-sparing therapy for noninfectious ocular inflammation.

PURPOSE: To compare the relative effectiveness and side effect profiles of antimetabolite drugs in the treatment of noninfectious ocular inflammation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 257 patients with inflammatory eye disease seen in a single-center, academic practice and treated with an antimetabolite as a first-line immunosuppressive agent from 1984 to 2006. METHODS: Data recorded included demographics, antimetabolite and prednisone doses, use of other immunosuppressive drugs, response to therapy, and side effects associated with drug use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ability to control ocular inflammation and to taper prednisone to

Smoking as a risk factor for cystoid macular edema complicating intermediate uveitis.

PURPOSE: To describe risk factors for the presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) among patients presenting with intermediate uveitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Single-center, academic practice. STUDY POPULATION: Two hundred and eight patients with intermediate uveitis evaluated from July 1, 1984 through September 30, 2006. PROCEDURES: Clinical and demographic data were entered retrospectively into a database and analyzed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of CME at presentation to our clinic; risk factors for presenting with CME. RESULTS: Of the 208 patients, 74% had bilateral intermediate uveitis, yielding 363 affected eyes. Eighty-nine patients (43%) had CME in at least one eye at the time of presentation to our clinic. After controlling for potentially confounding variables including demographics, duration of disease, active intraocular inflammation, history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, and presence of epiretinal membrane, actively smoking at presentation was associated with a four-fold increased risk of CME at presentation vs never smoking (odds ratio (OR), 3.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.43, 10.66; P = .008). Former smoking also appeared to increase the risk of CME at presentation in the multivariate analysis, but the result was of borderline statistical significance (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.99, 3.94; P = .055). After adjusting for confounding, there was a 4% increased risk of CME at presentation for each cigarette smoked per day (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01, 1.7; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: CME was a common structural ocular complication observed in our cohort. Current smoking was associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of having CME at the time of presentation to our clinic.

Loss of visual field among patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence and incidence of loss of visual field among patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) and to describe the effect of therapy on such field loss in these patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single-center, academic practice. STUDY POPULATION: Fifty-five patients with BSCR evaluated from January 1984 through July 2006. PROCEDURES: Demographic, clinical, and visual field data were collected retrospectively. OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual field loss is defined as an abnormal visual field score on Goldmann perimetry within six months of presentation and during follow-up; rate of visual field loss is defined as the number of degrees lost per year. RESULTS: Forty-eight eyes of 24 patients had Goldmann visual fields performed within six months of presentation and of these eyes, 75% and 56% had abnormal field scores for the I-4 and IV-4 isopters, respectively. Of the 28 eyes of 14 patients that received immunosuppressive drug therapy during the follow-up period, the rate of visual field "loss" prior to treatment was 107 degrees/year (95% confidence interval [CI]: 65, 148 degrees/year) and 56 degrees/year (95% CI: 5, 109 degrees/year) for the I-4 and IV-4 isopters, respectively. The rate of "gain" after institution of immunosuppressive drug therapy was 53 degrees/year (95% CI: 10 degrees lost/year, 98 degrees gained/year) and 30 degrees/year (95% CI: 20 degrees lost/year, 81 degrees gained/year) for each isopter. CONCLUSIONS: Visual field loss was common among our patients with BSCR. Usage of immunosuppressive drug therapy may reverse some of the visual field loss while therapy is employed.