Quantification of vascular changes in macular telangiectasia type 2 with AngioTool software.

PURPOSE: To compare AngioTool (AT) vascular parameters (VP) between MacTel2 eyes and normal eyes. Secondary outcome measures were to correlate VP with BCVA and to analyze VP between various grades of Simple MacTel Classification. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. SD OCTA images of the superficial vascular complex (SVC) and deep capillary complex (DVC) were exported into Image J and AT. The explant area (EA), vessel area (VA), vessel percentage area (VPA), total number of junctions (TNJ), junction density (JD), total vessel length (TVL), average vessel length (AVL), total number of endpoints (TNE) and mean E lacunarity (MEL) were studied. RESULTS: Group 1 had 120 MacTel2 eyes. Group 2 had 60 age-matched normal eyes. All VP were significantly different between the two groups except EA and TNE in both complexes. None of the VP had a correlation with BCVA. Interquadrant analysis (IQA) in SVC and DVC showed statistical significance in VPA, AVL and JD and in AVL, TNE, JD, VPA respectively. Post hoc analysis in SVC and DVC showed statistical significance in TNJ, JD, TVL and AVL between grade 1 and grade 3, and in VA, VPA, TNJ, JD, TVL and MEL between grade 0 and grade 3 respectively. CONCLUSION: VP were affected in MacTel2 eyes. VP did not correlate with BCVA. Occurrence of pigmentation is an important event in the progression of disease. AT may provide quantitative markers to measure disease progression.

Comparative analysis of outcomes of two (popular) techniques of haptic exteriorization in scleral fixation intra-ocular lens surgery - A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcomes and complication rates between the extra-ocular needle-guided haptic insertion technique (XNIT) and the conventional handshake (HS) technique of scleral fixation intra-ocular lens (SFIOL). METHODS: In this retrospective study, we retrieved data of those patients who had undergone SFIOL surgery from January 2018 to May 2022 at our institute for aphakia following either a complicated cataract surgery or an ocular trauma and had a minimum follow-up of 3 months. RESULTS: Of the 156 eyes, the HS technique was done in 80 eyes and the remaining 76 eyes with XNIT. At 3 months follow-up visit, there was no significant difference in the median best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ( P = 0.988) and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) ( P = 0.765) between the two techniques. There was no statistically significant difference between pre-operative median BCVA and post-operative UCVA in XNIT ( P = 0.961) and the HS technique ( P = 0.831) at 3 months follow-up visit. The complication rates between the two techniques were minimal and comparable. The most common post-operative complication was corneal edema. The incidence of cystoid macular edema was slightly more in the XNIT group but not statistically significant ( P = 0.05). Two patients in the HS group developed retinal detachment, which settled after repeat surgery. CONCLUSION: The newer XNIT technique was found to be as safe and effective as compared to the conventional HS technique.

Enlarging aneurysm with paracentral acute middle maculopathy in idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) - a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome is a rare clinical entity affecting young healthy individuals. Treatment primarily involves pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) to capillary non perfusion areas. Intravitreal anti-VEGF or steroids are given in the presence of macula edema. Oral steroids do not alter the course of the disease. Arterial occlusions have been reported in IRVAN. METHODS: Retrospective case review. RESULT: A twenty seven year old male presented to us with mild blurring of vision for one week. His BCVA was OU 20/20. Anterior segment examination was normal. Fundus examination showed bilateral disc aneurysm with OS arterial aneurysm along the inferior arcade. Fundhus fluorescein angiography and OCT angiography were confirmatory of the disc and retinal aneurysm. Capillary non perfusion (CNP) areas were noted in the periphery. Two days later he presented with paracentral scotoma in his left eye which was confirmed by Amsler chart. Fundus, OCT and OCTA were confirmatory of Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy (PAMM). The retinal aneurysm had increased in size from 333 micron diameter to 566 micron diameter. Panretinal photocoagulation to the CNP areas was done and intravitreal antiVEGF was given. At 6 months follow up, retinal aneurysm had disappeared. DISCUSSION: Our case describes a unique event with sudden increase in size of the aneurysm leading to acute blockage in the deep capillary plexus thus being the first report of PAMM in IRVAN. The patient was treated with PRP and intravitreal anti-VEGF for the enlarging aneurysm which reduced in size within a week.

Closure rate and recovery of subfoveal microstructures following conventional internal limiting membrane peeling versus per fluoro octane-assisted inverted flap for large macular holes - A randomized controlled trial (InFlap Study).

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcomes following conventional internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling versus perfluoro octane-assisted inverted flap technique for large macular holes (MH). METHODS: A consecutive 99 eyes of 99 patients were enrolled {45 - conventional group and 54 - inverted flap (InFlap) group}. The primary outcome was a difference in closure rate. Secondary outcomes were differences in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), restoration of external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) between groups at 3 (primary endpoint), 6 and 12 (secondary endpoints) months. Additionally, the effect of different gas tamponades on closure rates, ILM flap disintegration in InFlap group, and subfoveal thickness (SFT) between groups in closed. RESULTS: At 3 months, there was no difference in the closure rate and BCVA between groups. At six months, closure rate was significantly better in the InFlap group. However, this difference was not maintained at 12 months. There was no difference in BCVA between groups at any visit. The ELM recovery was significantly higher in the conventional group at three months; however, there was no difference in ELM/EZ recovery between groups at other visits. The closure rate in the InFlap group was the same irrespective of gas tamponade. The ILM flap was identifiable in one-third of patients at 12 months. In closed MH, SFT was significantly more in InFlap group. CONCLUSION: The closure rate and visual outcomes remained similar in both groups in the immediate and long term. Conventional ILM peeling technique seems to have early ELM recovery when compared to inverted flap technique.

S-FIX: A sutured way of doing sutureless SFIOL surgeries beyond X-NIT!

BACKGROUND: The video describes a technique in scleral fixation intraocular lens (SFIOL) surgery that is very simple and easily reproducible by any novice surgeon. PURPOSE: This technique may serve as a simple option for tucking the haptic of a multipiece IOL into the sclera without the need for the scleral flap, scleral pocket, forceps, glue, or flange. SYNOPSIS: The two most crucial steps in scleral fixation intraocular lens (SFIOL) surgery are 1) the exteriorization of the haptic, and 2) the fixation of the exteriorized haptic. The first half of the video describes the steps of our previously published technique of extraocular needle-guided haptic insertion technique (X-NIT), which simplifies the exteriorization step by shifting the intraocular hand-shake maneuver to an extraocular site. The second half describes a novel suture-guided haptic fixation (S-FIX) device, which simplifies the fixation step. S-FIX has three components: 1) a 380-micron spatulated needle, 2) a 5-o nylon suture thread, and 3) a polyimide tube. There are four steps involved in S-FIX: 1) docking of the exteriorized haptic into the polyimide tube, 2) pushing the docked polyimide tube into the eye, 3) suture bite starting from the point of sclerotomy, and 4) pulling the suture thread. As the suture thread is being pulled, the haptic along with the polyimide tube comes out and the haptic gets fixed into the narrow suture track. HIGHLIGHTS: The technique enhances the overall safety in SFIOL surgeries by avoiding haptic slips during exteriorization and fixation steps. Most anterior segment and novice surgeons do not perform SFIOL surgeries due to fear of fall of IOL. VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/ZoJBiw2SNaU.

Prepapillary vascular loops - A new classification.

Background: Prepapillary vascular loops are a type of congenital vascular anomaly seen on or around the optic disk. Patients with this condition are usually asymptomatic and are detected incidentally on routine fundus examinations. Differential diagnosis for this condition includes neovascularization of the disk and collaterals on the disk. Prepapillary capillary loops are not associated with any systemic condition. They are usually unilateral in presentation, but can rarely be bilateral. Purpose: To discuss the new proposed classification of prepapillary capillary loops. Synopsis: : Prepapillary capillary loops are classified based on their location around the disk, loop characteristics such as elevation, shape, and covering, and presence of vitreoretinal traction. Highlights: The most common vascular loops are arterial in origin and rarely venous in origin. They can sometimes be associated with spontaneous and recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, branch retinal artery or vein occlusion, and subretinal hemorrhage. It is an important differential diagnosis in spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage. Treatment is symptomatic. Video link: : https://youtu.be/gbq_oP7Y2q4.

A study on the morbid histopathological changes in COVID-19 patients with or without comorbidities using minimally invasive tissue sampling.

COVID-19 causes morbid pathological changes in different organs including lungs, kidneys, liver, and so on, especially in those who succumb. Though clinical outcomes in those with comorbidities are known to be different from those without-not much is known about the differences at the histopathological level. To compare the morbid histopathological changes in COVID-19 patients between those who were immunocompromised (Gr 1), had a malignancy (Gr 2), or had cardiometabolic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease) (Gr 3), postmortem tissue sampling (minimally invasive tissue sampling [MITS]) was done from the lungs, kidney, heart, and liver using a biopsy gun within 2 hours of death. Routine (hematoxylin and eosin) and special staining (acid fast bacilli, silver methanamine, periodic acid schiff) was done besides immunohistochemistry. A total of 100 patients underwent MITS and data of 92 patients were included (immunocompromised: 27, malignancy: 18, cardiometabolic conditions: 71). In lung histopathology, capillary congestion was more in those with malignancy, while others like diffuse alveolar damage, microthrombi, pneumocyte hyperplasia, and so on, were equally distributed. In liver histopathology, architectural distortion was significantly different in immunocompromised; while steatosis, portal inflammation, Kupffer cell hypertrophy, and confluent necrosis were equally distributed. There was a trend towards higher acute tubular injury in those with cardiometabolic conditions as compared to the other groups. No significant histopathological difference in the heart was discerned. Certain histopathological features were markedly different in different groups (Gr 1, 2, and 3) of COVID-19 patients with fatal outcomes.

Bilateral Occlusive Vasculitis Associated with Retinitis Pigmentosa - A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral occlusive vasculitis associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHOD: Case report. CASE REPORT: A 34-year male presented with blurred vision in left eye (OS) for two weeks and right eye (OD) for one day. He had night blindness for five years. His best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was OD 20/63 and OS 20/200. Ophthalmoscopy revealed bilateral RP with OD inflammatory central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and OS occlusive vasculitis with bilateral macular edema. Presumed intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB) was suspected based on clinical features, positive Mantoux and high-resolution computed tomography chest findings. Oral steroids and antitubercular therapy (ATT) were started. OD received six intravitreal ranibizumab injections. At his 7-month follow-up, BCVA improved, OD 20/40 and OS 20/80. CONCLUSION: RP rarely can be associated with presumed IOTB. Oral steroids with ATT are helpful; however, in inflammatory CRVO, intravitreal ranibizumab can give good results.

A rare case of clear cell sarcoma of the foot with a cascade of pathological misdiagnosis-the importance of expert sarcoma pathology.

Sarcoma pathology discrepancy is well known owing to the extremely heterogenous and rare nature of this tumour. Through this case, we want to highlight the difficulty that a patient has to undergo in a case of misdiagnosis. A 20-year-old male presented with swelling in the right foot for 4 months, which was initially diagnosed as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, subsequently as synovial sarcoma and finally as Ewing's sarcoma (based upon positive Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 (EWSR1) by fluorescence in situ hybridisation and he underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical excision with grafting before he presented to our institute, where the pathologists reviewed the biopsy slides, which were positive for HMB45 and negative for Melan-A suggestive of clear cell sarcoma. The next-generation sequencing suggested EWSR1-ATF1 fusion, which again reinforced the diagnosis. This case throws light on the importance of expert pathology and interpreting molecular results in the right context.

Bilateral Macular Vortex Veins in Oculocutaneous Albinism.

This case report describes a female patient aged 56 years with bilateral macular vortex veins and a history of oculocutaneous albinism who presented with photophobia and decreased vision since birth.

Updated guidelines for the management of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: Recommendations from the Indian Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Panel and the Vitreoretinal Society of India.

In Asians, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is becoming more widely recognized as a significant cause of exudative maculopathy. The previous set of Indian guidelines on the management of PCV were published in 2018, with a literature search updated up to November 2015. As the treatment of PCV evolves, retinal physicians must constantly modify their current practice. The current guidelines are based on the most up-to-date information on PCV and are an update to the previous set of guidelines. These guidelines were developed by a panel of Indian retinal experts under the aegis of the Vitreoretinal Society of India (VRSI), based on a comprehensive search and assessment of literature up to September 2021. The final guidelines i) provide the updated nomenclature in PCV; ii) discusses the newer diagnostic imaging features of PCV, especially in the absence of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA); and iii) recommends the best possible therapeutic approach in the management of PCV, including the choice of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, treatment regimen, and the role of switching between the anti-VEGF agents. In the face of non-availability of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in India, we constructed practical recommendations on anti-VEGF monotherapy in PCV. The current updated recommendations would provide a broader framework to the treating retinal physician for the diagnosis and management of PCV for optimal therapeutic outcomes.

A systematic approach to the management of microspherophakia.

Microspherophakia is a rare developmental abnormality of the crystalline lens with a myriad of ocular and systemic associations. Glaucoma is a serious complication associated with this disorder. Early identification of the disease, timely visual rehabilitation, and appropriate management of the lens and glaucoma can help us prevent blindness from this condition. Multidisciplinary care with lifelong follow-up is recommended, as this typically affects the younger population. Current treatment protocols for this condition are mainly based on case reports and retrospective studies with shorter follow-up. Due to the rarity of this disease, designing a large randomized controlled trial to identify the merits and demerits of each management strategy is challenging. With cataract, glaucoma, and vitreoretinal specialists, each having their preferred way of managing microspherophakic lenses, we decided to do a comprehensive review of the existing literature to devise an integrated approach toward effective management of these patients. This review will collate all evidence and provide a very practical decision-making tree for its management.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding travel medicine amongst physicians in an apex tertiary hospital in Northern India.

OBJECTIVES: Travel medicine focuses primarily on pre-travel preventive care and the conditions and diseases acquired during or after travel. There is a paucity of validated tools to assess the knowledge, attitude and practises of physicians with regard to travel medicine. We attempted to develop a tool to assess existing expertise among Medicine and Infectious Diseases resident doctors with respect to travel medicine. METHODS: Item level content validity index (I-CVI) and scale level content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) were estimated for each of the items to establish the content validity. Refined measures of inter-rater agreement (Brennan and Prediger Agreement Coefficient and Gwet's Agreement Coefficient) were estimated for the tool. RESULTS: The final version of the questionnaire had satisfactory content validity (I-CVI > 0∙6 and S-CVI/Ave > 0∙9) and possessed high agreement among the raters (Brennan and Prediger AC > 0∙7, p < 0∙01 and Gwet's AC > 0∙8, p < 0∙01) with regard to necessity, clarity and relevance of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: This tool covers a wide range of questions and is scientifically validated. The final version of the tool can be used largely for the assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices among medical practitioners. This is instrumental to build targeted intervention programs to enhance the knowledge regarding travel medicine among health care providers.

Development of a sustainable nanosensor using green Cu nanoparticles for simultaneous determination of antibiotics in drinking water.

In this work, a novel, cost-effective, and eco-friendly electrochemical (EC) nanosensor was fabricated for the simultaneous detection of daptomycin (DAP) and meropenem (MEROP). EC methods have been developed for the determination of antibiotics. In this context, green synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Moringa oleifera plant extract were used as electrode modifiers. The incorporation of CuNPs was proposed to enhance the sensitivity and allow the simultaneous quantification of both antibiotics in water. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX) were employed to characterize CuNPs. Physical adsorption of 20.0 nm (±2.2 nm) spherical CuNPs on the surface of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) induced a remarkable electrocatalytic effect. Indeed, the detection of both antibiotics exhibited a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.01 g L-1. The response to various interfering species was assessed. Finally, the quantification of DAP and MEROP in drinking water was demonstrated, confirming the potential of the developed sensor for environmental monitoring applications.

Vogt Koyanagi Harada disease following a recent COVID-19 infection.

A 23-year-old female presented with a 3-day history of bilateral (OU) diminution of vision 3 weeks after COVID-19 infection. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/30 in right eye and 20/40 in left eye. Anterior segment showed OU 1+ cells in anterior chamber and anterior vitreous face. Fundus OU showed disc hyperemia and multiple pockets of subretinal fluid (SRF), confirmed on optical coherence tomography. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed multiple pin point leaks suggestive of Vogt Koyanagi Harada disease. Oral corticosteroids 1 mg/kg/day were started. At 2-months' follow-up, her BCVA improved to 20/25 OU with complete resolution of SRF.