[Diagnostic criteria: OCT angiography for retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP lesions, type 3 neovascularization)]. / Diagnostische Kriterien: OCT­Angiographie bei retinalen angiomatösen Proliferationen (RAP­Läsionen, Typ­3-Neovaskularisationen).

BACKGROUND: Multimodal imaging of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) lesions (type 3 neovascularization) and the diagnostic significance of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Confirmation of the diagnosis in six case reports with fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FLA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT­A). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The use of OCT­A is helpful for the diagnosis and follow-up examinations of RAP lesions (type 3 neovascularization). It enables the detailed visualization of intraretinal and choroidal microcirculation. Furthermore, it is possible to evaluate the progression, classify the stages and comprehend the treatment strategy.

[Bartonella neuroretinitis : An atypical manifestation of cat scratch disease]. / Bartonellenneuroretinitis : Eine atypische Manifestation der Katzenkratzkrankheit.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) typically manifests as a febrile lymphadenopathy and is caused by a Bartonella henselae infection after contact with cats. This article describes the case of an atypical presentation of CSD in a 52-year-old patient with acute unilateral loss of vision and headache without fever or lymphadenopathy. Funduscopic examination showed an optic disc swelling and macular star exsudates, pathognomonic for infectious neuroretinitis. A Bartonella henselae infection was confirmed serologically. Systemic antibiotic combination therapy was initiated with doxycycline and rifampicin for 6 weeks resulting in good morphological and functional results. A Bartonella neuroretinitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with loss of vision and papilledema, even in the absence of fever or lymphadenopathy. Immediate serological testing and initiation of antibiotics are important for the outcome.

[A young patient with full visual acuity, small visual field defects, and normal fluorescence angiogram]. / Eine junge Patientin mit vollem Visus, kleinen Gesichtsfelddefekten und normalem Fluoreszenzangiogramm.

A 28-year-old female patient came to our clinic complaining of small central visual field defects in both eyes, without any impairments of visual acuity. She reported recent flu-like symptoms and work-related stress associated with high caffeine intake. Dark reddish cloverleaf-shaped lesions were noted in the macular region with red-free fundoscopy, and alterations of the external retinal layers were observed in spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The visual field test (Octopus, program 32) revealed small central scotoma on both eyes. The fluorescein angiograms were normal. A suspected diagnosis of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMNR) was made and the patient was scheduled for follow-up 4 weeks later. The follow-up examination showed persisting central scotoma as well as persistence of the lesions in the external retinal layers in OCT. The best-corrected visual acuity was still 20/20. In OCT angiography (OCT-A), a reduced correlation signal and therefore perfusion was detected in the outer retinal capillary plexus within the area of the fundoscopic macular lesions. Multimodal imaging, including SD-OCT and A­OCT, plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of acute macular neuroretinopathy. Even though no serious impairments of visual acuity are reported, patients should be informed about the possibility of permanent central scotoma.

[Treatment reality with ranibizumab in clinical routine use for patients with diabetic macular edema : 1­year results of the German POLARIS cohort]. / Behandlungsrealität mit Ranibizumab in der klinischen Routineanwendung bei Patienten mit diabetischem Makulaödem : 1-Jahres-Ergebnisse der deutschen POLARIS-Kohorte.

BACKGROUND: Currently only few data are available on the treatment reality with ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). MATERIAL AND METHODS: POLARIS is an international observational study which included 983 patients who were treated with ranibizumab due to DME. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the influence of treatment and control intervals as well as resource utilization on the mean change in visual acuity. Secondary endpoints included the collation of disease activity monitoring in the clinical practice. This article describes the results of the German POLARIS population. The study was conducted in 8 European countries from October 2012 to January 2015. RESULTS: In Germany 220 patients were included in the study. Visual acuity improved by 4.3 letters within the first 3 months of treatment. At 12 months, visual acuity increased on average by 4.1 (SD ± 12.4) letters (approximately 1 line) for 168 patients enrolled in the efficacy analysis. Patients received an average of 4.5 (SD ± 1.9) injections, 10.3 (SD ± 6.3) visual acuity tests and 3.3 (SD ± 3.1) optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations during the first year. Patients with ≤3 injections showed an average improvement in visual acuity by 2.7 letters which was less improvement compared to patients with >3 injections, who achieved an average improvement of 5.4 letters. There was a correlation between the number of injections and the visual acuity achieved. DISCUSSION: For Germany, the results of the POLARIS study indicate that despite a high number of visits, patients with DME are undertreated in clinical routine practice. The injection frequency in Germany was lower than in randomized clinical trials. Almost half of the patients received less than 4 injections in the first year of treatment and thus showed an undertreatment compared to the recommendations of German and international medical societies.

[Multimodal imaging in Goldmann-Favre syndrome]. / Multimodale Bildgebung beim Goldmann-Favre-Syndrom.

Case report of a 23-year-old male patient suffering from Goldmann-Favre syndrome. The patient reported bilateral visual loss since 10 years of age and difficulties with dark adaptation for 2 years. Until recently a final diagnosis was not found. Multimodal imaging using multicolor fundus imaging (MCFI), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FLA), electroretinography (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) confirmed the diagnosis. We describe multimodal imaging of this rare hereditary retinal dystrophy. For diagnosis of Goldmann-Favre syndrome a multimodal examination is helpful. To confirm the diagnosis a genetic analysis is necessary.

[Familial exsudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) in childhood]. / Familiäre exsudative Vitreoretinopathie (FEVR) im Kindesalter.

A case of secondary neovascularization of the optic disc in familial exsudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is reported. A 12-year-old girl presented with decreased visual acuity of the right eye to 0.05. Funduscopy showed a prominent fibrovascular neovascularization of the optic disc covering the macula. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated circular peripheral ischemia as well as vascular anomalies in both eyes. Peripheral laser coagulation of the ischemic retina of the right eye was conducted with the patient under general anesthesia. The central neovascularization regressed and visual acuity increased up to 0.4. Molecular genetic examination detected the LRP5 gene for FEVR.

[Papilledema with visual loss]. / Papillenödem mit Visusminderung.

SERIAL CASE REPORTS OF THREE MEN WITH PAPILLEDEMA AND VISUAL LOSS: The patients developed primarily visual loss on one or both sides with angiographically and clinically diagnosed papilledema. The neurological and internistic examinations were unsuspicious; however, serology ultimately confirmed the suspected papillitis in acute syphilis. CONCLUSION: Papillitis with visual loss can be a symptom of syphilis. Not only the known placoid chorioretinitis syphilis has to be considered but also a detailed medical history and diagnostic measures are essential to determine the cause. The guiding principle is usually also the relatively young age of the patients, male gender, sexual orientation and the lack of classic risk factors for anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) or neurological causes of blurred edge swollen papilla as an intracranial mass lesion (papilledema).

[Ophthalmological assessment in procedures for disability benefits for the blind : Why medical certificates alone are insufficient]. / Augenärztliche Begutachtung im Blindengeldverfahren : Warum Atteste alleine nicht ausreichen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Financial aid for the blind which is awarded based only on medical certificates and results of examinations has in the past resulted in too many false diagnoses; therefore, Bavaria seeks to pay financial aid to the blind only on the basis of a specific ophthalmological assessment according to the standards of the German pension medical ordinance (VersMedV, Versorgungsmedizinische Verordnung). Because these ophthalmological assessments initially contribute to a higher financial burden on the state, longer processing times and inconvenience to the patient, investigations should be undertaken to determine if ophthalmological findings, reports and medical certificates can be a suitable basis for an expert assessment and in how many cases blindness which had been certified by the original examination could be confirmed by a specific ophthalmological assessment. METHODS: A total of 925 applications for financial assistance to the blind within the catchment area of the Bavarian Center for Family and Social Services (ZBFS, Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales) regional center in Upper Bavaria between 2003 and 2008, all of which had been subjected to an assessment by the same practitioner acting as external expert, were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 357 applicants who had been classified as blind according to the medical certificate and findings, 283 (79 %) were confirmed as being blind after the assessment and in 73 (21 %) blindness could not be confirmed. Of the 262 applicants who were classified as not being blind during the first examination, the diagnosis was confirmed in 192 (73 %) while 70 cases (27 %) were classified as blind. Of the 304 applicants for whom an assessment was not possible by the medical certification, 165 were ultimately classified as blind and 139 as not blind. Out of 32 applicants who were explicitly classified as being blind in the medical certificate, 13 were confirmed as being blind while the remaining 18 were classified in the subsequent assessment as not blind. CONCLUSION: Apart from unambiguous cases, the awarding of financial aid to the blind should only be based on an ophthalmological assessment which follows the VersMedV guidelines. Only this approach can result in an equal treatment of all applicants before the law and the awarding of financial aid to the blind to assist those truly in need. In addition, fiscal budget results revealed that the falsely awarded financial aid to the blind reached well beyond millions of Euros.

Spironolactone in the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy - a case series.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is still poorly understood. An animal model of CSC proved that the mineralocorticoid receptor [1] of the choroid also plays a role in CSC. Since there is still no evidence-based therapy for non-self-limiting CSC, this case series evaluates the effect of oral spironolactone in CSC patients. METHODS: In this interventional, uncontrolled, prospective case series, we present 18 consecutive CSC patients. Patients were treated with spironolactone 25 mg twice daily (Spironolacton AL® 50 mg, ALIUD PHARMA) for up to 12 weeks. Follow-up examinations with BCVA, OCT, and EDI-OCT were performed at 1, 2, and 3 months after starting the treatment. Main outcome measure was a change of subretinal fluid (SRF) (in micrometers) measured by optical coherence tomography. Secondary outcome was a change in central retinal thickness (CRT) (in micrometers) measured by OCT and a change in BCVA. RESULTS: The subretinal fluid (SRF; mean) decreased from 219 µm (baseline) to 100 µm (visit 3) (difference 119 µm). Total central retinal thickness (CRT; mean) decreased from 405 µm before treatment (baseline) to 287 µm after treatment (difference 118 µm). The BCVA (in logMAR; mean) increased from 0.32 at baseline to 0.20 at visit 3. CONCLUSION: Our case series could confirm a positive influence of spironolactone on the course CSC. Longer follow-up with a larger number of cases could provide more data about the long-term efficiency, recurrences, and safety of this well-tolerated and non-invasive treatment option of CSC.

[Young patient with acute monolateral amaurosis]. / Junger Patient mit akuter einseitiger Amaurose.

A 39-year-old patient presented with acute visual loss of the left eye. Although the initial ophthalmological and neurological examinations were uneventful, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed optic canal narrowing and compression of the optic nerve secondary to a prominent posteriorly misplaced ethmoidal cell (so-called Onodi cell). Endonasal ethmoidectomy with decompression of the infected Onodi cell was performed. Microbiological testing showed growth of Haemophilus influenzae. Despite early surgical intervention vision could not be restored.

[Wide-field fundus autofluorescence in non-infectious posterior uveitis]. / Weitwinkelfundusautofluoreszenz bei nichtinfektiöser Uveitis posterior.

BACKGROUND: Posterior uveitis comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases with inflammatory alterations of the posterior fundus and is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of wide-field fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in patients with non-infectious posterior uveitis and chorioretinal alterations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study 73 eyes from 51 patients were included. Best-corrected visual acuity, wide-field color and FAF images achieved by a wide-field scanning laser opththalmoscope (SLO, Optomap P200Tx, Optos PLC, Dunfermline UK) and a full ophthalmological examination were obtained from each patient. A systematic analysis of chorioretinal alterations detected with FAF and color images was conducted followed by the evaluation of the diagnostic information of wide-field FAF compared to the clinical finding and wide-field color images. RESULTS: Of the 73 eyes included in the study 52 showed peripheral alterations. In 32 cases wide-field FAF images revealed a greater number and more extensive chorioretinal alterations than the corresponding wide-field color images of the posterior fundus. CONCLUSIONS: In this study wide-field FAF images showed more chorioretinal alterations than seen in funduscopy or in color SLO images. Therefore, wide-field FAF images offer important additional information for detection and documentation of peripheral and central chorioretinal alterations.