Birdshot retinochoroiditis in Brazil: a multicenter review of 40 patients.

BACKGROUND: Birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC) is a rare and chronic bilateral uveitis mostly found in Caucasians. As few data are available about the clinical course of BRC in Hispanic patients, we aimed to report the clinical findings and the evolution of BRC in Brazilian patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort multicenter nationwide study was performed by analyzing the records of patients with BRC diagnoses from Brazilian ophthalmological centers from April 1995 to May 2020. RESULTS: Forty patients (80 eyes) with a diagnosis of BRC were evaluated. The mean age was 53 years, and there was no sex predominance. All tested patients (34/40) were positive for HLA-A29. The diagnosis of BRC was made following the Levinson et al. criteria, and all ancillary tests were performed to exclude differential diagnoses. Clinical signs and symptoms, such as complications and treatment, were described. CONCLUSIONS: BRC evolution in Brazilian patients seems to have some peculiarities that diverge from the published literature available about Caucasians, as AS inflammation is higher in this population.

CLINICAL VARIANTS OF PRESUMED ACUTE FOVEALITIS.

PURPOSE: To describe four eyes of three patients with presumed acute fovealitis to expand the clinical variants of this recently described disorder. METHOD: The patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including multimodal imaging and electrophysiological tests. RESULTS: Three female patients aged from 18 to 24 years presented sudden central visual disturbances in one or both eyes. The visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to 20/70 in the affected eyes. All of them showed a subtle yellowish lesion in the foveola. Fundus autofluorescence and fluorescein angiography were unremarkable. Optical coherence tomography disclosed focal disarrangement of the outer retinal layers restricted to the fovea and hyperreflective lesions above the external limiting membrane. Multifocal electroretinography responses were attenuated. The electrooculogram response was normal. All patients recovered normal visual acuity and the outer retinal layers. CONCLUSION: Attenuated multifocal electroretinography foveal response and normal electrooculogram are newly described clinical findings in patients with acute fovealitis.

Unilateral macular serpiginous-like choroiditis as the initial manifestation of presumed ocular tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Classic serpiginous choroiditis (SC) usually begins in the peripapillary area and spreads centrifugally, however, in some patients, the lesion can arise in the macular region. An association between lesions resembling classic SC and tuberculosis was recognized as a possibly distinct clinical entity and named as tuberculous serpiginous-like choroiditis. The differentiation of this tuberculous entity from SC is critical because the treatment of the former with immunosuppressive drugs leads to several potential adverse effects, and such treatment can have devastating consequences because of the worsening of a concomitant tuberculous infection. CASE PRESENTANTION: A 31-year-old woman presented with unilateral decreased vision and a fundus examination consistent with macular serpiginous choroiditis. A non-reactor tuberculin skin test and normal thoracic CT scan ruled out tuberculosis. However, after 2 months of treatment with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the contralateral eye developed similar lesions, further raising the suspicions of ocular tuberculosis. We conducted QuantiFERON® TB Gold, which was positive; hence, antituberculous therapy was started on the patient. The lesions started healing within a few weeks. After 1 year of finishing the therapy, the lesions remained healed without any recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Macular serpiginous-like choroiditis may be the initial presentation of presumed ocular tuberculosis. Nevertheless, the correct diagnosis of this entity can be challenging and delayed by the imprecise results from the currently available methods.

Intravitreal and posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide for severe acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy / Triancinolona intravítrea e sub-tenoniana para epiteliopatia pigmentar placóide multifocal posterior aguda grave

ABSTRACT A 21-year-old man presented with visual acuity of 20/200 in both eyes. The fundus picture, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography revealed severe bilateral acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy and serous macular detachments. We treated the patient with triamcinolone acetonide, an intravitreal injection (4 mg/0.1 mL) in one eye and a posterior subtenon injection (40 mg/1 mL) in the other eye. Within 2 weeks the visual acuity was 20/80 in both eyes. At the 8-week follow-up visit his vision was 20/63 bilaterally. One year later the vision remained 20/63 in both eyes. In this patient, the triamcinolone acetonide injections, whether administered intravitreally or via the posterior subtenon route, achieved similar anatomic and functional recovery results.

RESUMO Um homem de 21 anos apresentou acuidade visual de 20/200 em ambos os olhos. O quadro de fundo de olho, angiofluoresceinografia e a tomografia de coerência óptica revelaram epiteliopatia pigmentar placóide multifocal posterior aguda e descolamento macular seroso. Tratamos o paciente com triancinolona acetonida, uma injeção intravítrea (4 mg/0,1 ml) em um olho e uma injeção subtenoniana posterior (40 mg/1 ml) no outro olho. Após 2 semanas, a acuidade visual foi de 20/80 em ambos os olhos. Na visita de acompanhamento de 8 semanas, sua visão foi de 20/63 bilateralmente. Um ano depois, a visão permaneceu 20/63 em ambos os olhos. Neste paciente, as injeções de triancinolona, administradas por via intravítrea ou por via subtenoniana posterior, obtiveram resultados semelhantes na recuperação anatômica e funcional.

Intravitreal and posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide for severe acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy.

A 21-year-old man presented with visual acuity of 20/200 in both eyes. The fundus picture, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography revealed severe bilateral acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy and serous macular detachments. We treated the patient with triamcinolone acetonide, an intravitreal injection (4 mg/0.1 mL) in one eye and a posterior subtenon injection (40 mg/1 mL) in the other eye. Within 2 weeks the visual acuity was 20/80 in both eyes. At the 8-week follow-up visit his vision was 20/63 bilaterally. One year later the vision remained 20/63 in both eyes. In this patient, the triamcinolone acetonide injections, whether administered intravitreally or via the posterior subtenon route, achieved similar anatomic and functional recovery results.

Scleral buckling surgery and eye pain: assessment of chronic eye pain during the postoperative period of scleral buckling surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the progression of eye pain after scleral buckling surgery to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of chronic eye pain. METHODS: This was a longitudinal, prospective, and observational study. Eye pain was measured according to a numerical analog scale (range, 0-10) for 6 months after scleral buckling surgery. The sample was divided into two groups, with or without chronic eye pain, to perform statistical analyses. For this study, chronic eye pain was defined as postoperative pain beyond 30 days. The following variables were assessed to investigate the etiology of chronic eye pain: age, gender, ethnicity, degree of myopia, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and degree of scleral indentation. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were assessed in this study. One particular sequence of levels on the pain analog scale, specifically 3-2-1-0-0 (intensity of eye pain on postoperative Days 1, 14, 30, 60, and 180, respectively), was identified more frequently during the progression of eye pain in the 180-day follow-up period. The pain resolved for 72% of patients within 30 days. Chronic eye pain occurred in 18% of the patients. Scleral indentation was the only statistically significant variable investigated relative to the etiology of chronic eye pain (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic eye pain correlated significantly with large scleral indentation. Patients with more intense pain at the onset of the postoperative period tended to develop chronic eye pain.

Intravitreal injection of commercially available ketorolac tromethamine in eyes with diabetic macular edema refractory to laser photocoagulation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term effect of a single intravitreal injection of commercially available ketorolac tromethamine (KT) in eyes with diabetic macular edema refractory to laser photocoagulation. METHODS: Prospective interventional case series. Twenty five patients with diabetic macular edema refractory to laser photocoagulation received a single intravitreal injection of commercially available KT (Toradol®), in a dose of 3000 µg. Examination included assessment of ETDRS-best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), measurement of intraocular pressure and high resolution imaging by optical coherence tomography, preoperatively and 7, 15, and 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: In the follow up visits at 7, 15 and 30 days, BCVA had improved five or more letters in 20% (95% confidence interval, 7.7-38.9%), 16% (95% confidence interval, 5.3-34.2%) and 28% (95% confidence interval, 13.2-47.7%) respectively. An improvement in macular thickness was also observed, although it has not been statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that a single intravitreal injection of 3000 µg of commercial KT led to a short-term improvement of visual acuity in approximately 30% of eyes with diabetic macular edema refractory to laser photocoagulation.

Macular edema in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome / Edema macular na síndrome dos múltiplos pontos brancos evanescentes

Eletroretinographic findings show that the transient decreased vision seen in patients with the multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is related to metabolic disturbances at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor complex. In this paper, we present a patient with a typical picture of MEWDS associated to macular edema, which could also be a factor to reduce vision in this disorder. Case report of a 53-year-old woman complaining about unilateral decreased vision of 7 days' duration was sent to our retina clinic. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed as well as fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, Goldmann visual fields and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 and 20/20, in the right and left eye respectively. Ophthalmoscopy of the affected eye revealed multiple focal outer retinal gray lesions in the perimacular and peripapillary region. There were several orange puntate lesions in the foveolar region. Fluorescein angiography disclosed faint multiple foci of staining in the perimacular and peripapillary area, and some staining of the optic disc. A discrete hyperfluorescence was also observed in the foveal region. OCT disclosed an increase in foveal thickness (231 µm), approximately 25 percent thicker than the opposite normal eye (186 µm). Within 3 months her visual acuity had returned to 20/20 and the foveal thickness returned to a normal value (189 ìm). Although the mechanism of transitory blurred vision is not completely elucidated in cases of MEWDS, we suggest that macular edema may play a role.

PRPÓSITO: Achados eletroretinográficos revelam que a baixa visual transitória observada em pacientes com a síndrome dos múltiplos e evanescentes pontos brancos na retina (MEWDS) está relacionada a distúrbios metabólicos ao nível do epitélio pigmentado da retina e dos fotorreceptores. No presente artigo, nós apresentamos um paciente com um quadro típico de MEWDS associado a edema macular, o qual pode ser um fator que reduz a acuidade visual. : Relato de caso. Sexo feminino, 53 anos, queixando-se de baixa visual há 7 dias foi encaminhada ao Setor de Retina. Realizado exame oftalmológico completo, que incluiu: angiofluoresceinografia, angiografia com indocianina verde, campo visual de Goldmann e tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT). RESULTADOS: A acuidade visual era de 20/20 e 20/40 nos olhos direito e esquerdo, respectivamente. A oftalmoscopia do olho afetado revelou lesões acinzentadas, múltiplas, profundas, nas regiões perimaculares e peridiscais. A mácula tinha aspecto granulado. A angiografia fluoresceínica revelou hiperfluorescência gradativa das lesões, bem como do nervo óptico. O OCT revelou um aumento da espessura foveal no olho afetado (231µm), aproximadamente 25 por cento maior que a espessura do olho normal contralateral (186µm). Após 3 meses de evolução sem tratamento, a acuidade visual retornou a 20/20 e a espessura foveal já era normal (189 µm). CONCLUSÃO: Embora o mecanismo de baixa visual transitória não esteja completamente elucidada em MEWDS, nós sugerimos que o edema macular possa ser uma das causas.

Comparison between obtained mydriasis in type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate and compare obtained mydriasis with phenylephrine 10% associated with tropicamide 1% in type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of 50 patients (100 eyes) scheduled for fundoscopy were dilated with phenylephrine 10% and yropicamide 1% (group 0: n = 20 type 2 diabetic patients, 40 eyes, and group 1: n = 30 non-diabetic patients, 60 eyes). Only one drop per eye of each drug was administered. In both groups, pupil diameter was measured after 40 minutes of eye drops instillation. RESULTS: Both groups were similar regarding age (p = 0.06, Mann-Whitney test). Mean pupil diameter in group 0 was 8.57 and 8.73 in group 1. There was no statistic difference between both groups (p = 0.44). Pupil diameter was greater than 7 mm in all patients (100%). CONCLUSION: When an appropriate drug combination is used, diabetic patients can achieve mydriasis as satisfactory as non-diabetic patients, allowing adequate fundus examination and/or retinopathy treatment.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human irradiated uveal melanomas.

AIM: Previous studies have shown that radiotherapy is a stimulus for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and that use of COX-2 inhibitors enhances the radio sensitivity of tumor cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate COX-2 expression, and its correlation with tumor regrowth after irradiation, in enucleated eyes with uveal melanomas. METHODS: Fifteen tissue samples from patients who underwent enucleation after radiotherapy between 1988 and 2001 were used. Nine cases (60%) were enucleated because of tumor regrowth and six (40%) because of severe complications of radiotherapy. Specimens were immunostained for COX-2, and tumor cells were evaluated for specific cytoplasmic and granular immunostaining. COX-2 expression for these cases was compared with that in the previous study including 40 non-irradiated uveal melanoma cases. COX-2 expression was also correlated with tumor regrowth after radiotherapy. RESULTS: Two cases (13.3%) were positive and thirteen (86.7%) were negative for COX-2 expression. One of the positive cases had been enucleated because of tumor regrowth and one because of radiotherapy complications. There was no relationship between tumor regrowth and COX-2 expression. COX-2 expression was significantly lower in irradiated cases than in non-irradiated cases in the previous study (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with studies showing an increase of COX-2 expression in other irradiated malignancies, irradiation was not a factor inducing COX-2 in uveal melanomas. Radiotherapy may, moreover, be a factor that reduces COX-2 expression in uveal melanomas.

Flecked retina in systemic large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: case report

We report on a patient with a past medical history of successfully treated systemic large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SNHL), who presented with multifocal yellowish retinal infiltrates (flecked retina) involving the post-equatorial retina of one eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed that the retinal infiltrates were hypofluorescent throughout the examination. The correct diagnosis of this ocular picture was important because the retinal lesions indicated central nervous system recurrence of systemic large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Relatamos um paciente com história patológica pregressa de linfoma não-Hodgkin sistêmico que oito meses após o tratamento apresentou quadro oftalmoscópico de múltiplos infiltrados retinianos amarelados (" flecked retina" ) envolvendo a retina pós-equatorial de um olho. A retinografia fluoresceínica revelou que os infiltrados retinianos eram hipofluorescentes durante todo o decorrer do exame. O diagnóstico correto desse quadro ocular foi importante, pois indicou recorrência do linfoma no sistema nervoso central.

[Cataract extraction using the phacoemulsification technique in patients with uveitis]. / Extração da catarata pela técnica de facoemulsificação em pacientes com uveíte.

PURPOSE: To report outcomes of cataract extraction by phacoemulsification in patients with uveitis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 189 patients (242 eyes) with uveitis who underwent cataract extraction by phacoemulsification at the Uveitis and Ocular Immunology Unit of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. RESULTS: Average follow-up was 46 +/- 31.2 months. Average preoperative visual acuity was 20/100 and average postoperative visual acuity was 20/40. Hundred and forty-six eyes (59.9%) attained visual acuity better than 20/40. Visual loss occurred in 26 eyes. The most common peroperative complication was posterior capsule rupture with vitreous loss seen in 7 eyes (3%). Recurrence of uveitis was the most common postoperative complication seen in 73 eyes (30.16%). Other postoperative complications included iris atrophy (28.51%), ocular hypertension (28.09%), epiretinal membrane (26.44%), posterior capsule opacification (19%), cystoid macular edema (13.63%), ocular hypotony (12.80%), optic disc atrophy (8.67%) and posterior synechiae (6.61%). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract extraction by phacoemulsification is safe in patients with uveitis. Successful visual results are observed in long-term follow-up despite the prevalence of recurrence of uveitis, posterior capsule opacification and macular abnormalities. To the best of our knowledge this is the largest series presented to date.

Subretinal neovascularization following ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm: case report.

A 51-year-old black woman was referred to our Retina Clinic for evaluation of loss of vision in her left eye. She was previously diagnosed with a ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurism (RAM) in the same eye. The ophthalmoscopic examination of the affected eye disclosed a subretinal lesion with some hemorrhage and exudation in the same area previously diagnosed with ruptured RAM. Fluorescein angiography revealed a gradually hyperfluorescent net of vessels located in the subfoveal region, consistent with the diagnosis of subretinal neovascular membrane. In this paper we stress the possibility of subretinal neovascularization following a ruptured RAM, even as a rare event.

Extração da catarata pela técnica de facoemulsificação em pacientes com uveíte / Cataract extraction using the phacoemulsification technique in patients with uveitis

OBJETIVO: Descrever os resultados da cirurgia de catarata pela técnica de facoemulsificação em pacientes com uveíte. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo pela análise de prontuários de 189 pacientes (242 olhos) com uveíte que foram submetidos a cirurgia de catarata pela técnica de facoemulsificação no Setor de Uveítes e Imunologia Ocular do Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canadá. Os dados foram coletados em fichas protocoladas com informações sobre sexo, idade, classificação da uveíte, descrição cirúrgica e exames pré e pós-operatórios. Os exames pré e pós-operatórios continham informações sobre a data do exame, a melhor acuidade visual corrigida, o exame biomicroscópico, a pressão intra-ocular, os procedimentos realizados e o tratamento em uso. RESULTADOS: A média de acompanhamento pós-operatório foi de 46,8 ± 31,2 meses. A média da acuidade visual pré-operatória encontrada foi de 20/100 e a média de acuidade visual pós-operatória encontrada foi de 20/40. Encontramos 145 olhos (59,5 por cento) com acuidade visual melhor ou igual a 20/40 e 26 olhos com piora da acuidade visual. A complicação per-operatória mais encontrada foi a ruptura de cápsula posterior com perda vítrea observada em 7 olhos (3 por cento do total de olhos). A recorrência da uveíte foi a complicação pós-operatória mais freqüente, sendo observada em 73 olhos (30,16 por cento). Outras complicações pós-operatórias observadas foram a atrofia iriana (28,51 por cento), hipertensão intra-ocular (28,09 por cento), membrana epirretiniana (26,44 por cento), opacidade de cápsula posterior (19 por cento), edema macular cistóide (13,63 por cento), hipotonia ocular (12,80 por cento), atrofia do disco óptico (8,67 por cento) e sinéquias posteriores (6,61 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: A cirurgia de catarata pela técnica de facoemulsificação é considerada segura e eficaz em pacientes com uveíte. Observamos um bom prognóstico visual no período...

PURPOSE: To report outcomes of cataract extraction by phacoemulsification in patients with uveitis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 189 patients (242 eyes) with uveitis who underwent cataract extraction by phacoemulsification at the Uveitis and Ocular Immunology Unit of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. RESULTS: Average follow-up was 46 ± 31.2 months. Average preoperative visual acuity was 20/100 and average postoperative visual acuity was 20/40. Hundred and forty-six eyes (59.9 percent) attained visual acuity better than 20/40. Visual loss occurred in 26 eyes. The most common peroperative complication was posterior capsule rupture with vitreous loss seen in 7 eyes (3 percent). Recurrence of uveitis was the most common postoperative complication seen in 73 eyes (30.16 percent). Other postoperative complications included iris atrophy (28.51 percent), ocular hypertension (28.09 percent), epiretinal membrane (26.44 percent), posterior capsule opacification (19 percent), cystoid macular edema (13.63 percent), ocular hypotony (12.80 percent), optic disc atrophy (8.67 percent) and posterior synechiae (6.61 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract extraction by phacoemulsification is safe in patients with uveitis. Successful visual results are observed in long-term follow-up despite the prevalence of recurrence of uveitis, posterior capsule opacification and macular abnormalities. To the best of our knowledge this is the largest series presented to date.

Subretinal neovascularization following ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm: case report

A 51-year-old black woman was referred to our Retina Clinic for evaluation of loss of vision in her left eye. She was previously diagnosed with a ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurism (RAM) in the same eye. The ophthalmoscopic examination of the affected eye disclosed a subretinal lesion with some hemorrhage and exudation in the same area previously diagnosed with ruptured RAM. Fluorescein angiography revealed a gradually hyperfluorescent net of vessels located in the subfoveal region, consistent with the diagnosis of subretinal neovascular membrane. In this paper we stress the possibility of subretinal neovascularization following a ruptured RAM, even as a rare event.

Paciente de 51 anos foi encaminhada ao Setor de Retina para avaliação de perda visual no olho esquerdo. A paciente apresentava o diagnóstico prévio de macroaneurisma arterial retiniano (MAR) rôto no referido olho. O exame oftalmológico revelou lesão sub-retiniana hemorrágica associada à exsudação na área previamente diagnosticada com MAR. A angiofluoresceinografia revelou hiperfluorescência gradual localizada na região subfoveal, consistente com o diagnóstico de membrana neovascular sub-retiniana (MNSR). Nosso artigo aponta para a possibilidade, embora rara, da formação de uma MNSR após MAR rôto.