Inter- and intra-observer agreement in the measurement of macular holes by optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A full-thickness macular hole ("FTMH") is a foveal lesion caused by a defect in the full thickness of the neurosensory retina. Its diagnosis and the indication for surgical treatment take into account the measurement of the hole according to the tool provided by the OCT. This measurement can be performed by several ophthalmologists during the follow-up of a patient. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is intra-individual and inter-individual variability in these measurements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of OCT b-scan images with a diagnosis of FTMH. Measurements of the minimum diameter of the FTMH were performed using the hand-held tool available on the DRI-Triton (Topcon, Japan) at 1:1 and 1:2 scales, on different days, by 2 retina specialists and 2 residents. These measurements were compared to assess inter-observer and intra-observer correspondence. RESULTS: Thirty-four images were analysed. For intra-observer variability, a correlation index higher than 0.98 was obtained in all cases. For inter-observer variability, the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.97) for the 1:1 scale, and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.97) for the 1:2 scale. CONCLUSIONS: OCT-measured AMEC size values are reproducible between ophthalmic specialists and residents and are independent of the imaging scale at which the measurement is made.

Diagnóstico diferencial de las reacciones inflamatorias tras uso de medicación intravítrea en degeneración macular asociada a la edad: estéril vs. infeccioso / Differential diagnosis of endophthalmitis after intravitreal drug injection for age related macular degeneration: Sterile vs. infectious

El interés por las complicaciones inflamatorias tras la inyección intravítrea de fármacos antiangiogénicos ha aumentado tras la comercialización de brolucizumab y el desarrollo de nuevas moléculas como el abicipar pegol. Dichos fármacos se asocian a una tasa de complicaciones inflamatorias mayor a los antiangiogénicos clásicos. En este contexto resulta clave el diferenciar procesos infecciosos y estériles para realizar un tratamiento efectivo y precoz. El solapamiento del cuadro clínico entre procesos infecciosos y estériles, la baja tasa de positividad en los cultivos y la heterogeneidad en la terminología son barreras para el correcto diagnóstico y reporte de las complicaciones inflamatorias tras la inyección de medicación antiangiogénica intravítrea. Los cuadros estériles comienzan de forma precoz tras la inyección, dentro de las primeras 48 h, o alrededor de 20 días después en los casos de vasculitis asociada a brolucizumab. Los procesos infecciosos comienzan como promedio en el tercer día tras la inyección, y hasta una semana después de la misma. La disminución grave de la agudeza visual, el dolor severo, la hiperemia severa, el hipopion y un mayor grado de inflamación intraocular deben orientar hacia procesos infecciosos. En los casos en que exista duda sobre la etiología de la inflamación, debe procederse a un control muy estrecho del paciente o al tratamiento antimicrobiano empírico junto con la toma de muestra para evitar complicaciones derivadas de una endoftalmitis infecciosa. Por el contrario, los fenómenos estériles deben ser tratados con observación en los casos más leves o corticoterapia adaptada a la gravedad de inflamación en los casos más graves (AU)

The recent release of brolucizumab and the development of new antiangiogenic molecules as abicipar pegol has increased the interest towards inflammatory complications after intravitreal drug injection. Those drugs are associated to a higher rate of inflammatory adverse events compared to classic drugs. In this context it is essential to differentiate between sterile and infectious cases for a fast and effective treatment. The clinical similarities between infectious and sterile cases, the high rate of culture negative patients and the heterogeneity in the terminology used are obstacles for a correct diagnosis and report of these complications. Sterile cases appear early after the injection, before 48h; or 20 days after in brolucizumab-related vasculitis cases. Infectious cases show up around the third day after injection and up to a week after it. A severe visual impairment, severe pain, severe hyperemia, hypopyon and a more severe intraocular inflammatory process are signs of a likely infectious origin. If the cause of the inflammation is uncertain we must follow up the patient closely or “tap and inject” antimicrobial agents in order to prevent the eventual complications of an infectious endophthalmitis. On the other hand, sterile endophthalmitis might be observed in mild cases or treated with steroids according to the severity of the inflammation (AU)

Differential diagnosis of endophthalmitis after intravitreal drug injection for age related macular degeneration: sterile vs. infectious.

The recent release of brolucizumab and the development of new antiangiogenic molecules as abicipar pegol has increased the interest towards inflammatory complications after intravitreal drug injection. Those drugs are associated to a higher rate of inflammatory adverse events compared to classic drugs. In this context it is essential to differentiate between sterile and infectious cases for a fast and effective treatment. The clinical similarities between infectious and sterile cases, the high rate of culture negative patients and the heterogeneity in the terminology used are obstacles for a correct diagnosis and report of these complications. Sterile cases appear early after the injection, before 48 h; or 20 days after in brolucizumab-related vasculitis cases. Infectious cases show up around the third day after injection and up to a week after it. A severe visual impairment, severe pain, severe hyperemia, hypopyon and a more severe intraocular inflammatory process are signs of a likely infectious origin. If the cause of the inflammation is uncertain we must follow up the patient closely or "tap and inject" antimicrobial agents in order to prevent the eventual complications of an infectious endophthalmitis. On the other hand, sterile endophthalmitis might be observed in mild cases or treated with steroids according to the severity of the inflammation.

The Thickness of the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) as a Biomarker in Uveitis.

AIMS: To study the changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness during and following uveitis flares. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with uveitis diagnosed in the ophthalmology service of Torrevieja hospital. We analyzed RNFL thickness during and after the acute episode. RESULTS: We included 29 patients. Most patients (55.2%) had anterior uveitis; followed by posterior, intermediate and panuveitis. Mean RNFL thickness was significantly higher during the flare (132.17±35.54µm vs 107.66±17.10µm). RNFL thickness had no difference between groups with or without macular edema. CONCLUSIONS: The RNFL thickens during flares in most patients with uveitis. It can be measured by optical coherence tomography in a non-invasive way, representing an objective marker of inflammation. This can favor earlier detection of flares, resolution, and recurrence of uveitis. More studies are needed to determine the evolution of RNFL over time and in different types of uveitis.

Estudio de densidad vascular en pacientes con retinitis pigmentosa por medio de angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica / Microvascular quantitative metrics in retinitis pigmentosa using optical coherence tomography angiography

Propósito Evaluar cambios en la densidad vascular (VD) mediante la angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCTA) en los diferentes sectores maculares de pacientes con retinitis pigmentosa (RP) y controles. Métodos Estudio observacional de 22 casos y 21 controles. Se reclutan 22 pacientes con RP y 21 controles. Se obtienen imágenes de tamaño 6×6 del área macular mediante Angio-OCT SS-DRI-Triton 1.22 (Topcon, Japón), desechando las imágenes con mala calidad. Se recoge agudeza visual, biomicroscopía, campo visual y tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCT) estructural. El área macular se divide en 4 sectores (nasal, superior, inferior y temporal), y se comparan los valores de VD entre ambos grupos en los plexos superficial (SVP) y profundo (DVP). Se estudia también la correlación entre la VD y el grosor macular. Resultados Diez pacientes con RP se desecharon por mala calidad de imagen. Se analizan 12 pacientes con RP y 21 controles sanos. El índice de campo visual (VFI) medio en el grupo RP fue del 26,11% (±17,29). La VD fue significativamente inferior en el grupo RP comparado con los controles en todos los sectores maculares del DVP (Superior 43,48±3,79 vs. 48,86±2,62; p<0,0001; Nasal 40,52±4,30 vs. 46,01±3,23; p=0,0002; Inferior 42,76±5,26 vs. 50,10±3,36; p<0,0001; Temporal 40,42±4,46 vs. 46,09±2,91; p=0,0001) y en todos menos en el sector nasal en el SVP (Superior 39,86±4,46 vs. 46,47±2,61; p<0,0001; Nasal 40,35±4,56 vs. 44,09±2,87; p=0,0067; Inferior 40,74±4,61 vs. 46,58±3,26; p=0,0002; Temporal 39,98±5,07 vs. 44,78±3,28; p=0,0024). La correlación entre la VD y el grosor macular se mostró positiva y significativa (RP: r=0,59; p=0,043; controles r=0,51; p=0,018). Conclusiones Los pacientes con formas avanzadas de RP muestran menor VD en el área macular que los controles sanos. Estas diferencias están presentes en todos los cuadrantes del DVP y en 3 de ellos en el SVP (AU)

Aims To describe the changes in vessel density (VD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of the different sectors in the macular area between retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients and controls. Methods Observational case-control study. We initially included 22 patients with RP and 21 controls. We obtained 6x6 OCTA images of the macular area using Angio-OCT SS-DRI-Triton 1.22 (Topcon, Japan), together with visual acuity, biomicroscopy, visual field and optical coherence tomography examination. We compared the VD values in both groups for both superficial (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP). Correlation between VD and macular thickness was also calculated. Results The mean visual field index (VFI) in the RP group was 26.11% (±17.29). VD was significantly lower in the RP group compared with healthy controls in all sectors of the DVP (Superior 43.48±3.79 vs 48.86±2.62, P<.0001; Nasal 40,52±4.30 vs 46,01±3.23, P=.0002; Inferior 42.76±5.26 vs 50.10±3.36, P<.0001; Temporal 40.42±4.46 vs 46.09±2.91, P=.0001) and in all but nasal sector in the SVP (Superior 39.86±4.46 vs 46.47±2.61, P<.0001; Nasal 40.35±4.56 vs 44.09±2.87, P=.0067; Inferior 40.74±4.61 vs 46.58±3.26, P=.0002; Temporal 39.98±5.07 vs 44.78±3.28, P=.0024). Correlation between VD and macular thickness was positive and significant (RP: r=.59, P=.043; controls r=.51, P=.018). Conclusions Patients with advanced forms of RP have less vessel density in the macular area than healthy subjects. These differences are present in all four quadrants in the DVP and three in the SVP (AU)

Microvascular quantitative metrics in retinitis pigmentosa using optical coherence tomography angiography.

AIMS: To describe the changes in vessel density (VD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of the different sectors in the macular area between retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients and controls. METHODS: Observational case-control study. We initially included 22 patients with RP and 21 controls. We obtained 6 × 6 OCTA images of the macular area using Angio-OCT SS-DRI-Triton 1.22 (Topcon, Japan), together with visual acuity, biomicroscopy, visual field and optical coherence tomography examination. We compared the VD values in both groups for both superficial (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP). Correlation between VD and macular thickness was also calculated. RESULTS: The mean visual field index (VFI) in the RP group was 26.11% (±17.29). VD was significantly lower in the RP group compared with healthy controls in all sectors of the DVP (Superior 43.48 ±â€¯3.79 vs 48.86 ±â€¯2.62, P < .0001; Nasal 40,52 ±â€¯4.30 vs 46,01 ±â€¯3.23, P = .0002; Inferior 42.76 ±â€¯5.26 vs 50.10 ±â€¯3.36, P < .0001; Temporal 40.42 ±â€¯4.46 vs 46.09 ±â€¯2.91, P = .0001) and in all but nasal sector in the SVP (Superior 39.86 ±â€¯4.46 vs 46.47 ±â€¯2.61, P < .0001; Nasal 40.35 ±â€¯4.56 vs 44.09 ±â€¯2.87, P = .0067; Inferior 40.74 ±â€¯4.61 vs 46.58 ±â€¯3.26, P = .0002; Temporal 39.98 ±â€¯5.07 vs 44.78 ±â€¯3.28, P = .0024). Correlation between VD and macular thickness was positive and significant (RP: r = 0.59, P = .043; controls r = 0.51, P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced forms of RP have less vessel density in the macular area than healthy subjects. These differences are present in all four quadrants in the DVP and three in the SVP.

[Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis infectious keratitis: Clinical and microbiological profile].

OBJECTIVE: Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE) is a common cause of bacterial keratitis in certain geographic areas. A high percentage of resistance to methicillin is shown, which gives it cross resistance to beta-lactams and sometimes resistance to other antibacterial groups. We analyzed clinical and microbiological variables in patients with infectious keratitis due to SE. METHODS: Medical records of 43 patients with suspected infectious keratitis and microbiological confirmation for SE, between October 2017 and October 2020, were retrospectively studied. Clinical characteristics (risk factors, size of lesions, treatment, evolution) and microbiological (susceptibility to antibiotics) were analyzed, and groups of patients with methicillin-resistant (MRSE) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSE) infection were compared. RESULTS: MRSE was present in 37.2% of infectious keratitis. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. Rates of resistance to tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin were 50% and 56% in the MRSE group, and 11% and 7% in the MSSE group. The clinical characteristics, including size of lesion, visual axis involvement, inflammation of anterior chamber, presence of risk factors and follow-up time, did not show statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: MRSE is a common cause of infectious keratitis caused by SE and shows a high rate of multidrug resistance. Clinically, it does not differ from MSSE keratitis. Additional work is needed to confirm these findings.

Distrofia de la membrana basal epitelial: el mapa, el punto y la huella / Epithelial basal membrane dystrophy: the map, the dot and the fingerprint

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OCT-SA en queratólisis sobre anillo intraestromal / AS-OCT in corneal melt overlying intrastromal ring segment

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