Sterile Corneal Infiltrates following Cataract Surgery: Case Series.

We report a case series of 26 eyes of 26 patients undergoing planned cataract surgery from December 2021 to March 2022, who were diagnosed as having whitish round infiltrates in the surgical corneal incisions. The infiltrates were detected at the first check after 5-8 days from cataract surgery and were located either within the main corneal incision and/or in the smaller incisions. Corneal infiltrates (CIs) were single or multiple, without epithelial defects, and painless. All infiltrates were initially treated with full topical antibiotic coverage, in order to control eventual and serious postsurgical infection. However, at daily checks, the clinical course of CIs suggested a sterile etiology. For this reason, steroidal topical treatment was maintained for a long time with slow tapering until complete remission of the CIs. All infiltrates resolved completely in around 30-40 days. The surgical instruments and the sterilization process were scrutinized. A white amorphous material was found mainly on non-disposable anterior chamber cannulas and on irrigation/aspiration tips. Disposable cannulas were adopted, and machinery for cleaning and sterilization procedures were reviewed, with specific reference to water softener renewal. Thanks to these precautions, CIs never occurred again. Finally, our hypothesis was an immune corneal reaction to amorphous deposit on cannula tips. This case series describes a previously unknown complication of cataract surgery and our experience might be useful for other surgeons.

Ocular Findings in COVID-19 Patients: A Review of Direct Manifestations and Indirect Effects on the Eye.

The novel pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has challenged the medical community. While diagnostic and therapeutic efforts have been focused on respiratory complications of the disease, several ocular implications have also emerged. SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been found in tears of the infected patients, and reports suggest that the ocular surface could serve as a portal of entry and a reservoir for viral transmission. Clinically, COVID-19 has been associated with mild conjunctivitis, which can be the first and only symptom of the disease. Subtle retinal changes like hyperreflective lesions in the inner layers on optical coherence tomography (OCT), cotton-wool spots, and microhemorrhages have also been reported. In addition, COVID-19 has been associated with an increased incidence of systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus and Kawasaki disease, which are particularly relevant for ophthalmologists due to their potentially severe ocular manifestations. Several treatment strategies are currently under investigation for COVID-19, but none of them have been proved to be safe and effective to date. Intensive care unit patients, due to risk factors like invasive mechanical ventilation, prone position, and multiresistant bacterial exposure, may develop ocular complications like ocular surface disorders, secondary infections, and less frequently acute ischemic optic neuropathy and intraocular pressure elevation. Among the array of drugs that have shown positive results, the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine has raised a concern due to their well-known retinal toxic effects. However, the risk of retinal toxicity with short-term high-dose use of antimalarials is still unknown. Ocular side effects have also been reported with other investigational drugs like lopinavir-ritonavir, interferons, and interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 inhibitors. The aim of this review was to summarize ophthalmological implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection to serve as a reference for eye care and other physicians for prompt diagnosis and management.

Choroidal Neovascularization in Primary Membranous Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND We describe the retinal findings in a patient affected by primary membranous nephropathy (MN). CASE REPORT A 61-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of metamorphopsia and decreased visual acuity in both eyes. He was affected by nephrotic syndrome in primary MN and treated with systemic corticosteroids. Dilated fundus examination, optical coherence tomography, and fundus fluorescein angiography revealed the presence of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the right eye and peripheral CNV in the left eye. A serous retinal detachment with gravitational tract was also observed in both eyes. The patient was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab in the right eye and oral corticosteroids were discontinued. Both eyes achieved a morphological and functional improvement. CONCLUSIONS We present the first case of primary MN associated with CNV, possibly secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy, successfully treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and discontinuation of oral corticosteroids.