Fulminant endogenous panophthalmitis caused by Clostridium septicum infection / Panoftalmite endógena fulminante por infecção por Clostridium septicum

ABSTRACT We report an unusual case of fulminant endogenous Clostridium septicum panophthalmitis. A 74-year-old male patient presented with sudden amaurosis in the right eye, which in a few hours, evolved into an orbital cellulitis, endophthalmitis, anterior segment ischemia, and secondary perforation of the eye. A complete diagnostic study, which included cranial and orbital contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, blood cultures, and complete blood work, were performed. No causal agent was identified. Clostridium septicum infection caused fulminant gaseous panophthalmitis. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, evisceration of the eyeball was necessary. The extension study showed a colon adenocarcinoma as the origin of the infection. Clostridium septicum panophthalmitis is a rare but aggressive orbital infection. This infection warrants the identification of a neoplastic process in the gastrointestinal tract in many cases not previously described.

RESUMO Este é o relato de um caso incomum de panoftalmite endógena fulminante por Clostridium septicum. Um paciente do sexo masculino, 74 anos, apresentou amaurose súbita no olho direito, que em poucas horas evoluiu para celulite orbitária, endoftalmite, isquemia do segmento anterior e perfuração secundária do olho. Foi realizado um estudo diagnóstico completo, que incluiu uma tomografia computadorizada com contraste cranial e orbital, um exame de ressonância magnética, hemocultura e hemograma completo. Nenhum agente causal foi identificado. A infecção por Clostridium septicum causou uma panoftalmite gasosa fulminante. Apesar do tratamento com antibióticos de amplo espectro, foi necessário eviscerar o globo ocular. O estudo de seguimento mostrou um adenocarcinoma de cólon como a origem da infecção. A panoftalmite por Clostridium septicum é um tipo raro, mas muito agressivo de infecção orbitária. Essa infecção deve sugerir a busca por um processo neoplásico no trato gastrointestinal, em muitos casos não diagnosticado anteriormente.

One-year follow-up of choroidal and macular thickness in acute non-treated central serous chorioretinopathy.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Choroidal and macular thickness assessments are essential to understand the evolution of central serous chorioretinopathy and could help in identifying patients more prone to recurrence. BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to evaluate changes in the choroidal thickness and macular thickness in acute non-treated central serous chorioretinopathy during a one-year follow-up. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study of 38 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy and 35 healthy controls at a tertiary care facility (Fundación Alcorcón University Hospital) was conducted. Choroidal and macular thicknesses were measured using enhanced-depth-imaging optical coherence tomography and subretinal fluid resolution and best-corrected visual acuity were evaluated, at baseline and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Prognostic factors determining the need for treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Choroidal thickness decreased in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (p < 0.001) but not in fellow eyes (p = 0.24) during one-year follow-up since the acute episode. The estimated mean choroidal thickness in symptomatic eyes was 465 µm (SE: 17.18) at baseline and decreased 58.1 µm (CI 95%: 30.1-85.9) at 12 months (p < 0.001). Best-corrected visual acuity improved over time (p = 0.037), with a decrease of logMAR 0.086 (CI95%: 0-0.172).The macular thickness changed over time (p < 0.001), with a decrease from baseline of 124.6 µm (CI95%: 61.4-187.9). Subretinal fluid resolved in 67% (CI 95%: 51-82) of patients at 6 months. There was no significant association between baseline choroidal thickness, macular thickness, best-corrected visual acuity, age or sex and the need for treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The choroidal thickness decreased in acute central serous chorioretinopathy episodes during a one-year follow-up. Subretinal fluid persisted in less than 20% of patients at the end of the one-year follow-up. No prognostic factors determining the need for treatment were found.

Fulminant endogenous panophthalmitis caused by Clostridium septicum infection.

We report an unusual case of fulminant endogenous Clostridium septicum panophthalmitis. A 74-year-old male patient presented with sudden amaurosis in the right eye, which in a few hours, evolved into an orbital cellulitis, endophthalmitis, anterior segment ischemia, and secondary perforation of the eye. A complete diagnostic study, which included cranial and orbital contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, blood cultures, and complete blood work, were performed. No causal agent was identified. Clostridium septicum infection caused fulminant gaseous panophthalmitis. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, evisceration of the eyeball was necessary. The extension study showed a colon adenocarcinoma as the origin of the infection. Clostridium septicum panophthalmitis is a rare but aggressive orbital infection. This infection warrants the identification of a neoplastic process in the gastrointestinal tract in many cases not previously described.

Urine collection methods in precontinent children treated at the paediatric emergency department.

AIM: To describe the urine collection methods used in precontinent children presenting at the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) and compare results and contamination rates. METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study that included 1678 urine cultures collected in infants <24 months of age between January 2016 and December 2019. Urine cultures were compared based on collection technique, sex and patient age. RESULTS: In total, 60.4% of samples were collected by clean-catch urine collection (CCUC), 26.4% by urethral catheterisation (UC) and 13.2% by urine bag (UB). Contamination rates were 2.9% (95% CI 1.3, 4.4) for UC, 11.3% (95% CI 9.3, 13.2) for CCUC and 23.4% (95% CI 17.8, 29.0) for UB. Significant differences in contamination rates were found between UC and CCUC in the 6-12-month age group (1.9% [95% CI 0.0-4.0] versus 12.0% [95% CI 7.2-16.8] [p < 0.0009]), and between UC and UB for all ages. CONCLUSIONS: CCUC is the most common method for urine culture collection in infants <24 months of age at the PED in our centre. UC has the lowest contamination rates, but significant differences were only observed between CCUC and UC in the 6-12-month age group. CCUC is a non-invasive alternative for urine collection in infants.

Iridochorioretinal coloboma associated with buried optic nerve drusen: a case report / Coloboma irido-coriorretiniano associado a drusas enterradas do nervo óptico: Relato de caso

ABSTRACT Improper closure of the embryonic fissure results in ocular coloboma. Optic nerve head drusen are hyaline deposits located anterior to the lamina cribosa that grow and calcify over time. It is rarely associated with ocular coloboma, with only two cases reported. We present a patient with an irido-chorioretinal coloboma, poorly defined optic nerve limits in the right eye, and increased papillary vascular ramification and peripapillary atrophy in the left eye, without any visible drusen. Fundus autofluorescence, high-resolution optical coherence tomography, and B-scan ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral buried optic nerve head drusen. The association between irido-chorioretinal colobomas and optic nerve drusen in the absence of a systemic disease is exceptional. Our case demonstrates that multimodal imaging is important to correctly diagnose buried optic nerve head drusen.

RESUMO O coloboma ocular é o resultado de um fechamento impróprio da fissura embrionária. As drusas da cabeça do nervo óptico são depósitos hialinos localizados anteriormente à lâmina cribosa que crescem e se calcificam com o tempo. A associação de ambos é rara, com apenas dois casos descritos na literatura. Apresentamos um paciente com coloboma irido-coriorretiniano e limites do nervo óptico mal definidos em seu olho direito, e aumento da ramificação vascular papilar e atrofia peripapilar em seu olho esquerdo, sem drusas visíveis. Autofluorescência de fundo, tomografia de coerência óptica de alta resolução e ultrassonografia B-scan foram realizadas confirmando o diagnóstico de drusas enterradas bilaterais da cabeça do nervo óptico. A associação entre colobomas irido-coriorretinianos com drusas do nervo óptico na ausência de doença sistêmica é excepcional. Nosso caso demonstra a importância da imagem multimodal para o diagnóstico correto de drusas enterradas de cabeça do nervo óptico.

Gene polymorphisms associated with an increased risk of exudative age-related macular degeneration in a Spanish population.

PURPOSE: To identify the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1, CFB, C2, and C3 genes and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Spanish population. METHODS: In 187 exudative AMD patients and 196 healthy controls (61% women, mean age 75 years), 12 SNPs as risk factors for AMD in CFH (rs1410996, rs1061170, r380390), ARMS2 (rs10490924, rs10490923), HTRA1 (rs11200638), CFB (rs641153), C2 (rs547154, rs9332739), and C3 (rs147859257, rs2230199, rs1047286) genes were analyzed. RESULTS: The G allele was the most frequent in CFH gene (rs1410996) with a 7-fold increased risk of AMD (OR 7.69, 95% CI 3.17-18.69), whereas carriers of C allele in CFH (rs1061170) showed a 3-fold increased risk for AMD (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.93-5.40). In CFH (rs380390), the presence of G allele increased the risk for AMD by 2-fold (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.47-4.30). In ARMS2 (rs10490924), the T-allele was associated with an almost 5-fold increased risk (OR 5.49, 95% CI 3.23-9.31). The A allele in HTRA1 (rs11200638) was more prevalent in AMD versus controls (OR 6.44, 95% CI 3.62-11.47). In C2 gene (rs9332739) the presence of C increased risk for AMD by 3-fold (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.06-9.06). CONCLUSION: SNPs in CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1, and C2 genes were associated in our study with an increased risk for exudative AMD in Spanish patients.

Iridochorioretinal coloboma associated with buried optic nerve drusen: a case report.

Improper closure of the embryonic fissure results in ocular coloboma. Optic nerve head drusen are hyaline deposits located anterior to the lamina cribosa that grow and calcify over time. It is rarely associated with ocular coloboma, with only two cases reported. We present a patient with an irido-chorioretinal coloboma, poorly defined optic nerve limits in the right eye, and increased papillary vascular ramification and peripapillary atrophy in the left eye, without any visible drusen. Fundus autofluorescence, high-resolution optical coherence tomography, and B-scan ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral buried optic nerve head drusen. The association between irido-chorioretinal colobomas and optic nerve drusen in the absence of a systemic disease is exceptional. Our case demonstrates that multimodal imaging is important to correctly diagnose buried optic nerve head drusen.

Urine collection methods for infants under 3 months of age in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Methods of urine collection used in precontinent children are a controversial issue. Definitive diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) requires an uncontaminated urine culture. We aimed to describe methods used to collect urine for culture in infants under 3 months of age and compare results and contamination rates. METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study included 721 urine cultures collected from infants <3 months of age at the Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, Madrid, between January 2016 and December 2019. Urine cultures were compared based on collection technique, sex, and patient age. RESULTS: Median patient age was 36 days and 54.6% were male. In total, 592 (82.1%) samples were collected using clean-catch urine stimulation technique (CCUST), 77 (10.7%) by urethral catheterization (UC) and 52 (7.2%) by urine bag (UB). Positive cultures were obtained in 11.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.1, 14.3) of CCUST samples and in 28.6% (95% CI 18.5, 38.7) of UC samples (p<0.001). The contamination rate was 13.7% (95% CI 10.9, 16.4] for CCUST, 23.1% (95% CI 11.6, 34.6) for UB and 5.2% (95% CI 0.2, 10.2) for UC, with statistically significant differences (p=0.007) between UB and UC collection. CONCLUSIONS: CCUST is the most commonly used method in our hospital for collecting urine in infants younger than 3 months. The contamination rate of UC is lower but not significantly different to that of CCUST. Urine collection by CCUST serves as a non-invasive alternative to UC for diagnosis of UTI in infants under 3 months of age in routine clinical practice. Graphical abstract.

Diagnosis of optic nerve head drusen using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography (EDI-OCT) in differentiating between optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) and optic disc oedema (ODE). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 140 patients: 83 patients with ONHD (49 hidden and 34 visible), 20 patients with pseudopapilloedema (without drusen), and 37 patients with ODE. EDI-OCT of the optic nerve was performed, selecting one high-resolution line from the HD 5-line raster protocol. Two observers blindly evaluated the presence of a hyporeflective core surrounded by a hyperreflective margin or border. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and posttest probability were evaluated as well as the inter-observer agreement (k). RESULTS: EDI-OCT demonstrated a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI: 83%-96%), a specificity of 96% (95% CI: 87%-99%), with a positive predictive value of 97% and a negative predictive value of 89%. The inter-observer agreement was as remarkable as k = 0.8985 (95% CI 0.8252-0.9718). A positive EDI OCT increases the posttest probability to 97% (95% CI: 91%-99%); when negative, the posttest probability is reduced to 12% (95% CI: 6%-21%). CONCLUSION: EDI-OCT allowed for differentiation between ONHD and ODE with high sensitivity and specificity.

Prepapillary vascular loop-a new classification.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To analyze the ophthalmic characteristics of congenital prepapillary vascular loop (PVL) and to propose a new morphologic classification dividing the loops into six types. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Collaborative multinational multicentre retrospective study of PVL cases. RESULTS: There was a total of 49 cases (61 eyes), 37 unilateral (75.5%) and 12 bilateral (24.5%), 32 arterial type (65.3%) and 18 venous type (36.7%) (one patient had either kind in each eye). The mean number of loops per eye was 2.7 (range, 1-7). The loops were asymptomatic in 42 cases (85.7%). Other findings included: the presence of cilioretinal artery (14 cases), retinal vascular tortuosity (26 cases), amaurosis fugax (1 case), branch retinal artery occlusion (1 case) and vitreous haemorrhage (3 cases). Six morphologic loop types could be discerned based on elevation (flat vs. elevated), shape (figure of 8 or corkscrew with hyaline sheath), number (multiple or single), location (central or peripheral), lumen size (arterial vs. arteriolar) and presence of vascular tortuosity or vitreous traction. CONCLUSIONS: PVL are usually asymptomatic and can be divided into six morphologic types with different pathogenesis during early embryogenesis.

Sensitivity and specificity of choroidal thickness measurement by EDI-OCT for central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of choroidal thickness (CT) measurement by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) diagnosis. METHODS: Cross-sectional comparative study of 62 consecutive patients: 38 with acute CSC and 24 with macular subretinal fluid from differential diagnoses (DD). Subfoveolar choroidal thickness was measured using EDI 9-mm horizontal protocol. We evaluated sensitivity, specificity and intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Mean subfoveolar CT was greater in CSC group than in DD group (465.45 ± 115.42 µm vs. 347.54 ± 111.27 µm, p < 0.001). The best threshold measure was 390 µm in patients younger than 50 years giving a sensitivity of 89.7% (CI 95%: 73.6-100%) and a specificity of 75% (CI 95%: 40.9-87.3%). For patients older than 50 years best threshold measure was found at 400 µm giving a sensitivity of 45.5% (CI 95%: 21.3-72%) and a specificity of 80% (CI 95%: 58.4-91.9%). Intraclass correlation coefficient for CT measurement was 0.87 (CI 95%: 0.74-0.93). CONCLUSION: CT measurement with EDI-OCT helps to differentiate CSC from other causes of macular subretinal fluid in patients younger than 50 years.

Study of peripapillary vascular flow using optical coherence tomography angiography in optic nerve head drusen.

IMPORTANCE: To evaluate peripapillary vascular flow using optical coherence tomography angiography (angio-OCT) in patients with optic nerve head drusen (ONHD). BACKGROUND: Angio-OCT allows non-invasive visualization and quantification peripapillary vascular flow. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six eyes of 40 patients. METHODS: Between January 2018 and May 2019, consecutive patients with ONHD and healthy controls underwent a complete ocular assessment, including visual acuity testing, biomicroscopy, tonometry, funduscopy, automated perimetry, retinography and autofluorescence, spectral-domain OCT and peripapillary angio-OCT. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Peripapillary vascular flow, vascular density, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thicknesses. RESULTS: We included 23 patients with ONHD (42 eyes, 32 with visible drusen; mean age 50.96 years, 12 men) and 17 control patients (34 eyes; mean age 47.12 years, 7 men), without significant differences in age or sex. Vascular flow and density were significantly lower in patients with ONHD (0.409% and 40.18%, respectively) than in normal eyes (0.438% and 43.30%, respectively) (P = .006 and P < .001). RNFL and GCL thicknesses were significantly lower in patients with ONHD (81.81 and 77.43 µm, respectively) than in controls (91.38 and 81.97 µm, respectively) (P = .001 and P = .032). We obtained high correlation indexes between RNFL and GCL and vascular flow and density (RNFL = 0.702 and 0.744, respectively, and GCL = 0.808 and 0.857, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Angio-OCT demonstrated significant reductions in peripapillary vascular flow and vascular density in patients with ONHD, with strong correlations with RNFL and GCL thicknesses.

Performing a urine dipstick test with a clean-catch urine sample is an accurate screening method for urinary tract infections in young infants.

AIM: This study evaluated using urine dipstick tests with the clean-catch method to screen for urinary tract infection (UTI) in febrile infants under 90 days of age. METHODS: We carried out a comparative diagnostic accuracy study of infants under 90 days old, who were studied for unexplained fever without any source, in the emergency room of a hospital in Madrid from January 2011 to January 2013. We obtained matched samples of urine using two different methods: a clean-catch, standardised stimulation technique and catheterisation collection. The results of the leucocyte esterase test and nitrite test were compared with their urine cultures. RESULTS: We obtained 60 pairs of matched samples. A combined analysis of leukocyte esterase and, or, nitrites yielded a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 80% for the diagnosis of UTIs in clean-catch samples. The sensitivity of leukocyte esterase and, or, nitrites in samples obtained by catheterisation were not statistically different to the clean-catch samples (p = 0.592). CONCLUSION: Performing urine dipstick tests using urine samples obtained by the clean-catch method was an accurate screening test for diagnosing UTIs in febrile infants of less than 90 days old. This provided a good alternative to bladder catheterisation when screening for UTIs.

Accuracy of a new clean-catch technique for diagnosis of urinary tract infection in infants younger than 90 days of age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of diagnosing urinary tract infections using a new, recently described, standardized clean-catch collection technique. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of infants <90 days old admitted due to fever without a source, with two matched samples of urine obtained using two different methods: clean-catch standardized stimulation technique and bladder catheterization. RESULTS: Sixty paired urine cultures were obtained. The median age was 44-days-old. Seventeen percent were male infants. Clean-catch technique sensitivity was 97% (95% CI 82% to 100%) and specificity was 89% (95% CI 65% to 98%). The contamination rate of clean-catch samples was lower (5%) than the contamination rate of catheter specimens (8%). CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of urine cultures obtained using the clean-catch method through the new technique were accurate and the contamination rate was low. These results suggest that this technique is a valuable, alternative method for urinary tract infection diagnosis.

OBJECTIF: Évaluer l'exactitude des diagnostics d'infection urinaire au moyen d'une technique de prélèvement d'urine propre standardisée décrite récemment. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Étude transversale de nourrissons de moins de 90 jours hospitalisés à cause d'une fièvre sans source connue disposant de deux prélèvements d'urine appariés obtenus par deux méthodes différentes : la technique de prélèvement d'urine propre par stimulation standardisée et le cathétérisme vésical. RÉSULTATS: Les chercheurs ont obtenu 60 prélèvements d'urine appariés. Les nourrissons avaient un âge médian de 44 jours, et 17 % étaient de sexe masculin. La sensibilité de la technique par prélèvement d'urine propre s'élevait à 97 % (95 % IC 82 % à 100 %) et sa spécificité, à 89 % (95 % IC 65 % à 98 %). Le taux de contamination des prélèvements d'urine propre était plus faible (5 %) que celui des prélèvements par cathétérisme (8 %). CONCLUSIONS: La sensibilité et la spécificité des cultures d'urine prélevées au moyen de la nouvelle technique de prélèvement d'urine propre étaient précises, et le taux de contamination, faible. Selon ces résultats, cette technique est une solution précieuse pour diagnostiquer les infections urinaires.

Solitary congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium features by high-definition optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To describe the features of solitary congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) using high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT). METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, noncomparative case series including 16 consecutive patients with solitary CHRPE. We describe the clinical and OCT features of CHRPE using the 5 radial lines acquisition OCT protocol over the CHRPE and the retina next to the tumor. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 54 years (median 57 years; range 8-76 years). The CHRPE lesion was outside the posterior pole in 14 of the patients (8 temporal, 3 superior, 2 nasal, and 1 inferior quadrant) and 2 peripapillary. Fifteen patients (94%) showed retinal thinning and complete photoreceptor loss overlying the CHRPE. The RPE hyperreflectivity was found in all patients. The retina over the lesion measured a mean of 60.3% (range 41%-95%) of the thickness of the adjacent normal retina. CONCLUSIONS: High-definition OCT showed retinal thinning, photoreceptor loss, and RPE hyperreflectivity in solitary CHRPE lesions.

Using autofluorescence to detect optic nerve head drusen in children.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of using autofluorescence to identify optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) in children. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study of subjects <18 years of age with possible pseudopapilledema due to ONHD. B-scan ultrasonography was considered the gold standard diagnostic technique. All participants underwent an extensive ophthalmic examination that included fundus color photography, autofluorescence analysis, and B-scan echography. ONHD were classified as visible or hidden. Autofluorescence images were analyzed by three observers who were masked to the results of B-scan ultrasonography. RESULTS: A total of 24 children with pseudopapilledema were included. B-scan ultrasonography confirmed ONHD in 32 eyes of 18 patients (9 boys). Mean patient age was 12 years (range, 7-17 years). ONHD was bilateral in 14 patients; unilateral in 4. The majority of the drusen were hidden (26 of 32 eyes). Analysis of autofluorescence patterns identified the drusen in 94% of cases (30 of 32 eyes): visible, 100%; hidden, 92%. Interobserver agreement was high (κ = 0.91, κ = 0.96, κ = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: In this study cohort, autofluorescence proved a safe, fast, and reliable technique for identifying ONHD in children.

Anatomical and functional impairment of the nerve fiber layer in patients with optic nerve head drusen.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate anatomical and functional impairment of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and automated perimetry in patients with optic nerve head drusen (ONHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six eyes (66 patients) were studied with ONHD - confirmed by ultrasound B scan - and 70 eyes (70 subjects) of healthy control subjects. ONHD cases were categorised as visible or hidden. Average RNFL thickness and measurements in terms of the quadrants were analysed using both time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Anatomical and visual field alteration of RNFL between visible and hidden ONHD and control groups were compared. RESULTS: Average RNFL thickness in ONHD patients was 94 µm (TD-OCT) and 88 µm (SD-OCT), and in controls 107 µm (TD-OCT) and 96 µm (SD-OCT), with statistically significant differences between both OCTs. All quadrants analysed showed significant differences except the temporal quadrant. The differences were not significant between hidden drusen and controls.Visual field examination in ONHD showed alterations in 56 %. Alterations were greater in visible drusen in relation to non-visible drusen, but there were no significant differences.The association between RNFL defects in superior, inferior and temporal quadrants and visual field defects showed a statistical relation with visible ONHD, but not in hidden ONHD. CONCLUSIONS: ONHD caused anatomical and functional damage of the RNFL, with a clear association between the alteration in ONHD and visual field defects in visible drusen cases.

Comparison of optic area measurement using fundus photography and optical coherence tomography between optic nerve head drusen and control subjects.

PURPOSE: To compare optic disc area measurement between optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) and control subjects using fundus photography, time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). We also made a comparison between each of the three techniques. METHODS: We performed our study on 66 eyes (66 patients) with ONHD and 70 healthy control subjects (70 controls) with colour ocular fundus photography at 20º (Zeiss FF 450 IR plus), TD-OCT (Stratus OCT) with the Fast Optic Disc protocol and SD-OCT (Cirrus OCT) with the Optic Disc Cube 200 × 200 protocol for measurement of the optic disc area. The measurements were made by two observers and in each measurement a correction of the image magnification factor was performed. Measurement comparison using the Student's t-test/Mann-Whitney U test, the intraclass correlation coefficient, Pearson/Spearman rank correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman plot was performed in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean and standard deviation (SD) of the optic disc area in ONHD and in controls was 2.38 (0.54) mm(2) and 2.54 (0.42) mm(2), respectively with fundus photography; 2.01 (0.56) mm(2) and 1.66 (0.37) mm(2), respectively with TD-OCT, and 2.03 (0.49) mm(2) and 1.75 (0.38) mm(2), respectively with SD-OCT. In ONHD and controls, repeatability of optic disc area measurement was excellent with fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT and SD-OCT), but with a low degree of agreement between both techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Optic disc area measurement is smaller in ONHD compared to healthy subjects with fundus photography, unlike time-domain and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in which the reverse is true. Both techniques offer good repeatability, but a low degree of correlation and agreement, which means that optic disc area measurement is not interchangeable or comparable between techniques.

Sensitivity and specificity of monochromatic photography of the ocular fundus in differentiating optic nerve head drusen and optic disc oedema: optic disc drusen and oedema.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the efficacy of monochromatic photography of the ocular fundus in differentiating optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) and optic disc oedema (ODE). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with ONHD, 31 patients with ODE and 70 healthy subjects were studied. Colour and monochromatic fundus photography with different filters (green, red and autofluorescence) were performed. The results were analysed blindly by two observers. The sensitivity, specificity and interobserver agreement (k) of each test were assessed. RESULTS: Colour photography offers 65.5 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for the diagnosis of ONHD. Monochromatic photography improves sensitivity and specificity and provides similar results: green filter (71.20 % sensitivity, 96.70 % specificity), red filter (80.30 % sensitivity, 96.80 % specificity), and autofluorescence technique (87.8 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity). The interobserver agreement was good with all techniques used: autofluorescence (k = 0.957), green filter (k = 0.897), red filter (k = 0.818) and colour (k = 0.809). CONCLUSIONS: Monochromatic fundus photography permits ONHD and ODE to be differentiated, with good sensitivity and very high specificity. The best results were obtained with autofluorescence and red filter study.