Acute macular neuroretinopathy following COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic with over 600 million cases worldwide and over 1.7 million cases in New Zealand to date. The most recent spread of Omicron variant saw widespread infection across the country that was unable to be controlled like the initial Alpha or Delta variants. There is limited information on ocular complications of COVID 19. In our case, there was a close relationship between time of COVID-19 infection and acute visual changes including ongoing scotomas (blind spots). This report explores a case of a young female with positive visual phenomena following COVID-19 infection, with the diagnosis of acute macula neuroretinopathy.

Case series of shrinking hydroxyapatite orbital implants.

BACKGROUND: An orbital implant is used after enucleation or evisceration surgery to replace the volume lost and to aid in prosthesis fitting and movement. Different materials have been used through the years. The authors noted that with bone-derived hydroxyapatite orbital implants, some patients lose their orbital volume. METHODS: The operating theatre record was searched to find patients who had their hydroxyapatite orbital implant removed at Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand, between 2011 and 2015. The original implant size and size at removal were noted. Histological results were noted. Medical notes were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of six patients had hydroxyapatite orbital implants removed during this time. Four patients had implants that were smaller than their original sizes. All specimens had fibrovascular infiltration noted, three had chronic inflammatory cells and one had osteoclastic activity. CONCLUSIONS: Bone-derived hydroxyapatite orbital implants can reduce in size, and this may occur due to osteoclastic activity. The surgeon must consider this scenario when choosing the type of implant to be used after enucleation or evisceration.

Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand over a 10-year period.

AIM: To describe the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the Christchurch Hospital neonatal intensive care unit over a 10-year period. METHOD: All neonates included in ROP screening from 2007-2016 were identified. Patient demographics and clinical details including the gestational age at birth, birth weight, birthplace, stage of ROP and treatment status were collected for analysis. RESULTS: Over 10 years, 431 eligible babies born in Christchurch Hospital and admitted to NICU were examined and had findings documented. Nineteen were found to have ROP of any grade, and three required treatment. One hundred and thirteen neonates born outside of Christchurch and later admitted to the Christchurch NICU had screening examinations documented. Eighteen of these were diagnosed as having ROP, and eight required treatment. Five of the neonates born outside Christchurch who required treatment had been specifically transferred to Christchurch for the purpose of treating ROP. CONCLUSION: The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity of any stage was 4.4% in at-risk premature neonates born in Christchurch Hospital over 10 years. 0.7% of all neonates screened required treatment. This represents an extremely low incidence of treatment requiring ROP, and of ROP in general.

SLE dacryoadenitis.

In systemic lupus erythematosus, ophthalmic manifestations are noted in up to one-third of patients. We describe a patient with an unusual initial presentation of this disorder.