Endophthalmitis Following Inadvertent Intraocular Botulinum Toxin A Injection.

Botulinum toxin A injection is a safe alternative procedure to surgery in the management of different types of strabismus. Serious complications such as globe perforation are rare in expert hands. The authors report a case of a child known to have a muscle-eye-brain disease with high myopia who developed endophthalmitis following inadvertent penetrating intraocular botulinum toxin A injection for strabismus correction. To their knowledge, this serious complication after penetrating botulinum toxin A injection has not been previously reported. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023;60(2):e8-e10.].

Long-term peripheral retinal vascular behavior in retinopathy of prematurity patients treated with ranibizumab intravitreal injection as monotherapy using fluorescein angiography.

BACKGROUND: Few challenges are faced with the introduction of anti-VEGF agents as a modality of treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. The clinical behavior and time course of regression post injection differ compared to post laser ablation. This study aims to evaluate the long-term peripheral retinal vascularization outcome of Ranibizumab intravitreal injections monotherapy in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. METHOD: Hospital-based quasi-experimental study. Include ROP patients who received intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR), as primary treatment for type 1 ROP. Patients were examined under general anaesthesia to ensure documentation of all junctions of vascular and avascular zones. Images were taken by RetCam III, Phoenix ICON and fluorescein angiography was performed to describe vascular behaviors. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 24.67 weeks and the mean postmenstrual age at the time of intravitreal ranibizumab treatment was 36.3 weeks. Fluorescein angiography was performed at 155-288 weeks; most eyes showed two disk diameters of avascular peripheral retina. Only eyes with original aggressive ROP who required a second injection (six eyes) showed extensive peripheral avascular retina reaching zone I (13.64%). Neovascularization was evident in five eyes (11.36%), all with an original aggressive ROP and received multiple injections. CONCLUSIONS: Ranibizumab treated babies with incomplete retinal vascularization require close and long-term follow-up visits to assess post injection vascular behavior. Peripheral retinal avascular zone of more than two-disc diameters was present in most of the patients evidenced by fluorescein angiography. Babies with initial diagnosis of aggressive ROP are more likely to have persistent peripheral neovascularization.

The Application of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

A 15-year-old girl presented to the emergency department with a history of bilateral blurred vision for one day, with greater severity in the right eye. Fundus examinations revealed cotton wool spots, dot hemorrhage, and hard exudate. She underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), which showed the presence of macula ischemia, decreased vascular density, mild retinal fluid, severe ischemia, some macular edema, and vascular sheathing, indicating active vasculitis in the right eye. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect many organs in the body, including the eye. Ocular involvement is one of the most well-known features. Retinal vasculitis is a rare complication of SLE that is characterized by vascular sheathing that can progress to vaso-occlusion. We report the clinical features of SLE using OCTA.

Effect of chronic hydroxychloroquine use on COVID-19 risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicenter retrospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been used during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic because of its reported anti-viral activity. This study examined the association of chronic HCQ use with the incidence and complications of COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included adults with rheumatoid arthritis and/or systemic lupus erythematosus who visited rheumatology clinics in three tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between January 2019 and December 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on HCQ use. Data were obtained from the electronic health record and by interviews with patients. The primary study objective was the incidence of COVID-19 and its complications from March 2020 to February 2021. RESULTS: Almost 11% of the study cohort was positive for COVID-19, and the incidence of COVID-19 was similar between HCQ users (11.11%) and nonusers (10.86%). Disease complication rates were similar in the study arms, and they mainly included fever, dry cough, fatigue, and breathing difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed no significant association between chronic HCQ use and the incidence of COVID-19, and disease complications were similar in the study arms.

Saudi Arabia Guidelines for diabetic macular edema: A consensus of the Saudi Retina Group.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications are major public health burdens in Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is 19.7% and the prevalence of diabetic macular edema (DME) is 5.7% in Saudi Arabia. Diabetic macular edema is a vision-threatening complication of DR and a major cause of vision loss worldwide. Ocular treatments include retinal laser photocoagulation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, intravitreal corticosteroids, and vitreoretinal surgery when necessary. The present consensus was developed as a part of the Saudi Retina Group's efforts to generate Saudi guidelines and consensus for the management of DME, including recommendations for its diagnosis, treatment, and best practice. The experts' panel stipulates that the treatment algorithm should be categorized according to the presence of central macula involvement. In patients with no central macular involvement, laser photocoagulation is recommended as the first-line option. Patients with central macular involvement and no recent history of cardiovascular (CVS) or cerebrovascular disorders can be offered anti-VEGF agents as the first-line option. In the case of non-responders (defined as an improvement of <20% in optical coherence tomography or a gain of fewer than 5 letters in vision), switching to another anti-VEGF agent or steroids should be considered after 3 injections. Within the class of steroids, dexamethasone implants are recommended as the first choice. In patients with a recent history of CVS events, the use of anti-VEGF agents is not recommended, regardless of their lens status. The experts' panel recommends that a future study be conducted to provide a cut-off point for early switching to steroid implants in pseudo-phakic eyes.

Outcomes and Determinants of Posterior Dislocated Intraocular Lens Management at a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Central Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the determinants of visual outcomes, complications after managing the posterior dislocated intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS: Patients with posterior dislocated IOL managed between 2002 and 2016 in our institute were reviewed. Ocular status and causes for dislocation were noted. Success was defined as uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/20-20/200 at the last follow-up. The risk factors were associated with the success. RESULTS: Of the 79 eyes with posterior dislocated IOL, 40 (50.6%) eyes had vision <20/400 at presentation. Glaucoma and retinal detachment were present in 12 (15.2%) and 5 (6.3%) eyes. IOL was removed from 33 (41.8%) eyes. Secondary IOL was implanted in 25 (31.6%) eyes, and IOL was repositioned in 19 (24.1%) eyes. The median duration of follow-up was 2.1 years. The final UCVA was "20/20-20/60" and ">20/200" in 45 (57%) and 14 (17.7%) eyes. The main causes of Severe visual impairment (SVI) included glaucoma (5), corneal decompensation (5), retinal detachment (4), and macular edema (3). Young age (P = 0.02), late IOL dislocation (P = 0.005), primary IOL implant (P < 0.01), SVI (P = 0.09), IOL removal (P = 0.06), and no glaucoma at presentation were significantly associated to the success. Late IOL dislocation (P = 0.05) and no glaucoma (P = 0.05) were independently associated to the success. CONCLUSION: The management of the dislocation of IOL had promising visual outcomes. Glaucoma and early dislocation predict poor vision after dislocated IOL management. Close monitoring is needed to manage complications.

Outcomes of Pneumatic Retinopexy for the Management of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment at a Tertiary Care Center.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to report the outcomes of pneumatic retinopexy (PR) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients with RRD who were managed with PR at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital between 2000 and 2014. Data were collected on preoperative ocular history, characteristics of the RRD, postoperative anatomical and visual outcomes, and secondary surgeries. RESULTS: Sixty-five eyes comprised the study sample with mean a follow-up of 42 months. Eighteen (27%) eyes had a history of ocular surgery and 5 (7.6%) had previous ocular trauma. Thirty-nine (60%) eyes had macula on RRD. Retinal detachment (RD) was caused by a single break in fifty (76.9%) eyes. Superior breaks were found in 56 (86.1%) eyes. Twelve (18%) eyes had posterior vitreous detachment. Fifty-one (78.5%) eyes underwent PR under local anesthesia and 9 (13.8%) underwent conjunctival peritomy. Octafluoropropane gas was used in 49 (75.4%) eyes and sulfur hexafluoride in 16 (24.6%) eyes. Cryotherapy was performed in 48 (73.8%) eyes and only laser photocoagulation in 8 (12.3%) eyes. Nine (13.8%) eyes underwent both cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation. Primary anatomical healing was achieved in 45 (69.2%) eyes, of which 20 (30.8%) required a second intervention. The final anatomical outcome was achieved in 100% of the eyes. At final visit, vision improved in 72% of eyes, was maintained in14.5%, and decreased in 9.7% (6). CONCLUSION: PR is a safe procedure for RRD repair. The final anatomical outcome was excellent in all cases including the recurrent RD after primary failure.

Clinical presentation and etiology of osteomalacia/rickets in adolescents.

This study was conducted to determine the causes and clinical presentations of osteomalacia/rickets in adolescents seen at the King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh. Because osteomalacia and rickets constitute the same entity, the term osteomalacia will be used for future discussion. A retrospective file review was performed on all adolescents (10-16 years) with osteomalacia, defined as alkaline phosphatase levels ≥500 IU/L, seen at the KAMC, Riyadh, from 2000 to 2006. We recorded the signs and symptoms, dietary history and amount of sun exposure at presentation. A total of 135 patients were found to fit the inclusion criteria for the study. Of them, 57 had nutritional causes, with a mean age of 13.2 years, and included 32 females. At diagnosis, 22 patients were found to have bone pain, 10 had bone deformities, eight had pathological fractures and 17 were asymptomatic. Secondary causes for osteomalacia were found in 59 cases who had liver and renal disease and in 19 other patients who were on medications such as anticonvulsants and steroids, which are known to cause osteomalacia. Our study indicates that osteomalacia is a significant health burden that deserves special attention. Bone pain is the most common presenting symptom at diagnosis. Because of the high risk of osteomalacia associated with the use of anticonvulsants and steroids, it is advised that all patients on these drugs should be routinely screened for secondary osteomalacia.