Photodynamic therapy for treatment of bacterial keratitis.

Microbial keratitis is the main cause of corneal opacification and the fourth leading cause of blindness worldwide, with bacteria the major infectious agent. Recently, bacterial keratitis has become a serious threat due to routine use of antibiotics leading to selection of resistant and multidrug-resistant bacteria strains. New approaches for treatment of bacterial keratitis are necessary to outcome the increasing antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is based on three agents: photosensitizer, oxygen, and light radiation. This therapy has been successful for treatment of infections in different tissues and organs as well as against different type of infectious agents and no resistance development. Also, new photosensitizers are being developed that has increased the spectrum of therapeutic protocols for treatment of a number of infectious diseases. Thus, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy has an extraordinary potential for treatment of those bacterial keratitis cases that actually are not solved by traditional antibiotic therapy.

Retinal vascular occlusions after nonocular surgeries / Oclusões vasculares retinianas após cirurgias não oculares

ABSTRACT Ophthalmologic complications of nonocular surgeries are rare events, but can lead to irreversible conditions of low visual acuity. They are often associated with spine, heart and neck surgery, however they can occur after procedures on other systems. The main local causes are ischemic optic neuropathies, vascular occlusions, cortical lesions, and acute angle-closure glaucoma. We report two cases of sudden low visual acuity secondary to vascular occlusions after gastrointestinal procedures. In the first case, a 57-year-old patient electively admitted for colon reconstruction after Hartmann's colostomy, progressed with intra- and postoperative complications and required subsequent complementary surgeries. Once month later he presented with sudden bilateral low visual acuity, painless and non-altitudinal, and was diagnosed as papillophlebitis, which resolved spontaneously with the progression of the condition. The second case, a 69-year-old patient with no comorbidities underwent rectal resection due to suspected malignant tumor, and progressed on the third postoperative day, with pain and bilateral low visual acuity secondary to acute angle-closure glaucoma, and branch retinal artery occlusion in right eye; treated with iridotomy and ocular hypotensive eye drops, with only slight recovery of vision. The article aims to discuss the etiological mechanisms of the reported conditions and present a literature review.

RESUMO Complicações oftalmológicas de cirurgias não oculares são raras, mas podem levar a condições irreversíveis de baixa acuidade visual. Em geral são associadas à cirurgia de coluna, coração ou pescoço, mas podem ocorrer após procedimentos em outros sistemas. As principais causas são neuropatias ópticas isquêmicas, oclusões vasculares, lesões corticais, e glaucoma agudo de ângulo fechado. Relatamos dois casos de baixa acuidade visual súbita, secundária a oclusões vasculares, após procedimentos cirúrgicos gastrointestinais. No primeiro caso, um paciente de 57 anos foi internado de forma eletiva para reconstrução do cólon após colostomia de Hartmann. Evoluiu com complicações nos períodos intra- e pós-operatório, e necessitou de outras cirurgias complementares. Um mês depois apresentou baixa acuidade visual bilateral súbita, indolor e não altitudinal, e foi diagnosticado como papiloflebite, com resolução espontânea na evolução. O segundo caso, uma paciente de 69 anos, sem comorbidades, foi submetida à ressecção do reto por suspeita de tumor maligno e, no terceiro dia de pós-operatório, evoluiu com dor e baixa acuidade visual bilateral, secundária a glaucoma agudo de ângulo fechado, e oclusão de ramo da artéria retiniana no olho direito; tratada com iridotomia e colírios hipotensores, com recuperação parcial da visão. O objetivo do artigo é discutir os mecanismos etiológicos das doenças relatadas, e apresentar uma revisão da literatura.

Aplanamento corneano após DMEK associado a facoemulsificação em paciente com distrofia endotelial de Fuchs, ceratocone e catarata / Corneal flattening after simultaneous DMEK and phacoemulsification in patient with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, keratoconus and cataract combined

Resumo Descrição de relato de caso de paciente com ceratocone (KC), Distrofia Endotelial de Fuchs (DEF) e catarata concomitantes com descompensação corneana submetido a Ceratoplastia Lamelar Posterior pela técnica Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) associado a facoemulsificação com implante de lente intraocular (LIO). Observou-se aplanamento corneano significativo no pós-operatório e acuidade visual final sem correção de 20/25 . Destaca-se a possibilidade do DMEK como alternativa à Ceratoplastia Penetrante (Penetrating Keratoplasty - PK) em casos de DEF e KC associados. Aplanamento corneano pode ocorrer neste grupo de pacientes, o que pode resultar em imprevisibilidade refracional no cálculo do poder da LIO ao se optar por facectomia combinada. Neste relato, apesar da modificação da curvatura corneana após cirurgia combinada de DMEK com facectomia, a acuidade visual final sem correção foi satisfatória, demonstrando a possibilidade de sucesso desta abordagem na coexistência de DEF, KC e Catarata. Entretanto, a possibilidade de mudança significativa na curvatura corneana deve ser considerada em pacientes com KC, edema de córnea secundário a DEF e catarata, na decisão de cirurgia simultânea ou em dois tempos.

Abstract This is a case report of a patient with concomitant Keratoconus (KC), Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy (FED) and cataract with corneal decompensation submitted to Posterior Lamellar Corneal surgery (Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty - DMEK) associated with phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Corneal flattening and uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 was observed in the postoperative period. We reasure the viability of DMEK as an alternative to Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK) in cases of associated DEF and KC associated. Changes in corneal curvature may occur in this group of patients and lead to the possibility of refractive unpredictability in IOL calculation when performing a combined cataract surgery. Despite unexpected corneal flattening, satisfactory final visual acuity was achieved, demonstrating the possibility of success of this approach in the coexistence of the three conditions. Nonetheless, the possibility of corneal curvature changes should be considered in patients with KC and corneal decompensation due to FED in decision making, regarding simultaneous or sequential surgical approach.

A case of Bartonella neuroretinitis with macular star diagnosed by clinical, epidemiological, serological, and molecular data: resolution after initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

The differential diagnosis of optic neuritis is broad and varied. We report the case of a 24-year-old Brazilian man who presented with five-week history of fever, malaise, myalgia, severe fatigue, tender right preauricular lymphadenopathy, and acute vision blurring associated with right optic disc swelling and exudates in a macular star pattern. His illness developed soon after an infestation of fleas broke out among his cats. Diagnosis of ocular bartonellosis was confirmed by serological and molecular analyses targeting amplification of Bartonella spp. htrA gene. Signs and symptoms only improved after initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

A case of Bartonella neuroretinitis with macular star diagnosed by clinical, epidemiological, serological, and molecular data: resolution after initiation of antimicrobial therapy

Abstract The differential diagnosis of optic neuritis is broad and varied. We report the case of a 24-year-old Brazilian man who presented with five-week history of fever, malaise, myalgia, severe fatigue, tender right preauricular lymphadenopathy, and acute vision blurring associated with right optic disc swelling and exudates in a macular star pattern. His illness developed soon after an infestation of fleas broke out among his cats. Diagnosis of ocular bartonellosis was confirmed by serological and molecular analyses targeting amplification of Bartonella spp. htrA gene. Signs and symptoms only improved after initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

Could adverse effects and complications of selective laser trabeculoplasty be decreased by low-power laser therapy?

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been used for treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, pigmenter and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma being considered a low-risk procedure. Therefore, transitory and permanent adverse effects have been reported, including corneal changes, subclinical edema, and reduction in endothelial cells and in central corneal thickness. Despite rarer, serious corneal complications after SLT can be permanent and lead to visual impairment, central corneal haze, opacity and narrowing. The mechanism involves increase of vasoactive and chemotactic cytokines causing inflammatory infiltrate, destruction of stromal collagen by fibroblasts and increase of matrix metalloproteinases type 2, which impair reepithelization. SLT also increases free radical production and reduces antioxidant enzymes, resulting in endothelium damages. Low-power laser therapy (LPLT) has been used in regenerative medicine based on its biostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Biostimulation occurs through the interaction of laser photons with cytochrome C oxidase enzyme, which activates intracellular biochemical cascades causing synthesis of a number of molecules related to anti-inflammatory, regenerative effects, pain relief and reduction in edema. It has been showed that LPLT reduces gene expression related to pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, and it increases expression of growth factors related to its proliferative and healing actions. Although radiations emitted by low-power lasers are considered safe and able to induce therapeutic effects, researches based on experimental models for glaucoma could bring important data if LPLT could be an alternative approach to improve acceptation for patients undergoing SLT.