[Ocular involvement with Candida albicans: report of 2 cases]. / Atteinte oculaire à Candida albicans : à propos de 2 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Ocular involvement by Candida albicans is rare and may present as endogenous endophthalmitis or choroiditis. It occurs in the context of C. albicans septicemia, in the context of intensive care unit hospitalization or intravenous drug use. We report two cases referred to our department with different characteristics, background, diagnostic modalities and different courses. OBSERVATIONS: A 37-year-old woman, with a history of intravenous drug use, presented with C. albicans endophthalmitis. Intravenous combination antifungal therapy was begun, but vitrectomy and intravitreal amphotericin B were performed due to worsening of the endophthalmitis. The second case was a 53-year-old man who was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for C. albicans septicemia with a left macular chorioretinitis. Intravenous antifungal therapy was initiated and allowed regression of the ocular lesion. DISCUSSION: Our cases illustrate both types of ophthalmic involvement by candidiasis requiring different treatments with well-described recommendations: in the case of endophthalmitis, the use of vitrectomy and intravitreal amphotericin B injection in association with intravenous antifungal treatment, whereas parenteral antifungal treatment is often sufficient in the case of chorioretinitis. CONCLUSION: Early detection, initiation of treatment and ophthalmologic monitoring are difficult but necessary in these populations non-compliant with follow-up or in intensive care units. The management of ocular candidiasis requires good collaboration between the ophthalmology, infectious diseases and intensive care unit departments.

[Apropos of 5 cases of optic nerve tumors diagnosed during a 6-year-period]. / À propos de 5 cas de tumeurs du nerf optique sur une période de 6ans.

INTRODUCTION: Optic nerve tumors are uncommon and rarely described. By way of five patients treated at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France, over a six-year-period, we discuss their clinical and radiological characteristics, their treatment and their course. OBSERVATIONS: We report two cases of optic nerve glioma in small children, two cases of optic nerve sheath meningioma and a 57-year-old patient treated for lung cancer with an optic nerve metastasis and choroidal and brain metastases. The diagnosis was confirmed by imaging in all patients and histologically for the cases of optic nerve glioma. RESULTS: The children with glioma were exclusively treated with chemotherapy, the two women with meningioma exclusively with radiation therapy, and the man with the optic nerve metastasis by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The tumors were stabilized in all cases except for a progression in one case of glioma, one year after treatment. DISCUSSION: Gliomas and meningiomas are the most frequent tumors; other tumors are rare. Through a literature review and many illustrations, we discuss epidemiologic, clinical and radiologic characteristics, treatment and course of these uncommon tumors. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of optic nerve tumors must be considered in cases of anterior or posterior progressive optic neuropathy. Treatment must be a compromise between effective treatment of the tumor and preservation of visual function. Decisions are made through multidisciplinary consultations, in which the role of the ophthalmologist is crucial for the diagnosis and success of the treatment.