Retinal vascular occlusion in patients with the Covid-19 virus.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome with dyspnea, anosmia, fever, and cough. Few studies describing ocular findings have been reported. The current case series, reports the clinical findings and natural history of patients with retinal vascular occlusion after COVID-19 infection. CASE PRESENTATIONS: Patients from multiple Brazilian hospitals who had clinical and laboratory diagnoses of COVID-19 with retinal vein or arterial occlusion were analyzed retrospectively. The baseline demographics, clinical presentations of COVID-19, comorbidities, risk factors for thromboembolic events, and use of anticoagulant drugs were reviewed. The relevant clinical findings associated with the retinal vascular occlusive event, management, and outcomes were reported. Fourteen cases of retinal vascular occlusion within 3 months of the laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection were identified. Three of which required hospitalization for COVID-19 management. Eight cases had central retinal vein occlusion, three branch retinal vein occlusion, one hemispheric retinal vein occlusion, and two central arterial occlusion. The mean patient age at presentation was 48 years; the visual acuity ranged from light perception to 20/20. Nine patients received intravitreal injections of anti-angiogenic drugs and one received ketorolac tromethamine drops for the management of secondary macular edema; four were untreated. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients may rarely have ocular manifestations of the disease. It was presented a case series of vascular occlusion events that may be related to COVID-19 infection, since these thrombotic events are actively involved in the disease pathophysiology. These cases emphasize the need for further investigation of ocular complications associated with this disease.

Survey: technique of performing intravitreal injection among members of the Brazilian Retina and Vitreous Society (SBRV).

PURPOSE: To evaluate and describe the precautions involved in the technique of intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic drugs adopted by the ophthalmologists who are members of the Brazilian Society of Retina and Vitreous (SBRV). METHODS: A questionnaire containing 22 questions related to precautions taken before, during, and after intravitreal injection was sent electronically to 920 members of SBRV between November 15, 2013 and April 31, 2014. RESULTS: 352 responses (38%) were obtained. There was a predominance of men (76%) from the southwest region of Brazil (51%). The professional experience varied between 6 and 15 years after medical specialization (50%). Most professionals (76%) performed an average of 1 to 10 intravitreal injections a week, and 88% of the procedures were performed in the operating room using povidone iodine (99%), sterile gloves, and blepharostat (94%). For inducing topical anesthesia, usage of anesthetic eye drops was the most used technique (65%). Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) was the most common drug (55%), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was the most treated disease (57%). Regarding the complications treated, 6% of the ophthalmologists had treated at least one case of retinal detachment, 20% had treated cases of endophthalmitis, 9% had treated cases of vitreous hemorrhage, and 12% had encountered cases of crystalline lens touch. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection is a procedure routinely performed by retina specialists and has a low incidence of complications. Performing the procedure in the operating room using an aseptic technique was preferred by most of the respondents. Ranibizumab was the most used drug, and AMD was the most treated disease.

Survey: technique of performing intravitreal injection among members of the Brazilian Retina and Vitreous Society (SBRV) / Survey: técnica para realização de injeção intravítrea pelos membros da Sociedade Brasileira de Retina e Vítreo (SBRV)

Purpose: To evaluate and describe the precautions involved in the technique of intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic drugs adopted by the ophthalmologists who are members of the Brazilian Society of Retina and Vitreous (SBRV). Methods: A questionnaire containing 22 questions related to precautions taken before, during, and after intravitreal injection was sent electronically to 920 members of SBRV between November 15, 2013 and April 31, 2014. Results: 352 responses (38%) were obtained. There was a predominance of men (76%) from the southwest region of Brazil (51%). The professional experience varied between 6 and 15 years after medical specialization (50%). Most professionals (76%) performed an average of 1 to 10 intravitreal injections a week, and 88% of the procedures were performed in the operating room using povidone iodine (99%), sterile gloves, and blepharostat (94%). For inducing topical anesthesia, usage of anesthetic eye drops was the most used technique (65%). Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) was the most common drug (55%), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was the most treated disease (57%). Regarding the complications treated, 6% of the ophthalmologists had treated at least one case of retinal detachment, 20% had treated cases of endophthalmitis, 9% had treated cases of vitreous hemorrhage, and 12% had encountered cases of crystalline lens touch. Conclusion: Intravitreal injection is a procedure routinely performed by retina specialists and has a low incidence of complications. Performing the procedure in the operating room using an aseptic technique was preferred by most of the respondents. Ranibizumab was the most used drug, and AMD was the most treated disease. .

Objetivo: Avaliar e descrever os cuidados envolvidos durante o procedimento de injeção intravítrea de drogas antiangiogênicas realizado pelos oftalmologistas membros da Sociedade Brasileira de Retina e Vítreo (SBRV). Métodos: Foi enviado um questionário aos 920 membros da SBRV, por meio de correio eletrônico, entre o período de 15/11/2013 a 31/04/2014, contendo 22 questões, relacionado aos cuidados pré, intra e pós-operatório da injeção intravítrea. Resultados: Foram obtidas 352 respostas (38% dos sócios). Houve um predomínio do sexo masculino (76%), procedentes da região Sudeste (51%). O tempo de experiência profissional se concentrou entre 6 a 15 anos após o término da especialização (50%). A maioria dos participantes tem média semanal de 1 a 10 (76%), sendo 88% das vezes realizado dentro do centro cirúrgico, utilizando iodopovidona (99%), luvas e blefarostato estéreis (94%). A anestesia tópica com colírio anestésico foi a técnica mais utilizada (65%). Entre os participantes, ranibizumabe (Lucentis®) é a droga mais utilizada (55%) e a degeneração macular relacionada a idade (DMRI) é a doença mais tratada (57%). Das complicações citadas pelos oftalmologistas, 6% já vivenciaram pelo menos um caso de descolamento de retina, 20% endoftalmite, 9% hemorragia vítrea e 12% toque cristaliniano. Conclusão: A injeção intravítrea é um procedimento realizado rotineiramente por retinólogos, com baixo índice de complicações. A realização do procedimento no centro cirúrgico com técnica asséptica é preferida pelos pesquisados. A droga mais utilizada foi o ranibizumabe e a doença mais tratada foi a DMRI. .