Anterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging of patients with anterior scleritis.

The purpose of the study was to describe the findings seen on anterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with anterior scleritis and determine the feasibility of using SD-OCT to image and grade the degree of scleral inflammation and monitor response to treatment. All patients underwent slit lamp examination by a uveitis specialist, and the degree of scleral inflammation was recorded. Spectral domain OCT imaging was then performed of the conjunctiva and scleral tissue using a standardized acquisition protocol. The scans were graded and compared to clinical findings. Twenty-eight patients with anterior scleritis and ten patients without ocular disease were included in the study. Seventeen of the scleritis patients were followed longitudinally. Common findings on SD-OCT in patients with active scleritis included changes in hyporeflectivity within the sclera, nodules, and visible vessels within the sclera. There was significant variation in findings on SD-OCT within each clinical grade of active scleritis. These changes on SD-OCT improved with treatment and clinical improvement. SD-OCT imaging provided various objective measures that could be used in the future to grade inflammatory activity in patients with anterior scleritis. Longitudinal imaging of patients with active scleritis demonstrated that SD-OCT may have great utility in monitoring response to treatment.

LATE-ONSET CHOROIDAL METASTASIS FROM BREAST CANCER.

PURPOSE: Report occurrence of late-onset choroidal metastasis from breast cancer. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: The authors report 3 patients with choroidal metastasis from breast cancer that presented more than 20 years after diagnosis of the primary tumor. The choroidal metastases were the presenting feature of metastatic disease in all three patients, but after imaging, all patients had metastasis elsewhere as well. Two of the patients' tumors were known, ER+, and the hormone receptor status of the third patient was unknown. All three patients were treated with aromatase inhibitors with good response. CONCLUSION: Late onset of metastatic disease, an excellent response to hormonal therapy, and a prolonged survival despite presence of systemic disease suggests a milder variant within the broad category of breast cancer patients with uveal metastases. Awareness of this entity can minimize the risk of misdiagnosis and avoid potentially toxic local therapy.

Choroidal neovascularisation on optical coherence tomography angiography in punctate inner choroidopathy and multifocal choroiditis.

PURPOSE: To describe the findings seen on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) and multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis (MCP) complicated by choroidal neovascular membranes. METHODS: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved prospective, descriptive case series. 12 patients with PIC and MCP complicated by choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) were included. Each patient underwent slit-lamp examination by a uveitis specialist followed by conventional spectral domain OCT imaging of the macula. OCTA images of the macula were then obtained. RESULTS: 12 patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 9 patients were followed longitudinally. CNV was identified in 11 of the 12 patients. In all patients where fluorescein angiography (FA) was inconclusive for presence of CNV, OCTA identified CNV. Various lesions on OCT suggestive of activity correlated with changes in the vascular structure of OCTA to confirm suspicion of clinical activity. CONCLUSION: In patients with PIC and MCP complicated by CNV, OCTA successfully identified underlying CNV. Given the difficulty of differentiating inflammatory lesions from early CNV on OCT and FA, OCTA may provide a valuable method of monitoring patients with posterior uveitis highly correlated with development of CNV.

OCT Angiography Identification of Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy.

A 74-year-old female with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy presented with a new lesion suspicious for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in her right eye. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) confirmed the presence of CNV. OCTA is a new imaging technique that may help guide diagnosis and management of choroidal neovascular membranes in uveitic diseases.

Prevalence and characteristics of hyporeflective preretinal tissue in vitreomacular interface disorders.

AIMS: To assess prevalence and characteristics of hyporeflective preretinal tissue on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) in eyes with vitreomacular interface disorders. METHODS: 4037 eyes (3195 patients) with diagnosis of lamellar macular hole (LMH), full-thickness macular hole (FTMH), epiretinal membrane (ERM) and vitreomacular traction were included. Quantitative analysis was performed including volume and area of the epiretinal proliferation, as well as the brightness of the hyporeflective band. Clinical characteristics were also collected and analysed. RESULTS: A hyporeflective preretinal tissue layer was identified in 204 of 4037 eyes (5.1%); 162 eyes in LMH (79.4%), 23 eyes in FTMH (11.3%) and 19 eyes in ERM (9.3%). In LMH, the visual acuity was significantly different between the cases with and without epiretinal proliferation at the initial visit and the final visit, (p=0.012, 0.046, respectively). The maximum thickness, area, volume of hyporeflective preretinal tissue became significantly larger during the observation period (p<0.001). Brightness of the preretinal tissue (109.3±21.1 arbitrary unit) was close to the retinal ganglion cell layer (112.0±19.5) and the retinal outer plexiform layer (117.7±19.5). CONCLUSIONS: Hyporeflective preretinal tissue was found with significant frequency in eyes with LMH, FTMH and ERM, with a particularly high incidence in LMH. The increased presence of this tissue in cases of LMH may signify a particular subtype of LMH. More research is needed to better understand the implications of the presence of this tissue for visual and surgical outcomes.

Delayed recurrence of acute retinal necrosis (ARN): A case series.

PURPOSE: To report five cases of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) that reactivated in the same eye or presented in the contralateral eye between two and nineteen years after the initial episode of acute retinal necrosis. CASES: Five patients with a previous history of ARN developed recurrent ARN infection following a lengthy latency period. In all five patients who initially presented with unilateral disease, four developed infection in the contralateral eye and one developed recurrent infection in the ipsilateral eye. Latency periods ranged from two to nineteen years, and final visual acuity in the affected eyes ranged from 20/30 to no light perception. Each patient was treated with antiviral medication for both the initial infection and for subsequent reactivations, but was not on long-term prophylaxis at the time of recurrent disease. CONCLUSION: Although rare, delayed onset reactivation of ARN can occur in either the same eye or contralateral eye despite adequate treatment. While contralateral spread of initial infection is fairly common, these reactivations rarely occur more than six weeks after initial infection. Currently there are no guidelines for use of prophylactic antiviral medication to prevent late recurrence of ARN.

A case of Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis with recurrent inflammation and novel management.

BACKGROUND: Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of endogenous endophthalmitis. In the limited number of reported Listeria endophthalmitis cases, visual acuity outcomes have been very poor. FINDINGS: Here, we report a case of Listeria endophthalmitis that was complicated by recurrent inflammation. The patient required treatment with both intravitreal and long-term systemic antibiotics. An anterior chamber washout was necessary for the patient to regain 20/20 visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the importance of considering Listeria early in the disease course, as it has low sensitivity to standard empiric antibiotic therapy. It also stresses the importance of addressing damaging inflammation in infectious conditions.

Clear lens extraction in angle-closure glaucoma patients.

AIM: To describe the results of 5 consecutive cases of clear lens extraction in angle closure patients for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: Retrospective observational case series. All angle closure patients were on two or more topical glaucoma medications and had prior laser iridotomy. Eyes underwent clear lens extraction by phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. RESULTS: All five patients in this case series carried the diagnosis of angle-closure glaucoma and had uncontrolled IOP prior to surgery despite topical medications. After clear lens extraction three of the cases had good IOP control (IOP<22mmHg) without the need for topical medications. In one case the IOP was better controlled after surgery, however, topical medications were required. The desired IOP was not met in one case despite restarting maximum topical therapy. CONCLUSION: This case series suggests that there may be a role for therapeutic clear lens extraction in select cases of angle-closure glaucoma.