Pseudo-Orbital Apex Syndrome in the Acute Trauma Setting Due to Ipsilateral Dissection of Internal Carotid Artery.

Traumatic causes of orbital apex and superior orbital fissure syndrome are uncommon. The authors present the first case of a traumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome simulating orbital apex syndrome, with loss of vision from posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. A 35-year-old man was initially felt to have a right orbital apex syndrome with left craniofacial and orbital trauma. CT revealed left orbital fractures, a right superior orbital fissure fracture, a retained metallic foreign body in the right sphenoid sinus, and a right frontoparietal subdural hematoma. CT angiography showed a secondary dissection and occlusion of the right internal carotid artery from osseous erosion of the posterolateral wall of the sphenoid sinus. Internal carotid artery dissection is a possible, though rare, cause of ischemic optic neuropathy. The right pseudo-orbital apex syndrome resulted from a mechanical superior orbital fissure syndrome and posterior ischemic optic neuropathy from an internal carotid artery dissection.

Hospital-based ocular emergencies: epidemiology, treatment, and visual outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Ocular trauma is recognized as the leading cause of unilateral blindness. However, few studies to date have focused on the clinical features of hospital-based ocular emergencies. Effectiveness of trauma centers in treating ocular emergencies was compared with treatment in traditional community hospital emergency departments. Demographics, causes, and nature of ocular emergencies, as well as visual outcome in community hospitals emergency departments and trauma centers, were also examined. METHODS: Records of 1027 patients with ocular emergencies seen between July 2007 and November 2010 at 3 community hospitals emergency departments and 2 hospitals with level II trauma centers were retrospectively examined. Unpaired t test and Pearson χ(2) test were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The incidence of patients requiring ophthalmic intervention was 77.2 per 100 000 in the community hospitals and 208.9 per 100 000 in the trauma centers. Rates of ocular emergencies were higher in middle-aged, white men. Orbital fractures were found in 86% of all orbital contusion cases in trauma centers, whereas 66.7% of patients with fall injuries and open globe diagnoses resulted in legal blindness. CONCLUSIONS: The middle-aged, white men are more vulnerable to ocular injuries caused mainly by motor vehicle accidents. The ability of trauma centers to provide comparable increases in vision outcomes, despite treating more severe ocular emergencies, demonstrates the effectiveness of trauma centers. Patients diagnosed as having orbital contusions or who have fall injuries deserve careful evaluation because they are more likely to have more severe sight-threatening injuries.

Advanced Basal cell carcinoma in a patient with schizoaffective disorder: constraints and management.

The approach used by the authors for managing a patient with a schizoaffective disorder and advanced basal cell carcinoma involving the eyelids, orbit, and face is presented. Complexities included the advanced nature of the disease, neglect of the patient's condition due to schizoaffective disorder, the difficulty of obtaining informed consent, the required aggressive surgical intervention, reconstruction, and the necessary management during the postsurgical period. A multidisciplinary team approach with psychiatry, ophthalmology, ear, nose, and throat, plastic surgery, radiation oncology, oncology, legal, and bioethics specialties is required in patients with cognitive disabilities. Curative treatment requires complete excision, reconstruction, and proper postoperative care, which can be prohibitive in a schizophrenic patient from a surgical and ethical perspective. Staging of this condition after proper informed consent with biopsy, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging is presented. The options for management are discussed, including surgical intervention and palliative care.

Presentation and Management of Life-threatening Lesion in Left Orbit Complicated by Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

We present a unique case of acute on chronic left frontal sinusitis with an orbital abscess in the left orbit complicated by granulomatosis with polyangiitis and a defect to the structure of the orbit, among the 87 year old patient's other health-related conditions. Urgent transfer to tertiary care, and diagnostic, surgical, and multidisciplinary management were necessary to achieve a favorable clinical outcome: the eye was left undamaged and no infection spread to the brain. This report also sets out to review the literature.

Safety of negative-pressure wound therapy over ocular structures.

This is a report of the use, efficacy, and theoretic safety of negative-pressure wound therapy over ocular structures as a part of surgical treatment for necrotizing fasciitis. We treated a 65-year-old man with facial necrotizing fasciitis requiring serial debridement and closure of extensive periorbital and nasal wounds with skin grafts. Negative-pressure wound therapy was first used as a bridge to allow temporary closure and to encourage granulation tissue development. It was then used as a bolster dressing to stabilize skin grafts in the complex wound, not amenable to tie-over dressings. Excellent functional and cosmetic reconstruction of the periorbital and nasal regions was achieved. After treatment, the patient's corrected vision was 20/20. To our knowledge, the use of negative-pressure wound therapy directly over ocular structures has not been previously documented. In this case, it was safely used over the eyes with no sequelae to the patient's vision.

Case Study of Endogenous Streptococcal Endophthalmitis in the Critical Care Setting.

We report a rare case of orbital cellulitis and endogenous endophthalmitis, sepsis, meningitis with a brain abscess and a septic knee secondary to Streptococcus pneumonia. The problems of diagnosis, utility of CT and MRI scanning in the intensive care setting is discussed. The patient was admitted in an obtundated state to the ICU, was noted to have sepsis with blood culture positivity for S pneumoniae. She was noted to have meningitis, a septic knee, a brain abscess and conjunctival injection. CT and MRI scanning did not reveal any ocular or orbital abnormalities. Patient began with a sore throat and knee pain. Despite antibiotic treatment, she became septic with blood culture positivity for S. pneumoniae. She was noted to have knee cellulitis and a brain abscess.

Clinical Wide-Field Retinal Image Deep Learning Classification of Exudative and Non-Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

BACKGROUND:  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that currently affects approximately 196 million individuals and is projected to affect 288 million in 2040. As a result, better and earlier detection methods for this disease are needed in an effort to provide a higher quality of care. One way to achieve this is through the utilization of machine learning. A deep neural network, specifically a convoluted neural network (CNN) can be trained to differentiate between different types of AMD images given the proper training data. METHODS:  In this study, a CNN was trained on 420 Optos wide-field retinal images for 70 epochs in order to classify between exudative and non-exudative AMD. These images were obtained and labeled by ophthalmologists from the Martel Eye Clinic in Rancho Cordova, CA.  Results: After completing the study, a model was created with 88% accuracy. Both the training and validation loss started above 1 and ended below 0.2. Despite only analyzing a single image at a time, the model was still able to accurately identify if the individual had AMD in both eyes or one eye only. The model had the most trouble with bilateral non-exudative AMD. Overall the model was fairly accurate in the other categories. It was noted that the neural network was able to further differentiate from a single image if the disease is present in left, right, or both eyes. This is a point of contention for further investigation as it is impossible for the artificial intelligence (AI) to extrapolate the condition of both eyes from only one image. CONCLUSION:  This research fostered the development of a CNN that was able to differentiate between exudative and non-exudative AMD. As well as determine if the disease is present in the right, left, or both eyes with a relatively high degree of accuracy. The model was trained on clinical data and can theoretically be used to classify other clinical images it has never encountered before.

Treatment of a Rare Case of Orbital Necrotizing Fasciitis Utilizing Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.

We present a severe case of orbital necrotizing fasciitis that was treated utilizing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).  The conditions caused by the disease and the utility of the treatment were discussed. Additionally, the functionality and the process of the treatment were thoroughly analyzed. Potential complications from utilizing NPWT were also identified. When the patient was tested, it was found that he had intra op cultures with group B Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep pyogenes). CT scans were also conducted to analyze his right lateral periorbital tissue. Subsequently, the patient was admitted to the ICU, where a wound vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) was placed on his right eye. Once the NPWT was complete, the patient was prescribed antibiotics and was able to improve the health within his right eye.

Acute orbital apex syndrome and rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the successful clinical identification and management of rhino-orbital mucormycosis, a fungal infection with a high mortality rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A diabetic male patient with a headache and orbital apex syndrome in the right eye was examined using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for a possible fungal infection. Endoscopic surgical resection was performed and a pathology sample was taken. Specimens were prepared with Gömöri methenamine silver and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B 400 mg daily, followed by posaconazole 400 mg twice daily. RESULTS: CT and MRI revealed a mass of the right sphenoid spreading into the orbit, indicative of a fungal infection. The biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of mucormycosis. Complete recovery of eyelid and oculomotor function was achieved after 10 months of treatment, although the patient continues to suffer from irreversible blindness in the right eye due to optic nerve atrophy. He has been without signs or symptoms of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis need extensive surgical and medical treatment to maximize outcomes. Success requires multidisciplinary management.

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome masquerading as a carotid artery dissection.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the difficulties of diagnosing a patient with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) due to its complicated presentation and extensive diagnostic testing, and how to manage the treatment of a patient in an emergent setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A female patient with THS affecting the left eye was examined using two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The patient was treated with high-dose methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol(®)) and prednisone. A follow-up MRI and magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) was also performed 4 months later. RESULTS: The second MRI scan disclosed a 5×9×10 mm lesion in the left superior orbital fissure/cavernous sinus. After administration of methylprednisolone and prednisone, the patient's pain completely resolved, and the left eye regained full duction and eyelid mobility. The MRI and MRA obtained after the treatment showed no abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The rarity of THS makes it difficult to diagnose, especially when there is a question of accuracy and reproducibility of the testing performed. An ophthalmologic consultation in such cases is crucial.