Site directed mutants of human interleukin-1 alpha: a 1H-NMR and receptor binding study.

Mutant human interleukin-1 alpha proteins were constructed by oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis. Six different mutants were tested for receptor binding activity and showed no alteration with respect to the wild-type protein. Analysis of these mutants by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed the structural integrity of the mutant proteins and permitted the sequence specific assignment of the histidine and tryptophan residues.

Operating microscope-induced retinal phototoxicity during pars plana vitrectomy.

We treated two cases of retinal phototoxic damage created by the coaxial illumination of the operating microscope during vitrectomy surgery. These lesions were probably created at the end of the vitrectomy procedure, after intraocular manipulation had ceased. This critical period, while the sclerotomy sites were being closed, was estimated to last no longer than ten to 15 minutes. We recommend that the cornea be shielded during sclerotomy closure at the conclusion of those vitrectomy procedures with a clear liquid media and clear crystalline lens or pseudophakos.

Titanium retinal tacks with pneumatic insertion. Histologic evaluation in rabbits.

Titanium retinal tacks were implanted through the formed vitreous into the posterior retinas of rabbits and evaluated by electroretinographic testing and by light microscopy at intervals after implantation. Tritiated thymidine autoradiography was used to evaluate the proliferation of ocular tissues in response to tack insertion. Within one month after implantation, the retinal tacks were surrounded by scar tissue produced by the proliferation of retinal glial cells and choroidal and scleral connective tissue cells. The tissue response was focal and there was no excessive fibrous tissue or vascular proliferation or any indication of iris neovascularization for six months. The observations of firm retinal adherence and low tissue reactivity suggest that titanium tacks can be used to secure the retina during retinal attachment surgery and can remain permanently in the eye.

Progressive enlargement of laser scars following grid laser photocoagulation for diffuse diabetic macular edema.

Laser photocoagulation in a grid pattern is effective in many eyes in resolving diffuse diabetic macular edema and stabilizing vision. We retrospectively studied 203 eyes of 203 patients, all of whom had diabetic macular edema treated with grid laser photocoagulation. During the follow-up period, 11 of these 203 eyes developed enlargement of the laser scars that progressed into the central fovea. Each of the 11 eyes experienced loss of vision, and in five, the visual loss was significant. Five of these eyes also developed a retinal pigment hyperplastic scar. After the laser treatment, but before the scars enlarged, the visual acuity of these eyes was unchanged from that before treatment. But after the atrophic scars enlarged into the central fovea, visual acuity in one eye decreased from 20/40 to 20/100, and the other 10 eyes had visual acuities of 20/200 or worse.

Vitreous surgery for retinal detachment associated with choroidal coloboma.

We report the results of vitreous surgery in seven eyes with retinal detachments caused by retinal breaks at the margin of, or within, a choroidal coloboma. All seven eyes (100%) were reattached; visual acuities in five (71%) of the seven eyes improved from preoperative levels. Vitrectomy was combined with air-fluid exchange and endodrainage through preexisting retinal breaks or planned retinotomies in all but one of the cases. Part or all of the rim of the choroidal coloboma in six eyes underwent endophotocoagulation. The two eyes that did not experience postoperative visual improvement underwent intraoperative endolaser treatment 360 degrees around the optic nerve. If peripapillary endophotocoagulation is performed, especially through the papillomacular bundle, nerve fiber damage may occur and prevent visual recovery, despite retinal reattachment. For eyes with retinal detachment associated with choroidal colobomas involving the optic nerve, postoperative laser treatment through the papillomacular bundle may be preferable.

Fibrovascular tissue in bilateral juxtafoveal telangiectasis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the natural history and retinal findings associated with the intraretinal and subretinal fibrovascular tissues that develop in the late phases of bilateral juxtafoveal telangiectasis. METHODS: The records of 10 patients (11 eyes) with bilateral juxtafoveal telangiectasis who developed these fibrovascular tissues were examined. RESULTS: Throughout the follow-up period (average 44 months), only 2 eyes (18%) lost 2 or more lines of vision; the final visual acuities were similar for the eyes both with and without fibrovascular tissues. Sixty-four percent of fibrovascular tissues showed little to no growth. Eyes with fibrovascular tissue commonly had retinal pigment epithelial hyperplasia (72%), draining retinal venules (82%), and retinal vascular distortion (64%). CONCLUSIONS: Fibrovascular tissues of bilateral juxtafoveal telangiectasis have little proliferative potential and minimal effects on visual acuity. Nevertheless, these fibrovascular tissues do remodel over time, leading to retinal vascular distortion. Given these benign findings, the role of laser photocoagulation treatment of these tissues is questionable.

Pneumatic retinopexy. Surgical results.

We reviewed 55 consecutive cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with pneumatic retinopexy. Eyes with inferior retinal breaks from the 4- to 8-o'clock positions or macular holes with retinal detachment were excluded. Forty-five eyes (82%) were reattached with one operation. Although ten operations failed, nine retinas were subsequently reattached surgically, a 98% overall reattachment rate. Thirty-three (92%) of 36 phakic eyes, eight (66%) of 12 pseudophakic eyes, and four (57%) of seven aphakic retinas were reattached with one operation. In macula-off cases, phakic patients tended to have greater improvement in visual acuity. New breaks occurred in six eyes (11%), five (83%) of which were pseudophakic or aphakic. The safety, efficacy, and indications for pneumatic retinopexy remain to be established by a randomized, controlled, prospective study.

Penetrating keratoplasty: changing indications, 1947 to 1978.

Corneal buttons submitted to the Estelle Doheny Eye Foundation from 1947 through 1978 were studied. According to a study of 710 corneal specimens processed during 31 years, the leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty were aphakic bullous keratopathy, regrafts, keratoconus, and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy. Intraocular lenses were associated with 22% of all specimens of aphakic bullous keratopathy in 1974, increasing to 68% of all aphakic bullous keratopathy corneas in 1978. Histopathologic appearance of aphakic bullous keratopathy corneas with or without an intraocular lens was similar.

Crystalline retinopathy associated with chronic retinal detachment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of crystalline opacities located at the level of the inner retina in patients with chronic retinal detachment. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records, fundus photographs, and fluorescein angiograms of patients with superficial retinal crystals in the presence of a chronic retinal detachment. RESULTS: Eleven eyes in 11 patients with chronic retinal detachment were found to have these peculiar crystalline opacities on the inner retinal surface. In 5 patients, the crystalline opacities were noted on initial assessment prior to surgery and persisted without change in appearance or number after surgical repair. In 6 eyes, the crystals were not appreciated until after surgical repair of the retinal detachment. The crystals appeared similar in all 11 eyes, were highly refractile, and were located in the posterior pole. Eight of the eyes had retinal detachment associated with retinal dialysis and 6 of these had a history of trauma. There was a definite history of vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eyes. The crystals did not seem to be associated with any visual deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic retinal detachment can be associated with crystals on the inner retinal surface. The cause and composition of these crystals are unknown. They seem to be visually inconsequential and unchanging.

Nonsurgical management of macular hemorrhage secondary to retinal artery macroaneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To report visual acuity outcomes of nonsurgical management of macular hemorrhage secondary to retinal artery macroaneurysms. METHODS: Forty-one patients at multiple centers with macular hemorrhage secondary to retinal artery macroaneurysms managed with observation alone were reviewed. Time to clearance of macular hemorrhage, visual acuity at final follow-up, and presence or absence of macular pigmentary changes after absorption of the hemorrhage were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: On initial examination, visual acuity was 20/200 or worse in all except 4 patients (3 with 20/70, 1 with 20/80). At an average follow-up of 15. 7 months, a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 15 eyes (37%), between 20/50 and 20/100 in 12 (29%), and 20/200 or worse in 14 (34%). Macular pigmentary abnormalities were noted after clearance of the hemorrhage in 23 (56%) of 41 cases, and these eyes generally had worse visual acuity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In eyes with macular hemorrhage secondary to retinal artery macroaneurysms managed with observation alone, good visual acuity outcomes can often be achieved. Poorer visual acuity outcomes are associated with macular pigmentary changes after resorption of blood. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:780-785

Rash, fever, and chills after intravenous fluorescein angiography.

PURPOSE: To report a previously unreported complication associated with intravenous injection of fluorescein dye. METHOD: Case report. A 75-year-old man developed a unique complication after intravenous injection of fluorescein dye for angiography. RESULTS: Two hours after receiving an intravenous injection of fluorescein for angiography, the patient developed a fever, rash, and chills. Admission to a hospital and careful systemic evaluation determined that this reaction was a noninfectious allergic response to intravenous fluorescein dye injection. CONCLUSION: A delayed allergic response to intravenous fluorescein dye injection can occur.

Acute multifocal retinitis.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation, ophthalmoscopic and fluorescein angiographic findings, and natural history of 14 eyes in nine otherwise healthy, young-to-middle-age adults with idiopathic, acute, multifocal retinitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical and photographic records of nine patients. RESULTS: Five of the nine patients reported a flu-like illness 1 to 2 weeks before the onset of visual symptoms. Ophthalmoscopic findings included mild vitritis (11 of 14), mild optic nerve edema (seven of 14), macular star (two of 14) or localized neurosensory retinal detachment (two of 14) caused by adjacent focus of retinitis, and small branch-artery occlusion (two of 14). Fluorescein angiography showed early blocking hypofluorescence with late staining hyperfluorescence of all areas of retinitis. In patients with optic nerve edema, the disk showed late leakage. Specific tests for collagen vascular disorders, as well as systemic syphilis and toxoplasmosis titers, were negative in all patients. Five of six patients with histories of cat exposure tested negative for systemic Bartonella henselae antibodies. One patient with a history of cat exposure refused testing. Clinical courses were self-limited, with complete return of vision without treatment in all but one eye, which developed a juxtafoveal scar and localized traction retinal detachment in an area of prior retinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic acute multifocal retinitis should be considered in any otherwise healthy, young-to-middle-age adult with acute loss of vision in the presence of multifocal retinitis, particularly when accompanied by an antecedent flu-like illness. Patients with idiopathic acute multifocal retinitis usually have favorable clinical course.

Severe diabetic retinopathy after cataract surgery.

We retrospectively compared the visual acuity and degree of background diabetic retinopathy in 32 consecutive patients with diabetes who had cataract surgery in one eye (study group) and compared them with the visual acuity and degree of diabetic retinopathy in 32 patients with diabetes who had not had cataract surgery (control group) to determine if the retinopathy was asymmetric and worse in the operated-on eye. Twenty-three (72%) of the 32 study patients had asymmetric retinopathy (with the more severe retinopathy in the eye that underwent cataract surgery in each case) compared with three (9%) of the control group (P < .0005). The eyes that had cataract surgery did poorly in terms of visual acuity with no eyes achieving 20/20 or 20/25, only three eyes achieving 20/30 or 20/40, and 16 achieving 20/100 or worse.

Clinicopathologic results of vitreous surgery for epiretinal membranes in patients with combined retinal and retinal pigment epithelial hamartomas.

Two patients (a 44-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man) with progressive visual loss associated with macular combined retinal-retinal pigment epithelial hamartomas underwent pars plana vitrectomies with peeling of macular epiretinal membranes. Histopathologic findings for one of the membranes were similar to those in idiopathic or other secondary epiretinal membranes. Although the epiretinal membranes were satisfactorily removed, visual acuity improved in neither eye. Fluorescein angiography showed persistence of vascular tortuosity and leakage and cystoid macular edema after surgery in both cases. One eye developed a late postoperative operculated retinal tear which was successfully treated with cryopexy. The role of vitrectomy and membrane removal in cases of macular combined retinal-retinal pigment epithelial hamartomas appears to be limited.

Clinical results of titanium retinal tacks with pneumatic insertion.

We used titanium retinal tacks inserted with a pneumatic instrument for retinal fixation in 11 operative procedures in ten eyes with complicated retinal detachments. Titanium was selected for permanent implantation because of its documented biologic tolerance. No intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the tacks were encountered. Three tacks, one 0.7 mm in length and two 1.6 mm in length, became dislodged postoperatively; 50 permanently implanted tacks, each 1.6 mm in length, remained in place after a mean follow-up of five months. Retinal reattachment at the end of the follow-up period was achieved in eight eyes and useful visual function was obtained in three eyes. Titanium retinal tacks are useful when immediate retinal fixation is required either temporarily or permanently to prevent retraction and detachment of the retina until adjunctive diathermy, cryopexy, or photocoagulation becomes effective.

Two cases of intraocular infection with Alaria mesocercaria (Trematoda)

We encountered two cases of human intraocular infection with mesocercariae of Alaria (Trematoda), involving unrelated Asian men who had unilateral decreased vision. Both patients had pigmentary tracks in the retina, areas of active or healed retinitis, or both, and other signs of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis. Similar, nonnematode worms were seen in the patients' retinas and vitreous, respectively, several years after apparent infection. The worm in Case 1 was analyzed from projected fundus photographs and diagnosed as an Alaria mesocercaria on the basis of its shape, size (500 x 150 microns), and movement; it was successfully killed with laser. The worm in Case 2 was removed surgically from the vitreous and identified as A. mesocercaria, 555 x 190 microns, most likely A. americana. The probable source of infection in the patients was ingestion, in local restaurants, of undercooked frogs' legs containing A. mesocercaria. In addition to causing prolonged intraocular infection, A. mesocercaria was found to be a cause of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis, a condition previously attributed only to intraocular nematode larvae.

Penetrating keratoplasty after placement of a temporary keratoprosthesis during pars plana vitrectomy.

Five eyes of five patients with opaque corneas underwent penetrating keratoplasty after pars plana vitrectomy. In each case, the Landers-Foulks temporary keratoprosthesis provided visualization of the vitreous cavity and retina, allowed successful removal of hemorrhagic vitreous, and permitted retinal reattachment. Corneal grafts remained clear in two eyes; three grafts developed stromal edema. Useful postoperative vision was achieved in two eyes. However, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, postoperative hypotony, atrophia bulbi, and corneal edema resulted in poor vision in three eyes.

Massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy associated with Valsalva maneuver.

PURPOSE: To report the intraoperative occurrence of massive intraocular suprachoroidal hemorrhage associated with Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter study of patients who developed massive choroidal hemorrhage associated with Valsalva maneuver during vitrectomy. RESULTS: Massive intraoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage in seven patients (seven eyes) involved three men and four women with a median age of 52 years (range, 26 to 82 years). General anesthesia was used in six of seven cases. Coughing or "bucking" on the endotracheal tube during general anesthesia or severe coughing during the one vitrectomy performed under local anesthesia was associated with massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage. In five of seven eyes, this occurred near the end of surgery, after air-fluid exchange but before sclerotomy closure. Scleral plugs were immediately placed, and sclerotomy closure was performed exigently. Immediate posterior sclerotomy was performed on five of seven eyes; an additional patient underwent posterior sclerotomy postoperatively. After median follow-up of 18 months (range, 3 to 36 months), final visual acuity was no light perception in four eyes, light perception in one eye, 20/250 in one eye, and 20/20 in one eye. Four eyes became phthisical. CONCLUSIONS: Valsalva maneuver during pars plana vitrectomy may result in massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage with disastrous visual consequences. Precautionary measures to prevent coughing or "bucking" on the endotracheal tube during general anesthesia, or a prolonged episode of coughing during local anesthesia, may prevent this potentially devastating complication.

Surgical management of retinal detachment associated with the acute retinal necrosis syndrome.

We operated on nine eyes in eight patients with retinal detachment associated with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome. The patients were treated with scleral buckling, vitreoretinal surgery, or a combination of these treatments. Vitrectomised eyes underwent combinations of lensectomy, membrane dissection, scleral buckling, air-fluid exchange, endolaser photocoagulation, cryotherapy, and retinal tamponade with C3F8 gas or SF6 gas. Macular attachment was achieved in eight (89%) eyes. Vision improved in seven (78%) eyes, of which five (56%) achieved 20/200 or better vision. Three eyes that had received laser treatment posterior to areas of retinitis suffered retinal detachment despite this prophylactic treatment. Poor visual outcome resulted from viral infection of the optic nerve or macular involvement, macular hole formation, macular pucker, or hypotony.

Kearns-Sayre syndrome: a case report and review.

In 1958, Kearns and Sayre described a multisystem entity, now known as Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS). The syndrome is defined as exhibiting a triad of thus far unexplained degenerative conditions: progressive external ophthalmoplegia, retinal pigmentary degeneration, and heart block. Commonly accompanying findings include cerebellar dysfunction and CSF protein levels above 100 mg/dl. Symptoms usually appear in early childhood, but the onset has been seen occasionally in young adults. KSS is a mitochondrial disorder that occurs rarely; the actual incidence is unknown. Ocular findings consist of bilateral ptosis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, and pigmentary retinopathy. Corneal clouding and optic neuritis are infrequent. We herein report a classic case of Kearns Sayre syndrome and discuss the findings.