Diagnostic Significance and Usefulness in Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) of Patients with Nonspecific Orbital Inflammation

PURPOSE: The present study assessed the diagnostic significance of digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) in determining the inflammatory state of patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation. METHODS: The present study included 11 patients diagnosed with nonspecific orbital inflammation between December 2009 and March 2011 and who were followed-up for more than 6 months. All patients were all diagnosed based on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance image (MRI) and tissue biopsy. The grade of eyelid swelling was classified as 5 and severe compared with the temperature of location. The temperature of the upper eyelid, caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva, lower eyelid, cornea and lateral orbit were measured with DITI. RESULTS: When comparing the normal eye with the diseased eye in patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation, the temperature of the upper eyelid and cornea were statistically significant (p = 0.003, p = 0.038, respectively, Mann-Whitney test). The correlation between the grade of eyelid swelling and the temperature of location was most highly related in the temperature of the upper eyelid (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = 0.55, p = 0.008) and cornea (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = 0.45, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: DITI may aid in evaluating the inflammatory state of nonspecific orbital inflammation. In particular, the temperature of the upper eyelid and cornea can be very useful indicator. Future studies, including larger study population are necessary in order to confirm DITI as a diagnostic tool which can assess the results of medical treatment by comparing temperature before and after treatment.

A Case of Acute Endophthalmitis After 23-gauge Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute endophthalmitis associated with 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy and gas tamponade for macular hole surgery. CASE SUMMARY: A 66-year-old female patient who presented with a macular hole in the left eye was treated with 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy. On postoperative day 2, the patient developed acute endophthalmitis and was treated with gas-fluid exchange, lensectomy and intravitreal antibiotic injection. Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected in the vitreous fluid of the operated eye. Intraoperative fundus findings showed severe retinal hemorrhage, vascular occlusion and fibrous membranes due to inflammatory response. After treatment, the patient's fundus findings markedly improved and the inflammatory response was controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Acute endophthalmitis after sutureless vitrectomy performed via intraocular gas injection may quickly result in inflammation and disease due to infection. Immediate reoperation and intravitreal antibiotic injections are recommended in such cases.

A Case of Combination Therapy for Subretinal Neovascularization in Bilateral Acquired Parafoveal Telangiectasis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of a case of subretinal neovascularization (SRN) in bilateral acquired parafoveal telangiectasis, performed combination therapy of intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05ml) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). CASE SUMMARY: A 46-year-old female presented with a decrease invisual acuity. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.0 in the right eye and 0.1 in the left eye. On ophthalmic examination, she was diagnosed with bilateral acquired parafoveal telangiectasis combined with SRN in the left eye. Intravitreal bevacizumab was injected, and then photodynamic therapy was performed 4 days later. Three months after the combination therapy, her BCVA improved to 0.5, a regression of SRN was observed and vascular leakage was markedly decreased. However, her BCVA decreased to 0.1 and SRN recurred 9 months later. CONCLUSIONS: The combined treatment of intravitreal bevacizumab and photodynamic therapy may be used as a selective alternative treatment modality for SRN in bilateral acquired parafoveal telangiectasis, although its effect is short-term.

Short-Term Effect of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection for Choroidal Neovascularization Associated With Degenerative Myopia

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection for choroidal neovascularization associated with degenerative myopia. METHODS: In 15 eyes of 15 patients, one or two consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections were given. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and fundus examination were evaluated at baseline and monthly thereafter. Fluorescence angiography (FA) was performed at baseline, 1 month and 3 months after treatment. When the angiographic leakage persisted 1 month after the first injection, a second injection was administered. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 9.7 months. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) BCVA was 0.81+/-0.44 at baseline, 0.64+/-0.41 at 3 months (p=0.005), and 0.60+/-0.41 (p=0.001) at the final examination. Five eyes received a single injection, while the other ten eyes had two consecutive injections. Three months after the first injection, 14 eyes (93.3%) had no angiographic leakage, and 1 eye (6.7%) showed a decrease in leakage. The mean lines of visual improvement at 3 months and at the final examination were 1.7 and 2.1 lines, respectively. No case of vision loss was observed throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: One or two consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections had favorable short-term effects on visual acuity stabilization and the regression of choroidal neovascularization associated with neovascular degenerative myopia.

An Analysis of Correlation with Visual Acuity, Refractive Error and Corneal Astigmatism after Wearing of Reverse Geometry Lenses

PURPOSE: To evaluate correlations with refractive error, astigmatism and uncorrected visual acuity after Ortho-K LKTM lens wear. METHODS: Sixty-one eyes of 32 patients who had been wearing reverse geometry lenses for over 5 weeks were recruited. Uncorrected visual acuity, subjective refraction on retinoscopy, objective refraction measured by an autorefractometer, and corneal astigmatism were measured by corneal topography before, at 2 days, and 1, 3, and 5 weeks after lenses fitting. RESULTS: Uncorrected visual acuity improved from 0.12+/-0.10 to 0.95+/-0.15 after 5 weeks. Subjective refraction on retinoscopy and objective refraction measures with the autorefractometer were -3.52+/-1.65D and -4.06+/-1.73D, respectively before wearing the lenses. These decreased to -0.08+/-0.40D and -1.98+/-2.04D, respectively after 5 weeks. The astigmatism detected by corneal topography improved from 0.93+/-0.49 to 1.20+/-1.03 after 5 weeks. Uncorrected visual acuity was correlated with the refractive error measured by subjective refraction with retinoscopy rather than that by objective refraction with the autorefractometer. Corneal astigmatism measured by corneal topography correlated with the refraction detected by the autorefractometer. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective refraction by retinoscopy rather than refraction found objectively using the autorefractometer, was highly correlated with uncorrected visual acuity (r=0.77~0.87) which seems to be useful in evaluating myopia patients. The astigmatism determined by autorefractometer examination had high correlation with that determined by corneal topography (r=0.51~0.76). This result appears useful in decisions related to the decentering of lenses.