Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thicknesses Did Not Change in Long-term Hydroxychloroquine Users

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) users. METHODS: The medical records of HCQ users were retrospectively reviewed. In these HCQ users, an automated perimetry, fundus autofluorescence photography, and SD-OCT with peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements were performed. The peripapillary RNFL thicknesses were compared between the HCQ users and the control groups. The relationships between the RNFL thicknesses and the duration or cumulative dosage of HCQ use were analyzed. RESULTS: This study included 77 HCQ users and 20 normal controls. The mean duration of HCQ usage was 63.6 ± 38.4 months, and the cumulative dose of HCQ was 528.1 ± 3.44 g. Six patients developed HCQ retinopathy. Global and six sectoral RNFL thicknesses of the HCQ users did not significantly decrease compared to those of the normal controls. No significant correlation was found between the RNFL thickness and the duration of use or cumulative dose. The eyes of those with HCQ retinopathy had temporal peripapillary RNFL thicknesses significantly greater than that of normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: The peripapillary RNFL thicknesses did not change in the HCQ users and did not correlate with the duration of HCQ use or cumulative doses of HCQ. RNFL thickness is not a useful biomarker for the early detection of HCQ retinal toxicity.

Frequency and Clinical Characteristics of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy in Korean Patients with Rheumatologic Diseases

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and clinical characteristics of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy in Korean patients with rheumatologic diseases. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 310 patients taking HCQ. Ophthalmic examinations included spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), automated visual field test, and fundus autofluorescence. The severity of retinopathy was categorized as early, moderate, or severe, and the location was categorized as parafoveal, pericentral, or mixed pattern. Among 310 patients, 9 patients (2.9%) were diagnosed as HCQ retinopathy. Among the patients with HCQ use ≥ 5 years (n = 174), the frequency was 5.2%. Only 1 (11.1%) of the 9 patients was symptomatic. The mean daily dose per kilogram of real body weight of the 9 patients was 5.6 mg, and only 3 had used 6.5 mg or more. Four of the 9 patients had severe HCQ retinopathy. Six of the 9 patients showed pericentral or mixed pattern of retinal damage. Consequently, the frequency of HCQ retinopathy in Korean patients was not low, especially when administered at a high cumulative dose and for a long duration. Screening of HCQ retinopathy by the recommended guidelines that include SD-OCT seems useful and should be done to detect retinal damage earlier in patients with chronic exposure to HCQ.

A Case of Steroid Glaucoma in a Child Treated with Systemic Steroid as Graft-Versus-Host Disease

PURPOSE: To report a case of steroid-induced glaucoma in a child who was treated with systemic steroids for a long period due to graft-versus-host disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 10-year-old male was referred to our ophthalmologic clinic for examination of papilledema due to persistent headache and nausea. He was diagnosed as aplastic anemia 8 years prior and took approximately 4,000 mg of oral prednisolone for 8 years from April 2007 to April 2015 for treatment of lung graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. His best corrected visual acuity was 0.8 (decimal) in the right eye, 0.5 in the left eye and intraocular pressure (IOP) measured using a Goldmann applanation tonometer was 42 mm Hg in the right eye and 43 mm Hg in the left eye. His cup-to-disc ratio was 0.8 in the right eye and 0.7 in the left eye. Additionally, superior and inferior neuroretinal rim thinning was present in both eyes. Despite using IOP-lowering agents, IOP was not controlled. However, after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in both eyes, IOP became normalized. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of pediatric patients treated with systemic steroids for a long period of time, regular observation is necessary to prevent IOP elevation and steroid-induced glaucoma.

Second-Eye Refractive Error Depending on the Reflection Rate of First-Eye Refractive Error in Cataract Surgeries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reflection rate of the first eye in order to minimize the real refractive error in the second eye in bilateral consecutive cataract surgeries. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed with 248 patients who underwent bilateral sequential uncomplicated phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Predicted spherical equivalent was compared with postoperative spherical equivalent, and the range of real refractive error was analyzed by calculating the reflection rate of the first eye. RESULTS: When the difference between predicted spherical equivalent and postoperative spherical equivalent was greater than 0.5 D as calculated with the formula of Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff Theoretical (SRK)-T and SRK II, application of 50-60%, 40-50% of the difference of the first eye was high probability to reduce the second-eye real refractive error (75%, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Application of 40-60% of the real refractive error in the first-eye can minimize the real refractive error in the second-eye in bilateral sequential cataract surgeries.

Effects of Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis, Intraocular Lens Decentration and Tilt on Clinical Outcomes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt on postoperative clinical outcomes after cataract surgery. METHODS: We reviewed 62 eyes of 52 patients who underwent cataract surgery and measured the uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity and manifest refraction preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. IOL decentration on anterior segment photography and IOL tilt on anterior optical coherent tomography were analyzed and correlations of postoperative uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, and higher order aberrations were evaluated. In addition, we inspected the relationship of size and decentration of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) intraoperatively with the change in IOL position postoperatively. RESULTS: The average size of CCC was 5.40 ± 0.51 mm (4.12-6.24 mm) and the average decentration of CCC was 0.30 ± 0.19 mm (0.09-1.21 mm) intraoperatively. The average decentration of IOL was 0.23 ± 0.15 mm (0.00-0.71 mm) and the average IOL tilt was 1.43 ± 0.73° (0.00-4.22°) postoperatively. Intraoperative CCC size and decentration were associated with postoperative IOL decentration (p = 0.01, p < 0.001), but not with IOL tilt (p = 0.69, p = 0.52). There were no significant correlations between IOL decentration and tilt with postoperative visual outcomes and higher order aberrations. CONCLUSIONS: The CCC size and decentration can affect the IOL decentration, but IOL decentration and tilt do not have a significant impact on clinical outcomes after cataract surgery.

Effects of Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis, Intraocular Lens Decentration and Tilt on Clinical Outcomes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt on postoperative clinical outcomes after cataract surgery. METHODS: We reviewed 62 eyes of 52 patients who underwent cataract surgery and measured the uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity and manifest refraction preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. IOL decentration on anterior segment photography and IOL tilt on anterior optical coherent tomography were analyzed and correlations of postoperative uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, and higher order aberrations were evaluated. In addition, we inspected the relationship of size and decentration of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) intraoperatively with the change in IOL position postoperatively. RESULTS: The average size of CCC was 5.40 ± 0.51 mm (4.12-6.24 mm) and the average decentration of CCC was 0.30 ± 0.19 mm (0.09-1.21 mm) intraoperatively. The average decentration of IOL was 0.23 ± 0.15 mm (0.00-0.71 mm) and the average IOL tilt was 1.43 ± 0.73° (0.00-4.22°) postoperatively. Intraoperative CCC size and decentration were associated with postoperative IOL decentration (p = 0.01, p < 0.001), but not with IOL tilt (p = 0.69, p = 0.52). There were no significant correlations between IOL decentration and tilt with postoperative visual outcomes and higher order aberrations. CONCLUSIONS: The CCC size and decentration can affect the IOL decentration, but IOL decentration and tilt do not have a significant impact on clinical outcomes after cataract surgery.

A Case of Nonparaneoplastic Autoimmune Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To report a case of nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy diagnosed using serum anti-retinal autoantibodies. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old female complained of progressive visual loss in both eyes over 3 months. Her best corrected visual acuity was hand motion in the right eye, 0.9 (decimal) in the left eye, and no definite abnormal findings were identified on fundus examinations. Automated visual field test revealed severely depressed visual fields in both eyes. Standard full-field electroretinogram (ERG) revealed nearly extinguished scotopic b-waves and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed subtle obscuration and interruption of the inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction of the photoreceptors. Using Western blotting with human retinal proteins and the patient's serum, we diagnosed nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy and performed posterior subtenon steroid injection in the right eye, systemic corticosteroids, and oral mycophenolate mofetil. Full-field ERG after treatment showed slightly increased amplitude but there was no subjective visual improvement. OCT after treatment did not reveal significant changes in the photoreceptor layer. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy in Korea diagnosed using Western blotting with anti-retinal autoantibodies. Autoimmune retinopathy should be considered in patients with visual field and ERG impairment without definite fundus abnormalities.