Effects of Subcutaneous Methotrexate in Patients with Refractory Uveitis and Chorioretinitis

Purpose@#Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunosuppressive agent used to treat noninfectious inflammatory eye conditions and is generally administered orally for ocular inflammatory diseases. When used in rheumatological diseases, subcutaneous administration has been reported to show higher efficacy than oral administration. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous MTX in patients with refractory uveitis or choroiditis who did not respond to other immunosuppressive agents. @*Methods@#A retrospective case series study was performed between January and December 2018. Patients with uveitis or chorioretinitis who showed little to no treatment response for 6 months or more with conventional immunosuppressive agents were treated with MTX, administered subcutaneously. After 6 months of treatment, patients were evaluated to determine whether complete suppression of inflammation sustained for ≥28 days was achieved in both eyes and whether improvement can be confirmed by fluorescein angiography (FAG). @*Results@#Subcutaneous MTX treatment was performed on 18 patients: 11 had intermediate uveitis and seven had posterior uveitis. In the intermediate uveitis patient group, five patients (50% of the group excluding one patient who dropped out) showed improvement in FAG and three patients (30%) showed complete suppression of inflammation. In the posterior uveitis group, two out of seven patients (excluding two patients who dropped out) showed an improvement, two patients in the group showed little change, and one patient showed aggravation of FAG findings. @*Conclusions@#The study confirmed that in patients with uveitis or chorioretinitis who had a refractory response to treatment with other immunosuppressive agents, subcutaneous MTX showed improved treatment efficacy.

Quality of Life and Visual Efficiency: fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PURPOSE: To analyze the association of visual efficiency and quality of life using data from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V). METHODS: The present study included 5,244 glaucoma or glaucoma suspect subjects who completed a visual acuity test, visual field test and health-related questionnaire from the KNHANES V. Visual efficiency was calculated using best corrected visual acuity and visual field test. Quality of life was assessed with EuroQoL 5D (EQ-5D). Visual efficiency was compared with best corrected vision of the better eye to evaluate the relationship with quality of life. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and partial correlations analysis were used to analyze the associations between factors. RESULTS: Both visual efficiency and best corrected visual acuity of the better eye were significantly different with all EQ-5D parameters (p < 0.005). After controlling for age, gender, income, education, spouse and house ownership, visual efficiency showed a positive correlation coefficient of +0.040 (p = 0.006) with the quality of life and the best corrected visual acuity of the better eye showed negative correlation coefficient of -0.044 (p = 0.002) with the quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Visual efficiency was associated with the quality of life. Not only visual acuity but also visual efficiency would be a valuable parameter when considering the quality of life. Further studies are needed to evaluate non-glaucomatous populations.

Clinical Outcome of Ciliary Sulcus-Implanted Single-Piece Foldable Acrylic Intraocular Lens

PURPOSE: To evaluate complications and refractive outcomes of implantation of a single-piece acrylic intraocular lens (SPA-IOL) in the ciliary sulcus during phacoemulsification complicated with posterior capsule tear (PCT). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who visited our hospital from 2014 January to 2015 June with implantation of a SPA-IOL (RAYNER 920H Superflex) in the ciliary sulcus during phacoemulsification complicated with PCT. Patients had their IOL power reduced by 1 diopter (D) from that calculated for in-the-bag implantation. At 3 months after operation, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and a refraction test were performed. RESULTS: PCT requiring implantation of IOL in the ciliary sulcus occurred in 17 eyes. Postoperative complications included corneal edema (3 eyes), anterior segment inflammation (1 eye), intraocular pressure elevations (3 eyes). However, improvements resulting from proper management and no significant IOL decentration were observed. At 3 months after operation, the mean spherical equivalent was -0.79 ± 0.39 D (-0.25 to -1.5 D), the mean UCVA was 0.77 ± 0.22 (0.4 to 1.0), and the mean BCVA was 0.94 ± 0.08 (0.8 to 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Sulcus implantation of a SPA-IOL (RAYNER 920H Superflex) has no clinically significant complication, and the mean spherical equivalent after 3 months with a power reduction of 1.0 D was -0.79 ± 0.39 D (-0.25 to -1.5 D).

A Case of Recurrent Uveitis in Autoimmune Liver Disease

PURPOSE: To report a case of recurrent uveitis associated with autoimmune liver disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old female with severe fatigue and arthritis visited the ophthalmology department due to decreased visual acuity and discomfort in her right eye for ten days. She had intermittent injection and blurred vision in both eyes for 30 years. Slit lamp examination of her right eye showed keratic precipitates, pigment deposits on the anterior capsule of the lens and anterior chamber cells; fundus examination was normal without any sign of chorioretinitis. Inflammatory reaction was improved after steroid and cycloplegic eye drop treatment. Two months later, her left eye developed anterior uveitis. Inflammation was well controlled with steroid and cycloplegic eye drop treatment. To evaluate the cause of uveitis and associated systemic disease, serological testing was performed, and abnormal elevation of liver enzymes was detected. The patient was referred to the Gastroenterology Department and diagnosed with autoimmune liver disease. Oral ursodeoxycholic acid was prescribed. Liver function profile improved to normal range, and the patient is currently under routine follow-up with no sign of recurrent uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: When a patient with recurrent uveitis presents symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice or abnormal liver profile, association with autoimmune liver disease should be considered.