Effect of levetiracetam on ocular perfusion measure with optical coherence tomography angiography / Efeito do levetiracetam na medição da pressão de perfusão ocular com angiotomografia de coerência óptica

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate using optical coherence tomography angiography the macular and optic nerve head blood flow in pediatric patients with epilepsy treated with levetiracetam for at least 12 months. Methods: This study included 33 pediatric patients with epilepsy and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteer children were included in the study. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to evaluate the optic nerve head and macular perfusion changes. The mean ocular perfusion pressures were also calculated. Patients who were using multiple antiepileptic drugs or had a prior history of using different drugs were excluded. Results: The choriocapillaris flow area was significantly lower in the Study Group than in the Control Group (p=0.006). However, the foveal avascular zone and vessel densities of the macula in the superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, and optic nerve head of the study group were not significantly different from those of the control group (p>0.05). Moreover, no significant difference in means of mean ocular perfusion pressure was found between the two groups (p=0.211). No obvious correlation was found between treatment duration and optical coherence tomography angiography parameters or mean ocular perfusion pressure. Conclusion: Choroidal perfusion was reduced in children taking levetiracetam compared with that in the control group, whereas retinal perfusion was not affected in this optical coherence tomography angiography study.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar através de angiotomografia de coerência óptica o fluxo sanguíneo macular e da cabeça do nervo óptico em pacientes pediátricos com epilepsia tratados com levetiracetam por pelo menos 12 meses. Método: Trinta e três pacientes pediátricos com epilepsia e 30 crianças voluntárias saudáveis pareadas por sexo e idade foram incluídos no estudo. A angiotomografia de coerência óptica foi utilizada para avaliar as alterações da perfusão da cabeça do nervo óptico e da macular. As médias das pressões de perfusão ocular também foram calculadas. Pacientes em uso de múltiplas drogas antiepilépticas ou com história prévia de uso de diferentes drogas foram excluídos do estudo. Resultado: A área do fluxo coriocapilar foi significativamente menor no Grupo Estudo do que no Grupo Controle (p=0,006). Entretanto, a zona avascular foveal e as densidades vasculares no plexo capilar superficial e profundo da região macular e na cabeça do nervo óptico não foram significativamente diferentes daquelas de olhos saudáveis (p>0,05). Também não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos em relação às médias da pressão de perfusão ocular (p=0,211). Nenhuma correlação aparente foi encontrada entre a duração do tratamento e os parâmetros da angiotomografia de coerência óptica ou a média da pressão de perfusão ocular. Conclusão: Em crianças usando levetiracetam, a perfusão coroidal mostrou-se reduzida em comparação ao grupo controle, enquanto a perfusão retiniana não foi afetada neste estudo com angiotomografia de coerência óptica.

Effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on the ocular surface, tear film, and corneal microstructure

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty with the removal of the skin and a strip of orbicularis oculi muscle on the ocular surface, tear film, and dry eye-related symptoms. Methods: Twenty-two eyes of 22 consecutive patients operated by a single surgeon (21 females; mean age, 61 years; age range, 41-75 years) were included. All subjects completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, underwent in vivo confocal microscopy, tear film breakup time measurements, the Schirmer test with anesthesia, and fluorescein and lissamine green staining measurements before, 1 month, and 6 months after upper blepharoplasty alone with preseptal orbicularis excision. Results: A significant increase in Ocular Surface Disease Index, and corneal fluorescein and lissamine green staining and a significant decrease in tear film breakup time were observed after 1 month (p=0.003, p=0.004, p=0.029, and p=0.024 respectively) and 6 months (p=0.001 for all findings). No significant difference in the Schirmer test score was observed during the follow-up. None of the in vivo confocal microscopy parameters showed significant changes during the study. Conclusions: An increase in dry eye symptoms and a decrease in tear film stability along with ocular surface staining were observed in patients undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty.

Diabetic microaneurysms detected by fluorescein angiography spatially correlate with regions of macular ischemia delineated by optical coherence tomography angiography

Purpose: To characterize the relationship between diabetic macular ischemia (DMI) delineated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and microaneurysms (MAs) identified by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). Methods: Patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) who underwent OCTA and FFA were retrospectively identified. FFA images were cropped and aligned with their respective OCTA images using i2k Align Retina software (Dual?Align, Clifton Park, NY, USA). Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and ischemic areas were manually delineated on OCTA images, and MAs were marked on the corresponding FFA images before overlaying paired scans for analysis (ImageJ; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Results: Twenty?eight eyes of 20 patients were included. The average number of MAs identified in cropped FFA images was 127 ± 42. More DMI was noted in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP; 36 ± 13%) compared to the deep capillary plexus (DCP; 28 ± 14%, P < 0.001). Similarly, more MAs were associated with ischemic areas in SCP compared to DCP (92.0 ± 35.0 vs. 76.8 ± 36.5, P < 0.001). Most MAs bordered ischemic areas; fewer than 10% localized inside these regions. As DMI area increased, so did associated MAs (SCP: r = 0.695, P < 0.001; DCP: r = 0.726, P < 0.001). Density of MAs surrounding FAZ (7.7 ± 6.0 MAs/mm2) was similar to other DMI areas (SCP: 7.0 ± 4.0 MAs/mm2, P = 0.478; DCP: 9.2 ± 10.9 MAs/mm2, P = 0.394). Conclusion: MAs identified in FFA strongly associate with, and border areas of, DMI delineated by OCTA. Although more MAs are localized to SCP ischemia, the concentration of MAs associated with DCP ischemia is greater. By contrast, few MAs are present inside low?flow regions, likely because capillary loss is associated with their regression.

Topographic distribution of retinal neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy using ultra-wide field angiography

Purpose: To analyze the topographic distribution of neovascularization (NV) and capillary nonperfusion (CNP) using ultra?wide field fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: This was a prospective, single?center, observational study in which all patients who presented between March 2019 and December 2020 and satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited. In our study, patients with treatment?naïve PDR without any fibrovascular proliferation underwent UWFFA. The images were analyzed qualitatively for the topographic distribution of NV and the CNP area was quantified. The number of lesions picked by UWFFA was compared with 7 standard field (7SF) image using overlay of 7SF. The main outcome measure was characteristics of neovascularization, such as the number, location, and area of CNP, measured using UWFFA, which was considered with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Two hundred and fifty?three eyes of 187 patients with a mean age of 56.03 ± 8 years were included. Mean neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) was 2.91 ± 3.43. Maximum NVEs were seen in the superotemporal (ST; 0.9 ± 1.13) quadrant, followed by the inferotemporal (IT; 0.7 ± 1.08), inferonasal (IN; 0.66 ± 1.02) and superonasal (SN; 0.66 ± 1.01) quadrants. Maximum CNP area was seen in the SN (13.75 ± 8.83 disc diameter square [DD2]) quadrant, followed by the IN (13.48 ± 8.59 DD2), IT (11.34 ± 8.37 DD2), and ST (11.3 ± 8.34 DD2) quadrants. Mean CNP area was maximum in patients with only neovascularization of disc (NVD; 64.99 ± 41.47 DD2), followed by both NVD and NVE (61.37 ± 35.61 DD2), and was minimum in patients with only NVE (36.44 ± 22.03 DD2). Eighty?one (32%) eyes out of 253 had NVE and 189 (75%) out of 253 had CNP area outside 7SF (overlay) of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). Conclusion: Diabetic NV lesions and CNP areas are distributed asymmetrically throughout the retina and are not restricted to the posterior pole. Compared to conventional 7SF imaging, UWFFA reveals significantly more retinal vascular pathology in patients with PDR.

“Dye another day!” – dyes in ophthalmology

Background: Dyes are substances that are an integral part of ocular procedures and surgeries. In Clinical practice, dyes help in better visualization and aid in diagnoses of ocular surface disorders. In Surgical practice, dyes help in better resolution of the structures that are otherwise naked to the surgeon’s eyes. Purpose: To educate ophthalmologists about the importance and uses of dyes. Synopsis: Dyes have become an important part of an ophthalmologists' clinical as well as surgical practice. This video aims at educating the different characteristics, uses, advantages and disadvantages of each dye. Dyes help in identifying the obscure and highlighting the invisible. The indications and contraindications as well as the side effects of each dye are discussed which would help ophthalmologists in the correct usage of these wonder substances. This video will also help the new eye doctors understand and utilize these dyes judiciously which would aid in their learning process and provide better patient care. Highlights: This video highlights the uses, indications, contraindications and side effects of all the dyes used in ophthalmology

Scleral communication between Glaucoma drainage device capsule and the suprachoroidal space simulating amelanotic choroidal melanoma / Comunicação escleral entre a cápsula de dispositivo de drenagem para glaucoma e o espaço supracoroidal simulando melanoma de coroide amelanótico

ABSTRACT This is a case report involving a 56-year-old male patient with a history of pars plana vitrectomy due to a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in the right eye that resulted in the implantation of a drainage device after the patient developed secondary glaucoma. Two years after the device's implantation, the patient was referred to our care as his visual acuity had decreased to 20/200 (1.00 LogMAR). At the fundus evaluation, a choroidal amelanotic elevation was observed at the upper temporal equator, and a potential diagnosis was made of amelanotic choroidal melanoma. The ultrasound exam visualized the patient's implanted superotemporal justabulbar drainage device, which revealed a transscleral communication from the plate fibrocapsular's draining space to the suprachoroidal space (fistula). The ultrasound also revealed a focal pocket of choroidal detachment in the patient's superotemporal region, simulating an amelanotic choroidal melanoma. A new pars plana vitrectomy was performed to remove the internal limiting membrane without repercussions at the fistula site. The patient's recovery progressed well, and he regained a visual acuity of 20/70 (0.55 LogMAR). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of this condition.

RESUMO Relato de caso de paciente 56 anos, sexo masculino, com histórico de vitrectomia via pars plana por descolamento de retina em olho direito e posterior implante de dispositivo de drenagem por glaucoma secundário. Dois anos após o procedimento foi encaminhado ao serviço por baixa de acuidade visual (AV) de 20/200 (1.00 LogMAR). À fundoscopia, observou-se uma elevação amelanótica temporal no equador com hipótese diagnóstica de melanoma de coroide amelanótico. O exame de ultrassom mostrou implante de dispositivo de drenagem justabulbar temporal superior com comunicação transescleral para espaço subcoroidal (fístula), sugerindo bolsão focal de descolamento de coroide em equador temporal superior simulando melanoma de coroide amelanótico. O paciente foi abordado cirurgicamente devido membrana epirretiniana com nova vitrectomia via pars plana para peeling de membrana limitante interna, sem repercussões no local da fístula, evoluindo bem com acuidade visual de 20/70 (0.55 LogMAR). Ao nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro caso relatado nessa condição.

Make full use of the new imaging technology to further explore the key problems of retinal branch vein occlusion / 中华眼底病杂志

With high morbidity, branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a common retinal vascular disease in the clinic. Although the classic characteristics of BRVO have been recognized for a long time, the traditional understanding of BRVO has been challenged along with development and application of new imaging technologies, including the reasonable classification and staging of the disease, and the vascular characteristics at the occlusive site via multimodal imaging, etc. Thus, re-summarizing and refining these features as well as further improving and optimizing traditional imaging evaluation, can not only deepen the correct acknowledge of the entity, but also find biomarkers of prognosis of visual function, which is helpful to establish better diagnosis and treatment strategy. In the meanwhile, it is necessary that clinical characteristics of BRVO on imaging and the reliability of these imaging techniques are worth correct understanding and objective assessment.

Application and problems of optical coherence tomography in clinical diagnosis and treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy / 中国医师杂志

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a fundus disease that can cause severe visual impairment. At present, the gold standard for the diagnosis of PCV is indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Due to its invasiveness and inconvenience in clinical application, researchers are exploring the use of non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) in clinical diagnosis and follow-up of PCV, and non-invasive diagnostic criteria based on OCT are gradually emerging. However, in the clinical application of this technology, there are still some problems, such as poor imaging effect, unclear diagnosis, over-reliance on OCT technology, complex follow-up situations and so on. This paper intends to review the current situation, new diagnostic criteria and related problems of OCT in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PCV, in order to provide reference for ophthalmologists.

Comparison of detection rates and time costs of different fundus imaging techniques for retinal neovascularization in optic disc and other area of proliferative diabetic retinopathy / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To compare the detection rate and time cost of different imaging methods for retinal and optic disc neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Thirty-eight patients (48 eyes) with PDR were enrolled in Henan Eye Hospital from October 2019 to February 2021, including 22 males (28 eyes) and 16 females (20 eyes). The average age of the patients was (51.08±13.35) years.All patients underwent ultra-widefield imaging (UWFI), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), en face optical coherence tomography (OCT), near-infrared fundus imaging (IR) combined with spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT). Wide field swept-source OCTA (WF-SS-OCTA) was performed in the patients who were unsuitable for FFA.The time required for each examination in one eye and the detection rate of neovascularization at the optic disc (NVD) and retinal neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) were recorded.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2021[22]). All patients were informed about the method and purpose of the study and voluntarily signed the informed consent form.Results:The mean monocular examination time costs of UWFI, IR+ SD-OCT, OCTA+ en face OCT, FFA and WF-SS-OCT was (0.51±0.13), (2.08±0.57), (5.79±0.68), (17.66±1.83) and (13.38±1.23)min, respectively.There was a significant overall difference in the mean monocular examination time among the five methods ( F=2 077.960, P<0.001). The detection rates of UWFI, IR+ SD-OCT, OCTA+ en face OCT, FFA+ WF-SS-OCT for NVE and NVD were 52.1%(25/48) and 12.5%(6/48), 81.3%(39/48) and 20.8%(10/48), 83.3%(40/48) and 27.1%(13/48), 93.8%(45/48) and 29.2%(14/48), respectively.There were significant differences in the detection rates of NVE ( χ2=26.460, P<0.001) but not in the detection rates of NVD ( χ2=4.645, P=0.200) among the various methods.Five neovascular buds were detected by OCTA in 3 eyes, but not by FFA. Conclusions:UWFI and IR+ SD-OCT are faster and non-invasive methods for the screening of NVD and NVE in PDR eyes.Compared with FFA, OCTA and en face OCT can show the shape of neovascularization more clearly.FFA provides a wide-range retinal image, but it is time-consuming and invasive.WF-SS-OCTA extends the examination range of OCTA and detects neovascularization non-invasively and faster than FFA.

Quantitative analysis of retinal ischemia in diabetic retinopathy and its correlation with diabetic macular edema / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To quantitatively evaluate the retinal ischemia in different retinal regions of diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients in ultra-widefield fluorescein fundus angiography (UWFA) images with ischemic index (ISI), and to explore its correlation with diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Seventy-nine eyes of 79 patients with DR were enrolled in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from September 2017 to October 2020, including 44 males (44 eyes) and 35 females (35 eyes) aged 31 to 73 years old, with an average age of (55.95±8.80) years.UWFA and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed in all patients.Patients were divided into DME group (37 eyes) and non-DME group (42 eyes) according to the presence or absence of DME in OCT images.The retina in middle phase UWFA images were divided into posterior, middle peripheral and far peripheral regions by ImageJ software, and ISI in each region was calculated.Central macular thickness (CMT) was automatically calculated using the built-in software of the OCT equipment.The correlation between ISI and CMT was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (No.WDRY2019-K037). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any medical examination.Results:The ISI of the total, posterior, middle peripheral and far peripheral retina was 2.460 (0.603, 5.640)%, 2.670 (1.062, 9.574)%, 1.382 (0.245, 4.378)% and 0.000 (0.000, 1.262)%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference among different regions ( χ2=65.307, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in ISI between the total and far peripheral, the posterior and middle peripheral, the posterior and far peripheral, the middle and far peripheral (all at P<0.01). ISI of the total, posterior and middle peripheral retina in DME group were significantly higher than those in non-DME group ( U=424.000, P=0.001; U=403.000, P<0.001, U=493.000, P=0.005), but there was no significant difference in the ISI of the far peripheral region between the two groups ( U=609.000, P=0.061). There was no statistically significant correlation between ISI and CMT in the total, posterior, middle peripheral and far peripheral retina in DME group ( rs=-0.134, -0.018, -0.152, -0.163; all at P>0.05). Conclusions:The retinal non-perfusion area in DR eyes is mainly located in the posterior and middle peripheral retina.The ISI of the posterior and middle peripheral retina in DME eyes is significantly higher than that in eyes without DME.ISI of each retinal region may not be related to the severity of DME.

Research progress on the application of retinal vascular bed area in diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Retinal vascular bed area(RVBA)is the total area of retinal vasculature segmented by ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography(UWFA)images, and is an objective absolute value in square millimeter. RVBA is mainly affected by the diameter and length of retinal vessels, and whether RVBA increases or decreases depends on the “competition” between ischemia and angiogenesis, indicating subtle changes in retinal vascular morphology. As a new indicator for the study of retinal vascular diseases, RVBA may have higher stability and accuracy than the ischemia index(ISI)and non-perfusion area(NPA). RVBA is currently mainly used to evaluate the progression and prognosis of diabetic retinopathy(DR). It was found that retinal total RVBA in DR eyes was greater than the normal eyes and it decreased in DR eyes after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)treatment. These findings provide favorable support for the study of microvascular lesions in DR. In this article, the application of RVBA in DR was reviewed to provide a reference for the clinical study of RVBA in other retinal vascular diseases such as retinal vein occlusion(RVO).

Establishment and evaluation of in vitro galectin-3 inhibitor screening model / 药学学报

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) belongs to the galectin family and is specific in binding β-galactoside. Through its C-terminal domain, Gal-3 binds to the galactoside group of the glycosylated insulin receptor (IR) and inhibits IR signaling pathway, which leads to the insulin resistance. Thus, Gal-3 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Here we report a simple Gal-3 screening model based on the property that Gal-3 binds to the galactoside. We expressed and purified human Gal-3 in Escherichia coli (E.coli), and labeled it with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in vitro. After incubating FITC labeled Gal-3 (Gal-3-FITC) with PANC-1 cells, which express glycosylated membrane protein, PANC-1 cells started to show green fluorescent signal due to the Gal-3-FITC binding to the glycosylated membrane protein. Gal-3 inhibitor disrupts the binding of Gal-3-FITC and PANC1 cells, subsequently leads to the decrease of the fluorescent signal in PANC-1 cells. We can evaluate the inhibitory efficiency of Gal-3 inhibitors through measurement of the fluorescent signal. Further studies show this model is simple, stable, and repeatable with a Z' factor between 0.7 and 0.85. In sum, we have successfully established an in vitro high-throughput screening model for Gal-3 inhibitors.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal artery macroaneurysms / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Retinal arterial macroaneurysm(RAM)is a kind of acquired retinal vascular disorder. The pathogenesis of RAM is not yet clear, and it is associated with some systemic conditions, including hypertension, arteriosclerosis and hyperlipidemia. RAM is prone to exudation or bleeding, leading to some other complications in the condition of hypertension due to the weak tube wall, and its clinical manifestations are complex and diverse, which makes it difficult to diagnose. RAM itself has a tendency of self-degeneration, and the prognosis of visual acuity is good if the lesion doesn't involve the macular area. However, when the macula is affected by exudation and/or bleeding, the vision is severely affected and some feasible treatments are needed. Understanding the typical imaging manifestations of RAM is helpful to make a definite diagnosis and give corresponding treatment measures. In this paper, the manifestations of RAM by various examination methods are reviewed and the corresponding treatments of different types of RAM are summarized, aiming to provide reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of RAM in the future.

Experimental study on the structural and functional changes of the retinal tissue induced by intense blue light irradiation in rats / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To observe the structural and functional changes of retinal tissue in rats after different duration of intense blue light irradiation.METHODS: A total of 48 healthy 8-week-old SD male rats were selected and randomly divided into the control group(n=12)and 3, 6 and 12h experimental groups(n=36). The rats in the control group received natural light, and the rats in the experimental groups received blue light with a wavelength of 465±5nm and the illumination of 1000±100lx for 3, 6, and 12h each day. Optical coherence tomography(OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and haematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining of paraffin pathological section were used to observe the changes of the retinal thickness, retinal tissue structure and the function in different directions and layers.RESULTS: The OCT results showed that the retinal thickness in the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal sides of rats in different groups was statistically significant(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05), and there was no statistical significant difference between the control group and the 3h experimental group in the total retinal thickness(P&#x0026;#x003E;0.05), while the differences between any other two groups were statistically significant(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05); The mean total retinal thickness, internal limiting membrane(ILM)-inner nuclear layer(INL)thickness, outer plexiform layer(OPL)-outer segment(OS)thickness and retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)of rats in each group were statistically significant(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05), and the mean total retinal thickness and OPL-OS thickness were statistically significant between any two groups(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05). The ILM-INL thickness of rats in the control group and 3 and 12h experimental groups was statistically significant(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05), and the thickness of RPE layer in the 12h experimental group was statistically different from that of the 3 and 6h experimental groups(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05). FFA results showed that there was no obvious fluorescence leakage in the fundus of rats in the control group and the 3h experimental group, while there was obvious fluorescence leakage and hyperfluorescence in the retina of the 6 and 12h experimental groups, and the background fluorescence of choroid was enhanced. HE staining showed the atrophy and apoptosis of cells in the optic cell layer, and some lightly stained nucleus. In addition, RPE layer showed atrophy and thinned with the increase of light time, and there was significant difference in the number of the optic cells between the control group and experimental group(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05).CONCLUSION: The intense blue light irradiation could cause thinning of the retina in rats, with varying degrees of thinning in different layers of the retina. It could also led to decrease and even disappearance of the number of cells in the visual cell layer, the focal atrophy of the RPE layer, and the change of vascular permeability. With the extension of the light time, the structural and functional changes in retinal tissue became more obvious.

Recommended protocol and technique for doing oral fundus fluorescein angiography for adults and children

Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is usually performed intravenously through injection of sodium fluorescein dye. This procedure is difficult to perform in children and patients who are afraid of intravenous needles. Oral FFA can serve as a useful alternative to intravenous FFA in many cases and gives reliable results. We describe the recommended protocol and technique for doing oral FFA in adults and children

Potential impact of fluorescein angiography as a primary imaging modality in the management of diabetic retinopathy

Purpose: To evaluate current practice patterns for Egyptian ophthalmologists in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and explore potential implications of these approaches on management. Methods: Cross?sectional survey conducted in Egypt amongst practicing ophthalmologists. Results: The study had 203 responses (~6% of all Egyptian ophthalmologists). A majority of respondents were general ophthalmologists (78.2%), practicing for five to ten years (41.9%). In patients with DR and no diabetic macular edema (DME), 33.0% of respondents would use FA in patients with mild DR, 44.3% in patients with moderate DR and 51.2% in patients with severe non?proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Color imaging (CI) was used by less than 1% as the sole imaging modality for any level of DR. Approximately 70% of respondents used fluorescein angiography (FA) to grade and base treatment decisions for DR, either alone or in conjunction with dilated eye exams and/or CI. Given the known more severe appearance of DR on FA than on standard color imaging upon which treatment guidelines are based, use of FA as the primary modality over a one?year period could result in PRP that would otherwise not be suggested in approximately 78,820 eyes at an additional cost of $10.1 million US dollars. These numbers are projected to double by 2045. Conclusion: Given that FA detects significantly greater pathology than CI, and that treatment and follow?up recommendations are based on CI, its use as the primary imaging modality in DR grading may result in apparently significantly higher DR severity, with subsequently increased procedures and associated costs

Combined treatment modality including topical 20% fluorescein dye in the management of phthiriasis palpebrarum � A case series

Purpose: To study the clinical presentations and outcomes of phthiriasis palpebrarum (PP) managed with combined treatment modality comprising of 20% fluorescein dye, mechanical removal of the ectoparasites, and topical application of antibiotic eye ointment with paraffin base. Methods: This is a prospective interventional noncomparative hospital?based series of 13 patients of PP. All the patients underwent local application of 20% fluorescein dye over the eyelashes and eyebrows of both the eyes followed by the mechanical removal of all the ectoparasites and trimming of the eyelashes from the base followed by application of ophthalmic ointment. Results: Mean age of the patients was 28 � 22 years (range 3� Years). Out of the total of 13 patients, 11 patients (85%) were having bilateral involvement. The mean duration of symptoms in 11 patients (rest 2 were accidental findings) was 4 � 3 weeks (range 1� weeks). Three patients (23%) had a history of sexual contact with possible parasite?infested partners. Four patients (31%) had additional parasites in the pubic area or torso. All the patients were completely parasite free at the end of 1 month. There was no infestation of the treating medical personnel from the patient. The average follow?up was 8 � 5 months (range 3� months). Conclusion: Itching and irritation of the eyes were the most common presentations of PP. Combined treatment modality comprising of 20% fluorescein dye, mechanical removal of ectoparasites, and topical application of antibiotic eye ointment with paraffin base is effective in the management of PP

Funduscopy-guided fluorescein angiography-free focal laser photocoagulation for central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose: To identify and correlate hypopigmented spots on fundoscopy with the leakage points on fluorescein angiography (FA) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) to provide criteria for FA?free focal laser photocoagulation (FLP). Methods: Fifty consecutive patients of acute CSCR were evaluated between March and October 2019 confirming the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Colocalization of leakage points with discrete hypopigmented spots on clinical fundoscopy was evaluated using FA. Positive predictive value (PPV) was calculated to identify the status of association between these to formulate criteria for FA?free FLP of CSCR patients in future. Results: Out of the 50 eyes, 38 (76%) had a discrete hypopigmented spot on fundoscopy which coincided with the leakage point on FA. The PPV of finding a leakage point at the area of discrete hypopigmented spot is 95%. Colocalization with a pigment epithelial detachment was found in 25 (65.7%) of these 38 eyes. Retinal pigment epithelial irregularities were found associated in all of these 38 eyes. Subretinal homogenously hyperreflective material was found in 8 (21.05%) of 38 eyes. optical coherence tomography following FLP of leakage point in all cases showed complete resolution of CSCR in 47 (94%) eyes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that hypopigmented spots on clinical fundus examination in CSCR patients, when present, coincide with the leakage point of FA. This may aid to undergo FA?free FLP treatment in CSCR patients