Advances in the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy is a disease that is partly understood. Novel advancements have led to further understanding of the disease, and have identified choroidal dysfunction as the principal element in CSCR development. New imaging tools have aided in better monitoring disease response to various treatment models. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, in particular, has helped in observing choroidal thickness changes after various treatment models. To date, photodynamic therapy and focal laser remain the main stay of treatment. More understanding of disease pathophysiology in the future will help in determining the drug of choice and the best management option for such cases

Is systemic infliximab therapy effective for retinal cavernous hemangioma?

A 10-month-old infant with the diagnosis of retinal cavernous hemangioma involving the macula presented with an outward deviation of the right eye that has been noticed by her parents. Examination revealed a clearing vitreous hemorrhage, and grape-like clusters filled with blood in the posterior pole. After 4 cycles of intravenous infliximab over the period of 3 months, no evident change was noted on the size of the cavernous hemangioma

Ranibizumab for idiopathic epiretinal membranes: a retrospective case series

To study the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab on idiopathic epiretinal membranes [ERMs]. A retrospective cohort study on a consecutive series of ranibizumab intravitreal injections for epiretinal membranes was performed. Four cases were identified by reviewing a claims database linked to electronic medical records. All patients received a total of three 0.05 mg/0.05 ml ranibizumab intravitreal injections at a monthly interval. The primary outcome measure was the final best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] at the end of the injection series, and the final central macular thickness [CMT]. All four patients completed 3 months follow-up after the last ranibizumab injection. The mean baseline CMT was 509 microns [SD = 111]. A trend was noticed for reduction in CMT [delta = 41 microns] P = 0.08. Three patients improved by one line in their BCVA. The remaining patient maintained the same BCVA. No complications were noted. In this study, intravitreal injection of ranibizumab marginally reduced retinal thickness in four patients with minimal improvement in visual acuity. No safety concerns were noticed. Further basic science and clinical studies may be warranted to assess the role of vascular endothelial growth factor and the effect of ranibizumab on idiopathic epiretinal membranes

correlation between optical coherence tomography features and visual acuity in macular edema associated with retinal venous occlusion

To investigate the correlation between the features of optical coherence tomography [OCT] and central macular thickness [CMT], and the best-corrected visual acuity in macular edema complicating retinal vein occlusion. In a prospective study, OCT was performed in 37 eyes of 37 patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion. Twenty five eyes had central retinal vein occlusion [CRVO], and 12 eyes had branch retinal vein occlusion [BRVO]. The OCT features were categorized into: type 1, sponge-like retinal swelling; type 2, cystoid macular edema; and type 3, serous retinal detachment. Visual acuity at presentation correlated with CMT [r = 0.650, P <0.0001]. OCT type 1 showed the least CMT [P <0.0001] and the best visual acuity [P <0.0001]. A serous retinal detachment [type 3] undetectable by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundus fluorescein angiography was identified in 23 eyes [62.2%] using OCT. Our analysis showed that eyes with OCT type 3 had the worst visual acuity [P <0.0001] and the thickest CMT [P <0.0001]. There was a significant correlation between CMT and OCT patterns of macular edema and visual acuity at presentation

Glaucoma in phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type II B associated with sturge-weber syndrome

We report a 28-year-old lady with phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type lib associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome, with ocular evidence of both conditions. Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type lib is a rare condition characterized by coexistence of naevus flammeus and pigmentary naevi. This is the second phacomatosis pigmentovascularis and the first glaucoma case associated with phacomatosis pigmentovascularis described in Saudi Arabia