Therapeutic Effect of Steroids in Patients with Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of steroid treatment (intravenous injection, oral) in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). METHODS: From January, 2005 to December, 2016, 41 patients who were diagnosed with NAION and observed for more than 6 months were included in this study. The treatment was decided based on patient's choice after explaining the advantages and disadvantages of steroid therapy. The patients were divided into three groups (intravenous steroid injection, oral steroid, no treatment). Initial visual acuity, final visual acuity, degree of visual field defect, fluorescein angiography, visual evoked potential and brain magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed by chart review. RESULTS: The chief complaints of the 41 NAION patients at the first visit were decreased visual acuity (n = 24), visual field defect (n = 10), no symptoms (n = 4), diplopia (n = 2), and floaters (n = 1). The distribution of the patients according to steroid administration method was 15 patients with intravenous steroid injection, 14 patients with oral steroid and 12 patients with no treatment. The improvement in visual acuity was greatest in intravenous steroid injection (87%), oral steroid (43%) and no treatment (33%) in that order. CONCLUSIONS: In a retrospective comparison of treatment effects after explaining the advantages and disadvantages of steroid therapy in patients with NAION, the intravenous steroid injection group showed 87% improvement in visual acuity and an odds ratio of 5.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–28.88, p-value 0.04), while the oral steroid group showed 43% improvement and an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 0.30–7.43, p-value 0.62). The steroid treatment group showed better visual acuity improvement than the no treatment group, and the intravenous steroid injection group showed 5.5 times greater improvement in visual acuity compared to the no treatment group.

Two Cases of Corneal Neovascularization Improved by Electrocauterization and Subconjunctival Bevacizumab Injection

PURPOSE: To report an experience of improving symptoms through treatment with electrocauterization and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection in two patients with keratitis accompanied by corneal neovascularization and opacity. CASE SUMMARY: (Case 1) A 20-year-old woman visited our institution complaining of binocular blurred vision and congestion for the previous 3 years. Her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.07 in the right eye and 0.4 in the left eye (Han Chun-suk visual acuity chart, decimal). The diagnosis was bilateral rosacea keratitis. Antibiotics, steroid eye drops and oral antibiotics were administered, but no improvement was observed. Electrocauterization was performed at the origin of the neovascularization of the cornea and bevacizumab was injected at the peripheral subconjunctiva in the right eye. Thereafter the corneal neovascularization did not recur, corneal opacity was reduced, and BCVA improved to 0.5. (Case 2) A 19-year-old woman visited complaining of left eye congestion for the previous 3 years. Her BCVA was 1.0 in the right eye and 0.08 in the left eye.The diagnosis was phlyctenular keratitis of the left eye. Antibiotics, steroid eye drops and oral antibiotics were administered, but no improvement was observed. Therefore, electrocauterization and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection were performed in the cornea of the left eye, after which corneal neovascularization and opacity decreased. CONCLUSIONS: In these cases, we report improvement of symptoms after treatment with electrocauterization and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection after failed treatment of palpebral sanitation, antibiotic and steroid.

A Case of Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Accompanied by Carotid Artery Plaque

PURPOSE: To report a case of posterior ischemic optic neuropathy accompanied by carotid artery plaque in a patient with retrobulbar optic neuritis. CASE SUMMARY: A 48-year-old man visited our clinic complaining of headache, decreasing visual acuity and defect of inferior visual field in his left eye for 3 days. The best corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in the right eye and 0.1 in the left eye. The anterior segment state, intraocular pressure, fundus examination and optical coherence tomography were normal in both eyes. Relative afferent pupillary defect, color vision deficiency and total scotoma were observed in his left eye. The results of the laboratory test and brain magnetic resonance imaging were normal. He was discharged from the hospital after 3 days of systemic steroid treatment on the basis of retrobulbar optic neuritis. A week later, fluorescent angiography and carotid ultrasonography were performed because of his history memory loss and left upper limb weakness before admission. A focal filling defect of the peripapillary area was found on fluorescent angiography. A plaque with a thickness of 1.9 mm and a length of 1.4 cm was found on carotid ultrasonography. After 6 months, the best corrected visual acuity was 0.4 in the left eye and the visual field showed a partially improved defect. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescent angiography is recommended for potential posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in patients with retrobulbar optic neuritis, even though it is rare. Carotid ultrasonography is useful in finding atherosclerosis to prevent stroke or cardiovascular disease if ischemic cause is suspected on fluorescent angiography.