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Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) can affect multiple system of body including eye. In eye, it can cause mild conjunctivitis, posterior segment involvement, neurosensory involvement and lethal opportunistic infection like mucormycosis. Associated co-morbidities, severity of COVID-19 infection and corticosteroids used in its management can affect ophthalmic involvement. Aim(s): To determine the frequency and various types of ophthalmic manifestation of patients with COVID-19. Material(s) and Method(s): This prospective observational study was conducted on indoor patients of Shree Krishna Hospital, a rural, tertiary care hospital affiliated with Pramukh Swami Medical College, Karansad, Gujarat, India, from 1st May 2021 to 1st January 2022. Second wave of COVID-19 was from 13th March 2021 to 19th June 2021. Patients' demographic data, details of COVID-19 infection severity score, oxygen requirement, use of corticosteroids, history of various co-morbidities and stages of Rhino-Orbital-Cerebral Mucormycosis (ROCM) (if present) were noted. Bedside ophthalmic examination was done with torch light, fluorescent strip, cobalt blue light of direct ophthalmoscope and fundus examination with indirect ophthalmoscopy under institutional COVID-19 guidelines. Descriptive Statistics {Mean, (SD), Frequency, (%)} were used for analysis of the collected data. Result(s): Out of 649 COVID-19 patients, 368 were male and 281 were female with mean age of 52.58 (+/-15.38) years. All over prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations was 9.86% (n=64 out of 649 patients). A total of 63 patients (9.71%) did not require any oxygen supplement, 352 patients (54.24%) required nasal prongs, 201 patients (30.97%) required non invasive ventilator support and 33 patients (5.08%) required mechanical ventilation. The 378 patients (58.24%) received cortico-steroids in oral or intravenous form. A total of 325 patients (50.1%) had diabetes,267 patients (41.1%) had hypertension, 29 patients (4.5%) had chronic kidney disease and 15 patients (2.3%) had thyroid disease. A total of 52 patients (8.01%) had conjunctivitis. Mean age of patients with conjunctivitis was 50.04 (+/-15.28) with male preponderance (n=30, 57.7%). Most common systemic presentation was fever (n=29,55.8%). Patients with conjunctivitis had high D-dimer (>500 ng/mL) (n=42;80.8%) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) values (>3 mg/L) (n=39;75%). A total of 144 patients (22.2%) were vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine first dose while ten patients (19.23%) out of 52 patients having conjunctivitis were vaccinated. Out of 649 patients, prevalence of ROCM was 1.85% (n=12) with mean age 58.58 years (+/-9.71 years) and male preponderance (n=8, 66.66%). Nine out of twelve patients had high blood sugar levels (mean level 340 mg/ dL) at the time of admission. Out of twelve, eight patients had received corticosteroids for management of COVID-19 infection. Six patients of ROCM (50%) did not require any oxygen support while two patient (16.7%) required nasal prongs for mean 7.50 days and four patient (33.3%) required non invasive ventilator support for mean 7.33 days (+/-2.5 days). One patient had stage 2C disease, one had stage 3B, five patients had stage 3C while five patients had stage 4C disease. Conclusion(s): Ocular manifestations of COVID-19 range from conjunctivitis to ROCM. Conjunctivitis has mild and self-limited course while ROCM is sight threatening and life-threatening condition, if not treated appropriately.Copyright © 2023 Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved.
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Background: Neurological autoimmune disorders are often triggered by bacterial and viral infections, with growing evidence supporting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection precipitation of these disorders. COVID-19 is already implicated in causing discrete para-infectious neurological syndromes: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and is also associated with encephalopathy, acute cerebrovascular disease, neuromuscular disorders, and seizures. Case Presentation: We describe a case of a 43-year-old Asian woman with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) co-infected acutely with COVID-19, presenting with urinary retention, bilateral blindness, thoracic sensory level, and quadriparesis. Extensive workup narrowed down her diagnosis as seronegative NMOSD. She had complete resolution of symptoms after treatment with concurrent plasma exchange (PLEX), high dose corticosteroids, and emtricitabine-tenofovir. Follow-up visit showed no seroconversion at 6 months and no relapses. Conclusion(s): Our literature review highlights the likely link between COVID-19 infection and the development of neurologic autoimmune diseases. Our literature review supports a virus-triggered immune-mediated process rather than neuro-invasion. Many viral illnesses have been linked to the development of NMOSD and anti-AQP4 antibody-related myelitis. Additionally, there is limited literature linking chronic HBV infection with the development of optic neuritis and speculation thatcross-reactivity between HBsAg and myelin antigens may lead to the development of demyelinating diseases in the CNS and PNS. We observed remarkable clinical improvement after treatment with alternating days of IV methylprednisolone and therapeutic PLEX.Copyright © 2022
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A 20-year-old patient was presented with subacute onset of headache, nausea and vomiting. Testing of nasal/oropharyngeal swabs indicated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and later the antibodies to this virus were found. The treatment in the hospital for Coronavirus 19 Disease (COVID-19) provided only temporary relief, and the patient then was referred to the Regional Stroke Center (RSC) to exclude a subarachnoid hemorrhage. RSC neurologists drew attention to multiple skin nevi in the patient. Brain MRI demonstrated abnormal T1 hyperintensity in the brain leptomeninges, with leptomeningeal contrast enhancement as well as hyperintensity in amygdala regions on T1 weighted images, bilaterally. The anomaly of the Dandy-Walker malformation complex was also revealed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed elevated protein (0.52 g/L), low lymphocytosis (lymphocytes, 6 in mm3), and decreased glucose (1.8 mmol/L). Neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM) was diagnosed, which neurological manifestation was probably triggered by COVID-19. The patient's vision gradually progressively worsened. In 2.5 months after the clinical manifestation of NCM, fundoscopy revealed optic discs atrophy (despite the absence of previous edema), and repeated CSF analysis showed atypical cells with characteristics corresponding to melanoma. Malignant transformation of cerebral melanocytosis was suspected, and the patient was referred to an oncological dispensary for further therapy. In the presented literature review, special attention is paid to the issues of neuroimaging, cytological and immunocytochemical diagnostics of NCM.Copyright © Russian Neurological Journal. All rights reserved.
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A 20-year-old patient was presented with subacute onset of headache, nausea and vomiting. Testing of nasal/oropharyngeal swabs indicated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and later the antibodies to this virus were found. The treatment in the hospital for Coronavirus 19 Disease (COVID-19) provided only temporary relief, and the patient then was referred to the Regional Stroke Center (RSC) to exclude a subarachnoid hemorrhage. RSC neurologists drew attention to multiple skin nevi in the patient. Brain MRI demonstrated abnormal T1 hyperintensity in the brain leptomeninges, with leptomeningeal contrast enhancement as well as hyperintensity in amygdala regions on T1 weighted images, bilaterally. The anomaly of the Dandy-Walker malformation complex was also revealed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed elevated protein (0.52 g/L), low lymphocytosis (lymphocytes, 6 in mm3), and decreased glucose (1.8 mmol/L). Neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM) was diagnosed, which neurological manifestation was probably triggered by COVID-19. The patient's vision gradually progressively worsened. In 2.5 months after the clinical manifestation of NCM, fundoscopy revealed optic discs atrophy (despite the absence of previous edema), and repeated CSF analysis showed atypical cells with characteristics corresponding to melanoma. Malignant transformation of cerebral melanocytosis was suspected, and the patient was referred to an oncological dispensary for further therapy. In the presented literature review, special attention is paid to the issues of neuroimaging, cytological and immunocytochemical diagnostics of NCM.Copyright © Russian Neurological Journal. All rights reserved.
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A 20-year-old patient was presented with subacute onset of headache, nausea and vomiting. Testing of nasal/oropharyngeal swabs indicated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and later the antibodies to this virus were found. The treatment in the hospital for Coronavirus 19 Disease (COVID-19) provided only temporary relief, and the patient then was referred to the Regional Stroke Center (RSC) to exclude a subarachnoid hemorrhage. RSC neurologists drew attention to multiple skin nevi in the patient. Brain MRI demonstrated abnormal T1 hyperintensity in the brain leptomeninges, with leptomeningeal contrast enhancement as well as hyperintensity in amygdala regions on T1 weighted images, bilaterally. The anomaly of the Dandy-Walker malformation complex was also revealed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed elevated protein (0.52 g/L), low lymphocytosis (lymphocytes, 6 in mm3), and decreased glucose (1.8 mmol/L). Neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM) was diagnosed, which neurological manifestation was probably triggered by COVID-19. The patient's vision gradually progressively worsened. In 2.5 months after the clinical manifestation of NCM, fundoscopy revealed optic discs atrophy (despite the absence of previous edema), and repeated CSF analysis showed atypical cells with characteristics corresponding to melanoma. Malignant transformation of cerebral melanocytosis was suspected, and the patient was referred to an oncological dispensary for further therapy. In the presented literature review, special attention is paid to the issues of neuroimaging, cytological and immunocytochemical diagnostics of NCM.Copyright © Russian Neurological Journal. All rights reserved.
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Background and Aims: In the Covid era, Continuous blood glucose monitoring(CGM) was used more frequently and it proved to be quite a helpful and accurate tool for glycemic regulation. Method(s): 75 yrs old Saudi gentleman, had Type 2 diabetes >30yrs, Hypertension, Primary Hypothyroidism, dyslipidemia, mixed polyneuropathy, Iron deficiency anemia, and benign prostatic hypertrophy. In March,2020 his BP and blood glucose readings were high at home. He had a past history of subdural hematoma with hydrocephalus(staus post-shunting). He was on Glargine, oral hypoglycemic agents, anti-hypertensives, Levothyroxine, Atorvastatin, Aspirin, iron fumarate, calcium carbonate and cholecalciferol. Fully conscious, and co-operative, of average built and height.BP 170/70 mmHg, pulse 93/m, RR 18/ m,O2sat 100%, afebrile, BMI 24.96 kg/m2. Fundoscopy normal. He had dry feet and impaired monofilament and vibration testing. Result(s): Hb% 13.1g/dl(12.6 before),MCV 93.8fl,S.Ferritin 10.5ug/l(30-400),Vit.B12 270 pmol/l(145-637),HbA1c 8%(6.4 in Feb.2020).The renal, liver and thyroid functions-intact. Albumin creatinine ratio 12.23mg/g(0-30). Nerve conduction study-mixed polyneuropathy. He continued to follow-up physically even during the Covid crisis due to the elevated SMBG and BP values. Gliclazide & antihypertensive doses were optimized and Glargine was started.On patient's follow-up in August, 2020, time in range had improved to 80%(33% in June,2020),average glucose was 147 mg/dl(200 before), glucose variability was 27.8%(28.9), hypoglycemia (54-79mg/dl) was 1%(0). On last follow-up on 27.06.2022 his HbA1c had climbed up to 8.3%(7.3 in September, 2021). He was compliant to the diabetes regime, but had stopped using the Libre sensor. Conclusion(s): The case signifies the advantage of a meticulous CGM usage during the Covid pandemic, that resulted in a reasonable glycemic control.
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Background: Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) is a rare, recently introduced sectorial outer retinopathy commonly seen in young females. The presence of AZOOR in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients can sometimes masquerade as optic neuritis. We hereby analyze an infrequent case of such an incident, as well as the comorbidities of this particular patient and the arising differential diagnostic dilemmas. Case Presentation: A 29-year-old female MS patient on cladribine presented in the emergency department (ED) due to left eye (LE) visual disturbances which appeared after Covid-19 infection. As a result of her past medical history, the case was considered to be consistent with optic neuritis. The patient was treated with high doses of intravenous methylprednisolone, but despite the treatment symptoms persisted. Ophthalmological findings were compatible with AZOOR. Conclusion(s): AZOOR can coexist with MS. However, it is unclear whether cladribine treatment or Covid-19 infection triggered AZOOR. Given the potential for ocular adverse effects associated with cladribine use, patients should be encouraged to report visual disturbances promptly. In addition, medical professionals must be vigilant of MS patients on cladribine complaining of visual symptoms, and refer them to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.Copyright © 2022 The Author(s)
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Introduction: In patients presented with hypertensive crises, a fundoscopic assessment is necessary because once hypertensive retinopathy is discovered, a hypertensive emergency is diagnosed, and intravenous antihypertensive medication is recommended. However, direct ophthalmoscopy is relatively underutilized, especially under the social distance regulation, which may result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. The novel method, namely, smartphone-based fundoscopy offers longer working distance and shorter doctor-patient contact time, however, there is limited data regarding its feasibility and effectiveness. Objective: We aimed to gather scientific evidence on the smartphone-based fundoscopy in terms of its effectiveness, accessibility, and trainability in detecting hypertensive retinopathy among hypertensive crisis patients in emergency room settings. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library for papers published from January 2010 to November 2021. Keywords including hypertensive crisis, hypertensive retinopathy, target organ damage, fundoscopic optic examination, direct ophthalmoscope, fundus images, smartphone fundoscopy, digital fundus camera, and COVID-19 were used. Full papers published in English and s of non-English publications were all reviewed. Results: Eight studies out of 34 fulfilled our search criteria. Five observational studies confirmed the effectiveness of smartphone-based fundoscopy in obtaining fundus images adequate for interpretation compared with those from commercially available fundus cameras. Also, smartphone-based fundoscopy offers time-saving properties as it allows fundus examination to be effectively completed within 74 seconds compared to 130 seconds with a traditional direct ophthalmoscope. Two studies investigated the accessibility of smartphonebased fundoscopy and discovered that fundus images can be obtained by using 20 diopter condensing lenses with the video mode of the smartphone camera, which can be easily provided even at a primary level hospital due to their low cost. Another study reviewed the trainability of the smartphone-based fundoscopy in 137 undergraduate medical students which concluded that 75% of these students can identify the optic nerve within 20-25 minutes of face-to-face demonstration. Conclusion: With a greater diagnostic capability, accessibility, and trainability of smartphone-based fundoscopy makes it a potentially game-changing technique for detecting hypertensive retinopathy in hypertensive emergency patients, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic, in which longer working distance and shorter doctor-patient contact time are both required.
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BACKGROUND: Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) has an incidence of 0.5-1.2%. COVID-19 is associated with both venous and arterial thromboembolisms due to excessive inflammation, hypoxia, immobilization, and diffuse intravascular coagulation. AIM: The present study aims to describe our experience with BRVO in Egyptian COVID-19 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present retrospective study included 17 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-proven COVID-19 patients with BRVO. Data obtained from the studied patients included detailed history taking. In addition, patients were diagnosed with BRVO based on a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, including logMAR Best-corrected visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp bio-microscopy, fundoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography macular assessment. RESULT(S): The present study included 17 PCR-proven COVID-19 patients with BRVO. They comprised 9 males (52.9%) and 8 females (47.1%) with an age of 52.8 +/- 13.3 years. Fundus examination revealed BRVO as superior temporal in 9 patients (52.9%), inferior temporal in 5 patients (29.4%), superior nasal in 2 patients (11.8%), and inferior nasal in 1 patient (5.9%). The reported retinal thickness was 355.7 +/- 41.7 microm. In addition, fundus fluorescein angiography identified ischemic changes in 2 patients (11.8%). CONCLUSION(S): BRVO is a rare severe complication of COVID-19 infection. In patients with proven or suspected infection with a diminution of vision, there should be high suspicion of BRVO and prompt full-scale ophthalmological examination to exclude the condition. Copyright © 2022 Sanaa Ahmed Mohamed, Marwa Byomy, Eman El Sayed Mohamed El Sayed, Mostafa Osman Hussein, Marwa M. Abdulrehim, Ahmed Gomaa Elmahdy.
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Background More studies are required on the ocular manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to help guide ophthalmologists to carefully screen these patients for early diagnosis, so that prompt management can be done to prevent further damage. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the ocular findings among patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary care center. Patients and methods A hospital record-based retrospective study was carried out on 1036 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at a tertiary care center in Western Maharashtra, India. Visual acuity was measured at bedside by the finger-counting method or by using the Snellen's chart, if required. Anterior-segment eye examination was done on torchlight and binocular corneal loops, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy, as required. Extraocular movements were recorded in all nine gazes. Indirect ophthalmoscopy was done under full mydriasis. Results The age of the patients ranged from 4 to 98 years with a mean of 45.6±16.24 years. The majority (22.5%) of the patients belonged to the age group of 30–39 years. Males (61.8%) were more than females (38.2%). The ocular findings included congestion (16.8%), continuous conjunctival congestion (5.3%), vasculitic retinal-vein occlusion (8.7%), combined central retinal artery and vein occlusion (1.4%), central retinal-artery occlusion (0.8%), convergence insufficiency (8.4%), and lateral rectus paresis (3.5%). Sex was not associated with abnormal ocular findings (P>0.05). On the other hand, advanced age was a significant risk factor for ocular manifestations of COVID-19 (P<0.05). Only the abnormal ocular findings of the anterior segment were found to be associated with longer duration of hospital stay. Conclusions Elderly people were more likely to develop ocular manifestations of COVID-19 compared with their younger counterparts, irrespective of gender. A significant proportion of infected people developed ocular manifestations of COVID-19. © 2022 Delta Journal of Ophthalmology.
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Objective: To determine association of papilledema with headache using 20D lens and a smartphone for fundoscopy. Study Design: Prospective Cross-sectional Study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Ophthalmology OPD at Liaqat National Hospital, Karachi from, 25th May 2022 till 25th July 2022. Materials and Methods: Patients, presenting to ophthalmology OPD at Liaqat National Hospital, patient complaining of blurring of vision and difficulty focusing on distant object were included in our study. We used a 20D lens for indirect ophthalmoscopy and smartphone camera for recording and taking pictures. Participant's pupils were dilated using 1% tropicamide drops and waited for 15-20 mins for pupil dilation. Video recording was done with flashlight switched on and recording was reviewed for fundus pictures and snap shots were taken from it. Results: 384 patients were included in the study. There were 65.6% male and 34.4% female patients in our study with mean age 41.93±13.50 years while majority (62.8%) were from age group >35 years. we found 3.6% of patients with obesity, 12.2% with diabetes mellitus, 14.3% with hypertension and 45.1% with headache and 7.3% of patients were found with papilledema. Strong association was found with papilledema and headache with p-value of <0.001. Conclusion: Strong association of papilledema with headache was found in patients who came with symptoms of blurry vision and We can reliably do fundus visualization with Smartphone based indirect ophthalmoscopy to view optic disc for presence of papilledema, can be cheap alternative to conventional ophthalmoscopy devices even in neurosurgical examinations, in covid-19 era where social distancing is a norm and proximity to the patients with direct ophthalmoscopy can be discomforting in these circumstances. © 2022 Medical Forum Monthly. All rights reserved.
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Purpose : The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in glaucoma care to ensure patient and provider safety. In this qualitative interview study, we aimed to identify changes perceived as improvements in care that have persisted, even following vaccine rollout and uptrending patient volumes after the pandemic's initial surges. Methods : From July-December 2021, 20 of 45 (44%) NYC glaucoma specialists contacted were interviewed through semi-structured interviews, utilizing a 15 question guide while allowing for exploration of new topics. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed with NVivo qualitative software. Results : Thematic saturation was reached after 15 transcripts. Participants included 12 women and 8 men from 9 institutions, in practice for 6-41 years. When asked to rate the change their practice experienced during the pandemic's first surge on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the most change), physicians reported a 4.26 ± 0.94. Certain changes have persisted [Figure 1]. Almost all physicians reported that infection prevention protocols (e.g. hand washing, mask donning) remain and may persist after the pandemic subsides. 9 [45%] reported that increasing the follow-up window for stable patients (e.g. from every 4 months to 6 months) was also a persistent change. While practices initially switched to disposable tools (e.g. tonometer tips, gonioscopy lenses), 9 of 17 [53%] physicians who reported on disposable tools have continued their usage. While disposable tool usage has declined since the first wave [p value=0.003;Figure 2], physicians who continued their usage shared positive views on safety and efficiency. 8 [47%] discontinued their usage, reporting negative sentiments around inaccuracy and waste. Telemedicine was not a persistent change, with only 1 provider continuing to use telemedicine. Reported rationale for discontinuation was the inability to collect data such as intraocular pressure, visual field testing and ophthalmoscopy. Conclusions : COVID-19 continues to impact glaucoma care. Persistent practice changes include infection prevention, extended follow-up windows and disposable tool usage, while telemedicine has largely been discontinued. As glaucoma care continues to evolve, these changes have lasting implications for continuity of care, patient safety and care delivery.
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Purpose : Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) is a generally self-limited disease with a good prognosis and resolution of symptoms between 4 weeks and 6 months. Retinal imaging is used to establish the diagnosis;however, the resolution of routine diagnostic imaging to assess changes at the photoreceptor level is limited. Here we explored outer cellular retinal structure of APMPPE lesions in a patient 4 years after initial presentation and 8 months after recurrent scotoma symptoms in the same region as her initial APMPPE scotomas a few days after her first COVID-19 vaccine. Methods : The subject underwent a complete eye exam and high resolution imaging. Outer retinal structure was assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and the photoreceptor mosaic was imaged using both confocal and split detection adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO). Results : SD-OCT identified a subtly irregular ellipsoid zone (EZ) band in the area of a previous APMPPE lesion, improved from initial presentation and initial visit after reactivation. Confocal AOSLO (Figure A) revealed an abrupt transition from dense regularly spaced cones to a disrupted photoreceptor mosaic. However, confocal AOSLO signal can be difficult to interpret in the presence of debris or non-waveguiding cones. Split detection AOSLO (Figure B) highlights cone inner segments providing a clearer view of cone distribution even in the absence of waveguiding and revealed reduced photoreceptor density in disrupted areas (Figure A and B '∗'). Conclusions : COVID-19 vaccination may induce reactivation of APMPPE symptoms. Despite improved EZ band structure by SD-OCT in the areas of previous APMPPE lesions, AOSLO revealed several focal areas of persistent subclinical photoreceptor loss. Split detection AOSLO allows for more precise assessment of photoreceptor structure and highlights the variability in inner segment changes throughout retina lesions. This demonstrates the potential utility of split-detector AOSLO for assessment of photoreceptor structure alterations in retinal uveitic diseases such as APMPPE. (Figure Presented).
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Purpose : The main purpose of this study is to describe the fundoscopic alterations and retinal vessel caliber measurements in SARS-CoV2 positive patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Madrid (Spain) and to correlate the retinal vessel caliber with the severity of the disease. Methods : A single-center cross-sectional observational study to document the retinal vascular findings in SARS-CoV2 patients admitted to a tertiary Hospital during the first wave in Madrid, Spain. Fundoscopy was performed in both eyes (when possible) with a manual retinography Zeiss Visuscout 100. All patients signed a consent form to participate in the study. Pharmacological mydriasis prior to retinography was achieved by applying one drop of tropicamide 1% in each eye. Data collected included previous medical and ophthalmic history, prescribed medical and postural treatments, and laboratory findings at the time of admission. All cases were classified according to their outcome as per the WHO clinical progression scale on a scale of 0 to 10, with being 0 the uninfected state and 10 being death. All the retinal images were analysed by two medical retina experts independently. Retinal vessel calibers were measured by a single masked grader using a validated research software with high reproducibility.The relationship between the WHO clinical progression scale and retinal vessel caliber was assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test for independent samples. Results : In total, 81 patients and 154 eyes were included in the study. The fundus retinal assessment disclosed signs of hypertensive retinopathy in 8 right eyes (OD) (8/77) and 9 left eyes (OS) (9/77);vascular tortuosity was present in 13 OD (13/77) and 13 OS (13/77);age-related macular degeneration was found in 13 OD (13/77) and 12 OS (12/77);myopic retinopathy in 3 OD (3/77) and 3 OS (3/77);finally incidental choroidal nevi were found in 4 OD (4/77) and 2 OS (2/77). The retinal microvascular caliber assessment was performed in a total of 72 eyes from 72 subjects, the right eye was used in 61 cases, left eye in the rest. There was no statistically significant difference according to vessel caliber and WHO outcome score. Conclusions : COVID-19 has been linked to an increase risk of cardiovascular events. However, we could not find a correlation among retinal vascular findings and clinical outcome in our cohort.
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Introduction: Rhino-orbito-cerebral Mucormycosis (ROCM) is an uncommon but devastating fungal infection caused by Mucoraceae family fungi, which are angiotropic and filamentous, with significantly high morbidity and mortality despite treatment. Post Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), there was a sudden surge in ROCM cases nationwide due to immunologically and metabolically compromised status. Aim: To describe retinal manifestations in ROCM in a tertiary eye care centre of Northern India. Materials and Methods: An analytic, cross-sectional and hospital-based study was conducted in Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India, from May 2021 to September 2021. This study was conducted on 200 admitted patients of RCOM in the institute, which was only designated Nodal centre in Haryana, India. Detailed history was recorded in every patient regarding presenting symptoms, history of COVID-19, hospital stay, oxygen inhalation, steroid intake and immunisation. Thorough ocular examination was done in every patient including visual acuity, ocular movements and pupillary reactions. Dilated fundus examination was done by Indirect Ophthalmoscopy (IDO) for posterior segment evaluation. Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CE-MRI) brain with orbit and Paranasal Sinus (PNS) was done in every patient to see the extent of spread and planning further management. Results: Out of 200 patients of ROCM, majority of patients (64/200) were of 51-60 year age group (32%) followed by 41-50 year age group (28%). Out of 200 cases of ROCM, 146 patients (73%) had history of COVID-19 infection in past and 134 (67%) patients had history of hospital stay during COVID-19 infection. Oxygen (O2) supplementation was given to 98 patients either at home or during hospital stay. History of steroid intake was present in 34 patients and 46 patients received injection Remedsivir. Only 12 patients had vaccine against COVID-19 and none of them were fully vaccinated. Most common presenting symptom was unilateral nasal stiffness (22%) followed by loss of vision (17%). Most common predisposing factor was Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in 78 patients (39%) followed by steroid intake in 34 patients (17%). Out of 200 patients, only 60 patients had retinal manifestations and most common was Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) (35/60) and the main mechanism is the direct infiltration of central retinal artery due to angioinvasion of fungi from the orbit. Conclusion: CE-MRI brain with orbit is an important tool in diagnosing and monitoring progression of RCOM but it cannot provide information regarding retinal findings like CRAO, central retinal venous occlusion (CRVO), disc pallor and optic atrophy. Thus, the fundus examination of every ROCM patient should be emphasised, as it not only helps in categorising ROCM but also tells about the visual potential of affected eye. Patients with CRAO and combined vascular occlusion should be considered for exenteration on urgent basis, so that intracranial spread can be prevented and patient's life can be saved.
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COVID-19 restrictions have increased the need and use of telemedicine in ophthalmology but this approach requires remote data collection and reliable technologies to ensure accurate and safe examination and diagnosis. This article reviews the existing telemedicine technologies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and paediatric ophthalmology, and discusses their applicability in the COVID-19 era. We conducted a literature search of PubMed using telemedicine keywords for all relevant pathologies (AMD, DR and paediatric ophthalmology) to identify English-language articles published between 2001 and 2021. We assessed whether existing telemedicine technologies would meet the needs of patients under COVID-19 restrictions. Our findings showed that there are reliable existing home-monitoring technologies. However, self-operated home optical coherence tomography is still an investigational technology for AMD monitoring and is not yet available for routine use. Computerized algorithms aimed at identifying DR pathology and/ or deterioration in relevant parameters under investigation have shown excellent results. In paediatric ophthalmology, parents can conduct basic testing of their child’s ophthalmic parameters;improvements in parental testing will require the development of quick and reliable automatic instruments. In conclusion, current technologies lend themselves to remote use for ophthalmic examination by non-professional individuals, which is particularly relevant for ophthalmic care provision in the pandemic setting. Further investigative effort is needed in order to improve home monitoring and computerized data processing
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Objective: To report a rarely isolated central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) following Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Moderna (mRNA-1273). Background: COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus was firstly reported in Dec 2019 and became pandemic as of Mar 2020. Fortunately, novel rapidly developed COVID-19 vaccines are capable of lessening the pandemic effectively. As billions of people vaccinated, however, COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombosis (VIT) are gradually emerging. Design/Methods: A previously healthy 70-year-old man presented with acute painless visual loss of the right eye five days after the first dose of Moderna vaccine. On examination of the right eye, visual acuity (VA) was counting finger at 15 cm. Fundoscopy revealed a diffuse whitened retina with cherry-red spot. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed hyperreflectivity. Screening tests for platelet and D-Dimer levels were unremarkable. CRAO was treated with clopidogrel and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The serum level of anti-platelet factor-4 (PF4) antibody was 73.34 ng/ml (ref, 0-49.99 ng/ml).Two months later, VA was counting finger at 10 cm3 and OCT revealed hyperreflectivity and mild inner retina atrophy Results: COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT) based on the victims receiving AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines is through autoimmune antibody against PF4. VITT is typically manifested within 6-24 days post-vaccination;thrombotic sites are in the cerebral sinus, portal vein, splanchnic vein, and pulmonary emboli;as well as thrombocytopenia and increased level of D-Dimer. Our patient had isolated CRAO five days post-Moderna vaccination but normal platelet count and D-Dimer level. Moreover, VIT with isolated CRAO was not published on PubMed. Conclusions: VIT could occur in the unusual site such as CRAO in our case. Normal platelet and D-Dimer levels might not be sensitive tools to exclude VIT. Suspected patient with thrombotic event after COVID-19 vaccines should have anti-PF4 antibody test to assure an effective treatment.
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Introduction: Many studies have shown that coagulation disorders and increased risk of thrombosis may occur during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Although cardiac or pulmonary vascular pathologies has been detected in most cases, cerebral sinus thrombosis are rare. During COVID-19 infection patients rarely present with neurological symptoms. Case Report: A 19-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with neurological symptoms. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was detected in Brain Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations. Our patient was hospitalized in the neurology department of our hospital for medical treatment and was discharged after clinical recovery. Discussion: In this case report we wanted to draw attention to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis which is a rare but treatable complication of COVID-19 infection in a young patient. We examined our patient in the light of literature. Conclusion: Clinicians should keep in mind the diagnosis of CVST that may occur due to infection associated thrombosis in COVID-19 patients presenting with neurological symptoms and consider adding anticoagulants to the treatment if necessary.
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Case Report Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition that can occur as primary disorder or secondary to a variety of infections, rheumatic diseases, or malignancies. It is usually diagnosed among patients who are hospitalized with shock-like multiorgan dysfunction and unremitting fevers. It is associated with high mortality and morbidity. HLH secondary to toxoplasmosis is not uncommon in immunocompromised patients. However, it is rarely reported in immunocompetent patients. We herein, report a case of HLH triggered by toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient. Case description A previously healthy 10-year-old male, who lives on a farm, presented with acute onset abdominal pain, vomiting, subjective fever, generalized myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Initial labs revealed thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, abnormal hepatic panel, and significantly elevated ferritin, which worsened upon recheck. Further workup revealed increased triglyceride and soluble IL-2 receptor and decreased fibrinogen, which confirmed the diagnosis of HLH. Toxoplasma testing showed positive IgM and IgG with low IgG avidity, indicative of a recent infection. Brain MRI and fundoscopy were unremarkable. Other infectious workup including hepatitis A, B, and C viruses, CMV, and respiratory pathogen panel including Covid-19 were negative. EBV serology was consistent with previous infection. Immunologic work up showed increased CD8 T cells and increased IgM. Treatment for HLH was not initiated since patient remained well-appearing and afebrile throughout the hospital stay. Treatment for toxoplasmosis was not indicated due to the absence of brain and retinal involvement. Subsequently, laboratory parameters started to improve on day 6 of hospitalization. The patient was discharged the following day. Five days later, platelet count, ANC, ferritin, and fibrinogen levels were normalized. Discussion Although meeting HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria, the course of illness was not typical, as this patient remained afebrile and clinically well with spontaneous recovery. This is in contrast to 95% of typical HLH cases that have high unremitting fever. The initial suspicion of HLH was low due to the atypical features. We proceeded with the HLH investigations due to hyperferritinemia on repeat testing, which has a 90% sensitivity for HLH. Soluble IL-2 receptor test further confirmed our suspicion. To our knowledge, there have been only a few pediatric case reports of HLH secondary to acquired toxoplasmosis without an underlying condition. No underlying immune deficiency disorder was found. Conclusion This case highlights the fact that toxoplasmosis can trigger HLH in immunocompetent children. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in avoiding a fatal outcome.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an audio visual (AV) teaching module on basic torchlight examination of the eye and direct ophthalmoscopy for undergraduate medical students. METHODS: This observational longitudinal study was done on 33 consecutive medical interns during their Ophthalmology posting from December 2019 to March 2020 at a medical college in South-India. An AV-module was created using animation graphics, narratives, demonstrations on normal individuals and on patients with positive signs. All interns had a pretest consisting of Multiple-choice questions, (MCQs) and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) on torchlight examination and direct ophthalmoscopy (DO). They were then shown the 20-minute AV-module. A posttest was performed immediately and after one week. RESULTS: The mean pretest MCQ score was 5.84 ± 1.98. It improved to 8.81 ± 1.15 in the immediate posttest and 8.87 ± 1.66 in the one-week posttest. The mean pretest OSCE score was 12.21 ± 3.39. It improved to 23.21 ± 3.39 in the immediate posttest and 23.90 ± 3.7 in the one-week posttest. Using Generalized Estimating Equation, MCQ score improved by 2.97 units and 3.03 units and the OSCE score improved by 11 units and 11.69 units in the immediate posttest and one-week posttest respectively when compared to the pretest corresponding to the MCQ score and OSCE score (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: AV teaching modules-for torchlight examination and DO has a significant benefit in improving knowledge and skill in undergraduate medical students. These significant results have the great translatory capacity in the current COVID-19 pandemic, where physical demonstrations involving close proximity and groups of students are highly risk prone.