Presentation of Spontaneous Orbital Hemorrhage.

AIMS: To evaluate the presenting features of patients with nontraumatic orbital hemorrhage (NTOH) based on etiopathological factors. METHODS: A retrospective case-note review for demographics and presenting features of patients with nontraumatic orbital hemorrhage. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: group I with known systemic vascular disease, group II with known or newly revealed orbital vascular anomalies, and group III with no known underlying vasculopathy. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen patients (68 female; 58%), with 37 (32%) in group I, 47 (40%) in group II, and 33 (28%) in group III. The average age at presentation was 70.9, 30.1, and 49.9 years, respectively, but the incidence peaked in the first decade for patients with underlying local vascular anomalies and in the eighth for those without. Of the group I patients with known cardiovascular disease, 43% were on antithrombotic agents. The most common presenting symptoms were orbital pain (59%), proptosis (56%), and diplopia (45%), while 13% had associated nausea or vomiting. Ipsilateral optic neuropathy occurred in 14% of cases, higher in group II (22%), along with nonaxial globe displacement (25%), reduced eye movements (47%), optic disc swelling (10%), and choroidal folds (9%). Imaging in patients without evident vascular anomalies showed that hemorrhages commonly occurred in the inferotemporal quadrant (32%), with about half of these having a "beached whale" configuration (46%). CONCLUSION: Nontraumatic orbital hemorrhages affect all ages, typically presenting with acute proptosis or pain (over half), various degrees of visual impairment, and reduced motility. About half of those without vascular anomalies had cardiovascular risk factors, imaging often revealing an inferotemporal mass with a "beached whale" appearance.

Complete manuscript title: Neurological complications from sinugenic orbital cellulitis.

INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken with an aim to identify any common factors or trends among patients of orbital cellulitis that developed neurological complications. METHODS: A 24-month retrospective review of patients was undertaken to include those showing clinical deterioration and neurological complications on radiological imaging, after being treated for orbital cellulitis at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. The study specifically looked at the site of orbital collection, sinus involvement, types of neurological complications and whether these were detected at initial presentation, surgical input and microbiology findings. RESULTS: Nine patients (9/26) developed associated neurological complications during the study period. (February 2018 and January 2020) This included subdural empyema in six patients; leptomeningeal enhancement in two and septic emboli in one patient. All the patients had associated significant pan-sinusitis at initial presentation. Neurological complications were detected in three patients at the time of admission and after clinical deterioration and further investigations in the rest. CONCLUSION: A superior orbital abscess and Streptococcus mileri infection had higher risk of neurological complications. It is worth debating whether patients with chronic sinusitis who develop orbital cellulitis need earlier surgical input rather than a conservative treatment. Patients who fail to improve clinically need to be re-imaged to look for possible neurological complications.

Corneal complications after orbital radiotherapy for primary epithelial malignancies of the lacrimal gland.

PURPOSE: To review the long-term corneal complications after high-dose external beam orbital radiotherapy given to patients for lacrimal gland carcinomas. The impact of prophylactic measures to improve long-term ocular surface health is also assessed. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients under the care of Moorfields Eye Hospital and receiving external beam radiotherapy for primary epithelial lacrimal gland carcinoma between 1975 and 2014. METHODS: Retrospective review of ophthalmic case notes at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and oncology and general physician records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The occurrence of corneal perforation, and time to perforation. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included in this study, of whom nine (13%) developed corneal perforation at a median time of 10.4 months after radiotherapy (mean 35; range 3.2 months to 14.5 years); the majority (7/9; 78%) perforated within 36 months of radiotherapy. The mean follow-up interval of the whole cohort was 8.2 years (median 4.6; range, 2 months to 30.7 years). CONCLUSIONS: Although most patients with globe-sparing treatment of lacrimal gland carcinoma did not suffer corneal perforation, they usually require long-term therapy to maintain the ocular surface. The high-dose external beam radiotherapy needed for lacrimal gland carcinoma can produce significant ocular surface morbidity, and the 13% incidence of corneal perforation was greatest in the first 3 years after irradiation.

Trends over time in the incidence of congenital anophthalmia, microphthalmia and orbital malformation in England: database study.

AIMS: To study trends over time in the incidence of congenital anophthalmia, microphthalmia and orbital malformations in England, along with changes in hospital admission rates for these conditions. METHODS: Using English National Hospital Episode Statistics (1999-2011), the annual rate of hospital admissions related to anophthalmia, microphthalmia and congenital malformations of orbit/lacrimal apparatus was calculated per 100 000 infants. The records were person-linked, which enabled patients' 'first record' rates to be calculated as proxies for incidence. Similar analyses on pre-1999 datasets were also undertaken for microphthalmia. RESULTS: There was no systematic increase or decrease over time in the incidence of these conditions, but there was some fluctuation from year to year. The incidence of congenital anophthalmia ranged from 2.4 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.0) per 100 000 infants in 1999 to 0.4 (0 to 1.3) in 2011. The annual incidence of congenital microphthalmia was 10.8 (8.2 to 13.5) in 1999 and 10.0 (7.6 to 12.4) in 2011. The annual incidence of congenital orbital/lacrimal malformations was 0.5 (0 to 1.1) in 1999 and 0.7 (0 to 1.4) in 2011. Including multiple admissions per person, admission rates for microphthalmia showed a linear increase over time from 1999. The earlier data for microphthalmia indicated an increase in admission rates, but no change in incidence, from 1971 to 2011. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of these conditions has remained stable in England in recent years. Although the incidence of microphthalmia was stable, hospital admission rates for it increased over time reflecting an increase in multiple admissions per affected person. These data may be useful for planning service provision.

Corneal perforation during scleral indentation in a patient with pellucid marginal degeneration.

An observational case report of corneal perforation following scleral indentation in a patient with previously undiagnosed pellucid marginal degeneration is presented. Clinical examination, investigations, and subsequent management of this unwarranted and rare complication are described and discussed. The case highlights the need for thorough anterior segment examination before indirect ophthalmoscopy particularly in the presence of ectatic corneal pathology in which case scleral indentation should be avoided.

Dynamic muscle transfer in facial nerve palsy: the use of contralateral orbicularis oculi muscle.

The aim of the study is to describe the results of dynamic muscle transfer with an orbicularis oculi muscle flap from the contralateral side to the paralyzed side in patients with House-Brackmann grade 6 facial nerve palsy. This case series included six patients who underwent dynamic muscle transfer with a flap of healthy orbicularis oculi muscle fibers from the contralateral side into the paralyzed orbicularis oculi muscle. All patients had a House-Brackmann grade 6 facial nerve palsy. They all had previous multiple surgical procedures to improve the eyelid function. In spite of this, they were all symptomatic in terms of corneal exposure before orbicularis muscle transfer. All patients had postoperative follow up in excess of 2 years after the procedure. All patients improved symptomatically and had clinically reduced lagophthalmos postoperatively. Five patients who had an absent blink reflex showed a significant improvement in their blink reflex postoperatively. No complications occurred at the donor site. All patients showed a significant improvement of their symptoms and their lagophthalmos reduced postoperatively. Most importantly, the blink occurred involuntarily at the same time as the blink on the normal side. The authors propose that a dynamic muscle transfer using the contralateral orbicularis muscle may be considered to improve the voluntary lid closure and spontaneous blink reflex to improve corneal exposure in patients with grade 6 facial palsy who have not benefited from conventional surgical procedures.

Reliability and Effectiveness of the Manchester Orbital Exenteration Wound Assessment Tool: Inter-Observer Agreement.

AIM: To evaluate the inter-observer agreement of the Manchester Orbital Exenteration Wound Assessment Tool (MOEWAT), a tool designed to facilitate grading of healing in exenterated sockets, scores from clinical photographs of exenterated sockets. METHODS: Existing MOEWAT system was modified to allow grading of clinical photographs. Photographs of 36 different patients at different stages of healing following exenteration were identified. Scores for two masked observers, who independently graded the photographs were compared. The inter-observer agreement of scores was assessed using a Bland-Altman plot, with the average agreement and 95% confidence interval around the mean computed. RESULTS: The average age of the 36 patients was 66 ± 29 years. Photographs were taken 32 ± 16 months after exenteration. Across all photographs, the averages score given by the first observer (4.3 ± 2.2) and second observer (3.4 ± 1.5) were similar (t = -1.9; p = 0.07). From the Bland-Altman plot, the mean difference in score (0.8 ± 1.8) was close to zero, with 95% confidence limits for agreement are indicated by the dashed lines and spanning from -2.6 to 4.3. CONCLUSION: MOEWAT can be successfully used to stage wound healing in exenterated sockets, with good inter-observer agreement.

Time trends in ophthalmia neonatorum and dacryocystitis of the newborn in England, 2000-2011: database study.

AIMS: To investigate English national trends in ophthalmia neonatorum and dacryocystitis (ON) of the newborn and the completeness of statutory notification of this serious infection. DESIGN: Analysis of hospital episode statistics (HES) from 2000 to 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using linked HES, numbers of neonates hospitalised with ON were identified from 2000 to 2011. The numbers of hospitalised cases were compared with numbers of statutory notifications for ON published by the Notifications of Infectious Diseases (NOIDS). RESULTS: The national incidence rate of hospitalised cases showed a gradual decline from 464 (95% CI 447 to 482) per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 216 (204 to 228) per 100,000 live births in 2005. It then gradually increased to 471 (455 to 487) per 100,000 live births in 2010, but dropped to 257 (245 to 269) per 100,000 in 2011. From 2000 to 2009, when NOIDS data were available, the NOIDS data showed only 1006 cases compared with 20,505 cases in HES, and thus the notification system captured only about 1 case in 20. CONCLUSIONS: As shown by hospital statistics, there were marked cyclical fluctuations in ON over the study period. The annual figures for ON reported during the study period, under statutory health protection regulations, underestimated the actual occurrence of this disease by a very substantial amount. Linked hospital data should be used routinely to monitor the national incidence of ON.

Periocular Scleromyxedema.

Scleromyxedema is characterized by cutaneous mucinosis and rarely presents to oculoplastic surgeons with bilateral upper and lower eyelid swelling. The authors present 2 case reports with a review of the literature and discuss the ophthalmic manifestations of scleromyxedema and the management of these cases. Both patients were in their early 50s and were fit and well prior to the presentation. They both presented with eyelid swelling and underlying nodularity of the subcutaneous tissue. The skin biopsy confirmed cutaneous manifestations of scleromyxedema. The systemic manifestations responded to intravenous and oral steroids and intravenous infusions of immunoglobulin. The ophthalmic manifestations were managed conservatively. Scleromyxedema is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by cutaneous mucinosis, extracutaneous manifestations, and monoclonal gammopathy. It rarely affects the eyelids and cornea. The authors would like to present 2 cases of periocular scleromyxedema.

Lacrimal duct cyst abscess.

Cystic dilatation within the lacrimal gland is thought to be related to chronic inflammation and scarring of the lacrimal gland ductules. We review the literature and discuss a case and of lacrimal duct cyst suppuration presenting with visual loss, external ophthalmoplegia, proptosis and ptosis. To our knowledge, only one other report of a lacrimal ductal cyst abscess has been reported in the literature so far.

Superior rectus underaction following botulinum toxin injection to induce protective upper eye lid ptosis--a comparative study of two techniques.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin A (BTXA) injection to the levator palpebrae superioris muscle to induce a protective ptosis can adversely cause reduced upgaze due to diffusion of BTXA to the superior rectus muscle. PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of reduced upgaze in trascutaneous versus transconjunctival administration of BTXA to induce protective ptosis in patients with exposure keratopathy due to facial nerve palsy. METHODS: All patients included in this study suffered from acute exposure keratopathy and they all required chemodenervation of the levator muscle to induce a protective ptosis. Patients in group A received BTXA (Dysport) transcutaneously though the upper eyelid skin crease. Patients in group B received BTXA (Dysport) into the subconjunctival space at the superior border of the tarsal plate of the upper eyelid transconjunctivally. All subjects were closely monitored after BTXA injection and during each follow-up assessment the upper eyelid was lifted in order to uncover the effects on ocular motility. All patients had a follow-up of at least 1 year following injection of BTXA for their facial nerve palsy and its complications. RESULTS: In group A, 20 patients were included. Reduced upgaze occurred in 9 patients (45%). Five required treatment with a Fresnel prism or ocular occlusion to avoid intractable diplopia. There were 15 patients in Group B, and only 2 of them developed post-treatment superior rectus underaction. One of these patients resolved spontaneously and the other patient required treatment with a spectacle-mounted Fresnel prism for diplopia. The difference in incidence of reduced upgaze between the 2 techniques was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P=0.0493). CONCLUSION: Injecting BTXA to induce protective ptosis via a transconjunctival supratarsal route was significantly less likely to induce superior rectus underaction than when given via the transcutaneous route.

Selenium supplementation in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy: an update.

The therapeutic effect of selenium (Se) has already been proven in thyroid disease and thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). In spite of clear scientific proof of its benefits in TAO, there appears to be no clear agreement among the clinicians regarding its optimum dose, duration of the treatment, efficacy and safety to date. In this review, the author summarises the findings of 135 English language articles published on this subject over the past four decades from 1973 to 2013. The regulation and metabolism of thyroid hormones require a steady supply of Se and recent studies have revealed several possible mechanisms by which Se improves the severity of thyroid disease and TAO. These mechanisms include 1) inhibitory effect of HLA-DR molecule expression on thyrocytes; 2) profound reductions of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies (TSHR-Ab) and TPO antibodies (TPO-Ab); 3) prevention of dysregulation of cell-mediated immunity and B cell function; 4) neutralising reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of redox control processes required for the activation, differentiation and action of lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells involved in both acute and chronic orbital inflammation in TAO; 5) inhibition of expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and 6) inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. An increased oxidative stress has been observed in both acute and chronic phases of thyroid disease with raised tissue concentrations of ROS. The benefits of Se supplementation in individuals with TAO appear to be proportionate to the degree of systemic activity of the thyroid disease. The maximal benefit of Se supplementation is therefore seen in the subjects who are hyperthyroid. Restoration of euthyroidism is one of the main goals in the management of TAO and when anti-thyroid drugs are combined with Se, the patients with Graves' disease (GD) and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) achieved euthyroidism faster than those treated with anti-thyroid drugs alone. Se status of normal adult humans can vary widely and Se supplementation may confer benefit only if serum Se levels are insufficient. The author recommends that serum Se levels of patients with TAO to be assessed prior to and during Se supplementation at regular intervals to avoid potential iatrogenic chronic Se overdose.

Retinal artery occlusions in children.

The purpose of this study is to present a case of RAO in a 13 year old girl with a preceding history of hyperextension of the neck at her hairdressers for a long duration and use of her mobile phone handset resting it against the side of her neck presumably exerting some pressure on carotids during the same time. Materials and methods of this study was reported as case report and review of literature. A 13 year-old girl presented with the left supero-nasal scotoma due to an inferior temporal branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). She underwent extensive investigations and no underlying cause was discovered. She gave a history of cervical extension over a long period of time while having the hair coloured twice in the preceding week. She also mentioned that she was using her mobile phone more or less continuously during both these occasions keeping it against her neck. Given the above history it is possible that the pressure on the ipsilateral carotid arteries or the prolong neck extension may have been responsible for the formation of a platelet embolus resulting in the BRAO. In conclusion, although cerebro-vascular accidents due to 'beauty parlor stroke syndrome' (JAMA 269:2085-2086, 1993) have been reported previously it has not been reported in children to our knowledge. On the other hand, 'beauty parlor stroke syndrome' occurs due to a dissection of the vertebral arteries or due to mechanical compression of the vertebral arteries during the prolonged hyperextension of the neck. The central retinal artery originates from the internal carotid circulation and it is highly unlikely for an embolus to enter the retinal circulation from the vertebral arteries. Therefore, the authors favour the possibility that the compulsive use of a mobile phone exerting pressure on the carotid arteries for a long time may have led to the formation of an embolus and subsequent RAO in this case.

Regrowth of upper eyelid eyelashes after making a surgical incision on the upper eyelid in a case of severe alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata can affect only the scalp (alopecia totalis) or whole body (alopecia universalis). The authors report a case of eyelash regrowth induced by a minor surgical procedure in a 44-year-old Caucasian man with alopecia universalis. The mechanism of the regrowth of eyelashes after a surgical procedure remains unanswered and further studies may help elucidate this phenomenon.

Orbital decompression for thyroid-associated orbitopathy in England: trends over time and geographical variation.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to examine trends over time and geographical variation in the annual incidence of surgical orbital decompression for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) in England. METHODS: Data on hospital admissions for orbital decompression surgery in patients with thyroid disease were analysed using English national Hospital Episode Statistics for admissions from 1991-2011. RESULTS: Annual rates of orbital decompression surgery performed for patients with thyroid disease increased from 0.06 (95% confidence interval, 0.04--0.09) per 100,000 population in 1991, to 0.62 (0.54--0.67) in 2008, and then fell to 0.56 (0.48--0.60) in 2011. The surgical rate was highest in women aged 45--64 years. Geographical analysis showed significant variation across strategic health authority areas in surgical rates, from 0.22 (0.14-0.35) to 1.04 (0.79-1.34) people per 100,000 population per year in 2007-2011. CONCLUSION: The incidence of orbital decompression surgery performed annually in England has increased substantially over the past two decades, but peaked in 2008 and decreased since then. Significant geographical variation exists in surgical rates. Potential reasons for the decline include improved management of thyroid disease itself, but altered threshold in medical versus surgical management of TAO may also have played a role. The Amsterdam Declaration and EUGOGO treatment guidelines may also have influenced decisions about whether to operate on these patients.

Iris microhaemangioma: a management strategy.

AIM: To analyse previous literature and to formulate a management strategy for iris microhaemangiomas (IMH). METHODS: A review of the literature in English language articles on IMH. RESULTS: Thirty five English language articles fulfilled the criteria for inclusion to the study and based on the contents on these articles a management strategy was formulated. Age at presentation ranged from 42 to 80 years with no sex or racial predisposition. Most patients with IMH have no systemic disease but a higher incidence had been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus, myotonic dystrophy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and several other systemic and ophthalmic co-morbidities. Most patients remained asymptomatic until they experienced a sudden blurring of vision due to a hyphaema. Some patients only develop a self-limiting single episode of hyphaema and therefore the laser or surgical photocoagulation of iris should be reserved for the cases complicated with recurrent hyphaema. In some patients, several laser photocoagulation sessions may be needed and the recurrent iris vascular tufts may require more aggressive treatment. Iris fluorescein angiography (IFA) is useful in identifying the true extent of the disease and helps to improve the precision of the laser treatment. Surgical excision (iridectomy) should only be considered in patients who fail to respond to repeated laser treatment. In some cases IMHs has been initially misdiagnosed as amaurosis fugax, iritis and Posner-Schlossman syndrome. CONCLUSION: Owing to its scarcity, there is no good quality scientific evidence to support the management of IMH. The authors discuss the various treatment options and present a management strategy based on the previous literature for the management for this rare condition and its complications.