Visual Field Outcome Reporting in Neurosurgery: Lessons Learned from a Prospective, Multicenter Study of Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Visual field (VF) outcomes are commonly reported in neurosurgical case series; however, substantial variability can exist in VF testing and outcome reporting. We aimed to evaluate the challenges of VF testing and to develop detailed recommendations for VF outcome reporting by analyzing results from an ongoing, multicenter study of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. METHODS: VF testing results were collected during a prospective, multicenter clinical trial evaluating patient outcomes after transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (TRANSSPHER). Two independent ophthalmologists reviewed reliability and outcomes of all VF studies. Preoperative and postoperative VF studies were evaluated individually and as preoperative/postoperative pairs. RESULTS: Suboptimal perimetry field settings were reported in 37% of VF studies. Automated reliability criteria flagged 25%-29% of VF studies as unreliable, whereas evaluation by 2 independent ophthalmologists flagged 16%-28%. Agreement between automated criteria and raters for VF reliability was inconsistent (κ coefficients = 0.55-0.83), whereas agreement between the 2 raters was substantial to almost perfect (κ coefficients = 0.78-0.83). Most patients demonstrated improvement after surgery (rater 1, 67%; rater 2, 60%), with substantial rater agreement on outcomes for paired examinations (κ coefficient = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: VF outcome studies demonstrated significant variability of test parameters and patient performance. Perimetry field settings varied among patients and for some patients varied preoperatively versus postoperatively. Reliance on automated criteria alone could not substitute for independent ophthalmologist review of test reliability. Standardized guidelines for VF data collection and reporting could increase reliability of results and allow better comparisons of outcomes in future studies.

A retrospective analysis of intraocular pressure changes after cataract surgery with the use of prednisolone acetate 1% versus difluprednate 0.05%.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of topical prednisolone acetate 1% (PA) used after routine cataract surgery to the effect of difluprednate 0.05% (DFBA) used for the same indication on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: An electronic query was created to gather information from all cataract surgeries between January 2010 and January 2015 within the electronic health record database at Barnet Dulaney Perkins, a multicenter, multiphysician private practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Information collected included age, sex, diabetes status, glaucoma history, medication regimen (use of PA or DFBA), and IOP before surgery, 5-10 days postoperatively (TP1) and 3-6 weeks postoperatively (TP2). Postoperative IOP measurements were compared to baseline IOP measurement in each patient. RESULTS: Regardless of steroid used, all patients in this study experienced an increase in IOP within TP1 and returned to baseline IOP (±2.0 mmHg) by TP2. Patients who received DFBA showed a statistically significant increase in IOP at TP1 compared to those on PA (P<0.001) with the mean IOP an average 0.60 mmHg higher (95% CI =0.3, 0.9). The odds ratio of a clinically significantly increased IOP at TP1 (defined as overall IOP ≥21 mmHg and an increase of ≥10 mmHg) in DFBA-treated patients was 1.84 (95% CI =1.4, 2.6). In patients treated with PA, 3% reached a significantly increased IOP, compared to 4.4% of patients in the DFBA group (P<0.05). Risk factors for increased IOP were identified, and include advanced age (>75) (P<0.005) and a history of glaucoma (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In postoperative cataract patients, use of DFBA increased the risk of a clinically significant IOP increase.

Impossibility to eliminate observer effect in the assessment of adherence in clinical trials.

PURPOSE: To utilize the Travoprost Dosing Aid (DA) in the assessment of patient medication adherence, while also determining whether or not altering the functionality of the DA in three randomized subject groups can reduce observer effect. METHODS: Forty-five subjects were randomized into three groups: two with monitored DAs and one without monitoring. One group of subjects was given a DA that both monitored drop usage and had visual and audible alarms, while the other monitored group included subjects given a DA that had no alarms but continued to monitor drop usage. The third group was given a DA that had no alarm reminders or dose usage monitoring. Subjects were informed that some monitors would not be functional, in an attempt to reduce observer effect, or the effect of being monitored on subject behavior and adherence. A six-item questionnaire was also utilized to assess how the subjects felt about their adherence and DA use. RESULTS: The overall adherence rates were found to be 78% in the fully functional group (95% confidence interval: 70-88) and 76% in the no alarms group (95% confidence interval: 65-89). No association was seen between questionnaire response and medication adherence. The patients in the DA group without alarms had a significantly higher odds ratio of medication adherence if they reported on the questionnaire that using the DA did affect how much they used their drops. CONCLUSION: Though the use of DA was expected to reveal different rates of adherence depending on the functionality of the DA between groups, patients with a nonfunctioning DA did not have a significant difference in medication adherence compared to those given a fully functional DA. This supports that an observer effect was not reduced despite these interventions, and that the subjects adhered to taking their medications as if they had a functioning DA and were being monitored.

Inpatient Ophthalmology Consultation for Fungemia: Prevalence of Ocular Involvement and Necessity of Funduscopic Screening.

PURPOSE: To determine the generalizability of recent data assessing the necessity of ophthalmic consultation for fungemic patients, we examined the prevalence, microbial profile, and treatment of fungal chorioretinitis and endophthalmitis among patients with positive fungal cultures referred for ophthalmologic consultation at a tertiary care medical center. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: All inpatient ophthalmology consultations from Wills Eye Hospital at Thomas Jefferson University between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and cross-referenced to a microbiologic database of positive fungal blood cultures. This included 227 adult consecutive inpatients with positive fungal blood cultures (n = 215) or suspected fungemia (n = 12). Clinical data were extracted from records held by the microbiology laboratory and inpatient records. Patients were deemed to have ocular fungal involvement if dilated fundus examination demonstrated evidence of chorioretinitis or endophthalmitis. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-seven consultations were requested to evaluate patients for ocular manifestations of fungemia. Eleven patients (4.8%, 95% CI 2.4%-8.5%) were diagnosed with fungal chorioretinitis or endophthalmitis. Of these 11 patients, 5 had visual symptoms, 2 were asymptomatic, and 4 were unable to communicate. A total of 5 patients (2.2%) received intravitreal injections following funduscopic screening. An additional 11 patients (4.8%) had nonspecific fundus lesions considered to be inconsistent with ocular fungal involvement. The most common fungal species identified were Candida albicans (n = 85), Candida glabrata (n = 63), and Candida parapsilosis (n = 44). CONCLUSIONS: The current study found a low rate of disseminated ocular involvement in patients with positive fungal cultures referred for ophthalmologic consultation. However, 2 patients with ocular fungal involvement denied visual symptoms and over half of affected patients were asymptomatic or unable to communicate. As the presence and severity of ocular involvement in fungemic patients may dictate the mode and duration of antifungal treatment, funduscopic screenings may still have an important role.

Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis and scarring.

PURPOSE: Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK), a chronic, inflammatory disease, has traditionally been taught to resolve spontaneously and without scarring. We present 4 cases with TSPK who developed sight-altering scarring after a prolonged disease course. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of cases seen at the Proctor Medical Group. RESULTS: Patients age ranged from 31 to 68 years. All patients were male and had been symptomatic from 2 to 53 years. Follow-up period ranged from 1 month to 35 years. All 3 patients developed significant corneal scarring. Case 1 had bilateral corneal thickening and a Salzmann nodule with vascularization. Case 2 had bilateral stromal opacification. Case 3 developed corneal scarring to the point of needing an anterior lamellar corneal transplant. Pathological evaluation of this tissue showed disruption of the Bowman layer with band keratopathy, thickening of the basement membrane, and subepithelial fibrosis. The diagnosis of TSPK in these cases was never in doubt, 2 of the cases having been diagnosed by Dr Thygeson. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged corneal inflammation associated with TSPK can cause visually significant scarring of the anterior corneal stroma. In those patients with chronic disease, the use of a topical corticosteroid may be needed not just for comfort but to reduce the risk of corneal scarring.

Upside-down lens syndrome: ocular complications secondary to inverted implantation of the Kelman Multiflex anterior chamber intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To describe ocular complications resulting from inverted insertion of a Kelman Multiflex anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOL). DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: We describe the outcomes of 4 cases of complicated cataract surgery in which a flexible open-loop polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) ACIOL (Kelman Multiflex type) was placed in an inverted configuration, all of which were referred to a single institution. RESULTS: In all 4 cases, the placement of an inverted ACIOL resulted in ocular complications including chronic iritis, cystoid macular edema, pupil capture, iris adhesions, and corneal decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: Inadvertent inverted placement of the Kelman Multiflex anterior chamber intraocular lenses can lead to a constellation of severe ocular complications. When inserting such lenses, the surgeon should ensure that the lens is correctly oriented such that the optic vaults anteriorly and not posteriorly.

Topical fluoroquinolone use as a risk factor for in vitro fluoroquinolone resistance in ocular cultures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether recent use of topical fluoroquinolones is a risk factor for in vitro fluoroquinolone resistance in Staphylococcus aureus ocular isolates. METHODS: Disk diffusion susceptibility testing for ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin was performed for all ocular isolates of S aureus at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation microbiology laboratory from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2008. The medical records of patients with positive S aureus cultures were reviewed to determine topical or systemic fluoroquinolone use within the 3 months prior to culture. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the proportion of patients who used topical fluoroquinolones in the past 3 months among fluoroquinolone-sensitive and -resistant cases. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for fluoroquinolone resistance. RESULTS: Of 200 S aureus cultures, 41 were resistant to ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin (20.5%). Fluoroquinolone-resistant S aureus isolates were from older patients (mean [SD] age, 65.5 [25.0] years) compared with fluoroquinolone-susceptible isolates (mean [SD] patient age, 52.1 [22.1] years) (P = .003). Use of fluoroquinolones within the 3 months before testing was more frequent in resistant isolates (29%) than in susceptible isolates (11%) (P = .005), as was recent hospitalization (22% of resistant isolates, 0% of susceptible isolates) (P < .001). In the multivariate regression analysis, topical fluoroquinolone use within 3 months was a significant predictor of fluoroquinolone resistance (P = .046), along with age, systemic immunosuppression, and topical fluoroquinolone use between 3 and 6 months before testing. CONCLUSION: Recent topical fluoroquinolone use is significantly associated with fluoroquinolone resistance in S aureus isolates from ocular cultures.

Subconjunctival injections and povidone-iodine washings for the treatment of giant fornix syndrome.

PURPOSE: Giant fornix syndrome is a chronic copiously purulent conjunctivitis seen in elderly patients with dehiscence of the levator palpebrae superioris aponeurosis. We report a case of giant fornix syndrome secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus conjunctivitis that was recalcitrant to standard treatment modalities, and we describe 2 novel interventions for this condition, which succeeded in eradicating the infection. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: After failing an aggressive treatment course of topical antibiotics and corticosteroids and after demonstrating an inability to tolerate oral antibiotics, the patient was treated with supratarsal subconjunctival injections of vancomycin and triamcinolone, followed by repeated sweepings of the conjunctival fornices with 10% povidone-iodine on a cotton swab. The patient's symptoms improved dramatically after the antibiotic and corticosteroid injections and ultimately resolved completely after multiple povidone-iodine sweepings. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with giant fornix syndrome who are recalcitrant to or intolerant of aggressive topical and systemic therapy, supratarsal subconjunctival injections of antibiotics and corticosteroids and sweeping of the conjunctival fornices with povidone-iodine are 2 local treatments which may be useful in eradicating the infection.

Anterior uveitis associated with high-dose cytosine arabinoside.

PURPOSE: To report a case of anterior uveitis associated with high-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) treatment. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 14-year-old girl was seen for pain, redness, and photophobia shortly after finishing a cycle of high-dose Ara-C. RESULTS: Portable slit-lamp examination revealed bilateral diffuse fine keratic precipitates, indicative of a nongranulomatous anterior uveitis. This was treated successfully with a course of topical prednisolone acetate 1%. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologists who are asked to evaluate patients on high-dose Ara-C for a "red eye" should consider anterior uveitis as a potential diagnosis.

Prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery: current status and future directions.

Endophthalmitis is an uncommon but potentially devastating intraocular infection that can occur after routine cataract surgery. Although a broad spectrum of organisms have been shown to cause acute postoperative endophthalmitis, most cases are caused by Gram-positive bacteria, which may be introduced at the time of surgery from colonization of adjacent conjunctiva or eyelid skin. Risk factors for the development of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery include patient age, intraoperative surgical complications and poor wound construction. There are several antibacterial strategies employed to prevent postoperative endophthalmitis, with topical, intracameral and subconjunctival delivery being the most common. Worldwide, there seems to be significant regional variance in the type and method of prophylactic antibacterial regimens; for example, topical fluoroquinolones are commonly used in the US, while intracameral cephalosporins are employed widely in Europe. The optimal antibacterial strategy for the prevention of endophthalmitis should be safe, inexpensive and broad in microbiological activity spectrum, while not requiring patient compliance for its effectiveness.

An old problem, a new solution.

A 75-year-old woman with painful visual loss was diagnosed with ocular ischemic syndrome secondary to restenosis of the carotid artery following endarterectomy. She underwent carotid artery stenting, which has become an alternative to carotid endarectomy for primary carotid stenosis but is now also becoming more popular for recurrent carotid artery stenosis.

Characteristics of endophthalmitis in patients with the Boston keratoprosthesis.

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics of endophthalmitis in patients with the Boston keratoprosthesis. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 4 out of 35 patients who underwent implantation of the Boston keratoprosthesis on the Wills Eye Cornea service between 2001 and 2007 and developed infectious endophthalmitis. RESULTS: All 4 patients had keratoprosthesis surgery due to previous corneal transplant failure. The incidence of endophthalmitis was 11.4%. All patients were on topical antibiotic prophylaxis with a fluoroquinolone and 1 of the 4 patients was also using vancomycin drops. All 4 patients underwent a tap and inject and were admitted for intensive intravenous and topical antibiotics for 3 to 7 days. Culture positive results were found in 3 of the 4 vitreous samples: 2 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and 1 Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration data showed high resistance to fourth-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotics in all isolates. All patients recovered significant vision, except 1 patient who developed fluctuating vision secondary to vitreoretinal traction bands, which developed secondary to the endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: Endophthalmitis can occur after Boston keratoprosthesis at a significant rate, even in low-risk patients on prophylactic antibiotic drops. Given our experience with these patients and vancomycin, we recommend its prophylactic use. The increasing resistance of gram-positive organisms to fluoroquinolones and the need for close patient follow-up to encourage adherence to preventive regimens are further supported in this report.

Stepwise approach to establishing an ophthalmology wet laboratory.

Wet laboratories (wet labs) play an increasingly important role in ophthalmology surgical residency training. We summarize the necessary components in establishing and maintaining a well-functioning wet lab and offer a stepwise guide for educators to improve the quality of the wet lab experience. We present 6 key factors in creating an ophthalmology wet lab; that is, setting up the physical space, establishing appropriate faculty and curriculum, obtaining the practice eye, stabilizing the eye, preparing the eye, and funding the wet lab.