ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY: Efficacy of Intraoperative Subconjunctival Antibiotics.

PURPOSE: To examine rates of acute infectious endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes that received intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics versus eyes that did not. METHODS: A retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative case series of 18,886 consecutive cases of transconjunctival 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge PPV over a 5-year period was performed. The impact of prophylactic intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics on the development of acute infectious postoperative endophthalmitis was examined. RESULTS: Of 18,886 cases of PPV, 14,068 (74.5%) received intraoperative subconjunctival antibiotics, whereas 4,818 (25.5%) did not. Sixteen cases (0.085%, 1/1,176) of post-PPV endophthalmitis were identified. The incidence of endophthalmitis in eyes that received subconjunctival antibiotics was 0.078% (11/14,068 cases, 1/1,282), whereas the incidence in those that did not receive subconjunctival antibiotics was 0.10% (5/4,818 cases, 1/1,000). No statistically significant difference was identified in the incidence of endophthalmitis between those that received subconjunctival antibiotics and those that did not (P = 0.598). Microbial culture was performed in 11 cases with 6 culture-positive cases (5/8 cases that received subconjunctival antibiotics and 1/3 cases that did not). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic subconjunctival antibiotics were not associated with a significantly reduced rate of post-PPV endophthalmitis. With consideration of emerging multidrug-resistant bacteria, routine prophylactic subconjunctival antibiotics may not be justified.

Photopsias: A Key to Diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To assess the character and cause of photopsias in vitreoretinal patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 169 consecutive patients (217 eyes) with vitreoretinal disease presenting with a history of photopsias. METHODS: A total of 217 eyes with photopsias in 169 patients were evaluated. Photopsia assessment included (1) laterality (unilateral, bilateral but not simultaneous, bilateral, and simultaneous); (2) morphology (flash, zig-zag, strobe, scintillating scotoma, twinkling, other); (3) color (white, silver, yellow, combination, other); (4) location (temporal, central, other); (5) duration (quick, prolonged, constant, other); (6) frequency; (7) diurnal appearance (day, night, both); (8) stimuli (turning head or eyes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, other); and (9) associated systemic or ocular signs and symptoms (headache, numbness, weakness, vertigo, syncope, diplopia, hypotension, floaters, other). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical photopsia features correlated with the causes of photopsias. RESULTS: Thirty-two photopsia causes were identified. The top 16 included posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in 39.7% of eyes; retinal tear in 8.9% of eyes; neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 7.9% of eyes; rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in 7.5% of eyes; classic and ophthalmic migraine in 6.5% of eyes; hypoglycemia in 2.8% of eyes; vertebrobasilar insufficiency in 2.8% of eyes; non-AMD choroidal neovascularization in 2.3% of eyes; retinitis pigmentosa in 1.9% of eyes; severe cough in 1.9% of eyes; central serous chorioretinopathy in 1.4% of eyes; intraocular lens reflections in 0.9% of eyes; blue field entoptic phenomenon in 0.9% of eyes; Charles Bonnet syndrome in 0.9% of eyes; digitalis in 0.9% of eyes; and metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain in 0.9% of eyes. The photopsias associated with PVD are typically quick (96%), with lightning/flash morphology (96%), white (87%), temporally located (86%), associated with new-onset floaters (85%), preferentially seen in dark (90%) rather than lighted environments (29%), and often initiated by head/eye movements (60%). Retinal detachment had a similar profile, but with more nontemporal photopsias (40%) (P = 0.01). The photopsias from neovascular AMD are more centrally located (83%), quick and repetitive (79%), seen in light (73%) and dark (63%) environments, have no inciting stimuli (84%), and are more likely to be nonwhite (40%). CONCLUSIONS: A pointed history for photopsias can reveal a cause that may not initially seem apparent. Thus, the history can play a key role in management decisions.

Oral eplerenone for treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: a case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of oral eplerenone on subretinal fluid, visual acuity, and choroidal thickness in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients (14 eyes of 14 patients) monitored for a minimum of 3 months with chronic CSCR who were treated with oral eplerenone in a single multi-physician retina practice. Visual acuity, dilated funduscopic examination, and spectral-domain ocular coherence tomography (OCT) with enhanced depth imaging (EDI) were obtained at each visit. Measurement of subfoveal fluid (SFF) height and choroidal thickness were performed. Two-tailed paired t test was used to calculate statistical significance of pre- and post-treatment variables. RESULTS: At 1 month, 10 of 14 eyes had decreased SFF height on OCT and two eyes had complete resolution of SFF. Mean SFF height decreased from 130 µm to 62 µm (P = .05). Mean choroidal thickness decreased from 315 µm to 282 µm (P = .07). Mean visual acuity improved from logMAR 0.41 to 0.40. At 3 months, 13 of 14 (93%) had decreased SFF on OCT, and nine eyes (64%) had complete resolution of SFF. Mean SFF height decreased to 21 µm (P = .004). Mean choroidal thickness decreased to 253 µm (P = .10). Mean visual acuity improved to logMAR 0.28 (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Oral eplerenone may be effective in treating patients with chronic CSCR.

Structure of human ADAM-8 catalytic domain complexed with batimastat.

The role of ADAM-8 in cancer and inflammatory diseases such as allergy, arthritis and asthma makes it an attractive target for drug development. Therefore, the catalytic domain of human ADAM-8 was expressed, purified and crystallized in complex with a hydroxamic acid inhibitor, batimastat. The crystal structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex was refined to 2.1 Å resolution. ADAM-8 has an overall fold similar to those of other ADAM members, including a central five-stranded ß-sheet and a catalytic Zn(2+) ion. However, unique differences within the S1' binding loop of ADAM-8 are observed which might be exploited to confer specificity and selectivity to ADAM-8 competitive inhibitors for the treatment of diseases involving this enzyme.

Management of sympathetic ophthalmia with the fluocinolone acetonide implant.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether implantation of the fluocinolone acetonide (Retisert) implant achieved control of inflammation and a reduced need for oral corticosteroids or immunosuppressives in patients with sympathetic ophthalmia (SO). DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eight patients with active SO. METHODS: The results of fluocinolone acetonide implantation in 8 patients with active SO were studied with a follow-up period of 6 months to 2 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence or absence of intraocular inflammation, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, need for further surgery, and the need for additional use of oral or locally injected corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressives. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated a significant reduction in the systemic medication required to maintain control of inflammation. Two patients had recurrent inflammatory episodes requiring the resumption of an oral immunosuppressive. Vision improved or was stabilized in all 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The fluocinolone acetonide implant provides inflammatory control and reduces the dependence on systemic immunosuppression in patients with SO.

Retinal pigment epithelial tear after intravitreal bevacizumab injection.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Two patients presented with occult choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD. Both patients received intravitreal bevacizumab injections. RESULTS: The first patient developed a RPE tear shortly after a third intravitreal bevacizumab injection. The second patient developed a RPE tear 10 days after a second intravitreal bevacizumab injection. CONCLUSIONS: Although RPE tears may occur spontaneously as part of the natural history of exudative AMD, patients may develop visually devastating RPE tears after repeat intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Further studies are needed to determine the incidence of RPE tears after intravitreal bevacizumab injections.

Intrathecal chemotherapy for recurrent central nervous system intraocular lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To report the use of intrathecal chemotherapy for two patients with recurrent central nervous system (CNS) intraocular lymphoma. DESIGN: Two interventional case reports. PARTICIPANTS: The clinical course of two patients with documented recurrent CNS intraocular lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed. INTERVENTION: Both patients had previously undergone external beam radiation therapy to the orbit and brain, as well as systemic methotrexate (MTX) and intrathecal cytarabine (Ara-C), for primary CNS intraocular lymphoma. Both patients developed recurrent CNS intraocular lymphoma and treatment involved intrathecal MTX and Ara-C delivered by means of an Ommaya reservoir. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Survival and resolution of intraocular lymphoma. RESULTS: Complete remission of the CNS intraocular lymphoma was seen in both patients. Both patients maintain reading visual acuity in at least one eye. Both patients remain disease free with lymphoma in remission for greater than 5 years after initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal chemotherapy for recurrent CNS intraocular lymphoma seems to be effective in preserving vision and possibly increasing survival.

Visual and anatomical outcome following submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization secondary to Candida endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term visual and anatomical outcomes for patients treated with submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization associated with endogenous candidal endophthalmitis. METHODS: Review of the medical records, fluorescein angiograms, fundus photographs, and histopathologic specimens of patients treated with submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization following candidal endophthalmitis. RESULTS: This series included 3 patients (1 woman and 2 men) who were 26, 30, and 60 years of age. Each patient had received systemic antifungal treatment for culture-proven candidal septicemia before the development of choroidal neovascularization. Each patient had bilateral choroidal neovascularization diagnosed by biomicroscopic examination and angiographic appearance: 2 eyes had an active subfoveal membrane; 2, an active juxtafoveal subretinal membrane; and 2, a mixture of active subfoveal neovascularization with subfoveal fibrosis. Submacular surgery was performed on five eyes with choroidal neovascularization; one eye with subfoveal fibrosis was observed. Visual acuity improved substantially in 4 eyes of 3 patients treated with submacular surgery. Visual improvement was limited in the two eyes with preexisting submacular fibrosis. During 13-month to 82-month follow-ups, vision remained stable, with no recurrence of neovascularization. CONCLUSION: Choroidal neovascularization can cause severe visual loss in patients with endogenous candidal infection. Submacular surgery with removal of choroidal neovascularization may restore vision in selected patients. Subfoveal fibrosis may limit visual improvement.