Anti-tubercular therapy alone for treatment of isolated tubercular retinal vasculitis.

PURPOSE: To compare the time to resolution of perivascular infiltrates in tubercular retinal vasculitis (TRV) between anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) alone, and in combination with systemic corticosteroids. METHODS: Observational retrospective cohort study in a tertiary eye centre in eastern India. Patients with TRV who were treated with anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) alone (Group A), or in combination with systemic corticosteroids (Group B) were included in the study. Eyes with additional inflammatory signs (cystoid macular oedema, vitritis ≥2+, optic disc oedema) were excluded. Resolution was defined as complete disappearance of perivascular infiltrates on seven-field fundus photographs. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic data. A linear mixed effects model was applied to adjust for intereye correlations, in patients with bilateral disease. The primary outcome measure was time to resolution of perivascular infiltrates. Secondary outcome measure was need for laser or surgical intervention for management of complications of TRV. RESULTS: Fifty eyes of 39 patients (Group A 21/18 and Group B 29/21) were included. Both groups had similar demographics and severity of vasculitis. All patients had complete resolution of TRV. On adjusting for intereye correlation, the mean difference in time to resolution between the two groups (Group A, 3.24 [95% CI 2.69-3.77] months, and Group B, 4.76 [95% CI 3.52-5.99] months) was not statistically significant (0.96 weeks [-0.52 to 2.45] p = 0.21). Vaso-occlusive complications and healing patterns were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: ATT alone, may be sufficient for resolution of perivascular infiltrates, in TRV without additional inflammatory signs.

Regression in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy treated with ziv-aflibercept monotherapy - short term study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreal ziv-aflibercept (IVZ) in the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and its efficacy in regard to polyp regression using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of eight eyes of eight patients with treatment-naïve PCV. Patients received IVZ on pro re nata protocol. OCT and ICGA parameters were assessed at baseline and subsequent visits with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. ICGA was repeated at 3-6 months to determine the disease activity and quantify the changes in branching vascular network (BVN) polyps. Quantifiable OCT parameters included central macular thickness, pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height, and subfoveal choroidal thickness. RESULTS: The mean age of the study cohort was 62.3 ± 7.7 years, with a mean follow-up of 7.1 ± 1.2 months. The baseline best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.70 ± 0.36 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen's equivalent 20/100) to 0.63 ± 0.34 (20/80) at last follow-up which was statistically insignificant (P = 0.5). Post IVZ injections (mean ± standard deviation: 2.6 ± 0.7), the total number of polyps reduced significantly from 3 ± 3.5 to 1 ± 1.7 (P = 0.03) along with a reduction in BVN size (3.9 ± 4.8 to 2.7 ± 3.8mm2; P = 0.07). OCT analysis revealed a significant reduction in PED height from 462.5 ± 353.8 µ to 169.9 ± 127.2 µ (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: IVZ leads to significant morphological changes on ICGA and OCT in terms of polyp regression and reduction of PED height, respectively, with a limited change in visual acuity. IVZ may serve as a cost-effective alternative to treat eyes with PCV.

Guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic eye disease in India: A synopsis.

Diabetes mellitus now affects 65 million adults in India, which is likely to increase to over 130 million by 2045. Vision impairment and blindness from diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) will increase unless systems and services are put in place to reduce the incidence of DR and DME, and to increase access to diagnosis and effective treatment. In India, sight-threatening DR (STDR) affects 5%-7% of people with diabetes, i.e., 3-4.5 million. This will increase as the number of people with diabetes increases and they live longer. The main risk factors for DR and DME are increasing duration of disease and poor control of hyperglycemia and hypertension. There is strong evidence that good control of hyperglycemia and hypertension reduce the incidence of STDR: interventions which lead to better self-management, i.e., a healthier diet and regular exercise, are required as well as taking medication as advised. There are highly effective and cost-effective treatments for STDR and up to 98% of blindness can be prevented by timely laser treatment and/or vitreous surgery. Given this increasing threat, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust endorsed the development of evidence-based guidelines for the prevention, detection, and management of DR and DME, and for cataract surgery in people with diabetes, specific to India as a component of the national DR project it has supported.

Subretinal hyperreflective material in central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To describe the the appearance and behavior of subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Methods: This retrospective study included 20 eyes of 20 patients with CSCR presenting with SHRM, defined as sub-retinal deposits that appear hyper-reflective on OCT The eyes underwent either laser (15 eyes) or observation (5 eyes). Optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) characteristics were analyzed at baseline and resolution of neurosensory detachment, which were then co-related with the visual acuity at resolution. Results: Improvement in vision was seen in 16 eyes. Ellipsoid zone damage (P = 0.03) and external limiting membrane (ELM) damage (P = 0.000) at resolution; diffuse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) abnormalities on FFA (P = 0.04), and the presence of scar (P = 0.000), were associated with poor visual outcome in univariate analysis. ELM damage at resolution was statistically significant (P = 0.001) in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: CSCR with SHRM have a good visual prognosis. ELM damage at resolution corelates with a poor visual acuity at resolution.

Clinical presentations and comparative outcomes of primary versus deferred intraocular lens explantation in delayed-onset endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To describe clinical presentations and comparative outcomes of primary versus deferred intraocular lens (IOL) explantation in delayed-onset endophthalmitis. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 77 eyes of 77 patients that were diagnosed clinically as delayed-onset endophthalmitis and underwent IOL explantation from January 1990 to January 2018 were included undiluted vitreous biopsy and IOL were subjected to microbiologic evaluation. Duration of symptoms, presenting visual acuity, organisms isolated, time to IOL explantation, time to endophthalmitis, resolution after explantation, number of repeat intravitreal injections, and final visual acuity were compared in the primary and the deferred IOL explantation groups. Results: There were primary and deferred IOL explantations. Interval between inciting event and endophthalmitis, between onset of symptoms to presentation, total follow-up, complication rate, and final visual acuity was comparable between the two groups. Median time to IOL explantation in the deferred group was 70 days. Between the primary and deferred IOL explantation groups the number of repeat intravitreal injections was 0.58 ± 0.86 and 2.62 ± 1.78 respectively, (P < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval, CI 2.00-2.22); the number of days to resolution after IOL explantation was 35.16 ± 14.26 and 55.5 ± 8.24 respectively, (P < 0.0001, 95% CI 15.22-25.45). Conclusion: Early IOL explantation in delayed-onset endophthalmitis causes faster clinical resolution and reduces the number of repeat intravitreal injections. Final visual improvement, however, may be unaffected.

To laser or not?

A 64-year-old male patient presented to the clinic with diminished vision in his right eye for the past 2 years. Examination revealed a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of counting fingers at 1 m with a scarred choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) in the right eye while the left eye had a BCVA of 20/20 with a small peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage along with angioid streaks in both eyes. Multimodal imaging revealed the presence of a CNVM in the left eye which was treated with focal thermal laser. Regression was noted on optical coherence tomography angiography at 1 month post-laser, but at 3-month follow-up, exacerbation of the CNVM was observed. Subsequently, four intravitreal ziv-aflibercept injections were given, and scarring of CNVM was noted on OCT. Thermal laser in the background of angioid streaks has worsened the breaks in the Bruch's membrane leading to worsening of the CNVM.

Bilateral Hypopyon Uveitis in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: A leukemic hypopyon is considered an early sign of central nervous system involvement or systemic relapse. A differential diagnosis of masquerade syndromes should be considered in cases of hypopyon uveitis that are atypical or unresponsive to treatment. We report a case of a 45-year-old man who presented with bilateral hypopyon uveitis and was subsequently diagnosed as having chronic myeloid leukemia. METHOD: Retrospective case review. RESULTS: A 45-year-old diabetic male presented with diminished vision in both eyes for 10 days. Ophthalmic evaluation revealed rubeosis iridis, hypopyon, and signs of proliferative diabetic retinopathy with panretinal laser photocoagulation scars. He subsequently presented 1 week later with a bloodstained hypopyon in his right eye and a persistent hypopyon in his left eye. A peripheral blood smear and subsequent bone marrow trephine biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis and he was referred to an oncologist for further management. CONCLUSION: A recalcitrant or atypical hypopyon uveitis can be an indicator of a blast crisis or a central nervous system involvement or sign of a relapse in cases of leukemia. The presence of unusual bloodstained hypopyon helped in identifying the presence of chronic myeloid leukemia and aided in a prompt oncology consultation.