The presenting visual symptoms of optic chiasmal disease.

Recognising optic chiasmal disease early is important in order to avoid irreversible visual loss and the potential risk of mortality for patients. Yet, there is frequently a delay in the initial diagnosis. Whilst the signs of optic chiasmal disease, particularly the perimetric findings, are well documented in the recent literature, the symptoms have been less well reported. Whilst some patients with optic chiasmal disease will be asymptomatic, many will complain of visual symptoms including symptomatic field defects, problems with central vision, difficulty with near tasks, binocular visual disturbances, colour vision disturbances, photophobia, phosphenes, glare, and rarely, oscillopsia and visual hallucinations. Others may have headache or the severe and sudden visual symptoms associated with pituitary apoplexy. The visual symptoms may be vague or non-specific, even when there are significant bitemporal visual field defects. We aim in this review to describe the presenting visual symptoms of optic chiasmal disease, and to illustrate these with selected qualitative descriptions from the literature. Our hope is that this will aid clinicians in eliciting a careful history of the sometimes subtle symptoms that may be present.

Incidence and survival of uveal melanoma in Northern Ireland: how incomplete data can skew results in rare cancers.

BACKGROUND: The majority of Northern Irish uveal melanoma (UM) patients are diagnosed in Sheffield. This study aims to present incidence and survival outcomes for UM patients from Northern Ireland (NI). METHODS: Collaborative retrospective study between Sheffield and Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR). For UM cases not on both databases, outcomes and survival rates (via Kaplan-Meier analysis) were compared. Anonymised NICR data were used to calculate whole-population incidence of UM for NI. RESULTS: In total, 161 patients from NI were diagnosed in Sheffield, 90 of which were not registered with NICR at the start of this study. Data-omissions were not consistent across patient groups, leading to significant differences between those patients registered and those not. Registered patients had an all-cause 5-year survival rate of only 68.9% compared to 92.5% of those not registered (p < 0.01) and were >17x more likely to have systemic metastases than those not registered (p < 0·001). Following rectification of data-omissions, the European age-standardised incidence rate of UM for NI was 8·6 per million. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the impact of incomplete population-wide data, serving as a real-world lesson in case-identification bias. Rare cancers are at higher risk of omission due to systemic failures as the small numbers involved are not detected by system-wide validation procedures. Following this study, data-transfer agreements between England and NI were actioned, preventing future data-omissions. We present survival and incidence data for UM in NI for the first time, showing the incidence is amongst the highest in Europe, with good survival rates.

Neuro-Ophthalmic Complications of Vestibular Schwannoma Resection: Current Perspectives.

Vestibular schwannomas (VSs), also called acoustic neuromas, are benign intracranial neoplasms of the vestibulocochlear (VIII) cranial nerve. Management options include "wait-and-scan," stereotactic radiosurgery and surgical resection. Due to the proximity of the VIII nerve to the facial (VII) nerve in the cerebello-pontine angle, the VII nerve is particularly vulnerable to the effects of surgical resection. This can result in poor eye closure, lagophthalmos and resultant corneal exposure post VS resection. Additionally, compression from the tumor or resection can cause trigeminal (V) nerve damage and a desensate cornea. The combination of an exposed and desensate cornea puts the eye at risk of serious ocular complications including persistent epithelial defects, corneal ulceration, corneal vascularization, corneal melting and potential perforation. The abducens (VI) nerve can be affected by a large intracranial VS causing raised intracranial pressure (a false localizing sign) or as a result of damage to the VI nerve at the time of resection. Other types of neurogenic strabismus are rare and typically transient. Contralaterally beating nystagmus as a consequence of vestibular dysfunction is common post-operatively. This generally settles to pre-operative levels as central compensation occurs. Ipsilaterally beating nystagmus post-operatively should prompt investigation for post-operative cerebrovascular complications. Papilledema (and subsequent optic atrophy) can occur as a result of a large VS causing raised intracranial pressure. Where papilledema follows surgical resection of a VS, it can indicate that cerebral venous sinus thrombosis has occurred. Poor visual function following VS resection can result as a combination of all these potential complications and is more likely with larger tumors.

Ocular Trauma During the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Purpose: To identify the impact the COVID-19 lockdown had on the presentation and management of sight-threatening ocular trauma.Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of all patients who presented to the Ophthalmology department of Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield with serious ocular trauma during the COVID-19 lockdown period was performed. Data on mechanism of injury and date of injury, presentation, and surgical repair were collected. This process was repeated for the same dates in the previous 5 years for comparison.Results: During the COVID-19 lockdown period, we saw 10 cases of serious ocular trauma (4 globe ruptures, 4 full-thickness lid lacerations, and 2 intra-ocular foreign bodies). This is 3.33 times the average number of cases over the previous 5 years. The delay between injury and presentation rose to 1.1 days compared to 0.33 days pre-COVID; however, the time taken between presentation to surgery was only slightly affected (12 hours in 2020 compared to 11.38 hours pre-COVID).Conclusion: During the COVID-19 lockdown, the number of serious ocular trauma cases was more than three times the average of the previous 5 years. This increase is partially due to more DIY injuries as people stayed at home, but also surprisingly an increase in falls. There did appear to be a longer delay between injury and presentation, suggesting that patients were reluctant to come into hospital during the pandemic. Surgery was performed within 12 hours on average for both groups, reassuringly indicating that sight-saving surgery was not delayed despite extraordinary circumstances.

Is a virtual clinic model a safe and effective way for assessing patients referred with suspiciously blurred optic discs? The blurred disc clinic.

BACKGROUND: There are increasing numbers of referrals to ophthalmology departments due to blurred optic disc margins. In light of this and the COVID-19 pandemic we aimed to assess whether these patients could be safely assessed without direct contact between the clinician and patient. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients seen in our 'blurred disc clinic' between August 2018 and October 2019. We then presented anonymous information from their referral letter, their visual fields and optic nerve images to two consultant neuro-ophthalmologists blinded to the outcome of the face-to-face consultation. In the simulated virtual clinic, the two consultants were asked to choose an outcome for each patient from discharge, investigate or bring in for a face-to-face assessment. RESULTS: Out of 133 patients seen in the blurred disc clinic, six (4.5%) were found to have papilloedema. All six were identified by both neuro-ophthalmologists as needing a face-to-face clinic consultation from the simulated virtual clinic. One hundred and twenty (90%) patients were discharged from the face-to-face clinic at the first consultation. The two neuro-ophthalmologists chose to discharge 114 (95%) and 99 (83%) of these respectively from the simulated virtual clinic. The virtual clinic would have potentially missed serious pathology in only one patient who had normal optic discs but reported diplopia at the previous face-to-face consultation. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual clinic model is an effective way of screening for papilloedema in patients referred to the eye clinic with suspicious optic discs. Unrelated or incidental pathology may be missed in a virtual clinic.

Optic nerve sheath fenestration in patients with visual failure associated with vestibular schwannoma.

Background: Papilloedema and visual failure can occur as a consequence of vestibular schwannoma without evidence of hydrocephalus on imaging. Conventional treatment usually includes CSF diversion procedures. We describe here the novel use of optic nerve sheath fenestration in these patients. Methods: A case series of three patients who underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration for visual complications of vestibular schwannoma. Results: Patients A and B were both 23 year old females, with visual symptoms and papilloedema at the time of presentation with a large vestibular schwannoma. Patient A had progressive, severe visual failure despite treatment with an external ventricular drain and tumour resection. She therefore went on to have bilateral optic nerve sheath fenestration surgery, which restored central vision, improved peripheral vision and resolved papilloedema. Patient B underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration as first line surgical management for visual symptoms from a large vestibular schwannoma. This resulted in resolution of visual symptoms and papilloedema and she went on to have the lesion resected at a later date. Patient C was a 54 year old male who developed visual symptoms and papilloedema following the resection of a vestibular schwannoma. This was found to be secondary to a transverse venous sinus thrombosis and he underwent an optic nerve sheath fenestration to treat the complications of this. He also had restored vision and resolution of papilloedema. Conclusion: We demonstrate, with 3 differing cases, that optic nerve sheath fenestration can be a useful and safe treatment choice for patients with visual failure and papilloedema secondary to vestibular schwannoma.

Treatment and Outcomes in Nutritional Optic Neuropathy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Nutritional optic neuropathy is a potential cause of severe visual loss; however, appropriate and timely management can result in excellent visual outcomes. The purpose of this review is to outline our current understanding of the treatment and outcomes for nutritional optic neuropathy. RECENT FINDINGS: Current understanding of nutritional optic neuropathy has been greatly aided by some well-reported and investigated epidemics of the condition, most notably the Cuban epidemic optic neuropathy of the early 1990s. More recently, there is an emerging literature surrounding nutritional deficiencies that can occur in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. There also continues to be a stream of case reports in the literature that add to our understanding. Nutritional optic neuropathy has a great deal of overlap with toxic optic neuropathies and hereditary optic neuropathies and should not be thought of in isolation from these conditions. The mainstay of treatment for nutritional optic neuropathy involves identifying and replacing deficient nutrients as well as identifying and eliminating contributory toxins. It is also important to identify contributory genetic factors and to consider the broader social, economic and societal factors which may contribute.

A Stereotyped Syndrome with Retro-Ocular Pain, Photophobia, and Visual Disturbance Masquerading as Optic Neuritis: Case Series.

We describe here a case series of six patients referred to the Neuro-ophthalmology service in Sheffield, UK with possible acute unilateral optic neuritis. Each patient had a triad of unilateral photophobia, ipsilateral retro-ocular pain, and ipsilateral loss of vision. All patients had normal ocular examinations and investigation findings with no objective structural or functional abnormalities identified. Patients were treated by weaning-off regular analgesia and, where appropriate, commencing migraine prophylaxis. In the three patients with complete recovery of pain, there was also complete recovery of vision. We propose that this is a migraine syndrome and that the decreased visual acuity is a functional consequence of the pain and photophobia.

Effect of cataract surgery on cognition, mood, and visual hallucinations in older adults.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of cataract surgery on cognition, mood, and visual hallucinations in a cohort of patients aged 75 years and older. SETTING: Secondary care ophthalmology unit in Northeast England. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. METHODS: Participants aged 75 years or older with bilateral cataract and scheduled for cataract surgery were recruited consecutively. Participants were assessed preoperatively and followed for 1 year postoperatively. Cognition was assessed using the revised Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-R), mood was measured with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, visual hallucinations were elicited using the North East Visual Hallucinations Inventory, and visual acuity was assessed using a logMAR chart. RESULTS: One hundred twelve participants were recruited at baseline; 91 (81%) completed 1 year of follow-up. Significant improvements in ACE-R scores were seen between baseline and 1 year postoperatively (95% confidence interval for improvement, 0.5-2.8; P = .005). Improved cognition did not correlate with improved visual acuity (r = -0.13, P = .22). No significant changes in mood were seen during the course of the study (P = .314, repeated-measures 1-way analysis of variance). Complete resolution of complex visual hallucinations occurred in 2 patients after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Small improvements in cognition and reports of resolved complex visual hallucinations indicate that the benefits of cataract surgery might extend beyond visual improvement. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Does cognitive impairment influence outcomes from cataract surgery? Results from a 1-year follow-up cohort study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the impact of impaired cognition on visual outcomes 1 year following cataract surgery in a cohort of older people. METHODS: Participants aged 75 years or more with bilateral cataract and scheduled for cataract surgery were recruited consecutively. Cognition was assessed using the revised Addenbrooke's cognitive examination (ACE-R). Participants were divided into two groups: normal (ACE-R ≥88) and impaired cognition (ACE-R <88). Visual quality of life (VQOL) and logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (VA) were assessed at baseline and 1 year following cataract surgery. RESULTS: Of 112 participants, 48 (43%) had normal cognition and 64 (57%) had impaired cognition. One year following cataract surgery participants in both groups had significant improvements in VQOL and VA. Visual outcomes at 1 year were significantly better in participants with normal cognition than in those with impaired cognition (95% CIs for difference 0.4-7.0 and 0.02-0.1, for VQOL and VA, respectively). Regression analyses correcting for potential confounders showed a relationship between baseline cognition and VA at 1 year (R(2)=0.30, p=0.001) and a possible relationship between baseline cognition and VQOL at 1 year (R(2)=0.41, p=0.01, this became insignificant after removal of outliers). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with impaired cognition benefit from cataract surgery, but not to the same extent as patients with normal cognition.

Challenges for the cataract surgeon treating people with dementia: a qualitative study exploring anesthetic choices.

BACKGROUND: In light of the growing number of people with dementia and age-related cataract, as well as changing anesthetic practices for cataract surgery, this study aimed to explore the experiences of cataract surgeons in managing patients with dementia and making anesthetic decisions. METHODS: This was a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with senior cataract surgeons from two centers in England. Fourteen surgeons were interviewed, and a thematic approach informed by grounded theory was used for the analysis. RESULTS: Choice of anesthesia for people with dementia was a central theme arising from the data. Surgeons varied in their thresholds for using general anesthesia. Decisions about suitability for local anesthesia were limited by time constraints and generally made rapidly and based on instinct; dementia was not always apparent at the point of preassessment. Surgeons used a variety of topical, sub-Tenon's, and sharp needle blocks for people with dementia. Surgeons discussed techniques to help patients tolerate local anesthesia, such as clear communication, a primary nurse, hand-holding, and support from an anesthetist. However, within our sample, some surgeons had had negative experiences of operating on people with dementia, where an incorrect judgment had been made that they could tolerate local anesthetic cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the differing practices of cataract surgeons when making anesthetic choices for people with dementia and the challenges they face. In order to avoid the situation of a patient with dementia becoming distressed during awake surgery, increased time at preassessment and anesthetic support may be beneficial.

The association between diagnosed glaucoma and cataract and cognitive performance in very old people: cross-sectional findings from the newcastle 85+ study.

PURPOSE: Common age-related eye diseases including glaucoma, cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have been proposed to be associated with dementia. Few studies have examined the relationship between cognition and cataract or glaucoma. We explored the association between cognition and cataract and glaucoma diagnoses in community-dwelling 85-year-olds. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Newcastle 85+ Study. Diagnoses of eye disease were extracted from family practice records. Cognitive performance was assessed by the standardized mini-mental state examination (sMMSE) and the sMMSE-blind (MMblind). Relationships between glaucoma diagnosis or cataract diagnosis and lower cognition were examined using ordinal logistic regression. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 839 participants. Of these, 36.0% (302/839) had recorded previous cataract surgery, 11.2% (94/839) untreated cataract and 7.9% (66/839) diagnosed glaucoma. Glaucoma diagnosis was associated with lower sMMSE results (odds ratio [OR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.95); but not lower MMblind (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.65-2.12). When compared to no cataract, cataract diagnosis (treated and untreated combined) was associated with higher sMMSE (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.38-0.79) and MMblind (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34-0.76). Previously treated cataract was associated with higher sMMSE (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.88) and MMblind (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.55-0.85). Untreated cataract was not significantly associated with sMMSE (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.36-1.19) or MMblind (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.39-1.36). CONCLUSIONS: This large epidemiological study of 85-year-olds found that lower sMMSE but not MMblind was associated with glaucoma diagnosis, suggesting the association may be driven by poor vision. Cataract diagnosis was associated with higher sMMSE and MMblind. Reasons for this observation are unclear but may relate to enhanced help-seeking behavior in people with diagnosed cataract.

The assessment of cognition in visually impaired older adults.

BACKGROUND: visual and cognitive impairments are common in later life. Yet there are very few cognitive screening tests for the visually impaired. OBJECTIVE: to screen for cognitive impairment in the visually impaired. METHODS: case-control study including 150 elderly participants with visual impairment (n = 74) and a control group without visual impairment (n = 76) using vision-independent cognitive tests and cognitive screening tests (MMSE and clock drawing tests (CDT)) which are in part vision dependent. RESULTS: the scoring of the two groups did not differ in the vision-independent cognitive tests. Visually impaired patients performed poorer than controls in the vision-dependent items of the MMSE (T = 7.3; df: 148; P < 0.001) and in CDT (T = 3.1; df: 145; P = 0.003). No group difference was found when vision-independent items were added to MMSE and CDT. The test score gain by the use of vision-independent items correlated with the severity of visual impairment (P < 0.002). CONCLUSION: visually impaired patients benefit from cognitive tests, which do not rely on vision. The more visually impaired the greater the benefit.

The impact of visual impairment on Mini-Mental State Examination Scores in the Newcastle 85+ study.

BACKGROUND: cognitive test scores and visual acuity are strongly associated in older people. This may be due to poor vision limiting performance on cognitive tasks specifically requiring vision, or an association between visual and neurodegenerative disorders. OBJECTIVE: to explore, using data from the Newcastle 85+ cohort study, the impact of sight impairment (SI) on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and whether reduced scores among SI participants are limited to tasks requiring vision. RESULTS: of 839 participants aged 85 years, 44 (5.2%) were registered SI. Median (inter-quartile range) sMMSE scores were 25 (22-29) for SI and 28 (25-29) for non-SI participants (P=0.006). SI participants had lower subscale scores on tasks requiring vision (P<0.001 for each) but also for some subscale scores not obviously requiring vision: orientation (P=0.018) and repetition (P=0.030). Excluding visual items, there was no significant difference in MMSE scores between those with/without SI. CONCLUSION: SI may be an obstacle to older people completing cognitive assessments including tasks requiring vision. People with SI also scored lower on some tasks not obviously requiring vision. An association between cognitive impairment and SI may exist beyond simply being unable to see the test material in cognitive tests.

Acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care: who needs antibiotics? An individual patient data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute infective conjunctivitis is a common problem in primary care, traditionally managed with topical antibiotics. A number of clinical trials have questioned the benefit of topical antibiotics for patients with acute infective conjunctivitis. AIM: To determine the benefit of antibiotics for the treatment of acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care and which subgroups benefit most. DESIGN: An individual patient data meta-analysis. METHOD: Relevant trials were identified and individual patient data gathered for meta-analysis and subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Three eligible trials were identified. Individual patient data were available from all primary care trials and data were available for analysis in 622 patients. Eighty per cent (246/308) of patients who received antibiotics and 74% (233/314) of controls were cured at day 7. There was a significant benefit of antibiotics versus control for cure at seven days in all cases combined (risk difference 0.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01 to 0.14). Subgroups that showed a significant benefit from antibiotics were patients with purulent discharge (risk difference 0.09, 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.17) and patients with mild severity of red eye (risk difference 0.10, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.18), while the type of control used (placebo drops versus nothing) showed a statistically significant interaction (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Acute conjunctivitis seen in primary care can be thought of as a self-limiting condition, with most patients getting better regardless of antibiotic therapy. Patients with purulent discharge or a mild severity of red eye may have a small benefit from antibiotics. Prescribing practices need to be updated, taking into account these results.

VACTERL/caudal regression/Currarino syndrome-like malformations in mice with mutation in the proprotein convertase Pcsk5.

We have identified an ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced recessive mouse mutation (Vcc) with a pleiotropic phenotype that includes cardiac, tracheoesophageal, anorectal, anteroposterior patterning defects, exomphalos, hindlimb hypoplasia, a presacral mass, renal and palatal agenesis, and pulmonary hypoplasia. It results from a C470R mutation in the proprotein convertase PCSK5 (PC5/6). Compound mutants (Pcsk5(Vcc/null)) completely recapitulate the Pcsk5(Vcc/Vcc) phenotype, as does an epiblast-specific conditional deletion of Pcsk5. The C470R mutation ablates a disulfide bond in the P domain, and blocks export from the endoplasmic reticulum and proprotein convertase activity. We show that GDF11 is cleaved and activated by PCSK5A, but not by PCSK5A-C470R, and that Gdf11-deficient embryos, in addition to having anteroposterior patterning defects and renal and palatal agenesis, also have a presacral mass, anorectal malformation, and exomphalos. Pcsk5 mutation results in abnormal expression of several paralogous Hox genes (Hoxa, Hoxc, and Hoxd), and of Mnx1 (Hlxb9). These include known Gdf11 targets, and are necessary for caudal embryo development. We identified nonsynonymous mutations in PCSK5 in patients with VACTERL (vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal, limb malformation OMIM 192350) and caudal regression syndrome, the phenotypic features of which resemble the mouse mutation. We propose that Pcsk5, at least in part via GDF11, coordinately regulates caudal Hox paralogs, to control anteroposterior patterning, nephrogenesis, skeletal, and anorectal development.