Experience with netarsudil 0.02% and latanoprostene bunod 0.024% as adjunctive therapy for glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of adjunctive topical netarsudil 0.02% and latanoprostene bunod 0.024% in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: A retrospective, multi-center, cohort study of patients with glaucoma treated with netarsudil 0.02% or latanoprostene bunod from five tertiary care centers. Inclusion criteria included patients with glaucoma treated with either medication as adjunctive therapy. Outcomes included mean absolute intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and relative IOP reduction from baseline. Adverse reactions and reasons for discontinuation were reported. One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, and Mann Whitney U test compared the outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 95 eyes (95 patients) on netarsudil and 41 eyes (41 patients) on latanoprostene bunod were analyzed. Mean duration of use was 54.3 ± 28 days for netarsudil and 82.9 ± 51.2 days for latanoprostene bunod. At the final visit, mean IOP reduction was 3.9 ± 4.6 mmHg (17.5 ± 6.0%) (p < 0.0001) with netarsudil and 2.9 ± 3.7 mmHg (13.6 ± 16.3%) (p < 0.0001) with latanoprostene bunod. IOP lowering did not depend on baseline number of IOP-lowering medications. The most common reason for discontinuation was non-effectiveness in both groups. CONCLUSION: Similar to monotherapy, netarsudil and latanoprostene bunod demonstrated efficacy in lowering IOP when used as adjunctive therapy.

Glaucoma Care of Incarcerated Patients at an Academic Institution: A Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate medication and follow-up adherence in incarcerated patients examined at an academic glaucoma clinic, in comparison to nonincarcerated controls. METHODS: Retrospective, case-control study. Consecutive prisoners presenting for initial visits in the Glaucoma Clinic at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary between December 2015 and December 2017 were included in the study. Nonincarcerated patients seen in the same Glaucoma Clinic with similar initial visit dates, age, race, sex, and disease severity were selected as controls. Glaucoma Clinic visits from each patient were reviewed until December 2018. Examination information, surgical intervention, follow-up and treatment recommendations, and patient-reported medication usage were recorded for each visit. Number of visits, loss to follow-up, follow-up delays, and medication nonadherence were studied as primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Twenty-four prisoners and 24 nonincarcerated controls were included. Prisoners had an average of 2.46 ± 2.38 visits during the study period, compared to 5.04 ± 3.25 for controls (P = 0.001). Follow-up visits occurred more than 30 days after the recommended follow-up time in 57.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44.2%-70.6%) of prisoners, compared to 17.9% (95% CI: 10.2%-25.6%) of controls (P < 0.00001). 70.8% of prisoners (95% CI: 66.3-74.5%) were lost to follow-up, compared to 29.2% of controls (95% CI: 25.5%-32.9%; P < 0.01). Medication nonadherence rates were similar between prisoners (13.6%; 95% CI: 12.1%-15.2%) and controls (12.0%; 95% CI: 11.4%-12.6%; P = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma follow-up adherence was significantly worse in prisoners compared to a nonincarcerated control population. Further study into causative factors is needed.

High Incidence of Burst Suppression during Propofol Sedation for Outpatient Colonoscopy: Lessons Learned from Neuromonitoring.

BACKGROUND: Although anesthesia providers may plan for moderate sedation, the depth of sedation is rarely quantified. Using processed electroencephalography (EEG) to assess the depth of sedation, this study investigates the incidence of general anesthesia with variable burst suppression in patients receiving propofol for outpatient colonoscopy. The lessons learned from neuromonitoring can then be used to guide institutional best sedation practice. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 119 outpatients undergoing colonoscopy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH). Propofol was administered by CRNAs under anesthesiologists' supervision. The Patient State Index (PSi™) generated by the Masimo SedLine® Brain Root Function monitor (Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA) was used to assess the depth of sedation. PSi data correlating to general anesthesia with variable burst suppression were confirmed by neuroelectrophysiologists' interpretation of unprocessed EEG. RESULTS: PSi values of <50 consistent with general anesthesia were attained in 118/119 (99.1%) patients. Of these patients, 33 (27.7%) attained PSi values <25 consistent with variable burst suppression. The 118 patients that reached PSi <50 spent a significantly greater percentage (53.1% vs. 42%) of their case at PSi levels <50 compared to PSi levels >50 (p=0.001). Mean total propofol dose was significantly correlated to patient PSi during periods of PSi <25 (R=0.406, p=0.021). CONCLUSION: Although providers planned for moderate to deep sedation, processed EEG showed patients were under general anesthesia, often with burst suppression. Anesthesiologists and endoscopists may utilize processed EEG to recognize their institutional practice patterns of procedural sedation with propofol and improve upon it.

Glaucoma Care of Prison Inmates at an Academic Hospital.

Importance: Glaucoma care for prison inmates is underrepresented in the literature even though managing the treatment of such patients may provide unique challenges. Objectives: To evaluate the glaucoma profile of prison inmates treated at an academic ophthalmology center and to report on the medical and surgical management and follow-up metrics. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study assessed data from 82 incarcerated patients treated at the glaucoma clinic, an academic referral center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, between January 2013 and December 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Diagnosis, glaucoma severity, medical and surgical interventions, and patient-reported medication adherence were recorded for each visit. Recommended and actual follow-up times were recorded and compared. Data analyses were conducted from January 2013 to December 2018. Results: In total, 82 patients (161 eyes) had 375 visits during the study period. All patients were male and ranged from 20 to 75 years of age (mean [SD] age, 50.8 [11.9] years). Most participants were black patients (65 [79.3%]). The most common diagnoses were primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG; 53 eyes [32.9%]) and POAG suspect (52 eyes [32.3%]). Glaucoma severity ranged from mild (25 of 77 eyes [32.5%]) to advanced (41 of 77 eyes [53.2%]). Overall, 59 patients (73.2%) were treated medically with up to 4 topical agents (40.0%). Of those treated, 70.0% of patients (95% CI, 57.7%-81.2%) reported medication nonadherence during at least 1 visit. Medication nonadherence was more common among those taking 4 different topical medications (21 of 24 [87.5%]) compared with others taking fewer medications (20 of 35 [57.1%]), for a difference of 30.4% (95% CI, 7.0%-53.6%; P = .02), and among those with advanced disease (22 of 26 [84.6%]) compared with glaucoma suspect (6 of 13 [46.2%]), for a difference of 38.4% (95% CI, 9.3%-67.5%; P = .02). Nineteen office procedures, including laser peripheral iridotomy and laser trabeculoplasty, were performed on 14 eyes. Seventeen incisional glaucoma procedures were performed on 15 eyes, including glaucoma drainage device implant (11 procedures [64.7%]) and trabeculectomy (3 procedures [17.6%]). Only 26.6% of return office visits (95% CI, 21.3%-32.3%) occurred within the recommended follow-up time frame. Furthermore, 93 patients (34.8%; 95% CI, 28.2%-40.0%) were seen more than 1 month after the recommended follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance: Despite incarceration in prison, where medication administration and appointment attendance are theoretically controlled, the results of this study suggested that substantial medication and follow-up nonadherence exists among inmates.

Update in Genetics and Surgical Management of Primary Congenital Glaucoma

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) continues to be an important cause of visual impairment in children despite advances in medical and surgical treatment options. The progressive and blinding nature of the disease, together with the long lifespan of the affected population, necessitates a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of PCG and the development of long-lasting treatment options. The first part of this review discusses the genetic features and makeup of this disorder, including all currently identified genetic loci (GLC3A, GLC3B, GLC3C and GLC3D) and relevant protein targets important for trabecular and Schlemm canal dysgenesis. These target molecules primarily include CYP1B1, LTBP2, and TEK/Tie2 proteins. Their potential roles in PCG pathogenesis are discussed with the purpose of bringing the readers up to date on the molecular genetics aspect of this disorder. Special emphasis is placed on functional implications of reported genetic mutations in the setting of PCG. The second part of the review focuses on various modifications and refinements to the traditional surgical approaches performed to treat PCG, including advances in goniotomy and trabeculotomy ab externo techniques, glaucoma drainage implant surgery and cyclodiode photocoagulation techniques that ultimately provide safer surgical approaches and more effective intraocular pressure control in the 21st century.

Traumatic Submacular Hemorrhage with Macular Hole Repaired by Pneumatic Displacement and Intravitreal t-PA Injection.

This paper presents a case demonstrating repair of traumatic macular hole and submacular hemorrhage with intravitreal gas tamponade and t-PA in an office setting.

Spontaneous upper eyelid ecchymosis: A rare presenting sign for frontal sinus mucocele.

Paranasal sinus mucoceles are benign lesions that commonly present with orbital signs due to their anatomic proximity. We are reporting a case of bilateral frontal sinus mucocele presenting with spontaneous eyelid ecchymosis. To our knowledge this is the first case report of eyelid ecchymosis as the initial sign of this condition. In addition, our patient lacked commonly described symptoms such as diplopia or pain. This report highlights the importance of including frontal sinus mucocele in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous periorbital ecchymosis.

Initial presentation of acute transverse myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: demographics, diagnosis, management and comparison to idiopathic cases.

To describe and compare the diagnosis, demographics and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) related versus idiopathic acute transverse myelitis during the initial presentation of the disease. We undertook a chart review of the hospital records of patients admitted to our hospital from 1994 until 2007 and had the diagnosis of SLE related and idiopathic acute transverse myelitis. Demographics, laboratory and imaging studies, diagnosis and treatment were recorded in both groups and analyzed in a case control fashion. We identified 15 patients with SLE-related acute transverse myelitis (SLE-ATM) and 39 idiopathic (I-ATM) cases between 1994 and 2007. Patients with SLE were more likely to be African American, have CNS demyelinating lesions on MRI, a high IgG% on their CSF analysis and a higher sedimentation rate on presentation. Treatment with high-dose steroids was instituted in both groups of patients, though SLE patients had a longer hospital stay by an average of 5 days. SLE-ATM patients were more likely to be African American as compared to I-ATM patients, have CNS demyelinating lesions on MRI, a high IgG% on CSF analysis and a higher sedimentation rate on presentation. The hospital stay for SLE patients was 5 days longer than the idiopathic patients. This study underlines the importance of early diagnosis of patients who develop ATM related to SLE.