Central macular thickness change after uneventful small-incision cataract surgery - An observational study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to diagnose CME with the help of optical coherence tomography (OCT) after uneventful cataract surgery to prevent visual deterioration. Methods: This study was conducted on 120 patients, who underwent manual small-incision cataract surgery with posterior chamber intra-ocular lens implantation. Follow-up was performed after the first week, sixth week, and 12th week post-operatively. Detailed examination was performed at each visit along with measurements of central macular thickness using OCT. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. Result: The mean age of the patients was 61.85 ± 11.41 years having female preponderance. The pre-operative mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was found to be 0.05 ± 0.04, whereas the mean post-operative BCVA was found to be 0.65 ± 0.17 at the first week, 0.66 ± 0.17 at the sixth week, and 0.67 ± 0.17 at the 12th week follow-up. The post-operative mean macular thicknesses at the first week, sixth week, and 12th week post-operatively were documented to be 221.66 ± 8.49 µm, 224.60 ± 8.75 µm, and 219.17 ± 8.22 µm, respectively. Conclusion: A sub-clinical increase in macular thickness occurs even after uncomplicated cataract surgery. The maximum increase was observed after 6 weeks of surgery, which returns to near normal values within 3 months. Comparison of central macular thicknesses pre-operatively and post-operatively at the first week, sixth week, and 12th week suggests a significant correlation.

Filamentous fungal endophthalmitis: results of combination therapy with intravitreal amphotericin B and voriconazole.

PURPOSE: To report outcomes of exogenous fungal endophthalmitis treated with combination of intravitreal antifungal agents. DESIGN: Retrospective, non-randomized, interventional, consecutive case series. METHODS: Twelve eyes of twelve consecutive cases of filamentous fungal endophthalmitis were treated with a combination of intravitreal amphotericin-B and intravitreal voriconazole (AmB-Vo Regime) along with pars plana vitrectomy at a single center. Clinical characteristics, microbiology results, treatment strategy, visual, and anatomical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten cases out of the twelve were postoperative endophthalmitis of which nine were part of a post cataract surgery cluster. The remaining included endophthalmitis following keratitis post pterygium excision (1) and following open globe injury (2). The most common fungus was Aspergillus terreus, which was isolated in 8/12, followed by A. flavus in 2/12 and Fusarium solani in 1/12. The presenting visual acuity ranged from light perception (LP) to counting fingers. The visual acuity at final follow-up was 20/400 or better in 7/12 eyes (58.33%) and 20/60 in 2/12 eyes (range 20/60 to LP). All eyes with corneal involvement had final visual acuity 20/400 or worse. Globe salvage was achieved in all cases. CONCLUSION: Combining intravitreal amphotericin-B and voriconazole could be a novel treatment strategy in the management of endophthalmitis caused by filamentous fungus. Eyes with corneal involvement had poor visual outcome either with or without therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.

Vitreous haemorrhage in massive hemorrhagic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes: Vitreous hemorrhage in PCV.

BACKGROUND: To report the outcomes of vitreous hemorrhage (VH) associated with hemorrhagic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: A retrospective study of 28 eyes of 27 consecutive patients of hemorrhagic PCV with VH, which were managed surgically between January 2003 and December 2011, was performed. All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy for VH associated with PCV. The main outcome measure was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline, at 1, 3 and 6 months post operatively and at last follow up. RESULTS: The visual acuity measured on early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) chart improved in 16 eyes (57.1 %) by two or more lines, remained unchanged in nine eyes (32.1 %) and decreased in three (10.7 %) after surgery when compared to baseline VA. The mean baseline VA was 2.69 ± 0.57 logMAR units (<20/2000) which improved to 1.65 ± 0.93 logMAR units (20/800) at 1 month post operative visit and was sustained at 1.72 ± 1.12 (20/800) with an improvement of 0.96 logMAR units (p < 0.001, 95 % CI 0.54-1.37). The average postoperative follow up was for 14.2 months (range 1-84). The complications noted in postoperative follow up were cataract (n = 10), macular scaring (n = 9), organised dehemoglobinised blood (n = 7), retinal tear or detachment (n = 5), recurrent VH (n = 3) and choroidal detachment (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Majority of patients with loss of vision due to VH secondary to hemorrhagic PCV have sustained improvement in visual acuity following surgery.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as an adjuvant in the management of acute retinal necrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) as an adjuvant in the management of acute retinal necrosis (ARN). DESIGN: Interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Four eyes of 4 patients diagnosed with ARN were studied. METHODS: This pilot case series included 4 patients who presented with clinical features suggestive of ARN. IVTA was injected 1 to 2 weeks after initiation of antiviral therapy and concurrent usage of oral corticosteroids. The disease course and clinical outcome were observed. The patients received additional treatment depending on the sequelae of ARN. RESULTS: Signs of reduction in vitritis and resolution of retinitis were observed as early as 1 week after IVTA was administered. In all 4 patients, inflammation promptly resolved with no untoward effects like raised intraocular pressure or worsening of the retinitis. A final visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 3 of 4 patients after appropriate treatment of ARN-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal triamcinolone under antiviral cover could be a useful adjunct to systemic steroids in the treatment of ARN.

Role of echography in diagnostic dilemma in choroidal masses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of echography in diagnosis and management of a diverse array of choroidal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two cases of clinically suspected choroidal masses were prospectively analyzed with B-scan (10 Hz), A-scan, and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) (50 Hz) after a meticulous history and ocular examination. Ancillary investigations and systemic evaluation were also done. RESULTS: Based on clinical suspicion, acoustic features, response to treatment, and other ancillary tests combined together, the various masses were differentiated. The cases included in the study were as follows: n = 10 malignant melanomas, n = 16 metastasis and infiltrations, n = 9 hemangioma, n = 7 tuberculoma, n = 8 nonspecific inflammatory masses, n = 2 disciform plaques, n = 4 macular cysts or retinoschisis, n = 2 Coat's disease, n = 1 melanocytoma, and n = 2 osteomas. Ultrasonography (USG) alone could identify n = 51 lesions, while UBM in combination with USG was needed in remaining 11 masses. CONCLUSION: Standardized echography is an important adjunct in the diagnosis and management of eyes with intraocular masses. A better understanding of the clinicopathological and echographic picture of the diverse lesions can help in detection, differentiation, diagnosis, proposing a therapeutic approach, and also monitoring response to treatment. Echography is essential to evaluate tumors for extrascleral and anterior segment extension.

Endophthalmitis after open globe injuries: changes in microbiological spectrum and isolate susceptibility patterns over 14 years.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiologic spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates in post-traumatic endophthalmitis and compare with our earlier published report. A retrospective review was conducted on 581 consecutive patients with culture-proven post-traumatic endophthalmitis at L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, India, from January 2006 to March 2013. FINDINGS: A total of 620 isolates from 581 patients were identified (565 bacteria and 55 fungi). The most common isolate was Bacillus spp. (106/620, 17.1%) closely followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (105/620, 16.9%), and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (97/620, 15.6%). In our earlier report, the commonest bacteria included Streptococcus spp. (30/139, 21.6%) and gram-positive coagulase-negative micrococci (26/139, 18.7%). Gram-positive isolates were usually susceptible to vancomycin (98.2%). Gram-negative isolates were generally susceptible to gatifloxacin (92.9%), ofloxacin (89.4%), chloramphenicol (88.6%, Pseudomonas isolates were often resistant), amikacin (83.5%), and ceftazidime (77.2%). Fourteen years ago, the most sensitive antibiotic was ciprofloxacin for both gram-positive bacteria (95.12%) and gram-negative bacteria (100%). CONCLUSIONS: The microbiological spectrum of post-traumatic endophthalmitis has remained unchanged over the last 14 years, and Bacillus spp. continues as the most common infecting organism. Vancomycin is the drug of choice for empiric coverage of gram-positive bacteria. Susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria to commonly used antimicrobials (amikacin and ciprofloxacin) has decreased by 10% - 15% and to ceftazidime has increased by 10.5%.

Diagnosis of subretinal neovascularization associated with idiopathic juxtafoveal retinal telangiectasia - fluorescein angiography versus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: To compare ability of fluorescein angiography (FFA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to diagnose subretinal neovascularization (SRNV) secondary to idiopathic juxtafoveal retinal telangiectasia (IJRT) type 2A. METHODS: Two masked observers evaluated FFA and SD-OCT images separately to diagnose the presence of SRNV in 65 eyes of 36 patients. A third masked observer diagnosed SRNV on color fundus photo. Presence of SRNV on color fundus photo was defined as presence of subretinal hemorrhage, thickening of retina, and/or visible membrane at the macula. Presence of SRNV on FFA was defined when there was hyperfluorescence in early phase with increase in intensity and size in the late phase; presence of membrane, large irregular lesion, hypofluorescence due to subretinal haemorrhage. SRNV on SD-OCT was defined as the presence of thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium-choriocapillaris complex with or without intraretinal fluid or subretinal fluid and associated with intraretinal hyperreflective area with retinal thickening. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement (Kappa) for diagnosis of SRNV on FFA and SD-OCT was 0.373 (95 % CI, 0.106-0.617) and 0.775 (95 % CI, 0.612-0.899) respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of FFA were 52.3 % and 70.0 % respectively. With regard to SD-OCT, the sensitivity and specificity were 72.7 % and 64.1 % respectively in reference to color photograph. The negative predictive value (NPV) of SD-OCT (80.6 %) was higher than FFA (73.7 %). When we considered only the presence of subretinal hemorrhage on color photograph as a confirmed diagnosis of SRNV and compared the diagnostic ability of FFA and SD-OCT, we found that the FFA had poor sensitivity (58.3 %) but a better specificity (71.8 %) than SD-OCT, which had sensitivity of 75 % and specificity of 64 % (Tables 1 and 2). However, the negative predictive value (NPV) of SD-OCT (89.29 %) was slightly better than FFA (84.85 %). CONCLUSION: Interobserver agreement between the observers was better for SD-OCT than for FFA in making the diagnosis of SRNV. SD-OCT is a better diagnostic modality than FFA for ruling out the presence of SRNV.

Pharmacokinetics of intravitreal antibiotics in endophthalmitis.

Intravitreal antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment in the management of infectious endophthalmitis. Basic knowledge of the commonly used intravitreal antibiotics, which includes their pharmacokinetics, half-life, duration of action and clearance, is essential for elimination of intraocular infection without any iatrogenic adverse effect to the ocular tissue. Various drugs have been studied over the past century to achieve this goal. We performed a comprehensive review of the antibiotics which have been used for intravitreal route and the pharmacokinetic factors influencing the drug delivery and safety profile of these antibiotics. Using online resources like PubMed and Google Scholar, articles were reviewed. The articles were confined to the English language only. We present a broad overview of pharmacokinetic concepts fundamental for use of intravitreal antibiotics in endophthalmitis along with a tabulated compendium of the intravitreal antibiotics using available literature. Recent advances for increasing bioavailability of antibiotics to the posterior segment with the development of controlled drug delivery devices are also described.