Guidelines from an expert panel for the management of diabetic macular edema in the Malaysian population.

AIM: To derive a Malaysia guideline and consensus as part of the Malaysia Retina Group's efforts for diagnosis, treatment, and best practices of diabetic macular edema (DME). The experts' panel suggests that the treatment algorithm to be divided into groups according to involvement the central macula. The purpose of DME therapy is to improve edema and achieve the best visual results with the least amount of treatment load. METHODS: On two different occasions, a panel of 14 retinal specialists from Malaysia, together with an external expert, responded to a questionnaire on management of DME. A consensus was sought by voting after compiling, analyzing and discussion on first-phase replies on the round table discussion. A recommendation was deemed to have attained consensus when 12 out of the 14 panellists (85%) agreed with it. RESULTS: The terms target response, adequate response, nonresponse, and inadequate response were developed when the DME patients' treatment responses were first characterized. The panelists reached agreement on a number of DME treatment-related issues, including the need to classify patients prior to treatment, first-line treatment options, the right time to switch between treatment modalities, and side effects associated with steroids. From this agreement, recommendations were derived and a treatment algorithm was created. CONCLUSION: A detail and comprehensive treatment algorithm by Malaysia Retina Group for the Malaysian population provides guidance for treatment allocation of patients with DME.

Idiopathic Retinitis, Vasculitis, Aneurysms, and Neuroretinitis (IRVAN): Early Treatment Saves Sight.

We report a rare case of bilateral Idiopathic Retinitis, Vasculitis, Aneurysms, and Neuroretinitis (IRVAN) with occlusive vasculitis. A 28-year-old female presented with sudden decreased vision in her left eye for three days. Visual acuity in the right eye was 6/6, whereas it was 6/9 in the left eye. The anterior segment was examined and found to be normal. A fundus examination of the right eye showed an arteriolar aneurysm on the optic disc, vascular sheathing, and generalized retinal pigment epithelial atrophy. The left eye was in worse condition, with a swollen optic disc, disc hemorrhage, multiple arteriolar aneurysms, hard exudates at the peripapillary and macular region, peripheral vasculitis, neovascularization, and vitreous hemorrhage. Optical coherence tomography revealed mild cystoid macula edema (CME) in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography of both eyes demonstrated arteriolar aneurysms, vascular leakage, and peripheral ischemia. There was additional leakage from new vessels and masking secondary to vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye. The results of the systemic evaluation and extensive laboratory testing were negative. She had bilateral retinal photocoagulation and was administered oral prednisolone later with slow tapering due to increasing CME. Her eye condition did not worsen, and she maintained good vision in both eyes. IRVAN, even though rare, should be suspected in patients with occlusive vasculitis, arteriolar aneurysm, and macula exudation. Since the nature of the disease is more aggressive than other ischemic retinopathies, early detection, intervention, and close follow-up are crucial to prevent rapid visual loss.

Stage 4 Takayasu Retinopathy With Persistent Neovascularization.

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic, progressive, autoimmune, granulomatous, medium-to-large vessel-panarteritis. It may cause chronic ocular ischaemia that may be refractory to treatment. We report a case of stage 4 Takayasu retinopathy resistant to conventional treatments. The patient was a 22-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis when she first presented with claudication while chewing and swallowing for one month. The patient was found to be hypertensive, with a significant systolic blood pressure difference between the arms and non-palpable bilateral brachial and radial artery pulses. Angiogram imaging revealed abnormalities involving the left subclavian, bilateral common carotid and left internal carotid arteries. She was referred to the ophthalmology clinic, as she experienced bilateral recurrent transient visual loss six months after the diagnosis. Dilated fundus examination showed bilateral stage 2 Takayasu retinopathy, evidenced by the presence of dilated retinal veins with microaneurysms. Her eyes progressed to stage 4 Takayasu retinopathy with proliferative retinopathy within one year of immunomodulatory therapy, largely due to poor compliance. No signs of regression were observed after completion of bilateral pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) with ongoing immunosuppressive treatment.

A Case of a Large Sub-retinal Abscess Secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae Endophthalmitis in a Pyelonephritis Patient.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is an ocular emergency, with severe sight-threatening complications. We report a case of unilateral endogenous Klebsiella pneumonia endophthalmitis with a large sub-retinal abscess in a 39-year-old lady that developed four days after presentation with sepsis secondary to urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. Despite immediate treatment with intravenous (IV) and intravitreal antibiotics, her eye condition deteriorated. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed, and the sub-retinal abscess was removed, followed by silicone oil tamponade. Subsequently, she regained her vision to 6/36 with complete regression of the intraocular inflammation and sub-retinal abscess.

Endogenous endophthalmitis: a 9-year retrospective study at a tertiary referral hospital in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical presentation, systemic risk factors, source of infective microorganism, treatment outcomes, and prognostic indicators of endogenous endophthalmitis at a main tertiary referral hospital for uveitis in Malaysia. A retrospective review of medical records of 120 patients (143 eyes) with endogenous endophthalmitis over a period of 9 years between January 2007 and December 2015 was undertaken. RESULTS: Identifiable systemic risk factors were present in 79.2%, with the majority related to diabetes mellitus (60.0%). The most common source of bacteremia was urinary tract infection (17.5%). A positive culture from ocular fluid or other body fluids was obtained in 82 patients (68.9%), and the blood was the highest source among all culture-positive results (42.0%). Gram-negative organisms accounted 42 cases (50.6%) of which Klebsiella pneumonia was the most common organism isolated (32.5%). Sixty-nine eyes (48.6%) were managed medically, and 73 eyes (51.4%) underwent vitrectomy. Final visual acuity of counting fingers (CF) or better was achieved in 100 eyes (73.0%). Presenting visual acuity of CF or better was significantly associated with a better final acuity of CF or better (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The visual prognosis of endogenous endophthalmitis is often poor, leading to blindness. As expected, gram-negative organisms specifically Klebsiella pneumonia were the most common organisms isolated. Urinary tract infection was the main source of infection. Poor presenting visual acuity was significantly associated with grave visual outcomes. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis, and treatment are crucial to salvage useful vision.