Ocular toxoplasmosis following anti-tumour necrosis factor-α therapy combined with oral methotrexate therapy: A case report and review of literature.

Purpose: To report a case of ocular toxoplasmosis following long-term treatment with adalimumab and review the literature on ocular toxoplasmosis following anti-Tumour necrosis factor-α therapy. Method: A retrospective chart review of A 21-year-old male who developed retinochoroiditis in his left eye following adalimumab therapy combined with oral methotrexate. Result: A known patient of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) on adalimumab and oral methotrexate for the last four years presented to us with a blurring of vision for the last 15 days. Fundus examination of the left eye revealed severe vitritis and two patches of retinochoroiditis in the inferior part of the fundus. Subsequent investigations confirmed it to be a case of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, and he responded to anti-toxoplasma treatment. A review of literature on a similar topic revealed five such cases, and the index case was the first such report in patients with JIA. Conclusion: The index case highlights the importance of early recognition and management of opportunistic infections in patients receiving biologicals.

Psychosocial Well-Being and Quality of Life in Uveitis: A Review.

PURPOSE: As a potentially sight-threatening disease with ocular, systemic, and treatment-related complications, uveitis diminishes quality of life (QOL) and affects psychosocial well-being. This review summarizes the existing tools for evaluating psychosocial well-being and/or QOL in patients with uveitis, explores the biological and non-biological factors affecting psychosocial well-being and/or QOL, and proposes future directions for incorporating these tools into clinical practice. METHODS: A systematic search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception to June 8, 2022 was conducted, screening for articles focused on psychosocial well-being and/or QOL in patients with uveitis. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. RESULTS: In uveitis research, the most frequently studied patient-reported outcome measures were vision-related QOL (e.g. Visual Function Questionnaire [VFQ-25]) and health-related QOL (e.g. Short Form Survey [SF-36]), followed by mental health indicators including depression and anxiety. Instruments have also been developed specific to the pediatric population (e.g. Effects of Youngsters' Eyesight on Quality of Life [EYE-Q]). Generally, studies report worse psychosocial outcomes and QOL in patients with uveitis compared to the general population. Contributory factors include both clinical (e.g. visual impairment, ocular comorbidities) and patient-related (e.g. older age, female sex) factors. CONCLUSION: Given the heterogeneity of instruments used, it is worth considering standardization across large uveitis studies and trials. Beyond research, given the biopsychosocial effects on patients with uveitis, there are benefits to incorporating QOL and psychosocial assessments into clinical practice. Simplification of questionnaires into abridged forms, focusing on the most clinically relevant aspects of patient care, may be considered.

Bilateral Acute Depigmentation of Iris (BADI) Post COVID Infection following Systemic Moxifloxacin Therapy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of BADI post Covid infection following systemic moxifloxacin therapy. METHODS: Observational case study. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old female presented to us with complaints of redness and pain in the right eye since 5 days. History revealed use of systemic moxifloxacin for covid infection. She was managed with topical corticosteroids and cycloplegics following a diagnosis of BADI. CONCLUSION: Bilateral acute depigmentation of iris (BADI) is a rare disease entity associated with the release of iris pigments. Various underlying aetiologies have been associated with the same. Although BADI is a benign, self-limiting disorder, it needs to be differentiated with other potential severe clinical entities. SARS-CoV2 has been associated with various ocular manifestations. However, to the best of our knowledge, BADI has never been associated with COVID infection yet. We report a case of BADI in a young healthy Asian middle - aged female 3 months after an acute COVID infection.

Unilateral Multifocal Choroidal Nodules as the Sole Initial Manifestation of Systemic Sarcoidosis - Diagnostic Role of PET-CT Scan.

PURPOSE: To present a case of multifocal choroidal nodules as the sole manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis with role of PET- CT Scan. METHODS: Retrospective observational case report. RESULTS: A 66 -year-old male presented with blurring of vision in left eye since 2 weeks. He had no systemic complaints. On fundus examination in left eye showed three well -defined choroidal nodules inferotemporal to optic disc. A negative mantoux test, elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme level and PET scan analysis helped to clinch the diagnosis of sarcoid uveitis. The choroidal nodules completely resolved after a course of oral corticosteroid. CONCLUSION: Multifocal choroidal nodules can be the sole manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis.

Uveal effusion syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination.

Purpose: To report a rare case of uveal effusion syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination. Observation: A 71-year-old Asian man presented to his ophthalmologist with blurred vision and noticing distorted lines in his left eye two weeks after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination. Examination revealed choroidal detachment and he was advised systemic corticosteroids. The symptoms were ignored and the second vaccine dose was taken. After five months, he presented to our clinic with persistent visual complaints. He also had a history of COVID-19 infection three months prior to vaccination. Ocular examination revealed a quiet anterior chamber with annular choroidal detachment consistent with the diagnosis of Type 3 uveal effusion syndrome. B-scan ultrasonography revealed increased choroidal thickness with detachment. Optical coherence tomography showed subretinal fluid with retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal folds. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed all around supraciliary effusion in the left eye. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil which resulted in complete resolution of uveal effusion and improvement in visual acuity. Conclusions and importance: Uveal effusion syndrome is a rare ocular disease, however it may manifest following COVID-19 vaccination. Our case highlights the importance of a complete ophthalmic examination in patients with ocular symptoms after vaccination.

Clinical profile, treatment, and visual outcome of scleritis: A single ophthalmologist experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical profile of patients with scleritis managed by a single ophthalmologist in a tertiary eye care center. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 107 eyes of 96 patients with scleritis from January 2007 to December 2018. RESULTS: Female predominance (68%) with a relatively young-onset (46 ± 14 years) of scleritis was observed. Diffuse anterior scleritis (41%) was the most common subtype of scleritis, and the most common systemic association was rheumatoid arthritis (18%). Three-fourth of patients received immunosuppressive treatment (74%) along with corticosteroids. The mean follow-up period was 3 ± 2.5 (range: 0.6-10) years. Necrotizing scleritis was at a 3.5 times higher risk of developing ocular complications. Eighty percent of patients maintained the same vision. Recurrence of scleritis was noted in 25 eyes (23%). CONCLUSION: Diffuse scleritis is the most common scleritis in our population. Tuberculosis was commonly seen with diffuse scleritis. The likelihood of developing ocular complications (cataract and glaucoma) was higher in necrotizing scleritis, thus requiring periodic monitorization.

Diagnostic Value of Optical Coherence Tomography in the Early Diagnosis of Macular Complications in Chronic Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

PURPOSE: To describe the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in detecting subclinical choroidal inflammation and early diagnosis of macular complications in chronic Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease with sunset glow fundus. METHODS: Retrospective observational study. Clinical features, OCT images, treatment, and visual outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (9 females and 5 males) were included in the study. Mean age was 39 years (range 7-67 years). Mean duration of disease was 5.25 years (range 1-15 years). Anterior uveitis was seen in 14 eyes (52%). Fundus examination showed sunset glow fundus in all patients with no obvious macular pathology. OCT showed macular edema in 16 eyes (59%), choroidal neovascular membrane in 8 eyes (30%), and macular hole in 3 eyes (11%). CONCLUSION: OCT should be regularly used to detect subclinical inflammation and early macular complications in chronic VKH disease where sunset glow fundus may delay the clinical diagnosis thus causing permanent damage.

Tuberculous Scleritis and Multidrug Resistance.

PURPOSE: To present a case of necrotizing sclerokeratitis in a patient with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and study the challenges in diagnosis and management of anterior tuberculous scleritis. METHODS: Retrospective observational case report and review of anterior tuberculous scleritis. RESULTS: A 28-year-old woman, previously diagnosed as presumed tubercular panuveitis, presented with necrotizing sclerokeratitis and progressed to develop panophthalmitis. Laboratory investigations revealed multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the etiological agent. We reviewed cases of anterior tuberculous scleritis published in the literature, with regards to clinical features, microbiological investigations, treatment, and outcomes. Treatment includes standard antitubercular therapy, with or without systemic corticosteroids. Poor response to treatment is seen either due to delayed diagnosis or drug resistance, and the significance of the same is highlighted in our case. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of tuberculous scleritis is a challenge. Therapeutic failure must alert the clinician for drug resistance which is diagnosed early, can prevent the devastating outcomes.

Ocular Co-infection with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Toxoplasma Gondii in an Immunocompetent Patient - A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To report a case of ocular co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Toxoplasma gondii in an immunocompetent woman. METHOD: Retrospective observational case report. RESULT: A 61-year-old woman presented with decreased vision and floaters in the right eye of 1-month duration. Ocular examination revealed panuveitis with a large yellowish-white retinochoroiditis lesion adjacent to a chorioretinal scar. Investigations showed positive Mantoux test, QuantiFERON TB test, and HRCT chest suggestive of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Serology revealed raised IgG anti T. gondii antibody. Vitreous aspirate was positive for M. tuberculosis and T. gondii genome by polymerase chain reaction and showed high IgG and IgM T. gondii antibodies. She was treated with anti toxoplasmic and antitubercular therapy along with oral corticosteroid and therapeutic vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: Ocular tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis can not only mimic each other but also present as co-infection in rare cases.

Histopathology and Molecular Biology Study of an Eyeball of a Case of Acute Retinal Necrosis.

PURPOSE: To report a histopathology and molecular biology study of an eyeball of a case of acute retinal necrosis (ARN). METHODS: Histopathology, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology of an enucleated globe of acute retinal necrosis 6 years after the onset of ARN. RESULTS: Histopathology showed persistence of chronic inflammatory cells with herpes virus inclusion body. Semi nested polymerase chain reaction showed varicella zoster virus. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic inflammatory cells and viral genome can be persistent even after 6 years after the onset of ARN.

Histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular biologic study of an enucleated specimen of a case of Eales' disease.

Eales' disease is a retinal vasculitis characterized by retinal inflammation, ischemia, and neovascularization. Exact pathogenesis of this disease is yet to be found out. We present a 29-year-old male, diagnosed with Eales' disease in both eyes with persistent intraocular inflammation. Enucleation of the pthisical right eye was subjected for histopathological examination immunohistochemistry and molecular biologic study for mycobacterial tuberculosis DNA. Our study showed that Eales disease is probably a T cell mediated disease which is triggered by mycobacterial TB DNA. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Clinicopathological, Microbiological and Polymerase Chain Reaction Study in a Case of Nocardia Scleritis.

Purpose: To describe the clinicopathological, microbiological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study in a case of Nocardia scleritis.Methods: A retrospective chart review.Results: A 32-year old male presented with pain, redness and nodular scleral swelling in the left eye for the past two and a half months following an accidental rice powder injury. He was earlier diagnosed to have tubercular scleritis and treated with oral steroids and anti-tubercular therapy. A repeat scleral biopsy on histopathological examination showed granulomatous inflammation. Microbiological investigations revealed the growth of Gram +ve branching filamentous bacilli in culture suggestive of Nocardia sp. PCR based DNA sequencing identified the bacterium as Nocardia cyriacigeorgica. The patient responded to topical fortified amikacin (2.5%), fortified cefuroxime, oral sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim with complete healing of scleritis.Conclusions: Nocardia scleritis can be a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Newer molecular techniques along with histopathological and microbiological investigations can clinch the diagnosis.

Immunological tests and their interpretation in uveitis.

Uveitis is a complex disorder including both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. Clinical diagnosis is a challenge because many diseases share common clinical signs. Laboratory support is crucial for confirming the clinical diagnosis. Laboratory diagnosis includes direct tests and indirect tests. For example smear, culture, and molecular diagnostics demonstrate the pathogens, hence they are direct tests. Immunologic tests employ an antigen to detect presence of antibodies to a pathogen, or an antibody to detect the presence of an antigen, of the pathogen in the specimens. The immunological tests used in laboratories are made by producing artificial antibodies that exactly "match" the pathogen in question. When these antibodies come into contact with a sample they bind to the matching pathogen if found in the sample. Hence they are grouped under indirect evidence. There are several investigations in uveitis to reach the confirmed diagnosis including microbiological, immunological, imaging and molecular diagnostic testing. In this section we will discuss immunological investigations of infectious and non-infectious uveitis.

Viral anterior uveitis.

Viral anterior uveitis (VAU) needs to be suspected in anterior uveitis (AU) associated with elevated intraocular pressure, corneal involvement, and iris atrophic changes. Common etiologies of VAU include herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, cytomegalovirus, and rubella virus. Clinical presentations can vary from granulomatous AU with corneal involvement, Posner-Schlossman syndrome, Fuchs uveitis syndrome, and endothelitis. Due to overlapping clinical manifestations between the different viruses, diagnostic tests like polymerase chain reaction and Goldmann-Witmer coefficient analysis on the aqueous humor may help in identifying etiology to plan and monitor treatment.

Intraocular biopsy in uveitis.

An intraocular biopsy is performed for diagnostic, prognostic and investigational purposes. Biopsies help to confirm or exclude malignancies and differentiate inflammatory from infectious processes. Histopathological analysis is the final verdict in unresponsive uveitis, atypical inflammation, metastases and masquerade syndromes. Advances and refinement of techniques in cytopathology, immunohistochemistry, microbiological and molecular biologic study offer much more than just diagnosis. They provide prognosis based on cell characteristics and are helpful in planning treatment and intervention. Many biopsy procedures have evolved to provide more safety and minimise complications thus improving the quality of specimens or samples available for analysis. The type of biopsy and technique adopted varies based on the clinical suspicion, size and location of lesions. In uveitis, a working diagnosis of intraocular inflammation is made on clinical examination and laboratory investigations and ancillary tests. Malignancy and uveitis is interlinked and masquerade syndromes are among the commonest indications for biopsy and analysis of specimen. The various types of intraocular biopsies include aqueous tap, fine needle aspiration biopsy, vitreous biopsy, iris and ciliary body, and retinochoroidal biopsy. They will be reviewed in this article with respect to current perspective.

Clinical profile of patients with anterior nodular scleritis in India.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical profile of a series of anterior nodular scleritis in Indian population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 140 eyes of 123 consecutive patients with nodular scleritis who presented to a tertiary eye care institute between 2007 and 2018. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation was 46.8 ± 13.1 years and 70.7% of the patients were female. Bilateral involvement was observed in 14% patients. The most common presenting symptom was redness (92.6%) and ocular pain (69.1%). Twenty-seven patients (22%) had some systemic association and rheumatoid arthritis (5%) was the most common autoimmune disease. Presumed ocular tuberculosis was diagnosed in 13% patients. Methotrexate was the most common immunosuppressive used in these patients and an additional immunosuppressive was required in 6.5% patients. Recurrence of inflammation was observed in 74.8% patients. Deterioration of vision noted in 2.8% eyes. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis remains an important cause of nodular scleritis in India. Recurrence of scleritis is common in nodular scleritis and cases with non infectious nodular scleritis often require treatment with immune suppressives.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis: The first report from the ophthalmology perspective in India.

A 16-year-old boy presented with uveitis in both eyes with recurrent febrile illness and renal ailments. The patient was referred to a nephrologist. Subsequent investigations revealed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis in a renal biopsy and raised urinary beta-2 microglobulin (B2M). Based on his clinical findings and laboratory investigations, a diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome was made. Since, the literature on TINU through India is sparse, the two available case reports were published through nephrology setup. Our case illustrates how ophthalmologist can aid in the diagnosis of such a rare clinical entity using interdisciplinary approach.