Central serous chorioretinopathy and angioid streaks: coincidental?

BACKGROUND: To report an unusual case of central serous chorioretinopathy in a patient with angioid streaks. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors describe a case report of a 26-year old male patient presenting acute scotoma and metamorphopsia in OD. He had been diagnosed with angioid streaks complicated with choroidal neovascularization and referred to us for treatment. The patient presented an ETDRS score of 85 letters (20/20) in OD and in OS. The anterior segment examination was unremarkable. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral angioid streaks (AS) and peau d'orange, as well as a small neurosensory retinal detachment in the macula of OD. A multimodal retinal analysis, including fundus photography, infra-red and fundus autofluorescence imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography was performed. The diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy was made in the absence of any identifiable choroidal neovascularization. He was submitted to half-dose photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. One month later, he reported no visual complaints, his vision was 85 letters (20/20) in OD and a complete resolution of the sub-retinal fluid was registered. No signs of choroidal neovascularization were detected on the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). A complete medical workup evaluation was made to exclude systemic diseases usually associated with AS. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this is the second reported case of CSC associated with angioid streaks. The focal abnormalities in the Bruch's membrane and the irregular vascular choriocapillary network associated with AS might predispose to CSC.

Corneal structure and endothelial morphological changes after uneventful phacoemulsification in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients / Alterações da estrutura e endotélio da cornea após facoemulsificação sem complicações em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 e não diabéticos

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare corneal structure and endothelial morphological changes after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery between type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients and to determine the preoperative and intraoperative factors that may predict greater endothelial cell density loss. Methods: Forty-five diabetic pa­tients (45 eyes) and 43 controls (43 eyes) with age-related cataract were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Corneal (thickness and volume) and anterior segment parameters were measured by Scheimpflug tomography; endothelial cell density and morphology (coefficient of variation of cell size, hexagonal cells) were recorded using noncontact specular microscopy. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at one and six months after surgery. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between demographic, clinical, ocular, and intraoperative parameters and postoperative endothelial cell density changes at six months. Results: Significant postoperative endothelial cell loss occurred one month after surgery in both groups (p<0.001), which remained stable until month 6; there were no differences between patients with and without diabetes mellitus at any time point. The mean postoperative central corneal thickness at one and six months did not change significantly from the mean preoperative value in either group (p>0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that older age (p=0.042) and higher cataract grades (p=0.001) were significantly associated with greater endothelial cell density reduction at six-month follow-up. Conclusion: This study showed that older age and denser cataracts might be associated with greater endothelial cell density reduction after cataract surgery. Other factors, such as diabetes mellitus and preoperative anterior segment parameters, did not influence postoperative changes in endothelial cell density.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar a estrutura da córnea e as alterações mor­fológicas endoteliais após cirurgia de catarata por facoemulsificação sem intercorrências entre pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e não diabéticos; e determinar quais fatores pré e intra-operatórios relacionados com a maior redução da densidade celular endotelial. Métodos: Quarenta e cinco diabéticos (45 olhos) e 43 (43 olhos) controlos com catarata relacionada à idade foram incluídos neste estudo observacional prospectivo. Os parâmetros da córnea (espessura e volume) e do segmento anterior foram medidos pela tomografia Scheimpflug; a densidade e morfologia celular endotelial (coeficiente de variação do tamanho das células, células hexagonais) foram registrados usando microscopia especular não contato. Os pacientes foram avaliados no pré-operatório, 1 e 6 meses após a cirurgia. Foi realizada uma análise de regressão linear uni e multivariada para avaliar a relação entre os parâmetros demográficos, clínicos, oculares e intra-operatórios com a redução da densidade celular endotelial aos 6 meses. Resultados: Nos dois grupos houve uma perda significativa de células endoteliais ao 1º mês pós-ope­ratório (p<0,001), que permaneceu estável até ao 6º mês; sem diferenças estatisticas entre os grupos diabetes mellitus e não diabetes mellitus em qualquer avaliação. A espessura média da córnea no pós-operatório central aos 1 e 6 meses não mudou significativamente em relação ao valor médio pré-operatório nos dois grupos (p>0.05). A análise de regressão multivariada linear mostrou que a idade avançada (p=0.042) e os graus mais elevados de catarata (p=0.001) foram significativamente associados à maior redução densidade celular endotelial aos 6 meses de seguimento. Conclusão: Este estudo mostrou que a idade avançada e as cataratas mais densas podem predispor a uma maior redução densidade celular endotelial após a cirurgia de catarata. Outros fatores, como diabetes mellitus e parâmetros pré-operatórios do segmento anterior, não influenciaram significativamente as alterações pós-operatórias da densidade celular endotelial.

Corneal structure and endothelial morphological changes after uneventful phacoemulsification in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare corneal structure and endothelial morphological changes after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery between type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients and to determine the preoperative and intraoperative factors that may predict greater endothelial cell density loss. METHODS: Forty-five diabetic pa-tients (45 eyes) and 43 controls (43 eyes) with age-related cataract were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Corneal (thickness and volume) and anterior segment parameters were measured by Scheimpflug tomography; endothelial cell density and morphology (coefficient of variation of cell size, hexagonal cells) were recorded using noncontact specular microscopy. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at one and six months after surgery. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between demographic, clinical, ocular, and intraoperative parameters and postoperative endothelial cell density changes at six months. RESULTS: Significant postoperative endothelial cell loss occurred one month after surgery in both groups (p<0.001), which remained stable until month 6; there were no differences between patients with and without diabetes mellitus at any time point. The mean postoperative central corneal thickness at one and six months did not change significantly from the mean preoperative value in either group (p>0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that older age (p=0.042) and higher cataract grades (p=0.001) were significantly associated with greater endothelial cell density reduction at six-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study showed that older age and denser cataracts might be associated with greater endothelial cell density reduction after cataract surgery. Other factors, such as diabetes mellitus and preoperative anterior segment parameters, did not influence postoperative changes in endothelial cell density.

Presumed bilateral cilioretinal artery occlusion related to relapsing white dot syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report a presumed case of bilateral asynchronous cilioretinal occlusion associated with white dot syndrome. METHODS: A 19-year-old woman presented with decreased vision in the right eye. Cilioretinal occlusion was diagnosed and multimodal imaging was performed. RESULTS: Laboratory workup was negative. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography revealed an inflammatory choroidopathy in the right eye. Spectral-domain coherence tomography (OCT) initially showed internal retinal layer edema followed by atrophy in the papillomacular bundle. Left eye presented asymptomatic decreased visual acuity and OCT findings were compatible with previous cilioretinal occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Cilioretinal occlusion findings were present in both eyes. Multimodal fundus imaging allowed idiopathic inflammatory choroidopathy diagnosis in the right eye, suggesting that a recurrent inflammatory process caused an asynchronous vascular occlusion.

Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography as a Potential Biomarker in Huntington's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography has been used in several neurological conditions, and peripapillary and macular measurements have been proposed as potential biomarkers in these disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate retinal and choroidal changes in Huntington's disease and to evaluate any potential correlation with the stage of the disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study compared patients with Huntington's disease and controls. Patients were evaluated using the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging was used, and peripapillary choroidal and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and macular retinal and choroidal thickness were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifteen eyes of 8 patients and 16 eyes of 8 sex-, age-, and mean refractive error-matched healthy controls were included. Average (231.3 ± 52.8 vs 296.2 ± 57.1, P = 0.033), central (341.8 ± 70.5 vs 252.0 ± 57.9, P = 0.015), and inferior (225.3 ± 57.9 vs 313.8 ± 55.2, P = 0.007) macular choroidal thickness were significantly reduced in patients, in comparison with controls. No differences were observed in macular retina or peripapillary retinal and choroidal measurements. However, there was a negative correlation between Total Motor Score of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale and average (r(2) = 0.585, P = 0.027), superior (r(2) = 0.653, P = 0.015), nasal (r(2) = 0.642, P = 0.017), and inferior (r(2) = 0.574, P = 0.029) macular retinal thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that both the choroidal and retinal macula are altered in Huntington's disease and may become useful biomarkers for monitoring neurodegeneration in this disease. The involvement of the choroid may also support the recent findings of vascular involvement in Huntington's disease.