Effect of fingolimod therapy on quantitative macular changes among patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a four-year follow-up study from Oman.

PURPOSE: Fingolimod (FTY-720) is an immunomodulatory oral agent approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS); however, several clinical trials have shown that some recipients may develop macular oedema (ME) as an adverse reaction. As there are no studies assessing the long-term (> 1 year) effect of fingolimod on the macula, this study aimed to evaluate the quantitative effect of fingolimod therapy on central macular thickness (CMT) and total macular volume (TMV) over a four-year period. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was performed between January 2014 and December 2018. A total of 21 patients with RRMS receiving fingolimod therapy were recruited and followed-up over 4 years to assess CMT and TMV changes measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. A paired sample t-test was used to compare mean CMT and TMV values calculated at baseline prior to the initiation of fingolimod therapy with those observed at three, six, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of treatment. RESULTS: None of the patients developed ME over the four-year study period. In addition, there was no significant difference in baseline mean CMT values and those observed at a four-year follow-up. Although mean TMV values remained constant initially, there was a significant decrease towards the end of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term fingolimod therapy did not result in significant CFT changes. While there was a reduction in TMV towards the end of the study, this is likely due to the degenerative effect of the disease itself on the nerve fibres of the retina.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in multiple sclerosis with and without optic neuritis: a four-year follow-up study from Oman.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system, with optic neuritis (ON) being a common early manifestation. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness may be a biomarker of neuroaxonal damage in MS patients. We sought to evaluate changes in RNFL thickness over 4 years in Omani MS patients with or without ON in comparison to a healthy control group. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study involved 27 MS patients and 25 healthy controls. Optical coherence tomography was performed upon first diagnosis and at a four-year follow-up. Differences in mean RNFL thickness were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 51 eyes from the MS group and 50 eyes from the control group were evaluated. There was a significant reduction in mean RNFL thickness among MS patients with ON at follow-up (81.21 versus 72.14 µm; P = .003), whereas no significant RNFL thinning was observed among MS patients without ON. However, there was a significant reduction in RNFL thickness among MS patients compared to healthy controls (76.79 versus 93.72 µm; P = .009), regardless of ON presence/absence. CONCLUSIONS: Axonal damage was seen in the optic nerves of Omani MS patients. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in RNFL thickness among MS patients with ON as the disease progressed; however, while there was evidence of RNFL thinning in MS patients without ON, this difference lacked statistical significance. Evaluation of RNFL thickness may represent a useful biomarker for monitoring disease progression in MS and its association with ON.

Ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphoma arising in a patient with immunoglobulin-G4-related ophthalmic disease: A 4-year delay in diagnosis.

Ocular adnexal marginal zone B cell lymphomas (MZBLs) make up the majority of lymphomas arising from the ocular adnexa. Immunoglobulin-G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a recently proposed entity with several unique clinicopathological features, such as enlargement of affected organs, elevated serum IgG4 level, and infiltration with IgG4-positive plasma cells. Ocular adnexal MZBLs are reported to arise in IgG4-related sclerosing dacryoadenitis, indicating a possible link between the two conditions. Here, we describe a 37-year-old Omani male who presented with right periorbital swelling and proptosis 4 years before presentation. He was diagnosed to have right orbital pseudotumor and exhibited good response to steroid therapy. However, 4 years later, rapid swelling of the right orbital mass was observed. The patient underwent lacrimal gland biopsy. Although the histology was consistent with IgG4-related disease, the infiltrating large atypical lymphoid cells showed that immunoglobulin light-chain restriction and dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate involving the soft tissue were seen. Consequently, he was diagnosed with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma with abundant IgG4-positive cells of the right lacrimal gland.

Visual rehabilitation by scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in Omani children with aphakia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report indications and outcomes of scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs) in Omani children with aphakia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with aphakia who were younger than 16 years, unsuitable for spectacle or contact lens correction, and without capsular support underwent an anterior vitrectomy and 10-0 polypropylene inside-out scleral fixation ofa PC IOL. RESULTS: Scleral-fixated PC IOLs were implanted in 28 eyes of 24 patients. Group A comprised 10 (36%) eyes with congenital cataract and 3 (11%) eyes with ectopia lentis and group B comprised 15 (53%) eyes with traumatic cataract. The mean age at implantation was higher in group A (10.5 years) than in group B (7.3 years). Visual acuity improved in 17 of 28 (61%) eyes and remained at the preoperative levels in 11 of 28 (39%) eyes. Mean postoperative refraction was within +/- 2.0 diopters of the predicted refraction in 19 of 28 (68%) eyes. Complications included temporary intraocular pressure increase, vitreous hemorrhage, and iris capture with lens malposition. CONCLUSION: Scleral-fixated PC IOLs are beneficial for children with aphakia without posterior capsular support who are lacking other means for visual rehabilitation. Patients with traumatic cataract and lens dislocation are more likely to experience an improvement in visual acuity postoperatively than patients with congenital cataract. However, this procedure is technically more difficult than routine PC IOL implantation and potentially carries greater risks.

Visual rehabilitation by scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in amblyopic aphakic children.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To report on the outcome of scleral fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens (S-IOL) implantation in aphakic amblyopic children after 1 year. METHODS: Amblyopic children with aphakia after traumatic and congenital cataract surgery unsuitable for spectacle or contact lens correction were operated with an anterior vitrectomy and inside-out double thread scleral fixation of an Alcon CZ70BD pcIOL. Refraction and vision was compared after 12 months. RESULTS: From 2001-2006, 23 S-IOLs were implanted in 16 children (19 unilateral, 4 bilateral) aged 2-16 years: 10 eyes with traumatic [Group A], and 13 eyes with congenital cataracts including 3 eyes with ectopia lentis [Group B]. Preoperative UCVA compared to postoperative UCVA improved in 9/10 eyes in group A and 12/13 eyes in group B. Preoperative BCVA compared to postoperative UCVA improved in 9/10 eyes (90 percent) in group A and 4/13 eyes (31 percent) in group B. Mean age at surgery in group A was 6.8 years (1.5-16yrs) and in group B 10.5 years (4-16 years). More than one year elapsed in 2/10 eyes of group A and 8/13 eyes in group B. Postoperative refraction was within 2.0D of target in 17/23 eyes. Complications included temporary IOP rise in 2, vitreous hemorrhage in 1, and iris capture in 3 eyes. Two eyes required revision surgery. CONCLUSION: S-IOL implantation may be beneficial for aphakic children lacking other means for visual rehabilitation to improve vision. Amblyopia may be improved in most trauma, but only few congenital cataract eyes.