Posterior Segment Involvement in Childhood Presumed Trematode Induced Granulomatous Anterior Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To outline posterior segment characteristics of presumed-trematode induced granulomatous uveitis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional case series. METHODS: The study included 56 patients (60 eyes) presented with anterior chamber (AC) granulomas. Involvement of the posterior segment structures has been documented and reported. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 11.8 years (range 6-14 years). Posterior segment findings were vitritis in 9 eyes (15%), optic disc granuloma in 2 eyes (3.3%), optic disc hyperaemia in one eye (1.7%), macular oedema in 2 eyes (3.3%), epiretinal membrane in 3 eyes (5%), retinal vasculitis in one eye, a peripheral focus of retinitis in one eye (1.7%), and choroid thickening in 10 eyes (6.7%), with localised choroidal granuloma in one eye (1.7%). CONCLUSION: Presumed trematode-induced anterior chamber (AC) granuloma is not only restricted to the anterior segment of the eye, but posterior segment associations that may threaten vision should also be considered.

The Role of Medical Image Modalities and AI in the Early Detection, Diagnosis and Grading of Retinal Diseases: A Survey.

Traditional dilated ophthalmoscopy can reveal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic macular edema (DME), retinal tear, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Among these diseases, AMD and DR are the major causes of progressive vision loss, while the latter is recognized as a world-wide epidemic. Advances in retinal imaging have improved the diagnosis and management of DR and AMD. In this review article, we focus on the variable imaging modalities for accurate diagnosis, early detection, and staging of both AMD and DR. In addition, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in providing automated detection, diagnosis, and staging of these diseases will be surveyed. Furthermore, current works are summarized and discussed. Finally, projected future trends are outlined. The work done on this survey indicates the effective role of AI in the early detection, diagnosis, and staging of DR and/or AMD. In the future, more AI solutions will be presented that hold promise for clinical applications.

Characteristics of Childhood Presumed Trematode-Induced Granulomatous Anterior Uveitis Using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the UBM characteristics of presumed trematode-induced granulomatous uveitis. DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: Thirty patients who presented with anterior chamber (AC) granuloma were included. UBM Imaging included Cornea, iris, AC angle, posterior chamber, ciliary body, and vitreous base. RESULTS: Thirty eyes were included with a mean age of 12.4 ± 2.5 years. UBM findings were retrocrneal membrane (33%), sub conjunctival nodule (10%), AC granuloma (100%); peripheral anterior synechia, granuloma-like lesion in posterior chamber; ciliary body edema with localized granuloma at specific site (100%), cataract in 30% either localized or generalized, and dot or thread-like high reflection on vitreous base in (20%). CONCLUSION: Presumed trematode-induced AC granuloma is common among children living in the rural areas of Egypt. UBM examinations can demonstrate various pathologic changes of anterior segment of the eye and provide objective evidence for the exact origin of those granulomas.

Clinical Outcomes of a New Asymmetric Intracorneal Ring Segment for the Treatment of Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To report visual, refractive, and corneal aberrations after implantation of a new asymmetric intracorneal ring segment (ICRS). METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter clinical study including 30 eyes of 26 patients with keratoconus. All cases were implanted with an ICRS, named the VISUMRING (VR), which had an arc length of 353 degrees and 2 asymmetric sections that can be customized in base width, length, and thickness. Ophthalmic evaluation included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refraction, topography, and anterior corneal aberrations using the Sirius System (CSO, Firenze, Italy). Mean follow-up period was 14.7 ± 7.9 months. RESULTS: Significant improvement of both UDVA and CDVA was observed after 1 year. UDVA improved from 0.08 ± 0.22 to 0.22 ± 0.16 and CDVA from 0.24 ± 0.29 to 0.43 ± 0.18 (P = 0.01). A significant reduction of more than 7 D in the spherical equivalent from -12.38 ± 3.77 D to -5.00 ± 3.26 D (P < 0.05) was noted 1 year after the procedure. In terms of higher-order aberrations, a slight reduction that was not statistically significant in the higher-order and coma-like aberrations was noted at 1 year from 4.32 and 3.82, to 4.12 and 3.55, respectively. Regarding complications, 5 of the 30 cases needed to have the VR explanted throughout the follow-up period due to severe corneal melting. CONCLUSIONS: VR ICRS improves vision and refraction and induces major corneal flattening in patients with keratoconus. Further design enhancement is needed to increase the reduction of the asymmetric corneal aberrations and reduce the extrusion rate.

Treatment of presumed trematode-induced granulomatous anterior uveitis among children in rural areas of Egypt.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of systemic antiparasitic medications alone or in combination with surgical aspiration in management of presumed trematode-induced anterior uveitis in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective case series. Children who presented with anterior chamber (AC) granuloma were included in the study. All patients received antiparasitic treatment and after 2 weeks; patients were divided based on their clinical improvement in terms of the baseline granuloma area into two groups: group A (<2.5 mm2) who continued on antiparasitic medications only (n = 15) and group B (≥2.5 mm2) who underwent surgical aspiration (n = 15). Basic demographics data, visual acuity (VA), corneal thickness, granuloma area and AC activity (cells and flare) were recorded and analysed. Systemic work-up including stool and urine analysis, full blood count, chest X-ray and schistosomiasis titre were performed. RESULTS: Thirty eyes of 30 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 13.4 ± 2.42 years. All patients were male. Patients were examined and followed at Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University. Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in VA, AC activity, corneal thickness and granuloma area (p-value < 0.001), which was achieved with medical treatment only in group A. However, in group B granuloma required aspiration and did not recur after that. CONCLUSION: Presumed trematode-induced AC granuloma is common among children living in the rural areas of Egypt. Antiparasitic medication alone was found to be effective for small-sized granulomas. Surgical aspiration is an effective adjuvant procedure to treat large-sized ones.

Visual performance after implantation of two types of phakic foldable intraocular lenses for correction of high myopia.

AIM: To compare Visian lens (model V4c) and Artiflex lens regarding quality (contrast sensitivity) and quantity (efficacy, predictability, safety and stability) of vision in correcting high myopia with recording and analysis of complications. METHODS: The comparative prospective study included 39 eyes of 23 patients with high myopia, 19 eyes had Visian lens implantation (model V4c) and 20 eyes had Artiflex lens implantation. The inclusion criteria were high myopia (higher than 6.0 D) and stable refraction (<0.5 D change over one year). Outcomes included assessment of safety and efficacy indices, predictability, stability, contrast sensitivity and analysis of complications at postoperative 1d, 1wk and 1, 3, 6 and 12mo. Selection of the type of phakic intraocular lens for patients was based on surgeons' preferences, which was no specific selection criteria. RESULTS: After 12mo of follow up, difference in uncorrected and corrected distant visual acuity (CDVA) between both groups was statistically insignificant (UDVA for VisianV4c and Artiflex lens were 0.33±0.2 logMAR and 0.37±0.2 logMAR respectively, P=0.59, CDVA for VisianV4c and Artiflex lens were 0.155±0.1 logMAR and 0.147± 0.1 logMAR respectively, P=0.87). The efficacy index was 1.25 for VisianV4c lens and 0.8 for Artiflex lens, 78.9% of eyes were within one diopter spherical equivalent in Visian V4c lens group compared to 70% in the Artiflex lens group. No eye lost lines of CVDA proving a good safety index for both lenses (safety index was 1.67 for VisianV4c lens and 1.34 for Artiflex lens). Difference in contrast sensitivity between both groups was statistically insignificant (P=0.15, 0.88, 0.27, 0.32 and 0.82 at five spatial frequencies). CONCLUSION: Both Visian ICL V4c and Artiflex lenses are safe and effective with stable and predictable refraction and they have comparable contrast sensitivity outcomes with no vision threatening complications.

Four-point fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in children with unilateral aphakia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of 4-point scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs) in children. SETTING: Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 20 aphakic eyes of 20 children. Preoperative investigations proved the absence of adequate posterior capsule support. All patients had ab externo 4-point scleral fixation of a PC IOL. All preoperative and postoperative data were studied and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean preoperative age was 7.7 years (range 4 to 11 years). The mean follow-up was 19.35 months (range 13 to 30 months). The preoperative findings included a best corrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better in 8 eyes (40%), corneal scarring in 18 eyes, sector iridectomy in 7 eyes, and after-cataract in 4 eyes. The intraoperative complications included vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eyes and slippage of 1 suture in 1 eye. Postoperative complications included mild anterior uveitis in 12 eyes and severe fibrinoid reaction in the anterior chamber in 8 eyes. There were no cases of suture exposure, IOL malpositioning, or infection. Twelve patients (60%) had a visual acuity of 6/18 or better. The cause of the poor visual outcome in many patients was preexisting amblyopia. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that 4-point scleral fixation is an option to correct aphakia in children. However, long-term follow-up is important to assess the procedure's safety.