Neuroretinitis as an initial presentation of lupus-like illness with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis, recurrent fetal losses or other pregnancy complications, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Ocular manifestations occur in 8-88% of patients with APS and are typically due to vaso-occlusive disease involving retinal and choroidal vessels. We report an unusual case of neuroretinitis as a first presentation of lupus-like illness with APS.

Anterior uveitis as a clinical presentation of orbital inflammatory disease in an adult.

We report an unusual case of orbital inflammatory disease presenting as anterior uveitis in an adult. A 35-year-old Chinese man presented with acute anterior uveitis unresponsive to topical steroids, and progressed to manifest optic disc swelling and posterior scleritis. Computed tomography showed a mass-like soft tissue swelling within the intraconal fat indenting the posterior medial aspect of the globe. The diagnosis of orbital inflammatory disease was made, and the patient was treated with systemic corticosteroids with prompt resolution of symptoms and signs. Anterior uveitis can be considered an unusual ophthalmic manifestation of orbital inflammatory disease in adults.

Vitreoretinal surgery for retinal detachment in retinochoroidal colobomata.

PURPOSE: To report the management and outcome of retinal reattachment surgery in retinochoroidal coloboma. METHODS: Four patients with retinochoroidal colobomata presented to the Bristol Eye Hospital (a UK tertiary referral center for vitreoretinal surgery) with retinal detachment. INTERVENTION: All were type II colobomatous detachments (three patients with type IIB, one patient with type IID). All eyes underwent vitrectomy with endolaser and/or cryotherapy and three eyes underwent scleral buckling. Two eyes had internal tamponade with gas (SF6, C3F8) while the other two had silicone oil. Endolaser was applied over healthy retinal pigment epithelium. RESULTS: At last follow-up, all (100%) remained attached, with no recurrences. Three patients achieved visual acuity of 6/120 or better and were able to perform satisfactory near work with appropriate magnifiers. The last patient began with hand movement vision and retained similar vision but subjectively felt more navigational. CONCLUSIONS: Good anatomic and functional outcomes can be achieved in this patient group with combined vitrectomy with or without scleral buckling surgery. Endolaser retinopexy is effective over healthy RPE at the margin of the coloboma combined with either gas or oil internal tamponade.

Cytopathological analysis of vitreous in intraocular lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cytopathological method used in the analysis of vitreous samples in the diagnosis of primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL). PARTICIPANTS: Seven patients with refractory posterior uveitis referred to a regional ocular inflammatory service were diagnosed as having PIOL between 1999 and 2006. METHODS: Clinical features of the uveitis and cytopathological preparation of the samples were described. All patients underwent vitrectomy and samples were placed in formal saline or prepared fresh. Following paraffin embedding generating a cell block, immunostaining, and polymerase chain reactions were performed. RESULTS: Five women (71.4%) and two men (28.6%) (mean age 67.7 years) were included. Five patients had diagnostic vitrectomy performed within 6 months of presentation, but in two patients diagnosis was delayed up to 2 years. Uveitis was bilateral in two patients. Cytologic and immunohistochemical staining prepared from the vitreous specimens showed PIOL in all patients, and PCR displayed single band of immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement in five out of six samples tested. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of PIOL is difficult due to small volume of sample with low number of malignant cells and inadequate preparation of samples. Our method of analysis with fresh samples together with immunohistochemistry and PCR analysis demonstrates a high yield of diagnosis reducing diagnostic delay.

Incidental hypoglobus: primary amyloidosis of the superior rectus.

A 69-year-old man who presented with incidental hypoglobus was found to have an isolated superior rectus mass. Diagnosis of primary amyloidosis of superior rectus was made on incisional biopsy and negative systemic work-up. This is an unusual manifestation and site for amyloidosis and should be a differential of any extraocular muscle mass.

Resolution of severe macular oedema in adult Coat's syndrome with high-dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical outcome of a patient who received high-dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as treatment for severe macular oedema secondary to adult Coat's syndrome. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: A 74-year-old Indian man complaining of chronic gradual blurring of vision in the left eye was found to have adult Coat's syndrome with severe macular oedema. He received 25 mg of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide following unsuccessful resolution with grid laser. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated up to 75% decrease in macular oedema that was evident even after 9 months follow-up. However, there was no significant improvement in visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal triamcinolone is a reasonable option in reducing severe macular oedema in cases of adult Coat's syndrome.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in tears.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new infectious disease that caused a global outbreak in 2003. Research has shown that it is caused by a novel coronavirus. A series of cases is reported where polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on tears had demonstrated the presence of the virus. Detection of ocular infection from tears using the PCR technique has been widely used by ophthalmologists to diagnose infections for other viruses. METHODS: This is a case series report from cases classified as probable or suspect SARS cases. Tear samples were collected from 36 consecutive patients who were suspected of having SARS in Singapore over a period of 12 days (7-18 April 2003), and analysed by PCR using protocols developed by the WHO network of laboratories. RESULTS: Three patients with probable SARS (one female and two male patients) had positive results from their tear samples. Tear samples were used to confirm SARS in the female patient, who was positive only from her tears. The positive specimens were found in cases sampled early in their course of infection. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case series reported with the detection of the SARS coronavirus from tears, and has important implications for the practice of ophthalmology and medicine. The ability to detect and isolate the virus in the early phase of the disease may be an important diagnostic tool for future patients and tear sampling is both simple and easily repeatable. Many healthcare workers are in close proximity to the eyes of patients and this may be a source of spread among healthcare workers and inoculating patients. Ophthalmic practices may need to change as more stringent barrier methods, appropriate quarantine, and isolation measures are vital when managing patients with SARS.