Chorioretinal Findings in a Patient with New-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome after Stillbirth Associated with Pre eclampsia.

PURPOSE: To describe chorioretinal findings in a patient with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) after a stillbirth associated with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. RESULTS: We report a patient with new-onset SLE and APS after pregnancy, who had a history of preeclampsia and intrauterine death that presented with bilateral visual loss after a seizure. Clinical findings of a unilateral vaso-occlusive retinopathy and choroidopathy associated with intraocular inflammation, serous retinal detachment, and vasculitis are presented, which responded well to immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: New-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during or after pregnancy could occur, especially when complicated with preeclampsia, making it difficult to diagnose accurately. Pregnancy-induced hypertension retinopathy and choroidopathy, as well as chorioretinal manifestations of SLE and APS, can share similar ocular manifestations that can overlap and coexist in the same patient, and it is important to recognize them for an adequate management and follow-up.

Needle guided ab interno technique for tube insertion through the ciliary sulcus in uncontrolled glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To describe a modified ab interno technique for the tube implantation from a glaucoma draining device into the ciliary sulcus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The modified ab interno technique was performed on four eyes of four patients. RESULTS: After the plate was fixed, a 21G needle is inserted through a paracentesis 180° away from the tube position into the anterior chamber and advanced to the posterior chamber through the sclera; finally, the needle exits the eye, then the tube is inserted into the lumen of the needle. The tube is then inserted simultaneously as the 21G needle is pulled out so the tube is placed on the ciliary sulcus. CONCLUSIONS: We report a simple and novel technique for the tube implantation from a glaucoma draining device into the ciliary sulcus, in which the tube is guided with a 21G needle from an accessory paracentesis in order to achieve a posterior placement of the tube.

Outcomes of Combined Prolene Gonioscopy Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy with Phacoemulsification in Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical outcomes of combined prolene gonioscopy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) with phacoemulsification in patients with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with cataract and open-angle glaucoma treated with GATT and phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Patients with neovascular glaucoma, corneal decompensation, unstable IOL, and with bleeding disorders were excluded. The cumulative probability of failure was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were the complete success rate, the mean change on intraocular pressure (IOP), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and number of glaucoma medications at the last follow-up. The frequency of complications was also recorded. RESULTS: Thirty two eyes (25 patients) were included. Nineteen (59.3%) were females, with a mean age of 73.4±12.4 (23-87 years) and a mean baseline BCVA of 1.1±0.75 (0.3-3) LogMAR units. The cumulative probability of failure was 3.2% at 1 month and 6.3% at 6 and 12 months. Sixty-eight and 65.5% of eyes achieved complete success at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The reduction of IOP and number of glaucoma medications at 6 months were statistically significant (p<0.0001 and p=0.0002, respectively). There was a statistically significant improvement of BCVA (from 1.1±0.7 to 0.4±0.7) at 6 months (p<0.0001). IOP spikes (18.7%) and transient hyphema (9.3%) were the most common complications. CONCLUSION: Combined GATT with cataract surgery reduced the IOP and was associated with low failure rates and few ocular complications. This procedure offers the advantage to avoid the need for a bleb, scleral, or conjunctival incision, allowing the possibility for future glaucoma procedures.

Changes on Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy with the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography after a Cardiac Catheterism in a Patient with Progressive Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: We present a case of a patient with progressive open angle glaucoma who presented changes suggestive of improvement in the Heidelberg retinal tomography 3 (HRT3) analysis after a cardiac catheterization. OBSERVATION: A 69-year-old woman presented with progressive open angle glaucoma despite maximum tolerable antiglaucomatous topical treatment. A filtering surgery (trabeculectomy) was performed and successfully achieved intraocular pressure (IOP) levels of 10 mm Hg on average. Despite this, changes were evidenced in the HRT3 protocols (trend analysis and topographic change analysis) suggesting marked progression. Brimonidine 0.2% twice a day was initiated, and a cardiovascular examination was requested. A cardiac catheterism was performed in the following weeks, and afterward, all structural parameters improved until the last control. Medication was not discontinued, and no signs of apparent progression on the HRT3 parameters have been evidenced up until the time of writing this case report. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: There was a marked improvement in the HRT3 parameters (trend and topographic change analysis), suggesting that the progression stopped after a cardiac catheterism in a patient with progressive glaucoma despite having the IOP controlled. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a patient with progressive glaucoma that was medically and surgically managed, and despite achieving low IOP levels, the progression detected by the HRT3 analysis could not be stopped until a cardiac catheterization was performed.

Implante de válvula de Ahmed vía pars plana para el manejo del glaucoma uveítico refractario / Placement of Ahmed Valve through the pars plana for the management of refractory uveitic glaucoma

La uveítis es la tercera causa de ceguera evitable, siendo una de sus complicaciones el glaucoma uveítico. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 25 años tratada con extracción extra capsular de cristalino y trabeculectomía AO, con posterior ciclocrioterapia bilateral, llegando a controlar la enfermedad inflamatoria de fondo y presión intraocular (PIO) en el ojo derecho por siete años con posterior pérdida de la visión (pthisis bulbi). El ojo izquierdo se mantuvo estable por 15 años, presentando luego una PIO de 50 mmHg, por lo que se implanta una válvula de Ahmed por vía pars plana con previa vitrectomía, debido a las alteraciones anatómicas del segmento anterior. Se controló la PIO y se obtuvo una visión de 20/70 con correctores, sin uso de antihipertensivo ocular. El manejo adecuado de la enfermedad de fondo y el uso de dispositivos de drenaje valvulados son la mejor opción para el glaucoma uveítico. Una gran alternativa de abordaje es el implante vía pars plana, previa vitrectomía.

Uveitis is the third preventable cause of blindness, and uveitic glaucoma is one of its complications. We present the case of a 25-year old female patient who underwent an extracapsular lens excision and AO trabeculectomy, and afterwards bilateral cyclocryotherapy was performed. The underlying inflammatory condition was controlled, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the right eye was also controlled for seven years, although she later lost sight (pthisis bulbi). The left eye remained in a stable condition for 15 years, but afterwards it developed 50 mm Hg IOP, so an Ahmed Valve through the pars plana was placed, after having performed a vitrectomy because of the anatomic alterations in the anterior segment. The IOP got controlled and 20/70 vision using glasses was attained, without the use of an ocular antihypertensive compound. Adequate management of the underlying disease and the use of valve drainage systems constitute the best choice for the management of uveitic glaucoma. A good approach option is placing the device through the pars plana, after having performed a vitrectomy.

Micropulse Trabeculoplasty in Open Angle Glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: We report the effect of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) in the intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma (OAG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective review, 30 eyes with OAG were treated with a single session of MLT at the Vista Clinic in Lima Perú. We used a 532 nm frequency doubled Nd: YAG laser to 360° of the trabecular meshwork with a power of 1000 mW, 15% of the duty cycle, and 300 ms of exposure. The IOP was measured at baseline and at 1 day, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment and were followed up for one last control. RESULTS: The mean baseline IOP was 15.6 mmHg and in the last control was 12.8 mmHg, mean follow-up time of 19 months (±10 standard deviation [SD]). The mean reduction of IOP in the 1st day was 1.6 mmHg (±2.6 SD) and 1.2 mmHg (±3.3 SD) in the last follow-up. The mean percentage of IOP reduction was 17.9% and 7 eyes (40%) had IOP reduction >20%. No statistical significant difference in relation to demographic characteristics of the patients. The greatest reduction was achieved in the 1st day with a median of 2.00 (P < 0.001). A tendency to achieve a higher reduction of IOP in patients with higher baseline IOP was found but was not statistically significant. No adverse reactions occurred. CONCLUSIONS: MLT slightly reduced the IOP in a few patients with uncontrolled OAG for a very short time and may not be suitable for these patients.