ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS ASSOCIATED WITH INJECTION DRUG USE COMPARED WITH OTHER ETIOLOGIES.

PURPOSE: To compare features of endogenous endophthalmitis associated with injection drug use (IDU) to endogenous endophthalmitis from other etiologies. METHODS: The authors retrospectively collected data on patients with endogenous endophthalmitis due to IDU or other causes from three academic tertiary care centers over a six-year period. Differences in presenting characteristics, culture results, treatment, and visual acuity were compared between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (34%) had IDU-associated endogenous endophthalmitis while 75 patients (67%) had endogenous endophthalmitis from other causes. Compared with patients in the non-IDU group, IDU patients were significantly younger, more frequently male, had longer duration of symptoms at diagnosis, and were less likely to have bilateral disease ( P < 0.05 for all). Injection drug use patients were less likely to have a systemic infection source identified (29% vs. 71%, P < 0.001) or have positive cultures (47% vs. 80%, P < 0.001). The IDU group was less likely to be admitted to the hospital (71% vs. 92%, P = 0.005) and less likely to receive treatment with intravenous antimicrobials (55% vs. 83%, P = 0.003). Visual acuity did not significantly differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Endophthalmitis related to IDU presents in younger patients with less comorbidities and frequently without positive cultures or an identifiable systemic source; therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed to identify this disease.

The effect of a brief, unplanned treatment delay on neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Non-compliance to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy can result in increased disease activity in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Our study aims to determine effects of unplanned delay in anti-VEGF injection treatment for nAMD. This retrospective observational study included patients with delays in receiving intravitreal injections for nAMD treatment from March to May 2020 by at least 21 days. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, visual acuity (VA), central macular thickness (CMT) measured on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and duration of delayed treatment were analyzed for 3 time points, the pre-delay visit (v1) and post-delay visits (v2 and v3). Data were compared to age-matched controls treated for nAMD in 2019 without delay. Demographic characteristics were compared using two-sample t-tests for continuous variables and Pearson's chi-square tests for categorical variables. For the two primary outcomes of interest, VA and CMT, means and standard deviations were reported for each combination of group and time. Each outcome was modeled using a linear mixed model with the group, time and group-time interaction as fixed effects. A total of 69 patients (99 eyes) in the treatment delay group and 44 patients (69 eyes) in the control group were identified. Statistically significant differences between control and delayed groups were detected for VA (difference in mean logMAR = 0.16; 95% CI 0.06, 0.27; p = 0.002) and CMT (difference in mean CMT = 29; 95% CI 12, 47; p = 0.001) at v2. No differences were detected for v1 and v3 time points for both outcomes. An unplanned delay in intravitreal injection treatment for nAMD resulted in an increase in CMT and worsening of VA compared to controls observed at v2. At v3, CMT and VA recovered to near v1 levels. This study demonstrates that a one-time, brief interruption in treatment for nAMD results in reversible, temporary worsening.

Systemic and Ocular Adverse Events with Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Therapy Used in the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy: a Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are used routinely in the management of neovascular conditions including proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. While the efficacy of anti-VEGF agents has been well-validated, their ocular and systemic adverse events should always be considered and discussed with patients. The aim of this review is to discuss the most recent literature reports regarding the various ocular and systemic adverse events associated with intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment in diabetic retinopathy. RECENT FINDINGS: The most frequently reported adverse ocular events include subconjunctival hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage, increased intraocular pressure, uveitis, endophthalmitis, ocular surface disease, and traumatic cataract. Subconjunctival hemorrhage and vitreous hemorrhage are the most common ocular adverse events reported with intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. The most serious (though rare) ocular adverse events include endophthalmitis and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. A consensus regarding the association of systemic adverse events (such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and death) with intravitreal anti-VEGF treatments has not been established. Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy is used in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other diseases. These agents are associated with a variety of ocular and systemic adverse events that ophthalmologists should always consider.

Role of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Imaging in Patients with Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ocular manifestations in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) can present as microvascular changes. These microvascular changes can be challenging to identify on exams, and imaging technologies have commonly aided in the diagnosis and management of patients with DM. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) provides noninvasive image segmentation of various layers of the retina and choroid. Also, post-processing of images and associated quantitative measurements offer potential clinical enhancements. Our aim is to review the current evidence on the utility of OCTA for patients with DM. RECENT FINDINGS: Research suggests OCTA to potentially provide potential clinical enhancements and alternative methods in detecting subclinical manifestation of diabetic retinopathy, staging diabetic retinopathy, management of diabetic macular edema, and monitoring of systemic markers in patients with diabetes mellitus. OCTA is a promising but relatively new modality, and differences in terminology, research designs, and image processing techniques provide a difficult landscape to navigate. Standardization within further validation is needed to determine the extent of OCTA's clinical utility, but the current literature suggests the potential for earlier detection of ocular manifestations in patients with DM, additional objective measurements for grading and management, and opportunity for additional biomarkers for treatment outcomes.

Posteriorly Displaced Orbital Implant Causing Intractable Anophthalmic Socket Pain.

Anophthalmic socket pain is a rare complication of enucleation. The authors present a patient presenting with intractable anophthalmic socket pain due to a posteriorly displaced orbital implant. The patient's pain localized to the V1 and V2 orbitofacial dermatomes, and we suspect compression of the frontal and zygomatic branches of the ophthalmic and maxillary nerves, respectively, as the underlying etiology of the patient's pain. Removal of the implant and placement of a dermis fat graft was effective at alleviating the patient's symptoms.

Compressive Optic Disc Edema and Contralateral Papilledema: Type 2 Foster Kennedy Variant Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: A 43-year-old woman presented with progressive anosmia, self-neglect, and lethargy for 1 year. Brain MRI demonstrated a mass that was compressing the optic nerve in the right eye and had a significant mass effect and cerebral edema producing increased intracranial pressure. Examination revealed the patient to have a variant of Foster Kennedy syndrome involving ipsilateral compressive optic neuropathy with superimposed optic disc edema and contralateral papilledema.