Retinal and choroidal thickness in fuchs uveitis syndrome: a contralateral eye study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the subfoveal retinal and choroidal thickness in patients with unilateral Fuchs Uveitis Syndrome (FUS). METHODS: This comparative contralateral study was performed in affected eyes with FUS versus fellow eyes. For each eye parameters such as subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), subfoveal choriocapillary thickness (SCCT), central macular thickness (CMT), and central macular volume (CMV) were measured; then the measured values of affected and fellow unaffected eye were compared. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (74 eyes) including 19 females (51.4%) with a mean age of 36.9 ± 7.6 years were enrolled. The mean SCT was lower in the affected eyes (344.51 ± 91.67) than in the fellow (375.59 ± 87.33) with adjusting for duration of disease and axial lengths (P < 0.001). The mean SCCT, CMT, and CMV were higher in eyes with FUS than in fellow eyes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The result of our study demonstrated that affected eyes in patients with FUS tend to have thinner SCT and thicker SCCT and CMT compared to uninvolved fellow eyes.

Inflammatory eye disease is a risk factor for future microscopic colitis: A nationwide population-based matched case control study.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis (MC) is an inflammatory disorder of the colon. To date, the relationship between inflammatory eye diseases and MC is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether inflammatory eye disease (iridocyclitis and episcleritis) is a risk factor for MC. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide matched case control study in Sweden leveraging the ESPRESSO-study (a Swedish database containing data on all biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract from 1965 to 2017). In total, we identified 14,338 patients with biopsy-verified MC (diagnosed from 1981 to 2017). Patients with MC were matched (by age, sex, county and year of birth) with 68,753 controls from the general population and the occurrence of preceding inflammatory eye diseases (defined as diagnosis of episcleritis or iridocyclitis) in the two groups was compared. Multivariable adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression conditioned on the matching variables. RESULTS: A majority of patients with MC were women (71.9%) and the median age at MC diagnosis was 63.3 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 50.7-72.6). Some 225 (1.6%) MC patients had an earlier record of inflammatory eye disease compared with 614 (0.9%) in controls. These figures corresponded to an aOR of 1.77 (95% CI = 1.52-2.07) for inflammatory eye diseases in patients with MC. Compared to siblings, the aOR for previous inflammatory eye diseases in MC was 1.52 (95% CI = 1.17-1.98) and patients treated with budesonide, as a proxy for clinically significant disease, had a somewhat higher aOR for previous inflammatory eye diseases. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory eye diseases are more common in patients subsequently being diagnosed with MC. Our findings highlight that these conditions may have shared causes and inflammatory pathways and are of clinical interest to gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists and general practitioners.

Prescription glucocorticoid medication and iridocyclitis are associated with an increased risk of senile cataract occurrence: a Mendelian randomization study.

Iridocyclitis and the use of glucocorticoid medication have been widely studied as susceptibility factors for cataracts. However, the causal relationship between them remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between the development of iridocyclitis and the genetic liability of glucocorticoid medication use on the risk of senile cataracts occurrence by performing Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Instrumental variables (IVs) significantly associated with exposure factors (P < 5 × 10-8) were identified using published genome-wide association data from the FinnGen database and UK Biobank. Reliability analyses were conducted using five approaches, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, simple median, weighted median, and weighted mode. A sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out method was also performed. Genetic susceptibility to glucocorticoid use was associated with an increased risk of developing senile cataracts (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.17; P < 0.05). Moreover, iridocyclitis was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing senile cataracts (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05; P < 0.05). Nonetheless, some heterogeneity in the IVs was observed, but the MR results remained consistent after penalizing for outliers. The estimates were consistent in multivariate analyses by adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). This study provides new insights into the prevention and management of senile cataracts by highlighting the increased risk associated with iridocyclitis and the use of glucocorticoids.

Effect of serum metabolites on the risk of iridocyclitis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Previous research has linked serum metabolite levels to iridocyclitis, yet their causal relationship remains unexplored. This study investigated this potential causality by analyzing pooled data from 7824 iridocyclitis patients in a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) using Mendelian randomization (MR) and linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC). Employing rigorous quality control and comprehensive statistical methods, including sensitivity analyses, we examined the influence of 486 serum metabolites on iridocyclitis. Our MR analysis identified 23 metabolites with significant causal effects on iridocyclitis, comprising 17 known and 6 unidentified metabolites. Further refinement using Cochran's Q test and MR-PRESSO indicated 16 metabolites significantly associated with iridocyclitis risk. LDSC highlighted the heritability of certain metabolites, underscoring genetic influences on their levels. Notably, tryptophan, proline, theobromine, and 7-methylxanthine emerged as risk factors, while 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate appeared protective. These findings enhance our understanding of the metabolic interactions in iridocyclitis, offering insights for diagnosis, unraveling pathophysiological mechanisms, and informing potential avenues for prevention and personalized treatment.

Association of Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis with Multiple Sclerosis.

PURPOSE: To draw attention to the higher proportion of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) cases in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of data collected at the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Uveitis. RESULTS: An analysis of the medical records of 3016 patients with uveitis (in the years 2003-2020) was performed with a focus on MS. MS-associated uveitis was diagnosed in 90 patients (3%): anterior uveitis (n = 7), intermediate uveitis (n = 23), retinal vasculitis (n = 24), and panuveitis (n = 36). A clinical examination revealed signs of FHI in the anterior segment in 11 out of 90 cases (12%). Atypical manifestations of FHI included a higher incidence of bilateral involvement (45%), retinal vasculitis (27%), and vitreous snowballs (18%). The diagnosis of FHI preceded the diagnosis of MS in 4 cases. The median latency was 10.5 (range 8-15) years. In 4 patients, the diagnosis of demyelinating disease was established within one year of the diagnosis of FHI. We recommended a neurological examination for optic neuritis (n = 1), paresthesia (n = 3), relapse of motor deficit (n = 1), and screening of etiology in cases with involvement of the posterior segment (n = 3). In the other 3 cases, the diagnosis of MS preceded the diagnosis of FHI, with a median latency of 13 (range 8-19) years. CONCLUSION: We detected clinical symptoms of FHI in 12% of uveitis cases associated with MS, more often in bilateral manifestations of intraocular inflammation. Based on our experience, we recommend an investigation of the medical history of patients with FHI for manifestations of sensitive, sensory and motor deficits, especially in bilateral cases.

Manifestations of coronavirus infection disease-19 in anterior eye segment: An up-to-date review.

Coronavirus infection disease-19 (COVID-19) is a worldwide catastrophic emergency that first appeared in late 2019, in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 is a multitropism disease that first affects lung tissue. However, extrapulmonary manifestations have been suspected from the first COVID-19 cases. The ocular signs and symptoms were from the early changes that occur during the course of the disease. Changes in the anterior eye segment have a relatively higher incidence than the posterior eye segment. Of which, conjunctivitis, COVID-19 pharyngioceratoconjuctivitis, iridocyclitis, corneal punctate epitheliopathy, and pathomorphological changes in the physio-anatomy of the anterior eye segment. The potential pathogenesis includes direct penetration of the virus into the eye (conjunctiva, lumbus, and cornea) or due to a systemic pathway through viremia, as well as due to autoimmune antibodies against the ocular structure (immune privilege). The presence of ocular manifestations of the external anterior fibrous layer suggests a mild course of the disease.

Efficacy and Safety of Adalimumab in Patients with Behçet Uveitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To examine the long-term efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA) in patients with Behçet uveitis (BU). METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed. Pooled results are presented as mean difference or standardized mean difference (std diff) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Visual acuity (VA), intraocular inflammation grade, central macular thickness, corticosteroid (CS) sparing effect and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: Ten studies were included finally for quantitative and qualitative synthesis. ADA therapy resulted in 0.124 (95%CI: 0.084, 0.165) logMAR improvement in VA. In addition, ADA therapy resulted in decreased grade of intraocular inflammation [std diff, -1.187 (95%CI: -1.508, -0.866)] and macular thickness [std diff, -0.564 (95%CI: -0.843, -0.286)] and caused a decrease in CS dosage [std diff, -1.809 (95%CI: -2.420, -1.198)]. The pooled rate of overall adverse events for ADA in 301 patients was 8.5% (95%CI: 0.039, 0.177). CONCLUSION: ADA is an efficient therapy that improves VA and controls intraocular inflammation, macular edema and retinal vasculitis. As the disease exposure time increased, improvement in VA was less. The safety and CS-sparing effect of ADA were demonstrated with few adverse effects. The results provided evidence that ADA can be used safely and efficiently as the first-line drug in patients with BU.

Adalimumab rapidly controls both anterior and posterior inflammation in patients with ocular Behçet syndrome and non-infectious uveitis refractory to conventional therapy: a prospective, 6-month follow-up investigation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA, Humira®) for treatment of non-infectious uveitis (NIU) refractory to conventional medications. METHODS: Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α naive patients with NIU unresponsive to conventional immunosuppressive treatment were treated with ADA. Most cases with NIU were related to ocular Behçet syndrome. Adult cases used 80 mg ADA subcutaneously on day 0, 40 mg in the first week, and then 40 mg every 2-week, while this was 20 mg in children. Evaluations were performed pre-treatment and at weeks 2, 8, and 24. The study endpoints were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, LogMAR) improvement, anterior chamber (AC) cell grade, vitreous cell and haze grades, decrease in macular thickness and edema, prednisolone dose, immunosuppressive dose, and adverse reactions. RESULTS: Thirty-eight eyes (19 right, 19 left) of 24 patients (14 female, 10 male) with (ocular Behçet syndrome) OBS (n = 27 eyes/18 patients) and NIU (n = 11 eyes/6 patients) were included. Mean age was 29.0 ± 14.1 years (range, 5-49) and follow-up time was 24 weeks. After ADA, BCVA increased (p < 0.001), and improvements in AC cell grade (p < 0.001), vitreous cell grade (p < 0.001), and vitreal haze grade (p < 0.001) were achieved at the final visit. Mean macular thickness decreased from 243.5 to 235.5 µm (p < 0.001). Such a rapid control of both anterior and posterior uveitis was observed in all eyes as early as the second week without relapses during follow-up. No ocular or systemic complications emerged during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ADA is effective and well-tolerated in pediatric and adolescent patients with NIU including OBS refractory to traditional medications and demonstrated corticosteroid- and immunosuppressive-sparing effects with no major side effects.

Association between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Iridocyclitis: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Iridocyclitis (IC) is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Observational studies showed patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) both have a higher risk of IC. However, due to the inherent limitations of observational studies, the association and its directionality between the two forms of IBD and IC remain undiscerned. METHODS: Genetic variants for IBD and IC were selected as instruments from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and FinnGen database as instrumental variables, respectively. A bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR were performed successively. Three different MR methods were performed to determine the causal association, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, and weighted median, whereas IVW was used as the main analysis. Different methods for sensitivity analysis were used, including MR-Egger intercept test, MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier test, Cochran's Q test, and leave-one-out analysis. RESULTS: Bidirectional MR suggested both UC and CD were positively associated with IC as a whole, acute and subacute IC, and chronic IC. However, in the MVMR analysis, only the association from CD to IC remained stable. In the reverse analysis, no association was observed from IC to UC or CD. CONCLUSIONS: Both UC and CD are associated with an increased risk of IC compared with healthy individuals. However, the association between CD and IC is stronger. In the reverse direction, patients with IC do not suffer a higher risk of UC or CD. We emphasize the importance of ophthalmic examinations for IBD patients, especially for CD patients.

Bilateral Acute Depigmentation of Iris (BADI) Post COVID Infection following Systemic Moxifloxacin Therapy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of BADI post Covid infection following systemic moxifloxacin therapy. METHODS: Observational case study. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old female presented to us with complaints of redness and pain in the right eye since 5 days. History revealed use of systemic moxifloxacin for covid infection. She was managed with topical corticosteroids and cycloplegics following a diagnosis of BADI. CONCLUSION: Bilateral acute depigmentation of iris (BADI) is a rare disease entity associated with the release of iris pigments. Various underlying aetiologies have been associated with the same. Although BADI is a benign, self-limiting disorder, it needs to be differentiated with other potential severe clinical entities. SARS-CoV2 has been associated with various ocular manifestations. However, to the best of our knowledge, BADI has never been associated with COVID infection yet. We report a case of BADI in a young healthy Asian middle - aged female 3 months after an acute COVID infection.

Ankylosing spondylitis: acute/subacute vs. chronic iridocyclitis - a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies found associations between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and iridocyclitis (IC), but the causality remained unconfirmed. Methods: We employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the bidirectional causal relationships between AS and IC. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosen from the FinnGen database's genome-wide association studies (GWAS) following a rigorous evaluation of the studies' quality. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the potential influence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity on the MR findings. Results: Elevated genetic risk for AS showed positive causal effects on IC and its subtypes (IC, OR = 1.094, 95% CI = 1.035-1.157, P = 0.00156; Acute/Subacute IC, OR = 1.327, 95% CI = 1.266-1.392, P = 8.73×10-32; Chronic IC, OR = 1.454, 95% CI = 1.308-1.618, P = 5.19×10-12). Significant causal association was specifically observed between Acute/Subacute IC and AS (OR = 1.944, 95% CI = 1.316-2.873, P = 8.38×10-4). Sensitivity analysis suggested that horizontal pleiotropy was unlikely to influence the causality, and the leave-one-out analysis confirmed that a single SNP did not drive the observed associations. Conclusion: Our findings provide new proof of a positive causal relationship between AS and IC in the European population. Notably, it is Acute/Subacute IC, rather than IC as a whole or Chronic IC, that is associated with an elevated risk of AS. These results emphasize the significance of considering AS characteristics in the diagnosis of Acute/Subacute IC.

Factors associated with low prevalence of Fuchs' uveitis syndrome in Japan.

Aim: To investigate the causes of low prevalence of Fuchs' uveitis syndrome (FUS) in Japan. Methods: Medical records of 160 patients diagnosed with FUS at 14 uveitis specialty facilities in Japan were reviewed retrospectively. Results: In 160 FUS patients, mean follow-up period before referral to our uveitis facilities was 31.6 ± 50.9 months. The most common reason for referral was idiopathic uveitis (61.9%), followed by cataract (25.0%), high intraocular pressure (IOP) including glaucoma (16.3%), and FUS (14.4%). Unilateral involvement was 96.9%. The most frequent ocular finding of FUS was anterior inflammation (91.9%), followed by stellate-shaped keratic precipitates (88.1%), cataract/pseudophakia (88.1%), diffuse iris atrophy (84.4%), vitreous opacity (62.5%), heterochromia (53.1%) and high IOP including glaucoma (36.3%). As treatments of these ocular findings, cataract surgery was performed in 52.5%, glaucoma surgery in 10.6%, and vitrectomy in 13.8%. Mean logMAR VA was 0.28 ± 0.59 at the initial visit, and decreased significantly to 0.04 ± 0.32 at the last visit. Proportions of FUS patients with BCVA <0.1 and 0.1 to <0.5 decreased, while that of ≥0.5 increased at the last visit compared with the initial visit. Conclusions: Ocular findings of FUS in Japanese FUS patients were consistent with the characteristic features. The low prevalence of FUS in Japan may be a result of being overlooked and misdiagnosed as mild idiopathic uveitis, cataract, and/or glaucoma.

Treatment of Complications Due to Fuchs Heterochromic Iridocyclitis (FHI) - a Case Report.

Background: Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis is a chronic, unilateral iridocyclitis characterized by iris heterochromia. The gradual progression of the disease leads to the development of cataracts, glaucoma, and, occasionally, vitreous infiltration. The trigger for inflammation of the iris and ciliary body is still unknown. There are several as yet unconfirmed theories about the mechanism of occurrence, including Toxoplasma gondii infection, immune dysfunction, infiltration of sensitized lymphocytes, and chronic herpes virus infection. Objective: The aim of this article is to present a case of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis with complications in form of glaucoma and dense cataract in a female patient during a standard ophthalmologic exam in our clinic. The next aim is to show a proper algorithm of treatment in form of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors antiglaucoma medication, cataract surgery with implantation of the intraocular lens, yag laser capsulothomy. Case report: A 55-year-old patient reports to our clinic for an examination. She was informed 7 years ago by her ophthalmologist that her lack of vision in the right eye is irreparable. Ophthalmological examination as well as a positive TORCH test (elevation of IgG for toxoplasma gondii) lead to a diagnosis of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis with complications of glaucoma and dense cataract. Antiglaucoma drops are prescribed, PHACO surgery is performed on the right eye with implantation of the intraocular lens, and yag laser capsulotomy in the follow ups. There was a significant improvement of the visual acuity from light sensation with uncertain projection of the same on the right eye, to 0,5-0,6 Snellen scale. We also educated the patient of her disease as well as the importance of her treatment and follow up consultations. Conclusion: Due to the insidious nature of this condition, along with a mild chronic course, most patients with FHI are not aware of the subtle changes that occur in their eyes. One of the most serious complications of FHI is secondary glaucoma, which can cause permanent vision loss in patients. The main cause of poor vision in patients with FHI is caused by cataract formation, with a prevalence of 23% to 90.7%. We placed special emphasis on educating the patient about her condition and the long-term and importance of regular check-ups to prevent possible recurrent or new complications.

Optic coherence tomography angiography findings in fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate macular capillary perfusion in patients with fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI) by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 19 eyes of 19 patients with unilateral FHI underwent detailed eye examination. OCTA (RTVue-XR Avanti) images were obtained from both eyes. OCTA parameters, including foveal avascular zone, superficial capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus vessel densities, were compared between the involved and fellow control eyes. RESULTS: The median age of the patients (11 females, 8 males) was 42.0 ± 9.63 (range 24-57) years. DCP and SCP densities at the parafoveal and perifoveal area were significantly lower in the FHI eyes compared to the control eyes (44.80 ± 5.24% vs. 54.70 ± 3.76% and 43.30 ± 5.10% vs. 53.70 ± 2.73%, respectively; p < 0.05). The median FAZ was 0.29 ± 0.12 (0.11-0.42) mm2 in the FHI eyes and 0.26 ± 0.09 (0.10-0.40) mm2 in the control eyes. This difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.199). CONCLUSION: Macular capillary perfusion was significantly reduced in both SCP and DCP in the eyes with FHI. FHI, which is known to affect the choroid layer, could also compromise macular capillary perfusion of the retina.

Mendelian Randomization Study Implies Causal Linkage Between Telomere Length and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in a European Population.

BACKGROUND: Telomere maintenance is increasingly being considered as fundamental to the progression of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. However, the causality underlying the purported relationship has not been fully elucidated. In the present work, we applied Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to obtain estimates of the causal effect of telomere length (TL) on the risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and JIA-associated iridocyclitis. METHODS: Two-sample MR analysis was conducted using summary-level data from the largest genome-wide association studies concerning TL (78,592 individuals), JIA (6056 cases and 25,086 controls), and JIA-associated iridocyclitis (1430 cases and 9,2767 controls). All the participants were of European ancestry. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was applied to estimate the causal effects. Sensitivity analyses incorporating multiple complementary MR approaches were implemented to test the robustness of the association and examine potential bias from pleiotropy. RESULTS: In our MR analysis, genetically predicted shorter TL was associated with an increased risk of JIA (IVW: odds ratio=1.68, 95% CI: 1.13-2.48, P=0.009), but not with the risk of JIA-associated iridocyclitis (IVW: odds ratio=1.75, 95% CI: 0.81-3.79, P=0.155). The other MR methods produced consistent results. Besides, a leave-one-out sensitivity analysis yielded similar findings and validated the robustness of the causal relationship. MR-Egger regression revealed no notable horizontal pleiotropy (intercept=0.046, P=0.175). CONCLUSION: This work provides evidence of a negative association between TL and JIA risk, but not for the association between TL and the risk of JIA-associated iridocyclitis, in a European population. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to elucidate the underlying role of TL in these diseases.

Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination without Prior Systemic Antibiotics.

Purpose: To describe a case of bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) with no history of systemic infections or antibiotics intake before the attack. Methods: This study included the review of the clinical record of the patient. Results: A 29-year-old male was referred to the glaucoma clinic with presumed bilateral acute iridocyclitis with refractory glaucoma. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral pigment dispersion, marked iris transillumination, dense pigment deposition in the iridocorneal angle, and high intraocular pressure. The patient was diagnosed with BAIT and was followed for 5 months. Conclusion: The diagnosis of BAIT can be elicited even without a prior history of systemic infection or antibiotics intake.

[Anterior eye segment damage in coronavirus infection (COVID-19)]. / Porazhenie perednego segmenta glaza pri koronavirusnoi infektsii (COVID-19).

Conjunctivitis may appear as the first symptom of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19). In isolated cases, the lesion of the conjunctiva evokes a systemic infectious process. Currently, the conjunctiva is not considered as an area of long-term reproduction of coronavirus, and its damage is caused by hyperproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (especially IL-6); development of iridocyclitis and keratoconjunctivitis is also possible. Most often, local corticosteroids are used to treat these processes, although their use requires caution due to the risk of activating secondary infection (herpetic bacterial, fungal), which often develops as a result of immunodeficiency caused both by COVID-19 and the massive corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy employed when the course of the disease is severe. The severe condition of patients, the lung ventilation, and the prone position all contribute to corneal erosions, exposure keratopathy, pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis and angle-closure glaucoma attacks. The risk of transmission of coronavirus infection during keratoplasty is estimated as minimal.

Neurotrophic corneal ulcer and iridocyclitis directly preceding Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome.

PURPOSE: To present to and inform the practitioner of an unusual presentation of Varicella zoster virus and Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome. OBSERVATIONS: A 69-year-old bedbound male with vascular dementia presented to the emergency room with a red right eye with associated tearing and mucus production. The patient could not express if he was in pain. The initial diagnosis from the emergency room was bacterial keratitis, confirmed with a positive pseudomonas culture. However, upon examination by the ophthalmologist it was noted that there was not only a large, infected epithelial defect, but also an intraocular pressure of 35 and a candy-cane hypopyon. The diagnosis of herpes neurotrophic keratitis and iridocyclitis was made and the patient was started on intravenous acyclovir along with the appropriate topical medications. A day later, it was noted that the patient developed a right sided facial palsy and vesicular lesions inside the right ear canal, as confirmed by otolaryngology. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome is usually known to the ophthalmologist due to the exposure keratopathy caused by facial palsy. This case demonstrates varicella-zoster virus (VZV) neurotrophic keratitis preceding the development of facial palsy, which can further exacerbate an already neurotrophic cornea. The practitioner should be aware of these signs and symptoms and adjust their treatment with systemic acyclovir-prednisone.

The Spanish Composer Manuel de Falla and His Eyes: The Musical Brain.

Manuel de Falla was a Spanish musician of the XIXth and XXth centuries who had international recognition likely due to his musical fusion talent. His knowledge about Spanish musical traditions gave to his early compositions a new and fresh intellectual interpretation for the typical Spanish folk music. However, in the middle of his musical career, he suffered a strange disease of his eyes named recurrent acute iridocyclitis. This eye flushing is caused by an inflammation of 2 structures of the anterior pole of the ocular globe, the iris, and the ciliary body. It is usually a symptom of another disease and it causes many psychological impairments and disabilities (severe eye pain in bright light, blurry vision, headache, stress for organization (orderliness), and depression in some cases). This soreness of his eyes had an effect over Falla's compositions and marked an inflection point in his line of musical creations. Eyes in music have been so relevant in another composers and musicians throughout history.