Differentiation of Active Corneal Infections from Healed Scars Using Deep Learning.

PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate an automated, portable algorithm to differentiate active corneal ulcers from healed scars using only external photographs. DESIGN: A convolutional neural network was trained and tested using photographs of corneal ulcers and scars. PARTICIPANTS: De-identified photographs of corneal ulcers were obtained from the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial (SCUT), Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial (MUTT), and Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University. METHODS: Photographs of corneal ulcers (n = 1313) and scars (n = 1132) from the SCUT and MUTT were used to train a convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN was tested on 2 different patient populations from eye clinics in India (n = 200) and the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University (n = 101). Accuracy was evaluated against gold standard clinical classifications. Feature importances for the trained model were visualized using gradient-weighted class activation mapping. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Accuracy of the CNN was assessed via F1 score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to measure the precision-recall trade-off. RESULTS: The CNN correctly classified 115 of 123 active ulcers and 65 of 77 scars in patients with corneal ulcer from India (F1 score, 92.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 88.2%-95.8%]; sensitivity, 93.5% [95% CI, 89.1%-97.9%]; specificity, 84.42% [95% CI, 79.42%-89.42%]; ROC: AUC, 0.9731). The CNN correctly classified 43 of 55 active ulcers and 42 of 46 scars in patients with corneal ulcers from Northern California (F1 score, 84.3% [95% CI, 77.2%-91.4%]; sensitivity, 78.2% [95% CI, 67.3%-89.1%]; specificity, 91.3% [95% CI, 85.8%-96.8%]; ROC: AUC, 0.9474). The CNN visualizations correlated with clinically relevant features such as corneal infiltrate, hypopyon, and conjunctival injection. CONCLUSIONS: The CNN classified corneal ulcers and scars with high accuracy and generalized to patient populations outside of its training data. The CNN focused on clinically relevant features when it made a diagnosis. The CNN demonstrated potential as an inexpensive diagnostic approach that may aid triage in communities with limited access to eye care.

Comparisons of deep learning algorithms for diagnosing bacterial keratitis via external eye photographs.

Bacterial keratitis (BK), a painful and fulminant bacterial infection of the cornea, is the most common type of vision-threatening infectious keratitis (IK). A rapid clinical diagnosis by an ophthalmologist may often help prevent BK patients from progression to corneal melting or even perforation, but many rural areas cannot afford an ophthalmologist. Thanks to the rapid development of deep learning (DL) algorithms, artificial intelligence via image could provide an immediate screening and recommendation for patients with red and painful eyes. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the potentials of different DL algorithms for diagnosing BK via external eye photos. External eye photos of clinically suspected IK were consecutively collected from five referral centers. The candidate DL frameworks, including ResNet50, ResNeXt50, DenseNet121, SE-ResNet50, EfficientNets B0, B1, B2, and B3, were trained to recognize BK from the photo toward the target with the greatest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Via five-cross validation, EfficientNet B3 showed the most excellent average AUROC, in which the average percentage of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was 74, 64, 77, and 61. There was no statistical difference in diagnostic accuracy and AUROC between any two of these DL frameworks. The diagnostic accuracy of these models (ranged from 69 to 72%) is comparable to that of the ophthalmologist (66% to 74%). Therefore, all these models are promising tools for diagnosing BK in first-line medical care units without ophthalmologists.

Evaluation of Ultrasound Biomicroscopy Combined with Color Doppler Flow Imaging in the Diagnosis of Primary Lacrimal Canaliculitis.

Purpose: To explore the performance of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in the diagnosis of primary lacrimal canaliculitis.Methods: Subjects with relevant symptoms of canaliculitis were prospectively recruited. UBM and CDFI were performed for presumptive diagnosis. Microbiology and histopathology were performed for definitive diagnosis.Results: A total of 37 cases were recruited, including 25 cases of canaliculitis and 12 cases of non-canaliculitis. Pathogens were isolated in 13 canaliculitis cases, and the leading pathogens were Actinomyces (4 cases) and Streptococcus (4 cases). UBM and CDFI identified 24 canaliculitis cases (sensitivity = 96%) and 11 non-canaliculitis cases (specificity = 92%). The predictive factors for canaliculitis were lumen wall thickness >0.25 mm (P = .019) and intracanalicular concretions (P = .010). Other typical features were enlarged lumen (2.16 ± 0.25 mm) and hot-wheel sign-on CDFI (84%). These image findings were congruent with histopathologic changes.Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a valuable tool to assist the diagnosis of canaliculitis.(Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1900025411).

ACUTE SYPHILITIC POSTERIOR PLACOID CHORIORETINITIS: MULTIMODAL IMAGING AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC FINDINGS BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical course of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC) in the preplacoid stage, placoid stage, and after treatment with penicillin. METHOD: A retrospective case report of serial multimodal imaging and electrophysiology studies of a patient with ASPPC, with 18 months of follow-up. RESULTS: A 47-year-old man presented with bilateral panuveitis. The patient defaulted follow-up and returned when his vision deteriorated. Tests for neurosyphilis and retroviral disease were positive, and treatment was initiated. The earliest change on serial optical coherence tomography was loss of the signal from the reflective band corresponding to the ellipsoid zone. In the placoid stage, there was nodular thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium. The ellipsoid zone signals reappeared after treatment. Fundus fluorescein angiogram at presentation showed peripapillary vasculitis and disk leakage; indocyanine green angiography revealed multiple hypofluorescent spots in the peripapillary region and posterior pole that was not visible clinically. The angiographic abnormalities resolved after treatment. Electrophysiology demonstrated bilateral maculopathy and reduction of both a- and b-waves from dark-adapted and light-adapted responses at presentation. The b-waves (inner retina) recovered partially with treatment. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of the multimodal imaging and electrophysiology findings in a patient with acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis, before the development of the classic placoid lesion. Improvement of structural and functional pathology after systemic treatment is demonstrated.

Bilateral dacryocystitis complicated by unilateral retrobulbar abscess in a five-week-old infant.

Retrobulbar orbital abscess in children is a rare condition, and diagnosis and management can be challenging. We report the case of a 5-week-old male infant with retrobulbar orbital abscess secondary to acute dacryocystitis developed from a dacryocystocele. The patient presented with respiratory difficulty, sepsis and progressive clinical findings suggestive of post-septal cellulitis. He was successfully treated with endonasal incision of subturbinate dacryocystoceles followed by probing of the lacrimal ducts. Congenital dacryocystocele must be considered a differential diagnosis in infants with respiratory difficulty and may develop into a vision- and life-threatening condition requiring immediate intervention.

An unexpected case of iatrogenic Escherichia coli endogenous pan-endopthalmitis after ERCP-associated biliary sepsis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Endogenous endopthalmitis is a diagnostically challenging ophthalmic and medical emergency. It has the ability to manifest at any age and is associated with a number of predisposing factors. The rapid progression of disease poses catastrophic risk for adverse outcomes both localised and systemic. To our knowledge, we describe the first reported iatrogenic case of endogenous Escherichia coli-induced endopthalmitis progressing to pan-endopthalmitis as a consequence of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. DIAGNOSIS, INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The patient presented with reduced visual acuity and painless red eye; however, apart from biochemistry results suggesting biliary sepsis, no other clinical features of acute disease were noted. Despite rigorous systemic and intravitreal treatment, the rapid progression of disease led to irreversible damage to the eye. CONCLUSION: Clinicians must maintain a very high index of suspicion when encountering patients after interventional procedures, as misdiagnosis by trained ophthalmologists for endogenous endopthalmitis remains a common occurrence. Prompt identification and diagnosis ensured our patient avoided evisceration and early ophthalmic biopsies guaranteed the correct systemic intervention was started to address the severe subsequent septicaemia.

Bartonella presenting as branch retinal artery occlusion in a child.

Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) is rare in children. Bartonella is a known cause of branch retinal artery occlusion in adults, but it is typically not considered in the differential diagnosis for pediatric BRAO. We present the case of a 12-year old boy with a BRAO caused by a Bartonella henselae infection. This is the youngest such case reported in the literature. Although rare, Bartonella infection may be an important and underrecognized cause of pediatric BRAO.

Multimodal Imaging of Atypical Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinitis Mimicking a White Dot Syndrome.

As rates of infectious syphilis continue to rise in the U.S., it is important to be familiar with known manifestations of ocular syphilis as well as report presentations not previously described in the literature. Here, the authors report a case of a 49-year-old myopic woman presenting with bilateral white dots characteristic of a white dot syndrome; these white dots were not evident on slit-lamp examination and became obvious on fundus autofluorescence. She tested positive and was successfully treated for syphilis. This case demonstrates that ocular syphilis can present with white dots and should be on the differential diagnosis of white dot syndromes. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:e52-e55.].

Long-Term Outcomes of Oral Anti-Tubercular Therapy in Patient with Tubercular Dacryoadenitis: A Case Series.

Purpose: To describe the clinico-radiological features and long-term outcomes in patients with tubercular dacryoadenitis (TbD) Methods: Retrospective, observational study of TbD patients who underwent a thorough clinical examination, orbital imaging study, and tailored ancillary investigations. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopy were done in specific cases. A 4-drug anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) was started and clinical response was monitored in all. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months "off-ATT" were included. Results: All patients were women and three presented with pain, blepharoptosis, and bilateral involvement. In all, ESR was raised, Mantoux test was positive and orbital imaging revealed enlarged lacrimal gland/s. Positive PCR and granulomatous inflammation on microscopy were seen in two patients. At a mean follow-up of 17.25 months, all women responded with no relapse or clinical recurrence. Conclusion: Bilateral lacrimal gland enlargement, positive Mantoux & PCR with early response to ATT may provide sufficient evidence for diagnosing TbD.

[Placoid chorioretinopathy in systemic infections]. / Placoid chorioretinopathiák szisztémás fertozésekben.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: To present two cases of placoid chorioretinopathy (ocular syphilis and ocular tuberculosis) and underline the importance of differential diagnosis. METHOD: Two young female patients presented with unilateral loss of vision. Fundus examination showed yellowish placoid lesions in the posterior pole in both cases. RESULTS: Performing fluorescein angiography and laboratory investigations, ocular syphilis was diagnosed in our first case and intraocular tuberculosis was diagnosed in our second case. CONCLUSION: It is important to determine the etiology of the placoid choriaretinopathies due to the different prognosis and therapy and the exclusion of systemic diseases. A comprehensive evaluation of these patients is inevitable for the correct diagnosis and appropriate management. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(22): 863-869.

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Cellular Features of Host and Organism in Bacterial, Fungal, and Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

PURPOSE: To determine cellular features of fungal (FK), Acanthamoeba (AK), and bacterial keratitis (BK) using HRT3 in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). DESIGN: Prospective observational cross-sectional study. METHODS: Eligible participants were adults with microbiologically positive FK, AK, or BK, of size ≥ 3 mm, attending Aravind Eye Hospital from February 2012 to February 2013. Exclusion criteria were descemetocele or perforation. At presentation, IVCM imaging was performed, then corneal scrapes were obtained for culture/light microscopy. An experienced grader (masked to microbiology/clinical features) assessed IVCM images for presence/absence of normal keratocyte-like morphology, stellate interconnected cells with/without visible nuclei, dendritiform cells (DFCs), inflammatory cells in a honeycomb distribution, and organism features. Statistical significance was assessed by logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, ulcer size, and symptom duration. Main outcome measures were presence/absence of IVCM features in FK, AK, BK. RESULTS: A total of 183 participants had FK, 18 AK, 17 BK. Acanthamoeba appeared as bright spots (16/18, 89%), double-walled cysts (15/18, 83%), or signet rings (3/18, 17%), and often formed clusters after topical steroid use (univariable odds ratio [OR] 9.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-97.96, P = .048). BK was associated with bullae in anterior stroma (OR 9.99, 95% CI: 3.11-32.06, P < .001). Honeycomb distribution of anterior stromal inflammatory cells was associated with FK (univariable OR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.01-7.40, P = .047). Aspergillus ulcers were associated with stromal DFCs (OR 11.05, 95% CI: 1.49-82.13, P = .019) and Fusarium ulcers with stellate appearance of interconnected cell processes with nuclei (OR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09-0.65, P = .005). CONCLUSION: Specific cellular and structural features observed using IVCM in microbial keratitis may be associated with organism.

MULTIMODAL IMAGING ADDS NEW INSIGHTS INTO ACUTE SYPHILITIC POSTERIOR PLACOID CHORIORETINITIS.

PURPOSE: Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC) is an uncommon manifestation of ocular syphilis with distinct clinical features. We describe new multimodal imaging findings in a patient with ASPPC. METHODS: Observational case report with multimodal imaging. RESULTS: A 44-year-old woman presented with 5 days of decreased vision in her right eye. Visual acuity was counting fingers in her right eye and 20/20 in her left eye. Funduscopic examination of the right eye showed a yellow placoid macular lesion with extension beyond the equator, which was encircled by an annular ring of outer retinal whitening. Ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence demonstrated hyperautofluorescence corresponding to the placoid lesion. Examination of the left eye appeared unremarkable, but ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence showed an area of hyperautofluorescence located superonasal to the optic nerve. Optical coherence tomography of the right eye demonstrated subretinal fluid and overlying disruption of the ellipsoid zone. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated early hypofluorescent and hyperfluorescent spots and late staining within the placoid lesion. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed several areas of decreased flow signal within the placoid lesion at the level of the choriocapillaris. Laboratory testing revealed a rapid plasma reagin titer of 1:1,024. Two months after treatment with intravenous penicillin G, visual acuity had improved to 20/25 in her right eye, and optical coherence tomography showed partial restoration of the ellipsoid zone. The annular ring resolved with near normalization of fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography angiography demonstrated resolution of flow. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging provides further insight into the pathogenesis of ASPPC. Ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence may show evidence of ellipsoid zone disruption in areas that clinically appear normal. Flow voids within the choriocapillaris in ASPPC appear to resolve with appropriate treatment, a finding that suggests a transient disruption of choriocapillaris flow in ASPPC.

Bilateral choroiditis as the only sign of persistent Mycobacterium intracellulare infection following haematogenous spread in an immunocompromised patient.

An immunocompromised patient had positive blood cultures for Mycobacterium intracellulare and no identifiable organ seeding was started on treatment. One month later, the patient was clinically well with negative blood cultures but drug-induced myelotoxicity had developed. Ocular fundus examination at this time revealed bilateral choroidal granulomas which changed patient management.

En-Face Optical Coherence Tomography of Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report a unique case series of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC) correlating en-face optical coherence tomography (OCT) with standard imaging modalities. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, multimodal imaging was performed in three ASPPC patients at the time of disease presentation. RESULTS: Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with the diagnosis of ASPPC. In all the study patients, multiple hyperreflective dot-like lesions distributed in the macular area and observed with en-face OCT at the level of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) corresponded to the nodular RPE elevations on cross-sectional OCT and to the hyperautofluorescent spots on fundus autofluorescence. In addition, the cross-sectional OCT scans showed disorganization of the outer retinal bands and punctate choroidal hyperreflectivity. CONCLUSION: By combining en-face OCT with multimodal imaging analysis, we propose that a primary inflammation at the level of the choroid may be the pathogenic mechanism for the occurrence of outer retinal band abnormalities.

Lacrimal gland abscesses: Case series and literature review.

Acute dacryoadenitis with abscess formation has been rarely described. We describe four cases that resolved with incision and drainage. This includes a retrospective case series of four patients with radiologically confirmed lacrimal gland abscesses and a review of the reported cases in the literature. Computed tomography showed characteristic rim enhancing collections with central attenuation in all four cases. All patients presented with ptosis, upper eyelid erythema, and severe pain similar to scleritis. Injection of the conjunctiva and sclera was present in two patients, and a third patient presented with expression of purulent discharge onto the ocular surface upon palpation of the lacrimal gland. All patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and underwent incision and drainage with subsequent improvement. All were monitored for 24 to 48 hours and discharged on oral antibiotics. There were no complications or recurrences. Lacrimal gland abscess formation is a rare complication of dacryoadenitis, and in our experience these patients respond well to incision and drainage in combination with systemic antibiotics.

[The clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC). Methods: Retrospective study of 10 patients diagnosed ASPPC in the Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2011 to 2016, including 6 males (10 eyes involved) and 4 females (8 eyes involved) with an age of (43.4±11.6) years (range, 26-60 years). Their clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics were summarized. Results: All 10 ASPPC patients complained about the reduction of visual acuity, and the majority of them had both eyes involved. The initial visual acuity ranged from finger count to 0.8, with an average of 0.4 and a median visual acuity of 0.3. The intraocular pressure was in the normal range. The inflammation of anterior chamber occurred in only one patient (1/10). The lesions were located at the posterior pole as shown on fundus photographs. There are six placoid lesions, four yellowish massive lesions and seven mixed lesions (placoid and yellowish massive lesions). Partial or whole disappearance, abnormality and opacity of the ellipsoid layer, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) nodules, and cells in the vitreous body were observed by optical coherence tomography. There were partial detachment between the neuronal retina and RPE layer with fine-sand like hypereflective dots. The lesion size and morphology on autofluorescence (AF), fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICG) were almost consistent with those on fundus photography. The lesions were hyperautofluorescent in a placoid or massive shape. The lesions on FFA showed slight hyperfluorescence with unclear edges from the venous phase, and the fluorescence increased with the time and leaked in the late phase. Vascular walls showed blood staining in the late phase. The lesions on ICG showed hypofluorescence with hyperfluorescence and hypofluorescence dots like fine needles in the middle and late phases. Conclusion: ASPPC mainly occurs among the young adults without gender difference. The characteristic is the contradiction between sever clinical symptoms and slight signs on the fundus. The lesion area shown on fundus photography, FFA, ICG and AF is consistent, as well as injuries of the ellipsoid layer, RPE nodules and cells in the vitreous body. The above manifestations and imaging characteristics of ASPPC are significant for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53:352-357).