Cataract progression after primary pars plana vitrectomy for uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Scleral buckling is typically implemented to repair rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) in young patients. Therefore, there is limited data on post-pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) cataract formation in this cohort. We report the rates and risk factors of cataract progression after PPV for RRD repair in young eyes. METHODS: Retrospective single-center cohort study. Medical records of patients between the ages of 15 to 45 undergoing PPV for uncomplicated RRD between 2014 and 2020 were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight eyes from 26 patients met inclusion criteria. Cataracts developed in 20/28 (71%) eyes after PPV. After PPV, nuclear sclerotic cataract (NSC) rates were higher in patients above 35 (65%) compared to below 35 years (18%) (p = 0.024). Cataracts developed more frequently after macula-off RRDs (88%) compared to macula-on RRDs (50%) (p = 0.044) with NSC more common in macula-off detachments (p = 0.020). At postoperative month 2, all eyes with C3F8 gas developed cataracts compared to 59% of eyes with no gas (p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract formation was common and frequent after PPV. After PPV, young eyes and macula-on detachments developed cataracts less frequently than older eyes and macula-off detachments. If appropriate, a shorter acting gas tamponade should be considered in young eyes to minimize cataract formation.

Outcomes and complications of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair with pars plana vitrectomy in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Scleral buckling has been the standard for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair in young patients given the typical lack of posterior vitreous detachment, phakic status, and lower risk of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In older patients, pars plana vitrectomy alone is typically used for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair. We report the outcomes and complications of pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in young eyes. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center cohort study. Medical records of patients between 15 to 45 years of age undergoing primary pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair between 2010 and 2020 were carefully reviewed. All analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis tests for numeric covariates between age groups. RESULTS: Eyes were stratified by age: 15-24 (group 1, n = 10), 25-34 (group 2, n = 14), and 35-45 (group 3, n = 38). The average number of surgeries were 1.9, 1.4, and 1.1 in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.004). Single surgery success rates were 50%, 64%, and 92% in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.005). Final reattachment rates were 80%, 93%, 100% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.568). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy developed in 50%, 7%, and 8% of eyes in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: While the final reattachment rates were excellent in all groups, the higher rates of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and lower single surgery success rate in younger patients may suggest that primary pars plana vitrectomy may not be the optimal repair method in these age groups.

BILATERAL ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS FROM STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis from Streptococcus pneumoniae with devastating sequelae. METHODS: Interventional case report. RESULTS: A 56-year-old man presented with acute bilateral blurred vision and floaters with fever and hemodynamic instability. Previously, he was diagnosed with acute otitis externa and reported manually extracting several of his own teeth. He underwent a vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injections. Blood and vitreous cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae. The patient later developed life-threatening medical sequelae. His final visual acuity was no light perception in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing endogenous endophthalmitis early is essential to initiating a systemic evaluation for potentially life-threatening medical conditions, including sepsis, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis. A high degree of suspicion, expeditious treatment, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to maximizing patient outcomes.

FUNDUS AUTOFLUORESCENCE PREDICTING GROWTH OF A CHOROIDAL OSTEOMA IN A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

PURPOSE: To describe multimodal imaging findings, including fundus autofluorescence, in a patient with a growing choroidal osteoma. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 13-year-old girl presented with an asymptomatic lesion in the superonasal macula of her left eye. Vision was correctable to 20/20 in both eyes, and the only significant finding on examination was the yellow flat lesion in the left macula. It measured 0.8-disk areas in size. Ocular coherence tomography showed a space occupying lesion in the choroid that had horizontal hyper-reflective lines consistent with cancellous bone. Re-examination in a year showed enlargement. Fundus autofluorescence showed no abnormalities in either eye. Ultrasonography showed a hyper-reflective lesion with associated shadowing that was consistent with a choroidal osteoma. CONCLUSION: Normal fundus autofluorescence was seen in this young girl with a growing choroidal osteoma. Fundus autofluorescence is a proxy for the health of the retinal pigment epithelium. Normal retinal pigment epithelium is the only factor found to be predictive of future growth of a choroidal osteoma. This noninvasive test may prove useful as a guide to determine frequency of examinations especially in younger patients who might be prone to more rapid growth.

Bilateral pulmonary emboli following macular hole surgery with postoperative prone positioning.

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of bilateral pulmonary emboli following pars plana vitrectomy with postoperative prone positioning. OBSERVATIONS: A 60 year-old female presented with a fourmonth history of unilateral distorted vision. Ocular coherence tomography revealed a full thickness macular hole. Two weeks later, the patient underwent a 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and 12% perfluoropropane gas tamponade. Postoperatively, she completed two weeks of prone positioning. Five days later, she presented with a two day history of abdominal pain and shortness of breath. Computed tomography angiography revealed bilateral pulmonary emboli. The patient received six months of anticoagulation to prevent further thromboembolic events. CONCLUSIONS: Life threatening blood clots can form due to prolonged immobilization from prone positioning. Patients should be educated to perform light exercise postoperatively to prevent complications of blood stasis.

Saturday Night Retinopathy: Characterization of a Rare Ophthalmic Condition.

A 48-year-old, black female with a history of heroin and daily alcohol abuse presented to the emergency room in a lethargic state with severe right eye pain and vision loss. She had been unconscious for 10 hours prior to presentation. On exam she was found to have no light perception vision, severe retinal edema, and complete ophthalmoplegia of the right eye. Imaging and clinical course confirmed the diagnosis of Saturday Night Retinopathy--only the second documented case to be published.

ROLLER COASTER RETINOPATHY: CASE REPORT OF SYMPTOMATIC BILATERAL INTRARETINAL HEMORRHAGES AFTER SHAKING INJURY IN AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY ADULT.

PURPOSE: Traumatic head injuries not involving the eye have been known to cause retinal injury through multiple mechanisms. Abusive head trauma remains the prototypical example. We propose to demonstrate the first case of bilateral multiple retinal hemorrhages in a young healthy adult related to riding multiple theme park roller coasters. METHODS: The patient was evaluated with a complete ophthalmic examination including dilated extended ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and fundus photography. RESULTS: The patient was found to have a bilateral symptomatic macular retinopathy characterized by multiple intraretinal hemorrhages. Given the lack of other systemic findings and negative medical workup, her signs and symptoms were thought to be attributed to the same day attendance of a theme park and riding of multiple roller coasters. CONCLUSION: Theme park roller coasters, as well as other attractions, may affect the eye at the vitreoretinal interface. This type of acceleration-deceleration injury should be considered in the differential of an adolescent or adult patient with retinal hemorrhage in the absence of other pathologic processes to explain clinical findings.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as bilateral central retinal artery occlusions.

A previously healthy 22-year-old African American woman presented with bilateral vision loss associated with headache. Her ocular examination was significant for bilateral retinal arterial "boxcarring," retinal whitening, retinal hemorrhages, and cherry red spots. She was diagnosed with bilateral central retinal artery occlusions and was hospitalized due to concomitant diagnosis of stroke and hypercoagulable state. She was also found to be in heart failure and kidney failure. Rheumatology was consulted and she was diagnosed with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in association with systemic lupus erythematosus. Approximately 7 months after presentation, the patient's vision improved and remained stable at 20/200 and 20/80.

Valsalva-Like Retinopathy Secondary to Pancytopenia following Induction of Etoposide and Ifosfamide.

Etoposide and ifosfamide are chemotherapeutic agents used frequently in the treatment of sarcomas and hematologic malignancies. Ocular side effects are rarely reported. We describe a case of a patient on etoposide and ifosfamide who presented with unilateral vision loss, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The patient was found to have a large subinternal limiting membrane hemorrhage in the right eye that is thought to be related to his anemia and thrombocytopenia. The hemorrhage resolved spontaneously after 10 days. This case illustrates how bone marrow suppression by chemotherapeutic agents may indirectly contribute to retinal hemorrhages resulting in at least transient vision loss.

Surgical treatment of an exudative retinal detachment associated with a giant retinal pigment epithelial tear.

After cataract surgery, a 69-year-old man presented with hypotony and choroidal effusion followed by retinal pigment epithelium tear and exudative detachment of the retina. Vitrectomy with fluid-air exchange successfully led to reattachment of all layers.To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful surgical management of exudative detachment secondary to retinal pigment epithelium tears.

Surgical technique for removal of a capsular tension ring from the vitreous cavity.

PURPOSE: To describe a surgical technique for removing a posteriorly dislocated capsular tension ring (CTR). METHODS: Retrospective interventional case report. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old African American man underwent cataract surgery. Early in the procedure, a CTR was placed at the equator of the lens capsule. Subsequently, the posterior capsule ruptured. The CTR was left in place, and an intraocular lens was placed in the sulcus. On postoperative Day 6, the CTR subluxated into the vitreous cavity and was removed without complication by pars plana vitrectomy, using the CTR inserter. CONCLUSION: The technique of using the CTR inserter to remove the CTR from the vitreous cavity appears to be safe and effective.

Retinal arteriolar macroaneurysms overlying the optic nerve.

BACKGROUND: Retinal arteriolar macroaneurysms typically involve the second and third order arterioles. Macroaneurysms involving the first order arterioles, specifically overlying the optic nerve, have been infrequently reported. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series. RESULTS: Two patients were found to have an arteriolar macroaneurysm overlying the optic nerve. The first, a 77-year-old man, had focal laser photocoagulation to the macroaneurysm. The second, a 75-year-old woman, had spontaneous resolution of the lesion without treatment. Final visual acuity was 20/25 in the treated patient compared to 20/80 in the untreated patient. CONCLUSION: Retinal arteriolar macroaneurysms overlying the optic nerve will involute spontaneously or as a result of focal laser photocoagulation. The associated macular edema may result in permanent visual loss. Focal laser treatment over the optic nerve did not cause optic nerve damage.

Does postoperative near visual acuity predict macular hole closure?

To determine whether prone postoperative near visual acuity following macular hole surgery can be used as a reliable indicator of successful hole closure, data from 21 patients undergoing macular hole surgery were collected. Seventeen of the 18 patients with hole closure and all 3 patients with persistent macular holes had a Rosenbaum acuity better than preoperative visual acuity, yielding 94% sensitivity, 0% specificity, 85% positive predictive value, and 0% negative predictive value. Fourteen of the 18 patients with macular hole closure and all 3 patients with persistent macular holes had a Rosenbaum acuity better than 20/40, yielding 78% sensitivity, 0% specificity, 82% positive predictive value, and 0% negative predictive value. Although postoperative near visual acuity can predict macular hole closure with 94% sensitivity, the test is not clinically useful to predict hole closure because of the high surgical success rate of macular hole surgery. The test could be useful in encouraging patients to maintain head prone positioning and alleviate patient anxiety.

Pigmentary maculopathy in a patient with Wolfram syndrome.

CASE REPORT: We describe a rare association of pigmentary maculopathy with Wolfram syndrome not previously reported in the literature. A 12-year-old boy presented to the retina service with a diagnosis of Wolfram syndrome and a history of poor central vision. The patient was found to have bilateral atrophic pigmentary maculopathy that was confirmed with fluorescein angiography. COMMENTS: Wolfram syndrome may present with a pigmentary maculopathy and this rare finding may assist the clinician in making appropriate genetic referral when this diagnosis is suspected.

Comparison of a digital retinal imaging system and seven-field stereo color fundus photography to detect diabetic retinopathy in the primary care environment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Because patients with diabetes mellitus may visit their primary care physician regularly but not their ophthalmologist, a retinal risk assessment in the primary care setting could improve the screening rate for diabetic retinopathy. An imaging system for use in the primary care setting to identify diabetic retinopathy requiring referral to an ophthalmologist was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a masked prospective study, images were obtained from 11 patients with diabetes mellitus using both the digital retinal imaging system and seven-field stereo color fundus photography. The ability to obtain gradable images and to identify diabetic retinal lesions was compared. RESULTS: Of all images, 85% of digital retinal imaging system images and 88% of seven-field images were gradable. Agreement based on "no retinopathy" versus "any retinopathy" was excellent (Kappa = 0.96). Agreement based on "microaneurysms or less retinopathy" versus "retinal hemorrhages or worse retinopathy" was very good (Kappa = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between the digital retinal imaging system and seven-field photography indicates that the digital retinal imaging system may be useful to screen for diabetic retinopathy.

Visual prognosis in patients with traumatic choroidal rupture.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of work in the literature examining the long-term visual prognosis of patients with choroidal ruptures. We performed a study to get a better assessment of long-term visual recovery in these patients as well as to identify prognostic indicators. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 32 patients who experienced traumatic choroidal rupture following blunt ocular trauma. All charts contained International Classification of Diseases code 363.63 (choroidal rupture). For inclusion in the study, the chart had to contain detailed drawings or photographic evidence that could confirm the presence and location (foveal, juxtafoveal or extrafoveal) of the choroidal rupture. In addition, demographic data and visual acuity on follow-up examinations had to be present. The mechanism and location of the injury, initial and final visual acuity, associated ocular findings and length of follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 32 eyes 31 had indirect choroidal ruptures and I had a direct rupture. The mean final visual acuity values in the foveal, juxtafoveal and extrafoveal subgroups were 20/68, 20/35 and 20/60 respectively after a mean duration of follow-up of 4.5, 3.5 and 4.4 years respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in mean final visual acuity or mean length of follow-up between the three groups. The eight patients with multiple choroidal ruptures had a mean final vision of 20/31 after a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years. The 24 patients with a single choroidal rupture achieved a mean final vision of 20/47 over a mean duration of follow-up of 4.1 years. There was no difference in final vision or in length of follow-up between the two groups. The six patients under 15 years of age attained a mean final vision of 20/34 over a mean follow-up period of 4.5 years, whereas the adult group achieved a mean final vision of 20/44 over a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years. Again, there was no difference in final vision or in length of follow-up between the two groups. INTERPRETATION: Traumatic choroidal rupture involving the fovea has been thought to have a poor visual prognosis. Our findings show that eyes with foveal choroidal ruptures may regain good central vision over longer follow-up. Furthermore, multiple choroidal ruptures do not necessarily predict a poor visual outcome. Children with choroidal ruptures attained good final visual outcomes.

Intraocular irrigating solutions. A clinical study of BSS Plus and dextrose bicarbonate fortified BSS as an infusate during pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of Balanced Salt Solution Plus (BSS Plus, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) and fortified regular BSS on the cornea and lens, when used for continuous irrigation in pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery. METHODS: Prospective, investigator masked, randomised study. Forty patients were randomly assigned to undergo PPV using BSS Plus (n=20) or fortified BSS (n=20) [regular BSS, fortified with 10.5 cc. of dextrose in water (D5W) and 13.1 cc. of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate]. Intraoperative features of the corneal epithelium, postoperative changes in the corneal endothelial cell denstiy (ECD) at 3 months, and clarity of the lens during surgery and postoperatively were evaluated. RESULTS: Intraoperative epithelial changes were similar in both groups with 7 (35%) of the cases having the epithelium removed in the BSS Plus group and 8 (40%) in the BSS fortified group (P=0.23). The mean differences in ECD (3 months versus preoperative) in the operated eyes when adjusted for changes in the control eye showed no difference with the type of BSS (P=0.98). Intraoperative lens changes were more significant (P=0.018) in the BSS fortified group. Postoperative lens status at 3 months was similar for both groups. Though there was a trend towards worse postoperative nuclear sclerosis change in the BSS fortified group, it was not significant (P=0.160). CONCLUSION: Standard BSS fortified with dextrose and bicarbonate is an efficacious infusion fluid during pars plana vitrectomy. Both solutions showed comparable effects on postoperative corneal endothelial cell density and corneal epithelial changes intraoperatively. BSS fortified has more lenticular changes intraoperatively than BSS Plus although no lens had to be removed in either group. The study implications are important since BSS fortified is significantly less expensive than BSS Plus.