The Spectrum of Presumed Tubercular Uveitis in a Referral Eye Clinic in Qatar.

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical spectrum of patients with presumed tubercular uveitis in a referral eye clinic in Qatar. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 50 patients (80 eyes) diagnosed with presumed ocular tuberculosis who presented to the uveitis clinic, department of Ophthalmology Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, from January 2014 till December 2019. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation was 34.5 ± 9.3 years. Forty one patients were males (82%) and 30 patients had bilateral involvement (60%). Forty eyes (50%) had posterior uveitis, 21 eyes (26.3%) intermediate uveitis, 11 eyes (13.7%) panuveitis, and 8 eyes (10%) anterior uveitis. Ocular findings included vitritis in 82.5% of eyes, retinal vasculitis in 46.3% (92% of which were occlusive in nature), multifocal choroiditis in 18.8%, serpiginous-like choroiditis in 11.3%, Most common complications at presentation or during follow-up included macular edema in 32 eyes (40%), preretinal or optic disc neovascularization in 29 eyes (36.3%) and vitreous hemorrhage in 17 eyes (21.3%). Anti-tubercular treatment was provided to 46 patients (92%). Systemic corticosteroids and corticosteroid sparing agents were associated, respectively, in 39 patients (78%) and 14 patients (28%). After 1 year of follow up, inflammation was controlled, with a significant improvement in visual acuity (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In Qatar, tubercular uveitis has a broad spectrum of ocular features, with posterior and intermediate uveitis being the most common anatomic forms. Vitritis, multifocal choroiditis without or with a serpiginous-like pattern, and occlusive retinal vasculitis are the most common ocular findings. Main sight-threatening ocular complications are macular edema, posterior segment neovascularization, and vitreous hemorrhage.

Unusual pattern of herpetic optic neuropathy: a case report and literature review of the pathophysiology of herpetic uveitis.

Herpetic uveitis is a relatively common type of intraocular inflammation with a broad spectrum of manifestations ranging from mild anterior uveitis to rapidly progressing vision threatening necrotizing retinitis. Posterior herpetic uveitis presents with different clinical patterns within a spectrum depending presumably on the immune status of the patient. Systemic steroid use for viral uveitis without prior antiviral coverage is inappropriate and can lead to dramatic sequelae. Here, we report an unusual case of herpetic optic neuropathy in the contra lateral eye of a patient with acute retinal necrosis after improper use of oral steroids.

Bilateral exudative retinal detachment, unusual pattern of uveitis with multiple sclerosis.

MS (Multiple sclerosis) associated uveitis used to have limited phenotypes. Bilateral exudative retinal detachment has never been recognized as a pattern of MS-associated uveitis. We are reporting a patient with multiple sclerosis who presented initially with the usual pattern of intermediate uveitis and later developed bilateral exudative retinal detachment.

Hypertension as an Unusual Cause of Proliferative Retinopathy: Case Report and Literature Review.

Malignant hypertensive retinopathy is associated with characteristic fundus findings that typically do not include proliferative retinal vascular changes. We present the case of a 34-year-old patient who had bilateral decreased vision and was found to have malignant hypertension with hypertensive retinopathy changes along with unforeseen bilateral neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage. Detailed history and extensive systemic and ophthalmic workup failed to reveal an alternative explanation for her proliferative retinopathy. Blood pressure control and panretinal photocoagulation halted further deterioration. Malignant hypertensive retinopathy can rarely cause profound retinal ischemia leading to retinal neovascularization. This case further supports the presence of "proliferative hypertensive retinopathy" that needs to be identified and addressed urgently through collaboration between internists and ophthalmologists.

Bilateral same-session intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors.

AIM: To document the indications, safety and possible complications of bilateral same-session intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections performed in the ophthalmic operating room. METHODS: A retrospective case series study. Consecutive records of seventy four patients receiving simultaneous bilateral intravitreal injections of either ranibizumab or bevacizumab, between September 2010 and September 2013, were reviewed and the outcomes were assessed. Data collected included number of injections, indications for injections, pre-injection and post-injection visual acuity (VA), pre-injection and post-injection intraocular pressure and ocular and systemic complications/complaints after each injection. RESULTS: A total of 342 injections were administered to 74 patients, with a mean of 4.62 injections per patient. Seventy-three patients received bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA) alone, and only one patient received both bevacizumab and ranibizumab (Lucentis; Genentech Inc.) distributed between the injections. Pre- and post-injection VA follow-up measurements were available for 65 patients. Mean follow up period was 22mo. The indications for initiating therapy were choroidal neovascular membrane from age-related macular degeneration (3 patients) and diabetic macular edema (71 patients). The mean Snellen VA before each injection was 6/22. The next post-injection follow-up mean Snellen VA was 6/20. One patient had a painful, culture-positive endophthalmitis in one eye 3d after bilateral bevacizumab. Another patient had a painless subconjunctival hemorrhage in one eye. No other ocular or systemic adverse side effects/complaints have been registered in this study group. CONCLUSION: Bilateral same-session intravitreal injections using a separate povidone-iodine preparation, speculum, needle, and syringe for each eye are well-tolerated. None of the subjects in this study requested to switch to alternating unilateral injections. Proper patient counseling as to the risk of complications with this procedure is necessary.