Thyroid eye disease in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: clinical profile and correlation with vitamin D deficiency.

PURPOSE: To obtain clinical data about disease activity and severity of thyroid eye disease (TED) in a tertiary eye hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and to correlate this data with vitamin D levels. METHODS: A clinical observational study was conducted in a specialized eye hospital in Saudi Arabia. It included prospective enrollment of Saudi patients with confirmed TED to evaluate activity and severity according to Clinical Activity Score (CAS) and European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO), respectively, and also for blood investigation, including thyroid profile and vitamin D levels. In addition, some retrospective data collection included previous medical and surgical treatment and complications. RESULTS: A total of 74 TED patients were included, with a median age of 42 years and a female predominance of 64.9%. Smokers were 18.9%. A family history of thyroid disease was noted in 12.16% of patients. There were 10.8% of patients with active TED. A moderate to severe severity level was observed in 71% of the cases, mild in 15%, and sight-threatening in 6%. Smoking and older age were associated with the active form of TED. There was a 48.4% prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among TED patients and it was not associated with TED severity or activity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating the clinical profile of TED among Saudi patients. Smoking and older age were associated with TED. Vitamin D deficiency among TED patients was not worse than that of the general Saudi population.

Treatment response and recurrence of conjunctival melanoma with orbital invasion treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Conjunctival melanoma (CM) has genetic characteristics that are similar to primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM). The management of advanced CM with orbital metastasis was limited until the adoption of novel immunotherapy agents that significantly improved the survival of metastatic PCM. PURPOSE: To review and compare the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment response in cases reported in the English literature with orbital involvement secondary to CM versus PCM. In addition, we report a case of local recurrence of CM in a young female after successful treatment with ICI. METHODS: In addition to reviewing the chart of one patient who presented to our clinic, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify CM cases and cases with orbital metastasis secondary to advanced CM and PCM. Outcomes included patient demographics, response to ICI, and associated adverse effects. RESULTS: There were ten cases with orbital involvement, four were secondary to CM, and six were metastasis from PCM. Orbital metastasis from PCM regressed following treatment with ICI agents, whereas those secondary to CM resolved completely. There were 19 cases of CM without orbital invasion. Of the 29 cases identified, complete resolution of ocular melanoma was achieved in 15 patients, representing 52% of the cases collectively, and none of them reported recurrence except in our case. CONCLUSION: CM with orbital invasion responds well to ICIs, with manageable toxic effects. Despite the complete resolution, close observation is needed as the recurrence risk remains.

Unilateral Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction, Is It An Amblyogenic Factor?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the refractive status, axial length, and prevalence of amblyopia among Saudi children with unilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (UCNLDO) compared to the unaffected fellow eye. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for children with UCNLDO at two eye institutes in Eastern Saudi Arabia from 2009 to 2015. The outcomes of syringing determined UNCLDO. The risk factors for amblyopia were defined as anisometropia of (spherical equivalent) >1.5 D, hyperopia >3.5 D, myopia >3.0 D, astigmatism >1.5 D at 90° or 180°, >1.0 D, any manifest strabismus, any media opacity >1 mm, or ptosis 1 mm or less margin reflex distance 1 along with blunting of vision in that eye. Matched-pair analysis was performed to correlate variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We included 39 children with UNCLDO. The mean axial length was 21.4 ± 1.3 mm for the eyes with UCNLDO and 21.6 ± 1.0 mm for the fellow eye (P = 0.4). Hyperopia >+2 D was present in 17 (44%) eyes with UCNLDO and none of the fellow eyes. None of the participants had strabismus. CONCLUSION: Axial length and risk factors of amblyopia such as anisometropia, hyperopia, and strabismus were not associated with UCNLDO. UCNLDO is likely an isolated defect.