Peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome successfully treated with topical prednisolone acetate 1% drops.

Peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome (PPS) is a rare disease characterized by choroidal thickening around the optic disc. Visual acuity might be impaired secondary to the associated peripapillary intraretinal and/or subretinal fluids. We reported a case of a 70-year-old male patient who presented with a gradual bilateral decrease in vision. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/60 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Dilated fundus examination showed yellowish peripapillary lesions and intraretinal fluid (IRF) surrounding the optic disc in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography showed that the outer retinal layers were disrupted, and IRF affected the nasal macula. A bilateral increase in the thickness of the choroid around the optic discs was found. The patient was successfully treated with a tapering dose of topical prednisolone acetate (1%). Three months after treatment, his vision improved to 20/25 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Topical steroid drops might be administered to treat PPS.

Prognostic value of pretreatment indocyanine green angiography in the acute uveitic phase of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment indocyanine green angiographic (ICGA) features in initial-onset acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 84 patients (168 eyes). Main outcome measures were final visual acuity, development of 'sunset glow fundus' (SGF) and progression to chronic recurrent evolution. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (76 eyes) presented in the phase preceding anterior segment (AS) inflammation (early presentation) and 46 patients (92 eyes) had AS inflammation at presentation (late presentation). The mean number of hypofluorescent dark dots (HDDs) and frequency of disc hyperfluorescence were more in the late presentation group (p < 0.001 for both comparisons), whereas the early presentation group showed higher frequencies of peripapillary punctate choroidal hyperfluorescence (p < 0.001) and hypofluorescent patches involving macula corresponding to the areas of exudative retinal detachment (p = 0.012). The mean number of HDDs and the frequency of disc hyperfluorescence were higher among eyes that developed SGF (p < 0.001 for both comparisons) and eyes that progressed to chronic recurrent evolution (p < 0.001; p = 0.001, respectively). The frequencies of peripapillary punctate choroidal hyperfluorescence and hypofluorescent patches corresponding to the areas of exudative retinal detachment were less in the eyes that developed SGF (p = 0.019; p = 0.003, respectively). Punctate choroidal hyperfluorescence elsewhere was less frequent in the eyes that developed SGF (p < 0.001) and eyes that progressed to chronic recurrent evolution (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment ICGA has a prognostic value in initial-onset acute uveitis associated with VKH disease.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of computer vision syndrome among medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among university medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after establishing remote learning during COVID-19 pandemic and to compare settings of electronic device usage and patterns of CVS protective measures applied by students before and during this pandemic. METHODS: This is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study which included 1st to 5th year medical students who were actively enrolled at the governmental colleges of medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The sample size was estimated to be 287 medical students. Participants were asked to volunteer and fill an electronic online questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 300 medical students were included in this study. 94.0% reported at least one symptom of CVS, while 67% reported having more than three symptoms. The most frequently reported symptoms were musculoskeletal pain (84.3%), headache (71.1%) and dry eyes (68%). Thirty-eight percent of the students experienced more severe symptoms, while 48% experienced more frequent symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk factors for having three or more symptoms were being a female (p < 0.001) and using electronic devices for longer periods (6.8 h ± 2.8) during COVID-19 lockdown (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CVS prevalence during COVID-19 era among medical students is high. This necessitates increasing the awareness of CVS and its preventive measures.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in retinopathy of prematurity: An updated literature review.

Laser photocoagulation can still be considered the gold standard for treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has increasingly become an important option that plays a significant role in the treatment of ROP. Major clinical trials have been published regarding the anti-VEGF use in ROP, along with multiple other studies looking into the different agents, doses, techniques, and possible complications. Anti-VEGF therapies can be considered as a safe and effective option for managing ROP. More longitudinal randomized clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the preferred treatment agent, the appropriate dose, best follow-up protocol, and the long-term ocular and systemic outcomes following treatment.

Indocyanine green angiographic findings in presumed intraocular tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: To study features of Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in patients with presumed intraocular tuberculosis. METHODS: Retrospective study of 48 consecutive patients (77 eyes) who underwent ICGA. The following signs were analysed: choroidal perfusion inhomogeneity, early hyperfluorescent stromal vessels, round or oval hypofluorescent dark dots (HDDs), hypofluorescent geographic lesions (HGLs), fuzzy or lost pattern of large stromal choroidal vessels, disc hyperfluorescence and diffuse late choroidal hyperfluorescence. RESULTS: Among 44 eyes of 29 patients with no clinical evidence of choroidal involvement, only 7 eyes of 6 patients had no ICGA evidence of choroidal involvement. On the other hand, ICGA findings suggesting choroidal involvement were noted in 37 (84.1%) eyes of 23 patients in the form of HDDs in all 37 (100%) eyes, HGLs in 7 (18.9%) eyes, disc hyperfluorescence in 20 (45.5%) eyes, fuzzy stromal vessels in 17 (38.6%) eyes, early hyperfluorescent stromal vessels in 13 (29.5%) eyes, late pinpoint hyperfluorescence in 11 (25%) eyes and late diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence in 7 (15.9%) eyes. Among 33 eyes of 19 patients with clinically evident choroidal involvement, the following findings were identified; HDDs in 12 (36.4%) eyes, HGLs in 10 (30.3%) eyes, both HDDs and HGLs in 9 (27.3%) eyes, disc hyperfluorescence in 11 (33.3%) eyes, early hyperfluorescent stromal vessels in 7 (21.2%) eyes, fuzzy stromal vessels in 6 (18.2%) eyes and late diffuse choroidal hyperfluorescence was present in 2 (6.1%) eyes. CONCLUSIONS: ICGA is necessary in identifying and diagnosing subclinical tuberculous choroidal involvement. The most prevalent ICGA finding was persistent HDDs.

Postpartum Endogenous Candida Endophthalmitis.

Postpartum endogenous fungal endophthalmitis in otherwise healthy females is extremely rare disease. We report a case of a 25-year-old female patient referred with a history of decreased vision in her right eye 1 month after uncomplicated vaginal delivery. She presented with multifocal chorioretinal infiltrates. The patient showed persistent inflammation in her right eye then after. Systemic workup was unremarkable apart from a history of vaginal discharge during peripartum period. Vaginal swap confirmed the presence of Candida albicans. Culture of the vitreous sample confirmed the growth of C. albicans. The patient was managed with intravitreal amphotericin B in addition to systemic antifungal treatment followed by pars plana vitrectomy. The patient achieved 20/40 vision with quiet eye after 6 months of follow-up.

Presumed tuberculous uveitis in a university-based tertiary referral center in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: To describe clinical characteristics and outcomes of treatment in patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis (PTU). METHODS: All patients diagnosed with PTU between January 1996 and March 2013 were reviewed. The diagnosis was made when clinical findings were consistent with possible intraocular tuberculosis, strongly positive purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test result, and response to anti-tuberculous therapy with no other cause of uveitis as suggested by history, symptoms, or ancillary testing. RESULTS: Ninety patients (141 eyes) were identified. There were 43 males (47.3%) and 47 females (52.7%). Mean age was 48.2 ± 14.4 years. Mean duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 6.7 ± 8.3 months. Ten eyes (7.1%) had anterior uveitis, 18 eyes (12.8%) had intermediate uveitis, 34 eyes (24.1%) had posterior uveitis, and 79 eyes (56%) had panuveitis. Macular edema was present in 33.3% of the eyes at presentation. All patients received anti-tuberculous therapy and systemic corticosteroids. Mean follow-up after completion of therapy was 36 ± 2.5 months. Only 2 eyes developed recurrent inflammation after treatment completion. At last follow-up, all eyes showed resolution of inflammation, associated with significant improvement in visual acuity. There was a significant positive correlation between initial and final VA. Eyes that had macular edema at presentation showed a significant reduction in central macular thickness at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: There is delay in presentation of patients with PTU. The most common anatomic diagnosis was panuveitis. Treatment with anti-tuberculous therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids resulted in resolution of inflammation and macular edema with significant improvement in visual acuity.