Analysis of Vitreous Samples by the Cellient® Automated Cell Block System: A Six-year Review of Specimens in a Uveitis Population.

PURPOSE: To further evaluate the value of a standardized method to analyze vitreous samples using the Cellient® automated cell block system in the diagnosis of unsolved uveitis. METHODS: Six hundred sixty-four pure vitreous samples obtained from patients with unsolved uveitis between March 2012 and May 2018 at University Hospitals Leuven, fixed in PreservCyt® and processed by the Cellient tissue processor, were included in the study. RESULTS: n 86.3% of the cases, sufficient material was found for diagnosis. A diagnosis of acute inflammation was made in 20.2% of the cases. In 34.0% of the cases, the diagnosis was chronic active inflammation; in 26.5%, low-grade inflammation; and in 5.6%, a malignant process. CONCLUSION: Our standardized protocol can be used to diagnose endophthalmitis, lymphoma, granulomatous disease, inactive and storage disease, and metastatic infiltration. Cellient analysis of vitreous specimens had a diagnostic yield of 86.3% in unsolved uveitis cases.

The Prevalence of Undiagnosed Age-Related Sight-Threatening Diseases in Self-Proclaimed Healthy Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Age-related conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataract have become the major cause of visual impairment and blindness in high-income countries. The aim of the current study is to investigate the prevalence of these eye diseases in a cohort of self-proclaimed healthy elderly and thus get a rough estimation of the prevalence of undiagnosed age-related eye conditions in the Belgian population. METHODS: Individuals aged 55 and older without ophthalmological complaints were asked to fill in a general medical questionnaire and underwent an ophthalmological examination, which included a biomicroscopic examination, intraocular pressure measurement, axial length measurement, and acquisition of fundus pictures and optical coherence tomography scans. Information regarding follow-up was collected in those who received the advice of referral to an ophthalmologist or the advice to have more frequent follow-up visits, based on their study evaluation. RESULTS: The cohort included 102 people and comprised 46% men (median age 70 years, range 57-85 years). Referral for additional examinations was made in 26 participants (25%). The advice to have more regular follow-up ophthalmologist visits was given to nine additional participants (9%). No significant correlations between baseline characteristics and the need for referral could be identified. Follow-up information was available for 25 out of 26 referred volunteers. Out of these, four underwent a therapeutic intervention based on study referral, up until 18 months after study participation. All four interventions took place in the age group 65-74 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, even in an elderly population with self-proclaimed healthy eyes and good general health, a significant proportion of subjects showed ocular findings that need regular follow-up and/or intervention. The frequency of prior ophthalmological examinations does not seem to be relevant to this proportion, meaning that everyone above 55 years old needs a routine ophthalmological evaluation.