Determinants of progression of diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy.

AIMS: To assess the rate of diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression in an Australian cohort and to identify the determinants of DR progression in pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 367 pregnancies of women with Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus attending King Edward Memorial Hospital, Western Australia, between June 2020 and July 2023 were included. These women were screened for the presence and severity of DR in the first trimester and/or at 28-32weeks gestation via retinal imaging with a DRS camera. RESULTS: DR was seen in 121 (33 %) pregnancies at baseline and DR progression was seen in 62 (17 %) pregnancies. Only 11 (4 %) women with no baseline DR developed DR and none of these progressed to more than moderate non-proliferative DR. A total of 51 (42 %) women with baseline DR had DR progression. The presence of baseline DR was the only significant predictor for DR progression on multivariate analysis (OR 9.88 (4.43-22.07), p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women without DR at baseline are unlikely to progress to more severe forms of DR and usually do not require treatment. The presence of DR at baseline screening during pregnancy is a strong predictor of DR progression during pregnancy.

Bilateral Relentless Placoid Chorioretinitis Following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination: Specific Antigenic Trigger or Nonspecific Immune Activation?

PURPOSE: To report bilateral relentless placoid chorioretinitis following Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old Caucasian New Zealand-born woman presented with progressive left eye vision loss and bilateral photopsias and floaters occurring 10 days after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. She had a similar self-limiting episode of photopsias and floaters without vision loss 1 year prior after receiving the influenza vaccine. Snellen visual acuity (VA) was 20/25 in the right eye, and count fingers at 2 m in the left eye. Bilateral, active, creamy, plaque-like lesions were present at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid, suggestive of relentless placoid chorioretinitis. Commencement of 100 mg oral prednisolone and 3 g mycophenolate daily resulted in recovery of the foveal ellipsoid layer with VA of 20/25 in each eye after 8 weeks. Subsequent activations occurred following COVID-19 infection and respiratory infection. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of relentless placoid chorioretinitis occurring as a potential side-effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination, and not infection, could be assumed to be the likely trigger. Subsequent flares following COVID-19 and a nonspecific respiratory infection during periods of inadequate immunosuppression suggest that a COVID-19 antigen or general immune activation could also be the trigger.

Introduction of diabetic retinopathy screening into an antenatal clinic: Impact on maternal screening and diagnosis rates.

Pregnancy is a risk factor for the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in women with pre-gestational diabetes. However, a minority of pregnant women with diabetes adhere to retinal screening recommendations. The introduction of an onsite retinal camera at our tertiary maternity hospital significantly increased the proportion of women who received at least one retinal screen during pregnancy (93.0% vs 54.3%, P < 0.001) and the identification of both DR and DR progression. We conclude that the use of a retinal camera in similar clinics is a feasible option to improve DR screening and diagnosis rates in pregnancy.

Intraocular lens dystrophic calcification after trans-scleral diode laser treatment for a cyclodialysis cleft.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of intraocular lens (IOL) dystrophic calcification as a complication of trans-scleral diode laser successfully used to treat a post-trabeculectomy cyclodialysis cleft. OBSERVATIONS: A 76-year-old male with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudophakia (+19.0D Akreos M160L, Bausch & Lomb) was evaluated for vision impairment 4 months post-trabeculectomy complicated by a cyclodialysis cleft of his right eye. The patient was successfully treated with trans-scleral diode laser. After this treatment IOL opacification developed. Slit lamp examination and color photography of the anterior segment was performed prior to exchange of the opacified IOL. The explanted IOL underwent star testing, macroscopic imaging, phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy in addition to energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.Confluent IOL deposits developed 4 months after trans-scleral diode laser treatment requiring IOL exchange. Star optical testing of the explanted IOL showed disruption of the diffraction image. An asymmetric pattern of deposition was congruent with the laser treatment quadrant. The subsurface location and discrete nature of the deposits were seen on phase contrast and electron microscopy. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy demonstrated a predominance of calcium/phosphate in the deposits. We are unaware of previous reports in the literature of IOL dystrophic calcification occurring as a complication of trans-scleral diode laser treatment for a post-trabeculectomy cyclodialysis cleft. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: Delayed postoperative IOL dystrophic calcification in our case may have been from a combination of IOL biomaterial susceptibility to diode laser energy; damaged IOL material providing a nidus for calcific nucleation; and blood ocular barrier breakdown altering aqueous composition. We suggest that pseudophakia should influence the consideration of diode laser as treatment of a cyclodialysis cleft.

Sutureless technique for repair of traumatic iridodialysis.

A technique for repair of traumatic iridodialysis that avoids the need for iris sutures is described. Following a limbal peritomy, sclerostomy sites level with the iris base are created at each clock hour of the iridodialysis using a microvitreoretinal blade. Vitreoretinal forceps passed through these ports are used to incarcerate the peripheral iris. No suture material is used to secure the iris. The conjunctiva is closed with absorbable sutures. The technique is suitable for use in simple iridodialysis repair and in conjunction with intraocular procedures.

Children and adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in non-specialist settings: beliefs, functional impairment and psychiatric disturbance.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) seen in specialist centres have substantial psychological and functional impairment. Beliefs about activity levels may be important in the development of CFS. METHOD: The aim was to investigate psychological and functional impairment, and beliefs in children and adolescents with CFS recruited from non-specialist services. A total of 30 such individuals participated, and 30 young people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) formed the comparison group. RESULTS: Emotional symptoms and disorder were high in both groups. In all, 50% of those with CFS and 30% with IBD reached the threshold for emotional disorder according to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) parent report, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Participants with CFS scored statistically significantly higher on measures of functional impairment, including school non-attendance, compared to those with IBD. According to questionnaire responses, those with CFS were statistically significantly more likely to favour rest rather than exercise compared to those with IBD. Comparison of parental beliefs did not show such a difference. CONCLUSIONS: These young people with CFS were at high risk of psychiatric disorder. They were substantially disabled when compared to individuals with a known chronic illness. Also, as a group, they were characterised by a preference for rest rather than exercise.

Infliximab for juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab is a murine-human recombinant antitumour necrosis factor monoclonal antibody recently introduced for the treatment of autoimmune diseases in which tumour necrosis factor is thought to be a key mediator. Its role in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis is as yet undefined. METHODS: Six children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis, inadequately controlled on currently available therapy, were treated with infliximab between September 2002 and November 2004. All children were required to remain on low-dose immunomodulatory treatment in conjunction with the infliximab. A retrospective review of two electronic databases containing details of ophthalmology and rheumatology visits was conducted. RESULTS: In all six children, institution of infliximab therapy was associated with increased ease of management. Ocular inflammation and intraocular pressure control improved in all. It was also possible to reduce the dose or withdraw some glaucoma, steroid and other immunomodulatory drugs. Two children underwent intraocular surgery without noticeable flare of intraocular inflammation. No patient developed any serious systemic complications attributable to infliximab. CONCLUSION: Infliximab may be a useful adjunct to the management of refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis. In our series it was associated with improved uveitis control and simplification of drug use as well as possibly improving safety of surgical intervention. This study suggests that its role is likely to be in conjunction with maintenance immunomodulatory treatment to provide more optimal disease control. Controlled studies are required to confirm its efficacy and safety, and the potential breadth of its use in uveitis and related disorders.

Management of sight-threatening optic nerve sheath meningioma with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Previous management of optic nerve sheath meningioma included conservative observation, surgery, radiosurgery and conventional radiotherapy. All carried significant risk, either of visual loss or damage to adjacent structures. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy appears to have few side-effects and may preserve or improve vision. To date only three groups have published their experience with this modality. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with optic nerve sheath meningioma treated with stereotactic radiotherapy in an academic complex was conducted. Patients with greater than 18 months follow up and no previous related surgery were eligible for inclusion. Patients received an average of 43.5 Gy to the tumour in 26 fractions. Case records from the treating institutions as well as those of the referring ophthalmologist were analysed. The limited literature on the subject was reviewed in order to draw conclusions relevant to contemporary patient management. RESULTS: Four patients had undergone follow up for over 18 months. Prior to treatment all had exhibited progressive loss of visual function. In all cases visual function remained stable or improved at the last assessment. Side-effects included radiologically detected cerebral changes in one patient and transient hair loss in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment modality represents a promising refinement of previous treatment options. It may be offered to patients who demonstrate progressive loss of visual function caused by optic nerve sheath meningioma. It offers significant advantages over other currently available therapeutic options but its use should be tempered by the knowledge that long-term side-effects are yet to be determined.

Preoperative neodymium:YAG anterior capsulotomy in intumescent cataract: preventing extension of the capsular tear to the lens periphery.

Extension of the capsulotomy into the periphery is a well-known complication of cataract surgery in young patients with intumescent cataracts. We report such a case successfully treated preoperatively with a neodymium:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy.