[COEXISTENCE OF ORBITAL VARICOSE VEIN AND THYROID ORBITOPATHY].

PURPOSE: To describe a thyroid orbitopathy patient who had asymmetric progression of exophthalmos due to orbital varicose vein. PATIENT: A 55-year-old patient with thyroid orbitopathy had asymmetric progression of exophthalmos without complaints over 4 years of follow-up. RESULTS: In repeated computerized tomography (CT) of the orbit, a dilation of the superior ophthalmic vein was noted on the more proptotic eye, in addition to bilateral excessive orbital fat. This finding was also confirmed on color Doppler imaging in valsalva manoeuver. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with thyroid orbitopathy who have atypical progression course of their exophthalmos, repeated orbital CT scan is advocated to rule out other concurrent orbital disorders such as varicose veins.

[Leber's idiopathic stellate neuroretinitis].

AIM: To report a rare case of swollen optic disc with hard exudates at the center of the retina (macula) with an unknown etiology (idiopathic). CASE REPORT: A 49 years old male complained of blurred vision in his left eye. He reported that ten years earlier a similar episode occurred in the right eye. Upon resolution of the macular edema we recognized hard exudates with a macular star pattern. After six months his central vision returned to normal with mild to moderate defects in his lower visual field. IN SUMMARY: The literature describes various etiologies that have been reported due to the rare presentation of the macular star In our case we did not find any clear etiology, therefore, the diagnosis of Leber's idiopathic stellate neuroretinitis can be presumed.

Intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization secondary to laser photocoagulation for central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a rare complication after laser photocoagulation for disorders such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: We report 2 patients who developed CNV after laser treatment for persistent CSC and were treated by 3 1.25-mg intravitreal injections of bevacizumab in 1-month intervals. RESULTS: In both patients, best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/120 to 20/80 and from counting fingers at 3 feet to 20/100 over 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The favorable outcome suggests that intravitreal injection of bevacizumab may be beneficial for patients who develop CNV after laser photocoagulation. The favorable outcome may be related to the limited pathology.

The association between stage 3 or higher retinopathy of prematurity and other disorders of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between stage III or higher retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other prematurity disorders and parameters. DESIGN: Retrospective, case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: The subjects of the study were 55 consecutive premature neonates with stage III or higher ROP and 110 consecutive premature neonates without ROP. METHODS: We compared consecutive premature neonates regarding the presence of ROP and other disorders as well as demographic and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Gestational age (p < 0.001); birth weight (p < 0.001); male sex (p = 0.031); bilirubin levels (p < 0.001); breast feeding (p < 0.001); clinical and laboratory sepsis (p < 0.001); number of sepsis events (p < 0.001); ventilation need (p < 0.001); number of ventilation days (p < 0.001); theophylline and surfactant use (p < 0.001); blood transfusions (p < 0.001); number of blood transfusions (p < 0.001); intraventricular hemorrhage and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p = 0.001); and other factors differed in the two groups. The logistic regression model showed a correlation between low gestational age (OD 0.474, CI 0.359-0.626); male sex (OD 2.991, CI 1.077-8.305); blood transfusion (OD 14.159, CI 1.570-127.7); and sepsis (OD 12.376, CI 2.532-60.503). CONCLUSIONS: Certain disorders and parameters, such as sepsis and blood transfusions, may be predict the appearance of stage III or higher ROP. Close monitoring of neonates with these findings is imperative. Early detection and treatment of sepsis and reduction of blood transfusions may decrease the incidence of ROP that requires treatment.

Efficacy comparison between povidone iodine 2.5% and tetracycline 1% in prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of povidone iodine solution 2.5% and tetracycline ointment 1% in prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum (ON). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Three-hundred ninety-four full-term neonates. METHODS: A randomized comparison between 201 neonates randomly treated with povidone iodine 2.5% solution and 193 treated with tetracycline 1% ointment. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Incidence of ON. RESULTS: The incidence of ON was significantly higher after povidone iodine than tetracycline prophylaxis (15.4% and 5.2% respectively; P = 0.001). Noninfective ON developed in 10 (5%) of the 201 neonates treated with povidone iodine and in none (0%) of the neonates treated with tetracycline (P = .002). Infective ON was detected in 21 (10.4%) of the neonates treated with povidone iodine and in 10 (5.2%) after treatment with tetracycline (P = .052). Ophthalmia neonatorum appeared more commonly in the first 3 days after treatment with povidone iodine (P = .043). The spectrum of the infective isolates was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Povidone iodine was associated with noninfective (sterile) conjunctivitis, probably because of its toxicity to the ocular surface in neonates. Tetracycline was marginally more effective against infective ON. For these reasons, tetracycline, rather than povidone iodine, is recommended for prevention of ON.

Management of endothelial decompensation because of glaucoma shunt tube touch by Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and tube revision.

PURPOSE: To describe the trimming of a glaucoma shunt tube with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for the treatment of endothelial decompensation caused by tube-endothelium touch. METHODS: An 84-year-old man with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma OU had endothelial decompensation because of the touch of the tube of an Ahmed glaucoma valve at the corneal endothelium OS. The best-corrected visual acuity decreased from 20/60 to counting fingers at 3 feet. The patient underwent uncomplicated trimming of the shunt tube and DMEK. RESULTS: After surgery, the cornea became clear, and the best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/60. The intraocular pressure remained normal (8-12 mm Hg) without antiglaucoma medications, and endothelial cell count remained stable in a follow-up of 12 months. No complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma shunt tube trimming with DMEK may be considered in cases of endothelial decompensation because of tube-endothelium touch and may replace penetrating keratoplasty and other posterior lamellar procedures for such cases.

The influence of surgery and intraocular lens implantation timing on visual outcome in traumatic cataract.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcome of primary versus secondary traumatic cataract extraction and primary versus secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: The medical charts of consecutive patients who developed cataract following open and closed-globe injuries and were referred to our institute were reviewed. The best-corrected visual acuity of the patients who underwent primary and secondary cataract extraction and those with primary and secondary IOL implantation was assessed at presentation and at the end of the follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-nine eyes of 69 patients developed cataract after being involved in ocular trauma. Forty-five eyes had open-globe injury and 24 had closed-globe injury. The right eye was involved in 26 injuries and the left in 43. RESULTS: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40 or better was not statistically associated with the type of cataract extraction (extracapsular versus phacoemulsification) (in open-globe injury p = 0.181 and in all p = 0.662) and placement of anterior or posterior IOL (in open-globe injury p = 0.196 and in all p = 0.114). The timing of surgery (as immediate surgery or later as a second surgery) and the timing of intraocular lens implantation (during the extraction of the cataract or later in a secondary procedure) were not statistically associated with BCVA of 20/40 or better (in open-globe injury p = 0.322 and 0.381 in all p = 0.460 and 0.450, respectively). Irreversible amblyopia in children was a statistically significant factor for this visual acuity both in patients with open-globe injury (p = 0.036) and in all patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In traumatic cataract, the visual outcome did not differ between primary and secondary cataract extraction and between primary and secondary IOL implantation in adults. In the amblyogenic age, primary surgery with IOL implantation should be preferred.

Delayed Suprachoroidal Hemorrhage after Reinstitution of Warfarin in Combined Procedure.

A 79-year-old non-compliant male with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and cataract in the left eye underwent uneventful combined phacoemulsification, posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C through one port a week after replacement of warfarin with subcutaneous injections of enoxaparin (Clexane; Sanofi-Aventis, Netaniya, Israel). The intraocular pressure (IOP) following surgery was zero. Four days later, warfarin was restarted because of short ventricular tachycardia when the patient developed suprachoroidal hemorrhage and later hyphema and vitreous hemorrhages. The patient underwent drainage of the suprachoroidal hemorrhage. His IOP increased to 10 to 12 mm Hg while the bleb was functioning, but visual acuity remained poor because of chorioretinal retinal scarring from age-related macular degeneration. Premature reinstitution of warfarin may cause delayed hemorrhages if the postoperative IOP is low. Preoperative approval from the internist for a prolonged replacement of warfarin with lesser potent agents, or tightening of the scleral flap and releasing the sutures later in trabeculectomy in combined procedures may be warranted.

Persistent epithelial defects and ulcers in repeated corneal transplantation: incidence, causative agents, predisposing factors and treatment outcomes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the occurrence, predisposing factors and outcome of persistent epithelial defects and ulcers complicating repeated corneal transplants. METHODS: The charts of all the patients that underwent repeated corneal transplantation between 1985 and 1998 were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of persistent epithelial defects and ulcers. The repeated corneal transplantation group included 122 regrafts performed in 80 patients. The follow-up period was at least 6 months after the last transplantation (average 31.5 months). RESULTS: Persistent epithelial defects and/or corneal ulcers affected 31 of the 122 regrafts (25.4%) in 23 patients (29%). Of the repeated grafts, 18 had persistent epithelial defects, five had ulcers and eight had persistent epithelial defects complicated by ulcers. Nine of the 31 regrafts (29%) that developed persistent epithelial defects or ulcers had positive bacterial cultures. The survival proportion was similar for regrafts with persistent epithelial defects and with ulcers (p = 0.859), but lower in the regrafted group with persistent epithelial defects and ulcers compared with the entire repeated corneal transplantation group (p < 0.001). In ten patients (43%), one or several eyelid abnormalities and ocular surface disorders were identified. They were more common in repeated keratoplasties with epithelial defects or ulcers than in repeated keratoplasties without them (p < 0.0001). Persistent epithelial defects developed more commonly after cyclocryotherapy for refractory glaucoma (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ulcers and persistent epithelial defects are common in repeated corneal transplantation and are associated with poor graft survival. Predisposing factors should be disclosed before regrafting and promptly treated.

Spontaneous subperiosteal orbital hemorrhage following thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction.

A 60-year-old man experienced right orbital pain, periorbital swelling, and double vision 2 hours after treatment with streptokinase and heparin for myocardial infarction. Orbital CT revealed a right superior subperiosteal orbital hemorrhage. Conservative management in the absence of visual compromise was sufficient, as his symptoms and signs resolved completely in approximately 6 weeks with no recurrence during 6 months of follow-up. This case demonstrates that nontraumatic subperiosteal orbital hemorrhage may occur after thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction. Conservative treatment with cold compresses in the absence of visual impairment may be sufficient, as was in our patient and others.

The spectrum of iatrogenic intraocular injuries caused by inadvertent cannula release during anterior segment surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the causes of inadvertent intraocular injuries resulting from the use of cannulas during anterior segment surgery. Method Retrospective review of all cases with inadvertent release of irrigation and viscoelastic cannulas during anterior segment surgery in 15 years. RESULTS: Inadvertent release of cannulas occurred in 9 of 10 230 cases of anterior segment surgery during a 15-year period. The incidence of cannula release was 0.88 per 1000 procedures per year. Twenty percent of the surgeons who performed anterior segment surgery in this period were involved in this unfortunate event. Six cases occurred during cataract extraction and 3 during penetrating keratoplasty or replacement of corneal graft. The latter 3 cases included posterior capsule rupture and vitreous loss. Macular scar in 2 (22%) of the 9 cases was associated with poor visual outcome of counting fingers at 2.1 to 3.0 m (P = .03). In all other surgeries, the cannula caused iris or anterior chamber angle injury without consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Inadvertent release of cannulas during anterior segment surgery is a rare, memorable, and unfortunate event. The severity of the injury may be related to the type of the surgical wound. In most cases, visual outcome is not compromised unless the cannula causes retinal disruption.

Intraoperative enoxaparin minimizes inflammatory reaction after pediatric cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intraocular infusion of enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, on postoperative inflammatory response in pediatric cataract surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative, consecutive interventional case series. METHODS: Seventeen consecutive eyes (11 patients) underwent pediatric cataract surgery in two tertiary medical centers. During the procedure, balanced salt solution with enoxaparin (40 mg in 500 ml) was infused into the anterior chamber. Eleven consecutive eyes (eight patients) received balanced salt solution without enoxaparin in the infusion bottle. The inflammatory response in the anterior chamber was compared between the two groups by semiquantification with slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Postoperative inflammatory complications, including fibrin formation, intraocular lens precipitates, anterior and posterior synechiae, cyclitic and pupillary membrane formation, and anterior subluxation of the intraocular lens, were also compared. The follow-up period after surgery was between 3 and 36 months (average 12.3 months). RESULTS: The number of cells and the degree of flare were minimal in the group with enoxaparin in the infusion bottle (P < .001). The total number of postoperative inflammation-related complications was also lower in the enoxaparin-treated group (P = .007). All corneas remained clear, and the endothelial cell count, which was performed in two patients, did not show substantial decrease in their density or changes in shape and size. No other enoxaparin-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Infusion of enoxaparin during pediatric cataract surgery may minimize the postoperative inflammatory response and decrease the number of postoperative inflammatory related complications. Enoxaparin should also be evaluated for cataract surgery in other conditions where postoperative inflammation may be exacerbated.

Posterior capsule opacity and choroidal neovascularization in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To present a series of 3 patients with the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in whom choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was observed following neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) capsulotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three consecutive patients aged 80 to 87 years (average = 83.7 years) with hard drusen or retinal pigment epithelial changes underwent uneventful cataract extraction between 6 months and 20 years before undergoing Nd:YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacity. The patients were examined for retinal changes before laser treatment and at regular intervals after treatment. RESULTS: All patients developed CNV between 12 days and 1 month after capsulotomy that caused a decrease in the visual acuity from 20/20-20/40 to 20/200--counting fingers at 4 feet. The fellow eye did not show a substantial change in AMD over a year of follow-up. Two of the fellow eyes had disciform scar due to CNV before the cataract surgery, and these patients remained legally blind. CONCLUSIONS: The development of CNV after Nd:YAG capsulotomy suggests a temporal association between the two and calls for further study. Because posterior capsule opacity may mask CNV, patients with dry AMD and posterior capsule opacity who experience decreased visual acuity or glare may undergo indocyanine green angiography before it is decided to perform Nd:YAG capsulotomy.

Devastating endophthalmitis following penetrating ocular injury during night sleep from orthodontic headgear: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Complications associated with the use of extra-oral traction devices (orthodontic headgear or facebow) including facial and ocular injuries, are considered infrequent. METHODS: We describe the case of a 12-year-old boy who was inadvertently injured by the metallic bow of orthodontic headgear during sleep and developed blinding intra-ocular infection (endophthalmitis). RESULTS: The injury resulted in corneal perforation. Visual acuity at presentation was 20/60 but deteriorated rapidly to light perception despite prompt medical and surgical treatment for endophathalmitis. Sympathetic ophthalmia developed and was controlled with systemic corticosteroids and imuran. Bacterial cultures showed mixed infection by gram-negative bacilli and Streptococcus viridans. In 10 (91%) out of the 11 eyes that were reported including our case, the visual acuity was hand movement perception or less. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in case reports of such injuries should prompt the establishment of a standard policy regarding the use of orthodontic headgear and increase awareness of orthodontists and ophthalmologists to the blinding potential of even trivial and minor ocular injuries by orthodontic headgear. Intervention should be one step ahead compared with ocular injuries from other foreign bodies.

Orbital hydatid cyst manifested as expanding exophthalmos following blunt orbital trauma.

A 14-year-old boy suffered right blunt orbital trauma. X-ray revealed a compressed fracture of the right ethmoidal sinuses. Three months after the trauma, progressive, painless right proptosis developed. Ocular examination revealed a severe proptosis and pronounced down displacement of the right globe without signs of orbital inflammation. A well-demarcated, extraconal right orbital cystic mass was seen on computerized tomography scan. The cyst contents were aspirated and found to contain echinococcal scolices and "hydatid sand." Hypertonic saline was injected and the cyst was excised. Progressive proptosis after blunt orbital trauma in patients from endemic areas should be suspected of being an orbital hydatid cyst.