Relationship between anthropometric and biochemical changes of metabolic syndrome with retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thicknesses and identify systemic risk factors for thinning of these layers in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional observational study was performed on patients diagnosed with MetS and compared to normal controls. All patients underwent ophthalmic and anthropometric examination, serological and biochemical blood investigations; and ocular imaging using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Patients with ocular pathology were excluded. Unpaired t-test was used to compare mean thickness between the two groups. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used to compare mean thickness between different tertiles of MetS parameters, and a generalized estimating equation was used to correct for inter-eye correlation and to assess association between mean thickness and covariates. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-eight eyes from 124 participants (1:1 ratio of MetS patients to controls) were included. Age ranged between 30 to 50 years old, and mean age was 40 ± 6.6 years. RNFL thickness was lower globally (93.6 ± 9.9 µm vs 99.0 ± 9.3, p<0.001) and in the inferior (124.5 ± 17.5 µm vs 131.0 ± 16.4 µm, p = 0.002), superior (117.2 ± 16.0 µm vs 126.3 ± 14.4 µm, p<0.001) and temporal (65.5 ± 10.2 µm vs 69.5 ± 9.8, p = 0.002) sectors in MetS patients compared to controls. Only the central (237.0 ± 14.0 µm vs 243.6 ± 18.0 µm, p = 0.002) and inferior parafoveal (307.8 ± 20.9 vs 314.6 ± 14.6, p = 0.004) area of the macula was significantly thinner. The inferior RNFL sector had the most difference (mean difference = 9.1 µm). The Generalized Estimating Equation found that, after adjusting for age, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, HDL and obesity; the number of MetS components and elevated triglyceride levels were independent risk factors for reduced thickness in global RNFL (ß = -4.4, 95% CI = -7.29 to -1.5, p = 0.003) and inferior parafovea (ß = -6.85, 95% CI = -11.58 to -2.13, p = 0.004) thickness respectively. CONCLUSION: RNFL thinning was seen more than macula thinning in MetS patients, suggesting RNFL susceptibility to neurodegeneration than the macula. A higher number of metabolic components and elevated triglyceride levels were independent risk factors for retinal thinning in this group of patients.

Complete recovery of filler-induced visual loss following subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection.

The rise in popularity of hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler injection has caused an exceptional increase in the number of cases of reported irreversible blindness. Here, we reported a case of ischemic optic neuropathy and ophthalmoplegia following subcutaneous HA filler injection with complete visual recovery. A 31-year-old Chinese woman presented with sudden onset of right monocular visual impairment associated with diplopia. Patient had received a hyaluronic acid-containing filler injection for nasal dorsum augmentation twelve hours prior to presentation. Visual acuity of the right eye was counting finger. A right relative afferent pupillary defect was demonstrated with ophthalmoplegia. Humphrey visual field test disclosed a right inferior altitudinal field defect with impairment of colour vision. Computed tomography of the orbit revealed mild enlargement of the right medial and inferior recti muscles. Our patient showed a tremendous improvement of vision after a subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection with complete visual recovery within 2 weeks.

Orbitofacial dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with intranasal extension.

A 25-year-old Chinese woman presented with recurrent painless swelling over the left medial canthus region for 3 months and intranasal mass for an indeterminate duration. Initial incision biopsy of the mass was reported as nodular fasciitis but the lesion recurred 3 weeks later. Intraoperative findings during repeat biopsy showed a mass extending from the deep dermal tissue into the anterior orbit and polyp-like nasal mass. Histopathology findings were that of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The mass recurred 4 months later without orbital or intranasal recurrence. Wide excision biopsy under frozen section guidance was attempted however; clear surgical margins could not be achieved despite extensive resection. She was subsequently referred for adjuvant radiotherapy. We report an exceptionally rare case of local recurrence of DFSP in an unusual anatomic location. This case was surgically challenging in achieving negative margins, and thus neoadjuvant therapy may improve overall outcome to prevent local relapse.