Optical coherence tomography characteristics and factors affecting visual acuity in diabetic papillopathy.

PURPOSE: To analyse baseline imaging characteristics and factors affecting poor visual acuity in diabetic papillopathy. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study conducted at a tertiary eye care centre in eyes with a diagnosis of diabetic papillopathy. Demographic data including age, gender, duration of diabetes, type of diabetes, HbA1c values and other systemic co-morbidities were recorded. Baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and various imaging characteristics were noted. RESULTS: 37 eyes of 22 patients with diagnosis of diabetic papillopathy were included [mean age of 46.6 ± 13.5 years, five (22.7%) females and 17 (77.3%) males]. Bilateral involvement was seen in 15 (68.2%) patients. The mean baseline BCVA was 0.51 ± 0.49 logMAR (Snellen equivalent 20/60). Two eyes (5.4%) had features of concurrent mild NPDR, 9 eyes (24.3%) had moderate NPDR, 10 eyes (27.03%) had severe NPDR while 16 (43.2%) other had PDR. All eyes had optic disc edema while 4 had disc pallor at presentation. Telangiectatic vessels/ neovascularisation of disc was present in 17 eyes (45.9%) detected either clinically or on optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. 11 (29.7%) eyes had a peripapillary cuff of subretinal fluid accompanying the disc edema. Sixteen eyes (43.2%) had centre involving macular edema seen on OCT. In eyes with a macular edema, the mean central macular thickness was 407.4 ± 71.42 microns at baseline. On assessing the baseline factors that contribute to the final visual acuity, presenting visual acuity was the only variable found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Although described to have good visual outcome, eyes presenting with poor visual acuity tend to have worse vision on follow up. This may aid in prognosticating and guiding management plan.

The Twilight Zone Where Margins Are Blurred: A Retrospective Analysis of Unilateral and Bilateral Optic Disc Swelling in a Tertiary Center in Malaysia.

Background To analyze the etiology of optic disc swelling (ODS) and compare the clinical features between non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) and optic neuritis (ON) at our center from January 2019 to January 2020. Methodology Clinical records of all patients who presented with ODS between January 2019 and January 2020 were reviewed. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 23.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results A total of 70 eyes among 47 patients were included in this review. There were 24 patients (51%) who had unilateral ODS, while 23 patients (49.0%) had bilateral ODS. The most common etiology of unilateral ODS was ON (45.7%), NA-AION (25%), and neuroretinitis (12.5%). Among bilateral ODS, the most common cause was papilledema (30.4%), hypertensive retinopathy (21.7%), diabetic papillitis (13.1%), and optic disc drusen (13.1%). Among unilateral ODS, the mean onset age was significantly older in NA-AION cases than that in ON cases (57.5 years vs. 40.3 years, P = 0.016). Ocular pain was a significant clinical finding observed in ON cases (54.5%) and none in NA-AION cases (P = 0.043). Although there was no significant difference in the initial visual acuity (VA) between NA-AION and ON, the final VA was significantly improved in ON compared to NA-AION (0.31 ± 0.34 vs. 1.14 ± 1.00, P = 0.029). Conclusions Many differential diagnoses must be considered when a patient is presented with ODS. With the increased prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in Malaysia, it is not a surprise that both hypertensive retinopathy and diabetic papillitis together accounted for one-third of the bilateral ODS patients.

Combined therapy with intravitreal aflibercept and subtenon corticosteroids in eyes with severe diabetic papillopathy: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic papillopathy is a rare diagnosis of exclusion characterized by unilateral or bilateral optic disc edema with variable degrees of visual loss. Although the visual prognosis has been generally reported as favorable, the presence of severe disc edema associated with macular edema prompts the need for treatment. We present a specific and unreported therapeutic approach consisting of intravitreal aflibercept and subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injections in two patients with evidence of diabetic papillopathy and macular edema. CASE PRESENTATION: In the first case, a 60-year-old Caucasian woman affected by type II diabetes mellitus presented with fundoscopic evidence of sequential bilateral optic disc edema associated with acute severe visual loss in both eyes. The second patient, a diabetic 57-year-old Caucasian male, presented with sudden painless visual loss in his left eye. Multimodal imaging and systemic findings correlated towards an infrequent diagnosis of diabetic papillopathy. In a period of 5-7 weeks after treatment, both patients experienced almost full visual and anatomical recovery. A steady situation was observed at 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Both our cases displayed a severe grade of optic disc edema, which was optimally reversed with intravitreal aflibercept and subtenon triamcinolone acetonide leading to a relatively rapid and safe improvement in visual acuity.

12. Review of diabetic papillitis.

Diabetic papillitis (used interchangeably with diabetic papillopathy) is a relatively rare ocular manifestation of systemic diabetic disease. Found in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, it manifests as swelling of the optic nerve head in one or both eyes and is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Signs and symptoms of optic nerve disease are not necessarily present, and there may be spontaneous recovery. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. The following discussion will cover the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diabetic papillopathy.

Bilateral diabetic papillopathy developed after starting insulin treatment. Potential toxic effect of insulin? A case report.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic papillopathy is a complication of diabetes. It presents with edema, uni or bilateral and vascular alteration of the anterior optic nerve. Often this complication is observed in patients with severe diabetic retinopathy, but is rarely observed in isolated form. Some authors believe that diabetic papillitis is a particular form of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). But there is important evidence that confers an inflammatory component to diabetic papillopathy. We report in this work a rare case of isolated acute bilateral diabetic papillopathy developed in a diabetic patient after adding the insulin to the oral hypoglycemic therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: Male patient, 49-years-old, diabetic type 2, with altered glycemia at follow up, with clinical history of HbA1c 8% to 12% in the last 2 years, on oral hypoglycemic therapy for 10 years. He never had a history of diabetic retinopathy. At the last check-up, this patient presented bilateral papillopathy, without reduction of visual acuity bilaterally. The patient reports he added 10 days before the insulin therapy to the oral hypoglycemic therapy, under medical supervision. Hematochemical and serological tests were requested, which excluded the presence of inflammatory and infectious diseases. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium excluded the hypothesis of optic neuritis or intracranial hypertension. Cardio-circulatory tests were normal. Fluorescein angiographic examinations and optical coherence tomography (oct) confirmed the bilateral edema and the thickening of optic nerve without other retinal damage. Therefore he was diagnosed with bilateral diabetic papillopathy. Then, diabetologists added pump insulin treatment to the oral hypoglycemic therapy. After 2 months, his blood sugar levels and HbA1C improved and papillopathy regressed. CONCLUSION: We have reported a rare case of bilateral acute diabetic papillopathy associated with the addition of insulin to the oral hypoglycemic therapy. A randomized control study with diabetic patients, would be useful to verify the possible injuries of the optic nerves during the delicate transition to insulin therapy.

Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography findings of diabetic papillopathy after intravitreal bevacizumab.

PURPOSE: We report a case of diabetic papillopathy (DP) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections and evaluated for disc vessel changes using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). OBSERVATIONS: A 52-year-old man was referred with a 1-week history of acute painless decreased vision in both eyes (OU). His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/40 in the right eye (OD) and 20/100 in the left eye (OS). Fundus examination showed swollen optic discs with superficial radially oriented telangiectatic vessels, peripapillary splinter hemorrhages, and hard exudates OU. On SS-OCTA, B-scan images displayed blood flow signals in the thickened retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of the optic disc and superficial RNFL slab images displayed radially oriented telangiectatic vessels OU. Laboratory tests revealed previously unknown diabetes, and we diagnosed the patient with DP OU. Two weeks after an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab OS, the disc swelling, radially oriented telangiectatic vessels, and peripapillary splinter hemorrhages had decreased OS. The superficial RNFL slab OS also depicted decreased radially oriented telangiectatic vessels. However, OD showed no interval changes. Two weeks after an intravitreal bevacizumab injection OD, improved BCVA, decreased disc swelling, radially oriented telangiectatic vessels, and peripapillary splinter hemorrhages were observed OU. The superficial RNFL slab also showed decreased radially oriented telangiectatic vessels OU. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This case showed that bevacizumab is a useful treatment option for DP as they resolve underlying optic nerve capillary vasculopathy. SS-OCTA demonstrated resolved superficial telangiectatic vessels of the optic disc which has not been previously described.

Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography of diabetic papillopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of diabetic papillopathy (DP) diagnosed using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old man was referred for evaluation of a swollen optic disc in both eyes. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye. Fundus examination demonstrated a swollen optic disc, splinter hemorrhages, and radially oriented, dilated vessels over the optic disc in both eyes. Laboratory tests revealed previously unknown diabetes. SS-OCTA was performed to rule out neovascularization of the disc (NVD). B-scan image displayed blood flow signals in the thickened retinal nerve fiber layer of the optic disc and not above the vitreoretinal interface. We diagnosed the patient with DP. CONCLUSIONS: This case showed that SS-OCTA is useful for distinguishing DP from NVD.

Diabetic papillopathy treated with intravitreal ranibizumab.

In this report, we present a case of diabetic papillopathy that resolved after a single dose of intravitreal ranibizumab injection. A 50-year-old male presented with painless visual loss in his right eye. His visual acuity was 1/10 in the right eye and 10/10 in the left eye. Anterior segment examination of both eyes was unremarkable. Posterior segment of the right eye showed nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with a swollen optic disc. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed. There was dye leakage from the right optic disc. Optical coherence tomography revealed a significant increase in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbit were normal. The patient received a single intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg) injection. Two weeks after the injection, there was a marked regression of the disc swelling. Three months after the injection the optic disc was pallor and visual acuity was 6/10.

A Case of Bilateral Diabetic Papillopathy Related to Rapid Hemoglobin A1c Decrease in Type I Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral diabetic papillopathy related to rapid hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decrease in a type I diabetic patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old female who was diagnosed with type I diabetes mellitus for the first time at this hospital was presented to our clinic for evaluation of diabetic retinopathy. There were no subjective symptoms, including blurred vision or visual defect. Her best corrected visual acuity in both eyes was 1.0, but her fundus resembled mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. When diagnosed with type I diabetes mellitus, her HbA1c was 15.3%. She used insulin to control her blood glucose and her HbA1c reached 7.3% two months after controlling the blood glucose. Three months after her diabetic diagnosis, there were no differences in subjective symptoms and best corrected visual acuity. Fundus examination showed optic disc swelling in both eyes. To evaluate for the etiology of optic disc swelling, we did the examinations of the optic disc, fundus, and brain magnetic resonance imaging. No specific signs were observed. We diagnosed diabetic papillopathy and observed the patient without any treatments. Her optic disc swelling showed gradual improvement. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows that the rapid HbA1c decrease in type I diabetes mellitus is related to the occurrence of bilateral diabetic papillopathy. This supports previous studies that estimated that the rapid HbA1c decrease in type I diabetes mellitus in response to insulin treatment is one of the risk factors for bilateral diabetic papillopathy.

Diabetic papillopathy with macular edema treated with intravitreal ranibizumab.

We report a case of diabetic papillopathy that demonstrated a resolution of optic disk swelling and rapid visual recovery when intravitreal ranibizumab was administered. A 51-year-old male presented with acute painless visual loss in his right eye. His vision was 20/320 in the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye. Fundus examination of the right eye showed nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and a swollen optic disk. Fluorescein angiography showed dye leakage from the right optic disk. Optical coherent tomography revealed a significant increase in retinal nerve fiber-layer thickness. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was normal. The patient received a single intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg) injection. Two weeks following injection, there was marked regression of the disk swelling and improvement of macular edema, with vision improving to 20/100. Three months following injection, there was complete resolution of the optic disk swelling. No further treatment was required.

Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in Diabetic Papillopathy

PURPOSE: To report a case where intravitreal bevacizumab injection was an effective treatment for diabetic papillopathy in a type 2 diabetic patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 47-year-old male with a 10-year history of diabetes mellitus type 2 presented to our clinic for evaluation of diabetic retinopathy. There were no subjective symptoms including blurred vision or visual defect, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/30 in the left eye. Fundus examination showed hyperemic optic disc swelling with telangiectatic new vessels, and fluorescein angiography leakage from the optic disc with neovascularization. The patient underwent fractionated panretinal photocoagulation. Ten days later, he complained of painless blurred vision with significant optic nerve head swelling and BCVA was 20/80 in the left eye. Intravitreal bevacizumab injection was administered, optic disc swelling was significantly decreased and BCVA improved to 20/30 after two months. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic papillopathy with severe decreased visual acuity can be treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection.

Two Cases of Long-Term Changes in the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness after Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Diabetic Papillopathy

PURPOSE: To report long-term changes in the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in 2 patients who had intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection for diabetic papillopathy. CASE SUMMARY: A 36-year-old patient with diabetes complained of decreased visual acuity (20/200) in the right eye. The fundus examination showed optic disc swelling in both eyes. The average RNFL thickness based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) increased to 278 microm and Goldmann perimetry showed nasal visual field defect in the right eye. The IVB was injected into the right eye. Three weeks after the IVB injection, RNFL thickness decreased to 135 microm and visual acuity improved to 20/25 in the right eye. However, RNFL thickness increased from 126 to 207 microm and visual acuity decreased to 20/32 in the left eye. Thus, IVB was injected into the left eye. In week 3, RNFL thickness decreased to 147 microm and visual acuity improved to 20/20 in the left eye. At 12 months after IVB injection, RNFL thickness was 87 microm in the right eye and 109 microm in the left eye. A 57-year-old patient with diabetes complained of decreased visual acuity (20/200) and showed optic disc swelling in the right eye. The average RNFL thickness increased to 252 microm and Goldmann perimetry showed an enlarged blind spot in the right eye. IVB was injected into the right eye. After 3 weeks, RNFL thickness decreased to 136 microm and visual acuity improved to 20/70 in the right eye. Six months after IVB injection, RNFL thickness was 83 microm in the right eye. CONCLUSIONS: Visual acuity progressively improved within 3 weeks and RNFL thickness measured by spectral domain OCT showed progressive thickness reduction in 2 cases of diabetic papillopathy patients who had IVB injections.

Response of diabetic papillopathy to intravitreal bevacizumab.

Diabetic papillopathy is an uncommon hyperemic optic disc swelling that occurs in patients with long-standing diabetes, is typically self-resolving with minimal effect on vision, and is likely ischemic in origin. The purpose of the current report is to document the response of diabetic papillopathy to intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech Inc, San Francisco, California, USA), a humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor.

Diabetic papillopathy with macular edema treated with intravitreal bevacizumab.

A 46-year-old diabetic male presented with acute painless visual loss in his left eye (OS). Visual acuity was 6/36 OS with an unremarkable anterior segment examination (OU). Posterior segment showed a swollen left optic disc with large diffuse macular edema and moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). The right eye fundus showed only mild NPDR. Optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed which revealed left macular edema and a hyperfluorescent left optic disc. Computerized tomography scan orbit and brain was normal. The patient received an intravitreal bevacizumab injection OS followed by focal laser photocoagulation 1 month later. His optic disc swelling and the macular edema subsided rapidly after the injection and his visual acuity improved to 6/6 with disc pallor.

Bilateral Diabetic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical findings of diabetic patients with bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. METHODS: Three diabetic patients with bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy showed different clinical findings. One eye developed AION and the contralateral eye was diagnosed with diabetic papilloapthy with a subclinical disc swelling in Case I. The contralateral eye with diabetic papillopathy progressed to AION 3 months after showing the initial symptoms. In Case II, one eye developed AION, which continued in the contralateral eye after 6 months. In Case III, AION developed in both eyes simultaneously. RESULTS: A fundus examination revealed an edema of the optic disc in all cases. Prominent leakage of fluorescein dye from the capillaries of the optic disc was demonstrated on fluorescein angiography. Different field patterns including central scotoma, paracentral scotoma, an enlarged physiologic blind spot, and the constriction of the peripheral field of the visual field were revealed on Goldmann perimetry. The visual evoked cortical potential showed decreased amplitude and a prolonged latency. The visual acuity of the five eyes improved after administering high dose methylprednisolone. However, visual acuity of one eye with diabetic papillopathy did not improve. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical findings of the anterior ischemic optic neuropathies in the diabetic patients vary, and their prognosis is fair in most cases.