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Abstract Purpose: To quantify the microvasculature density of the optic nerve head (ONH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) analysis in patients recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional, observational study, patients recovered from COVID-19 whose initial diagnosis was confirmed by a rRT-PCR of a nasopharyngeal sample were included in this study. OCTA of ONH was performed in included patients and normal controls. Vascular density (VD) of the all vessels (AV) and small vessels (SV) inside the disc and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network density were measured in COVID-19 recovered patients and compared with similar parameters in an age-matched group of normal controls. Results: Twenty-five COVID-19 patients and twenty-two age-matched normal controls were enrolled in the study and one eye per participant was evaluated. The mean whole image SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.31 ± 1.93) was not statistically significantly different from that in the control group (49.94 ± . 2.22; P = 0.308). A decrease in RPC VD was found in all AV and SV VD measured, which became statistically significant in whole peripapillary SV VD, peripapillary inferior nasal SV VD, peripapillary inferior temporal SV VD, peripapillary superior nasal SV VD, and grid-based AV VD inferior sector (P < 0.05). Inside disc SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.43 ± 4.96) was higher than in the control group (45.46 ± 6.22) which was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Conclusion: Unremarkable decrease was found in ONH microvasculature in patients who had recovered from COVID-19. These patients may be at risk of ONH vascular complications. Increase in inner disc SV VD may be an indicator of ONH hyperemia and edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection on corneal biomechanical parameters as measured by the ocular response analyzer (ORA) and Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (CorVis). Methods: In this prospective pilot study, ORA and CorVis parameters were recorded before and after a three-month course of IVB injection therapy in 16 patients in the injected and the contralateral non-injected control eyes. The changes in the recorded parameters in each group and the differences between the two groups were evaluated and compared. Results: None of the changes in ORA parameters were statistically significant in the injected and non-injected groups before and three months after injection, except for corneal resistance factor (CRF) in injected eyes (paired t-test, P = 0.039). The differences in corneal hysteresis (CH) and CRF were not statistically significant between the two groups (P = 0.441 and 0.236, respectively), but significant differences were noted between corneal compensated IOP (IOPcc) and Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg) (P = 0.045 and 0.047, respectively). None of the changes in CorVis parameters were statistically significant in the groups before and at the end of study, except for the time of first corneal applanation (TAp1 ms) in the injected group (P = 0.040, paired t-test). Differences in TAp1, length of the second corneal applanation (LAp2 mm), velocity of the second corneal applanation (VAp2 m/s), intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT) also showed borderline significance between the two groups. Conclusion: In this pilot study IVB injection could change CRF, IOPcc, IOPg, and TAP1 as measured by ORA and CorVis.

Purpose: To describe the demographic and clinical patterns of patients with uveitis referred to a tertiary center in northeastern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study included 235 patients with uveitis who had been referred to the uveitis clinic of Khatam-Al-Anbia eye hospital, affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, from February 2013 to March 2014. Data regarding patient age, sex, anatomical location of the disease, and etiologic and clinical features were analyzed. Results: Mean patient age at the onset of uveitis was 35.75 ± 16.3 (range: 3–82) years. The ratio of females to males was 1.5 to 1. Sixty-four percent had bilateral involvement. The predominant type of inflammation was non-granulomatous (76%). Panuveitis (46.8%, 110 cases) was the most common form of uveitis followed by anterior (37%, 87 cases), intermediate (11.9%, 28 cases), and posterior uveitis (4.25%, 10 cases). The most common diagnoses were “idiopathic” in anterior and intermediate uveitis cases, toxoplasmosis in posterior uveitis group, and Behçet and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada diseases in panuveitis cases. Overall, noninfectious causes (80.42%) of uveitis were more frequent than infectious causes (19.57%). The proportion of noninfectious uveitis was 82.75% in anterior uveitis, 78.18% in panuveitis, 92.85% in intermediate uveitis, and 50% in posterior uveitis. The most common associated systemic disease was Behçet disease. Conclusion: In contrast to most epidemiologic studies of uveitis, the clinical and etiologic patterns of uveitis were different in a tertiary referral center in northeastern Iran. Panuveitis was the most common clinical pattern in this study, and the most common associated systemic disease was Behçet disease.

Purpose: To customize clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for management of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the Iranian population. Methods: Three DR CPGs (The Royal College of Ophthalmologists 2013, American Academy of Ophthalmology [Preferred Practice Pattern 2012], and Australian Diabetes Society 2008) were selected from the literature using the AGREE tool. Clinical questions were designed and summarized into four tables by the customization team. The components of the clinical questions along with pertinent recommendations extracted from the above-mentioned CPGs; details of the supporting articles and their levels of evidence; clinical recommendations considering clinical benefits, cost and side effects; and revised recommendations based on customization capability (applicability, acceptability, external validity) were recorded in 4 tables, respectively. Customized recommendations were sent to the faculty members of all universities across the country to score the recommendations from 1 to 9. Results: Agreed recommendations were accepted as the final recommendations while the non-agreed ones were approved after revision. Eventually, 29 customized recommendations under three major categories consisting of screening, diagnosis and treatment of DR were developed along with their sources and levels of evidence. Conclusion: This customized CPGs for management of DR can be used to standardize the referral pathway, diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene polymorphisms in advanced dry-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a population from Northeastern Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 50 patients with geographic macular atrophy and 73 gender-matched controls were enrolled. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from the peripheral blood. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze 2 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene, namely −1031 thymine (T)/cytosine (C) and −308 guanine (G)/adenine (A). Results: The distribution of the - 1031 T/C genotype was TT, 62%; TC, 36%; CC, 2% in the patients and TT, 60%; TC, 36%; CC, 4% in the controls (P = 0.94). Genotype analysis of TNF-α −308 also revealed no significant difference in distribution between patients (G, 78%; GA, 22%; AA, 0%) and controls (GG, 74%; GA, 23%; AA, 3%) (P = 0.51). None of the haplotypes nor alleles of studied TNF-α polymorphisms were significantly associated with advanced dry-type AMD. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene, do not play an important role in dry-type AMD in the studied population.

Purpose: To determine the safety of intravitreal zoledronic acid (ZA) in the rat eye. Methods: Twenty eyes of 20 pigmented rats were randomized into five groups to receive an intravitreal injection of 8, 4, 2 and 1 micrograms (mcg) of ZA, or balanced salt solution (BSS). One week and one month after the injections, all eyes were evaluated for intraocular inflammation. Electroretinography (ERG) was performed before, and one week and one month after the injections. All eyes were enucleated one month after the injection for histologic examination. Results: No significant inflammatory response was observed in any eye. No significant decrease in ERG amplitude (a & b waves) was observed one week and one month after intravitreal ZA injection, as compared to baseline, BSS-treated eyes or non-injected fellow eyes. Histologic examination of the retinal pigment epithelium and neurosensory retina were unremarkable in all groups. Additionally, no significant increase in immune reactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein was noted in any eye. Conclusion: Based on clinical, histopathologic and ERG findings in this experimental study, up to 8 mcg of intravitreal zoledronic acid seems to be safe in the rat eye.

Purpose: To report the long-term results of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection alone or combined, at the time of first IVB injection, with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVT) for treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 115 eyes of 101 patients with refractory DME were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the three study arms: the IVB group (41 eyes) received three consecutive injections of 1.25 mg IVB at 6-week intervals; the IVB/IVT group (37 eyes) additionally received 2 mg of IVT at the time of first IVB injection; and the control (sham injection) group. Patients in the IVB and IVB/IVT groups were followed for a mean of 13.3 months and received retreatment with IVB alone whenever indicated. Main outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT). Results: At the last follow up, CMT decreased significantly in the IVB group (p=0.013) but it was not significant (p=0.13) in the IVB/IVT group. Mean CMT improvement was 91 (95% CI, 20 to 161) microns and 57 (95% CI, -18 to 133) microns in the IVB and IVB/ IVT groups, respectively. Mean BCVA improvement from baseline was 0.28 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.38) logMAR (P=0.017) in the IVB group and 0.19 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.30) logMAR (P=0.001) in the IVB/IVT group. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of visual improvment (p=0.42). In generalized linear mixed model, only the time interval between the last injection and CMT measurement was statistically significant (P=0.04). The same results were repeated for visual acuity (P=0.03). Conclusion: Three loading doses of IVB (added doses if required) have long-term beneficial effects for treatment of refractory DME. Adding triamcinolone to this regimen provides no additional long-term benefit.

Purpose: To report branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) in a patient with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Case Report: A 29-year-old female patient was referred for sudden onset superior visual field defect in her left eye. Ocular examination revealed visual acuity of 20/32 in the affected eye along with a positive relative afferent pupillary defect. A calcified white embolus was noted at the first bifurcation of the inferior temporal artery in her left eye together with mild retinal edema. With a diagnosis of BRAO, the patient received oral acetazolamide, topical timolol, ocular massage and anterior chamber paracentesis. The visual field defect partially recovered and the embolus moved to the third bifurcation level as revealed by fundus examination. An extensive workup, including neurology, rheumatology, cardiology and hematology consultation, carotid ultrasonography, transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography and laboratory testing was performed. All results were within normal limits except for a small-sized PFO detected by transesophageal echocardiography. Low-dose aspirin therapy was initiated and over the subsequent two years, no other embolic event occurred. Conclusion: The association between PFO and BRAO has not yet been reported. Intracardiac right-to-left shunting through a PFO, accentuated by Valsalva maneuver, may predispose to embolic events while the source of initial thrombosis remains unknown.

Purpose: To evaluate cortical and retinal activity by pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Methods: PVEP was recorded in 40 diabetic patients including 20 subjects with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and 20 others without any retinopathy on fundus photography, and compared to 40 age- and sex-matched normal non-diabetic controls. Results: P100 wave latency was significantly longer in diabetic patients as compared to normal controls (P