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To describe the pathogenesis and the general immune mechanisms of the most frequent causes of bacterial uveitis.Narrative review.Both extra- and intracellular bacteria can induce uveitis, whereas intracellular bacteria are generally transported into the inner eye via cells of the innate immune system, mainly macrophages. Systemic adaptive immunity is usually induced before the bacteria are localized to the inner eye, and once T and B cells have detected the pathogens behind the blood-eye barriers they elicit an acute and/or chronic inflammatory response deteriorating visual acuity that can severely affect the non-regenerating, intraocular tissues.An understanding of pathogenic mechanisms, and its correlation with clinical and imaging features, can facilitate early recognition of microbial factors and institution of appropriate therapy.

AIM To analyze the structural features and therapeutic response in clinical and subclinical inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (i-CNV) detected inside subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and SS-OCT angiography (SS-OCTA). METHODS In this prospective interventional study, subjects with quiescent posterior uveitis presenting with SHRM on SS-OCT and CNV network on SS-OCTA were included. Subjects with intraretinal fluid/subretinal fluid (IRF/SRF) received intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, while those with no IRF/SRF either received treatment or observation for 6 months until they developed IRF/SRF or decrease in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA)/metamorphopsia. Serial comparisons included SHRM width and height and intrinsic flow signal on OCTA. RESULTS 28 eyes of 22 subjects (12 males; mean age: 29.52 ± 12.56 years) were evaluated. Subjects with IRF/SRF at baseline (n = 6 eyes; termed as exudative iCNVs) receiving treatment showed significant improvement in BCVA (p = .017), SHRM width/height and flow signal (p

Purpose: To quantify retinochoroidal vascular parameters using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCTA) in quiescent posterior and panuveitis. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, subjects with quiescent posterior and panuveitis underwent fundus imaging using SS-OCTA (DRI Triton®, Topcon, Japan). The metrics calculated were fractal dimension (FD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, retinal vascularity index (capillary density index-CDI), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Results: We included 38 eyes of 20 patients, 9 males aged 34.7 ± 10.5 years, 30 eyes of 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, 10 females aged 33.6 ± 8.5 years. Comparing patients with controls, we found a lower FD (p .001), lower CDI in the superficial plexus (p = .019), and lower CVI (p

We aim to look at the complications encountered by a cohort of pediatric uveitis patients from north India. Retrospectively, complications seen in patients younger than 16 years diagnosed with uvei...

To report the clinical findings, anatomical features, and treatment outcomes in subjects with ocular tuberculosis (OTB) at 24 months in the Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS)-1. Of the ...

To examine disease profile of tubercular uveitis (TBU) in Paediatric population. Among 945 patients of the retrospective multinational study by the Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS)-1,...

Purpose: To report a unique case of choroidal detachment following an intravitreal injection in a patient with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.Methods: A 33-year-old male, a known case of chroni...

Optic disc neovascularization in uveitis is uncommon, and has been associated with chronic inflammations like Behcet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, sarcoidosis, etc. To our knowledge, optic disc neovascularization has not been reported in tubercular serpiginous-like choroiditis. We report three such cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze the role of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of ocular fluids in management of tubercular (TB) anterior, intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis. METHODS: In Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS)-1 (25 centers, n = 962), patients with TB-related uveitis were included. 59 patients undergoing PCR of intraocular fluids (18 females; 53 Asian Indians) were included. RESULTS: 59 (6.13%) of COTS-1 underwent PCR analysis. PCR was positive for Mycobacterium TB in 33 patients (23 males; all Asian Indians). 26 patients were PCR negative (18 males). Eight patients with negative PCR had systemic TB. Anti-TB therapy was given in 18 negative and 31 PCR cases. At 1-year follow-up, five patients with positive PCR (15.15%) and three with negative PCR (11.54%) had persistence/worsening of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Data from COTS-1 suggest that PCR is not commonly done for diagnosing intraocular TB and positive/negative results may not influence management or treatment outcomes in the real world scenario.

To analyze the clinical features, course, management, and outcomes of tubercular (TB) uveitis in the pediatric population and assess the response to anti-tubercular therapy (ATT).Hospital records of children (≤16 years) from a large tertiary-care institute between January 2001 and December 2015 were reviewed.A total of 32 children (mean age: 10.7 ± 4.27 years; range 2-16) were diagnosed with TB-associated uveitis. The most common presentation was posterior uveitis (n = 14, 43.75%) and panuveitis (n = 14, 43.75%), followed by intermediate uveitis (n = 2, 6.25%) and anterior uveitis (n = 2, 6.25%); 14 children had probable intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB) (43.75%) and 17 (53.13%) had possible IOTB. Despite ATT and corticosteroids, 29.63% patients showed suboptimal response or worsening of disease requiring additional immunosuppression.TB is an important cause of pediatric uveitis in endemic countries. The manifestations of the disease resemble adult TB-related uveitis. However, higher inflammatory response in children may require more aggressive therapy with corticosteroids/immunosuppression.

Purpose: To report two unique cases of spontaneous uveal effusion syndrome (UES) from the same family.Methods: The patients included father (54 years old) and a daughter (23 years old). The...

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infection that can affect the eye as first and sole presentation without features of systemic disease. Controversy exists regarding diagnosis and management of tubercular uveitis (TBU), further compounded by regional variations in disease expression. Purpose: Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS)-1 aims to address knowledge deficits through collaboration amongst uveitis specialists across the globe by sharing the data of patients with TBU presented at participating centers from January 2004 to December 2014. Methods: Data collection was facilitated by a novel method of real-time encrypted web-based data entry allowing regular updates as new data and recommendations become available. Results: Information on clinical features, investigation findings, management, and treatment outcomes were reviewed to get an idea about real world scenario. Conclusion: The current review aims to focus on methodology and briefing of published reports from COTS group in COTS-1 study to highlight key messages from this large data.

Background: Rapid and timely diagnosis of tubercular uveitis (TBU) is of paramount importance to save these eyes from blindness. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to carry out a comparative evaluation of Gene Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), MTBDRplus and Multiplex PCR (MPCR) for the diagnosis of TBU. These tests were performed on vitreous fluid of 110 patients with presumed TBU and 90 controls. rpoB gene sequencing confirmed Rifampicin resistance.Results: Xpert, MTBDRplus and MPCR were positive in 19(17.2%),38 (34.5%) and 79 (71.8 %) patients, respectively. All tests were negative in all controls. Rif resistance was detected in 3 by Xpert and 7 by MTBDRplus. MPCR followed by rpoB gene sequencing detected Rif resistance in 6 cases. One case of false Rif resistance was reported each by MTBDRplus and Xpert.Conclusion: MPCR followed by rpoB sequencing is a robust technique for the diagnosis of paucibacilliary condition like TBU and reliable detection of drug resistance.

Purpose: To report epidemiology of uveitis in a tertiary-care referral institute in North India.Methods: Hospital records of patients with uveitis between June 2011 and September 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.Results: Of the 1912 patients, 56.64% were males. Anterior uveitis (43.04%) was the most common manifestation followed by posterior uveitis (24.58%), panuveitis (16.21%), and intermediate uveitis (10.66%). Specific etiologies could be ascertained in 60.56%. Tuberculosis (22.9%) was the most common infectious and HLA-B27-associated uveitis (9.46%) among non-infectious causes.Conclusions: There is a trend towards a decrease in idiopathic etiologies of uveitis. Tuberculosis remains the most common infectious etiology in North India.

Purpose: To report the pattern of pediatric uveitis in a tertiary care referral center in North India.Methods: In a retrospective study, records of pediatric uveitis cases presenting at our center between 1996 and 2015 were reviewed for demographic data, anatomic distribution, and diagnosis.Results: Out of 9600 patients with uveitis, 369 children (3.84%; age ≤16 years; males: 54.20%) were included in the study. Anterior uveitis was the commonest presentation (n = 158; 42.81%), followed by posterior uveitis (n = 102; 27.64%). Uveitis was bilateral in 57.18% (n = 211). Infective etiology was seen in 99 children, of which tuberculosis was the commonest cause (n = 55; 14.91%). Among non-infectious etiologies, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) was the commonest cause (n = 59; 15.99%).Conclusions: While anterior uveitis is the commonest uveitis in children, our cohort reported a high number of posterior uveitis cases compared to previous studies. Tuberculosis and JIA were the commonest causes of pedia...

To describe optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) features of lesions of tubercular multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (TB MSC) that developed paradoxical worsening (PW).In this prospective study, subjects with TB MSC who developed PW upon initiation of anti-tubercular therapy were included. Multimodal imaging was performed using OCTA, enhanced-depth imaging OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Morphologic changes in the retinochoroidal vasculature during progression of TB MSC were assessed on OCTA.Five subjects (4 males, 1 female) were included in the study. PW of the lesions was associated with increased areas of choriocapillaris flow void on en face OCTA in all eyes. The lesions showed partial healing in the center and continuous progression at the active edges. Two eyes showed development of vascular tufts on OCTA as the lesions progressed.OCTA provides high-resolution imaging of progressive choriocapillaris hypoperfusion among TB MSC patients developing PW of the disease.

Purpose: To study the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with tubercular uveitis. Methods: Frequencies of peripheral Tregs, Th1, Th17 cells, and intracellular cytokines were determined in 17 tubercular uveitis patients and 18 disease controls. Function of Tregs, Th1, and Th17 cells was assessed in vitro. Simultaneously, ocular levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-4, and IL-10 were also measured. Results: Frequencies of peripheral Tregs in tubercular uveitis subjects were significantly lower compared with disease controls. Furthermore, expression of TGF-β and IL-2Rα, but not CTLA4, was reduced in Tregs of the tubercular uveitis group. The tubercular uveitis group demonstrated heightened Th1, Th17 responses following in vitro stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/ionomycin. Interestingly, Treg suppression assay did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Ocular levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A, and IL-10 were also elevated in tubercular uveitis group. Conclusions: Low Treg frequency and hyporesponsive function contribute to proinflammatory responses manifesting at ocular level in tubercular uveitis.

To describe the clinical presentations of inflammatory choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) and factors leading to their delayed diagnosis.Retrospective analysis of chart records and digital images of 60 patients (73 eyes) with inflammatory CNVM (January 1998 to December 2013) to obtain demographic and clinical details, particularly the time of the first documentation of inflammatory CNVM by the uveitis specialist, time of its actual appearance on digital images, and the earliest clinical indicators of a CNVM.In total, 14 (19.2%) eyes had a delayed diagnosis of inflammatory CNVMs, of which five developed significant visual loss. The earliest clinical indicators of CNVM that were overlooked initially due to their subtle appearance, included a tiny subretinal hemorrhage (five eyes), peripapillary halo/fluid/scar (eight eyes), and a subfoveal scar (one eye). The causes of uveitis in these eyes included Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (five eyes, 35.7%), tubercular uveitis (five eyes, 35.7%), idiopathic (three eyes, 21.4%), and sympathetic ophthalmia (one eye, 7.1%). Presence of significant background fundus scarring, sunset glow fundus, visually significant cataract, poorly dilating pupil, media haze due to vitritis, cystoid macular edema, and multiple chorioretinal scars in these eyes probably predisposed to delayed detection of an underlying CNVM.A high index of suspicion and comparison of serial fundus photographs to identify the earliest clues of inflammatory CNVMs are important to prevent diagnostic delays and poorer outcomes.

Purpose: To assess postoperative inflammation using laser flare photometer, following phacoemulsification with or without single intraoperative intravitreal dexamethasone implant in addition to standard of care, in patients of uveitis with cataract.Methods: Prospectively, 30 eyes with uveitic cataract were randomized into 2 groups (i) standard of care (SOC group) (ii) Dexamethasone implant (DEXA group). Both the groups underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation and standard of care treatment for uveitis, but DEXA group additionally received intraoperative intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Patients were followed at least till 6 months.Results: DEXA group had significantly less postoperative flare (LFP values) (P

Purpose: To contribute a global description of the spectrum of choroidal involvement in tubercular uveitis (TBU).Methods: Retrospective cohort study of TBU patients with choroidal involvement from ...

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of surgical procedures on inciting eye of patients with Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO). Methods: Retrospective study of patients with SO who underwent surgical procedures on inciting eyes between January 2000 and December 2015. Outcome measures included flare up of inflammation in either eye and change in visual acuity in the inciting eye. Results: Four SO patients underwent surgeries in their inciting eyes after adequate control of inflammation. Surgical procedures included penetrating keratoplasty, glaucoma drainage device implantation, pars plana vitrectomy, and silicon oil removal. Keratoplasty, glaucoma surgery, and silicon oil removal were well tolerated, with no flare up of disease. The patient who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, however, had a poor outcome. Conclusions: Surgical intervention in inciting eyes of patients with SO, after being adequately treated with oral steroids and immunosuppression, is a viable option for improving anatomic and functional outcomes in these eyes.

Purpose: To report the choroidal changes by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) in tubercular multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (MSC).Methods: Prospective study o...

Purpose: To report the role of CT chest and cytology in suspected tubercular and sarcoid uveitis.Methods: This is a retrospective, interventional case series of 376 uveitis patients with su...

Purpose: To study outcome of secondary glaucoma in pediatric uveitis patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of records of uveitis patients ≤16 years. Results: Of 182 pediatric uveitis patients, secondary glaucoma was seen in 48 patients (75 eyes, 26.23%) with female preponderance (F:M-29:19) . JIA was the most common etiology (35.71%). BCVA of ≥20/40 was seen in 22 eyes at presentation and in 38 eyes at final follow up (p

To assess the utility of ultra-wide field (UWF) versus conventional fundus imaging in the management of tubercular (TB) posterior uveitis.Twenty-two consecutive patients (33 eyes) diagnosed with TB posterior uveitis in a tertiary care center who underwent UWF fundus photography and fluorescein angiography (FA) between July 2014 and March 2015 were included. Complete clinical and imaging records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. A circle simulating the central 75-degree field was drawn on UWF pseudocolor and fluorescein angiography images. Findings within the circle were compared with the information yielded by the complete image and its impact on patient management was noted.The clinical manifestations of posterior tubercular uveitis included retinal vasculitis (17 eyes), multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (13 eyes), choroidal granulomas (2 eyes) and intermediate uveitis (1 eye). UWF imaging revealed additional capillary non-perfusion areas, neovascularization, active vasculitis, and peripheral choroiditis lesions in 30/33 eyes (90.9%), which influenced treatment decision in 15 eyes (45.5%).UWF imaging is useful in the detection of peripheral pathologies in tubercular posterior uveitis that may influence management decisions, such as addition of immunosuppressive therapy or scatter laser photocoagulation.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of devR and MPB64 PCR in the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis.Methods: Prospective, nonrandomized study. Seventy-five patients were enrolled in 3 groups. Group A had 25 patients with presumed intraocular tubercular uveitis, group B had 25 controls with specific uveitis other than tubercular uveitis, and group C included 25 non-uveitic negative controls. The undiluted vitreous/aqueous samples were collected and subjected to PCR assay for devR and MPB64 gene sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) to detect sensitivity and specificity.Results: devR PCR was positive in 16 (64%) out of 25 patients with presumed tubercular uveitis. MPB64 PCR was positive in 18 (72%) out of 25 patients with presumed tubercular uveitis. The sensitivity and specificity of devR were 64 and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of MPB64 PCR were 72 and 100%, respectively.Conclusion: devR PCR is not a better tool than MPB64 PCR for diagnosing intraocular tuberculosis.

PURPOSE To assess choroidal vascular changes among patients with tubercular multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (TB MSC) using previously validated techniques. METHODS Patients with TB MSC (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 30) underwent enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) imaging. Using previously validated algorithm of image binarization, EDI-OCT scans were segmented to derive total choroidal area, luminal area, stromal area, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in the CVI between controls (66.90 ± 1.77%) and TB MSC patients (65.46 ± 2.53%; p

Purpose: To evaluate role of ultra-wide field (UWF) versus conventional imaging in the follow-up and paradoxical worsening (PW) of tubercular (TB) multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (MSC). Methods: Prospective observational study of patients with TB MSC undergoing UWF imaging, autofluorescence and fluorescein angiography was performed. A circle simulating central 75° field representing conventional imaging was drawn on UWF images. The information yielded by the two modalities, progression of choroiditis lesions and PW was compared. Results: 44 eyes (29 patients, mean age: 30.7 ± 9 years; 23 males) were included. UWF imaging showed additional lesions in 39/44 eyes (88.6%). Overall, 16/44 eyes (36.4%) showed PW; 3/16 eyes (18.7%) showed only peripheral PW, while 10/16 eyes showed both central and peripheral PW. Management was altered in 11 patients (37.93%) based on UWF imaging. Conclusions: UWF is more useful than conventional imaging in identifying additional choroiditis lesions, PW and altering the course of therapy in TB MSC.

The diagnosis of tubercular uveitis is largely presumptive, based on characteristic clinical signs and corroborative evidence, such as positive tuberculin skin test, gamma interferon assays, or radiological evidence of chest TB. The treatment, including corticosteroids and conventional antitubercular therapy (ATT), though empirical, has been found highly efficacious, resulting in recurrence-free disease resolution in the majority (85%) of the patients. However, the cause of poor response in a subset of patients is unknown. A nontubercular etiology, drug resistance, or disease relapse may be speculated as possible causes, which may pose a significant diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenge. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been widely used for diagnosing tubercular uveitis in recent years, the issue of rifampicin resistance in tubercular uveitis has not been addressed so far. A 28-year-old Indian woman with diminished vision in her left eye for the past 6 months was diagnosed elsewhere as a case of tubercular choroidal granuloma with a positive tuberculin skin test (30 35 mm). She had been receiving oral corticosteroids and four-drug conventional ATT for the past 6 months. The ATT comprised T. isoniazid 5 mg/kg/ day, T. rifampicin 10 mg/kg/day, T. ethambutol 15 mg/kg/day, and T. pyrazinamide 20–25 mg/kg/ day along with pyridoxine supplementation. Since, despite the adequate therapy, the choroidal lesion and exudative retinal detachment continued to progress, enucleation was advised for a possible intraocular mass by the primary physician and was referred to us for a second opinion. On presentation to us, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 6/6 in the right eye and hand motions in the left eye. The intraocular pressure was 11 and 13 mmHg in the right and left eyes, respectively. On examination, the right eye was normal. The left eye had 30 exotropia, a relative afferent pupillary defect, a quiet anterior chamber, cells in the vitreous cavity, bullous serous retinal detachment in all quadrants, and a large subretinal hypopigmented mass lesion (Figure 1a). Fundus fluorescein angiography showed extensive disc leakage (Figure 1b). Ultrasound B scan revealed a subretinal mass lesion of heterogenous internal reflectivity with few hypoechoic spaces, and a total retinal detachment. She underwent positron emission tomography-CT scan, which revealed non-FDG avid hyperdensity in the posterior segment of the left eye, and cervical lymph nodes. Suspecting possible drug resistance, and in view of a total bullous retinal detachment, we subjected her to pars plana vitrectomy with silicon oil tamponade in the left eye and obtained vitreous and subretinal fluid samples. Intraoperatively, she was found to have an orange-colored placoid, elevated, vascular subretinal mass lesion (about 3 2 disc diameter) abutting the optic disc in the inferior quadrant with surrounding subretinal hemorrhage and subretinal fluid along with suspended cellular debris. The subretinal fluid obtained during the surgery was subjected to cytopathology, multitargeted PCR using three primers specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), and Cepheid GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for MTB.

To report the imaging characteristics of acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).In this prospective study, patients with acute VKH (n = 10; mean age: 30.5 ± 13.43 years) underwent multimodal imaging (baseline and follow-up) using fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), OCT, and OCTA. The OCTA images were analyzed to assess the retinochoroidal vasculature and compared with other imaging techniques.During the active stage, all eyes showed multiple foci of choriocapillaris flow void that correlated with ICGA. These foci decreased in number and size after initiation of therapy. In one patient, flow void areas reappeared after cessation of therapy without any detectable change on ICGA. This patient soon developed clinical recurrence requiring re-initiation of immunosuppression.OCTA allows high-resolution imaging of inflammatory foci suggestive of choriocapillaris hypoperfusion in acute VKH disease non-invasively. OCTA may be very helpful in the follow-up of such patients.

Purpose: To report the outcome of microincision vitreous surgery (MIVS) in uveitis.Methods: In total, 103 patients (106 eyes) underwent diagnostic MIVS between March 2012 and April 2015. Postoperative evaluation included vitreous haze grading from clinical/electronic records, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications.Results: Mean age was 36.8 ± 13.9 years (range: 8–80 years). Mean follow-up after MIVS was 12.2 ± 7.2 months (median 12 months). Mean vitreous haze grading was 2.39 ± 0.98 (preoperatively), 0.36 ± 0.73 postoperatively (1 week), and 0.02 ± 0.2 at 1 month (p < 0.001). Mean BCVA was 1.5 ± 1.0 logMAR preoperatively and 0.72 ± 0.68 logMAR at 1 month (p = 0.000). Postoperative complications included cataract (14.6%), rise in intraocular pressure (13.2%), vitreous hemorrhage (4.7%), hypotony (3.2%), retinal detachment (2.8%), epiretinal membrane (2.8%), and worsening of inflammation (0.9%).Conclusions: MIVS is safe and may have a therapeutic role in uveitis.

Purpose: To test our hypothesis that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA may be present in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in individuals with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection.Methods: A total of 100 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (without any signs of endogenous uveitis in either eye) underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with internal tamponade. All were subjected to tuberculin skin test. None had manifest systemic TB disease. The subretinal fluid collected during surgery was subjected to multitargeted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting three genes of MTB (IS6110, MPB64 and protein b).Results: In total, 16 patients had latent TB, of which TB PCR was positive in six patients.Conclusions: We demonstrate presence of MTB genome in the subretinal fluid containing RPE cells from individuals with latent TB infection, who did not have any evidence of intraocular TB or manifest systemic TB disease, and suggest that MTB can be sequestrated in the RPE cells in latent TB.

Tuberculosis in the TB endemic countries commonly manifests in the eye as tuberculous uveitis. There is a wide spectrum of the clinical manifestations of intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB). For want of any gold standard diagnostic tests or diagnostic criteria, the estimates of IOTB prevalence have varied greatly. None of the previously suggested guidelines for diagnosis of IOTB have been validated. We give definitions of clinical signs and diagnostic tests that have been used in the literature. Based on these, we propose a classification of IOTB comprising ‘‘confirmed IOTB,’’ ‘‘probable IOTB,’’ and ‘‘possible IOTB.’’ This of necessity needs consensus among experts before carrying out studies to validate this classification.

Purpose: To report the detection of Toxoplasma gondii cysts in intraocular aspirates of patients with necrotizing retinitis following periocular/intraocular corticosteroid injection.Design: Case report.Methods: Two patients (2 eyes) with widespread necrotizing retinitis in a steroid-exposed eye posed a diagnostic challenge and underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Intraocular samples (vitreous fluid, retinal tissue, and subretinal aspirate in case 1, and vitreous fluid in case 2) were subjected to cytological examination.Results: The subretinal aspirate (case 1) revealed encysted bradyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii. Vitreous fluid (case 2) tested positive for anti-toxoplasma antibodies and the smear showed encysted forms of Toxoplasma gondii on cytology.Conclusion. Toxoplasma gondii cysts were detected in eyes with necrotizing retinitis that developed secondary to injudicious use of corticosteroids.