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Bullous central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a rare variant of CSCR characterized by severe serous retinal detachment which especially involves the inferior quadrants. Corticosteroid therapy administered for systemic or ocular misdiagnoses may induce and exacerbate CSCR. The purpose of this study was to report diagnosis and treatment results of an unusual case of bullous CSCR induced by systemic and periocular corticosteroid therapy received at another medical center due to a misdiagnosis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the results of systemic antitubercular therapy (ATT) and immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) in patients with serpiginous choroiditis (SC) or multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (MSC). Materials and Methods: The clinical records of 28 patients with SC and MSC were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the treatment applied. Group 1 included 12 patients with MSC and 5 with SC treated with ATT and corticosteroid (CS); group 2 included 9 patients with MSC and 2 with SC treated with conventional IMT, interferon alpha-2a, and/or CS monotherapy. Results: In group 1, clinical remission was achieved in 12/12 MSC and 3/5 SC (total 15/17) patients with administration of ATT for 1 year. Two patients (1 SC, 1 MSC) had reactivation 2 and 7 months after cessation of ATT. Two patients with recurrence after completion of ATT and 2 patients resistant to ATT received IMT ± CS therapy. In group 2, clinical remission was achieved in 7/9 MSC and 2/2 SC (total 9/11) patients after 1 year of treatment. Recurrent inflammation was observed in 2 MSC patients 2 and 112 months after initiation of therapy, but responded well to local/systemic CS or IMT modification, and clinical remission was achieved in 7.8±4.3 months. Cumulative dose of CS was higher in group 2 (p = 0.057). Nine of 12 MSC patients treated with ATT and 4/9 MSC patients treated with IMT achieved remission (p = 0.203). One of 5 SC patients treated with ATT and 2/2 SC patients treated with IMT achieved remission (p = 0.142). Conclusion: Although a statistically significant result could not be achieved in this small case series, our results suggest that ATT may be an appropriate first choice in the treatment of MSC associated with latent tuberculosis, and may be administered in patients with SC who are unresponsive to IMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe ocular manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of cat scratch disease. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of patients with ocular cat scratch disease were reviewed. Results: Thirteen eyes of 10 patients (7 female, 3 male) with a mean age of 26.9±18.5 years were included. Nine patients had a history of cat contact and had systemic symptoms associated with cat scratch disease 2-90 days prior to the ocular symptoms. Ocular signs were: neuroretinitis in 4 eyes (associated with serous retinal detachment in the inferior quadrant in 1 eye), optic neuropathy in 2 eyes (1 papillitis and optic disc infiltration, 1 optic neuritis), retinal infiltrates in 6 eyes, retinochoroiditis in 1 eye, branch retinal arteriolar occlusion in 3 eyes, and endophthalmitis in 1 eye. Visual acuities at presentation were 1.0 in 7 eyes, 0.3 in 1 eye, ≤0.1 in 4 eyes, and light perception in 1 eye. Bartonella henselae immunoglobulin (Ig) M and/or IgG were positive in all patients. Systemic antibiotic therapy was administered in all patients. Systemic corticosteroid treatment (15-40 mg/day) was added to the therapy in 4 patients, following 5 days of intravenous pulse methylprednisolone in 2 patients. Treatment was ongoing for 1 patient and the mean treatment duration of the other 9 patients was 47±14.5 days. Visual acuities at final visit were 1.0 in 9 eyes, 0.8 in 1 eye, 0.4 in 1 eye, and no light perception in 1 eye. Conclusion: Cat scratch disease may present with different ocular signs and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with such presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To report the outcomes of tocilizumab treatment for refractory ocular inflammatory diseases. Methods A retrospective case series of 17 patients (28 eyes) diagnosed with recalcitrant ocular inflammatory diseases including uveitis (10 cases), scleritis (six cases) and orbital pseudotumour (one case), who received tocilizumab between April 2010 and March 2015. All patients were initiated with treatment of 4 mg/kg or 8 mg/kg tocilizumab. The primary outcome was absence of inflammation and achievement of steroid sparing at 6 and 9 months. Secondary outcomes were change in visual acuity and major adverse effects of tocilizumab causing discontinuation of the treatment. Results Mean age at initiation of tocilizumab was 41 ± 16 years. Prior to tocilizumab treatment, all patients underwent unsuccessful conventional immunosuppressive therapy while 94% of patients (16/17) failed treatment with various biological agents. After tocilizumab administration, control of inflammation and steroid sparing were achieved in 63% and 71% of uveitis patients at 6 and 9 months, while 50% of scleritis patients achieved the primary outcome at 6 and 9 months. Mean duration of tocilizumab therapy was 12.6 ± 10.0 (range, 2-35) months. Three of four patients who had a follow-up of at least 18 (range, 18-35) months experienced quiescent inflammation for up to 32 months of tocilizumab use until last visit. Four patients (24%) discontinued tocilizumab due to serious side effects including neutropenia, unacceptable dizziness and nausea, severe angioedema and severe abdominal pain. Conclusion Our series demonstrated moderate efficacy of tocilizumab in recalcitrant uveitis and scleritis. Serious adverse effects were not uncommon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric uveitis may be a serious health problem because of the lifetime burden of vision loss due to severe complications if the problem is not adequately treated. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis is characterized by insidious onset and potentially blinding chronic anterior uveitis. Periodic ophthalmologic screening is of utmost importance for early diagnosis of uveitis. Early diagnosis and proper immunomodulatory treatment are essential for good visual prognosis. The goal of treatment is to achieve enduring drug-free remission. The choice of therapeutic regimen needs to be tailored to each individual case. One must keep in mind that patients under immunomodulatory treatment should be monitored closely due to possible side effects. Local and systemic corticosteroids have long been the mainstay of therapy; however, long-term corticosteroid therapy should be avoided due to serious side effects. Steroid-sparing agents in the treatment of JIA-associated uveitis include antimetabolites and biologic agents in refractory cases. Among the various immunomodulatory agents, methotrexate is generally the first choice, as it has a well-established safety and efficacy profile in pediatric cases and does not appear to increase the risk of cancer. Other classic immunomodulators that may also be used in combination with methotrexate include azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclosporin A. Biologic agents, primarily tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors including infliximab or adalimumab, should be considered in cases of treatment failure with classic immunomodulatory agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To report a case series of six patients suffering from branch retinal artery occlusion due to Bartonella henselae infection, in order to raise awareness to this etiology in the differential diagnosis of retinal artery occlusion. Methods A retrospective case series of patients with branch retinal artery occlusion due to ocular cat scratch disease who presented at four tertiary medical centers in Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia between the years 2008-2014. Data retrieved from the medical records included demographic data, exposure, complaints, visual acuity, clinical findings and imaging, laboratory assessment, treatment, disease course and visual outcome. Results The study group consisted of six patients who presented with branch retinal artery occlusion with or without neuroretinitis. One patient had multiple artery occlusions. Diagnosis of cat scratch disease was established based on positive serology and accompanying systemic symptoms, after ruling out other causes of retinal artery occlusion. Treatment included various regimens of antibiotics and systemic steroids. Visual outcome depended upon the obstructed artery. Conclusion Cat scratch disease may cause retinal artery occlusion in infected patients, leaving them with a permanent visual field defect. When retinal artery occlusion occurs as an early sign of the disease, prompt recognition may prevent further events. Thorough history and relevant tests may be of great value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe the clinical presentation and treatment modalities of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and to evaluate complications and clinical outcomes according to the extent of retinal involvement at initial presentation. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 52 patients diagnosed with ARN were reviewed and 48 were included in the study. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the extent of retinitis at presentation: retinal involvement of 1-2 quadrants (Group A) or 3-4 quadrants (Group B). Results: The mean age of the 14 women and 34 men at presentation was 51.3±13.6 years (range: 27-78). There were 40 unilateral and 8 bilateral cases. There were 11 eyes (19.6%) in Group A and 45 eyes (80.4%) in Group B. Eleven patients (22.9%) had a history of herpes simplex virus/varicella-zoster virus infection. One patient in Group A and 11 patients in Group B had received local or systemic corticosteroid therapy without concomitant antiviral treatment before referral. The median follow-up period was 29 months (range: 1-209) in Group A and 8.5 months (range: 0.75-209) in Group B. Mean visual acuity (VA) at presentation was 0.42±0.55 LogMAR (range: 0-2.0) in Group A and 1.28±0.95 LogMAR (range: 0-2.9) in Group B (p<0.05). The presence of endothelial keratic precipitates at presentation was significantly different between two groups (p=0.021). Retinal detachment (RD) occurred in 1 eye (9.1%) in Group A and 30 eyes (66.7%) in Group B (p<0.001). Optic disc pallor was seen in 36.4% (4/11) of eyes in Group A and 71.1% (32/45) of eyes in Group B (p=0.033). Other ocular complications were not significantly different between two groups. Mean final visual acuity was 0.29±0.41 LogMAR in Group A and 1.61±0.90 LogMAR in Group B (p<0.05). Conclusion: The extent of retinal involvement at presentation affects visual outcomes and this shows the importance of early diagnosis and early initiation of antiviral treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To report the long-term results of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A irradiation in 4 eyes of 2 patients affected by pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD). Methods. This study involved the retrospective analysis of 4 eyes of 2 patients with PMD that underwent CXL treatment. Of the eyes, three had only CXL treatment and one had CXL treatment after an intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation. We have pre- and postoperatively evaluated uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), corneal topography (Pentacam), specular microscopy, and pachymetry. Results. Patient 1 was a woman, aged 35, and Patient 2 was a man, aged 33. The right eye of Patient 1 showed an improvement in her BCDVA, from 16/40 to 18/20 in 15 months, and her left eye improved from 12/20 to 18/20 in 20 months. Patient 2’s right eye showed an improvement in his BCDVA, from 18/20 to 20/20 in 43 months, and his left eye improved from 16/20 to 18/20 in 22 months. No complications were recorded during or after the treatment. Conclusion. CXL is a safe tool for the management of PMD, and it can help to stop the progression of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ocular tuberculosis is still considered to be a controversial issue in terms of both terminology and diagnostic criteria and treatment options. There is no common diagnostic/treatment algorithm even though new approaches exist.In this study, the results of the treatment of “presumed ocular tuberculosis patients” are evaluated. Materials and Methods: Anti-tuberculosis treatment was given to cases who had latent tuberculosis infection, had no other diagnosis and who did not respond to steroid treatment. These cases were considered to have presumed ocular tuberculosis. Results: Sixty four cases who were considered to have “presumed ocular tuberculosis” received anti-tuberculosis treatment for a minimum of three months and were followed up regularly. The 64 cases were made up of 32 women and 32 men, with a mean age of 42.1±12.09 years. Mean antituberculosis treatment duration was 8.18±2.17 months (3-15 month). After the treatment, 47 (73.4%) of 64 patients reported improvement in vision. Only 36 of these 64 cases (31 bilateral, 5 unilateral, 67 eyes in total) were evaluated with objective vision test before and after the treatment. Disease involvement was uveitis (anterior, intermediate, posterior, panuveitis) in 61 eyes (91%), and retinal vasculitis in 6 eyes (9%). According to the vision analysis among 67 eyes, 42 (62.7%), visual acuities were detected to be improved at variable levels. Mean right eye visual acuity was 0.56±0.049 before treatment, and 0.71±0.047 after treatment (p<0.001). Mean left eye visual acuity was 0.60±0.51 before treatment, and 0.73±0.043 after treatment (p<0.004). Conclusion: In the presence of latent tuberculosis infection, successful results can be obtained with antituberculosis treatment for cases diagnosed as presumed ocular tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal choroidal excavation is a choroidal pit that can be detected by optical coherence tomography. Central serous chorioretinopathy, choroidal neovascularization and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy are pathologies associated with focal choroidal excavation. In this article, we present the follow-up and treatment outcomes of three eyes of two patients with focal choroidal excavation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections like Paecilomyces keratitis have emerged in childhood recently. The diagnosis and treatment of Paecilomyces keratitis is difficult and the outcome is usually poor. Corneal culture should be performed on fungal media such as Sabouraud glucose neopeptone agar (SDA) as soon as possible for diagnosis. We report a rare case of Paecilomyces keratitis in an immunocompetent child, which was unresponsive to amphotericin B. The case was managed by a multidisciplinary approach involving the departments of ophthalmology, microbiology and pediatric infectious diseases. We want to draw attention once again that fungal keratitis caused by unusual agents are increasing. Physicians should consider fungal causes of keratitis, in patients with some predisposing factors like ocular surgery and prolonged use of topical corticosteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]