Search

Data from retrospective studies of endophthalmitis vary widely with respect to incidence and to the pathogens implicated. To see whether we could provide more accurate data, we have done a prospective multicentre national survey of endophthalmitis over one year in France. Records of 36,241 operations and 1148 cases of ocular trauma from 64 centres specialising in eye surgery were analysed. There were 167 cases of endophthalmitis; incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis was 0.31 per 100 operations, and the risk after penetrating ocular trauma was 2.8%. In contrast with most previous studies, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequently isolated organism, with gram-negative organisms accounting for only a small proportion of cases. Patients infected with streptococci had the least favourable outcome. The survey confirms data from retrospective studies showing that the incidence of postoperative or post-injury endophthalmitis is low. The low frequency means that large numbers of patients would be required for a trial of antibiotic efficacy, but such a trial is worthwhile because there are now antibiotics with good ocular bioavailability that are effective against most of the bacteria that cause endophthalmitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare and analyze differences and similarities between Japanese and French patients in subtype diagnosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as determined by fundus photography (FP) and fluorescein angiography (FA), and a multimodal imaging involving FP, FA, indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT)., Design: Retrospective chart review., Methods: We determined the subtype diagnosis for 99 consecutive Japanese eyes and 94 consecutive French eyes with exudative AMD. The first-step diagnosis was made using FP and FA, while the second-step diagnosis was made using FP, FA/ICGA, and OCT. The diagnoses made by Japanese and French physicians were compared, and when the diagnoses differed, a third institute was consulted to arrive at a final consensus and diagnosis., Results: The first-step diagnosis showed 20%-30% disagreement against the final diagnosis, but the second-step diagnosis showed only 10% disagreement. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) was observed more in Japanese patients (48%) than in French (9%), and the rate of PCV with type 1 or 2 choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was extremely low: 3% in Japanese and 0% in French. Type 1 CNV was found significantly more in French cases (53.3% vs 35.1%, P=.018), while the rate of eyes with type 2 CNV only or chorioretinal anastomosis was similar between populations., Conclusions: Multimodality imaging significantly improved the sub-classification of AMD. There were significant differences between the 2 series in the proportions of type 1 CNV and PCV, while the proportions of type 2 CNV only and chorioretinal anastomosis were similar between groups., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Anti-VEGF drugs are the most recent treatments for choroidal neovascularization, the most severe complication of the age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These drugs are administered by intravitreal injections. Several clinical studies have demonstrated their advantages. However, these same studies have not established the modalities for monitoring their efficacy. The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth look at the existing practices in monitoring anti-VEGF therapy among different French specialists., Methods: Several meetings were held with specialists coming from both the hospital setting and private practice to share their practices in monitoring anti-VEGF therapy and to propose more rational monitoring to standardize practices., Results: The physicians attached an increasing importance to optical coherence tomography (OCT) in monitoring anti-VEGF drugs after intravitreal injection. They acknowledged the value of fluorescein angiography when initiating the treatment and 3 months after beginning anti-VEGF therapy. They advise using fluorescein angiography every time that functional results are not at the level expected by the physician or the patient. The authors provide a flow chart that should help in deciding on retreatment., Conclusion: The authors suggest the use of a flow chart aimed to define indications of retreatment according to clinical response and OCT results.

Purpose: Identification of genetic factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is of crucial importance in this common cause of blindness. A positive association between Y402H polymorphism of the complement factor H (CFH) gene and AMD has been recently reported in North American populations but not yet in European populations. The exudative form of AMD is rapidly progressive and usually associated with a severe prognosis. Our purpose was to investigate this association in a French population specifically affected with exudative AMD, in a case-control study., Methods: Two series of unrelated exudative AMD patients, sporadic cases (n=60, mean age 74.9+/-5.7) and familial cases (n=81, mean age 74.0+/-9.4) were compared with healthy controls (n=91, mean age 74.6+/-6.3). The coding region of exon 9 of CFH was examined for the Y402H polymorphism by PCR-direct sequencing., Results: The 1,279-C allele frequencies were significantly higher in exudative AMD patients than controls (0.564 compared to 0.302; p<0.0001). Genotypic distribution of the Y402H polymorphism was significantly different between sporadic cases compared to controls (chi2=14.48 with 2 df, p<0.0007) and between familial cases compared to controls (chi2=23.78 with 2 df, p<0.0001). The odds ratio (OR) for exudative AMD was 3.00 CI95% (1.60-5.62) for heterozygotes (CT) and 6.93 CI95% (3.11-15.46) for homozygotes (CC)., Conclusions: These results suggest the contribution of the Y402H polymorphism of the CFH gene to exudative AMD susceptibility also in the French population. This relationship with the CFH may lead to early detection and new strategies for prevention and treatment of AMD.

Purpose: To report the identification of two novel RDS mutations in the peripherin/RDS gene of two unrelated French patients affected by autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP)., Methods: Fifty-eight unrelated patients affected by ADRP were analyzed. Our diagnostic for RP were bilateral fundus involvement, concentric depression of the visual field and severe involvement on electroretinogram. Transmission of the trait was unambiguous. Our strategy was to analyze the coding sequence of the gene using a combination of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequence analysis of the exons of the gene. Exons that displayed conformational polymorphisms were sequenced on an automated DNA sequencer., Results: The sequence analyses revealed two previously unreported missense mutations: Cys165Tyr and Phe211Leu in exons 1 and 2, respectively. None of the 70 controls analyzed carried these base changes. Cosegregation of the base substitution with the disease could be tested in both families presenting the Cys165Tyr and Phe211Leu mutations., Conclusions: Several lines of evidence support the idea that these base substitutions are disease-causing mutations. To the best of our knowledge, no peripherin/RDS gene analysis has been previously reported in ADRP in France.

Background: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a common cause of legal blindness in developed countries. In patients younger than 50 years of age, CNV can be due to various causes, but to the authors' knowledge there has been no large epidemiologic study to compare the relative incidence of the various causes of CNV in this younger-aged group., Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients seen over a 30-month period to precisely define the relative incidence of the various etiologies of CNV in patients younger than 50 years of age who had been referred to a tertiary care ophthalmology department in western Europe., Results: Clinical charts and angiograms of 363 patients were reviewed. The etiology of CNV was high myopia in 225 (62%) patients, pseudo-presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome in 42 (12%), angioid streaks in 17 (5%), and miscellaneous hereditary or traumatic or inflammatory disorders in 16 (4%). Choroidal neovascularization could not be related to any etiology in 63 (17%) patients, and was considered to be idiopathic lesions. Choroidal neovascularization was subfoveal in 62% of the patients due to myopia versus 30% to 36% in patients due to other etiologies. Laser photocoagulation was applied in the majority of patients due to all etiologies except myopia., Conclusion: These data provide the relative incidence of the various etiologies of CNV in young patients and emphasize the importance of myopia as an etiology of CNV in such patients. In addition, an apparent preferential localization of CNV to the subfoveal region in myopic eyes precludes its treatment with photocoagulation.

Background: The prognosis of retinal vein occlusion is highly unpredictable because nonischemic types may convert into ischemic types within the first months. This study was designed to identify epidemiologic characteristics of the different types of retinal vein occlusion, their visual outcome, and their prognostic factors., Methods: The authors analyzed prospectively the data from patients who have had retinal vein occlusion with complete medical and biologic examination, including fluorescein angiography, and a 1-year follow-up., Results: One hundred seventy-five retinal vein occlusion eyes consisted of 120 central retinal vein occlusions (CRVO), 7 hemicentral occlusions, and 48 branch occlusions. In initially nonischemic CRVO eyes, retinal ischemia developed in 54%. The study of prognostic factors in the CRVO group showed that older age, male sex, and the number of risk factors (systemic vascular risk factors and glaucoma) were correlated with a poor visual outcome and with the development of retinal ischemia, as well as baseline visual acuity, initial extent of retinal ischemia, and rheologic findings (hematocrit, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte aggregation levels). Logistic regression underlined the prognostic role of sex, the number of risk factors, erythrocyte aggregation, and initial clinical features. Persistent macular edema was shown to be associated with hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular history, and inversely correlated to glaucoma., Conclusion: Because clinical characteristics of CRVO may worsen, the authors' results provide a basis to predict visual outcome by taking into account epidemiologic and rheologic findings. A careful follow-up of these patients is recommended.

Under the aegis of the GEEP (Groupement d'Etudes Epidémiologiques et Prophylactiques) a prospective multicentre study concerning bacterial endophthalmitis was carried out over a period of one year long with the contribution of 64 metropolitan ophthalmologic hospital departments. During this survey 143 cases of post surgical endophthalmitis were recorded: 111 of them were secondary to elective surgery, 32 developed after a perforating eye injury. Twenty-four cases of endophthalmitis developed in the absence of surgery were therefore called "medical" endophthalmitis. The frequency of endophthalmitis after elective surgery was 0.32%, and 2.8% after penetrating eye injury. Intraocular samples were obtained in 61.5% of the cases of post surgical endophthalmitis. 53 bacteria were isolated from 50 cases of endophthalmitis. The bacterial nature of the endophthalmitis was proved in 35% of these cases of post surgical endophthalmitis. Bacteria isolated from these cases of post surgical endophthalmitis were gram positive in 86.7%, and gram negative in 13.3% of cases. 20 bacteria were isolated from pseudophakic eyes: 10 of them were Staphylococcus epidermidis. The visual prognosis of endophthalmitis depends on the strain: visual acuity was more than 1/10 in 68% of cases of Staphylococcus endophthalmitis infection, but in only in 7% of cases of Streptococcus endophthalmitis infection. Intraocular injections of antibiotics both in the anterior chamber and in the vitreous, and vitrectomy increased the quality of the visual result. Three months after post surgical endophthalmitis, 35% of those eyes who received systemic and periocular antibiotic therapy, combined with intraocular antibiotics, with or without vitrectomy, recovered a visual acuity of 4/10 or more, instead of only 18% in the group without any intraocular therapy.