Search

The article evaluates the effectiveness of fluorescein angiography (FA) in diagnosing and managing uveitis. The findings provide information on the changes in different structures and extent of uveitis but does not allow analysis of the choriocapillaris and the choroid. The results also highlight the role of other imaging techniques such as indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

A 28-year-old woman presented with painful unilateral left visual loss, impaired color vision, left afferent pupillary defect, and normal ocular fundus. Although optic neuritis was first suspected, visual fields disclosed a junctional scotoma related to chiasmal demyelination, due to a probable multiple sclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intravenous polyclonal immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment has been successfully used in a number of autoimmune conditions. Birdshot retinochoroidopathy (BRC) is a bilateral autoimmune posterior uveitis which, in its progressive form, frequently requires immunosuppressive therapy. We report a clinical study aimed at determining the tolerance and efficiency of IVIg treatment in patients with active BRC. The study was conducted in an open manner. Eighteen patients were included. The initial visual acuity (VA) was ≤20/30 in 26 eyes, 20/25 in five eyes, and 20/20 in five eyes. IVIg was given as sole treatment at 1.6 g/kg every four weeks for six months, followed by injections of 1.2-1.6 g/kg at six to eight-week intervals. The mean follow-up was 39 months, ranging between 12 and 53 months. The results showed that the final VA of the 26 eyes with an initial VA of ≤20/30 was increased by two lines or more in 14 eyes (53.8%) and decreased in two (7.7%). Of the five eyes with an initial VA of 20/25, four had improved to 20/20 and one remained stable. Of the five eyes with an initial VA of 20/20, four remained stable and one deteriorated to 20/25. When present, macular edema was improved in half of the eyes on fluorescein angiography. Benign side effects were observed in 12 patients: moderate transient arterial hypertension (7), headache (6), eczematous lesions (6), and hyperthermia (4). The results suggest that IVIg may represent a safe alternative therapy for patients with BRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Discusses the status of cytomegalovirus retinitis infections in AIDS patients in 1999. Epidemiology; Disease diagnosis; Disease management; Effectiveness of the HAART therapy.

We evaluated laser flare photometry (LFP) values in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis. Retrospective study. A decrease of the LFP value between baseline visit and 1 month after anti-inflammatory treatment intensification allowed us to define two groups of patients: group 1 (decreased LFP value ≥50%) and group 2 (<50%). We evaluated the prevalence of vision-threatening complications in both groups. Fifty-four patients (87 eyes) were followed for 9.9 ± 5 years. Group 1 eyes (n = 54) had significantly fewer ocular complications than group 2 eyes (n = 33) at both 5 years visit (p =.03) and final visit (p =.047). At the final visit, group 2 eyes had significantly more band keratopathy, trabeculectomy, cataract surgery, glaucoma and papille edema. Group 1 eyes kept a better visual acuity (p <.0001). The decrease of LFP values ≥50% of the initial value 1 month after treatment intensification is a good early prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the incidence and to discuss pathogenic mechanisms of sympathetic ophthalmia in patients treated for choroïdal melanoma. Design: Retrospective Methods: We analyzed the clinical and pathological data of 4867 patients, treated for choroïdal melanoma at Institute Curie-Orsay, between 1998 and 2011. Were involved patients with uveitis of the adelphe eye filling clinical and angiographic criteria of sympathetic ophthalmia. Extensive work-up was undertaken to rule out another etiology of the inflammation.Results: Three patients developed sympathetic ophthalmia respectively 7, 4 and 3 years after protontherapy.The incidence of this complication was 6.1 per 10000 patients treated by proton beam radiation. Ocular perforating injury was ruled out and radioactive effect of treatment was incriminated in the occurrence of sympathetic ophthalmia. Conclusion: Sympathetic ophthalmia remains a rare complication which must be treated promptly and aggressively to prevent blindness.Proton beam irradiation could induce disruption of uveal tissue which enhances auto immune reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the cataract surgery performed in children with uveitis. Cataract occurs more frequently in children than in adults and posterior subcapsular opacification is the most common type of cataract. Its formation may be induced by inflammatory reactions and use of corticosteroids. Poor visual acuity is the main factor considered when proposing surgery in children. Mandatory etiologic investigations and the importance of controlling ocular inflammation are also explained.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal sirolimus in the management of noninfectious uveitis of the posterior segment (NIU-PS). Combined analysis of 2 phase 3, randomized, double-masked, multinational, 6-month studies. Adults with active NIU-PS (intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis; defined as vitreous haze [VH] ≥1.5+ on modified Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature scale). Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive intravitreal sirolimus 44 μg (n = 208), 440 μg (n = 208), or 880 μg (n = 177) on days 1, 60, and 120. Patients discontinued medications for NIU-PS except for systemic corticosteroids, which were tapered according to protocol. Enrollment in the 880-μg group was terminated after interim results found no significant difference in efficacy compared with the 440-μg dose. The primary efficacy end point was the percentage of patients with VH of 0 at month 5 in the study eye without the use of rescue therapy. Secondary efficacy end points included VH of 0 or 0.5+, corticosteroid-tapering success, and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Safety measures included ocular and nonocular adverse events. A total of 592 patients were randomized. Significantly higher proportions of patients treated with 440 μg compared with 44 μg intravitreal sirolimus achieved VH of 0 (21.2% vs. 13.5%; P = 0.038) and VH of 0 or 0.5+ (50.0% vs. 40.4%; P = 0.049) at month 5. Best-corrected visual acuity was stable (absolute change <5 ETDRS letters) or improved >5 letters in 80.1% and 80.2% of patients in the 440-μg and 44-μg groups, respectively. At month 5, corticosteroids were tapered successfully in 69.6% and 68.8% of patients in the 440-μg and 44-μg groups, and among these patients, VH of 0 or 0.5+ was achieved by 43.5% and 28.1% in the 440-μg and 44-μg groups. Both doses were generally well tolerated. Mean changes from baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) in the study eye at each analysis visit were minimal in all treatment groups. Intravitreal sirolimus 440 μg improved ocular inflammation, as measured by VH, compared with the 44-μg dose, with minimal impact on IOP, while preserving BCVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the importance of a customized combined systemic and local therapy in the management of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV).Methods: Observational retrospective case series.Results: Four iCNV cases, complicating posterior uveitis or panuveitis affecting young patients, are reported. Combination of both intravitreal (IVT) and systemic drugs represented a successful treatment strategy.Conclusions: iCNV is a sight-threatening disease which affects mostly young people. Customized and both systemic and IVT therapies might represent the best therapeutic option in order to obtain disease control and good prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the superficial (FAZ-S) and deep foveal avascular zones (FAZ-D) of non-infectious anterior and posterior uveitis to healthy controls, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods: OCTA was performed on 74 eyes: 34 eyes with non-infectious posterior uveitis (with (post+CME) and without macular edema (post−CME)), 11 eyes with non-infectious anterior uveitis (with (ant+CME) and without macular edema (ant−CME)), and the control group which included 29 healthy eyes.Results: Eyes suffering from non-infectious posterior uveitis presented with significantly larger FAZ-D when compared to healthy controls, both in the presence or in the absence of macular edema (p < 0.001). In the presence of macular edema, eyes presenting with anterior uveitis (ant+CME) also showed significantly larger FAZ-S (p = 0.03) and FAZ-D (p < 0.001), when compared to healthy controls. In the absence of macular edema, eyes with anterior uveitis cannot be distinguished from controls (p > 0.6).Conclusion: The deep retinal foveal avascular zone seems to be enlarged in eyes presenting with non-infectious posterior uveitis, both in the presence or absence of macular edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the evolution of chronic uveitis in children undergoing cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.Methods: Twelve children with chronic uveitis underwent cataract surgery with primary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.Results: Fourteen eyes were implanted with a foldable hydrophobic acrylic IOL. The mean follow-up was 35.39 months (8.72-69.57). The mean BCDVA before surgery and at the end of follow-up was 1.11 (0.40-2.30; SD: 0.57) and 0.48 (0-3; SD: 0.77; p=0.007) respectively. The mean oral corticosteroids dosage after surgery and at the end of follow-up was 0.80 mg/kg/day (SD: 0.37) and 0.17 mg/kg/day (SD: 0.24; p=0.001) respectively. All patients except one were treated with methotrexate. Four patients (5 eyes) were additionally treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agent.Conclusions: Cataract surgery with primary posterior chamber hydrophobic IOL implantation is possible and leads to a good visual recovery in cases of pediatric chronic uveitis. This surgery requires aggressive anti-inflammatory management with immunosuppressive drugs to control inflammation and reduce the corticosteroids dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report on the clinical data of seven patients with T-cell intraocular lymphoma (IOL).Methods: Retrospective case series.Results: Seven immunocompetent patients, 12 eyes, 6 women, with T-cell-IOL were included from five countries. Mean age was 53.5 years (range: 25-82). Four patients had systemic-ocular lymphoma, two had CNS-ocular lymphoma, and one had systemic-CNS- ocular lymphoma. Vitritis was the most frequent clinical sign, followed by anterior uveitis and serous retinal detachment. Cytopathologic examination was performed on all ocular specimens (vitreous in six and iris mass biopsy in one patient). Adjunctive diagnostic procedures included immunohistochemistry, molecular tests, and cytokine profiling of vitreous samples. Treatment modalities included systemic chemotherapy (five patients), intravitreal methotrexate (three patients), globe radiotherapy, and intrathecal chemotherapy. Mean survival from diagnosis was 21.7 months (range: 2-69). Two patients are still alive.Conclusions: T-cell IOL has variable clinical manifestations and prognosis. Systemic involvement, SRD, and vitreoretinal involvement were frequently observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the clinical outcome of phakic eyes with macular edema (ME) due to non-infectious uveitis treated with a dexamethasone intravitreal implant.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 41 eyes treated with a total of 58 dexamethasone intravitreal implants was conducted. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and complications data were collected.Results: One month after the first implant, even as CRT improved significantly in most eyes (p<0.001), 31.7% showed no improvement in BCVA. At 6 months post-implantation, CRT and BCVA had deteriorated in up to 70% of patients. Thirteen eyes were re-implanted, with a similar effect to that of the first implant. Ocular hypertension developed in 36.2% of eyes, and three eyes had cataract surgery, all in eyes with repeated implants.Conclusions: The dexamethasone intravitreal implant can be safely used to treat ME due to non-infectious uveitis, but with a limited and short effect on BCVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uveitis is one of the fields in ophthalmology where a tremendous evolution took place in the past 25 years. Not only did we gain access to more efficient, more targeted, and better tolerated therapies, but also in parallel precise and quantitative measurement methods developed allowing the clinician to evaluate these therapies and adjust therapeutic intervention with a high degree of precision. Objective and quantitative measurement of the global level of intraocular inflammation became possible for most inflammatory diseases with direct or spill-over anterior chamber inflammation, thanks to laser flare photometry. The amount of retinal inflammation could be quantified by using fluorescein angiography to score retinal angiographic signs. Indocyanine green angiography gave imaging insight into the hitherto inaccessible choroidal compartment, rendering possible the quantification of choroiditis by scoring indocyanine green angiographic signs. Optical coherence tomography has enabled measurement and objective monitoring of retinal and choroidal thickness. This multimodal quantitative appraisal of intraocular inflammation represents an exquisite security in monitoring uveitis. What is enigmatic, however, is the slow pace with which these improvements are integrated in some areas. What is even more difficult to understand is the fact that clinical trials to assess new therapeutic agents still mostly rely on subjective parameters such as clinical evaluation of vitreous haze as a main endpoint; whereas a whole array of precise, quantitative, and objective modalities are available for the design of clinical studies. The scope of this work was to review the quantitative investigations that improved the management of uveitis in the past 2-3 decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uveitis is a sight-threatening primary intraocular inflammation of various origins in mainly young and active patients. Due to the absence of biomarkers in most of the cases, the current treatment of noninfectious entities remains nonspecific, using corticosteroids, conventional immunosuppressors, and more recently biological agents. Identification of regulatory T cells in different models of autoimmune uveitis together with the evaluation of this important subpopulation in different entities paved the way for new therapeutic strategies, in addition to exclusive pharmaceutical approaches. Upregulation of regulatory T cells induced by biological agents has been recently highlighted. Development of cell therapy in autoimmune diseases is at its stammering needing more experimental data and robust clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy before larger developments. Specific or polyclonal Tregs may be used, but it is of utmost importance to determine the method of selection, the level of activation, and the route of administration. Mastering immune cell therapy remains a challenging goal in patients with autoimmune diseases, but it may significantly enlarge our therapeutic possibilities in severe and refractory situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To retrospectively assess the frequency of ocular relapse and the possibility of long-term remission in patients treated with interferon (IFN) for severe uveitis associated with Behçet disease.Methods: All patients were treated with an initial dosage of 3 million IU IFN three times a week. The main outcome measure was the number of relapses per person per year before, during, and after IFN treatment.Results: Of 36 patients (67 eyes), 31 (86.1%) responded to IFN. The mean follow-up was 8.19 years. Twenty-one out of 36 patients discontinued IFN and 76% of these have not relapsed within 5.05 years after discontinuation. The mean relapse per person per year decreased significantly from 1.39 to 0.0496 (p = 1.82×10-10) during the treatment period and remained at 0.057 relapses per person per year after IFN discontinuation.Conclusion: IFN efficiently decreases the relapse rate and seems to permit long-term remission even after discontinuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the changes of outer retinal tubulations (ORTs) as seen on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) where treatment was switched from intravitreal ranibizumab to intravitreal aflibercept. Methods: This was a prospective study of eyes diagnosed with neovascular AMD and previously treated with >6 intravitreal ranibizumab injections and switched to aflibercept, conducted at a single centre (Department of Ophthalmology at Pitié Salpetriere Hospital, Paris VI University) from January to July 2015. Before and after treatment was switched from ranibizumab to aflibercept, SD-OCT was used to evaluate the presence of ORTs. Additional assessments in this patient group included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Changes in pigment epithelium detachments (PED), presence of intraretinal cysts, and presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) were also noted. Results: Twenty-four eyes of 24 consecutive patients (15 female/nine male, mean age 70 years) diagnosed with neovascular AMD and previously treated with >6 intravitreal ranibizumab injections and switched to aflibercept were included in the analysis. After receiving aflibercept, patients were followed for a mean of 6.1 months. Prior to treatment switch, 97 % of eyes showed ORTs, while after treatment switch to aflibercept, at the end of the study period, 75 % had ORTs ( p = 0.219). Changes in BCVA (LogMAR) were not statistically significant (1.16 ± 0.44 to 1.18 ± 1.06, p = 0.12), however, a significant reduction in central macular thickness (CMT) (from 406 μm ± 112 to 263 μm ± 68, p = 0.001), PED (from 70.8 % to 41.7 % , p = 0.016), presence of intraretinal cysts (from 83.3 % to 33.3 %, p = 0.002) and SRF (from 91.7 % to 25 %, p = 0.001 ) were noted. Conclusion: After switching from ranibizumab treatment to aflibercept, ORTs remained present in 75 % of eyes, and significant reductions in CMT, PED, and SRF, and presence of intraretinal cysts were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal sirolimus in the treatment of noninfectious uveitis (NIU) of the posterior segment (i.e., posterior, intermediate, or panuveitis). Design Phase III, randomized, double-masked, active-controlled, 6-month study with intravitreal sirolimus. Participants Adults with active NIU of the posterior segment (intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis), defined as a vitreous haze (VH) score >1+. Subjects discontinued NIU medications before baseline, except for systemic corticosteroids, which were allowed only for those already receiving them at baseline and were rapidly tapered after baseline per protocol. Methods Intravitreal sirolimus assigned 1:1:1 at doses of 44 (active control), 440, or 880 μg, administered on Days 1, 60, and 120. Main Outcome Measures The primary efficacy outcome was the percentage of subjects with VH 0 response at Month 5 (study eye) without use of rescue therapy. Secondary outcomes at Month 5 were VH 0 or 0.5+ response rate, corticosteroid tapering success rate (i.e., tapering to a prednisone-equivalent dosage of ≤5 mg/day), and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Adverse events during the double-masked treatment period are presented. Results A total of 347 subjects were randomized. Higher proportions of subjects in the intravitreal sirolimus 440 μg (22.8%; P = 0.025) and 880 μg (16.4%; P = 0.182) groups met the primary end point than in the 44 μg group (10.3%). Likewise, higher proportions of subjects in the 440 μg (52.6%; P = 0.008) and 880 μg (43.1%; P = 0.228) groups achieved a VH score of 0 or 0.5+ than in the 44 μg group (35.0%). Mean BCVA was maintained throughout the study in each dose group, and the majority of subjects receiving corticosteroids at baseline successfully tapered off corticosteroids (44 μg [63.6%], 440 μg [76.9%], and 880 μg [66.7%]). Adverse events in the treatment and active control groups were similar in incidence, and all doses were well tolerated. Conclusions Intravitreal sirolimus 440 μg demonstrated a significant improvement in ocular inflammation with preservation of BCVA in subjects with active NIU of the posterior segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis complicated by foveal serous retinal detachment (FSRD), we documented the relationship between best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), level of anterior chamber flare and OCT features.Methods: Nine children (15 eyes) with FSRD were identified among 38 children with JIA-associated maculopathy. Outcome measures included BCVA, ocular inflammatory activity quantified by laser flare photometry and the macular profile analyzed by OCT.Results: The diagnosis of FSRD led to intensification of the treatment using subtenon's injection of triamcinolone or systemic immunomodulatory therapy. The improvement of BCVA at presentation (0.46 logMAR) was significant at 36 months follow-up (0.15 logMAR). The resolution of FSRD along with visual improvement (p = 0.0032) correlated with improvement in anterior chamber flare (p = 0.01).Conclusion: FSRD is a complication of chronic JIA-associated uveitis that responds well to intensification of immunomodulation. Visual improvement is correlated with FSRD resolution and with flare photometry values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the association of Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis (FHC) and ocular toxocariasis in a young adult. Design: Observational case report. Methods: A 26-year-old patient was referred for the management of a unilateral intermediate uveitis associated with a lower peripheral subretinal fibrotic lesion near the pars plana. Diagnosis of FHC was clinically confirmed. Laboratory examination was performed to exclude an infectious condition. Results: LISA assay detected significant levels of IgG directed against Toxocara canis. Toxoplasmic serology was negative, excluding this differential diagnosis. Other examinations, including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, lysosyme, chest CT scan, and syphilis serology were noncontributive. Conclusions: Previous studies have reported on the association of FHC and other parasitic conditions, such as toxoplasmosis but also on herpetic ocular infections. Serologic analysis for toxocariasis may be proposed in patients with FHC and retinal scars in the absence of toxoplasmosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cell therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. To be effective, Treg cells should be in an activated state in the target tissue. This can be achieved by systemic administration of Ag-specific Treg cells, which are difficult to produce in conditions that can be translated to the clinic. In this paper, we propose an alternative approach consisting of in situ injection of preactivated polyclonal Treg cells that would exert bystander suppression in the target tissue. We show that polyclonal Treg cells suppressed uveitis in mice as efficiently as Ag-specific Treg cells but only when preactivated and administered in the vitreous. Uveitis control was correlated with an increase of IL-10 and a decrease of reactive oxygen species produced by immune cell infiltrates in the eye. Thus, our results reveal a new mechanism of Treg cell-mediated suppression and a new Treg cell therapy approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Discusses the outcome of the 2000 annual meeting of the Society of Ocular Immunoinfectiology in Europe, held in March at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. Attendees; Guest speakers; Classical and new aspects of ocular inflammation.

Purpose: To report atypical ophthalmologic manifestations and complications of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Methods: Patients with isolated ophthalmologic involvement of IgG4-RD other than lacrimal or orbital infiltration seen between 2009 and 2011 in a single tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed and their clinical and histological features, treatment, and prognosis were studied. Case reports: Two patients (mean age 56.5 years) were included. One patient presented with recurrent anterior and posterior scleritis, and one patient had chronic conjunctival infiltration. Histopathology demonstrated lymphoplasmacytic proliferation with overexpression of IgG4+ plasma cells. Both patients initially responded to a high dose of oral corticosteroids (1 mg/kg/d). However, one patient required the adjunction of methotrexate and one patient developed an intra-epithelial conjunctival carcinoma on the site of the initial lesion. Conclusion: Patients with atypical presentation of IgG4-RD, such as chronic conjunctival infiltration or scleritis, can suffer from considerable diagnostic delay leading to fibrosis or malignancy development. We report the first case of conjunctival carcinoma in a patient with IgG4-RD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare dysgenetic form of neurocristopathy associated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Ophthalmologic abnormalities are reported in CCHS children, and range from pupillary and iris abnormalities to ptosis, strabismus and convergence deficiency. Since earlier CCHS diagnosis and multidisciplinary management, combined with improved ventilatory support techniques, the lifespan of children with CCHS has been considerably lengthened. The oldest of them have now reached adult age and we report in this study the results of their ophthalmologic examination. Materials and methods: Nine CCHS adult patients were prospectively included during a 14-month period. Each patient underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, static pupillometry with scotopic and photopic pupillary diameter (PD) measures, Humphrey 24-2 visual field analysis, macular OCT and complete orthoptic assessment including a Hess-Lancaster test. Results: Ophthalmologic abnormalities were found in six of the nine patients (66%). The main features were strabismus in six patients (66%). Four patients (44%) displayed abnormal pupillary function, with a decrease in average scotopic PD (3.8 ± 1.4 mm), average photopic PD (3.5 ± 1.2 mm), and average percentage of pupillary constriction (7.6 ± 8.5%). Three patients (33%) exhibited iris abnormalities such as iris atrophy, smooth iris surface and atrophic sphincter. Conclusion: This study allowed the description of ophthalmologic abnormalities occurring in CCHS in a series of adult patients, thus improving current knowledge of the disease. The prevalence of pupillary and iris lesions were lower than those observed in a series of children, suggesting that they could be considered as systemic disease severity markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present a population of patients sharing atypical manifestations of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). Methods: Institutional case series in a single tertiary center. Patients with cytologically proven VRL, referred between November 2009 and May 2010, were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis of VRL was based on cytology of vitreous samples, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology. Patients with confirmed VRL and clinical features different from the typical manifestations were included. Demographical and clinical characteristics of these patients were studied. Results: Twelve cases of VRL were diagnosed. Four cases (2M/2F) were considered atypical (A-VRL) in their presentations. Mean age for typical lymphoma (T-VRL) was 71.9 years (range: 62-87 years); mean age for A-VRL was 54 years (range: 50-59 years). Conclusions: Diagnosis of VRL is challenging and diagnostic delay is frequent. The authors describe a series of patients sharing common characteristics, such as a younger age ( p = 0.05), severe anterior chamber reaction, mild or no vitritis, and possible fulminant evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL), also called primary vitreoretinal lymphomas, often masquerades as uveitis. This misdiagnosis can result in subsequent brain involvement and oculocerebral lymphoma (OCL). In this study, we sought to characterize the helper T-cell type 1 (Th1)/Th2 cytokine profile in vitreous samples from patients with PIOL, OCL, uveitis and controls with non-inflammatory disease. Vitreous and aqueous humor samples from 87 patients with PIOL (n = 30), OCL (n = 12), uveitis (n = 34), and retinal detachment (RD) without hemorrhage (n = 11) were analyzed and their concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined by flow cytometric bead arrays (CBA). The IL-10 levels determined by CBA were compared with those by ELISA. IL-10 concentrations measured by CBA and ELISA were highly correlated. IL-2, IL-4, and TNFα were not detected in any sample. The only cytokine detected at a significant level in samples from RD vitreous was IL-6. The IL-10/IL-6 ratio, as previously reported, was slightly higher in PIOL than in uveitis samples, but not for all patients. Cytokine profiles from PIOL and OCL samples did not differ. The combination of the IL-10/IL-6 and IL-10/IFNγ ratios was highly informative for discriminating PIOL/OCL from uveitis samples and for therapeutic follow up of PIOL. This strategy might be very helpful as an initial screening to rule out PIOL in patients thought to have uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the clinical features of ocular Whipple''s disease (WD) and determine the long-term prognosis after antibiotic treatment. Design: Retrospective case series. Participants: Medical records of patients referred between January 1993 and December 2010 were reviewed for chronic corticosteroid-resistant uveitis or neuro-ophthalmologic findings consistent with WD. Eleven patients (male/female = 9/2) were included in this study. Methods: Diagnosis was based on cytologic examination and molecular analysis of samples (cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous, duodenum, or any involved lymph node). It was based on cytology before the routine use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and on both cytology and molecular biology for more recent patients. Long-term antibiotic therapy included oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and rifampin, TMP-SMX alone, rifampin alone, or tetracycline alone. Main Outcome Measures: (1) Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with positive PCR for Tropheryma whipplei or periodic acid-Schiff–positive macrophages in the vitreous and (2) long-term prognosis after antibiotic treatment. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 63 years (range, 51–73 years). Average time between the onset of the disease and diagnosis was 2 years (range, 1 month to 11 years). Mean follow-up was 7.2 years (range, 0.25–18 years). Ophthalmologic findings consisted of chronic uveitis (9 patients), isolated bilateral optic disc swelling (1 patient), and Parinaud syndrome (1 patient). All patients had PAS-positive macrophages, and 6 patients had a positive PCR for T. whipplei. Nine patients were treated with TMP-SMX and rifampin. One patient treated with only tetracycline relapsed and was successfully treated with TMP-SMX. No major side effects were reported. Intraocular inflammation and neurologic manifestations were controlled in all cases. At the end of follow-up, 2 patients were off treatment, 2 patients had a neurologic relapse after treatment interruption, and 5 patients were still taking TMP-SMX. One patient was taking only rifampin. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusions: Ocular WD seems to be a neurologic manifestation of WD. Trimethoprim-SMX with rifampin is an efficient treatment, and prolonging treatment for at least 1 year is recommended. Long-term low-dose antibiotic therapy may reduce the rate of relapse, neurologic involvement, and death. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To report long-term outcomes of cataract surgery with primary posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children with chronic uveitis. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France. Design: Case series. Methods: This case series comprised patients younger than 16 years with chronic uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification with primary implantation of a heparin surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) posterior chamber IOL in the capsular bag. The intraocular inflammation was fully controlled for at least 3 consecutive months before surgery in all cases. The main outcome measures were final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), postoperative inflammation, complications, and level of immunosuppressive treatment. Results: Twenty-two eyes of 16 children (7 girls, 9 boys; median age at surgery 9.5 years old) were included. Underlying uveitic entities were juvenile idiopathic arthritis in 9 patients; idiopathic uveitis in 4; and Behçet disease, sarcoidosis, and varicella zoster-associated uveitis in 1 patient each. The final CDVA was 0.3 logMAR or better in all cases. Postoperative complications included posterior capsule opacification requiring laser capsulotomy in 2 eyes, glaucoma in 4 eyes, and cystoid macular edema/macular dysfunction in 3 eyes. The mean dose of oral prednisone was 29.5 mg/day preoperatively and 8.13 mg/day at the last follow-up. The median follow-up was 6 years (range 5 to 19 years). Conclusion: The results indicate that uveitis is not a formal contraindication to primary IOL implantation in the management of pediatric cataract surgery in cases with full control of intraocular inflammation. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The term uveitis encompasses a very diverse group of inflammatory ocular diseases that cause a significant burden of legal and economic blindness. Indeed, the socioeconomic impact of uveitis is at least as significant as that of diabetic retinopathy and, in the majority of cases, those affected are young individuals of working age. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory process through the use of animal models, but correlation with human disease has proved elusive and many scientific approaches which appear highly effective in animal models prove to be less effective in patients. Nevertheless, effective, targeted treatments are needed in uveitis as current treatment is based on corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs whose usefulness is limited by their many side-effects. The aims of this review are to summarize the state of clinical research in uveitis, to identify gaps in our knowledge, and to propose new opportunities and methodologies for future developments in all aspects of uveitis research, including epidemiology, economic impact analysis, diagnosis, therapeutics, and clinical study design. Optimal patient management and efficient drug development depend on validated structured tools, such as those that have helped to drive a rapid acceleration in the means and methods available to assess and treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Uveitis care should witness a similar boom as the issues discussed are resolved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To report long-term results of intravitreal (IVT) bevacizumab as first local treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to uveitis. Files of patients receiving 1.25 mg/0.05 ml bevacizumab as primary local treatment for CNV were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcomes were change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveolar thickness (CFT), treatment-related adverse events, and number and frequency of injections. Fifteen eyes from fifteen patients were included. Multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis were the diagnosis in seven, ampiginous choroiditis in two, and for six remaining, serpiginous choroiditis, sympathetic ophthalmia, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, punctuate inner choroidopathy, tuberculosis and idiopathic inflammation. In 13 eyes, neovascularization was subfoveal, and peripapillary in two. Intraocular inflammation was strictly controlled in all cases by the time of injections. BCVA improved from logMar 0.53 to logMar 0.29 in 12 eyes (80%), while CFT decreased from 239.06 to 195.2 μm in 13 (87%). Twelve eyes received more than one injection; mean number in this group was 4.25 (2-8), and frequency 1 every 12.97 weeks. There were no adverse events related to bevacizumab or the procedure. Median follow-up was 17.6 months (8-25). First-intention IVT bevacizumab for inflammatory CNV showed transient improvement in BCVA and CFT, in eyes under controlled inflammation. Reinjection was needed in most cases. Further work should conclude about safety related to repeated injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe four cases of familial Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) associated uveitis. Design: Retrospective observational case series. Methods: Clinical data from patients who present familial JIA-associated uveitis are described and possible genetic influence in disease etiology is reviewed. Results: Two sisters, 6- and 7-year-old, developed bilateral anterior uveitis related to oligoarticular JIA. Arthritis in both began by the age of 18 months; uveitis developed simultaneously in one of them and less than one year after arthritis in the other one. Both received topical and systemic treatment to control the ocular disease. Glaucoma occurred in both cases and bilateral cataract in one case. In the other family, a 2-year-old girl developed unilateral uveitis in the context of oligoarticular JIA which was diagnosed by 1-year-old. The disease became soon bilateral and she received topical and systemic immunosuppressive treatment. Her mother suffered from bilateral anterior uveitis associated to oligoarticular inflammatory disease during her infancy, later diagnosed as JIA-associated uveitis. Conclusions: Familial cases of JIA uveitis, although not very common, support the possible role of genetic influence in the pathogenesis of the disease, with horizontal and vertical inheritance being possible. The evolution of ocular disease is similar to the non-familial cases, except for an earlier age of onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate laser flare photometry in measuring aqueous humor inflammation in chronic pseudophakic endophthalmitis. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié Salpétrière Hospital, Paris, France. Methods: This retrospective review comprised eyes with chronic pseudophakic endophthalmitis that were evaluated by slitlamp and laser flare photometry at admission and during follow-up. Results: Nine eyes of 8 patients were reviewed. The laser flare photometry values were significantly reduced by antibiotic treatment in all eyes. The laser flare photometry values increased after antibiotic treatment was withdrawn in 7 eyes. Early detection of the relapse by laser flare photometry was confirmed at the slitlamp examination in the following days. Conclusions: Laser flare photometry, a noninvasive objective tool, was useful in monitoring the evolution of chronic pseudophakic endophthalmitis. Early detection of an increase in flare could lead to a close follow-up. The prompt modification of therapeutic intervention could help preserve a favorable visual outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To investigate long-term responsiveness of patients with severe uveitis associated with Behçet disease to interferon alpha2a (IFN-alpha2a).Design: Retrospective study.Methods: Thirty-two patients with sight-threatening uveitis associated with Behçet disease who relapsed despite corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents were included. IFN-alpha2a was administered subcutaneously (three million units thrice a week). Ophthalmologic examination and fluorescein angiography associated with laboratory tests were performed at regular intervals. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and recurrence of uveitis attacks before, during, and after initiation of IFN-alpha2a therapy.Results: Control of inflammation was achieved in 28 of 32 patients (88%). Mean observation period of the 28 responder patients was 70.6 months (range, 30.3 to 129.2 months). Median visual acuity improved from 0.52 to 0.33 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units; P = .005) two years after initiation of IFN-alpha2a therapy. The relapse rate decreased significantly during IFN-alpha2a treatment from 1.68 +/- 1.22 relapses/patient/year to 0.11 +/- 0.20 relapses/patient/year (P < .0001). IFN-alpha2a was discontinued in 19 of 28 patients (68%) after 32 months of treatment (range, 16 to 50 months). Mean follow-up after IFN-alpha2a discontinuation was 43 months (range, 11 to 84 months). After IFN-alpha2a discontinuation, the relapse rate increased from 0.08 +/- 0.21 relapse/person/year to 0.74 +/- 1.40 relapse/person/year (P = 0.04).Conclusions: IFN-alpha2a is efficient and safe for the long-term management of severe uveitis associated with Behçet disease. Meanwhile it seems to be a suspensive therapeutic strategy, even though long-term remission is possible in some patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) expression, known to be related to the Th2 and Th1 inflammatory pathways, respectively, and human leukocyte antigen-D related (HLA-DR) antigens as hallmarks for ocular surface inflammation in patients with uveitis using conjunctival impression cytologic specimens. Design: Case-controlled study. Methods: Conjunctival impression cytologic specimens were obtained from patients with anterior uveitis (n = 26), and their inflammatory profile was compared with those of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC; n = 24), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS; n = 17), and normal subjects (n = 17). Expressions of CCR4, CCR5, and HLA-DR were analyzed using flow cytometry and were expressed by determining the percentage of cells expressing the markers in the conjunctival epithelium. Results: CCR4 was overexpressed in the uveitis group (mean, 19.8% ± 19.7% of positive cells) and in the VKC group (24.7% ± 20.1%). CCR5 was expressed only weakly in uveitis patients (6.4% ± 13.1%) and in the normal subjects (2.4% ± 2.4%). HLA-DR expression by conjunctival cells was increased in the uveitis patients (57.4% ± 21.1%) and in the KCS group (52.4% ± 12.1%) compared with the VKC group (23.9% ± 26.8%; P < .001) and normal subjects (22.1% ± 19.1%; P < .001). Conclusions: CCR4, classically related to the Th2 system, and HLA-DR both were overexpressed by the conjunctival epithelium in uveitis patients, whereas CCR5, related to the Th1 system, was expressed weakly in uveitis patients. These preliminary results seem to suggest an involvement of the Th2 system on the ocular surface in uveitis. Exploration of the ocular surface in uveitis may represent a new way to understand better the immune pathways involved in this complex disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To compare the effect on outcomes of the route of administration of corticosteroids in acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Design: Retrospective comparative interventional case series. Methods: settings: Nine international uveitis specialty clinics. study population: Forty-eight patients presenting over a three-year period to a study center with acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. intervention: Initial treatment with corticosteroid either orally (Oral only group) or intravenously followed by an oral taper (IV+Oral group). main outcome measures: Change in visual acuity with treatment; development of ocular complications, including visually significant cataract, choroidal neovascularization, subretinal fibrosis, fundus pigment migration, nummular hypopigmented lesions, and diffuse fundus depigmentation; use of immunosuppressive therapy. Results: The Oral only group comprised 15 patients (31%) and the IV+Oral group 33 patients (69%). Median follow-up was 15 months. There was no difference in duration of follow-up between groups (P = .234). There was no difference in the change in visual acuity between groups, adjusting for initial visual acuity (P = .402). There were no differences in the rates of development of visually significant cataract, fundus pigmentary changes, or in the rate of use of subsequent immunosuppressive therapy between treatment groups. No patients developed choroidal neovascularization or subretinal fibrosis over the study period. Conclusions: Route of administration of corticosteroid had no detectable effect on change in visual acuity nor on the development of visually significant complications over the study period. Prospective trials are necessary to address speed of resolution and definitively answer outcome questions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To report the cases of four patients with hepatitis C virus infection who experienced clinical features that are virtually identical to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH).Design: Retrospective observational case series.Methods: Medical records of patients who were referred between January and December 2003 were reviewed for diagnosis and management of VKH and who also had chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.Results: Four white patients had the clinical features of VKH. Three of the patients experienced intraocular inflammation while they were being treated for HCV infection with pegylated interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin. The intraocular inflammation responded to systemic corticosteroid treatment and to discontinuation of antiviral agents.Conclusion: Although the number of patients who were studied is limited, there appears to be an association between HCV infection that was treated with pegylated interferon alpha 2b and the development of VKH-like disease. Further studies are required to confirm such an association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the value of endoretinal biopsy in establishing the diagnosis of severe posterior uveitis. Methods: A clinicopathologic report of three patients with severe posterior uveitis unresponsive to corticosteroids and with a negative systemic workup. These patients subsequently underwent vitrectomy and endoretinal biopsy. Results: Endoretinal biopsy provided an accurate diagnosis in the three cases, leading to appropriate treatment. Histopathologic examination of the three retinal samples confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and lymphoma. Targeted treatment improved the ocular conditions in all three cases. Conclusions: In selected cases of severe bilateral vision-threatening uveitis, retinal biopsy may be indicated as a last resort to confirm a suspected diagnosis of infectious disease or malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from researcher Dan Milea and his colleagues to several letters to the editor about their article on blindness in a strict vegetarian in the March 23, 2000 issue is presented.

A letter to the editor is presented about a case of severe bilateral optic neuropathy in a patient who had been a vegetarian for many years and who did not take vitamin supplements.

: PurposeTo report the clinical features and evaluate the visual outcome of eleven cases of herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) related acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN).: DesignRetrospective interventional case series.: MethodsTwelve eyes of eleven patients from two European centers, diagnosed with HSV-2 related acute retinal necrosis syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. Herpes simplex virus-2 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in intraocular fluids (aqueous and/or vitreous). Findings at initial examination, clinical evolution with antiviral therapy, complications and final visual acuity were evaluated.: ResultsHerpes simplex virus-2 DNA was detected in all cases. No sample was positive for more than one virus. The mean age of disease in the first eye was 36 years (ranged from 10 to 57 years). Five patients were women and six were men. All patients were immunocompetent. Previous medical history included neonatal herpes (n = 1), previous ARN (n = 3), trauma (n = 1) and systemic corticosteroid administration before occurrence of ARN (n = 3). Preexisting pigmented chorioretinal scars were found in three cases. Patients were treated with high dose intravenous acyclovir or foscarnet ± intravitreal ganciclovir ± interferon. The mean follow-up was 14.5 months (from 5 to 22 months). At the end of the follow-up period, five eyes (41.7%) showed improvement of visual acuity of two or more lines. Final visual acuity was 20/60 or better in four eyes (33.3%), 20/400 or better in four eyes (33.3%) and less than 20/400 in four eyes.: ConclusionHistory of neonatal herpes, triggering events such as neurosurgery, periocular trauma, high-dose corticosteroids, and chorioretinal scars suggest that HSV-2 retinitis reflects reactivation of HSV-2 infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL) is a rare presentation of lymphoma that is particularly difficult to recognize. In our institution, 36 cases of PIOL were diagnosed between March 1997 and July 2002. The recognition of lymphoma cells by cytology with or without immunophenotyping on slides generated a strong suspicion of the diagnosis in 34 of 36 cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by measurement of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the vitreous humour or aqueous humour; high levels were observed in 35 of 36 cases, all were of B-cell origin. As expected, the only case with T-cell lymphoma had a very low level of IL-10. Furthermore, IL-10 levels excluded this diagnosis in two cases that were incorrectly suspected of PIOL after cytological examination. Finally, detection of clonality by polymerase chain reaction techniques, performed in 29 cases, represented a helpful tool in diagnosing PIOL as this approach definitively confirmed the diagnosis of B- or T-cell lymphoma in 17 cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: ObjectiveAqueous humor analysis can be performed in severe atypical forms of posterior uveitis unresponsive to conventional treatment to exclude a viral infection.: DesignNoncomparative interventional case series.: ParticipantsThirty-seven immunocompetent patients seen with corticosteroid-resistant forms of posterior uveitis underwent extensive evaluation, including anterior chamber paracentesis, to rule out a nonnecrotizing viral retinopathy.: InterventionAqueous fluid samples were prospectively obtained. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serologic evaluation of intraocular antibody production against herpesviruses were performed by molecular techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.: Main outcome measuresPolymerase chain reaction and local antibody production for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus were determined on aqueous fluid samples.: ResultsViral infection was confirmed in 5 cases (13.5%). Clinical presentation included birdshot-like retinochoroidopathy, occlusive bilateral vasculitis, and cystoid macular edema. An antiviral regimen was initiated in all cases. Inflammation was stabilized, and steroid dosage could be significantly reduced.: ConclusionsIdentification of a viral agent during severe posterior uveitis can dramatically change therapeutic management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: PurposeTo describe the occurrence of conjunctival ulcers as a manifestation of Behc¸et’s disease.: DesignRetrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series with histopathologic correlation.: MethodsSix patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for Behc¸et’s disease and presented with painful conjunctival ulcers were included in the study. Three of these ulcers were biopsied and studied histologically and immunohistochemically. The lesions were treated with topical or subconjunctival injection of corticosteroids and, in one case, with oral indomethacin.: ResultsAlthough all six patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for Behc¸et’s disease, two developed uveitis and other signs of Behc¸et’s disease only months to years after the appearance of the conjunctival ulcers. The 3- to 5-mm, round to oval ulcers were located in the limbal and/or bulbar conjunctiva. Histopathology revealed disrupted epithelium, infiltration of both acute and chronic inflammatory cells, and high endothelial venules. Immunohistochemical analysis of the infiltrating lymphocytes revealed primarily T-cell populations admixed with several B cells and CD68-positive histiocytes. After treatment, the conjunctival lesions invariably healed without scarring.: ConclusionsIn addition to the oral and genital ulceration, ulcers can also be found in the conjunctiva of patients with Behc¸et’s disease. Although this is a rare clinical sign, when accompanied by uveitis or orogenital ulcers, it may suggest a diagnosis of Behc¸et’s disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

PURPOSE: To determine the value of aqueous humor analysis for confirming the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in patients who present with atypical clinical features and to relate the results of local antibody production and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the extent of active retinitis and the immune status of the patient.DESIGN: Retrospective case series.METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with retinitis or retinochoroiditis that was clinically consistent with atypical ocular toxoplasmosis underwent diagnostic anterior chamber paracentesis and serological studies. The aqueous humor was analyzed both by PCR to detect Toxoplasma gondii B1 gene and by the Goldman-Witmer coefficient to determine levels of local anti-T. gondii antibody production.RESULTS: In nine of the 67 cases, PCR was positive for T. gondii; seven of these were negative for local antibody production. All nine patients had illnesses associated with immunosuppression or advanced old age and all had active retinitis with a mean area of 11.5 disk areas (DA). Twenty-five of the remaining 58 cases were positive for local antibody production. These 25 had a mean area of active retinitis measuring 2.6 DA, and 24 of these patients were immunocompetent. All 34 cases with laboratory evidence of ocular toxoplasmosis diagnosed by either method responded to anti-T. gondii agents. The remaining 33 were negative for T. gondii infection by these two methods; some had laboratory evidence of other infections.CONCLUSIONS: Although in the present study, the sensitivity and specificity of the aqueous humor PCR and Goldman-Witmer coefficient could not be ascertained in the laboratory diagnosis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, the PCR method appears to confirm the diagnosis in immunocompromised individuals with large atypical foci of retinitis. Conversely, determination of local antibody production may be appropriate for proper diagnosis in immunocompetent individuals presenting with small foci of retinitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To explore the efficacy and safety of 2 concentrations (0.1% and 0.2%) of sodium naproxen ophthalmic solution in controlling ocular inflammation in patients having phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.Setting: Service d’Ophtalmologie La Pitie&grave; and Centre Ophtalmologique, Paris, and Clinique Sourdille, Nantes, France; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.Methods: One hundred one patients were randomly treated with naproxen 0.1%, naproxen 0.2%, or diclofenac 0.1% 3 times a day for 30 days starting the day before surgery. Postsurgical ocular inflammation was measured after 1, 10, and 30 days using the Kowa FC-1000 laser flare-cell meter and a conventional slitlamp biomicroscope. Safety parameters were evaluated at the same visits.Results: Naproxen 0.2% ophthalmic solution and diclofenac 0.01% were comparable in controlling postsurgical inflammation. The naproxen was well tolerated. No serious adverse events occurred during the study.Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that naproxen ophthalmic solution may be effectively and safely used to control inflammation after uneventful phacoemulsification. Because of the limited number of patients, larger studies are needed to confirm these results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical, angiographic, and cytopathologic features of ocular and central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.Patients and Methods: Retrospective study of 44 patients over a 10-year period.Results: A total of 36 women and six men, mean age 54 years (range: 36-90 years), were included. The mean time interval between onset of ocular symptoms and diagnosis was 40 months (range: 1-144 months). Ocular involvement was bilateral in 84% of the cases. Laser flare photometry readings averaged 9.6 photons/ms (2.9-78.3 photons/ms). Vitritis was constant. Funduscopy revealed RPE abnormalities in 60.49% of the cases and punctuate retinal infiltrates in 33.5%. The most common findings with fluorescein angiography were window defects and hypofluorescent round lesions. Patients had CNS involvement in 66% of the cases. Cytologic examination of the vitreous samples showed high-grade B lymphoma in 86% of the cases. Interleukin-10 dosage, when performed, showed elevated levels averaging 2352 pg/ml in all vitreous samples. Molecular biology based on PCR confirmed the diagnosis in 12 patients. Treatment included systemic chemotherapy alone or associated with radiotherapy in various regimens. Fourteen patients died during follow-up. Only 12 patients were in complete remission.Conclusion: The prognosis of the disease remains poor. However, the new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies may improve the diagnostic delay and the survival outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]