Search

Wai-Ching Lam,1 David A Albiani,2 Pradeepa Yoganathan,3 John Chanchiang Chen,4 Amin Kherani,5 David AL Maberley,6 Alejandro Oliver,7 Theodore Rabinovitch,3 Thomas G Sheidow,8 Eric Tourville,9 Leah A Wittenberg,10 Chris Sigouin,11 Darryl C Baptiste12 1Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, 2West Coast Retinal Consultants, Vancouver, BC, 3North Toronto Eye Care, North York, ON, 4Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, 5Southern Alberta Eye Center, Calgary, AB, 6Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, 7Timmins and District Hospital, Timmins, ON, 8Ivey Eye Institute, London, ON, 9Center Oculaire de Quebec, Quebec City, QC, 10Retina Surgical Associates, New Westminster, BC, 11Clinwest Research Inc, Burlington, ON, 12Allergan Inc., Markham, ON, Canada Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the real-world use, efficacy, and safety of one or more dexamethasone intravitreal implant(s) 0.7 mg (DEX implant) in patients with macular edema (ME).Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with ME secondary to retinal disease treated at ten Canadian retina practices, including one uveitis center. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma and cataract surgery, and safety data were collected from the medical charts of patients with ≥3 months of follow-up after the initial DEX implant.Results: One hundred and one patient charts yielded data on 120 study eyes, including diagnoses of diabetic ME (DME) (n=34), retinal vein occlusion (RVO, n=30; branch in 19 and central in 11), and uveitis (n=23). Patients had a mean age of 60.9 years, and 73.3% of the study eyes had ME for a duration of ≥12 months prior to DEX implant injection(s). Baseline mean (± standard error) BCVA was 0.63±0.03 logMAR (20/86 Snellen equivalents) and mean CRT was 474.4±18.2 µm. The mean number of DEX implant injections was 1.7±0.1 in all study eyes; 44.2% of eyes had repeat DEX implant injections (reinjection interval 2.3–4.9 months). The greatest mean peak changes in BCVA lines of vision occurred in study eyes with uveitis (3.3±0.6, P0.05). Significant decreases in CRT were observed: -255.6±43.6 µm for uveitis, -190.9±23.5 µm for DME, and -160.7±39.6 µm for RVO (P

Purpose: Fetal movements are crucial indicators of fetal well-being, with reduced fetal movements (RFM) suggesting potential fetal compromise. Fetal growth restriction (FGR), often linked to placental insufficiency, is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the neonatal, labor, and placental outcomes of FGR pregnancies with and without RFM at term., Methods: In this retrospective study, data from all term, singleton deliveries with FGR and concomitant RFM were obtained and compared to an equal control group of FGR without RFM. Maternal characteristics, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, and placental histology were compared. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify independent associations with adverse neonatal outcomes., Results: During the study period, 250 FGR neonates with concomitant RFM and an equal control group were identified. The groups did not differ in maternal demographics aside from significantly higher rates of maternal smoking in the RFM group (p < 0.001). Polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios (p = 0.032 and p = 0.007, respectively) and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (p < 0.001) were more prevalent in the FGR+RFM group. Additionally, the RFM group showed higher rates of adverse neonatal outcomes despite having larger neonates (p = 0.047 and p < 0.001, respectively). No significant differences were observed in placental findings. Logistic regression identified RFM as an independent predictor of adverse neonatal outcomes (aOR 2.45, 95% CI 1.27-4.73, p = 0.008)., Conclusion: Reduced fetal movements are significant and independent predictors of worse neonatal outcomes in FGR pregnancies, suggesting an additional acute insult on top of underlying placental insufficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To compare long-term outcomes of simultaneous accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) with intrastromal corneal ring segments (CXL-ICRS) with simultaneous accelerated CXL with topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (CXL-TG-PRK) in progressive keratoconus (KC)., Setting: Kensington Eye Institute and Bochner Eye Institute, Toronto, Canada., Design: Prospective nonrandomized interventional study., Methods: The change in visual and topographical outcomes of CXL-ICRS and CXL-TG-PRK 4 to 5 years postoperatively were compared using linear regression models adjusted for preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and maximum keratometry (Kmax)., Results: 57 eyes of 43 patients with progressive KC who underwent simultaneous accelerated (9 mW/cm 2 , 10 minutes) CXL-ICRS (n = 32) and CXL-TG-PRK (n = 25) were included. Mean follow-up duration was 51.28 (9.58) and 54.57 (5.81) months for the CXL-ICRS and CXL-TG-PRK groups, respectively. Initial mean Kmax was higher in the CXL-ICRS group compared with the CXL-TG-PRK group (60.68 ± 6.81 diopters [D] vs 57.15 ± 4.19 D, P = .02). At the last follow-up, change (improvement) in logMAR uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) compared with that preoperatively was significant with CXL-ICRS (-0.31 ± 0.27, P < .001, which is equivalent to approximately 3 lines) and not significant with CXL-TG-PRK (-0.06 ± 0.42, P = .43). The logMAR CDVA improved significantly with CXL-ICRS (-0.22 ± 0.20, P < .001), but not with CXL-TG-PRK (-0.05 ± 0.22, P = .25). Adjusting for baseline Kmax and CDVA, the improvement in UDVA was significantly greater with CXL-ICRS than with CXL-TG-PRK (-0.27, 95% CI, 0.06-0.47, P = .01). Improvement in CDVA was not significantly different., Conclusions: In this cohort of progressive KC with long-term follow-up, UDVA showed more improvement with accelerated CXL-ICRS than with CXL-TG-PRK., (Copyright © 2023 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the visual outcomes of KAMRA (AcuFocus Inc, Irvine, Calif.) inlay insertion in a cohort of patients reporting success of procedure, complications, patient satisfaction, and refractive outcomes., Design: Retrospective trial at the TLC Laser Centre, Toronto., Methods: A total of 5 surgeons at the practice inserted 35 KAMRA inlays in 35 patients between October 2012 and June 2014. Some patients had a sole KAMRA inlay insertion, whereas others had combined laser vision correction (LVC) and KAMRA inlay on either the same day or sequentially. There was a small cohort of patients who had previous unrelated LVC. Mean time of follow-up was 299 days., Results: After KAMRA inlay insertion there was a significant improvement in uncorrected near visual acuity (p = 0.00009), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (p = 0.00006), and uncorrected distance visual acuity (p = 0.02), but levels of patient dissatisfaction were 43%. The most common cause for dissatisfaction was requirements for readers (23%), followed by dysphotopsias (11%). The explantation rate was 11.42%, and 28.5% of patients required enhancements after inlay insertion., Conclusions: The KAMRA corneal inlay has significant improvements in uncorrected near visual acuity, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity, and uncorrected distance visual acuity when used in isolation or combined with LVC. Appropriate patient selection is crucial. This procedure should not be used as first-line presbyopia management because of low levels of patient satisfaction, biocompatibility concerns, and explantation rates., (Copyright © 2022 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Budd-Chiari syndrome is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by venous drainage obstruction of the liver and is extremely rare. The clinical manifestations are usually ascites, varicose veins and in severe cases - hepatic insufficiency. Behcet's disease is a chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory disease that manifests as obstructive vasculitis and affects a variety of organ systems. Ocular involvement occurs in approximately 70% of the patients, and is a major clinical criterion in the diagnosis. Rarely, Behcet's disease can be a cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome. In these cases, the diagnosis has a crucial impact on the treatment and prognosis of the patients since patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to Behcet's disease, will usually improve under systemic medications with no need for surgery. In addition, in these patients there is a higher chance for developing hepatocellular carcinoma so they need to have a tight and a long follow-up., Discussion: In this article we discuss a case of a young patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome, who was examined due to acute vision loss in his left eye. Left eye examination revealed panuveitis presenting with anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis and an occlusive retinal vasculitis. The ocular examination raised suspicion that the diagnosis was Behcet's disease. Actually, Budd-Chiari syndrome was part of the presentation of Behcet's disease, which was not diagnosed until he was examined by us. The patient was treated with corticosteroid therapy and biological treatment with adalimumab, an anti-TNF drug. During follow-up, a complete resolution of the intraocular inflammation was achieved, as well as stabilization of its general condition, with the disappearance of the clinical signs indicative of liver failure.

Purpose: To describe uveitis cases after the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination., Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective study. Vaccine-related uveitis diagnosis was supported by the classification of the World Health Organization Adverse Drug Terminology and the Naranjo criteria., Results: Twenty-one patients (23 eyes) with a mean age of 51.3 years (23-78 years) were included. Eight of the 21 patients had a known history of uveitis. The median time from previous to current attack was 1 year (0.5-15 years). There were 21 anterior uveitis cases, two with bilateral inflammation. Eight cases occurred after the first vaccination and 13 after the second vaccination. All but three presented as mild to moderate disease. Two patients developed multiple evanescent white dot syndrome after the second vaccination. The mean time from vaccination to uveitis onset was 7.5 ± 7.3 days (1-30 days). At final follow-up, complete resolution was achieved in all but two eyes, which showed significant improvement. One case of severe anterior uveitis developed vitritis and macular edema after the second vaccination, which completely resolved after an intravitreal dexamethasone injection., Conclusion: Uveitis may develop after the administration of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. The most common complication was mild to moderate anterior uveitis, while multiple evanescent white dot syndrome can also occur less frequently.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and agreement of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) interpretation in cases of common retinal findings and diagnoses, and to evaluate the effect of OCT B-scans on OCTA interpretations., Methods: This is a case series consisting of a questionnaire with 8 cases demonstrating common retinal conditions of normal, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Each case included OCTA images, and 58 participants were asked to identify retinal findings and provide a diagnosis. Following OCTA interpretation, the corresponding OCT B-scans were revealed and the participants were asked again to identify retinal findings and provide a diagnosis. The rates of accuracy and agreement for each condition were analyzed., Results: Overall the rates of accurate diagnosis and identification of retinal findings were 37.4 and 61.6%, respectively. Following addition of the OCT B-scans, the rates increased to 61.6 and 79.4%, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). A significant improvement in correct interpretation occurred in the normal and AMD cases, but not in the DR cases. There was no correlation with length of experience or self-reported familiarity with OCTA., Discussion: Considerable variability exists in OCTA interpretation, with mediocre rates of accuracy and agreement between clinicians. Increased familiarity as well as future automation advances will be needed to improve OCTA interpretation accuracy and uniformity., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: We examined the efficacy and preoperative characteristics that affect outcomes of accelerated (9 mW/cm 2 for 10 minutes) corneal cross-linking (CXL)., Design: Prospective single-center observational cohort study., Methods: We enrolled 612 eyes of 391 subjects with progressive keratoconus (n = 589), pellucid marginal degeneration (n = 11), and laser in situ keratomileusis-induced ectasia (n = 12). We evaluated best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), topography, refraction, endothelial cell density, corneal thickness, haze, intraocular pressure, and visual function before and 12 months after the CXL procedure. We tabulated the proportion of those with progression of maximum keratometry (Kmax). We included participant's race, age, sex, and the presence of preoperative apical scarring and environmental allergies in a multivariable linear regression model to determine the effect of these characteristics on outcomes., Results: At 1 year there was no significant change in mean Kmax (n = 569). Progression of Kmax was higher in subgroups with a baseline Kmax >58 diopters (n = 191) and those 14-18 years of age (n = 53). Preoperative BSCVA, Kmax, refraction, corneal cylinder, coma, central corneal thickness, and vision function were statistically and clinically significant predictors of outcomes (P < .001). Preoperative apical scarring led to worsening haze (P = .0001), more astigmatism (P = .002), more central corneal thinning (P = .002), and was protective to the endothelium (P = .008). Race, age, and sex affected some outcomes., Conclusion: Mean Kmax was stable at 1 year after accelerated CXL. Younger patients and those with a higher preoperative Kmax need to be monitored closely for progression. Preoperative BSCVA, topography, refraction, CCT, and apical scarring were significant predictors of outcomes., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) alone, CXL with simultaneous intrastromal corneal ring segments (CXL-ICRS), and CXL with simultaneous topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (CXL-TG-PRK) in progressive keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD), or laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)-induced ectasia., Setting: The Kensington Eye Institute and Bochner Eye Institute, Toronto, Canada., Design: Prospective nonrandomized interventional study., Methods: Visual and topographical outcomes using a comparative analysis adjusting for preoperative maximum keratometry (Kmax) were evaluated 1 year postoperatively., Results: Four hundred fifty-two eyes from 375 patients with progressive keratoconus, PMD, or LASIK-induced ectasia that underwent accelerated (9 mW/cm, 10 minutes) CXL alone (n = 204), CXL-ICRS (n = 126), or CXL-TG-PRK (n = 122) were included. Change in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution uncorrected distance visual acuity was significant with CXL-ICRS (-0.31; 95% CI, -0.38 to -0.24) and CXL-TG-PRK (-0.16; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.09), but not with CXL alone. No significant differences in change were found between the 3 groups. Change in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was significant in all 3 groups: -0.12 (95% CI, -0.15 to -0.10) with CXL alone, -0.23 (95% CI, -0.27 to -0.20) with CXL-ICRS, and -0.17 (95% CI, -0.21 to -0.13) with CXL-TG-PRK. Improvement in CDVA was greater with CXL-ICRS than with CXL alone (-0.08 ± 0.02; P < .0001) and CXL-TG-PRK (-0.05 ± 0.02; P = .005). Change in Kmax was significant with CXL-ICRS [-3.21 diopters (D); 95% CI, -3.98 to -2.45] and CXL-TG-PRK (-3.69 D; 95% CI, -4.49 to -2.90), but not with CXL alone (-0.05 D; 95% CI, -0.66 to 0.55)., Conclusions: CXL alone might be best for keratoconic patients who meet the inclusion criteria. CXL-ICRS might be more effective for eyes with more irregular astigmatism and worse CDVA and CXL-TG-PRK for eyes requiring improvements in irregular astigmatism but still have good CDVA.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the visual outcome, uveitis control, and complications following cataract surgery for intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with a known diagnosis of uveitis., Design: The study was a retrospective interventional case series., Participants: We reviewed 98 patients (137 eyes) with adult uveitis undergoing cataract surgery with foldable acrylic posterior chamber IOL implantation between 2003 and 2013 in 2 uveitis practices., Methods: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and uveitis grade (Standardized Uveitis Nomenclature criteria) were measured at 1 month preoperatively, at postoperative week 1, and at postoperative months 1, 6, and 12. The main outcome measures were mean change in postoperative BCVA, uveitis grade, and complications., Results: Of the eyes studied, 84% had grade 0-0.5 anterior uveitis at postoperative week 1 and maintained uveitis control (77% grade 0; 19% grade 0.5 anterior uveitis) at 1 year postoperatively. None of the patients had active intermediate or posterior uveitis at any time point. Mean BCVA improved from 0.71 ± 0.38 logMAR preoperatively to 0.37 ± 0.36 at 6 months (p < 0.01) and to 0.30 ± 0.25 at 12 months (p = 0.01) postoperatively. Of the study participants, 30% had preoperative complications related to uveitis, including epiretinal membrane (12%), cystoid macular edema (12%), and glaucoma (5.8%); 46% of patients had small pupils as a result of posterior synechiae. Postoperative vision-limiting complications included posterior capsule opacification (18%), epiretinal membrane (9.0%), and cystoid macular edema (8.8%). Of the eyes studied, 5.8% underwent Nd:YAG capsulotomy., Conclusions: Cataract surgery with acrylic posterior-chamber IOL implantation is effective at improving visual acuity in patients with uveitis. Uveitis was well controlled in the majority of our study patients for 12 months after cataract surgery. The most frequent vision-limiting postoperative complication was posterior capsule opacification, which was treatable with Nd:YAG capsulotomy., (Copyright © 2017 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of mitomycin C (MMC)-augmented trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients with uveitis to those without uveitis but with other high-risk characteristics., Methods: A retrospective comparative cohort analysis consisting of 51 eyes of 51 patients (21 uveitic patients and 30 nonuveitic patients) was performed. Two outcome classifications were analyzed: absolute success (intraocular pressure [IOP]

Objective: To characterize the rheumatic diseases associated with acute anterior uveitis and examine the potential role of Yersinia enterocolitica in the pathogenesis of acute anterior uveitis., Methods: 44 patients with acute anterior uveitis were assessed for evidence of an underlying rheumatic syndrome by history and examination. HLA profiles were identified by serologic and molecular techniques. Serological analysis of patients' sera for the presence of antibodies to Y. enterocolitica was by Western blot., Results: 30 of the 44 patients had musculoskeletal symptoms. Of these, 8 had ankylosing spondylitis, 4 reactive arthritis, 2 undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (SpA), 2 inflammatory bowel disease, one seronegative polyarthritis, and 13 mechanical back pain. Of 42 patients typed, 29 (69%) were HLA B27 positive and an additional 7 patients expressed a crossreactive group antigen (86% of total group B27 or CREG positive). Western blot analysis of the sera revealed increased frequency of antibodies to Yersinia compared with a control population. Antibodies directed against the 36 and 27 kDa Yersinia antigens were recognized with greater frequency (p < 0.05) in patients with acute anterior uveitis than in controls. IgG reactivity was more pronounced than IgA reactivity. Adsorption studies showed significant cross reactivity of anti-Yersinia antibodies with Salmonella typhimurium. Among the patients with acute anterior uveitis anti-Yersinia reactivity did not correlate with the HLA profile, nor with the presence of an underlying rheumatic disease., Conclusion: SpA represent the commonest underlying rheumatic disorders associated with acute anterior uveitis. The majority of patients with acute anterior uveitis possess HLA-B27 regardless of whether there is underlying SpA. Patients with acute anterior uveitis show increased frequency of anti-Yersinia antibodies compared with controls. Many of these antibodies appear to be directed against antigenic determinants shared among gram negative bacteria and thus cannot constitute definitive evidence for a causal role specifically for Yersinia in acute anterior uveitis. Acute anterior uveitis represents an interplay of host susceptibility and microbial triggers, as is the case for the SpA in general.

Eighteen patients with severe, progressive nonmicrobial inflammatory ophthalmic disease (including five with intermediate uveitis, four with sympathetic ophthalmia and three with serpiginous choroiditis) that had not responded to conventional therapy were treated with cyclosporine. Three of the four patients with sympathetic ophthalmia responded quickly and maximally, and the fourth showed partial improvement. One patient, with several corneal graft failures in the right eye, started cyclosporine therapy after undergoing left corneal transplantation; at the last follow-up visit the graft had been clear for almost 3 years. The response was inconsistent in patients with other types of eye disease. In general, the drug was well tolerated; however, two patients stopped treatment because of unpleasant side effects. No serious or irreversible complications developed. The results suggest that cyclosporine therapy is useful in the treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia and in high-risk corneal transplantation.

Intravitreal inoculation of 10(3) pfu of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) to 3-week-old BALB/c mice resulted in virus isolation from eye homogenates for 2 weeks and from co-cultured specimens of the same eye up to 5 weeks after inoculation, indicating that MCMV in the eye became latent 2 weeks after the virus inoculation. Immunosuppressive treatment with daily intramuscular injections of cyclosporine (40 micrograms/g) and cortisone acetate (125 micrograms/g) 9 weeks after intravitreal MCMV inoculation resulted in isolation of infectious virus from ten of 44 eye homogenates (10 of 22 mice) during a 3-week period, indicating in vivo reactivation of latent ocular MCMV. No virus was isolated from eye homogenates of similarly infected mice with sham immunosuppression (daily intramuscular saline injections), nor was any virus isolated from uninfected eyes with immunosuppressive treatment. Three weeks of daily cyclosporine and cortisone injections depleted L3T4+ cells to 6.0%, Lyt-2+ cells to 20% and anti-MCMV antibody to 10% of untreated mice. The results suggest that the eye can serve as a site of latent MCMV that can be reactivated by immunosuppressive means.