A Vision-Saving Straw in a Retinitis Pigmentosa Patient

We report a case of binocular retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with completely different visual acuity between 2 eyes, which may be contributed by the presence of cilioretinal arteries (CRAs) in 1 eye. A 66-year-old female patient complained of blurred vision after binocular cataract surgeries. Examinations revealed her right eye had 20/25 central visual acuity, but the fellow eye only had light perception. Subsequent fundus photography of both eyes firmed the diagnosis of binocular RP. However, there were some significant differences in retinal vessels, which were attenuated in her left eye in contrast to several spared retinal arterioles in the right eye. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed that the spared vessels might be CRAs. Our case provides an evidence that macular blood flow may contribute to the survival of cone cells in RP.

Peripheral Inflammatory Yellow Exudative Retinal Coats-Like Vitreoretinopathy Misdiagnosed as Acute Retinal Necrosis in a Retinitis Pigmentosa Patient after Cataract Surgery

We would like to describe a case with Coats-like exudative vitreoretinopathy after cataract surgery in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) misdiagnosed as acute retinal necrosis (ARN). A patient with RP underwent cataract surgery that was complicated by macular oedema. Following sub-Tenon’s injection of triamcinolone acetonide, evolution was initially favourable. However, 2 months later, after 2 sub-Tenon’s injections, the patient complained again of floaters and a drop of visual acuity. Aqueous flare measured by laser flare photometry was increased and posterior segment examination showed vitreitis, posterior haemorrhages and a temporal-inferior peripheral white-yellowish area in left eye. Serology (IgGs) for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was slightly elevated and more so for toxoplasmosis. The whole clinical context strongly evoked ARN not excluding completely ocular toxoplasmosis. Valacyclovir and clindamycin were introduced without benefit. When examining the extreme periphery of the right fellow eye, discreet yellow lesions were also detected rendering the infectious hypothesis less probable. A vitrectomy finally excluded infectious causes and the diagnosis of Coats-like exudative vitreoretinopathy in a RP patient was retained. Increased flare despite 2 sub-Tenon’s injections, the presence of micro-haemorrhages, and peripheral yellow retinal necrotic areas drew our attention away from a well-known albeit rare condition of Coats-like response in RP patients, a diagnosis which has to be considered in such circumstances.

Phthisis Bulbi in a Retinitis Pigmentosa Patient after Argus II Implantation

Purpose. To report a previously unreported complication of phthisis after Argus II prosthesis implantation in a retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patient. Case. A 61-year-old male with advanced RP presented to the retina clinic. The patient had a history of vitrectomy in both eyes (OU) in Cuba in 1996. Pre-op visual acuity (VA) was no light perception (NLP) in the right eye and light perception (LP) in the left eye. The patient met the criteria for Argus II implantation and elected to proceed with surgery in his left eye in December 2017. The surgical implantation of the Argus II was successful without any complications. On postoperative day 1, his VA was stable at LP. He was satisfied with his ambulatory vision after the electrodes were turned on. Four months after surgery, the patient was complaining of aching pain; he was found to have preseptal cellulitis and was started on antibiotics. This swelling improved over two weeks, but when the patient returned, he had a two mm hyphema associated with mild ocular inflammation without an inciting event or reason on exam. The hyphema was treated and resolved after two weeks. However, one month after the hyphema resolved, at postoperative month six, the patient’s vision in his left eye became NLP and began to demonstrate phthisical changes, including hypotony, Descemet membrane folds, and a vascular posterior capsular membrane. Discussion. The theoretical causes of phthisis bulbi after Argus II implantation include fibrous downgrowth, ciliary shut down due to immune reaction, inflammation, or trauma. While the cause of phthisis in this Argus patient is not certain and possibly multifactorial, it is important to note that phthisis is a possible complication of an Argus II implant, as this patient had no other obvious insult or reason for the phthisical change.