Ahmed glaucoma valve in vitrectomized eyes: An implantation technique to minimize early postoperative fluid-loss hypotony

Purpose: To describe the application of a modified Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) surgical implantation technique in vitrectomized eyes, in order to minimize the risk of early postoperative hypotony, which leads to hemorrhagic complications. Materials and methods: Data of patients implanted with AGV using the surgical technique described were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criterion: glaucomatous eyes with previous history of pars plana vitrectomy. Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and ophthalmic examination were performed preoperatively and postoperatively weekly for 1 month for the detection of early hypotony, choroidal effusion/detachment, intraocular hemorrhage. The surgical technique consisted in creating a 5 mm long scleral tunnel with a 23 G needle reaching the anterior chamber at the iridocorneal angle, in which the Ahmed glaucoma valve tube was inserted. Results: Ten eyes of 10 patients were included. Median preoperative IOP was 30.5 mmHg [interquartile range (IQR) 28.3–33.0]; median postoperative IOP was 12.0 mmHg (IQR 9.3–13.0) at 1 week, and 12.5 mmHg (IQR 11.0–15.0) at 1 month. In no cases postoperative IOP was <8 mmHg. On the first postoperative day, five (50%) eyes showed few blood clots in the anterior chamber. On the second-week appointment, moderate choroidal effusion was observed in two eyes (20%). No hemorrhagic complications were observed. Conclusions: The creation of a long intrascleral tunnel with a 23 G needle for AGV implantation in vitrectomized eyes could be effective in decreasing leakage through the space between the valve tube and the sclerocorneal tissue. This technique is safe, easy to perform, feasible and fast. Due to its advantages and good postoperative results, it could also be adopted in non-vitrectomized eyes.

Weissellosis in rainbow trout in Colombia

Weissellosis is an emergent disease caused by Weissella, a Gram-positive bacteria correlated with hemorrhagic illness and mortality in farm-raised trout in several countries. The current study reports the first outbreaks of weissellosis by Weissella ceti in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which caused severe mortalities in trout farms in Colombia between May 2016 to June 2019. The disease occurred in several farms irrigated by the same river where temperatures were above 17 °C. Symptoms of the disease were limited almost exclusively to trout above 250 g. The clinical signs consisted of lethargic and anorexic fish, swimming in circles at the surface or against the walls. Pathological findings were mainly ocular lesions like bilateral exophthalmia, periocular and intraocular hemorrhage, lenticular opacity and corneal rupture usually leading to blindness, muscular hemorrhages and necrosis. Microbial isolating from eye, brain, kidney, liver and muscle was performed and W. ceti was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA. The aim of this work was to characterize the Weisellosis by Weissella ceti in trouts in Colombia, including microbiological isolating, molecular analysis, gross and microscopic characterization.

Risk factors and prognosis of pediatric open globe injuries without initial light perception

Purpose: To investigate the possible risk factors and prognosis of initial no light perception (NLP) in pediatric open globe injuries (POGI). Procedures: This retrospective, comparative, interventional case-control study included 865 eyes of POGI patients presenting to a tertiary referral ophthalmic center from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015. Eyes were divided into two groups: NLP group included eyes with initial NLP, and light perception(LP) group included eyes with initial LP or vision better than LP. Results: The following risk factors were significantly related to initial NLP: severe intraocular hemorrhage (OR=3.287, p=0.015), retinal detachment (RD) (OR=2.527, p=0.007), choroidal damage (OR=2.680, p=0.016) and endophthalmitis (OR=4.221, p＜0.001). Choroidal damage is related to remaining NLP after vitreoretinal surgery (OR=12.384, p=0.003). At the last visit, more eyes in the NLP group suffered from silicone oil–sustained status (OR=0.266, p=0.020) or ocular atrophy (OR=0.640, p=0.004), and less eyes benefitted from final LP (OR=41.061, p＜0.001) and anatomic success (OR=4.515, p＜0.001). Conclusion: Severe intraocular hemorrhage, RD, choroidal damage and endophthalmitis occurred more often in POGI with initial NLP. Choroidal damage was the major factor related to an NLP prognosis. Traumatized eyes with initial NLP could be anatomically and functionally preserved by vitreoretinal surgery.

Long-term evaluation of pars plana vitrectomy in children with Abusive head trauma

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in children with intraocular hemorrhage (IOH) secondary to Abusive head trauma (AHT). Methods: A long-term retrospective analysis evaluating epidemiology, management, safety, anatomical and functional results of PPV for IOH in children with AHT at tertiary referral center for children in the Czech Republic from 2004 to 2017. Results: 18 children were identified with IOH due to AHT during observation period of 14 years. Overall incidence of IOH related to AHT was 29.6/100 000, in children under 1 year 22.2/100 000, in children 1 to 5 years 7.4/100 000. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 13.7 (SD±20.53) months, median 5 months. IOH resolved in 56% of children, 64% eyes, spontaneously. 44% children, 36% eyes, underwent PPV. PPV was performed 30.5 (SD±16.98) days after established diagnosis on average. Postoperatively, 80% of eyes had anatomical improvement, 20% eyes had preexisting irreversible changes in the posterior pole. Vision of 50% eyes improved after surgery, vision of 20% eyes remained poor, 30% of eyes was not possible to test due to severe neurological impairment. Mean observational period was 33.4 (SD±38.21) months. Mortality rate of AHT in our group was 17%, all victims were younger 4 months. Conclusions: PPV is a safe and effective procedure to clear IOH in children with AHT. Ophthalmology outcomes are strongly associated with degree of neurological impairment. Best outcomes were achieved with PPV performed between 2 and 5 weeks after trauma. Opportunity to plan surgery within this time frame indicates a good neurological prospect and prevents deprivation amblyopia.

Ocular Fundus Abnormalities in Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The FOTO-ICU Study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Ocular fundus abnormalities, especially intraocular hemorrhage, may represent a clinically useful prognostic marker in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations between ocular fundus abnormalities and clinical outcomes in acute SAH. METHODS Prospective evaluation of acute SAH patients with ocular fundus photography at bedside. Multivariable logistic models were used to evaluate associations between fundus abnormalities and poor outcome (inpatient death, care withdrawal, or discharge Glasgow Outcome Score &lt;4) and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths-of-stay, controlling for APACHE II score, respiratory failure at ICU admission, Hunt & Hess score, aneurysmal etiology, age, and sex. RESULTS Fundus abnormalities were present in 29/79 patients with acute SAH (35.4%), and 20/79 (25.3%) had intraocular hemorrhage. In univariate analyses, poor outcomes were more likely among patients with fundus abnormalities vs without (15/28 [53.6%] vs 15/51 [29.4%], P = .03); median length of ICU stay was longer in patients with intraocular hemorrhage than without (18 d [interquartile range (IQR) 12-25] vs 11 [IQR 7-17], P = .03). Logistic regression with fundus abnormality as predictor of interest showed that male sex (odds ratio [OR] 5.33 [95% CI 1.09-26.0], P = .045), higher APACHE II (OR, per 1-point increase, 1.35 [95% CI 1.08-1.78], P = .01), and aneurysmal etiology (OR 4.35 [95% CI 1.01-22.9], P = .048), but not fundus abnormalities (OR 1.56 [95% CI 0.43-5.65], P = .49) or intraocular hemorrhage (OR 1.28 [95% CI 0.26-5.59], P = .75) were associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSION Although ocular fundus abnormalities are associated with disease severity in SAH, they do not add value to patients’ acute management beyond other risk factors already in use.

Multimodal imaging of spontaneous subretinal hemorrhage in a young male: a case report

Background Spontaneous subretinal hemorrhage (SSRH) is a rare disease that severely affects the visual function, and is difficult to diagnose. This study aimed to describe the multimodality imaging characteristics of SSRH in a young male patient. Case presentation A 28-year-old male was presented to our hospital with “sudden drop of left eye vision for one week.” Three weeks ago, he was admitted to other hospital due to sudden severe pain and unclear vision in the left eye for 1 h. The intraocular pressure was 69 mmHg, and the blood pressure was 230/120 mmHg. Skull CT and MRI detected abnormal signal shadows in the left eye and no abnormalities in the brain. B-ultrasonography indicated occupying lesions in the left eye. Two weeks later, the patient came to our hospital for treatment as the vision of the left eye had decreased sharply. Admission examination: blood pressure was 200/120 mmHg, best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and hand motion in the left eye. Fundus details could not be evaluated in the left eye because of hemorrhage in the vitreous cavity. B-ultrasonography of the left eye revealed a dense, diffuse intravitreal hemorrhage. Skull MRI showed an abnormal signal shadow in the left eyeball, suggesting intraocular hemorrhage. Vitrectomy revealed a dome-shaped lesion in the peripheral part of the inferotemporal region during the operation. Postoperative indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) of the lesion showed hypofluorescence and no leakage or altered morphology during the whole imaging process. Follow-up showed gradual reabsorption of SSRH. Conclusions In this case, SSRH was considered to be associated with high blood pressure. Multimodal imaging provides accurate data for the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease.

Treatment of Symptomatic Vitreous Opacities with Pharmacologic Vitreolysis Using a Mixure of Bromelain, Papain and Ficin Supplement

Methods: Our research was scheduled in Southern Taiwan between April 2017 and December 2017. A total of 280 patients presenting 280 eyes were enrolled and received a series of ocular examinations. Each of our specially designed capsules contained 190 mg bromelain, 95 mg papain and 95 mg ficin. In Experiment 1, 120 subjects were classified into Group 1 (one symptomatic vitreous opacity (SVO)) and Group 2 (multiple SVOs) which each subject taking two capsules every day. In Experiment 2, 160 eyes with SVOs were randomly divided into four groups including the placebo; low protease group (LPG) (1 capsule/day); middle protease group (MPG) (2 capsules/day); and high protease group (HPG) (3 capsules/day), respectively. Finally, we analyzed the change in SVOs and checked the numbers of SVOs during and after three months in our study. Results: In Experiment 1, 80 subjects with one SVO were reduced to 24 cases (30.0%; 24/80), 40 participants with multiple SVOs were decreased to 11 cases (27.5%; 11/40) three months later. In Experiment 2, the numbers of patients with SVOs in the placebo group was similar after three months. The disappeared rates of SVOs by treatment with fruit enzymes was 65.5%, 70.0% and 75.5% and for those taking one, two and three capsules daily as therapy, respectively. Hence, the results showed that the effects of treating SVOs in a dose-dependent manner; the higher the dose, the greater the SVO reduction. We also suggested that the mechanisms of dissolving and absorbing SVOs may be due to the proteinase and associated hydrolysis and antioxidant activities that may clear the compromised opacity and scavenge free radicals in the vitreous. In addition, there were no serious side effects or discomfort during treatment. Conclusion: We demonstrated that mixed-fruit-enzyme including bromelain, papain and ficin may excise SVOs and even eliminate intraocular hemorrhage by cleaving the collagen fibrils and cellular debris that may induce ocular floaters.

Posterior Segment Findings in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Purpose: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an established treatment modality for critically ill patients with cardiopulmonary failure, yet little is known of the ocular pathology in this population. The aim of this study is to characterize the posterior segment findings of ECMO patients. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 20 ECMO patients evaluated by ophthalmology from September 2012 to May 2019 at a level 1 trauma center. Comprehensive examinations assessed for intraocular pathology. Demographic data, exam findings, and mortality were analyzed. Results: The sample size consisted of 20 patients; a majority were male (75%), and mean age was 37.4 years (interquartile range, 26.75-50 years). All patients received ECMO for care of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Average duration of ECMO therapy was 9.6 ± 6.5 days. Eleven (55%) patients had acute retinal pathology, including Purtscher-like retinopathy (20%), intraocular hemorrhage (50%), and septic chorioretinitis (bacterial or fungal, 10%). Location of hemorrhage included the retina (40%), vitreous (30%), and optic disc (15%). Sixty percent (n = 12) of patients were unable to provide a subjective history on initial assessment. Ultimately, 5 out of 20 patients (25%) died of systemic illness during their hospital stay. Conclusion: This study demonstrates high rates of retinal pathology, most commonly vitreous and/or retinal hemorrhage alongside a Purtscher-like retinopathy. This is likely secondary to complications of anticoagulation, microthrombi, septicemia, and hemodynamic instability. We found a mortality rate slightly lower than that of prior ECMO studies. Prospective studies with pre-ECMO and post-ECMO fundus photography is warranted for better understanding of these medically complex patients.