Case Report: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome Mimicking Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma in a Patient Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) is a rare multisystemic inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Glaucoma secondary to VKH frequently occurs during the recurrent phase of anterior uveitis; however, acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) secondary to both VKH and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has rarely been reported. We describe a case of secondary acute ACG involving VKH, characterized by sudden vision loss, moderately elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), shallow anterior chamber, and fully or partially closed angle, in an HIV-infected patient. Both VKH and HIV infection contributed to the occurrence of ACG due to the leakage and forward rotation of the ciliary body, as well as choroidal effusion. The deterioration of IOP and serous macular detachment were observed after initial corticosteroid therapy. Visual acuity and IOP were improved with subretinal fluid absorption after continued corticosteroid therapy. Understanding the response of IOP and serous macular detachment after corticosteroid therapy is important for clinical practice.

Corneal confocal microscopic characteristics of acute angle-closure crisis

Background To investigate characteristics of the acute angle-closure crisis (AACC) and fellow eyes using confocal microscopy. Methods Unilateral AACC patients hospitalized at the Xi’an People’s Hospital from October 2017 to October 2020 were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Age-matched participants scheduled for cataract surgery were enrolled as a healthy control group. Corneal epithelial cells, subepithelial nerve fiber plexus, stromal cells, and endothelial cells were examined by confocal and specular microscopy. Results This study enrolled 41 unilateral AACC patients (82 eyes) and 20 healthy controls (40 eyes). Confocal microscopy revealed that the corneal nerve fiber density, corneal nerve branch density and corneal nerve fiber length were reduced significantly in AACC eyes. The stromal cells were swollen and the size of the endothelial cells was uneven with the deposition of punctate high-reflective keratic precipitate on the surface. In severe cases, the cell volume was enlarged, deformed, and fused. The corneal subepithelial nerve fiber, stromal layer, and endothelial layer were unremarkable in the fellow eyes, and the density of the endothelial cells was 2601 ± 529 cells/mm2, which was higher than 1654 ± 999 cells/mm2 in AACC eyes (P < 0.001). Corneal edema prevented the examination of 17 eyes using specular microscopy and in only four eyes using confocal microscopy. There were no significant differences in endothelial cell density between confocal and specular microscopy in the AACC eyes (P = 0.674) and fellow eyes (P = 0.247). The hexagonal cell ratio reduced significantly (P < 0.001), and average cell size and coefficient of variation of the endothelial cells increased significantly compared with fellow eyes (P < 0.001, P = 0.008). Conclusions AACC eye showed decreased density and length of corneal subepithelial nerve fiber plexus, activation of stromal cells, increased endothelial cell polymorphism, and decreased density.

Adverse ocular effects of neuroleptic therapy: semiotics, pathogenesis and treatment

Antipsychotics are widely used in psychiatric practice for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other diseases, including those treated off-label. They manifest many adverse effects, including ophthalmic ones. Some of these effects, such as persistent mydriasis, cycloplegia, extraocular muscle dystonia, and visual hypersensitivity attacks are reversible, since they disappear after dose reduction or drug withdrawal. Yet other side effects, such as cataracts, corneal edema, acute angle closure glaucoma and retinopathy are threatening for sight and may lead to permanent visual acuity decline and even blindness. The review provides data on the incidence of ocular side effects (both typical and atypical) of multiple antipsychotics, their clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and treatment. Eye examination is recommended for patients taking antipsychotics in the early periods of treatment and then twice a year. The psychiatrists need to know about the adverse effects of individual drugs whilst the ophthalmologists should be aware of their semiotics, pathogenesis and treatment, since timely diagnosis and treatment of pathological changes, together with antipsychotic therapy modification, prevent the development of severe and irreversible visual impairment in the majority of cases.

Aphakic Pupillary Block by an Intact Anterior Vitreous Membrane after Total Lens Extraction by Phacoemulsification

An 85-year-old Japanese woman with acute primary angle closure in her right eye underwent cataract extraction. Because of the weakness of the Zinn’s zonules, all of the lens tissue including the lens capsule was removed by phacoemulsification. Because of the absence of vitreous prolapse into the anterior chamber, vitrectomy was not performed. Nine days postoperatively, acute angle closure due to pupillary block by an anterior vitreous membrane developed. To resolve the pupillary block, anterior vitrectomy was performed on the same day. Postoperatively, her symptoms resolved, the anterior chamber deepened, and the intraocular pressure normalized. Although rare, acute angle closure due to pupillary block by an anterior vitreous membrane can occur after total lens extraction with phacoemulsification. If no vitreous prolapse occurs with total lens extraction, an intentional hyaloidotomy using an anterior vitreous cutter or iridectomy should be considered to avoid secondary angle closure.