Aliza Jap

Clinical Features of Cytomegalovirus Anterior Uveitis in Immunocompetent Patients

PURPOSE To describe the clinical presentation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior uveitis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients. DESIGN Retrospective, interventional case series. METHODS HIV-negative patients with anterior uveitis associated with elevated intraocular pressure (hypertensive anterior uveitis) seen at the Singapore National Eye Centre had their aqueous analyzed for viral deoxyribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction, and their records were reviewed for demographic data, ocular findings, laboratory results, and treatment. RESULTS Aqueous was obtained from 105 of 106 eligible eyes. Twenty-four eyes demonstrated positive results for CMV (22.8%). Eighteen eyes had Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS; 75%) at presentation, five eyesba had Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI; 20.8%), and one eye had a presumed herpetic anterior uveitis. Twelve of the 24 eyes were treated with ganciclovir. Of the 12 who completed treatment, all responded clinically, and their aqueous demonstrated negative results for CMV on repeat testing. However, nine had recurrences within eight months of stopping treatment and required further courses of ganciclovir. The 81 CMV-negative eyes included 30 with PSS, 11 with FHI, 27 with uveitic glaucomas of unknown cause, and 13 with presumed herpetic anterior uveitis. CONCLUSIONS CMV anterior uveitis is not uncommon in our immunocompetent patients and it may present as a recurrent acute or chronic inflammation, resembling PSS, herpetic anterior uveitis, or FHI.

Conjunctival rotation autograft for pterygium: An alternative to conjunctival autografting

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and efficacy of conjunctival rotation autografting (CRA) as an alternative to conventional conjunctival autograft after pterygium excision. DESIGN Prospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS Consecutive patients seen at the Pterygium Clinic of the Singapore National Eye Centre who were thought to be unsuitable for conventional conjunctival autografting underwent a modified surgical procedure, which the authors describe as CRA. There were 51 rotation autografts performed on 45 eyes of 43 patients. INTERVENTION In this procedure, the underlying fibrovascular pterygium tissue was removed and the original epithelium (with minimal subepithelial tissue included) replaced over the bare sclera with a 180 degrees rotation. Surgeries were performed by one surgeon (DT) from April 1995 to May 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Pterygium recurrence and complications of CRA were measured. RESULTS The mean follow-up time was 12 months (range, 2-22 months). There were 46 primary and 5 recurrent pterygia. The indications for CRA were combined cataract and pterygium surgery (39.2%), double pterygia (31.4%), the need to preserve the superior conjunctiva (21.6%), and superior conjunctival scarring (7.8%). There were two recurrences (4% recurrence rate), one occurring at 4 months and the other occurring at 7 months after surgery. No significant complications were encountered. However, 50% of the grafts remained mildly injected for more than 3 months, and some remained injected for up to 13 months after surgery (average of 4 months). Pigmentary changes were also noted in six grafts (12%). CONCLUSION Conjunctival rotation autografting is a useful technique of conjunctival grafting in cases in which it is not possible or desirable to use the superior conjunctiva as a donor source.

Immunosuppressive therapy for ocular diseases.

Purpose of review To identify advances in immunosuppressive therapy of ocular diseases since 2007. Recent findings The biologics in current use include antitumour necrosis factor-α agents (infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab), cytokine receptor antibodies (daclizumab) and interferon-α2a. They are effective and comparatively well tolerated options in the treatment of refractory uveitis in both adults and children in the short term, except for etanercept. Daclizumab had a favourable outcome in treating birdshot chorioretinopathy but not in Behcets disease. The uncertainty of their long-term results, their high costs as well as the necessity for repeated intravenous infusions in the case of infliximab limit their widespread use. Mycophenolate mofetil is another efficacious, fairly well tolerated and less costly immunosuppressant. It has the additional advantage of an oral formulation. T cell inhibitors, cyclosporine and tacrolimus, were found to be useful steroid-sparing drugs in allergic eye disease and dry eyes. A number of studies on less invasive sustained ocular drug delivery systems, including episcleral implants, nanospheres, and cyclodextrin particles, were conducted on animals with encouraging results. Summary The armamentarium of immunosuppressive agents is constantly expanding and augurs well for the safe and effective treatment of ocular inflammation.

Capsular block syndrome: A case series.

Capsular block syndrome (CBS) or capsular bag distension syndrome has been described after cataract removal with in-the-bag placement of a posterior chamber intraocular lens in the presence of an anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. Features of CBS include shallowing of the anterior chamber and an unexpected myopic overrefraction; occasionally, there is a persistent uveitis. The patient may be mistakenly diagnosed with pupil block glaucoma or endophthalmitis. We report 9 cases of CBS and their initial diagnoses and management. In 1 case, the capsular bag distention and anterior chamber shallowing are illustrated by ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Cytomegalovirus anterior uveitis: outcome of treatment

Aim To determine the outcome of antiviral treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior uveitis. Methods A retrospective review of patients from Singapore National Eye Centre with CMV anterior uveitis diagnosed by aqueous polymerase chain reaction. Ganciclovir treatment consisted of systemic, topical, intravitreal injections or intravitreal implant. The main outcome measure was resolution of anterior chamber inflammation. Results 72 eyes of 70 patients were positive for CMV DNA. 35 eyes were treated (23 eyes with acute recurrent anterior uveitis and 12 eyes with chronic anterior uveitis). Eyes that did not respond or recurred with one treatment may receive another course of treatment. There were 47 treatment episodes, 36 (76.6%) of which resulted in a response. However, there were 27 (75.0%) episodes of recurrences after stopping treatment. Systemic and intravitreal ganciclovir and ganciclovir implant had good response rates but also had very high recurrence rates. Ganciclovir gel had moderate response rates, but its recurrence rates were also lower than those of the other modalities. Conclusions Ganciclovir gel had lower recurrence rates than the systemic ganciclovir and the implant and should be considered as an option for treatment of CMV anterior uveitis.

Prognostic Factors of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease in Singapore

PURPOSE To determine prognostic factors of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH). DESIGN Retrospective noninterventional. METHODS Chart review of VKH patients of Singapore National Eye Centre for age at onset (age), gender, race, presenting visual acuity (VA) and VA at one month after starting treatment, severity of inflammation, treatment regime, and hearing loss. Outcome measures were: VA, persistent inflammation, cataracts, glaucoma, macular lesions, chorioretinal degeneration, and vitiligo at three years after onset. RESULTS There were 134 eyes of 67 patients. Majority were Chinese (n = 53, 79.1%) and female (n = 40, 59.7%). Median duration of follow-up was 9.1 years (range, 3.0 to 53.6 years). Median age was 42.3 years (range, 5.4 to 70.9 years). Main prognostic factors were VA at one month, age, and treatment regime. Good VA at one month was associated with greater likelihood of good VA at three years (odds ratio [OR], 43.9; P = .02), less persistent inflammation (OR, 0.5; P = .006), cataract (OR, 0.10; P = .01), and chorioretinal degeneration (OR, 0.2; P = .04). Older age was associated with higher likelihood of cataract (OR, 1.1; P = .02), chorioretinal degeneration (OR, 1.1; P = .03), and vitiligo (OR, 1.1; P = .004). Early treatment with high-dose systemic corticosteroids resulted in less persistent inflammation (OR, 0.2; P = .04). Late high corticosteroid treatment was associated with greater risk of cataract (OR, 9.6; P = .03). CONCLUSION Good VA at one month, younger age at onset, and early treatment with high-dose corticosteroids were associated with better outcomes.

Is Posner Schlossman syndrome benign

PURPOSE To determine the clinical course of patients with Posner Schlossman syndrome (PSS). DESIGN Retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-three eyes of 50 patients. METHODS The case notes of all patients with PSS seen at the Uveitis Clinic of Singapore National Eye Centre were reviewed for evidence of glaucoma damage and risk factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual field and optic disc changes consistent with glaucoma. RESULTS There were 28 men and 22 women, and their mean age at onset was 35 years. Fourteen eyes (26.4%) were diagnosed to have developed glaucoma as a result of repeated attacks of PSS. Patients with 10 years or more of PSS have a 2.8 times higher risk (95% confidence interval 1.19-6.52) of developing glaucoma compared with patients with less than 10 years duration of the disease. Nine eyes (17%) underwent glaucoma filtering surgery with antimetabolites. Their postoperative follow-up ranged from 15 to 50 months (mean, 37 months). Four eyes continued to have episodes of iritis after surgery, and one of these eyes had elevated intraocular pressure during the event. CONCLUSIONS A significant number of patients with PSS have glaucoma develop over time, and they need to have their optic disc appearance and visual fields carefully monitored.

Viral anterior uveitis.

Purpose of review With improvements in molecular diagnostics tests, viruses are increasingly being found to be associated with what was previously described as idiopathic anterior uveitis. This review presents the clinical features of viral anterior uveitis. Recent findings Herpes simplex virus/varicella zoster virus (HSV/VZV) are important causes of anterior uveitis, but other viruses including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella are also found in a significant number of cases. The various viral anterior uveitides have similar features and should be suspected in eyes with diffuse, fine, stellate keratic precipitates, iris atrophy or ocular hypertension. Acyclovir remains the mainstay of therapy in HSV/VZV infections. CMV responds to ganciclovir, but the relapse rate is high and prolonged therapy may be required. Cataract and glaucoma are the main complications of viral anterior uveitis requiring appropriate management. Summary There is considerable overlap between clinical manifestations of the different viral anterior uveitides as well noninfectious hypertensive anterior uveitis syndromes. Hence, corticosteroids should be used with caution in these eyes if virus diagnostic tests are not available.

Cataract Surgery After Trabeculectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of cataract surgery on glaucomatous eyes with good intraocular pressure (IOP) control after trabeculectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-two eyes with functional blebs that underwent cataract extraction were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS The mean (+/- SD) preoperative IOP was 11.0 +/- 4.3 mm Hg. The mean (+/- SD) postoperative IOPs at 1, 2, 6, and 9 months were 15.5 +/- 4.9, 12.6 +/- 4.7, 14.6 +/- 5.6, and 19.0 +/- 7.9 mm Hg, respectively. At each interval except for the second month, the mean IOP was statistically significantly higher than the preoperative value (P = .0003, .24, .02, and .0009, respectively). The total number of medications was also higher (3 preoperatively versus 27 postoperatively). The interval between the two surgeries had no influence on IOP control. Intraoperative complications during cataract surgery, particularly vitreous loss, were associated with poor IOP control. Phacoemulsification had less of an effect on the postoperative IOP control than did extracapsular cataract extraction. CONCLUSIONS Eyes with previous successful trabeculectomies had higher IOPs and required more medications after subsequent cataract surgeries.

Visual function in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada patients

BackgroundVogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease presents with anterior segment inflammation, choroiditis and exudative retinal detachment. Following resolution of the inflammation, VKH patients have been noted to complain of visual disturbances despite good visual acuity. We therefore investigated the visual function deficits of convalescent VKH patients.MethodsA cross-sectional observational nonrandomized controlled study of convalescent VKH patients from the Uveitis Service of the Singapore National Eye Centre, and normal subjects was performed. The best-corrected visual acuities (BCVA) and multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs) of VKH patients with and without peripapillary atrophy (PPA) were compared with those of the normal eyes. The mfERG results were subdivided into those obtained from the peripapillary area and those from the rest of the macular.ResultsEleven VKH eyes with large PPA to disc ratios (PPA/D ratio >2), 15 VKH eyes with PPA/D ratios<1 and 6 normal eyes were included in the study. Five eyes (54.5%) of VKH patients with PPA/D>2 had a BCVA of less than 20/40. All the other eyes had 20/20 vision. Nine of the 11 VKH eyes with PPA/D>2 also had large areas of chorioretinal atrophy.The mfERG responses of VKH eyes with PPA/D ratio >2 were markedly reduced in amplitude (p<0.001) and delayed in implicit time (p<0.001) throughout the entire macular area. VKH patients with PPA/D ratio<1 had significantly reduced mfERG amplitudes throughout the entire macular area, as well as delayed implicit times at the peripapillary region (p=0.026). Sub-division of VKH eyes with PPA/D<1 into eyes with no PPA and eyes with a small PPA, showed that both groups had a similar reduction in response amplitude over the entire macular region. However, the implicit time was significantly delayed in eyes with small PPA when compared to those without PPA (p<0.03).ConclusionsVKH patients with large PPA have clinically significant visual dysfunction. VKH patients without PPA also have subclinical retinal dysfunction. The mfERG may be a useful adjunct in the management of VKH by detecting early retinal damage.