Carlos Menezes

Periorbital cellulitis in children: Analysis of outcome of intravenous antibiotic therapy

ABSTRACT Periorbital cellulitis is a relatively common ocular disease in the pediatric population. Early diagnosis of this disease with a prompt intervention is critical to avoid vision and life-threatening complications. In the last years, medical therapy has been expanding for the treatment of orbital cellulitis, instead of the standard surgical approach. The purpose of this study was to describe the outcome of treatment with intravenous antibiotic of periorbital cellulitis in children. A retrospective review of all children admitted with periorbital cellulitis in our hospital between January 2002 and July 2013 was conducted. Cases were divided in two subgroups, pre-septal and post-septal infection. The demographics, clinical findings, treatment and outcomes were analyzed. In total 110 children were included, 93 with pre-septal and 17 with post-septal cellulitis. The mean age was 3.5 years in children with pre-septal cellulitis and 5.5 years in those with post-septal cellulitis (p = 0.149). For both subgroups the most common predisposing factor was sinusitis. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was successful in all except one patient with an orbital abscess who required surgical intervention. In our study complete recovery was achieve in all (except for one) children with periorbital cellulitis treated with intravenous antibiotics only.

Foveal Exudative Macroaneurysm Treated with Intravitreal Ranibizumab

Purpose: We report a case of a foveal macroaneurysm with long-standing macular edema in a rare location, successfully treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. Methods: We report the case of a 52-year-old man with left eye long-term visual loss due to macular edema caused by a retinal macroaneurysm, localized about 400 μm from the center of the fovea, and its response to 6 monthly ranibizumab intravitreal injections. His best-corrected visual acuity and morphological data evaluated by optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography are presented. Results: His best-corrected visual acuity improved from 1/10 to 3/10 after the 3rd injection, and from 1/10 to 4/10 after the 6th one. The central retinal thickness was evaluated by optical coherence tomography and improved from 310 to 233 μm, with the resolution of both the associated serous detachments and the cystoid macular edema; an almost complete reabsorption of the hard exudates at the end of the treatment was also observed. The macroaneurysm lumen almost obliterated after the 3rd injection and completely collapsed at the end of treatment. Conclusions: Intravitreal ranibizumab may be effective in the treatment of long-standing macular edema associated with foveal macroaneurysms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a retinal macroaneurysm located so close to the foveal avascular zone.

Cataract surgery in patients with nanophthalmos: results and complications.

Purpose To evaluate phacoemulsification surgery results and complications in patients with nanophthalmos. Methods The records of 9 patients with nanophthalmos who had cataract surgery from January 2011 through January 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Nanophthalmos was diagnosed by the presence of an eye with an axial length (AL) less than 20.5 mm. The records were reviewed for ocular diagnosis, keratometry, anterior chamber depth (ACD), AL, ocular surgeries, visual acuity, and complications. Results A total of 14 eyes of 9 patients (8 women, 1 man) with a mean age of 72 years (range 48-86) were reviewed. Mean AL was 18.72 mm and mean ACD was 2.30 mm. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent (+8.55 ± 6.44 diopters (D)) was reduced to +0.30 ± 2.17 D at last follow-up visit. Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was +0.68 ± 0.55 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) preoperatively and improved to +0.55 ± 0.73 logMAR at last follow-up visit. Visual acuity remained stable or improved in 11 eyes. Five eyes did not achieve final BCVA ≥+0.3 logMAR. Complications occurred in 3 eyes (21.4%) and included 1 case of posterior capsule rupture, 1 case of severe iritis and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment 2 weeks postoperatively, and 1 other case of iritis. No postoperative uveal effusion was seen. Conclusions Although phacoemulsification seems to be relatively safe in nanophthalmic eyes, surgeons need to be aware of the challenges of this procedure in these high-risk eyes. Nevertheless, with careful preoperative evaluation and planning, most cases were uncomplicated and resulted in improvement of BCVA.

Pattern of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Loss in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis

INTRODUCTION Optic disc hypoplasia is a common feature in fetal alcohol syndrome. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the optic disc morphology changes and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in a cohort of 11 patients (22 eyes) with fetal alcohol syndrome and in an age-matched control group. We evaluated optic nerve head parameters (optic disc area and diameter, rim area, cup/disc horizontal and vertical ratios) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. RESULTS Mean optic disc area, rim area and optic disc diameter were, respectively, in fetal alcohol syndrome patients and control subjects: 1.540 ± 0.268 and 1.748 ± 0.326 mm2; 1.205 ± 0.286 and 1.461 ± 0.314 mm2; 1.417 ± 0.124 and 1.501 ± 0.148 mm (p < 0.05). We found no significant differences between groups for cup/disc ratios. Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was significantly lower in fetal alcohol syndrome patients (90.500 ± 9.344 µm) as compared to controls (111.000 ± 7.855 µm) (p < 0.0001). Analysis showed a significant decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness for the superior, inferior and nasal quadrants (p < 0.005). The temporal quadrant showed no significant differences. DISCUSSION Optic disc area, rim area and optic disc diameters were significantly reduced in fetal alcohol syndrome patients. Although mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was decreased, the temporal quadrant was spared. CONCLUSION In addition to a smaller optic disc area/ diameter and rim area, we found a heterogeneous peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness loss in fetal alcohol syndrome patients with sparing of the temporal quadrant. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography may be useful to determine the presence of fetal alcohol syndrome status.

Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis Associated with HCV-Related Cryoglobulinemia

Purpose To describe a case of peripheral ulcerative keratitis associated with type II cryoglobulinemia in the context of Hepatitis C infection. Methods Case report and literature review. Results A 36-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department with unilateral moderate pain in his right eye, associated with redness and photophobia. Medical background elicited a history of Hepatitis C and IV illicit drug abuse. Ocular examination revealed a BCVA of 20/30 of the affected eye and slight discomfort with eye movement. Biomicroscopy revealed a ring shaped peripheral corneal ulcer, with a dense white stromal infiltrate sparing the limbus, plus an adjacent area of mild anterior diffuse nonnecrotizing scleritis. No intraocular inflammation was present. Posterior segment was normal. The patient was placed under oral prednisolone (1 mg/Kg/day) with gradual tapering. A dramatic clinical response occurred, with complete resolution of the clinical condition. Systemic analytic workup aiming at autoimmune and infectious diseases was negative, except for high HCV-viral load and the presence of type 2 cryoglobulins. Conclusion Albeit rare, cryoglobulinemia, even in the absence of systemic vasculitis, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of PUK, when systemic workout for autoimmune diseases is negative.

Bilateral Diffuse Uveal Melanocytic Proliferation Presenting as a Giant Unilateral Choroidal Nevus: A Case Report.

Background/Aims: The aim of our study was to report a case of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) with a markedly asymmetric presentation and fundoscopic response to palliative chemotherapy. Case Report: We report a 67-year-old Caucasian man who presented with vision loss in his right eye. The best-corrected visual acuities were 2/10 in the right eye and 10/10 in the left eye, and biomicroscopy revealed bilateral mild cataracts. Fundoscopy of the right eye showed a macular flat and pigmented lesion extending beyond the posterior pole with areas of giraffe-type pigmentation and an overlying exudative retinal detachment. Nothing remarkable was detected in the left eye apart from a small round hypopigmented area of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy in the papillomacular bundle. BDUMP was diagnosed, and the workup for systemic malignancy revealed a pulmonary adenocarcinoma. After chemotherapy, not only did the right eyes visual acuity improve and the serous detachment resolve, but also the pigmentation decreased. Conclusion: BDUMP presentation can be markedly asymmetric and resemble a giant unilateral choroidal nevus. Response to chemotherapy was unique not only for the usual retinal detachment resolution, but also because of an evident regression of pigmentation.

Benign Recurrent Sixth Nerve Palsy in a Child

Benign recurrent sixth nerve palsy in children is rare. It typically occurs following viral illness or immunization, and prognosis is usually excellent. However, it is always a diagnosis of exclusion given the more serious alternative causes. Therefore, a thorough examination with brain imaging is recommended. The authors report a child with six recurrent episodes of isolated benign sixth nerve palsy.

When an Easy Thing Goes Wrong: Foreign Body Induced Granuloma-Associated Scleritis Following Pterygium Surgery

Purpose: To report a case of pterygium surgery with conjunctival autograft followed by focal necrotizing scleritis due to foreign body entrapment in the scleral bed. Case Report/Results: This is a case report of a 76-years-old male patient who underwent nasal pterygium surgery and developed focal necrotizing scleritis secondary to foreign body entrapment under conjunctival autograft. One month following surgery, slit-lamp examination demonstrated a progressive thinning of the surgical area with focal inflammatory signs. A small synthetic fiber was identified to be trapped under the graft. A second intervention was performed with foreign body removal and a new conjunctival graft. Despite the surgery, focal scleral melting continued to progress and the patient was placed under systemic corticotherapy and submitted to amniotic membrane graft with epithelial side up. During the follow-up period there was a good tissue response. Conclusion: Despite being a safe and quick procedure, pterygium surgery can sometimes elicit new challenges.

Intravitreal Vascular Endothelium Growth Factor Inhibitors for RetinalMacroaneurysms

Last year our group published the case of a foveal longstanding retinal macroaneurysm successfully treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. A few previous and subsequent studies also reported the safety and effectiveness of intravitreal vascular endothelium growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) in other more common cases of retinal macroaneurysms. In this commentary we proposed to make a brief review of this entity, particularly of its complications and its management with emphasis on anti-VEGF therapy