E. Santos-Bueso

Topical intraocular pressure therapy effects on pregnancy

Purpose To assess the course of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field progression, and adverse effects of antiglaucoma medication used during pregnancy. Methods Thirteen eyes of eight patients with glaucoma were examined. Their clinical records were reviewed to compare IOP, number of medications, and visual field indices (VFI) before, during, and after pregnancy using a two-tailed paired t-test. Results In seven (87.5%) of the eight patients, no disease progression was observed. IOP (mmHg) remained stable (baseline 17.3 ± 3.6; first trimester 17.4 ± 5.2, P = 0.930; second trimester 18.1 ± 4.7, P = 0.519; third trimester 20.2 ± 8.7, P = 0.344; and postpartum 21.5 ± 7.6, P = 0.136). The mean number of glaucoma treatments fell from 1.7 ± 0.52 before pregnancy to 0.83 ± 0.75 (P = 0.04) in the second and third trimesters. In one patient, IOP increased during pregnancy and there was further visual field loss. In the only patient kept on fixed combination timolol–dorzolamide therapy throughout pregnancy, labor was induced because of delayed intrauterine growth. Conclusions No changes in IOP and VFI were detected in most patients despite a reduction in the number of hypotensive agents required. Delayed intrauterine growth in one patient under fixed combination timolol–dorzolamide treatment was observed whereas no other adverse effects were detected.

Myopia and retinal striae induced by topiramate

Abstract Clinical case A 23-year-old woman who was seen due to decreasing far visual acuity 24hours after starting treatment with topiramate. In the cycloplegic refraction, RE showed –4.25 and LE –4.50. Retinal striae could be seen in the macula of both eyes. The alterations ceased 48 hours after the drug treatment was interrupted. Discussion Drug induced acute myopia is an infrequent phenomenon, the aetiology of which is still not fully known.

Endogenous Pseudomonas endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent patient

Purpose. To report an unusual case of community-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in an immunocompetent host complicated by orbital cellulitis, panophthalmitis, and subcutaneous nodules. Methods. An otherwise healthy 47-year-old woman presented with a 24-hour history of fever, cutaneous nodules, right sided pleuritic chest pain, and eyelid edema with severe vision loss in her right eye. A chest X-ray demonstrated a homogeneous infiltrate in the right upper lobe. Ophthalmic examination revealed signs of metastatic orbital cellulitis and panophthalmitis. Culture specimens from blood, sputum, skin, and vitreous showed a significant growth of P. aeruginosa species. Results. Intravenous antibiotic therapy led to resolution of the pneumonia, cutaneous nodules, and orbital cellulitis. Despite intravitreal and topical antibiotics, the patient finally required enucleation. Conclusion This case represents a rare combination of manifestations in an immunocompetent patient with P. aeruginosa infection. It highlights the accelerated course that may result from P. aeruginosa infection, the difficulties of treatment, and the poor prognosis in the case of eye involvement.

Comparing Corneal Variables in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

PURPOSE This study was designed to identify possible differences between healthy subjects and patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in keratometry, central corneal thickness, overall corneal thickness, mean thickness of a circular zone centered at the corneal apex of 1-mm radius (zone I), and mean thickness of several concentric rings also centered at the apex of 1-mm width (zones II to VI, respectively). METHODS These variables were recorded in 126 healthy subjects and 130 patients with POAG. Corneal thicknesses and the power of the flattest and steepest axes were compared between the two populations using a t-test and the position of the flattest axis using a Mann-Whitney U test. A binary logistic regression procedure was used to determine the diagnostic capacity of the corneal variables using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) to select the best regression equation. RESULTS Significant differences between subjects and patients were detected in mean corneal thickness and in mean thicknesses of zones I to VI. The logistic regression model included as predictors the mean corneal thickness and the mean thicknesses of zones IV and VI; for this model, the AUC was 0.711, sensitivity was 67.7%, and specificity was 65.5%. CONCLUSIONS Healthy subjects and glaucoma patients differ significantly in terms of mean overall corneal thickness and thicknesses of the corneal zones I to VI defined here. The variables mean corneal thickness and mean thicknesses of zones IV and VI are able to discriminate between subjects with or without glaucoma.

Uvemaster: A Mobile App-Based Decision Support System for the Differential Diagnosis of Uveitis.

Purpose To examine the diagnostic accuracy and performance of Uvemaster, a mobile application (app) or diagnostic decision support system (DDSS) for uveitis. The app contains a large database of knowledge including 88 uveitis syndromes each with 76 clinical items, both ocular and systemic (total 6688) and their respective prevalences, and displays a differential diagnoses list (DDL) ordered by sensitivity, specificity, or positive predictive value (PPV). Methods In this retrospective case-series study, diagnostic accuracy (percentage of cases for which a correct diagnosis was obtained) and performance (percentage of cases for which a specific diagnosis was obtained) were determined in reported series of patients originally diagnosed by a uveitis specialist with specific uveitis (N = 88) and idiopathic uveitis (N = 71), respectively. Results Diagnostic accuracy was 96.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93.2-100). By sensitivity, the original diagnosis appeared among the top three in the DDL in 90.9% (95% CI, 84.1-96.6) and was the first in 73.9% (95% CI, 63.6-83.0). By PPV, the original diagnosis was among the top DDL three in 62.5% (95% CI, 51.1-71.6) and the first in 29.5% (95% CI, 20.5-38.6; P < 0.001). In 71 (31.1%) patients originally diagnosed with idiopathic uveitis, 19 new diagnoses were made reducing this series to 52 (22.8%) and improving by 8.3% the new rate of diagnosed specific uveitis cases (performance = 77.2%; 95% CI, 71.1-82.9). Conclusions Uvemaster proved accurate and based on the same clinical data was able to detect more cases of specific uveitis than the original clinician only-based method.

Correlations between corneal and optic nerve head variables in healthy subjects and patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM To correlate corneal variables (determined using the Pentacam) with optic nerve head (ONH) variables determined using the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT) in healthy subjects and patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS Measurements were made in 75 healthy eyes and 73 eyes with POAG and correlations examined through Pearson correlation coefficients between the two sets of variables in the two subject groups. The corneal variables determined were corneal volume (CVol), central corneal thickness (CCT), overall corneal thickness (OvCT), the mean thickness of a circular zone centered at the corneal apex of 1 mm radius (zone I) and the mean thickness of several concentric rings, also centered at the apex until the limbus, each of 1 mm width (zones II to VI respectively). The ONH variables were determined using the HRT. RESULTS The following pairs of variables were correlated in the control group: CCT-disc area (DAr) (-0.48; P<0.0001), Zone I-DAr (-0.503; P<0.0001) and Zone II-DAr (-0.443; P<0.0001); and in the POAG group: CCT-cup-to-disc area ratio (CDRa) (-0.402; P<0.0001), Zone I-CDRa (-0.418; P<0.0001), Zone II-CDRa (-0.405; P=0.006), Zone I-cup shape measure (CSM) (-0.415; P=0.002), Zone II-CSM (-0.405; P=0.001), Zone IV-height variation contour (HVC) (0.378; P=0.002); Zone V-HVC (0.388, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In the healthy subjects, significant negative correlation was detected between central and paracentral corneal thickness and optic disc area. In contrast, the POAG patients showed significant negative correlation between central and paracentral corneal thickness and the cup-disc ratio and CSM, and positive correlation between peripheral corneal thickness and HVC.

Anatomical characterization of central, apical and minimal corneal thickness.

AIM To anatomically locate the points of minimum corneal thickness and central corneal thickness (pupil center) in relation to the corneal apex. METHODS Observational, cross-sectional study, 299 healthy volunteers. Thickness at the corneal apex (AT), minimum corneal thickness (MT) and corneal thickness at the pupil center (PT) were determined using the pentacam. Distances from the corneal apex to MT (MD) and PT (PD) were calculated and their quadrant position (taking the corneal apex as the reference) determined: point of minimum thickness (MC) and point of central thickness (PC) depending on the quadrant position. Two multivariate linear regression models were constructed to examine the influence of age, gender, power of the flattest and steepest corneal axes, position of the flattest axis, corneal volume (determined using the Pentacam) and PT on MD and PD. The effects of these variables on MC and PC were also determined in two multinomial regression models. RESULTS MT was located at a mean distance of 0.909 mm from the apex (79.4% in the inferior-temporal quadrant). PT was located at a mean distance of 0.156 mm from the apex. The linear regression model for MD indicated it was significantly influenced by corneal volume (B=-0.024; 95%CI: -0.043 to -0.004). No significant relations were identified in the linear regression model for PD or the multinomial logistic regressions for MC and PC. CONCLUSION MT was typically located at the inferior-temporal quadrant of the cornea and its distance to the corneal apex tended to decrease with the increment of corneal volume.

Estudio comparativo de la eficacia hipotensora y de las variaciones en la amplitud de pulso ocular entre las combinaciones fijas dorzolamida/timolol y brinzolamida/timolol

OBJECTIVE To determine possible differences in the intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) lowering capacity of the fixed drug combinations dorzolamide/timolol and brinzolamide/timolol. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, one of the eyes of 25 healthy subjects was randomly assigned to treatment with dorzolamide/timolol and the other eye with brinzolamide/timolol. After instilling the drops, possible adverse effects (e.g., blurred vision, itching) were assessed in each eye. This assessment was repeated 30 minutes later. IOP and OPA were determined In each eye by dynamic contour tonometry at baseline and two hours following treatment. RESULTS Both fixed drug combinations significantly reduced IOP and OPA with no differences detected between treatment groups. Among the adverse effects recorded, itching was significantly greater in the first assessment in the eyes treated with dorzolamide/timolol (P = .011). This difference was no longer apparent in the second assessment. CONCLUSIONS Both fixed combinations were similarly effective in reducing intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude. Adverse effects related to both treatments were mild and well-tolerated, though itching occurred most frequently in the eyes treated with dorzolamide/timolol.

Normative database for separate inner retinal layers thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography in Caucasian population

Purpose Develop the first normative database of the thickness of every inner retinal layer in the macular area in a healthy, Caucasian population between 18 to 87 years old, using Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Methods On this transversal, observational study, 300 patients between 18 to 87 years old and without an ophthalmological condition were recruited. Macular OCT scans were performed on all patients (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering). An axial length measurement, and keratometry were performed using an optical biometer. The volume and thickness of the different macular sectors of the inner retinal layers (retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cells layer (CGL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL)) were analyzed with the Spectralis OCT segmentation software. An eye was randomly selected for each patient. Results 297 patients (179 females and 118 males) were included in the study. The mean age was 56.07 years (range: 40.50–72). The multivariate analysis showed a positive correlation between the RNFL thickness and the axial length (p < 0.001). The mean central retinal thickness was 278.2 μm (range: 266–291), the mean central RNFL thickness was 12.61 μm (range: 11–14), the mean central CGL thickness was 17.63 μm (range: 14–21) and the mean central IPL thickness was 22.02 μm (range: 20–25). The multivariate analysis showed a negative correlation between age and CGL thickness and inner IPL thickness (p< 0.001). Conclusion This study provides a normative database of the volume of each of the inner retinal layers on a Caucasian population.

Quantification of trabecular-iris contact and its prevalence by optical coherence tomography in a healthy Caucasian population

Purpose To determine the prevalence of trabecular-iris contact (TIC) and quantify this contact in healthy Caucasian individuals using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Methods For this cross-sectional study, 2,012 eyes of 1,006 healthy subjects were recruited among individuals undergoing a routine ophthalmologic checkup. In each participant, age, sex, intraocular pressure, and spherical refractive error were first recorded along with anterior chamber depth and volume, central corneal thickness measured with the Pentacam, and axial length with the IOLMaster. Anterior chamber angle variables and the presence of TIC in the horizontal quadrants were determined by anterior segment FD-OCT (RTVue 100®). When TIC was observed, TIC length (TICL) and its percentage in relation to the length of the trabecular meshwork (TICL percentage) were also measured. Results Trabecular-iris contact in the horizontal quadrants was observed in 34 eyes of 25 patients, representing 1.6% of the total number of eyes examined. In this subgroup of individuals, mean age was 55.8 years, 84% were women, and spherical refractive error ranged from -0.25 to 8.25 D. Eyes with TIC showed an angle width of less than 23.2 degrees and axial length shorter than 23.7 mm. Mean TICL was 239 ± 79 μm (103-495 μm) and mean TICL percentage was 46.9% ± 13.9% (17.2%-76.3%). Conclusions The prevalence of TIC was low in this population. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography emerged as useful to assess its prevalence and quantify the extent of TIC.