Irene Rusu

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence findings in a case of laser pointer-induced maculopathy.

PURPOSE To describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence findings in a case of laser pointer-induced maculopathy. METHODS Observational case report of a patient with bilateral decreased visual acuity after exposure to a handheld green laser pointer. RESULTS A 15-year-old boy presented with decreased vision after exposure to a green laser pointer. Fundoscopy revealed gray and yellowish round spots in the foveal area of both eyes. Fundus autofluorescence imaging revealed subtle changes of the normal background macular autofluorescence of the right eye, with hyperautofluorescence dots in the fovea of the left eye. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed a variety of changes of the outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium, with disruption of the external limiting membrane, the photoreceptor ellipsoid zone of the inner segments, and the interdigitation zone in the foveal region in both eyes. Six months after laser exposure, fundoscopic examination showed persistent alterations at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium in the fovea in both eyes. Fundus autofluorescence revealed mild but persistent changes of the normal autofluorescent macular background in both eyes. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed partial resolution of the outer retinal disruption noted on his initial visit with persistent, small foveal photoreceptor defects in both eyes. CONCLUSION Laser pointer maculopathy may disturb the outer retinal architecture in a manner evident on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence, resulting in decreased visual acuity. Proper warnings should accompany these devices and access to them by minors should be limited.

Intraocular pressure in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration switched to aflibercept injection after previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments.

Purpose: To assess for change in intraocular pressure (IOP) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients switched to aflibercept after receiving previous treatments of intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of the first 53 patients (53 eyes) treated with at least 2 injections of 2 mg in 0.05 mL of aflibercept by March 6, 2013, after at least 2 previous injections of 0.5 mg in 0.05 mL of ranibizumab with or without previous injections of 1.25 mg in 0.05 mL of bevacizumab. The analysis was restricted to the first such sequence within each patient. The last previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection before the switch to aflibercept was ranibizumab in all cases included in the study. Each person served as his or her own control. The pre-aflibercept IOP in the before state (treatment with bevacizumab or ranibizumab) was the preinjection IOP measure before dilation at the visit of the first aflibercept injection. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. Results: There were 41 patients who were first treated with ranibizumab followed by aflibercept and 12 patients treated with ranibizumab and bevacizumab followed by aflibercept. For each of these sequences, IOP in the treated eye during treatment with aflibercept (the after state) was computed in 3 different ways: the first IOP, the last IOP, and the mean IOP for the period when treated with aflibercept. The pooled data showed a mean pre-aflibercept (the before state) IOP of 14.87 that decreased to a mean first IOP of 14.57, mean last IOP of 13.79, and a mean IOP of 14.14 during aflibercept treatment. The inference is based on the pooled analysis. The 95% confidence interval for the differences (after minus before) were −0.30 (−1.12 to 0.52), −1.08 (−1.83 to −0.32), and −0.73 (−1.30 to −0.17) for the first, last, and mean IOPs, respectively. The corresponding P values were 0.46 for the first, 0.006 for the last, 0.01 for the mean IOP during the aflibercept treatment period. Conclusion: Intraocular pressure was found to be significantly lower in patients switched to aflibercept after previous treatments with ranibizumab and/or bevacizumab. Aflibercept may have a more favorable IOP safety profile in patients previously on other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments.

Immunogammopathies and acquired vitelliform detachments: a report of four cases.

PURPOSE To describe the nature and evolution of acquired macular detachments in patients with immunogammopathies and to propose a mechanism for their development. DESIGN Retrospective observational case series. METHODS Three patients with multiple myeloma and 1 with light chain deposition disease were diagnosed with vitelliform macular detachments based on clinical examination, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography. These patients were followed over time and their clinical examinations and imaging studies were compared and contrasted. RESULTS Three patients (5 eyes) with multiple myeloma and 1 patient (2 eyes) with light chain deposition disease presented with acquired macular yellowish subretinal deposits on funduscopic examination that corresponded to hyperautofluorescent lesions on fundus autofluorescence imaging and subretinal hyperreflective material on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. One patient (2 eyes) had diffuse serous retinal detachments involving not only the macular region but also the midperiphery of the retina. These acquired macular vitelliform detachments were not associated with signs of hyperviscosity retinopathy in 5 eyes and resolved after successful treatment of the multiple myeloma in 6 eyes. CONCLUSION Patients with an immunogammopathy such as multiple myeloma or light chain deposition disease may develop serous elevations of the macula that we classify as acquired vitelliform detachments using multimodal imaging. Appropriate evaluation including serum protein electrophoresis and hematology consultation should be considered in the management of patients with acquired vitelliform detachments of uncertain etiology.

Retinal reperfusion in diabetic retinopathy following treatment with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections

Purpose The aim of this study is to report peripheral reperfusion of ischemic areas of the retina on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections in patients treated for diabetic retinopathy. Methods This study is a retrospective review of 16 eyes of 15 patients with diabetic retinopathy, who received anti-VEGF intravitreal injections and underwent pre- and postinjection UWFA. The main outcome measured was the presence of reperfusion in postinjection UWFA images in areas of the retina that demonstrated nonperfusion in preinjection images. Images were analyzed for reperfusion qualitatively and quantitatively by two graders. Results Twelve of 16 eyes (75%) or 11 of 15 patients (73.3%) demonstrated reperfusion following anti-VEGF injection. On UWFA, reperfusion was detected both within the field of 7-standard field (7SF) fluorescein angiography and in the periphery outside the 7SF. Four of 16 eyes or 4 of 15 patients did not demonstrate reperfusion, one of which had extensive scarring from prior panretinal photocoagulation. Conclusion In patients with diabetic retinopathy, treatment with anti-VEGF agents can be associated with reperfusion of areas of nonperfusion, as demonstrated by UWFA.

Pachychoroid neovasculopathy in extramacular choroidal neovascularization

Purpose To review a series of extramacular choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) in the context of their choroidal features, as determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods Patients with extramacular CNVMs were identified from a tertiary care center through a review of records. The charts and cases were reviewed using multimodal imaging including fundus photography, OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine angio-graphy (ICG). Results Of six patients with extramacular CNVMs evaluated in this series, four patients (66.7%) exhibited pachychoroidopathy on OCT imaging under or adjacent to the extramacular CNVM. All four of these patients also exhibited pachychoroidopathy in the macular OCT distant from the CNVM. Conclusion Pachychoroidopathy is implicated in some cases of extramacular CNVMs. This represents the first report, to our knowledge, of pachychoroidopathy in extramacular CNVM.

Delayed macular hole formation after demarcation laser photocoagulation for subclinical retinal detachment

The purpose of this paper is to report a series of macular holes that developed after demarcation laser photocoagulation for subclinical retinal detachments. This observational case series consists of three eyes from three patients seen between 2005 and 2012. Delayed idiopathic macular hole formation occurred following demarcation laser photocoagulation for subclinical retinal detachment. Demarcation laser photocoagulation of subclinical retinal detachments may predispose to macular hole formation.