Kazuyoshi Ohtomo

Tear meniscus volume changes in dacryocystorhinostomy evaluated with quantitative measurement using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE To evaluate tear meniscus (TM) changes in external dacryocystorhinostomy (ex-DCR) with quantitative measurement of tear meniscus height (TMH), area (TMA), and volume (TMV) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). METHODS Twenty-five eyes from 21 patients (11 males and 10 females) with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) who received ex-DCR from May 2010 to April 2011 were evaluated prospectively on their TMH, TMA, and TMV changes by AS-OCT. Measurements were performed before surgery (Pre) and 2 weeks (2W), 2 months (2M), and 6 months (6M) after surgery. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni adjustment, and Spearmans rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS All patients had a good clinical course, and there were significant differences in the values of each TM parameter before and after surgery (P < 0.0001). The median values of TMH (mm) throughout the observation period were 0.707 (Pre), 0.334 (2W), 0.278 (2M), and 0.277 (6M). The TMA median values (mm(2)) were 0.1097 (Pre), 0.0483 (2W), 0.0255 (2M), and 0.0224 (6M). The TMV median values (mm(3)) were 0.7799 (Pre), 0.1614 (2W), 0.1071 (2M), and 0.1553 (6M). There were significant differences in TMH, TMA, and TMV reduction at each postoperative visit as compared to preoperative values (P < 0.001). In addition, TMH change 6 months after ex-DCR showed a significant positive correlation with age (r = 0.4434, P = 0.0264). CONCLUSIONS The perioperative TM changes in ex-DCR can be evaluated noninvasively and quantitatively by using AS-OCT.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and history of central serous chorioretinopathy

PurposeTo evaluate the possible causative role of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in the development of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsIn a cross-sectional study at an institutional setting, 150 control subjects who had senile cataract or nasolacrimal duct stenosis and who were older than 50 years were enrolled. The background data for 89 patients with typical AMD (tAMD) and 138 patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) were used for comparison. Their medical records were taken for history of CSC, hypertension, systemic steroid use, and smoking. The fundus was also evaluated for signs of atrophic retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tract and for focal photocoagulation scars in the macula.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, gender, and history of hypertension, systemic steroid use, and smoking, history of CSC was significantly more frequent (P<0.0001) in patients with PCV (15 patients, 10.9%) compared with patients with tAMD (2 patients, 2.2%) or control subjects (0 patients). On fundoscopy, an atrophic RPE tract (seven patients) or a focal photocoagulation scar (one patient) was observed only in patients with PCV (eight patients, 5.8%), and the frequency was statistically significant compared with that with tAMD (P=0.0143) or control subjects (P=0.0143). The laterality of CSC and AMD involved the same eye in 9 of 10 patients among those who had unilateral AMD and a reported unilateral CSC history.ConclusionA history of CSC may be a predisposing factor for the development of PCV in the Japanese population.

Frequency of Uveitis in the Central Tokyo Area (2010–2012)

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the frequency of conditions of newly arrived patients with uveitis from 2010 to 2012 and compare this frequency with that since 2004. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of patients who visited the outpatient clinic from January 2010 to December 2012, and compared them with those from 2004–2009. Results: From 2010 to 2012, 695 new patients with uveitis visited Tokyo University Hospital, with a definite diagnosis made in 431 (62.0%). The most common diagnosis was scleritis (8.3%), followed by sarcoidosis (8.1%); herpetic iridocyclitis (5.5%); Behçet disease (4.6%); Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease (4.0%); acute anterior uveitis (3.7%); Posner–Schlossman syndrome (3.6%); intraocular malignant lymphoma (3.0%); and bacterial endophthalmitis (1.9%). The most frequent unclassified type of uveitis was sarcoidosis-suspected (14.8%). Conclusions: When compared with years 2004–2009, the present series showed an increasing trend of intraocular malignant lymphoma, bacterial endophthalmitis, and chronic iridocyclitis, and a notable increase in chronic iridocyclitis in young girls, with decreasing trends of scleritis and Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease.

Outcomes of Late-Onset Bleb-Related Endophthalmitis Treated with Pars Plana Vitrectomy

Purpose. To investigate clinical results on bleb-related endophthalmitis (BRE) after trabeculectomy treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and to evaluate influence factors for visual prognosis. Methods. Investigating medical records retrospectively, BRE was defined as an endophthalmitis induced by bleb infection. A total of 2018 eyes of 1225 patients who had trabeculectomy between December 2000 and July 2013 were included in this study. Eleven eyes of 11 patients with BRE were performed with PPV. Results. The mean age was 56.6 years. The mean period between trabeculectomy and BRE onset was 7.4 years. The mean period from starting symptom to initiation of treatment for endophthalmitis (PSITE) was 2.3 days. Bleb leakages were observed in 7 eyes (64%). On culture examinations, highly pathogenic bacteria (HPB) were identified in 6 cases (55%). HPB infection was influence factors on visual disturbance (P = .0337). Number of HPB infections is significantly higher in poor visual outcome than without poor visual outcome (P = .0310). Conclusion. Visual prognosis of BRE treated by PPV is significantly better when the pathogenic bacteria are not HPB. Severe visual loss occurred with HPB infection even though patients had appropriate treatments. Physicians need to have careful consideration to prevent bleb infection after trabeculectomy with MMC.

Behçet's disease ocular attack score 24 and visual outcome in patients with Behçet's disease

Aims To investigate the ability of the Behçets disease ocular attack score 24 (BOS24) scoring system to predict visual acuity (VA) in patients with ocular Behçets disease. Design This is a retrospective study. Methods We included 91 eyes of 50 patients with ocular Behçets disease (33 males, 17 females) who were referred to our hospital between 1986 and 2008 with >5 years follow-up. Total BOS24 scores over a 5-year period, BOS24-5Y, were calculated as the sum of BOS24 scores for each attack over the 5-year study period for each eye. Change in VA was defined as change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from the first remission to the last remission at the end of the target period. Factors related to change in VA (age, gender, BCVA at the first remission, total number of immunosuppressive medications and total number of ocular attacks during the 5-year period and BOS24-5Y) were evaluated using a linear mixed model. Results BCVA (logarithm of the minimal angle resolution) deteriorated from 0.16±0.30 (mean±SD) to 0.21±0.37 over the 5-year study period, but there was no statistical difference. The total number of ocular attacks during the 5-year period and BOS24-5Y scores were 10.0±7.9 and 36.8±40.8, respectively. Linear mixed-model analysis revealed that BOS24-5Y was the most important index for VA deterioration, followed by BCVA at the first remission. Conclusions BOS24-5Y was found to be a significant positive prognostic index for VA deterioration in patients with ocular Behçets disease.

Silent myocardial ischaemia in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

proteolytic digestion of the corneal stroma. The location of the corneal melt at the inferior segment could support this hypothesis. Other possible factor that potentiates this response may lay in theAKC type I hypersensitivity reaction that liberates active mediators such as histamine, leukotriene and prostaglandins from mast cells, T cells and eosinophils that could amplify the concentration of proteolytic enzymes around the ICRS. If a corneal melt after ICRS in AD patients is diagnosed, the ICRS removal seems to be adequate. We suggest that patients with a history of AD/AKC treated with ICRS implantation should be performed by femtosecond laser-assisted system because the tunnel creation will be more uniform in depth. Special attention should be given to the edges of the tunnel and to the depth of the ICRS insertion. Patients should be followed carefully and informed to attend immediately at an ophthalmology practice in the case of ocular surface symptoms.

Frequency of Diabetic Retinopathy and Related Factors in Patients with Diabetes having Coronary Artery Disease

We investigated 87 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) having coronary artery disease (CAD) and evaluated their risk factors using a non-mydriatic fundus camera.

Recurrent Optic Neuropathy Caused by a Mucocele of the Anterior Clinoid Process after a 5-Year Remission: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Abstract A 32-year-old male presented with acute left vision loss during a second recurrence of optic neuropathy. Steroid pulse therapy had been effective in both the first episode 9 years previously and the first recurrence 5 years previously. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an anterior clinoid process mucocele compressing the optic nerve. Although surgical treatment was performed, improvement was limited. This report indicates that steroid pulse therapy could be an alternative treatment to obtain temporary remission, but surgical treatment should be considered to prevent irreversible neurological deficits. This paper also presents a review of the literature on anterior clinoid process mucoceles.

Clinical characteristics and ocular complications of patients with scleritis in Japanese

PurposeTo investigate the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with scleritisStudy designRetrospective studyMethodsThe clinical records of 123 patients with scleritis, who presented to the University of Tokyo Hospital between January, 2004 and December, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThe cohort comprised 55 men and 68 women (mean age, 57.8±16.4 years), of which 76 showed anterior diffuse scleritis, 17 showed anterior nodular scleritis, 10 showed anterior necrotizing scleritis, and 20 showed posterior scleritis. The underlying etiology was identified in 39 patients. Autoimmune diseases were present in 32 patients, including eight with rheumatoid arthritis, seven with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vascular disease, and six with relapsing polychondritis. Ocular hypertension was the most common ocular complication (41%), followed by anterior chamber cells (38%). Fifty-three percent of patients required systemic immunosuppressive medication. Systemic corticosteroids were the most commonly used medication (45%), followed by methotrexate (11%). A, decrease in vision was observed in one-third of patients with anterior necrotizing scleritis or posterior scleritis, of which secondary glaucoma and optic neuritis were the major causes.ConclusionAutoimmune diseases were present in 26% of patients. One-third of patients with anterior necrotizing scleritis or posterior scleritis experienced decreased vision, mostly due to secondary glaucoma and optic neuritis. Therefore, controlling intraocular pressure by methods such as administration of steroid-sparing immunosuppressive medication and appropriate treatment for posterior scleritis are essential for scleritis treatment.

Monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement in Fuchs’ uveitis

BackgroundFuchs’ uveitis (FU) is occasionarlly complicated with heavy vitreous opacity. We have performed vitrectomy procedures to remove vitreous opacity in affected patients as part of differential diagnosis for primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL).Case presentationWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of five patients who first visited the Uveitis Clinic of the University of Tokyo Hospital between 2009 and 2013, were diagnosed with FU and underwent a vitrectomy for removal of dense vitreous opacity. All were diagnosed as FU by ocular findings and elevation of Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) value for the rubella virus (RV) antibody. In examinations of the vitreous body, cytological diagnosis, elevation of IL-10/IL-6 ratio, and the kappa/lambda ratio in flow cytometry findings were negative in all cases, whereas monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement was positive in 4 cases and negative in 1 case.ConclusionsAlthough monoclonal IgH gene rearrangement is thought to be a reliable biomarker for PVRL, a high percentage of vitreous specimens from our FU patients showed pseudo-positive results. Ophthalmologists must take care regarding possible pseudo-positive findings when performing differential diagnosis between FU and PVRL. Combinations of results of cytological diagnosis, IL-10/IL-6 ratio, kappa/lambda ratio, and IgH gene rearrangement may be necessary for a definitive diagnosis of PVRL and differentiation from FU.