Stephanie Young

Quantitative evaluation of anterior chamber parameters using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in primary angle closure mechanisms

Background:  To evaluate different mechanisms of primary angle closure and to quantify anterior chamber parameters in these mechanisms using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in an Asian population.

Epiblepharon in East Asian Patients: The Singapore Experience

PURPOSE To describe the demographics, presenting symptoms, indications for surgery, and surgical outcomes of epiblepharon correction in a tertiary care hospital in Singapore. DESIGN Retrospective review of patients who underwent surgery by 2 surgeons in a referral oculoplastic practice at the National University Health System, Singapore, from 2001 to 2007. PARTICIPANTS A total of 108 patients who underwent surgery for clinically significant epiblepharon. INTERVENTION Modified Hotz procedure or suture correction for patients in whom conservative treatment failed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Comparison of symptoms, keratopathy, and recurrence on follow-up between the 2 procedures. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 9.0 years, with an age range of 0.5 to 68 years. Of the patients, 51.9% were male. The majority were Chinese (n = 102). Seventy-four (68.5%) patients were symptomatic. Eighty-nine patients (82.4%) had keratopathy. In 98 patients (90.7%) both eyes were affected, and the majority of patients (75.0%) had epiblepharon of the lower lids. Initial treatment for the majority was lubricants (n = 71, 65.7%). The main indications for surgery were symptoms and keratopathy, with 37.9% of patients having both, and 44.4% and 15.7% of patients having either keratopathy or symptoms alone, respectively. Surgical correction consisted mostly of a modified Hotz procedure (n = 88, 81.5%), lid-everting sutures (n = 9, 8.3%), and others, including upper lid blepharoplasty with lid crease formation (n = 11, 10.2%). Outcomes were good, with the majority (n = 88, 81.5%) of lids being well corrected. Complications included undercorrection, overcorrection, wound dehiscence, and wound infections. CONCLUSIONS Symptomatic epiblepharon, usually associated with keratopathy and commonly seen in children of East Asian descent, often requires surgical intervention with good surgical outcome. Increased awareness among ophthalmologists and pediatricians dealing with this ethnic group and age is emphasized. Contrary to the current practice of expectant observation, definitive surgical management should be considered when symptoms or keratopathy is present. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Epidemiology of oculoplastic conditions: the Singapore experience.

Purpose: To study the prevalence of eyelid, lacrimal, orbital conditions in an outpatient and surgical environment in a tertiary care hospital in Singapore. Methods: An 8-month study was conducted in the Oculoplastics Department at the National University Health System (NUHS). Demographic data, diagnosis details and surgical records were compared. Results: Of 623 patients seen over 906 visits, prevalence was as follows: eyelid (60.3%), orbital (20.6%), lacrimal (16.3%), dysthyroid exophthalmos (6.0%). Sixty-two (10.0%) patients had more than one condition. The most common conditions encountered included blepharoptosis, lacrimal obstruction, and orbital deformities (including fractures). During the same period, distribution of surgical procedures was as follows: eyelid (77.4%), lacrimal (13.1%) and orbit (9.5%). Interestingly, epiblepharon correction comprised 9.5% of the clinical/surgical cases. Conclusions: Although eyelid related conditions are most common, lacrimal and orbital pathologies cause significant morbidity. Oculoplastics specialists and ophthalmologists should consider placing more emphasis on surgical training specific to such conditions. We also propose separate classifications for epiblepharon and thyroid eye disease in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) as they are unique clinical problems in their own right. A postoperative status will also help efficiently classify patients as such patients are at risk for related complications subsequently. An examination of healthcare budget allocation for such conditions is also suggested.

Elizabethkingia Meningoseptica Engodenous Endophthalmitis – a case report

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a nosocomial non-fermenting gram-negative bacillus that has an increasing prevalence in health care settings, especially in intensive care environments. While it has long been recognized as a rare but serious cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis, its role as a cause of ocular pathology is not well-known. We report the first case of E. meningoseptica endogenous endophthalmitis caused by bacteraemia by the same organism. In view of its aggressiveness and virulence in the eye, and the high rate of misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis especially given its low incidence, we may wish to consider screening all cases of E. menigoseptica bloodstream infections for endophthalmitis in future, similar to how it has become routine to refer all patients with Klebsiella bacteraemia to ophthalmologists for screening for endophthalmitis in our local hospitals.

Ophthalmic involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

ABSTRACT This article desribes the ophthalmic involvement in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) pre- and post-treatment. We retrospectively reviewed data for 354 consecutive patients diagnosed with or treated for NPC at a single tertiary centre between April 2007 and July 2015. We identified 27 (7.6%) patients with ophthalmic involvement due to NPC or its treatment. Symptomatic orbital invasion by tumor occurred in 13 of 27 patients (48.1%). The mean age of diagnosis in these patients was 54 years, and 8 (61.5%) had no prior diagnosis of NPC. Ocular signs, but no orbital invasion, was present in 8 patients (29.6%). Incidental orbital involvement was detected on imaging in 2 patients (7.4%). Radiotherapy-related ocular complications affected 4 patients (14.8%). Ophthalmic symptoms from orbital invasion can be the initial presentation of NPC. This disease tends to affect a younger group of patients and early recognition is important to minimize morbidity and mortality.