Tapas Ranjan Padhi

Serious adverse events and visual outcomes of rescue therapy using adjunct bevacizumab to laser and surgery for retinopathy of prematurity. The Indian Twin Cities Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening database Report number 5

Aim To report serious adverse events and long-term outcomes of initial experience with intraocular bevacizumab in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods Consecutive vascularly active ROP cases treated with bevacizumab, in addition to laser and surgery, were analysed retrospectively from a prospective computerised ROP database. Primary efficacy outcome was regression of new vessels. Secondary outcomes included the anatomic and visual status. Serious systemic and ocular adverse events were documented. Results 24 ROP eyes in 13 babies, received single intraocular bevacizumab for severe stage 3 plus after failed laser (seven eyes), stage 4A plus (eight eyes), and stage 4B/5 plus (nine eyes). Drug was injected intravitreally in 23 eyes and intracamerally in one eye. New vessels regressed in all eyes. Vision salvage in 14 of 24 eyes and no serious neurodevelopmental abnormalities were noted up to 60 months (mean 30.7 months) follow-up. Complications included macular hole and retinal breaks causing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (one eye); bilateral, progressive vascular attenuation, perivascular exudation and optic atrophy in one baby, and progression of detachment bilaterally to stage 5 in one baby with missed follow-up. One baby who received intracameral injection developed hepatic dysfunction. One eye of this baby also showed a large choroidal rupture. Conclusions Though intraocular bevacizumab, along with laser and surgery salvaged vision in many otherwise progressive cases of ROP, vigilance and reporting of serious adverse events is essential for future rationalised use of the drug. We report one systemic and four ocular adverse events that require consideration in future use of the drug.

Factors influencing polymerase chain reaction outcomes in patients with clinically suspected ocular tuberculosis.

BackgroundPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay can be a useful method for definitive diagnosis in paucibacillary infections such as ocular tuberculosis (TB). In this study, we have evaluated factors affecting PCR outcomes in patients with clinically suspected ocular TB. Patients with clinically suspected ocular TB were investigated by PCR of aqueous or vitreous samples. Three control groups were also tested: group 1 included culture-proven non-tuberculous endophthalmitis, group 2 culture-negative non-tuberculous endophthalmitis, and group 3 patients undergoing surgery for uncomplicated cataract. PCR targeted one or more of following targets: IS6110, MPB64, and protein b genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Multiple regression analysis (5% level of significance) was done to evaluate the associations between positive PCR outcome and laterality of disease, tuberculin skin test (TST)/interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), chest radiography, and type of sample (aqueous or vitreous). The main outcome measures were positive PCR by one or more gene targets, and factors influencing positive PCR outcomes.ResultsAll 114 samples were tested for MPB64, 110 for protein b, and 88 for IS6110. MPB64 was positive in 70.2% (n = 80) of tested samples, protein b in 40.0% (n = 44), and IS6110 in only 9.1% (n = 8). DNA sequencing of amplicons from four randomly chosen PCR reactions showed homology for M. tuberculosis complex. Of the 80 PCR-positive patients, 71 completed a full course of antitubercular therapy, of which 65 patients (91.5%) had complete resolution of inflammation at final follow-up. Among controls, 12.5% (3 out of 24) in group 1 and 18.7% (6 out of 32) in group 2 also tested positive by PCR. No PCR-positive outcome was observed in control group 3 (n = 25). Multiple regression analysis revealed significant association of positive PCR outcome with bilateral presentation, but not with a positive TST/IGRA, chest radiography, or type of sample (aqueous/vitreous) used.ConclusionsCareful selection of gene targets can yield high PCR positivity in clinically suspected ocular TB. Bilateral disease presentation but not any evidence of latent systemic TB influences PCR outcomes. False-positive results may be seen in ocular inflammation unrelated to ocular TB.

Optic disc tuberculoma in a patient with miliary tuberculosis.

A 27-year-old female, on anti-tubercular therapy for miliary tuberculosis for 1 week, presented with gradual diminution of right eye vision for 4 months. Right eye visual acuity was counting fingers at 15 cm. Right fundus showed a yellowish-white vascularized lesion, 4 disc diameters in size, overlying the optic disc and associated neurosensory macular detachment. The left eye was normal. A Mantoux test was negative. The authors diagnosed presumed optic disc tuberculoma in the right eye. Oral prednisolone in tapering doses was added to the anti-tubercular therapy. The optic disc lesion regressed with residual scarring and vision became 20/30 at 7 months.

Optic disc doubling.

Many developmental defects can simulate the optic disc (optic disc pseudodoubling). True optic disc duplication with 2 independent retinal vasculatures is rare. Associated optic nerve duplication is rarer still and seen in lower vertebrates. We report a rare case of unilateral double optic discs with a single optic nerve in the left eye of a 41-year-old man, otherwise asymptomatic in the affected eye.

Bietti crystalline retinal dystrophy with subfoveal neurosensory detachment and congenital tortuosity of retinal vessels: case report

A 34-year-old man presented with reduction and distortion of vision in both the eyes. The best-corrected vision was 20/20 parts, N6 in either eye. The external and slit lamp examination of both the eyes was unremarkable. The fundus examination showed multiple intraretinal crystalline deposits at the posterior pole, extending up to midperiphery, tortuous retinal blood vessels with S-shaped deflections, and absent foveal reflex in both the eyes. There were no corneal crystals, and the color vision was defective in both the eyes. Fundus autofluorescence and fundus fluorescein angiogram (FFA) were suggestive of geographic areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choriocapillary (CC) loss. OCT revealed subfoveal neurosensory detachment. Flash ERG and EOG were normal except for a slight decrease in amplitude and delay in latency of pattern ERG waveforms. The Humphrey’s visual field showed paracentral scotoma with reduction in the amplitude of waveforms from the corresponding area in the multifocal ERG in both the eyes. Systemic evaluation for crystalline retinopathy was unremarkable. He was diagnosed to be a case of Bietti crystalline retinopathy (local/regional variant). The subfoveal neurosensory detachment could represent early RPE dysfunction caused by these crystals and could account for the mild visual disturbance in both the eyes. Retinal vascular tortuosity and neurosensory detachment seen in this case is the first time to be reported in literature.

Ocular parasitoses: A comprehensive review

Parasitic infections of the eyes are a major cause of ocular diseases across the globe. The causative agents range from simple organisms such as unicellular protozoans to complex metazoan helminths. The disease spectrum varies depending on the geographic location, prevailing hygiene, living and eating habits of the inhabitants, and the type of animals that surround them. They cause enormous ocular morbidity and mortality not because they are untreatable, but largely due to late or misdiagnosis, often from unfamiliarity with the diseases produced. We provide an up-to-date comprehensive overview of the ophthalmic parasitoses. Each section describes the causative agent, mode of transmission, geographic distribution, ocular pathologies, and their management for common parasites with brief mention of the ones that are rare.

Safety, sterility and stability of direct-from-vial multiple dosing intravitreal injection of bevacizumab

This study aims to determine the stability, sterility and safety of bevacizumab multiple dosing from a single vial without prior aliquoting.

Changing Profile Of Organisms Causing Scleral Buckle Infections: A Clinico-microbiological Case Series

Purpose: To study the microbiological spectrum and in vitro susceptibility of bacterial isolates from explanted scleral buckles and to correlate clinical presentation to the causative agent. Method: Medical records of patients who underwent buckle explantation from July 2007 to May 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical features and microbiological profile were noted and correlated. Results: Twenty of 24 buckles (83.33%) from 24 patients grew 21 isolates. Isolates included 6 acid-fast bacilli (28.57%; atypical mycobacteria = 5, Nocardia asteroides = 1), 5 gram-positive bacilli (23.8%; Corynebacterium spp. = 4, Bacillus sp. = 1), 4 gram-positive cocci (19.0%; Staphylococcus spp. = 4), 2 gram-negative bacilli (9.5%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa = 2), and 4 fungi (19.0%; Aspergillus spp. = 3, Paecilomyces sp. = 1). Acid-fast bacilli and gram-negative bacilli were sensitive to amikacin and gram-positive bacilli and gram-positive cocci to vancomycin. Buckle exposure within 2 years of primary surgery tended to be noninfective (P = 0.06). Fungal or mycobacterial infections were more symptomatic than those with Corynebacterium species. Results of microscopic examination of conjunctival swab in 5 of 7 eyes (71.4%) were consistent with culture of conjunctival swab and explanted buckles. Conclusion: Clinical features and microscopic examination of conjunctival swab may give a lead toward the causative organism in suspected buckle infections. Based on these leads, vancomycin and amikacin may be used as the initial empirical therapy.

Pneumatic Displacement and Intra-vitreal Bevacizumab in Management of Sub-retinal and Sub-retinal Pigment Epithelial Hemorrhage at Macula in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV): Rationale and Outcome

Abstract We report three cases of submacular haemorrhage due to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and pneumatic displacement with perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas. The patients were between 45 to 55 years and presented with reduction of vision (20/400 to 20/80) within two weeks of onset of symptoms. The submacular (sub-retinal plus sub-retinal pigment epithelium [RPE]) hemorrhages was confirmed as PCV on indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography in all of them. They were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) and 0.3 ml of 100% C3F8 gas in the affected eye followed by prone positioning for two weeks. The vision and macular anatomy started improving within a week and continued up to three months. These cases demonstrate that pneumatic displacement combined with intravitreal anti-VEGF injection could be a promising option in patients with PCV and sub-macular blood, even when the blood is beneath the RPE.

Optical coherence tomography findings and retinal changes after vitrectomy for optic disc pit maculopathy.

Purpose: To study the optical coherence tomography (OCT) patterns in optic disc pit maculopathy and retinal changes after vitreous surgery. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive cases with optic disc pit maculopathy seen at two tertiary eye institutes from January 2005 to June 2009. Results: Twenty-four eyes of 23 patients are included. The presenting visual acuity ranged from 20/400 to 20/20 (median:20/80). The median age at presentation was 24 years (range, 6-57 years). Optical coherence tomography demonstrated a combination of retinoschisis and outer layer detachment (OLD) in 19 (79.17%) eyes, OLD only in 3 (12.5%) eyes and retinoschisis only in 2 (8.33%) eyes. An obvious communication (outer layer hole) between the schisis and OLD was seen in 14 (73.68%) of the 19 eyes with both features. Of the 21 eyes with retinoschisis, schisis was present in multiple layers in 15 (71.43%) and single layer in 6 (28.57%) eyes. Eleven eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy including creation of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), fluid-air exchange, low intensity laser photocoagulation at the temporal edge of the optic disc pit and non-expansile perfluoropropane gas (14%) injection. Five (45.45%) of 11 eyes undergoing vitrectomy had complete resolution and 4 (36.36%) eyes had partial resolution of maculopathy. Visual acuity improved in 8 (72.72%) of 11 eyes. Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography demonstrates multiple layer schisis and outer layer detachment as main features of optic disc pit maculopathy. Vitrectomy with PVD induction, laser photocoagulation and gas tamponade results in anatomical and visual improvement in most cases with optic disc pit maculopathy.