A historical review of sympathetic ophthalmia and its epidemiology

The Risk of Sympathetic Ophthalmia Associated with Open-Globe Injury Management Strategies: A Meta-analysis

TOPIC

Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a sight-threatening granulomatous panuveitis caused by a sensitizing event. Primary enucleation or primary evisceration, versus primary repair, as a risk management strategy after open-globe injury (OGI) remains controversial.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This systematic review was conducted to report the incidence of SO after primary repair compared with that of after primary enucleation or primary evisceration. This enabled the reporting of an estimated number needed to treat.

METHODS

Five journal databases were searched. This review was registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier, CRD42021262616). Searches were carried out on June 29, 2021, and were updated on December 10, 2022. Prospective or retrospective studies that reported outcomes (including SO or lack of SO) in a patient population who underwent either primary repair and primary enucleation or primary evisceration were included. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Random effects modelling was used to estimate pooled SO rates and absolute risk reduction (ARR).

RESULTS

Eight studies reporting SO as an outcome were included in total. The included studies contained 7500 patients and 7635 OGIs. In total, 7620 OGIs met the criteria for inclusion in this analysis; SO developed in 21 patients with OGI. When all included studies were pooled, the estimated SO rate was 0.12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00%-0.25%) after OGI. Of 779 patients who underwent primary enucleation or primary evisceration, no SO cases were reported, resulting in a pooled SO estimate of 0.05% (95% CI, 0.00%-0.21%). For primary repair, the pooled estimate of SO rate was 0.15% (95% CI, 0.00%-0.33%). The ARR using a random effects model was -0.0010 (in favour of eye removal; 95% CI, -0.0031 [in favor of eye removal] to 0.0011 [in favor of primary repair]). Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations analysis highlighted a low certainty of evidence because the included studies were observational, and a risk of bias resulted from missing data.

DISCUSSION

Based on the available data, no evidence exists that primary enucleation or primary evisceration reduce the risk of secondary SO.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Long-term clinical outcomes of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia

PURPOSE

To present the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia (SO).

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients' medical files between 2002 and 2022.

RESULTS

Included were seven patients (four males). The mean ± SD age at presentation was 37.9 ± 22.5 years. Four patients had co-morbidities: three had diabetes mellitus type 2 and one had Turner Syndrome. Trauma was the inciting event in six patients and postoperative endophthalmitis in one patient. Decreased visual acuity (VA) was the leading symptom in the sympathizing eye and all of the patients presented with panuveitis. The mean ± SD interval between the triggering incident and the onset of SO in six cases was 4.3 ± 4.2 months. One case presented 30 years following the eye injury. Five patients underwent enucleation/evisceration of the exciting eye. The mean ± SD presenting LogMAR BCVA in the sympathizing eye was 0.57 ± 0.82, and the final LogMAR BCVA was 0.61 ± 0.95. Inflammation was completely controlled in 5 patients at a mean ± SD of 8.55 ± 9.21 months following the institution of immunomodulatory therapy, and it was partially controlled in 2 patients. VA deteriorated in all 3 diabetic patients and improved or remained stable in the 4 young and healthy patients. The mean ± SD follow-up period after achieving drug-free remission was 28 ± 22.8 months. The mean ± SD follow-up time was 6.8 ± 5.6 years.

CONCLUSIONS

SO is one of the most sight-threatening conditions, affecting the healthy eye. In this cohort, the favorable visual outcome was especially seen in young and healthy individuals. Visual prognosis is directly related to prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The Epidemiology and Risk Factors for the Progression of Sympathetic Ophthalmia in the United States: An IRIS Registry Analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) and define the risk factors for its incidence following trauma and ophthalmic procedures.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients in the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy) IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) who were (n=1523) or were not diagnosed with SO following a documented procedure or trauma between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2019.

METHODS

Multiple demographic and clinical factors were collected, descriptive statistics and prevalence were calculated, and multivariate linear regression models were fit to the data.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of SO, demographic and clinical characteristics, and beta coefficient (β) estimates of demographic and clinical characteristics impacting time to SO onset after procedure (Procedure Only cohort) or trauma (Trauma cohort).

RESULTS

Of 65,348,409 distinct IRIS Registry patients, 1523 (0.0023%) were diagnosed with SO between 2013 and 2019, and also had a documented preceding trauma or procedure. Of these, 927 (60.87%) were female, 1336 (87.72%) belonged to the Procedure Only cohort, and 187 (12.28%) belonged to the Trauma cohort. The prevalence of SO after trauma was 0.0207%, whereas after procedures it was 0.0124%. The highest risk of procedure-related SO was seen in patients with history of "other anterior segment" (0.122%) followed by glaucoma (0.066%) procedures, whereas the lowest prevalence was noted with cataract surgeries (0.011%). The average time to onset of SO across both cohorts combined was 527.44 (±715.60) days, with statistically significant differences between the 2 cohorts (P < .001). On average, the time to onset from inciting event to SO was shorter with increasing age, by 9.02 (95% CI: -11.96, -6.08) days for every 1-year increase.

CONCLUSIONS

SO following trauma and ophthalmic procedure is potentially rarer than previously reported, as measured in this large ophthalmic medical record database. Female sex may be a risk factor for SO. Older age may be a risk factor for quicker onset. These findings can guide clinical decision-making and management.

Material risk: vitreoretinal surgery, evisceration, enucleation and sympathetic ophthalmia-where are we currently?

Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is known to occur after severe penetrating eye injury, evisceration and even enucleation surgery. Recent evidence suggests that a greater risk lies after multiple vitreoretinal procedures. The risk of SO following evisceration is only minimally greater than that following enucleation surgery. This review evaluates literature on SO to date and provides figures for the risk of developing SO for the purposes of the consent process. The issue of SO and Material Risk following vitreoretinal surgery is reviewed and figures for the purposes of consent are outlined. This is of particular relevance for patients in whom the contralateral eye is and will likely remain the better seeing eye. Sympathetic ophthalmitis is known to occur after severe penetrating eye injury, after evisceration and enucleation. More recently, sympathetic ophthalmitis has been recognised to occur after vitreoretinal surgery. This article reviews the evidence on material risk when consenting patients for elective and emergency eye procedures after ocular trauma or surgery. When a globe needs to be removed because of irreparable ocular injury, previous publications dictated the procedure to be an enucleation because of the fear of an increased risk of SO after an evisceration. Perhaps the issue of material risk of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) remains over-emphasised by ophthalmic plastic surgeons and under-recognised by vitreoretinal surgeons during the consent process for evisceration, enucleation and vitreoretinal surgery. Antecedent trauma and number of previous surgeries may actually be a more significant risk factor than the type of eye removal. Recent medicolegal cases also help us understand the importance of the discussion of this risk. We present our current understanding of the risk of SO after different procedures and suggest how this information may be included in a patient consent.

Sympathetic ophthalmia: A comprehensive update

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare, bilateral, granulomatous, panuveitis following penetrating trauma or surgery to one eye. Clinical presentation commonly occurs within the first year of trauma occurrence but can be delayed by several years. It manifests as acute/chronic granulomatous uveitis with yellowish-white choroidal lesions or Dalen-Fuchs nodules. Initially, patients respond rapidly to corticosteroid therapy, but a majority require long-term use of corticosteroid-sparing agents to prevent recurrences. The purpose of this review is to elaborate on the current understanding of the pathophysiology, the importance of multimodal imaging in early diagnosis, and the role of newer immunomodulatory and biological agents in recalcitrant cases.

Sympathetic Ophthalmia - An Overview

INTRODUCTION

Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is rare, bilateral granulomatous panuveitis that typically occurs following penetrating or perforating ocular trauma or surgery. This review aims to provide an update on the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment of SO.

METHODS

Reports cited in MEDLINE database, that analyzed SO in at least 5 patients, published prior to December 1st, 2021 were included.

RESULTS

Initially, SO was associated with penetrating ocular trauma, however, various studies reported an increased incidence of SO after surgical procedures including vitreoretinal surgeries. Multimodal imaging including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography have added further insights into the understanding of SO. While pulse dose corticosteroids & immunosuppressive drugs are still the treatment of choice, TNF-α blockers & other biologic drugs represent new promising agents.

CONCLUSION

There is a growing pool of evidence in understanding the pathogenesis of SO. Novel treatment options have provided better prognosis for this potentially blinding condition.

Clinical and imaging features of sympathetic ophthalmia and efficacy of the current therapy

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to clarify the clinical and imaging features of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) and evaluate the efficacy of the current therapy.

METHODS

The databases PubMed, EMBASE and Ovid up to January 2021 were searched to identify relevant studies. R software version 3.6.3 was used to perform the statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies involving 1067 patients were finally included. Our study found SO was male-dominated, and more than half of SO patients aged 16 to 60 years old. Ocular trauma, surgical interventions and unknown events were estimated to be inciting events in 63%, 36% and 4% of SO patients. About 35% of the patients underwent baseline enucleation, and 45% took compelled enucleation during follow-up. The most common symptoms at the first presentation were decreased vision, followed by pain and redness. The most common signs were anterior chamber cells/flare, followed by vitritis, exudative retinal detachment and Dalen-Fuch nodules. Choroidal thickening was detected in 81% of SO patients by ocular ultrasound. The most common fluorescein fundus angiography signs were disc leakage. After corticosteroid therapy became the mainstay for SO, about 76% of SO patients could get inflammation well-controlled, while 24% of them might have recurrent inflammation. Around 72% of SO patients could achieve visual improvement, and more than half of them might have a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/50 or better.

CONCLUSION

SO is a complicated ocular disease with diverse clinical manifestations and imaging features. After proper anti-inflammation therapy, SO might not necessarily result in a poor prognosis.

Recent advances in diagnosis and management of sympathetic ophthalmia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a bilateral granulomatous uveitis that occurs following unilateral trauma or surgery and is sight-threatening in the contralateral eye. Despite significant potential morbidity, disease remains poorly understood. Variable presentations and clinical courses, as well as a lack of definitive diagnostic laboratory tests can complicate the diagnosis and result in delayed treatment, which can beget permanent vision loss. This review focuses on recent advances in areas of pathophysiology, classification, diagnosis and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Sympathetic ophthalmia is thought to involve a cell-mediated immune response to retinal and uveal antigens exposed through trauma or surgery. Multiple mechanisms have been implicated, including activation of the interleukin-23/IL-17 pathway. Ongoing emphasis is placed on early disease recognition and prompt treatment with multimodal imaging. Multiple authors advocate for the routine use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for screening and disease monitoring. Systemic steroids and steroids sparing-immunosuppressive agents remain the mainstay of treatment.

SUMMARY

Understanding pathophysiology may provide useful targets for drug development, as well as allow for identification of patients at risk. OCT is a useful tool in early diagnosis and management of sympathetic ophthalmia, as OCT changes may precede clinical symptoms and signs, allowing for early disease detection and better visual outcomes.

Sympathetic Ophthalmia: Where Do We Currently Stand on Treatment Strategies?

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare bilateral diffuse granulomatous panuveitis that usually results from surgical or penetrating trauma to one eye. The symptoms range from impaired near vision to pain, photophobia, and loss of visual acuity. Anterior segment manifestations include bilateral acute uveitis with mutton-fat keratic precipitates and posterior segment findings include vitritis, multifocal neurosensory retinal detachment, choroiditis, optic nerve edema, and Dalen-Fuchs nodules. The diagnosis is clinical. Ancillary investigations include fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasound B scan, and autofluorescence imaging. The management options include corticosteroids (topical and systemic) as the first line along with immunomodulatory therapy started at the presentation of the disease. Recent advances include imaging with OCT-angiography, enhanced depth imaging-OCT (EDI-OCT, choroidal vascular index/CVI), targeting IL-23/IL-17 pathway, and use of biologics for the management of this rare entity. Recent advances in early diagnosis and prompt treatment has led to improved final visual outcomes in both the sympathizing and exciting eye. This review is aimed at giving a comprehensive overview of sympathetic ophthalmia along with a special emphasis on current treatment strategies and recent advances.

The Ruptured Globe, Sympathetic Ophthalmia, and the 14-Day Rule

PURPOSE

Prophylactic enucleation of a ruptured globe with no light perception within 14 days of injury to prevent sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) has been an established dictum in academic teaching for more than 100 years. This treatment strategy was originally based on observation, speculation, and careful thought, but there was never any scientific proof. This review summarizes and updates the current state of our knowledge about globe rupture and SO, examines the origin and validity of the 14-day rule, and emphasizes the importance of trying to save the traumatized eye whenever possible.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review of SO and globe rupture was performed.

RESULTS

SO is a rare disorder that may potentially occur following traumatic globe rupture as well as following a variety of other intraocular surgeries. Vitreoretinal surgery may be a more common cause than trauma according to some studies. SO may still occur despite having the eye removed within 14 days of the trauma. A variety of new medications including biologic agents are now available to treat SO with improved efficacy in suppressing the associated ocular inflammation and allowing retention of some useful vision. Removing the traumatized, blind eye may have other important psychological consequences associated with it that require consideration before eye removal is carried out. Retaining the blind, phthisical, disfigured eye avoids phantom vision and phantom pain associated with enucleation as well as providing a good platform to support and move an overlying prosthetic eye. Data on the occurrence of SO following evisceration and enucleation with and without predisposing factors confirms the exceedingly low risk.

CONCLUSION

Most civilian open globe injuries can be successfully repaired with modern, advanced microsurgical techniques currently available. Because of the exceedingly low risk of SO, even with the severity of open globe trauma during military conflicts being more devastating as a result of the blast and explosive injuries, today every attempt is made to primarily close the eye rather than primarily enucleate it, providing there is enough viable tissue to repair. The 14-day rule for eye removal after severe globe ruptures is not scientifically supported and does not always protect against SO, but the safe time period for prophylactic eye removal is not definitively known. In the exceptional cases where SO does occur, several new medications are now available that may help treat SO. We advocate saving the ruptured globe whenever possible and avoiding prophylactic enucleation to prevent the rare occurrence of SO. When an eye requires removal, evisceration is an acceptable alternative to enucleation in cases that do not harbor intraocular malignancy.

Incidence of Sympathetic Ophthalmia after Inciting Events: A National Database Study in Japan

PURPOSE

To analyze the incidence of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) after inciting events (eye trauma or intraocular surgery).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients experiencing inciting events between 2012 and 2019. Onset of SO was defined as the first date of SO diagnosis.

METHODS

Using a nationwide administrative claims database in Japan, we calculated the cumulative incidence of SO after inciting events stratified by sex, 10-year age groups, and a categorical variable of primary or repeated, reflecting the history of inciting events in the past year (no inciting events, inciting events without trauma, or inciting events with trauma) using the Kaplan-Meier approach. We also estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) by Cox regression. We then restricted the population to those with only 1 inciting event during the observation period to investigate the pure effect of each inciting event.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cumulative incidence of SO over 60 months.

RESULTS

A total of 888 041 inciting events (704 717 patients) were eligible. The total number of SO cases was 263, and the cumulative incidence of SO was 0.044% over 60 months. Female sex was not associated with onset of SO (aHR, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.29; P = 0.95). The group 40 to 49 years of age showed the highest incidence of 0.104% among the age groups (aHR vs. ≥80 years of age group [0.041%], 2.44 [95% CI, 1.56-3.80]; P < 0.001). Repeated inciting events with and without trauma showed higher incidences of SO (0.469% and 0.072%, respectively) than primary inciting events (0.036%) (aHR 11.68 [7.74-17.64] and 2.21 [95% CI, 1.59-3.07], respectively); P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The incidence of SO after vitrectomy was much lower than after trauma (0.016% vs. 0.073%), and the incidence after scleral buckling was even lower.

CONCLUSIONS

The cumulative incidence of SO over 60 months was estimated to be 0.044% at minimum. Repeated inciting events, especially those with trauma, increased the risk of SO developing. Trauma was 4 to 5 times as likely to induce SO than vitrectomy. The present findings will be valuable for counseling patients about the risks of SO after trauma and before performing intraocular surgeries.

Sympathetic ophthalmia: Report of a case series and comprehensive review of the literature

PURPOSE

To evaluate the factors related to sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) in a series of patients in our ophthalmology center and previously published cases.

METHODS

A retrospective and noncomparative review was performed on 16 patients with SO attending our ophthalmology center from 2013 to 2019. A total of 87 previously published cases of SO were identified by searching the Medline database from 2009 to 2019.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients were included in the analysis, and six cases were induced by transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TCP). All patients had achieved controlled inflammation at their last follow-up visit. Thirteen patients (81.3%) had improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). A review of the literature revealed 87 previously reported cases of SO. Shared clinical features and treatment outcomes were summarized.

CONCLUSION

Ocular therapies, including both penetrating ocular therapy and non-penetrating ocular intervention, have become increasingly prevalent risk factors for SO, and the latent period has increased compared to past reports. Visual prognosis with appropriate medical management is relatively good.

Sympathetic Ophthalmia - a Contribution to Immunology, Clinic and Current Imaging

BACKGROUND

Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a rare inflammation of an operated or injured eye that spreads to the fellow eye. It is typically a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis. The traumatized eye is referred to as inciting eye and the fellow eye as sympathizing eye. The pathophysiology of the disease is not entirely understood, but there is strong evidence of an autoimmune genesis.

PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS

A selective literature search on epidemiology, immunology, clinical features and risk factors of SO was carried out. In addition, our own experience using multimodal imaging for this clinical entity was introduced.

RESULTS

In the literature, the incidence after traumatic eye injuries is 0.1 - 3% and approximately 0.01% after intraocular surgery. Among the iatrogenic causes, vitreoretinal surgery has the highest rate of SO, presumably due to disruption of the blood-retinal barrier and involvement of retinal and choroidal tissue, which are susceptible to anterior traction, phthisis and chronic inflammation. In 90% of patients, the disease develops within a year following the eliciting event and is associated with a potentially bilateral risk of blindness. Typical symptoms include bilateral visual impairment with photophobia, dull pain and photopsia. The spectrum of clinical manifestations ranges from granulomatous anterior uveitis and vitritis, to choroiditis, serous retinal detachment and Dalen-Fuchs nodules in the context of posterior involvement. The diagnosis of SO is generally based on clinical presentation and is supported by imaging methods. These primarily comprise fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, which are increasingly being supplemented by non-invasive methods such as optical coherence tomography. They can provide important information for assessment of severity, differential diagnosis as well as for disease monitoring. The differential diagnosis includes i. a. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, ocular sarcoidosis and the rare phacoanaphylactic endophthalmitis. Immediate systemic high-dose steroid therapy is used as initial treatment. The course of the disease is often relapsing to chronic progressive. Immunomodulators such as ciclosporine A, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and biologics are increasingly being used and contribute to the significantly better prognosis of the disease. Generally, SO can be triggered by any kind of intraocular intervention.

CONCLUSION

SO remains a threatening clinical diagnosis that poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It can be triggered post-traumatic, but also any intraocular surgery. This should be taken into account when assessing the indication for intraocular eye surgery, especially in eyes with reduced visual outcome.

A rare entity: Sympathetic ophthalmia presumably after blunt trauma to the phthisical eye and optical coherence tomography angiography metrics to monitor response to treatment

A blunt trauma to a phthisical eye may elicit sympathetic ophthalmia. Non invasive imaging such as use of optical coherence tomography and angiography metrics of the retinal and choroidal vasculature can help monitor response to the treatment.

Choroidal Structural Changes in Sympathetic Ophthalmia on Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To analyze choroidal angioarchitecture in sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) images.Methods: Case-control study of six patients with SO. Qualitative changes and quantitative parameters, including choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI), were analyzed.Results: Qualitative findings in the acute phase of SO on SS-OCT included retinal serous detachment with hyperreflective septa, choroidal folds, alterations in angioarchitecture with loss of vascular lacunae, and Dalen-Fuchs nodules. There was significantly higher CT in SO (284.05 ± 24.12 µm) compared to healthy controls (229.57 ± 46.67 µm, p = 0.04) and also increased CVI in SO (62.06 ± 2.07% vs 56.79 ± 3.15%, p = 0.006).Conclusions: CVI was significantly increased in SO, representing a novel noninvasive biomarker of disease activity. SS-OCT provides a useful qualitative and quantitative parameter, which can be potentially explored in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with SO.

Outcomes of ocular evisceration and enucleation in the British Armed Forces from Iraq and Afghanistan

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To evaluate outcomes from all British military patients who underwent eye removal during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Retrospective case note review of all patients (n = 19) who had undergone either evisceration or enucleation, on a database of all military patients repatriated to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham.

RESULTS

Twenty eye removals were performed on 19 patients, of which 14 (70%) were eviscerations and 6 (30%) were enucleations. Orbital wall fractures were seen in 12 (61%) patients, with orbital floor fractures being the most common. The eye removal was a primary procedure in five of fourteen eviscerations, and five of six enucleations. Complications were seen after four (28.6%) eviscerations patients and two (33.3%) enucleations. Postoperative pain was problematic after three (21.4%) eviscerations but no enucleations. Orbital implants were placed during three of the five primary enucleations, with good outcomes in two. One patient however required implant retrieval and wound washout due to a high risk of infection and communication with the intra-cranial space.

CONCLUSIONS

Evisceration and enucleation are both viable options in the management of severe ocular trauma in military patients. Evisceration and enucleation have similar complication rates and outcomes, and both have low rates of sympathetic ophthalmia. Primary orbital implants can be at high risk in cases with orbital roof fracture, but can provide good outcomes in select patients.

Induction of Contrasuppressor Cells and Loss of Immune Privilege Produced by Corneal Nerve Ablation

Purpose

Severing of corneal nerves in preparation of corneal transplantation abolishes immune privilege of subsequent corneal transplants placed into either eye: a phenomenon termed sympathetic loss of immune privilege (SLIP). SLIP is due to the disabling of T regulatory cells (Tregs) by CD11c⁺ contrasuppressor (CS) cells. This study characterized the induction, function, and manipulation of CS cell activity and the effect of these cells on Tregs induced by anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID).

Methods

CS cells were induced using a 2.0-mm trephine to score the corneal epithelium. CD11c⁺ CS cells were evaluated by adoptive transfer and by their capacity to disable CD8⁺ ACAID Tregs in local adoptive transfer (LAT) of suppression assays. CD11c⁺ cells were deleted from the ocular surface by subconjunctival injection of clodronate-containing liposomes.

Results

CD11c⁺ CS cell were radiosenstive and long lived. As few as 1000 CS cells blocked the suppressive activity of previously generated CD8⁺ ACAID Tregs, indicating that CS cells act at the efferent arm of the immune response. Depletion of resident CD11c⁺ cells at the ocular surface prevented the generation of CS cells.

Conclusions

Corneal nerve injury that occurs during keratoplasty converts ocular surface CD11c⁺ cells into CS cells that block CD8⁺ Tregs, which are induced by introducing antigens into the anterior chamber (i.e., ACAID Tregs). Depletion of CD11c⁺ cells at the ocular surface prevents the generation of CS cells and may be a useful strategy for preventing SLIP and enhancing the survival of second corneal transplants.

Enucleations and Eviscerations for Combat Ocular Trauma Performed During Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom: 2001 to 2011

PURPOSE

To describe the demographics and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent posttraumatic enucleation or evisceration during Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) from 2001 to 2011.

METHODS

The Walter Reed Ocular Trauma Database is a retrospective case series of US Servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians who had combat ocular injuries in OIF and OEF. Data regarding posttraumatic enucleations and eviscerations performed during OIF and OEF were extracted. The main outcomes analyzed were the number of enucleations and eviscerations performed, location of the surgery, laterality, and graft type. The secondary outcome measures included: mechanism of injury and Ocular Trauma Score classification.

RESULTS

One hundred nine enucleations and eviscerations were performed on the 890 eyes (12.24%). Sixty-three (57.80%) primary enucleations, 36 (33.03%) secondary enucleations, 5 (4.59%) postretinal detachment repair enucleations, and 5 (4.59%) primary eviscerations were completed. The surgeries were completed at a combat support hospital (57; 52.3%), or Walter Reed Army Medical Center (49; 45.0%). All surgeries were unilateral except in 2 patients. The most common graft type used was silicone (n = 56; 51.38%). Improvised explosive devices caused 76 (69.72%) eye injuries. Ocular Trauma Score were recorded as 56 (51.38%) between 0 and 44, 44 (40.37%) between 45 and 65, and unknown in 9 (8.26%).

CONCLUSION

Posttraumatic enucleation or evisceration due to devastating ocular trauma is required in about 15% of ophthalmic patients in modern combat trauma. The psychosocial impact on veterans who have required an enucleation or evisceration from combat trauma has been poorly studied and requires further review.

Surgical Intervention in Inciting Eyes of Patients with Sympathetic Ophthalmia: A Case Series and Review of Literature

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of surgical procedures on inciting eye of patients with Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO). Methods: Retrospective study of patients with SO who underwent surgical procedures on inciting eyes between January 2000 and December 2015. Outcome measures included flare up of inflammation in either eye and change in visual acuity in the inciting eye. Results: Four SO patients underwent surgeries in their inciting eyes after adequate control of inflammation. Surgical procedures included penetrating keratoplasty, glaucoma drainage device implantation, pars plana vitrectomy, and silicon oil removal. Keratoplasty, glaucoma surgery, and silicon oil removal were well tolerated, with no flare up of disease. The patient who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, however, had a poor outcome. Conclusions: Surgical intervention in inciting eyes of patients with SO, after being adequately treated with oral steroids and immunosuppression, is a viable option for improving anatomic and functional outcomes in these eyes.

Seeing is believing: A review of apheresis therapy in the treatment of ophthalmologic disease

Apheresis procedures have a role in treatment of disparate diseases involving many different organ systems. Often the disease processes where apheresis plays a role in treatment are considered "orphan diseases"-relatively rare disease processes that lack specific pharmaceutical agents or established treatment protocols. Many of these disease processes can affect the eye with devastating results for the eyesight of these patients. The unique ability of apheresis to affect disease by modifying blood plasma and modulating disease-causing agents therein renders apheresis procedures valuable tools in the treatment of certain ophthalmologic diseases. This review comprehensively evaluates the role of apheresis in the treatment of ophthalmologic diseases of the eye and surrounding orbit including age-related macular degeneration, bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation, paraneoplastic retinopathy, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, sympathetic ophthalmia, and endocrine-associated ophthalmopathy. Apheresis procedure parameters are provided for the apheresis practitioner based on review of the relevant literature.

AN ATYPICAL CASE OF SYMPATHETIC OPHTHALMIA AFTER LIMBAL CORNEAL LACERATION

In this study, we report a case of bilateral exudative retinal detachment due to sympathetic ophthalmia after successful limbal corneal laceration repair. Steroids remain mainstay management in controlling this disorder; however, there is no role of prophylactic steroid to prevent it. On the contrary, steroid use may alter the course of the disease.

Background/Purpose:

To report a case of atypical sympathetic ophthalmia after limbal corneal laceration.

Methods and Results:

An 11-year-old child had a successful left eye corneal laceration repair at the temporal limbus with excision of exposed nonnecrotic iris tissue, resulting in good visual acuity of 20/80 and 20/25 on postoperative Days 1 and 7, respectively. The patient was prescribed 1 mg/kg oral prednisolone in a tapering dose as prophylaxis. On postoperative Day 21, the patient presented with acute onset decreased vision in both eyes. Visual acuity was counting fingers 3 feet in both eyes. On examination, anterior segment examination was quiet without any inflammation, anterior vitreous face showed 1+ cells, and dilated funduscopy revealed bilateral symmetrical serous retinal detachments along the posterior pole. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated separation and elevation of inner neurosensory layers from the outer segment marking presence of hyperreflective material along with subretinal fluid between detached surfaces. There was stippled hyperfluorescence along the posterior pole as seen in fluorescein angiography. With a diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmia confirmed, oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg body weight) was instituted after which, there was gradual decrease in macular elevation with corresponding improvement in visual acuity with no recurrence for the last 6 months.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of an atypical presentation of sympathetic ophthalmia, and antecedent corticosteroid therapy would have mitigated robust anterior segment findings usually associated with the condition.

Ophthalmology in North America: Early Stories (1491-1801)

New World plants, such as tobacco, tomato, and chili, were held to have beneficial effects on the eyes. Indigenous healers rubbed or scraped the eyes or eyelids to treat inflammation, corneal opacities, and even eye irritation from smoke. European settlers used harsh treatments, such as bleeding and blistering, when the eyes were inflamed or had loss of vision with a normal appearance (gutta serena). In New Spain, surgery for corneal opacity was performed in 1601 and cataract couching in 1611. North American physicians knew of contralateral loss of vision after trauma or surgery (sympathetic ophthalmia), which they called "sympathy." To date, the earliest identified cataract couching by a surgeon trained in the New World was performed in 1769 by John Bartlett of Rhode Island. The American Revolution negatively affected ophthalmology, as loyalist surgeons were expelled and others were consumed with wartime activities. After the war, cataract extraction was imported to America in earnest and academic development resumed. Charles F Bartlett, the son of John, performed cataract extraction but was also a "rapacious privateer." In 1801, a doctor in the frontier territory of Kentucky observed anticholinergic poisoning by Datura stramonium (Jimsonweed) and suggested that this agent be applied topically to dilate the pupil before cataract extraction. John Warren at Harvard preferred couching in the 1790s, but, after his son returned from European training, recommended treating angle closure glaucoma by lens extraction. Other eye procedures described or advertised in America before the 19th century included enucleation, resection of conjunctival lesions or periocular tumors, treatment of lacrimal fistula, and fitting of prosthetic eyes.

Characteristics of Sympathetic Ophthalmia in a Single International Center

AIM

To report the main features of sympathetic ophthalmia in a referral ophthalmology center.

METHODS

Retrospective clinical study. We reviewed clinical records of patients with diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmia attending the Uveitis Department from 2007 to 2013. Patients were selected by clinical criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to assess variables.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were included for analysis, 13 males and 7 females. Mean follow up was 1 year. The median age of presentation was 50 years. Fifty percent had history of ocular trauma and 50% had history of intraocular surgery, of which 40% underwent phacoemulsification. The time between injury and onset of symptoms ranged from 1 to 456 months. Most common ocular manifestations were mutton fat keratic precipitates and anterior chamber inflammation. All patients received oral prednisone as single or combined therapy. Sixty percent of the sympathizing eyes improved two or more lines of vision and 20% lost two or more lines of vision.

CONCLUSION

This report from a single center adds to the body of literature of sympathetic ophthalmia occurring in a specific population. Our data found a high proportion of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia after phacoemulsification.

Abnormal increase of intraocular pressure in fellow eye after severe ocular trauma: A case report

BACKGROUND

An ocular injury can lead to secondary glaucoma in the traumatized eye in 3% to 20% of cases. Literature on the risk of developing elevated intraocular pressure in the nontraumatized fellow eye is scant. Clinicians treating ocular traumas should also bear in mind sympathetic ophthalmia, a rare bilateral granulomatous panuveitis following accidental or surgical trauma to 1 eye.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of high-pressure glaucoma of the fellow eye without any signs of uveitis. The left eye of a 24-year-old man was injured in an inadvertent movement during a free-time table-tennis match. The eye was severely crushed, leading to blindness. His right eye developed medically uncontrolled high-pressure glaucoma only 1 month after the injury.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous reports of post-traumatic glaucoma in the nontraumatized eye after open-globe injury.

Autoimmune disease: Conceptual history and contributions of ocular immunology

Medical historians identify the mid-20th century as the time when the scientific and medical communities acknowledged the existence of autoimmune disease. Several conditions including sympathetic ophthalmia and endophthalmitis phacoanaphylactica, however, were proposed as autoimmune disorders much earlier. During the first half of the century, autoimmune disease was viewed as biologically implausible. Paul Ehrlich coined the term horror autotoxicus to emphasize that autoimmunity would contradict nature's aversion to self-injury. The discoveries of allergy and anaphylaxis were the first clues that the immune system was capable of self-harm. A major obstacle to comprehending the pathogenesis of autoimmunity was how the immune system distinguishes foreign from self, a process eventually understood in the context of immune tolerance. Investigators of sympathetic ophthalmia and endophthalmitis phacoanaphylactica were positioned to invalidate horror autotoxicus but lacked sufficiently convincing experimental and clinical evidence to accomplish the task. Seminal studies of chronic thyroiditis and a series of clinical laboratory breakthroughs led to the general acceptance of autoimmune disease in the 1950s. The travails encountered by ophthalmic investigators offer insights into the how medical ideas take shape. We review the contributions of ocular immunology to the conceptual development of autoimmune disease and explore the reasons why the concept caught on slowly.

Visual recovery following open globe injury with initial no light perception

Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze eyes presenting with no light perception (NLP) after open globe injury (OGI) to determine visual outcomes and prognostic indicators for visual recovery.

Methods

The records of consecutive patients with at least 6 months of follow-up presenting with OGI and NLP to a single institution between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2013 were reviewed for demographics, ophthalmic history, context and characteristics of injury, ocular examination findings, surgical interventions, and follow-up visual acuity. Unpaired t-tests and Fisher’s Exact tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Twenty-five patients met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 50.4±25.5 (range 8–91) years. Four patients (16%) regained vision (hand motion in three patients and light perception in one patient) while 21 patients (84%) remained with NLP or had a prosthesis at final follow-up. Fourteen eyes (56%) were enucleated; nine (36%) were secondary enucleations. Although the sample sizes were small, neither ocular trauma score nor wound size was found to predict visual recovery.

Conclusion

Four patients regained some vision after presenting with NLP due to OGI. These findings suggest that, in select cases, physicians should discuss the possibility of regaining some vision.

Gender disparities in ocular inflammatory disorders

Ocular inflammatory disorders disproportionately affect women, and the majority of affected women are of childbearing age. The role of sex or reproductive hormones has been proposed in many other inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, and findings from non-ocular autoimmune diseases suggest a complex interaction between sex hormones, genetic factors and the immune system. However, despite the age and sex bias, factors that influence this disparity are complicated and unclear. This review aims to evaluate the gender disparities in prevalence, incidence and severity of the most common infectious and non-infectious ocular inflammatory disorders.

Classical pathology of sympathetic ophthalmia presented in a unique case

The ocular pathology of sympathetic ophthalmia is demonstrated in a 10 year-old boy who sustained a penetrating left globe injury and subsequently developed sympathetic ophthalmia in the right eye two months later. Two and a half weeks following extensive surgical repair of the left ruptured globe, he developed endophthalmitis and was treated with oral and topical fortified antibiotics. One month after the initial injury, a progressive corneal ulcer of the left eye led to perforation and the need for emergent corneal transplantation. The surgical specimen revealed fungus, Scedosporium dehoogii. The boy received systemic and topical anti-fungal therapy. Two months following the penetrating globe injury of the left eye, a granulomatous uveitis developed in the right eye. Sympathetic ophthalmia was suspected and the patient began treatment with topical and oral corticosteroids. Given the concern of vision loss secondary to sympathetic ophthalmia in the right eye, as well as poor vision and hypotony in the injured eye, the left eye was enucleated. Microscopically, granulomatous inflammation with giant cells was noted within a cyclitic membrane which filled the anterior and posterior chamber of the left globe. Other classic features including Dalen-Fuchs nodules were identified. Small, choroidal, ill-defined granulomas and relative sparing of the choriocapillaris were present. Molecular analysis did not identify evidence of remaining fungal infection. The pathology findings were consistent with previously described features of sympathetic ophthalmia. The present case is unique in that co-existing fungal infection may have potentiated the risk for developing sympathetic ophthalmia in the fellow eye.

Sympathetic ophthalmia in pediatric age group: clinical features and challenges in management in a tertiary center in southern India

PURPOSE

To study the clinical features and visual outcome of sympathetic ophthalmia in pediatric patients attending a tertiary care center.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients ≤16 years with sympathetic ophthalmia seen during the period 2001-2011.

RESULTS

During this period, 2511 pediatric patients with open globe injuries and 14 patients with sympathetic ophthalmia were seen. Six patients developed sympathetic ophthalmia during follow-up here. The incidence rate of sympathetic ophthalmia is 0.24% (6/2511, 95% CI:0.05-0.43%). The commonest presenting signs were anterior uveitis and exudative detachment. All patients were treated with systemic steroids, while 7 patients received additional immunosuppressive therapy. Eight patients had a follow-up of more than 6 months. Mean presenting best-corrected visual acuity (1.25 ± 1.03 logMAR) in the sympathizing eye improved significant following treatment (0.42 ± 0.80 logMAR, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of sympathetic ophthalmia was 0.24%. Appropriate immunosuppression can lead to favorable visual outcomes in the sympathizing eye.

Sympathetic ophthalmia: to the twenty-first century and beyond

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare bilateral granulomatous inflammation that follows accidental or surgical insult to the uvea of one eye. Onset of sympathetic ophthalmia can be insidious or acute, with recurrent periods of exacerbation. Clinical presentation shows mutton-fat keratic precipitates, choroidal infiltrations, and Dalen-Fuchs nodules. Histopathology reveals diffuse or nodular granulomatous inflammation of the uvea. Prevention and treatment strategies for sympathetic ophthalmia are currently limited to two modalities, enucleation of the injured eye and immunosuppressive therapy, aimed at controlling inflammation. The etiology and pathophysiology of the disease is still unclear but is largely thought to be autoimmune in nature. Recent insight on the molecular pathology of the disease as well as developments in imaging technology have furthered both the understanding on the autoimmune process in sympathetic ophthalmia and the targeting of prevention and treatment strategies for the future.

Evisceration in the modern age

Evisceration is an ophthalmic surgery that removes the internal contents of the eye followed usually by placement of an orbital implant to replace the lost ocular volume. Unlike enucleation, which involves removal of the entire eye, evisceration potentially causes exposure of uveal antigens; therefore, historically there has been a concern about sympathetic ophthalmic (SO) associated with evisceration. However, critical review of the literature shows that SO occurs very rarely, if ever, as a consequence of evisceration. Its clinical applications overlap with those of enucleation in cases of penetrating ocular trauma and blind painful eyes, but it is absolutely contraindicated in the setting of suspected intraocular malignancy and may be preferred for treatment of end-stage endophthalmitis. From a technical standpoint, traditional evisceration has a limitation in the orbital implant size. Innovations with scleral modification have overcome this limitation, and accordingly, due to its simplicity, efficiency, and good cosmetic results, evisceration has once again been gaining popularity.

Update on sympathetic ophthalmia

Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a bilateral diffuse granulomatous intraocular inflammation that occurs in most cases within days or months after surgery or penetrating trauma to one eye. The incidence of SO ranges from 0.2 to 0.5% after penetrating ocular injuries and 0.01% after intraocular surgery. Vitreoretinal surgery and cyclodestructive procedures are considered risk factors. The time from ocular injury to onset of SO varies greatly, ranging from a few days to decades, with 80% of the cases occurring within 3 months after injury to the exciting eye and 90% within 1 year. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings rather than on serological testing or pathological studies. It presents as a bilateral diffuse uveitis. Patients report an insidious onset of blurry vision, pain, epiphora, and photophobia in the sympathizing, non-injured eye. Classically this is accompanied by conjunctival injection and a granulomatous anterior chamber reaction with mutton-fat keratic precipitates (KPs) on the corneal endothelium. In the posterior segment, the extent of inflammation can vary. Systemic corticosteroids are the first line therapy for SO. If patients are non-responsive to steroid therapy or have clinically significant side effects, cyclosporine, azathioprine or other immunosuppressive agents can be used for long-term immunomodulatory therapy.

Sympathetic ophthalmia in HIV infection. A clinicopathological case report

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to report a case of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) in an HIV-infected patient on treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) 9 years after a penetrating eye injury.

METHODS

The study utilized clinical course and histopathological findings.

RESULTS

Histopathology of the enucleated right eye showed a predominantly lymphocytic inflammatory infiltration with some plasma cells and epithelioid granulomata in the choroid, suggesting the diagnosis of SO.

CONCLUSIONS

SO seems to be driven by T lymphocytes, specifically by the CD4 subset of T cells. HIV-infected individuals suffer a decline in CD4 T cell numbers, leading to an acquired immunodeficiency that could halt the development of the inflammatory reaction responsible for SO. The restoration of the CD4 counts by HAART therapy makes HIV-infected individuals as susceptible to SO as non-infected ones. To the best of our knowledge, there are no cases of SO in HIV-infected patients reported in the literature.

Prognostic indicators for no light perception after open-globe injury: eye injury vitrectomy study

PURPOSE

To describe ocular characteristics, surgical interventions, and anatomic and visual outcomes of traumatized eyes with no light perception (NLP) following open-globe injury and to investigate prognostic predictors for NLP cases after open-globe injury.

DESIGN

Interventional case series study.

METHODS

Thirty-three traumatized eyes with NLP were selected from the Eye Injury Vitrectomy Study database, a hospital-based multicenter prospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were NLP cases following open-globe injury with outcomes of anatomic restoration, phthisis bulbi, or enucleation. Exclusion criteria were cases with missing records, undergoing vitrectomy after injury at nonparticipating hospitals, direct optic head injury, endophthalmitis, and hypotonous or silicone oil-sustained eyes. All cases underwent vitreoretinal surgery or enucleation after exploratory surgery and were followed up for at least 6 months. Two outcomes were assessed: favorable outcome (anatomically restored eye globes with light perception [LP] or better vision) and unfavorable outcome (NLP, phthisis bulbi, or enucleation).

RESULTS

The following 7 risk factors were significant between the 2 groups: rupture (P = .021); open globe III (P = .046); scleral wound ≥10 mm (P = .001); ciliary body damage (P < .001); severe intraocular hemorrhage (P = .005); closed funnel retinal detachment or retinal prolapse (P = .005); and choroidal damage (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These 7 risk factors are possible predictors of poor prognosis. Traumatized eyes with NLP can be anatomically restored with LP or better vision if vitreoretinal surgery is attempted, and a favorable anatomic and visual outcome is increased by having a decreased number of these risk factors.

The eye amputated - consequences of eye amputation with emphasis on clinical aspects, phantom eye syndrome and quality of life

In this thesis the term eye amputation (EA) covers the removing of an eye by: evisceration, enucleation and exenteration. Amputation of an eye is most frequently the end-stage in a complicated disease, or the primary treatment in trauma and neoplasm. In 2010 the literature is extensive due to knowledge about types of surgery, implants and surgical technique. However, not much is known about the time past surgery.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PHD THESIS WAS

To identify the number of EA, the causative diagnosis and the indication for surgical removal of the eye, the chosen surgical technique and to evaluate a possible change in surgical technique in Denmark from 1996 until 2003 (paper I); To describe the phantom eye syndrome and its prevalence of visual hallucinations, phantom pain and phantom sensations (paper II); To characterise the quality of phantom eye pain, including its intensity and frequency among EA patients. We attempted to identify patients with increased risk of developing pain after EA and investigated if preoperative pain is a risk factor for a later development of phantom pain (paper III); In addition we wanted to investigate the health related quality of life, perceived stress, self rated health, job separation due to illness or disability and socio-economic position of the EA in comparison with the general Danish population (paper IV).

THE STUDIES WERE BASED ON

Records on 431 EA patients, clinical ophthalmological examination and an interview study of 173 EA patients and a questionnaire answered by 120 EA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The most frequent indications for EA in Denmark were painful blind eye (37%) and neoplasm (34%). During the study period 1996-2003, the annual number of eye amputations was stable, but an increase in bulbar eviscerations was noticed. Orbital implants were used with an increasing tendency until 2003. The Phantom eye syndrome is frequent among EA patients. Visual hallucinations were described by 42% of the patients. The content were mainly elementary visual hallucinations, with white or colored light as a continuous sharp light or as moving dots. The most frequent triggers were darkness, closing of the eyes, fatigue and psychological stress. Fifty-four percent of the patients had visual hallucinations more than once a week. Ten patients were so visually disturbed that it interfered with their daily life. Approximately 23% of all EA experience phantom pain for several years after the surgery. Phantom pain was reported to be of three different qualities: (i) cutting, penetrating, gnawing or oppressive (n=19); (ii) radiating, zapping or shooting (n=8); (iii) superficial burning or stinging (n=5); or a mixture of these different pain qualities (n=7). The median intensity on a visual analogue scale, ranging from 0 to 100, was 36 [range: 1-89]. One-third of the patients experienced phantom pain every day. Chilliness, windy weather and psychological stress/fatigue were the most commonly reported triggers for pain. Factors associated with phantom pain were: ophthalmic pain before EA, the presence of implant and a patient reported high degree of conjunctival secretion. A common reason for EA is the presence of a painful blind eye. However, one third of these patients continue to have pain after the EA. Phantom sensations were present in 2% of the patients. The impact of an eye amputation is considerable. EA patients have poorer health related quality of life, poorer self-rated health and more perceived stress than does the general population. The largest differences in health related quality of life between the EA patients and the general population were related to role limitations due to emotional problems and mental health. Patients with the indication painful blind eye are having lower scores in all aspects of health related quality of life and perceived stress than patients with the indication neoplasm and trauma. The percentage of eye amputated which is divorced or separated was twice as high as in the general population. Furthermore, 25% retired or changed to part-time jobs due to eye disease and 39.5% stopped participating in leisure activities due to their EAs.

Histopathological changes of cornea in long-term sympathetic ophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To report the histopathological changes occurring in the cornea in sympathetic ophthalmitis.

METHODS

Observational case series of 3 patients with sympathetic ophthalmitis who were treated with penetrating keratoplasty. We report the histopathological features of the cornea.

RESULTS

In all 3 cases, the epithelium was edematous and bullous with extensive loss of the Bowman layer and calcification of the superficial stroma in all the 3 eyes. The deep stroma was unremarkable in appearance. Descemet membrane showed thickening in 2 of the corneas with nodular excrescences and folds noted in 1 of the specimens. The endothelium was attenuated with some residual cells containing pigment granules in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONS

Endothelial loss and development of bullous keratopathy associated with band keratopathy are predominate histopathological features of the cornea. These changes are nonspecific and reflect a chronic anterior uveitis.

Enucleation for open globe injury

PURPOSE

To report the experience of enucleation after open globe at an ophthalmic trauma referral center.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational study.

METHODS

In an ophthalmic trauma referral center the charts of all patients having suffered an open globe injury between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2007 were reviewed. Variables assessed were age, gender, type of injury (rupture or laceration [penetrating, intraocular foreign body, or perforating]), ocular trauma score, visual acuity, subsequent enucleation, indication for and timing of enucleation, presence of sympathetic ophthalmia, and length of follow-up.

RESULTS

Among 660 open globe injuries, 55 have undergone enucleation (including 4 eviscerations), 11 primarily and 44 secondarily. Eyes with ruptures were significantly more likely to be enucleated than those with injuries attributable to lacerations (P < .001). The most common reason for secondary enucleation was a blind, painful eye. Two patients (0.3%) developed sympathetic ophthalmia and have maintained good vision in the sympathizing eye.

CONCLUSIONS

The vast majority of open globes can be repaired without requiring primary enucleation. Secondary enucleation is most commonly carried out for pain. Eyes with no light perception can be closely observed if the patient chooses.

[Sympathetic ophthalmia]

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare, bilateral granulomatous uveitis that occurs after either surgical or accidental trauma to one eye. The etiology is still not completely clear, but evidence suggests that sympathetic ophthalmia represents an autoimmune inflammatory response against choroidal melanocytes mediated by T cells. Key features are vision impairment and symptoms associated with inflammation. The diagnosis is based on a history of previous ocular trauma or surgery and clinical findings. Differential diagnoses include other causes of granulomatous uveitis, such as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and syphilis. Depending on the suspected etiology, treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia consists of systemic anti-inflammatory agents, including corticosteroids and immunomodulating drugs. The role of enucleation after the diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmia remains controversial. Visual prognosis is reasonably good with prompt appropriate wound repair and immunomodulatory therapy. As the occurrence of sympathetic ophthalmia is probably more frequent following vitreoretinal surgery, more attention has to be paid to this potentially bilateral blinding disorder.

Visual outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery in eyes with severe open-globe injury presenting with no-light-perception vision

BACKGROUND

Severe ocular trauma causing no light perception (NLP) typically carries a dismal prognosis, and implies no further therapeutic intervention. We have identified a cohort of patients with verified NLP following open-globe injury who have recovered vision of light perception (LP) or better. We evaluated the outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery performed on eyes that were NLP post open-globe injury.

METHODS

Retrospective review of outcomes of secondary vitreoretinal surgery performed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2006 on all cases of open-globe repair (OGR) that had NLP prior to OGR or on the first post-operative day.

RESULTS

A total of 648 cases of OGR were performed in the study period. Eighty-eight patients had NLP prior to OGR or on the first post-operative day after OGR. Twenty-three patients from the above group (26.1%) spontaneously recovered a vision of light perception (LP) or better. Eight of the 23 patients had a secondary vitreoretinal surgery. All eyes that did not undergo vitreoretinal surgery returned to NLP or became phthisical within 7 months. Among the eight eyes that underwent surgery, five had improvement, with vision ranging from hand motion to 20/70. Prognostic indicators for successful surgical outcome were hand motion or better vision prior to vitreoretinal surgery, recovery of vision within 5 days of OGR, and vitreoretinal intervention within 5 weeks of the initial open-globe injury.

CONCLUSION

Patients with severe open-globe injury and NLP occasionally recover LP or better vision. These patients may regain useful vision after vitreoretinal surgery if prompt referral and intervention is attempted and if the spontaneous visual recovery occurs within the first week after OGR.