Pathogenesis of Uveitic Glaucoma

Ab externo open conjunctiva XEN® 63 μm: a novel surgical alternative in uveitic glaucoma-a case report

PURPOSE

To describe the efficacy and safety of the ab externo open-conjunctiva XEN® 63 μm gel stent in uveitic glaucoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A case report of a 15-year-old patient with bilateral uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma secondary to chronic anterior uveitis was presented. Several medical ophthalmological and rheumatological evaluation visits were conducted. Preoperative intraocular pressure was 28 mmHg in the right eye and 32 mmHg in the left eye. She underwent a trabeculectomy in her right eye developing hypotonic maculopathy and decompression retinopathy, requiring surgical revision. Considering the complications endured in the right eye, it was decided to perform an ab externo open-conjunctiva XEN® 63 μm implant in her left eye with no postoperative complications. Postoperative course was uneventful with well-controlled intraocular pressure (11 mmHg) and no progression of glaucomatous damage, one year after the procedure. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography evidenced a well-functioning and non-encapsulated bleb along the follow up. Eventually, there were no postoperative uveitic episodes, with 40 mg Adalimumab as a steroid-sparing agent.

CONCLUSION

Uveitic glaucoma presents both clinical and therapeutic challenges. Traditional surgery such as trabeculectomy may entail postoperative complications such as hypotonic maculopathy and decompression retinopathy. This is the first case reporting the efficacy and safety of ab externo open-conjunctiva XEN® 63 μm implant in uveitic glaucoma, highlighting its potential usefulness in such clinical scenarios.

A Dual-Center Study of Retinal Detachment Following Endogenous Endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate factors associated with increased odds of retinal detachment (RD) following endogenous endophthalmitis (EE).

METHODS

Retrospective study of individuals with EE from two tertiary care centers. Demographics, medical and ocular history, presenting clinical features, microbial cultures, and initial management were assessed in relation to subsequent RD.

RESULTS

Of 93 study eyes, 30 (32.3%) diagnosed with EE developed subsequent RD. Compared with eyes that did not develop subsequent RD, eyes that developed RD had lower intraocular pressure (IOP) at presentation (RD: 14.0 ± 6.5 mm Hg vs. no RD: 17.3 ± 7.7 mm Hg, p = 0.02) and had higher rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) positive blood cultures (RD: (13/30) 43.3% vs no RD: (9/63) 14.3%, p = 0.004). The number of intravitreal injections was higher in eyes that developed subsequent RD compared to eyes that did not (RD: 5.3 ± 3.3 vs. no RD: 3.9 ± 3.0, p = 0.02), while no difference in subsequent RD was noted in eyes receiving therapeutic vitrectomy (p = 0.19). After controlling for age, sex, and duration of follow-up, lower IOP at presentation and MRSA positive blood cultures were associated with significantly higher odds of subsequent RD.

CONCLUSION

Eyes with lower IOP at presentation and positive MRSA blood cultures were associated with higher rates of subsequent RD, even after controlling for age, sex, and duration of follow-up. Longer follow-up of patients with EE with MRSA bacteremia may be warranted, and larger cohort studies to identify additional features associated with RD are needed.

Intermediate-Term Outcomes of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation for Uveitic Glaucoma: A Tertiary Centre Experience

PURPOSE

To present the outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in uveitic glaucoma (UG) in a tertiary eye center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all UG patients who underwent AGV implantation at a single, tertiary care eye center from January 2008 to December 2018. The main outcome measures were change in mean intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications, overall success rate in different follow-up periods, complete and qualified success from last follow up, and complications. The success of the treatment was defined as patients achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) levels between 6- and 21-mm Hg with or without additional antiglaucoma medications and/or a minimum of 20% reduction from baseline IOP.

RESULTS

The study included 74 patients (86 eyes), with a mean follow-up of 4.9 ± 2.9 years. The mean IOP was 32.2 ± 8.5 mmHg at baseline and 16.3 ± 6.6 mmHg at the last follow-up (p < 0.001). The mean number of antiglaucoma medications decreased from 3.5 ± 0.7 preoperatively to 1.3 ± 1.4 at the last follow-up (p < 0.001). Overall survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 96.5%, 92.7%, 91%, and 56.9%, respectively. Complete and qualified success rates were 37.9% and 48.3% at the end of follow up, respectively. The rate of postoperative complications was 56%, of which 18 eyes (20%) required surgical revision. Bivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis did not reveal any factors significantly associated with failure.

CONCLUSIONS

AGV is safe and effective in providing intermediate-term IOP control in UG patients. Complications reported in our cohort were mostly transient and conservatively treated.

The association between intraocular pressure dynamics during dark-room prone testing and intraocular pressure over a relatively long-term follow-up period in primary open-glaucoma patients

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between the dynamics of intraocular pressure (IOP) during dark-room prone testing (DRPT) and IOP over a relatively long-term follow-up period.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 84 eyes of 51 primary open-angle glaucoma patients who underwent DRPT for whom at least three IOP measurements made using Goldmann applanation tonometry were available over a maximum follow-up period of two years. We excluded eyes with a history of intraocular surgery or laser treatment and those with changes in topical anti-glaucoma medication during the follow-up period. In DRPT, IOP was measured in the sitting position, and after 60 min in the prone position in a dark room, IOP was measured again. In this study, IOP fluctuation refers to the standard deviation (SD) of IOP, and IOP max indicates the maximum value of IOP during the follow-up. The relationship between these parameters was analyzed with a linear mixed-effects model, adjusting for clinical parameters including age, gender, and axial length.

RESULTS

IOP increased after DRPT with a mean of 6.13 ± 3.55 mmHg. IOP max was significantly associated with IOP after DRPT (β = 0.38; p < 0.001). IOP fluctuation was significantly associated with IOP change in DRPT (β = 0.29; p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that short-term and relatively long-term IOP dynamics are associated. Long-term IOP dynamics can be predicted by DRPT to some extent.

Features of hemodynamic and immunological parameters in patients with recurrent uveitis complicated by hypertension, Fuchs heterochromic uveitis and Posner-Schlossman syndrome

Introduction: Uveitis is a disease that manifests with increased vascular permeability and occlusion, with some ischemia and inflammatory mediators. It is characterized by a wide range of pathological processes, including inflammation, increased vascular permeability and occlusion, local ischemia and cell alteration by inflammatory mediators, and is characterized by the presence of complications. Aim: To study the state of ocular hemodynamics by rheoophthalmography, as well as the immune status in patients with idiopathic recurrent anterior uveitis complicated by intraocular hypertension, Fuchs heterochromic uveitis, Posner-Schlossman syndrome, during the relapse period. Materials and methods: 93 patients with idiopathic recurrent anterior uveitis were included in this study, 8 patients with Fuchs' uveitis, and 6 patients with Posner-Schlossman syndrome. According to clinical signs, relapse and remission were considered. The control group (healthy volunteers of the same age) consisted of 27 people. In this regard, 5 groups of subjects were formed. The mean age of the patients was (M ± SD) 39.2 ± 14.6 years. According to the Median (range), the duration of the disease in patients was 2033 (350-3285) days, intraocular hypertension being recorded at P0 > 20 mm Hg. Statistical analysis was carried out in spreadsheets using STATISTICA 8.0 (StatSoft.Inc) program. Quantitative indicators were evaluated according to the correspondence to the normal distribution and to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov criterion. With a normal distribution, arithmetic means (M) and standard deviations (SD), limits of the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and Student's t-test were calculated. Results: The volumetric blood filling of the eye according to the rheoophthalmographic indicator RQ during the period of remission of uncomplicated and complicated by hypertension anterior uveitis was reduced by 32.4%-40.5%, respectively, compared with the norm. During the period of relapse, RQ was significantly higher by 28% (p<0.05) than in remission, in the group of uncomplicated uveitis, and in the group of uveitis with increased IOP, no significant differences between the periods of remission and relapse were observed, which reflected the ischemic process in the relapse period. Volumetric blood filling in Fuchs and Posner-Schlossman syndromes in the acute period did not differ from the norm. Cellular immunity in the groups of uncomplicated and complicated by intraocular hypertension idiopathic uveitis, as well as with Fuchs and Posner-Schlossman syndromes, had a higher level of CD4 helper lymphocytes and a lower level of CD8 suppressor lymphocytes, which reflected higher values of the immunoregulatory index. The increase in the immunoregulatory index is most pronounced in Fuchs and Posner-Schlossman syndromes. Discussion: In the presented study, the incidence of idiopathic recurrent anterior uveitis complicated by intraocular hypertension was 9,9% among all cases of idiopathic recurrent anterior uveitis in one-time period. According to literature, this complicated form of uveitis occurs in 11,5%-46,1% of cases. Most often (up to 92% of cases), the anterior chamber angle was open. Conclusions: Different activity of the mechanisms regulating the balance of cellular and humoral immunity, sensitivity of T-cells to eye antigens in idiopathic anterior uveitis, Fuchs and Posner-Schlossman syndromes was assumed. Peculiarities of eye hemodynamics in these forms of uveitis were also revealed. Abbreviations: IOP = intraocular pressure, IOHS = inflammatory ocular hypertension syndrome, HSV = herpes simplex virus, CMV = cytomegalovirus, OCT = optical coherence tomography, OD = right eye, OS = left eye.

Structure-Function Relationship and Vision-Related Quality of Life in Glaucoma Secondary to Anterior Uveitis: Comparison with Open Angle Glaucoma

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the structure–function characteristics and vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) in uveitic glaucoma (UG) compared with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Method: The study included 69 patients with UG and 138 patients with primary open angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma. A 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was used to evaluate the patients’ VR-QoL. The retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) was measured using optical coherence tomography, and the integrated visual field (IVF) was determined using the best location method. Results: There were no significant differences in the binocular IVF and mean deviation (MD) of the affected eye between the OAG and UG group, whereas the average RNFLT was significant thinner in the OAG group (p = 0.008). The patients with UG showed a significantly lower composite score and five subscales of the VFQ-25, compared with those with OAG (p < 0.05, for all, general linear model). Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the composite score showed the strongest associations with the whole IVF (β = 1.240, p < 0.001) in the OAG group, whereas in the UG group, a significant association was seen only with the inferior VF of the affected eye (β = 0.596, p = 0.038). Conclusions: The eyes with UG exhibited distinctive structure–function characteristics and worse VR-QoL that differentiated them from OAG eyes.

Protective Effects of Fucoxanthin Dampen Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Action and Elevated Intraocular Pressure by Activating Nrf2 Signaling and Generating Reactive Oxygen Species

Inflammation and oxidative stress are closely related processes in the pathogenesis of various ocular diseases. Uveitis is a disorder of the uvea and ocular tissues that causes extreme pain, decreases visual acuity, and can eventually lead to blindness. The pharmacological functions of fucoxanthin, isolated from brown algae, induce a variety of therapeutic effects such as oxidative stress reduction and repression of inflammation reactions. However, the specific anti-inflammatory effects of fucoxanthin on pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) lipopolysaccharide-induced uveitis have yet to be extensively described. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoxanthin on uveitis in rats. The results showed that fucoxanthin effectively enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in ocular tissues. Furthermore, fucoxanthin significantly increased the ocular activities of superoxide dismutase and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde stimulated by PAMP-induced uveitis. Ocular hypertension and the levels of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the aqueous humor were alleviated with fucoxanthin treatment. Consequently, compared to the observed effects in lipopolysaccharide groups, fucoxanthin treatment significantly preserved iris sphincter innervation and pupillary function. Additionally, PAMP-induced corneal endothelial disruption was significantly inhibited by fucoxanthin treatment. Overall, these findings suggest that fucoxanthin may protect against inflammation from PAMP-induced uveitis by promoting the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting oxidative stress.

The Effect of Perioperative Uveitis Control on the Success of Glaucoma Surgery in Uveitic Glaucoma

Purpose

To study the effects of perioperative uveitis control (PUC) on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and uveitis activity in uveitic glaucoma (UG) patients who required glaucoma surgeries.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective chart review of 109 patients (120 eyes) which had glaucoma surgery for UG. A total of 66 eyes which had PUC were compared to 54 eyes which did not have. Measurements of IOP and uveitis activity were recorded preoperatively and over 2 years postoperatively. Average number of antiglaucoma medications and frequency of surgical failure were obtained in both groups.

Results

Over 2 years postoperatively, average IOP was lower in eyes which had PUC. Significant differences in IOP were found at 3 months (P = 0.004), 6 months (P = 0.001), 1 year (P < 0.001), and 2 years (P < 0.001). Lower grades of anterior chamber (AC) inflammation were found in eyes which had PUC. Significant differences were found at 1 month (P < 0.001), 3 months (P < 0.001) and 6 months (P = 0.001). Mean number of antiglaucoma medications at last visit was 0.7 ± 1.1 for eyes which had PUC and 2.6 ± 1.5 for eyes which did not have PUC (P < 0.001). Among eyes which had PUC, only two eyes required second glaucoma surgeries, while 16 eyes with no PUC required further glaucoma surgeries after 27.7 ± 12.5 months (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Proper PUC in patients going for UG surgeries results in lower IOP levels and less AC inflammation over 2 years postoperatively. A comprehensive PUC regimen is needed for uveitic glaucoma patients going for surgeries.

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Aetiology and clinical characteristics of uveitic glaucoma in Turkish patients

PURPOSE

To investigate the types, frequency and clinical profiles of uveitic glaucoma seen at a tertiary care center and also to have an idea about the distribution of uveitic glaucoma types in Turkish population.

METHODS

Consecutive case notes of all patients attending a specialized uveitis clinic over a 3-month period were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

One hundred and seven eyes of 96 patients were included. Sixty-five of the eyes had anterior, one intermediate, nine posterior uveitis while 32 of them had panuveitis. Twenty-three eyes had acute, 52 chronic and 32 recurrent uveitis. Herpes virus associated iridocyclitis was the leading cause of anterior uveitis-associated uveitic glaucoma followed by cytomegalovirus (CMV) associated anterior uveitis; while steroid-induced glaucoma accounted for the majority of chronic uveitis with glaucoma followed by Fuchs' uveitis syndrome (FUS). The most common causes of glaucoma among the cases were steroid-induced in 30 eyes (28%), Herpes virus anterior uveitis in 24 eyes (22%), CMV anterior uveitis in 20 eyes (18%), FUS in 15 eyes (14%), ocular toxoplasmosis in 5 eyes (4%). Behçet's uveitis was the most common (n = 11, 36%) cause of steroid-induced glaucoma. The need for surgical intervention was 23.32% (n = 25; 12 of them were FUS, 8 steroid-dependent, 1 HSV and 3 CMV anterior uveitis and 1 angle closure glaucoma with idiopathic uveitis) in our cases.

CONCLUSION

Uveitic glaucoma is a common complication in a tertiary clinic. The most common causes are steroid-induced, FUS, viral anterior uveitis. The most common disease causing steroid induced glaucoma was Behçet's disease. Glaucoma surgery is required in a significant number of cases.

Tissue-Engineered Models for Glaucoma Research

Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies characterized by the progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Patients with glaucoma generally experience elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP), followed by RGC death, peripheral vision loss and eventually blindness. However, despite the substantial economic and health-related impact of glaucoma-related morbidity worldwide, the surgical and pharmacological management of glaucoma is still limited to maintaining IOP within a normal range. This is in large part because the underlying molecular and biophysical mechanisms by which glaucomatous changes occur are still unclear. In the present review article, we describe current tissue-engineered models of the intraocular space that aim to advance the state of glaucoma research. Specifically, we critically evaluate and compare both 2D and 3D-culture models of the trabecular meshwork and nerve fiber layer, both of which are key players in glaucoma pathophysiology. Finally, we point out the need for novel organ-on-a-chip models of glaucoma that functionally integrate currently available 3D models of the retina and the trabecular outflow pathway.

The Management of Uveitic Glaucoma in Children

Children comprise a unique population of patients in regard to the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of uveitic glaucoma. The management of glaucoma secondary to uveitis in children is extremely challenging and presents various difficulties, which are associated both with the underlying uveitis and the young age of the patients. The treatment of uveitic glaucoma calls for a thorough and individualized approach, involving both pharmacotherapeutic and surgical modalities. It appears that the efficient control of inflammatory activity plays a significant role in the final visual outcome of these patients. This study aims to review the current literature about the management of uveitic glaucoma in pediatric patients.