Self-identified Black Race as a Risk Factor for Intraocular Pressure Elevation and Iritis Following Prophylactic Laser Peripheral Iridotomy

PRCIS

In primary angle closure suspects (PACS), self-identified Black race was a risk factor for intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and iritis following laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Laser type was not associated with either immediate post-LPI IOP elevation or iritis in multivariate analysis.

PURPOSE

The aim was to determine the impact of laser type and patient characteristics on the incidence of IOP elevation and iritis after LPI in PACS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The electronic medical records of 1485 PACS (2407 eyes) who underwent either neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet or sequential argon and neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet LPI at the University of Pennsylvania between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Average IOP within 30 days before LPI (baseline IOP), post-LPI IOP within 1 hour, laser type, laser energy, and the incidence of new iritis within 30 days following the procedure were collected. Multivariate logistic regression accounting for intereye correlation was used to assess factors associated with incidence of post-LPI IOP elevation and iritis, adjusted by age, sex, surgeon, and histories of autoimmune disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

RESULTS

The incidence of post-LPI IOP elevation and iritis were 9.3% (95% confidence interval: 8.1%-10.5%) and 2.6% (95% CI: 1.9%-3.2%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, self-identified Black race was a risk factor for both IOP elevation [odds ratio (OR): 2.08 compared with White; P=0.002] and iritis (OR: 5.07; P<0.001). Higher baseline IOP was associated with increased risk for post-LPI IOP elevation (OR: 1.19; P<0.001). Laser type and energy were not associated with either post-LPI IOP elevation or iritis (P>0.11 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of immediate IOP elevation and iritis following prophylactic LPI was higher in Black patients independent of laser type and energy. Heightened vigilance and increased medication management before and after the procedure are suggested to help mitigate these risks.

Endogenous pneumococcal endophthalmitis followed by pneumococcal-induced uveitis

BACKGROUND

We describe the case of a fulminant bilateral endophthalmitis occurring in a patient, who had 9 years earlier a splenectomy for an idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

HISTORY AND SIGNS

A 40-year-old woman, back from a trip to Morocco, presented with high fever, rapid decrease in visual acuity and loss of consciousness. Medical examination revealed a pneumococcal meningitis and bilateral endophthalmitis.

THERAPY AND OUTCOME

Endophthalmitis was treated with local and intravitreal antibiotics injections (vancomycin and amikacin). Repeated parabulbar betamethasone injections were performed. Intravenous (iv) methylprednisolone pulses were followed by oral steroid therapy while systemic antibiotics were given (ceftriaxone and vancomycin). In spite of this therapy, fundus examination was impossible because the anterior chamber was filled with fibrin. A cataract developed with severe vitritis and we could observe a progressive narrowing of the anterior chamber. The patient underwent a bilateral vitrectomy and lensectomy. The retina had no lesion. No bacteria were found in the vitreous culture. Evolution was characterized by an increased ocular pressure due to anterior synechiae. Visual acuity remained under 1/10. The severe ocular inflammation could be the result of a mixed mechanism including an infectious followed by a severe immune response against bacterial components.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report is rare. To our knowledge, only 3 similar cases have been reported in the literature.

Long-term posterior and anterior segment complications of immune recovery uveitis associated with cytomegalovirus retinitis

PURPOSE

To identify and describe long-term posterior and anterior segment complications of immune recovery uveitis in patients with inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis who are undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy-mediated recovery of immune function.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study at a university medical center. Twenty-nine eyes of 21 patients with immune recovery uveitis and inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis were followed for 14.5 to 116 weeks (median, 43 weeks) after diagnosis of immune recovery uveitis.

RESULTS

Nine eyes of nine patients developed visually important complications involving the posterior segment, anterior segment, or a combination of both. Posterior segment complications included severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy in three eyes and spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage from avulsion of a blood vessel secondary to contraction of the inflamed vitreous in one eye. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy recurred in all cases after surgery, severely compromising the visual outcome. Anterior segment complications included posterior subcapsular cataracts with vision decrease in five eyes and persistent anterior chamber inflammation after cataract extraction, resulting in posterior synechiae and large visually important lens deposits in three eyes.

CONCLUSION

Persistent inflammation in immune recovery uveitis may lead to vision-threatening complications, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy, posterior subcapsular cataracts, and severe postoperative inflammation. Immune recovery uveitis is a chronic inflammatory syndrome that may result in complications months to years after the onset of inflammation.

[Value of vitrectomy in intermediate uveitis and Behçet's disease with hyalitis. A study of 400 cases]

Can vitrectomy help to understand the vitreous role in intermediate uveitis and Behçet's disease with vitritis without retinal detachment? 400 vitrectomies were decided because of vitreous changes but, over all, if macular changes were seen clinically or on the angiogram in 58 Behçet's disease and 342 intermediate uveitis including 59 children cases. Visual acuity, clinical, angiographical and visual field controls, recurrences, reduction of the medical treatment and growth were followed during 1 to 9 years. The vitrectomy products were compared to those of other inflammatory origin vitreous, the both representing 149 cases. Vitrectomy at the early stage of only posterior interface changes prevent the macular edema but this one is irreversible. The preexisting angiographical lesions have not regressed but they are generally quiet. The RD incidence is lower even if it is possible after vitrectomy, in 1.2% of the cases (1% in late vitrectomies). Recurrences and further medical treatment are reduced. This psychological point of view is important. Thus, vitrectomy at alone posterior interface change stage avoid ocular complications. Its pathogenic role in intermediate uveitis is not demonstrated; it seems more a secondary than a primary process.

Laser photocoagulation in the acute retinal necrosis syndrome

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a syndrome of fulminant necrotizing vaso-occlusive retinitis associated with a high incidence of retinal detachment due to retinal breaks and vitreous traction. We performed argon or krypton laser photo-coagulation to demarcate areas of active retinitis as prophylaxis against retinal detachment in five patients with ARN. Patients were concomitantly treated with antiviral agents, systemic steroids, and antiplatelet therapy. One patient required multiple additional treatments as retinal necrosis progressed. The retinas remained attached in all five patients over a mean follow-up period of 15 months. By creating a chorioretinal adhesion in areas of potential retinal break formation, laser photocoagulation may be an effective prophylaxis against retinal detachment in ARN.

Effects of panretinal photocoagulation on rubeosis iridis, angle neovascularization, and neovascular glaucoma

Ninety-three patients received ruby laser panretinal photocoagulation in one eye for diabetic retinopathy and we examined them at an average time of 7.1 years later. In 14 patients, the untreated eye developed rubeosis iridis and the contralateral treated eye did not. In seven patients, the untreated eye developed angle neovascularization and the contralateral eye did not. The untreated eye developed neovascular glaucoma and the contralateral treated eye did not in four patients. Our findings suggest that eyes with proliferative retinopathy that received panretinal photocoagulation are less likely to develop rubeosis iridis, angle neovascularization, and probably neovascular glaucoma, than those eyes not receiving panretinal photocoagulation.

[Perforating keratoplasty in the presence of considerable changes of the anterior segment of the eye (author's transl)]

A report is given on 44 patients with penetrating keratoplasty in severe damage of the anterior eye. The first group consisted of 31 patients with acute, deep inflammatory processes of the cornea, threatened by perforation or with perforation and severe iritis. The second group of 13 patients had had perforating injury with corneal scar, broad anterior synechiae and lens remnants. In group 1 55% had visual function between 0.3 and 1.0; 35.5% showed no improvement, 10% got worse. In group 2 only 5 patients had visual improvement from 0.3-1.0. In 3 patients there was a negative outcome. The indication for corneal graft in these groups and the right moment of operation are discussed. We tried to compare our own results with other statistics.