Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Retina Clinic at a Tertiary Center in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Record Review

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease involving the macular region of the retina and is considered a significant cause of vision loss worldwide. With the increase in life expectancy in various countries, this problem has become more apparent. We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of AMD among patients visiting the retina clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia) to identify the commonly associated risk factors of AMD. Methods The records of 3,067 individuals from 2017 to 2021 were reviewed. Of these, 1,935 were enrolled in the study. Results The prevalence of AMD among the patients was 4%. Regarding non-modifiable risk factors, age and having a family history of AMD showed a significant association (p = 0.001 and 0.043, respectively). However, sex and nationality were not significantly associated. As for modifiable risk factors, smoking and hypertension demonstrated a significant relationship (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). However, the association with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia was not significant. Conclusion Our study shows that AMD is widely prevalent in Saudi Arabia and is associated with age, family history, smoking, and hypertension. Therefore, patients at risk of AMD must be screened and managed promptly before disease progression.

Giant Cell Arteritis Presenting as Unilateral Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a rare inflammatory vasculitis of unknown cause that involves large and medium arteries. Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) is attributed to vascular occlusion of the posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs) which supply the optic nerve head (ONH). AAION is the most common ophthalmic complication of GCA and can cause sudden and irreversible loss of vision with a high risk of involvement of the second eye. A 57-year-old female patient presented with unilateral sudden onset visual loss in the right eye (OD) for two days. It was accompanied by severe right-sided headache and scalp tenderness on the right temple, neck as well as the presence of jaw pain over the past three months. Visual acuity (VA) was hand motion (HM) OD, and 20/20 in the left eye (OS). Fundus examination revealed diffuse swollen optic disc with pallid "chalky white" appearance OD and normal healthy optic disc OS. A dramatically elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were found. Therefore, a diagnosis of GCA was made, and immediate IV methylprednisolone was started followed by oral prednisone doses. A right temporal artery (TA) biopsy was done later and was negative. On follow-up, VA has maintained at HM level OD, and no involvement of the second eye occurred. GCA is a rare form of vasculitis that can be difficult to diagnose especially in the setting of negative TA biopsy. We support the evidence that negative TA biopsy does not rule out clinically suspected GCA with elevated ESR and CRP and recommend keeping a low index of suspicion as immediate treatment is required to prevent irreversible vision loss.

Coats' Disease Diagnosed During Adulthood

Coats' disease is an idiopathic non-hereditary condition first described by Coats in 1908 as a congenital retinal telangiectatic and aneurysmal disease associated with retinal exudation. Its presentation is classically in early childhood. We report a rare case of Coats' disease that first presented during adulthood in a 35-year-old male. The patient presented with visual loss in the left eye for two months. His visual acuity was counting fingers in the left eye and fundus examination revealed extensive lipid exudation in the macula with telangiectatic vessels and microaneurysms with vascular malformation in the inferotemporal quadrant. Fluorescein angiography showed leakage from the telangiectatic vessels, and optic coherence tomography showed significant macular edema. A provisional diagnosis of adult-onset Coats’ disease was made. The patient responded well to intravitreal ranibizumab injections for macular edema and sectoral argon laser photocoagulation for peripheral vascular abnormalities. This case is unusual in adulthood onset and the first presentation was during adulthood in the third decade of life in contrast to the typical age of onset which is younger than five years.

Angioid Streaks in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, or Gronblad-Strandberg syndrome, is an inherited disorder that involves multiple organ systems. The characteristic degeneration and calcification of the elastic fibers caused by this disease were first observed by Ferdinand Jean Darrier in 1896. We report a case of a 27-year-old female who was diagnosed with pseudoxanthoma elasticum based on a skin biopsy prior to her presentation to our ophthalmology outpatient clinic. The past ocular history of the patient was unremarkable for any previous eye complaint or surgery. Her ocular and fundus examination showed pigmented grayish irregular post choroidal crack-like linear dehiscence, forming a network-like pattern, originating at the optic disc and extending radially involving the macular area and the posterior pole in both eyes, representing bilateral angioid streaks. There were no clinical or optical coherent tomographic signs of choroidal neovascularization. Periodic follow up for patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum is recommended to detect choroidal neovascularization which is a sight-threatening complication. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this association as early recognition and treatment are vital to prevent irreversible visual loss.

Unilateral Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in a Child With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia While on Maintenance Chemotherapy

Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) commonly affects immunocompromised individuals, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-organ transplant recipients and allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. CMVR occurring in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) maintenance phase of chemotherapy is rare and has been described in the literature as isolated case reports or case series. We report a case of unilateral CMVR in a pediatric patient during maintenance phase therapy for ALL. A 14-year-old boy known case of T-cell ALL with CNS2a status, was treated according to the Children's Oncology Group (COG) AALL0434 protocol. Induction therapy consisted of the standard high-risk four drugs, in addition to intrathecal methotrexate. At week 166 of maintenance therapy, the child presented with painless progressive loss of vision in the right eye for one week. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was 6/36 and the left eye was 6/6. Dilated fundus examination of the right eye showed multiple large yellow-white cloudy chorioretinal lesions with areas of intraretinal hemorrhages in the macula, and overlaying focal vitritis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the right eye showed macular edema and mild subretinal fluid. Cytomegalovirus polymerase chain reaction of the blood was detected with high quantitative value. A diagnosis of CMVR was made and an induction doses of intravenous ganciclovir was followed by maintenance doses of oral valganciclovir. Our case suggests that pediatric patients with ALL in the maintenance phase are considered immunocompromised and that physicians should be aware of CMVR incidence in such group. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important to preserve vision and prevent future visual morbidity.

Acquired Senile Retinoschisis of the Peripheral Retina Imaged by Spectral Domain Optical Coherent Tomography

Senile retinoschisis (SR) is a rare eye disease characterized by the abnormal separation of the neurosensory retina layers typically at the outer plexiform layer. Retinal detachment (RD) can be associated with SR in approximately 0.05% of the cases in which urgent treatments are indicated. The utility of spectral domain optical coherent tomography (SD-OCT) is helpful in diagnosing SR and distinguishing it from RD. This is a case of a 63-year-old man who presented with right eye floaters for a duration of two months. There were no other optic symptoms such as flashes of light, decreased vision, or pain. The best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 in both eyes. Dilated fundus examination of the right eye revealed two elevated dome-shaped, mobile, transparent, smooth, and round peripheral retinal lesions in the inferotemporal quadrant suggestive of SR. SD-OCT was utilized to diagnose SR and rule out RD. In conclusion, SD-OCT is a very valuable diagnostic tool that can be utilized for SR which is a rare condition that can have serious visual consequences if not diagnosed and managed properly.

Optical Coherence Tomographic Finding in a Case of Congenital Macular Coloboma at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah

Macular coloboma is a rare eye condition that affects around 0.5-0.7/10,000 of live births. Macular coloboma appears as a well-demarcated atrophic lesions that could affect one eye or both eyes on fundus examination. This is a case of a 33-year-old male patient who presented to the outpatient clinic with a history of poor vision in the left eye since childhood. He had a history of strabismus surgery for sensory exotropia (XT) in the left eye. Anterior segment examination of both eyes was normal while the fundus examination of both eyes revealed bilateral chorioretinal lesions in the macula which was larger in the left eye (OS) than the right eye (OD), representing bilateral chorioretinal coloboma. Congenital coloboma is a rare eye condition that leads to non-progressive decrease in visual acuity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the modality of choice in diagnosing and describing macular coloboma.

Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment and Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Precipitated by Eclamptic Attack

Eclampsia is a severe hypertensive disease accompanied by tonic-clonic convulsions in the second half of pregnancy or during delivery in the absence of other aetiology. The association between eclampsia and serous retinal detachment is not common. We report a case of a 20-year-old primipara with eclampsia who developed bilateral exudative retinal detachment after delivery. Brain computed tomography (CT) reported findings in the occipital lobes consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. A few weeks after delivery, there was spontaneous resorption of subretinal fluid and complete resolution of bilateral serous retinal detachment with residual signs of choroidal ischemia, including Elschnig’s spot, Siegrist streak and some pigmentary changes in the retinal pigment epithelium. Visual acuity returned to normal in both eyes and there was complete resolution of the disease.