Abstract: Despite appropriate management of the systemic disease, patients with diabetes may develop severe forms of diabetic retinopathy that require surgery. Non-clearing vitreous haemorrhage (VH), traction retinal detachment involving the macula, combined traction and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, progressive fibrovascular proliferation (PFP) and rubeosis with acute VH represent the main indications for surgery. Vitrectomy techniques and surgical tools have developed dramatically in the last decade in order to help the surgeon succeed in these challenging cases.
Abstract: Pathologic myopia is the major cause of the loss of the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) worldwide, especially in East Asian countries. The loss of BCVA is caused by the development of myopic macula patchy, myopic traction macula patchy, and myopic optic neuropathy (or glaucoma). The development of such vision-threatening complications is caused by eye deformity, characterized by a formation of posterior staphyloma. The recent advance in ocular imaging has greatly facilitated the clarification of pathologies and pathogenesis of pathological myopia and myopia-related complications. These technologies include ultra-wide field fundus imaging, swept-source optical coherence tomography, and 3D MRI. In addition, the new treatments such as anti-VEGF therapies for myopic choroid all neovascularization have improved the outcome of the patients. Swept-source OCT showed that some of the lesions of myopic maculopathy were not simply chorioretinal atrophy but were Bruch’s membrane holes. Features of myopic traction maculopathy have been analyzed extensively by using OCT. The understanding the pathophysiology of complications of pathologic myopia is considered useful for better management of this blinding eye disease.
Background: To measure the anterior and posterior segment structural features of acute primary angle-closure (APAC) eyes.
Methods: A total of 36 subjects with unilateral APAC were recruited in this study. The ocular biometric characteristics were measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), respectively at baseline, 2 weeks, and 1 month after surgical intervention.
Results: At baseline, when compared with the fellow eyes, APAC-affected eyes showed significantly greater corneal thickness (P=0.004), shallower anterior chamber depth (ACD) (P<0.001), smaller anterior chamber area (ACA) (P=0.013), angle opening distance at 750 μm from the scleral spur (AOD750) (P=0.002), trabecular–iris space area at 750 μm from the scleral spur (TISA750) (P=0.033), angle recess area (ARA) (P=0.014), and iris area (IARE) (P=0.003), less iris curvature (ICURVE) (P=0.003), and larger lens vault (LV) (P=0.030). After intervention, the corneal thickness was significantly decreased at 1 month (P<0.001), while ACD, ACA, and AOD750 were significantly increased at 2 weeks and 1 month (all P<0.017). Changes in ACD were correlated with decreasing LV (P<0.05). The posterior segment parameters did not change over the 4-week period.
Conclusions: When compared with the fellow eyes, APAC-affected eyes had greater corneal thickness, shallower anterior chamber, narrower angle, less ICURVE, and larger LV. After intervention, the corneal thickness was decreased, while the shallower anterior chamber was relieved to some extent.
Abstract: Uveitis can cause significant visual morbidity and often affects younger adults of working age. Anterior uveitis, or inflammation limited to the anterior chamber (AC), iris, and/or ciliary body comprises the majority of uveitis cases. Current clinical biomarkers and conventional grading scales for intraocular inflammation are mostly subjective and have only a moderate degree of interobserver reliability, and as such they have significant limitations when used in either clinical practice or research related to uveitis. In recent years, novel imaging techniques and applications have emerged that can supplement exam findings to detect subclinical disease, monitor quantitative biomarkers of disease progression or treatment effect, and provide overall a more nuanced understanding of disease entities. The first part of this review discusses automated algorithms for optical coherence tomography (OCT) image processing and analysis as a means to assess and describe intraocular inflammation with higher resolution than that afforded by conventional AC and vitreous cell ordinal grading scales. The second half of the review focuses on anterior segment OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA) in scleritis and iritis, especially with regards to their ability to directly image and characterize the pathologic structures and vasculature underlying these diseases. Finally, we briefly review experimental animal research with promising but more distant human clinical applications, including in vivo molecular microscopy of inflammatory markers and investigation of gold nanoparticles as a potential contrast agent in OCT imaging. Imaging modalities are discussed in the broader context of trends within the field of uveitis towards greater objectivity and quantifiable outcome measures and biomarkers.
Abstract: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (VKH) is a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis associated with serous retinal detachments and vitritis, and can be associated with extraocular manifestations of meningismus, poliosis, vitiligo, hearing loss, and headaches. It is mediated by CD4+ T cells that target melanocytes in the eye, ear, meninges, and skin. It classically presents in 4 different phases: prodromal, uveitic, convalescent, and recurrent. There have been considerable advances in our understanding of the disease in recent years, and options for treatment have also expanded beyond systemic corticosteroids though these remain the mainstay of therapy in patients with VKH. This brief review will focus on updates in the diagnosis and treatment of VKH, specifically advances in imaging techniques including the use of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT parameters that are diagnostically predictive of acute VKH compared to other exudative maculopathies include the presence of subretinal membranous structures, a high retinal detachment, subretinal hyperreflective dots, and RPE folds. Evaluations of choroidal thickness using EDI-OCT demonstrate predominant involvement of the outer choroid in the acute inflammatory phase of VKH, consistent with histopathological analysis. OCTA may emerge as an alternative to fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine angiography (ICGA) but is limited at this time due to its small field of view. While the mainstay of treatment of acute VKH continues to be systemic corticosteroids, biological response modifiers (BRMs) such as adalimumab and infliximab have been shown to be effective in the management of adult and pediatric VKH with one benefit being a faster onset of action compared to conventional immunosuppression. Literature Search: A literature search was done in PubMed using the words “Vogt Koyanagi Harada” “imaging” “diagnosis” “treatment” “therapy “posterior uveitis”.
Abstract: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood, and juvenile idiopathic associated uveitis (JIA-U) is the most frequently noted extra-articular manifestation. JIA-U can present asymptomatically and lead to ocular complications, so regular screening and monitoring are needed to prevent potentially sight-threatening sequelae. Topical glucocorticoids such as prednisolone acetate are usually the first line of treatment for anterior uveitis associated with JIA-U, but long-term use may be associated with cataract, ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate allow tapering of the corticosteroids to prevent long-term complications. Biologic therapies have been increasingly used as targeted therapies for JIA-U, particularly monoclonal antibodies targeting the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α such as adalimumab and infliximab. One recent, multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial provided evidence of the efficacy of adalimumab with methotrexate for JIA-U compared to methotrexate alone. Another clinical trial studying the interleukin-6 inhibitor tocilizumab for JIA-U showed promise in tapering topical corticosteroids. Additionally, JAK inhibitors are emerging biologic therapies for JIA-U in patients refractory to TNF-α inhibitors, with a clinical trial assessing the efficacy of baricitinib for JIA-U underway. While clinical trials on these novel biologics are limited, further investigation of these agents may provide additional therapeutic options for JIA-U.
Abstract: Navigation technology in ophthalmology, colloquially called “eye-tracking”, has been applied to various areas of eye care. This approach encompasses motion-based navigation technology in both ophthalmic imaging and treatment. For instance, modern imaging instruments use a real-time eye-tracking system, which helps to reduce motion artefacts and increase signal-to-noise ratio in imaging acquisition such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), microperimetry, and fluorescence and color imaging. Navigation in ophthalmic surgery has been firstly applied in laser vision corrective surgery and spread to involve navigated retinal photocoagulation, and positioning guidance of intraocular lenses (IOL) during cataract surgery. It has emerged as one of the most reliable representatives of technology as it continues to transform surgical interventions into safer, more standardized, and more predictable procedures with better outcomes. Eye-tracking is essential in refractive surgery with excimer laser ablation. Using this technology for cataract surgery in patients with high preoperative astigmatism has produced better therapeutic outcomes. Navigated retinal laser has proven to be safer and more accurate compared to the use of conventional slit lamp lasers. Eye-tracking has also been used in imaging diagnostics, where it is essential for proper alignment of captured zones of interest and accurate follow-up imaging. This technology is not routinely discussed in the ophthalmic literature even though it has been truly impactful in our clinical practice and represents a small revolution in ophthalmology.
Backgrounds: To assess changes in anterior segment biometry during accommodation using a swept source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods: One hundred-forty participants were consecutively recruited in the current study. Each participant underwent SS-OCT scanning at 0 and -3 diopter (D) accommodative stress after refractive compensation, and ocular parameters including anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior and posterior lens curvature, lens thickness (LT) and lens diameter were recorded. Anterior segment length (ASL) was defined as ACD plus LT. Lens central point (LCP) was defined as ACD plus half of the LT. The accommodative response was calculated as changes in total optical power during accommodation. Results: Compared to non-accommodative status, ACD (2.952±0.402 vs. 2.904±0.382 mm, P<0.001), anterior (10.771±1.801 vs. 10.086±1.571 mm, P<0.001) and posterior lens curvature (5.894±0.435 vs. 5.767±0.420 mm, P<0.001), lens diameter (9.829±0.338 vs. 9.695±0.358 mm, P<0.001) and LCP (4.925±0.274 vs. 4.900±0.259 mm, P=0.010) tended to decreased and LT thickened (9.829±0.338 vs. 9.695±0.358 mm, P<0.001), while ASL (6.903±0.279 vs. 6.898±0.268 mm, P=0.568) did not change significantly during accommodation. Younger age (β=0.029, 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.038, P<0.001) and larger anterior lens curvature (β=-0.071, 95% CI: -0.138 to -0.003, P=0.040) were associated with accommodation induced greater steeping amplitude of anterior lens curvature. The optical eye power at 0 and -3 D accommodative stress was 62.486±2.284 and 63.274±2.290 D, respectively (P<0.001). Age was an independent factor of accommodative response (β=-0.027, 95% CI: -0.038 to -0.016, P<0.001). Conclusions: During -3 D accommodative stress, the anterior and posterior lens curvature steepened, followed by thickened LT, fronted LCP and shallowed ACD. The accommodative response of -3 D stimulus is age-dependent.