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PloS One 2022Photopsia is a phenomenon that sometimes disturbs patients after cataract surgery. To evaluate the impact of the edge design of intraocular lenses (IOL) on the location,...
Photopsia is a phenomenon that sometimes disturbs patients after cataract surgery. To evaluate the impact of the edge design of intraocular lenses (IOL) on the location, shape and relative intensity of photic effects at the retina caused by photopsia in pseudophakic eyes, photopsia was simulated using ZEMAX software. The structural parameters of the pseudophakic eye model are based on the Liou-Brennan eye model parameters with a pupil diameter of 4.5 mm. The IOLs implanted in the eye model have a power of 21 diopter (D) with optical diameter of 6 mm and 7 mm. From the ray-tracing analysis, covering variations of incident ray angle of 50° to 90° from temporally, a photic image is detected at the fovea at specific ray angles of 77.5° (6 mm IOL) and 78.2° (7 mm IOL). This photic image disappears when a thin IOL with an edge thickness of 0 mm or a thick IOL with absorbing edges is replaced in the eye model. With an anti-reflective edge, this photic image remains, but with a fully reflecting edge it disappears at the critical angles and appears with different shapes at other angles. The intensity of this photic image can be reduced by changing the edge design to a frosted surface. Most of the photic patterns in IOLs are not observed with absorbing and thin edge designs. IOLs with anti-reflecting and fully reflecting edges generate disturbing photic effects at different angles on the fovea. IOLs with frosted edges reduce the contrast of the photic effects and make them less disturbing for patients.
Topics: Cataract Extraction; Computer Simulation; Humans; Models, Biological; Photic Stimulation; Pseudophakia; Scattering, Radiation; Vision Disorders
PubMed: 35051191
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262457 -
BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2022To demonstrate the spectrum of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) associated with immunotherapy for advanced cutaneous melanoma.
Autoimmune retinopathy with associated anti-retinal antibodies as a potential immune-related adverse event associated with immunotherapy in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma: case series and systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the spectrum of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) associated with immunotherapy for advanced cutaneous melanoma.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
Retrospective chart review on patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma who developed AIR after initiating immunotherapy. Complete ophthalmic examination and relevant ancillary testing were performed on each patient. The presence of AIR-associated anti-retinal antibodies was confirmed by western blot and/or immunohistochemical staining. Ophthalmic and systemic outcomes after treatment for AIR were followed over time. A systematic review of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
RESULTS
Case 1 developed photopsia and nyctalopia with electroretinographic findings characteristic for melanoma-associated retinopathy 1 week after initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 2 experienced new severe bilateral visual field loss associated with anti-retinal and anti-optic nerve antibodies while on maintenance nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 3 developed decreased visual acuity due to acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy within 2 weeks of initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. All patients had concurrent extraocular immune-related adverse events in addition to the presence of anti-retinal antibodies on serological testing. 14 published cases of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma were identified and reviewed.
CONCLUSIONS
Immune checkpoint inhibition can trigger the development of AIR with varied clinical manifestations in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma. This study highlights the need for close monitoring in cutaneous melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy who develop new visual symptoms with or without funduscopic changes, as well as the potential role for screening of patients prior to initiating immunotherapy.
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Autoimmune Diseases; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Immunotherapy; Ipilimumab; Melanoma; Nivolumab; Retinal Diseases; Retrospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
PubMed: 35047671
DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000889 -
Cancers Dec 2021Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common malignant intraocular tumour in the adult population. It is a rare cancer with an incidence of nearly five cases per million... (Review)
Review
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common malignant intraocular tumour in the adult population. It is a rare cancer with an incidence of nearly five cases per million inhabitants per year, which develops from the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes in the choroid (≈90%), ciliary body (≈6%) or iris (≈4%). Patients initially present either with symptoms like blurred vision or photopsia, or without symptoms, with the tumour being detected in routine eye exams. Over the course of the disease, metastases, which are initially dormant, develop in nearly 50% of patients, preferentially in the liver. Despite decades of intensive research, the only approach proven to mildly control disease spread are early treatments directed to ablate liver metastases, such as surgical excision or chemoembolization. However, most patients have a limited life expectancy once metastases are detected, since there are limited therapeutic approaches for the metastatic disease, including immunotherapy, which unlike in cutaneous melanoma, has been mostly ineffective for UM patients. Therefore, in order to offer the best care possible to these patients, there is an urgent need to find robust models that can accurately predict the prognosis of UM, as well as therapeutic strategies that effectively block and/or limit the spread of the metastatic disease. Here, we initially summarized the current knowledge about UM by compiling the most relevant epidemiological, clinical, pathological and molecular data. Then, we revisited the most important prognostic factors currently used for the evaluation and follow-up of primary UM cases. Afterwards, we addressed emerging prognostic biomarkers in UM, by comprehensively reviewing gene signatures, immunohistochemistry-based markers and proteomic markers resulting from research studies conducted over the past three years. Finally, we discussed the current hurdles in the field and anticipated the future challenges and novel avenues of research in UM.
PubMed: 35008260
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010096 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition) Dec 2021The purpose of the study was to analyze the frequency of the spontaneous posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in patients admitted to an Emergency Eye Department in Italy... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
The purpose of the study was to analyze the frequency of the spontaneous posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in patients admitted to an Emergency Eye Department in Italy (EED) during the COVID-19 pandemic national lockdown in 2020 compared with the similar time period in 2019. In this retrospective observational study, patient records for ophthalmology EED patients in the month of April 2020 during the COVID-19 Italian national lockdown, were compared with those for an equivalent one-month period in 2019. Diagnoses, gender, and age were assessed. Unpaired Student -tests were used for continuous variables. Poisson regression was used for count analysis to compare categorical variables. Chi-square test was applied to asses proportion differences. In comparison with the 2019 equivalent period, there was a significant decrease in the overall number of EED visits and in the number of patients presenting with a spontaneous PVD during the 2020 lockdown (-41.6% and -49%, respectively). During the 2020 lockdown, all diagnostic categories showed less patient admittance, however, the proportions remained stable when considering the entire cohort. The proportion of urgent visits was 90% in 2020 and 86% in 2019 ( = 0.66). The proportion of EED patients affected by spontaneous PVD was comparable between the two study periods (8.4% in 2020 vs. 9.6% in 2019, = 0.34). Patients presenting with spontaneous PVD in both periods were significantly older when compared to patients with other pathologies (mean age of 63years in 2020 and 64years in 2019, < 0.001). There was a significant bias in female gender (61.2% in 2019 and 60% in 2020, < 0.05). There was a significant decrease of accesses to the EED during COVID-19 2020 lockdown. Patients affected by spontaneous PVD were about 50% less compared with the same period of 2019. Risk factors for the development of spontaneous PVD were older age and female gender. PVD represents a potentially visual function threatening condition because it can cause retinal ruptures and retinal detachment. Patients need to be educated to get urgent ophthalmic assessments in the presence of important acute signs and symptoms, like floaters and flashes, even in the presence of a lockdown.
Topics: COVID-19; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Quarantine; Vitreous Detachment
PubMed: 34937313
DOI: 10.52586/E883 -
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and... Dec 2021Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is a rare inflammatory eye condition affecting the outer retina as a consequence of choriocapillaris non perfusion. The... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is a rare inflammatory eye condition affecting the outer retina as a consequence of choriocapillaris non perfusion. The pathophysiology of MEWDS will be discussed based clinical appraisal and on multimodal imaging appraisal.
METHODS
Narrative review and perspective opinion.
RESULTS
Literature review results helped us to put forward (1) the specific symptomatology (decreased/blurred vision, photopsia, subjective scotomas), (2) the ill-asserted character of clinical findings (foveal granularity, white dots in fundoscopy), (3) and the crucial importance of multimodal imaging with the diagnostic triad of ICGA hypofluorescent areas, BL-FAF hyperautofluorescent areas and loss/damage of IS/OS-ellipsoid zone on SD-OCT that characterise the disease and can practically help the clinician to diagnose MEWDS. A comprehensive alternative perspective of the disease was formulated.
CONCLUSIONS
The bulk of evidence that we are presenting in this review, thanks to new performing non-invasive and invasive imaging modalities, is sufficiently compelling to consider MEWDS as a primary choriocapillaritis/inflammatory choriocapillaropathy. Multimodal imaging allows the clinician to diagnose MEWDS with a high level of certainty and ensures a precise follow-up.
PubMed: 34921620
DOI: 10.1186/s12348-021-00279-7 -
Case Reports in Neurology 2021Migraine with aura may be confused with a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for the differential diagnosis. Cerebral hypoperfusion has been...
Migraine with aura may be confused with a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for the differential diagnosis. Cerebral hypoperfusion has been described in classic migraine, mainly during the aura. A 47-year-old male had an unremarkable past medical history. After sneezing, he developed a left hemi hypoesthesia, bitemporal vision loss, photopsia, and some distortion in the position of letters and words. This lasted <1 h, and it was followed by a severe headache. A magnetic resonance angiography was performed during the headache. It showed a left hemispheric hypoperfusion that did not correlate with the symptoms described by the patient. It is believed that during the aura, cerebral blood flow decreases, leading to hypoxia and decreased cellular energy generation, and these metabolic alterations define the symptoms of the patient. In our case, we documented brain hypoperfusion during the headache in the ipsilateral brain hemisphere to the symptoms, which has no clinical correlation. This condition could be due to spasm in the capillary arteries, and it may persist and influence the clinical manifestations during the headache phase in migraine with aura. A state of generalized cerebral hyperperfusion has been suggested, and there may be a coexistence of both phenomena for some period. This may open a new line of research regarding the pathophysiology and vascular changes of migraine with aura.
PubMed: 34899251
DOI: 10.1159/000519508 -
Archivos de La Sociedad Espanola de... Dec 2021A clinical case is presented in order to show the usefulness of multimodal analysis in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy...
A clinical case is presented in order to show the usefulness of multimodal analysis in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy (AZOOR). A 22 year-old patient was seen in the emergency department complaining of photopsia and paracentral scotoma of the left eye. Several structural and functional tests were performed and the patient was diagnosed with AZOOR. The evolution of the case was towards an initial structural worsening, followed by the almost complete resolution of the lesions identified in the different tests carried out, with an obvious symptomatic improvement. Multimodal analysis of AZOOR cases allows a fairly accurate diagnosis of this condition, and its differentiation from others with a similar appearance, such as multiple white point syndromes, or multifocal choroiditis.
Topics: Adult; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Multifocal Choroiditis; Scotoma; White Dot Syndromes; Young Adult
PubMed: 34844687
DOI: 10.1016/j.oftale.2020.10.011 -
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical... Mar 2022Fluid-conducting extracellular matrix patterns known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM) have been associated with poor prognosis in uveal melanoma and other cancers. We...
PURPOSE
Fluid-conducting extracellular matrix patterns known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM) have been associated with poor prognosis in uveal melanoma and other cancers. We investigate the correlations between VM, presenting symptoms, mortality, and the area density of periodic acid-Schiff positive histological patterns (PAS density).
METHODS
Sixty-nine patients that underwent enucleation for uveal melanoma between 2000 and 2007 were included. Clinicopathological parameters presenting symptoms and outcomes were collected. Histological tumor sections were evaluated for VM and PAS density was quantified with digital image analysis.
RESULTS
Thirty-four patients (49%) presented with blurred vision. 18 (26%) with a shadow in the visual field, 7 (10%) with photopsia and/or floaters, and 2 (3%) with metamorphopsia. Nine patients (13%) had no symptoms at all. Median follow-up was 16.7 years (SD 2.6). A shadow in the visual field, but no other symptom, was positively correlated with the presence of VM (φ 0.70, p < 0.001) and greater PAS density (p < 0.001). In multivariate regression, retinal detachment (RD), presence of VM, and PAS density ≥ median were independent predictors of a shadow, but not tumor distance to the macula, tumor apical thickness, tumor diameter, or ciliary body engagement. The presence of VM was associated with significantly shorter cumulative disease-specific survival (Wilcoxon p = 0.04), but not PAS density ≥ median, presenting symptoms or RD (p > 0.28).
CONCLUSION
Tumors from uveal melanoma patients that report a visual field shadow are likely to display VM and greater PAS density, likely explaining the previously reported association between this symptom and poor prognosis.
Topics: Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; Uveal Neoplasms
PubMed: 34775516
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03851-9 -
Pediatric Neurology Jan 2022Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a neurological disorder characterized by persistent positive visual disturbances. VSS is known to be a rare condition; however, it is... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a neurological disorder characterized by persistent positive visual disturbances. VSS is known to be a rare condition; however, it is becoming increasingly recognized by neurologists and neuroophthalmologists. Despite this, it is not commonly described in pediatric patients.
METHODS
We describe a pediatric girl with onset of persistent visual phenomena at age 13 years, which she described as "TV static," with associated afterimages, photopsia, nyctalopia, and photophobia. These visual disturbances have persisted for two years.
RESULTS
The patient's MRI revealed approximately 15 T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities in keeping with changes secondary to migraine. The ophthalmologic examination did not reveal an underlying cause. The patient's visual symptoms have been resistant to medications.
CONCLUSION
VSS is a recently described syndrome that is debilitating to patients. Further case descriptions, characterization of presentation, and management of patients with VSS, specifically in pediatric cases, are required.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Vision Disorders
PubMed: 34736063
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2021.08.005 -
British Journal of Hospital Medicine... Oct 2021Retinal detachments are a potentially sight-threatening ophthalmic emergency that may result in significant, irreversible vision loss. The risk of developing retinal...
Retinal detachments are a potentially sight-threatening ophthalmic emergency that may result in significant, irreversible vision loss. The risk of developing retinal detachment increases with advancing age, myopia and trauma. Pre-existing retinal degenerations can precipitate a pre-detachment symptomatic period of photopsia or floaters, allowing clinicians to intervene early and prevent detachments. Novel imaging techniques, such as spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and well-established topographic modalities, such as B scan, can help to elucidate the type of detachment and any underlying causes, and help with surgical management. The overarching goal of treatment is to identify and seal all retinal holes, relieve vitreoretinal traction and prevent further recurrence. Prompt prophylactic retinopexy of retinal holes and tears is crucial in preventing retinal detachment, the main treatments of which are pars plana vitrectomy, tamponading agents and silicone scleral buckle.
Topics: Humans; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Perforations; Scleral Buckling; Treatment Outcome; Vitrectomy
PubMed: 34726948
DOI: 10.12968/hmed.2021.0145