1/23. The development of choroidal neovascularization in pregnancy.PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible association between the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and pregnancy. methods: A retrospective review was performed of the clinical records of three patients who were pregnant at the time a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was diagnosed. The clinical presentations and treatment of the CNVM occurring in association with the pregnancies are described. RESULTS: Each patient had a decrease in visual acuity during her pregnancy: one in the first trimester, one in the second trimester, and one in the third trimester. Two patients were diagnosed with CNV related to presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) and one with an idiopathic CNVM. The two-patients with POHS showed progression of CNV after childbirth. All patients received laser photocoagulation directly to the site of the CNV. The two patients with ocular histoplasmosis experienced recurrence after treatment; one received further photocoagulation treatment, and the other underwent vitrectomy with removal of the CNVM. CONCLUSIONS: pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period may be associated with development or recurrence of CNV in POHS or idiopathic cases. This may be related to hormonal changes during pregnancy, or the cases described may reflect only a coincidental association. This report discusses possible causal factors and mechanisms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/23. choroidal neovascularization with granulomatous inflammation in ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.PURPOSE: To report pathologic examination of an excised choroidal neovascular membrane in a patient with ocular histoplasmosis syndrome that demonstrated granulomatous inflammation. METHOD: Case report. A 50-year-old woman with sudden vision loss in her left eye demonstrated clinical and fluorescein angiographic findings characteristic of choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination of the surgically excised choroidal neovascular membrane disclosed granulomatous inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests an important role of mononuclear phagocytic cells as primary mediators of angiogenesis or modifiers of choroidal neovascularization. This association of choroidal neovascularization with granulomatous inflammation did not respond to treatment with systemic corticosteroids.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/23. Surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization without removal of posterior hyaloid: a consecutive series in younger patients.PURPOSE: Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) remains a common and important cause of visual loss. Previous studies have suggested that submacular surgery may improve or maintain visual acuity, particularly in younger patients. The majority of reported cases included removal of the posterior hyaloid during vitrectomy. The authors present a consecutive series of patients age 55 or younger with subfoveal CNV removal without posterior hyaloid removal. methods: Seventeen patients without age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), with subfoveal CNV from choroiditis, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, myopia, or idiopathic causes, underwent a small retinotomy technique to extract the membranes after vitrectomy without posterior hyaloid removal. RESULTS: Median improvement in visual acuity was from 20/320 to 20/50. Eleven patients (65%) experienced an improvement of three or more lines of Snellen acuity (average 7.5), 4 (23%) were within two lines of preoperative acuity, and 2 (12%) had decreased acuity, with an average follow-up of 12 months (range 3-31). Choroidal neovascularization recurred in six patients (35%). Postoperative retinal detachment, epiretinal proliferation, or macular hole did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of younger patients with subfoveal CNV not from ARMD, visual acuity was improved in the majority after submacular membrane removal. Omission of removal of the posterior hyaloid did not adversely affect outcome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/23. Subretinal, viscoelastic-assisted, endoscope-guided photothermal ablation of choroidal neovascular membranes by erbium:YAG laser.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of endoscope-guided erbium:YAG laser, assisted by viscoelastic macular detachment, in subretinal ablation of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVs) is evaluated. patients AND methods: A high-repetition, midinfrared erbium:YAG laser was used subretinally to ablate CNVs in 2 patients. Ablation followed pars plana vitrectomy and macular retinal detachment using a viscoelastic substance, and was guided by a high resolution endoscope. RESULTS: visual acuity improved from 6/90 to 6/20, six months after treatment in 1 patient, and from finger counting from 1 meter to 6/30, three months after treatment in the other. The membranes showed no angiographic signs of activity postoperatively. However, a zone of stippled hyperfluorescence appeared in both patients, corresponding with the macular detachment area. This gradually diminished in size in both patients. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical procedure was found effective in our preliminary research. The use of viscoelastic substance and endoscope is felt to contribute to the favorable outcome. The cause and significance of the retinal pigment epithelium damage are yet to be determined.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/23. Visual and anatomical outcome following submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization secondary to Candida endophthalmitis.PURPOSE: To report the long-term visual and anatomical outcomes for patients treated with submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization associated with endogenous candidal endophthalmitis. methods: review of the medical records, fluorescein angiograms, fundus photographs, and histopathologic specimens of patients treated with submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization following candidal endophthalmitis. RESULTS: This series included 3 patients (1 woman and 2 men) who were 26, 30, and 60 years of age. Each patient had received systemic antifungal treatment for culture-proven candidal septicemia before the development of choroidal neovascularization. Each patient had bilateral choroidal neovascularization diagnosed by biomicroscopic examination and angiographic appearance: 2 eyes had an active subfoveal membrane; 2, an active juxtafoveal subretinal membrane; and 2, a mixture of active subfoveal neovascularization with subfoveal fibrosis. Submacular surgery was performed on five eyes with choroidal neovascularization; one eye with subfoveal fibrosis was observed. visual acuity improved substantially in 4 eyes of 3 patients treated with submacular surgery. Visual improvement was limited in the two eyes with preexisting submacular fibrosis. During 13-month to 82-month follow-ups, vision remained stable, with no recurrence of neovascularization. CONCLUSION: choroidal neovascularization can cause severe visual loss in patients with endogenous candidal infection. Submacular surgery with removal of choroidal neovascularization may restore vision in selected patients. Subfoveal fibrosis may limit visual improvement.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/23. Ill-defined choroidal neovascularization within ocular histoplasmosis scars.Seven patients with scars typical of ocular histoplasmosis syndrome presented with new symptoms of decreased vision or metamorphopsia. In each patient the symptoms corresponded to an atrophic or "punched-out" histoplasmosis scar in the macula. Clinically, a small amount of subretinal fluid overlying the scars and slight hyperfluorescence were seen on fluorescein angiography. These findings were due to a choroidal neovascular membrane growing within the margins of the atrophic scar. The membranes were difficult to diagnose because of the absence of hemorrhage, pigmentation, or growth of vessels beyond the margins of the scar. Clinicians should be aware that these patients may have early and growing choroidal neovascularization and may need to undergo photocoagulation or to be followed closely.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/23. Bilateral candida albicans endophthalmitis associated with an infected deep venous thrombus.BACKGROUND: To describe the clinical and histopathologic findings in a patient with bilateral candida albicans endophthalmitis due to an infected deep venous thrombus. CASE: A 43-year-old patient with bilateral candida albicans endophthalmitis due to an infected central venous thrombus. The patient's ophthalmology and hospital charts were reviewed. Histopathologic sections of the candida albicans retinal granuloma were examined under light microscopy. OBSERVATIONS: Our patient had multiple blood cultures positive for candida albicans owing to an infected subclavicular venous thrombosis. Bilateral Candida albicans endophthalmitis was diagnosed. Bilateral vitrectomy and membrane peeling for macular traction retinal detachments were performed. In the right eye, a large retinal granuloma was excised during surgery to adequately relieve traction on the macula. Vision improved in both eyes after surgery. Histopathologic findings revealed branching hyphae surrounded by giant cells, endothelial cell-lined vascular channels, and inflammatory cells. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of an infected deep venous thrombosis causing bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis. Appropriate management of these patients requires clear differentiation between endogenous chorioretinitis and endophthalmitis. patients with documented fungemia should have a dilated fundus examination on a regular basis until complete clearance of the infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/23. choroidal neovascularization after laser in situ keratomileusis in a patient with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.PURPOSE: A 44-year-old patient with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) who developed a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery is presented. methods: A 44-year-old male patient with moderate myopia and POHS who underwent LASIK surgery complained of distorted vision after the procedure. He had a quiet POHS lesion prior to refractive surgery. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography revealed subfoveal CNV after the LASIK surgery. He underwent 2 sessions of photodynamic therapy (PDT). RESULTS: Subfoveal CNV involuted after PDT and his vision improved from 20/300 to 20/25 at 13 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: CNV can be triggered by LASIK surgery in patients with POHS. Those patients should be made aware of and closely followed up postoperatively for this complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/23. Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, keratomycosis, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.PURPOSE: To report the case of a patient developing fungal keratitis in the context of uncontrolled ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), which, despite intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and other immunomodulatory therapy, progressed to end-stage pemphigoid, with corneal opacification, ankyloblepharon, and xerosis. Keratoprosthesis (KPro) restored functional vision for the patient. methods: A 39-year-old man presented with uncontrolled CP and corneal ulcer in the left eye. Conjunctival biopsy diagnosed OCP; corneal scraping and biopsy diagnosed the cause of the corneal ulcer. OCP was treated with systemic steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and IVIg. Visual rehabilitation was accomplished with Ahmed valve and a type II Dohlman KPro. RESULTS: Immunohistology of the biopsied conjunctiva showed IgG at the epithelial basement membrane zone, confirming the clinical diagnosis of OCP. Microbiologic studies of the corneal biopsy specimen were negative for acanthamoeba and herpes but positive for aspergillus niger. The patient's keratomycosis resolved with topical antifungal therapy. Treatment with dapsone, intravenous-pulse steroid, oral cyclophosphamide, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) failed to control the OCP, with resultant complete conjunctivization of the cornea. Keratoprosthesis improved the patient's visual acuity from hand movements to 20/20. CONCLUSIONS: patients with uncontrolled OCP are at increased risk of corneal infection. The difficulty in diagnosing keratomycosis and the relatively rare occurrence of OCP explain the uniqueness of our reported case. OCP may progress to "end-stage" disease despite therapy. Keratoprosthesis can restore vision in selected otherwise seemingly hopeless cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/23. Amniotic membrane transplantation for persistent corneal ulcers and perforations in acute fungal keratitis.PURPOSE: To report the therapeutic effect and complications of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in acute fungal keratitis. methods: diagnosis of fungal keratitis was confirmed by cultures in 23 eyes of 23 patients. The indications to perform AMT were to promote reepithelialization in non-healing ulcers or to prevent corneal perforation. antifungal agents were administered throughout the whole course of hospitalization. Repeated cultures were performed immediately before AMT. The main outcome measurements were epithelial healing rate, necessity of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK), and persistence of infection. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up time of 20.6 months /- 23.22 (6-65 months) AMT was performed during the active phase of the keratitis (fungal culture was still positive) in 16 patients (69.6%), and during the inactive phase (fungal culture negative) in 7 patients (30.4%). Single-layer AMT was performed in 17 patients, and double-layer AMT was performed in 6 patients with corneal perforation and anterior chamber collapse. Complete epithelialization was observed in 12 patients (75%) in the active group and in 7 patients (100%) in the inactive group. treatment failure requiring TPK was experienced in 4 patients (25%) in the active group. Persistent fungal keratitis was noted in 2 patients (8.7%) in that group. The final visual acuity improved in 17 cases, worsened in 2 cases, and remained unchanged in 4 cases. Twelve of the 23 eyes (52.2%) in this study preserved useful vision (20/400 and better) with or without subsequent surgeries. CONCLUSION: AMT is effective in promoting epithelialization and preventing corneal perforations in acute fungal keratitis, and there is no risk of rejection. However, the risk of persistent or recurrent infection necessitates continued antifungal treatment and patient monitoring.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = membrane (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |