VOLUME 81 - ISSUE 4

Purpose: The aim is creation of a database to register patients diagnosed with childhood glaucoma. Information collection and storage will utilize a digital platform that permits multiple centers to register patients. This registry will be an important tool to evaluate and group patient profiles, thus allowing identification of risk factors, estimating prevalence, and recruiting participants in future studies.
Methods: An online form was designed at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the Federal University of São Paulo to create a registry of patients diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. In addition, a pilot study was conducted in the same institution to validate the Google Forms platform that comprises the registry questionnaire.
Results: Data can be entered online and stored in the cloud. The database allows the acquisition and storage of epidemiological and clinical data, detection of patterns, and evaluation of the current treatment of children with childhood glaucoma. The data from multiple centers can be combined as collection in online and storage is in the cloud. The form is comprehensive and includes social data, gestational history, family history, clinical data on entering the center, and the treatment received.
Conclusions: Google Forms is a useful tool for collecting and analyzing statistical data, facilitating the process of registering patients, and analyzing information. Using the online questionnaire, it will be possible to create a multicenter online database that allows identification of risk factors and evaluation of the outcome of interventions and treatment.

Keywords: Glaucoma/congenital; Database; Glaucoma/epidemiology; Child

Purpose: To evaluate peripapillary choroidal thickness changes in contralateral eyes of patients who had undergone evisceration of their diseased eyes.
Methods: In this retrospective study, peripapillary choroidal thickness parameters in 34 eyes of 34 patients who had undergone diseased-eye evisceration between March 2014 and May 2016 were evaluated using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The scans were manually delineated to identify the principal surfaces of Bruch’s membrane, the Bruch’s membrane opening, and the anterior sclera. Peripapillary choroidal thickness was measured between the Bruch’s membrane and the anterior sclera at increasing distance away from the Bruch’s membrane opening. The mean peripapillary choroidal thickness values in the contralateral eyes of the patients and those of the control group were compared.
Results: The mean peripapillary choroidal thickness was higher in the contralateral eyes of the patients compared with that of normal eyes at all distances from the Bruch’s membrane opening.
Conclusion: Increased peripapillary choroidal thickness was noted in the contralateral eyes of the patients, potentially resulting in a thicker choroid. Although further investigation is required to determine the cause, these findings indicate the presence of a compensatory factor in the contralateral eyes.

Keywords: Eye evisceration; Optical coherence tomography; Choroid/pathology

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of surgical treatment of retinal detachment secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from patients who had undergone vitreoretinal surgery for retinal detachment secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis was conducted. The parameters that were analyzed include surgical procedures, anatomical outcomes, visual acuity, and postoperative complications.
Results: This study included 22 patients, of which 13 were female (59.1%). The mean age was 28.5 years (SD ± 14.5, range 12-78 years) and the follow-up period varied from 1 to 163 months (mean 64 months). The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 2.0 logMAR (SD ± 1.0). A total of 31 surgeries were performed, and the retina was reattached in 15 patients (68.2%) immediately after the first surgery and in 20 patients (90.9%) at a later point. The mean postoperative BCVA improved to 1.3 logMAR (SD ± 0.9) (p<0.05). Nineteen patients (86.4%) underwent cataract surgery with intraocular lens implant, and 12 patients (60.0%) underwent silicone oil removal. Five patients (22.7%) exhibited elevated intraocular pressure, and 1 patient (4.5%) developed hypotonia.
Conclusion: Surgical treatment of retinal detachment secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis resulted in considerable anatomical and functional improvement. Although PPV with silicone oil injection demonstrated the best outcomes, it is not reasonable to conclude that this is the best surgical approach given the small number of patients included in this study.

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, ocular; Retinal detachment; Vitrectomy; Scleral buckling

Purpose: To identify the frequency of ocular diseases among recipients of disability benefits in the metropolitan region of Recife, Brazil.
Methods: A review was performed of 217,221 cases of disability benefits granted between 2010 and 2015 by the executive managerial department of the Brazilian National Institute of Social Security (Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social [INSS]) in Recife, which encompasses 14 municipalities of the metropolitan region, including the capital. The frequencies of the identified cases of ocular morbidity were then determined according to their group in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), their cause, the age, sex, and income of the recipient, and the type and duration of the benefit.
Results: Of all disability benefits granted, 5,324 (2.5%) were due to ocular disease, the majority (91.1%) consisting of sick pay. Most of the beneficiaries (64.6%) were males, were 20 to 59 years of age, and 61.2% earned the minimum wage or less. The principal ocular diseases for which sick pay benefits were granted were cataract (24.5%), conjunctivitis (21.1%), and pterygium (8.8%). Blindness and low vision were the principal ocular diseases in cases of accident indemnity and disability retirement.
Conclusions: The results highlight the magnitude of the problem of ocular diseases to the social security system, with serious economic and social losses, and emphasize the need for measures aimed at their prevention. Moreover, integration between the national departments of health and social security needs to be improved.

Keywords: Eye diseases; Disabled persons; Social Security; Insurance benefits; Visually impaired persons

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 0.03% tacrolimus eye drops diluted in two different vehicles (linseed oil and olive oil) for the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in dogs.
Methods: This study included 60 dogs. Of this group, 20 were healthy and allocated to the control group, and 40 were diagnosed with bilateral KCS and randomly allocated to either the TO (tacrolimus in olive oil) or the TL (tacrolimus in linseed oil) groups. Ophthalmic examinations, Schirmer Tear Test-1 (STT-1), Tear Film Break-up Time (TBUT) and Fluorescein Test (FT) were carried out monthly, along with cytological and histopathological examinations at the beginning and end of the study.
Results: The clinical signs, corneal ulcers, Schirmer Tear Test-1 values, and Tear Film Break-up Time values improved in both groups after one month of treatment. Cytological examination at the end of the study showed decreased lymphocytes, neutrophil, metaplastic, and squamous cell counts in both groups, while the histopathological analysis showed decreases in lymphocytes and neutrophils and an increase in goblet cell density (cells/mm²). The decreases in neutrophil count were more significant (p<0.05) in the TL group for both types of examination.
Conclusion: In sum, 0.03% tacrolimus eye drops diluted in olive oil and linseed oil were effective in the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. None of the evaluated parameters differed significantly between the two groups, except for neutrophil count which was significantly lower in the TL group. Thus, linseed oil may be considered as an alternative diluent for tacrolimus eye drops.

Keywords: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca; Tacrolimus; Olive oil; Linseed oil; Ophthalmic solutions; Animals; Dogs

Purpose: Scleral fixation surgery is a pivotal procedure that depends on the availability of robust and innovative surgical fixation methods. There continues to be a need for innovation in suture fixation techniques, particularly for intraocular lens implantation.
Methods: We conceived and designed a “knot ball” scleral fixation technique for suture burial in a retrospective sample of 108 patients with primary (n=40) or secondary (n=68) scleral-fixated intraocular lens. Importantly, our technique did not require additional scleral flap or tunnel procedures. We evaluated pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual aquity (BCVA) and postoperative complications. All data were analyzed and compared between groups.
Results: The preoperative mean BCVA improved significantly in both groups using the “knot ball” fixation technique (p<0.01). The extent of the improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity and late complications one month post-surgery were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05). These clinical outcomes were consistent with those described in the ophthalmology literature.
Conclusion: A “knot ball” scleral fixation technique is reported; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a technique, which offers a less invasive and simplified surgical procedure for transscleral fixation of scleral-fixated intraocular lenses. Moreover, the technique appears to display similar effectiveness and safety compared with existing scleral fixation techniques. We suggest that the “knot ball” technique warrants further research focus and clinical evaluation in future studies.

Keywords: Sclera/surgery; Lens implantation; Intraocular; Aphakia; Sutures techniques

Purpose: We aimed to describe the outcomes of corneoscleral contact lens fitting with multi-aspherical geometry designs in patients with irregular corneas after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Methods: This was a retrospective series of 18 patients (age, 26-38 years) selected from an eye clinic database. Participants were required to have unsatisfactory visual acuity with their current contact lenses or spectacles after LASIK for myopia correction. All patients were fitted with corneoscleral contact lenses designed to correct corneal surface irregularities. A diagnostic trial set was used for fitting, and assessments were performed according to a standardized methodology. Subjective comfort, visual acuity, central corneal thickness, endothelial cell count, and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure were evaluated. The follow-up period was one year.
Results: Contact lens use was discontinued in 3 patients, thus leaving 24 eyes from 8 females and 7 males for analysis. The fitting characteristics were optimal in terms of lens position and movement. Statistically significant improvements were found in the best spectacle-corrected vision from before fitting to the visual acuity after fitting (p<0.001). Moreover, the patients reported high subjective comfort ratings and usage times (12.98 ± 2.3 hours/day). After one year of wear, visual acuity, subjective comfort, and usage time were maintained. No statistically significant adverse changes developed in the corneas over this period.
Conclusion: Corneoscleral contact lenses with a multi-aspherical geometry design provide optimal visual acuity, improved comfort, and prolonged usage times in patients with irregular corneas after LASIK.

Keywords: Contact lenses; Corneal surgery, laser; Corneal pachymetry; Corneal endothelial cell loss; Intraocular pressure

Purpose: To determine the effects of bevacizumab and mitomycin C alone and in combination on intraocular pressure and the scarring process after modified glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits.
Methods: The rabbits underwent modified glaucoma filtration surgery and were allocated into three groups to receive intraoperative treatment with subconjunctival bevacizumab (group A), mitomycin C and subconjunctival bevacizumab (group B), or mitomycin C (group C). Intraocular pressure was measured immediately preoperatively and on postoperative days 8, 14, 17, 21, 26, and 30. The scarring process was assessed 30 days after surgery by tissue section using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and picrosirius. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was assessed by immunohistochemical analyses. All analyses were performed by a masked observer.
Results: Animals in group A had higher intraocular pressure than those in groups B and C (p<0.01). Intraocular pressure did not differ significantly between groups B and C. The amount of fibrosis was similar with all stains used: group A had the highest level of fibrosis compared with groups B and C (p>0.05). There was less VEGF expression in group A than in groups B and C (p<0.01). Groups B and C did not differ in VEGF expression.
Conclusion: Mean intraocular pressure and fibrosis were lower in animals receiving bevacizumab in combination with mitomycin C but did not differ from values in animals receiving mitomycin C alone. Inhibition of VEGF was greater when bevacizumab was used alone than when bevacizumab was combined with mitomycin C.

Keywords: Bevacizumab; IOP; Glaucoma/surgery; Filtering surgery; Intraoperative period; Wound healing; Rabbits

Purpose: To evaluate the response to sub-Tenon’s triamcinolone injection in patients with uveitis.
Methods: We studied 28 eyes with macular edema associated with controlled uveitis. We administered sub-Tenon’s injection of triamcinolone and followed the patients for 180 days to analyze the positive effects (improvement of macular edema and visual acuity) and monitor the possible adverse effects. This prospective study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Results: We observed improvement in macular edema in 86% of patients. The mean central macular thickness at each time point of assessment was 432.22, 298.80, 286.37, 267.49, 253.87, and 253.49 µm at baseline (before sub-Tenon’s injection of triamcinolone), 15 days after the procedure, at 30 days, at 60 days, at 90 days, and at 180 days, respectively. The mean reduction in retinal thickness was 30.8%, 33.7%, 38.11%, 41.2%, and 41.35% at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days of follow-up, respectively. Visual acuity also improved in 85.7% of patients, with a mean improvement of 1.36, 1.93, 2.23, 2.26, and 2.30 lines gained on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days of follow-up, respectively. No statistically significant increases in intraocular pressure and conjunctival abnormalities were caused by the procedure, and no other adverse effects were observed. Overall, the results of this study were similar to those described in the literature.
Conclusions: Sub-Tenon’s injection of triamcinolone provides reduced macular thickness and improvement in visual acuity with no significant adverse effects and is therefore an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of sequelae of uveitis.

Keywords: Uveitis; Triamcinolone; Intravitreal injections; Macular edema; Tenon capsule; Visual acuity

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, potential correlation with transcleral fine needle aspiration biopsy, and treatment of scleral necrosis in patients with posterior uveal melanomas treated by ¹²⁵I plaque radiotherapy and assessed by transcleral fine needle aspiration biopsy.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of posterior uveal melanoma treated by ¹²⁵I plaque radiotherapy at a single academic institution between July 2006 and July 2013. Consecutive patients diagnosed with a posterior uveal melanoma during the study period that had an anterior margin at or anterior to the equator who were evaluated by transcleral fine needle aspiration biopsy prior to ¹²⁵I plaque radiotherapy were included. The main outcome measure was development of scleral necrosis, and the secondary outcome was treatment of this complication. Statistical analysis included computation of conventional descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation and chi-square tests of potential factors related to the development of scleral necrosis, and summarizing of treatment approaches and results. The incidence of treatment of scleral necrosis was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: During the 7-year study period, 87 posterior uveal melanomas were evaluated by transcleral fine needle aspiration biopsy and treated by ¹²⁵I plaque radiotherapy. The median largest basal diameter of the tumor was 13.3 mm, and the median thickness was 6.8 mm. Eight patients (9.2%) developed scleral necrosis during follow-up. Thicker tumors (> 6.5 mm) were more likely to develop scleral necrosis (n=7) than thinner tumors (p=0.05). The median interval between ¹²⁵I plaque radiotherapy and detection of scleral necrosis was 19.1 months. The overall cumulative probability of scleral necrosis was 6.2% at 6 months and 14.3% at 24 months, subsequently remaining stable. For thicker tumors, the probability of scleral necrosis was 23.5% at 45.4 months. Five patients were treated by scleral patch graft (62.5%) and three by observation (37.5%). One patient underwent enucleation after two failed scleral patch attempts and recurrent scleral necrosis. The mean follow-up period for patients with scleral necrosis was 34.5 months.
Conclusions: Thicker posterior uveal melanomas are more likely to develop scleral necrosis after ¹²⁵I plaque radiotherapy and transcleral fine needle aspiration biopsy. While observation is sufficient for managing limited scleral necrosis, scleral patch graft is a viable alternative for eye preservation in extensive scleral necrosis.

Keywords: Melanoma; Uveal neoplasms; Iodine radioisotopes; Brachytherapy; Necrosis; Sclera; Biopsy, fine needle

Homocystinuria is one of a group of genetic disorders called inborn errors of metabolism. It is characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme that converts homocysteine to cystathionine. Keratoconus is an ophthalmologic condition characterized by thinning of the corneal stroma, which causes the cornea to assume a conical shape. There is little information in the scientific literature about the association between keratoconus and homocystinuria. We believe that a collagen cross-linking defect may be the key to understand the connection between these two conditions. This case report describes a 38-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of classical homocystinuria since age 13. At the age of 16, he received a diagnosis of asymmetrical keratoconus when referred for lensectomy with vitrectomy of his left eye. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with simultaneous homocystinuria and keratoconus.

Keywords: Keratoconus; Homocystinuria/genetics; Collagen; Corneal strome

Bilateral simultaneous cataract surgery (BSCS) has gained popularity among eye surgeons in many countries. This study examines the case of a 77-year-old patient who developed bilateral Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis following bilateral simultaneous cataract surgery. Immediate bilateral vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotics injection were performed. Ultimately, both eyes were eviscerated due to pain refractory to treatment and no light perception.

Keywords: Endophthalmitis; Cataract extraction; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Postoperative complications; Case reports

Chronic lacrimal canaliculitis is a rare infection of the lacrimal system, and can lead to misdiagnosis due to its overlapping presentation to other common entities. The authors report a case of lacrimal canaliculitis with a three-year history of recurrent unilateral red eye and mucopurulent discharge. Here, we describe the clinical course, surgical details, and microbial analysis of canaliculitis infection.

Keywords: Canaliculitis/surgery; Streptococcus constellatus; Antibacterial agents.

The following report describes a case of apical leucoma syndrome after hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy following hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis and the subsequent treatment of this complication with focal phototherapeutic keratectomy. The patient underwent focal transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy of 70 µm ablation and 1.5 mm diameter after pupil and ablation offset correction. After 1 year, significant improvement in vision was observed and only slight residual opacity remained on biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography. Focal phototherapeutic keratectomy was effective and safe for the treatment of this complication.

Keywords: Hyperopia/therapy; Keratomileusis, laser in situ; Corneal surgery, laser; Photorefractive keratectomy

Patients undergoing cataract surgery are generally elderly, and many take drugs with systemic effects. The surgeon must be aware of the risks of continuing or discontinuing such medications perioperatively. Antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants, prescribed to reduce the incidence of thromboembolic events, are often used in this population. This paper aims to review the perioperative use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs in the setting of cataract surgery. Topical or intracameral anesthesia is preferred over anesthesia injected with needles. Aspirin can be safely continued in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Warfarin has been extensively studied, and the risk of hemorrhage associated with cataract surgery is low if the international normalized ratio is in the therapeutic range. Only a few studies of direct oral anticoagulants are available, and therefore no definite recommendations regarding those agents can be made at this time. Anesthesia in cataract surgery carries a low risk, even for patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. The discontinuation of this class of drugs before cataract surgery may increase the risk of thromboembolism.

Keywords: Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors; Cataract extraction; Risk factors