Post-trabeculectomy early bleb localization mimicking a 'ring of steel'

A 54-year-old-man underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (0.02%). At 4-week follow-up, there was an elevated, well-circumscribed bleb with raised intra-ocular pressure (IOP) of 32-mmHg, with a classic “ring of steel” appearance, typically seen in a tenon's cyst. A sub-tenon needle revision re-established aqueous flow. Two weeks later, the IOP was 8-mmHg without any anti-glaucoma medications. A diffuse well formed bleb was noted. Careful ocular examination helps to identify early post-operative localized bleb that may appear like a “ring of steel” but can be managed by needling, unlike a tenon's cyst, which would require more extensive intervention.

Newborn glaucoma: a neglected manifestation of Congenital rubella Syndrome

PURPOSE

To study the frequency of intrauterine rubella infection in a cohort of neonatal-onset glaucoma and its effect on the treatment outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Infants with neonatal-onset glaucoma presenting to the pediatric glaucoma service at a tertiary care centre in northern India at Chandigarh between 1^st January and 30^th September 2018 with a minimum postoperative follow-up of one year were included in this study. Rubella-IgM antibodies were tested in all patients. Surgery for intraocular pressure (IOP) control comprised combined trabeculotomy-with-trabeculectomy or goniotomy. Presenting features and treatment outcomes at one year were compared among babies with and without rubella-IgM antibodies.

RESULTS

Of twenty-seven eligible infants, 7(25.9%) were rubella-IgM positive, and all had bilateral glaucoma. One eye in a rubella-positive baby was an unsightly blind eye and required a prosthesis. 13 eyes of 7 patients were compared to thirty-four eyes of 20 rubella-negative patients. There was no significant difference in mean age and IOP at presentation. Rubella-positive babies had significantly more opaque corneas (p< 0.001), shorter eyes (p<0.001) and smaller corneal diameters (p=0.007) at presentation. Two patients in the rubella group had bilateral cataracts, 3 had heart disease, and 1 had sensorineural deafness. Salt-and-pepper-retinopathy was noted in both rubella positive babies where fundus evaluation was possible. Despite comparable IOP control (p=0.51), the corneal clarity remained significantly worse in the rubella-positive patients (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Twenty-five percent of newborn glaucoma had underlying intrauterine rubella infection thus making them susceptible for development of congenital rubella syndrome. Neonatal-onset glaucoma is an important component of congenital rubella syndrome, which may present without buphthalmos and persistent corneal clouding despite good IOP control.

Goniotomy for initial and re-surgery for childhood glaucoma in Northern India

Purpose

The aim of this study was to describe the effectiveness of goniotomy for childhood glaucoma in Indian eyes.

Methods

Consecutive patients with pediatric glaucoma who underwent goniotomy between July 2017 and June 2020, in a single center in Northwest India were prospectively analyzed. Goniotomy was done as a primary procedure or a re-do surgery of the untreated angle in failed filtering surgery. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≦18 mm Hg with or without 2 topical medications.

Results

A total of 172 eyes of 126 children underwent goniotomy during this period (37.9% of all pediatric glaucoma surgeries). Goniotomy comprised 132 of 211 (62.5%) primary pediatric glaucoma surgeries and 40 of 243 (16.5%) re-do surgeries. 145, 112, and 54 eyes had a six months, 1-year and 2-year follow-up, respectively. At 1 year, success rates in Primary Congenital Glaucoma (PCG) were 79.7% for primary surgery and 68.4% for re-do surgery. For non-PCG eyes, the success rate was 62% at 1 year. Among PCG subgroups, infantile and newborn glaucoma had 87.5% and 57.1% success rates, respectively. On logistic regression analysis, lower baseline IOP and lesser axial length at presentation were significantly predictive of successful outcomes (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively). At 1 year, in the primary surgery group, 50% had good vision (better than logMAR 0.5), 28.9% had moderate (better than LOGMAR 1.0) and 20% had severe visual impairment. There were no significant intraoperative or post-operative complications.

Conclusion

Goniotomy appears to be an effective surgery for childhood glaucoma in Indian eyes. Being minimally invasive, it obviates the need for conjunctival and scleral dissection and antifibrotic agents.

Understanding factors associated with continuation of intrauterine device use in Gujarat and Rajasthan, India: a cross-sectional household study

The Government of India has promoted the expansion of access to and uptake of intrauterine devices (IUDs), during both the interval (IIUD) and postpartum (PPIUD) periods, as part of its Family Planning 2020 initiative. This study, conducted by EngenderHealth as part of the Expanding Access to IUD Services in India project, examines IIUD and PPIUD continuation rates over time and investigates factors associated with IUD continuation. We recruited respondents (N = 5024) through a repeated cross-sectional household study between February and December 2019. We identified respondents using IUD client data from public health facility registers in 20 districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. We compared continuation rates for IIUD and PPIUD adopters and used regression analyses to measure the association between continuation and demographic, quality of care, and counselling variables. IIUD continuation rates decreased from 85.6% to 78.3% and PPIUD rates decreased from 78.5% to 70.7% between month 3 and month 12. Clients experiencing side effects or other problems were 15 times more likely to discontinue IUD use than clients who did not. Clients who received IUD counselling prior to insertion were more likely to continue than those who did not. IUD continuation increased significantly in cases where both partners jointly selected the method compared to situations where women decided alone. Several sociodemographic factors were associated with continuation. Our study demonstrates the value and benefits of programmes offering IUD services emphasising quality counselling and client-centred care to increase access, uptake, and continuation.

Naturalistic Evaluation of Prescription Pattern in Glaucoma Clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Developing Country's Perspective

Background:

Glaucoma is a chronic, gradual and progressive eye disorder characterized by visual loss and involving the typical changes in optic nerves and associated structures. Currently, the mainstay treatment lies in the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) involving the usage of two or three medications concurrently. However, prescription pattern of antiglaucoma drugs remains largely unstudied so far. Therefore, there is a dire need of drug utilization studies to ensure rational prescribing for better treatment outcomes.

Aim:

This study was conducted to assess the prescription pattern in glaucoma patients to encourage rational use of drugs.

Materials and Methods:

The pertinent data of confirmed glaucoma patients were entered in a predesigned case record form (CRF) including patient demographic details, type of glaucoma, number of drug prescribed, drug dosage and dosage formulation with prior patient consent, and finally, the data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

Results:

A total of 247 glaucoma patients were recorded in the study. The mean SD number of drugs per prescription was 2.18 (1.68). Monotherapy was prescribed to 72 (29.15%) patients, and the most common monotherapy prescribed was timolol, whereas in fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), brimonidine and timolol FDCs were most commonly encountered. Furthermore, prescriptions consisting of generic drugs only and prescribed as per the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) were 48 (19.43%) and 41 (16.59%), respectively.

Conclusion:

This study showed the judicious use of medications in tune with principles of rational drug use in our center, and the rationale practices can be extended to the peripheral centers of the country for better drug utilization.

Neovascular glaucoma - A review

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a sight-threatening secondary glaucoma characterized by appearance of new vessels over the iris and proliferation of fibrovascular tissue in the anterior chamber angle. Retinal ischemia is the common driving factor and common causes are central retinal vein occlusion, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and ocular ischemic syndrome. The current rise in the prevalence of NVG is partly related to increase in people with diabetes. A high index of suspicion and a thorough anterior segment evaluation to identify the early new vessels on the iris surface or angle are essential for early diagnosis of NVG. With newer imaging modalities such as the optical coherence tomography angiography and newer treatment options such as the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, it is possible to detect retinal ischemia early, tailor appropriate treatment, monitor disease progression, and treatment response. The management strategies are aimed at reducing the posterior segment ischemia, reduce the neovascular drive, and control the elevated intraocular pressure. This review summarizes the causes, pathogenesis, and differential diagnoses of NVG, and the management guidelines. We also propose a treatment algorithm of neovascular glaucoma.

Safety and efficacy of oral Triclofos in the ophthalmic evaluation of children with pediatric glaucoma: An observational study

Purpose:

Oral Triclofos is widely used as a sedative agent in children. However, the role of Triclofos as a sedative agent in children undergoing ophthalmological procedures has not been adequately studied. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of oral Triclofos in children suffering from pediatric glaucoma who were undergoing ocular examination.

Methods:

80 children aged less than 5 years were assessed for eligibility for the trial after taking hospital ethical committee approval. The children were administered 80 mg/kg of oral Triclofos and Ramsay sedation score was measured every 5 min starting from 20 min after administration of the drug. If the child was not adequately sedated after 30 min, additional dose of 05 mg/kg was administered every 5 min till 60 min of drug administration. The procedure was considered a failure and general anesthesia (GA) administered if Ramsay sedation score was ≤4 after 60 min of initial drug administration. Heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation were measured throughout the period of sedation. The duration of sedation and incidence of side effects was also noted.

Results:

A total of 73 patients underwent the study. The mean age of children was 23.4 months (SD – 14.72) and mean weight was 12 kg (SD – 3.84). The mean dose of Pedicloryl (Triclofos) used was 83.8 mg/kg and the median duration of onset was 25 min. 64 children completed examination successfully, 2 children had to be administered GA during the procedure. There were no major side effects.

Conclusion:

Administration of oral Triclofos in a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight was safe and effective in children less than 5 years of age undergoing ocular examination.

Neonatal-Onset Congenital Ectropion Uveae: A Distinct Phenotype of Newborn Glaucoma

PURPOSE

To describe neonatal-onset congenital ectropion uveae (N-CEU) as a distinct clinical entity of newborn glaucoma (NG) and to study its significance toward the severity and outcome of NG.

DESIGN

Prospective clinical cohort study.

METHODS

The study took place at a tertiary care postgraduate teaching institute. It included consecutive patients with NG who presented between July 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017, with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 1 year. Infants with any ocular anomaly apart from CEU were excluded. Patients with N-CEU were compared with those with neonatal-onset primary congenital glaucoma (N-PCG). All infants underwent goniotomy or trabeculotomy, with trabeculectomy depending on corneal clarity. Clinical features at presentation and outcome 1 year after surgery were defined as good or satisfactory if intraocular pressure was ≤16.0 mm Hg under anesthesia without or with topical medications, respectively, and poor if the infant required additional surgery.

RESULTS

Twenty eyes of 10 patients with N-CEU were compared with 16 eyes of 9 patients with N-PCG. Infants with N-CEU had significantly worse corneal clarity (mean grade 2.0 ± 0.7 vs 1.4 ± 0.8; P = .026) and poorer outcomes compared with those with N-PCG. Seven of 16 (43.7%) eyes with N-PCG had a cornea clear enough at presentation for a goniotomy compared with only 2 of the 20 (10%) eyes with N-CEU (P = .026). Thirteen of 16 (81.2%) eyes with N-PCG had a good or satisfactory outcome compared with 6 of 20 (30%) eyes with N-CEU (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

N-CEU appears to be distinct from the unilateral CEU in older patients described in the literature and may be considered a poorer prognosis phenotype of neonatal-onset glaucoma.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy sustains haematopoietic stem-cell function

The activation of mostly quiescent haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is a prerequisite for life-long production of blood cells¹. This process requires major molecular adaptations to allow HSCs to meet the regulatory and metabolic requirements for cell division^2-4. The mechanisms that govern cellular reprograming upon stem-cell activation, and the subsequent return of stem cells to quiescence, have not been fully characterized. Here we show that chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)⁵, a selective form of lysosomal protein degradation, is involved in sustaining HSC function in adult mice. CMA is required for protein quality control in stem cells and for the upregulation of fatty acid metabolism upon HSC activation. We find that CMA activity in HSCs decreases with age and show that genetic or pharmacological activation of CMA can restore the functionality of old mouse and human HSCs. Together, our findings provide mechanistic insights into a role for CMA in sustaining quality control, appropriate energetics and overall long-term HSC function. Our work suggests that CMA may be a promising therapeutic target for enhancing HSC function in conditions such as ageing or stem-cell transplantation.

Bilateral Chandler's syndrome: Uncommon entity diagnosed by ultrasound biomicroscopy and confocal microscopy

A 22‑year‑old female presented with bilateral, progressive diminution of vision. Slit‑lamp examination revealed bilateral sectoral corneal edema. Gonioscopy showed broad‑based peripheral anterior synechiae and a membrane obscuring angle structure in both the eyes. On ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), a membrane extending from corneal endothelium to anterior iris surface causing traction was seen. Confocal microscopy showed an "epithelium‑like" transformation of the corneal endothelium. This case demonstrates a bilateral Chandler variant of the iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome where the diagnosis of Chandler's disease was confirmed by confocal microscopy, after the mechanism of secondary angle closure was demonstrated by the UBM.

Functional role of iNOS-Rac2 interaction in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) induced cytotoxicity in sepsis

BACKGROUND

Recent reports from this lab have demonstrated a higher incidence of NETs, nitrosative, as well as oxidative stress, and have a direct correlation with the severity of sepsis and organ damage. However, the mechanistic perspective of NETs induced organ damage has not been understood at the cellular and molecular level. Interaction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with Rac2 in regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation and its implications in microbial killing has been reported. This study was, therefore, undertaken in neutrophils of sepsis patients to investigate the functional importance of iNOS-Rac2 interaction in ROS/ RNS, peroxynitrite generation, NETs generation, and NETs mediated cell death.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 100 patients with sepsis and 50 healthy volunteers. Interaction between iNOS and Rac2 was performed using co-immunoprecipitation and co-immunolabeling assay. Free radicals involving ROS and RNS were evaluated using cytochrome c reduction assay. NETs formation was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. The cytotoxic effect of NETs was assessed on lung carcinoma cell line (A549) using colorimetric Alamar blue assay.

RESULTS

Enhanced interaction between iNOS and Rac2 was found in sepsis neutrophils in comparison with control. This was accompanied by an increased level of superoxide (O2.-), nitric oxide (NO), and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) which were decreased in the presence of NAC, DPI, and 1400 W, signifying the role of iNOS-Rac2 interaction. Enhanced NETs release from activated sepsis neutrophils were abrogated in the presence of DPI. NETs from sepsis neutrophils exert a cytotoxic effect on lung epithelial cells (A549) in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

Our findings exhibit the functional role of iNOS-Rac2 interaction in ROS/RNS, peroxynitrite generation, NETs generation, and NETs mediated cell death.

Clinical profile and outcome of early surgery in neonatal-onset glaucoma presenting over a 5-year period

BACKGROUND

Neonatal-onset glaucoma (NOG) is a severe form of childhood glaucoma and is not always due to primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Due to advances in neonatal care, the incidence of NOG is rising, but it remains an under-reported entity. The objective of the paper was to study the clinical profiles, surgical and visual outcomes of NOG at least 1 year following early surgery.

METHODS

Prospective interventional cohort study at a tertiary care referral centre. Babies with NOG, who presented between January 2013 and December 2017, had a history suggestive of disease onset within 1 month of birth, and underwent surgery by 3 months of age, were prospectively enrolled. Those who completed a 1-year follow-up after surgery were analysed.

RESULTS

94 eyes of 53 babies were analysed. 35 (66%) had PCG. Neonatal congenital ectropion uveae, congenital rubella syndrome, Peter's anomaly and Sturge-Weber syndrome comprised the non-PCG group. The mean age at presentation and surgery was 24.8±21.9, and 36.7±29.9 days. Additional glaucoma surgery was required in 43 of the 94 eyes (45.7%). PCG had significantly better outcomes than other glaucomas at all time points. 28.3% of eyes had good vision (LogMar (0-0.5)), 34.7% had moderate visual impairment (LogMar 0.7-1.0) and 16% were blind (LogMar <1.62) .

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that NOG does not always have a dismal prognosis. A small but significant proportion could have other underlying conditions than PCG. Timely surgery and rigorous amblyopia therapy resulted in good outcomes in terms of intraocular pressure control and vision in this cohort.

Mirtazapine-induced bilateral secondary angle closure in a female

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral secondary angle closure in a female using mirtazapine for 6 months.

Patient and method: A 55-year-old female was diagnosed with secondary angle closure in both eyes with raised intraocular pressure, and ultrasound biomicroscopic findings suggestive of ciliary body effusion. It was associated with adjoining cyst presumably because of the use of mirtazapine for depression and sleep disturbances.

Results: After the planned discontinuation of mirtazapine, the ocular angle opened, the ciliary body edema decreased, and the cyst regressed in size. The intraocular pressure was controlled with topical timolol (0.5%).

Conclusion: Patients with risk factors for angle closure should be prescribed antipsychotic drugs with caution. The peripheral laser iridotomy is not indicated in secondary angle closure due to ciliary body effusion.

Differential diagnosis of acute ocular pain: Teleophthalmology during COVID-19 pandemic - A perspective

Ocular pain is a common complaint which forces the patient to seek immediate medical attention. It is the primeval first response of the body to any severe condition of the eye such as trauma, infections and inflammation. The pain can be due to conditions directly affecting the eye and ocular adnexa; or indirect which would manifest as referred pain from other organ structures such as the central nervous system. Paradoxically, there are several minor and non-sight threatening conditions, which also leads to ocular pain and does not merit urgent hospital visits. In this perspective, we intend to provide guidelines to the practising ophthalmologist for teleconsultation when a patient complains of pain with focus on how to differentiate the various diagnoses that can be managed over teleconsultation and those requiring emergency care in the clinic. These guidelines can decrease unnecessary hospital visits, which is the need of the hour in the pandemic era and also beyond. Patients who are under quarantine and those who are unable to travel would be benefitted, and at the same time, the burden of increased patient load in busy hospital systems can be reduced.

Anterior segment dysgenesis and secondary glaucoma in Goldenhar syndrome

A 3-year-old girl presented with a history of watering, haze and increase in the size of the right eye for two months. The child had bilateral preauricular skin tags, limbal dermoid and dermolipoma, consistant with the diagnosis of Goldenhad syndrome. In addition, her right eye manifested enlarged cornea, flat anterior chamber, atrophic iris and elevated intraocular pressure. This case report highlights a possible association of anterior segment dysgenesis and glaucoma with Goldenhar syndrome.