Management of subretinal and vitreous cysticercosis: role of photocoagulation and surgery

Treatment of intraocular cysticercosis requires selection of the proper method, prevention of complications, and careful follow-up. Small subretinal cysticercus can be treated with xenon or argon photocoagulation. Macular cysticercus are extracted through a sclerochoroidal incision. Large cysticercus can be removed in selected cases with an outcome probe placed in the subretinal space. Cysticercus in the vitreous should be removed with a suction-cutter probe via the pars plana.

Retinal microangiopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus

We performed complete ocular examination, including fluorescein angiography of the fundus, in 50 ambulatory patients with moderately active or inactive systemic lupus erythematosus; none had ocular symptoms. One patient had drusen and two patients had increased intraocular pressures with disk cupping attributable to orally administered corticosteroids. No patient had detectable abnormalities by ophthalmoscopic examination. Despite this apparently normal condition, fluorescein angiography revealed single or multiple microaneurysms in nine patients (13 eyes) and retinal capillary dilatations with leakage of fluorescein in six patients (six eyes). Both abnormalities occurred in two patients. These capillary changes in moderately ill patients with lupus erythematosus are probably the residue of previous acute vasculitis, perhaps due to immune-complex deposition.