Management of iatrogenic crystalline lens injury occurred during intravitreal injection

Intravitreal antisense oligonucleotide sepofarsen in Leber congenital amaurosis type 10: a phase 1b/2 trial

CEP290-associated Leber congenital amaurosis type 10 (LCA10) is a retinal disease resulting in childhood blindness. Sepofarsen is an RNA antisense oligonucleotide targeting the c.2991+1655A>G variant in the CEP290 gene to treat LCA10. In this open-label, phase 1b/2 ( NCT03140969 ), 12-month, multicenter, multiple-dose, dose-escalation trial, six adult patients and five pediatric patients received ≤4 doses of intravitreal sepofarsen into the worse-seeing eye. The primary objective was to evaluate sepofarsen safety and tolerability via the frequency and severity of ocular adverse events (AEs); secondary objectives were to evaluate pharmacokinetics and efficacy via changes in functional outcomes. Six patients received sepofarsen 160 µg/80 µg, and five patients received sepofarsen 320 µg/160 µg. Ten of 11 (90.9%) patients developed ocular AEs in the treated eye (5/6 with 160 µg/80 µg; 5/5 with 320 µg/160 µg) versus one of 11 (9.1%) in the untreated eye; most were mild in severity and dose dependent. Eight patients developed cataracts, of which six (75.0%) were categorized as serious (2/3 with 160 µg/80 µg; 4/5 with 320 µg/160 µg), as lens replacement was required. As the 160-µg/80-µg group showed a better benefit-risk profile, higher doses were discontinued or not initiated. Statistically significant improvements in visual acuity and retinal sensitivity were reported (post hoc analysis). The manageable safety profile and improvements reported in this trial support the continuation of sepofarsen development.

Lens-induced hypopyon uveitis as the presenting manifestation of posterior lens nucleus dislocation following pars-plana vitrectomy: case report

A 57-year-old otherwise healthy male presented to our department seven days following uneventful pars-plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade for a superior bullous retinal detachment in the left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed anterior segment inflammation with hypopyon and fibrinous exudate. Intra-ocular pressure was 28 mmHg. Posterior segment evaluation was difficult to assess due to the presence of anterior capsule opacification and gas bubble. A Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome was suspected, and the patient was treated with topical and oral corticosteroid medication in combination with anti-glaucomatous therapy. On follow-up, anterior segment inflammation and ocular hypertension improved. On day ten post-operatively, ocular ultrasonography demonstrated lens material inferiorly with attached retina. The final diagnosis of posterior lens nucleus dislocation with lens-induced uveitis was retained. The patient underwent an uneventful second vitrectomy with aspiration of the dislocated lens nucleus and sulcus three piece-lens implantation. On last follow-up, visual acuity was 20/50 with no relapsing of ocular inflammation and the retina remained reattached.

Iatrogenic Crystalline Lens Injury in Pediatric Eyes Following Intravitreal Injection for Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE

To report the occurrence of lens injury during intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection in infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

ROP cases presenting to a tertiary care center with cataract following intravitreal injection were retrospectively studied from June 2017 to May 2018. The indication, setting, and method of injection were noted. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) details were recorded. The main measures were morphology of cataract, posterior capsular defect, and intraocular lens (IOL) placement.

RESULTS

Three children (mean age: 14 ± 8.6 months, two male and one female) received injection elsewhere under topical anesthesia in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for type 1 ROP (stage 3 in zone I or II with significant plus disease) 9 to 18 months earlier. All cases developed cataract caused by intravitreal needle damaging the posterior capsule. In one case, a dense zonular cataract was present and peripheral dehiscence of the posterior capsule became evident only during lens aspiration. The second and third cases had a central posterior subcapsular cataract. Preexisting central dehiscence of the posterior capsule was noted on UBM and confirmed during surgery. A multi-piece IOL was securely placed in all cases. At last follow-up (median: 6 months; range: 3 to 6 months), the IOL was stable and centered in all cases with a clear visual axis.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing occurrence of cataract in treatment-requiring ROP following intravitreal anti-VEGF injections being given by practitioners in the NICU setting under topical anesthesia that hinders optimal visualization and technique is a significant concern. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(3):162-167.].

Occurrence of intraocular air bubbles during intravitreal injections for retinopathy of prematurity

This study aims to present five cases with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who were found to have intraocular air bubbles after intravitreal injection (IVI) treatment. The medical records of 148 infants who underwent IVI for ROP were retrospectively reviewed and the ones who demonstrated post-injection intraocular air bubble formation were recruited. Of the 148 patients (31 babies received ranibizumab, 20 babies received aflibercept, 97 babies received bevacizumab), five were found to have intraocular air bubbles right after the IVI. Two infants received intravitreal ranibizumab and three received intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Although intraocular pressure increased temporarily, no intraocular sterile or infective reactions were observed in the postoperative period. The air bubble was found to resorb spontaneously within 72 h. The occurrence rate of the intravitreal air bubbles in our series was 3.37 % despite previously not been reported in the literature. Due to the intravitreal air injection risk, it is important to be more careful while preparing the intravitreal medication before treatment in premature babies.