Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome with Intracameral Moxifloxacin: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Endothelial loss following postoperative intracameral triamcinolone acetonide and subconjunctival dexamethasone injections

OBJECTIVES

To compare endothelial toxicity and efficacy of two local steroid injections (intracameral triamcinolone acetonide and subconjunctival dexamethasone) in controlling postoperative inflammation following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

METHODS

This cohort included 54 patients that underwent combined surgery and received either intracameral triamcinolone acetonide injections (n = 27, IC-TA group) or subconjunctival dexamethasone (n = 27, Sc-Dex group) injections at the end of the surgery. All participants had at least 4 months or longer follow-up. A detailed ophthalmologic examination including intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and specular microscopy was performed at every visit.

RESULTS

Endothelial cell density (ECD) reduced significantly in IC-TA group postoperatively (2418 vs. 2249, p = 0.019), while it did not change significantly in Sc-Dex group (2541 vs. 2492, p = 0.247). Postoperative ECD was also significantly lower in IC-TA group compared to Sc-Dex group (p = 0.011). Preoperative and postoperative IOP values remained unchanged both in IC-TA and Sc-Dex groups (p = 0.424 and p = 0.523, respectively). However, 4 patients in IC-TA group and 5 patients in the Sc-Dex group needed glaucoma medications. The postoperative need for glaucoma medications was similar between the groups (p = 0.347). Postoperative inflammation was well controlled in both groups and none of the patients developed fibrin membrane or synechiae postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Both treatments were effective in controlling postoperative inflammation, but patients in IC-TA group experienced significantly higher endothelial loss. Sc-Dex injections are safer in terms of endothelial loss and preferable to control postoperative inflammation following complex intraocular surgeries.

Frosted branch angiitis following corneal tear repair

We report a patient who developed frosted branch angiitis (FBA) and was diagnosed 1 month after the penetrating eye injury (PEI) repair. A 31-year-old male with no systemic comorbidities presented with defective vision following trauma to his left eye while cutting wood. His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/200. Anterior segment examinations showed a zone I full-thickness corneal tear with iris tissue incarceration. There was no clinical evidence of intraocular foreign body (IOFB) or endophthalmitis. He underwent PEI repair with iris abscission on the same day with intracameral moxifloxacin injection. His BCVA on postoperative day 45 was 20/200. Examination showed a resolving vitreous hemorrhage, venous tortuosity, and retinal perivascular infiltration affecting the venules from the posterior pole up to the periphery. He was treated with oral and topical steroids. The clinical signs resolved completely and BCVA improved to 20/20 after 1 month of treatment. FBA can complicate the recovery of eyes after PEI repair, even in the absence of endophthalmitis or sympathetic ophthalmia. A thorough search for IOFB or its tell-tale signs should be done in such eyes.