Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor in adults. Radiation therapy has replaced enucleation and is now the preferred treatment in most cases. Nonetheless, around 70% of patients develop radiation-related complications, some of which are vision-threatening. The objective of this review is to present the most important complications associated with radiotherapy in the treatment of uveal melanoma and their pathogenesis, incidence, risk factors, and available preventive and therapeutic measures. The most common complications are cataracts, with a reported incidence ranging from 4% to 69%, and radiation retinopathy, reported in 5–68% of cases. Radiation-related complications are responsible for approximately half of secondary enucleations, the leading cause being neovascular glaucoma. A poor visual outcome is mainly associated with the presence of radiation retinopathy and radiation optic neuropathy. Therapeutic options are available for the majority of complications with the notable exception of optic neuropathy. However, many studies report a final visual acuity of less than 20/200 in more than 60% of treated eyes. Reducing complication rates can be achieved by lowering the dose of radiation, with the use of eccentric, customized plaques and careful planning of the irradiation delivery in order to protect structures vital to vision and by associating radiation therapy with other methods with the aim of reducing tumor volume.
22 September 2021 in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
Euthyroid Graves' Disease (EGD) is a challenging pathology, due to its atypical clinical manifestations and the absence of abnormal thyroid function. Typically, thyroid ophthalmopathy is associated with elevated thyroid hormone levels and with the presence of thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) but a low percentage of patients remain euthyroid without developing hyperthyroidism during long‑term follow‑up periods. Although it is considered a different pathology, it shares a lot of similarities with Graves' disease, rendering the diagnosis more difficult. It is also important to note that ophthalmopathy may be the first clinical manifestation of Graves' disease and that thyroid function examinations do not present abnormalities over a long period. Treatment choices for euthyroid disease do not differ from those described in Graves' ophthalmopathy. However, it is considered that since euthyroid patients develop milder ophthalmic symptoms and their clinical activity score is lower, they tend to have better responses to treatment. Moreover, atypical sight‑threatening cases such as exposure keratopathy and dysthyroid optic neuropathy with variable responses to therapy also exist. Disease management consists of a favorable collaboration between ophthalmologists and endocrinologists because patients with EGD can develop thyroid abnormalities over time. In conclusion, the diagnosis of EGD is difficult, clinical manifestations and evolution are variables depending on several factors, including the heterogeneity of TRAb. This review aimed to identify the characteristics of this disease by reviewing the clinical studies and case reports published in previous years.
Assessing the intraocular pressure is a difficult but crucial task in the follow-up of patients that have undergone penetrating keratoplasty. Early recognition of elevated intraocular pressure and/or glaucoma and establishment of the appropriate treatment is essential to ensure the best possible visual outcome for patients dealing with this feared complication. Although Goldmann applanation tonometry is still the gold standard for measuring the intraocular pressure, its limitations in postkeratoplasty eyes, due to postoperative modified corneal morphology, have led to the search for more suitable alternatives. This review is the result of a comprehensive literature search in the MEDLINE database that aims to present glaucoma in the context of perforating keratoplasty, the corneal properties with impact on ocular pressure measurement, and the results achieved with the most important tonometers that have been studied in this pathology. Goldmann applanation tonometry remains the reference for intraocular pressure assessment even in corneas after penetrating keratoplasty. However, some promising alternatives have emerged, the most important of which are the Pascal dynamic contour tonometry, the Tono-Pen XL, the ocular response analyzer, and the iCare. All have advantages and disadvantages but have proved to be appropriate alternatives, especially in cases in which Goldmann applanation tonometry cannot be used.
Background: Fungal keratitis remains a serious threat to vision, often progressing despite medical therapy and requiring surgical intervention. Therapeutic deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK), are frequently required but carry risks of infection recurrence and graft rejection. As timely identification of the etiological agent is essential for improving the outcomes in infectious keratitis, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) are instrumental in providing insights that can guide better therapeutic decision-making and improving outcomes in fungal keratitis. Case Description: We report the cases of two previously healthy patients (case one, 56-year-old woman; case two, 38-year-old man), who have presented in our service with unilateral infectious keratitis after ocular trauma with vegetable matter during outdoor activities, with a visual acuity of counting fingers and hand motion, respectively. Slit-lamp examination revealed unilateral extensive corneal infiltrates suggestive for fungal etiology in both cases. In vivo confocal microscopy (HRT-3, Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3/Rostock Cornea Module, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) identified lesions suggestive for Candida Albicans and Acanthamoeba coinfection in case one and filamentous fungal keratitis in case two. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (MS-39, CSO, Italy) was used to monitor the extent and morphology of the infiltrates. The patients underwent therapeutic DALK and TPK, respectively, with good results at the one-year follow-up. Conclusions: Our cases illustrate the advantages of incorporating IVCM and AS-OCT as complementary imaging techniques into clinical practice. IVCM and AS-OCT in fungal keratitis could lead to an earlier diagnosis, more accurate dynamic treatment response evaluation, and the identification of high-risk features for aggressive fungi for a more tailored medical and surgical management.
14 October 2019 in Romanian Journal of Ophthalmology
Purpose. To report a case of benign fibrous histiocytoma of the conjunctiva involving the cornea, an uncommon ocular surface tumor. Methods. A 57-year-old patient came in our service complaining of a progressively enlarging conjunctival mass temporally to the limbus and invading the adjacent cornea of the left eye. Results. The approach consisted in surgical excision followed by cryotherapy on the edges and on the base of the excision site and amniotic membrane patch reconstruction of the ocular surface defect. Pathologic examination and immunohistochemistry were performed in order to establish the diagnosis. No recurrences appeared in 8 months of follow up. Conclusions. Fibrous histiocytoma might be easily misdiagnosed as it is exceedingly rare. Complete resection with careful inspection of edges is advised. Cryotherapy at the base and borders of the resection site is recommended as both benign and malignant tumors can show recurrence. Amniotic membrane should always be regarded as an efficient option in reconstruction of broad surface defects after tumor resection. Abbreviations: FH = fibrous histiocytoma, CIN = corneal intraepithelial neoplasia, SSCA = squamous cell carcinoma, AM = amniotic membrane, MMC = topical mitomycin-C, 5-FU = 5-fluorouracil, BCVA = best corrected visual acuity.