Purpose: To report a series of 3 patients with soft contact lens-related Fusarium keratitis. Two of them were treated with the antiamoebic polyhexamethylene biguanide 0.02% (PHMB) in combination with antifungal drugs, and 1 patient was treated with PHMB as sole antifungal regimen. Methods: Chart review of 3 patients treated with PHMB in Fusarium keratitis. Two of them were refractory to the commonly used therapy. The antifungal power of PHMB and propamidine isethionate was tested against the patients’ isolates as well as against the clinical isolates from another 9 patients with ocular mould infections. Results: An excellent outcome could be achieved in 2 patients with Fusarium solani keratitis refractory to common antifungal treatment by the additional use of PHMB 0.02%. In another patient PHMB alone was sufficient to resolve Fusarium proliferatum infection. The drug was well tolerated. In all patients repeated abrasion was done for better penetration of the drugs. PHMB revealed a marked in vitro antifungal activity for the three Fusarium isolates as well as for another 9 isolates of ocular infections from other patients including also the genera Scedosporium, Aspergillus and Rhizopus giving minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.56 to 3.12 µg/ml. Conclusions:Fusarium keratitis is a severe ocular infection. We report on the use of PHMB in 3 patients given additionally or as sole antifungal drug. We emphasize the benefit of PHMB 0.02% in Fusarium keratitis which might be considered as a therapeutic option especially in cases refractory to common antifungal therapy and possibly in keratitis due to other fungi.
Objective To demonstrate the spectrum of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) associated with immunotherapy for advanced cutaneous melanoma. Methods and analysis Retrospective chart review on patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma who developed AIR after initiating immunotherapy. Complete ophthalmic examination and relevant ancillary testing were performed on each patient. The presence of AIR-associated anti-retinal antibodies was confirmed by western blot and/or immunohistochemical staining. Ophthalmic and systemic outcomes after treatment for AIR were followed over time. A systematic review of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results Case 1 developed photopsia and nyctalopia with electroretinographic findings characteristic for melanoma-associated retinopathy 1 week after initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 2 experienced new severe bilateral visual field loss associated with anti-retinal and anti-optic nerve antibodies while on maintenance nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 3 developed decreased visual acuity due to acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy within 2 weeks of initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. All patients had concurrent extraocular immune-related adverse events in addition to the presence of anti-retinal antibodies on serological testing. 14 published cases of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma were identified and reviewed. Conclusions Immune checkpoint inhibition can trigger the development of AIR with varied clinical manifestations in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma. This study highlights the need for close monitoring in cutaneous melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy who develop new visual symptoms with or without funduscopic changes, as well as the potential role for screening of patients prior to initiating immunotherapy.
Importance: Brolucizumab (Beovu®) is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent approved for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Brolucizumab was marketed for its noninferiority to aflibercept and its potential for greater durability. However, post-marketing utilization has been tempered by safety concerns. Objective: We evaluate the visual and anatomic efficacy of brolucizumab, examine changes in treatment intervals after switching to brolucizumab, and estimate the incidence of drug-related adverse events in the real world. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective consecutive case series of 626 eyes (543 patients) with nvAMD treated with 1438 brolucizumab injections at a single retina practice between 10/1/2019 and 5/15/2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Changes in visual acuity (VA); anatomic outcomes assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) including central subfield thickness (CST), macular volume (MV), presence of intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), and serous pigment epithelial detachment (sPED) on foveal line scans; treatment intervals before and after receiving brolucizumab; and the incidence of brolucizumab-related adverse events. Results: The majority of eyes (N = 531, 89.7%) had received prior anti-VEGF therapy with aflibercept, ranibizumab, and/or bevacizumab. VA improved in treatment-naïve eyes (+3.7 letters, p = 0.04), and was maintained in previously treated eyes. There were significant improvements in all anatomic outcomes in both groups (p < 0.001). We observed a 4.8% incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) and a 0.6% incidence of retinal vasculitis. The average treatment interval increased from 6.3 to 6.8 weeks (p = 0.001). Conclusions and Relevance: Brolucizumab treatment was associated with VA improvement in naïve eyes and maintenance of VA in previously treated eyes. Switching to brolucizumab was associated with improved anatomic outcomes and extended treatment intervals in most eyes. We observed a similar incidence of IOI and a lower incidence of retinal vasculitis compared to the Safety Review Committee’s analysis of HAWK and HARRIER.
Background/Objectives: Uveal melanoma is a rare but aggressive intraocular malignancy that metastasizes in up to half of patients, most commonly to the liver, despite effective local treatment. In the absence of robust evidence, there are no standardized guidelines for post-treatment surveillance, resulting in wide variation in imaging modalities, frequency, and duration across physicians and institutions. This study aimed to develop expert consensus recommendations for surveillance strategies in patients with uveal melanoma. Methods: A modified Delphi method was conducted across three iterative survey rounds between September 2024 and February 2025 using an online platform. Panelists included medical oncologists, ocular oncologists, radiologists, and surgical oncologists from North America. A multidisciplinary steering committee developed statements addressing risk-based surveillance using both molecular and clinical prognostic factors, including gene expression profiling (GEP) and PRAME status. Consensus was defined a priori as ≥70% of panelists rating a statement 7–9 on a 9-point Likert scale. Results: Forty-nine experts were invited, and 41 completed at least one survey round. The panel represented 17 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and two Canadian provinces. Twelve statements reached stable consensus, including recommendations for imaging modality, frequency, and duration in intermediate- and high-risk patients. Although there was agreement that low-risk patients warrant surveillance, no consensus was reached on the optimal approach for this group. Conclusions: This is the first study to provide consensus-based guidance incorporating GEP and PRAME status into surveillance recommendations for uveal melanoma, offering a standardized framework to guide clinical practice and future research.
Purpose: The management of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation is controversial, with most earlier reports advocating for plasmapheresis. Here, we report a case of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation secondary to gastric adenocarcinoma that was successfully treated with adjunctive intravenous immunoglobulin, using a loading dose followed by a treat-and-extend strategy. Methods: Clinical case report with 3 years of follow-up including serial ophthalmologic examinations. Functional assessments included visual acuity and subjective visual complaints. Periodic anatomic assessments were performed including serial optical coherence tomography, ultra-widefield fundus imaging, multimodal angiography, and ophthalmic ultrasound. Results: A 75-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of blurry vision and difficulty with dark and light adaptation in both eyes. A diagnosis of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation was established based on clinical findings and subsequent discovery of an underlying gastric malignancy; the diagnosis of a paraneoplastic syndrome was further substantiated by documentation of cancer-associated antiretinal antibodies and serum reactivity against human retina by immunohistochemistry. Treatment with high-dose (2 g/kg) intravenous immunoglobulin was initiated with biweekly, followed by monthly, then q2-3 monthly dosing intervals. Meanwhile, the patient received surgical resection and systemic chemotherapy resulting in complete radiographic remission of the primary cancer. Over the course of 3 years, the patient has demonstrated clinically significant improvements in visual acuity and subjective visual function. Rapid and sustained anatomic improvements were observed in serous retinopathy and choroidal thickness. Conclusion: Intravenous immunoglobulin may be a viable adjunctive treatment option for some patients with bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation.