Faculty Bibliography

In this study, 6 infants with type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were compared with 4 high-risk preterm neonates without any ROP but similar baseline neonatal comorbidities. The infants with type-1 ROP showed significant enrichment of Enterobacteriaceae at 28 weeks' postmenstrual age. Several metabolic pathways, including several amino acid metabolism pathways, were enriched in gut microbiota of infants without ROP. Based on these findings, we posit a possible association between early gut microbiome profile and ROP pathogenesis. Furthermore, it is possible that absence of Enterobacteriaceae overabundance, in addition to enrichment of amino acid biosynthesis pathways, may protect against severe ROP in high-risk preterm infants.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Nonproliferative (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) without diabetic macular edema (DME) affect millions of individuals living with diabetes throughout the world. There is increasing data on various management strategies for such patients, but there is limited consensus on how the data should be adopted into clinical practice. METHODS:This literature review and editorial presents and synthesizes the current evidence for various management paradigms for NPDR and PDR without DME. RESULTS:Retina specialists are an integral member of the diabetes management team, and should encourage patients on the importance of glycemic and cardiovascular optimization for both systemic and retinopathy risk factor reduction. The diabetic retinopathy severity scale (DRSS) is now an approvable endpoint for clinical trials in the United States, therefore becoming more clinically relevant. For PDR without DME, the Diabetic Retinopathy Study (DRS) and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) established the standard of care with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). Laser parameters have since evolved to include less intense and earlier intervention. Studies have recently demonstrated that anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment of PDR is effective at regressing neovascularization and improving DRSS levels in many patients. Further evidence is required to determine optimal treatment frequency, duration, and retreatment criteria, in the real world. There are concerns for adverse events in patients being lost to follow up during anti-VEGF treatment. For NPDR without DME, the standard of care has been a wait-and-watch approach. Data within the DRS and the ETDRS suggest that PRP for severe NPDR can be an option for select patients as well. Multiple clinical trials have now demonstrated that anti-VEGF treatment can improve the DRSS score in NPDR. Further studies are required to assess whether this positively affects long-term visual outcomes, and whether the benefits outweigh the risks in the real world for routine use. CONCLUSIONS:There is cumulative evidence demonstrating the efficacy of various treatment options for NPDR and PDR without DME. Currently, patients would most likely benefit from thoughtful management strategies that are tailored to the individual patient.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To report a case of acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy including the findings of optical coherence tomography angiography and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. METHODS:Findings on clinical examination, color fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, infrared reflectance, autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography angiography, and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS:A 54-year-old white man with no significant medical history and history of smoking presented with bilateral multiple serous and vitelliform detachments consistent with acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy. Extensive infectious, inflammatory, and malignancy workup was negative. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed thickened, hyperreflective ellipsoid zone, subretinal fluid, and focal as well as diffuse subretinal hyperreflective material corresponding to the vitelliform lesions. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed normal retinal and choroidal vasculature, whereas adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy showed circular focal "target" lesions at the level of the photoreceptors in the area of foveal detachment. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Multimodal imaging is valuable in evaluating patients with acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy.

This review describes a growing body of research on relationships between the microbiome and eye disease. Several groups have investigated the microbiota of the ocular surface; dysregulation of this delicate ecosystem has been associated with a variety of pro-inflammatory states. Other research has explored the effects of the gastrointestinal microbiota on ophthalmic diseases. Characterizing the ways these microbiotas influence ophthalmic homeostasis and pathogenesis may lead to research on new techniques for managing ophthalmic disease.

SIGNIFICANCE:Varicella-zoster virus is a common cause of morbidity and vision loss in patients worldwide. It can affect any structure of the eye, from keratitis to acute retinal necrosis. Rapid diagnosis and treatment significantly improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a case where urgent referral to the emergency department was required to treat a patient with disseminated herpes zoster infection. CASE REPORT:This is a rare case of varicella-zoster virus encephalitis in a 70-year-old immunocompetent white man who initially presented to the eye clinic for vertical diplopia and floaters. He also had prior thoracic dermatomal rash, followed by new-onset headaches and cerebellar ataxia. Examination revealed a partial oculomotor nerve palsy in the right eye with bilateral optic disc edema and areas of retinitis consistent with acute retinal necrosis in both eyes. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of his aqueous humor and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed an active zoster infection. He received combination systemic and intravitreal antiviral medication until his retinitis resolved but required adjustments for recalcitrant disease and drug-induced nephrotoxicity. While on maintenance dosing of oral valacyclovir, he experienced reactivation in the form of bilateral vasculitis, which was successfully managed once restarting therapeutic oral dosing. CONCLUSIONS:This case describes a successful clinical course of acute retinal necrosis with strategies for its treatment in the setting of varicella-zoster encephalitis. Antiviral medication should be given as soon as possible, as prompt treatment has been shown to improve patient outcomes, although prognosis is typically poor in these cases. Multiple specialists are often needed to address different clinical challenges, including central nervous system involvement, viral strain resistance, disease reactivation, and drug toxicity.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To report the unique clinical findings of a case of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 herpetic retinitis manifesting as a large elevated subretinal lesion. OBSERVATIONS/METHODS:A 26-year-old Hispanic male with no significant past medical history presented with a one-week history of right eye pain and endorsement of worsening vision. Ophthalmic examination of the right eye identified a markedly elevated white subretinal lesion with associated findings of vitritis and hypotony. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated a diffusely thickened choroid and confirmed the observed subretinal mass. Examination of the fellow left eye was largely unremarkable with the exception of lesions suggestive of inactive chorioretinal scars. Diagnostic vitrectomy and vitreous PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was positive only for HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type 2) and verified by two independent laboratories. The observed subretinal lesion of right eye improved on intravenous acyclovir and intravitreal foscarnet treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE/CONCLUSIONS:Presented here is an unusual, novel clinical presentation of HSV-2 acute retinal necrosis manifesting as an elevated subretinal lesion along with findings of panuveitis. This case suggests that consideration should be given to the diagnosis of HSV ARN (acute retinal necrosis) when a subretinal elevation is concomitantly appreciated in the setting of vitritis and chorioretinal lesions.

PURPOSE:To examine outcomes of 23-gauge (23G) pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for complex diabetic tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in Chicago's Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS). MATERIALS AND METHODS:This is a retrospective noncomparative study of diabetic TRD cases that underwent PPV at CCHHS. Primary retinal reattachment rate, visual function, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS:Sixty nine consecutive cases were included. Primary reattachment and final attachment were achieved in 68/69 eyes (98.6%). Secondary retinal detachment was noted in 1 eye (1.4%). Vitreous hemorrhage requiring repeat PPV developed in 5 eyes (7.2%) and reoperation due to other complications was required in 4/69 eyes (5.8%). Perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade was used in 91.3% of eyes and silicone oil in 8.7% of eyes. Mean LogMAR visual acuity significantly improved from 1.84 ± 0.61 to 0.93 ± 0.66, (P<0.0001). Vision was stabilized or improved in 66 eyes (95.7%). Visual acuity of 20/200 or better was achieved in 49/69 eyes (71.0%) and 20/50 or better in 16/69 eyes (23.2%). CONCLUSIONS:Even in patients with severe and advanced diabetic TRD pathology and unique demographics as seen in CCHHS, modern vitrectomy techniques can provide excellent anatomical and visual outcomes.