Wagner, Isabella V

Purpose To determine the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) within the first 6 months after endothelial keratoplasty (EK) in eyes that had previously undergone vitrectomy versus those without prior vitrectomy. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis of the TriNetX database was performed by querying all patients who underwent EK (Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty or Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty) with ≥ 6 months of follow-up between January 1, 2004, and August 30, 2024. Patients with a previous history of diabetic macular edema, uveitis, or retinal vascular occlusion were excluded. Cohorts were stratified based on a history of prior vitrectomy. Propensity score matching (PSM) between cohorts was conducted for age at index, sex, race, ethnicity, and diagnosis of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. The outcome assessed was the incidence of postoperative CME within 6 months after EK in both groups. Odds ratios were calculated between cohorts. Results The final analysis included 1044 patients, divided into those with (n = 522) and without (n = 522) prior vitrectomy before EK. Patients who had undergone vitrectomy prior to EK were found to develop postoperative CME within 6 months at a significantly higher rate (32 of 522) compared to those who had not undergone vitrectomy (17 of 522) (P = 0.0282; OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.063–3.539). Conclusion Prior vitrectomy appears to be associated with a greater incidence of postoperative CME after EK.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of MicroPulse Transscleral Laser Therapy (MicroPulse TLT) with the Revised P3 ® Delivery Device. Design Prospective, single-surgeon, interventional study in a tertiary hospital setting. Participants Sixty-two eyes of 40 patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods All subjects received 360-degree MicroPulse TLT treatment (2500 mW, 31.33% duty cycle) over a total of 240 s (8 sweeps; n = 20), 300 s (10 sweeps; n = 22), or 200 s (10 sweeps; n = 20). Participants were followed up for 6 months to assess changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication burden, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Surgical success was defined as a reduction of IOP ≥ 30% from baseline and between 6–18 mmHg at last follow-up with no additional anti-glaucoma medications or secondary reinterventions. Results Surgical success was achieved in 72.7% (300 s group), 75.0% (240 s group), and 80.0% (200 s group) of eyes. Mean IOP was significantly reduced ( p < 0.001) by 49.0% (300 s group), 45.66% (240 s group), and 39.8% (200 s group) at 6 months. With all groups combined, the mean number of glaucoma medications was significantly reduced by 17.8% ( p = 0.005), and no significant changes in BCVA were observed at 6 months. Complications were minimal, including four eyes with IOP spikes, one eye with hyphema, and one eye with cystoid macular edema (CME), all of which resolved. Two eyes of the total sample (3.2%) required secondary glaucoma surgery before 6 months. Conclusions Second-generation MicroPulse TLT at fluence values of 154–229 J/cm 2 appears to be a safe and effective option for IOP reduction in refractory glaucoma.

Purpose: To report a rare case of multifocal chorioretinitis subsequent to intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for bladder cancer. Methods: Case report. Results: A 74-year-old man presented with ill-defined visual changes in his right eye, along with constitutional symptoms such as low-grade fever, chills with rigors, night sweats, headache, dry cough, memory problems, and unintentional weight loss. These symptoms occurred 11 months after receiving intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment for bladder cancer. His visual acuity in the right eye was 20/30. Examination of his right eye revealed multiple yellow white chorioretinal lesions, and optical coherence tomography imaging showed focal involvement of the choroid and overlying neurosensory retina. Blood-based testing using next-generation sequencing for detection of microbial cell free DNA (Karius test) was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The patient was treated with 12 months of triple therapy consisting of isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol. The chorioretinal lesions showed complete regression to flat scars, with no evidence of recurrence 15 months after discontinuation of systemic treatment. Conclusion: Despite being rare, the possibility of mycobacterial chorioretinitis should be considered in patients with new-onset visual symptoms after intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment for bladder cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the anatomic characteristics of eyes with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) with eyes without FECD. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review performed at an academic medical center. Patients with FECD were identified through a search of the electronic medical records. Eligible patients underwent Scheimpflug imaging and optical biometry and were compared with age and sex-matched control subjects who underwent similar testing in preparation for cataract surgery. Several measurements of the cornea, anterior chamber, and eyes were evaluated using multivariable linear regression models and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: A total of 404 eyes (202 eyes with FECD and 202 control eyes) were included in this study. Compared with controls, eyes with FECD had shallower AC depths, lower AC volumes, and narrower angles. Conversely, the spherical equivalent before cataract surgery, corneal pachymetry, and corneal volume were higher in eyes with FECD. On Scheimpflug imaging analysis, these anatomical differences were present in FECD eyes with and without corneal edema. After adjusting for sex, these differences remained statistically significant. Shorter axial length was found to be statistically significant in male eyes but not in female eyes with FECD. Conclusions: This study reports new ocular characteristics in FECD eyes with and without edema. Optical biometry and Scheimpflug imaging established that the anatomic findings in eyes with FECD were not simply due to the larger volume of an edematous cornea but rather unique to eyes with FECD. These findings will provide reliable, normative data for future studies examining surgical, medical, and anatomical factors in FECD.