Post-intravitreal Injection Research Articles

Cyclodialysis Cleft After Intravitreal Injection

Introduction: A cyclodialysis cleft, separating the ciliary body muscle from the scleral spur, can cause ocular hypotony by creating an abnormal aqueous humor drainage pathway. Though rare, this can occur post-intravitreal injection. Case presentation: A 53-year-old man with diabetic retinopathy presented with persistent hypotony in his right eye after receiving an aflibercept intravitreal injection. On presentation, his visual acuity was 20/200, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was 2 mmHg. Examination revealed a cyclodialysis cleft in the right eye. Despite initial treatment with steroids and atropine, the hypotony persisted, leading to surgical repair via ab-interno cyclopexy. Post-surgery, IOP normalized, and vision slightly improved. At three months post-operation, IOP was stable at 16 mmHg without glaucoma medication, and no signs of hypotony were present, with vision improving to 20/150. Conclusion: Misplaced intravitreal injections can lead to cyclodialysis cleft formation. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this possible complication. Meticulous gonioscopy and the adjunctive use of ocular imaging are crucial for the proper diagnosis of these cases. Ab-interno direct cyclopexy is an effective surgical approach for cyclodialysis clefts non- responsive to medical or laser treatment.

POSTINTRAVITREAL INJECTION AND POSTCATARACT EXTRACTION ENDOPHTHALMITIS VISUAL OUTCOMES BY ORGANISM: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

To compare visual outcomes of endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections (IVIs) and cataract extraction by causative organism. Searches in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Embase identified articles reporting visual outcomes by causative organisms in post-IVI and cataract extraction endophthalmitis cases from January 2010 to February 2022. A random-effects meta-analysis compared visual improvement among endophthalmitis cases caused by causative organisms. Eighty-five out of 3,317 retrieved studies were included. The highest degree of visual acuity improvement in both post-IVI and postcataract extraction endophthalmitis was seen in cases caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci, followed by gram-negative organisms and other gram-positive organisms such as streptococci and enterococci. Culture-negative cases showed more visual acuity improvement than culture-positive cases in post-IVI endophthalmitis. These results remained consistent when accounting for endophthalmitis treatment, IVI type, condition requiring IVI treatment, follow-up period, and initial preprocedural visual acuity. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and gram-negative organisms show the most visual acuity improvement in both post-IVI and postcataract extraction endophthalmitis. Other gram-positive organisms such as streptococci and enterococci are associated with less visual improvement. This updated systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that the results of the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study are consistent decades later despite advancements in surgical practices and the evolution of microorganisms over time.

SUBTENON'S VANCOMYCIN INJECTION FOR SUBRETINAL ABSCESS SECONDARY TO METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS: A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW.

To report the use of a subtenon's vancomycin injection for the treatment of subretinal abscess secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endogenous endophthalmitis. A 17-year-old man developed endogenous endophthalmitis with subretinal abscess in his right eye secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia from axillary necrotizing fasciitis. Despite prompt treatment with IV vancomycin and an intravitreal vancomycin injection, the patient displayed minimal improvement. The patient was subsequently treated with a subtenon's vancomycin injection. The injection technique is described in detail, as well as a review of the treatment options available for bacterial subretinal abscesses. On presentation, examination revealed minimal vitritis and a large yellow subretinal abscess superotemporally extending close to the macula with subretinal fluid inferotemporally involving the macula. Four days postintravitreal vancomycin injection, the abscess remained stable and the patient developed an exudative detachment temporally. Vancomycin was injected superotemporally in the subtenon's space with no complications during the procedure or during his postoperative recovery. At seven days postinjection, the subretinal abscess and exudative retinal detachment resolved completely with necrosis at the area of previous abscess. We present the first successful case of subtenon's vancomycin injection for the treatment of bacterial subretinal abscess. Our case demonstrates that subtenon's injection of antibiotics is a safe and effective nonsurgical management option for bacterial subretinal abscesses.

NO EFFECT OF REAL-WORLD UNIVERSAL FACE MASKING ON POST-INTRAVITREAL INJECTION ENDOPHTHALMITIS RATE AT A SINGLE TERTIARY ACADEMIC CENTER.

To determine whether universal masking during COVID-19 altered rate and outcomes of postinjection endophthalmitis. Retrospective, single-site, comparative, cohort study. Eyes diagnosed with endophthalmitis within 4 weeks of intravitreal injection at the University of Michigan from August 1, 2012, to November 15, 2022, were identified. Cases were considered "masking" between March 15, 2020, and November 15, 2022. Endophthalmitis rate, visual acuity, and microbial spectrum were investigated. There were 20 postinjection endophthalmitis cases out of 72,194 injections (0.028%; one in 3,571 injections) premasking and 10 of 38,962 with universal masking (0.026%; one in 3,846 injections; odds ratio 0.9; 95% [confidence interval]: 0.4-2.0). Referral from the community was unchanged with 32 cases referred premasking (0.35 cases/month) and 10 cases with masking (0.31 cases/month). Presenting mean the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity with masking of all postinjection endophthalmitis cases trended worse (2.35 ± 0.40) compared with premasking (2.09 ± 0.48; P = 0.05) with light perception visual acuity more common with masking (31.6% vs. 10.9%, P = 0.06). There was no delay in time from procedure to initial treatment ( P = 0.36), no difference in the rate of initial treatment with tap and inject (T/I), and similar positive-culture rates ( P = 0.77) between the cohorts. Visual acuity after 30 days of follow-up was clinically unchanged (∼20/500 vs. 20/400; P = 0.59). Universal masking had no effect on postinjection endophthalmitis rate or on the rate of culture-positive cases. Although presenting visual acuity appeared worse with masking, this was not statistically significant, and current treatment paradigms resulted in similar visual outcomes.

Enquête de qualité de vie auprès de 3738 patients traités par injections intravitréennes pour leur dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge

To evaluate the peri- and post-intravitreal injection (IVI) symptoms reported by patients who have been repeatedly injected for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to analyze these according to the protocols of the injector. Multi-center, cross-sectional, consecutive, analytical survey. The IVI protocols of 106 injectors differed in terms of the number of instillations of povidone-iodine, its contact time, and rinsing of the ocular surface post-injection. In total, 3,738 patients responded to the survey, 60.1% of whom were women; 36.4% had received more than 20 IVIs; 50.7% of patients reported irritation upon application of povidone-iodine. Post-IVI, depending on the symptom in question, between 44.8% and 57.4% of patients reported symptoms of ocular surface change. The number of instillations of povidone-iodine, its contact time with the ocular surface, and abundant rinsing post-IVI increased the immediate symptoms. Patients who received more IVIs were more prone to experiencing gritty eyes, and the incidence of acute pain increased in patients who had previously received over 20 IVIs. Women and patients previously treated for dry eye or glaucoma were at greater risk of worse symptoms. Comparing injecting centers' practices with patients' self-assessments showed an aggravation of symptoms of ocular surface changes related to povidone-iodine. This survey contributes to providing data for the implementation of a protocol to improve the quality of life of patients injected repeatedly for AMD.

Rates of endophthalmitis before and after transition from povidone-iodine to aqueous chlorhexidine asepsis for intravitreal injection

ObjectiveTo assess the rate of post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis between 2 asepsis groups: aqueous chlorhexidine 0.1% and povidone-iodine 5%. DesignRetrospective, observational cohort study. ParticipantsPatients with infectious endophthalmitis post intravitreal injection (n = 58) at a single centre from July 2009 to July 2022. MethodsRetrospective chart review of all patients receiving intravitreal injections (216 593 injections) at a single centre over 14 years. Patients from July 2009 to February 2017 received povidone-iodine 5%, and patients from March 2017 to July 2022 received aqueous chlorhexidine 0.1%. Assessed characteristics of endophthalmitis cases included demographics, visual function, intervention type, and microbiological results. ResultsThe rate of endophthalmitis was comparable for povidone-iodine (1.4:5000) and aqueous chlorhexidine (1.3:5000) (p = 0.77). Vitreous cultures were negative for 55% of patients. Visual acuity (VA) outcomes did not differ between asepsis groups nor between culture positive/negative groups. Patients having vitrectomy (PPV) had worse final vision (p = 0.08) but there was no VA difference between early and late PPV. ConclusionsAqueous chlorhexidine 0.1% is a viable and safe alternative to povidone-iodine 5% for post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis prophylaxis and may reduce ocular surface adverse events and discomfort.

An abnormal immediate increase in the intraocular pressure post-intravitreal injection in patients with Eales disease

Introduction In 1880, British ophthalmologist Henry Eales described Eales' disease for the first time(1). Recurrent vitreous hemorrhaging is a hallmark of Eales' disease(2). The systemic anti- tuberculosis and the steroids usually control the disease and subsequently resolve the vitreous hemorrhage(3), but when the vitreous hemorrhage persists, anti-VEGF is an option(4).

Application and accuracy of artificial intelligence-derived large language models in patients with age related macular degeneration

IntroductionAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects millions of people globally, leading to a surge in online research of putative diagnoses, causing potential misinformation and anxiety in patients and their parents. This study explores the efficacy of artificial intelligence-derived large language models (LLMs) like in addressing AMD patients' questions.MethodsChatGPT 3.5 (2023), Bing AI (2023), and Google Bard (2023) were adopted as LLMs. Patients’ questions were subdivided in two question categories, (a) general medical advice and (b) pre- and post-intravitreal injection advice and classified as (1) accurate and sufficient (2) partially accurate but sufficient and (3) inaccurate and not sufficient. Non-parametric test has been done to compare the means between the 3 LLMs scores and also an analysis of variance and reliability tests were performed among the 3 groups.ResultsIn category a) of questions, the average score was 1.20 (± 0.41) with ChatGPT 3.5, 1.60 (± 0.63) with Bing AI and 1.60 (± 0.73) with Google Bard, showing no significant differences among the 3 groups (p = 0.129). The average score in category b was 1.07 (± 0.27) with ChatGPT 3.5, 1.69 (± 0.63) with Bing AI and 1.38 (± 0.63) with Google Bard, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups (p = 0.0042). Reliability statistics showed Chronbach’s α of 0.237 (range 0.448, 0.096–0.544).ConclusionChatGPT 3.5 consistently offered the most accurate and satisfactory responses, particularly with technical queries. While LLMs displayed promise in providing precise information about AMD; however, further improvements are needed especially in more technical questions.

Choroidal Vascularity Index and Treatment Outcomes in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Patients with Macular Edema

Purpose: To explore the association between the visual and anatomical outcomes and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) post-intravitreal injection in patients with macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 50 patients (27 eyes treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and 23 eyes treated with a dexamethasone implant) with BRVO and macular edema who underwent intravitreal injections from January 2017 to October 2020. We measured the central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness, and CVI of the BRVO eyes and the fellow eyes using optical coherence tomography and then analyzed the correlation between these measurements and visual and anatomical outcomes.Results: After six months of treatment, the best corrected visual acuity improved, and CMT decreased. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that factors associated with best corrected visual acuity improvement at six months were fellow eye CVI (standardized β = 0.346, p = 0.008), ellipsoid zone integrity (standardized β = 0.398, p = 0.001), and initial best corrected visual acuity (standardized β = 0.590, p < 0.001). Initial CMT (standardized β = 0.563, p < 0.001) was the only factor associated with the decrease in CMT at six months.Conclusions: In cases of severe macular edema, accurate evaluation of choroidal vessels can be challenging due to shadowing. We discovered that a larger CVI in the fellow eye was associated with greater visual improvement in patients with BRVO and macular edema. CVI could be a prognostic factor for predicting treatment outcomes in BRVO patients, suggesting that the choroidal vascular status may play a role in the pathophysiology of BRVO.

Preliminary Report on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Biomarkers in Non-Responders and Responders to Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injection for Diabetic Macular Oedema.

To identify optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) biomarkers in patients who were treated for diabetic macular oedema (DME) with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and compare the OCTA parameters between responders and non-responders. A retrospective cohort study of 61 eyes with DME who received at least one intravitreal anti-VEGF injection was included between July 2017 and October 2020. The subjects underwent a comprehensive eye examination followed by an OCTA examination before and after intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Demographic data, visual acuity, and OCTA parameters were documented, and further analysis was performed pre- and post-intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Out of 61 eyes which underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF injection for diabetic macular oedema, 30 were responders (group 1) and 31 were non-responders (group 2). We found that the responders (group 1) had a higher vessel density in the outer ring that was statistically significant (p = 0.022), and higher perfusion density was noted in the outer ring (p = 0.012) and full ring (p = 0.044) at levels of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP). We also observed a lower vessel diameter index in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) in responders when compared to non-responders (p < 0.00). The evaluation of SCP in OCTA in addition to DCP can result in a better prediction of treatment response and early management in diabetic macular oedema.

Causative organisms and visual prognosis of endophthalmitis in Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify the most common causative organisms, treatment modalities, and visual prognosis of cases of endophthalmitis in Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Patients and methods This was a prospective study that was carried out on consecutive patients presenting with exogenous endophthalmitis to Cairo University Hospital Casualty Unit, Cairo, Egypt, during the period from June 2021 to February 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were collected and analyzed. Vitreous tap was obtained from all patients and cultured. Treatment modalities were tabulated and analyzed. Factors influencing the final visual outcome were studied. Results The study included 31 eyes of 31 patients, with a mean age of 41.8±17.9 years (range=8–69 years). All cases had exogenous endophthalmitis, where 17 were postoperative, 12 posttraumatic, and two postintravitreal injection. Positive vitreous culture was detected in only nine (29%) patients. The most commonly identified organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae (four of nine patients, 44.4%). Cultures were positive for fungi in only two patients. Cultures were positive in 35% of postoperative endophthalmitis and in 25% of posttraumatic endophthalmitis. Treatment modalities included intravitreal antibiotics only (n=15; 48.4%), intravitreal antibiotics and delayed vitrectomy (n=8; 25.8%), immediate vitrectomy (n=7; 22.6%), and evisceration (n=1; 3.2%). The mean follow-up after presentation was 5.1±1.6 months (range=3–9 months). The factors associated with poor visual outcome were older age (P=0.032), history of ocular trauma (P<0.001), early presentation after trauma (P=0.021), and presence of corneal infection (P=0.001). The visual outcome was significantly better in those who had vitrectomy either immediately or after intravitreal injection (P=0.004). Conclusion S. pneumoniae was the most commonly identified organism in exogenous endophthalmitis in Cairo University Hospitals. Early vitrectomy and absence of corneal infection were associated with better visual outcome.

Postintravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis: Incidence, Characteristics, Management, and Outcome.

Postintravitreal injection (IVI) endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating complication. Herein, we report the incidence ,and clinical and microbiological characteristics, as well as the visual outcome, in IVIs endophthalmitis in two medical centers. All patients undergoing intravitreal injections between 1/2018 and 12/2019 in two large medical centers were analyzed for post-IVI endophthalmitis. Of the total of 51,356 IVIs performed, 23 cases of post-IVI endophthalmitis were diagnosed, yielding an overall incidence of 0.045%. The median interval from IVI to symptoms onset was 2 days (IQR: 1-5). Cultures were positive in 56% of the cases (100% Gram-positive bacteria and 76% coagulase-negative staphylococcus). Parameters associated with higher culture-positive rates included samples taken during vitrectomy, WBC on vitreous smear, the number of IVIs in the 12 months prior to presentation, and the time interval from last IVI to diagnostic sampling. At 6- and 12-month follow-up, the median change in VA (logMAR) was -1.10 (IQR: (-1.32)-(-0.40)) and -1.02 (IQR: (-1.10)-(-0.30)), respectively. Younger age and better BCVA at presentation were associated with better VA outcome, while positive culture result and systemic steroids treatment were each associated with the worse visual outcome. We found no difference in visual outcomes between PPV and TAI as a primary procedure. Post-IVI endophthalmitis is a rare complication, and most patients do not regain their initial VA. Certain parameters (clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic) may help anticipate the outcome and guide decision making regarding diagnosis and treatment.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for visual prognosis according to the types of infectious endophthalmitis.

Endophthalmitis is a fatal ophthalmological emergency that needs prompt diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and investigate risk factors for the visual prognosis of the different types of endophthalmitis. This retrospective study included 239 eyes diagnosed with endophthalmitis at the Pusan National University Hospital between January 2006 and December 2020. All patients were classified into six groups based on the etiology of endophthalmitis: post-cataract surgery, post-vitrectomy, post-glaucoma surgery, post-intravitreal injection, endogenous, and post-trauma. Demographics and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, laterality, initial symptoms, the interval between the primary causable event and diagnosis of endophthalmitis, initial and final visual acuity, management, and culture results were reviewed and statistically analyzed. Risk factors for poor visual prognosis were also analyzed according to the type of endophthalmitis. Of the 239 cases of endophthalmitis, the most common cause was post-cataract surgery, that occurs within two weeks post-surgery. Gram-positive Staphylococcus was cultured most frequently. Fusarium was characteristically cultured from delayed post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis (14 days-6 weeks post-surgery). Post-vitrectomy endophthalmitis occurred within 3.3 days post-surgery, but post-glaucoma surgery endophthalmitis developed a long period after surgery, averaging 2,742 days. Post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis occurred most frequently following bevacizumab injection, and Staphylococcus was most commonly isolated. For endogenous endophthalmitis, the pyogenic liver abscess was the most common underlying disease, and Klebsiella was isolated most frequently. Post-traumatic endophthalmitis mostly occurred in young men. Advanced age and poor initial visual acuity were risk factors for poor visual prognosis (P = 0.041, odds ratio = 1.024 and P < 0.001, odds ratio = 3.904, respectively, using logistic regression analysis). Advanced age and initial visual acuity were risk factors for poor visual prognosis in cases of endophthalmitis caused by various etiologies. Early diagnosis and treatment of endophthalmitis are required, especially in older patients.

The Risk of Non-arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Post-intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection.

To report the incidence of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy in diabetic patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection. A prospective comparative analytic study was done in the King Hussein Medical Center during the period between June 2020 and June 2021. Inclusion criteria included diabetic patients who attended a retina clinic. Exclusion criteria included patients with pre-existing ischemic optic neuropathy. Patients were divided into two groups. The first group included diabetic patients who did not require bevacizumab injection and were treated either with follow-up visits or pan-retinal photocoagulation, and the second group included patients who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. Patients were followed up for a period of one year. Data collected in two groups included the total number of patients and the number of patients with non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. Results were compared in both groups. A P-value was used to study the statistical significance and was considered to be statistically significant if ≤0.05. The mean age for patients in group 1 was 64.3 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.1 to 1. In group 2, the mean age was 66.2 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.2 to 1. The total number of patients in group 1 was 7375, among whom 68 patients had non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. While in group 2, the total number was 2468 and 49 of them had non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. Most cases of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy were seen in patients who had received three or more injections. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab in diabetic patients is considered a risk factor for the development of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy, especially in patients receiving more than three injections.

Optic nerve head: A gatekeeper for vitreous infectious insults?

The axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) pass through the optic nerve head (ONH) and form the optic nerve (ON). The ONH serves as an anatomical interface between the vitreous cavity and subarachnoid space. After inducing acute neuroinflammation by intravitreal injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), we observed inflammatory activation in the retina, but detect no signs of inflammation in the posterior ON or infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ONH. Therefore, we hypothesized that the ONH functions as a barrier to vitreous inflammation. Using transmission electron microscopy, we identified significant increase in G-ratio in the posterior ON on day 7 post intravitreal injection (PII) of LPS compared with the phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group. Moreover, using confocal imaging of ex vivo tissue extracted from Aldh1L1-eGFP reporter mice, we observed that the ONH astrocytes altered their spatial orientation by elongating their morphology along the axonal axis of RGCs in LPS- versus PBS-treated eyes; this was quantified by the ratio of longitudinal (DL) and transverse (DT) diameter of astrocytes and the proportion of longitudinally locating astrocytes. Supportive evidences were further provided by transmission electron microscopic imaging in rat ONH. We further conducted RNA sequencing of ONH on day 1 PII and found LPS induced clear upregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis revealed that astrocyte and microglia contributed prominently to the transcriptomic alterations in ONH. Here, we report that the vitreous infectious insults induce morphological changes of ONH astrocytes and transcriptomic alterations in the ONH. Glial responses in the ONH may defend against vitreous infectious insults and serve as a barrier to inflammation for the central nervous system.

Changes of Ocular Biometry and Intraocular Pressure in Patients Treated With Intravitreal Injection of Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Introduction: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injection is one of the popular procedures for medical retina diseases. However, the incidence of angle-closure post intravitreal injection was reported. Several similar studies were conducted previously, but the results were inconsistent and mostly focused on bevacizumab. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. After informed consent, patients who were more than 17 years old and received the first intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (ranibizumab or aflibercept) were recruited. Exclusion criteria included patients with underlying glaucoma, ocular hypertension, intumescence cataract, high refractive error or those with history of intraocular operation or ocular trauma. Pre- and post-injection’s intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular biometry included “central anterior chamber depth” (CACD), “angle opening distance” (AOD500), and “trabeculo-iris angle” (TIA500) at nasal and temporal 500 µm away the scleral spur were acquired and analyzed. Results: 72 eyes from 66 patients were studied. Mean (SD) increment of IOP following injection within 30 minutes and 1 hour were 6.16 (0.68) mmHg (p&lt;0.001) and 1.26 (0.35) mmHg (p=0.002) respectively. Mean (SD) differences of temporal TIA500 between pre with within 30 minutes and 1-hour post-injection were 1.66 (0.66) degrees (p=0.04) and 1.45 (0.57) degrees (p=0.04) respectively. No significant relationship between the changes of IOP and ocular biometry was found. Conclusion: A single dose of anti-VEGF in a normal population is relatively safe. However, concern on the risk of glaucoma progression and acute angle-closure still needs to be addressed. Further studies on at-risk populations and repeated injections are useful.

Incidence and visual outcomes of acute endophthalmitis post intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors in a single referral center.

To describe the incidence and factors predicting visual outcome in patients with infectious endophthalmitis following intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Retrospective, single-site, cohort study. Patients with acute endophthalmitis within 6weeks of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection who were referred to our practice after inciting injection or were injected by us between January 2010 and July 2017 were included. All patients received intravitreal antibiotics with either vitreous/anterior chamber tap (TAP) or pars plana vitrectomy. Visual outcomes pre/post treatment, baseline variables (age, gender, ocular disease) and cultures results were studied. Seventy eyes of 69 patients were included. Presenting VA was the strongest factor associated with final visual outcome after adjusting for other variables including culture status and baseline VA (p = .0002). Cultures were positive in 62.8% of eyes and were associated with worse visual outcome (p = .0087). Growth of Streptococcus or microorganisms other than coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) was also associated with worse prognosis, regardless of baseline and presenting VA (p = .0002). The crude incidence of post-injection endophthalmitis was 0.028% in our practice (40 eyes in 143,628 injections) during the study time. No significant difference was found between pre-filled bevacizumab versus ranibizumab or aflibercept drawn from a vial. In a large, single center, retrospective study, the incidence of acute endophthalmitis post anti-VEGF injection was relatively low. Worse visual acuity at presentation of endophthalmitis and growth of Streptococcus or organisms other than CNS were associated with the worst visual outcomes.

Visual outcomes of acute bacterial endophthalmitis treated with adjuvant intravitreal dexamethasone: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Adjunctive treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis with intravitreal steroids is a topic of controversy among many ophthalmologists. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of intravitreal dexamethasone on the visual outcomes of patients with acute bacterial endophthalmitis through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to include studies on the visual outcomes of adjuvant intravitreal dexamethasone in patients with acute bacterial endophthalmitis. The review is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol. A total of 1545 articles met our search criteria and after further review, two randomized controlled trials and three retrospective case series were included in the final analysis. A total of 126 eyes were treated with intravitreal dexamethasone combined with antibiotics, and another 139 eyes were treated with antibiotics alone. All cases of endophthalmitis were post-operative or post-intravitreal injection, with pooled results demonstrating no visual benefit with supplementation of intravitreal dexamethasone. Our meta-analysis does not show any visual benefit from steroid supplementation and yet, considering a relatively small number of patients included in each study, larger randomized controlled trials are required to further clarify the role of steroids in the treatment of acute bacterial endophthalmitis.

Commentary: Dexamethasone and dilemma

Postoperative endophthalmitis has always been a nightmare for the patients and surgeons alike. Around 90% of patients having post trabeculectomy endophthalmitis and 40% of patients having postcataract surgery endophthalmitis would end up having final visual acuity worse than 20/200.[1] The economic burden of endophthalmitis is also significant as stated by Schmier et al.;[2] the average adjusted ophthalmic reimbursements were 156% greater for cases that developed endophthalmitis than for subjects having uncomplicated cataract surgery. The psychological impact on quality of life is also significant leading to poorer psychological well-being and ability to maintain a role in daily life.[3] Even after decades of publishing, the endophthalmitis vitrectomy study (EVS)[4] still holds key role in the endophthalmitis management algorithms. Ho et al.[5] in their study suggested that early vitrectomy may be beneficial for all cases and not just the ones with light perception or worse visual acuity as stated in EVS.[4] Few other studies also favor early vitrectomy.[67] The notable fact that EVS includes only postcataract surgery cases makes its significance diluted in cases post procedures other than cataract surgery specially in current era of variety of intravitreal injections, newer and more advanced surgical techniques, and newer drugs. Additionally, the postcataract endophthalmitis was proven to have better visual outcome than post trabeculectomy, postintravitreal injection, and endogenous endophthalmitis.[5] In treating endophthalmitis, antibiotics are the mainstay. Their augmentation with steroids remains controversial as ever. Many studies have reported that steroids do not add additional benefit to the final visual acuity of the patients.[8] The time of starting of steroids remains in the uncertainty. Concerns have been expressed regarding their safety and long-term outcomes. Shah et al.[9] reported worse visual outcome with the use of intravitreal steroids. In contrary to these reports, multiple studies have reported favorable outcomes with the use of intravitreal steroids and some reported that with the use of steroids even though the visual acuity did not have benefit, the intraocular inflammation and the overall morbidity related to the condition were helped.[101112] Albrecht et al.[11] in their study analyzed groups of “postcataract surgery,” “bleb related,” and “other” endophthalmitis, and they found a clinical trend of better visual acuity in the subgroup of postcataract surgery endophthalmitis patients who received steroids. Gan et al.[12] found out in their prospective placebo-controlled study that there was a trend toward better visual outcome in patients with suspected bacterial endophthalmitis when treatment with intravitreal antibiotics was combined with intravitreal dexamethasone. Multiple animal studies have also found out intraocular steroids to be beneficial in endophthalmitis.[81314] The authors in their practice have also noticed that during vitrectomy, immediate KOH mount assessment in a standard lab to rule out fungal infection and adjuvant intravitreal dexamethasone has helped their patients with faster recovery and less inflammation. The current metaanalysis does not show any clear visual benefit from use of adjuvant intravitreal dexamethasone in bacterial endophthalmitis.[15] Prospective randomized controlled trials for the treatment of postprocedure endophthalmitis with multicenter involvement are needed to clarify the gray areas around the usage of steroids and formulating preferred practice patterns for the new era.

Post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic with implementation of patients' masking.

PurposeTo evaluate the role of patient facial masks on the occurrence of post-intravitreal injection (IVI) endophthalmitis in a real-word setting.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort, patients receiving IVIs between 20 February 2019 and 20 February 2021; a 12-month period before the official beginning of COVID-19 epidemic in Iran and a 12-month period thereafter were included. In the pre-COVID era, patients underwent IVI without a facial mask while in the COVID era patients wore an untaped facial mask. Physicians and staff had facial mask in both periods. IVIs were administered in a dedicated operating room without a strict no talk-policy. The main outcome measure was the rate of post-IVI endophthalmitis.ResultsA total number of 53,927 injections was performed during the study period: 34,277 in pre-COVID and 19,650 in COVID periods; with a 42.7% decrease in the number of injections. Endophthalmitis occurred in 7 eyes (0.020%) in pre-COVID and 7 eyes (0.036%) in COVID era (p = 0.40). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for intercorrelations between the eyes and multiple injections in one patient, there was no statistically significant association between wearing facial masks by the patients and risk of endophthalmitis (relative risk = 1.47, 95% confidence interval of 0.97–2.22; p = 0.071).ConclusionPatients’ facial masking is not associated with an increased risk of post-injection endophthalmitis.