Publications by authors named "David R Almeida"

Introduction: Gardner Syndrome (GS) is a variant of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). FAP is characterized by several precancerous adenomatous intestinal polyps while GS has additional distinct extraintestinal features such as congenital hypertrophy of retinal epithelium (CHRPE), which we describe here.

Presentation Of Case: 42-year-old male with GS presenting with flashes and floaters observed to have CHRPE-like lesions characteristic of GS.

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Purpose: To examine the relationship between central macular thickness (CMT) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual acuity (VA) in patients with center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME) receiving antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment.

Methods: Peer-reviewed articles from 2016 to 2020 reporting intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, ranibizumab, or aflibercept that provided data on pretreatment (baseline) and final retinal thickness (CMT) and visual acuity (VA) were identified. The relationship between relative changes was assessed via a linear random-effects regression model controlling for treatment group.

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Purpose: We present a patient with vaso-occlusive retinal vasculitis to summarize this uncommon entity and review the clinical features and management challenges applicable to patients with retinal vasculitis.

Observations: A 76-year-old male presented with sudden-onset severe central vision loss. On examination, vitreous hemorrhage, neovascularization of the optic nerve, peripheral segmental periphlebitis, vessel sclerosis, vascular sheathing, and retinal hemorrhages were observed, and a diagnosis of active vaso-occlusive retinal vasculitis was made.

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Purpose: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause of recurrent retinal detachment (RD). We sought to determine the predictive factors of recurrent PVR formation and the need for additional vitreoretinal surgical intervention after uncomplicated primary RD repair.

Methods: This is a retrospective single-center case-control study of consecutive patients with PVR formation after uncomplicated RD repair.

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Background And Objective: To assess the effect on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and efficacy of the intravitreal sustained-release 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, Irvine, CA) in patients with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema (DME).

Patients And Methods: Meta-analysis utilizing the MOOSE framework and a random effects model.

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Pars plana vitrectomy for acute infectious endophthalmitis can be challenging due to severe inflammation in the anterior chamber creating significant media opacity. We describe a surgical technique combining limbal based vitrectomy and pars plana vitrectomy to manage acute infectious endophthalmitis. Limbal based vitrectomy facilitates removal of anterior chamber fibrin and inflammatory membranes for safe and optimal posterior pars plana vitrectomy.

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Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining intravitreal dexamethasone implantation (Ozurdex) with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on cases where Ozurdex injection was performed in the operating room in conjunction with pars plana vitrectomy. Our primary outcome measure was the presence of surgical complications in the perioperative and 3-month postoperative window.

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This case report describes 4 male children (age, 9-16) who had laser-related retinal injury to the macula of 1 eye or both eyes due to the mishandling of the laser pointer devices at a single vitreoretinal clinical practice. The presenting symptoms associated with laser pointer injury include central vision loss, central scotoma, and metamorphopsia. Clinical findings of laser-related retinal injury include reduced visual acuity, disruption of the photoreceptor ellipsoid zone, retinal pigment epithelium atrophy, and choroidal neovascular membrane formation.

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Purpose: To describe the clinical course of a patient with Acanthamoeba keratitis, who despite prompt treatment progressed to histopathology-confirmed Acanthamoeba retinitis and endophthalmitis.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A healthy 30-year-old male wearing soft contact lens was diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis and treated medically and surgically over the course of 1 year with presumed resolution of the infection.

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Purpose: To report a case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in a young human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient recently started on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: Case report observation of a 33-year-old HIV-infected patient who developed a CRAO after starting highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Results: Elevated triglycerides caused by starting highly active antiretroviral therapy preceded the development of CRAO in an HIV-infected patient.

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Background: The role of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for endophthalmitis has evolved over recent decades but the literature is lacking on comparisons between small-gauge and 20-gauge vitrectomy.

Objective: To evaluate evolving etiological and microbiological trends in patients undergoing vitrectomy for endophthalmitis and to compare culture-positive rates and visual outcomes between small-gauge (23- and 25-gauge) and 20-gauge instrumentation during vitrectomy for endophthalmitis.

Methods: Ten-year retrospective comparative case series and prospective laboratory in vitro testing.

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Purpose: To describe a technique of surgical intraocular embolectomy in patients with acute fovea-threatening branch retinal artery occlusion.

Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy with embolectomy involving embolus isolation, dissection, and removal in patients with an acute fovea-threatening arterial occlusion without a patent cilioretinal artery.

Results: The surgical technique involves a core vitrectomy.

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Purpose: Elevated intraocular pressure is relatively common following pars plana vitrectomy and intraocular gas tamponade. We discuss a series of patients who experienced elevated intraocular pressure from pupillary block and angle closure secondary to trapped gas in the posterior chamber.

Methods: Case series.

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Recently, there have been reports suggesting that intracameral vancomycin has been associated with retinal vasculitis; some have described this phenomenon as postoperative hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis. We present a case of a 65-year-old woman who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation followed by intracameral antibiotic prophylaxis. Unlike prior reports, this report demonstrates a case of mild visual reduction and minimal inflammation with subtle but complete unilateral peripheral retinal ischemia associated with cataract surgery and intracameral vancomycin, suggesting a spectrum of toxicity that may be underrecognized.

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Auto-antibodies assist with the diagnosis of ocular paraneoplastic syndromes and autoimmune ocular conditions; however, the frequency of positive test results as a possible precursor to future disease is unknown. The frequency of positive antibodies in heavy smokers who may be at risk for autoimmune-related retinopathy and optic neuropathy was evaluated. Serum antibody activity was evaluated through the use of Western blot reactions from pig retina and optic nerve extract.

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A 47-year-old African-American woman was admitted to the intensive care unit of our community hospital for respiratory failure secondary to severe decompensated heart failure, requiring intubation. In the ensuing days, she developed a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection of the cornea, despite no growth of MRSA in multiple blood, sputum, and urine cultures. This unexpected corneal infection complicated her hospital stay, and increased morbidity and disease-related cost.

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