Possible Association Between Apremilast Therapy and Increased Tearing.

Purpose: To evaluate a possible association between apremilast and increased tearing.

Methods: A retrospective observational case series in which reports from VigiBase, the World Health Organization global database of Individual Case Safety Reports, and the literature involving apremilast were evaluated by the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects for possible increased tearing.

Results: A total of 45 cases of possible apremilast-induced increased tearing were identified.

Oral Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Drugs and Ocular Adverse Events.

Purpose: To evaluate possible associations between oral anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs and ocular side effects.

Methods: Spontaneous reports were collected and evaluated by the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects on the three oral anti-VEGF drugs (pazopanib, sorafenib, and sunitinib) for possible ocular side effects.

Results: Reported side effects include blurred or decreased vision (389 cases); periocular or eyelid edema (273 cases); superficial anterior segment toxicity (270 cases); conjunctival, retinal, or vitreous bleeding (77 cases); retinal detachments (RDs) or retinal tears (RTs) (75 cases); extraocular muscle disorders, including ptosis (51 cases); discoloration of eyelashes (36 cases); retinal arterial or venous occlusions (26 cases); optic nerve disorders, including papilledema and ischemic optic neuropathy (21 cases); uveitis (10 cases); and macular edema (7 cases).

Atypical Optic Neuritis After Inactivated Influenza Vaccination.

The existence of vaccine-associated optic neuritis is essentially based on the temporal relationship between the administration of a vaccine and the development of optic neuritis in patients with no other known aetiologies for infectious or non-infectious inflammation that could account for the optic neuritis. Influenza vaccine (inactivated or live attenuated) is considered to be one of vaccines that could be related to optic neuritis. The authors describe a rare case of bilateral asymmetric optic neuritis with leptomeningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a previously healthy young woman who received inactivated influenza vaccination 2 weeks before the onset of symptoms.

Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy Treatment of Herpes Simplex Epithelial Keratitis.

A retrospective case series was performed in a university setting for all patients with herpes simplex epithelial keratitis who underwent liquid nitrogen cryotherapy from 2012-2015. Outcome measure was clinical evidence of resolution of epithelial keratitis in the cornea with re-epithelialization. All cases of epithelial keratitis showed partial and complete resolution at day 1 and week 1 respectively.

Vaccine-Associated Uveitis.

All of the widely administered vaccines have been reported to cause uveitis. The ocular inflammation is usually temporary and resolves with topical ocular steroids. During a 26-year period, a total of 289 cases of vaccine-associated uveitis were reported to three adverse reaction reporting databases.

Association Between Bortezomib Therapy and Eyelid Chalazia.

Importance: Spontaneous reports to the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects and case reports in the literature suggest an association between bortezomib use and chalazia.

Observations: To our knowledge, there have been 24 reports of bortezomib-associated chalazia. Fourteen reports were collected from the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects.

Human papilloma virus vaccine associated uveitis.

Purpose: To report a possible association between human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and uveitis.

Methods: Spontaneous reports from the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side effects, World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration were collected on uveitis associated with human papilloma virus vaccination. A MEDLINE search was performed using keywords "uveitis," "iritis," "iridocyclitis," "human papilloma virus," "Cervarix", and "Gardasil.

Conjunctival and corneal ulceration associated with nicorandil.

Context/objective: To report an association between conjunctival and corneal ulceration and nicorandil therapy for angina.

Methods: Review of the literature and spontaneous reports collected at the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects (Portland, Oregon), the FDA Spontaneous Reporting System (Bethesda, Maryland) and the World Health Organization's Uppsala Monitoring Center (Uppsala, Sweden).

Results: Thirteen case reports of adverse ocular reactions were collected.

Toxicity of topical ophthalmic anesthetics.

Introduction: Topical ocular anesthetics are generally well tolerated in clinical settings but have great potential for abuse if used by patients at home. This abuse can lead to significant ocular complications. Topical ocular anesthetic abuse can lead to superficial punctate keratitis, persistent epithelial defects, stromal/ring infiltrates, corneal edema, endothelial damage and ocular inflammation, even when used in a dilute concentration.

Initiation of anti-TNF therapy and the risk of optic neuritis: from the safety assessment of biologic ThERapy (SABER) Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of optic neuritis (ON) in patients using anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha therapy.

Design: Retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Methods: We identified new users of anti-TNF therapy (etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab) or nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during 2000-2007 from the following data sources: Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly, Tennessee Medicaid, and National Medicaid/Medicare.

Use of herbal medicines and nutritional supplements in ocular disorders: an evidence-based review.

We sought to examine the evidence regarding the use of herbal medicines and nutritional supplements in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and to review the ocular adverse effects of herbal and nutritional agents of clinical importance to ophthalmologists. We performed a literature search of Ovid MEDLINE and selected websites including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). There is strong evidence supporting the use of antioxidants and zinc in patients with certain forms of intermediate and advanced AMD.

Trichomegaly and other external eye side effects associated with epidermal growth factor.

Context/objective: To report an association between epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors and ocular side effects.

Materials And Methods: Collection of spontaneous reports at the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects (Casey Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon) in conjunction with a literature review of EGFR inhibitors associated with ocular adverse drug reactions (ADR).

Results: EGFR inhibitors are associated with conjunctivitis, meibomitis, dry eyes, periocular skin changes and trichomegaly.

Femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty in failed penetrating keratoplasty and globe trauma.

Purpose: To demonstrate feasibility and present postoperative outcomes for femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty (FLAK) in the setting of previous failed conventional penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and previous open-globe trauma with corneal laceration.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, data were collected for 12 consecutive patients at the Casey Eye Institute (Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR) with the primary diagnosis of either failed PK or open-globe trauma with corneal laceration that underwent zigzag incision FLAK. Outcome measures included topographic astigmatism, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, uncorrected visual acuity, pinhole visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and timing of selective suture removal (or adjustment) over various follow-up intervals up to 18 months postoperatively.

Bilateral uveitis associated with fluoroquinolone therapy.

Context: Retrospective case series, database study and literature review. Forty case reports are described.

Objective: To report a possible association between fluoroquinolones and uveitis.

Comparison of femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty versus conventional penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose: To compare postoperative outcomes for femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty (FLAK) with conventional penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

Design: Retrospective, comparative surgical series.

Participants: Fifty consecutive patients who underwent FLAK and 50 case-controlled patients that had PK at the Casey Eye Institute (Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR).

Treatment of recurrent corneal erosion by extended-wear bandage contact lens.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of using a bandage contact lens (BCL) for 3 months for recurrent corneal erosions (RCE) to facilitate epithelial adhesion.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients presented to the Casey Eye Institute (Portland, OR) with RCE after failing at least 6 weeks of medical lubrication therapy. Subjects were treated with an extended-wear BCL for 3 months and then followed for approximately 1 year.

Successful Treatment of Conjunctival Sarcoidosis with Local Cryotherapy.

Conjunctival sarcoidosis was successfully treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy using a 1.5-mm cryoprobe applied in a double freeze-thaw method. After an incisional biopsy of a portion of the conjunctiva, cryotherapy was applied using freeze times of 1 to 2 seconds, with thawing of 5 to 10 seconds between freezes.

Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for conjunctival lymphangiectasia: a case series.

Purpose: To report a case series of conjunctival lymphangiectasia treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy.

Methods: A 1.5-mm Brymill cryoprobe was applied in a double freeze-thaw method after an incisional biopsy of a portion of the conjunctiva in patients with conjunctival lymphangiectasia.