Near-infrared reflectance imaging of neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Blood is one of the main absorbers in the near-infrared spectrum and thus retinal vessels appear dark in near-infrared reflectance (NIR) images. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is characterized by abnormal neovascularization which also absorbs light and appears dark against a lighter fundus background. We analyzed neovascularization in PDR using NIR imaging, by observing changes in the neovascular complexes (NVCs) contrast and reflectivity over time.

Internal retinal layer thickness and macular migration after internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery.

Purpose: To provide a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-based analysis of retinal layers thickness and nasal displacement of closed macular hole after internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery.

Methods: In this nonrandomized prospective interventional study, 36 eyes of 32 patients were subjected to pars plana vitrectomy and 3.5 mm diameter internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for idiopathic macular hole (IMH).

Tomographic Structural Changes of Retinal Layers after Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling for Macular Hole Surgery.

Purpose: To highlight tomographic structural changes of retinal layers after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in macular hole surgery.

Methods: Nonrandomized prospective, interventional study in 38 eyes (34 patients) subjected to pars plana vitrectomy and ILM peeling for idiopathic macular hole. Retinal layers were assessed in nasal and temporal regions before and 6 months after surgery using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Real-Life Utilization of Ranibizumab in Patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration from Portugal.

Introduction: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has revolutionized the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration; however, it is important to monitor actual use of ranibizumab and related treatment outcomes in routine practice.

Material And Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study to monitor the 2-year outcomes following ranibizumab treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration in Portugal. Patients treated between January 2009 and December 2009 were retrospectively evaluated.

Macular choroidal thickness after vitreoretinal surgery: Long-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy with and without encircling scleral buckling surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the macular choroidal thickness (CT) of eyes subjected to pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) whether or not combined with encircling scleral buckling (ESB) surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair at 6 months or more after surgery.

Methods: This observational study included: 15 eyes (15 patients) submitted to combined ESB+PPV; 15 eyes submitted to PPV and their respective 30 normal fellow eyes (FE). Two 6mm lineal perpendicular optical coherence tomography B-scans centred on the fovea with enhanced depth imaging were performed on each eye.

Retropupilar positioning of foldable iris-claw intraocular lens for correction of aphakia with no capsular support.

Summary: Iris-claw intraocular lens (ICIOL) for aphakia needs a large 5.4 mm corneal incision for its implantation. The technique needs corneal suture, associated with some postoperative astigmatism.

Chronic Ocular Graft vs Host Disease as a Serious Complication of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Case Report.

Chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) is a serious systemic immunological complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Ocular GVHD (O-GVHD) is frequently associated with cGVHD. Secondary corneal epithelial changes can occur in the setting of advanced chronic O-GVHD-associated keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), which generally has a stable course with conventional medical treatment.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma with relapses in the lacrimal glands.

Objective: To report an unusual case of systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with repeated relapse in the lacrimal glands, in spite of complete remission for several years after treatment.

Methods: A 78-year-old male with small lymphocytic B cell NHL, stage IV disease (lung invasion), was submitted to surgery and chemotherapy in 2001, with complete remission of the disease. In 2003 he developed a nodular lesion in the right lacrimal fossa.

Lacrimal gland carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma with chronic lymphocytic leukemia infiltration.

Purpose: To report a rare case of lacrimal gland carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex PA) with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) infiltration in a patient without a previous diagnosis of B-CLL.

Patient And Methods: We report a 66-year-old woman who presented with recent worsening of a long-standing right eye proptosis. Sequential orbital computed tomography imaging was performed over the course of 2 years, and biopsy specimens were analyzed.

Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis - an atypically severe case treated with systemic biologic immunosuppressive therapy.

Purpose: To report an atypically severe and refractory phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis case treated successfully with systemic biologic immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: A 10-year-old female was followed in the ophthalmology clinic for three years for a severe form of bilateral PKC. The patient was treated for blepharitis and intestinal parasitosis, and underwent topical corticosteroid therapy, followed by subconjunctival injections and systemic corticosteroids with no clinical improvement.

Neuro-Behçet, pseudotumor cerebri and ocular signs: a rare association.

Introduction: The central nervous system involvement in Behçet's disease occurs in 5-30% of cases. The diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri is even rarer (only 22 cases reported worldwide).

Purpose: To emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis in a case of pseudotumor cerebri in the context of ocular inflammation.

When narrative medicine helps in the diagnosis of conjunctival melanoma - an exceptional case report.

Introduction: Conjunctival melanoma is a relatively rare ocular malignancy with substantial associated morbidity and mortality. It can arise in previously unblemished and unpigmented regions (approximately 10% of cases), from a preexisting nevus (approximately 20% of cases), or from the flat, spreading pigmentation of primary acquired melanosis with atypia (60-70% of cases), actually called conjunctival melanocytic intraepithelial neoplasia (C-MIN) with atypia (histopathologically more accurately term).

Purpose: The authors describe an extremely rare case of malignant conjunctival melanoma, with a long evolution, in a young black woman.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the bulbar conjunctiva - an interventional case report.

Purpose: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva. It appears more frequently in the elderly, it is more aggressive than squamous cell carcinoma, and it has a higher recurrence rate and higher incidence of intraocular and orbital invasion.

Methods: We report a case of a 74-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department with a one month history of painful red left eye.

Serum prolactin levels in HLA-B27-associated uveitis.

Purpose: To evaluate basal serum prolactin levels in patients with HLA-B27-associated uveitis.

Methods: Prospective, nonrandomized comparative trial. Thirty-three patients with HLAB27- associated uveitis and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included.

Serum prolactin levels and Behçet disease.

Purpose: To evaluate serum prolactin levels in Behçet disease (BD) and correlate with phenotypic expression of the disease.

Methods: This was a prospective, nonrandomized comparative trial. Twenty-two patients fulfilling BD Research Committee criteria and 21 healthy control subjects were included.

Bilateral nanophthalmos and pigmentary retinal dystrophy--an unusual syndrome.

Background: To report the clinical picture of the rare association of nanophthalmos and pigmentary retinal dystrophy and its cataract surgery outcome.

Methods: We report a case of a 60-year-old female who presented with bilateral slowly progressive visual loss.

Results: The patient presented with bilateral light perception visual acuity, exotropia, brunescent cataract hindering fundus examination and hypodontia.

Postoperative irradiation of primary or recurrent pterygium: results and sequelae.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative beta irradiation and to analyze treatment sequelae in patients with primary and recurrent pterygium.

Methods And Materials: From June 1986 to June 1998, 94 patients corresponding to 100 eyes received postoperative beta irradiation. Two groups of patients were treated: 37 eyes with primary pterygium (Group I) and 63 eyes with recurrent pterygium (Group II).

Clinical correlations in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infected patients.

In Portugal, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) seropositivity is higher than in other European countries or North America. Recent literature data points out a possible difference on the pathogenic potential and on the natural history of HIV-1 and HIV-2, suggesting a lower virulence of HIV-2. Facing these hypothesis and the increasing number of HIV-2 cases, we analysed two infected groups HIV-1 and HIV-2, trying to correlate the ophthalmologic lesions present in both populations and searching for a difference in the clinical presentation of the ocular disorder.