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Purpose: To evaluate the role of serum urea and creatinine as surrogate markers for disruption of retinal photoreceptor external limiting membrane (ELM) and inner segment ellipsoid zone (EZ) in Type 2 diabetic retinopathy (DR) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, for the first time., Methods: One hundred and seventeen consecutive cases of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes without retinopathy [No DR; n = 39], nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy [NPDR; n = 39], proliferative diabetic retinopathy [PDR; n = 39]) and 40 healthy control subjects were included. Serum levels of urea and creatinine were assessed using standard protocol. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to grade the disruption of ELM and EZ as follows: Grade 0, no disruption of ELM and EZ; Grade 1, ELM disrupted, EZ intact; Grade 2, ELM and EZ disrupted. Data were analyzed statistically., Results: Increase in serum levels of urea (F = 22.93) and creatinine (F = 15.82) and increased grades of disruption of ELM and EZ (γ = 116.3) were observed with increased severity of DR (P < 0.001). Increase in serum levels of urea (F = 10.45) and creatinine (F = 6.89) was observed with increased grades of disruption of ELM and EZ (P = 0.001)., Conclusion: Serum levels of urea and creatinine are surrogate markers for disruption of retinal photoreceptor ELM and EZ on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in DR.

Objective: To report a case of multidrug-resistant Fusarium sp keratitis that progressed to endophthalmitis and that eventually required enucleation., Methods: Case report and literature review. Isolate identification and susceptibility testing were performed by the Fungus Testing Laboratory at San Antonio, TX., Results: A 52-year-old soft contact lens wearer had a corneal abrasion and developed a corneal infiltrate. Examination of corneal scrapings revealed filamentous hyphae with septation and conidia. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy with topical natamycin, amphotericin B, and systemic fluconazole, the keratitis progressed, and a penetrating keratoplasty was performed. Histopathologic analysis of the corneal button showed disruption of Descemet's membrane with periodic acid-Schiff-positive fungal hyphae on both sides. Recurrent infection of the graft and progression to endophthalmitis was treated with repeated intravitreal amphotericin B injections, repeat penetrating keratoplasties, and pars plana vitrectomies. Even after systemic use of itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole and topical use of voriconazole, the infection progressed and an enucleation was required. Isolate identification and susceptibility testing found a multidrug-resistant Fusarium solani species complex, partially sensitive to natamycin only., Conclusions: Multidrug-resistant Fusarium sp is rare and may have devastating consequences in patients with advanced keratitis progressing to endophthalmitis. Such an extensive multidrug resistance is surprising in that resistance to antifungal treatment is supposedly rare. Empirical antifungal therapy is usually instituted using one or more antifungal agents, without checking antifungal sensitivities. In light of the growing concern for increased emergence of resistant strains, we propose a lower threshold to check for sensitivities in the face of unresponsive fungal infections.

Purpose: To present the results of a clinicopathologic study of patients with bilateral idiopathic multifocal serous retinal pigment epithelial detachments (RPEDs)., Method: Retrospective review of the medical records of three middle-aged patients with innumerable RPEDs. The eye of one patient was available for histopathologic examination., Results: The presence of multiple serous RPEDs was verified with fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography in two patients and by histopathologic examination of one eye of a third patient, who developed a submacular hematoma and vitreous hemorrhage caused by a focal area of choroidal neovascularization., Conclusions: No cause for the multifocal serous RPEDs was found.

Purpose: To compare silicone oil removal with passive drainage alone versus passive drainage combined with air-fluid exchange in regard to floaters., Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients who were seen at the Retina Center in St. Louis, Missouri between May 1996 and May 1999 and underwent silicone oil removal were requested to complete a mailed questionnaire regarding the presence of floaters. The medical records of the 21 patients (22 eyes) who returned the questionnaire were also reviewed retrospectively for clinical evidence of floaters if they were identified in the postoperative fundus examination., Results: Fifteen patients (16 eyes) (73%) reported floaters after silicone oil removal. Three (14%) of these eyes also had clinical evidence of floaters on postoperative fundus examination. Univariate analyses of primary eye disease other than proliferative diabetic retinopathy, duration of silicone oil retention in the eye, and final visual acuity were not associated with the patients' reported incidence of floaters. No patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy reported floaters after silicone oil removal. Silicone oil removal procedure (i.e., removal with passive drainage alone or passive drainage combined with air-fluid exchange) did not influence the reported occurrence of floaters (P = 0.65)., Conclusion: Silicone oil removal is often associated with floaters from residual oil droplets. There is no difference in the incidence of floaters seen after silicone oil removal with passive drainage alone versus passive drainage combined with air-fluid exchange.

Behcet disease is a multisystemic, chronic, recurrent inflammatory disorder characterized as a triad of hypopyon uveitis, oral aphthae, and genital ulcers. Neurologic involvement in Behcet disease (neuro-Behcet) is common. Neuro-Behcet disease typically manifests late after disease onset, rarely coincides with ocular involvement, and often heralds a poor prognosis for final vision and survival. We present a case of neuro-Behcet disease with neurologic onset concomitant with systemic and ocular involvement that was responsive to treatment with interferon-alpha 2a.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of macular translocation with retinotomy and retinal rotation in exudative age-related macular degeneration., Methods: After written informed consent was obtained, 20 patients underwent macular translocation. We created a 180-degree retinotomy superior, inferior, and temporal to the macula near the equator. The hinged retinal flap was rotated superiorly or inferiorly to place the center of the fovea over an area of healthy retinal pigment epithelium. The retina was flattened under silicone oil and laser photocoagulation was placed., Results: The fovea was moved 425 to 1,700 microm (965+/-262 microm) superiorly or inferiorly. Follow-up time was 2 to 12 months (median 8 months). Complications included macular pucker (3 eyes), subfoveal hemorrhage (2 eyes), macular hole (1 eye), and progression of cataract in phakic eyes (3 eyes). Thirteen of 20 eyes showed various degrees of proliferative vitreoretinopathy with epiretinal membrane formation over the inferior peripheral retina with the inferior retinal detachment stabilized by the silicone oil. One eye progressed to phthisis bulbi. Initial visual acuity ranged from 20/80 to 20/800 (median 20/150) and final visual acuity ranged from light perception to 20/200 (median 20/1000)., Conclusion: The fovea can be moved up to 1,700 microm with retinotomy and retinal rotation; however, there is a high rate of complications. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is the major complication of this technique and is probably related to the extensive retinotomy and subretinal irrigation inherent in the technique. Other techniques such as scleral shortening may have fewer complications.