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To describe a case of ocular inflammation associated with dabrafenib and trametinib chemotherapy for cutaneous melanoma by using a multimodal image approach. We report on a 51-year-old woman with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, which occurred while she was undergoing treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib for cutaneous melanoma. The patient complained of sudden, bilateral vision loss of 2 days' duration. Anatomical and functional improvement was observed after administration of systemic steroids and cessation of chemotherapy. Later on, 6 weeks after restarting dabrafenib, she had an episode of granulomatous anterior uveitis, which was successfully managed with topical mydriatics and steroids. Strict follow-up with multimodal imaging was performed until recovery. This report emphasizes the importance of strict ophthalmological follow-up with multimodal imaging in patients receiving dabrafenib and trametinib, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the management of ocular inflammation during chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To provide 2-year follow-up data on eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) that were non-responsive after three initial anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections, comparing functional and anatomical outcomes under continued anti-VEGF therapy versus dexamethasone (DEX) implant. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective chart review comparing eyes with treatment-naïve DME and a suboptimal response to a loading phase of anti-VEGF therapy (3 injections given monthly) which were then treated with (a) further anti-VEGF (n = 72) or (b) initially switched to DEX implant (n = 38). Main outcome measures were change in visual acuity (VA) and central subfield thickness (CST) from the end of the loading phase to 24 months. Results: In 79% of the 12-month study population (87/110 eyes), 24-month data were available. One quarter of eyes in each group switched treatments during the second year. Eyes that were switched early to DEX implant maintained the functional and anatomical improvements at 24 months which were seen in the first year (from month 3: + 8.9 letters, − 214 µm). Eyes that were switched from anti-VEGF therapy to steroids in the second year improved VA and reduced CST at 24 months (from month 12: + 6.8 letters, p = 0.023; − 226 µm, p = 0.004). In eyes continued on anti-VEGF therapy, VA and CST were stable at 24 months (from month 3: + 2.8 letters, p = 0.254; − 24 µm, p = 0.243). Eyes that were non-responsive to anti-VEGF therapy for 12 months had similar chances to experience a VA gain from further therapy as eyes that were non-responsive for 3 months only (23.8 vs. 31.0%, p = 0.344). Conclusions: The beneficial effect of an early switch to DEX implant in DME non-responders seen at month 12 was maintained during the second year. A later switch from anti-VEGF to steroids still provided significant improvement. Eyes continued on anti-VEGF over a period of 24 months maintained vision. A quarter of eyes, which had not improved vision at 12 months, exhibited a delayed response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the role of some blood count-derived inflammation biomarkers in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Seventy-nine men with late-stage AMD and 79 male age-matched cataract controls without AMD were recruited in March-December, 2016. A blood sample was taken. The following blood cell count-derived indexes were evaluated: neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR [dNLR = neutrophils/(white blood cells ‒ neutrophils)], platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), (neutrophils × monocytes)/lymphocyte ratio (SIRI), and (neutrophils × monocytes × platelets)/lymphocyte ratio (AISI). Results: AMD patients had significantly lower median values of white blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils, platelets, and mean platelet volume (MPV). Regarding the combined indexes, only AISI was significantly lower in AMD patients than in controls. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis revealed that the ability of AISI and MPV to predict AMD is poor. Conclusion: Results suggests that NLR, dNLR, PLR, MLR, SIRI, and AISI are unreliable disease biomarkers in men with AMD. Larger scale studies are necessary to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of a new commercial ophthalmic solution containing povidone‐iodine 0.6% (IODIM®). Methods: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, three ocular bacterial isolates (1 S. epidermidis, 1 S. aureus, 1 P. aeruginosa) and five Candida species were used. The bacterial and fungal isolates were cultured on Columbia blood agar base plates and Sabouraud‐dextrose agar plates, respectively and incubated overnight at 37°C. Bacterial and fungal suspensions in sterile saline solution were prepared to an optical density equal to 0.5 McFarland standard (approximately 108CFU/ml). Suspensions of the isolates were made in IODIM® solution to obtain a final concentration of 106CFU/ml. The suspensions were then distributed in conical tubes in a final volume of 1 ml and incubated at 37°C. At different time‐points (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 min and 24 hr), 10 μl of each suspension was removed, seeded on Columbia blood agar base and Sabouraud‐dextrose agar plates and then incubated for 24 hr at 37°C. Positive and negative controls were included in all experiments. Results: After 5‐min incubation, there was no bacterial growth on any plate. Conversely, IODIM® failed to kill the Candida isolates after 30 min' exposure and needed 24 hr to eradicate the organisms. Conclusion: IODIM® ophthalmic solution showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and Candida species. Results suggest that it may be a potential candidate for the treatment of ocular surface infections and antimicrobial prophylaxis before intravitreal injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of a new commercial ophthalmic solution containing povidone‐iodine 0.6% (IODIM®). Methods: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, three ocular bacterial isolates (1 S. epidermidis, 1 S. aureus, 1 P. aeruginosa) and five Candida species were used. The bacterial and fungal isolates were cultured on Columbia blood agar base plates and Sabouraud‐dextrose agar plates, respectively and incubated overnight at 37°C. Bacterial and fungal suspensions in sterile saline solution were prepared to an optical density equal to 0.5 McFarland standard (approximately 108CFU/ml). Suspensions of the isolates were made in IODIM® solution to obtain a final concentration of 106CFU/ml. The suspensions were then distributed in conical tubes in a final volume of 1 ml and incubated at 37°C. At different time‐points (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 min and 24 hr), 10 μl of each suspension was removed, seeded on Columbia blood agar base and Sabouraud‐dextrose agar plates and then incubated for 24 hr at 37°C. Positive and negative controls were included in all experiments. Results: After 5‐min incubation, there was no bacterial growth on any plate. Conversely, IODIM® failed to kill the Candida isolates after 30 min' exposure and needed 24 hr to eradicate the organisms. Conclusion: IODIM® ophthalmic solution showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and Candida species. Results suggest that it may be a potential candidate for the treatment of ocular surface infections and antimicrobial prophylaxis before intravitreal injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]