Acute primary angle closure during the Omicron outbreak

AIM:To investigate Omicron’s impact on clinical presentation of acute primary angle closure(APAC)in China.METHODS:A consecutive case series with historical controls was conducted at Shenzhen Eye Hospital,the largest specialized hospital in Shenzhen,China.Medical records from a two-month period during the Omicron pandemic(December 1,2022,to January 31,2023)were compared with records from two control groups(12/2018–1/2019 and 12/2021–1/2022)before pandemic.Patients with APAC were included,and the prevalence of APAC and demographic characteristics in Omicron-infected and noninfected patients were compared.RESULTS:Seventy-one(23.43%)out of 303 patients were diagnosed with APAC in the pandemic cohort,which was 2.98 and 2.61 times higher than that in control cohorts(7.87%in 2019,8.96%in 2022,P<0.001).The pandemic cohort has significantly higher Omicron-infected rate(78.87%vs 0 vs 0;P<0.001),lower proportion of glaucoma history(16.90%vs 42.86%vs 41.67%,P=0.005),higher surgical rate(95.77%vs 83.33%vs 78.57%,P=0.024),higher total medical costs and larger pupil diameter(5.63±0.15 vs 4.68±0.15 vs 4.69±0.22 mm,P<0.01).In 83%Omicron-infected patients,ocular symptoms appeared within 3d after systemic symptoms onset.In multivariate analysis,Omicron infection(P<0.001)was the only independent predictor of pupil diameter.CONCLUSION:In the Omicron epidemic in China,there is an increase of prevalence and severity of APAC,particularly focusing on the first 3d following infection.

Angle parameter changes of phacoemulsification and combined phacotrabeculectomy for acute primary angle closure

·AIM: To evaluate the difference in angle parameters and clinical outcome following phacoemulsification and combined phacotrabeculectomy in patients with acute primary angle closure(APAC) using ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM).·METHODS: Patients(n =23, 31 eyes) were randomized to receive phacoemulsification or combined phacotrabeculectomy(n =24, 31 eyes). Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure(IOP), the main complications following surgery, and indentation gonioscopy and angle parameters measured using UBM were documented preoperatively and postoperatively.· RESULTS: The improvement in BCVA in the phacoemulsification group was significantly greater than in the combined group(P 【0.05). IOP in the phacoemulsification group was slightly higher than in the combined group following 1wk of follow-up(P 【0.05),whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups at the latter follow-up(P 】0.05).Phacoemulsification alone resulted in a slight increase in the trabecular ciliary processes distance compared with the combined surgery(P 【0.05), whereas the other angle parameters showed no significant difference between the groups. Complications in combined group were greater than phacoemulsification only group.·CONCLUSION: Both surgeries effectively opened the drainage angle and deepened the anterior chamber, and IOP was well controlled postoperatively. However,phacoemulsification showed better efficacy in improving visual function and showed reduced complications following surgery.

Bilateral posterior scleritis presenting as acute primary angle closure:A case report

BACKGROUND Scleritis is a rare disease and the incidence of bilateral posterior scleritis is even rarer.Unfortunately,misdiagnosis of the latter is common due to its insidious onset,atypical symptoms,and varied manifestations.We report here a case of bilateral posterior scleritis that presented with acute eye pain and intraocular hypertension,and was initially misdiagnosed as acute primary angle closure.Expanding the literature on such cases will not only increase physicians’awareness but also help to improve accurate diagnosis.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital to address a 4-d history of bilateral acute eye pain,headache,and loss of vision,after initial presentation to a local hospital 3 d prior.Our initial examination revealed bilateral cornea edema accompanied by a shallow anterior chamber and visual acuity reduction,with left-eye amblyopia(>30 years).There was bilateral hypertension(by intraocular pressure:28 mmHg in right,34 mmHg in left)and normal fundi.Accordingly,acute primary angle closure was diagnosed.Miotics and ocular hypotensive drugs were prescribed,but the symptoms continued to worsen over the 3-d treatment course.Further imaging examinations(i.e.,anterior segment photography and ultrasonography)indicated a diagnosis of bilateral posterior scleritis.Methylprednisolone,topical atropine,and steroid eye drops were prescribed along with intraocular pressure-lowering agents.Subsequent optical coherence tomography(OCT)showed gradual improvements in subretinal fluid under the sensory retina,thickened sclera,and ciliary body detachment.CONCLUSION Bilateral posterior scleritis can lead to secondary acute angle closure.Diagnosis requires ophthalmic accessory examinations(i.e.,ultrasound biomicroscopy,Bscan,and OCT).

Phacoemulsification,Intraocular Lens Implantation,Goniosynechialysis,and Pseudo-Pupilloplasty for Refractory Acute Primary Angle Closure with Atonic Dilated Pupil

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prompt phacoemulsification,intraocular lens implantation,visco-goniosynechialysis,combined with pseudo-pupilloplasty for refractory acute primary angle closure(APAC)with atonic dilated pupil and to describe a feasible method of pupilloplasty.Methods A consecutive series of refractory APAC patients who had atonic dilated pupil and undergone prompt phacoemulsification combined with pseudo-pupilloplasty at our center were retrospectively analyzed.Pseudo-pupilloplasty referred to a method of pupilloplasty which included 4.5-mm capsulorhexis,postoperative opacification of anterior capsule residue,and ultimate pseudo-pupil formation.Preoperative and postoperative measurements included intraocular pressure(IOP),best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),and anterior chamber depth(ACD).Intraoperative and postoperative complications were documented.The process of pseudo-pupil formation was also observed.Results A total of 20 eyes of 19 APAC patients were followed up for 19.7±9.8 months.IOP was lowered from preoperative 44.0±9.8 mmHg to 15.5±2.6 mmHg at final visit(t=11.945,P<0.001).ACD was deepened from preoperative 1.77±0.21 mm to 3.40±0.20 mm at final visit(t=-27.711,P<0.001).Twelve of 20 eyes had residual angle synechiae,whereas only 3 eyes needed anti-glaucoma medications.No severe complication was observed.All eyes had pseudo-pupil gradually formed within 3 months,accompanied with the gradual improvement of BCVA from preoperative 1.18+0.55 to 0.58±0.22,0.26±0.09,0.11±0.09,and 0.11±.09 at postoperative day 1,month 1,month 3,and last visit.Conclusions Prompt phacoemulsification-goniosynechialysis is effective and safe for refractory APAC with atonic dilated pupil.Pseudo-pupilloplasty is a feasible procedure for pupil reconstruction.

Efficacy of laser peripheral iridoplasty and iridotomy on medically refractory patients with acute primary angle closure： a three year outcome

Background Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty （ALPI） is proved to be effective in lowering intraocular pressure （lOP） of patients with mild acute primary angle closure （APAC）. It is unclear whether this laser treatment is equally efficient in managing patients with severe APAC. This study aimed peripheral iridotomy （LPI） on patients with refractory APAC, therapy. to evaluate the IOP-lowering efficacy of ALPI and laser who have previously responded poorly to intensive medical Methods Thirty-six patients （8 men and 28 women） were identified as medically refractory APAC, who still had ocular pain, red eye, hazy cornea, closed anterior chamber （AC） angle, and lOP of not less than 21 mmHg after two days or more of anti-glaucoma medication. All enrolled patients underwent ophthalmologic examinations including measurement of visual acuity （VA）, best corrected VA （BCVA）, lOP, biomicroscopy, and gonioscopy followed by ALPI immediately in the APAC eye and LPI in both eyes. Results All patients were affected unilaterally, with average age of （54.6±11.7） （range, 37.0-75.0） years old. The mean lOP value of the affected eyes dropped from （31.6±7.7） （range, 21.0-39.0） mmHg at enrollment to （18.4±8.7） （range, 10.0-27.0） mmHg 2 hours after ALPI. At follow-up day 7, the mean lOP value maintained at （14.8±4.2） （range, 9.0-21.0） mmHg, which was significantly different （P=0.000） compared with baseline. The average decrease of lOP in the APAC eyes was （16.8±7.4） （range, 12.0-21.0） mmHg. At follow-up three years later, the mean lOP of the APAC eyes stabilized at （16.3±3.2） （range, 9.0-20.0） mmHg with at least 180° of AC angle opened. Conclusion ALPI and LPI lower the lOP of medically refractory cases of APAC though they have responded poorly to anti-glaucoma medication.

Long-term intraocular pressure fluctuation of primary angle closure disease following laser peripheral iridotomy/iridoplasty

Background Many studies indicated that short-term and long-term intraocular pressure （IOP） fluctuations in primary open angle glaucoma patients might lead to glaucomatous progression. However, seldom study has evaluated the long-term fluctuation of IOP in primary chronic angle closure diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term IOP fluctuation of primary angle closure diseases and its associations following laser peripheral iridotomy （LPI） with or without laser peripheral iridoplasty.Methods A total of 158 patients with primary angle closure suspect （PACS, n=21）, primary angle closure （PAC, n=81） and primary angle closure glaucoma （PACG, n=55） had been treated by LPI with or without laser peripheral iridoplasty and followed up for more than 12 months. IOP was measured with Goldman applanation tonometer. Multivariate linear regression with generalized estimating equation （GEE） regression models was used to evaluate the association of long-term IOP fluctuation （maximum IOP minus minimum IOP） with gender, age, baseline IOP, baseline peripheral anterior synechia （PAS）,baseline vertical cup/disc ratio （VCDR）, baseline mean deviation （MD）, need for IOP-lowering medications.Results IOP fluctuation during follow-up in PACS, PAC and PACG groups were （4.83±2.90）, （5.67±3.35）, and （9.40±7.14）mmHg, respectively. IOP fluctuation was strongly correlated with baseline IOP （r=0.356, P 〈0.001）, PAS （r=0.374, P 〈0.001）.IOP fluctuation was higher in patients with higher baseline IOP （0.18 mmHg per unit increase, 95% CI： 0.05-0.31 mmHg）.Conclusions Long-term IOP fluctuation in PACG group was larger than that in PACS or PAC group. Eyes with higher baseline IOP were observed to have larger long-term IOP fluctuation.

Mechanism and Etiology of Primary Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma

The ocular anatomic features, pupil-blocking force, status of angle synechiae closure and positivity of provocative tests were compared between the primary chronic angle closure glaucoma (PCACG) and primary a-cute angle closure glaucoma (PAACG) by using ultrasonic biometry, computerized anterior ocular segment image processing technique, gonioscopy and provocative tests. The studies showed that the anterior chamber depth of PAACG was shallower than that of PCACG; the pupil-blocking force of PAACG was st...

Anterior segment changes after pharmacologic mydriasis using Pentacam and optical coherence tomography in angle closure suspects

AIM: To compare the dynamic changes of anterior segment parameters especially iris morphology induced by pharmacologic mydriasis between angle closure suspects and normal controls. METHODS: The study group comprised 19 eyes of 19 angle closure suspects and 19 eyes of 19 age- and sexmatched normal open-angle eyes. Pentacam and optical coherence tomography measurements before and 30min after instillation of compound tropicamide eye drop were performed and compared. Biometric evaluations of iris tomography and anterior chamber angle were estimated by a customized image-processing software. RESULTS: Baseline axial length, iris cross sectional area and volume did not differ significantly between angle closure suspects and normal controls. Angle closure suspects had smaller pupil size, narrower anterior segment dimension and axial length, thinner iris with greater curve in comparison with normal controls. Pharmacologic mydriasis led to significant increments in iris thickness at 750 mu m, anterior chamber depth and volume, whereas significant decrements in iris curve, cross sectional area and volume in both groups. Angle opening distance at 500 mu M was increased significantly in normal controls (from 0.465 +/- 0.115 mm to 0.539 +/- 0.167 mm, P=0.009), but not in angle closure suspects (from 0.125 0.100 mm to 0.145 +/- 0.131 mm, P=0.326). Iris volume change per millimeter of pupil dilation (Delta IV/Delta PD) decreased significantly less in angle closure suspects than normal controls (-2.47 +/- 1.33 mm(2) vs -3.63 +/- 1.58 mm(2), P=0.019). Linear regression analysis showed that the change of angle opening distance at 500 mu M was associated most with the change of central anterior chamber depth (beta= 0.841, P=0.002) and Delta IV/Delta PD (beta=0.028, P=0.002), followed by gender (beta=0. 062, P=0.032). CONCLUSION: Smaller iris volume decrement per millimeter of pupil dilation is related significantly with the less anterior angle opening in angle closure suspects after pharmacologic mydriasis. Dynamic iris change may be as a prospective indicator of iris compressibility and angle closure glaucoma.

Comparison of measurements of anterior chamber angle via anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy

BACKGROUND Glaucoma is an irreversible optic neuropathy with the loss of visual field and decrease of vision.The variable clinical manifestations may result in differential diagnostic difficulties.The early screening and diagnosis of glaucoma are currently experiencing a demand for anterior segment analysis tools that can gather more information with one short measurement.Therefore,we analyzed the agreement,difference,and correlation of chamber angle parameters such as angel opening distance at 500μm(AOD500)and trabeculo-iris space area at 500μm^2(TISA500)measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography(ASOCT)and ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM).AIM To compare the differences,correlation,and agreement in measuring AOD500 and TISA500 by AS-OCT and UBM.METHODS Both AS-OCT and UBM were performed to measure AOD500 and TISA500 in 45 subjects(72 eyes).All subjects without glaucoma were collected from October 2015 to August 2016 at the Ophthalmology Department of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.Data of the two groups(AOD500 and TISA500)were compared by nonparametric tests.Pearson correlative analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were used to compare the correlation and agreement.RESULTS There were no significant differences between AS-OCT and UBM in measuring AOD500(P1=0.110,P2=0.633,P3=0.078,and P4=0.474)and TISA500(P1=0.584,P2=0.889,P3=0.297,and P4=0.550)of the four quadrants of the anterior chamber angle.There was a high correlation in measuring AOD500(r1=0.562,r2=0.671,r3=0.635,and r4=0.720;P<0.001)and TISA500(r1=0.584,r2=0.889,r3=0.297,and r4=0.550;P<0.001).There was a good agreement in measuring AOD500 and TISA500 by the two modalities.CONCLUSION There is a high correlation and agreement between AOD500 and TISA500 measurements by AS-OCT and UBM.They are interchangeable under some circumstances.AS-OCT proves to be a better early screening tool for glaucoma.

Bilateral simultaneous primary acute angle-closure glaucoma

Dear Editor,Acute primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG)is an important cause of blindness in East Asia.1 It is estimated that the overall prevalence of PACG will increase from 1.44%to 2.01%from 2020 to 2050.2 Acute PACG is typically related to increased high intraocular pressure(IOP),with symptoms including red eye,blurred vision,nausea,vomiting,and headache.Delay in timely IOPlowering treatment can result in permanent optic nerve damage and vision loss.