Purpose: This study investigated the effects of high-dose steroid injections for ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy. Methods: A retrospective study examined 13 patients diagnosed with ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy at Wonju Severance Christian Hospital from December 2016 to November 2020. Methylprednisolone was injected at 1,000 mg/day for 3 days. The patients were evaluated before treatment; immediately after it; and at 1, 6, and 12 months. Visual acuity and visual fields were tested (Humphrey Field Analyzer, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) and the visual field index (VFI) and mean deviation (MD) were recorded. Results: We analyzed 26 eyes of 13 patients (6 males, 7 females; average age 68.7 years). Immediately after treatment, there was no significant improvement in visual acuity, but the VFI improved by 10% or more in 11 eyes and MD improved by 2 dB or more in 16 eyes. After the end of treatment, 13 of 26 eyes showed improved visual acuity of two lines or more in the Snellen table; VFI improved by more than 10% in 16 eyes and MD b y 2 dB or more in 20 eyes. The average differences in the final VFI and MD were 25.96 (standard deviation [SD] = 29.33) and 7.29 (SD = 7.09), respectively. Conclusions When patients with ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy were treated with high-dose steroid injections, 60% (16/26) showed visual field improvement immediately after treatment and 77% (20/26) ultimately showed improvement. This suggests that steroids have a therapeutic effect in patients with optic neuropathy caused by ethambutol. Further studies are needed.

Purpose: This study investigates the intraocular pressures and dry eye signs before and after botulinum toxin (botox) injections for patients with essential blepharospasm. Methods: From November 2021 to July 2022, a prospective study examined 78 eyes of 39 patients diagnosed with essential blepharospasm. Before injection and 1 and 3 months after injection, intraocular pressures (IOPs) were measured using a Goldmann applanation tonometer. The noninvasive breakup time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), tear meniscus height (TMH), and meibomian gland clearance were assessed with the aid of the IDRA platform (SBM Sistemi, Turin, Italy). Results: The average IOPs were 14.33 ± 3.47 (7-21), 13.45 ± 3.54 (9-21), and 13.28 ± 2.98 (7-20) mmHg before, and 1 and 3 months after, botox injection respectively (p = 0.002 , p = 0.004). Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients with dry eye symptoms evidenced a significant difference in the NIBUT 1 month after Botox injection, but no significant difference in any of the LLT, TMH, or meibomian gland areal loss percentage (p = 0.007, 0.201, 0.586, and 0.435 respectively). After 3 months, no dry eye parameter change, including the NIBUT, was significant (p = 0.202, 0.542, 0.240, and 0.721 respectively). Conclusions Botulinum toxin A injection temporarily relieved dry eye symptoms and reduced the IOP in patients with essential blepharospasm.

PURPOSE: Primary vascular dysregulation (PVD) is a condition in which the response to cold temperature or external stimuli is abnormal. We investigated whether triflusal use results in amelioration of PVD symptoms and improvement of several related parameters compared with aspirin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight PVD patients (54% female, 56+/-8 years) were randomly selected to receive either triflusal (300 mg, b.i.d.) or aspirin (150 mg, b.i.d.) for a period of 6 weeks followed by crossover. PVD was defined as both red-blood-cell standstill in video-assisted microscopic capillaroscopy during cold stimulation using carbon dioxide gas and a score of more than 7 points in a validated questionnaire. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by 1) cold intolerance symptom severity (CISS) score, 2) finger Doppler indices, and 3) indocyanine green perfusion imaging. RESULTS: The use of triflusal resulted in a greater improvement in CISS score (44.5+/-18.4 vs. 51.9+/-16.2; p<0.001) and in mean radial peak systolic velocity (69.8+/-17.2 vs. 66.1+/-16.4; p=0.011) compared to aspirin. Furthermore, significant differences were also observed in perfusion rates on indocyanine green perfusion imaging between triflusal and aspirin (45.6+/-25.8 vs. 51.6+/-26.9; p=0.020). CONCLUSION: Triflusal was more effective and demonstrated a more consistent impact on the improvement of symptoms and blood flow in patients with PVD than aspirin.
Adult ; Aspirin/*therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*drug therapy ; Cross-Over Studies ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion Imaging ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Salicylates/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome