Purpose: To investigate the incidence and clinical course of acute endophthalmitis after idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) surgery employing microincision vitrectomy (MIVS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of eyes with acute endophthalmitis developing after iERM surgery via 23- or 25-gauge MIVS from 2011 to 2021. The incidence, culture-positive rate (and responsible bacteria), final visual acuity (VA), and factors affecting poor visual outcomes were assessed. Results: Acute endophthalmitis developed in 20 of the 12,921 eyes (0.15%) after MIVS. Of these, 14 of 3,180 eyes treated via iERM (0.44%, one per 227 procedures) developed endophthalmitis; the incidence ratio (iERM versus non-iERM) was 7.1 (p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.6-22.7). At least one sclerotomy remained unsutured in all eyes after iERM surgery. Thirteen eyes (92.9%) were given intravitreal antibiotic injections after emergency vitrectomy, and one eye was treated with intravitreal antibiotic injection alone. Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from four eyes (28.6%); three strains were methicillin-resistant. All final VAs were not better than the initial VAs; the average VA decreased from 20/42 to 20/259 (p < 0.001). Six eyes (42.9%) attained legal blindness status (final VA < 20/200); Macular invasion was a unique risk factor for such blindness (p = 0.020, odds ratio = 35.0, 95% CI = 1.7-703.0). Conclusions Acute endophthalmitis developing after iERM surgery with MIVS was more common than such endophthalmitis after other retinal surgery. Approximately 40% of the former patients became legally blind, and the risk was higher in eyes with macular involvement of endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To investigate the changes in intraocular cytokines after ranibizumab treatment in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: This multicenter, prospective study enrolled patients with PCV treated with three monthly ranibizumab followed by a pro re nata regimen for 24 weeks. Best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography were performed every 4 weeks. Aqueous humor was collected to measure intraocular cytokines at baseline, week 8, and the time of recurrence or week 20. The association of changes in intraocular cytokines with visual acuity, central macular thickness, central choroidal thickness, area of abnormal vessels, and polyp closure was assessed. Results: This study included 25 eyes. The mean patient age was 70.3 ± 6.1 years. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration decreased at week 8, but only interferon (IFN)-γ, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-2 decreased at the time of recurrence. The recurrence interval was positively associated with the baseline epithelial-neutrophil activating peptide (ENA)-78, interleukin (IL)-17, leptin, and transforming growth factor-β1, and baseline central macular thickness was positively correlated with the baseline fibroblast growth factor-4 and IL-10. Thick central choroidal thickness was associated with a low basic fibroblast growth factor and high IFN-γ at baseline. The MCP-3 and Tie-2 levels decreased in two eyes with polyp closure. Conclusions Ranibizumab significantly reduced intraocular VEGF concentrations and consequently improved PCV. However, the cytokines IFN-γ, TIMP-2, and MCP-2, rather than VEGF, were associated with PCV recurrence. Further studies of intraocular cytokines involved in neovascularization in PCV are needed.

Purpose: We report bilateral, diffuse, uveal melanocytic proliferation caused by a stomach adenocarcinoma.Case summary: A 78-year-old male complained of visual impairment 3 months in duration. He had diabetes and had undergone cataract surgery on both eyes 4 years prior. His best-corrected visual acuity was counting fingers in the right eye and 20/160 in the left eye. Both intraocular pressures were normal. The anterior segments yielded no specific findings. The maculae exhibited multiple, round, patchy, pigmented or depigmented lesions with exudative retinal detachment. Fluorescein angiography revealed multiple hyperfluorescent lesions. Optical coherence tomography revealed that the hyper-reflective exudates lay between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. We diagnosed bilateral, diffuse, uveal melanocytic proliferation and performed a systemic evaluation. Computed tomography revealed several mass lesions in the lung, stomach, and lymph nodes; these appeared to be malignant. An esophagogastroduodenoscopic biopsy confirmed that the lesions were adenocarcinomas. Conclusions A bilateral, diffuse, uveal melanocytic proliferation induced by a primary malignant tumor exhibited multiple, pigmented subretinal exudates associated with exudative macular retinal detachment. In patients with such findings, it is necessary to evaluate the malignant tumor status of remote organs.

Purpose: To report a case of poor visual prognosis complicated by residual subretinal fluid after use of the internal limiting membrane flap technique to treat macular hole retinal detachment in a patient with high myopia.Case summary: A 55-year-old male stated that he had experienced a transparent circle in the central visual field of the right eye for 1 month. His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.32 and the axial length of the right eye was 32.57 mm. Fundus examination revealed a macular hole with retinal detachment localized to the posterior pole. We performed vitrectomy, membrane peeling, internal limiting membrane peeling with inverted internal limiting membrane flap, and silicone oil injection. On day 1 after surgery, the macular hole was closed, but subretinal fluid was noticed in the macula. At 3 months after surgery, the BCVA was 0.16 and the silicone oil was removed. At 14 months after the first surgery, the subretinal fluid was completely absorbed, but leopard-pattern pigment degeneration became prominent and the macula exhibited ellipsoid zone disruption. The BCVA decreased to 0.1. Conclusions In patients exhibiting macular hole retinal detachment in the context of high myopia, an inverted internal limiting membrane flap may increase the macular hole closure rate but disturb subretinal fluid drainage. As persistent subretinal fluid may cause permanent retinal damage with a poor visual prognosis, the surgical method must be carefully chosen.

Purpose: Here, we report a case of acute noninfectious endophthalmitis after removal of silicone oil (SO) and posterior capsulectomy in a patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.Case summary: SO removal and posterior capsulectomy were performed in a 61-year-old man who had undergone vitrectomy with combined cataract surgery, membrane peeling, laser photocoagulation, and SO injection to treat vitreous hemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment three months previously. The patient’s best-corrected visual acuity on the day after surgery was 20/50; it decreased to hand motion at five days after SO removal. Exudative membrane with hypopyon, anterior chamber cell (trace), and mild conjunctival injection were observed. The patient did not complain of ocular pain. Topical steroid was applied following a diagnosis of postoperative noninfectious endophthalmitis. The exudative membrane and hypopyon decreased after three days of treatment and had resolved completely after one month of treatment. The patient’s visual acuity improved to 20/50. Conclusions Noninfectious endophthalmitis can develop after removal of SO and posterior capsulectomy. Topical steroid treatment is effective in such cases.

Purpose: To report a case of Streptococcus infantarius endophthalmitis related to the use of a XEN® Gel Stent.Case summary: A 75-year-old male was referred to our practice with a diagnosis of endophthalmitis 55 days after XEN® Gel Stent implantation. He had primary open-angle glaucoma. Visual acuity was 20/50. Slit-lamp examination revealed conjunctival injection and anterior chamber inflammation with hypopyon. Fundus examination showed inflammatory cells with exudative materials in the vitreous. The aqueous sampling for culture of causative micro-organisms was followed by removal of the XEN® Gel Stent, along with anterior chamber irrigation and intracameral and intravitreal injection of antibiotics. Streptococcus infantarius was isolated after 5 days. Vitrectomy, anterior chamber lavage, and intravitreal injection of antibiotics were additionally performed to control the intraocular inflammation. Sixteen days after vitrectomy, the intraocular inflammation disappeared. The choroidal detachment was resolved 34 days after vitrectomy. Visual improvement was limited to 20/100 at 6 months. Conclusions XEN® Gel Stent-related bacterial endophthalmitis was successfully treated by implant removal, vitrectomy, and proper intraocular antibiotic treatment.

A magnetic resonance imaging test was performed on a 56-year-old male patient, who visited with a one-month history of painless swelling at the popliteal area of the left knee. A popliteal cyst and non-calcified loose body in the cyst were identified. Synovial chondromatosis was diagnosed from a histology examination by excision and biopsy. This paper reports this case of extra-articular synovial chondromatosis of the knee with a review of the relevant literature.

Purpose: We report a case of infectious scleritis featuring kissing choroidal detachment and serous retinal detachment.Case summary: A 65-year-old female presented with ocular pain and hyperemia of the right eye 1 week in duration. Anterior chamber inflammation was evident. After pterygium excision, a thinned sclera and loss of conjunctiva around a necrotic lesion were observed. Necrotizing scleritis with anterior uveitis was diagnosed and topical and systemic steroids commenced. After 1 week, the scleral thickness increased, but conjunctival injection and choroidal detachment were newly noticed. Infectious scleritis was suspected and the pterygium excision site cultured. Although empirical antibiotics (fortified ceftazidime and tobramycin) were prescribed, the choroidal and serous retinal detachments became aggravated. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified on scleral culture, and topical piperacillin/tazobactam and systemic cefepime (2 g) commenced. Although the antibiotics were appropriate, the choroidal and serous retinal detachments became further aggravated. Necrotic tissue was subjected to surgical debridement. Two days later, the infectious signs had diminished and a systemic steroid was added. Over the next few weeks, all of the choroidal and serous retinal detachments, and the infectious signs, improved. Conclusions Patients with infectious scleritis featuring severe choroidal detachment and serous retinal detachment resistant to appropriate antibiotics may require surgical debridement of necrotic tissue. After controlling the infectious signs, systemic steroids should be considered to ensure a good prognosis.

Purpose: To report the effect of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant on refractory posterior scleritis. Methods: The medical records of patients treated with an intravitreal dexamethasone implant for non-infectious refractory posterior scleritis were retrospectively reviewed, including age, sex, duration of follow-up, and presence of associated systemic diseases. The duration until relapse, changes in visual acuity, number of implants, and side effects associated with the implant were also analyzed. Results: Seven eyes from five patients were included. The mean age was 73.2 ± 12.5 years (59-92 years). Although all patients had been treated with high-dose systemic steroid, and immunosuppressants were added, the posterior scleritis was poorly controlled. The duration from the diagnosis to the first dexamethasone implant was a mean of 8.2 months (3-27 months). The scleritis was well controlled in all eyes until at least 2 months (2-5 months) after inserting the implant. An average of 2.1 (total of 15 times in the seven eyes) implants were inserted. No complications related to the implant were observed other than a temporary increase in intraocular pressure in one eye. Conclusions Intravitreal dexamethasone implants were an effective treatment option for refractory posterior scleritis.

Purpose: To report complications requiring surgical management related to intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Methods: The medical records of patients who received intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection from June 2013 to March 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who had undergone intraocular surgical management within 6 months after implant injection, with the exception of cataract surgery, were included. Of them, only the cases in which the surgery was definitely related to complications with the Ozurdex implant were included. In these patients, underlying disease, intraocular pressure change, and the number of injections were analyzed. Results: A total of 1,168 injections of 473 eyes (439 patients) were enrolled in the study. The mean number of injections was 2.5 per eye. The mean age was 61.4 ± 11.3 years. The complications requiring an additional surgical procedure occurred in six (0.5%) injections. Of them, four, one, and one eyes showed uveitis, diabetic macular edema, and branch retinal vein occlusion, respectively. Surgical management was performed to control the increased intraocular pressure in two eyes, inappropriate implant location in two eyes, scleral wound leakage in one eye, and retinal detachment in one eye. The incidence of severe complications requiring surgical management was high in cases with a history of previous vitrectomy (p = 0.007, Fisher’s exact test) and uveitis (p = 0.007, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusions Severe complications requiring surgical management occurred in 0.5% of cases (six cases) after intravitreal dexamethasone implant injections. These complications were related to a history of previous vitrectomy and uveitis. Five eyes recovered to favorable visual function after surgery, with the exception of one eye with retinal detachment.