These data suggest that decreases in plasma free-VEGF levels are greater after treatment with aflibercept or bevacizumab compared with ranibizumab at 4 weeks. At 52 and 104 weeks, a greater decrease was observed in bevacizumab versus ranibizumab. Results from 2 subgroups of participants who did not receive injections within at least 1 month and 2 months before collection suggest similar changes in VEGF levels after stopping injections. It is unknown whether VEGF levels return to normal as the drug is cleared from the system or whether the presence of the drug affects the assay's ability to accurately measure free VEGF. No significant associations between VEGF concentration and systemic factors were noted.
Intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) can complicate globe trauma and are associated with a high incidence of severe vision loss. Occult IOFBs present a particular challenge as they are not diagnosed promptly and tend to present with advanced complications, including endophthalmitis and retinal detachment. In this report, we present three cases of occult nonmetallic IOFBs presenting as fulminant uveitis, and we also review the literature.
Sir, Chronic Staphylococcus hominis endophthalmitis following injury with a retained intraocular foreign bodyWe report a case of endophthalmitis caused by Staphylococcus hominis that developed after a penetrating eye injury following 14 months of quiescence.
Case reportA 9-year-old girl sustained an eye injury while hammering but maintained good vision per report. She was not initially examined by an eye physician and noted progressively worsening vision. Fourteen months after her injury, a cataract surgeon preoperatively noted a sealed traumatic corneal wound, no inflammation, and a traumatic cataract, but intraoperatively found a small rock lodged in the lens. Her post-surgical course was complicated by recalcitrant inflammation, and she was referred for retina evaluation 2 months after surgery. Examination of the right eye revealed 20/60 vision, granulomatous keratic precipitates, 1 þ anterior chamber cell, a lens in the bag, and a dense fibrous posterior capsular opacity with the appearance of a capsular hypopyon. Minimal vitritis was evident on B-scan ultrasound. Given the concern for chronic endophthalmitis, the patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy, intraocular lens removal, total capsulectomy, and injection of intravitreal voriconazole (0.1 mg/0.1 ml), ceftazidime (2.25 mg/0.1 ml), and vancomycin (1 mg/0.1 ml). Lens capsule pathology demonstrated Gram-positive cocci (Figure 1). PCR of the vitreous and aqueous samples confirmed S. hominis. Eighteen months after vitrectomy, the patient's eye was quiet without medication and remained aphakic with 20/20 contact lens-corrected vision.
CommentChronic exogenous bacterial endophthalmitis can be challenging to diagnose and manage as onset is often insidious and can be remote in time from ocular injury. 1-3 S. hominis, a part of normal skin flora, was the cause of indolent infection in this case. To the authors' knowledge this is only the third case thus far reported 4,5 and had an unusually long period of quiescence following the initial ocular trauma. These organisms, most likely sequestered in the avascular crystalline lens after injury, appeared to have reactivated after surgical disruption of the lens capsule during cataract extraction and lens placement.The patient was referred for secondary intraocular lens placement, but the anterior segment surgeon was reticent to place an anterior chamber lens, or iris fixated or scleral fixated lens in a patient of such young age as long as she maintains good vision and tolerates contact lens correction.
Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest.
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