Purpose:To determine the systemic associations in retinal arterial occlusions (RAO) in young Indian individuals less than 40 years of age.Materials and Methods:Case records of 32 patients (35 eyes) of less than 40 years, with non-traumatic RAO were analysed. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic and systemic evaluation including hemogram, lipid profile, coagulation profile, vasculitis screening, carotid Doppler, echocardiogram.Results:In the study 21 were males and 11 were females. The age ranged from 11-39 years (Mean 27.6 ± 8.43). Nine (28%) patients were below 20 years of age. Among 35 eyes, 28 (80%) had central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), three (8.6%) had branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), two (5.7%) each had cilio-retinal (CLAO) and hemi-retinal artery occlusion (HRAO). Vision ranged from no perception of light to 20/20. On systemic evaluation, in 21 (65.6%) patients a hypercoagulable state was responsible for the RAO. Conditions leading to a hypercoagulable state included hyperhomocysteinemia (21.9%), hyperlipidemia (15.6%), anticardiolipin antibody (6.2%), antiphospholipid antibody (6.2%), polycythemia, thrombocytosis, protein S deficiency, use of oral contraceptives and renal disorder (3.1% each). Six (18.7%) patients had cardiac valvular defects. Vasculitis screening was positive in three (9.4%) patients. Two (6.2%) had isolated systemic hypertension. In two (6.2%) patients no abnormality could be detected.Conclusion:The systemic associations of RAOs in the Indian population were distinctly different from those reported in the Western population. Hyperhomocysteinemia was the commonest association found. Whereas associations reported in the Western population such as cardiac abnormalities, coagulation disorders, hemoglobinopathies and oral contraceptive use were uncommon.

OBJECTIVEParaoxonase (PON) exhibits esterase activity (PON-AREase) and lactonase activity (PON-HCTLase), which prevent LDL oxidation and detoxify homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL). The role of HCTL and PON-HCTLase as a risk factor for the microvascular complication in diabetic retinopathy at the level of vitreous has not been investigated.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSUndiluted vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (n = 13) and macular hole (MH) (n = 8) was used to determine PON-HCTLase and PON-AREase activity spectrophotometrically. HCTL levels were detected by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. In vitro studies were done in primary cultures of bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells (BRECs) to determine the dose- and time-dependent effect of HCTL and homocysteine (Hcys) on PON-HCTLase activity, as well as to determine mRNA expression of PON by RT-PCR.RESULTSA significant increase in HCTL and PON-HCTLase activity was observed in PDR compared with MH (P = 0.036, P = 0.001), with a significant positive correlation between them (r = 0.77, P = 0.03). The in vitro studies on BRECs showed a dose- and time-dependent increase in the PON-HCTLase activity and mRNA expression of PON2 when exposed to HCTL and Hcys.CONCLUSIONSThis is the first study showing elevated levels of vitreous HCTL and PON-HCTLase activity in PDR. These elevations are probably a protective effect to eliminate HCTL, which mediates endothelial cell dysfunction. Thus, vitreous levels of HCTL and PON activity can be markers of diabetic retinopathy. The bioinformatics analysis reveals that the structure and function of PON that can be modulated by hyperhomocysteinemia in PDR can affect the dual-enzyme activity of PON.

Aim:To correlate the clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, and histopathological findings of choroidal melanoma in the Indian populationMaterials and Methods:A retrospective analysis of 113 patients of choroidal melanoma over a period of 10 years was done. Patient demography, clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, and histopathological findings were correlated.Results:Among 113 patients histopathologically diagnosed with choroidal melanoma over 10 years, most were males. The mean age was 45.9 ± 14.84 years among which 6 (5.3%) patients were less than 20 years. Thirty-six (31.8%) patients were misdiagnosed. The mean basal diameter was 12.41 ± 1.4 mm. Mixed cell type was seen in 71 (63%) patients, while 28 (25%) patients had spindle cell type. Epithelioid cell type was present in 11 (10%) patients and necrotic cell type was seen in 3 (2%) patients. Enucleation was the primary treatment modality in 107 (94.6%) patients, while exenteration was done in 6 (5.3%) patients. Three patients with epithelioid cell type with orbital extension underwent exenteration. The mean follow-up period was 14 months. No mortality was reported at the end of 5 years in patients with longer follow-up.Conclusions:Malignant melanoma of the choroid is a rare occurrence. They can occur in younger age group and can be misdiagnosed. Mixed cell type is commonest. Diffuse tumors with epithelioid cell type are likely to have orbital extension.

A 32-year-old male presented with decreased vision in right eye since 1 month following trauma with plastic ball. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/160 in right eye and 20/20 in left. Right eye examination revealed angle recession, choroidal rupture, and macular hole. He underwent vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, and 14% C3F8 gas injection. After 6 weeks, BCVA was 20/30; fundus showed macular hole closure. Six months after surgery, fundus revealed retinal vascular lesions suggestive of stage I RAP-like lesions; vision was maintained. Clinical findings were confirmed on Video ICGA, FFA, and OCT. The patient was periodically reviewed and lesions were nonprogressive until last follow-up, 13 months after surgery. It seems quite probable that ILM peeling may have caused retinal microtrauma leading to the formation of RAP-like lesions. What factors lead to such an event is as yet not clearly understood. Hence, larger studies with a longer follow-up are warranted to better understand these findings.