Despite being one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide, human toxocariasis has been one of the neglected tropical diseases. Although most human infections are asymptomatic, two main syndromes of human toxocariasis are classically recognized: systemic toxocariasis, which encompasses diseases in major organs; and ocular toxocariasis (OT), disease in the eye or optic nerve, caused by the migration of Toxocara larvae into the eye. OT is usually a unilateral disease, which typically presents as retinal granuloma, a yellowish or whitish inflammatory mass, in the posterior pole or peripheral retina. Granuloma itself or other comorbid conditions such as epiretinal membrane, macular edema, and retinal detachment can lead to permanent retinal damage and visual loss in eyes with OT. OT is diagnosed clinically by identification of clinical signs on ophthalmologic examination. Serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of serum antibody against the Toxocara larvae, can confirm the diagnosis. In addition, serum immunoglobulin E and detection of ocular fluid antitoxocara antibody by ELISA may give additional aid to the diagnosis. Standard treatment of OT is corticosteroid in patients with active intraocular inflammation. Although the role of anthelmintic therapy is unclear, favorable outcome has been reported by combined corticosteroid and albendazole therapy in eyes with active inflammation. Prevention, by increasing public awareness and reducing the risk of infection, is also important. Recently, the association between ingestion of uncooked meat or liver and toxocariasis was reported, especially in adult patients. Future research on the potential source of infection, diagnosis, and treatment should be performed.

PurposeRecent reports suggest the association of human papilloma virus (HPV) with retinoblastoma. This study was performed to elucidate whether HPV infection is related to retinoblastoma among Koreans.MethodsA total of 54 cases diagnosed with retinoblastoma were enrolled from Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center. Presence of human papilloma viral DNA was detected by in situ hybridization in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded retinoblastoma tissues using both probes against high- and low risk HPV types.ResultsThe mean age at diagnosis was 22.0 months (range, 1.1 to 98.0 months), and the mean age at enucleation was 27.8 months (range, 1.5 to 112.7 months) among the 54 patients with retinoblastoma. HPV was not detected in any of the retinoblastoma samples using either high risk or low risk HPV probes.ConclusionsOur study, being the first study in the Korean population, proposes that HPV infection may have no causal relationship with retinoblastoma in Koreans.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between ophthalmic parameters—including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography findings—and foveal pit restoration in eyes that had undergone vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) removal.Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data of patients who underwent pars planar vitrectomy for the removal of epirentinal membrane. Only eyes with iERM above stage 2 with a follow-up over 6 months were included. Baseline data and changes in ophthalmic parameters were analyzed from 3 months before to 12 months after surgery. Additionally, we stratified iERM patients into two groups (foveal pit restoration and no restoration group). Longitudinal comparison analyses between the two groups were done in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) areas measurements using swept-source OCT and OCT angiography.Results: Forty-three patients with a mean age of 75 ± 5 years were enrolled. After surgery, BCVA, FAZ, and CFT showed improvements over time (all p < 0.002). Thirty-one patients were designated into the foveal pit restoration (R) group and 12 patients into the no restoration (NR) group. Differences in BCVA and FAZ area in both groups existed up to 6 months. However, BCVA improved and FAZ expanded (R, 0.20 ± 0.05 vs. NR, 0.18 ± 0.04) in both groups showing no statistical difference 12 months postsurgery. The CFT decreased in both groups, but the R group was thinner at every point compared to the NR group (all p < 0.05).Conclusions: The removal of epirentinal membrane in pars planar vitrectomy significantly improves BCVA, decreases the CFT and expands the FAZ. Foveal pit restoration improves BCVA, CFT, and FAZ area possibly at a faster rate in the early months but long-term improvements could be achieved regardless of the status of foveal pit restoration.

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This study aims to report the 12 months results of efficacy and safety of laser photocoagulation and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VeGf) injections for drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (dPED). In this prospective study, patients with treatment naïve bilateral intermediate age-related macular degeneration, featuring dPED, with visual acuity ≤ 83 letters were enrolled. The study group received PASCAL laser (532 nm) along the periphery of the dPED, and the fellow eye served as a control group. To prevent complications of choroidal neovascularization, intravitreal anti-VEGF injections to laser treated eye were performed on a 3-month interval up to 1 year. Primary outcomesdrusen area, PED height-and secondary outcomes-best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, degree of metamorphopsia, NEI-VFQ 25, and fundus autofluorescence-were analyzed. Among 21 patients, a total of 20 patients satisfied the 12 months follow-up. Drusen area and PED height decreased significantly in the laser group, while no significant change appeared in the control group (74.1% vs. − 3.5%, P < 0.001; 76.6% vs. 0.1%, P < 0.001). Mean BCVA improved 4.6 letters in the laser group (vs. 1.1 letters in the control group, P = 0.019). As for safety, one study eye developed retinal pigment epithelial tear, and one control eye developed retinal angiomatous proliferation. Low energy laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF injection in eyes with dPED showed some improvement in visual acuity. dPED regressed without developing center involving GA in the study eye, but a longer term follow-up is necessary to reveal the efficacy and safety of these treatments. The 2-year results of this study will be followed to reveal long term efficacy and safety of the treatment for dPED.

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Background To compare the efficacy of intraoperative localized and 360-degree laser photocoagulation in 23-gauge limited pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods This retrospective, comparative, consecutive, interventional study included 155 eyes of 155 patients who underwent primary repair of RRD utilizing 23-gauge PPV with at least six months of follow up. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and the corresponding demographic data, preoperative ophthalmic features, surgical management, and postoperative course were recorded. Main outcome measures included single surgery anatomical success, pre- and post-operative visual acuity, and complications. Results Eighty-three patients (group A) received localized laser photocoagulation in PPV, while the remaining 72 patients (group B) received underwent circumferential 360-degree laser photocoagulation in PPV. Two skilled-surgeons performed all the surgeries, and 23-gauge PPV instrumentation, a wide-angle viewing system, endolaser photocoagulation, and gas tamponade were used in each case. No significant difference was identified in baseline characteristics. The single surgery anatomical success rate was 96.4 % in group A, and 95.8 % in group B, showing no significant difference (p = 1.00). Primary anatomical failure was caused by re-detachment due to break in 2 eyes in each group (no new break 1 eye, new break 1eye in group A, 2 eyes with no new break in group B), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 1 eye in each group. Other complications were epiretinal membrane in 7 eyes (3 in group A, 4 in group B), and macular hole in 1 eye in group B. There were no differences in pre- and post-operative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) as well as BCVA improvement (p=0.144, p=0.866 and p=0.263, respectively). Conclusion Localized laser photocoagulation showed no difference in anatomic and visual outcome in RRD patients, when compared with 360-degree laser photocoagulation in limited PPV. Routine circumferential 360-degree laser photocoagulation may not be necessary in vitrectomy surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment without severe PVR.