MyMedR

Fulltext Eye disease and international travel: a critical literature review and practical recommendations

Lee JJ, Forristal MT, Harney F, Flaherty GT

J Travel Med, 2023 Jun 23;30(4).

PMID: 37191043 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad068

RATIONALE FOR REVIEW: Eye diseases pose a significant public health and economic burden, particularly for travellers exposed to ocular hazards who may lack access to specialist eye care. This article offers an evidence-based review for travel-health practitioners, with a particular emphasis on ocular infections and trauma that are more prevalent among travellers. Providing an overview of these issues will allow travel health practitioners to comprehensively address ophthalmic considerations of travel.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and Embase electronic databases, using keywords related to travel medicine and ophthalmology. Inclusion was based on the relevant contribution to epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostics, management and long-term consequences of travel-related eye conditions. The data were analysed using narrative synthesis.

KEY FINDINGS: This literature review highlighted that various travel-related eye conditions may occur. Travellers should be aware of the risk of travel-related ocular complications, which can arise from ocular infections, high-risk activities, high altitude and space travel. The economic and logistical challenges associated with medical tourism for ophthalmic procedures are discussed. For travellers with pre-existing eye conditions or visual impairment, careful planning may be needed to promote eye health and ensure safety of travel.

CONCLUSIONS: Travel medicine practitioners should have a comprehensive understanding of the major ocular risks associated with overseas travel, including eye infections, eye injuries and solar eye damage. Further research in this area can enhance overall wellness and alleviate the burden of ocular diseases on travellers. Evidence-based guidelines based on research can also improve the quality of care and prevent long-term vision problems.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections*

Fulltext Ophthalmomyiasis from Chrysomyia bezziana (screwworm fly)

Alhady M, Zabri K, Chua CN

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Aug;63(3):269-70.

PMID: 19248710

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Parasitic/surgery

Fulltext A rare case of subretinal cysticercosis

Nor Zainura Z, Barkeh HJ, Wong JS, Muhaya M

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Dec;60(5):650-2.

PMID: 16515120

This is a case of a 25 year old lady whose eye had been infected by cysticercosis. This case highlighted that the inflammation was due to host immune response. She was treated with oral corticosteroid and the lesions regressed.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis*

Acute retinal necrosis complicating chicken pox in a healthy adult: a case report and review of literature

Tajunisah I, Reddy SC

Ann Ophthalmol (Skokie), 2007;39(1):57-62.

PMID: 17914207

We report a case of unilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN) with marked vitritis and retinal necrosis leading to retinal breaks following chicken pox successfully treated with intravenous acyclovir followed by oral acyclovir, orbital floor triamcinolone injections to contain the inflammation, and barrier laser therapy to secure the retinal breaks with good visual outcome. This case is unusual in its severity and the novel use orbital floor triamcinolone therapy to contain ARN inflammation.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Viral/diagnosis; Eye Infections, Viral/etiology; Eye Infections, Viral/virology

Fulltext Bacterial and fungal keratitis in Upper Egypt: in vitro screening of enzymes, toxins and antifungal activity

Gharamah AA, Moharram AM, Ismail MA, Al-Hussaini AK

Indian J Ophthalmol, 2014 Feb;62(2):196-203.

PMID: 24008795 DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.116463

This work was conducted to study the ability of bacterial and fungal isolates from keratitis cases in Upper Egypt to produce enzymes, toxins, and to test the isolated fungal species sensitivity to some therapeutic agents.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/drug therapy; Eye Infections, Bacterial/microbiology; Eye Infections, Bacterial/epidemiology*; Eye Infections, Fungal/drug therapy; Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology; Eye Infections, Fungal/epidemiology*

Fulltext The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in ocular syphilis

Fathilah J, Choo MM

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Aug;58(3):437-9.

PMID: 14750386

A patient with ocular syphilis is presented. She experienced deterioration in vision following the commencement of treatment due to a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. This is a transient febrile illness that can occur in patients after the first adequate dose of an anti-microbial drug to treat infectious diseases such as syphilis, Lyme disease and relapsing fever. However, a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurring in a patient receiving treatment for ocular syphilis can be serious, resulting in the rapid loss of vision.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/drug therapy*

Dirofilaria causing eye infection in a patient from Malaysia

Rohela M, Jamaiah I, Hui TT, Mak JW, Ithoi I, Amirah A

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2009 Sep;40(5):914-8.

PMID: 19842373

Human dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens have been reported in Malaysia. This is the fourth reported case of dirofilariasis caused by D. repens. The patient was a Chinese male from Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia who presented with a one day history of redness and itchiness over the temporal aspect of his left eye. A worm was seen and later removed from beneath the conjunctiva under local anesthesia and based on the morphological characteristics, it was identified as an immature Dirofilaria repens.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Parasitic/parasitology*

Fulltext Bartonella henselae Neuroretinitis: A Rare Coinfection in POEMS Syndrome

Ab Kahar MEPI, Muhammed J, Hitam WHW, Husin A

Turk J Ophthalmol, 2020 12 29;50(6):371-376.

PMID: 33389938 DOI: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2020.83873

Bartonella henselae is a recognized cause of neuroretinitis in cat scratch disease. Meanwhile, polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, skin changes (POEMS) syndrome with Castleman disease (evidence of lymph node hyperplasia), is a chronic debilitating condition that predisposes to various superimposed infections. B. henselae neuroretinitis implicated in POEMS syndrome has not been reported previously. A 34-year-old asymptomatic man was referred for an eye assessment. Examination showed visual acuity of 6/18 in the right eye and 6/24 in the left eye. On fundus examination, both eyes exhibited typical features of neuroretinitis (optic disc swelling and incomplete macular star). There was otherwise no vitritis or chorioretinitis. Serology for B. henselae revealed high immunoglobulin M (IgM) titer (1:96) indicative of acute disease, and positive immunoglobulin G (IgG) (1:156). He was treated with oral azithromycin for 6 weeks and a short course of oral prednisolone. Subsequently, the visual acuity in both eyes improved with resolution of macular star. However, both optic discs remained swollen.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/complications; Eye Infections, Bacterial/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Bacterial/microbiology

Fulltext Microbial keratitis: aetiological diagnosis and clinical features in patients admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Norina TJ, Raihan S, Bakiah S, Ezanee M, Liza-Sharmini AT, Wan Hazzabah WH

Singapore Med J, 2008 Jan;49(1):67-71.

PMID: 18204773

Corneal ulceration remains one of the major causes of blindness in developing countries, including Malaysia. Our objective is to determine the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, risk factors and the aetiology of microbial keratitis in patients admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis*

Fulltext A case report of ocular toxocariasis

Azira NM, Zeehaida M

Asian Pac J Trop Biomed, 2011 Apr;1(2):164-5.

PMID: 23569750 DOI: 10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60018-X

Ocular toxocariasis is prevalent among children. The symptoms and signs may mimic other ocular pathologies such as malignancies and other infectious diseases (such as toxoplasmosis and syphilis). We presented a case of progressive blurring of vision in a single eye of a 9-year-old boy. The presence of anti-toxocara antibody in serum samples helps to confirmation the diagnosis in our patient. Despite of treatment, the boy had lost his vision on the affected eye.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Parasitic/immunology; Eye Infections, Parasitic/parasitology*

Early-Stage Multifocal Candida chorioretinitis in an Immunocompromised Woman

Chen KJ, Chou HD, Teh WM

Ophthalmol Retina, 2019 10;3(10):887.

PMID: 31585711 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2019.05.023

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology

Fulltext Recent Updates on Treatment of Ocular Microbial Infections by Stem Cell Therapy: A Review

Teh SW, Mok PL, Abd Rashid M, Bastion MC, Ibrahim N, Higuchi A, et al.

Int J Mol Sci, 2018 Feb 13;19(2).

PMID: 29438279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020558

Ocular microbial infection has emerged as a major public health crisis during the past two decades. A variety of causative agents can cause ocular microbial infections; which are characterized by persistent and destructive inflammation of the ocular tissue; progressive visual disturbance; and may result in loss of visual function in patients if early and effective treatments are not received. The conventional therapeutic approaches to treat vision impairment and blindness resulting from microbial infections involve antimicrobial therapy to eliminate the offending pathogens or in severe cases; by surgical methods and retinal prosthesis replacing of the infected area. In cases where there is concurrent inflammation, once infection is controlled, anti-inflammatory agents are indicated to reduce ocular damage from inflammation which ensues. Despite advances in medical research; progress in the control of ocular microbial infections remains slow. The varying level of ocular tissue recovery in individuals and the incomplete visual functional restoration indicate the chief limitations of current strategies. The development of a more extensive therapy is needed to help in healing to regain vision in patients. Stem cells are multipotent stromal cells that can give rise to a vast variety of cell types following proper differentiation protocol. Stem cell therapy shows promise in reducing inflammation and repairing tissue damage on the eye caused by microbial infections by its ability to modulate immune response and promote tissue regeneration. This article reviews a selected list of common infectious agents affecting the eye; which include fungi; viruses; parasites and bacteria with the aim of discussing the current antimicrobial treatments and the associated therapeutic challenges. We also provide recent updates of the advances in stem cells studies on sepsis therapy as a suggestion of optimum treatment regime for ocular microbial infections.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections/drug therapy; Eye Infections/therapy*

Ocular surface infections in northeastern state of malaysia: a 10-year review of bacterial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility

Rahman ZA, Harun A, Hasan H, Mohamed Z, Noor SS, Deris ZZ, et al.

Eye Contact Lens, 2013 Sep;39(5):355-60.

PMID: 23982472 DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0b013e3182a3026b

Ocular surface infections that include infections of conjunctiva, adnexa, and cornea have the potential risk of causing blindness within a given population. Empirical antibiotic therapy is usually initiated based on epidemiological data of common causative agents. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the bacterial agents and their susceptibility patterns of isolates from ocular surface specimens in our hospital.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/drug therapy; Eye Infections, Bacterial/microbiology*

Reddy SC, Tajunisah I

Ann Ophthalmol (Skokie), 2008;40(1):39-44.

PMID: 18556981

Fifty-six contact lens-related corneal ulcers (central in 32; hypopyon in 24 and stromal abscess in 6) were studied. Culture was positive in 78.9%. Corneal ulcers healed with intense antibiotic therapy in nearly all patients. Increased awareness of lens care/disinfection and frequent replacement of storage cases and solution, and early detection of pathogens and intensive appropriate antibiotic therapy are key points in management.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/drug therapy; Eye Infections, Bacterial/microbiology*

Dengue Maculopathy Associated with Choroidopathy and Pseudohypopyon: A Case Series

Ng CWK, Tai PY, Oli Mohamed S

Ocul Immunol Inflamm, 2018;26(5):666-670.

PMID: 27929712 DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2016.1254804

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Viral/diagnosis; Eye Infections, Viral/etiology*

Fulltext Vector and reservoir host of a case of human Brugia pahangi infection in Selangor, peninsular Malaysia

Muslim A, Fong MY, Mahmud R, Sivanandam S

Trop Biomed, 2013 Dec;30(4):727-30.

PMID: 24522144 MyJurnal

A case of human eye infection caused by Brugia pahangi was reported in 2010 in a semi rural village in Selangor, peninsular Malaysia. Our report here reveals results of investigation on the vector and animal host for the transmission of the infection. We conducted entomological survey and cat blood examination in the vicinity of the patient's home. The mosquito species Armigeres subalbatus was incriminated as the vector, whereas cat served as the reservoir host.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Parasitic/parasitology

Fulltext Role of intravitreal/intracameral antibiotics to prevent traumatic endophthalmitis - Meta-analysis

Thevi T, Abas AL

Indian J Ophthalmol, 2017 Oct;65(10):920-925.

PMID: 29044054 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_512_17

Traumatic endophthalmitis is a devastating condition that can occur following an open globe injury and result in loss of vision. The use of prophylactic antibiotics is empirical as most surgeons fear complications associated with the same. No systematic review has been performed in English on the role of intravitreal/intracameral antibiotics in preventing traumatic endophthalmitis. We searched for randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials comparing intracameral/intravitreal antibiotics with placebos on PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library using keywords open globe/trauma/penetrating/perforating injuries endophthalmitis. The last search was on 5 May 2017. We included patients of all ages with open globe injuries who received intracameral/intravitreal antibiotics, regardless of the dose. Quality of the trials was assessed using Cochrane collaboration tools to assess the risk of bias. The main outcome measures were endophthalmitis and visual acuity. We included three trials. Overall, intravitreal/intracameral antibiotics were noted to significantly reduce the occurrence of endophthalmitis in open globe injuries (relative risk [RR] 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.57). The use of intravitreal/intracameral antibiotics did not have an effect in improving visual acuity (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.61-2.23). Two trials (Narang 2003; Soheilan 2001) were observed to have no significant effect on visual acuity while another trial (Soheilan 2007) did not list visual acuity as part of its objectives. Intracameral/intravitreal antibiotics reduce the risk of endophthalmitis in open globe injuries; although, there was no improvement in the visual acuity. We, therefore, recommend the use of intravitreal/intracameral injections in open globe injuries to prevent this devastating complication.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Bacterial/etiology; Eye Infections, Bacterial/prevention & control*

Fulltext Chronic endogenous fungal endophthalmitis: diagnostic and treatment challenges: A case report

Abu Talib DN, Yong MH, Nasaruddin RA, Che-Hamzah J, Bastion MC

Medicine (Baltimore), 2021 Apr 09;100(14):e25459.

PMID: 33832156 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025459

RATIONALE: Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE) is a sight-threatening complication of systemic fungemia. As the prevalence rises, treatment remains a challenge especially when there is a failure in first-line treatment or drug-resistant fungus. This case report studies a case of chronic EFE, focusing on the diagnostic procedures, treatment options, monitoring parameters and the treatment outcome.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 64-year-old man with underlying well controlled diabetes mellitus was treated with 2 weeks' course of intravenous antifungal fluconazole for pyelonephritis as his blood culture grew Candida albicans. Concurrently, he complained of 3 months of bilateral painless progressive blurring of vision. At presentation, his visual acuity (VA) was light perception both eyes. Ocular examination revealed non granulomatous inflammation with dense vitritis of both eyes.

DIAGNOSIS: He was diagnosed with EFE but the condition responded poorly with the medications.

INTERVENTIONS: He was treated with intravitreal (IVT) amphotericin B and fluconazole was continued. Vitrectomy was performed and intraoperative findings included bilateral fungal balls in the vitreous and retina with foveal traction in the left eye. Postoperatively, vision acuity was 6/24, N8 right eye and 2/60, N unable for left eye with extensive left macular scar and hole. Vitreous cultures were negative. He received multiple IVT amphotericin B and was started on topical steroid eye drops for persistent panuveitis with systemic fluconazole. Ocular improvement was seen after switching to IVT and topical voriconazole. Despite this, his ocular condition deteriorated and he developed neovascular glaucoma requiring 3 topical antiglaucoma agents. Panretinal photocoagulation was subsequently performed.

OUTCOMES: At 3 months' follow-up, his vision acuity remained at 6/24 for right eye and 2/60 for the left eye. There was no recurrence of inflammation or infection in both eyes.

LESSONS: Voriconazole could serve as a promising broad spectrum tri-azole agent in cases of failure in first-line treatment or drug-resistant fungus.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Fungal/therapy*

Fulltext Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient: case report and review of literature

Shatriah I, Mohd-Amin N, Tuan-Jaafar TN, Khanna RK, Yunus R, Madhavan M

Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol, 2012 Apr-Jun;19(2):258-61.

PMID: 22623872 DOI: 10.4103/0974-9233.95269

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is a fungal infection that can be fatal especially in immunocompromised patients. It is extremely rare in immunocompetent individuals. We describe here an immunocompetent patient who survived rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis due to Saksenaea vasiformis, and provide a literature review of this rare entity.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Fungal/complications; Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology

Fulltext Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis: a treatment dilemma

Jeevanan J, Gendeh BS, Faridah HA, Vikneswaran T

Med J Malaysia, 2006 Mar;61(1):106-8.

PMID: 16708746 MyJurnal

A case of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is presented showing its aggressive nature and progression of disease. The typical clinical features, neuroimaging and histological findings are highlighted in this report. Amphotericin B and surgical debridement remain the mainstay of treatment. However, associated co-morbidities need to be addressed.

Matched MeSH terms: Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis*; Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology; Eye Infections, Fungal/surgery*

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 52 in total