Acute Unilateral Total Visual Loss after Retrogasserian Phenol Injection for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Case Report

Phenol is a neurolytic agent that is widely used by percutaneous retrogasserian injection in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. We report a 78-year-old man who had acute unilateral total visual loss after retrogasserian phenol injection for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The patient's visual acuity, eye movements and the pupillary defect did not improve in the affected eye even after mechanical decompression within 30 minutes and medical treatment, neither in the early period nor during the following two months. The visual loss in this patient seems to result from phenol neurotoxicity rather than mechanical compression of the intraorbital optic nerve. This case demonstrates that although percutaneous retrogasserian phenol injection is a relatively safe and noninvasive method of treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, severe complications may occur.     

Quantitative determination of corneal sensitivity in idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and after neurosurgical interventions on the trigeminal nerve

The purpose of our study was to determine, by use of the electronic Draeger esthesiometer in quantitative, reproductive measurements, the corneal sensitivity in 55 patients with medically treated idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia before and after surgical treatment of the trigeminal nerve and root. 37 patients were included in a prospective study with measurements before and after glycerol rhizotomy, radiofrequency rhizotomy and microvascular decompression (MVD) of the trigeminal root. Moreover, 18 patients were examined retrospectively 7 to 17 years after retrogasserian rhizotomy according to Spiller/Frazier. Corneal sensitivity was determined by the mean value of 3 measurements in each of 5 positions on both eyes. Evaluation of data leads to the following conclusions: In case of neuralgia in the V1 and V2 divisions, corneal sensitivity may decrease without any clinical manifestation. The hypothesis that V2 contributes to corneal innervation got further evidence. Microvascular decompression may lead to a severe decrease of corneal sensitivity. In terms of complications concerning sensory loss of cornea, radiofrequency rhizotomy was the less risky treatment, followed by glycerol rhizotomy, MVD and the retrogasserian rhizotomy according to Spiller/Frazier. Sensitivity affected by prior medical or surgical treatment does not necessarily decrease by further surgical therapy. Postoperatively up to six weeks, corneal sensitivity remained almost the same as shortly after surgical procedure. Keratitis was observed in only one case retrospectively.     

Monocular blindness as a complication of trigeminal radiofrequency rhizotomy

PURPOSE: To raise the awareness of the rare complication of monocular blindness resulting from radiofrequency rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: Case series from tertiary referral centers. Patients were referred after complaint of loss of vision. RESULTS: We report three patients who had trigeminal neuralgia and underwent treatment by radiofrequency rhizotomy. Each developed complete loss of vision in one eye immediately after the procedure. One patient died of an unrelated cause, and pathologic analysis revealed changes compatible with acute trauma to the right optic nerve. CONCLUSION: Our third case confirms the hypothesis that traumatic optic neuropathy after trigeminal radiofrequency rhizotomy results from malpositioning of the rhizotomy needle through the inferior orbital fissure into the orbital apex rather than the foramen ovale.     

Hyperplastic precorneal membranes. Extending the spectrum of neurotrophic keratitis

Neurotrophic keratitis is a recognized complication of the neurosurgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Following a retrogasserian rhizotomy, our patient developed, in addition to the anterior segment abnormalities anticipated with neurotrophic keratitis, an actively growing hyperplastic precorneal membrane originating from the limbal area and overlying intact corneal epithelium. Growth of the membrane continued towards the visual axis until all but the central 3 mm of the corneal epithelium was covered. This previously undescribed observation may indicate that the epithelium of the conjunctival and limbal areas are maintained and regulated by a different physiologic mechanism than that of the central corneal epithelium following sensory deafferentation. The significance of the membrane is discussed in context with the X, Y, Z hypothesis of corneal epithelial maintenance.     

Neuro-ophthalmic considerations in trigeminal neuralgia and its surgical treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this review, we will briefly discuss the clinical manifestations and etiology of trigeminal neuralgia, outline the neuro-ophthalmic features of trigeminal neuralgia, and detail the neuro-ophthalmic side effects and complications of the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. RECENT FINDINGS: There is a variety of surgical treatment modalities available for patients with trigeminal neuralgia intolerable or resistant to medical therapy. Significant ocular and visual morbidity can result from the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. SUMMARY: Percutaneous or open surgical procedures for trigeminal neuralgia can result in corneal anesthesia, neurotrophic keratitis, exposure keratitis, herpetic keratitis, ocular motor cranial neuropathies, and optic neuropathy. Ophthalmologists should be aware of these potential problems because they may need to evaluate and provide care to patients with ocular or visual complaints following surgery for trigeminal neuralgia.     

An unusual case of stabbing eye pain: a case report and review of trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful neurological disorder that affects one or more of the divisions of the trigeminal nerve. It is characterized by brief attacks of stabbing pain that can be excruciating. These attacks may be triggered by a light touch, shaving, or even eating. There has been much debate over the exact etiology of trigeminal neuralgia. One of the main theories is vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve as it leaves the brainstem. Another theory suggests that intracranial tumors--particularly those located in the posterior fossa--may be the cause. Trigeminal neuralgia is also associated with multiple sclerosis. CASE REPORT AND REVIEW: A 79-year-old man came to the eye clinic with signs and symptoms consistent with trigeminal neuralgia involving the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the nerve. A neurological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis, and proper medical treatment was subsequently implemented to relieve his pain. CONCLUSION: Patients who manifest symptoms consistent with trigeminal neuralgia should be referred for a neurological evaluation, including MRI. With the proper medical and/or surgical treatment, the quality of life of these patients can increase dramatically.     

Painful ophthalmoplegia--a clinical case

We present the case of the patient S.M., female, 32 years old, who came in our eye clinic for left painful ophthalmoplegia. The onset of the clinical manifestations was a year and half ago, with the decrease of visual acuity at left eye, left partial ophthalmoplegia (partial lesion of the left oculomotor nerve) and secondary left trigeminal neuralgia. The paraclinical investigations excluded the systemic and locoregional diseases. CT exams, the left internal carotid angiography and the surgical intervention at the Neurosurgery Clinic in Timi?oara revealed a left juxtasella tumor at the base skull, located extradural, which capsule invade the left nerve oculomotor. We conclusion that the painful ophthalmoplegia are complex clinical syndromes, with a different etiopathogenesis (inflammatory, tumoral, vascular malformations: aneurysm etc.) and their diagnosis and treatment need a good interdisciplinary collaboration: ophthalmologist-neurologist-neurosurgeon-endocrinologist-paraclinical exams.     

三叉神经痛患者眼表表现及角膜神经的共焦显微镜观察

背景三叉神经眼支是角膜的主要感觉神经和营养神经,三叉神经痛是否会影响患侧眼角膜的功能和形态尚未见报道。共焦显微镜是角膜无创性活体检测的主要手段。目的观察和分析三叉神经痛患者角膜的共焦显微镜下表现及角膜神经在共焦显微镜下形态和密度的改变。方法收集就诊于河南省人民医院疼痛科的33例三叉神经痛患者,对所有受检眼应用角膜知觉敏感度测量计测定角膜知觉,并进行泪液分泌功能测定、泪膜破裂时间（BUT）测定和共焦显微镜观察,对侧眼作为对照组。结果三叉神经痛组角膜知觉测试的纤维长度为（54．348±6．793）mm,正常对照组的角膜知觉平均值为（55．217±6．480）him,差异无统计学意义（t=0．641,P=0．528）;三叉神经痛组SchiemerI试验的滤纸浸湿长度平均值为（9．390±6．583）mm,正常对照组为（9．300±5．295）mm,差异无统计学意义（t=0．070,P=0．945）;2组的BUT平均值分别为（6．09±4．177）S和（6．13±4．799）s,差异无统计学意义（t=-0．085,P=0．933）。角膜鼻侧、颞侧、上方、下方和中央区上皮下神经丛密度与对照组比较,差异均无统计学意义（P=0．840、0．459、0．268、0．120、0．607）。共焦显微镜下三叉神经痛组角膜上皮下神经丛神经纤维数量减少、扭曲;角膜基质中神经丛纤细、盘旋、弯曲;正常对照组上皮下神经纤维分布较密集,平行分布;角膜基质中神经纤维笔直走行,较上皮下神经纤维粗大且分支较多。结论共焦显微镜结果显示三叉神经痛患者患侧眼较正常眼角膜神经扭曲,但眼表功能和角膜神经密度计数无明显改变。     

Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Choroidal Neovascular Membrane at the Edge of a Healed Choroidal Tuberculoma

The authors present a 36-year-old female with pulmonary tuberculosis who developed a choroidal tuberculoma in the left eye. The choroidal tuberculoma successfully resolved with visual gain following oral anti-tubercular and oral steroid therapy leaving behind a chorioretinal scar. One year after the completion of anti-tubercular treatment, she developed visual loss due to the development of a secondary choroidal neovascular membrane at the fovea. This was treated successfully with one intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the left eye. The fovea remained free of fluid until the last follow-up 10 months after the intravitreal injection. Intravitreal bevacizumab may be an effective modality for treating secondary choroidal neovascular membranes that may form at the edge of a healed choroidal tuberculoma.     

Intraorbital surgery for trigeminal neuralgia

PURPOSE: First-division trigeminal neuralgia, or tic douloureux refractory to medications, presents problems to the surgeon because of the desirability of preserving corneal sensation. A new operation is described that may provide longer duration of pain relief than conventional supraorbital neurectomy, with preservation of the corneal reflex. METHODS: Four patients underwent resection of the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves within the orbit accessed from an upper eyelid skin crease incision. RESULTS: Three patients with typical idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia involving branches of the frontal nerve are without pain 22 to 25 months after surgery. The final patient with atypical pain had no improvement after the procedure. Frontal nerve distribution anesthesia is present in all patients. Postoperative ptosis resolved in all patients within 4 months of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure should be added to the treatment options for patients with first-division trigeminal neuralgia. By avoiding injury to the trigeminal root and ganglion, this surgery carries no risk of facial motor dysfunction, dysthesia, and/or anesthesia in the other trigeminal branches including corneal anesthesia.     

Endophthalmitis from Mycobacterium bovis-bacille Calmette-Guérin after intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin injections for bladder carcinoma

PURPOSE: To present clinical and histologic findings of intraocular infection with Mycobacterium bovis-bacille Calmette-Guérin after intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin injections for treatment of bladder carcinoma. METHODS: A 77-year-old man was initially seen with visual acuity of 20/200, focal retinitis, vasculitis, and progressive vitreous opacity in the right eye and visual acuity of light perception, intraocular inflammation, and a dense cataract in the left eye 14 months after intravesicular injection of live bacille Calmette-Guérin organisms. RESULTS: Vitreous cultures in the right eye demonstrated growth of bacille Calmette-Guérin organisms. Bilateral loss of light perception occurred despite systemic antimy-cobacterial therapy. Histopathologic examination demonstrated nongranulomatous inflammation and acid-fast bacilli in both eyes. CONCLUSION: Delayed endogenous endophthalmitis may develop after intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin injection that may not respond to systemic agents. Intravitreal therapy may be indicated.     

Exudative macular degeneration and intravitreal triamcinolone: 18 month follow up

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone after 18 months of follow up in patients with age-related macular degeneration and subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization considered unsuitable for laser photocoagulation. Methods: Thirty eyes of 28 patients, referred from general eye clinics as well as the private clinic of one of the authors to a hospital-based retinal out-patient clinic, were treated with an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone (4mg). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eyes with loss of six or more lines on a Bailey-Lovie Chart. The incidence of adverse events associated with treatment was also observed. Results: Of the 20 eyes with initial visual acuity (VA) of 6/60 or better, the vision was maintained (± 1 Bailey-Lovie lines) in 11 eyes (55%), while six eyes (30%) suffered severe visual loss (six or more lines). The VA improved by five to six lines in three of 10 eyes with initial vision of 3/60 or worse. Three of four eyes receiving a second injection suffered either progressive cataract or elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) requiring cataract surgery and/or filtering surgery. One of 26 eyes (3%) receiving a single injection showed progression of cataract and elevation of IOP within 6 weeks of treatment and required anti-glaucoma medication for 6 weeks. Progression of nuclear sclerosis 8–12 months after treatment was observed in six of 26 eyes (23%) receiving a single injection. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that a single intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone is reasonably well tolerated by the human eye. The rate of development of severe visual loss was less than reported for historical controls. Because the results are preliminary and uncontrolled, the treatment should not be used routinely until its benefit to patients is established by a prospective, randomized controlled study.     

Sudden blindness after thermocoagulation of the trigeminal ganglion

Sudden blindness during percutaneous thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion occurred in a 72-year-old woman with trigeminal neuralgia. Considered a safe procedure, we highlight the possibility of this serious complication which was probably due to direct damage of the optic nerve.     

Neuroprotective effects of brimonidine treatment in a rodent model of ischemic optic neuropathy

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is a common disorder caused by disruption of the arterial blood supply to the optic nerve. It can result in significant loss of visual acuity and/or visual field. An ischemic optic nerve injury was produced in rats by intravenous injection of Rose Bengal dye followed by argon green laser application to the retinal arteries overlying the optic nerve, causing a coagulopathy within the blood vessels and disruption of optic nerve and retinal perfusion. The effect of brimonidine tartrate eye drops on survival of retinal ganglion cell axons in this experimental paradigm was studied. One eye was treated and the contralateral eye served as a control. Four groups of animals were used for this study. Group 1 received 7 days of treatment with 0.15% brimonidine tartrate eye drops twice a day prior to the ischemic injury. Group 2 animals received 0.15% brimonidine tartrate eye drops twice a day for 14 days after photocoagulation injury. Animal groups 3 and 4 received eye drops of 0.9% NaCl twice a day either daily for 7 days before injury or daily for 14 days, respectively. All rats were sacrificed 5 months after the injury to ascertain long-term optic axon survival. Coagulopathy-induced optic nerve ischemia resulted in a 71% loss of optic axons. Treatment with brimonidine daily for the 7 days prior to the injury resulted in a greater survival of optic axons, with only a 56.1% loss compared to control. Brimonidine treatment every day for 14 days after the ischemic injury did not result in a significant rescue of optic axons compared to injury alone. In summary, the application of brimonidine eye drops for one week prior to an ischemic injury resulted in a statistically significant increase in survival of optic axons within the injured optic nerves. Brimonidine treatment of the eye after the ischemic injury did not result in axon rescue, and axon loss was similar to the injured optic nerves treated with saline only. These results suggest that brimonidine may have potential use for prevention of ION in at-risk patients.     

Síndrome de Horner incompleto como signo de presentación de ependimoma del cuarto ventrículo

Case reportThe case of 44 year old male patient with palpebral ptosis and trigeminal neuralgia as presenting sign of fourth ventricle ependymoma is reported. After surgical treatment, the patient developed a residual paresis of the sixth cranial nerve.DiscussionHorner's syndrome occurs due to an alteration of the sympathetic innervations of the eye and adnexa. Some tumours may be the cause, in our case an ependymoma of the fourth ventricle, which onset exceptionally with blepharoptosis and involvement of the ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve, due to the proximity of these nerve fibres at the brainstem.     

Sympathetic ophthalmia following vitreoretinal surgery

The objective is to discuss the characteristics of three patients who developed sympathetic ophthalmia following vitreoretinal surgery. The first case was a 29-year-old man who underwent placement of an encircling band, pars plana vitrectomy, foreign body removal, endolaser photocoagulation, transscleral cryotherapy, and silicone oil injection due to a retained foreign body 3 months after a corneoscleral rupture repair. He experienced visual loss in the fellow eye 2 months after the vitrectomy. An extensive exudative detachment was detected in the fellow eye. Sympathetic ophthalmia was diagnosed and systemic steroids together with azathioprine were initiated. The injured eye was enucleated as there was no useful vision. The other two cases were operated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. One underwent placement of an encircling band, pars plana vitrectomy, silicone oil injection, and endolaser photocoagulation with good anatomic outcome. However, 4 months later, the fellow eye experienced severe visual loss with disc swelling and hyperemia and exudative retinal detachment. Systemic steroid was sufficient to reverse the process and the visual acuity recovered. The other case underwent placement of an encircling band, subretinal fluid drainage, SF₆ injection and 360° indirect laser photocoagulation. Two years later, he noted a sudden visual decrease in the fellow eye in which we detected a Harada-like extensive exudative detachment. Systemic steroid without immunosuppressive therapy rendered regression of the detachment and recovery of good visual acuity. Sympathetic ophthalmia may occur following vitreoretinal surgery either for trauma-related problems or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Since it may present with relatively mild anterior segment findings and mainly posterior segment involvement; any visual disturbance in the fellow eye of a patient with a history of perforating trauma or vitreoretinal surgery should be thoroughly evaluated for sympathetic ophthalmia.     

Visual improvement of an amblyopic eye in an adult patient after visual loss in the non-amblyopic eye

BACKGROUND: The sensitive period for a successful amblyopia treatment is limited to the age of 11 to 13 years. HISTORY AND SIGNS: We present a 60-year-old patient with complete visual loss on his dominant eye after retinal arterial occlusion. The fellow eye had a known severe amblyopia with a corrected visual acuity of 0.1. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: After retinoscopy the patient received a full correction for his amblyopic eye and the vision increased to 0.25. After three months follow-up visual acuity was 0.5 for single optotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Even in adulthood a attempt at full correction of an amblyopic eye after loss of vision in the dominant eye should be performed for optimising the quality of life.     

Bevacizumab intravítreo en neovascularización coroidea asociada a enfermedad de Best

Case reportA 27-year old woman presented with loss of vision in the right eye (20/200). Ophthalmoscopic examination showed intrarretinal hemorrhage in the macular region with neurosensory detachment in the right eye, and viteliform deposit on the left eye. Fluorescein angiography and the electrooculogram confirmed the diagnosis of choroidal neovascularization associated with Best's disease. Four weeks after a single bevacizumab intravitreal injection, visual acuity was restored (20/25) and remained stable after a 12 month follow-up.DiscussionIntravitreal bevacizumab appears to be an effective treatment for choroidal neovascularization associated to Best's disease.     

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide treatment for serpiginous choroiditis

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection for acute treatment of a patient with serpiginous choroiditis. METHODS: A 50-year-old male patient with serpiginous choroiditis presenting with the complaint of decreased visual acuity in his right eye for the last 10 days. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the patient was counting finger from 1 meter. Fundus examination and fundus fluorescein angiography of right eye revealed active macular choroiditis in right eye. Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (4 mg/0.1 ml) was injected into vitreous, and the patient was followed with visual acuity testing, intraocular pressure measurement, and fundus examination, including fundus fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: Visual acuity of the patient improved to 20/100 after 2 weeks in spite of the triamcinolone crystals, and to 20/50 after 4 weeks with a single dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. Complete resolution of the active lesion has been maintained during the 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Single dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection is sufficient for controlling the active lesions in serpiginous choroiditis. It needs further evaluation as an alternative treatment for achieving rapid and significant visual acuity recovery.     

The management of ocular herpesvirus infections

The many treatment methods in current use for every known complaint only seem to aggravate the difficulty of treating ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, which are generally self-limited in the immunocompetent host. The cornea is already a somewhat immune-deficient tissue since its lack of blood vessels separates it partially from the host, and treatment with glucocorticoids, which are immuno-suppressive, increases the risk of damaging complications such as scarring, prolonged morbidity, bacterial or fungal superinfection, and the occasional corneal perforation. Accepted methods of treatment of specific lesions, are discussed, as are some methods that are not yet accepted, but which seem promising. Herpes zoster may result in scarring and significant loss of vision even without the use of glucocorticoids, the disease often manifesting itself in the already compromised host. The major complication is postherpetic neuralgia. None of the available treatment methods has been fully satisfactory, and every effort should be made to prevent eye lesions in patients with early infection of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. Stimulation of cellular immunity by various means appears to offer some new promise for control of the disease. Management of varicella, cytomegalovirus, and infectious mononucleosis are also discussed.