PURPOSE:Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) have paved the way for automated analysis and detection of various anterior and posterior segment diseases in ophthalmology. The goal of this study is to review the literature surrounding the utilization of AI for oculoplastic diseases or conditions. METHODS:A literature search was conducted on Pubmed and Embase using a combination of terms including AI and oculoplastics, blepharoptosis, eyelid ptosis, brow lift, blepharoplasty, eyelid aesthetics, entropion, eyelid reconstruction, eyelid malposition, periocular cancer, periorbital melanoma, eyelid tumor, eyelid cancer, mohs reconstruction, orbital inflammation, orbital decompression, thyroid eye disease, thyroid ophthalmopathy, giant cell arteritis, lacrimal gland or lacrimal duct, dacryoadenitis, orbital fracture, orbital infections. AI large language models were excluded. RESULTS:This review included 19 studies on eyelid and brow ptosis, 16 on periocular and intraocular cancer, 9 on orbital trauma and tumors, 17 on autoimmune, infectious, and inflammatory conditions of the orbit and malformations, and 30 on thyroid eye disease, with focus on clinical diagnosis, severity, and prediction of therapeutic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:Oculoplastics has seen an expansion of potential uses for AI, focusing on diagnosis of ptosis and brow ptosis, detection of eyelid cancer from pathology slides and clinical photographs, detection and diagnosis of orbital tumors and orbital processes, evaluation of radiographic images, and detection and monitoring of thyroid eye disease. Across applications, results may be promising, however, there are significant challenges such as data privacy, ethical considerations, acquisition and analysis of nonstandardized imaging data, and the need for continuous validation of AI algorithms in real-world clinical settings.

PurposeThe initial management of patients presenting with orbital inflammatory syndromes (OIS) varies – with some pursuing a diagnostic workup while others treat without any testing. The evidence behind this rationale is limited. A review of patients with orbital inflammation is performed with analysis of diagnostic testing to develop a workflow for such patients.DesignA retrospective review of patients presenting with acute orbital inflammation at a single institution from 2011 – 2020 was conducted.MethodsOrbital imaging was required for inclusion. Patients with high suspicion of neoplasm, bacterial infection, vascular malformation, or thyroid eye disease were excluded. Review of presenting clinical findings, laboratory workup, orbital imaging, and biopsy were performed. Statistical analysis was performed identifying statistically significant diagnostic and treatment maneuvers.ResultsIn total, 172 patients met inclusion criteria (66% female, mean age 46 years). The primary clinical presentation was myositis, dacryoadenitis, and infiltrative in 67, 73, and 32 patients (39.0, 43.0, 18.6%, respectively). Laboratory studies were conducted in 145 (84%) while biopsy was performed in 55 (32%). Specific orbital inflammation (SOI) was diagnosed in 29 (16.9%) with most frequent diagnoses being sarcoidosis, IgG4-related disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The majority (147, 85.5%) was initially treated with steroids, but steroid-sparing agent use was statistically higher in patients with SOI.ConclusionsIn patients presenting with OIS, distinguishing myositis, dacryoadenitis, and infiltrative disease has workup and differential diagnosis impacts. Because SOI is relatively common, sequelae of SOI, and potential steroid-sparing therapy needs, diagnosis via an evidence-based systemic approach is critical.

Purpose of review This review aims to provide a critical appraisal of current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with orbital inflammatory disease (OID). We present the reader with a review of clinical, imaging, laboratory, and biopsy based assessment of OID and review the current treatment modalities utilized including corticosteroids, corticosteroid-sparing (immunomodulatory) agents, radiation, antibiotics, and disease specific therapy. Recent findings Two major developments and trends have emerged in the management of orbital inflammation. First, improved understanding and distinction of inflammation subtypes (myositis, dacryoadenitis, or infiltrative) allows for more nuanced workup and treatment. Second, immunomodulatory agents have shown promise in achieving disease control in cases of truly idiopathic or corticosteroid-resistant OID. Together, these advances have led to fewer adverse effects and better efficacy. Summary The optimal treatment of OID depends on distinguishing between nonspecific and specific inflammation. Nonspecific inflammation tends to respond to corticosteroid therapy with a lower chance of relapse, while specific orbital inflammation often requires targeting the underlying disease with steroid-sparing therapy and immunomodulatory agents.

Purpose: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition with an array of clinical manifestations, which can be complicated by compressive optic neuropathy. It is important to identify patients with TED early to ensure close monitoring and treatment to prevent potential permanent disability or vision loss. Deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been utilized in ophthalmology and in other fields of medicine to detect disease. This study aims to introduce a deep learning model to evaluate orbital computed tomography (CT) images for the presence of TED and potential compressive optic neuropathy.Design: Retrospective review and deep learning algorithm modeling. Subjects: Patients with TED with dedicated orbital CT scans and with an examination by an oculoplastic surgeon over a 10-year period at a single academic institution. Patients with no TED and normal CTs were used as normal controls. Those with other diagnoses, such as tumors or other inflammatory processes, were excluded.Methods: Orbital CTs were preprocessed and adopted for the Visual Geometry Group-16 network to distinguish patients with no TED, mild TED, and severe TED with compressive optic neuropathy. The primary model included training and testing of all 3 conditions. Binary model performance was also evaluated. An oculoplastic surgeon was also similarly tested with single and serial images for comparison.Main Outcome Measures: Accuracy of deep learning model discernment of region of interest for CT scans to distinguish TED versus normal control, as well as TED with clinical signs of optic neuropathy. Results: A total of 1187 photos from 141 patients were used to develop the AI model. The primary model trained on patients with no TED, mild TED, and severe TED had 89.5% accuracy (area under the curve: range, 0.96-0.99) in distinguishing patients with these clinical categories. In comparison, testing of an oculoplastic surgeon in these 3 categories showed decreased accuracy (70.0% accuracy in serial image testing).Conclusions: The deep learning model developed in the study can accurately detect TED and further detect TED with clinical signs of optic neuropathy based on orbital CT. The model proved superior compared with human expert grading. With further optimization and validation, this TED deep learning model could help guide frontline health care providers in the detection of TED and help stratify the urgency of a referral to an oculoplastic surgeon and endocrinologist.

To present a modification of the reversible tarsorrhaphy that can be opened and reclosed as necessary by caretakers and the patient. Retrospective case series of patients who underwent the reversible tarsorrhaphy. Materials included intravenous (IV) tubing as bolsters and 4–0 polypropylene suture. The 4–0 suture is first passed through and through one end of IV tubing approximately 20 mm in length. Starting on the lateral upper lid and approximately 4 mm above the lash line, the suture is placed through the skin and into the tarsus. The suture exits through the eyelid gray line. These steps through the eyelid are repeated in the opposite direction. An air knot is tied above the upper eyelid near the base of IV tubing. A second air knot can be tied higher to provide a handle easily allowing the caretaker to close the eyelid. Included were 13 patients (ages 21–95-yeas), indications included lagophthalmos secondary to cicatricial changes from burns (2), keratouveitis (1), neurogenic palsy (3), neurotrophic ulcer (6), and cicatricial changes from skin cancer (1). There were no reported difficulties in maintaining the tarsorrhaphy by either family members or healthcare providers. The first tarsorrhaphy for each patient lasted between 3–19 weeks, with an average of 8 weeks. All were well tolerated. The caretaker-reversible tarsorrhaphy can be used as a temporizing measure. The technique balances the need for ocular protection with the need for examination/treatment by health care professionals and, equally importantly, the patients and caretakers.

A 77-year-old Asian female with a history of left orbit exenteration and lid-sparing reconstruction for recurrent sebaceous carcinoma presented with fluid-like sensation of the left orbit. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated bright T2 signal and a cyst-like cavity within the exenterated orbit. Decision was made to proceed with surgical exploration and excision. A calcified, bone-like cavity was encountered intraoperatively and removed. Histopathology revealed dense fibrous connective tissue with areas of calcification without osseous metaplasia, suggestive of retained blood in the orbit that underwent dystrophic calcification. This case report illustrates a rare occurrence of a bone-like calcific cyst following exenteration.

PurposeTo evaluate the perceived age of patients before and after functional upper blepharoplasty.MethodsRetrospective chart review of patients who underwent upper blepharoplasty by a single surgeon at an academic center. The inclusion criterion was having external photographs before and after blepharoplasty. Exclusion criteria included any other concurrent eyelid or facial surgery. Primary endpoint: perceived change in age after surgery as judged by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) surgeons.ResultsSixty-seven patients (14 men, 53 women) were included. Mean pre-operative age was 66.9 years (range 37.8-89.4) and mean post-operative age was 67.4 years (range 38.6-89). The mean perceived age pre-operatively was 68.9 years, and the mean perceived age post-operatively was 67.1 years, a change of 1.8 years (p = 0.0001 by two-tailed paired T-test). Inter-rater reliability of the observers was measured by intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.77 for pre-operative and 0.75 for post-operative photos. The decreased perceived age was 1.9 years for women, 1.4 years for men, 0.3 years for Asians, 1.2 years for Hispanics, and 2.1 years for whites.DiscussionFunctional upper blepharoplasty by an experienced ASOPRS surgeon was shown to reduce the perceived age of a patient by an average of 1.8 years.

PurposeThe current study queries the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) registry for data on the epidemiology, work-up, and management patterns of autoimmune orbital inflammation.MethodsAnalysis and description of patient data from the IRIS registry between 2013 and 2019 reviewing patients with autoimmune or idiopathic orbital inflammation with filters based on International Classification of Disease (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients with thyroid eye disease, orbital cellulitis, and orbital abscess were excluded.Main Outcome MeasuresDemographic descriptions included gender, age, geographic region, and treatment. Sub-analysis was performed by assessing rates of imaging, biopsy, lab work-up, and diagnostic categories.ResultsIn a final cohort of 20,584 patients, the mean age of onset of orbital inflammation was 51.7 years; 67% female; and 63% Caucasian, 21% unknown, 12% Black, 2.6% Asian, and 1.5% other. Only 49 had imaging, 78 had laboratory work-up, and 1,411 had biopsy codes. Treatment results showed 166 patients receiving antibiotics, 224 patients receiving steroids, and 35 patients receiving both.ConclusionsThis study assessed the epidemiology, diagnostic patterns, and treatment patterns for orbital inflammation through the AAO IRIS registry. Practise patterns suggest a relatively low overall rate of imaging and laboratory studies compared to biopsies, although this certainly under-represents the actual number of imaging and laboratory studies and exemplifies the inherent imprecision of using a large database. However, the methodology of this study provides a framework of approaching the IRIS registry for oculoplastic research.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:In recent years, the field of aesthetic medicine has witnessed a paradigm shift with an increasing demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, including cosmetic injectables. This review aims to delineate the distinctive role played by oculoplastic surgeons in the administration of cosmetic injectables, comparing their expertise to that of nonphysician practitioners. RECENT FINDINGS:Complications arising from cosmetic injections are discussed, including skin discoloration, inflammation, necrosis, vision loss, retinal pathology, and central nervous system adverse effects. Injector expertise, patient factors, type of filler, location of injection, and management strategies are reviewed. Findings highlight diverse practitioner involvement, common adverse effects like skin necrosis and vision loss, with hyaluronic acid fillers being prominent. Areas at the highest risk for ocular complication include the glabella and nose with potential management involving dissolving fillers and reducing pressure. Emphasis is placed on expert injector selection and patient awareness. SUMMARY:The administration of cosmetic injectables requires a profound understanding of facial anatomy, vasculature, and potential complications. In contrast to nonphysician practitioners, oculoplastic and aesthetic surgeons bring a level of anatomical precision and clinical acumen that is essential for navigating the complexities of cosmetic injectables. Emphasis on training and collaboration among practitioners will be essential in advancing the field while prioritizing patient safety and satisfaction.

Orbital cellulitis in the pediatric population is treated primarily with antibiotic therapy. This leaves the inflammatory component unchecked. Corticosteroid therapy has been used to accelerate recovery and decrease the long-term morbidity in other infectious conditions. Its use has also been proposed for pediatric orbital cellulitis. The aim of this manuscript is to conduct a literature review to summarize existing evidence and understand ongoing controversies. Overall, prior investigations on corticosteroid therapy for pediatric orbital cellulitis are limited by their study design and sample sizes. One of the most discussed potential benefits is that adjuvant steroid therapy for pediatric orbital cellulitis is associated with shorter hospitalization without major infectious complications. However, decreased hospitalization length is an imperfect metric, especially without standardized criteria for hospital discharge. Future studies are warranted to better guide the use of adjuvant steroid therapy and to optimize its potential in the management of pediatric orbital cellulitis.

Ocular leishmaniasis, a rare form of vector-borne parasitic infection, can affect the adnexa, retina, uvea, and cornea. Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Leishmania may be a distinct clinical entity as the pathogens act synergistically, enhancing each other's pathogenicity, and leading to more severe forms of the disease. Ocular leishmaniasis in the setting of HIV coinfection most commonly causes anterior granulomatous uveitis, for which the etiology can be either active ocular infection or posttreatment inflammatory phenomenon. Keratitis is not considered to be associated with HIV but has rarely been seen from direct parasite invasion or in association with miltefosine. The judicious use of steroids in the treatment of ocular leishmaniasis is critical as steroid use is paramount to the treatment of uveitis associated with posttreatment inflammatory phenomenon but can worsen the prognosis when given in the setting of active, untreated infection. Here, we present a case of unilateral keratouveitis in a leishmaniasis and HIV-coinfected male following completion of systemic antileishmanial therapy. The keratouveitis completely resolved with only the addition of topical steroids. The rapid resolution with steroids suggests that keratitis, not only uveitis, can be an immune-mediated phenomenon in post- or ongoing-treatment individuals.

Li, Joy AB; Lu, Jonathan E. MD; Bokman, Christine L. MD; Chang, Jessica R. MDEditor(s): Avery, Robert DO; Golnik, Karl C. MD; Froment, Caroline MD, PhD; Wang, An-Guor MD Author Information

Functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of exophthalmos in stable thyroid eye disease (TED) can be achieved with a variety of surgical approaches. This article illustrates modifications of the classic transantral technique to provide a graded orbital decompression and achieve improved cosmesis. A retrospective chart review was performed of stable TED patients who elected to undergo the modified transantral decompression; illustrative cases are described. This modified transantral orbital decompression allows for graded orbital decompression surgery, adding to the range of treatment options for stable TED patients.

Suction aspiration, which has not yet been described in the treatment for myiasis in the periorbital and facial regions, was used to achieve rapid resolution of maggot burden in a 78-year-old patient who presented with a large ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma of the face. This technique also facilitates submission of parasite samples for further analysis. Suction aspiration had no complications, such as significant residual ruptured maggots in the wound or eye injury. Suction aspiration is a safe and efficient technique to reduce maggot burden that has advantages over classic myiasis treatments, especially near the eyes and airway.

Purpose: To provide outcome data for transantral orbital decompression for functional and aesthetic rehabilitation for exophthalmos in stable thyroid eye disease (TED). Methods: Retrospective, non-comparative chart review of consecutive TED patients who underwent primary-graded transantral orbital decompression for exophthalmos by a single surgeon (MAB) between 2005 and 2018. Additional inclusion criteria included follow-up >90 days and no prior orbital surgery. Outcome data collection included millimeters of proptosis reduction, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction. Results: A total 30 patients (47 orbits) were included. Average reduction in proptosis: 2.8 mm (range 0-9 mm, median 2.5 mm). Post-operatively, new onset diplopia occurred in four patients, V2 numbness in 15 patients (17 orbits), and sinusitis in 2 patients (2 orbits). Phone surveys reached 9/30 patients (14 orbits): cosmetic improvement was reported in 14/14 orbits, relief of orbital ache reported in 10/10 orbits with pre-operative ache, relief of dry eye in 8/13 orbits with preoperative dry eye, and overall satisfaction score: 8.9/10 (range 4-10, median 10). Conclusions: Graded transantral orbital decompression is a viable option for stable TED patients with orbital ache, exophthalmos, and exposure keratopathy, resulting in a high degree of functional and cosmetic satisfaction in our cohort.

Lu, Jonathan E. MD; Chang, Jessica R. MD; Berry, Jesse L. MD; In, Gino K. MD; Zhang-Nunes, Sandy MD Author Information

Immunotherapy blocks immunoinhibitory pathways and allows for reversal of immunosuppression caused by malignant tumors. Immunotherapy can cause immune-related adverse events (IrAE) including rash, pneumonitis, colitis endocrinopathy, nephritis, adrenal insufficiency, hepatitis, and uveitis. Limited data exist to predict which patients will have the greatest response to therapy and if there is a correlation between IrAE and immunotherapy effectiveness. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between IrAE and immunotherapy efficacy. A retrospective medical records review was collected of patients with metastatic cancer who received immunotherapy. Data included demographics, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, imaging, time on treatment, best response, disease progression, and presence or absence of IrAE while on treatment. Treatment response was analyzed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors guideline, version 1.1. Overall survival probabilities were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier survival method. 456 patients were included for analysis, 175 (38.4%) had an IrAE while on immunotherapy. The development of IrAE correlated with response rate for complete response, partial response, and overall response rate. A significant increase in overall survival was also seen. The presence of IrAE may be a potential predictive indicator for treatment response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The success of proton beam treatment (PBT) in uveal melanoma depends in part on the accuracy of tumour localisation. This study determined if using ultrasonography (US) to measure the distance between tumour margin and tantalum ring (DTR) in PBT planning improves local treatment success when compared with using intraoperative transillumination (TI) alone. Retrospective analysis of patients with uveal melanoma treated at one centre between January 2006 and June 2017 with ≥12-month follow-up (or until treatment failure). Local tumour control was compared among study groups based on methods for measuring DTR: Group 1 (TI alone), Group 2A (postoperative US alone) and Group 2B (combination). Fifty-four eyes (54 patients) with uveal melanomas were included: Group 1 (22 eyes, 41%), Group 2A (11 eyes, 20%) and Group 2B (21 eyes, 39%). Mean age at diagnosis was 64 years [median 66 years, range 23–86 years]. Fifty tumours (93%) involved the choroid, while four involved the ciliary body (7%). In Group 2B, PBT treatment was based on the DTR obtained using US; DTR differed between TI and US by ≥1 mm for 25 rings in 16 eyes and ≥2 mm for 12 rings in 7 eyes. Five-year Kaplan–Meier estimate revealed a difference in local treatment success between Groups 1 and 2, (0.82 vs. 1.0, p = 0.02) with no difference in overall survival estimate, (0.85 vs. 0.83, p = 0.8). US can be used to measure DTR in PBT planning for uveal melanoma. This may improve accuracy of tumour localisation and improve local treatment success.

Background/aims Enucleation for retinoblastoma is performed less often in the past decade due to increasingly widespread alternative therapies, but enucleation remains an important option. There is a paucity of reports on the current incidence of metastases and metastatic deaths in unilateral retinoblastoma from US centres. Methods Retrospective chart review at five tertiary retinoblastoma centres in the USA for unilateral retinoblastoma patients treated with primary enucleation, 2007–2017, with > 1 year of follow-up or treatment failure. Results Among 228 patients (228 eyes), there were nine metastases (3.9%) and four deaths (1.7%). The Kaplan-Meier estimate at 5 years for metastasis-free survival was 96% (95% CI, 94% to 99 %), and for overall survival was 98% (95% CI 96% to 100%). All metastases were evident within 12 months. Histopathology revealed higher risk pathology (postlaminar optic nerve and/or massive choroidal invasion) in 62 of 228 eyes (27%). Of these higher risk eyes, 39 received adjuvant chemotherapy. There were four subsequent metastases in this higher risk pathology with adjuvant chemotherapy group, with three deaths. Of the nine overall with metastases, seven (78%) showed higher risk pathology. All metastatic patients were classified as Reese-Ellsworth V and International Classification of Retinoblastoma Groups D or E. Initial metastases presented as orbital invasion in seven of nine cases. Conclusions Primary enucleation for unilateral retinoblastoma results in a low rate of metastatic death, but is still associated with a 3.9% chance of metastases within a year of enucleation. Most but not all patients who developed metastases had higher risk histopathological findings.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors produce prolonged responses in select non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, however the identification of patients most likely to benefit is difficult. Pretreatment derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) is an easily calculated marker available in routine clinical care that has shown prognostic value in many cancer treatment settings, but its association with survival in NSCLC patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors is less understood. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 72 NSCLC patients receiving either nivolumab or pembrolizumab between 3/1/15 and 3/1/17 with a median follow-up time of 5.1 months. Patients were compared using Cox proportional hazards models to detect an association between pretreatment dNLR 3 vs ≥3 on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate. Results: Median age was 65 (range: 41 - 86), 65% were male, 40% received ≥ 2 prior systemic therapies and 14% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) ≥ 2. Pretreatment dNLR ≥ 3 was independently associated with shortened OS (median 3.6 vs 8.5 months; HR: 5.4; 95% CI: 2.0 - 14.6; p = 0.001) and PFS (median 2.1 vs 3.4; HR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1 - 4.8; p = 0.027). Conclusion: Pretreatment dNLR ≥ 3 was independently associated with inferior survival in NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in routine practice. Prospective verification of this marker is warranted as it could serve as an inexpensive and widely-available marker for identifying NSCLC patients most likely to benefit from PD-1 inhibitors.