Tear Fluid and Serum Vitamin D Concentrations in Unilateral Pterygium.

SIGNIFICANCE: Vitamin D has antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties, which may play an inhibitory role on pterygium formation. Vitamin D concentration was measured in few studies, and contradictory results have been reported. There is no study investigating tear fluid concentration of vitamin D in pterygium patients. PURPOSE: This study evaluated tear fluid and serum vitamin D concentrations of pterygium patients in comparison with healthy controls. METHODS: Thirty-five (21 male, 14 female) patients with unilateral pterygium and 25 (18 male, 7 female) healthy controls were included in this case-control study. After full ophthalmic examination, blood samples were taken, and basal tear fluid was collected using glass microcapillary tubes. Tear fluid and serum vitamin D concentrations were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation age of patients was 51.7 ± 16.7 years in the study group and 50.6 ± 18.7 years in the control group, respectively (P = .82). The mean tear fluid vitamin D concentration was statistically significantly higher than the mean serum concentration in the study groups (P < .0001). The mean tear fluid (P = .76) and serum vitamin D concentrations (P = .53) did not reveal statistically significant difference between patients and controls. There was no statistically significant difference for tear fluid vitamin D concentration between pterygium eyes and fellow eyes (P = .93). The difference in concentrations was compared within the pterygium subgroups, and it was found that the mean serum vitamin D concentration trended toward lower values as the stage of pterygium increased, and the mean tear fluid vitamin D concentration trended toward higher values as the stage of pterygium increased, although these differences were not statistically significant (all, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Tear fluid and serum vitamin D concentrations do not seem to have a role in pterygium pathogenesis.

FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE WITH MACULAR INTRACHOROIDAL CAVITATION IN A PATIENT WITH PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA.

PURPOSE: To describe a full-thickness macular hole (MH) opening to macular intrachoroidal cavitation in a patient with pathologic myopia. METHODS: Full ophthalmologic examination, fundus camera (Topcon TRC; Topcon Co, Tokyo, Japan), optical coherence tomography (RetinaScan Advanced RS-3000; NIDEK, Gamagori, Japan) imaging, and cataract surgery. RESULTS: A 61-year-old woman admitted with decreased vision in the left eye. Visual acuity was counting fingers from 30 cm. Anterior segment examination showed advanced cataract. Fundus examination revealed pathologic myopia. There was full-thickness MH opening to macular intrachoroidal cavitation in contact with the anterior surface of the sclera subfoveally. Except for the communicating part of MH and macular intrachoroidal cavitation, outer retina, ellipsoid zone, and retinal pigment epithelium were intact. Choroid was intact except for a small part at subfoveal area. The patient received an uncomplicated cataract surgery. Visual acuity improved to 5/10. Because she was satisfied, MH surgery was postponed to a later date. CONCLUSION: Full-thickness MH may occur within the area of macular intrachoroidal cavitation in pathologic myopia.

Evaluation effectiveness of 0.1% nepafenac on injection-related pain in patients undergoing intravitreal Ozurdex injection.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the analgesic effect of topical 0.1% nepafenac solution during intravitreal Ozurdex injection. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study included 59 patients who were diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion or pseudophakic cystoid macular edema and were selected to receive intravitreal Ozurdex injection. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1, consisting of 31 eyes of 31 patients, received topical 0.1% nepafenac with topical anesthesia (0.5% proparacaine HCl, Alcaine; Alcon, TX, USA), and group 2, consisting of 28 eyes of 28 patients, received placebo with topical anesthesia. RESULTS: There were 14 (45.2%) men and 17 (54.8%) women in group 1 and 16 (57.1%) men and 12 (42.9%) women in group 2. The mean age of the subjects was 64.42 ± 5.51 years in group 1 and 62.32 ± 7.54 years in group 2. The median visual analog scale pain score was 2 (1-3) in group 1 and 4 (1-6) in group 2. The visual analog scale pain score was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Topical 0.1% nepafenac has an additive analgesic effect when combined with topical anesthesia for intravitreal Ozurdex injection.

Comparison of the Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Capsulotomy Rate with Viscoimplantation and the Hydroimplantation Intraocular Lens Technique.

PURPOSE: To investigate the rate of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy in the hydroimplantation intraocular lens (IOL) technique. METHODS: This retrospective study was comprised of 6,192 eyes in 3,790 patients who underwent surgery from January 2013 to September 2017 and then were followed up for at least 1 year. The eyes of these patients were divided into two groups: either viscoimplantation or hydroimplantation. The follow-up examinations were carried out on the 1st day, 4th day, 1st month, and 3 months to 1 year postoperatively. The Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates were evaluated by the different IOL implantation techniques and IOL materials. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration of the patients was in the viscoimplantation group 14.85 ± 2.43 and 15.05 ± 1.93 months in the hydroimplantation group. The Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate was significantly lower in the hydroimplantation group compared with the viscoimplantation group for the entire hydrophilic IOL model (p < 0.001). In addition, the Nd:YAG rate was lower in the hydroimplantation group that used a hydrophilic IOL than it was in the viscoimplantation group, which used a hydrophobic IOL. CONCLUSIONS: The hydroimplantation technique reduced the Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate.

Limbal stem cell defficiency associated with primary adrenocortical insufficiency.

Objective: To report a female patient with bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) due to primary adrenocortical insufficiency (PAI). Methods: Case report Results: A 40-year-old female patient had blurry vision, foreign body sensation, tearing, and photophobia for several years. On examination, corneal epithelial haze, surface irregularity, and superficial neovascularization were observed. There was a dull and irregular reflex from the conjunctivalized corneal surface. Medical history revealed that she had a diagnosis of PAI for 11 years and received hormone replacement (fludrocortisone acetate) therapy. With the clinical presentation and examination, the diagnosis was compatible with LSCD. Frequent ocular lubricant and topical steroid drops were initially started and topical cyclosporine treatment was planned for the long term. After 3 weeks, there was no corneal superficial neovascularization and epithelial haze, peripheral stromal haze was still observed. Conclusion: LSCD may rarely be associated with PAI. In patients with LSCD, systemic evaluation should be made to rule out PAI.

Cystoid macular edema following selective laser trabeculoplasty in a patient with ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE: Presentation of a case with ocular hypertension who developed cystoid macular edema (CME) following selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old male patient who had undergone phacoemulsification surgery for traumatic cataract 9 years ago was on ocular hypertension treatment for the last 5 years. Due to uncontrolled intraocular pressure and side effect of medications, a 360° SLT was performed. The patient returned with decrased visual acuity 1 week after the procedure. There was CME in the treated eye. It healed completely after topical prednisolone acetate QID and nepafenac QID for 1 week, and no recurrence was observed during follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Cystoid macular edema may occur following SLT treatment in patients with previous traumatic cataract surgery which responds to topical treatment.

Agreement and repeatability of central corneal thickness measurements by four different optical devices and an ultrasound pachymeter.

PURPOSE: To compare the repeatability and agreement of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), corneal topography (CT) with a combined Scheimpflug-Placido system, optical biometry (OB), specular microscopy (SM), and ultrasound pachymetry (UP). METHODS: A single observer measured CCT twice in 150 eyes of 150 subjects with each of five devices: Nidek RS-3000 Advance OCT, CSO Sirius combined Scheimpflug-Placido disc system CT, Nidek AL-Scan partial coherence interferometry-based OB, Tomey EM-3000 SM, and Reichert iPac ultrasonic pachymeter. Pachymetry values corrected by the SM device software were also recorded. Levels of agreement between devices were evaluated by Bland-Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement, and repeatability for each device was analysed with intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The mean CCTs measured by OCT, CT, OB, SM, corrected SM, and UP were 544.60 ± 29.56, 536.19 ± 32.14, 528.29 ± 29.45, 524.88 ± 32.38, 537.88 ± 32.38, and 545.29 ± 30.75 µm, respectively. Mean CCT differed significantly between the devices (p < 0.05) apart from between OCT and UP, and between CT and corrected SM. Mean paired differences between devices ranged between 0.68 and 20.41 µm. Repeatability with all devices was excellent (> 0.99). The range of limits of agreement was the least between OCT and UP. CONCLUSIONS: Different CCT measurement techniques produce quite different results, so CCT evaluation and follow-up should be performed using the same device or devices with close compatibility.

Effect of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex®) on corneal endothelium in retinal vein occlusion patients : Corneal endothelium after dexamethasone implant injection.

BACKGROUND: To assess corneal endothelial cell changes after intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant (Ozurdex®) injection in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: Twenty-two eyes of 22 patients were assessed prospectively after intravitreal 0.7 mg DEX implant injection. Twenty-two eyes of 22 healthy volunteers served as control group. Corneal endothelial cell parameters including endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation of cell size (CV), percentage of hexagonality (Hex) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were analyzed before and 1 and 3 months after injection by specular microscopy. The results of the study were compared statistically. RESULTS: There were 17 (77.3%) patients with branch RVO and 5 (22.7%) patients with central RVO. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 14.73 mmHg before injection, 17.05 mmHg at 1 month and 17.15 mmHg at 3 months after injection. Mean IOP at 1 and 3 months were significantly higher than pre-injection value (p = 0.002 and p = 0.003, respectively). There was a statistically significant reduction in mean ECD at 3 months after injection compared to pre-injection and 1 month (p = 0.013, p = 0.009, respectively) in the injected eyes. Mean ECD showed no significant difference in the uninjected fellow eyes during the follow up (p>0.05). Mean CV and Hex did not reveal a statistically significant difference in injected and uninjected fellow eyes (p > 0.05). No significant change was observed in mean CCT values during the follow up (p = 0.8). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal dexamethasone implant may cause a transient reduction in corneal endothelial cell density in short term without changing cell morphology.

Corneal endothelial changes following a single session of selective laser trabeculoplasty for pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate corneal endothelial cell parameters after a single session of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEG) patients. METHODS: Corneal endothelial cell parameters of 18 PEG patients were compared with 18 healthy subjects following SLT treatment. All patients underwent SLT treatment to 180 degrees of inferior trabecular meshwork. Corneal measurements were performed using specular microscopy (Noncon Robo SP8000, Konan Medical, Hyogo, Japan). Endothelial cell density (ECD), hexagonal cell ratio (HEX), coefficient of variation (CV) of the corneal endothelial cell layer and central corneal thickness of the patients were measured at each visit. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in ECD (p = 0.004) and a statistically significant increase in CV (p = 0.041) at superior cornea 1 week after SLT. They returned to pre-SLT values at 1 month. One hour post-SLT HEX of inferior cornea was statistically significantly reduced (p = 0.01). At central cornea, there was a significant increase in HEX after 1 week (p = 0.001). Post-SLT IOP showed a significant positive correlation with CV and significant negative correlation with HEX at superior and inferior cornea. There was no correlation between total laser energy used and endothelial cell parameters. CONCLUSION: Effect of a single session of SLT on corneal endothelium of PEG patients appears to be transient, and superior cornea was more affected than central and inferior cornea. All parameters returned to pre-SLT values at 1 month after treatment.

Corneal Endothelial Cell Density and Morphology in Different Trimesters of Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate corneal endothelial cell density (CD) and morphology in different trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS: This prospective study included 66 (66 eyes) pregnant women. The patient group was divided into three subgroups comprised of 22 women in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. An age-matched group of 22 (22 eyes) volunteers served as controls. Corneal measurements were performed using specular microscopy (Noncon Robo SP8000, Konan Medical). Central corneal thickness (CCT) and CD, hexagonal cell ratio (HEX), and coefficient of variation (CV) of the corneal endothelial cell layer of the patients were measured at each trimester. RESULTS: Central corneal thickness did not change significantly during the pregnancy compared to controls (P>0.05). Endothelial CD was decreased in the first trimester and increased in the second and third trimesters, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Hexagonal cell ratio was decreased significantly in the first trimester (P<0.05). There was an increase in the second and third trimesters, which was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Coefficient of variation was increased significantly in the first trimester and showed a significant decrease in the second and third trimesters (P<0.05, respectively). Endothelial CD had a significant positive correlation with CV and HEX had a negative correlation with CV in the second trimester (r=0.438, P=0.041 and r=-0.822, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Central corneal thickness and endothelial CD did not change significantly throughout the pregnancy. Hexagonal cell ratio and CV showed a significant but transient increase in the first trimester.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and adropin levels in age-related macular degeneration.

AIM: To investigate the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and adropin in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. METHODS: Ninety-eight AMD patients were included in the study. Seventy-eight age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group. Fundus florescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed to assess the posterior segment details. Serum VEGFR-2 and adropin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and compared between the study groups. RESULTS: AMD group had significantly increased foveal retinal thickness, serum LDL and HDL levels and significantly decreased subfoveal choroidal thickness (P =0.01, 0.047, 0.025 and <0.001, respectively). Serum VEGFR-2 level revealed a significant decrease in AMD patients compared to controls (26.48±6.44 vs 30.42±7.92 ng/mL, P<0.001). There was an insignificant increase in serum adropin level in AMD patients (6.17±3.19 vs 5.79±2.71 ng/mL, P=0.4). Serum level of VEGFR-2 in AMD patients had a significant negative correlation with foveal retinal thickness (r=-0.226, P=0.025) and a significant positive correlation with subfoveal choroidal thickness (r=0.2, P=0.048). CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrated that the decreased serum VEGFR-2 level may be considered in the development of AMD. Adropin does not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.

Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity in rosacea patients.

PURPOSE: To assess corneal and conjunctival sensitivity in rosacea patients. METHODS: A total of 55 patients with rosacea and 37 control subjects participated in the study. Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity was determined by Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Subjective symptoms of ocular dryness were evaluated using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Schirmer's I test (ST), tear breakup time (tBUT) and ocular surface staining with fluorescein were carried out to measure objective signs. RESULTS: The mean corneal and conjunctival sensitivity did not differ significantly between rosacea patients and controls (all p > 0.05). Schirmer's I test and tBUT were significantly reduced (p = 0.004 for OD and p < 0.001 for OS) and grade of ocular surface staining was significantly high (p = 0.018 for OD and p = 0.038 for OS) in rosacea patients. Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity did not show significant correlation with ST, tBUT, ocular surface staining (Oxford Schema), duration of rosacea and OSDI score. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity did not change significantly in rosacea.

Plasma adropin level in patients with pseudoexfoliation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma adropin levels in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX). This retrospective case-control study included 35 patients with PEX and 35 individuals without PEX who served as controls. Plasma adropin levels with triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and haemoglobin A1c (HGBA1C) concentrations were measured in both groups. The mean serum adropin levels were 3.24 ± 0.95 ng/mL (range, 1.90-7.88 ng/mL) in patients with PEX syndrome and 5.78 ± 2.85 ng/mL (range, 2.08-5.41 ng/mL) in PEX glaucoma patients. There was no statistically significant difference in mean adropin levels between PEX syndrome and PEX glaucoma patients. However, similar adropin levels were found in the PEX glaucoma patients and the control group (P > 0.05). The mean serum adropin levels were 3.34 ± 0.89 ng/mL (range, 1.90-5.39 ng/mL) in the PEX group and 5.78 ± 2.85 ng/mL (range, 3.08-11.06 ng/mL) in the control group. The mean serum adropin level of the PEX group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, HGBA1C, triglycerides levels, or body mass index (all P > 0.05). Adropin level is lower in patients with PEX.

Congenital hypothyroidism in Rieger Syndrome.

Rieger syndrome (RS) is a multiple malformation syndrome characterized by ocular manifestations and extraocular defects. Herein, we report a 9-year-old boy who exhibited Rieger Syndrome phenotype as well as congenital hypothyroidism which may be an underappreciated feature of RS.

Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex) for Refractory Macular Edema Secondary to Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Macular edema (ME) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) often impairs central vision dramatically. A 41-year-old woman diagnosed with RP was referred to our outpatient clinic due to severe visual deterioration in both eyes. The patient was treated with topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, topical corticosteroids and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injections, but her ME recurred. Intravitreal 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex, Allergan) was administered into both eyes without complications. On the fourth day after both injections, visual acuity improved and ME almost totally resolved. No recurrence was observed at follow-up six months later.

Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on retrobulbar blood flow of patients with diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on retrobulbar blood flow of patients with diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistance, and pulsatility indices of central retinal artery (CRA), nasal posterior ciliary artery (NPCA), temporal posterior ciliary artery (TPCA), and ophthalmic artery (OA) were assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography in injected and uninjected eyes of 37 patients at baseline and at day 1 and day 7 after the injection. RESULTS: At day 1 after the injection, peak systolic and end diastolic velocities of the CRA and NPCA in the injected eyes and peak systolic velocity of NPCA in the uninjected eyes decreased significantly (p<0.05, p = 0.025, respectively). Peak systolic and end diastolic velocities were not significantly different in the injected and uninjected eyes at day 7 after the injection (p>0.05). In the injected eyes, there was no significant change in resistance and pulsatility indices (p>0.05), but a decrease in resistance index of NPCA and resistance and pulsatility indices of TPCA occurred in uninjected eyes at day 7 after the injection (p = 0.016, p = 0.023, and p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab affects retrobulbar blood flow in injected and uninjected eyes of patients with diabetic macular edema.

Ocular blood flow in polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) alters ocular blood flow parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Color Doppler imaging of the orbital vessels was performed in 41 eyes of 41 patients with PCOS. Forty-eight eyes of 48 age-matched volunteers served as controls. The ophthalmic artery (OA), the central retinal artery and the posterior ciliary artery were examined. Ocular blood flow indices of the peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index were computed. RESULTS: The peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity of the OA, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery were significantly increased in PCOS patients in comparison to the controls (all P < 0.001). The mean systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index of the OA in PCOS patients were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Ocular blood flow velocity was positively correlated with serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and total cholesterol levels. There was a significant negative correlation between serum glucose and insulin levels and ocular blood flow velocity. CONCLUSION: Ocular blood flow velocity is increased in PCOS patients and vascular resistance seems to decrease only in the OA.

Corneal sensitivity and tear function in neurodegenerative diseases.

PURPOSE: To measure corneal sensitivity and tear function in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and to compare them with age and sex-matched controls. METHODS: Twenty patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 20 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 30 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 10 patients with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and 21 patients with epilepsy (EP) who were recruited from the Kirikkale University Neurology Department during 2012 were included in this prospective study. Five groups of age and sex-matched subjects were selected as controls. Corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Tear function tests included tear break-up time (TBUT) and Schirmer's 1 tests. RESULTS: Compared to their controls, mean corneal sensitivity was significantly reduced in AD, MS, PD and EP patients (all p < 0.05), mean TBUT level was significantly shorter in patients with AD and MS (all p < 0.05) and mean Schirmer's 1 test score was significantly lower in EP patients (p < 0.05). When all groups were compared with each other, reduction of mean corneal sensitivity in AD and PD groups were significantly more than in FA and MS groups (overall p = 0.034). Mean TBUT levels in AD, MS and PD groups were significantly shorter than in FA and EP groups (overall p = 0.001). Mean Schirmer's 1 test scores in AD and PD groups were significantly lower than in MS, FA and EP groups (overall p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Neurodegenerative diseases may be associated with reduced corneal sensitivity and abnormal tear function.