Retrobulbar Short Posterior Ciliary Artery Hemodynamics in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate retrobulbar blood flow changes in the short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs) in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: In this prospective study, there were 22 eyes in the PEG group, 28 eyes in the POAG group, and 28 eyes with senile cataract in the control group. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), mean velocity (Vm), and resistivity index (RI) parameters of the temporal and nasal SPCAs were compared between the study groups. Results: Mean temporal PSV, EDV, and Vm value were significantly lower in both the POAG group and the PEG group (P = 0.049, P = 0.004, P = 0.020), respectively. Temporal SPCA RI values were not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.115). Conclusion: There are retrobulbar blood flow changes in glaucomatous compared to nonglaucomatous eyes. However, SPCAs blood flow characteristics are similar between PEG and POAG subtypes.

Evaluation of subclinical ocular involvement in patients with deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2).

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the peripapillary, macular, and choroidal microvasculature in the eyes of patients with deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2) and no clinical signs of ocular involvement. METHODS: The study included 12 eyes of 12 patients with DADA2 and 24 eyes of 24 healthy subjects. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ), macular vessel densities (VDs) in the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, peripapillary VDs, and choroidal thickness were evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Measurements were compared between DADA2 patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: The median age was 17 (8-25) years in DADA2 patients and 17.5 (7-23) years in control group at the OCTA visit (p = 0.934). FAZ area did not differ between the groups (p = 0.224). In the superficial capillary plexus, whole-image, foveal, and parafoveal VD values were slightly lower in DADA2 patients than in controls (p = 0.054, p = 0.052, p = 0.117). In the deep capillary plexus, whole-image and parafoveal VD values were significantly lower in DADA2 patients than controls (p = 0.010, p = 0.001). VD in the radial peripapillary capillary plexus was also lower in DADA2 patients, with significantly lower peripapillary VD (p = 0.002). Subfoveal choroidal thickness was significantly higher in patients with DADA2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This OCTA study demonstrates that both retinal and choroidal involvement may occur in DADA2 patients before the emergence of evident clinical findings.

The Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctival Secretions of COVID-19 Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions of COVID-19 patients.Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, the records were examined of patients who were treated in the hospital with the diagnosis of COVID-19 between March-May 2020 and were referred to the eye clinic due to ocular symptoms. Conjunctival swabs from both confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases during hospitalization were analyzed.Results: A total of 35 patients (22 suspected, 13 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19) were referred to the eye clinic. Conjunctival swab samples from 3 patients yielded positive PCR results. These three patients were being treated in the intensive care unit, and all were suspected COVID-19 patients.Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 may be detected in patients with suspected COVID-19. Even with conjunctivitis findings, SARS-CoV-2 may not be detected in most conjunctiva swab samples of COVID-19 patients.

Changes in the ganglion cell complex thickness after anti-VEGF treatment for diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To assess tomographic ganglion cell complex changes in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). METHODS: We analyzed data from 35 eyes of 35 previously untreated patients in whom diabetic macular edema improved after three loading doses of anti-VEGF injection and who did not receive repeated injections. We recorded spectral domain-optical coherence tomography assessments of ganglion cell complex and central macular thickness at baseline and monthly for three months, and on the sixth and ninth month after treatment. We compared the results with those of the unaffected eyes in the same patients and with those in a control group of patients with diabetic macular edema who were untreated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the treatment group was 60 ± 4.38 years. The foveal thicknesses measured using optical coherence tomography decreased significantly from baseline to the third month post-injection (p<0.05). The mean ganglion cell complex thickness was 115.08 ± 16.72 µm before the first injection and 101.05 ± 12.67 µm after the third injection (p<0.05). The mean ganglion cell complex was 110.04 ± 15.07 µm on the sixth month (p>0.05) and 113.12 ± 11.15 µm on the ninth month (p>0.05). We found a significant difference between the patients and the control group in terms of mean ganglion cell complex thickness on the second- and third-months post-injection (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the ganglion cell complex thickness in patients with diabetic macular edema decreased after the anti-VEGF injections. We cannot ascertain whether the ganglion cell complex thickness decreases were due to effects of the anti-VEGF agents or to the natural disease course.

Changes in the ganglion cell complex thickness after anti-VEGF treatment for diabetic macular edema / Alterações na espessura do complexo de células ganglionares após tratamento anti-VEGF para edema macular diabético

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess tomographic ganglion cell complex changes in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Methods: We analyzed data from 35 eyes of 35 previously untreated patients in whom diabetic macular edema improved after three loading doses of anti-VEGF injection and who did not receive repeated injections. We recorded spectral domain-optical coherence tomography assessments of ganglion cell complex and central macular thickness at baseline and monthly for three months, and on the sixth and ninth month after treatment. We compared the results with those of the unaffected eyes in the same patients and with those in a control group of patients with diabetic macular edema who were untreated. Results: The mean age of the patients in the treatment group was 60 ± 4.38 years. The foveal thicknesses measured using optical coherence tomography decreased significantly from baseline to the third month post-injection (p<0.05). The mean ganglion cell complex thickness was 115.08 ± 16.72 µm before the first injection and 101.05 ± 12.67 µm after the third injection (p<0.05). The mean ganglion cell complex was 110.04 ± 15.07 µm on the sixth month (p>0.05) and 113.12 ± 11.15 µm on the ninth month (p>0.05). We found a significant difference between the patients and the control group in terms of mean ganglion cell complex thickness on the second- and third-months post-injection (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that the ganglion cell complex thickness in patients with diabetic macular edema decreased after the anti-VEGF injections. We cannot ascertain whether the ganglion cell complex thickness decreases were due to effects of the anti-VEGF agents or to the natural disease course.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as alterações do complexo tomográfico das células ganglionares em pacientes com edema macular diabético tratados com injeções intravítreas do fator de crescimento endotelial anti-vascular (anti-VEGF). Métodos: Analisamos dados de 35 olhos de 35 pacientes previamente não tratados nos quais o edema macular diabético melhorou após três doses de injeção de anti-VEGF e que não receberam injeções repetidas. Registramos avaliações da tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral do complexo de células ganglionares e da espessura macular central na linha de base e mensalmente por três meses e, também no sexto e nono mês após o tratamento. Comparamos os resultados com os olhos não afetados nos mesmos pacientes e com os de um grupo controle de pacientes com edema macular diabético que não foram tratados. Resultados: A média da idade dos pacientes no grupo de tratamento foi de 60 ± 4,38 anos. As espessuras foveais medidas pela tomografia de coerência óptica diminuiram significativamente desde o início até o terceiro mês após a injeção (p<0,05). A espessura média do complexo de células ganglionares foi de 115,08 ± 16,72 µm antes da primeira injeção e 101,05 ± 12,67 µm após a terceira injeção (p<0,05). A média do complexo de célula ganglionar foi de 110,04 ± 15,07 µm no sexto mês (p>0,05) e 113,12 ± 11,15 µm no nono mês (p>0,05). Encontramos uma diferença significativa entre os pacientes e o grupo controle quanto à média da espessura do complexo de células ganglionares no segundo e terceiro meses após a injeção (p<0,05). Conclusão: Nosso estudo mostrou que a espessura do complexo de células ganglionares em pacientes com edema macular diabético diminuiu após as injeções de anti-VEGF. Não podemos determinar se a diminuição da espessura do complexo de células ganglionares ocorreu devido aos efeitos dos agentes anti-VEGF ou ao curso natural da doença.

Evaluation of Foveal Avascular Zone and Capillary Plexus in Smokers Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the macular microvasculature in smokers in comparison to healthy subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: Fifty chronic, regular smokers and 50 healthy non-smokers, as a control group, were recruited for the study. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area (mm2) and vessel density (VD) (%) in the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were evaluated. RESULTS: FAZ area was 0.424 ± 0.100 mm2 in the smoker group and 0.333 ± 0.093 mm2 in the non-smoking control group (P = 0.002). The deep foveal VD was 31.76 ± 6.33% in the smoker group and 53.09 ± 5.88% in the non-smoking control group (P = 0.006). Superficial foveal and parafoveal, deep parafoveal VD were not statistically different between the groups (P = 0.120), (P = 0.337), (P = 0.287), respectively. CONCLUSION: In our study, there was an enlargement of FAZ and reduction of foveal VD at DCP in the eyes of smokers compared with non-smoking adults.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion treated with Anti-VEGF.

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal microvasculature changes in patients treated with anti-VEGF for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: We examined 38 eyes of 19 patients for the study. We measured superficial and deep capillary plexus vessel densities (%), foveal avascular zone areas (mm2), and central macular thicknesses. RESULTS: Parafoveal superficial and deep capillary plexus values were significantly lower in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion than in fellow eyes (p<0.001). We found a significant increase in parafoveal deep capillary plexus values after the anti-VEGF treatment (p=0.032). The mean foveal avascular zone was larger in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion than in control eyes (p<0.001). The mean central macular thickness was significantly higher in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion than in controls, and we observed a significant decrease in central macular thickness after anti-VEGF treatment (<0.001). In addition, the cystic structures in the deep capillary plexus regressed. CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography angiography enables qualitative and quantitative evaluations during follow-up of patients treated for branch retinal vein occlusion.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate vascular density analysis in the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), peripapillary vascular density analysis (PPCVD), and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber thickness analysis (PPRNFL) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in pregnant women with preeclampsia and to compare the obtained values with healthy pregnant and nonpregnant healthy individuals. METHODS: A total of 98 pregnant women (55 had preeclampsia, 43 were healthy pregnant women) and 38 healthy nonpregnant women of reproductive age were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of pregnant women with preeclampsia, group 2 comprised healthy pregnant women without preeclampsia, and group 3 consisted of healthy women who were not pregnant. All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination including OCTA. RESULTS: Superficial foveal density (SFD) and deep foveal density (DFD) were lower in group 1 than in group 3 (p = 0.033, p = 0.041, respectively). Deep parafoveal density (DPD), deep temporal density (DTD), and deep superior density (DSD) values were lower in group 1 than in group 2 and group 3 (p = 0.001). PPRNFL superior and mean values were higher in group 1 and group 2 than in group 3 (p = 0.022, p = 0.029, respectively). The mean superior and inferior RPCVD values were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 and group 3 (p = 0.001, p = 0.043, and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In preeclampsia, OCTA shows changes in the microvascular structure of the retina, even without retinopathy findings on biomicroscopy examination.

The relationship between the central serous chorioretinopathy, choroidal thickness, and serum hormone levels.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study were to compare the levels of serum cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and renin hormone between patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and a control group, and to investigate whether there was a difference regarding serum hormone levels in patients with acute/chronic CSC. METHODS: This prospective study included 30 CSC eyes, 30 fellow eyes, and 32 normal eyes of 32 healthy volunteers who were age and sex matched. The patients were classified as acute or chronic depending on the clinical, fluorescein angiography (FFA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. Serum cortisol, aldosterone, renin, total testosterone, and DHEA levels were measured. The levels of hormones were compared with the values of the control group. Choroidal thickness and central macular thickness were measured with spectral domain OCT. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had acute CSC, and 15 patients had chronic CSC. Serum testosterone levels were 357 ± 10.4 ng/ml in the CSC group, and 255.94 ± 7.43 ng/ml in the control group. The difference between them was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The difference between the levels of cortisol, renin, aldosterone, and DHEA was not statistically significant. Serum hormone levels were within the normal range for all patients and were not statistically different between the acute and chronic CSC groups. CONCLUSION: According to our results, CSC is related to elevated total testosterone levels. Testosterone may play a role in predisposing males to CSC.

Sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation combined with narrow-strip conjunctival autograft for pterygium.

To study the efficacy and safety of sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation combined with narrow-strip conjunctival autograft and to investigate the clinical outcomes. Thirty eyes of 30 patients with primary pterygia were treated in this institutional study with excision followed by sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation combined with narrow-strip conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue tissue adhesive. The main outcome measures were the operating time for ocular surface reconstruction, the size of the pterygium and of the conjunctival autograft, postoperative complications, subjective complaints, and recurrences. The mean pterygium size was 3.12 ± 0.92 mm and the mean operating time was 4.58 ± 1.10 min. Twenty-nine patients (96.7%) had no complaints after first postoperative week. Twenty-eight (93.3%) patients had no recurrences after 1 year follow-up. The sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation combined with narrow-strip conjunctival autograft is an effective procedure with low rate of recurrence. This technique can be considered as a preferred grafting procedure for primary pterygium but further randomized controlled studies including larger populations are needed.