Evaluation of anterior segment parameters between pregnancy trimesters and postpartum with pentacam scheimflug imaging: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the anterior chamber, corneal parameter, and intraocular pressure measurements; and compare the results between trimesters, postpartum and non-pregnant healthy age-matched women. METHODS: This prospective study included 41 pregnant women and 53 non-pregnant women. Four measurements were taken from the pregnant women, in each trimester and postpartum third month, and once from the control group. Of the individuals included in the study, anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), K1 (flat keratometry), K2 (steep keratometry), Kmean (mean value of K1 and K2), anterior chamber angle (ACA), central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), astigmatism value (AST), corneal volume (CV), biometry, axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SFEQ), intraocular lens power (ILP), VA (visual acuity) datas were recorded. RESULTS: We observed a statistically significant decrease in K2, CCT, ACD, AL and CV in the postpartum period (p = 0.025, p < 0.001, p = 0.029, p = 0.005, p = 0.004 respectively) and a statistically significant increase in ACV, CCT, and TCT as the gestational week progressed in the pregnant group (p = 0.007, p < 0.001, p = 0.025, respectively). A statistically significant decrease in IOP towards to the third trimester, and an increase in the postpartum period was observed (p < 0.001). We did not observe statistically significant changes in K1, Kmean, AST, ACA, VA, ILP, and SFEQ values. CONCLUSION: It is important to investigate the physiological changes that may occur during pregnancy, distinguish them from pathological changes, and avoid unnecessary treatment. We consider that it's also important to guide the timing of anterior segment surgeries such as cataract and refractive surgery and to prescribe glasses/contact lenses.

Quality analysis of YouTube videos about thyroid orbitopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos about Thyroid Orbitopathy. METHODS: A YouTube search was performed using the keyword 'Graves eye disease', 'thyroid eye disease', 'thyroid orbitopathy', 'thyroid ophtalmopathy' in the search bar of YouTube. The first 50 videos were analyzed for each keywords, and the first 100 videos that came out were included in the study. The numbers of views, likes, dislikes, comments, daily viewing rate (number of views per day), uploaded source, country of origin, video type (patient experience, scholarly information), and described treatment technique were evaluated for all videos. They were also evaluated regarding their DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), global quality score (GQS) and usefulness score by two independent ophthalmologists. RESULTS: Of the top 100 videos, 94 videos met the criteria. The mean DISCERN, JAMA, GQS and usefulness score were 55.27 ± 16.57, 3.04 ± 0.64, 3.44 ± 0.93 and 3.23 ± 1.1. If we look at the upload source 53 (56.4%) videos were uploaded by physicians, 30 (31.9%) videos by institutions/private health institutions, 7 (7.4%) videos by health channels, 4 (4.3%) videos by patients. All scoring systems showed a statistically significant and strong positive correlation with each other (p < 0.001). A statistically significant positive correlation between viewing rate, likes and comments was observed. As the duration of the video increased, a significant increase in the scores in other scores was observed. CONCLUSION: We observed that the tests we used in the scoring were correlated with each other. Most of the thyroid orbitopathy videos on YouTube were of good quality. Ophthalmologists should guide their patients who want to get information on YouTube to watch videos uploaded by health care professionals.

Comparison of retinochoroidal microvascular circulation in menstrual and postmenopausal periods using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography.

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the possible effects of the postmenopausal period on retinal and choroidal microvascular circulation using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 45 eyes of 45 subjects in menstrual group and 40 eyes of 40 subjects in postmenopausal group. SS-OCTA was used for the assessment of vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), choroidal thickness (CT), choriocapillaris VD, central macular thickness (CMT), nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), and ganglion cell layer (GCL) measurements. RESULT: The VDs of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) measurements were similar in both group. FAZ area was wider in postmenopausal group (0.305 mm2 (range, 0.212-0.498 mm2)) compared to menstrual group (0.271 mm2 (range, 0.131-0.464 mm2)) (p = 0.013). Choriocapillaris VD was significantly lower in postmenopausal group (p = 0.049). CT was thicker in the postmenopausal group, but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.066). Central macular thickness, RNFL, and GCL were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in the literature to evaluate the retinochoroidal microcirculation in the menstrual and postmenopausal periods with SS-OCTA. We observed an increase in both superficial and deep FAZ area and a decrease in choroidal blood flow in the postmenopausal period. We think that this enlargement in the FAZ area may be related to the decreased amount of estrogen.

Assessment of the quality of information on treatment of keratoconus on YouTube.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability, quality and effectiveness of YouTube videos addressing treatment of keratoconus. METHODS: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional and register-based study. A YouTube search was performed using the keyword treatment of keratoconus, and the first 100 videos that came out were included in the study. The numbers of views, likes, dislikes, comments, daily viewing rate (number of views per day), uploaded source (physicians, public or private institution, health channel or patients), country of origin, video type (patient experience, scholarly information), and described treatment technique (contact lens, corneal cross-linking, intrastromal corneal ring, topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy, keratoplasty) were evaluated for all videos. They were also evaluated regarding their DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), global quality score (GQS) and usefulness score by two independent ophthalmologists. RESULTS: Of the top 100 videos, 83 videos met the criteria. The mean DISCERN, JAMA, GQS and usefulness score were 42.92 ± 18.14, 2.7 ± 0.73, 3.07 ± 1.25 and 2.99 ± 1.44, respectively. Of the 83 videos, 35(42.2%) had been uploaded by physicians, 19(22.9%) by patients, 15(18.1%) by health channel, and 14(16.9%) by institutions/private health institutions. In the correlation analysis, the four scoring systems showed a statistically significant and strong positive correlation with each other (p < 0.001). In addition, viewing rate DISCERN, GQS, usefulness scores, number of likes, dislikes and comments showed a statistically significant positive correlation. CONCLUSION: The content of YouTube videos regarding treatment of keratoconus is of generally good quality and is educational for patients. Increasing the number of videos uploaded by healthcare professionals will increase the quality, reliability and informative features of the videos.

Analysis of Retinochoroidal Vasculature in Underweight Women Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Introduction Being underweight (body-mass index < 18.50 kg/m2) is associated with significantly higher morbidity than having normal weight. We aimed to investigate the changes in choroid and retinal capillary microcirculation with optical coherence tomography angiography in underweight female subjects compared with an age- and sex-matched population of healthy subjects. Methods This prospective, cross-sectional study included 48 eyes of 48 healthy female subjects, of whom 23 were underweight and 25 had normal weight. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used for the evaluation of retinal vessel density, foveal avascular zone, subfoveal central macular thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and choriocapillaris flow area. Results The mean choriocapillaris flow area was statistically significantly higher in the underweight group (2.201 ± 0.11 mm2) compared to the control group (2.111 ± 0.11 mm2) (p=0.005). The subfoveal choroidal thickness was higher in the underweight group (340 ± 61.2 µm) compared to the control group (317 ± 20.8 µm) but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.099). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was determined between the groups concerning the vessel density, subfoveal central macular thickness, and foveal avascular zone. Conclusions Being underweight is associated with a higher subfoveal choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris flow area, independent of additional factors, such as age, axial length, intraocular pressure, and major ocular diseases.