WITHDRAWN: "The closest touch to death in psychiatric nursing practice": Experiences of nursing students in a psycho-oncology unit.

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'I live it all together sadness, desperation': A qualitative exploration of psychosocial challenges and needs of young people after suicide attempt.

This study aimed to explore the psychosocial challenges and support needs of young people after suicide attempt. In the research, the phenomenological approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were held with 16 young people shortly after suicide attempt. Data were analysed via content analysis. The data were categorized into five themes: effort to return to the old normal, living with remains, need for support, barriers to seeking help, and awareness. Understanding the psychological challenges and support needs of young people who have attempted suicide will facilitate future research and practice. To support young people in the acute period following the intervention, supportive interventions at the individual, social and political levels need to be established. These findings shed light into the structuring of supportive interventions to be applied to young people following a suicide attempt.

"A different country, a different language, a different culture " Educational experiences of international nursing students studying in Turkey: A qualitative study.

AIM: This study was aimed at investigating the educational experiences of international nursing students in Turkey. BACKGROUND: Nursing education has now gained an international dimension, which creates an environment where students from different cultures come together. In Turkey, nursing education is expanding internationally due to the increasing number of international students. DESIGN: A descriptive- phenomenological qualitative study. METHODS: The study data were collected from nursing students who came to Turkey from 17 different countries between April 2023 and July 2023 to study at a nursing faculty in Turkey using a semi-structured interview form. Of these students, 27 constituted the study sample. The data collected were analyzed using the content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used in reporting the study. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: a) challenges, b) gains, c) support needs and d) recommendations. Among challenges reported by the participating students were language barriers, cultural adjustment issues and lack of social support. As for the gains of being a foreign student, they stated that they experienced intercultural interaction and improved their language skills, independence and self-confidence. In the study, the need for language support, provision of psychological assistance and cultural adaptation support for these students and the importance of practical recommendations such as mentoring programs and orientation trainings to improve their educational experience were emphasized. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in this study, the importance of targeted strategies in nursing education in areas such as language support, psychological assistance and cultural adaptation was emphasized, which helps international students to have a successful educational experience. It was also concluded that mentoring programs and orientation trainings could enrich the educational processes of students by facilitating their adaptation to their new environment. This study is notable in the literature in that students from 17 diverse countries share the same program and the same prerequisites.

First Contact With Transcultural Care: A Phenomenological Study of Practical Turkish Nursing Students' Experiences in a Migrant Health Center.

INTRODUCTION: This study examines the subjective experiences of Turkish students who work in immigrant health facilities providing nursing care to people of different cultures. Nurses are often encountered by immigrants in these centers. Although qualitative research on nurses' experiences assisting immigrants has been often cited in the literature, the literature on nursing students' experiences is limited. METHODOLOGY: The study has a descriptive qualitative design. Data were collected using a face-to-face, in-depth, and semistructured interview form. The data were evaluated using a content analysis method. RESULTS: The study yielded four themes: (a) inability to control emotions, (b) barriers to care involvement, (c) benefits of intercultural care, and (d) recommendations. DISCUSSION: Learning intercultural care is critical in these years of increased immigration. Understanding nursing students' experiences is essential for improving the quality of intercultural care.

One-year results of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy: Evaluation of prognostic factors.

PURPOSE: To present the results and complications of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy in adults with open-angle glaucoma using our different approaches during and after surgery. METHOD: A retrospective comparative study was designed. Patients with regular 12-month follow-up history were included. Two groups were defined: group 1 comprised patients with open-angle glaucoma who underwent gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy surgery alone; group 2 included patients with open-angle glaucoma who underwent combined gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy and cataract extraction. A 30% reduction in preoperative intraocular pressure or postoperative intraocular pressure below 18 mm Hg was considered as surgical success. The success rate, alteration in intraocular pressure, alteration in best-corrected visual acuity, alteration in the need for antiglaucomatous medications, surgical complications, and the need for additional glaucoma surgery were evaluated and compared between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to show the association between the surgical success and possible prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 37 eyes fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this study. An overall mean decrease in intraocular pressure of 11.3 ± 9.3 mm Hg was shown at 12 months (p < 0.001). The medication-free surgical success rate was 37.8% (14/37), and the surgical success rate with medication was 91.8% (33/37) at 12 months. Surgical outcomes were similar between patients who underwent gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy alone and those who had combined gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy and cataract extraction (p > 0.05). The most common postoperative complication was hyphemia (89.1%). There were no complications that threatened best-corrected visual acuity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed one significant association between the presence of blood in Schlemm's canal and surgical success (odds ratio = 1.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.25-1.68; p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy procedure is an effective and minimally invasive form of glaucoma surgery. Its effect was related to intraoperative blood in Schlemm's canal.

Anatomic and functional results of idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane surgery.

AIM: To assess the impact of macular surgery on the functional and anatomic outcomes in patients with grade 2 epiretinal membrane (ERM), and the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on visual acuity and to analyze the long-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: Pseudophakic eyes (62 eyes) diagnosed as idiopathic grade 2 ERM with at least 6mo postoperative follow-up were included in this retrospective study. The fellow eye was nonvitrectomized. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (29 eyes) treated with ERM and ILM peeling and group 2 (33 eyes) with only ERM peeling. Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp, and a dilated fundus examination was performed. IOP was measured with Goldman applanation tonometer before, day 1 and first week and each visit after surgery. The incidence of significant IOP elevation was compared between vitrectomized eyes and nonvitrectomized fellow eyes. RESULTS: Visual improvement was statistically significant and similar in both groups (P=0.008 in group 1, P=0.002 in group 2, P=0.09 inter-group). The amount of decrease in central macular thickness was statistically significant and similar in both groups (P=0.005 group 1, P=0.008 group 2, P=0.37 intergroup). At the final follow-up (14.1±9.6mo) the incidence of significant IOP elevation was 4% in vitrectomized eyes (three eyes) and 3% (two eyes) in the nonvitrectomized fellow eyes (P=0.12). Four eyes (12.1%) had recurrent ERM after a mean follow-up of 8.6±1.1mo in group 2, there was no recurrence in group 1 (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Recurrence of ERM may be decreased by ILM peeling during ERM surgery. However, it seems that ILM peeling do not affect the functional outcome and 23-gauge PPV alone do not have a significant effect on IOP.

Gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy as an option after failed trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy profile of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) in patients with open-angle glaucoma with a history of previous failed trabeculectomy surgery. METHOD: This case-series study included 26 eyes of 26 consecutive patients with a mean age of 64.1 ± 4.5 (56-78) years who underwent GATT using the 5/0 prolene suture to treat medically uncontrolled moderate to advanced glaucoma despite the previous trabeculectomy surgery. At baseline and each visit, Snellen best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOP values, cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio, retinal nerve-fiber layer thickness and mean deviation values in visual field test were recorded. Need for medication or further glaucoma surgery were noted. Surgical success was defined as final IOP ≤ 15 mmHg and ≥ 20% IOP reduction from baseline without any further glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: Twelve (46.2%) patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and fourteen (53.8%) patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) underwent GATT. Average baseline IOP was 25.3 ± 5.4 (16-45) mmHg. Mean follow-up time was 17.8 ± 4.1 (12-26) months. Mean baseline BCVA was 0.47 ± 0.25. Surgical success was achieved in 16 of 26 (61.5%). In ten of patients, medically uncontrolled glaucoma persisted after GATT surgery and they underwent further glaucoma surgery. PEXG patients showed a higher IOP reduction than POAG patients did at last follow-up (45.6% vs 34.8%). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that GATT was an effective procedure as a second IOP-lowering surgery in PEXG patients having previous failed trabeculectomy. However, in POAG patients having previous failed trabeculectomy, GATT seems to have a limited efficacy.

The results of aflibercept therapy as a first line treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To report the results of aflibercept treatment in treatment-naive neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and suggest a suitable treatment algorithm for routine clinical practice. METHOD: The medical charts of patients treated with intravitreal aflibercept for neovascular AMD were reviewed retrospectively. Best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, dilated fundus examination, applanation tonometry, and a total number of aflibercept injections were recorded. Aflibercept therapy was applied in an as-needed algorithm after three monthly loading dose. Additionally, optic coherence tomography data, including presence or absence of macular fluid and central macular thickness were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-eight eyes of 36 patients were included in this study. The mean number of aflibercept injections was 4.86 ± 2.76 (3-18). Mean follow-up time was 12.1 ± 5.7 months (6-26). Thirty-seven eyes (97.3%) achieved maintenance of vision. The mean best corrected visual acuity (logMAR) increased from 0.98 ± 0.56 (0.2-2.4) to 0.57 ± 0.31 (0.1-1.3), (P = 0.001). Mean visual acuity gain was 15.86 ± 12.18 letters at the end of the study. The mean central macular thickness decreased from 327.9 ± 56.5 µm (219-474 µm) to 277.0 ± 53.0 µm (197-405 µm), (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Aflibercept therapy appears to be a safe and effective treatment for neovascular AMD. Injections applied in an as-needed algorithm after three monthly loading doses were successful to maintain and improve visual acuity.

Preoperative prognostic factors for macular hole surgery: Which is better?

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the prognostic factors of different optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters as well as the tamponade used in surgery, on postoperative anatomical and functional success. METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes of 27 patients were included in this study. A three-port 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed on all eyes with peeling of the internal limiting membrane by visualization with brilliant blue dye by the same surgeon (E.U). Apical diameter (AD), base diameter (BD), and height (H) were manually measured by the same retina specialist (E.U) with using the software on OCT machine. Macular hole index (MHI), tractional hole index, diameter hole index, and macular hole volume (MHV) were calculated. The correlation between predictive factors and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated. RESULTS: A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between preoperative BCVA, AD, BD, MHV, and postoperative BCVA scores. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between preoperative MHI and postoperative BCVA scores (r = -0.676, P = 0.001). The strongest positive correlation was between BD and postoperative BCVA (logMAR) (r = 0.732, P = 0.001). The visual improvement was statistically better in patients treated with C3F8 than SF6. CONCLUSION: BD and MHV could be used as a strong predictive OCT parameters of postoperative functional success.

Anterior Segment Optic Coherence Tomography Changes Before and After Phacoemulsification in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare measurements of values such as the anterior chamber angle (ACA), thickness of the iris, thickness of the cornea, and the angle-opening distance (AOD) of eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma before and after undergoing phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). METHODS: The data of 49 eyes of 39 glaucoma patients who presented at the Cataract and Refractive Surgery Unit of the Ophthalmology Clinic of , University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Traning and Research Hospital between December 2014 and May 2016 were included in the study. All of the patients were examined with AS-OCT. All of the preoperative and postoperative data were evaluated statistically using a paired t-test and the Wilcoxon test. A statistical significance level of alpha was accepted as p<0.05. RESULTS: The AS-OCT measurements of 39 patients (22 women and 17 men) with primary open-angle glaucoma were included in the study. The median age of the total population was 67±8years. No statistically significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative measurements of the corneal thickness (p=0.480). However, there was a statistically significant difference between measurements of the ACA, AOD (500µm and 750µm), thickness of the iris curvature, anterior chamber depth, and trabecular-iris space area before and after the operation (p<0.001). Intraocular pressure (IOP) levels decreased significantly in the first and third months after surgery (p=0.019; p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study with AS-OCT imaging has confirmed after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients with glaucoma, the angle of the anterior chamber grows wider. As a result, IOP decreases and becomes easier to control.

The outcomes of aflibercept therapy in patients with age-related macular degeneration resistant to bevacizumab or ranibizumab.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the functional and anatomic outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept injection in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) refractory to intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab therapy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 43 eyes of 43 patients resistant to treatment with at least 6 injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Persistent intraretinal and subretinal fluid (IRF and SRF) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), no improvement in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and a central macular thickness (CMT) increase of more than 100 µm due to SRF and/or IRF compared to baseline for at least 6 monthly intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab injections were defined as resistant to bevacizumab/ranibizumab therapy. BCVA, intraocular pressure (IOP), CMT, maximum retinal thickness (MRT), and maximum pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height (MPEDH) were evaluated before and after aflibercept injections. RESULT: After initiating aflibercept treatment, the mean final BCVA logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution or recognition (logMAR) improved to 0.84 ± 0.59 which was statistically significant compared to baseline (1.14 ± 0.51), (P < 0.001). After aflibercept injection, statistically significant reduction was noted in mean CMT (402.6 ± 196.7 µm vs 264.2 ± 52.85 µm, P < 0.05), MRT (435.3 ± 195.2 µm vs 282.2 ± 31.8 µm, P < 0.05), and MPEDH (154.2 ± 86.0 µm vs 68.3 ± 70.6 µm, P < 0.05). There was no correlation between the total number of previous injections and the increase of BCVA (r = -0.10, P = 0.265). The decrease of mean IOP was statistically significant under aflibercept treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed the efficacy of aflibercept treatment in eyes with persistent retinal or SRF under bevacizumab or ranibizumab therapy. A significant anatomical and functional improvement was noted.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implants for Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) implants in eyes with diabetic macular edema that did not respond to previous treatment. METHODS: We included 46 eyes of 46 patients in this retrospective study. Each month, we recorded patient visual acuity with logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart, central macular thickness measurements with optical coherence tomography, intraocular pressure (IOP), and posttreatment complication occurrence. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 8.95 ± 1.33 months (range, 6 to 12). Best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in the first 4 months after IVD, but no statistically significant change was observed over the following 2 months. Although a statistically significant decrease in central macular thickness was observed in the first 3 months, the change was not statistically significant in the following 3 months. There was a statistically significant increase in IOP in the first 2 months, but no statistically significant change was observed in the following months. IOP was controlled with medication in all patients with elevated IOP. Of the 26 phakic patients, two had cataracts requiring surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Cases of refractory diabetic macular edema that did not respond to previous treatment, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections and laser photocoagulation, exhibited improvements in visual acuity and decreases in retinal thickness after IVD implantation. Both functional and anatomical effects were observed in the first 3 months after injection. Repeat injections and frequent examination might be required for continued improvement. Side effects, such as cataracts and elevation of IOP, may require medical or surgical treatment.

Restoration of photoreceptors in eyes with diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To show the prognostic value of foveal microstructures using optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the restoration of inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction layer following resolution of diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: Forty-one eyes of 39 patients with IS/OS damage at the time of DME that showed complete resolution of DME were included. Eyes were divided into 2 groups based on the IS/OS integrity at final visit, when edema was completely resolved: always damage group (damage at baseline and at final visit) and initial damage group (damage only at baseline). The OCT characteristics including the extent of the IS/OS damage, central subfield thickness (CST), maximum retinal thickness (MRT), presence or absence of subretinal fluid, duration of diabetic retinopathy, and duration of DME were studied. The integrity of IS/OS was evaluated at baseline and at last follow-up as percentage (0%-100%). RESULTS: Forty-four percent of eyes (18 eyes) achieved complete restoration of IS/OS after resolution of DME. There was no significant difference in CST or MRT during DME between the 2 groups. The always damage group had more IS/OS damage at baseline visit (23.6% ± 6.4% vs 10.7% ± 3.4%, p = 0.043) with a longer duration of DME (p = 0.025). Despite a borderline significance in visual acuity between the 2 groups at baseline (p = 0.05), the always damage group ended up with worse vision at last follow-up (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with shorter duration of DME and less baseline IS/OS damage were more likely to have intact (restored) IS/OS after resolution of DME.

Morphologic changes in the anterior segment using ultrasound biomicroscopy after cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate morphologic changes in the anterior segment using ultrasound biomicroscopic imaging (UBM) after phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation (IOL). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with a mean age of 68.68 ± 8.44 years (range 51-89) who had phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation were included in this prospective study. Several anterior segment parameters including aqueous depth (AQD), trabecular meshwork-iris angle (TIA), ciliary body thickness (CBT), sclera thickness (ST), trabecular meshwork-ciliary process distance (T-CPD), iris-ciliary processes distance (I-CPD), and iris thickness (IT) were measured using UBM preoperatively and at postoperative month 2. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in AQD (p<0.001) and TIA (p<0.001) at postoperative month 2. However, CBT, ST, T-CPD, I-CPD, and IT did not significantly change (p>0.05) during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of the crystalline lens results in change in the anterior segment parameters. Our results confirmed that UBM is a helpful option for the analysis of anterior segment structures both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Assessment of Anterior Segment Changes in Pseudophakic Eyes, Using Ultrasonic Biomicroscopic Imaging, after Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Silicone Oil or Gas Tamponade.

Objective. To evaluate the morphological changes of the anterior segment using ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM) imaging in pseudophakic patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil or gas (C3F8) internal tamponade agent injection. Method. This prospective study included pseudophakic patients with planned PPV, divided into two groups according to internal tamponade agent: those in which silicone oil was used (n = 27, Group 1) and those in which gas (C3F8) was used (n = 24, Group 2). UBM measurements were performed in the supine position before and one week after surgery. Results. In patients of Group 1, postoperative trabecular meshwork-ciliary process distance (T-CPD) and iris-ciliary process distance (I-CPD), according to preoperative values, were found to be statistically significantly reduced, and postoperative mean value of scleral thickness (ST) and intraocular pressure (IOP), according to preoperative value, was found to be statistically significantly increased. In patients of Group 2, postoperative mean values of anterior chamber depth (ACD), ciliary body thickness (CBT), T-CPD, I-CPD, and IOP, according to preoperative values, were found to be statistically significantly reduced. Preoperatively, in Group 2 patients, according to Group 1 patients, TIA and IOP were found to be statistically significantly increased. Preoperative and postoperative IOP between the measured parameters with UBM showed no statistically significant correlation. Conclusions. Gases cause more morphological changes in the anterior segment structures. It is thought that complications such as increased intraocular pressure can be seen more frequently for this reason.

Cataract Surgery after Retinal Detachment Surgery with Arruga's Sutures: Case Report.

A 56-year old female patient presented to our clinic with a complaint of low vision in her right eye. Twenty-two years earlier she had undergone a scleral buckling operation in her right eye because of retinal detachment. She indicated that vision in her right eye was good after the surgery but had recently been gradually declining. Best-corrected vision acuity was counting fingers at 1 meter in the right eye and 8/10 in the left eye. Anterior segment examination revealed stage 3 nuclear cataract in the right eye. Examination of the right eye was blurred and revealed an area of chorioretinal atrophy posterior to the equator, approximately 3 disc diameters in the peripapillary zone and about 2 disc diameters in the nasal papilla zone. Anteriorly of the equator there was an area of chorioretinal atrophy as well as a narrow, sharply demarcated, shiny 360° suture with high buckling pressure, situated intraretinally but extending into the vitreous in some places. The structure was thought to be made of polyethylene. Around the suture there were retinal atrophic changes. After detailed explanation of the possible surgical complications and after obtaining informed consent, the right eye cataract was removed by phacoemulsification and a foldable intraocular lens was placed into the capsule. During the operation, we worked under low fluid pressure and as atraumatically as possible due to the possibility of intraocular pressure changes and the risk of the suture causing retinal and blood vessel tears or passing completely into the eye and causing intravitreal hemorrhage. A month after an uncomplicated surgery, the posterior segment examination demonstrated a reattached retina and the patient's best corrected visual acuity was 6/10.

Comparison of astigmatism correction using either peripheral corneal relaxing incisions or toric intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and short-term stability of toric intraocular lenses (tIOL) and peripheral cornea relaxing incisions (PCRI) during phacoemulsification. METHODS: Patients with preexisting corneal astigmatism had cataract surgery either with tIOL (AcrySof Toric) (39 eyes of 35 patients) or standard intraocular lens (AcrySof) + PCRIs (38 eyes of 33 patients). Patients were retrospectively evaluated for manifest refraction, corneal topography, and uncorrected and corrected visual acuities preoperatively and at postoperative 1 and 6 months. The Alpins vectorial method was used to analyze the target induced astigmatism (TIA) and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), magnitude of error (the difference between the magnitude of SIA and TIA) (ME), and correction index. RESULTS: Mean preoperative corneal astigmatism was 2.21 ± 1.32 D in the tIOL group and 2.24 ± 0.96 D in the PCRI group; the difference was not significant. The decrease in astigmatism was significant in both groups at last follow-up (64% tIOL group, 32% PCRI group, p<0.01, Wilcoxon signed rank test). The mean remaining refractive astigmatism was significantly higher in the PCRI group than in the tIOL group at 1-month (1.42 ± 1.22, 0.89 ± 0.68, respectively) and 6-month follow-ups (1.75 ± 1.37 D, 0.92 ± 0.72, respectively) (p<0.01). The mean ME was significantly lower (-0.35 versus -0.88) with a higher correction index (0.96 versus 0.56) in the tIOL group at 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Both tIOL implantation and using PCRI were effective methods to reduce preoperative astigmatism at the time of the cataract surgery. However, tIOLs provided better remaining astigmatism with a more stable refraction than PCRI.

Structural Changes in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Evaluated with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: To detect early structural changes of macular ganglion cell complex (GCC), peripapillary nerve fiber layer (pNFL), and optic nerve head (ONH) topography in subjects with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) using 3-D spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Topcon 3D-2000). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five participants with PEX and 29 healthy control subjects were included in the study. All study participants underwent SD-OCT imaging. Macular NFL, ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL + IPL), pNFL, and ONH parameters were measured in each participant. The results were compared within the two groups. RESULTS: In eyes with PEX, the superior and total mNFL thickness; superior, and total GCL + IPL thickness; superior, inferior, and total GCC thickness; and inferior, temporal, nasal, and total pNFL thickness were significantly thinner than the control subjects. In the topographic evaluation of ONH, there was no significant difference in optic disc area (ODA), cup area, rim area, cup to disc ratio (CDR), cup volume, rim volume, linear CDR and vertical CDR between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In PEX syndrome, similar decreases of the GCC and NFL occurred, and a high correlation existed between the two. Therefore, GCC can potentially be used to detect the early stages of PEX glaucoma.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy in patients with unilateral pseudoexfoliation.

AIM: To compare the anterior segment morphology evaluated using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in patients with clinical pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) in one eye and no clinical XFS in the fellow eye. METHODS: Thirty patients with unilateral XFS were included in the study. All patients underwent evaluation of their anterior segment using UBM with and without dilatation with 1% cyclopentolate. The anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), anterior chamber angle (ACA), ciliary body thickness (CBT), scleral thickness (ST), trabeculae -ciliary processes distance (T-CPD), and iris-ciliary processes distance (I-CPD) were measured using UBM scans. All results between the eyes with clinical XFS and their fellow eyes without clinical XFS were then compared. RESULTS: Before dilatation the eyes with XFS (4.350±0.531 mm) were found to have a significantly thicker lens (P=0.002) than the eyes without XFS (4.238±0.540 mm). In addition after dilatation, the eyes with XFS (4.310±0.500 mm) were found to have a significantly thicker lens than the eyes without XFS (4.160±0.480 mm) (P=0.019). The average ACD, for the group with XFS, comparing pre-dilatation (2.616±0.349 mm) and post-dilatation measurements (2.714±0.413) was found to be statistically increased (P=0.014). The average ACD, comparing pre-dilatation to post-dilatation measurements in patients without XFS (2.680±0.360), (2.720±0.500) was found to be statistically unchanged (P=0.450). DISCUSSION: Crystalline lenses tended to be thicker in the eyes with clinical pseudoexfoliation than their fellow eyes without pseudoexfoliation.