Interleukin 18, soluble cluster of differentiation 40, platelet factor 4 variant 1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin can be used as biomarkers to aid activity and diagnosis in ocular Behçet's disease.

PURPOSE: The molecules human interleukin (IL-18), the soluble cluster of differentiation (sCD40), platelet factor 4 variant 1 (PF4V1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are all markers of inflammation in biological systems and are linked to prognosis in several inflammatory diseases as well. Since there is no study in which the above-mentioned molecules are studied together in ocular Behçet's disease (OBD), the aim of this study is to reveal whether these molecules are activity markers in active (OABD) and inactive (OIBD) disease. METHODS: 30 OABD and 30 OIBD and 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. IL-18, sCD40, PF4V1, and NGAL molecules were studied in blood samples by the ELISA method. RESULTS: When OABD and OIBD were compared to healthy individuals, the levels of IL-18, sCD40, PF4V1, and NGAL molecules were found to be statistically significant. These values were even more significantly higher in patients with OABD. CONCLUSION: When ROC values of IL-18, sCD40, PF4V1, and NGAL are evaluated, it is clear that these four molecules can be used as biomarkers to aid activity and diagnosis in OBD.

Brown syndrome: clinical features and results of superior oblique tenotomy / Síndrome de Brown: quadro clínico e resultados da tenectomia do oblíquo superior

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study was conducted to further define the specific clinical characteristics of patients with Brown syndrome and evaluate the outcomes of superior oblique tenotomy in its surgical management. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical charts of 45 patients with Brown syndrome was performed, which revealed that 11 patients underwent superior oblique tenotomy due to abnormal head posture and/or hypotropia and 1 patient underwent bilateral superior oblique tendon elongation with a silicone band due to abnormal head posture. In the last patient, silicone bands were removed at the postoperative 3rd month due to the lack of improvement in the abnormal head posture and the limitation of elevation in adduction. Simultaneous horizontal rectus muscle surgery was performed in four patients. Results: There was a predominance of female gender, right eye, congenital form, unilaterality, A-pattern, and an abnormal head posture type with a combination of chin up and head tilting. Bilateral form was observed only in female patients. Amblyopia was detected in two patients. Among patients aged >5 years, 40% had reduced stereopsis. Abnormal head posture was found in 60% of patients. More than half of them were diagnosed with a vertical and/or horizontal deviation. Tenotomy procedure eliminated the abnormal head posture in all patients and significantly improved the mean limitation of elevation in adduction and hypotropia (p=0.001, p=0.012). Two patients developed inferior oblique overaction in the operated eye. There was complete spontaneous resolution in two patients. Conclusions: The clinical features of patients with Brown syndrome in our study are considerably consistent with those of previous reports. The present study demonstrated the effectiveness of superior oblique tenotomy with less overcorrection in the surgical treatment of Brown syndrome.(AU)

RESUMO Objetivo: Definir mais detalhadamente as características clínicas específicas de pacientes com síndrome de Brown e avaliar os resultados da tenectomia do músculo oblíquo superior no manejo cirúrgico da síndrome de Brown. Métodos: Prontuários de 45 pacientes com síndrome de Brown foram analisados retrospectivamente. Onze pacientes submetidos à tenectomia do músculo oblíquo superior devido a postura anormal da cabeça ou a hipotropia e um paciente submetido ao alongamento bilateral do tendão do oblíquo superior com uma faixa de silicone devido a postura anormal da cabeça. Neste último paciente, a faixa de silicone foi removida no terceiro mês pós-operatório devido à ausência de melhora na postura anormal da cabeça e à limitação da elevação em adução. Quatro pacientes submeteram-se simultaneamente à cirurgia do músculo reto horizontal. Resultados: Houve predominância de sexo feminino, olho direito, forma congênita, acometimento unilateral, padrão em "A" e um tipo de postura anormal da cabeça combinando queixo elevado e inclinação da cabeça. A forma bilateral foi vista apenas em pacientes do sexo feminino. Foi constatada ambliopia em 2 pacientes. Dentre os pacientes acima de 5 anos de idade, 40% tinham estereopsia reduzida. Postura anormal da cabeça estava presente em 60% dos pacientes. Mais da metade dos pacientes foi diagnosticada com um desvio vertical, horizontal ou ambos. O procedimento de tenectomia eliminou a postura anormal da cabeça em todos os pacientes e melhorou significativamente a limitação média da elevação em adução e a hipotropia (p=0,001 e p=0,012). Dois pacientes desenvolveram hiperação do músculo oblíquo inferior no olho operado. Resolução completa ocorreu espontaneamente em 2 pacientes. Conclusões: O quadro clínico dos pacientes com síndrome de Brown no nosso estudo é bastante consistente com os relatos iniciais na literatura. Este estudo mostrou a eficácia da tenectomia do oblíquo superior, com menor hipercorreção no tratamento cirúrgico da síndrome de Brown.(AU)

Brown syndrome: clinical features and results of superior oblique tenotomy.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to further define the specific clinical characteristics of patients with Brown syndrome and evaluate the outcomes of superior oblique tenotomy in its surgical management. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical charts of 45 patients with Brown syndrome was performed, which revealed that 11 patients underwent superior oblique tenotomy due to abnormal head posture and/or hypotropia and 1 patient underwent bilateral superior oblique tendon elongation with a silicone band due to abnormal head posture. In the last patient, silicone bands were removed at the postoperative 3rd month due to the lack of improvement in the abnormal head posture and the limitation of elevation in adduction. Simultaneous horizontal rectus muscle surgery was performed in four patients. RESULTS: There was a predominance of female gender, right eye, congenital form, unilaterality, A-pattern, and an abnormal head posture type with a combination of chin up and head tilting. Bilateral form was observed only in female patients. Amblyopia was detected in two patients. Among patients aged >5 years, 40% had reduced stereopsis. Abnormal head posture was found in 60% of patients. More than half of them were diagnosed with a vertical and/or horizontal deviation. Tenotomy procedure eliminated the abnormal head posture in all patients and significantly improved the mean limitation of elevation in adduction and hypotropia (p=0.001, p=0.012). Two patients developed inferior oblique overaction in the operated eye. There was complete spontaneous resolution in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical features of patients with Brown syndrome in our study are considerably consistent with those of previous reports. The present study demonstrated the effectiveness of superior oblique tenotomy with less overcorrection in the surgical treatment of Brown syndrome.

Serum Cystatin C Concentrations in Patients with Graves' Ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the concentration of serum cystatin C (CysC) in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and the usability of the serum CysC concentrations in the follow-up of the disease. METHODS: Thirty patients with GO and 30 healthy age-matched volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. GO was diagnosed based on the European Group on Graves' Orbitopathy consensus. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and CysC concentrations were measured in the participants. The serum CysC concentrations were compared between patients with GO and controls. Patients with GO were subdivided into hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients, and their serum CysC concentrations were compared. In addition, the CysC concentrations in hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients with GO were compared separately with those of healthy subjects. Kruskal-Wallis test and Student's t-test were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: The mean serum CysC concentrations in GO patients and controls were 1.04 ± 0.36 and 0.74 ± 0.09 mg/L, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the serum CysC concentrations between patients with GO and control subjects (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients had hyperthyroid status, and 15 patients had euthyroid status. The mean serum CysC concentrations in hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients with GO were 1.35 ± 0.22 and 0.72 ± 0.13 mg/L, respectively. Serum CysC concentrations were significantly higher in hyperthyroid patients than in euthyroid patients (p = 0.001). In addition, hyperthyroid patients had significantly higher serum CysC concentrations than healthy subjects. Among patients with GO, 21 and nine had mild and moderate-to-severe GO, respectively. Active and inactive GO were observed in eight and 22 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The serum CysC concentrations in hyperthyroid patients were higher than those in healthy subjects. Moreover, hyperthyroid patients had higher serum CysC concentrations than euthyroid patients. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these results.

Estimation of angle kappa and pupil barycentre configuration in myopic tilted disc syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the angle kappa and pupil barycentre configuration in patients with myopic tilted disc syndrome (TDS). METHODS: Thirty-five eyes of 35 patients with TDS were included in the study. Thirty-five eyes of 35 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the control group. All measurements were performed with the Lenstar LS 900. Angle kappa was calculated according to Pythagorean theorem using the x and y co-ordinates of the pupil centre. Pupil dx and pupil dy values (pupil dx: x co-ordinate of pupil centre relative to corneal apex, pupil dy: y co-ordinate of pupil centre relative to corneal apex) were used to evaluate the pupil barycentre configuration. Central corneal thickness, white to white (cornea diameter), pupil diameter, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and axial length were also measured. RESULTS: The calculated mean angle kappa distance was 0.27 ± 0.15 mm in the TDS group and 0.29 ± 0.23 mm in the control group (p = 0.42). The mean pupil dx was -0.01 ± 0.24 mm in the TDS group and -0.17 ± 0.14 mm in the control group (p = 0.006). The mean pupil dy was -0.02 ± 0.13 mm in the TDS group and -0.05 ± 0.22 mm in the control group (p = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: The pupil barycentre in TDS cases was statistically significantly closer to the corneal vertex on the horizontal plane compared to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant differences in terms of angle kappa and pupil dy values between the groups. According to our results, refractive surgery can be performed safely with respect to complications related to decentration of ablation zone and decentration of multifocal intraocular lenses in these groups of patients.

Surgical Management of Primary Inferior Oblique Muscle Overaction: A Subgroup-Specific Surgical Approach.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to assess the surgical results of recession and myectomy procedures in a subgroup of patients who had primary inferior oblique muscle overaction. METHODS: The records of 94 patients who had been treated due to primary inferior oblique muscle overaction were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into 2 groups according to the severity of the inferior oblique hyperfunction. Recession was performed for patients with a low grade (+1 or +2) inferior oblique hyperfunction, and patients with high grade (+3 or +4) hyperfunction underwent myectomy surgery. Patients demonstrating a horizontal misalignment underwent conventional horizontal muscle surgery along with an inferior oblique weakening procedure. RESULTS: A total of 134 eyes fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Recession was performed in 95 eyes and myectomy in 39. Surgical success was obtained in 96.8% of the eyes that underwent recession and 97.4% of the eyes that underwent myectomy. Residual inferior oblique hyperfunction was observed in 3 eyes after recession and in 1 eye after myectomy. After surgery, about one-quarter of the patients with unilateral inferior oblique overaction subsequently developed a contralateral inferior oblique overaction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that both recession and myectomy procedures are effective for treating primary inferior oblique hyperfunction with minimal complications when applied in the appropriate patient.

Evaluation of Central Macula, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, and Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness in Congenital Color Vision Deficiency.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the thickness of the central macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and the ganglion cell complex (GCC) in individuals with congenital red-green color vision deficiency (CVD) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: This study included 22 males with a red-green CVD (Group 1) and 22 males with normal color vision (Group 2). The Ishihara test was used to determine CVD. SD-OCT was used to evaluate the central macula, RNFL, and GCC measurements of all of the study participants. The quantitative data of the 2 groups were compared. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for the statistical analysis and a p value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean central macula thickness observed in Group 1 and 2 was 255.00±25.50 µm and 248.95±24.70 µm, respectively. The mean RNFL thickness of Group 1 and 2 was 110.66±14.70 µm and 109.49±9.90 µm, respectively, and the mean GCC thickness of Group 1 and 2 was 97.70±10.80 µm and 97.56±5.10 µm, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in the assessment of the central macula, RNFL, or GCC thickness (p=0.20, p=0.34, p=0.37). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that congenital red-green CVD does not affect the thickness of the central macula, RNFL, or GCC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the thickness of the GCC in individuals with congenital red-green CVD.

Evaluation of Metabolite Changes in the Occipital Cortex of Patients with Idiopathic Infantile Nystagmus or Bilateral Ametropic Amblyopia by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of idiopathic infantile nystagmus (IN) and bilateral ametropic amblyopia on metabolites in the occipital cortex by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. METHODS: The children included in this prospective study were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of 11 patients with idiopathic IN, group 2 consisted of 10 patients with bilateral ametropic amblyopia and group 3 consisted of nine normal children. A single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy examination was performed by placing a region of interest on the occipital cortex of each participant. N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) concentrations were measured in the occipital cortex. This was followed by calculating and comparing the NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios between the three groups. The Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in NAA/Cr ratios between patients with idiopathic IN and normal children, but there was a statistically significant difference between these groups when Cho/Cr ratios were compared; the ratio was higher in the idiopathic IN group. There were no statistically significant differences in NAA/Cr or Cho/Cr ratios between patients with bilateral ametropic amblyopia and normal children. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the neurochemical profile of the occipital cortex is partially affected by idiopathic IN, but not by bilateral ametropic amblyopia.

Inferior Oblique Muscle Overaction: Clinical Features and Surgical Management.

PURPOSE: To further define the clinical features of patients with inferior oblique muscle overaction (IOOA) and evaluate the surgical results in a subgroup of these patients. METHODS: The medical records of 173 patients who underwent inferior oblique muscle (IO) weakening surgery due to primary or secondary IOOA were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were assigned a surgical group based on severity of IOOA and presence of dissociated vertical deviation (DVD) or hypertropia. Patients with +1 or +2 IOOA underwent recession, patients with +3 or +4 IOOA underwent myectomy, and patients with any grade of IOOA and DVD or hypertropia underwent anterior transposition (AT) surgery. RESULTS: A total of 286 eyes of 173 patients who underwent surgery due to IOOA were included in the study. IOOA was accompanied by esotropia, exotropia, abnormal head posture (AHP), pattern strabismus, convergence insufficiency, DVD, facial asymmetry, and nystagmus. The most common comorbid disorder was esotropia. The recession was used in 173 eyes, myectomy in 64, and AT in 49. Surgical success was obtained in 96.0% of eyes that underwent recession, in 98.4% of eyes that underwent myectomy, and in 93.9% of eyes that underwent AT. In the follow-up, IOOA occurred in the fellow eye in 36.1% of patients who underwent unilateral surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study is a comprehensive report on the concomitants of the IOOA. Also, it showed that all of the three surgical procedures including recession, myectomy, and AT are effective in the surgical management of IOOA when performed in select patient groups.

Measurement of Contrast Sensitivity in Patients with Behçet's Disease without Ocular Involvement.

PURPOSE: To evaluate contrast sensitivity in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) without ocular involvement. METHODS: The study group was composed of 47 BD patients (20 to 50 years of age) who did not have ocular involvement. The control group was composed of 47 normal volunteers who were similar to the study group in terms of age and gender. No participants in this study had any ocular or systemic pathologies except for BD. The contrast sensitivity measurements were performed using the Functional Acuity Contrast Test under photopic conditions, and the results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the BD patients and control subjects was 34.5 ± 9.7 and 33.2 ± 7.6 years, respectively. The mean disease duration of the BD patients was 5.5 ± 6.4 years. There was a statistically significant decrease at five spatial frequencies (A, 1.5; B, 3; C, 6; D, 2; and E, 18 cycles per degree) in patients with BD compared with control subjects (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The contrast sensitivity of BD patients without ocular involvement was lower than that of the control group. Further studies seem mandatory to confirm our results.

Effect of inferior oblique anterior transposition in correcting vertical hyperdeviation in primary position.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of inferior oblique anterior transposition (IOAT) on improvement of vertical hyperdeviation in primary position. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review and included 35 eyes of 33 patients (18 males and 15 females). Patients with dissociated vertical deviation were not included in the study. Preoperative and postoperative average follow-up was 11.46 ± 11.73 and 11.43 ± 9.73 months, respectively. The eyes were divided into 5 groups according to the amount of transposition. Inferior oblique muscle was transpositioned 2 mm posterior to the inferior rectus insertion in group 1; 1 mm posterior to the inferior rectus insertion in group 2; parallel to the inferior rectus insertion in group 3; 1 mm anterior to the inferior rectus insertion in group 4; and 2 mm anterior to the inferior rectus insertion in group 5. RESULTS: The mean preoperative and postoperative vertical hyperdeviation were 16.52 ± 5.54 and 0.97 ± 2.34 prism diopters (PD), respectively. The mean preoperative vertical hyperdeviation in group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, and group 5 was 11.0 ± 4.24, 12.88 ± 4.26, 16.63 ±3.50, 19.83 ± 2.71, and 25.5 ± 3.00 PD, respectively. Postoperatively, improvement in vertical hyperdeviation in group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, and group 5 was 11.0 ± 4.24, 11.63 ± 3.20, 15.46 ± 3.19, 18.17 ± 2.23, and 25.5 ± 3.00 PD, respectively. The vertical hyperdeviation had improved 100% in group 1; 90.2% in group 2; 92.9% in group 3; 91.59% in group 4; and 100% in group 5. CONCLUSION: IOAT surgery planned according to hyperdeviation amount has effective and predictable results in correcting vertical hyperdeviation in primary position.

Duane Retraction Syndrome: Clinical Features and a Case Group-Specific Surgical Approach.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of patients with Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) and evaluate the outcomes of surgical approaches based on the characteristics of each patient. METHODS: The records of 38 Caucasian subjects with DRS were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified as type I, II, or III based on the Huber Classification. Ten patients underwent unilateral medial rectus (MR) recession due to abnormal head posture (AHP) and/or esotropia. Four patients underwent Y-splitting and recession of the lateral rectus (LR) with MR recession due to AHP and/or esotropia, upshoot, and globe retraction. RESULTS: There was a preponderance of unilaterality, female gender, left eye, type I, orthotropia, upshoot, and low refractive error. All patients demonstrated globe retraction and fissure narrowing. AHP was only present in unilateral cases. Nine patients had amblyopia. More than half of the patients over 5 years of age had decreased stereopsis. MR recession decreased AHP to less than 8° in all patients. Y-splitting and recession of the LR eliminated upshoot in all four patients. One patient who underwent an 8-mm MR recession demonstrated -2 adduction limitation. CONCLUSIONS: The DRS patients in our study demonstrated features that are consistent with previous reports in the literature. This study emphasizes the need to consider disease classification in the surgical management of DRS patients.

Corneal structure in tilted disc syndrome.

PURPOSE:: To evaluate the central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), and anterior and posterior corneal surfaces using the Scheimpflug imaging system in patients diagnosed with tilted disc syndrome (TDS). METHODS:: The study group (Group 1) and the control group (Group 2) comprised 35 eyes of 35 age-, sex-, and refraction-matched cases. All cases underwent a full ophthalmic examination that included cycloplegic refraction, axial ocular length measurement, and Scheimpflug imaging. RESULTS:: The mean age was 34.68 ± 15.48 years in Group 1 and 34.11 ± 12.01 years in Group 2 (p=0.864). The gender distribution was 18 males and 17 females in Group 1 and 16 males and 19 females in Group 2 (p=0.618). All subjects were Caucasian. The spherical equivalent was 3.62 ± 1.75 D in Group 1 and 3.69 ± 1.51 D in Group 2 (p=0.850). There was no significant difference in age, sex, race, or spherical equivalent between groups. There was no significant difference in mean keratometric value and CV3 (the CV in the central 3 mm) between groups (p=0.232 and 0.172, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in CCT, CV5, and CV7 (CV in the central 5 and 7 mm3, respectively) and total CV between groups (p=0.008, 0.003, 0.023, and 0.019, respectively). The values of all parameters were lower in the study group than in the control group. There was also a statistically significant difference in the anterior elevation parameters of the cornea between groups (p<0.05). The mean values of Group 1 were higher than those of Group 2. There were statistically significant differences in the two parameters referring to the posterior elevation of the cornea between the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION:: The results of this study showed that eyes with TDS have thinner CCT, lower CV, and different anterior corneal curvature than normal eyes.

Corneal structure in tilted disc syndrome / Estrutura da córnea na síndrome de disco inclinado

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), and anterior and posterior corneal surfaces using the Scheimpflug imaging system in patients diagnosed with tilted disc syndrome (TDS). Methods: The study group (Group 1) and the control group (Group 2) comprised 35 eyes of 35 age-, sex-, and refraction-matched cases. All cases underwent a full ophthalmic examination that included cycloplegic refraction, axial ocular length measurement, and Scheimpflug imaging. Results: The mean age was 34.68 ± 15.48 years in Group 1 and 34.11 ± 12.01 years in Group 2 (p=0.864). The gender distribution was 18 males and 17 females in Group 1 and 16 males and 19 females in Group 2 (p=0.618). All subjects were Caucasian. The spherical equivalent was 3.62 ± 1.75 D in Group 1 and 3.69 ± 1.51 D in Group 2 (p=0.850). There was no significant difference in age, sex, race, or spherical equivalent between groups. There was no significant difference in mean keratometric value and CV3 (the CV in the central 3 mm) between groups (p=0.232 and 0.172, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in CCT, CV5, and CV7 (CV in the central 5 and 7 mm3, respectively) and total CV between groups (p=0.008, 0.003, 0.023, and 0.019, respectively). The values of all parameters were lower in the study group than in the control group. There was also a statistically significant difference in the anterior elevation parameters of the cornea between groups (p<0.05). The mean values of Group 1 were higher than those of Group 2. There were statistically significant differences in the two parameters referring to the posterior elevation of the cornea between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that eyes with TDS have thinner CCT, lower CV, and different anterior corneal curvature than normal eyes.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a espessura central da córnea (CCT), o volume de córnea (CV), e a superfície corneana anterior e posterior utilizando sistema de imagem Scheimpflug em pacientes com diagnóstico de síndrome do disco inclinado (TDS). Métodos: O grupo de estudo (grupo 1) e o grupo controle (grupo 2) consistiu de 35 olhos de 35 pacientes pareados por idade, sexo e refração em cada grupo. Todos os casos foram submetidos a um exame oftalmológico completo incluindo refração sob cicloplegia, medida do comprimento axial ocular e avaliação por Scheimpflug. Resultados: A idade média foi de 34,68 ± 15,48 anos no grupo 1 e 34.11 ± 12,01 anos no grupo 2 (p=0,864). A distribuição por sexo foi de 18 homens e 17 mulheres do grupo 1 e 16 homens e 19 mulheres no grupo 2 (p=0,618). Todos os indivíduos eram caucasianos. O equivalente esférico foi 3,62 ± 1,75 D no Grupo 1 e 3,69 ± 1,51 D no Grupo 2 (p=0,850). Não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos para idade, sexo, raça e equivalente esférico. Não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos para o valor médio ceratométrico e CV3 (o volume da córnea na central 3 mm) (p=0,232, p=0,172, respectivamente). Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos para CCT, CV5, CV7 (volume de córnea na região central 5 e 7 mm, respectivamente) e CV total (p=0,008, p=0,003, p=0,023 e p=0,019, respectivamente). Os valores do grupo de estudo foram menores do que o grupo controle para todos os parâmetros. Houve também diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos nos parâmetros elevação anterior da córnea (p<0,05). Os valores médios do grupo 1 foram maiores do que o grupo 2. Não houve diferença entre os dois grupos para os dois parâmetros referentes à elevação posterior da córnea (p<0,05). Conclusões: Nosso estudo mostrou que os olhos com TDS apresentam CCT mais fina, menor volume da córnea e alterações na curvatura corneana anterior quando comparados aos olhos normais.

Evaluation of Anterior Segment's Structures in Tilted Disc Syndrome.

Purpose. To evaluate anterior segment's structures by Pentacam in patients with tilted disc syndrome (TDS). Methods. Group 1 included forty-six eyes of forty-six patients who have the TDS. Group 2 including forty-six eyes of forty-six cases was the control group which was equal to the study group in age, gender, and refraction. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed in both groups. All cases were evaluated by Pentacam. The axial length (AL) of eyes was measured by ultrasound. Quantitative data obtained from these measurements were compared between two groups. Results. There was no statistically significant difference for age, gender, axial length, and spherical equivalent measurements between two groups (p = 0.625, p = 0.830, p = 0.234, and p = 0.850). There was a statistically significant difference for central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber angle (ACA), and pupil size measurements between two groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.0001, p = 0.003, and p = 0.001). Also, there was no statistically significant difference for anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and lens thickness (LT) measurements between two groups (p = 0.130, p = 0.910, and p = 0.057). Conclusion. We determined that CCT was thinner, CV was less, and ACA was narrower in patients with TDS. There are some changes in the anterior segment of the eyes with tilted disc.

Is there any relation between pseudoexfoliation syndrome and Alzheimer's type dementia?

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of Alzheimer-related dementia in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with PEX and 67 age-, gender-, and educational-background-matched control subjects were compared for the presence of Alzheimer-related dementia according to DSM- IV-TR. The effects of cataract, glaucoma, additional ocular and systemic disease on the dementia incidence were also evaluated in patients with PEX and the control group. RESULTS: The frequency of Alzheimer-related dementia was higher in patients with PEX (p = 0.0001). The frequency of dementia in patients who had cataract was higher than in patients without cataract (p = 0.003). There was also an association between additional ocular disease and dementia (p < 0.05). However, there was no association between systemic disease and dementia (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference for the frequency of dementia between patients who had glaucoma or not among patients with PEX (p = 0.953). CONCLUSION: The increased frequency of Alzheimer-related dementia in patients with PEX is important and a possible association between PEX and Alzheimer's disease could be present.

Evaluation of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, macula and ganglion cell thickness in amblyopia using spectral optical coherence tomography.

AIM: To investigate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macula and ganglion cell layer thicknesses (GCC) in amblyopic eyes with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: Thirty six patients with a history of unilateral amblyopia and thirty two children who had emmetropia without amblyopia were included in this study. In this institutional study, 36 eyes of 36 patients with amblyopia (AE), 36 fellow eyes without amblyopia (FE), and 32 eyes of 32 normal subjects (NE) were included. RNFL, GCC and macular thickness measurements were performed with RS-3000 OCT Retina Scan (Nidek Inc CA. USA). RESULTS: The mean global thicknesses of the RNFL were 113.22±21.47, 111.57±18.25, 109.96±11.31µm in the AE, FE, and NE, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference for mean global RNFL thickness among the eyes (P=0.13). The mean thicknesses of the macula were 258.25±18.31, 258.75±19.54, 248.62±10.57µm in the AE, FE and NE, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference for thickness of macula among the eyes (P=0.06). The GCC was investigated into two parts: superior and inferior. The mean thicknesses of superior GCC were 102.57±13.32, 103.32±10.64, 100.52±5.88µm in the AE, FE, and NE, respectively. The mean thicknesses of inferior GCC were 103.82±12.60, 107.82±12.33, 105.86±10.79µm in the AE, FE and NE, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference for thickness of superior and inferior GCC between the eyes (P=0.63, P=0.46). CONCLUSION: The macular thicknesses of AE and FE were greater than the NE, although it was not statistically significant. Amblyopia does not seem to have a profound effect on the RNFL, macula and GCC.

Changes in anterior chamber parameters with the Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug and axial length measurements by ultrasound in patients who use isotretinoin.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of changes in anterior chamber parameters with the Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug and axial length measurements (Alx) by ultrasound in patients who use isotretinoin for the treatment of acne vulgaris. METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients (15 men, 14 women) were evaluated with the Pentacam before the treatment, and at the 3rd and 6th months of treatment. The axial length was evaluated by ultrasound biometry. The non-parametric paired t-test was used to compare pretreatment and 3rd and 6th month anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber angle (ACA) width, central corneal thickness (CCT), lens thickness (LT), pupil size, axial length measurement (Alx) and mean keratometry values (K). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 21.82 ± 4.14 years. The differences between the pretreatment and 3rd and 6th month ACD, ACV, CCT, Alx, LT and mean K values were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The differences between the pretreatment and 3rd and 6th month pupil size measurements were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The differences between the pretreatment and 3rd month ACA measurements were statistically significant (p > 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference with 6th month values (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Isotretinoin treatment causes statistically significant changes in most anterior segment parameters during treatment.

Evaluation of metabolite changes in visual cortex in diabetic retinopathy by MR-spectroscopy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate metabolite changes in the visual cortex of diabetic patients with nonproliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 normal subjects (group 1), 15 patients with diabetes who did not have diabetic retinopathy (group 2), 15 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (group 3), and 15 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (group 4) were included in the study. Furthermore, diabetic patients were divided into two groups according to HbA1c levels (Group A: 20 patients, HbA1c <8%; Group B: 20 patients, HbA1c >8%). In all cases' left visual cortex, amounts of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr) were measured by MRS. NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, and NAA/Cho ratios were calculated. Furthermore, all cases' complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference for NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, and NAA/Cho ratios between groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 (P>0.05). However there was a statistically significant difference for NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios between groups A and B (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference for Cho/Cr ratio between groups A and B (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios decrease in the visual cortex while diabetic retinopathy progresses, these decreases are not statistically significant. While HbA1c levels increase, the NAA concentration decreases in the visual cortex which indicates neuronal loss. The metabolite changes in the visual cortex are associated with acute events rather than chronic.