Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on acute central serous chorioretinopathy: a randomized control trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the positive effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the structural and functional outcomes of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). METHODS: This study included 60 patients with CSCR who were randomly allocated to one of two groups: MBSR or control (which did not practice MBSR). These groups were then evaluated in terms of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at months 1, 3, and 6. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in BCVA or mean CMT between the groups at the beginning of the study (p = 0.615 and p = 0.561, respectively). There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of BCVA at 1, 3, and 6 months (p = 0.018, p = 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). There were also significant differences in the mean CMT across the groups at the first, third, and sixth months (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: MBSR may have beneficial outcomes in the early treatment of patients with CSCR, resulting in faster resolution of subretinal fluid and enhancement of BCVA.

Biochemical and histopathological evaluation of systemic and ocular toxicity of favipiravir in rats.

Purpose: Favipiravir (FAV) used against COVID-19 is an antiviral drug that causes adverse reactions, such as hyperuricaemia, liver damage, and hematopoetic toxicity. The aim of the study was to investigate the systemic and ocular side-effects of FAV in rats, for the first time.Materials and methods: A total of 18 albino male Wistar rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into 3 groups as the healthy group (HG), the group given 50 mg/kg/day favipiravir (FAV50), and the group given 200 mg/kg/d favipiravir (FAV200). These doses were given to the experimental groups for one week. At the end of the experiment histopathological examinations were performed on the conjunctiva and sclera of the eye. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured in blood samples taken from rats. Results: Compared to HG, the MDA (1.37 ± 0.61 vs. 4.82 ± 1.40 µmol/mL), IL-1ß (2.52 ± 1.14 vs. 6.67 ± 1.99 pg/mL), and TNF-α levels (3.28 ± 1.42 vs. 8.53 ± 3.06 pg/mL) of the FAV200 group were higher. The levels of tGSH (7.58 ± 1.98 vs. 2.50 ± 0.98 nmol/mL) and SOD (13.63 ± 3.43 vs. 3.81 ± 1.43 U/mL) the FAV200 group were lower than the HG (p < 0.05, for all). The degree of damage to the cornea and sclera of the FAV200 group was quite high according to HG (p < 0.001). Conclusions: FAV can cause damage to rat conjunctiva and sclera by increasing oxidant stress and inflammation at high dose.

Twelve-Month Results of Pterygium Surgery with Autologous Blood Assisted, Sutureless Conjunctival Autograft: Safe and Comfortable Surgical Technique.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of autologous blood-assisted, sutureless conjunctival autograft surgery in the management of pterygium. Methods: This study included the eyes of 124 patients who were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 62 patients who received autologous blood-assisted, sutureless conjunctival autograft, and Group 2 consisted of 62 patients who underwent conventional sutured conjunctival autograft surgery. The primary outcome measure was graft stability, and the secondary outcome measures were postoperative immediate patient comfort and recurrence rates at 12 months. Results: The mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in Group 1 (9.84±2.64 min) than in Group 2 (17.90±4.42 min) (p<0.001). The postoperative pain visual analog scale score was significantly lower in Group 1 (p<0.001). The postoperative complications included graft loss in four patients in Group 1 and recurrence of pterygium in six patients in Group 2. Conclusion: The autologous blood-assisted, sutureless conjunctival autograft technique seems superior to the conventional sutured autograft technique in terms of postoperative patient comfort, lower recurrence rates, and shorter duration of surgery.

Effect of smoking on corneal and lens clarity: a densitometric analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on corneal and lens densitometry measurements using Pentacam HR and to compare the results obtained with those in non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study included 40 chronic-smokers and 40 age-matched healthy non-smokers between 18-40 years. After general ophthalmic examination, the Pentacam HR imaging system was used to evaluate corneal and lens densitometry measurements of smokers and non-smokers. RESULTS: The mean corneal densitometry values were not statistically significantly different in all the concentric zones and layers in the eyes of the smokers and non-smokers (p > 0.05, for all). However, the mean values of zone 1, zone 2, zone 3 and average lens densitometry measurements of the smokers were statistically significantly higher compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05, for all). Additionally, significant positive correlations were detected between the number of pack-years smoked and lens densitometry measurements. CONCLUSION: Lens densitometry measurements of smokers were significantly increased while corneal densitometry measurements were not significantly altered compared to non-smokers. Smoking may contribute to cataractogenesis and smoking and age-related changes may act synergistically to cataract development among smokers.

Microvascular and functional changes according to the fundus location of the affected arteriovenous crossing in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural and functional changes occurring in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) according to the distance of the affected arteriovenous (AV) crossing to the centers of the fovea and optic disc by optic coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: Forty-five patients with unilateral BRVO and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this retrospective observational study. Images of the macula (3 mm × 3 mm) and affected AV crossing sites were obtained by OCTA. The fovea-AV crossing distance (FAVD), optic disc-AV crossing distance (DAVD), and optic disc-fovea distance (DFD) were measured. Results: The FAVD/DFD ratio was positively correlated with the vessel density in the superficial and deep affected hemifields (r = 0.430, P < 0.05 and r = 0.308, P < 0.05, respectively) and negatively correlated with the superficial foveal avascular zone and logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (r = -0.412, P < 0.05 and r = -0.356, P < 0.05, respectively). The DAVD/DFD ratio was not correlated with the logMAR visual acuity, superficial FAZ area or vessel densities in the affected hemifield (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: The affected AV crossing site that was further away from the fovea had better visual acuity and quantitative microvascular parameters in the affected hemifields. However, this correlation was not observed for the distance between the affected AV crossing site and the optic disc.

Assessment of Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity in Patients With Primary Open-angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension Using the Breath-Holding Index.

PRCIS: Patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) do not show impaired cerebral vasodilation responses to hypercapnia but patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) do. Impaired vasoreactivity in patients with POAG may have neuronal or vascular origins and increase stroke risk. PURPOSE: To investigate changes in cerebral blood flow and cerebral vasomotor reactivity using the breath-holding index in patients with POAG and OHT, to examine whether these parameters contribute to the risk of ischemic stroke. METHODS: Thirty patients with POAG, 30 patients with OHT, and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included in this university hospital-based, cross-sectional, and observational study. Eyes with a greater degree of visual field loss and/or more severe optic disc damage were selected for the study in patients with POAG, whereas in patients with OHT and controls, the study eye was chosen randomly. The mean blood flow velocity and breath-holding index were measured in the middle cerebral artery ipsilaterally in patient and control groups, by using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: The mean blood flow velocity and breath-holding indexes were significantly lower in patients with POAG than in the control group (all P<0.05). In the OHT group, the mean blood flow velocity and breath-holding indexes were not different from those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with POAG have impaired vasodilation response to hypercapnia. Presumably, the neuronal changes and deterioration of the endothelium-mediated vasodilatation in patients with glaucoma may disrupt the regulation of arteries and potentially present functional insufficiency on vasoreactivity. Moreover, impaired cerebral vascular regulation may contribute to the increased risk of stroke in patients with POAG.

Demographic characteristics and visual outcomes of open globe injuries in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the demographic characteristics and visual outcomes of patients with open globe injury (OGI) in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: The data of patients admitted with OGI to Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey from January 2012 to December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively, and 100 of the 154 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: There were 79 (79%) male and 21 (21%) female patients with the average age of 33.7 ± 20.7 (1-83). Presentation of the patients was more frequent in the first 3 days of the week (Monday 20%; Tuesday 17%; and Wednesday 20%) and within working hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m., 71%). The most common injury type was penetrating injury (75%), which was mostly caused by sharp objects (metal objects 32% and broken glass 22.7%). The ocular trauma score (OTS) was significantly higher in patients with penetrating injury and intraocular foreign body injury (p < 0.001), and those results were correlated with better visual prognosis. The patients with penetrating injury among the injury types and zone I injury among the injury zones had the highest final visual acuity. Patients in the age group of 0-14 years had statistically better visual outcome when compared to those in the other age groups (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The higher initial visual acuity and OTS, penetrating injury, zone I injury and pediatric age are good prognostic factors for OGI. Additionally, scheduling a prepared surgical team and tools in working hours will be beneficial according to the frequency of admissions.

Multimodal Imaging Including Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of a Patient With Argus II Retinal Prosthesis One Year After Implantation.

A 58-year-old man with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and visual acuity of light perception in both eyes received simultaneous phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation and implantation of the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System (Second Sight Medical Products, Sylmar, CA) to his right eye 1 year ago. He accomplished the fitting and rehabilitation sessions, and no extraocular or intraocular complications were encountered perioperatively, postoperatively, or during the follow-up. The patient used the prosthesis actively for 2.5 to 3 hours per day. In this report, the authors compare the multimodal imaging findings including optical coherence tomography angiography of the chronic electrically stimulated retinal prosthesis implanted eye with the fellow eye. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:55-59.].