Topical cyclosporine versus allergen specific immunotherapy in perennial allergic conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: Symptom control in the long-term with less side effects is important in perennial allergic conjunctivitis, since would improve quality of life. This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacies of topical cyclosporin A and subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) in terms of sign control in perennial allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: This retrospective study included 20 adult patients with perennial allergic conjunctivitis and confirmed sensitization to house dust mites with skin prick test. Patients were assigned to either topical cyclosporine A treatment or SCIT. The participants were followed for 6 months, and signs scores were recorded at 1, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Overall, both cyclosporine and immunotherapy groups showed significant improvements in papillary reaction (p = 0.011 and 0.003, respectively), limbal involvement (p = 0.031 and 0.001), and conjunctival hyperemia (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001) scores during the 6-month follow-up. However, only cyclosporine group showed a significant improvement in corneal involvement scores (p = 0.015) during the study period. When scores at different time points were compared, significant improvement in conjunctival hyperemia was evident at 6 months in both groups when compared to baseline (cyclosporine group, 0.7 ± 0.68 vs. 2.4 ± 0.84, 70.8% decrease, p = 0.01; immunotherapy group, 0.3 ± 0.48 vs. 2.3 ± 0.95, 87.0% decrease, p = 0.004), whereas for limbal involvement such an improvement was only evident in the immunotherapy group (0.1 ± 0.32 vs. 1.3 ± 0.95, 92.3% decrease, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Allergen immunotherapy and cyclosporin A treatment may provide effective sign relief in perennial allergic conjunctivitis. It may represent an encouraging treatment option particularly for cases with perennial allergic conjunctivitis refractive to other treatments and positive skin prick test to a specific allergen (house dust in the present study). Long-term relief by SCIT would reduce the side effects of polypharmacotherapy. Larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm our findings.

Evaluation of Peripapillary and Macular Vascular Flow Changes with OCT-A in Patients with Superficial Optic Disk Drusen.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the peripapillary and macular vascular flow changes between healthy adults and adult patients with superficial optic disk drusen (ODD), as evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: In this retrospective study, 44 eyes of 22 patients with superficial ODD followed-up in our neuro-ophthalmology unit and 54 eyes of 27 healthy individuals admitted to our clinic for routine ophthalmological examination were included in the study. The superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPC) vessel density (VD) values; superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal parafoveal and foveal region superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) VD values; and choriocapillaris flow (CCF) area and foveal avascular zone area were evaluated by OCT-A. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of age and sex. While there was a significant decrease in the temporal RPC VD values in cases with ODD (p=0.02), no significant difference was observed in other quadrants. No significant differences in either parafoveal zone four quadrant, foveal SCP and DCP VD values, or foveal avascular zone measurements were found between groups, while CCF area values were significantly higher in the study group (p=0.012). Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, our results showed a decrease in the RPC temporal quadrant VD values, and an increase in CCF area in cases with superficial ODD. To evaluate the effects of ODD on optic nerve head and macular perfusion, and to understand its underlying mechanisms and secondary complications, longer follow-up studies with larger case series are needed.

Evaluation of early and late COVID-19-induced vascular changes with OCTA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vascular changes in the early period after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and at 6-month follow-up. METHODS: This study included 50 eyes of 25 patients who had been hospitalized for polymerase chain reaction-positive COVID-19 infection and 50 eyes of 25 healthy individuals. All subjects underwent optical coherence tomography angiography using a 6 × 6 macular protocol in the early period after hospital discharge and 6 months later. Foveal vessel density (VD) and parafoveal VD values were measured from 4 quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus (DCP). The choriocapillaris (CC) flow area and the foveal avascular zone area also were measured. The OCTA measurements of the patient group were compared both between time points and with the control group at each time point. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients showed lower VD values than control subjects in all parafoveal quadrants of both the SCP (superior, p = 0.01; inferior, p = 0.048; nasal, p = 0.003; temporal, p = 0.048) and the DCP (superior, p = 0.001; inferior, p = 0.011; nasal, p = 0.012; temporal, p = 0.018) at the initial checkup and in all parafoveal quadrants of the SCP (superior, p = 0.0001; inferior, p = 0.007; nasal, p = 0.001; temporal, p = 0.017) and in 2 of the parafoveal quadrants of the DCP (superior, p = 0.003; inferior, p = 0.016) at 6-month follow-up. CC flow area values were significantly lower at the 6-month follow-up than at the initial examination (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: It is important to perform appropriate follow-up for COVID-19 patients because retinal vascular flow changes may persist in the long term.

Peripapillary vessel density in pediatric cases with buried optic disk drusen.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and peripapillary vascular density (VD) changes in the pediatric group with optic disk drusen (ODD). METHODS: Sixty eyes of 30 patients with buried ODD referred by the pediatric or neurology physicians to ophthalmology clinic with a preliminary diagnosis of papillary edema were included in this retrospective study. Sixty eyes of 30 healthy children were included as the control group. Thickness of RNFL (micrometer) and VD percentages (%) of the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants of the peripapillary region of all cases were evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) device. RESULTS: The study and control groups were homogeneous in terms of age and gender. VD values were significantly lower in the study group for all four quadrants, when compared to controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, and p < 0.001, for inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants, respectively. For RFNL thickness measurements, a significant difference between groups was only evident for the nasal quadrant, where the study group had significantly higher nasal RFNL thickness (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study detected decreases in peripapillary VD values in all quadrants and peripapillary RNFL thickening in nasal quadrant in pediatric cases with buried drusen compared to healthy controls. Further studies are necessary to reveal the effects of drusen pathogenesis on optic nerve head perfusion and to understand the underlying mechanisms of related complications.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the changes in choriocapillaris and retina caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by comparing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings of COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. METHODS: The study and control groups consisted of 54 eyes of 27 participants, each. Patients and controls underwent OCTA examination. Foveal zone vessel density and parafoveal zone vessel density (for 4 quadrants: nasal, temporal, superior, inferior) were calculated for both superficial and deep capillary plexuses. Additionally, choriocapillaris flow and foveal avascular zone areas were calculated. RESULTS: For the parafoveal area in the study group, vessel density was significantly lower in the superior and nasal quadrants of the superficial capillary plexus and in all quadrants of the deep capillary plexus compared with controls (p < 0.05 for all). The study group had significantly higher choriocapillaris flow area values compared with controls (p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Reduced vessel density of the retinal capillary plexus was detected in COVID-19 patients who may be at risk for retinal vascular complications.

Evaluating the Effects of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty on Tear Film Quality and Intraocular Pressure.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate tear film quality and intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after upper eyelid blepharoplasty. METHODS: This retrospective study included 42 eyes of 21 patients who underwent upper eyelid blepharoplasty for dermatochalasis between January 2018 and June 2018 in our clinic. Schirmer's and tear break-up time (TBUT) values and IOP were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at first day, 1 month, and 3 months in all patients. The ocular surface staining pattern was evaluated according to Oxford scale. Effects of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on tear film quality and IOP were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were female and their mean age was 53.28±7.98. The postoperative Schirmer's test scores at postoperative 3 months were significantly (p<0.01) lower than all previous preoperative measures. Similarly, the postoperative 1-week measurements were significantly (p<0.01) higher than the postoperative 1-month and 3-month measurements. In terms of TBUT, the postoperative 1-week measurement was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the postoperative 1-month measurement and the preoperative value than the postoperative 1-month measurement. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the measurements in terms of IOP values. Of the 42 eyes evaluated according to Oxford scale, 28 (66%) had mild symptoms, 10 (23%) had moderate symptoms, and 4 (9%) had marked symptoms. No patient with severe symptoms was detected. CONCLUSION: Upper eyelid blepharoplasty may have a negative effect on tear film quality in early postoperative period; however, it does not affect IOP at any period. Understanding the effects of surgery performed specifically on ocular surface through larger case series may necessitate ophthalmologic examination for preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up of dermatochalasis cases.