Comparing the effects and safety of dorzolamide hydrochloride + timolol maleate versus brimonidine after neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser capsulotomy posterior capsule opacification.

AIM: Posterior capsular opacification is treated using neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser capsulotomy that leads to increased intraocular pressure. Here, we compare the effects of dorzolamide hydrochloride + timolol maleate versus brimonidine on intraocular pressure. We also investigate their side effects after neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser capsulotomy. In these patients, there are no prior studies comparing the results of these two drugs. MATERIALS: Ninety patients with posterior capsule opacification contributed to the study. They received yttrium aluminium garnet laser capsulotomy. After yttrium aluminium garnet laser capsulotomy, they were randomized into three groups. Group 1 received dorzolamide hydrochloride + timolol maleate; Group 2 took brimonidine; and Group 3, the control group, took no drug. Group 1 took dorzolamide hydrochloride + timolol maleate eye drops 1 h before the procedure and on the third hour of the first day and two times per day between the second and the seventh days. Group 2 took brimonidine eye drops 1 h before the procedure and on the third hour of the first day, two times per day between the second and the seventh days. RESULTS: Brimonidine had a similar side effect profile to the fix combination. Intraocular pressure on the first (p = 0.87) and third days (p = 0.124) were similar in Group 1 (dorzolamide hydrochloride + timolol maleate), Group 2 (brimonidine) and the control group. The mean intraocular pressure value of the control group was significantly higher than Groups 1 and 2 because the anti-glaucomatous effects of the drugs become prominent on the seventh day (p = 0.041). In Group 1 and Group 2, intraocular pressure was significantly lower than the control group on the seventh day (p = 0.041). Stinging, itching, hyperemia and Tyndall rates were similar in Group 1, Group 2 and the control group. Watery eyes were less common in the brimonidine group than in the dorzolamide hydrochloride-timolol maleate and the control groups on the seventh day (p = 0.02). Brimonidine also significantly lowered the chemosis rate on the third (p = 0.04) and seventh (p = 0.03) days. CONCLUSION: We suggest that brimonidine and a combination of dorzolamide + timolol are similarly effective at reducing eye pressure for routine cases. In cases where intraocular pressure attacks might be at higher risk, using the dorzolamide + timolol combination would be more appropriate.

Hoffmann's syndrome and pituitary hyperplasia in an adolescent secondary to Hashimoto thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse muscle hypertrophy is a rare complication of acquired hypothyroidism. When accompanied by stiffness, weakness, and painful muscle cramps, the condition is known as Hoffmann's syndrome (HS). HS is usually seen in young adults due to long-standing untreated primary hypothyroidism. We report a very rare case of HS with muscle hypertrophy and pituitary hyperplasia complicating hypothyroidism in an adolescent. CASE: A 12-year-old male admitted with muscle pain, headache, and fatigue. He had marked hypertrophy of both calf and shoulder muscles. Laboratory tests indicated elevated muscle enzymes and lipids with an elevated thyrotropin and low thyroxine levels. Hashimoto thyroiditis was confirmed on thyroid studies. He had also papilledema bilaterally and magnetic resonance imaging showed an enlargement of the pituitary gland. Treatment with thyroid hormone resulted in complete improvement of symptoms within 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: HS is a rare but treatable form of acquired myopathies and can be seen in children due to untreated hypothyroidism. All patients with an acquired myopathy and muscular pseudohypertrophy should be screened regarding thyroid hormones.

The relation between keratoconus and plasma levels of MMP-2, zinc, and SOD.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and zinc in plasma taken from patients with keratoconus and to investigate the likely association between these factors and keratoconus. METHODS: A total of 36 patients with keratoconus and 40 control subjects at the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa University, were included in the study. Plasma levels of zinc were determined with atomic absorption spectrometry for all the subjects. Measurements of plasma MMP-2 levels were performed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Total plasma (Cu/Zn and Mn) SOD activity was also determined photometrically. RESULTS: The plasma concentrations of zinc and MMP-2 were significantly lower in patients with keratoconus than in the healthy controls (P < 0.001). Total plasma SOD levels were significantly higher in patients with keratoconus than in the healthy controls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We detected reduced plasma levels of zinc and MMP-2, and enhanced plasma levels of SOD in patients with keratoconus compared with the healthy subjects. The data presented provide insight into the potential role these molecules may play in the etiopathogenesis of this disease.

The relationship between optical coherence tomography patterns, angiographic parameters and visual acuity in age-related macular degeneration.

To assess the relationships between visual acuity (VA), fluorescein angiographic parameters and optical coherence tomography (OCT) patterns in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Fifty eyes with confirmed diagnosis of new exudative AMD who underwent fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT evaluation were reviewed retrospectively. The greatest linear diameter of lesion (GLD) by FA and central foveal thickness (CFT) by OCT were measured. The OCT scans were evaluated for the presence of diffuse retinal thickening (D), cystic spaces (C), subretinal fluid (S) and pigment epithelial detachment (P) and five OCT patterns were detected (D + S; C; C + S; P + C + S; P + D + S). Angiographic classification of choroidal neovascularizations was performed. Correlations were statistically significant for VA and CFT in all patients whereas VA and GLD correlation was statistically significant only in predominantly classic and minimal classic lesions. The lowest VA values were detected in patients with COCT pattern and/or predominantly classic lesion type by FA. The OCT and FA findings when evaluated simultaneously may provide information regarding visual function in AMD.

Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul: incidence and risk factors.

PURPOSE: To study the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants examined in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul. METHODS: Data of infants screened for ROP from April 2007 to September 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Possible risk factors and eye examinations were recorded and analyzed using the chi-square test and univariate and multivariate regressions. RESULTS: ROP was detected in 177 (34.3%) of the 517 infants enrolled in the study; 64 had mild ROP (77.4%) and 38 had severe ROP (22.6%). The mean gestational age and birth weight of patients who were treated for ROP were 28.6 ± 2.3 and 1,143.5 ± 337.4, respectively. Two of these infants had a gestational age of 32 g or greater and three had a birth weight of 1,500 g or greater. The multivariate regression analyses showed gestational age, birth weight, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, and length of oxygen therapy as independent predictors of ROP. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ROP observed in this study was higher than that in developed countries and relatively more mature infants were affected. Criteria including gestational age of less than 34 weeks or birth weight of less than 2,000 g would have identified all infants who were at risk.

Deep sclerectomy augmented with combination of absorbable biosynthetic sodium hyaluronate scleral implant and mitomycin C or with mitomycin C versus trabeculectomy: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the long-term results following deep sclerectomy with mitomycin C-SKgel implant (DSMMC-SKgel), mitomycin C (DSMMC) and trabeculectomy. DESIGN: Comparative case series, Goztepe Training and Educational Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-one open-angle glaucoma patients. METHODS: DSMMC-SKgel, DSMMC and trabeculectomy operations were performed in 28, 30 and 33 eyes, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressures (IOP) and distance corrected visual acuities (DCVA) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at days 1, 7 and months 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48. RESULTS: At month 48, deep sclerectomy groups had better DCVAs, and in all groups mean IOPs and number of medications were significantly lower and DCVAs were worse than preoperative values. Mean IOPs in trabeculectomy group at week 1, months 1 and 3 were significantly lower than those in DSMMC group. Mean IOPs in DSMMC-SKgel group at week 1 and month 1 were significantly lower than those in DSMMC group. Mean preoperative IOPs, postoperative IOPs following 3rd month, complete (IOP ≤ 21 mmHg and ≤ 18 mmHg without medication) and qualified (IOP ≤ 21 mmHg and ≤ 18 mmHg with or without medication) success rates of all groups were not statistically different. Rate of complications such as hyphema, hypotony, shallow anterior chamber, bleb leak, bleb fibrosis, cataract, choroidal detachment and macular oedema were found to be significantly higher in trabeculectomy group (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the mean post-laser goniopuncture IOPs was found between the two deep sclerectomy groups during the follow up. CONCLUSIONS: DSMMC, DSMMC-SKgel and trabeculectomy operations were almost equally effective in lowering IOP at long-term follow up, but complication rates were higher after trabeculectomy operations.

A cluster of acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis over a 1-month period: investigation of an outbreak caused by uncommon species.

AIM: To report the clinical course, treatment response and prognosis of eight cases which developed acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis over a 1-month period. METHODS: 8 patients who were operated on over a period of 1 month and developed acute postoperative endophthalmitis were evaluated. Five of the patients had cataract surgery, one had cataract surgery combined with silicone extraction, and two patients had pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Clinical patterns were observed, intraocular cultures were obtained, and the source of the organisms causing the epidemic was investigated. All patients had intravitreal antibiotic injections, three had PPV, and in two patients anterior chamber irrigation was performed. RESULTS: Vitreous cultures showed Cellulosimicrobium cellulans in three cases and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in one case. Four of the cases were culture negative. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were also isolated from unused bottles of irrigating solutions. The final visual acuity of the patients ranged between HM and 7/10. All three patients with Cellulosimicrobium cellulans had a final visual acuity of ≥ 5/10. The available irrigating solutions were changed, and the endophthalmitis did not recur. CONCLUSIONS: The authors are unaware of any previous reports of postoperative endophthalmitis associated with Cellulosimicrobium cellulans. Prompt management with microbiological support, intravitreal antibiotics and PPV when needed were the key to good visual outcomes in this endophthalmitis outbreak.

Twenty-four-hour intraocular pressure control with latanoprost-timolol-fixed combination versus bimatoprost in patients who switched from timolol.

PURPOSE: To evaluate bimatoprost versus latanoprost and timolol fixed combination (LTFC) over the 24-hour diurnal curve in patients who switched from timolol. METHODS: In this prospective, observer-masked, randomized clinical trial, 64 patients whose intraocular pressures (IOPs) were not effectively controlled with timolol were enrolled. At pretrial visit IOPs and central corneal thickness were measured. After the baseline visit, timolol was replaced by bimatoprost or LTFC. IOPs were recorded at 8 AM, noon, 4 PM, 8 PM, midnight, and 4 AM at baseline, week 8, and week 16 visits. RESULTS: At baseline and week 8 visits, there was no significant difference between the LTFC and bimatoprost group for the mean IOPs at 6 time points in 24 hours, the mean diurnal IOP, and range of diurnal IOP. At week 16, the mean IOP of the bimatoprost group (15.7±2 mm Hg) at 8 AM and 12 o' clock, midnight, was statistically significantly lower than that of the LTFC group (16.8±1.5 and 16.9±1.7 mm Hg; P=0.03 and 0.002). A statistically significant difference was not found between the proportions of patients who had 15% and 20% decrease in mean diurnal IOP and the mean daytime, nighttime, diurnal IOP reductions of the 2 study groups at weeks 8 and 16 (P>0.05). In the bimatoprost group punctate epitheliopathy, conjunctival hyperemia, and lid erythema were found to be more frequent. CONCLUSIONS: The LTFC and bimatoprost therapies were equally effective in maintaining IOP at lower levels during the 24-hour period in patients who switched from timolol therapy. Adverse events were more frequent with bimatoprost therapy.

Visual performances with monofocal, accommodating, and multifocal intraocular lenses in patients with unilateral cataract.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual performance of patients with unilateral cataract following implantation of monofocal, accommodating, refractive, and diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (IOL). DESIGN: Prospective nonrandomized clinical trial. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients with unilateral cataract were enrolled in 4 groups for phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. Twenty-four patients had monofocal (Alcon Acrysof) (group 1), 21 patients had accommodating (Human Optics 1CU) (group 2), 22 patients had diffractive multifocal (Tecnis ZM900) (group 3), and 20 patients had refractive multifocal (AMO Rezoom) (group 4) IOL implantations. Ages of patients were between 40 and 70. Parameters analyzed at the 18th postoperative month were subjective refractions, monocular and binocular distance, intermediate and near uncorrected visual acuities, monocular distance and near best-corrected visual acuities, monocular distance-corrected intermediate and near visual acuities, stereopsis, visual complaints, and spectacle dependency. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between distance and near best-corrected visual acuities of IOL groups, and between intermediate visual acuities of groups 2, 3, and 4. Groups 3 and 4 had statistically better near vision than the other groups (P < .05). No significant difference was observed between near visual acuities of groups 3 and 4. Number of patients with better stereoscopic function, spectacle independence, and complaints of halo in groups 3 and 4 was significantly higher than in other groups (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Multifocal IOLs provide better stereopsis, higher spectacle independence rates, and satisfactory functional vision over a broad range of distances in presbyopic patients with unilateral cataract compared with the monofocal and accommodating IOLs.

Differences in contrast sensitivity between monofocal, multifocal and accommodating intraocular lenses: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate long-term contrast sensitivity (CS) and visual acuity following implantation of monofocal, accommodating, refractive and diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients with unilateral cataract. METHODS: In this prospective non-randomized clinical trial, 87 patients with unilateral cataract were enrolled in four groups for phacoemulsification and IOL implantation in Ophthalmology Department of Goztepe Training and Research Hospital. Twenty-four patients had monofocal (Alcon Acrysof; group 1), 21 patients accommodating (Human Optics 1CU; group 2), 22 patients diffractive multifocal (Tecnis ZM900; group 3) and 20 patients refractive multifocal (AMO Rezoom; group 4) IOL implantations. Ages of patients were between 40 and 70. Parameters analysed at the 18th postoperative month were subjective refractions, monocular and binocular distance and near photopic CSs, visual acuities. RESULTS: Near visual acuities were statistically better in group 3 than the other groups (P < 0.05). At low spatial frequencies, mean monocular distance CSs of group 1 and mean monocular near CSs of groups 1 and 2 were statistically higher than those of group 4 (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between binocular CSs of group 4 and the other groups at low spatial frequencies. At high spatial frequencies, monocular and binocular CSs of groups 1 and 2 were statistically higher than those of groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). Near CSs was better in group 3 than group 4. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with unilateral cataract, monofocal, accommodating and partially diffractive multifocal IOL provided higher CS scores when compared with refractive multifocal IOL and in multifocal IOL groups binocular CSs were better than monocular CSs when compared with other groups.

Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity function after accommodative and multifocal intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual acuities and contrast sensitivities (CS) after accommodative, refractive, and diffractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantations. METHODS: After cataract extractions, in 20 eyes accommodative IOL (group 1), in 30 eyes refractive IOL (group 2), and in 20 eyes diffractive multifocal IOL (group 3) implantations were performed. CS were measured with the stereo optical functional acuity contrast test. Uncorrected distance (UCDVA) and distance corrected near visual acuities (DCNVA) and refractive values were determined. RESULTS: The mean UCDVA (0.99+/-0.03) and DCNVA (0.98+/-0.04) of group 3 were significantly better than the other IOL groups. The mean DCNVA of group 2 (0.71+/-0.14) was significantly better than group 1 (0.5+/-0.08). One month after the operations CS, values of group 2 were significantly lower than the 2 other IOL groups. Photopic CS values of group 1 at 12 and 18 cycles per degree (cpd) were significantly higher than group 3. Three months after the operations, CS values of group 1 and 3 were significantly higher than that of group 2 at 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd and in all spatial frequencies respectively. There was no difference between groups 1 and 3 with respect to photopic CS values. Mesopic CS values of group 3 were significantly higher than that of group 1 at 1.5, 3, and 6 cpd. At the 6th and 12th month, CS values of group 3 were similar or better compared to the values of the 3rd month. CONCLUSIONS: The diffractive multifocal IOL resulted in more favorable visual acuities and higher CS values than accommodative and refractive multifocal IOL.