Retinal and choroidal microvasculature in early and three months post COVID-19: A case-control study.

To compare the retinal vascular density (VD), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choroidal thickness (CHT) between patients infected with COVID-19 and healthy subjects using non-invasive optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) technique. This case-control study was carried out on patients with COVID-19 and healthy controls. Patients' data were acquired immediately after active infection and three months later. The diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and a positive PCR test. VDs in superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) and CHT and CVI were measured and compared between groups. A total of 160 eyes from 80 patients (55% female, mean age 51 ± 13 years) and 80 controls (55% female, mean age 49 ± 12 years) were enrolled. In acute phase infection, the mean foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area was 0.28 ± 0.06 mm2 and 0.22 ± 0.05 mm2 in patient and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). CVI was 61.06 ± 2.59 µm and 72.28 ± 3.84 µm in patients and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). After three months, the mean FAZ area was 0.28 ± 0.06 mm2 and 0.23 ± 0.05 mm2 in the patient and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). CVI was 60.93 ± 2.11 µm and 72.46 ± 3.80 µm in patients and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Subfoveal CHT was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.69). SCP and DCP VDs were significantly less in the patients' group (P < 0.001). In the patients' group, the VDs in the DCP of the whole images and parafoveal DCP (P < 0.001) were reduced significantly after three months in comparison to the acute phase, while the FAZ area, subfoveal CHT, and CVI were not significantly different. COVID-19 infection may be associated with acute and long-term changes of VDs in the retinal and choroidal vasculature without significant effect on the subfoveal CHT.

Assessment of Corneal Biomechanical Properties using Scheimpflug Camera-Based Imaging in Night Shift Medical Staff.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of night shifts on the biomechanical properties of the cornea using Scheimpflug camera-based imaging (Corvis and Pentacam). Methods: Thirty-four participants from the medical staff who had at least six night shifts per month as a case group and fifty-two participants as a control group participated in the study. The biomechanical characteristics of the cornea using the Corvis device and the topographical characteristics of the cornea using the Pentacam device were investigated in the participants. Results: The main indices of corneal biomechanics including Corvis Biomechanical Index (0.17 ± 0.18 vs. 0.15 ± 0.14; P = 0.66 [adjusted] and 0.66 [unadjusted]) and Tomographic and Biomechanical Index (0.16 ± 0.19 vs. 0.14 ± 0.19; P = 0.78 [adjusted] and 0.63 [unadjusted]) were not significantly different between case and control groups. Conclusion: Our study showed that night shifts do not independently affect corneal biomechanical indices.

Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of quality of life impact of refractive correction (QIRC) questionnaire and its utility in assessment of refractive error-related quality of life (QoL) following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: Patients with low-to-moderate myopia (-0.75 to - 6.0) were enrolled in this study. Standard alcohol-assisted PRK was performed in all patients. The QIRC questionnaire was translated into a Persian version using the standard method. Patients completed QIRC questionnaire preoperatively and 3-month postoperatively. A group of patients completed the questionnaire twice preoperatively. Psychometric properties were evaluated by internal consistency (Cronbach's α), item-total correlation, and known group construct validity. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to examine the repeatability. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven patients (60 males and 87 females) with a mean age of 26.3 ± 5.5 (range, 18-39) years were enrolled. Cronbach's α for total score was 0.923. Item-total correlation was above 0.3 for all items. ICC was 0.978 for total score. Preoperatively, predominantly contact lens wearers showed significantly better total QIRC score than predominantly spectacle wearers (P = 0.017), which showed good known group validity. Total QIRC score significantly increased from 41.31 ± 6.69 preoperatively to 50.47 ± 7.26 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). Improvement in total QIRC score was observed both in contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers. CONCLUSION: The Persian version of QIRC questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool. Refractive error-related QoL assess by QIRC was significantly improved after PRK in an Iranian population.

Comparison of Manual Refraction Versus Autorefraction in 60 Diabetic Retinopathy Patients.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the comparison of manual refraction versus autorefraction in diabetic retinopathy patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the Be'sat Army Hospital from 2013-2015. In the present study differences between two common refractometry methods (manual refractometry and Auto refractometry) in diagnosis and follow up of retinopathy in patients affected with diabetes is investigated. RESULTS: Our results showed that there is a significant difference in visual acuity score of patients between manual and auto refractometry. Despite this fact, spherical equivalent scores of two methods of refractometry did not show a significant statistical difference in the patients. CONCLUSION: Although use of manual refraction is comparable with autorefraction in evaluating spherical equivalent scores in diabetic patients affected with retinopathy, but in the case of visual acuity results from these two methods are not comparable.

Frequency of Bacterial Samples from Patients with Chronic Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Dacryocystitis is an infection of lacremical sac due to obstruction of nasolacrimal duct which has primary or secondary causes. Idiopathic inflammatory obstruction is the primary cause. Trauma, infection, inflammation, neoplasia, and mechanical obstruction are secondary one. AIM: The objective of this study is determination of bacterial samples from patients with chronic acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was contained 90 patients with dacryocystitis from 2010 to 2011, in Besat hospital. Convenience sampling in sterile condition sampling was performed by sterile swab from the pus out of the lacrimal sac. Blood agar, EMB, chocolate agar, and thioglycolate broth were used for bacterial cultivation. Various antibiotics were used for antibiotic resistance study. Finally, statistical analysis was done by SPSS ver. 15. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of participants was 49.36 ± 12.18 years. Number of male and female patients was equal and Sampling was performed in 53.3% of patients from the right eye. The most frequent bacteria were Staphylococcus, E. coli, and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively. Also, our results show most of bacteria obtained from patients eye pus are sensitive to chloramphenicol and the most antibiotic resistance was for co-trimoxazole. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrated gram-positive bacteria have an important role in dacryocystitis which is confirm previous studies. Although our results indicated chloramphenicol is the best choice for treatment process, but it is notable due to the variety of bacteria which can cause this disease, identification of bacterial contamination can be a great help to choose the best treatment process.