Retinal thickness changes in preobese and obese patients without hyperglycemia: Optical coherence tomography study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate retinal thickness changes by optical coherence tomography in preobese and obese patients without hyperglycemia. METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 55 normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 42 preobese (25-29.9 kg/m2), 34 obese (>30 kg/m2), a total of 131, according to body mass index (BMI) value at the time of examination. All participants were examined in the internal medicine department and fasting serological biochemical and lipid tests were performed, and those with hyperglycemia were excluded from the study. All participants underwent a full ophthalmological examination and sectoral examination of the retina with optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The study included 55 right eyes of 55 normal, 42 of 42 preobese, and 34 of 34 obese, age- and sex-matched participants, without hyperglycemia. The mean BMI of the normal group was 22.3 ± 1.3, 26.8 ± 1.3 in the preobese group, and 33.2 ± 4.2 in the obese group. Central foveal thickness (normal 229.8 ± 20.1 µm, preobese 234.7 ± 18.8 µm and obese 222.0 ± 23.4 µm, P:0.031) and mean inferior (normal 280.7 ± 55.8 µm, preobese 296.7 ± 11.1 µm and obese 285.3 ± 9.9 µm) thickness in the 3 mm The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) circle was significantly higher in the preobese group and significantly lower in the obese group. Mean nasal, temporal, and superior thickness in the 3 mm ETDRS circle and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer was higher in the preobese group and lower in the obese group but this difference was statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: The fact that preobesity, which is not accompanied by hyperglycemia, causes an increase in the thickness of the central macular regions and obesity causes thinning of the retina, supports that lipid metabolism in the body alone can affect retinal thickness changes and retinal neurodegeneration.

Retinal neurodegeneration in metabolic syndrome: a spectral optical coherence tomography study.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on retinal neurodegeneration by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Patients diagnosed as MetS were compared with the age and sex-matched healthy control group (CG). Waist circumference measurements, fasting serological biochemical tests, and systemic blood pressures of all participants were evaluated. The MetS group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the number of MetS components: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia (low-, high-density lipoprotein, hypertriglyceridemia), and visceral obesity findings; 3-component MetS3, 4-component MetS4, and all-component MetS5. All patients underwent complete eye examination and spectral OCT retinal imaging. RESULTS: Totally 58 eyes of 58 patients were included in the MetS group and 63 eyes of 63 age and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in CG. MetS group was composed of 22 subjects in MetS3, 21 subjects in MetS4, and 15 subjects in the MetS5 subgroup. Mean foveal thickness (MetS, 218.7±23.1 µm vs CG, 228.8±21.9 µm, P=0.015), mean inferior (MetS, 283.4±17.0 µm vs CG, 288.7±38.4 µm, P=0.002), superior (MetS, 287.0±18.5 µm vs CG 297.3±17.1 µm, P=0.001), nasal (MetS 287.3±16.7 µm vs CG 297.9±13.9 µm, P=0.000) and temporal (274.5±17.6 µm vs CG 285.6±13.6 µm, P=0.000) thickness in the 3 mm Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) circle was significantly lower in the MetS group. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal thickness of 6 mm ETDRS circle, total macular volume, peripapillary and macular retinal nerve fiber layer, macular ganglion cell layer with inner plexiform layer, and ganglion cell complex. No statistically significant difference was found in these values ​​between the MetS3, MetS4, and the MetS5 groups. CONCLUSION: A significant reduction in central macular region thickness in MetS is detected and macular thickness is more susceptible to MetS induced neurodegeneration than peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer.

Real-Life Data of Patients with Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine and provide real-life data of patients with exudative-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: A total of 189 eyes of 160 patients with exudative AMD treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy (anti-VEGF) injections (ranibizumab 0.3 mg/0.05 mL, aflibercept 2 mg/0.05 mL, bevacizumab 1.25 mg/0.05 mL) were included in the study. Patient demographic characteristics, and details of the clinical examinations, number of injections, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured with the Snellen chart, optical coherence tomography, and fundus fluorescein angiography images were evaluated at the first visit and during the follow-up period. RESULTS: In the study group, 78 of the patients were female (48.8%) and 82 were male. The mean age was 72.20±8.97 years. While no treatment had been applied to 151 eyes before the first examination, 38 had previously received an intravitreal injection at another center. The mean number of patient visits was 5.83 in the first year, 4.68 in the second year, and 3.84 in the third year, and the mean number of injections was 4.70 in the first year, 2.08 in the second year, and 1.51 in the third year. The mean BCVA change between the first visit and the first, second, and third years was not statistically significant (p>0.05), and a significant change was observed in the mean central macular thickness (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Anatomical and functional success was achieved with anti-VEGF treatment after fewer injections and visits than have been reported in randomized, controlled, clinical studies in the literature. The number of injections and visits recorded in this study was consistent with the data of other real-life studies.

Comparision effects of solifenacin, darifenacin, propiverine on ocular parameters in eyes: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of solifenacin, darifenacin, and propiverine on nasal-, subfoveal-, temporal choroidal thicknesses (NCT, SFCT, TCT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with overactive bladder (OAB) diagnosed according to The International Continence Society were administered with solifenacin, darifenacin or propiverine on a daily basis between November 2017 and May 2018. NCT, SFCT, TCT, IOP, and PD of these patients were measured and compared as initial, fourth and twelfth weeks. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients (330 eyes) with OAB were evaluated. Solifenacin (n=140) signifi cantly reduced IOP from 17.30±2.72 mmHg to 16.67±2.56 mmHg (p=0.006) and 16.57±2.41 mmHg (p=0.002), at the fourth and twelfth weeks, respectively. Darifenacin (n=110) signifi cantly reduced NCT from 258.70±23.96 µm to 257.51±22.66 µm (p=0.002) and 255.36±19.69 µm (p=0.038), at the fourth and twelfth weeks, respectively. Propiverine (n=80) signifi cantly increased PD from 4.04±0.48 mm to 4.08±0.44 mm (p=0.009) and 4.09±0.45 mm (p=0.001), at the fourth and twelfth weeks, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings can help to decide appropriate anticholinergic drug choice in OAB patients. We finally suggest further well-designed randomized prospective studies with a larger population to evaluate the anticholinergic-related complications in eyes.

Simultaneous Transepithelial Topography-Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy and Accelerated Cross-Linking in Keratoconus: 2-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes after simultaneous topography-guided transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (transepithelial TG-PRK) using the Amaris Excimer laser platform and accelerated corneal cross-linking (CXL) in eyes with keratoconus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with 2 years of follow-up were included in this retrospective case series. Manifest refraction (MR), uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, corneal topography, and pachymetry were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. The root-mean-square of total higher-order aberrations (total HOA-RMS), coma (Coma-RMS), and spherical aberration (SA-RMS) were calculated for 4- and 6-mm diameters. RESULTS: Forty-six eyes of 46 patients were included in the study. Stromal ablation was ≤50 µ in all patients. MR was -3.78±3.26 preoperatively and -1.39±1.82 postoperatively. Significant improvements were seen in the UDVA and Coma-RMS values at 1 month, CDVA and total HOA-RMS values at 3 months, and SA-RMS values at 1 year compared to preoperative levels. UDVA values further improved after 2 years, compared to the 1-year values. No patient lost two or more lines and keratoconus progression was not observed in any patient. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous transepithelial TG-PRK and accelerated CXL resulted in significant gains in CDVA without compromising CXL efficacy.

Five-year Outcomes of Ranibizumab in Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration: Real Life Clinical Experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of 5-year ranibizumab treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in a single center and real life clinical setting. METHODS: The records of nAMD patients who were treated with ranibizumab between January 2010 and June 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who completed 5 years of follow-up were included. Main outcome measures were change in best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness, and visit and injection numbers. RESULTS: Forty-four eyes of 37 patients were included. Mean best-corrected visual acuity decreased from 0.82 ± 0.69 to 1.11 ± 0.65 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution after 5 years. Twenty-four eyes (54.5%) had visual acuity loss ≥3 lines, and 20 eyes (45.5%) had stable or improved vision (loss <3 lines, remained stable, or gained ≥1 line) at month 60. The mean total number of visits was 25.3 ± 5.8 (range, 14 to 42), and the mean total number of injections was 12.6 ± 6.4 (range, 3 to 26) at month 60. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the ranibizumab-treated nAMD patients maintained their vision during the 5 years of follow-up. Visit and injection numbers were found to be lower than in prospective studies, reflecting a real world clinical practice.