The effect of idebenone and corticosteroid treatment on methanol-induced toxic optic nerve and retinal damage in rats: biochemical and histopathological examination.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of methylprednisolone, the CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) structural analogue idebenone, and both together on the optic nerve (ON) and retinal layers following methanol intoxication in rats with histopathological and biochemical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental study was conducted with 30 male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into five equal groups depending on the treatment protocol:healthy controls (HC), methanol (M), methanol + methylprednisolone (MM), methanol + idebenone (MI), and methanol + methylprednisolone + idebenone (MMI).Distilled water was provided orally to the HC group, while 20% methanol was administered orally at a dose of 3 g/kg with a nasogastric tube to all rats in groups except the HC group. Four hours later, group MM received 1 mg/kg of intraperitoneal methylprednisolone for 10 days using an insulin syringe, and group MI received 20 mg/kg idebenone by nasogastric catheter for 28 days. MMI group was administered oral idebenone and intraperitoneal methylprednisolone at the same dose. Serum samples were obtained on the 28th day for biochemical analysis and afterwards the rats were euthanized for histopathological examination and eyes were enucleated. ON was evaluated for circumference thickness, vascularization and number of astrocytes, also retinal layers were examined for structural changes by histopathological examination. RESULTS: Comparison of the antioxidant and oxidative stress biomarkers between the groups revealed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). By histopathological evaluation the most marked results were obtained by MMI group with an improvement of all parameters mentioned. There was no statistically significant difference between MM group and M group for RD score (p = 0.123). In addition, ON vacuolization in MI group (p < 0.001) and ON astrocyte increase in both MI and MMI groups were statistically significantly lower than in M group (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The early use (within hours) of idebenone and short-term methylprednisolone treatment together may protect against the retinal and ON damage developing after methanol ingestion in rats as guided by the histopathological data.

A Shift of the Pupillary Balance Towards the Parasymphathetic System in Migraine Patients with Aura.

Introduction: To analyze the static and dynamic pupillometrics in migraine patients with aura and compare these parameters to those in age- and sex-matched healthy participants. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 34 patients with migraine and 37 healthy participants as a control group. The static pupillometrics consisted of scotopic pupil diameter (PD), mesopic PD, and low and high photopic PD. The dynamic pupillometrics were as follows: the initial diameter, amplitude of pupil contraction, latency of pupil contraction, duration of pupil contraction, velocity of pupil contraction, latency of pupil dilation, duration of pupil dilation, and velocity of pupil dilation. All participants were evaluated during a headache-free period. An automatic quantitative infrared pupillometry system was used to examine the pupillary characteristics of the eyes. Results: The static and dynamic pupillary parameters except the latency of pupil contraction did not significantly differ between the migraine patients during an attack-free period and the healthy participants. The latency of pupil contraction was significantly statistically lower in migraine group than healthy subjects. Also, the scotopic PD differed significantly in the inter-eye comparison within migraine patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: A significant inter-eye difference in scotopic PD values and the lower latency of pupil contraction in migraine patients with aura in the headache-free period might be attributed to a shift of the pupillary balance towards the parasymphathetic system.

Clinical and demographic characteristics of childhood neuro-ophthalmology diseases at a tertiary eye care center.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the demographic, etiological, and clinical properties, as well as the treatment modalities of neuro-ophthalmological diseases in childhood. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients younger than 18 years old who were referred to the Neuro-Ophthalmology Department of Ulucanlar Eye Hospital from 2004 to 2019. RESULTS: Of 1,910 patients who presented to the Neuro-Ophthalmology Department, 128 (6.7%) were younger than 18 years old at diagnosis, and their data were analyzed. The three most common diagnoses were congenital optic disc (OD) abnormalities in 43 (33.5%), optic neuropathies in 42 (32.8%), and idiopathic intracranial hypertension in 11 (8.5%) patients. The most frequent symptoms were as follows: decreased visual acuity in 36 (28.1%), headache in 32 (25%), and no symptoms in 19 (14.8%) patients. The best visual prognosis was associated with inflammatory optic neuritis, while hereditary and compressive optic neuropathy resulted in poor visual acuity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital OD abnormalities and optic neuropathies are the most frequently seen disorders among children with neuro-ophthalmological diseases. Clinicians should also be aware that children without any symptoms may also have neuro-ophthalmological disorders.

Peripheral field loss: something old, something new.

A 37-year-old patient presented with acute visual field loss diagnosed as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in the setting of optic nerve drusen. Her visual field loss had progressed when compared to the visual field done 2 years previously. Fundus examination showed bilateral optic nerve head drusen and left retinal nerve fiber layer edema consistent with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

Surgical Indications and Clinical Results of Patients with Exchanged Intraocular Lenses in a Tertiary Eye Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the demographics, surgical indications and clinical results of patients with repositioned or explanted intraocular lens (IOL) in a tertiary referral eye hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 48 patients that underwent surgery to exchange or reposition the IOL at Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital between 2009 and 2013 were included in the study. Medical records of patients were evaluated for surgical indications, time elapsed since initial operation, preoperative and postoperative best corrected distance visual acuity and the presence of ocular disease. RESULTS: The mean age of the 31 male and 17 female patients was 64.91±14.26 years. Median time between the initial and final operations was 36.0 months. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) was present in 25% of the patients. There was history of previous vitreoretinal surgery in 18.8% of patients, ocular trauma in 6.3%, high myopia and refractive surgery in 4% of patients. In the first operation the IOL was implanted in the sulcus in 50%, in the bag in 27.1%, and in the anterior chamber in 20.8%; following the final surgery the IOL was in the sulcus in 27.1%, in the anterior chamber in 22.9%, and fixated to the sclera in 10.4% of the patients, while the remaining 29.1% remained aphakic. Indication for the secondary surgery was IOL dislocation in 58%, corneal decompensation in 20.8% and IOL degeneration in 6.3%. In the final surgery, IOL was exchanged in 54.2% of the cases, removed in 31.3% of cases, and repositioned in 14.6%. Visual acuity improved by 1-3 lines in 52.3% and remained stable in 13.6% of the patients postoperatively. CONCLUSION: IOL exchange may be necessary at any time following cataract surgery due to surgical complications, IOL dislocation, biometric measurement errors and corneal decompensation. Factors such as vitreoretinal surgery and the existence of PEX increase the risk of IOL exchange surgery.

Familial Mediterranean fever associated with optic neuritis, successfully treated with anti-interleukin 1 agents.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited periodic auto-inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, synovitis and serositis. Ophthalmological manifestations of FMF are extremely rare. Here we described a boy who has been followed-up for FMF and attended with a loss of vision during the course of the disease. He was diagnosed with optic neuritis. As the other etiologies were excluded his optic neuritis was attributed to the underlying auto inflammatory process. After pulse steroid therapy, his symptoms improved and a complete remission occurred. Afterwards he had two more optic neuritis attacks. Thereafter anti-interleukin 1 (IL-1) drugs were introduced and he did not develop further attacks of both optic neuritis and FMF. This case presentation highlights the possible association between FMF and optic nerve involvement.

Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin combination therapy for ocular toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin combination for the treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: Nineteen ocular toxoplasmosis patients treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin +/- corticosteroid combination were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, clinical findings, the time interval until resolution of inflammation, recurrences, and drug side effects were collected. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time of the patients was 25.0 +/- 22.5 (range; 6 -66) months. Final visual acuity improved with a mean of 6 +/- 4 lines in 15 patients (78.9%). Inflammatory findings began to subside within 14.8 +/- 10.0 days. Three patients (15.8%) had recurrent attack. Only 1 patient (5.3%) had side effects from therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin combination is an effective and safe treatment modality for the treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Rimexolone 1% versus prednisolone acetate in preventing early postoperative inflammation after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of rimexolone 1% and prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic suspensions in controlling intraocular inflammation in the early period after cataract surgery. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation, either planned extra capsular cataract extraction (PECCE) or phacoemulsification surgery, were evaluated in a prospective, randomized, observer-masked, clinical trial in which efficacy in controlling early postoperative inflammation and safety of prednisolone acetate 1% one eye drop every 4 h (n = 36 eyes) was compared with that of rimexolone 1% one eye drop every 4 h (n = 44 eyes) in an eighteen day course. Efficacy was assessed from changes of the anterior chamber cell count, flare, conjunctival hyperemia, and ciliary congestion by means of slit lamp biomicroscopy on days 1, 3, 8, 15, and 18. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and possible side effects were also recorded on each visit. RESULTS: Anterior chamber cell count and flare showed no difference in the two groups at any visits. The rimexolone group was associated with significantly higher score for conjunctival hyperemia on days one and three (P < 0.05) and the prednisolone acetate group was associated with a significantly higher score for corneal edema on day 8 (P < 0,05). However, there were no between group differences in IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Rimexolone 1% ophthalmic suspension was as effective and safe as prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic suspension in controlling inflammation in the early period after cataract surgery.

Topical apraclonidine testing discloses pupillary sympathetic denervation in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Autonomic denervation is common in diabetes mellitus (DM). Pupillary sympathetic denervation (PSD) has been found in Horner syndrome following instillation of apraclonidine 0.5%. We have applied this technique to investigate the prevalence of PSD in DM. METHODS: Apraclonidine 0.5% was instilled in the eyes of 50 patients with DM and 30 age-matched and gender-matched subjects without DM (control subjects). Pupil diameters (PD) were measured before and 60 minutes after instillation. The duration of DM and the degree of diabetic retinopathy (DR) were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: Apraclonidine instillation caused an average of 0.9 mm of mydriasis (range 0 to 4.5 mm) in DM and -0.1 mm miosis (range 0.5 to -1 mm) in control subjects (P < 0.001). Mydriasis of at least 1 mm was observed in 42% of DM patients. The change in PD was highly correlated with the duration of DM (r = 0.368, P = 0.008) and the presence of DR (r = 0.532, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Apraclonidine testing, which is easy to perform and not distressing to the patient, identified PSD in nearly half of DM patients, the degree of mydriasis being correlated to the duration of DM and the presence of DR.

Evaluation of serum leptin concentration in Behçet's disease with ocular involvement.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between the serum leptin concentration and ocular involvement in patients with Behçet's disease. METHODS: The study included 28 male consecutive patients with Behçet's disease ( group A, aged 19-59, median 35.5 years) and 15 male healthy control subjects ( group B, aged 25-45, median 35 years). The body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject at the study enrollment stage. We measured serum leptin, neutrophil count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The age and BMI between the patients with ocular Behçet's disease and the control group were not different. White cell count and ESR values were found to be significantly higher among patients with Behçet's disease and ocular involvement (p<0.001). The median serum leptin concentrations were as follows: group A: 2.66 (0.57-7.02 ng/ml) and in group B: 2.55 (1.55-7.82 ng/ml). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Serum leptin level does not correlate with ocular involvement in patients with Behçet's disease.