Toll-like receptor-4 expression and oxidative stress in ocular rosacea.

Purpose: To investigate systemic and ocular toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 expression and its association with oxidative stress markers in ocular rosacea (OR). Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients with rosacea with ocular involvement and 20 healthy volunteers. Tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, meibomoscore, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores were estimated for all participants. TLR-4 expression in conjunctival epithelium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In the tears and serum samples of all participants, antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and arylesterase (ARE) activation levels were measured using a fully automated spectrophotometric method, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Results: TLR-4 expression levels and oxidative stress status (TOS and OSI values) were significantly higher (p < 0.01), and antioxidant status (TAS and ARE values) were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in both ocular and blood samples of patients with OR compared with those in controls. A significant positive correlation was found between the ocular and blood values in all parameters (p < 0.05). According to the clinical associations of these results, we found negative correlations between TLR-4, OSI, and TBUT and between TLR-4 and Schirmer, whereas a positive correlation was observed between TLR-4, OSI, and meiboscore and between TLR-4, OSI, and OSDI (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between the OSI and Schirmer results (p = 0.92). Conclusions: TLR-4 and oxidative stress both play important roles in OR pathophysiology and are closely related to clinical findings.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular index in patients using combined oral contraceptive pills.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular index (CVI) in healthy women using the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCp). METHODS: This prospective study included 30 women using COCp (3 mg drospirenone/0.03 mg ethinylestradiol) for contraception for at least 1 year and 30 healthy women who did not use COCp. Intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL) and body mass index (BMI) values of all participants were recorded. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) and choroidal thickness at 1500 micron distance in nasal and temporal regions (NCT, TCT) were measured through optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Luminal, stromal and total choroidal area values were evaluated by binarization method. The ratio of the luminal choroidal area to the total choroidal area was determined as the CVI value. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in IOP and AL values between the two groups at no significant difference in age and BMI index (p > 0.05, for all). SCT, NCT and TCT values were no significant difference in the two groups (p > 0.05, for all). Luminal and stromal choroidal area values were found to be lower in the group using COCp (p = 0.01, p = 0.02 respectively). The CVI value was 62.1 ± 3.6% in the COCp group and 65.6 ± 4.3% in the control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of CVI value (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate CVI in women using COCp, and CVI was found to be lower in individuals using COCp. Therefore, CVI can be used in the follow-up of possible ocular pathologies that may develop in individuals using COCp.

Optic Nerve Head Elastometry in Both Eyes of Patients with Unilateral Non-arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy - May It Be a Novel Aspect of the Pathogenesis?

In this prospective study, the biomechanical properties of optic nerve head (ONH) and cornea in both eyes of patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy and healthy control eyes were investigated. ONH elastometry was measured with real-time elastography, and corneal elastometry was measured with ocular response analyser. Elastometry of cornea and ONH was lower in both eyes of patients with unilateral non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy than in healthy control eyes. The role of these biomechanical differences in the pathogenesis of non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy should be investigated further.

Investigation of small fiber neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus by corneal confocal microscopy.

OBJECTIVES: Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a non-invasive technique that examines the corneal cellular structure. Its use in the detection of small fiber neuropathy is being researched. In our study, we examined the role of CCM in the detection of small fiber neuropathy in diabetic patients, as well as the differences between CCM findings in diabetic patients with and without overt polyneuropathy with neuropathic symptoms. METHODS: 56 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients and 18 healthy controls were included in the study. The individuals included in the study were divided into three groups. Patients with diabetes who were found to have polyneuropathy according to electrophysiological diagnostic criteria were classified as Group 1, patients with diabetes and neuropathic symptoms without overt polyneuropathy according to electrophysiological diagnostic criteria were classified as Group 2, and healthy individuals were classified as Group 3. Electrophysiological examination and corneal imaging with CCM were performed in all groups. RESULTS: The CNFD and CNFL values of individuals in the diabetic group were discovered to be lower. CNFD values differ statistically between the groups (p = 0.047). Group 1-Group 3 differs from Group 2-Group 3 (respectively; p = 0.018, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that CCM can be used in patients with neuropathic symptoms and no polyneuropathy detected in EMG and thought to have small fiber neuropathy. CCM provides an opportunity for early diagnosis in small fiber neuropathy.

Evaluation of effect of covid-19 pandemic on anatomical and functional changes and vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate anatomical and functional changes and vision-related quality of life in patients whose glaucoma follow-up was disrupted by the COVID-19 restrictions. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 100 patients who were followed up at the glaucoma unit. For the patients whose follow-up evaluations were postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, visual field parameters [mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and visual field index (VFI)], and the National Institute of Ophthalmology Visual Function Scale-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) score were evaluated based on the measurements performed at the last visit before COVID-19 (V1) and at the first visit after the removal of COVID-19 restrictions (V2). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 61.1 ± 13.4 years, the mean follow-up time was 11.4 ± 4.2 months, and the mean interval between the last two visits was 7.2 ± 2.7 months. In the evaluation of the last two visits, VA was lower and IOP was higher at V2, and there was progression in the MD, PSD, and VFI values (p<0.05, for all). RNFL thickness progression was seen in 13-23% of the patients. According to the NEI-VFQ-25 evaluation, except for peripheral vision and near vision, all the remaining subscale scores and the total score were lower at V2 (p<0.05, for all). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anatomical and functional changes and vision-related quality of life together in patients with glaucoma.

Choroidal vascularity index in adult patients with familial meditteranean fever.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate choroidal vascular status by the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in adult patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in remission period. MATERIALS-METHODS: 86 patients diagnosed with FMF and 54 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Retinal, ganglion cell complex and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thicknesses were obtained using Spectralis domain-optical coherence (SD-OCT) tomography. Choroid images were obtained with the enhanced depth imaging mode of SD-OCT, and binarization was applied to the images using ImageJ software. CVI was described as the proportion of the luminal area to the total choroidal area. Blood-derived inflammation markers were calculated by the complete blood count. RESULTS: The subfoveal choroidal thickness and nasal and temporal directions from fovea centralis at 500 µm, 1000 µm and 1500 µm were reduced in patients with FMF in comparison to healthy controls (p<0.001, each comparison). CVI was significantly decreased in patients with FMF compared to controls (62.28±2.2 and 64.79±4.3, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the choroidal vasculature structure may be affected prior to retinal changes in patients with FMF.

Evaluation of Ocular and Systemic Oxidative Stress Markers in Ocular Rosacea Patients.

Purpose: To investigate oxidative stress markers in tears and serum of patients with ocular rosacea and to examine their association with both ocular surface parameters and cutaneous rosacea subtypes. Methods: This prospective study includes rosacea patients with ocular involvement and healthy controls. We performed ophthalmological examination of all participants and collected tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer, Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores. We quantified the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and arylesterase (ARE) levels from tear and serum samples, and calculated the oxidative stress index (OSI). We also classified patients into phymatous, erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular subtypes. Results: We included 90 ocular rosacea patients and 30 healthy controls. Oxidative stress (TOS, OSI) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) and antioxidant levels (TAS, ARE) were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in both tear and serum samples of ocular rosacea patients as compared to controls. We found a significant positive correlation between the tear and serum values regarding oxidative stress parameters (P < 0.05). Besides, OSI was negatively correlated with TBUT and positively correlated with MGD score (meiboscore) and OSDI (P < 0.05). The Schirmer score was not correlated with OSI. No difference was found between the cutaneous subtypes with respect to TAS, TOS, ARE, and OSI results. Conclusions: In this study, we identified oxidative stress markers in the serum and tears of ocular rosacea patients and showed their correlation with clinical signs of MGD, suggesting that oxidative stress contributes to ocular rosacea pathogenesis and that oxidative stress could be an indicator of MGD severity.

Is hypermetropia regressing in accommodative esotropia?

PURPOSES: To evaluate the relationship of changes in hypermetropia and ocular alignment in patients with accommodative esotropia. METHODS: The medical records of consecutive patients diagnosed with refractive accommodative esotropia (esotropia eliminated or decreased to within 10 D with full hyperopic correction) were retrospectively reviewed. Cycloplegic refractions culled from medical records were converted into spherical equivalents. Presence of amblyopia, changes in refractive error and ocular alignment at admission and after the follow-up period were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy patients (mean age: 6.01 ± 5.41 years; female: 60.6%; mean follow-up: 5.8 ± 3 years) had corrected esotropia of 40 ± 20 prismatic diopters at admission. The average decrease per year in near and distance deviations with glasses was 1.71 ± 3.96 prismatic diopters/year and 1.09 ± 3.25 prismatic diopters/year, respectively. The total myopic shift of the right and left eyes was 1.08 ± 1.35 D and 1.20 ± 1.40 D, respectively. Myopic shift/year was 0.22 D/year and 0.26 D/year, respectively. The correlation between the rate of myopic shift and rate of change in corrected near deviation was weak. The correlation for the rate of myopic shift was not high for the right and left eyes (r=0.18; p=0.15). CONCLUSION: The amount of deviation and hypermetropia gradually decreased in accommodative esotropia during follow-up. On the other hand, it may be incorrect to assure patients that the amount of deviation will decrease in parallel with the refractive error.

Comparison of effects of mydriatic drops (1% cyclopentolate and 0.5% tropicamide) on anterior segment parameters.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide drops on anterior segment parameters in healthy individuals. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-eight eyes of 129 healthy volunteers were included in this randomized clinical study. Cyclopentolate 1% drop was applied to 75 (58%) participants (group 1) and tropicamide 0.5% drop was applied to 54 (42%) participants (group 2). Flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), white-to-white (WTW) distance, pupil diameter, total pupil offset and intraocular lens (IOL) power were measured before and after drops, using Lenstar 900 optical biometry. Results: The increase in CCT, ACD, pupil diameter, and pupil offset was significant in group 1 after the drop (P < 0.05), while the increase in ACD, pupil diameter, and pupil offset was significant in group 2 (P < 0.05). When the two groups were compared, there was no significant difference in K1, K2, CCT, ACD, WTW, pupil diameter, pupil offset, and IOL power (using Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff T formula) changes after drops (P > 0.05), whereas the change in AL was significant (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide drops on anterior segment parameters were similar; they did not make significant changes in K1, K2, AL, WTW, and third-generation IOL power calculation. However, ACD values significantly changed after these drops; thus, measuring anterior segment parameters before mydriatic agents should be taken into account particularly for fourth-generation IOL formulas and phakic IOL implantation. The change in pupil offset, which can be important in excimer laser and multifocal IOL applications, was not clinically significant.

Bedside measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter with ultrasound in cerebrovascular disorders

Background/aim: We aimed to show the role of determination of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) by bedside ultrasonography in an emergency department in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disorders and its correlation with the clinical picture. Materials and methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 55 patients with cerebrovascular disorders and 53 controls. Age, sex, ONSD, comorbid disease status, and multidetector computed tomography results of all subjects and application periods and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of the patient group were evaluated. Results: The ONSD of the patient and control groups was determined as a median of 5.7 mm and 3.6 mm, respectively. The ONSD of the patient group was determined to be significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). A positive relationship was determined between NIHSS scores and ONSD values (P < 0.05). The specificity and sensitivity values were determined as 98.1% and 81.8%, respectively, for a cutoff value of 5 mm and as 100% and 72.7%, respectively, for a cutoff value of 6 mm. Conclusion: This study showed that bedside measurement of ONSD is an easy, cheap, and noninvasive method that can be used to support the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with acute stroke.

Is hypermetropia regressing in accommodative esotropia? / A hipermetropia regride na esotropia acomodativa?

ABSTRACT Purposes: To evaluate the relationship of changes in hypermetropia and ocular alignment in patients with accommodative esotropia. Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients diagnosed with refractive accommodative esotropia (esotropia eliminated or decreased to within 10 D with full hyperopic correction) were retrospectively reviewed. Cycloplegic refractions culled from medical records were converted into spherical equivalents. Presence of amblyopia, changes in refractive error and ocular alignment at admission and after the follow-up period were evaluated. Results: Seventy patients (mean age: 6.01 ± 5.41 years; female: 60.6%; mean follow-up: 5.8 ± 3 years) had corrected esotropia of 40 ± 20 prismatic diopters at admission. The average decrease per year in near and distance deviations with glasses was 1.71 ± 3.96 prismatic diopters/year and 1.09 ± 3.25 prismatic diopters/year, respectively. The total myopic shift of the right and left eyes was 1.08 ± 1.35 D and 1.20 ± 1.40 D, respectively. Myopic shift/year was 0.22 D/year and 0.26 D/year, respectively. The correlation between the rate of myopic shift and rate of change in corrected near deviation was weak. The correlation for the rate of myopic shift was not high for the right and left eyes (r=0.18; p=0.15). Conclusion: The amount of deviation and hypermetropia gradually decreased in accommodative esotropia during follow-up. On the other hand, it may be incorrect to assure patients that the amount of deviation will decrease in parallel with the refractive error.(AU)

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre alterações na hipermetropia e o alinhamento ocular em pacientes com esotropia acomodativa. Métodos: Foram analisados retrospectivamente prontuários médicos de pacientes consecutivos diagnosticados com esotropia acomodativa refrativa (com esotropia eliminada ou reduzida a menos de 10 D com correção completa da hipermetropia). As medidas de refração em cicloplegia obtidas dos prontuários foram convertidas em equivalentes esféricos. Avaliaram-se ainda a presença de ambliopia, alterações do erro refrativo e o alinhamento ocular à admissão e depois do período de acompanhamento. Resultados: Setenta pacientes (média de idade=6,01 ± 5,41 anos, 60,6% do sexo feminino, acompanhamento médio de 5,8 ± 3 anos) apresentaram esotropia de 40 ± 20 dioptrias prismáticas (DP) para perto à admissão. A diminuição média anual no desvio para perto e para longe com o uso de óculos foi de 1,71 ± 3,96 DP/ano e 1,09 ± 3,25 DP/ano, respectivamente. Os desvios miópicos totais dos olhos direito e esquerdo foram de 1,08 ± 1,35 D e 1,20 ± 1,40 D, respectivamente. Os desvios miópicos anuais foram de 0,22 D/ano e 0,26 D/ano para os olhos direito e esquerdo, respectivamente. A correlação entre a taxa de desvio miópico e a taxa de alteração do desvio para perto corrigido foi fraca. A correlação da taxa de desvio miópico não foi alta para os olhos direito e esquerdo (r=0,18, p=0,15). Conclusão: A quantidade de desvio e a hipermetropia diminuem gradualmente na esotropia acomodativa durante o acompanhamento. Por outro lado, pode não ser apropriado garantir aos pacientes que o desvio diminuirá em paralelo ao erro refrativo.(AU)