Evaluation of peripapillary choroidal vascularity index in young smokers.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to compare the peripapillary choroidal vascularity index (CVI) between young smokers who smoked less than 5 packs/year and non-smokers.Methods: The study included 52 smokers and 67 non-smokers, and comprehensive eye examinations were performed on all participants. Axial lengths (AL) were measured, and peripapillary enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images were obtained and evaluated using the Open Source ImageJ software. The CVI, total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) quadrants were compared between the two groups.Results: The mean age of the smokers was 23.76 ± 1.84 years, and for non-smokers, it was 23.98 ± 2.18 years. The mean peripapillary CVI for smokers was 0.65 ± 0.08, and for non-smokers, it was 0.67 ± 0.03. No statistically significant difference in CVI was observed between the two groups. However, statistically significant differences were found in the temporal inferior (TI), temporal superior (TS), nasal inferior (NI), and nasal superior (NS) quadrants of the RNFL between the two groups (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the number of packs/year and CVI values in the smoking group (r = 0.031, p = 0.826).Conclusion: The study revealed no significant difference in CVI among young smokers who smoked less than 5 packs/year compared to non-smokers. However, there was a statistically significant decrease in the TI, TS, NI, and NS quadrants of the RNFL in early-age smokers.

Visual evoked potential changes following Botox administration in patients with blepharospasm.

PURPOSE: To examine visual evoked potential (VEP) changes following botulinum toxin type A (BTA) administration in patients with blepharospasm. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with blepharospasm receiving BTA administration were included in the study. Three groups, a control group and two study groups (patients examined 14 days after BTA administration-Study Group 1, and patients examined 28 days after BTA administration-Study Group 2) were evaluated. Dilated fundus examinations were performed following detailed ophthalmological examinations and VEP tests. Keypoint (Dantec, Denmark) and ISCEV criteria were adopted for pattern VEP (PVEP) recording. BTA was applied in the form of local injections at a total 15-30 units, at 2.5-5 units per injection. RESULTS: A mean 19.4 ± 3.2 units of BTA was used for each eye. N70 (ms), P100 (ms), and P100 (uV) values were statistically significantly lower in both study groups following drug administrations compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for all). Significant positive correlation was observed between increased P100 amplitudes and age in the control group (p = 0.008, r = 0.200). Significant negative correlation was observed between the BTA units used and decreased P100 amplitudes in both study groups 1 and 2 following drug administrations (p = 0.017, r = - 0.180 and p = 0.043, r = - 0.153, respectively). CONCLUSION: VEP may be an important method in the diagnosis and follow-up of blepharospasm and in determining the success of drug administration and additional therapeutic requirements.

Evaluation of xenon, light-emitting diode (LED) and halogen light toxicity on cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the possible toxic effects of three light sources used in vitreoretinal endoillumination systems; halogen, xenon, and light-emitting diode (LED) on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell cultures, after two different exposure times. MATERIAL AND METHODS: ARPE-19 human RPE cell cultures were exposed to halogen, xenon, and LED light sources at a distance of 1.5 cm for 30 and 60 min with equal lumen output levels. Cells in the control group were not exposed. RPE cell cultures were compared in terms of cell viability, DNA damage, apoptosis rate, and IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF- α levels. RESULTS: The halogen light group showed significantly more DNA damage, higher TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels, and lower viable cell count at 30 min compared to the control group. The rates of early and late apoptosis were also significantly higher at 60 min. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the parameters between the xenon and LED light sources and the control group at 30 or 60 min. CONCLUSION: New generation lights, xenon, and LED, seem to be safe in terms of RPE cells. Halogen light may cause toxic effects on RPE cells when used for a long time with maximal power output.

Oxidant-Antioxidant Balance in the Aqueous Humor of Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PURPOSE: To analyze oxidative stress parameters in the aqueous humor with retinal vein occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 56 patients who underwent cataract surgery were enrolled in this study. The eyes with retinal vein occlusion were included in the study group. Aqueous humor was sampled from all patients and analyzed by an automated measurement method. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stres index (OSI) were calculated. RESULTS: OSI was significantly higher in the study group (p = 0.04). TAS was significantly lower (p = 0.01) and OSI was significantly higher (p = 0.01) in cases with both central retinal vein occlusion and macular edema. Previous laser photocoalugation to the retina and the duration of disease had no significant effect on the levels of oxidative stress parameters. CONCLUSION: OSI was found higher in patients with retinal vein occlusion. This increase is more significant in patients with macular edema and central retinal vein occlusion; in which TAS was also found to decrease.

Angioid streaks in a case of Camurati-Engelmann disease.

Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) is a rare autosomal dominant disease with various phenotypic expressions. The hallmark of the disease is bilateral symmetric diaphyseal hyperostosis of the long bones with progressive involvement of the metaphysis. Ocular manifestations occur rarely and mainly result from bony overgrowth of the orbit and optic canal stenosis. We report a case of CED showing angioid streaks (ASs) in both fundi with no macular involvement and discuss the possible theories of the pathogenesis of AS in this disease.

A novel tool reflecting the role of oxidative stress in the cataracts: thiol/disulfide homeostasis.

We investigated serum and aqueous humor thiol/disulfide (T-D) homeostasis in patients with cataracts versus healthy controls. In total, 56 patients with cataracts and 49 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Serum total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), and disulfide (DS) concentrations were determined using a novel automated measurement method. Additionally, DS/TT, DS/NT and NT/TT percentage ratios were compared between the groups. In comparison with the control group, serum NT levels and aqueous humor TT and NT levels were significantly lower (p < .05, p < .05 and p < .001, respectively), whereas serum and aqueous humor DS levels were significantly higher in cataract patients (p < .01 and p < .001). DS/TT and DS/NT ratios were significantly higher and the NT/TT ratio was lower in cataract patients in serum (p < .005) and aqueous humor samples (p < .001). In conclusion, serum T-D homeostasis may be useful as biochemical markers, indicating the role of oxidative stress in the development of cataracts. Further studies are needed to confirm the pathophysiological role of T-D homeostasis in cataractogenesis.

The Choroid and Optical Coherence Tomography.

The choroid is the most vascular tissue in the eye and it plays an important role in the pathophysiology of various common chorioretinal diseases such as central serous retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and degenerative myopia. Quantitative assessment of the choroid has been quite challenging with traditional imaging modalities such as indocyanine green angiography and ultrasonography due to limited resolution and repeatability. With the advent of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology, detailed visualization of the choroid in vivo is now possible. Measurements of choroidal thickness have also enabled new directions in research to study normal and pathological processes within the choroid. The aim of the present study is to review the current literature on choroidal imaging using OCT.