Effect of Buerger's disease on ocular microvascular structure.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Buerger's disease, being a systemic inflammatory vasculopathy, may present with ocular findings. BACKGROUND: This study aims to understand the potential role of optical coherence tomography and angiography findings in evaluating the course of Buerger's disease. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study that included 25 patients with Buerger's disease (Group 1) and 51 healthy control participants, of whom 27 were smokers (Group 2) and 24 were non-smokers (Group 3). Following a detailed ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography and angiography measurements were conducted on participants. The values of macular superficial and deep capillary plexus, peripapillary capillary plexus vessel density measurements were taken into account from optical coherence tomography angiography measurements. Furthermore, measurements were taken for the parameters of the foveal avascular zone, including its area, perimeter and acircularity index. Additionally, the choriocapillaris flow area was assessed between radii of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm. RESULTS: In patients with Buerger's disease, the area and perimeter of the foveal avascular zone were higher than in both smoker and non-smoker healthy groups (p < 0.001 for all). The vessel densities in superficial capillary plexus were found to be lower in patients with Buerger's disease compared to both smokers and non-smokers in all regions except the parafovea (p < 0.05 for all). The radial peripapillary capillary plexus vessel densities in the whole retina and peripapillary region were lower than those in the non-smoker group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008). The choriocapillaris flow areas in all three radius were lower in the smoker group than in the non-smoker group (1 mm, p = 0.01; 2 mm, p = 0.005; 3 mm, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Buerger's disease extends beyond the extremities, affecting vascular density and tissue perfusion in the optic disc and macula, making it a systemic condition. This disease can have ocular involvement without causing serious ocular findings.

Evaluation of retinal vascular and structural alterations in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients without papilledema.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate retinal structural and microvascular alterations using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCTA) in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients with regressed papilledema. METHODS: This study included 40 eyes of 21 IIH patients and 69 eyes of 36 healthy controls. Radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were evaluated by XR Avanti AngioVue OCTA (Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA). The data were obtained from measurement zones that are automatically divided into two equal hemispheres (superior and inferior) and eight quadrants (superior-temporal, superior-nasal, inferior-temporal, inferior-nasal, nasal-superior, nasal-inferior, temporal-superior, temporal-inferior). Initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, grade of papilledema, and duration of follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: There were significant differences in RPC vessel densities and RNFL thicknesses between the study groups (p Ëƒ 0.05). Significantly higher RPC vessel density measurements were observed in the patient group for the whole image, peripapillary, inferior-hemi, and whole nasal quadrants (p < 0.05). Except for the temporal-superior, temporal-inferior, inferior-temporal, and superior-temporal quadrants, the RNFL in all regions was significantly thicker in the IIH group than in the control group (p Ë‚ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness and RPC vessel density were significantly different between the IIH patient and control groups, suggesting that retinal microvascular and subclinical structural changes that were potentially secondary to CSF pressure can persist after the resolution of papilledema. However, our results should be confirmed by further longitudinal studies investigating the progress of these alterations to determine their effects on peripapillary tissues.

Evaluation of ocular microvascular characteristics in smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using an optical coherence tomography angiography.

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal microvascular changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to compare these values with those of smokers and healthy non-smokers. METHODS: This study was performed on 38 eyes of 38 patients with COPD, 30 eyes of 30 smokers, and 31 eyes of 31 healthy non-smokers. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexus (whole image, fovea, parafovea, and perifovea) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel densities (whole image, peripapillary, and inside disc) were evaluated via OCTA device (Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA). The forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio and FEV1 values of patients with COPD were recorded. RESULTS: There were statistically similar values in smoking pack-years between the smoker and COPD groups (p = 0.059). Entire SCP and DCP vessel densities were significantly different among the all groups (p < 0.05); for these parameters, the control group had the highest and the COPD group had the lowest vessel density values. Significantly decreased RPC vessel densities in all regions were detected in the COPD group compared with the other groups. Multiple regression analysis showed significant positive correlations between the FEV1 and the SCP, DCP, and RPC vessel densities (for all, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study detected lower vessel densities in patients with COPD than in smokers and healthy controls and reported decreased vessel density measurements with increasing COPD severity. COPD patients with or without a history of smoking may benefit from higher prioritization in terms of ophthalmic screening to prevent ocular complications.

Local ocular surface findings in COVID-19 patients without ocular symptoms / Achados locais de superfície ocular em pacientes com COVID-19 sem sintomas oculares

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate subjective ocular symptoms and objectively measure tear secretion in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 24 patients who had survived COVID-19 infection and 27 healthy controls were enrolled. Conjunctival impression cytology, the Schirmer test, tear-film break-up time, corneal staining scores were applied to all the participants. Results: No significant difference was noted with regard to the gender and mean age between the two groups (p=0.484 and p=0.599, respectively). The conjunctival impression cytology analysis revealed that the density of the goblet cells was decreased, while the counts of lymphocytes and neutrophils were increased in the COVID-19 group patients when compared with ethe control group patients. When the Nelson classification was applied to the conjunctival impression cytology samples, 25% of the COVID-19 group patients and 14.8% of the control group patients exhibited changes consistent with ≥grade 2. The mean tear-film break-up time, Schirmer test, and corneal staining score results were determined to differ between the COVID-19 and control groups (p=0.02, p<0.001, and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: The present study revealed the pathological conjunctival alterations of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, indicating the possibility of the occurrence of pathological ocular surface alterations to even at the end of COVID-19 infection, without the occurrence of any significant clinical ocular manifestations.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar sintomas oculares subjetivos e medir a secreção lacrimal objetivamente em pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado da doença coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19). Métodos: Vinte e quatro pacientes que sobreviveram à infecção pela COVID-19 e 27 controles saudáveis foram incluídos neste estudo transversal prospectivo. Citologia de impressão da conjuntiva, teste de Schirmer, tempo de separação do filme lacrimal, pontuações de coloração da córnea foram aplicados a todos os participantes. Resultados: Concluiu-se que não houve diferença significativa em relação ao gênero e idade média entre os dois grupos (p=0,484 e p=0,599, respectivamente). A análise dos resultados da citologia de impressão da conjuntiva revelou que a densidade das células do cálice diminuiu, enquanto os linfócitos e neutrófilos aumentaram nos pacientes do grupo COVID-19 quando comparados com os do grupo controle. Quando a classificação de Nelson foi aplicada às amostras de citologia de impressão da conjuntiva, determinou-se que 25% dos pacientes do grupo COVID-19 e 14,8% dos pacientes do grupo controle apresentaram alterações consistentes com grau 2 ou superior. O tempo médio de separação do filme lacrimal, teste de Schirmer e os resultados das pontuações de coloração da córnea foram determinados, diferindo entre o grupo COVID-19 e o grupo controle (p=0,02, p<0,001, and p=0,003, respectivamente). Conclusões: As análises realizadas neste estudo revelaram as alterações conjuntivais patológicas de pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19 e mostraram que é possível que alterações patológicas da superfície ocular ocorram mesmo no final da infecção pela COVID-19, sem a ocorrência de manifestações oculares clínicas significativas.

Local ocular surface findings in COVID-19 patients without ocular symptoms.

PURPOSE: To investigate subjective ocular symptoms and objectively measure tear secretion in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 24 patients who had survived COVID-19 infection and 27 healthy controls were enrolled. Conjunctival impression cytology, the Schirmer test, tear-film break-up time, corneal staining scores were applied to all the participants. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted with regard to the gender and mean age between the two groups (p=0.484 and p=0.599, respectively). The conjunctival impression cytology analysis revealed that the density of the goblet cells was decreased, while the counts of lymphocytes and neutrophils were increased in the COVID-19 group patients when compared with ethe control group patients. When the Nelson classification was applied to the conjunctival impression cytology samples, 25% of the COVID-19 group patients and 14.8% of the control group patients exhibited changes consistent with ≥grade 2. The mean tear-film break-up time, Schirmer test, and corneal staining score results were determined to differ between the COVID-19 and control groups (p=0.02, p<0.001, and p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the pathological conjunctival alterations of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, indicating the possibility of the occurrence of pathological ocular surface alterations to even at the end of COVID-19 infection, without the occurrence of any significant clinical ocular manifestations.

Quantitative OCT angiography of the retinal and choroidal vascular circulation in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal and choroidal microvascular changes in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) pediatric patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: This study was performed on 21 eyes of 21 NF1 patients and 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters, including area, perimeter, acircularity index, and foveal density, were measured using OCTA. Superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexus and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel densities and choriocapillaris flow were also evaluated. Choroidal nodules and thickness were detected using infrared reflectance and enhanced-depth imaging OCT. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed for FAZ parameters or SCP and RPC vessel densities between groups. DCP vessel densities in the perifovea were significantly lower in the NF1 group than in the control group (P = 0.001). A significantly lower choriocapillaris flow area (P < 0.001) and increased subfoveal and nasal perifoveal choroidal thickness (P < 0.001) were observed in the NF1 group. Choriocapillaris flow area tended to be inversely related to the number of choroidal nodules in the NF1 group. CONCLUSIONS: Perifoveal DCP vessel density and choriocapillaris flow significantly differed between NF1 patients and controls, suggesting that retinal and choroidal vascular microcirculation is affected in the former, potentially by choroidal nodules. Further longitudinal studies are required to determine the effects of these differences on circulation in the posterior segment of the eye.

Objective Assessment of Corneal and Lens Clarity in Patients with COVID-19.

SIGNIFICANCE: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus, which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, can bind to epithelial cells in the human cornea and conjunctiva, which may result in changes of corneal and lenticular densitometry. PURPOSE: We aimed to report the corneal and lenticular clarity of patients who had been diagnosed previously with confirmed infection of COVID-19. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Fifty-three patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and 51 healthy individuals who had not had COVID-19 (control) were included in this study. Measurement of the corneal (at a corneal diameter of 12 mm) and lens densitometry of participants was performed using a Pentacam HR Scheimpflug imaging system. Three different optimal depths as anterior, central, and posterior layers and four concentric zones, consisting of diameters of 0 to 2, 2 to 6, 6 to 10, and 10 to 12 mm, were chosen to perform the corneal densitometric measurements. The mean lenticular densitometric values were calculated in zone 1 at 2.0 mm, zone 2 at 4.0 mm, and zone 3 at 6.0 mm by taking the central part of the pupil as reference point. RESULTS: When compared with the individuals in the control group, the corneal densitometry measurements in the patients in the COVID-19 group were considerably higher in anterior 0 to 2 mm, 2 to 6 mm, 6 to 10 mm zones and total diameter; center 0 to 2 and 2 to 6 mm zones and total diameter; posterior 0 to 2 mm zone; and total corneal 0 to 2 and 2 to 6 mm zones and total diameter (P < .05, for each). When compared with the individuals in the control group, all of the lens densitometry measurements, except for those located in zone 1, were determined to be significantly higher among the patients in the COVID-19 group (P < .05, for each). CONCLUSIONS: Significant alterations were found in corneal and lenticular densitometric values in patients who had had COVID-19. The virus could adversely affect cornea and lens transparency.

The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Retinal Microcirculation in Human Subjects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess retinal microcirculation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through the use of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and compare the results with those obtained in healthy controls. METHODS: The study enrolled 39 patients who had fully recovered from COVID-19 and 40 healthy controls. OCT-A image acquisitions were obtained using AngioVue software (version 2017.1.0.151) and the RTVue XR Avanti imaging system (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA). Nonflow area in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in the whole retinal vasculature, FAZ perimeter, acircularity index of FAZ, and foveal density were automatically obtained with the FAZ assessment tool. Vessel density (VD) at the SCP and deep capillary plexus were also measured. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the nonflow area and the FAZ area in the whole retina was greater in the COVID-19 group; however no statistically significant difference was observed (p > 0.05 respectively). As for vessel densities, all superficial parafoveal VD parameters were considerably higher in the COVID-19 group compared to the control group (p < 0.05 respectively). Despite the fact that the vessel densities in the remaining zones were lower in the COVID-19 group, those differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05 respectively). CONCLUSION: VD at the parafoveal area of the SCP was significantly higher among patients in the late post-recovery period of COVID-19 disease compared to healthy controls. These findings show the impact of COVID-19 on the retinal microvasculature and its possible role as a risk factor for the development of ocular diseases.

Retinal vascular findings in patients with COVID-19.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the retinal vascular caliber of COVID-19 patients with that of healthy subjects. METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study. Forty-six patients who had COVID-19 were successfully treated, and 38 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Fundus photography was taken using fundus fluorescein angiography (FA; Visucam 500; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Retinal vascular caliber was analyzed with IVAN, a semi-automated retinal vascular analyzer (Nicole J. Ferrier, College of Engineering, Fundus Photography Reading Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA). Central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE), and artery-vein ratio (AVR) were compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean age was 37.8 ± 9.5 years in the COVID-19 group (n = 46) and 40 ± 8 years in the control group (n = 38) (p = 0.45). The mean CRAE was 181.56 ± 6.40 in the COVID-19 group and 171.29 ± 15.06 in the control group (p = 0.006). The mean CRVE was 226.34 ± 23.83 in the COVID-19 group and 210.94 ± 22.22 in the control group (p = 0.044). AVR was 0.81 ± 0.09 in the COVID-19 group and 0.82 ± 0.13 in the control group (p = 0.712). CONCLUSION: Patients who had COVID-19 have vasodilation in the retinal vascular structure after recovery. As they may be at risk of retinal vascular disease, COVID-19 patients must be followed after recovery.

Quantitative assessment of retinal changes in COVID-19 patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The SARS-COV 2 virus, which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, acts on the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor in the host cell. Ocular effects may occur because of the ACE-2 receptor in the retina. BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the retinal layers and optic disc parameters in previously confirmed COVID-19 patients using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: This study included 60 eyes of 60 subjects; 35 of them were in the COVID-19 group and the remaining 25 were in the control group. Patients with the diagnosis of COVID-19 that had a negative result after treatment were included in the study. Macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements, each retinal layer thickness of all participants were done 14-30 days after COVID-19 symptom onset, following the negative result of real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test using SD-OCT. RESULTS: The mean value of central macular thickness was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group than the control group (p = 0.02). The mean values of the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer thickness in the COVID-19 group were significantly thinner than control group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.04, respectively). Even though mean RNFL thickness measurements in all sections in the COVID-19 group was thinner than controls, there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: In the early recovery phase, changes in the macula, ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer could be seen. These patients should be followed up closely for the recognition of new pathologies that could be seen in the late recovery phase.

Evaluation of Densitometric Analysis for Early Detection of Corneal Blood Staining in Hyphema.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possibility of detecting presumed corneal blood staining after traumatic hyphema with corneal densitometry and to evaluate corneal transparency after hyphema resolution. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with uniocular nonpenetrating ocular trauma with hyphema were included in the study. Corneal densitometry measurements were performed at the first week and the first month after full resolution of blood in the anterior chamber and discontinuation of medication. The uninjured eyes were accepted as the control group. RESULTS: The corneal densitometry values at all zones of the posterior layer in the study eyes were significantly higher at the first week compared with the first month (P < 0.05 for all). Comparison of the corneal densitometry values of the study eyes at the first week with the fellow eyes showed significantly higher values at all zones of the posterior corneal layer (P < 0.05 for all). Comparison of the study eyes at the first month with the fellow eyes was significantly higher at the posterior 0- to 2-, 2- to 6-, and 6- to 10-mm zones (P = 0.030, P = 0.044, and P = 0.035, respectively). Although corneal densitometry values at the posterior 10- to 12-mm and posterior total zones were higher at the first month compared with those of the fellow eyes, these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.197 and P = 0.085, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal densitometry at all zones of the posterior corneal layer significantly changed after traumatic hyphema. Corneal densitometry analysis could be used in clinically normal cases for possible early corneal blood staining detection.