Comparison of long-term results of trabeculectomy to treat pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM: To compare the long term outcome of trabeculectomy in patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in terms of surgical success. METHODS: The success of the trabeculectomy was evaluated by three criteria. Criterion A: intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mm Hg and decrease in IOP ≥20%; Criterion B: IOP ≤18 mm Hg and decrease in IOP ≥30%; Criterion C: IOP ≤15 mm Hg and decrease in IOP ≥50%. Patients that met these criteria without medical treatment were considered to be completely successful, while those that met these criteria with medical treatment were considered partially successful. Significance levels of differences between the POAG and PEG groups in the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Sixty-four eyes from 64 patients with PEG and 51 eyes from 51 patients with POAG were evaluated. No significant differences were detected between the PEG and POAG groups according to full or partial success relative to each of the three criteria (A: P=0.73, 0.32; B: P=0.73, 0.31; C:P=0.90, 0.27). CONCLUSION: There is no difference in the long-term success of trabeculectomy between PEG and POAG patients whose clinical characteristics are otherwise the same.

The prevalences of some rheumatic diseases in western Turkey: Havsa study.

To study the prevalence major rheumatic diseases in western Turkey. This survey was conducted in Havsa which have a total population of 18,771. Physicians and interns visited every household, interviewed face to face a questionnaire about the symptoms of rheumatic disorders. The individuals replied positively to any question were examined at the nearest health center. Those have no objective findings related to any rheumatic diseases were excluded. People could not be clinically diagnosed were asked to come to the hospital for further evaluation. A total 17,835 of 18,771 residents participated. We estimated the prevalence of Behçet's Disease (BD) as 0.019%; ankylosing spondylitis: 0.120%; rheumatoid arthritis: 0.321%; knee osteoarthritis (OA): 5.351%; hand OA: 1.110%; hand and knee OA: 1.958%; total OA: 8.420%; primary Raynaud's: 1.192%; psoriasis: 0.424 %; psoriatic arthritis: 0.050%; rheumatic fever: 0.318%; rheumatic heart disease: 0.200%; inflammatory bowel disease: 0.023%; lupus: 0.059%; gout: 0.018%; systemic sclerosis: 0.022%; juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: 0.032%; temporal arteritis: 0.020%, and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) as 0.006%. Figures were adjusted for age-sex of the general Turkish population. The prevalence's of BD and FMF are considerably lower in Havsa as compared to other regions in Turkey.

The Protective Effect of Curcumin on Ionizing Radiation-induced Cataractogenesis in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the protective effect of curcumin against ionizing radiation-induced cataract in the lens of rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats were divided into six groups. Group 1: Control, Group 2: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Group 3: DMSO+curcumin, Group 4: Irradiation, Group 5: Irradiation+DMSO, Group 6: Irradiation+DMSO+curcumin. A 15 Gy total dose was given to 4, 5, 6 groups for radiation damage. Curcumin (100 mg/kg) was dissolved in DMSO and given by intragastric intubation for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, lenses were graded and enucleated. The lenticular activity of the antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. RESULTS: 100% Cataract was seen in the irradiation group. Cataract rate fell to 40% and was limited at grade 1 and 2 in the curcumin group. In the irradiation group, antioxidant enzyme levels were decreased, MDA levels were increased. There was an increase in antioxidant enzyme levels and a significant decrease in MDA in the group which was given curcumin. CONCLUSION: Curcumin has antioxidant and radioprotective properties and is likely to be a valuable agent for protection against ionizing radiation. Hence, it may be used as an antioxidant and radioprotector against radiation-induced cataractogenesis.

[The factors affecting visual outcome in open globe injuries]. / Açik göz küresi yaralanmalarinda sonuç görme keskinligi üzerine etkisi olan faktörler.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the factors affecting visual acuity in cases subjected to surgical repair due to open globe injury. METHODS: The records of the patients who have been subjected to emergency surgical repair due to open globe injury were examined retrospectively. From a total of 195 cases, 119 eyes of 119 cases who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included into the study. Cases were examined in terms of age, gender, trauma type, localization, preoperative examination findings, the presence of additional surgical interventions and the findings in the last examination. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: Original visual acuity (p=0.042), zone (p=0.001), trauma type (p=0.003), preoperative anterior chamber loss (p=0.005), existence of hyphema (p=0.001), vitreous prolapse (p=0.000) and posterior segment pathology development (p=0.000) influenced the visual outcome. In cases with grade 4 or grade 5 resulting visual acuity, statistically significant factors were determined as "existence of pathology in the posterior segment" (p=0.000, Odds ratio=12.397) and "total anterior chamber loss" (p=0.015, Odds ratio=4.661). CONCLUSION: Changes occurring at the posterior segment pathology and anterior chamber loss are determinant in terms of resulting visual acuity. For this reason, ophthalmoscopy and ultrasonography that should not be omitted in the follow-up period for cases with a transparent media and with media opacity, respectively.

Late dislocation of an anterior chamber intraocular lens into the vitreous.

We report the case of a patient with dislocation of an anterior chamber intraocular lens (AC IOL) into the vitreous, 5 years after surgery. The cause of the dislocation may have been the size of the pupil and habitual eye rubbing. This case report describes a rare complication of AC IOL implantation in eyes of previous iris lesions or pupil abnormalities. This complication should be kept in mind when an AC IOL implantation is planned for the correction of aphakia.

Bilateral choroidal metastases as an initial manifestation of small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

The occurrence of clinically symptomatic intraocular metastases as an initial manifestation of primary neoplasm is rare event. The recognition of metastatic ocular tumors is important since they indicate a poor prognosis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the quality of life for these patients. We report the case of a 48-year-old man presenting with a two-week history of left sided intraocular pain with blurring of vision and headache, which are the first signs of small-cell lung carcinoma.

Two cases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endophthalmitis.

Two cases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endophthalmitis, a rare cause of postoperative endophthalmitis, are reported in this study. Both of the patients underwent vitreus tap and intravitreal antibiotic injection. The therapy was augmented with systemic and subconjunctival injections. The response to this therapy protocol was excellent and the final visual acuity in both of the patients was 10/10. The results are discussed and the literature, which consists of only 8 reported cases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endophthalmitis, is reviewed. Although endophthalmitis caused by this pathogen is a rare but important cataract surgery complication, with appropriate therapy, this clinical presentation can be cured without risk of reoccurrence.