Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Childhood Obesity.

PURPOSE: To investigate corneal biomechanical properties in patients with childhood obesity. METHODS: The study included 47 patients with childhood obesity (study group) and 39 healthy patients (control group). Corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor, corneal compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc), and Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg) were measured with the Ocular Response Analyzer (Reichert, Ophthalmic Instruments, Buffalo, NY) in each eye. Central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber angle (ACA), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements were obtained by the Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera (Oculus Optikgeräte GmBh, Wetzlar, Germany). RESULTS: The mean corneal hysteresis was 10.56 ± 1.52 mm Hg in the study group and 11.16 ± 1.92 mm Hg in the control group (P = .022). The mean IOP was 14.9 ± 2.0 mm Hg in the study group and 14.1 ± 1.3 mm Hg in the control group (P = .003). Corneal hysteresis showed a significant, positive correlation with corneal resistance factor (P < .001, r = 0.851), IOPg (P = .044, r = 0.213), CCT (P < .001, r = 0.477), and IOP (P = .005, r = 0.295). Corneal hysteresis showed a significant, negative correlation with IOPcc (P = .001, r = -0.355), ACA (P = .005, r = -0.294), ACV (P = .019, r = -0.246), and ACD (P = .046, r = -0.211). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with childhood obesity have lower corneal hysteresis and higher IOPcc measurements when compared with healthy patients. Corneal tissue changes may occur in early life in childhood obesity, which could lead to ocular disease in the future. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2020;57(2):103-107.].

Changes in Conjunctiva Morphology Using Impression Cytology in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis without Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the conjunctival morphological changes in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) without thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and controls using impression cytology technique. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We included 25 HT patients and 33 healthy controls who did not have TAO findings or dry eye. For both groups, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4(FT4), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) were measured. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed, together with all routine eye check-ups and the Schirmer's test. Also, conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) test was performed to analyze the conjunctival morphology. RESULTS: When the CIC of HT patients was observed; 12% had grade 0, 40% had grade 1, 28% had grade 2 and 20% had grade 3. While patients with squamous metaplasia made up 48% of the HT group, this was observed at 6.1% in the control group (p < 0,001). In the regression model formulated, it was observed that obesity (OR=7.500; p=0.017) and anti TPO levels (OR=1.370, p=0,007) were independent stipulations for the squamous metaplasia. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival squamous metaplasia was more frequently seen in HT than controls and serum Anti-TPO level and obesity were detected as independent predictors of the worsening at the conjunctival impression cytology.

The Relationship Between Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Conjunctival Impression Cytology.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine whether obesity causes the development of metaplasia in conjunctival epithelial cells. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 61 volunteer participants who had no previous history of illness or drug use were involved in this study. Of those, 20 were obese, and 41 were of normal weight. We measured the glucose and insulin values of all volunteers. We also measured the Body Mass Index (BMI) and Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR). The impression cytology method was used to analyze the conjunctival epithelium cells, and to classify them between Grades 0 to 3 according to the Nelson criteria. RESULTS: There was a certain level of loss of goblet cells on the 90% level as well as squamous metaplasia (Grade 2-3) in 80% of the obese participants and impression cytology was found to be normal in only two patients. The expected results were observed in 56.1% of the control group where the squamous metaplasia rate was nearly 17% (p < 0.001). 90.9% of the grade 3 patients were obese. The variables as independent predictors were found to indicate the existence of abnormal cytology in the conjunctiva at various levels; BMI (OR: 1.24; p=0.002) and HOMA IR (OR= 28.6; p= 0.001) in a Model I multivariable regression model, and the existence of obesity (OR: 11.91; p=0.002) and HOMA IR (OR= 15.08; p < 0.001) in a Model II multivariable regression model. CONCLUSION: Obesity was found to be a disorder that causes metaplasia in the conjunctival epithelium cells for the first time.

Effect of Uterine Fundal Pressure on Maternal Intraocular Pressure in Cesarean Delivery: Comparison of Regional and General Anesthesia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) changes accompanying fundal pressure during a cesarean-section procedure under both regional and general anesthesia. METHODS: In total, 60 women scheduled for elective cesarean section, none of them diagnosed with ocular problems, were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent cesarean section under either general (group G, n=30) or regional anesthesia (group S, n=30) according to their choice. IOP was measured with a Tono-Pen before (T1) and after (T2) application of anesthesia, during fundal pressure (T3), and after the birth of the baby (T4). Heart rate as well as systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure were recorded during the procedure. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in IOP between the groups (P>0.05). In group S, IOP at T3 was significantly higher than at all other timepoints (P<0.001). In group G, IOP at T3 was significantly higher than at T2 and T4. Mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in group S at all timepoints except T1. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, fundal pressure may significantly increase the IOP, but the choice of anesthetic technique may not have any effect on IOP.

Comparison of mitomycin C and limbal-conjunctival autograft in the prevention of pterygial recurrence in Turkish patients: A one-year, randomized, assessor-masked, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A pterygium is a fibrovascular overgrowth of degenerative bulbar conjunctival tissue that grows over the limbus onto the cornea. Although various approaches have been proposed for the treatment of pterygium, the common problem after these treatments is recurrence. OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to compare the efficacy of mitomycin C (MMC) and limbal-conjunctival autograft (LCAU) in preventing recurrence of primary pterygia and to monitor long-term adverse effects (AEs). METHODS: Patients undergoing pterygium surgery between February 2006 and May 2007 were assessed prospectively and randomly divided into 2 groups using a random number table. The MMC group underwent pterygium excision and received 0.02% MMC intraoperatively for 2 minutes. The LCAU group underwent pterygium excision and LCAU. Recurrence and AE rates of the 2 treatments were compared during the 1-year follow-up period. Assessors for pterygial recurrence were masked to treatment group. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen eyes (57 patients in the MMC group and 56 patients in the LCAU group) were included in the study. Thirteen of the patients (7 in the MMC group and 6 in the LCAU group) were withdrawn due to irregular attendance at follow-up visits or lack of sufficient dose and duration for postoperative topical antibiotic and steroid administration; their data were excluded from analysis. Fifty patients (MMC group: 26 men, 24 women; mean [SD] age, 48.0 [12.3] years; age range, 30-73 years; LCAU group: 27 men, 23 women; mean age, 49.0 [12.6] years; age range, 28-71 years) in each group completed the study. The mean (SD) length of the pterygium across the limbus was similar in the MMC group and the LCAU group (4.18 [1.27] vs 4.07 [1.24] mm). The mean follow-up period was also similar in the 2 groups (16.0 [1.9] vs 15.0 [1.7] months). The rate of recurrence was significantly greater in the MMC group than in the LCAU group (10 [20.0%] vs 2 [4.0%] patients; P=0.035). Seven patients (14.0%) in the MMC group experienced AEs: conjunctival cyst (3 patients), symblepharon (2), conjunctival granuloma (1), and dellen (1). In the LCAU group, 1 patient (2.0%; P=0.032 vs MMC group) experienced permanent graft edema. All patients in the LCAU group experienced transient graft edema, with recovery occurring in 3 to 4 weeks. There were no intraoperative complications and there was no graft rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence and postoperative AEs were less frequently observed in primary excision with LCAU than with MMC in these Turkish patients who completed the study. This study found that pterygium excision with LCAU was well tolerated and effective in these patients.

Metastatic atypical carcinoid tumor of the inferior rectus muscle.

A 74-year-old man who had been treated for pulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor 3 years earlier developed diplopia. Imaging studies showed a well-delineated diffuse enlargement of the right inferior rectus muscle. Downward movement of the right eye was restricted. Incisional biopsy of the affected muscle revealed metastatic atypical carcinoid tumor infiltration that immunostained positively for epithelial membrane antigen, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. Systemic chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and etoposide was prescribed to address the orbital tumor and a contemporaneously discovered hepatic locus. This treatment provided a 2-year disease-free period with complete resolution of his ocular symptoms. Although metastatic bronchogenic carcinoid tumor in the orbit, and in the inferior rectus muscle in particular, is highly unusual, this condition must be considered in the differential diagnosis of an isolated extraocular muscle enlargement in a patient with a history of systemic carcinoid tumor.