Alterations in Retinal Vascularity in Severe Psoriasis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in retinal vascularity in patients with severe psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with severe psoriasis [psoriasis area-severity index (PASI) >10] who did not get any systemic treatment in the last year and do not have any ocular diseases were included. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmological examination, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Vessel densities (VD) of Superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexus, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) diameter, central retinal thickness (CRT) were analyzed and compared with age-sex matched healthy adults. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (13 F, 40 M) and 56 controls (16 F, 40 M) were included in the study. VD of SCP (50.4%±3.9 vs. 51.4%±3.2) and DCP (52.6%±6.4 vs. 55.4%±5.7) were lower in psoriasis group compared to controls (p < .05). Presence of psoriatic arthritis was related with an increased CRT (p = .000), larger FAZ and decreased foveal VD in SCP (p = .01, p = .02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Severe psoriasis causes a decrease in retinal blood flow and presence of psoriatic arthritis is related with decreased foveal VD.

Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a in Uveitic Macular Edema Refractory to Biologic Agents.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (Roferon, Hoffmann-La Roche brands, Switzerland) in uveitic macular edema refractory to biologic agents. METHODS: Herein, we present two cases of non-infectious uveitis with cystoid macular edema (CME) who were unresponsive to immunosuppressant treatment, and whose uveitis and macular edema recurrences were prevented with subcutaneous injections of pegylated interferon α-2a. RESULTS: Two young males (27- and 30-year-old) diagnosed with non-infectious uveitis and CME were on immunosuppressive treatment. Although both received systemic steroids and biologic agents, macular edema persists. After initiation of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (Pegasys, Genentech, USA) CME regressed significantly and did not occur during their follow-ups of 14 and 12 months. CONCLUSION: Pegylated interferon-alpha-2a can be used as an effective alternative to interferon alpha-2a in uveitic macular edema cases, resistant to other immunosuppressive agents.

Effect of Cycloplegia on Anterior Segment Structures and Scleral Thickness in Emmetropic Eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of topical cyclopentolate hydrochloride-induced cycloplegia on anterior segment biomechanics in emmetropic eyes using anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods: Twenty-five emmetropic eyes of 25 volunteers were included. All underwent central corneal thickness (CCT) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements. Anterior scleral thickness (AST) was measured at the level of the scleral spur (SS)(AST-0), 1,000 µm posterior of the SS (AST-1), and 2,000 µm posterior of the SS (AST-2) in the nasal and temporal quadrants using AS-OCT. All measurements were repeated after cycloplegia. Results: The mean age was 30.6 ± 12.4 (8-45) years. The mean CCT did not significantly change after cycloplegia (P = 0.7). The mean ACD was significantly increased [3.3 ± 0.2 (2.7-3.9) to 3.7 ± 0.3 (3-4.2) µm; P = 0.001]. In the nasal quadrant, the mean AST-1 and AST-2 were 512.3 ± 34.4 (433-570) and 529.6 ± 34.2 (449-599); decreased to 478 ± 26.8 (423-530) and 486.2 ± 28.3 (422-544) µm, respectively, after cycloplegia (P = 0.00; P = 0.00). In the temporal quadrant, the mean AST-1 and AST-2 were 522.5 ± 24.7 (473-578) and 527.2 ± 39.9 (450-604); decreased to 481.1 ± 33.7 (421-550) and 484.6 ± 26.6 (433-528) µm, respectively (P = 0.00; P = 0.00). There was no significant difference in AST-0 after cycloplegia in both quadrants [from 697.5 ± 46 (605-785) to 709.5 ± 64.7 (565-785) for nasal and from 718.4 ± 40.1 (632-796) to 722.9 ± 60.6 (596-838) for temporal; P = 0.2; P = 0.3, respectively]. Conclusion: After cycloplegia, there was a significant thinning of ASTs posterior to SS and a slight increase in AST in the SS level. ACD deepened after cycloplegia, and there was no significant change in CCT. Cycloplegic agents temporarily inhibit ciliary muscle contraction and may affect anterior segment parameters and sclera. Inhibition of forward-inward movement of the ciliary body by cycloplegia affects ASTs and ACD by causing a change in the mechanical force of the ciliary muscle on the sclera.

Retinal detachment in a child with Frank-ter Haar syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To present a rare case of ocular involvement in a child with Frank-ter Haar syndrome (FTHS) presenting retinal detachment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed ophthalmological evaluation including examination under general anesthesia, ocular ultrasound, and visual evoked potential testing was completed. Photographic documentation of the physical findings was obtained. RESULTS: A 3-year-old female patient with FTHS was referred to evaluate for possible ophthalmic involvement. The patient presented with the classical dysmorphic abnormalities of the syndrome. Ophthalmologic evaluation revealed a high, against-the-rule corneal astigmatism in the right eye. In the left eye, the red reflex was absent with a suspicious membrane behind the lens, and a sensory exotropia was present. Ultrasonography confirmed retinal detachment with no history of previous trauma. Due to poor visual evoked potentials, no surgery was planned. Astigmatic refractive error was corrected with routine follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: FTHS is associated with multiple ocular involvement such as megalocornea, congenital glaucoma, or colobomas. This case report is the first to describe a high, against-the-rule astigmatism and retinal detachment in a female child with FTHS and demonstrates that an early and detailed ophthalmological examination is essential for these patients.

Impact of prolonged face mask wearing on tear break-up time and dry eye symptoms in health care professionals.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of prolonged surgical face mask wearing on dry eye symptoms and tear film break-up time (T-BUT) in health care professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 health care professionals were included in the present cross sectional prospective study. In addition to a complete ophthalmological examination T-BUT measurements were performed twice for all participants in the morning (8 am) and in the afternoon (5 pm). The subjects also filled-in the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire twice, before and after wearing the face mask, on the same day. RESULTS: Sixty-six eyes of 33 participants (17 female and 16 male) were evaluated. The mean age was 33.6 ± 7.55 (24-48) years and mean total duration with mask on between the two evaluations was 514 ± 12.5 (495-526) minutes. The mean T-BUT was 9.3 ± 1.0 (3-16) seconds at 8 am and 8.3 ± 1.5 (3-14) seconds at 5 pm (p = 0.01). The mean OSDI score was 20.1 ± 8.3 (0-68.75) at 8 am and 27.4 ± 10.4 (0-81.25) at 5 pm (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Use of a surgical mask for the entire work-day was seen to worsen T-BUT and increase dry eye symptoms in healthy individuals. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the possibility of worsening of dry eye symptoms with the prolonged use of surgical face masks and consider modifications if necessary.

Iris Juvenile Xanthogranuloma Presenting with Hypopyon.

PURPOSE: To report a case an iris juvenile xanthogranuloma presenting with hypopyon. CASE REPORT: A 45-day-old infant was referred to our clinic for unilateral hypopyon. Slit-lamp examination revealed a 2 mm hypopyon in the left eye while visible areas of the iris were normal. Fundus examination was normal. Topical corticosteroids and antibiotics were initiated. The hypopyon regressed to 0.5 mm after 2 weeks of treatment. The now visible peripheral iris revealed an inferotemporal yellow-brown iris mass. Clinical findings were consistent with juvenile xanthogranuloma of the iris. The patient was referred to the pediatrics department which revealed no systemic involvement. Two months after total regression of hypopyon, the baby presented with a 3 mm spontaneous hyphema causing 50 mmHg intraocular pressure. The patient was followed with topical corticosteroids and antiglaucomatous drops until the hyphema was resolved. CONCLUSION: ocular involvement, which is the most common extracutaneous 15 manifestation of juvenile xanthogranuloma, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypopyon and/or hyphema in young children.