Real Life Multicenter Comparison of 24-Month Outcomes of Anti-VEGF Therapy in Diabetic Macular Edema in Turkey: Ranibizumab vs. Aflibercept vs. Ranibizumab-Aflibercept Switch.

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with aflibercept (AFB) or ranibizumab (RNB) only, and after switching from RNB to AFB. This was a retrospective, real-world, multicenter (7 cities) 24 month study. Overall, 212 eyes in the AFB group, 461 in the RNB group, and 141 in the RNB to AFB group were included. The primary endpoints were differences in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline to the final visit. The secondary outcomes were the percentage of eyes that achieved ≥10 letters gain and ≥10 letters loss in vision at month 12 and 24, and the percentage of eyes that achieved a thinning of ≥20% in CMT at month 3 and month 6. The results showed that VA did not significantly differ at baseline (AFB: 0.62 ± 0.38, RNB: 0.61 ± 0.36, RNB to AFB: 0.61 ± 0.38), at checkpoints, or at the final visit (AFB: 0.46 ± 0.38, RNB: 0.5 ± 0.37, RNB to AFB: 0.53 ± 0.36) (p > 0.05). Though the mean CMT at baseline was significantly thicker in the RNB to AFB group (479 ± 129.6 µm) when compared to the AFB (450.5 ± 122.6 µm) and RNB (442 ± 116 µm) groups (p < 0.01), similar measurements were obtained after 12 months. The percentages of eyes that gained or lost ≥10 letters in the AFB, RNB, and RNB to AFB groups at year 1 and 2 were similar, as was the percentages of eyes that demonstrated ≥20% CMT thinning at month 3 and 6. Our study showed similar visual improvements in non-switchers (AFB and RNB groups) and switchers (RNB to AFB group) through 2 years follow-up, however, AFB patients required fewer injections, visits, or need for additional treatments.

Effects of the epiretinal membrane on the outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion / Os efeitos de uma membrana epirretiniana nos resultados da implantação de dexametasona intravítrea para edema macular secundário à oclusão de ramo da veia retiniana

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the effects of epiretinal membrane formation on the clinical outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion. Methods: This retrospective interventional case series includes the treatment of naive patients with macular edema secondary to non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion who underwent intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. The patients were divided into two groups as follows: Group 1 (n=25), comprised of patients with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion without epiretinal membrane, and Group 2 (n=16), comprised of patients with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion with an epiretinal membrane. Corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, and central macular volume values were measured before and after treatment. The clinical outcomes of the groups were compared. Results: Mean age and male-to-female ratio were similar between the two groups (p>0.05, for both). The baseline and final corrected visual acuity values, central macular thickness, and central macular volumes of the groups were similar (p>0.05, for all). All the parameters were significantly improved after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation treatment (p<0.001, for all). The changes in central macular thickness and volume were also similar (p>0.05, for both). The mean number of intravitreal dexamethasone implantations was 2.1 ± 1.0 (range, 1-4) in Group 1 and 3.0 ± 1.2 (range, 1-5) in Group 2 (p=0.043). Conclusion: Epiretinal membrane formation had no effects on the baseline and final clinical parameters, including corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness and volume. The only parameter affected by the presence of epiretinal membrane formation is the number of intravitreal dexamethasone implantations, a greater number of which is needed for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion with an epiretinal membrane.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos da formação de uma membrana epirretiniana nos resultados clínicos da implantação intravítrea de dexametasona para edema macular secundário à oclusão de um ramo da veia retiniana. Métodos: Esta série retrospectiva de casos intervencionais inclui o tratamento de indivíduos com edema macular secundário à oclusão não isquêmica de um ramo da veia retiniana, sem tratamento prévio e que foram submetidos a implantação intravítrea de dexametasona. Os indivíduos foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1 (n=25), composto por indivíduos com edema macular secundário à oclusão de um ramo da veia retiniana sem a presença de uma membrana epirretiniana, e Grupo 2 (n=16), composto por indivíduos com edema macular secundário à oclusão de um ramo da veia retiniana com a presença de uma membrana epirretiniana. Os valores da acuidade visual corrigida, espessura macular central e volume macular central foram obtidos antes e após o tratamento. Os resultados clínicos dos grupos foram comparados. Resultados: A média de idade e a proporção entre homens e mulheres foram semelhantes nos dois grupos (p>0,05 para ambos os valores). Os valores iniciais e finais da acuidade visual corrigida, espessura macular central e volume macular central foram semelhantes nos dois grupos (p>0,05 para todos os valores). Todos os parâmetros melhoraram significativamente após o tratamento com implante de dexametasona intravítrea (p<0,001 para todos os parâmetros) e as alterações na espessura macular central e no volume macular central também foram semelhantes (p>0,05 para ambos os valores). O número médio de implantações intravítreas de dexametasona foi 2,1 ± 1,0 (faixa de 1-4) no Grupo 1 e 3,0 ± 1,2 (faixa de 1-5) no Grupo 2 (p=0,043). Conclusão: A formação de uma membrana epirretiniana não tem efeitos sobre os parâmetros clínicos iniciais e finais, incluindo a acuidade visual corrigida, a espessura macular central e o volume macular central. O único parâmetro afetado pela formação de uma membrana epirretiniana é o número de implantações intravítreas de dexametasona, sendo necessário um número maior de implantações em casos de edema macular secundário à oclusão de um ramo da veia retiniana com a presença de uma membrana epirretiniana.

Effects of the epiretinal membrane on the outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of epiretinal membrane formation on the clinical outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: This retrospective interventional case series includes the treatment of naive patients with macular edema secondary to non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion who underwent intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. The patients were divided into two groups as follows: Group 1 (n=25), comprised of patients with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion without epiretinal membrane, and Group 2 (n=16), comprised of patients with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion with an epiretinal membrane. Corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, and central macular volume values were measured before and after treatment. The clinical outcomes of the groups were compared. RESULTS: Mean age and male-to-female ratio were similar between the two groups (p>0.05, for both). The baseline and final corrected visual acuity values, central macular thickness, and central macular volumes of the groups were similar (p>0.05, for all). All the parameters were significantly improved after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation treatment (p<0.001, for all). The changes in central macular thickness and volume were also similar (p>0.05, for both). The mean number of intravitreal dexamethasone implantations was 2.1 ± 1.0 (range, 1-4) in Group 1 and 3.0 ± 1.2 (range, 1-5) in Group 2 (p=0.043). CONCLUSION: Epiretinal membrane formation had no effects on the baseline and final clinical parameters, including corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness and volume. The only parameter affected by the presence of epiretinal membrane formation is the number of intravitreal dexamethasone implantations, a greater number of which is needed for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion with an epiretinal membrane.

Cumulative dissipated energy in eyes with and without corneal opacity.

Objective: To compare ultrasonic energy delivered into the eye [cumulative dissipated energy, (CDE)] and frequencies of required auxiliary surgical methods during phacoemulsification surgery in eyes with and without corneal opacity. Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective comparative observational study. The study group [Corneal Opacity Group, (COG)] was comprised of 31 eyes of 31 cataract patients with corneal opacity. Only nebular and macular corneal opacities (according to slit-lamp based classification of Agrawal) were included in the study. The control group (CG) was comprised of 40 eyes of 40 cataract patients without corneal opacity. The CDE values were obtained using the Centurion system (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) and the patients were followed-up postoperatively for a period of one month. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 71.46 ± 8.86 years (52-89) in COG and 66.12 ± 5.96 years (55-80) in CG (p >0.05). In COG, the most common etiologic factors were trauma, keratitis, and degenerative diseases. The mean CDE value was 15.16 ± 8.71 (2.20-42.65) in COG and 10.04 ± 6.28 (3.77-31.80) in CG and it was found as significantly higher in COG (p=0.003). Some auxiliary surgical methods including posterior synechiolysis and anterior capsule staining were more commonly performed in COG (p=0.044 and p=0.040, respectively). No intraoperative or postoperative complication was observed. Conclusion: More ultrasonic energy is delivered into the eye and more auxiliary surgical methods are needed in cataract patients with corneal opacity who underwent phacoemulsification. Abbreviations: CDE = Cumulative dissipated energy, COG = Corneal Opacity Group, CG = Control group, IOL = Intraocular lens, LOCS = Lens Opacities Classification System, BCVA = best-corrected visual acuity, SRK/T = Sanders, Retzlaff, and Kraff theoretical, OVD = ophthalmic viscosurgical device, SPSS = Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in diabetic macular edema: real-life outcomes from a multicenter study in Turkey over 36 months.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to report the visual and anatomical outcomes of intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) in a real-world clinical setting from Turkey over 36 months. METHODS: This is a retrospective, multicenter (7 sites) study. The medical records of 1072 eyes (both previously treated and naive eyes) of 706 consecutive patients with visual impairment due to center-involving DME treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections between April 2007 and February 2017 were reviewed. The eyes were divided into mutually exclusive three groups based on the duration of follow-up (12, 24, or 36 months). Primary outcome measures were changes in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline to final visit in each cohort, frequency of visits and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. As secondary endpoints, VA outcomes were assessed in subgroups stratified by baseline VA [<70 ETDRS letters and ≥70 ETDRS letters] and loading dose status of anti-VEGF injections. RESULTS: VA increased by a mean of 8.2 letters (12-month cohort, p < 0.001), 5.3 letters (24-month cohort, p < 0.001), and 4.4 letters (36-month cohort, p = 0.017) at final visits. The eyes with <70 VA letters achieved more significant VA improvement at final visits in all cohorts compared with eyes with >70 VA letters (p < 0.001). The mean decreases in CMT from baseline to last visits at 12-, 24-, and 36- month cohorts were -100.5 µm, -107.7 µm, and -114.3 µm, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean number of injections given were 4.6, 2.3, and 1.8 during years 1 to 3, respectively. Patients who received loading dose showed greater VA gains than those who did not in all follow-up cohorts. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that anti-VEGF treatment improved VA and CMT over a follow-up of 36 months. Although these real-life VA outcomes following anti-VEGF therapy for DME were similar to other real-life studies, they were inferior to those noted in randomized controlled trials, mainly due to undertreatment.

Investigation of relationship between colour discrimination ability and stereoscopic acuity using Farnsworth Munsell 100 hue test and stereo tests.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of colour discrimination ability on the stereoscopic acuity by comparing individuals having congenital colour vision deficiency (CCVD) with healthy individuals. DESIGN: A comparative study. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 53 binocular males, of whom 26 (mean age, 36.04 ± 9.30 years) were in the healthy group and 27 (mean age, 33.04 ± 9.81 years) were in the CCVD group. METHODS: The following tests were used: the Ishihara pseudo-isochromatic plate test for detecting CCVD, the Farnsworth Munsell 100 (FM100) hue test for colour discrimination ability, the TNO and Titmus stereo tests for stereoscopic acuity. RESULTS: In the CCVD group, 20 males were deutan and 7 males were protan. According to the FM100 hue test, total error score (TES), blue/yellow (b/y) local error score (LES), and red/green LES were significantly lower in the healthy group (30.23 ± 18.78, 15.15 ± 10.38, and 13.88 ± 11.93, respectively) than in the CCVD group (133.59 ± 67.45, 41.15 ± 22.03, and 89.15 ± 52.16, respectively) (p < 0.01 for each). The stereo test scores revealed significantly higher stereoscopic acuity in the healthy group (43.85 ± 33.92 arcsec for the TNO test and 40.00 ± 0.00 arcsec for the Titmus test) than in the CCVD group (93.33 ± 90.51 arcsec for TNO stereo test and 52.96 ± 24.62 arcsec for the Titmus test) (p < 0.05 for each). The TNO test score was significantly and positively correlated with the TES (r = 0.390, p = 0.049) and b/y LES (r = 0.490, p = 0.011) in the healthy group. CONCLUSIONS: Colour discrimination ability affected stereoscopic acuity. Moreover, stereoscopic acuity increased with increasing colour discrimination ability, which could be originated from the b/y colour region.

Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implantation in Intravitreal Bevacizumab Treatment-resistant Pseudophakic Cystoid Macular Edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) after intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) implantation in intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) treatment-resistant cases with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME). METHODS: This study included 10 PCME cases who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with similar methods and six PCME cases referred to our hospital for treatment of low VA after cataract surgery. Due to the persistence of PCME, both topical steroid and anti-inflammatory medication were administered first, followed by IVB injection. IVD implantation was performed for all IVB treatment-resistant cases. VA and CMT values were compared before and at three months after the first IVD implantation. RESULTS: The mean VA values before and at 3 months after the first IVD implantation were 0.69 ± 0.19 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (1.50 to 0.10 logMAR) and 0.26 ± 0.07 logMAR (1.00 to 0.00 logMAR), respectively (p < 0.001). The mean CMT was 476.13 ± 135.13 mm (314 to 750 mm) and 294.06 ± 15.26 mm (222 to 480 mm), respectively (p < 0.001). The mean number of implanted IVD was 1.44 ± 0.89 (1 to 4) and the mean follow-up time was 7.4 ± 4.6 months (6 to 24 months). After IVD implantation therapy, the mean VA and CMT values were 0.19 ± 0.05 logMAR (0.70 to 0.00 logMAR) and 268.38 ± 31.35 mm (217 to 351 mm), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show the efficacy of IVD implantation even after repeated IVB injections in treatment-resistant PCME. IVD implantation is both a safe and effective method for decreasing PCME after both uneventful and complicated cataract surgery.

Short-term effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection on ocular blood flow evaluated with color Doppler ultrasonography.

AIM: To evaluate the changes in ocular blood flow with color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection. METHODS: A total of 46 patients who underwent IVTA (4 mg/0.1 mL) injection for diabetic macular edema (DME) (n=22), central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) (n=12) and choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) (n=12) were included in the study. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistivity index (RI) were measured from the ophthalmic artery (OA), the central retinal artery (CRA) and the posterior ciliary artery (PCA) of each patient with CDU before, at the end of the first week and at the end of the first month following IVTA injection. RESULTS: In the DME group, PSV of OA at the first of the first month (mean±SD) (37.48±10.87 cm/s) increased compared to pre-injection value (31.39±10.84 cm/s) (P=0.048). There was a statistically significant decrease (P=0.049) in PSV of CRA at the end of the first month (7.97±2.67 cm/s) compared to the pre-injection (9.47±3.37 cm/s). There was not any statistically significant difference on the other parameters in the DME group. Also, there was not any statistically significant difference on the ocular blood flow values in the CRVO and CNVM groups. CONCLUSION: We observed that 4 mg/0.1 mL IVTA increased PSV of OA and decreased PSV of CRA in DME patients and did not have any effect on ocular blood flow values of CRVO and CNVM patients.

Effectivity of intraoperative adjustable suture technique in horizontal strabismus.

AIM: To compare the long-term effectivity of intraoperative adjustable suture technique with traditional non-adjustable strabismus surgery. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-three patients, who underwent strabismus surgery either with traditional procedures or one-stage intraoperative adjustable suture technique, were included in our long-term follow-up study. One hundred and eighteen patients were evaluated in traditional surgery group (TSG) and 115 who underwent adjustable suture were in the one-stage intraoperative adjustable surgery group (ASG). In this group 9 patients had paralytic strabismus and 16 had reoperations, 2 patients had restrictive strabismus related to thyroid eye disease. The mean follow up in the TSG was 26.2 months and it was 24.8 months in the ASG group. RESULTS: In patients with exotropia (XT) the mean correction of deviation for near fixation in ASG (32.4±13.2PD) and in TSG (26.4±8.2PD) were similar (P=0.112). The correction for distant fixation in ASG (33.2±11.4PD) and TSG (30.9±7.2PD) were not significantly different (P=0.321). In patients with esotropia (ET) even the mean correction of deviation for both near (31±12PD) and distant (30.6±12.8PD) fixations were higher in ASG than in TSG, for both near (28.27±14.2PD) and distant (28.9±12.9PD) fixations, the differences were not significant (P=0.346, 0.824 respectively). The overall success rate of XT patient was 78.9% in TSG and 78.78% in ASG, the difference was not significant (P=0.629). The success rates were 78.75% in TSG and 75.51% in ASG in ET patient, which was also not significantly different (P=0.821). CONCLUSION: Although patients in ASG had more complex deviation such as paralysis, reoperations and restrictive strabismus, success rates of this tecnique was as high as TSG which did not contain complicated deviation. One-stage intraoperative adjustable suture technique is a safe and effective method for cooperative patient who has complex deviation.

Ocular alignment and results of strabismus surgery in neurologically impaired children.

AIM: To evaluate ocular alignment and surgical results of strabismus surgery in neurologically impaired children. METHODS: Files of 33 neurologically impaired squint children were evaluated. Twelve patients had cerebral palsy(CP), 4 had CP with mental retardation, therest had mental-motor retardation of unknown cause. Cycloplegic refractions, type and angle of strabismus, surgeries performed were recorded. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 34.0±16.5 months. Twenty-three patients had esodeviation, the remaining had exodeviation. In 19 patients, angle of deviations measured at different visits were highly variable. Twelve patients with stable angle of deviations or with unstable but high angle deviations had horizontal muscle surgery. Mean horizontal deviation decreased from 43.75±10,69 D to 12.83±8.38 D with surgery. CONCLUSION: In neurologically impaired strabismic children, surgery is effective in patients with stable deviations or unstable but high angle deviations. Decision for surgery should be made after a long follow up period.

Effect on anterior chamber bevacizumab injection combined with seton implantation in treatment of rubeosis iridis in neovascular glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) injection to the posterior chamber (BIPC) behind the iris combined with seton implantation in treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes with NVG who underwent BIPC, prospectively evaluated. Anterior segment photographs were taken for grading of neovascularization on anterior segment in pretreatment period and at each follow-up. Grading and regression of rubeosis iridis was classified according to Teich and Walsh grading system and glaucoma filtration surgery with drainage device was performed following BIPC. RESULTS: The mean pre-BIPC IOP was 39.71 ± 7.09 mmHg, post-BIPC IOP in the 1st, 2nd day, 1st week, 1st, 3rd, 6th month were 19.7 ± 8.9 mmHg, 13.5 ± 6.7 mmHg, 9.9 ± 3.4 mmHg, 13.07 ± 5.3 mmHg, 16.6 ± 5.03 mmHg, 18.5 ± 3.8 mmHg, respectively. Twenty seven eyes underwent seton implantation surgery. No one had anterior segment bleeding during surgery. The pre-BIPC grades were Grade 4: 67.58%, Grade 3: 28.57%, Grade 2: 3.57%, no one had Grade 1or Grade 0, while post BIPC grade were at the 1st week Grade 1: 64.28%, Grade 0: 35.71%, no one had Grade 2 or more, at 1st month Grade 2: 3.57%, Grade 1: 39.28%, Grade 0: 57.14%, at 3rd month Grade 2: 17.85% Grade 1: 28.57%, Grade 0: 53.57%, no one had Grade 3 or more both in first and the third month, at 6th month Grade 3: 7.14%, Grade 2: 28.57%, Grade 1: 42.85%, Grade 0: 21.42%. and no one had Grade 4. CONCLUSION: Significant reduction of NV was observed during the first week. Minimal increasement was seen in third month, significant regression effect persisted for 6 months. BIPC inhibited the peroperative risk of anterior segment bleeding, increased the surgical comfort and prevented the failure of filtration procedure by inhibiting reproliferation.

Surgical repair of scrolled descemet's membrane detachment with intracameral injection of 1.8% sodium hyaluronate.

We report the case of a 76-year-old woman with scrolled Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) that was successfully treated by an intracameral injection of 1.8% sodium hyaluronate. During phacoemulsification cataract surgery, an undulating DMD involving the central cornea was observed and air tamponade into the anterior chamber was performed. The patient underwent surgical repair 2 weeks after the unsuccessful intracameral air injection. To increase the tamponade pressure and surface tension on the scrolled flap, viscoelastic material was injected into the air-filled anterior chamber. Corneal edema started subsiding clinically after the injection of sodium hyaluronate. Descemetopexy with sodium hyaluronate can successfully repair scrolled DMD and injection of viscoelastic material into the air-filled anterior chamber facilitates unfolding of the scrolled flap of DMD.

Evaluation of efficacy of topical povidone-iodine and different types of fluoroquinolones in the sterilization of bacterial flora on the conjunctiva.

PURPOSE: To compare the sterilization effectivity of topical povidone-iodine, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin on the conjunctival bacterial flora. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four eyes of 164 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were prospectively analyzed. Conjunctival cultures were obtained 1 day before the surgery without any topical application in all patients. Conjunctival flora was examined in 53 eyes of 53 patients (Group I) 15 min after 5% topical povidone-iodine application on the day of the surgery. Fifty-four eyes of 54 patients (Group II) received 1 drop 0.3% ciprofloxacin at 12 pm 1 day before the operation and 4 drops at 15 min intervals on the day of the surgery. Another 57 eyes of 57 patients (Group III) received 0.3% ofloxacin in the same application mode as ciprofloxacin. Conjunctival cultures were taken in all patients 15 min after last drop of topical antibiotic application. RESULTS: Only coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from 75.4% in Group I, 72.2% in Group II, and 59.6% in Group III on pretreatment culture. Different types of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Micrococcus spp. were identified in other patients. Pretreatment conjunctival flora of Group I and Group II were similar (P>0.05), but it was significantly different in Group III (P<0.05). After topical application no bacterial growth was observed in 77.3% in Group I, 92.5% in Group II, and 66.6% in Group III. The difference between Group I and III was insignificant (P>0.05), but bacterial eradication effectiveness was significantly higher in Group II than that of other groups (P<0.05). Post-treatment cultures showed same bacterial flora as pretreatment cultures in 14.9% in Group I, 1.8% in Group II, and 19.2% in Group III. The difference between Group I and Group III was statistically insignificant (P>0.05) and the difference between Group II and other groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Four eyes (7.5%) showed different types of bacterial growth from pretreatment flora in Group I, which were seen in 3 eyes (5.5%) in Group II and in 8 eyes (14%) in Group III. The differences between groups were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Ciprofloxacin seems to be more effective in conjunctival sterilization. In consideration with high variety of bacterial flora in pretreatment period in ofloxacin group, ofloxacin seems to be superior to povidone-iodine on the reduction of bacterial flora on the conjunctiva.

Clinical findings and surgical results of Duane retraction syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical properties and surgical outcomes of Duan retraction syndrome (DRS). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with DRS were evaluated. Surgery was indicated for correction of strabismus, abnormal head position, upshoot-downshoot, and globe retraction. Six patients had undergone surgery. In 5 cases, the lateral rectus muscle was recessed from 4.0 to 7.0 mm combined with "Y-splitting" according to deviation in primary position and degree of globe retraction. In case of significantly positive forced duction test on the medial rectus muscle intraoperatively, simultaneous recession of the ipsilateral medial rectus muscle was performed in addition to lateral rectus surgery. RESULTS: Type I DRS was diagnosed in 83.33% of cases. All 6 cases that underwent surgery had type I DRS. After surgery, all patients showed elimination of upshoot-downshoot. Two cases had minimally improved abduction from the midline. Case 1 underwent a second operation and it was observed that the middle split part disappeared and muscular fibers proliferated to the original insertion. To protect against refusion of the middle split part of the muscle due to proliferation, nonabsorbable separation sutures were placed around the split parts of the upper and lower halves without scleral fixation. Separation sutures were placed on both parts of the muscle to protect refusion in the other cases. CONCLUSION: Y-splitting combined with recession of one or both horizontal recti is an effective procedure in patients with DRS and associated horizontal deviation. Prophylactic separation sutures as part of Y-splitting may protect against recurrence.

Neurotrophic ulcer after extra-capsular cataract operation.

Although neurotrophic ulcers due to herpes zoster are seldom, there may be challenging cases. Especially neurotrophic corneal ulcers after cataract operations should arise the possibility of a previous herpes zoster attack and the treatment plan should be prepared accordingly. This case highlights the importance of thorough evaluation of cataract patients in order not to miss a previous diagnosis of herpes.

Comparison of corneal edema caused by cataract surgery with different phaco times in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Corneal thickness changes caused by phacoemulsification times were compared in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Corneal thicknesses were greater in the first postoperative week both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients than in later follow-up. Later corneal thicknesses were not different according to phacotimes or diabetic status. In terms of corneal thickness changes, uncomplicated phacoemulsification is safe in diabetics and non-diabetics.

Competitive analysis of intraoperative adjustable suture with conventional suture technique in strabismus surgery.

We compared the effectiveness of fixed conventional strabismus surgery (CSG) with a one-stage intraoperative adjustable suture technique in 88 patients undergoing strabismus surgery (ASG) either with fixed conventional (38) or intraoperative adjustable suture (50) technique. The mean correction of deviation with both near-fixation and distant-fixation for the ASG and CSG were not different. One-stage intraoperative adjustable suture technique is safe and effective method for strabismus surgery for cooperative patients.

Evaluation of findings in Crouzon's syndrome.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ocular, facial and radiological signs of Crouzon's syndrome in a group of older patients who had not undergone previous craniofacial surgery. METHODS. Six cases of Crouzon's syndrome, four of whom belonged to a three-generation family, were examined systemically, ophthalmologically and roentgenographically; five of these cases were additionally evaluated with computed tomography and compared with Apert syndrome. RESULTS. On radiologic evaluation, all cases had synostosis of all cranial sutures and fontanelles and brachycephalic skulls, crowding of the upper teeth due to maxillary hypoplasia, and serious nasal septum deviation. Bilateral ethmoidal, maxillary and sphenoidal chronic sinusitis was found in 50% of cases. Three patients had hypertelorism and two others had a tendency toward hypertelorism. The typical facial appearance with shallow orbits, globe protrusion and exorbitism was present in all cases. Two of them had V-pattern exotropia while the other four were orthophoric. The single case with mental retardation had bilateral cataract. CONCLUSION. Crouzon's syndrome can present with different findings and must be evaluated multidisciplinarly.