Ocular morphological changes in patients with restless legs syndrome analyzed by optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: Two leading hypotheses for restless legs syndrome (RLS) pathophysiology are dopaminergic dysfunction and sympathetic overactivity. Ocular changes occur with both dopaminergic and sympathetic pathologies, and thus may provide unique insights into the pathophysiology of RLS. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with RLS and 35 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macular, and choroidal thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding RNFL and macular thicknesses. The subfoveal, temporal and nasal choroidal thicknesses were significantly thinner in patients with RLS compared with normal subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thinning of the choroid is linked to sympathetic overactivity. Our results provide further evidence for sympathetic overactivity in the pathogenesis of RLS.

Relationship Between Contact Lens and Pinguecula.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of contact lens (CL) on the frequency of pinguecula, and the relationship between dry eye disease and pinguecula. METHODS: Two hundred and 33 cases of soft CL wearers and 230 age-matched nonwearers were enrolled in the study. Schirmer I test (ST) scores and tear break-up time (TBUT) were determined in all participants. A questionnaire including ocular surface disease index (OSDI), age, sex, and duration of CL wear was implemented to the participants before the examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of pinguecula was 27.8% (n: 65) in the CL group and 26.5% (n: 61) in the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups (P=0.841). The prevalence of pinguecula increased with age in both groups. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of pinguecula when users were divided into three groups according to the duration of CL wear (P=0.575). The TBUT scores were lower, and the OSDI scores were higher in the CL group. The TBUT scores were lower in patients with pinguecula in both groups. The OSDI scores were higher in the CL group. There was no significant difference regarding the OSDI scores between patients with pinguecula and healthy participants in the CL group; however, OSDI scores were significantly higher in patients with pinguecula in control group. There were no significant differences in the ST scores between the groups, and between patients with pinguecula and healthy participants. CONCLUSION: This is the second study that evaluates the effects of soft CL wearing on pinguecula prevalence. We found that CL wearing does not affect the prevalence of pinguecula. Considering the OSDI scores in patients with pinguecula in the CL group, CL may suppress the irritant symptoms of pinguecula.

Choroidal thickness alterations in diabetic nephropathy patients with early or no diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To assess changes in choroidal thickness (CT) in diabetes patients with and without diabetic nephropathy using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). METHODS: Thirty-five type 2 diabetes patients with a diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DNP) in nephrology department and 35 type 2 diabetes patients without nephropathy (non-DNP) were included in our prospective study consecutively. The control group comprised 34 healthy individuals. CT measurements were recorded under the fovea and at 1500 µm from the foveal center in the nasal and temporal sides. The study parameters also included age, refractive error, axial length, intraocular pressure, HbA1c, glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria amount. RESULTS: The subfoveal, temporal and nasal choroidal thickness was noted to be thinner in patients with DNP compared with non-DNP and normal subjects (p < 0.05). However, CT measurements did not show any difference between the healthy and non-DNP group. CONCLUSION: CT decreases significantly in diabetic patients when diabetic nephropathy accompanies diabetes mellitus.

Effect of orbital protrusion and vertical interpalpebral distance on pterygium formation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk factors in the development of pterygium in the Marmara region of Turkey as well as the efficacy of vertical interpalpebral distance, protrusion level and tear function in the development of pterygium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cases were grouped in two as the research group consisted of patients with pterygium and the control group consisted of healthy people. A total of 294 patients with pterygium (108 bilateral, 186 unilateral) and 200 controls were included in the study. All patients and control group underwent a thorough ophthalmic examination, including tear function analysis using tear film breakup time measurement, protrusion level and vertical interpalpebral distance. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the bilateral pterygium subgroup and control group in terms of vertical interpalpebral distance and protrusion value (p=0.733, p=0.625). When the pterygium eyes and the control group were compared in the unilateral pterygium subgroup, no significant difference was found in terms of vertical interpalpebral distance and protrusion value (p=0.533, p=0.209). CONCLUSIONS: While UV efficiency in pterygium was obvious, protrusion value and vertical interpalpebral distance were not found to be a risk factor in the formation of pterygium.