Changes in higher-order aberrations after vitrectomy for vitreomacular interface diseases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ocular wavefront aberrations after vitrectomy in patients with vitreomacular interface diseases. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with vitreomacular interface diseases were included in this prospective study. A Sirius topographer (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions, Germany) was used to measure corneal aberrations and a Hartmann Shack aberrometer (IRX-3; Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France) to measure ocular aberrations. Data were recorded at baseline and 3 months after vitrectomy. RESULTS: Eight patients were excluded due to the formation of cataract during the post-operation follow-up period. Data of 22 eyes (13 eyes with epiretinal membrane, two eyes with epiretinal membrane with vitreomacular traction, one eye with vitreomacular traction, and six eyes with macular hole) were analyzed for the study. The corneal aberrations such as coma, trefoil, spherical aberration, and root mean square of total higher-order aberrations did not significantly change after vitrectomy. The preoperative ocular aberrations such as coma 0.33 (0.14-0.47) µm, trefoil 0.28 (0.15-0.44) µm, root mean square of higher-order aberrations 0.51 (0.45-0.68) µm, root mean square of total aberrations 1.38 (1.16-2.60) µm were significantly reduced to 0.21 (0.14-0.29) µm, 0.20 (0.14-0.30) µm, 0.36 (0.21-0.52) µm, 0.15 (1.13-1.41) µm, respectively, after vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: The ocular higher-order aberrations were significantly reduced after vitreomacular surgery for vitreomacular interface diseases.

Correlation of Dry Eye Workshop Dry Eye Severity Grading System With Tear Meniscus Measurement by Optical Coherence Tomography and Tear Osmolarity.

OBJECTIVES: To compare tear meniscus measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and tear osmolarity with dry eye severity according to the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) classification system. METHODS: Forty-four eyes of 22 patients with dry eye disease (DED) were recruited in this prospective study. In all eyes, ophthalmic examination was performed in the same order as follows: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) survey, tear film osmolarity measurement with TearLab Osmolarity System, tear meniscus measurements by OCT, corneal fluorescein staining scoring, conjunctival lissamine green staining scoring, tear film breakup time assessment, and anesthetized Schirmer test. Dry eye disease severity was graded according to the DEWS dry eye severity grading system, and the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 composed of the patients with grades 1 and 2 DED, and group 2 composed of the patients with grades 3 and 4 DED. RESULTS: The mean tear osmolarity value was significantly higher in group 2 (318.9±12.8 mOsm/L) than in group 1 (308.1±8.5 mOsm/L) (P<0.01). The mean tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) values were significantly lower in group 2 (172.9±73.5 µm, 121.57±46.2 µm, and 0.013±0.012 mm, respectively) than in group 1 (218.5±70.2 µm, 157.94±49.1 µm, and 0.022±0.013 mm, respectively) (P=0.05, P=0.02, and P=0.026, respectively). There was a negative correlation between TMH and OSDI at the level of 45% (r=-0.450; P<0.05), between TMD and OSDI at the level of 47% (r=-0.470, P<0.05), and lastly between TMA and OSDI at the level of 48.5% (r=-0.485, P<0.05). There was no correlation between OSDI and tear osmolarity (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both tear osmolarity and tear meniscus OCT measurements comply with the DEWS grading system, and they can be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of dry eye patients in addition to conventional tests.

The efficacy of the combined procedure in involutional entropion surgery: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the combined procedure in the management of involutional entropion. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed 45 eyes of 36 patients who underwent the combined procedure (lateral tarsal strip, retractor tightening, and everting sutures) for the management of involutional lower eyelid entropion and compared the results with 31 eyes of 25 patients who underwent the Wies procedure. Exclusion criteria included previous lower eyelid surgery and follow-up of less than 6 months. RESULTS: No patients demonstrated entropion on the first postoperative day. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 months (6 to 52 months) in the Wies group and 22.6 months (6 to 59 months) in the combined procedure group. During the follow-up period, 9 of 31 eyes in the Wies group presented with recurrence and only 1 of 45 eyes in the combined procedure group presented with recurrence (p = 0.001). The average time of recurrence was 4.8 months in the Wies group. Recurrence occurred at 2 months postoperatively in the patient in the combined procedure group. Six of the 9 recurrences in the Wies group were managed by the combined procedure. None of these patients had further recurrence after correction. Three patients complained about a visible incision line after the Wies procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The combined procedure seems to be more effective than the Wies procedure in the management of involutional entropion. The combined procedure addresses the three major causative factors in involutional entropion and makes it possible to perform the surgery using a small incision.

Investigation of tear osmolarity in early rheumatoid arthritis: relation to disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of dry eye (DE) by measuring tear osmolarity (TO) with the recently introduced TearLab system (TearLab Corp, San Diego, Calif.) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and the relationship between the severity of DE and ERA disease activity. DESIGN: Prospective study PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four eyes of 64 newly diagnosed and untreated patients with ERA were enrolled in this study. METHODS: TO measurements, tear break-up time (TBUT), and Schirmer tests were performed. ERA disease activity was evaluated according to the disease activity score 28 (DAS28). The patients were divided into 3 groups according to DAS28 scores as follows: mild (DAS28 ≤ 3.2), moderate (3.2 < DAS28 ≤ 5.1), and severe (DAS28 > 5.1). RESULTS: DE was identified in 46 (71.8%) patients with ERA according to the TO values. There were significant differences among these groups concerning TO (p = 0.001) and TBUT (p = 0.005) scores, whereas there was no significant difference between these groups regarding Schirmer scores (p = 0.200). In addition, DAS28 values were positively correlated with TO values (r = 0.710, p < 0.001), negatively correlated with Schirmer scores, (r = -0.251, p = 0.045), and negatively correlated with TBUT scores (r = -0.335, p = 0.007) among all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a relationship between the ERA disease activity and severity of DE by using TO measurements with the TearLab system. Therefore, TO measurement could be added to other classical DE tests for diagnosing DE and for assessing the degree of disease activity of ERA.

Effect of pterygium surgery on tear osmolarity.

Purpose. To investigate changes of dry eye test results in patients who underwent pterygium surgery. Methods. Seventy-four patients who underwent primary pterygium surgery were enrolled in this study. At the baseline, 3-, 12-, and 18-month visits, measurements of tear osmolarity, BUT, and Schirmer test were performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium did not recur, and Group 2, which consisted of patients in whom pterygium recurred after surgery. Results. The patients in Group 1 had lower tear osmolarity levels after surgery than those at baseline (all P < 0.001). In Group 2 the tear osmolarity levels did not differ from baseline after 18 months (P = 0.057). The prevalence rates of dry eye syndrome (DES) were lower than that at baseline and 18 months after surgery in Group 1 (P = 0.002). In Group 2, the incidence of DES was lower after 3 months than at baseline (P = 0.03) but was similar to the baseline rate after 12 and 18 months (both P > 0.05). Conclusions. Anormal tear film function associated with pterygium. Pterygium excision improved tear osmolarity and tear film function. However, tear osmolarity deteriorated again with the recurrence of pterygium.

Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection before Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) before Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: This retrospective, comparative and consecutive case series study included 41 eyes from 41 patients who underwent AGV implantation for treatment of NVG. The study group was composed of 19 patients (19 eyes) to whom IVB was administered before surgery, while the control group was composed of 22 patients (22 eyes) to whom IVB was not administered before AGV implantation. Findings such as intraocular pressures measured before and after surgery, surgical success rates, and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in preoperative data between groups. The surgical success rate in the study group (79%) was better than in the control group (64%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.28). Early postoperative complications such as fibrinous reaction in the anterior chamber as well as hyphema were less frequently observed in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab is a useful preparatory step to safely and effectively implant an aqueous shunting tube in eyes with severe NVG and intractable intraocular pressure.

Primary probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction with manually curved Bowman probes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of the shape of Bowman probes on the success of primary probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 42 nasolacrimal duct obstructions in 37 children who underwent probing with straight Bowman probes (group A) and 128 nasolacrimal duct obstructions in 110 children who underwent probing with Bowman probes manually bent to mimic the natural curve of the bony nasolacrimal pathway (group B) were evaluated and compared. All children were under 2 years of age. The main outcome was successful probing. Successful probing was defined as a complete resolution of signs and symptoms. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 16.4 ± 4.1 months (range 8-24 months) in group A and 16.8 ± 4.2 months (range 7-24 months) in group B. No canalicular or nasolacrimal sac pathologies were diagnosed during probing. The success rate was 76.2% (32/42) in group A and 91.4% (117/128) in group B. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Manually curved probes can be used efficiently during probing and increase the success rates.

Ability of fourier-domain optical coherence tomography to detect retinal ganglion cell complex atrophy in glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic ability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) measurements in both normal individuals and patients with different stages of glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 113 patients diagnosed with glaucoma and classified into different stages of glaucoma according to Glaucoma Staging System 2 and 30 healthy individuals were included in this study. In all patients, parameters of both the retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer were measured by FD-OCT (RTVue-100). Comparisons were made from measurements in patients with different stages of glaucoma. RESULTS: Both GCC and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness values of patients with glaucoma were statistically significantly lower compared with those of healthy individuals. As the stage of glaucoma progressed, the mean GCC and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness values decreased. CONCLUSIONS: GCC and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements performed by FD-OCT showed high diagnostic ability in detecting glaucoma. Mean thickness values can be determined for each glaucoma stage.

Analysis of retinal ganglion cell complex thickness after Brilliant Blue-assisted vitrectomy for idiopathic macular holes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness changes in eyes undergoing Brilliant Blue-assisted macular hole surgery (MHS) using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, comparative, and observational case series of 70 eyes in 70 consecutive patients with idiopathic macular holes who underwent vitrectomy between December 2010 and October 2011. The study group consisted of 44 eyes in 44 patients, who underwent MHS with Brilliant Blue-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling; 26 eyes in 26 patients, who underwent MHS without ILM peeling, constituted the control group. In both groups, complete ophthalmologic examinations and quantitative analysis of the GCC and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were performed before and after the procedures using OCT. The findings from both groups were compared. RESULTS: Six months after surgery, the rate of closure of macular holes evaluated by OCT was 80.7% in the control group and 97% in the study group. There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative GCC and RNFL thickness values in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant decrease was observed in the thickness values of the retinal GCC and RNFL after Brilliant Blue-assisted ILM peeling for MHS. Therefore, this surgical procedure can be performed safely for the treatment of macular holes.

Exogenous group G Streptococcus endophthalmitis following intravitreal ranibizumab injection.

We report a case of group G Streptococcus endophthalmitis following an intravitreal ranibizumab injection for a choroidal neovascular membrane. Pars plana vitrectomy was applied for endophthalmitis and group G Streptococcus cultures were isolated in the vitreous samples taken from the patient. Twenty-four hours following pars plana vitrectomy the patient underwent myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of group G Streptococcus endophthalmitis following an intravitreal injection.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide versus pars plana vitrectomy for pseudophakic cystoid macular edema.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection versus 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for the treatment of chronic pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME) after uncomplicated cataract surgery. METHODS: This retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series study included 39 patients with chronic pseudophakic CME. Twenty eyes in 20 patients were treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVT group), and 19 eyes in 19 patients were treated with pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling (PPV group). In both groups, complete ophthalmologic examinations were performed before and after procedures. Findings were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Both groups experienced a significant improvement in visual acuity and macular thickness after 12 months follow-up. At months 1 and 2, the IVT group showed a significant improvement in visual acuity and a significant reduction in macular thickness compared with the PPV group (p < 0.05), but these differences were not statistically significant between the groups after the 12-month period. CONCLUSION: Both intravitreal steroid injection and pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling had a favorable effect on visual and anatomic results in patients with chronic pseudophakic CME. However, surgical treatment had no advantage over intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection after 12-months follow-up.

Corneal biomechanical properties in patients with recurrent anterior uveitis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical changes in cornea in patients with recurrent anterior uveitis in comparison to healthy controls. METHODS: Eighty-five eyes in 51 patients with inactive recurrent anterior uveitis (25 male, 26 female) and 34 eyes of 34 age-matched control subjects (16 male, 18 female) were included. The following measurements were done and compared between patients and controls: corneal hysteresis, corneal response factor, intraocular pressure, and central corneal thickness. RESULTS: Patients had significantly lower mean corneal hysteresis (8.57 ± 1.60 versus 10.91 ± 1.41, p = .001) and corneal resistance factor (9.24 ± 1.68 versus 11.56 ± 1.46, p = .001) when compared to controls. Among patients, corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor did not correlate with duration of the disease or number of attacks per year. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior uveitis seems to be associated with impaired biomechanical strength of the cornea, although no correlations with the duration of illness or attack frequency could be determined.

The outcome of silicone intubation and tube removal in external dacryocystorhinostomy patients with distal canalicular obstruction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of silicone intubation and tube removal in external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) patients with distal canalicular or common canalicular obstruction. METHOD: Seventy-five eyes of 69 patients with distal or common canalicular obstruction who had undergone external DCR and silicone tube insertion were included in the study. Silicone tube was left in place at least for 3 months. Presence of epiphora was questioned and patency was assessed by irrigation at each control after tube removal. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 49.8±14.4 years (range 15-78) and mean follow-up after surgery was 13.2±4.2 months (range 6-25). After tube removal, 16 eyes (21.3%) presented with epiphora and occluded canalicular systems. Two eyes (2.7%) presented with epiphora which started just after tube removal and had a patent canalicular system. Fifty-seven eyes (76%) were free of symptoms and had patent canalicular systems and 3 of these eyes (4%) had epiphora while the tube was in place. CONCLUSIONS: Silicone intubation is indicated in patients with distal or common canalicular obstruction. The majority of patients with canalicular problems are relieved of epiphora after silicone tube removal. However, the tube itself may transiently occlude the canalicular system and cause epiphora in some patients, and in some it can aid tear flow even in the presence of a patent system.

Modified capsular tension ring implantation in eyes with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of implantation of a Cionni modified capsular tension ring (CTR) and a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) in patients with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support. SETTING: Eye Clinic II, Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Eyes with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support had phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable IOL and a 1- or 2-eyelet modified CTR. Preoperative features, preoperative and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraoperative performance, IOL position, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The study enrolled 16 eyes (16 patients). The mean CDVA was 0.89 logMAR ± 0.41 (SD) preoperatively and 0.33 ± 0.43 logMAR at the last postoperative examination (P=.001). Postoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent was -0.23 diopter (D) (range -1.50 to +1.00 D) and the mean postoperative astigmatism, 1.59 D (range 0.50 to 4.00 D). Eight eyes (50.0%) had phacodonesis preoperatively; no eye had pseudophacodonesis postoperatively. Preoperatively, 10 eyes (62.5%) had symptomatic decentration. Two eyes (12.5%) had asymptomatic nonprogressive decentration in the early postoperative period; no eye had symptomatic decentration throughout the follow-up. Three eyes (18.8%) preoperatively and 1 eye (6.2%) postoperatively had vitreous in the anterior chamber. Four eyes (25.0%) required anterior vitrectomy. Other complications were symptomatic posterior capsule opacification in 8 eyes (50.0%) and transient increased intraocular pressure in 2 eyes (12.5%). CONCLUSION: The use of a modified CTR preserved the capsular bag and resulted in good PC IOL centration with few significant complications in patients with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Outcomes of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling with brilliant blue in macular hole.

PURPOSE: The evaluation of anatomic and visual outcomes in macular hole cases treated with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, brilliant blue (BB), and 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eyes of 48 patients who presented between July 2007 and December 2009 with the diagnosis of stage 2, 3, or 4 macular holes according to Gass Classification who had undergone PPV and ILM peeling were included in this study. Pre- and postoperative macular examinations were assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. 23 G sutureless PPV and ILM peeling with BB was performed on all patients. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 63.34 ± 9.6 years. Stage 2 macular hole was determined in 17 eyes (34%), stage 3 in 24 eyes (48%), and stage 4 in 9 eyes (18%). The mean follow-up time was 13.6 ± 1.09 months. Anatomic closure was detected in 46/50 eyes (92%), whereas, in four cases, macular hole persisted and a second operation was not required due to subretinal fluid drainage. At follow-up after 2 months, persistant macular hole was detected in one case and it was closed with reoperation. At 12 months, an increase in visual acuity in 41 eyes was observed, while it remained at the same level in six eyes. In three eyes visual acuity decreased. There was a postoperative statistically significant increase in visual acuity in stage 2 and 3 cases (P < 0.05), however, no increase in visual acuity in stage 4 cases was observed. CONCLUSION: PPV and ILM peeling in stage 2, 3, and 4 macular hole cases provide successful anatomic outcomes, however, in delayed cases, due to photoreceptor loss, it has no effect on functional recovery. BB, used for clarity of ILM, may be beneficial due to its low retinal toxicity.

Corneal endothelial cell loss in post-penetrating keratoplasty patients after cataract surgery: phacoemulsification versus planned extracapsular cataract extraction.

PURPOSE: To compare the changes in endothelial cell density (ECD) in post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) patients after cataract extraction with phacoemulsification or planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). SETTING: Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. DESIGN: Clinical trial. METHODS: Eyes with hard nuclear cataract that had previous PKP were randomly assigned to have phacoemulsification or ECCE. Noncontact specular microscopy was performed preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients were enrolled (14 phacoemulsification; 12 ECCE). Six months postoperatively, the mean corneal ECD was statistically significantly lower in the phacoemulsification group (1869.50 cells/mm(2) ± 158.05 [SD]) than in the ECCE group (1996.00 ± 127.96 cells/mm(2)) (P=.024). The mean percentage of endothelial cell loss at 6 months was 20.3% and 12.7%, respectively (P<.05). In both groups, there was no significant difference in the percentage hexagonality between preoperatively and postoperatively (P>.05). CONCLUSION: Extracapsular cataract extraction seemed to cause less endothelial cell damage than phacoemulsification in post-PKP patients with hard nuclear cataract.