Alterations in the tear film and ocular surface in pediatric migraine patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular surface (OS) parameters in the pediatric migraine patients (PMPs). METHODS: This prospective case-control study consisted of 51 PMPs (PMP group) and 55 healthy pediatric patients (HPP group). In all participants, tear function was evaluated subjectively using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, objectively using Schirmer tear test (STT) and tear film disintegration time (TBUT), and with clinical and laboratory examinations (conjunctival impression cytology). The PMP group was subdivided into two groups according to their aura. RESULTS: The mean age and gender distribution of the study groups were almost the same ( P > 0.05 for both of them). In the PMP group, both the STT value and the TBUT value were significantly lower than those determined in the HPP group ( P = 0.021 and P = 0.018, respectively). In the PMP group, the OSDI scores were higher than those in the HPP group ( P = 0.032). In the PMP group, the goblet cell density values were lower than those in the HPP group ( P = 0.01). With regard to the aura, the TBUT and STT values were nonsignificantly lower in the PMP aura-positive group than in the PMP aura-negative group ( P > 0.05 for both of them). The OSDI assessment was similar in both the groups. With regard to the goblet cell count, it was observed to be less in the PMP aura-positive group than in the PMP aura-negative group ( P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Influence of OS in children with migraine was also demonstrated using the samples taken from the conjunctiva. These changes were also demonstrated by objective tests such as STT and TBUT. Both clinical objective evaluations and pathologic changes were more prominent in the migraine with aura group.

Evaluation of Dry Eye Disease Characteristics of Children With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and MODY.

PURPOSE: To assess dry eye disease characteristics of pediatric patients with diabetes. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM), 20 with type-2 DM, 19 with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), and 20 control participants were included in the study. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film break-up time (TBUT) analysis, Schirmer test with anesthesia, and conjunctival impression cytologic analysis were performed. RESULTS: In Group 1, the Schirmer test and TBUT values were lower than the control group. In groups 1 to 3, OSDI scores were higher than the control group. In Groups 1 and 2, the goblet cell density was lower than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dry eye parameters of all three diabetic groups were adversely affected in favor of dry eye disease. Children with MODY have increased OSDI scores. Alterations in the conjunctival impression cytology were observed more prominently in patients with type-1 DM.

Changes in choroidal tissue post-supplementation with vitamin D in pediatric patients who are deficient in vitamin D.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively assess the choroidal structural parameters of patients in the pediatric age group who were deficient in vitamin D [Vit-D] pre- and post-treatment. DESIGN: Prospective, case-control study. METHODS: Choroidal structural parameters, including the choroidal thickness (CT) at five points, total choroidal area (TA), luminal choroidal area (LA), stromal choroidal area (SA), and choroidal vascular index (CVI), in patients in the pediatric age group who were deficient in Vit-D, in Group 1, and those who were not, in Group 2, were compared. The patients were divided into 3 different groups according to how deficient in Vit-D they were. This was re-evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 83 patients and group 2 consisted of 85 patients. CT at all five points, and the TA, SA, LA, and CVI, were lower in Group 1. And for all of these, a significant increase was seen post-treatment. While a significant increase was observed in all of the values in the group with the most severe deficiency in Vit-D, significant changes were observed in the TA, LA, SA, and CVI values in the group that was mildly deficient in Vit-D. There was no significant post-treatment value in the CT values (except for the Temporal 1500 CT [P = 0.012]). CONCLUSION: Decreases in the CT, TA, LA, SA, and CVI were among the structural changes that were seen to occur in the pediatric patient group that was deficient in Vit-D. Moreover, thinning of the choroid and a decrease in the CVI were the most significant in the group with the greatest Vit-D deficiency.

Evaluation of Choroidal Vascular Structure in Hyperopic Anisometropic Amblyopia.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the choroidal structure of patients with anisohypermetropic amblyopia compared to that of healthy eyes in controls of the same age. Methods: The study comprises three groups: One group was the amblyopic eyes of patients with anisometropic hypermetropia (AE group), another group was the fellow eyes of patients with anisometropic hypermetropia (FE group), and a final group of healthy controls. Both the choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) values were obtained using the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) method of improved depth imaging (EDI-OCT; Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Spectralis, Germany, Heidelberg). Results: This study included 28 anisometropic amblyopic patients (AE and FE groups) and 35 healthy controls. Regarding the distribution of ages and sexes (p=0.813 and p=0.745), the groups were the same. The mean best-corrected visual acuity in AE, FE, and the control group was 0.58±0.76, 0.008±1.30, and 0.004±1.20 logMAR units, respectively. There was a significant difference in terms of CVI, luminal area (LA), and all the CT values between groups. Post hoc univariate analyses indicated that CVI and LA were significantly higher in AE compared to FE and the control group (p<0.05, for each). The temporal, nasal, and subfoveal CT values were considerably higher in AE compared to FE and the control groups (p<0.05, for each). However, there was no difference between FE and the control group (p>0.05, for each). Conclusion: The AE group had larger LA, CVI, and CT values compared to the FE and control groups. These results show that choroidal changes in amblyopic eyes in children are permanent in adulthood if untreated and are involved in the pathogenesis of amblyopia.

Assessment of Tear Meniscus Dimensions Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Vitamin D Deficiency in a Pediatric Population.

BACKGROUND: To investigate of the effect of vitamin D (Vit-D) deficiency on the tear film in children and compare it with that of healthy subjects. METHODS: This prospective and cross-sectional study comprised 75 eyes of children who had Vit-D deficiency (Group 1) and 85 eyes of age- and gender-matched healthy children (Group 2). The tear-film break-up time (TF-BUT) and Schirmer test values, as well as the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores, were recorded for the participants in all groups. Measurement of the tear meniscus area (TMA) and tear meniscus height (TMH) was performed 2 times in the same day via the use of anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants in Group 1 was 12.42 ± 3.40 years, while in Group 2, it was 12.59 ± 2.32 years (p = 0.758). Group 1 comprised 43 females and 32 males, while Group 2 comprised 44 females and 41 males (p = 0.250). The mean TMH, TMA, and Schirmer test values were found to be significantly lower in children with Vit-D deficiency (Group 1) than in healthy children (Group 2), with p < 0.05 for all the values. It was concluded that there was no significant difference in the values for the mean TF-BUT and OSDI scores (p = 0.029 and p = 0.596, respectively). CONCLUSION: The children with Vit-D deficiency exhibited lower TMH, TMA, and Schirmer test values. The alterations that were observed in these parameters were more prominent in the participants who had lower Vit-D levels.

Evaluation of Retinal Layer Thicknesses in Patients with Keratoconus Using Retinal Layer Segmentation Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an evaluation of the effects of irregular astigmatism on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the retinal layers observed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients who had keratoconus (KC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 255 eyes from 255 individuals, comprising 72 eyes of KC patients, 70 eyes of patients with astigmia, and 113 eyes of healthy controls were included in the analysis. RNFL scan maps (comprising global, temporal, superotemporal, inferotemporal, nasal, inferonasal, and superonasal maps) and macular thickness (MT) maps of a standard from the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid were assessed. The measurements were segmented automatically using Spectralis software, and included the RNFL, inner and outer plexiform layers (IPL, OPL), inner and outer nuclear layers (INL, ONL), ganglion cell layer, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the central 6-mm ETDRS subfield. RESULTS: The RNFL thickness in the KC group was lower when compared with the other two groups; however, statistically significant differences were noted in the global, temporal, superotemporal, and inferotemporal sectors (p < 0.05 for all). All of the central MT parameters showed significant variation among the groups, while a statistically significant decrease was noted in the KC group, except in the inferior outer sector (p = 0.741). In the segmentation analysis, the KC group had the significantly lowest IPL, ONL, RPE, and outer retinal layer (ORL) thickness among the groups (p < 0.05 for each). The astigmatic group was similar to the control group with regard to these parameters (p > 0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: The eyes in the KC group appeared to have a thinner RNFL and MT when compared to those in the astigmatic and control groups. The ORLs, especially the ONL and RPE, were the most affected component of the macula in the KC group.

Evaluation Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography of the Effects of Malnutrition on Ocular Parameters in Pediatric Patients.

SIGNIFICANCE: We determined decreases in choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in all quadrants. Our findings show that the choroid and RNFL are affected before the emergence of ocular symptoms in malnourished children. PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether the RNFL, a component of the neuronal structure, and the choroid, supplying the retina, are affected in children with malnutrition using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. METHODS: One hundred twenty-six malnourished patients without ocular symptoms, aged between 5 and 10 years, and 116 healthy children were included in the study. Age, sex, weight-for-age (WFA) z score, height-for-age z score, body mass index-for-age z score, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography data were recorded. RESULTS: Average RNFL thickness was 96.5 µm (82.0 to 128.0 µm) in the malnutrition group and 111.0 µm (95.0 to 128.0 µm) in the control group (P < .001). Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was statistically significantly lower in all quadrants in malnourished patients compared with the control group. Median choroidal thickness in the foveal center was 304.0 µm (250.0 to 375.0 µm) in the malnutrition group and 345.0 µm (280.0 to 403.0 µm) in the control group (P < .001). Choroidal thickness in all quadrants was also statistically significantly lower in malnourished patients. Positive correlation was determined between average RNFL thicknesses and WFA z score. Average RNFL thickness decreased as WFA z score decreased (r = 0.730 and P < .001). Positive correlation was also observed between choroidal thickness in the foveal center and WFA z score. Foveal center choroidal thickness decreased in line with WFA z score (r = 0.786 and P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the retinal nerve fiber layer and choroidal thickness decreased in malnourished children without clinically reported ocular symptoms. A decreased retinal nerve fiber layer and choroidal thickness may be an important clue to the prevention of retinal pathologies that may develop at later ages if the malnutrition is not addressed.

Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness in Children With Iron Deficiency Anemia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in choroidal thickness in children with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS: Fifty-two patients with IDA and 54 healthy children between 3 and 16 years of age were enrolled in this study. After complete eye examinations were conducted for each participant, the choroidal thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography. Correlations between the choroidal thickness and clinical and laboratory parameters were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, or axial length (P > 0.05). The choroidal thicknesses at the foveal center were 303.13 ± 27.14 µm in the IDA patients and 333.67 ± 39.77 µm in the healthy control children (P < 0.001); additionally, the choroidal thicknesses at each point within the horizontal nasal and temporal quadrants were thinner in the IDA group. There were positive correlations between the choroidal thickness and hemoglobin (r = 0.337; P < 0.001), mean corpuscular volume (r = 0.305; P = 0.001), iron (r = 0.264; P = 0.006), and ferritin (r = 0.287; P = 0.003) levels; however, there were no correlations between the clinical or ocular characteristics and the choroidal thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with IDA had significantly thinner choroidal thicknesses than those of the healthy children. Choroidal thinning in childhood may be an early sign of deterioration in the ocular blood circulation, without any risk of atherosclerosis in advanced age in the patients with IDA.