Expert recommendations for the management of diabetic macular edema with intravitreal dexamethasone implant: A Turkish Delphi study.

PURPOSE: To provide consensus on the clinical use of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in Turkey. METHODS: A panel of 22 retina experts prepared 77 statements of recommendation, and 80 retinal specialists practicing in Turkey were chosen to vote either in support or against each one. A Delphi-based method was used through which the ophthalmologists were able to view all of the results anonymously after two rounds and modify their subsequent answers. The survey was conducted via a mini website, and statements without consensus were resent to the specialists with the latest vote results a week later. RESULTS: A total of 72 ophthalmologists answered the first and second round questions. After the first stage, consensus was achieved on 55 of the statements, leaving 22 without agreement. After the second stage, consensus was reached on 11 of the remaining statements. Strong consensus was achieved on statements regarding the etiopathogenesis of DME and the first-line indications and safety of the DEX implant procedure. The panel recommended the use of DEX implant for patients with an arterial thromboembolic event in the last three months and also agreed that pro re nata DEX implant treatment not only provides better outcomes for DME patients but also reduces the treatment burden for those who could not receive an adequate number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. CONCLUSION: This study provides clinical consensus and recommendations about the use of DEX implant in the clinical practice of DME management in Turkey.

Coats disease with retinal neovascularization under subfoveal nodule: optical coherence tomography-angiography findings before and after ranibizumab treatment / Doença de Coats com neovascularização da retina sob nódulo subfoveal: achados da angiografia com tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) antes e depois do ranibizumabe

ABSTRACT We conducted retinal neovascularization under subfoveal fibrotic nodule for Coats disease by using optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after ranibizumab treatment. Our patient was an 8-year-old boy who was referred with suspicious left retinal mass. His visual acuity was 20/400 in the left eye and 20/20 in the right eye at the time of admission. Posterior segment evaluation of the left eye revealed telengiectatic vessels at the inferotemporal region of the peripheral retina with hard exudates around the optic disc and macula typical for Coats disease. His optic coherence tomography revealed a subfoveal fibrotic nodule after ranibizumab injections and laser photocoagulation treatment. The optic coherence tomography-angiography results revealed neovascularization under the subfoveal nodule at the superficial vascular complex layer. After 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections, his neovascularization regressed on optic coherence tomography-angiography and his visual acuity improved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating neovascularization under the subfoveal fibrotic nodule in Coats disease on the basis of comparative with the help of optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after the treatment.

RESUMO Demonstramos uma neovascularização da retina sob o nódulo fibrótico subfoveal na doença de Coats com a ajuda da Angiotomografia de Coerência Óptica (OCT-A) antes e após o tratamento com ranibizumabe. Paciente do sexo masculino de 8 anos foi encaminhado com suspeita de massa retiniana no olho esquerdo. A acuidade visual foi de 20/400 no olho esquerdo e de 20/20 no olho direito. A avaliação do segmento posterior do olho esquerdo revelou vasos telengiectáticos na região inferotemporal da retina periférica e exsudados duros em torno do disco óptico e mácula típica da doença de Coats. A angiotomografia de coerência óptica apresentou nódulo fibrótico subfoveal após injeções de ranibizumabe e tratamento com fotocoagulação a laser. A angiotomografia de coerência óptica mostrou neovascularização sob o nódulo subfoveal na camada superficial do complexo vascular. Após três injeções de ranibizumabe intravítreo, a neovascularização regrediu na angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica e a acuidade visual melhorou. onde sabemos, este é o primeiro relato a mostrar neovascularização sob nódulo fibrótico subfoveal na Doença de Coats com a ajuda da angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica antes e após o tratamento.

Coats disease with retinal neovascularization under subfoveal nodule: optical coherence tomography-angiography findings before and after ranibizumab treatment.

We conducted retinal neovascularization under subfoveal fibrotic nodule for Coats disease by using optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after ranibizumab treatment. Our patient was an 8-year-old boy who was referred with suspicious left retinal mass. His visual acuity was 20/400 in the left eye and 20/20 in the right eye at the time of admission. Posterior segment evaluation of the left eye revealed telengiectatic vessels at the inferotemporal region of the peripheral retina with hard exudates around the optic disc and macula typical for Coats disease. His optic coherence tomography revealed a subfoveal fibrotic nodule after ranibizumab injections and laser photocoagulation treatment. The optic coherence tomography-angiography results revealed neovascularization under the subfoveal nodule at the superficial vascular complex layer. After 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections, his neovascularization regressed on optic coherence tomography-angiography and his visual acuity improved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating neovascularization under the subfoveal fibrotic nodule in Coats disease on the basis of comparative with the help of optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after the treatment.

The temperament and character personality profile of the glaucoma patient.

BACKGROUND: To determine the temperament and character profile of glaucoma patients. METHODS: A total of 234 patients (104 with primary open angle glaucoma, and 130 control subjects without any ocular disease) were selected for this prospective, cross-sectional study. All the participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including the best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, gonioscopy, and visual field analysis. All the participants were given the Turkish version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The TCI is a self-reported evaluate, with 240 true/false items measuring four domains of temperament; harm avoidance (HA), persistence (PS), novelty seeking (NS), reward dependence (RD), and three domains of character; self-transcendence (ST), cooperativeness (C), self-directedness (SD). RESULTS: The glaucoma patients achieved the higher scores than the controls for the HA and SD dimensions (p < 0.001 and p = 0.033). The glaucoma patients scored lower than the controls for the NS, P and ST dimensions (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). There were no differences in the RD and C scores between the patients and the controls (p = 0.944 and p = 0.343). There was no correlation between the duration of illness and the TCI dimensions. Disease severity was positively associated with HA (r = 0,220, p = 0,025) and the anticipatory worry (r = 0.227, p = 0.021) dimension. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma patients had a different personality profile to healthy individuals. This may affect treatment compliance and is also important when coping with maladaptive patient attitudes.

Comparison of surgically induced astigmatism in patients with horizontal rectus muscle recession.

AIM: To compare surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) following horizontal rectus muscle recession surgery between suspension recession with both the "hang-back" technique and conventional recession technique. METHODS: Totally, 48 eyes of 24 patients who had undergone horizontal rectus muscle recession surgery were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups. Twelve patients were operated on by the hang-back technique (Group 1), and 12 by the conventional recession technique (Group 2). SIA was calculated on the 1(st) wk, 1(st) and in the 3(rd) mo after surgery using the SIA calculator. RESULTS: SIA was statistically higher in the Group 1 all postoperative follow-up. SIA was the highest in the 1(st) wk, and decreased gradually in both groups. CONCLUSION: The suspension recession technique induced much more SIA than the conventional recession technique. This difference also continued in the following visits. Therefore, the refractive power should be checked postoperatively in order to avoid refractive amblyopia. Conventional recession surgery should be the preferred method so as to minimize the postoperative refractive changes in patients with amblyopia.

The ocular biometric differences of diabetic patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in ocular biometric and keratometric characteristics in comparison with biometric measurements using the noncontact optical low coherence reflectometer (OLCR) (Lenstar LS 900, Haag-Streit) on diabetic patients. METHODS: The eyes of 170 patients were included in this study, including 81 diabetic and 89 nondiabetic subjects. Optical biometric measurements of diabetic and nondiabetic patients (between the ages of 25 and 85 years) who applied to the ophthalmology clinic were noted from March to June 2013. Detailed ophthalmologic examinations were done for every subject. Biometric measurements were done using the noncontact OLCR device. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 29 to 83 years. Subgroup analyses were done in diabetic patients according to their Hba1C levels. The minimum Hba1C value was 5.3, maximum was 12.4, and mean was 7.56 ± 1.48. The median duration of diabetes was 5 years (25th-75th percentile 3.00-11.75). Diabetic patients were found to have thicker lens and shallower anterior chamber in both eyes compared to nondiabetic control subjects. There were no statistical differences between the groups according to central corneal thickness, axial length, or keratometric values in both eyes. However, lens thicknesses were found to be thicker and anterior chamber depth values were found to be shallower in the diabetic group in both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: It may useful to determine eyeglasses prescription, refractive surgery calculation, lens selection, and previous cataract surgery according to biometric measurements after the regulation of blood glucose.

The Relationship between Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Erectile Dysfunction.

Purpose. To evaluate association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods. 195 men enrolled in this cross-sectional study. 90 of them had neovascular AMD and 105 of them were healthy volunteers. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire's erectile function (EF) domain was used to assess ED. The patients in the study and control groups were statistically compared according to visual acuity, EF score, and body mass index. Results. The mean ages were 62 (54.5-73) and 60 (54-68), in the neovascular AMD and control groups, respectively. The total EF scores were 9 (6-16) in neovascular AMD and 18 (9.5-27) in control group. The results of IIEF questionnaire on neovascular AMD patients revealed that 85 men (94.4%) had some degree of ED, whereas 68 men (64.8%) had some degree of ED on control group. Patients with neovascular AMD had a significantly higher incidence of ED than control patients (P < 0.01). There was a significant association between ED and neovascular AMD (P < 0.01). Conclusions. Our results suggested that neovascular AMD has a high association with ED.

Effects of estrogen replacement therapy on apoptosis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in ocular surface epithelial cells: An experimental study.

AIM: To investigate the effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on apoptosis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in ocular surface in an experimental rat model. METHODS: Forty female, Wistar rats were randomized in 4 groups in the study. Subcutaneous ERT (17ß-estradiol, 10µg/kg/day) was administered to the first group without ovariectomy and to the second group with ovariectomy for three months. Third group had only ovariectomy and fourth group had sham operation. All rats were sacrificed in estrous cycles determined by vaginal smear test and their right eyes were enucleated at the end of the third month. Enucleated eyes were analyzed by immunohistochemical method for expressions of caspase-3, bcl-2, VEGF and TUNEL assay. RESULTS: Caspase-3 expression of conjunctival epithelium was significantly higher in group 3 than group 1 (P=0.005), and group 2 (P=0.007). TUNEL score of conjunctival epithelium was significantly higher in group 3 than group1 (P=0.006). TUNEL score of corneal epithelium was significantly higher in group 3 than group 2 (P=0.012), and group 4 (P=0.002). There was no significant difference between groups in that bcl-2 and VEGF expressions. CONCLUSION: We determined increased apoptosis in ocular surface epithelial cells in ovariectomized rats. ERT and endogen estrogen decreased the apoptosis, and did not result in difference in VEGF expression between the groups. Estrogen may be beneficial for the treatment of apoptosis-mediated ocular surface disorders such as dry eye. Further studies are needed on this subject for a better understanding of the role of estrogen and to provide a new insight for treatment and prevention of apoptosis-mediated ocular surface disorders.

Effect of estrogen replacement therapy on lens epithelial cell apoptosis in an experimental rat model.

Epidemiologic studies have revealed a higher incidence of cataracts in estrogen-deprived postmenopausal women, although the pathogenic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Apoptosis of lens epithelial cells has been associated with cataractogenesis. The aim of the study reported here was to investigate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on lens epithelial cell apoptosis in an experimental rat model. Forty female Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: ERT (17beta-estradiol, 10 microg/kg/day) for 3 months without ovariectomy (group 1) and with ovariectomy (group 2); only ovariectomy (group 3); sham operated (group 4). At the end of the third month, all rats were sacrificed in estrous cycle, as determined by the vaginal smear test, and their right eyes were enucleated. Enucleated eyes were analyzed by immunohistochemical methods for the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end (TUNEL), caspase-3, and bcl-2 labeling. The TUNEL, caspase-3, and bcl-2 staining scores were found to increase in group 3 rats following the ovariectomy compared to the sham-operated group. The ERT decreased these scores in rats with or without the ovariectomy; however, these differences were not statistically significant. These data suggest that estrogen does not significantly affect lens epithelial cell apoptosis. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the protective mechanism of estrogen and to provide new ideas for the treatment and prevention of cataract.

Prevention of suture exposure in transscleral intraocular lens fixation: an original technique.

BACKGROUND: In this retrospective study, we evaluated our surgical outcomes of transscleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation and introduced a simple, quick, and effective method to fixate and bury the sutures in the sclera to avoid suture exposure. METHODS: Eyes were divided into 3 groups according to surgical technique. Half-thickness scleral flaps were prepared, and polypropylene suture ends were cut short in group 1 (12 eyes). Suture ends were left long without flaps in group 2 (47 eyes) and were buried into the scleral tunnel in group 3 (21 eyes). RESULTS: The suture exposure rate was significantly lower in group 3 (0%) compared with group 2 (p = 0.006) and group 1 (p = 0.040). There was no significant difference in group 1 (25%) compared with group 2 (27.6%) (p = 1.000). INTERPRETATION: Burying the suture ends into the scleral tunnel is a simple, safe, and effective technique for avoiding suture exposure in scleral-fixated IOL implantation.

Ropivacaine versus lidocaine for deep-topical, nerve-block anaesthesia in cataract surgery: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ropivacaine versus lidocaine for deep-topical, nerve-block anaesthesia in cataract surgery. METHODS: This prospective controlled randomized double-blind study comprised 64 patients undergoing clear corneal phacoemulsification. Patients were equally divided into two group receiving either deep-topical anaesthesia with 1% ropivacaine-soaked sponge (Group R, n = 32) or 2% lidocaine-soaked sponge (Group L, n = 32). The level of intraoperative and postoperative pain was assessed by patients using a verbal analogue scale from 1 to 10. The duration of surgery, the need for supplemental anaesthesia, surgeon satisfaction, and intraoperative and early postoperative complications were recorded. The patients' heart rate, arterial blood pressure and peripheric oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were obtained just before the anaesthesia and during the surgery. RESULTS: The demographic data of the patients and duration of surgery were similar in both groups. No significant difference in the mean pain scores of patients were found in the ropivacaine and lidocaine groups. Surgical satisfaction was also statistically insignificant. None of the patients had significant difference in heart rate, blood pressure or SpO(2) during the surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Deep-topical anaesthesia with ropivacaine and lidocaine in cataract surgery is safe and the two anaesthetic agents do not present differences in the degree of analgesia achieved. Deep-topical anaesthesia with ropivacaine or lidocaine was equally effective in providing anaesthesia with sufficient quality for cataract surgery.

Botulinum toxin A in the treatment of adherence syndrome.

The effect of botulinum toxin A is investigated in the treatment of adherence syndrome related to strabismus surgery. An 18-year-old boy with decompensated right congenital fourth nerve palsy underwent ipsilateral superior rectus muscle recession and inferior oblique muscle disinsertion. During the early postoperative period, a right hypotropia with limitation of elevation developed and the result of the forced duction test was positive for passive elevation of the right eye. Botulinum toxin A was injected into the right inferior rectus muscle on the 15th postoperative day and orthophoria was achieved 1 week later. A repeat injection of botulinum toxin A was performed 6 months later. On follow-up 2 1/2 years later, his eyes remained orthophoric with limitation of elevation in the right eye and the patient was satisfied with the result. This case demonstrated that adherence syndrome can be treated successfully by botulinum toxin A injection if it is administered during the acute phase, before the development of fibrous scar tissue.