Evaluation of the change in accommodation amplitude in subjects with pseudoexfoliation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in accommodation amplitude in cases with pseudoexfoliation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes having pseudoexfoliation and 37 normal eyes aged between 40-60 years were included in the study. After ophthalmic examination, accommodation amplitude was measured using Powerrefractor II. Besides, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness was measured by A-scan ultrasonography. The results obtained were evaluated by independent samples' t-test. RESULTS: There was no difference in mean age between cases with pseudoexfoliation and normal cases (P=0.131). Mean accommodation amplitude was significantly lower in cases with pseudoexfoliation (P=0.002). Axial length, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness measurements did not show significant change between groups (P=0.55, P=0.66, P=0.36, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the presence of pseudoexfoliation, ciliary apparatus can be affected and accommodation amplitude can be decreased in earlier ages.

A new visual field test in empty sella syndrome: rarebit perimetry.

PURPOSE: Several visual field defects can be seen in empty sella syndrome (ESS). In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the visual field defects in patients with ESS by rarebit perimetry and to compare the results with Humphrey perimetry. METHODS: Left eyes of 13 patients with ESS and left eyes of 15 age-matched normal subjects were included in the study. Visual field testing was performed by Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer II (Fastpack 30-2 strategy) and rarebit perimetry (regular test). Statistical analysis was performed by independent-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: Humphrey perimetry mean deviation was -3.67 dB in control group and -6.06 dB in patients with ESS (p=0.12). Mean hit rate calculated by rarebit test was 91.8% in control group and 75.9% in cases with ESS (p=0.005). Area under ROC curve was 0.756 for Humphrey visual field test and 0.827 for rarebit hit rate (p=0.59). There was a significant correlation between rarebit hit rate and Humphrey visual field test mean deviation (r=0.755, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rarebit perimetry correlates significantly with Humphrey perimeter in detecting visual field defects related with ESS and has a higher sensitivity and specificity.

Comparing the effects of travoprost and brinzolamide on intraocular pressure after phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect of travoprost and brinzolamide within the first 24 h after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-masked, controlled study comprised 90 eyes of 90 consecutive patients with senile cataract who had uneventful phacoemulsification surgery. Eyes in the first group received travoprost 0.0015%, second group received brinzolamide 1%. Eyes in the third group received balanced salt solution and were used as control. One drop was instilled immediately after surgery. IOP was measured 24 h preoperatively, 6 and 24 h postoperatively. Analysis of variance, Student's-t and chi2-tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Preoperatively IOP was not significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.653). At 6 and 24 h postoperatively IOP was lower in both travoprost and brinzolamide group when compared to control group (P = 0.018 and 0.015 at 6 h, P = 0.010 and 0.007 at 24 h between travoprost and brinzolamide group was not significant (P = 0.744 at 6 h and P = 0.672 at 24 h). CONCLUSION: Both travoprost and brinzolamide significantly lowered IOP after small incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery within the first 24 h without any side effect.

Effect of topical dexamethasone and ciprofloxacin on bacterial flora of healthy conjunctiva.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of topical dexamethasone and ciprofloxacin, alone and in combination, on the colony counts of conjunctival bacterial flora of healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 100 healthy subjects were randomly divided into four groups, consisting of 25 subjects each. Group 1 was treated with dexamethasone phosphate 0.1% (Maxidex). Group 2 was treated with ciprofloxacin 0.3% (Ciloxan) and Group 3 with a combination of these drugs. Group 4 received artificial tear solution (Tears Naturale) and served as control. The drops were administered one drop every 1 min. A pretreatment culture and recultures at 30, 90, and 180 min after application of final drops were performed on all subjects. The bacterial growth was evaluated in a quantitative manner. All cultures were performed in a double-masked fashion. ANOVA test was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: While there was no significant difference among mean number of pretreatment colonies between the groups (P=0.85); the differences at 30, 90, and 180 min were statistically significant (P<0.001). During the study there was no statistically significant change in colony counts in Groups 1 and 4 (P=0.66 and 0.55, respectively). The colony count numbers decreased significantly at 30 and 90 min in Group 2 (P<0.001 and P=0.004) and at 30 min in Group 3 (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Topically applied dexamethasone did not cause a significant change in colony counts of the healthy conjunctiva. Both ciprofloxacin and a combination of ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone were effective in the reduction of bacterial ocular flora.

Pretarsal and marginal orbicularis oculi muscle fiber changes in trachomatous cicatricial entropion: histopathological evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathological changes of pretarsal and orbicularis muscle fibers in trachomatous cicatricial entropion. METHODS: Orbicularis muscle tissue specimens were histopathologically evaluated in 17 eyes of 11 cases in which anterior lamellar reposition and/or wedge-shaped tarsal resection or Wies procedure were performed. RESULTS: Degeneration of orbicularis muscle fibers, atrophy, connective tissue increase between muscle fibers and edema were observed in 13 tissue specimens. Muscle fiber changes were more commonly observed in cases with severe entropion, in which Wies procedure was performed. CONCLUSIONS: These histopathological changes, which may develop secondary to other structural changes that can cause entropion in the eyelid and weaken the orbicularis muscle, may be a co-factor influencing the severity of entropion more than causing entropion alone.