A new diagnostic method for retinal breaks in patients with posterior vitreous detachment: Ultra-wide-field imaging with the Zeiss Clarus 700.

PURPOSE: This study was performed with the aim of finding a more convenient and less time-consuming method to diagnose retinal breaks in posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) patients. METHODS: A prospective double-blind observational case study was performed with patients who were admitted to the Eye Emergency Department Sahlgrenska University Hospital with PVD symptoms and approved to participate in the study (n = 128). Standard slit lamp examination was compared with images from a Zeiss Clarus 700 ultra-wide-field camera (UWFC). Patients were examined and photographed by an independent operator. Data and image review was performed by three independent reviewers with varying experience. Retinal break detection with the two different methods (detailed eye examination by well-trained ophthalmologist and UWFC evaluations) was analysed statistically. RESULTS: After excluding diagnoses other than PVD as well as unclear images due to cataracts, vitreous bleeding, etc., a total of 103 eyes with PVD were evaluated. A total of 38 ruptures in 25 patients were detected by routine examination and were subjected to laser treatment. UWFC images were reviewed by three ophthalmology consultants and compared with routine examinations. Sensitivity values in detecting retinal ruptures in UWFC images of the three reviewers were 0.89, 0.87 and 0.79, and specificity values were 0.88, 0.86 and 0.93 (kappa values: 0.742, 0.689 and 0.728) respectively. CONCLUSION: Although there have been rapid developments in imaging with UWFC in recent years and it is a very promising method for the future, routine clinical examination is still the only valid method for the detection of retinal tears today.

Corneal Sublayers Thickness in Patients With Mitral Valve Prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the thickness of each corneal sublayer in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and healthy individuals. METHODS: A total of 38 eyes from 38 patients with MVP and 34 eyes from 34 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. The thickness of the corneal epithelium, Bowman layer, stroma, and Descemet membrane-endothelium complex were measured on the central cornea (i.e., corneal apex) and both the inferior and superior halves of the cornea with anterior segment module of spectral domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences emerged between the study and control groups in terms of Bowman layer thickness in the central cornea and the cornea's superior half (P=0.092 and P=0.128, respectively). However, in the inferior half of the cornea, Bowman layer thickness among patients with MVP was 11.95±2.34 µm (range 7-16 µm) and in the control group was 13.03±1.62 µm (range 10-16 µm), which made for a statistically significant difference (P=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed thinning of Bowman layer in the inferior half of the cornea in patients with MVP.

The eyes of children with celiac disease.

PURPOSE: To determine possible eye involvement in pediatric patients with celiac disease. METHODS: Children (aged 5-18 years) with classic celiac disease and sex- and age-matched controls were included. In addition to a complete ophthalmologic examination, all patients were scanned by a Scheimpflug camera and spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and Schirmer and break-up time (BUT) tests were performed. Data were evaluated by paired t test, with a P value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 31 celiac patients (19 females [61%]) and 34 controls (20 females [59%]) were included. Mean age of the celiac patients was 11.0 ± 4.4 years (range, 4-18 years); of the controls, 10.4 ± 2.6 years (range, 5-15 years; P = 0.473). Mean follow-up of patients was 5.4 ± 1.7 years (range, 3-7.2 years). The eyes of children with celiac disease, compared to controls, did show decreased anterior chamber depth (3.5 ± 0.2 vs 3.7 ± 0.2, resp.; P < 0.001), decreased anterior chamber volume (170.8 ± 25.5 vs 190.7 ± 27.4; P < 0.001), lower Schirmer (17.9 ± 9.1 vs 21.6 ± 4.1; P = 0.038), and lower BUT (10.8 ± 3.8 vs 12.1 ± 1.7; P = 0.046), as well as lower retinal nerve fiber layer (general 102.8 ± 8.2 vs 108.9 ± 10.1; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in retinal nerve fiber, anterior chamber shallowing, and qualitative and quantitative reduction in tears can occur in celiac patients, even if routine ocular examination reveals no abnormality.

Evaluations of Corneas in Eyes with Isolated Iris Coloboma.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the differences in the corneas of eyes with isolated iris coloboma. METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective study. Among patients who applied to our hospital within the last 3-year period, those with isolated iris coloboma in one eye and a completely normal contralateral eye were included in the study. In addition to a complete ophthalmologic examination, all patients were scanned by Pentacam Scheimpflug camera in the dark, and a corneal endothelium cell count was taken using a Topcon Specular Microscope. Data entered using SPSS software were then evaluated by paired t-test; p < 0.05 value was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Nine patients, seven men and two women, with a mean age of 35.77 ± 22.50 (range 8-60) years, were included in the study. In comparison to normal eyes, the colobomatous eyes were statistically found to have lower keratometry values in diopters (43.82 ± 2.17, 44.46 ± 1.86; p = 0.040), a greater negative asphericity (Q value) (-0.38 ± 0.07, -0.22 ± 0.20; p = 0.042), increased corneal thickness (569.78 ± 25.42, 537.33 ± 27.36; p < 0.001), decreased anterior chamber depth (2.50 ± 0.32, 2.81 ± 0.50; p = 0.005), a shallower angle (30.51 ± 10.68, 35.29 ± 9.99; p = 0.057), higher best-fit sphere (BFS) values of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces (7.88 ± 0.39, 7.67 ± 0.37; p = 0.001; 6.40 ± 0.26, 6.23 ± 0.19; p = 0.006), larger pupil diameter (3.48 ± 0.49, 2.80 ± 0.34; p = 0.001), smaller horizontal corneal diameter (HCD) (11.06 ± 0.42; 11.26 ± 0.45; p = 0.009), and higher value of endothelial cell density (ECD) (3161 ± 431; 2923 ± 590; p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: We have determined that a number of factors such as keratometry values, particularly of the corneal endothelium, are different from those of normal eyes. These differences should be taken into account in the follow-up and treatment of eyes with iris coloboma.

Does Valsalva Maneuver Affect Corneal Morphology in Eyes With Keratoconus?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Valsalva maneuver on corneal morphology and anterior chamber parameters in patients with keratoconus. METHODS: A total of 39 eyes from 39 patients with keratoconus and 41 eyes from 41 age-matched and gender-matched healthy individuals were included in this cross-sectional study. Measurements of corneal front keratometry values (K-flat, K-steep, and K-max), central corneal thickness, corneal apex thickness, thinnest corneal thickness, corneal volume, anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and iridocorneal angle (ICA) were performed with a Pentacam Scheimpflug camera (Oculus, Germany) before and during the Valsalva maneuver. Changes in the anterior segment parameters from baseline and during the Valsalva maneuver and the differences in parameters between the keratoconus group and the control group were analyzed. A P value less than 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: In the patients with keratoconus, the Valsalva maneuver did not have any significant influence on the corneal parameters (P>0.05). However, ACV, ACD, and ICA decreased markedly during the Valsalva maneuver (P=0.006, P=0.048, and P=0.025, respectively). Changes caused by the Valsalva maneuver were similar for all parameters when compared with those in healthy individuals (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: During corneal topography imaging, the Valsalva maneuver observed in patients with keratoconus does not typically cause any significant change in corneal morphology.

The Investigation of HCV RNA in Tear Fluid and Aqueous Humor in Patients with Anti-HCV Antibody Positive Who Underwent Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To obtain aqueous humor and tear fluid samples during cataract surgery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)-antibody-positive patients in order to analyze them for HCV RNA and compare these measurements with serum HCV RNA levels. METHODS: Twenty-nine anti-HCV-positive patients were included this study. HCV RNA viral load levels were determined by commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction system. Antibodies to HCV were screened with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using anti-HCV test kit. RESULTS: Log10 HCV RNA levels were found to be 6.00 ± 1.06 IU/mL in serum, 2.76 ± 0.36 IU/mL in the aqueous humor, and 1.91 ± 0.93 IU/mL in tear fluid. No correlation was detected between samples for HCV RNA positivity (p = .390, κ = .102). We have observed that, viral RNA was detected in the aqueous humor, while not in serum in one case, whereas viral RNA was detected in tear fluid but not in serum in another case. CONCLUSIONS: Although viral load detected in aqueous humor and tear fluid samples was considerably lower compared to the serum samples, it can still be important in terms of infectivity.

Systemic endothelial function in cases with wet-type age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Choroidal endothelial dysfunction plays key role in wet-type age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Peripheral vascular endothelial function is not known in wet AMD. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze peripheral vascular endothelial function in cases with wet-type age-related macular degeneration by measuring flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 20 cases with wet AMD (Group 1, mean age 65.9 ± 7.2 years) and 24 healthy individuals (Group 2, mean age 62.0 ± 11.9 years). In all cases, a cardiologist assessed the responses of endothelial function by measuring the FMD following brachial artery occlusion. RESULTS: Mean FMD, an indicator of endothelial function was found to be 6.4 ± 2.7 % in Group 1 and 15.6 ± 7.3 % in Group 2 (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between patient and control groups regarding age, sex, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, ESR and CRP. CONCLUSION: Reduced FMD is present in patients with wet AMD, suggesting that impaired peripheral endothelial function may be involved in its pathogenesis.

Comparison of corneal endothelial changes following phacoemulsification with transversal and torsional phacoemulsification machines.

AIM: To compare and evaluate the phacoemulsification parameters and postoperative endothelial cell changes of two different phacoemulsification machines, each with different modes, but also to assess the relationship between postoperative endothelial cell loss and the phacoemulsification parameters, as well as the other factors in both groups. METHODS: This prospective observational study was comprised of consecutive eligible cataract patients operated with phacoemulsification technique performed by the same surgeon using either a WHITESTAR Signature Ellips FX (transversal, group 1) or Infiniti OZil IP (torsional, group 2) machine. RESULTS: The study included 86 patients. Baseline characteristics in the groups were similar. The median nuclear sclerosis grade was 3 (2-4) in the first group and 2 (2-4) in the second group (P=0.265). Both groups had similar phacoemulsification needle times (group 1: 60.63±36 s; group 2: 55.98±30 s; P=0.789). The percentage of endothelial cell loss 30d after surgery ranged from 3% to 15% with a median of 7% in group 1, and from 2% to 13% with a median of 6% in group 2; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (P=0.407). Hexagonality (P=0.794) and the coefficient of variation (CV; P=0.142) did not differ significantly between the groups before and 30d after surgery. A significant positive correlation was found between the endothelial cell loss and nuclear sclerosis grade (group 1: P<0.001; group 2: P<0.001) and between the endothelial cell loss and average phacoemulsification power (group 1: P=0.007; group 2: P=0.008). CONCLUSION: Both of these machines were efficient, with similar endothelial cell loss. This endothelial cell loss was related to the increased nuclear sclerosis grade and increased phacoemulsification power.

Isolated multiple pigment epithelial detachments with unknown cause.

There are many etiological factors that have led to the development of retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED). In this paper, we have reported a patient with isolated multiple PEDs. Based on this fact, this paper aimed to give an overview of the causes of PEDs.