Predictive factors of age-related macular degeneration with poor response to three loading doses of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive factors of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with poor response to three loading doses of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on nAMD patients three loading IVB initial treatment. The patients were divided into two groups, without residual fluid on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images (Group 1) and with residual fluid (Group 2). Demographic data, OCT findings, and morphological features of macular neovascularization (MNV) in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were recorded. RESULTS: The study included one hundred thirty-six eyes of 120 patients (Group 1: n = 66 eyes, Group 2: n = 70 eyes). Central macular thickness, presence of intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid, hyperreflective foci-band, pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and prechoroidal cleft were similar between the two groups. Pre-injection central choroidal thickness (CCT) was 214.17 ± 50.28 µm in Group 1 and 247.40 ± 60.55 µm in Group 2 (p = 0.021). PED width (p = 0.028) and PED area (p = 0.042) were statistically significantly higher in Group 1. When the morphology of MNV in OCTA was examined, branching (p = 0.736), loops (p = 0.442), peripheral arcade (p = 0.600), hypointense halo (p = 0.779), sea fan (p = 0.250), medusa (p = 0.255), pruned vascular tree pattern (p = 0.148), capillary fringe (p = 0.683) were similar in both groups. The presence of a closed circuit pattern was significantly higher in Group 2 (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Initial CCT and closed circuit pattern MNV were higher in IVB-resistant cases. It was observed that PEDs with large bases and areas responded significantly better to loading therapy. The presence of a closed-circuit pattern was an independent risk factor for poor response to loading therapy. Retrospectively registered. REGISTRATION NUMBER: 2011-KAEK-25 2023/05-08.

Optical coherence tomography-angiography findings of prediabetic patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prediabetic patients for microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) and compare with diabetic patients and healthy controls. METHODS: OCT-A images of 60 eyes of 30 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), 72 eyes of 36 prediabetic patients, and 108 eyes of 54 healthy controls were retrospectively evaluated and compared in this study. A swept-source OCTA (Triton, Topcon) instrument was used for collecting OCT-A images. Duration of the diabetic or prediabetic period, glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose level, postprandial glucose (PPG) level, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and creatinine values of all participants were recorded. RESULTS: Microaneurysm, nonperfusion areas, perifoveal capillary disruption, and capillary network disorganization were detected in both prediabetics and diabetics but statistically more common in diabetic patients. Neovascularization and intraretinal microvascular anomalies were detected only in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: OCT-A seemed to be effective in detecting microvascular changes in diabetic patients. More importantly, results showed us that in prediabetic patients, microvascular changes can be seen before the onset of DM and before or concurrently with neurodegenerative changes.

Discordant ROP (Retinopathy of prematurity) development in twins less than 32 weeks of gestational age.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), is a vasoprolipherative disorder of the immature retina and a major cause of preventable blindness in childhood. Although the development of ROP is multifactorial, the main reasons are lower gestational age and birth weight. However, in twins their gestational ages were the same, ROP development can be discordant. This study aims to evaluate the etiologic factors of discordant ROP development in twins. METHODS: We reviewed the last 5 years' records and found the twins whose discordant ROP development. This discordance was; 1. Different stages of ROP, 2. One sibling treated the other is not, 3. One sibling has aggressive posterior ROP the other is not, 4. one sibling has more influenced area as zones the other is not. We documented some data of these twins, as birth order, birth weight, resuscitation at birth, morbidities, the number of hemotransfusion, age of regaining birth weight, relative weight gain at 28 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 26 cases of 13 twins were evaluated. The mean gestational age and birth weight of the whole study group were 27.7 ± 2, and 1053 ±  364 grams, respectively. We found that more transfused preterm baby in twins is more likely to show severe ROP. Additionally, sepsis and the duration of mechanical ventilation may be risk factors for more severe ROP in twins. CONCLUSIONS: We can reduce discordant retinopathy in less than 32-weeks premature twins by using methods such as cord milking and by improving non-invasive ventilation modalities.

Comparison of the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments on pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare structural and visual outcomes of naive neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients with significant pigment epithelial detachment (PED), treated with ranibizumab and aflibercept. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series that included 33 naive patients treated with ranibizumab and 25 with aflibercept. The patients were followed with pro re nata (PRN) after first three intravitreal injections. LogMAR visual acuity, PED height and radius on spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings were compared. RESULTS: Baseline mean PED height was 270.39 ± 114.14 µm and 315.24 ± 115.8 µm (p = 0.14); baseline mean PED radius was 2063.64 ± 942.75 µm and 1958.88 ± 452.22 µm (p = 0.61); and baseline BCVA was 1.16 ± 0.73 and 1.09 ± 0.69 (p = 0.73), for ranibizumab, and aflibercept group, respectively. In aflibercept group, there was statistically significant decrease in PED height at first, third and 12th months. In PED radius, decrease was greater in aflibercept group, however not significant. In addition, in aflibercept group visual acuity was better at all three months; however, none of them were significant. CONCLUSION: Although the maximum improvement was seen at third month, final visual acuity and parameters of PED were better in aflibercept group. The efficacy of the both drug to choroidal neovascularization was known; however, in cases with significant PED, aflibercept can be consider for the first-level treatment.

Influence of Different Antidepressants on Ocular Surface in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder.

PURPOSE: Several studies have previously reported the association between dry eye and depression along with the treatment of depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different antidepressant drugs on tear parameters in patients with major depressive disorder. METHODS: We recruited 132 patients who were using different antidepressants and 58 healthy controls. Venlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, and sertraline were used by 34, 28, 36, and 34 patients, respectively. The participants filled out and completed the Beck Depression Scale. We recorded Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT) and corneal staining values of the participants. The Ocular Surface Disease Index was completed by the participants. In addition, we evaluated the tear meniscus parameters by using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: All conventional dry eye tests and tear meniscus parameters were significantly lesser in the depression group than in the control group (Schirmer test, 11.41 ± 6.73 mm and 22.53 ± 4.98 mm; TBUT, 5.29 ± 2.92 seconds and 13.38 ± 1.72; Corneal staining, tear meniscus area, 0.026 ± 0.012 mm2 and 0.11 ± 0.025 mm2; tear meniscus depth, 182.75 ± 78.79 µm and 257.48 ± 90.1 µm; tear meniscus height, 290.3 ± 133.63 µm and 459.78 ± 180.26 µm, in patients and controls, respectively). The tear parameters of the duloxetine group were lowest among the drug groups and Schirmer test, and TBUT of the venlafaxine group was statistically significantly different from the duloxetine group (P = 0.028 and P = 0.017, respectively). Ocular Surface Disease Index score of the depression group was significantly higher than the control group (31.12 ± 21.15 and 17.43 ± 11.75 in depression and control group, respectively.). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the usage of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors affects the ocular surface by a mechanism other than the anticholinergic system. Besides serotonin blockage, the noradrenaline blockade of serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors may increase the dry eye findings on the ocular surface.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible effects of (ankylosing spondylitis) AS on choroidal thickness (CT) and other retinal layers using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: This cross-sectional study group comprised 41 AS patients and age and sex-matched 46 control subjects. None of our patients had active anterior uveitis during the measurements. We evaluated and compared CT, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness, focal loss volume (FLV) and global loss volume (GLV) of the participants. RESULTS: The CT of the patients at 1500 µm (286.20 µm ± 65.81), 1000 µm (309.55 µm ± 85.33) nasally to the fovea and subfoveal layer (339.93 µm ± 69.93) were thicker than in controls (p = 0.007, p = 0.037, p = 0.008). Except nasal layer, all RNFL layers were significantly thinner than controls (p < 0.001). GCC and macular thickness were also thinner than controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, present findings may suggest that the AS disease may affect the choroidal, RNFL and GCC thickness by disease's own inflammatory effect, independently from the uveitis history.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings of multiple sclerosis with or without optic neuritis.

Objective: Nowadays, retinal microvascular structures can be investigated using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). We aimed to evaluate the probable vascular changes in the foveal and peripapillary regions of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: A total of 20 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 24 healthy controls were recruited in this study. All participants' superficial and deeper retinal and peripapillary layers were evaluated using OCTA after a total ophthalmologic examination.Results: In the superficial plexus, the whole image (49.53 ± 3.9% and 51.83 ± 2.1%, p = 0.009), superior hemisphere (49.44 ± 4.11% and 51.63 ± 2.3%, p = 0.018), inferior hemisphere (49.75 ± 3.9% and 52.03 ± 2.2%, p = 0.012), parafoveal (51.87 ± 3.9% and 53.08 ± 3.46%, p = 0.048) and perifoveal (50.41 ± 3.86% and 52.76 ± 2.1%, p = 0.007) vascular densities were statistically significant lesser in patients with RRMS than in controls. In the optic disc OCTA parameters, the vessel density of the inferior (50.15 ± 6.99% and 53.04 ± 3.63% p = 0.043) and temporal sector (48.09 ± 5.47% and 50.85 ± 5.24%, p = 0.045) were statistically significantly lesser in patients with RRMS than in controls.Conclusion: The reductions in vessel density of the retinal or peripapillary area of patients with RRMS shown in this study should be investigated further to determine whether it is a secondary lesion to optic neuritis (ON) or a primary vasculopathic condition of MS.

Evaluation of the tear parameters of ovulation induction patients in a short time period with anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: The effects of sex steroid hormones on tearparameters are known. Theaim of this studywas to examine the effects on tear parameters during exposure to high-dose sex steroids in a short period of time. METHODS: Forty patients who were admitted to the infertility clinic of our hospital and planned to undergo ovulation induction with exogenous gonadotropins were included in our study. Prior tothe initiation of ovulation induction, the basal levels of estradiol were measured on day 3 of the menstrual cycle and ophthalmologic examinations were performed by the ophthalmology department of our hospital. The estradiol levels were-measured on the day ofovulation induction usinghuman chorionic gonadotropin and compared with basal estra-diol; eye examinations were also repeated. RESULT: Forty women with reproductive period and average age of 33.3 ± 4.2 years were included in this study. Basal levels of estradiol were significantly (p<0.001) higher after ovulation induction than before induction. The scores in the break-up timeand after induction were 6.2 ± 2.8 sn and 8.4 ± 1.4 sn, respectively. The values of Schirmer's test were 14.3 ± 7.1 mm and 20.6 ± 6.2 mm before and after induction, respectively. Both values were significantly higher after ovulation induction (p<0.001; p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: We observed impro-vemet in tear function tests following the use of estradiol even for a limited time.The use of estradiol during menopause may improve dry eye symptoms in patients.

Evaluation of Iridocorneal Angle, Choroidal Thickness, and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Children With a History of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is proliferative retinopathy affecting premature infants associated with abnormal maturation of the retinal vasculature. We sought to evaluate iridocorneal angle, choroidal thickness, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) of the children that have a history of ROP using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty eyes of 28 children with a history of ROP and 46 eyes of 23 healthy school-aged children were included in this study. RNFLT, choroidal thickness, and iridocorneal angle parameters [trabecular iris angle, angle opening distance (AOD500), and trabecular iris space area (TISA500) 500 µm from the scleral spur] were evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Student t test was used to compare the mean of the parameters. Correlations between the variables were investigated based on the Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Subfoveal (ROP: 253.98±42.5; control: 286.2±71.9; P=0.045), 500 µm (ROP: 242.04±41.8; control: 276.7±45.3; P=0.003), 1000 µm (ROP: 237±39.7; control: 270.15±55.93; P=0.007), and 1500 µm (ROP: 224.16±37.5; control: 259.75±55.2; P=0.003) temporal choroidal thicknesses were significantly thinner in ROP history children. None of the RNFLT parameters and ganglion cell complex thickness were different between groups. Iridocorneal angle parameters were significantly lower in children with ROP history. (trabecular iris angle: ROP=31.35±3.9 degrees, control=35.4±4.5 degrees, P<0.001; TISA500: ROP=0.167±0.05 mm, control=0.21±0.05 mm, P=0.003; AOD500: ROP=480.96±160.4 µm, control=542.95±161.2 µm, P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: ROP is associated with differences in the iridocorneal angle. Possible iridocorneal angle pathology should be a consideration in children with a history of ROP.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings of the fellow eye of patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration OCT-A Evaluation of Fellow Eyes of CNV.

Purpose. Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) remains a serious cause of vision loss in elderly people worldwide. The purpose of the study is to investigate the fellow eye of the patients with exudative ARMD using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods. We conducted a retrospective study from the data of patients with exudative ARMD. Patients undergoing intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for one eye were selected. OCTA images of both eyes with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the fellow eyes were evaluated retrospectively. Midchoroid, choriocapillaris (CC), retina pigment epithelium (RPE), and outer retina levels were evaluated using RTVue XR AVANTI OCTA. Results. There were 5 male and 5 female patients included in this study. We detected drusen and pigment epithelial detachments (PED) in fellow eyes. Six fellow eyes had vascularized PED. Four of them were acute flat irregular type; two of them were chronic dome shaped type. Four patients had soft drusen that had shown signal loss on choriocapillaris level. Conclusion. The follow-up of both eyes of the patients with ARMD is very important. OCTA seems a promising non-invasive method in order to detect subclinical early stage CNV and distinguish among types of PEDs.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in Turkish sickle-cell disease and beta thalassemia major patients.

PURPOSE: To assess probable structural changes using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) on sickle-cell disease (SCD) and beta thalassemia major (B-TM) patients, without any retinal abnormalities. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 32 B-TM, 34 SCD patients, and 44 healthy controls. One of the eyes of all participants was evaluated for SD-OCT and choroidal thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, central macular thickness (CMT), ganglion cell complex (GCC). RESULTS: Age, gender, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were not statistically different between the three groups. Hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrite (Htc), and ferritin levels were not statistically different between the SCD and B-TM groups. Choroidal thickness at the subfoveal region was statistically higher in the control group (353.79 ± 71.93) than in the B-TM (317.41 ± 53.44) and SCD (283.21 ± 63.27) groups. In addition, it was statistically higher in the B-TM group than the SCD group (P = 0.05). CMT did not differ among the three groups, average RNFL was only significantly thinner in SCD than in controls, and GCC thickness was significantly thinner in SCD than in controls and B-TM. CONCLUSION: In both diseases, we can show early structural changes even if proliferative or non-proliferative retinopathy or other ocular manifestations were not developed yet.

Evaluation of dry eye disease in newly diagnosed anxiety and depression patients using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate dry eye diseases (DED) in patients with newly diagnosed depression and anxiety patients. METHODS: Forty newly diagnosed depression, 35 anxiety patients, and 37 controls without any history of taking psychiatric drugs (or before the beginning of psychiatric medication) and topical ophthalmic drop use, were included in the study. All depression and anxiety diagnoses were performed by an experienced psychiatrist. Beck depression and anxiety tests were used to measure disease severity. Tear film break up time (TBUT), Schirmer's test, Oxford scores and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were admiinistered to participants. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography was used to measure tear meniscus heights (TMH), tear meniscus depths (TMD) and tear meniscus areas (TMA). RESULTS: In anxiety and depression groups, Schirmer's test (mm) (7.24 ± 6.02, 6.58 ± 4.9 and 18.79 ± 4.9 respectively, p < 0.05) and TBUT (s) (5.62 ± 3.1, 5.6 ± 3.5 and 13.37 ± 1.7 respectively, p < 0.05) were significantly lower than control group. In addition, OSDI and Oxford scores were significantly higher than controls. OSDI scores were 28.01 ± 19, 30.43 ± 18.49, 14.38 ± 8.14 respectively (p = 0.002) and Oxford scores were 1.9 ± 0.7, 2.1 ± 0.6 and 0.7 ± 0.4 respectively (p = 0.001). TMD, TMH and TMA values were significantly lower in anxiety and depression groups compared with control groups. Correlations between disease inventory scores and dry eye tests were detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a relation between DED and newly diagnosed anxiety and depression patients with no history of psychiatric drug use. The presence of correlation between dry eye tests and disease inventory scores strengthens this association. This is an important knowledge that need to be evaluated in these patients before starting psychiatric medication.

Retinal vascular density evaluation of migraine patients with and without aura and association with white matter hyperintensities.

Underlying pathophysiological mechanism of migraine is not all clear; however, recent reports suggested that neurovascular system is involved. We aimed to evaluate the retinal vessel densities of migraine patients with and without aura and the associations with white matter hyperintensities (WMH), using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). We recruited 28 migraine with aura (MWA) patients, 26 migraine without aura (MWO) and age and sex-matched 34 healthy controls in our study. All participants were evaluated with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCTA for optic nerve parameters and retinal vessel densities with RTVue XR AVANTI. On macular OCTA, superficial and deeper retinal foveal vessel density (VD) were significantly lesser in MWA and MWO than controls. On optic nerve OCTA, whole optic disc, peripapillary, superior hemisphere, superior layer and temporal layer VD were significantly lesser in MWA and MWO. In group of MWA with the WMH, deeper foveal VD and superior hemisphere VD, average RNFL, superior hemisphere and superior layer were significantly lesser and also foveal avascular zone was significantly larger than the group of without WMH. Alterations of VD in patients with migraine are showed in our study. In addition, in group of MWA these alterations have associations with WMH. Supporting these findings with further reports can be useful to understand the pathophysiology of this disease.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in Behcet patients.

PURPOSE: Retinal vasculitis and vein occlusions are common causes of serious visual loss in Behçet's disease. We aimed to evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings of Behcet uveitis (BU) patients. METHODS: We evaluated 32 eyes of 16 patients with BU and 30 eyes of 15 healthy controls. Superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deeper capillary plexuses (DCP) were evaluated using OCTA RTVue XR AVANTI. RESULTS: On SCP, nonperfusion/hypoperfusion areas (NPA) were seen in 10 eyes, perifoveal capillary arcade disruption (PCAD) was seen in 10 eyes, capillary network disorganization (CND) was seen in 7 eyes and intraretinal cystoid spaces (ICS) were seen in 2 eyes. On DCP, NPA were seen in 13 eyes, PCAD was seen in 11 eyes, CND was seen in 7 eyes and ICS were seen in 4 eyes. CONCLUSION: We showed that DCP were affected more than SCP in these patients. In addition, capillary vessel density of BU group was significantly lower than control group.

Choroidal thickness in patients with fibromyalgia and correlation with disease severity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare choroidal thickness in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy controls. METHODS: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, forty eyes of 40 patients with FM and 40 eyes of 40 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. FM was diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. The choroidal thickness measurements of the subjects were obtained using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (RTVue-100, Optovue). Widespread pain index (WPI), symptom severity scale (SSS), and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) scores were recorded. The choroidal thickness measurements of the groups were compared, and correlations among the WPI, SSS, and FIQ scores and these measurements were calculated. RESULTS: Choroidal thicknesses at 1500 µm nasally were 198.5 ± 46.7 µm and 306.3 ± 85.4 µm; at 1000 µm nasally were 211.7 ± 50.2 µm and 310.05 ± 87.26 µm; at 500 µm nasally were 216 ± 55.05 µm and 311.5 ± 83.4 µm; at subfoveal region were 230.9 ± 58.4 µm and 332.4 ± 91.3 µm; at 500 µm temporally 227.5 ± 58.1 µm and 318.15 ± 92.3 µm; at 1000 µm temporally 224.5 ± 57.07 µm and 315.1 ± 84.2 µm; at 1500 µm temporally 212.5 ± 56.08 µm and 312.9 ± 87.8 µm in the FM and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Choroidal thicknesses were thinner at all measurement location, except temporal 1000 and 1500 in patients with FIQ score ≥50 than in FIQ score <50. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that choroidal thickness decreases in patients with FM and correlated with disease activity. This choroidal changes might be related with the alterations in autonomic nervous system functioning. Further studies are needed to evaluate the etiopathologic relationship between choroidal thickness and FM.

Evaluation of Dry Eye Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate dry eye parameters with conventional tests and tear meniscus with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Thirty-eight ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis, and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled. An ocular surface disease index questionnaire (OSDI) was administered. Before conventional dry eye tests, tear meniscus were evaluated using AS-OCT. After a complete ocular examination, Schirmer and break-up time (BUT) tests were performed and probable corneal staining was investigated. Schirmer test and BUT values were significantly lower in ESRD patients (P < 0.05). OSDI scores and corneal staining scores were significantly higher in ESRD patients (P < 0.05). Tear meniscus height, tear meniscus depth, and tear meniscus area, which were obtained by AS-OCT were significantly lower in patients with ESRD (P < 0.05). Tear meniscus evaluation using AS-OCT is an effective and non-invasive method to assess tear meniscus in patients with ESRD. Patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis should obtain regular ophthalmic examination, especially for dry eye.

Investigation of corneal biomechanics at moderate to high refractive errors.

PURPOSE: Corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) are corneal biomechanical parameters which were measured by ocular response analyzer (ORA). Aim of this study was to define the CH and CRF in high myopic and hyperopic patients and compare the results with emmetropic control group. METHODS: A total of 193 eyes of 100 healthy volunteers were included. Study groups were high myopic patients (n = 27) with spherical refractive errors (SRE) of greater than -5.00D, high hyperopic patients (n = 20) with SRE of greater than +3.00D and controls (n = 53) with SRE between ± 1.00D. All subjects underwent IOP and corneal biomechanical evaluation with the ORA. Also Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature and axial length measurements were taken. RESULTS: Mean age of groups was 30.7 ± 6.9, 29.1 ± 7.7, 28.9 ± 5.6 years (p > 0.05). Among study groups except CRF and CCT, all parameters were significantly different between study groups. CH was lowest in the high myopic group and highest in the high hyperopia. In all groups, there were significant correlations between CH and CRF, CCT, SRE, SE (spherical equivalent), AL (axial length) and between CRF and CCT. GAT and IOPg (Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure) measurements were significantly correlated with CCT (p < 0.05). One of the major findings was as the CH approaches 11.2 mmHg, IOPcc (corneal-compensated intraocular pressure) and IOPg get close to each other. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that CRF is not affected by refractive errors and IOPcc is not affected by any other ocular parameter. The difference between IOPcc and IOPg was greatest in myopic group, and IOP (intraocular pressure) measurement in these patients deserves high suspicion.

Evaluation of retrobulbar blood flow and choroidal thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether retrobulbar blood flow and choroidal thickness (CT) are affected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the relationship between these values. METHODS: We evaluated 40 eyes of 20 RA patients and 40 eyes of 20 healthy controls. The enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, color Doppler imaging, was held. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Peak systolic velocity (PSV) of ophthalmic (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) were significantly higher in RA. No significant difference was observed when end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of OA and CRA was compared between the groups. The resistivity index (RI) of OA and CRA was higher in RA. Perifoveal/subfoveal CT was lower in RA. Negative correlation was detected between the RI of OA and the perifoveal CT, and a positive correlation was detected between RI of CRA and CT. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular hemodynamics is effected by RA and can exaggerate ocular complications of various vascular diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, retinal vascular occlusions.

Prevalence and associated factors of external punctal stenosis among elderly patients in Turkey.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of external punctal stenosis (EPS) in the elderly population and investigate associated factors. METHODS: A total of 278 patients ≥65 years of age were evaluated for evidence of EPS from January to July 2016. Associated systemic, ocular, demographic, and lifestyle factors were investigated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to evaluate the factors related to having EPS. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of EPS in this study population was 63.3%, with a mean age of 70.67 ± 7.85 (65-92 years). The ocular factor that was most commonly related to EPS was chronic blepharitis (48.9%). EPS was also associated with taking glaucoma medications (95% CI, 0.08-0.96, p=0.043), smoking history (95% CI, 0.13-0.84, p=0.021), ectropion (95% CI, 0.004-0.26, p=0.001), complaints of tearing (95% CI, 1.11-3.52, p=0.02), and outdoor occupational activity (95% CI, 3.42-9.97, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EPS is more common in elderly patients than in the general population. Outdoor occupational activity, taking antiglaucomatous medications, ectropion, and smoking are significantly associated with EPS. In addition, surgical treatment decisions should be made after complete evaluation and interviewing the patients.