Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

In addition to ocular neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), accompanying microvascular changes in the retina are thought to occur. In this study we sought to compare retinal neurodegenerative changes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and microvascular changes using OCT angiography (OCTA) of MS patients and healthy controls. This cross-sectional study included 164 eyes of 83 MS patients and 114 eyes of 57 healthy control subjects. There were significant differences in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density (VD) between the MS group and the control group, but no significant differences in superficial capillary plexus (SCP) VD and deep capillary plexus (DCP) VD, foveal avascular zone (FAZ), non-flow area (NFA), and choriocapillary flow (CCF) values. Comparing the eyes with and without previous optic neuritis showed no significant differences in the OCT and OCTA measurements. A negative correlation was found between the expanded disability status scale score and disease duration and the RNFL and GCC values. A positive correlation was found between the RNFL and GCC values and the SCP VD and RPC VD. In MS patients, RPC VD values decreased in correlation with decreases in RNFL and GCC. This reduction increased as the disease duration and disability criteria increased. OCT and OCTA may be important biomarkers in MS.

Comparison of the effects of trospium and solifenacin on intraocular pressure and tear secretion in patients with overactive bladder.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Comparison of the effects of trospium and solifenacin used for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and tear secretion. METHODS: This study was planned as a prospective study and was conducted at a single center between October 2014 and April 2016. OAB patients were included in the study following an ophthalmic examination, IOP measurement with an applanation tonometer, and tear secretion measurement with the Schirmer I test in the ophthalmology outpatient department. The patients were started with trospium 30 mg oral bid or solifenacin 5 mg oral qd. They were then followed up at the 4th and 12th weeks. RESULTS: A total of 225 OAB patients with a mean age of 47.80 (18-75) years were evaluated. The mean age was 47.41 ± 12.65 years in the trospium group (n = 104) and 48.14 ± 11.82 years in the solifenacin group (n = 121) with no statistically significant difference. When the two medications were compared, no statistically significant difference was observed at the 4th and 12th weeks in terms of IOP (p = 0.988, p = 0.822) and dry eye (p = 0.764, p = 0.581). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was observed between trospium and solifenacin in terms of their effects on IOP and tear secretion in OAB patients. We therefore concluded that the effects of trospium and solifenacin on IOP and tear secretion changes were similar in OAB patients without comorbidities.

How Does Usage of Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors Affect Intraocular Pressure in Depression Patients?

PURPOSE: To evaluate anterior segment parameters and intraocular pressure (IOP) modifications in patients using serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) due to major depressive disorder. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 170 eyes of 85 subjects. All subjects were divided into three groups: group 1 included 44 healthy control subjects, group 2 included 22 patients receiving antidepressants for 1 week to 6 months, and group 3 included 19 patients receiving antidepressants for >6 months. All subjects underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination, including gonioscopy. Anterior segments of all subjects were evaluated with the Scheimpflug system and pupil diameter (PD), central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume, and anterior chamber angle (ACA) measurements were enrolled. RESULTS: The median IOP was significantly lower in patients using antidepressants [16.0 (11.0-21.0) mmHg] than the control group [17.5 (12.0-21.0) mmHg] (P = 0.041). The PD was significantly larger in patients using antidepressants [3.56 (2.29-5.60) mm] than the control group [2.95 (2.00-4.40) mm] (P = 0.000). In the study group, PD was also significantly larger in patients using SNRIs for ≥6 months [3.67 (2.38-5.08) mm] than <6 months [3.31 (2.29-5.60) mm] (P = 0.000). The median ACD was significantly lower in patients using antidepressants for ≥6 months [3.21 (2.52-4.06) mm] than the control group [3.44 (2.63-4.29) mm] (P = 0.000). ACAs were measured between 25° and 55° by Scheimpflug imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of SNRIs causes mydriasis and decrease in width of ACD. These changes may not increase IOP as long as the patient has an open angle. SNRIs lead to decrease in IOP particularly in long-term usage.

Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on intraocular pressure and anterior segment parameters in open angle eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short- and long-term effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior segment parameters in open angle eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 325 eyes of 166 subjects. Subjects were divided into three groups: Group 1 included 116 eyes of 58 patients receiving SSRIs for 1 week-6 months, Group 2 included 102 eyes of 53 patients receiving SSRIs for longer than 6 months and Group 3 included 107 eyes of 55 healthy subjects not receiving any drugs. All of the patients receiving SSRIs were diagnosed as major depressive disorder. All groups were chosen to be similar in terms of age and gender. All patients underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination including IOP measurement by Goldmann applanation tonometer and gonioscopy. Anterior segment parameters including pupil diameter (PD), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and anterior chamber angle (ACA) were assessed by a Scheimpflug system. RESULTS: Pupil diameter was significantly larger in patients receiving SSRIs for <6 months and ≥6 months than the control subjects (3.53 ± 0.71 mm, 3.48 ± 0.60 mm versus 3.11 ± 0.72 mm, p < 0.05) but this effect was independent from the duration of SSRI treatment. IOP was significantly lower in patients receiving SSRIs for <6 months and ≥6 months than the control group (16.04 ± 2.17 mm Hg, 16.11 ± 2.13 mm Hg versus 17.34 ± 2.15 mmHg, p < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between the patients receiving SSRIs for <6 months and ≥6 months. There were no statistically significant differences between the patient and the control group in values of CCT, ACD, ACV and ACA. The ACAs were measured between 25° and 55° with Scheimpflug system and also classified as grade 3-4 (Shaffer system) by gonioscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors cause mydriasis which is persistent during the treatment. In depression patients with open angle eyes, short- and long-term use of SSRIs leads to decrease in IOP.

Effect of trospium chloride therapy on intraocular pressure and tear secretion in overactive bladder patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of trospium chloride, which has an anticholinergic effect, used in overactive bladder (OAB) treatment on the intraocular pressure (IOP) and tear secretion after 12 weeks of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed at a single center between October 2014 and January 2016. A detailed history was obtained from the female OAB patients at the eye outpatient department. After checking the exclusion criteria, oral trospium chloride 30 mg bd was started. The patients were followed-up in terms of drug effectiveness and ophthalmic and other side effects at the 4th and 12th weeks. All procedures were repeated at both of these time-points. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 48.98 ± 11.98 years (range 19-75). The data of 80 OAB patients were evaluated in the study. Trospium chloride did not cause any significant change in the OAB patients regarding their 4th week and 12th week IOP measurements (p = 0.251, p = 0.340, respectively). It was found to decrease tear secretion significantly at both time-points (p = 0.020, p = 0.001, respectively). Trospium chloride treatment of one patient (1.25%) was discontinued due to dry eye. CONCLUSIONS: Trospium chloride decreases the symptoms in female OAB patients. Trospium chloride can be safely used in female OAB patients with normal IOP and no comorbidity as regards IOP changes as it did not cause a significant change in IOP in these patients. Pre-treatment and post-treatment dry eye symptoms of OAB patients about to start using trospium chloride should be queried beforehand as it can cause a statistically significant decrease in tear secretion. We concluded that it would be appropriate to refer the patients to an ophthalmologist before starting the drug if relevant symptoms are present.