The relationship between reduced choroidal thickness due to high plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and increased severity of diabetic retinopathy / Altos níveis de dimetil-arginina assimétrica no plasma podem aumentar a gravidade da retinopatia diabética através da redução da espessura da coroide

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between subfoveal choroidal thickness and plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and the severity of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A total of 68 cases, including 15 patients without diabetic retinopathy, 17 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, 16 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 20 healthy patients (control group), were enrolled in this study. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was measured manually using the enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography scanning program, and plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level was measured using a commercial micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The subfoveal choroidal thickness values and plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels were significantly different between the four groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The subfoveal choroidal thickness values were significantly lower in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group than in the other three groups (no diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and control groups; p<0.001, p=0.045, and p<0.001, respectively). The plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels were significantly higher in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group than in the other three groups (p<0.001, p<0.04, and p<0.001, respectively). In addition, a significant negative correlation was also found between plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and subfoveal choroidal thickness (p<0.001, r=-0.479). Conclusion: Asymmetrical dimethylarginine is an important marker of endothelial dysfunction and endogenous endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. The severity of diabetic retinopathy was related to increased plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and reduced subfoveal choroidal thickness in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a relação da espessura subfoveal da coroide e dos níveis plasmáticos de dimetil-arginina assimétrica com a gravidade da retinopatia diabética em pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Métodos: Foram incluídos 68 casos, compreendendo 15 pacientes sem retinopatia diabética, 17 pacientes com retinopatia diabética não proliferativa, 16 pacientes com retinopatia diabética proliferativa, e 20 casos saudáveis (grupo de controle). A espessura subfoveal da coroide foi medida manualmente, usando o programa de varredura com tomografia computadorizada óptica com imagem profunda aprimorada, e os níveis plasmáticos de dimetil-arginina assimétrica foram medidos usando um kit microELISA comercial. Resultados: Os valores da espessura subfoveal da coroide e os níveis plasmáticos de dimetil-arginina assimétrica foram significativamente diferentes nos quatro grupos (p<0,001 para ambos os parâmetros). Os valores da espessura subfoveal da coroide foram significativamente menores no grupo com retinopatia diabética proliferativa do que nos outros três grupos (sem retinopatia diabética, retinopatia diabética não proliferativa e grupo de controle, com p<0,001, p=0,045 e p<0,001, respectivamente). Já os níveis plasmáticos de dimetil-arginina assimétrica foram significativamente maiores no grupo com retinopatia diabética proliferativa do que nos outros três grupos (p<0,001, p=0,04 e p<0,001, respectivamente). Além disso, também foi encontrada uma correlação negativa significativa entre os níveis plasmáticos de dimetil-arginina assimétrica e a espessura subfoveal da coroide (p<0,001, r=-0,479). Conclusão: A dimetil-arginina assimétrica é um importante marcador de disfunção endotelial e um inibidor endógeno da óxido nítrico sintase. Foi encontrada uma relação da gravidade da retinopatia diabética e de níveis elevados de dimetil-arginina assimétrica no plasma com a redução da espessura subfoveal da coroide em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 com retinopatia diabética.

The relationship between reduced choroidal thickness due to high plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and increased severity of diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between subfoveal choroidal thickness and plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and the severity of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 68 cases, including 15 patients without diabetic retinopathy, 17 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, 16 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 20 healthy patients (control group), were enrolled in this study. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was measured manually using the enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography scanning program, and plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level was measured using a commercial micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: The subfoveal choroidal thickness values and plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels were significantly different between the four groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The subfoveal choroidal thickness values were significantly lower in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group than in the other three groups (no diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and control groups; p<0.001, p=0.045, and p<0.001, respectively). The plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels were significantly higher in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group than in the other three groups (p<0.001, p<0.04, and p<0.001, respectively). In addition, a significant negative correlation was also found between plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and subfoveal choroidal thickness (p<0.001, r=-0.479). CONCLUSION: Asymmetrical dimethylarginine is an important marker of endothelial dysfunction and endogenous endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. The severity of diabetic retinopathy was related to increased plasma asymmetrical dimethylarginine level and reduced subfoveal choroidal thickness in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Mask-associated Dry Eye Syndrome in Healthcare Professionals as a New Complication Caused by the Prolonged Use of Masks during Covid-19 Pandemic Period.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence of self-reported mask-associated dry eye (MADE) in health-care professionals and the possible risk factors that give rise to MADE. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 12 questions about MADE and possible risk factors that give rise to MADE was created on web-based "google forms" application, and was then sent to 437 healthcare professionals working in a coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic hospital, using common telecommunication devices. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-three of the 437 health-care professionals, who answered the questionnaire, were included in the study. The prevalence of self-reported MADE among these health-care professionals was found to be 70% (n = 233). Having at least one of the symptoms of dry eye while not having a mask on and advanced age were determined as the possible risk factors for MADE (p = .02 and p < .001, respectively). The clinical examinations of the 195 participants, who had self-reported MADE and accepted the invitation to undergo a clinical evaluation with respect to the symptoms of MADE, revealed that only 60 (30.7%) of these participants had aqueous-type dryness with staining on the ocular surface with fluorescein. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of self-reported MADE among health-care professionals can be attributed to the prolonged use of masks associated with longer working hours. Therefore, it is important that the ocular complaints of professionals are addressed by ophthalmology consultants/ophthalmologists during these difficult times.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness in light-coloured eyes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether iris colour is related to the choroidal thickness of healthy individuals. METHODS: Healthy participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 had light-coloured eyes (blue and green), and group 2 had dark-coloured eyes (brown). The main outcome measures were iris thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness and nasal and temporal choroidal thicknesses 500 µm away from the fovea. RESULTS: Group 1 comprised 31 subjects with light-coloured eyes, and group 2 had 31 subjects with dark eyes. The mean ages of groups 1 and 2 were 26.7 ± 7.5 years and 24.1 ± 5.8 years, respectively (p = 0.14). The choroidal thicknesses of the subfoveal, nasal and temporal regions were 336.3 ± 52.1 µm, 321.9 ± 43.6 µm and 318.4 ± 49.2 µm, respectively, in group 1 and 396.5 ± 76.9 µm, 372 ± 79.3 µm and 379.6 ± 82.4 µm, respectively, in group 2. All the values in group 1 were statistically lower than those in group 2 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). The iris thickness in group 1 (493.73 ± 95.44 µm) was thinner than in group 2 (524.61 ± 69.74 µm) but not statistically significant (p = 0.141). CONCLUSION: The results showed that a thinner choroid can be seen in disease-free light-coloured eyes. The iris colour should be considered among the factors affecting the choroidal thickness, such as age, sex, race and refractive error.

Dynamics of keratoconus progression after a previous successful accelerated crosslinking treatment during and after pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of previously applied successful accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) treatment in keratoconus stabilization during and after pregnancy. SETTING: Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. METHODS: Patients with stable keratoconus (after having an accelerated CXL procedure) who became pregnant were included. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest astigmatism (MA), keratometry (K)1, K2, Kmax, central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), and anterior (AE) and posterior elevation (PE) were recorded at baseline (before CXL), before pregnancy (the last visit after CXL), during pregnancy (third trimester), and after pregnancy (the last visit after pregnancy). RESULTS: 24 eyes of 19 patients were included. The mean time between CXL and conception was 12.4 ± 5.1 months. The mean postpartum follow-up period was 27.6 ± 13.3 months. The mean UDVA, CDVA, MA, and PE values did not show any statistically significant differences during and after pregnancy compared with the post-CXL values (P > .05). The mean Kmax flattened significantly after the CXL procedure (P = .011); however, it increased during pregnancy (P = .037, after CXL vs pregnancy) and then decreased back to the prepregnancy level after pregnancy (P = .035, pregnancy vs after pregnancy). The mean K1, K2, AE, CCT, and TCT remained stable during pregnancy and significantly decreased after pregnancy (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Keratoconus seems to progress during pregnancy in corneas that have previously received successful accelerated CXL treatment. However, this progress was mostly temporary, and generally, regression occurred after delivery.

Investigation of corneal topographic and densitometric properties of Wilson's disease patients with or without a Kayser-Fleischer ring.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the topographic measurements and densitometry of corneas in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with or without a Kayser-Fleischer ring (KF-r) compared to healthy individuals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 20 WD patients without a KF-r (group I), 18 WD patients with a KF-r (group II), and 20 age-matched controls (group III). The Pentacam high resolution imaging system is used to determine corneal topographic measurements and densitometry. RESULTS: Mean age for groups I, II and III was 25.40 ± 6.43 years (14-36 years), 25.38 ± 6.96 years (16-39 years), 23.60 ± 6.56 years (17-35 years), respectively (P = 0.623). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the anterior corneal densitometry values (P > 0.05), while the 6-10 mm and 10-12 mm mid stroma and the 2-6 mm, 6-10 mm, and 10-12 mm posterior corneal densitometry values in group II were significantly higher than those in groups I and III (for all values, P <  0.05). However, the 10-12 mm posterior corneal densitometry values in group I were also significantly higher than those in group III (P = 0.038). The central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (tCT), and corneal volume (CV) values in groups I and II were significantly lower than those in group III (for CCT values, P = 0.011 and P = 0.009; for tCT values, P = 0.010 and P = 0.005; for CV values, P = 0.043 and P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In WD patients with a KF-r, corneal transparency decreased in the peripheral posterior and mid stromal corneal layers; for these patients, corneal transparency may be impaired not only in the peripheral cornea but also in the paracentral cornea.

Retinal Microcirculation Alterations in Microalbuminuric Diabetic Patients With and Without Retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of microalbuminuria (MA) on superficial vessel density (SVD), deep vessel density (DVD), and choriocapillaris vessel density (CVD) in type-2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Twenty patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and MA (group 1), 20 patients without DR but with MA (group 2) and 30 patients with mild DR and MA (group 3) were enrolled in this prospective and cross-sectional study. SVD, DVD, and CVD of all patients were screened with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The relationships between these values and age, diabetes duration and metabolic parameters were also evaluated. RESULTS: The whole macular SVD value was 50.15 ± 4.52 in group 1 and 47.81 ± 4.12 in group 2 (p = .04). The whole macular DVD value was 47.66 ± 2.76 in group 1, 44.37 ± 3.39 in group 3 (p = .02). Parafoveal DVD value was 52.58 ± 3.47 in group 1, 51.84 ± 2.23 in group 2, and 49.23 ± 3.38 in group 3 (p G1&3 = .001, p G2&3 = .02). Perifoveal DVD value was 47.92 ± 3.30 in group 1, 43.96 ± 4.19 in group 2, and 42.85 ± 2.98 in group 3 (p G1&2 = .02 and p G1&3 < .001). There were inverse correlations between diabetes duration, urea, creatinine, albumin, urinary sodium and some DVD values (p < .05, for all). Also, there were inverse correlations between parafoveal and perifoveal DVD values and MA (p = .002 and p = .031). Additionally, inverse correlations were determined between diabetes duration, creatinine, urea, serum Na and some CVD values (p < .05 for all).Conclusion: Decreased SVD and DVD values measured by OCTA in type-2 diabetic patients, whether they have mild DR or not, may be associated with MA causing early retinal microvascular changes.

Xanthine oxidase enzyme activity in keratoconic corneal epithelium.

PURPOSE: To assess the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme in keratoconic corneal epithelium and to evaluate its relationship with the keratoconus (KC) severity. METHODS: This prospective and randomized study included 66 eyes of 54 KC patients who received corneal collagen cross-linking treatment and 43 eyes of 32 patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy due to their refractive error. During surgical procedures, the corneal epithelium was mechanically scraped and gathered to analyze the XO enzyme activity spectrophotometrically. The KC group was subdivided into three groups (stages 1, 2, and 3) according to the Amsler-Krumeich classification. The results were compared between the KC and the control group and in between KC subgroups. RESULTS: No significant differences in age and gender were found between the KC and control groups (p = 0.064 and p = 0.296, respectively). The mean XO activity levels of the KC and control groups were 173.57 ± 87.61 and 223.70 ± 99.52 mIU/mg, respectively (p < 0.001). In KC group, 33 eyes were at stage 1, 19 were at stage 2, and 14 were at stage 3. No significant difference was observed between KC subgroups regarding XO activity levels (p = 0.681). CONCLUSION: In this study, our findings revealed that ultraviolet-related pro-oxidant XO enzyme may have a role in the etiopathogenesis of KC. Further studies are needed to support our result. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: When we started this study in 2018, we did not have a "Clinical Trials Registration." However, we have ethics committee approval (date: 21. 02. 2018/No: 22).

The Effect of Chalazion Excision on Corneal Aberrometric and Densitometric Values.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chalazion excision on corneal aberrations and corneal densitometry. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with a chalazion in 1 eyelid and 40 healthy subjects were included in the study. Corneal aberration parameters of total root mean square (RMS), RMS high-order aberration (HOA), horizontal trefoil, oblique trefoil, horizontal coma, vertical coma, and spherical aberration values were measured using Scheimpflug corneal topography (Pentacam HR; Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzler, Germany). Corneal densitometry values measured from 4 regions of the cornea (0-2, 2-6, 6-10, and 10-12 mm) and 4 corneal depths (anterior, central, posterior, and total) were recorded. Preoperative measurements of the patients (Group 1), postoperative first-month measurements (Group 2), and control group (Group 3) measurements were compared. RESULTS: The total RMS measurement was 1.64±0.48 µm in Group 1, 1.35±0.32 µm in Group 2, and 1.17±0.38 µm in Group 3 (Group 1-2: p=0.007, Group 1-3: p<0.001, Group 2-3: p=0.173). The mean spherical aberration value was 0.183±0.057 µm in Group 1, 0.157±0.048 µm in Group 2, and 0.144±0.050 µm in Group 3 (Group 1-2: p=0.104, Group 1-3: p=0.004, Group 2-3: p=0.781). The total corneal densitometric measurement was 15.95±1.80 gray scale units (GSU) in Group 1, 14.76±1.76 GSU in Group 2, and 14.33±1.49 GSU in Group 3 (Group 1-2: p=0.01, Group 1-3: p<0.001, Group 2-3: p=0.804). CONCLUSION: It was observed that some corneal aberration and corneal densitometry values were higher in patients with a chalazion compared with those of healthy individuals, and there was a decrease in corneal aberration and densitometry values after surgical excision.

Peripapillary choroidal thickness in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

AIM: To investigate the effects of vitamin D deficiency on peripapillary choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency but not yet treated for it (Group 1) and patients with normal vitamin D levels (Group 2) were included in this study. Subjects with any kind of eye disease and/or systemic disease were excluded from this study. Demographic characteristics of the patients were collected, and the subfoveal choroidal thickness, central foveal thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and peripapillary choroidal thickness were measured using optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The mean ages in Groups 1 and 2 were 30.5 ± 6.7 and 28 ± 5.78 years (p = 0.12), respectively, and female to male ratios were 19/11 and 17/13, respectively (p = 0.59). The mean vitamin D levels were 8.2 ± 2.5 and 28 ± 4.9 ng/mL in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p <0.001). In Group 1, subfoveal choroidal thickness and nasal and inferior peripapillary choroidal thicknesses at 500 µm were 327.5 ± 81.4, 142.9 ± 40, and 140.66 ± 38.74 µm, respectively. For Group 2, these values were 407.1 ± 85.5, 189.3 0 ± 57.18, and 195.93 ± 67.58 µm, respectively (p <0.001, p = 0.001, and p <0.001, respectively). In addition, a positive correlation was found between vitamin D levels and the subfoveal choroidal thickness and nasal and inferior peripapillary choroidal thicknesses in all patients (r = 0.365, p = 0.005; r = 0.341, p = 0.008; and r = 0.370, p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: Subfoveal choroidal thickness and inferior and nasal peripapillary choroidal thicknesses decreased in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Corneal and lens densitometry with Pentacam HR in children with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Corneal and lens densitometry measurements provide clinically important information for the evaluation and monitoring of corneal and lens health in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis. BACKGROUND: To compare the corneal and lens densitometry values between paediatric patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and healthy individuals. METHODS: This study included 72 eyes of 72 patients with VKC (25 with mild VKC [Group 1], 22 with moderate VKC [Group 2], and 25 with severe VKC [Group 3]), and 25 eyes of 25 healthy subjects (Group 4). Corneal and lens densitometry values were measured using Pentacam HR as follows: for corneal densitometry in two different corneal zones (0-2 and 2-6-mm) and four different corneal depths (at the total thickness, anterior, central, and posterior layers), and lens densitometry in three different lens zones (Zone 1: 2.0-mm, Zone 2: 4.0-mm, and Zone 3: 6.0-mm). RESULTS: In the 0-2-mm corneal zone for the total thickness and all three layers, corneal densitometry values in Group 3 were significantly higher than those in Groups 1, 2, and 4 (for all values p < 0.012). There was no significant difference in the mean corneal densitometry values between Groups 1 and 2 (for all values p > 0.05). In these groups, the mean corneal densitometry values were significantly higher than those in Group 4 for the anterior layer in the 0-2 and 2-6-mm corneal zones (for all values p < 0.012). The mean values for Zone 3 and average lens densitometry values in Groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher than those in Group 4 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The current study showed corneal clarity changes in patients with mild, moderate, and especially severe VKC. An increase in the lens densitometry values was also observed in patients with moderate and severe VKC than in healthy individuals.

Evaluation of the subfoveal choroidal and outer retinal layer thickness in obese women.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Obesity has become one of the most important health problems of today with its increasing prevalence. With the development of retinal imaging systems, obesity has been observed to be associated with changes in outer retinal layers and choroid in women. BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine retinal layer parameters and their relationship with body mass index in obese women. METHODS: The study included 197 eyes of 197 women, of whom 44 were normal-weight, 40 were overweight, 40 were class 1 obese, 38 were class 2 obese, and 35 were morbidly obese. The thickness of the choroid was measured manually using an enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography scanning program. RESULTS: The mean choroidal thickness values in five locations were lower than those of normal-weight, overweight, class 1, and class 2 obese women, in morbidly obese women (p < 0.05 for all). Subfoveal outer retinal layer thickness and specific sublayer thickness of the photoreceptor layer values were significantly lower in morbidly obese women than in normal-weight women, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in retinal pigment epithelium thickness and Bruch's membrane thickness (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 1.00, and p = 0.101, respectively). Furthermore, there were significant negative relationships between body mass index and subfoveal choroidal thickness, subfoveal outer retinal layer thickness, and specific sublayer thickness of the photoreceptor layer values (r = -0.327, p < 0.001; r = -0.259, p < 0.001; and r = -0.281, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Morbid obesity was associated with a thinner choroid, subfoveal outer retinal layer, and specific sublayer thickness of the photoreceptor layer in women. Furthermore, retinal hypoxia associated with morbid obesity may be related to a decrease in photoreceptor layer thickness. Thinning of the outer retinal layer may also lead to atrophy of the cone sheath.

Evaluation of corneal safety in systemic lupus erythematosus patients undergoing long-term hydroxychloroquine treatment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of long-term use of hydroxychloroquine (HQ) on the pachymetric, aberrometric, and densitometric values of the cornea and corneal endothelium in lupus patients. METHOD: Twenty-two eyes (study group) of 22 patients using HQ for treatment of lupus and 25 eyes (control group) of 25 healthy individuals were included in this prospective study. A specular microscopy was used to measure corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), percentage of hexagonal cells (HEX%), coefficient of variation of the cell size (CV). Then, a Pentacam® HR corneal tomography system was used to measure central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal aberrometry values in 6-mm pupil diameters and corneal densitometry values in 6-mm corneal zones (0-2 mm and 2-6 mm). RESULTS: While ECD was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.034), CCT was significantly higher in the study group (p = 0.032). The higher-order aberrations values and the anterior corneal densitometry values in the 0-2 mm and 2-6 mm corneal zones in the study group were found to be significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.021, p = 0.007 and p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Prolonged use of HQ may cause some changes in the cornea. In the follow-up of these cases, detailed examination of the cornea as well as the macula may be important for the protection of corneal health.

Ocular findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an outbreak hospital.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the ocular findings observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and to present the relationship between ocular involvement, systemic findings, and laboratory results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out between 1 May and 30 June 2020. The study included 359 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and assessed by clinical evaluation, nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction, and lung computed tomography. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven (54.9%) of the patients were male and 162 (45.1%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 58.5 years (20-91). Two hundred ninety-four (81.9%) patients were treated in the inpatient clinic and 65 (18.1%) patients were treated in the intensive care unit. Various ocular diseases were observed in 16 (4.5%) of the patients. Although the rate of ocular disease was 12 out of 294 (4.1%) in patients followed up in the inpatient clinic, this rate was 4 out of 65 (6.2%) in intensive care patients. There was no systemic problem in one patient, in whom conjunctival hyperemia was the first and only reason for admission to the hospital. Four patients followed up in the inpatient clinic had conjunctivitis at the time of admission, and conjunctivitis occurred in three patients during hospitalization. Subconjunctival hemorrhage occurred in five patients and vitreous hemorrhage in one patient. CONCLUSION: Ocular diseases are uncommon in COVID-19 patients but may occur during the first period of the disease or during follow-up. Ocular diseases may be the initial or only sign of COVID-19 infection.

Changes in choroidal thickness after vitamin D supplementation in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between vitamin D (vit D) deficiency and choroidal thickness and to investigate changes in choroidal thickness after vit D treatment. METHODS: Sixty-five patients diagnosed with vit D deficiency (group 1) and 60 healthy individuals with normal vit D levels (group 2) were included in the study. The choroidal thickness in the subfoveal, nasal, and temporal regions of the fovea were measured manually using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. The choroidal thickness in the patients in group 1 was re-evaluated after treatment with vit D. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of age and sex (p = 0.138 and p = 0.198, respectively). The subfoveal, temporal (500 and 1.500 µm), and nasal (500 and 1.500 µm) choroidal thickness values in group 1 were statistically significantly lower than those in group 2 (p < 0.001 for all). After vit D replacement therapy, there was a significant increase in the choroidal thicknesses compared with the pretreatment measurements (p < 0.001 for all). There was a positive correlation between vit D values and subfoveal, temporal (500 and 1.500 µm), and nasal (500 and 1.500 µm) choroidal thickness values (r = 0.558 and p < 0.001, r = 0.415 and p < 0.001, r = 0.352 and p < 0.001, r = 0.349 and p < 0.001, and r = 0.294 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The choroidal thickness decreased in patients with vit D deficiency. The choroidal thickness values increased after vit D replacement therapy. Serum vit D levels should be assessed in studies evaluating choroidal thickness.

Central serous chorioretinopathy associated with high-dose follistatin-344: a retrospective case series.

PURPOSE: To present 11 bodybuilding athletes who developed central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) following high-dose subcutaneous follistatin-344, a peptide-based performance and image enhancing drug, injections to increase muscle mass. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series from one institution. Demographic and clinical data of 11 patients who were admitted to our clinic with decreased visual acuity after high-dose follistatin-344 injections and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings consistent with CSCR were analyzed. RESULTS: All 11 patients were male, and the mean age was 36.8 ± 8.1 years. All patients had a history of injecting complete 1 mg vials of follistatin-344 subcutaneously in the abdomen. There was a history of a single previous high-dose follistatin-344 injection in eight patients and multiple previous injections in three patients. At the time of diagnosis, ten patients had unilateral CSCR findings and one had bilateral CSCR findings. In all eight patients with a history of only one injection, subretinal fluid completely disappeared after an average of 2.3 ± 0.7 months and symptoms regressed. Recurrent CSCR developed in three patients with a history of multiple follistatin-344 injections. CONCLUSION: Follistatin-344 injection can be considered as a risk factor for CSCR. To take medical history from CSCR patients including follistatin-344 use may be important to reveal the CSCR etiology.

Real-time ultrasound elastographic evaluation of extraocular muscle involvement in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the affected extraocular muscles (EOMs) of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) using real-time ultrasound elastography (UE) and to compare these results with those of healthy subjects.Methods: This prospective, comparative case series included 70 eyes of 35 patients with moderate-to-severe GO with type 2 orbitopathy (myogenic variant) according to their computed tomography (CT) scans. Forty-six eyes of 23 healthy subjects were evaluated as the control group. The strain ratio of orbital fat to medial rectus was calculated as the ratio of the medial rectus to orbital fat tissue, and the strain ratio of orbital fat to lateral rectus was calculated as the ratio of lateral rectus to orbital fat tissue.Results: The strain ratio of orbital fat to medial rectus was 3.03 ± 1.25 (range: 1.05-5.07) in the GO group, and 0.54 ± 0.20 (range: 0.14-1.08) in the control group (p = .0001). The strain ratio of orbital fat to lateral rectus was 0.97 ± 0.29 (range: 0.56-1.55) in the GO group, and 0.63 ± 0.23 (range: 0.18-1.09) in the control group (p = .0001).Conclusion: By using real-time UE, we found the medial and the lateral recti of GO patients to be stiffer compared to those of healthy subjects.

Effects of Topical Nepafenac and Fluorometholone on Macular Thickness After Posterior Capsulotomy Using Neodymium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of topical 0.1% nepafenac and 0.1% fluorometholone on macular thickness (MT) after a neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy and to compare the findings with those of untreated patients. METHODS: This prospective study included 75 eyes of 75 patients with posterior capsule opacification. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the medications administered after a capsulotomy procedure. Group 1 comprised 25 patients who were prescribed 0.1% nepafenac for a week, Group 2 consisted of 25 patients who were prescribed 0.1% fluorometholone for a week, and Group 3 consisted of 25 patients who were not prescribed any medication. A circular-shaped capsulotomy was performed in all cases. MT was measured before the capsulotomy and at the first day, first week, and first month after the procedure using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography and the change values were compared within and between groups. RESULTS: In Group 1, the superior and nasal parafoveal MT, temporal, and nasal perifoveal MT values at the first month were statistically significantly greater than those observed in the first week (p<0.05 for all values). In Group 2, the superior and nasal parafoveal MT and inferior perifoveal MT measurements in the first month were greater than those recorded the first week (p<0.05 for all values). In Group 3, there was a gradual increase seen in the first day, first week, and first month in the superior and temporal parafoveal MT value (p<0.05 for all). The change value in the parafoveal temporal quadrant was significant between groups, indicating a greater increase in the untreated group compared with the nepafenac and fluorometholone groups (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: An increase in MT can occur after an Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Both topical 0.1% nepafenac and 0.1% fluorometholone can prevent this increase. The 2 drugs were comparable; neither demonstrated apparent superiority to the other.

Effect of microalbuminuria on macular thickness in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of microalbuminuria on macular thickness in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus with no or mild diabetic retinopathy and to investigate the relationship between macular thickness and metabolic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eight eyes of 58 patients without diabetic retinopathy (group 1) in microalbuminuria stage, 42 eyes of 42 patients with mild diabetic retinopathy (group 2) in microalbuminuria stage, and 50 eyes of 50 patients without diabetic retinopathy and microalbuminuria (group 3) were included in this study. After detailed ophthalmologic examination, all patients underwent spectral domain-optical coherence tomography measurements. Macular thickness was noted from nine different areas (fovea, four parafoveal, and four perifoveal areas) and compared between groups. The correlations between macular thickness and age, duration of diabetes mellitus, microalbuminuria, serum urea, creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAIc), albumin, sodium (Na), and urinary Na were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 53.29 ± 6.49 in group 1, 55.86 ± 6.97 in group 2, and 52.98 ± 5.66 years in group 3 (p = 0.06). The macular thickness values of superior, inferior, and nasal parafoveal areas were significantly different between groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.006, and p = 0.03, respectively). Bonferroni post test revealed that this difference originated from the difference between group 2 and 3 (p < 0.05 for all values). There were significant negative correlations between the macular thickness values of parafoveal areas and serum urea, HbA1c, albumin, microalbuminuria levels (p < 0.05 for all values). CONCLUSION: In this study, a significantly decreased parafoveal macular thickness was measured in patients with mild diabetic retinopathy and microalbuminuria compared to patients without diabetic retinopathy and microalbuminuria.

Corneal Endothelial Morphology and Thickness Changes in Patients with Gout

Objectives: To investigate corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), morphology, and central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients with gout compared with healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Fifty eyes of 50 gout patients and 50 eyes of 50 healthy subjects without gout or any other systemic disease were included in this study. After detailed ophthalmologic examination, specular microscopy (Tomey EM-4000; Tomey Corp) measurement was performed for all participants. ECD, average cell area (ACA), coefficient of variation (CV), hexagonality ratio, and CCT values were recorded. Results: Mean ECD and hexagonality ratio were lower (p=0.004 and p=0.002) and CV, ACA, and CCT values were higher (p=0.001, p=0.007, and p=0.001) in patients with gout when compared to healthy subjects. There were significant correlations between gout disease duration and CD and hexagonality ratio (p=0.019 and p=0.043) and also between uric acid value and hexagonality ratio and CCT (p=0.044 and p=0.003). Conclusion: Altered corneal endothelial function was found in patients with gout when compared to healthy subjects and the alteration increased as gout duration and uric acid value increased.