Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in central retinal artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare and serious ophthalmologic emergency with a bad prognosis. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment has been reported to improve visual acuity of CRAO patients. However, there are unknown variables for HBO2 treatment such as initiation period, number of sessions and efficacy. In this study, we aimed to investigate efficacy of HBO2 treatment in CRAO patients. METHODS: Patients who had been diagnosed with CRAO and referred to our Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Unit with the indication of HBO2 treatment were included in the study. Patient demographics, their systemic diseases, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the time of visual loss were recorded. Oral acetazolamide and topical beta blocker treatments as well as HBO2 treatments were administered to patients as soon as possible. Patients received 20 treatments as standard. Visual acuity was examined and recorded following each HBO2 treatment administration. RESULTS: 10 eyes (five right, five left) of 10 patients) were included in the study. While average visual acuity was LogMAR 3 before the treatment, it was measured as LogMAR 1.8 on average after treatment (P ⟨ 0.05). None of the patients were observed to have neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: HBO2 treatment is an efficacious method with few side effects and can be used in the treatment of CRAO patients. During acute and subacute periods a certain number of HBO2 treatment sessions may be beneficial. Stopping treatments before eight completed HBO2 sessions for a patient who did not show improvement until that time may miss a patient who would have benefited from HBO2 treatment.

Ocular and Systemic Results of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in Retinopathy of Prematurity Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: The medical records of patients who had received IVB treatment for ROP between January 2014 and October 2018. Anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated. The Denver II Developmental Screening Test was administered and fluorescein angiography (FA) was performed in some cases. RESULTS: Thirty-eight eyes of 19 infants were included in the study. An IVB injection was administered to 9 infants with aggressive posterior ROP (APROP) disease (Group 1), 6 infants with any stage ROP with plus disease in zone I (Group 2), and 4 infants with stage 2-3 ROP with plus disease in zone II (Group 3). Complete retinal vascularization was observed in 24 eyes of 12 infants who received a single dose of bevacizumab without any additional treatment. Recurrence of the disease was observed in 12 eyes of 6 infants diagnosed with APROP and laser photocoagulation was performed. FA was performed to 5 IVB patients whose parents approved the procedure. The Denver II Developmental Screening Test was administered to all of the participants, and the test outcomes were consistent with the corrected age of the children, though 2 infants demonstrated a developmental delay in gross motor development tasks. Overall, good anatomical and functional results were obtained. CONCLUSION: IVB is an effective and relatively safe treatment modality for infants with ROP; however, prospective studies are required to provide more detailed information about systemic side effects.

Comparison of the Effect of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in Vitrectomized and Nonvitrectomized Eyes for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of sustained-release dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implant in nonvitrectomized eyes and vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 40 eyes of 30 consecutive patients with diabetic macular edema who underwent intravitreal DEX implant injection. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups: 31 eyes that were nonvitrectomized (group 1) and 9 eyes that had previously undergone standard pars plana vitrectomy (group 2). The main outcome measures were BCVA and foveal thickness (FT). RESULTS: A significant improvement was seen in BCVA in both group 1 and group 2 at the 1st, 2nd, and 6th months after treatment with DEX implant (p < 0.05). In group 1, a significant reduction in FT was observed at the 1st, 2nd, and 6th months (p < 0.05). In group 2, a significant reduction in FT was seen at the 1st and 2nd months (p < 0.05), but the reduction rate at the 6th month after the injection was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: DEX implant is effective for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, and the effectiveness of the drug is similar in vitrectomized and nonvitrectomized eyes.

Comparison of central corneal thickness estimated by an ultrasonic pachymeter and non-contact specular microscopy.

PURPOSE:: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements of healthy individuals obtained with ultrasonic pachymetry (UP) and non-contact specular microscopy (NCSM). METHOD:: In total, 148 eyes of 74 subjects with no ocular or systemic diseases were included in the study. Central corneal thickness measurements of all patients performed with UP and NCCM were compared. RESULTS:: A total of 74 subjects (38 females) were included in this study. The mean age was 45.2 ± 18.4 (range 12-85) years. The mean central corneal thickness of all 148 eyes was 546.9 ± 40 µm with UP and 510.8 ± 42 µm with NCSM. The mean central corneal thickness measured with NCSM was 35 µm thinner than that measured with UP (p<0.001). A high degree of agreement was found between the two methods (r=0.942, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:: Our results suggest that NCSM measures thinner corneas than UP and that the correction formula we identified should be applied when comparing between these two devices.

Comparison of central corneal thickness estimated by an ultrasonic pachymeter and non-contact specular microscopy / Comparação da espessura central de córnea estimada por um paquímetro ultrassônico e por um microscópio especular sem contato

ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements of healthy individuals obtained with ultrasonic pachymetry (UP) and non-contact specular microscopy (NCSM). Method: In total, 148 eyes of 74 subjects with no ocular or systemic diseases were included in the study. Central corneal thickness measurements of all patients performed with UP and NCCM were compared. Results: A total of 74 subjects (38 females) were included in this study. The mean age was 45.2 ± 18.4 (range 12-85) years. The mean central corneal thickness of all 148 eyes was 546.9 ± 40 μm with UP and 510.8 ± 42 μm with NCSM. The mean central corneal thickness measured with NCSM was 35 μm thinner than that measured with UP (p<0.001). A high degree of agreement was found between the two methods (r=0.942, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that NCSM measures thinner corneas than UP and that the correction formula we identified should be applied when comparing between these two devices.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar as medidas de espessura central corneana (CCT) de indivíduos saudáveis obtidos pela paquimetria ultrassônica (UP) e microscopia especular sem contato (NCSM). Método: Cento e quarenta e oito olhos de 74 indivíduos que não tinham doenças oculares ou sistêmicas foram incluídos no estudo. Medidas da espessura central corneana de todos os pacientes foram comparadas entre UP (SP 100, Tomey, Nagoya, Japão) e do NCSM (NSP-9900, Konan Medical, Inc., Hyogo, Japão). Resultados: Um total de 74 indivíduos (38 mulheres) foram incluídos neste estudo. A idade média foi de 45,2 ± 18,4 (variação 12-85) anos. A medida média da espessura central corneana de todos os 148 olhos foi 546,9 ± 40 μm com UP e 510,8 ± 42 μm com NCSM. A espessura central corneana média avaliada pelo NCSM foi de 35 μm mais fina do que a UP (p<0,001). Foi encontrado um elevado grau de concordância entre os dois métodos (r=0,942, p<0,001). Conclusões: Nossos resultados sugerem que a microscopia especular sem contato mede córneas mais finas em comparação com a UP e que o fator de correção identificado deve ser aplicado ao fazer comparações entre esses dois aparelhos.