Search

The life expectancy of elderly cataract patients is increasing and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is performed in pediatric cataract patients who will have an even longer life expectancy. Longer life expectancy has increased the implantation of blue-filtering IOLs, which are more protective against the harmful effects of light. Studies showed that these IOLs have no negative effect on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, scotopic vision, or circadian rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaucoma is a group of diseases with progressive optic disk and /or visual fields changes. The mainstays of current therapies (medical, laser, surgery) are focused of lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). The problems and failures with such therapies and the studies on physiopathology and genetics of glaucoma started explorations for new therapeutic modalities. Advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of glaucoma include the discovery of 14 linked sites (GLC 1A through GLC 1N) in primary open-angle glaucoma with three genes identified at these loci: myocilin, optineurin, and WDR 36. In the secondary glaucomas such as pseudoexfoliation syndromes, LOXL1 gene polymorphisms have been identified. Gene therapy can be used to replace a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene, to inactivate or wipe out the aberrant gene that is responsible for the disease. This therapy can also be used to add or remove genes that are indirectly related to the pathophysiology of the disease. Ocular gene therapy can also provide the advantage of delivery of genes that express therapeutic proteins in a localized and sustained way. Gene therapy studies for the treatment of glaucoma are focused on lowering intraocular pressure and neuroprotection. An ideal gene delivery system is one that is able to efficiently deliver the genes to the target tissue with specificity and safety. Both viral and nonviral vector delivery systems have been tested in the animal eyes. The target tissues of gene therapy are trabecular meshwork, ciliary body, ciliary muscle, retina and optic disk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond (Fs) lasers have ultra short laser pulses. Because of these short pulses the pulse energy is decreased and there is a reduction in the amount of thermal and mechanical damage to the surrounding tissues. Once designed to replace microkeratome in laser in-situ ker-atomileusis (LASIK), the Fs laser is being used and seems to be going to be used in many new areas. These areas are cutting flaps for LASIK, lenticule extraction for myopic correction, cuts for intrastromal ring segments, astigmatic keratotomy, lamellar keratoplasty, presbyopic correction, many steps in cataract surgery. In this review we will discuss recent advances about femtosecond laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apert syndrome is a rare seen congenital type 1 acrocephalosyndactyly characterized by craniosynostozis, syndactyly of the fingers and toes, dysmorphic facial features and ophthalmic abnormalities. In this case, we aimed to present ophthalmic abnormalities in a patient with Apert syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) is a rarely seen multisystemic disorder that has characteristic features such as mental retardation, prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, upper-limb abnormalities, congenital cardiac, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and ophthalmologic abnormalities and characteristic facies. In this case, we aimed to present ophthalmologic abnormalities in a patient associated with glaucoma that was seen very rarely with CdLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This clinical study was conducted to compare the performance of a rebound tonometer with that of the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) in the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) and to evaluate the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) on IOP measurement with both devices. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty-five healthy subjects were tested using rebound tonometer and GAT by two observers. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to CCT measurement and OHTS criteria as follows: group 1 with CCT<555 µm; group 2 with CCT 555-584 µm; and group 3 with CCT≥585 µm. Correlation analysis was performed to compare the 2 devices; paired sample t test, Bland and Altman analysis were used. Results: The mean IOP levels measured by rebound tonometer and GAT were 13.9±2.3 and 13.5±2.5 mm Hg in Group1 (p=.587), 15.76±2.7 and 15.3±3.1 mmHg in Group 2 (p=.563), and 17.76±2.6 and 18.42±3.03 mm Hg in Group 3 (p=.878), respectively. Rebound tonometry and GAT readings were strongly correlated in terms of IOP measurement in all CCT groups (r=0.78, p<.0001). Conclusions: The use of rebound tonometer is effective and safe in comparison to GAT readings. In eyes with a healthy cornea, the IOP measurements from the rebound tonometer and the GAT seemed to be similarly affected by CCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the long-term efficacy and reliability of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in neovascular glaucoma. Materials and Methods: Eighteen eyes of twelve patients (8 men, 4 women) with diagnosis of neovascular glaucoma were included in this study group. Twelve eyes had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (66.7%) and 6 eyes (33.3%) had central retinal vein occlusion. Intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml, Altuzan) was injected in all eyes after the completion of laser therapy. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured before and at 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month, and 6th month after the injection; and anterior segment angiography images were obtained before and at the 1st week, 3rd month and 6th month after the injection. Angiographic images were evaluated according to the grading system of iris neovascularization (Stage 0-4). Results: The decrease of symptoms and regression in grade of neovascularization were determined at the first week in all eyes. The mean IOP values were 26.32±1.37 mmHg, 24.14±2.03 mmHg, 26.78±2.19 mmHg, and 27.72±2.28 mmHg at the 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month, and 6th month after injection, respectively (p<0.05). The mean BCVA was 1.14±0.21 LogMAR (0.7-2.0) at the 6th month, and there was no significant difference from preinjection values (p>0.05). Discussion: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab seems to be effective and safe treatment modality for neovascular glaucoma in long-term period and it can be used as an adjuvant therapy to the panretinal photocoagulation and antiglaucomatous agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effects of topical loteprednol etabonate 0.5% and prednisolone acetate 1% on postoperative inflammation after cataract surgery. Materials and Methods: Forty eyes of 40 patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery between October 2008 and February 2009 were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups randomly; loteprednol etabonate 0.5% and prednisolone acetate 1% were used in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Preoperative and postoperative examinations were performed after 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month, and the anterior chamber cells, flare, best-corrected visual acuity (VA), and intraocular pressure (IOP) of the patients were compared statistically. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in mean VA or mean IOP measurements between the two groups at any postoperative visit. Although there were no significant differences in mean anterior chamber cells or flare of the patients between the two groups on postoperative day 1, mean anterior chamber cells and flare were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 at the first postoperative week (p=0.03, p=0.02). None of the patients had anterior chamber cells or flare at the first postoperative month in the groups. Fibrin reactions were observed in two patients in group 1 and gentamycine+dexamethasone were applied subconjunctivally for treatment. Conclusion: Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% is effective in controlling postoperative inflammation after cataract surgery, but less effective than prednisolone acetate 1%. Patients who receive loteprednol etabonate 0.5% treatment after uncomplicated cataract surgery must be followed up frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of pupil size on ocular biometric results. Materials and Methods: Pupil size in photopic conditions and axial lenght of patients who were diagnosed to have cataract in routine ophthalmological examination were measured and emmetropic intraocular lens power was calculated by SRK-T formula. This was followed by administration of tropicamide 0.5% and phenylephrine HCl 2.5% eye drops. Pupillary size, axial lenght measurements and emmetropic intraocular lens power calculation were repeated after 45 minutes. Results: Hundred and seventy five eyes of 127 patients aging between 41 and 89 (65.4±9.9, mean±st deviation) were enrolled. History of diabetes in 23 patients and pseudoexfoliation in 4 patients were evident. Pupil size in photopic conditions and following dilation were 3.1±0.9 and 7.2±0.9 mm, respectively. Axial lenght measurement was 23.6±1.0 mm before and 23.6±0.9 mm after pupillary dilation. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.93, 95% confidence interval -0.032-0.035). Biometric measurements were 20.6±2.5 diopters in photopic conditions and 20.6±2.4 diopters when the pupil was dilated. Also, the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.91, 95% confidence interval -0.103-0.091). Patient age, diabetes and pseudoexfoliation did not significantly affect the pupillary size and axial lenght measurements (p>0.05). Conclusion: Pupil size was found to effect axial lenght and biometric measurements slightly but not significantly. Larger groups, that concern postoperative refractive changes as well, could reveal more significant results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]