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Recent studies on the clinical importance of tuberculin skin tests (TST), interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), chest computed tomography (CT) and polymerase chain reaction have provided a new approach to diagnosing ocular tuberculosis (TBC). However, both TST and IGRAs cannot distinguish between latent TBC infection and active disease. Another corroborative test in the diagnosis of intraocular TBC is the evaluation of the lungs by either chest radiography or CT. Direct evidence for the diagnosis can be obtained by examination of smears and staining for acid-fast organisms, cultures of intraocular tissue/fluid for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and nucleic acid amplification analysis. In recent years, guidelines have been suggested for the diagnosis of intraocular TBC. The current treatment of intraocular TBC consists of use of four drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide) taken for a long period of time (total 9-15 months). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization has declared tuberculosis (TB) to be a global emergency, as it remains the most common single cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. TB is caused by the acid-fast bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily affects the lungs [pulmonary TB (PTB)]. It can also affect any other part of the body [extrapulmonary TB (EPTB)]. It is estimated that 1.4% of patients with PTB will eventually develop ocular disease; however, in the majority of cases of ocular TB, PTB may not be documented. Ocular TB infection is usually a result of hematogenous spread during PTB or EPTB. Symptomatic disease most commonly develops after reactivation of dormant foci in the ocular tissue rather than being the manifestation of the initial infection. Immune-mediated ocular TB can occur due tohypersensitivity to M. tuberculosis antigens from a distant focus (such as lungs), despite the absence of the bacterium in the eye. The most common clinical presentation of intraocular inflammation (uveitis) due to TB appears to be posterior uveitis, followed by anterior uveitis, panuveitis and intermediate uveitis. The absenceof uniform diagnostic criteria for intraocular TB has led to confusion regarding its diagnosis and management. Recent studies on the clinical importance of purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test, interferon-gamma release assays, chest computed tomography and polymerase chain reaction have provided a new approach to diagnosing ocular TB. This review series focuses on the clinical features, diagnostic techniques, diagnostic criteria, and treatment modalities in the light of recent literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To translate the original 42-item National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life Questionnaire (NEI-RQL-42) into Turkish and to investigate its validity and reliability. The linguistic translation followed the international guidelines of forward and backward translation. Ninety-five consecutive subjects (37 myopes, 18 hyperopes and 40 emmetropes) who had a visual acuity of 0.8 or better in the worse eye completed the NEI-RQL-42 and the Turkish version of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Eighty patients completed the NEI-RQL-42 for a second time within 2 weeks. Psychometric evaluation of the Turkish NEI-RQL-42 involved the assessment of internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent and known-groups validity. Internal consistency was generally high (Cronbach’s α = 0.83–0.95), with the exception of three subscales (glare, α = 0.65; suboptimal correction, α = 0.66; appearance, α = 0.62). Test–retest reliability, assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient was good (ICC = 0.74–0.95) except for the subscale suboptimal correction (ICC = 0.61). Almost all subscales and the overall score showed significant inter-correlations. Low to moderate correlations were found between the subscales of the NEI-RQL-42 and the NEI-VFQ-25, which measure similar constructs. The NEI-RQL-42 showed good construct validity in terms of refractive error (myopia, hyperopia and emmetropia) and mode of refractive correction (spectacles, contact lens and no correction) discrimination. The Turkish version of the NEI-RQL-42 is a reliable and valid measure of vision-related quality of life in patients with refractive error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. To report the results of lateral rectus muscle recession, medial rectus muscle resection, and superior oblique muscle transposition in the restoration and maintenance of ocular alignment in primary position for patients with total third-nerve palsy. Methods. The medical records of patients who underwent surgery between March 2007 and September 2011 for total third-nerve palsy were reviewed. All patients underwent a preoperative assessment, including a detailed ophthalmologic examination. Results. A total of 6 patients (age range, 14–45 years) were included. The median preoperative horizontal deviation was 67.5 Prism Diopter (PD) (interquartile range [IQR] 57.5–70) and vertical deviation was 13.5 PD (IQR 10–20). The median postoperative horizontal residual exodeviation was 8.0 PD (IQR 1–16), and the vertical deviation was 0 PD (IQR 0–4). The median correction of hypotropia following superior oblique transposition was 13.5 ± 2.9 PD (range, 10–16). All cases were vertically aligned within 5 PD. Four of the six cases were aligned within 10 PD of the horizontal deviation. Adduction and head posture were improved in all patients. All patients gained new area of binocular single vision in the primary position after the operation. Conclusion. Lateral rectus recession, medial rectus resection, and superior oblique transposition may be used to achieve satisfactory cosmetic and functional results in total third-nerve palsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]