Evaluation of central and peripheral corneal thicknesses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACTPurpose:To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) and peripheral corneal thickness (PCT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to assess the relationships among the corneal parameters, dry eye disease, and clinical variables of RA.Methods:A total of 58 RA patients and 58 control subjects participated in this study. A detailed ophthalmological examination was performed on each subject. Dry eye evaluation was performed using Schirmer’s test, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Corneal thickness at the apex point, the center of the pupil, the thinnest point, and PCT (3 mm from the apex to the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal locations) were evaluated using Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam®). Additionally, the relative peripheral index (RPI) was calculated by dividing the PCT by the CCT. The disease severity and quality of life were evaluated with DAS28 and HAQ, respectively. The laboratory evaluation comprised ESR and CRP.Results:The mean corneal thicknesses at the apex point, the center of the pupil, the thinnest point, and the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal points were significantly thinner in RA patients than controls. Schirmer’s test scores and TBUT were significantly lower, and corneal staining and OSDI scores were significantly higher in RA patients. There were no significant correlations between the corneal parameters and the clinical variables of RA or dry eye tests.Conclusion:The CCT and PCT were thinner in RA patients compared to those in control subjects. However, there were no significant correlations between the corneal parameters and the clinical variables of RA or dry eye tests

Evaluation of anterior segment parameters in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome using Scheimpflug imaging

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate anterior segment parameters in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) using Scheimpflug imaging. Methods: Forty-three PXS patients and 43 healthy control subjects were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination. Anterior segment parameters were measured using a Scheimpflug system. Results: Considering the PXS and control groups, the mean corneal thicknesses at the apex point (536 ± 31 and 560 ± 31 µm, respectively, p=0.001), at the center of the pupil (534 ± 31 and 558 ± 33 µm, respectively, p=0.001), and at the thinnest point (528 ± 30 and 546 ± 27 µm, respectively, p=0.005) were significantly thinner in PXS patients. Visual acuity was significantly lower (0.52 ± 0.37 versus 0.88 ± 0.23, p<0.001) and axial length was significantly longer (23.9 ± 0.70 mm versus 23.2 ± 0.90 mm, p=0.001) in the PXS eyes than in the control eyes. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean values of keratometry, anterior chamber angle, anterior chamber depth, corneal volume, and anterior chamber volume between the PXS and control eyes. Conclusions: The patients with PXS had thinner corneas, worse visual acuity, and longer axial length compared with those in the healthy controls

Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in a patient with bilateral optic disc drusen

Optic disc drusen (ODD) is the accumulations of calcified hyaline-like material within the substance of the optic nerve head. Optic disc drusen, especially if it is bilateral, may mimic the clinical presentation of papilledema. Usually retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning can be present in ODD. In this report we present uncommon RNFL changes in a patient with bilateral ODD. A 17-year-old male was referred by another center with a diagnosis of optic disc edema. The patient&#8217;s visual acuity, the slit-lamp examination and the intraocular pressures were normal in both eyes. On fundus examination, there were irregularly elevated discs bilaterally and the optic nerves appear with hazy disk margins. He did not have visual field defects in automated perimetry. Bilateral ODD were identified and confirmed by B-scan ultrasonography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated 4 clock hours of RNFL thickening. Optic disc drusen may be misdiagnosed as papilledema. Thus, clinical suspicion of ODD is important in order to diagnose papilledema and prevents unnecessary interventions. Although most of eyes with ODD have normal or thinner RNFL thickness, some of these eyes can have thicker RNFL thickness

Toxic keratopathy associated with abuse of topical anesthetics and amniotic membrane transplantation for treatment

<b>AIM:</b> To evaluate the clinical findings of toxic keratopathy associated with abuse of topical anesthetics and the treatment efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).<b>METHODS:</b> Fifteen eyes of 10 patients with abuse of topical anesthetics were included in this study. The data collected included patients’ demographic information, initial best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), clinical findings, time to AMT, duration of epithelization, additional treatments, posttreatment BCVA, and the results of psychiatric examination.<b>RESULTS:</b>All patients were male, with the mean age of 37.9±5.4y. The patients had received 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride due to pain resulting from foreign bodies, such as welding flash burns and car battery explosions, for a mean of 18.2±12.4d. The mean initial BCVA of the patients was 0.069±0.100. All patients had persistent epithelial defects, stromal infiltration, ring ulcer, and corneal edema. Initially, medical treatment was attempted in all cases. Because of severe pain, persistent epithelial defects and progressing stromal thinning did not improve with medical treatment, thus, the patients underwent AMT. The mean posttreatment BCVA of the patients was 0.33±0.27. All of them, except for two patients, showed improved visual acuity. One patient underwent evisceration for corneal melting and endophthalmitis in another center, and one patient underwent evisceration for severe pain of unknown origin. All 5 patients who consented to a psychiatric examination had depression, had personality disorder, and used tobacco.<b>CONCLUSION</b>:AMT appears to be an effective method for pain relief, rapid epithelial and stromal healing; however, visual prognosis is still poor despite medical and surgical interventions

Transfer of single dose of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and bevacizumab into milk of sheep

AIM: To investigate whether single-dose intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and ranibizumab transfer into milk. METHODS: This study included lactating 12 sheep and a single 3-month old suckling lamb of each sheep. Two groups consisting of 6 sheep and their lambs were constituted; the ranibizumab group and the bevacizumab group before the administration of intravitreal injections, blood and milk samples were obtained from all sheep and, following the injections, blood and milk samples of all sheep and blood samples of all lambs were collected at regular time points. Serum and milk concentrations of bevacizumab and ranibizumab were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The limit of determination was 0.9 ng/mL for bevacizumab and 0.62 ng/mL for ranibizumab. RESULTS: At 6h after intravitreal injections, bevacizumab concentration was above the limit of determination in the blood of all sheep. At 3wk, when the study was terminated, bevacizumab concentrations were high in 4 sheep. Even though bevacizumab concentrations in milk showed fluctuations, the drug transferred into the milk of all sheep at detectable concentrations. Ranibizumab drug concentrations in the blood and milk of sheep and those in the blood of lambs were below the limit of determination by the ELISA kit. CONCLUSION: This sheep model study demonstrate that intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, which did not transfer into the milk of sheep and suckling lambs, is safer than bevacizumab during lactation period

Bilateral Traumatic Globe Luxation with Optic Nerve Transection

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to document clinical findings and management of a patient with bilateral globe luxation and optic nerve transection. Materials and Methods: A 25-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with bilateral traumatic globe luxation following a motor vehicle accident. Results: Visual acuity testing showed no light perception. The right pupil was dilated and bilaterally did not react to light. The globes were bilaterally intact. A computed tomography scan revealed Le Fort type II fractures, bilateral optic nerve transection and disruption of all extraocular muscles. The globes of the patient were bilaterally reduced into the orbit. However, the patient developed phthisis bulbi in the right eye at month 3. Conclusion: Globe luxation presents a dramatic clinical picture, and may lead to the development of severe complications due to the concomitance of complete optic nerve dissection and multiple traumas. Even if the luxated globe is repositioned into the orbit, there is still an increased risk of the development of phthisis due to ischemia