The Effect of Topical Betamethasone Eye Drops on Postoperative Haze among Patients Undergoing Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking: a Randomized, Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of topical betamethasone eye drops on postoperative haze among patients undergoing corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). Patients and Methods: Patients with mild to moderate keratoconus, aged 18 to 30 years, who were a candidate for CXL treatment and had the evidence of disease progression based on topographic findings entered the present study. One eye of each patient randomly received betamethasone and topical antibiotics after CXL and the other eye received topical antibiotics and placebo in place of betamethasone. The eyes were compared regarding BCVA, UCVA, refraction, keratometric and pachymetric findings using Pentacam, as well as changes of corneal haze using confocal microscopy, before CXL as well as one month and six months after CXL. Results: There was no difference in BCVA, UCVA, refraction, keratometric and pachymetric findings between the two groups before and six months after surgery. Based on confocal findings, the difference in light reflectance intensity between the case and control groups was statistically significant in anterior (P = 0.021) and posterior (P = 0.017) corneal stroma one month postoperatively, indicating higher haze in the placebo group. This difference was also statistically significant in anterior (P = 0.001) mid (P = 0.002) and posterior (P = 0.002) stroma six months postoperatively.Conclusion: Betamethasone had no effect on visual acuity, refraction, keratometric and pachymetric findings six months after CXL. It reduced corneal haze in both the first and the sixth months postoperatively. Keywords: Keratoconus; Cornea; Cross-Linking; Haze; Betamethason

THE ROLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY IN CREATING THE SENSE OF ATTACHMENT TO THE PLACE IN THE RESIDENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL FABRIC OF TEHRAN (A CASE STUDY ON FIVE MUNICIPAL DISTRICTS OF TEHRAN)

ABSTRACT In the modern society, it is necessary to consider the neighborhood identity which plays a critical role in socialization and human-orientation of the urban structure. The social events in residential regions of cities which are known as the urban living cells are very determinant in residents' liveliness. Therefore, the current research studies the neighborhood identity and the sense of attachment in urban residents. This research is a survey study, during which required data were collected using a questionnaire and an interview. After data had been collected and encoded, they were analyzed with statistical softwares. The statistical population of this study includes five municipal districts of Tehran (i.e. Tajrish, Navvab, Moniriyeh, Rahahan and Bahar). Sample size was calculated using the Cochran formula. Thus, 300 people were determined as the statistical population. According to the findings of this study, the age of people is an effective factor on their attachment to their neighborhood identity. Furthermore, those people who are more satisfied with their neighborhood have a stronger attachment to their neighborhood identity and as a result, these neighborhoods are essentially safer. The native inhabitants, compared to the non-natives, have a stronger attachment to the neighborhood identity. Those who have a stronger sense of attachment to the place participate more actively in the activities related to their neighborhood. Residents' attachment to the neighborhood increases by the increase in the safety of the residential areas. Besides, the satisfaction of the urban performance affects on the attachment to the neighborhood identity. This will be effective on the increase in social interactions and liveliness of these neighborhoods. Keywords: identity, neighborhood, safety, the sense of attachment to the place, social interactions INTRODUCTION Concurrent with the changes in urban development projects related to the traditional residential fabrics, these parts of cities have attracted the planners' attention due to having the proper factors of identity and social liveliness. Lynch believes that a neighborhood is a wide area which can be identified according to some common and specific features and the person mentally feels entering it (Chapman, 1384 quoted by Azizi, 1385:44). According to these claims, studying the dimensions of the lack of the sense of attachment and identity leads in weakening the concepts depth, attachment and the diversity of the spatial experiences. Place other than the physical dimension, has also the spiritual dimension and creates some kind of feelings in its residents. These feelings bring a kind of attachment to the place in a person which leads in shaping the place identity which is basically considered for urban neighborhoods by the postmodern planners (Rahnama and Razavi, 1391:22). From the distan