The Acute Effect of Hemodialysis on Choroidal Thickness

Objective. To determine the effect of hemodialysis (HD) on choroidal thickness (CT). Methods. The right eyes of 41 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing HD were included. All patients underwent an ophthalmic examination, including CT measurement via optical coherence tomography, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure, and body weight measurement immediately before and after a HD session. Results. Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after HD decreased significantly from 254.59 ± 84.66 µm to 229.34 ± 77.79 µm (p<0.001). CT at the temporal and nasal regions also decreased significantly after HD (both p<0.001). IOP changes after HD were insignificant (p=0.958). CT difference was insignificant in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and without DM before and after HD, respectively (p=0.285 and p=0.707). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis showed that diastolic blood pressure was the best fitted factor to explain the changes in CT (r=0.327 and p=0.040).  Conclusion. CT was decreased in the patients with ESRD following a HD session. This study suggested that the changes in CT may be related to the changes in systemic blood pressure

Thyroid Orbitopathy and Dry Eye

Thyroid orbitopathy (TO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the orbital and periorbital tissues that is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R). Hyperthyroidism and less commonly hypothyroidism or euthyroidism can be associated with this disorder. The orbital fibroblasts activated with T cells and the secreted cytokines are the key cells in the etiology. Dry eye can be seen in 80% of TO patients. The main factor for the development of dry eye in these patients is the inflammation of the lacrimal gland and the ocular surface. The second factor is the hyperosmolarity of the tear film caused by the evaporation of the tear film due to exophthalmos and the increased interpalpebral distance. In the treatment of TO, the usage of topical anti-inflammatory agents along with artificial tears is important because of the role of inflammation in the etiology. (Turk J Oph thal mol 2011; 41: 348-50

Evaluation of Tear Function Tests and Lower Tear Meniscus Height in Keratoconus Patients

Pur po se: To assess the tear function tests and the lower tear meniscus height (LTMH) in keratoconus patients and to evaluate the relationship of these parameters with the progression of keratoconus. Ma te ri al and Met hod: Thirty-eight eyes (group 1) of 21 keratoconus patients and 36 eyes (group 2) of 18 healthy subjects were included in this prospective study. Both groups underwent corneal topographic and keratometric measurements, tear break-up time (T-BUT) and Schirmer tests as well as measurement of the LTMH with anterior segment optic coherence tomography (OCT) after the ophthalmologic examination. The values obtained from both groups were compared and evaluated for statistical significance and reliability. Re sults: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender (p>0.05). The mean Schirmer test values were 14.87±8.9 mm and 16.77±8.1 mm in group 1 and group 2, respectively (p=0.367). There was not any correlation between the keratometric power and the Schirmer test in group 1 and group 2 (group 1: r=0.114, p=0.548, group 2: r=0.151, p=0.972). The mean TBUT value was 12.83±7.3 sec in group 1, and 18.25±8.5 sec in group 2 (p=0.018). There was a negative correlation between keratometric power and TBUT in group 1, while there was no correlation in group 2 (group 1: r=0.717, p=0.001, group 2: r=0.235, p=0.212). The mean LTMH was 265.30±112 µm in group 1 and 313.29±167 µm in group 2 (p=0.151). There was no correlation between keratometric power and LTMH in both groups (group 1: r=0.001, p=0.997, group 2: r=0.318, p=0.130). Dis cus si on: In this study, it was shown that keratoconus patients have normal tear volume but reduced tear film stability compared to healthy individuals and this reduction is relate to the progression of keratoconus. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42: 249-52

Air pollution forecasting in Ankara, Turkey using air pollution index and its relation to assimilative capacity of the atmosphere

Spatial and temporal variations in concentrations of CO, NO, NO2, SO2, and PM10, measured between 1999 and 2000, at traffic-impacted and residential stations in Ankara were investigated. Air quality in residential areas was found to be influenced by traffic activities in the city. Pollutant ratios were proven to be reliable tracers to differentiate between different sources. Air pollution index (API) of the whole city was calculated to evaluate the level of air quality in Ankara. Multiple linear regression model was developed for forecasting API in Ankara. The correlation coefficients were found to be 0.79 and 0.63 for different time periods. The assimilative capacity of Ankara atmosphere was calculated in terms of ventilation coefficient (VC). The relation between API and VC was investigated and found that the air quality in Ankara was determined by meteorology rather than emissions

Comparison of Electrocoagulation and Conventional Medical Drops for Treatment of Conjunctivochalasis: Short-Term Results

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of electrocoagulation and conventional medical drops for treatment of conjunctivochalasis using anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Materials and Methods: Forty eyes of 20 patients with bilateral conjunctivochalasis were included in this prospective study. Twenty eyes of 10 patients were assigned to Group 1 and underwent electrocoagulation. The other 20 eyes of 10 patients were assigned to Group 2 and received conventional medical treatment consisting of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drop (topical 0.5% ketorolac tromethamine) 4 times a day and artificial tears (0.15% sodium hyaluronate) 6 times a day for 4 weeks. Before and 4 weeks after treatment, all patients were evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, tear film break-up time (TBUT) test, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus area (TMA), and conjunctivochalasis area (CCA) were measured with AS-OCT. Results: In Group 1, posttreatment values of TMH, TMA, and TBUT were significantly higher (p0.05 for all values). Conclusion: Electrocoagulation is an effective modality for treatment of conjunctivochalasi

Does Dry Eye Affect Repeatability of Corneal Topography Measurements?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the repeatability of corneal topography measurements in dry eye patients and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Participants underwent consecutive corneal topography measurements (Sirius; Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Florence, Italy). Two images with acquisition quality higher than 90% were accepted. The following parameters were evaluated: minimum and central corneal thickness, aqueous depth, apex curvature, anterior chamber volume, horizontal anterior chamber diameter, iridocorneal angle, cornea volume, and average simulated keratometry. Repeatability was assessed by calculating intra-class correlation coefficient. Results: Thirty-three patients with dry eye syndrome and 40 healthy controls were enrolled to the study. The groups were similar in terms of age (39 [18-65] vs. 30.5 [18-65] years, p=0.198) and gender (M/F: 4/29 vs. 8/32, p=0.366). Intra-class correlation coefficients among all topography parameters within both groups showed excellent repeatability (>0.90). Conclusion: The anterior segment measurements provided by the Sirius corneal topography system were highly repeatable for dry eye patients and are sufficiently reliable for clinical practice and research

Ionic composition of precipitation at the Central Anatolia Turkey

Concentrations of major ions, SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, H+, Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and conductivity were measured in approximately 300 daily, wet-only rain samples collected at a permanent rural station between 1993 and 1998. Concentrations of anthropogenic ions NH4+, SO42- and NO3- were among the highest values reported in whole EMEP network, suggesting that the Anatolian plateau is under strong influence of distant emission sources. Although transport of pollutants have significant influence on the chemical composition of precipitation, average pH of the rainwater is 6.2 due to extensive neutralization of acidity. Approximately 95% of the acidity in collected samples is neutralized, particularly in summer season. The neutralizing agents are primarily CaCO3 and NH3. Concentrations of crustal ions are higher in summer season due to enhanced resuspension of soil particles from dry surface soil. Concentrations of anthropogenic ions SO42- and NO3- do not change significantly between summer and winter due to higher intensity of rains in summer season. Although concentrations of ions measured in this study is among the highest reported in EMEP network, wet deposition fluxes are low compared to flux values reported for similar sites in Europe, due to low annual precipitation in the Anatolia. Wet deposition fluxes of all measured parameters are highly episodic. Source regions affecting chemical composition precipitation in the Central Anatolia is investigated using trajectory statistics

An overlap case of Parry–Romberg syndrome and en coup de sabre with striking ocular involvement and anti-double-stranded DNA positivity

Parry–Romberg syndrome (PRS) may overlap localized scleroderma (morphea) lesions with linear depression (en coup de sabre [ECDS]). Overlap case with PRS and ECDS was presented. Enophthalmos, uveitis, ocular torticollis, keratic linear precipitates, and anti-double-stranded DNA positivity were identified. Subendothelial keratic precipitates detected by an in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy were the first profiled in the literature. Patients must be evaluated and followed up carefully by their clinics to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures such as surgery of ocular torticollis as muscular torticollis

The Long-Term Effects of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses on the Ocular Surface and Tear Function Tests

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of three different silicone hydrogel contact lenses, i.e. Balafilcon A (Pure Vision, Bausch & Lomb), Senofilcon A (Acuvue Oasys, Johnson & Johnson), and Confilcon A (Biofinity, CooperVision), on ocular surface after one, three, and sıx months of wear. Materials and Methods: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses (SHCL) were fitted to 58 patients (Balafilcon A to 40 eyes: Group 1, Senofilcon A to 42 eyes: Group 2, and Confilcon A to 34 eyes: Group 3) who have not used any contact lenses before. All groups were graded according to the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit’s grading score, and were performed ocular surface disease index scoring (OSDI), tear break-up time (BUT), and Schirmer 1 test. Results: The mean age was 22.45±5.96, 20.76±3.70, 21.00±3.84 years in Groups 1,2, and 3, respectively (p>0.05). While the increase in papillary hypertrophy as well as palpebral and bulbar hyperemia at 1st month in Group 1 and at 6th month at Group 2 were significant, there were no change in Group 3 with the use of SHCL (p<0.05). The mean OSDI, BUT did not show any difference in and between the groups (p>0.05). In Group 3, the Schirmer test was lower than in Groups 1 and 2, which was statistically significant (p=0.048, p=0.003). Conclusion: Factors like lens material, modulus, the presence of an internal wetting agent, and water content play an important role in the effects of SHCL on the ocular surface. In this study, it is demonstrated that SHCL does not cause clinically significant dry eye. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2014; 44: 201-6