Evaluation of Aqueous Endocan and Endostatin Levels in Patients With Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the aqueous humor endocan and endostatin levels in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and to compare the results with healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty nine cataract patients with PEX syndrome (PEX group) and 32 cataract patients without PEX syndrome (control group) were enrolled in the study. Endocan and endostatin were measured in the aqueous humor of the PEX and control groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There was no difference between the PEX and control groups in terms of age (P=0.721) and sex (P=0.902). The aqueous levels of endocan in patients with PEX (26.39±5.80 pg/mL) was significantly higher than in the control group (11.42±2.44 pg/mL) (P=0.039). The aqueous levels of endostatin was 12.00±1.35 ng/mL in the PEX group and 14.22±3.31 ng/mL in the control group, however, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.41). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study could suggest that the increased levels of aqueous endocan may be related to pathogenesis of PEX. However, levels of aqueous endostatin did not show any significant difference in PEX

Repeatability and Reproducibility of Anterior Segment Measurements in Normal Eyes Using Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of anterior segment measurements including aberrometric measurements provided by a dual Scheimpflug analyzer (Galilei) system in normal eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three repeated consecutive measurements were taken by two independent examiners. The following were evaluated: total corneal power and posterior corneal power, corneal higher-order wavefront aberrations (6.0 mm pupil), pachymetry at the central, paracentral, and peripheral zones, and anterior chamber depth (ACD). Repeatability was assessed by calculating the within-subject standard deviation, precision, repeatability, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Bland-Altman analysis was used for assessing reproducibility. RESULTS: Thirty eyes of 30 patients were included. The best ICC values were for corneal pachymetry and ACD. For both observers, acceptable ICC was also achieved for the other parameters, the only exceptions being posterior corneal astigmatism and total high order aberration. The 95% LoA (Limits of Agreement) values for all measurements showed small variability between the two examiners. CONCLUSION: The Galilei system provided reliable measurements of anterior segment parameters. Therefore, the instrument can be confidently used for routine clinical use and research purposes

Comparison of Anterior Segment Measurements With a Dual Scheimpflug Placido Corneal Topographer and a New Partial Coherence Interferometer in Keratoconic Eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the repeatability and agreement of the anterior segment measurements obtained using the Galilei dual Scheimpflug analyzer (Galilei DSA; Ziemer) and Nidek AL Scan (Nidek CO, Aichi, Japan) biometry in keratoconic and normal eyes. METHODS: Three consecutive measurements were performed by the same examiner using both devices in 62 healthy and 88 keratoconic eyes. Central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth, keratometry readings (K) [in flattest meridian (Kf), in steepest meridian (Ks), and mean (Km)], and white-to-white distance were evaluated. Repeatability was assessed by calculating the within-subject SD and coefficient of variation. The agreement between both devices was assessed using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: Both devices achieved excellent repeatability for all parameters in each group. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) between both devices were also very narrow and acceptable for all parameters in normal corneas. However, the 95% LoA for agreement was large for CCT and measurements related to K (Kf, Ks, and Km) using both 2.4 and 3.3 mm in keratoconic eyes. In addition, compared with the Galilei DSA, K values of the Nidek AL Scan using a diameter of 3.3 mm showed slightly closer 95% LoA than those obtained using a diameter of 2.4 mm. CONCLUSIONS: In normal eyes, the Galilei DSA and Nidek AL Scan can be used interchangeably for anterior segment measurements. In keratoconic eyes, both devices yielded interchangeable anterior chamber depth and white-to-white distance measurements, whereas CCT and keratometry measurements showed clinically significant differences

Repeatability and reproducibility of a new optical biometer in normal and keratoconic eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of measurements obtained by a new optical biometer (Nidek AL-Scan) in normal eyes and keratoconic eyes. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Turgut Özal University, Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. DESIGN: Evaluation of diagnostic technology. METHODS: To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the optical biometer, 2 independent examiners performed 3 consecutive measurements. The following parameters were evaluated: central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth, axial length (AL), corneal dioptric power in the flattest meridian (flat keratometry [K]) and in the steepest meridian (steep K), and white-to-white (WTW) distance. Repeatability was assessed using the within-subject standard deviation (S(w)), repeatability, and precision. Reproducibility was evaluated using the 95% limits of agreement proposed by Bland and Altman. RESULTS: Thirty healthy subjects and 27 patients with keratoconus were evaluated. Both examiners achieved high repeatability for all parameters in each group except for the steep K measurement in keratoconic eyes performed by examiner 2 (S(w) = 3.341). The WTW in normal eyes and the CCT and steep K in keratoconic eyes showed less repeatability. In both groups, the smallest range of agreement was in AL measurements whereas the largest was in CCT measurements. In keratoconic eyes, the range of agreement for steep K was also greater (3.766). CONCLUSIONS: The precision of the measurements obtained by the new optical biometer was high. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned

Repeatability and reproducibility of Galilei measurements in normal keratoconic and postrefractive corneas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the anterior segment measurements performed with a dual Scheimpflug analyzer (Galilei) in normal, keratoconic and post-refractive surgery corneas. METHODS: To evaluate the repeatability, two additional measurements were performed by the first examiner. To assess reproducibility, this was later followed by a single reading by the second examiner. The following parameters were recorded and evaluated in this study; central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), mean total corneal power (TCP) in central (0-4mm), mean posterior corneal power (PCP) in central (0.5-2mm), anterior and posterior elevation (best fit sphere [BFS]) in central 8mm anterior and posterior eccentricity (ɛ(2)) in central 8mm. Repeatability and reproducibility for each corneal parameter was assessed using the Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Each of the three groups was consisted of 20 subjects (totally 60 patients, 30 men and 30 women). The 95% LoA for repeatability was very small, indicating small discrepancies between measurements related to CCT. Acceptable repeatability was also achieved for the other parameters in each group. However, the 95% LoA for value TCP was larger in keratoconic eyes. The 95% LoA for reproducibility was also very small, and acceptable for all measured parameters in each group. In addition, the 95% LoA was larger for the measurement of CCT and TCT for postrefractive corneas. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior segment measurements provided by Galilei showed good repeatability and reproducibility for normal, keratoconic and postrefractive corneas

Corneal melanosis successfully treated using topical mitomycin-C and alcohol corneal epitheliectomy: a 3-year follow-up case report.

We report a case of primary acquired corneal melanosis without atypia associated with corneal haze in a patient with a history of limbal malignant melanoma and the effect of mitomycin-C. A 75-year-old woman with a history of limbal malignant melanoma presented with loss of vision in right eye. Corneal examination showed a patchy melanotic pigmentation with a central haze. Topical mitomycin-C improved visual acuity and corneal haze. However, the pigmented lesions persisted, and they were removed with alcohol corneal epitheliectomy. Histopathological examination demonstrated primary acquired melanosis without atypia. The lesions were successfully removed, and there were no recurrences during the follow-up period of 36 months. The association of conjunctival and corneal melanosis without atypia is a rare condition. In addition, co-existence of central corneal haze and melanosis may decrease visual acuity. Topical mitomycin-C and alcohol corneal epitheliectomy can be useful treatments in this condition