Corneal biomechanical features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical features and central corneal thickness in ankylosing spondylitis patients and to evaluate correlations of these parameters with disease activity. Methods: The study included 51 patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (mean age, 40.80 ± 13.15 years; range, 18-72 years) and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age, 42.00 ± 12.32 years; range, 18-60 years). All underwent a complete ophthalmological and physical examination, including visual acuity testing and biomicroscopic anterior and posterior segment examinations. Corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor, Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure, and corneal compensated intraocular pressure were evaluated with an ocular response analyzer, and the central corneal thickness was measured with Sirius® corneal tomography. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Functional Index, and Metrology Index scores were recorded. Results: In the ankylosing spondylitis patients, the mean disease duration was 7.73 ± 6.05 (range, 1-30) years. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients and controls in the corneal biomechanical features. The Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure and corneal compensated intraocular pressure both showed positive correlations with age (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively). There was a negative correlation between corneal hysteresis and disease duration (p=0.002), and between central corneal thickness and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index score (p=0.003). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant negative correlation between corneal hysteresis and disease duration in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Furthermore, the central corneal thickness value decreased with an increase in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index score, which may result in an underestimate of intraocular pressure readings and thus an inaccurate risk assessment of glaucoma.Objetivo: Avaliar as características biomecânicas da córnea e espessura central da córnea em pacientes com espondilite anquilosante e analisar a correlação destes parâmetros no grupo de estudo com a atividade da doença. Métodos: Foram incluídos no estudo 51 pacientes com diagnóstico de espondilite anquilosante e 34 controles saudáveis com idade e sexo. Todos os sujeitos foram submetidos a um exame oftalmológico e físico completo, incluindo exames de acuidade visual, exames de segmento anterior e posterior biomicroscópicos. Foram avaliados o coeficiente de resistência da córnea, a pressão intraocular correlacionada com Goldmann e a pressão intraocular compensada da córnea com o analisador de resposta ocular, a espessura corneana central com a tomografia corneana pelo Sirius®. Se o índice de atividade da doença de espondilite anquilosante de banho, o índice funcional de espondilite anquilosante de banho, o índice de metrologia de espondilite anquilosante de banho. Resultados: Foram incluídos no estudo 51 pacientes com idade média de 40,80 ± 13,15 (intervalo: 18-72) anos e 34 casos de controle com idade média de 42,00 ± 12,32 (intervalo: 18-60) anos. No grupo espondilite anquilosante a duração média da doença foi de 7,73 ± 6,05 (1,00-30,00) anos. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre dois grupos quanto às características biomecânicas da córnea. Na análise de correlação, no grupo de estudo; pressão intraocular correlacionada com Goldmann e pressão intraocular compensada da córnea estavam positivamente correlacionados com a idade (p=0,003, p=0,001, respectivamente). Houve uma correlação negativa entre a duração da doença e CH (p=0,002), e entre índice de metrologia de espondilite anquilosante de banho e espessura corneana central (p=0,003). Conclusão: Este estudo demonstrou correlação negativa significativa entre a duração da doença e a histerese corneal em pacientes com espondilite anquilosante. Além disso, com um aumento na pontuação de índice de metrologia de espondilite anquilosante de banho, o valor de espessura corneana central também estava diminuindo o que pode causar uma diminuição nas leituras de pressão intraocular artificialmente e resultar em avaliação de risco imprecisa de glaucoma

Evaluation of inner segment/outer segment junctions in different types of epiretinal membranes

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationships of inner/outer segment (IS/OS) junction disruption, macular thickness, and epiretinal membrane (ERM) grade with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), as well as the relationship between IS/OS junction disruption and ERM grade. Methods: Fifty-four eyes of 54 patients with different grades of ERM were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into three groups by ERM grade according to retinal striae and vessel distortion: grade/group 1, visible membranes without retinal striae or vessel distortion; grade/group 2, mild to moderate macular striae or vessel straightening; and grade/group 3, moderate to severe striae and vascular straightening. Correlations of BCVA with age, central retinal thickness, ERM grade, and IS/OS disruption as well as of IS/OS disruption, central macular thickness, and BCVA with ERM grade were evaluated. Results: Twenty-nine (53.7%) eyes exhibited IS/OS junction disruption. Groups 1 and 2 differed significantly with respect to BCVA (p=0.038), but groups 2 and 3 did not (p=0.070). Central macular thickness was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1 (p=0.031) and in group 3 than in group 2 (p=0.033). Groups 1 and 2 differed significantly in terms of IS/OS disruption (p=0.000), but groups 2 and 3 did not (p=0.310). Conclusions: The IS/OS junction appears to be disrupted during the early stages of ERM. Grade 3 ERM is associated with a significantly higher incidence of IS/OS disruption.Objetivo: Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar a relação entre a interrupção da junção segmento interno/segmento externo (IS/OS), espessura macular e grau de membrana epirretiniana (ERM), com a melhor acuidade visual corrigida (BCVA), e a relação entre a interrupção da junção IS/OS com a severidade da ERM. Métodos: Cinquenta e quatro olhos de 54 pacientes com diferentes graus de ERM foram avaliados retrospectivamente. ERMs foram classificadas, de acordo com as estrias de retina e a distorção dos vasos, em 3 grupos: grupo 1 foram membranas visíveis sem estrias retinianas ou distorção dos vasos, grupo 2 membranas com estrias maculares discretas a moderadas ou retificação dos vasos, e grupo 3 membranas com estrias moderadas a graves e retificação vascular. A correlação da BCVA com a idade, espessura central da retina, severidade da ERM e interrupção da junção IS/OS foram avaliadas. A relação de interrupção da junção IS/OS, a espessura macular central e acuidade visual com a severidade da ERM também foram avaliadas. Resultados: Vinte e nove olhos (53,7%) apresentavam interrupção da junção IS/OS. A BCVA foi diferente entre ERMs grupo 1 e grupo 2 (p=0,038), a diferença entre o grupos 2 e 3 não foi estatisticamente significativa (p=0,070). A espessura macular central foi estatisticamente maior no grupo 2, quando comparado ao grupo 1 (p=0,031) e maior no grupo 3 quando comparado ao grupo 2 (p=0,033). A diferença entre o grupo 1 e grupo 2 em relação à interrupção da junção IS/OS foi estatisticamente significativa (p=0,000), ao passo que a diferença entre o grupo 2 e do grupo 3 não foi estatisticamente significativa (p=0,310). Conclusões: As junções IS/OS parecem estar interrompidas nos estágios iniciais da ERM. O grau 3 de ERM têm uma maior incidência significativa de interrupção da junção IS/OS

Response to: Comment on “The Effects of Hemodialysis on Tear Osmolarity”

WOS: 000382636000001PubMed ID: 27641535We thank Onder Ayyildiz and Gokhan Ozge for their interest and comment on our paper “The Effects of Hemodialysis on Tear Osmolarity” [1, 2]. They thought that detection of TO would be performed at the same time of the day regarding the duration of hemodialysis (HD) which may avoid the bias of the methodology according to the study of Niimi et al. [3]. Niimi et al. have enrolled 38 medically healthy neophytes. Their subjects reported to the CRC an average of 14±2.0 hours (7–17 hours) after awakening for baseline measurements and sleeping at the CRC, thereby allowing for uniform environmental exposure (e.g., humidity and temperature) and timely collection of measurements upon awakening. The physical conditions of our clinic are not suitable for all HD patients to report 7 hours after awakening for baseline measurements and sleeping one day thereby allowing for uniform environmental exposure (e.g., humidity and temperature) and timely collection of measurements upon awakening

Evaluation of inner segment/outer segment junctions in different types of epiretinal membranes

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationships of inner/outer segment (IS/OS) junction disruption, macular thickness, and epiretinal membrane (ERM) grade with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), as well as the relationship between IS/OS junction disruption and ERM grade

Tear osmolarity and tear function assessment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

ABSTRACT Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease characterized by chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism. Hormonal changes can affect tear function. This study evaluates tear function and impact of hyperandrogenism on it in PCOS patients. Methods: Fifty patients with PCOS and thirty control volunteers were examined for tear break-up time, Schirmer-I and tear osmolarity. Also, serum levels of total testosterone, FSH, LH and AMH were determined in venous blood samples in the early follicular phase. PCOS patients were divided into two groups by plasma total testosterone level: Group A with normal (≤0.513 ng/ml;n=27), Group B with higher hormone level (>0.513 ng/ml;n=23). Healthy control group indicated as Group C (n=30). Results: LH, total testosterone levels were higher in the PCOS group than in the control group (p=0.012; p=0.025). Mean values of tear break-up time and Schirmer-I were different between groups and especially Group A and C were near to each other differing from B (p>0.05). Tear osmolarity results were higher in Group B, compared to A and C (p=0.049; p=0.033). No significant difference detected in tear osmolarity value means of Group A and C (p=0.107). AMH levels were higher in Group B, compared to A and C (p=0.002; p=0.001). AMH levels in Group A were higher than that of C (p=0.002). Positive correlation between levels of total testosterone and AMH was detected in all PCOS patients (n=50;Pearson's r=0.579; p<0.001). Conclusion: Tear function can be affected in PCOS patients with hyperandrogenism. Tear osmolarity is the most sensitive and objective assessment method for ocular surface changes in PCOS